Southern African Volume 21 Number 2
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JULY/AUGUST 2016 southern african Volume 21 Number 2 Forwireless communications professionals in southern Africa COMMUNICATIONS ● What’s new in microwave? ● Wireless tech in transportation ● Building Carrier Wi-Fi networks wirelesssouthern african CONTENTS COMMUNICATIONS JULY/AUGUST 2016 5 News southern african Volume 21 5 News review Number 2 JULY/ Forwireless communications professionals in southern Africa COMMUNICATIONS AUGUST 2016 > Iridium plans world’s largest satellite network ● What’s new in microwave? > Tigo to connect schools and women in Africa ● Wireless tech in transportation ● Building Carrier Wi-Fi networks Volume 21 > “Giant step forward” for cheaper connectivity Number 2 > Telkom hit by sabotage in Limpopo > Africa passes half a billion unique subscribers > Comsol claims fi rst with open access network > Digital divide: billions still offl ine 16 Wireless solutions > Malawi to develop cyber security strategy > SEACOM adds peering in Europe and Africa SAF Tehnika is one of world’s leading microwave data transmission equipment 13 Wireless business manufacturers with a global presence in > Vestburg quits after dismal Q2 for Ericsson over 130 countries. 16 Wireless solutions SAF microwave radios provide the best > Cambium promises fi bre-like throughput possible alternative to fi ber optics. 20 Backhaul SAF’s point-to-point systems offer data transmission speeds of up to 1Gbps while Features: being cheaper and more effi cient in places where cable network is not available. 20 Backhaul Microwave links can be deployed in > RAHIEL NASIR discovers microwave’s power almost any environment and the link is unlikely to diminish in the near future. distances can reach 150 km. 24 Wireless users 24 Wireless users SAF Tehnika offers customizable solutions > Wireless comms travel across huge distances to various industries, ranging from to keep man and machine connected. mobile operators and internet service providers to system integrators, oil & gas 29 Industry view companies, mining industry enterprises > GRANT MARAIS and KHETAN GAJJAR on the and government & municipal institutions challenges of building Carrier Wi-Fi. Company’s products range from license- free microwave radio solutions to ultra- 32 World news low latency products, as well as energy > First LoRA-based IoT network goes live effi cient carrier-grade systems such as SAF > Longest rail tunnel safer with Tetrapol Integra and spectrum analyzers for 2GHz- > TETRA expanding but Europe dominates 40GHz and E-Band frequency range from > Small cell system for data-hungry London 70-87 GHz. > ZTE claims new record for 800G network 32 World news > Cloud-based platform helps connect cars By choosing SAF you choose superior European build quality, exceptional SUBSCRIPTIONS: of control can purchase an annual service, and technical support as well Southern African Wireless Communications is subscription at the cost of £110. as industry-leading performance! a controlled circulation bi-monthly magazine. For more information and general enquiries Register now for your free subscription at please contact Suzanne Thomas at www.saftehnika.com www.kadiumpublishing.com [email protected] [email protected] Readers who do not qualify under the terms or call +44 (0) 1932 481728. Turn to page 12 EDITORIAL: ADVERTISEMENT SALES: to fi nd out more about SAF Tehnika Editorial director: Rahiel Nasir Senior Sales executive: Andy London Designer: Alan McClenaghan [email protected] Contributors: Khetan Gajjar Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481731 Rob Miller Grant Marais Production & circulation: Production: Suzanne Thomas [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481728 Editorial enquiries: Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481729 Publishing director: Kathy Moynihan [email protected] +44 (0) 1932 481730 South African offi ce: Kadium Publishing Pty Limited, Unit 2, GSW Building, Techno Park, Gold Street, Northgate East, 7405, South Africa © 2016 Kadium Limited. All rights reserved. The content of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in whole, including photocopying, scanning and/or recording, or transmitted in any other form by any means including electronic, digital or mechanical, or stored in any form of data storage, archival or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright holders. All enquiries should be sent to Kadium Limited, Unit 2, Annetts Yard, Annett Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 2JR, United Kingdom. