Wireless Networks

Recent 5G coverage has reported launch activity in Thailand, Tajikistan and Croatia, though what constitutes a launch may be up for debate; a couple of 5G debuts are concentrated in a relatively small area.

Infinet Wireless has installed a new high-capacity wireless infrastructure to improve public safety and expand its geographical coverage in Mexico’s Zacatecas state.

While much if the rest of the word is arguing about whether or not to partner with China for 5G rollouts, the expansion of 5G networks in China itself may be slowing – an unexpected victim of the ongoing Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.

Uzbekistan’s state operator Mobiuz has embarked on a wide-reaching modernisation of its network in order to boost capacity and quality of service.

Etisalat is set to trial Parallel Wireless 2G, 3G, 4G & 5G OpenRAN across its markets in Middle East, Asia and Africa.

MTN Group, the largest mobile operator in Africa, has chosen TEOCO, a provider of analytics, assurance and optimization solutions, to standardize its radio and microwave network planning tools.

News reports from Kenya indicate that the country is edging closer to 5G rollout. The early indications are that leading operator Safaricom, pioneer of mobile money and the dominant force in the market, with close to two thirds of all subscribers, will be the first company to launch 5G.

Polish operator Polkomtel – branded as Plus - has chosen Ericsson to supply equipment for its 5G Radio Access Network.

Telekom Slovenije and Iskratel are partnering to develop 5G networking solutions.

5G activity continues apace in the Middle East, with a new smart campus initiative announced in Saudi Arabia and a 26GHz 5G launch planned for the UAE – potentially this year.

In what it describes as a regional first, Zain Group, a mobile telecom company working in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, has announced a tower leaseback deal.

Millicom, under its Tigo brand, has selected Affirmed Networks, which supports mobile network 5G transformation, as a strategic partner for the deployment of its cloud-based, 5G-ready core network in Latin America.

Ukraine is allowing the repurposing of 800MHz and 900MHz spectrum to facilitate deployments of 4G/LTE mobile networks.

Recent figures released by the Emirates News Agency confirm what many of us suspected: connectivity in the UAE has reached extraordinary levels.

Orange’s local unit in Slovakia, Orange Slovensko, has selected Nokia to prepare its Radio Access Network for 5G.

Another country is to bid farewell to CDMA as Nepal Telecom says it will switch off CDMA services by July 2021.

5G continues to make news as five Thai operators submit bids for spectrum and a Polish operator claims it is ready to commercialise 5G.

According to media reports from East Africa, Airtel Tanzania plans to more than double the number of its 4G network sites following the recent issuing of a permit.

Speedcast International Ltd, a provider of remote communications and IT services, has announced that is has been awarded a 12-month contract with a mobile operator in Mexico.

In an extraordinary series of announcements, the giant Chinese equipment maker ZTE has highlighted the potential role of telecommunications in disease management – and specifically management of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in China.

The government of Croatia is pushing for a 5G launch in the country’s fourth-largest city, Osijek, by the end of the year.

Recent reports from the Liberian press indicate that local operator Lonestar Cell MTN has extended its mobile coverage in Liberia.

To meet the needs of new access technologies and growing transport requirements, as well as growing data demand in its region, Ooredoo Algeria is modernizing its infrastructure by boosting capacity throughout the network, with the help of SIAE Microelettronica.

ZTE and MTN Uganda have jointly launched the first 5G SA network in East Africa.

Pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom is to launch the first 5G wholesale roaming service in South Africa.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released draft guidelines aimed at boosting the use of television white spaces (TVWS) to improve rural connectivity in the country.

Tajikistan’s ZET-Mobile has completed a large-scale expansion of its LTE network.

UAE operator Etisalat has announced two firsts in recent days: the launch of a business unified communication service and the deployment of Open vRAN technology.

Telefonica, one of the largest telephone operators and mobile network providers in the world, with a strong presence in Europe and the Americas, is to sell a number of its towers and tower sites in Ecuador and Colombia.

American Tower Corporation, an owner and operator of wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure in several countries worldwide, has announced two deals – involving Eaton Towers and MTN – that, it says, will boost its presence in Africa.

SETAR, a communications provider in the Caribbean island country Aruba, has expanded its current partnership with Nokia with an agreement to provide what is described as a full end-to-end 5G network transformation.