Wireless Networks

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s HT Mostar has signed new equipment deals with Croatia’s Ericsson Nikola Tesla (ENT) worth over HRK31 million (USD4.8 million).

At the 7th Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF 2021), Kevin Hu, President of Huawei's Data Communication Product Line, introduced four new features of Huawei's Intelligent Cloud-Network Solution and all-scenario NetEngine series intelligent routers, providing differentiated cloud-network convergence service capabilities and accelerating digital transformation for industries.

One of India’s big three telecommunications operators, Vodafone Idea (aka Vi), and the smart world and communication business of leading engineering and construction conglomerate Larsen & Toubro have partnered for a pilot project to test 5G-based smart city solutions.

Slovenian operator T-2 has awarded a 5-year 5G network contract to Nokia.

Qatar has said that Hamad Port is now the first 5G-enabled seaport in Middle East – with a little help from local operator Ooredoo.

Telekom Malaysia (TM) is providing MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems (Astro) with a full suite of wholesale infrastructure and connectivity solutions, allowing Astro to deliver reliable broadband and content services.

Paltel the leading telecommunication company in Palestine, has selected Juniper Networks, which specialises in secure, AI-driven networks, to upgrade and develop parts of its network and infrastructure.

Sahel Telecom, a new wireless broadband provider, has launched services in Mauritania.

Russian media has reported that the country expects to begin the large-scale shuttering of 3G networks in 2023, with the technology set to be phased out almost entirely by 2025.

Bharti Airtel and Ericsson have commenced what they claim as India’s first rural 5G network trial.

Bangladesh’s state operator Teletalk has revealed its goal of launching 5G services before the end of 2021.

China Mobile has selected its compatriots Huawei and ZTE as equipment suppliers for a converged 4G/5G core network contract reportedly worth CNY7.5 billion ($1.16 billion).

NuRAN Wireless, a supplier of mobile and broadband wireless infrastructure solutions, says the first site in Cameroon relating to its network as a service (NAAS) contracts with Orange SA went live last week and, the company adds, has already begun to generate significant traffic.

Vodafone Oman (Oman Future Telecommunications) has tapped Ericsson for its 4G and 5G core networks along with a greenfield radio access network (RAN).

The Ecuadorian Ministry of Telecommunications and the Information Society (Mintel), and the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (Citel) have signed a memorandum of understanding to connect rural and difficult-to-access areas of the country.

South African 5G pioneer Rain has announced further growth for its 5G network, to which it recently added eight new regions.

It may come as a surprise to some readers that a major operator in Bahrain still runs a 2G network. Well, it won’t be doing so for much longer. Operator Batelco is phasing out its 2G network to make way for what it calls transformation towards advanced mobile development.

The government of Botswana is upgrading its private wireless transmission network using Intracom Telecom’s OmniBAS microwave product family.

Kenyan operator Safaricom has confirmed that it plans to launch a commercial 5G network in 2022.

Belarusian infrastructure provider beCloud has partnered with mobile operator A1 to boost 4G/LTE coverage in the Vitebsk region by “almost seven times”.

The Kingdom of Bhutan in the Eastern Himalayas will soon enjoy the benefits of 5G thanks to a deal between Ericsson and Bhutan Telecom, one of two mobile operators in the country.

In yet another boost to connectivity across the more than 16,000 islands that make up Indonesia, Ceragon, a solutions provider of 5G wireless transport, has said it has been selected to provide connectivity to remote Indonesian islands and regions.

Yesterday’s big story that Ooredoo and CK Hutchison have agreed to merge their Indonesian units is not the only hot telecoms news from Indonesia in recent days. A 5G network launch and a potentially major data centre initiative have also made headlines.

Brazilian carrier Vivo has announced the start of 5G tests in the millimeter-wave (mmWave) of 26 GHz band in partnership with Finnish vendor Nokia.

Continuing the rural broadband theme that has been in the news lately, NetOne – Zimbabwe’s second-biggest operator and a state-owned entity – has announced the next phase of its mobile broadband expansion project.

The giant telecoms corporation America Movil, having decided on a reorganization earlier this year, is now to propose a spinoff of its towers business to shareholders.

The principal telecommunications company in Bahrain Batelco has announced the expansion of its mobile network, to cover major housing developments currently being built by the Ministry of Housing and the private sector across Bahrain.

The Peruvian Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) has announced continued enhancements in its drive to expand mobile coverage in rural areas.

Altan Redes, the consortium tasked with deploying Mexico's 4.5G shared network – called Red Compartida – has announced that it has secured a $50 million loan from shareholders.

Iraqi operator Asiacell Telecom has chosen Nokia to build its next-generation microwave network.