Wireless Networks

UAE operator group Etisalat is unlikely to introduce standalone 5G for at least two years, and will instead focus on non-standalone (NSA) 5G architecture in this period.

Croatia’s Hrvatski Telekom (HT) has awarded a five-year 5G RAN contract to Ericsson.

Ukraine’s three largest mobile operators have commenced “joint actions” to expand their 4G-LTE networks using redistributed 900MHz frequencies.

Supermarket chain Walmart de Mexico y Centroamerica is now offering MVNO services in Mexico, branded as BAIT (Bodega Aurrera Internet y Telefonia).

O2 Czech Republic is launching its commercial 5G network next month, becoming the first operator in the market to achieve this milestone.

Orange’s Slovakian unit is increasing its 5G spectrum holding while also discussing a potential network-sharing arrangement with Slovak Telecom.

Estonia’s Telia Eesti is planning an investment of €10 million (US$11.3 million) into its mobile networks for 2020.

Indonesian mobile operator Telkomsel has announced that it is extending its 4G LTE coverage to more areas of the country.

China Unicom has chosen Nokia to support the build-out of its 5G SA Core network in China.

In the face of regulatory constraints and bureaucratic delays in some countries, it’s worth highlighting ways in which governments are supporting telecommunications by enabling or encouraging rollout, most recently in Colombia and Vietnam.

Local press reports in Fiji indicate that plans are under way for a major network upgrade for mobile operator Digicel Fiji. Its estimated cost is about $13.7 million. The network upgrade aims to boost LTE coverage across the country’s islands.

Nokia and Vodafone Idea have successfully completed the first phase of a Dynamic Spectrum Refarming (DSR) implementation in India.

As we have noted before, despite delays to rollout or spectrum auctions in some countries due to measures to control the coronavirus, other countries are going ahead with 5G plans, virus or no virus.

STC (Saudi Telecom Company) has outlined plans to prioritise the growth of 4G and 5G technologies, noting that it expects to decommission its 3G network within “less than two years.”

Belarusian market leader A1 together with ZTE has launched a standalone (SA) test 5G network across the country.

Operator MTN Zambia has selected Vanu, a provider of equipment, tools and services that allow mobile network operators to profit by serving off-grid communities, to supply equipment and services for as many as 300 mobile network sites throughout the country.

As 5G, cloud, and AI pick up pace, amid their pursuit for digital transformation enterprises of all sizes are confronting once-in-a-generation challenges.

A number of recent stories relating to meeting end user demand have emerged from Peru in the course of the week: two relate to congestion, while a third involves providing services where none may have previously been available.

Following the announcement that it has permission to operate in Kenya, Loon has said that it is expanding its footprint in Africa.

Poland is still optimistic that 5G spectrum will be sold at auction this year even though it has delayed the sale of 3.4GHz-3.8GHz licences.

Kazakhstan’s three main operators have agreed to collaborate on a shared network to boost mobile broadband coverage in remote regions.

Polkomtel, a leading telecommunications operator in Poland, which provides services under the Plus brand, has announced the launch of the country’s first commercial 5G network.

5G may be a major talking point just about everywhere, but 4G migration is still underway in many markets. The board of state-owned Indian operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has recently approved two vendors for a 4G migration project worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Mozambique’s TMcel has at long last begun conducting trials of its 4G network.

Thai communications service provider True Corporation has announced that it has selected Ericsson as a 5G radio access network (RAN) vendor as part of its national 5G network.

Vodafone Idea is expanding Open RAN based deployments in India with Mavenir.

Bharti Airtel, India’s largest integrated telecommunications company, has selected wireless hauling specialist Ceragon to help it enable additional 4G network expansion.

Following our recent listing of countries delaying spectrum auctions during the coronavirus, news has reached us of an actual rollout going ahead in Colombia, despite the pandemic.

Loon, a subsidiary of Alphabet that takes internet connectivity to the skies in a fleet of balloons, has announced that more of its balloons have been approved to fly in Kenya.

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), an agency under the country’s ministry of communications, has selected OpenRAN provider Parallel Wireless to provide mobile telephony connectivity to underserved and unserved communities in Ghana.

Montenegro is likely to see 5G launches by the end of 2022, with the regulator looking to outline a roadmap this year.