Wireless Networks

Vodacom has become the first operator in Mozambique to launch commercial 5G, with its network now available in Maputo City.

In an unusual turn of events, India’s operators are said to be asking for a relaxation in 26GHz 5G rollout rules because there are not enough 26GHz-capable devices to make it worthwhile.

4G is about to become a reality in São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa, thanks to Unitel STP, which has announced that it has become the first mobile operator to launch commercial 4G services in the country, after receiving approval from regulator AGER.

Telecentro Argentina has selected solutions from Nokia for its network transformation.

In another example of the growing interest in 5G shown by many industries, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)-Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) to explore the potential of applications of 5G and other wireless communication technologies in its SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant.

Huawei is set to supply Teletalk Bangladesh with a suite of solutions aimed at preparing the operator for 5G and boosting rural operations.

Cellcom, a leading service provider in Israel, and open RAN software platform provider Parallel Wireless have announced the launch of what they describe as their first-of-a-kind pilot, which will demonstrate the deployment of autonomous 5G standalone (SA) core sites in Israel.

Telekom Romania Mobile has entered the country’s 5G market with a stealth launch via its existing spectrum holding.

The wait is, apparently, nearly over. Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of global conglomerate the Aditya Birla Group, and one of the shareholders of operator Vodafone Idea (aka Vi), has been heard on Indian TV saying Vodafone Idea is to begin its 5G rollout soon.

One of the latest examples of 5G use in an industry-specific context comes from Uganda, where vendor Huawei has, alongside MTN Uganda and Hima Cement Company, launched what it describes as the country's first 5G industrial use case in a Hima cement plant.

Commercial 5G launches rebounded in the second half of 2022 as operators in developing markets – and notably Africa – turned on their networks. That’s one of the key findings of 5G Tracker, a report from Kagan, a part of S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Zain Jordan has selected Nokia in a multi-year deal to supply 5G radio access network (RAN) equipment throughout the country. Through the deal, says Nokia, Zain will be able to support the digital transformation of the country by offering superior 5G services with enhanced connectivity and capacity to customers. A major part of the deployment is expected to be completed during 2023.

Vehicle tracking and telematics company Netstar and Vodacom Business (the enterprise-focused ICT subsidiary of the Vodacom Group) have partnered to offer Wi-Fi to commuters on thousands of minibus taxis around South Africa.

Montenegro’s Crnogorski Telekom (CT) has launched a commercial 5G network in the capital of Podgorica, and is lining up the launch of a new VoLTE service.

While 5G has been around for three years, its development speed has exceeded industry expectations. Around 240 commercial networks have launched during these three years, with the 5G customer base reaching 1 billion, accessing services through one of around 800 5G-compatible devices launched by a range of vendors.

Orange Liberia has commissioned Vanu to deploy at least 200 telecom towers as it seeks to improve rural coverage in the country.

NLT Telecom, a Brazilian operator specializing in IoT, and floLIVE, a provider of global connectivity and network services for IoT, have announced their collaboration to provide dual-connectivity access to both Brazilian and international enterprise customers, including OEMs and mobile operators.

Dialog Enterprise, the corporate ICT solution arm of Sri Lankan service provider Dialog Axiata, in collaboration with the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka & Dialog University of Moratuwa Research Laboratory, has devised an IoT-led implementation to assist local rubber plantations with the drying of crepe rubber.

China is in the news again – for positive reasons, this time, with the GSMA, the organisation representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, suggesting it will be the first country to reach one billion 5G connections.

At Mobile World Congress 2023, Karim Benkirane, Chief Commercial Officer of UAE operator du, presented the relationship between fibre and 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in his Keynote speech.

Kazakhstan’s Kcell has launched its first 5G trial with 12 sites now live across the cities of Almaty and Shymkent.

Fifteen months after conducting 5G pilot testing in the country, MTN Côte d’Ivoire has announced that its 5G services will be available by the start of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled for January in that year.

Indian ISP Netplus Broadband has tapped Nokia for its Multi-Access Gateway Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) application.

Malaysian content and entertainment company Astro has chosen Airties, a supplier of managed Wi-Fi solutions for service providers globally, to deliver a portfolio of smart Wi-Fi software and services to support broadband subscribers across its fibre footprint in Malaysia.

With 5G rollout well under way in much of the country, an Indian industry group has suggested that most telecom towers still need fiberisation, a vast number still need to be deployed and that recent amended Right of Way (RoW) rules are not being met by some Indian states.

Two Saudi service providers have signed deals with Rakuten Symphony as they look towards their next generation of mobile networks.

Intracom Telecom has signed a new deal with Sudanese ISP Maxnet to supply its WiBAS wireless access systems.

Ericsson has signed a reseller agreement with South African service provider Comsol to provide the Ericsson Private 5G solution; this will enable Comsol to expand its enterprise business within South Africa’s mining industry.

AALTO HAPS, an Airbus subsidiary, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enter a strategic partnership with STC Group, the Saudi digital enabler in the region, that will involve introducing high altitude platform station (HAPS)-based solutions to Saudi Arabia.