Next-gen boom in Africa as 4G networks are pioneered in several countries

Details: James Barton; Category: Wireless Networks; 15 November 2010; 13594 views

The next generation of wireless broadband appears to be taking off in Africa, with several African countries recently witnessing the launch of their first 4G networks...

The next generation of wireless broadband appears to be taking off in Africa, with several African countries recently witnessing the launch of their first 4G networks.

Cameroon is one such example, with a new 4G network being deployed by Alvarion in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé, two of the country’s largest metropolitan areas with a total population 5 million people.

Commissioned by 4G Africa AG, the $2 million deployment is expected to provide connectivity to over 10,000 users within the first year. The network, which will operate on the 2.5GHz frequency band, will be built on Alvarion’s end-to-end platform, which allows for cost-effective delivery of a wide range of data services to consumers.

“We are excited to work with Alvarion on the first 4G network deployment in Cameroon and introduce a new era of communications to the residents of Douala and Yaoundé,” said Dov Bar-Gera, CEO of 4G Africa. “4G Africa is focused on establishing WiMAX networks in emerging Sub-Saharan countries, such as Cameroon with the overall aim to reduce the digital divide. Sub-Saharan Africa is considered to be one of the world’s fastest growing economies, yet lacks the proper infrastructure.”

“Bringing Mobile WiMAX services to Cameroon will enable 4G Africa to provide residents with the benefits of a complete wireless broadband experience,” said Eran Gorev, president and CEO of Alvarion. “Our advanced technology will provide complete network connectivity and allow 4G Africa to be one step closer to their goal of reducing the digital divide in Sub-Sahara Africa.”

4G Africa, a Swiss company based in Zurich, aims to provide affordable, reliable and state-of-the-art broadband wireless internet access services in chosen countries in sub-Saharan Africa, in order to help close the digital divide.

Meanwhile, DiscoveryTel Ghana (DTG), a licensed data services provider in Ghana, has selected Aptilo Networks to deploy the country’s first 4G network.

The new network provides high-speed, high-capacity broadband wireless to corporate, business and residential users in Accra, the capital and largest city of Ghana with a population of 2 million, and other major Ghanaian cities.

Aptilo’s solution was provided by INTRACOM TELECOM which is building the turnkey mobile 4G network. They are using the Aptilo Service Management Platform, a pre-integrated, ready-to-deploy wireless broadband policy and service control (AAA) solution for 4G networks.

The solution opens up new market opportunities for DTG – for example, it will be able to act as a wholesale service provider by creating prepaid volume accounts and then selling them to retailers such as hotels, airports or convention centres.

Additionally, the platform will serve as a foundation to enable a future Wi-Fi hotspot network through partners, providing a cost-effective means to connect Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Ghana with a 4G infrastructure as backhaul.

“Achieving ROI and reducing time to market was essential. We needed a high capacity, resilient network for government, banks, hotels and other enterprises as well as residents. Aptilo and INTRACOM provided the ideal solution,” said Kofi Datsa, General Manager, DiscoveryTel Ghana.

“DiscoveryTel Ghana is a role model for 4G network deployments in emerging markets, which require fast, cost-effective deployments that set the operator up for success with new revenue opportunities, the ability to expand service area and the capability to evolve to new technologies down the road,” said Torbjorn Ward, CEO, Aptilo Networks.

The trend of pioneering 4G networks in cities continues in Nigeria, where the capital Lagos is set to receive its largest 4G network by the end of the year. The Nigerian Internet service provider Direct On PC (DOPC) is expanding its WiMAX-based “Unwired” Mobile 4G Broadband Services network using backhaul solutions from Ceragon. DOPC is aiming to extend the network to cover two more Nigerian cities – Abuja and Port-Harcourt – in the first quarter of 2011.

With an expanded 4G network, DOPC can offer home users and businesses applications like entertainment, telephony, high-end video conferencing, live security streaming services, virtual private networks (VPNs) and more. DOPC will use Ceragon's high-capacity wireless solutions in both all-indoor as well as split-mount configurations.

"Ceragon is helping us bring all the benefits of the digital age to Nigeria," said Mr. Mahesh Sadhwani, DOPC Vice Chairman. "Once our network is fully deployed, our customers will enjoy access to a variety of entertainment, as well as business related content with the highest quality of service.”

Ira Palti, President and CEO of Ceragon Networks, commented: "The combination of our advanced technology and DOPC's innovative service approach will make high-speed broadband available to thousands of Nigerians."

More info: