Wireless Networks

Tele2 Russia has launched new base stations via the 2300MHz band to bolster its commercial 4G/LTE services in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Airtel’s Kenyan and Sri Lankan units are bolstering their coverage via 5G upgrades and new site deployments respectively.

Etisalat has collaborated with Parallel Wireless, Intel and Supermicro to deliver Central Asia’s first cloud-native O-RAN compliant 5G 4G 3G 2G Open RAN solutions in Afghanistan.

ZTE Corporation has implemented Africa’s first live 3G/4G/5G Tri-RAT dynamic spectrum sharing solution, ZTE’s SuperDSS, in South Africa.

According to a blog on the IBM website, the technology giant has launched a proof of concept (PoC) with Movistar, a Telefonica brand, to deploy one of the first fully functional Open RAN networks, covering 81,000 inhabitants in the city of Puerto Madryn in Argentina.

Not to be outdone by its longtime rival Globe Telecom, which this week announced a major upgrade to its 4G services while pledging new 5G coverage, Smart Communications confirmed that it has activated over 2000 5G sites in the Philippines.

Nokia and Safaricom have confirmed yesterday’s news that East Africa’s first commercial 5G services have been launched in parts of Kenya, and have added more detail about the technology involved.

Kenya’s leading operator Safaricom has announced plans to launch a 5G network this Friday in Nairobi and western Kenya.

Ooredoo Kuwait has tapped Infovista’s radio planning portfolio to upgrade over 2500 sites nationwide in a bid to accelerate its 5G network deployment.

Another 5G spectrum auction is on the way in Israel – and it could be held before the end of this year.

Globe Telecom has completed a 4G/LTE upgrade to its network in Boracay and is set to accelerate a modernisation push in other areas of the Philippines.

The government of China is reportedly turning its attention to the development of 6G technology across the next five years.

Nepal is set to begin 5G testing in the cities of Biratnagar, Birgunj, Kathmandu and Pokhara, according to the country’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MOCIT).

Senegalese operator Expresso has launched its 4G network after extensive delays.

Algeria’s telecoms minister Brahim Boumzar has confirmed that the government’s current focus is on improving 4G services rather than introducing 5G.

UAE-based operator du has signed a four-year 5G expansion deal with Nokia.

Orange Cameroon has extended its Network as a Service (NAAS) contract with NuRAN Wireless to add a further 120 sites to its footprint in the market.

Gautam Buddha International Airport has become the second airport in Nepal to deploy a TETRA (two-way radio) communication solution, following TETRA adoption by Tribhuvan International Airport. The solution will be led by SC20 hand-held radios from Sepura, a leading supplier of public safety communications, which deploys radios in both of Nepal's airports.

Cape Verde is on track to clear its “digital dividend” spectrum by the end of June.

Jordan’s Umniah has confirmed imminent plans to shutter its 2G network to allow further investment and more extensive upgrades to its 3G and 4G networks.

Hot on the heels of its rival Claro, Entel Peru has announced the launch of a 5G New Radio (NR) fixed-wireless broadband offering using 3.5GHz spectrum.

Claro Peru is now offering commercial fixed-wireless 5G broadband via its 3.5GHz spectrum holding.

Zain’s local unit in South Sudan has launched a commercial 4G offering in the capital city Juba.

Vodafone Hungary has confirmed that it now has 200 5G base stations live in Budapest, marking the completion of the expansion plan it announced in October 2020.

Claro and Entel’s Peruvian units have been cleared to offer 5G new radio (NR) fixed-wireless internet services via their existing 3.5GHz spectrum holdings.

Hard on the heels of the news of a big Nokia agreement for 5G rollout with rival operator Globe, Philippines operator PLDT is now claiming that it has the widest 5G network reach in the country.

Ecuadorian operator CNT (Corporación Nacional de Telecommunicaciones) has chosen Nokia to help it deploy the country’s first 5G network.

Zimbabwean state-owned operator NetOne is collaborating with Huawei on the second phase of its ICT services upgrade.

ZTE Corporation has released its Intelligent Orchestration Radio Network solution, which employs an innovative AI-based intelligent orchestration engine to enable MNOs to achieve maximum value from 5G networks.

Indian communications solutions provider Bharti Airtel and wireless technology company Qualcomm have announced what they describe as a collaboration for accelerating 5G in India. 

O2 Slovakia has selected Ericsson to modernise its RAN and deploy its 5G network.