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those shared by the publisher or the editor. E&OE. Printed in England by Henry Stone Ltd Register here for your free Digital Edition http://kadiumpublishing.com/forms/africa/sawc_reg.htm NEWS World’s largest commercial satellite constellation ready for lift-off Testing of the first two satellites NEXT will comprise 66 cross- that will form Iridium’s NEXT fleet linked satellites in low-Earth orbit has been completed. At the time of to deliver mobile voice and data writing, they were at Vandenberg coverage over the planet’s entire Air Force Base being processed by surface, including oceans, airways Towards the end of next SpaceX before their launch which and polar regions. year, Iridium expects to have was targeted for 12 September. Each satellite will link-up with 66 of these in a low orbit of “After more than seven years of four others to ensure a continuous just 476 miles away. effort, the first of our next-generation and ubiquitous meshed connection. satellites are finally ready for space,” Iridium says the large number of Working with sub-contractor Air Force Base to prepare for lift-off. said Iridium CEO Matt Desch. fast-moving spacecraft with multiple Orbital ATK, Thales Alenia Space They represent SpaceX’s heaviest “This programme replaces overlapping spot beams minimises will build a total of 81 satellites for payload to date. the largest commercial satellite missed connections and dropped calls. Iridium. While 66 will form the All 66 orbiters are expected to be constellation in space with state-of-the- It adds that with each satellite NEXT network, the remainder will launched by late 2017. Starting in art technology and new capabilities, orbiting at just 476 miles (780km) serve as ground and on-orbit spares. 2018, Iridium said the constellation allowing Iridium to support the away from the surface, transmission As the eight first-launch satellites will enable Aireon’s satellite-based connectivity needs of today, as paths are shorter and signal are completed, they will also be system to provide global aircraft well as those yet to be imagined.” attenuation is reduced. shipped two at a time to Vandenberg surveillance in real time. Tigo to connect more schools and women in Africa Tigo will help connect Tanzania’s The permanent secretary in the company, acquired Zantel last year schools as part of a partnership that Ministry of Communications, Works – see Wireless Business, May-Jun 2015 ). represents the first time the country’s and Infrastructure, Prof. Faustine The GSMA’s aim is to reduce the government and a mobile operator Kamuzora (seated left), and Tigo CCO gender gap in mobile internet and are cooperating on an ICT project of Shavkat Berdiev (seated right) sign mobile money services. such scale and scope. an MoU under which Tigo will provide Tigo says its operations in Chad, Following the recent signing internet access to Tanzania’s secondary Senegal, Tanzania, Ghana and of an MoU with the Ministry schools through the e-Schools Project. Zanzibar will now follow the lead of of Communications, Works and Tigo Rwanda which became the first Infrastructure, Tigo will facilitate will include wiring classrooms and schools in Tanzania, and plans to African operator to commit to the the rollout of internet access points the installation of WLANs. connect 50 more this year. initiative in February. in the country’s secondary schools Tigo says the agreement with the In a separate announcement They will all work to increase the over the next two years. The ministry government is part of its e-Schools made earlier in July, Millicom’s Tigo proportion of their female customers will identify and provide a list of Project. Under this social investment operations and Zanzibar Telecom using mobile financial services. Tigo schools without computer labs to be initiative, the operator says it (Zantel) have joined the GSMA’s Chad has also committed to increase connected, while Tigo will sponsor has been able to deliver internet Connected Women Commitment the proportion of female customers the infrastructural development that connectivity to 31 public secondary Initiative (Millicom,Tigo’s parent using the mobile internet. Intelsat launches fi rst high throughput satellite for Africa Intelsat has successfully launched The company says IS-33e is the fixed line operators to cost-effectively the first satellite for Africa that first multi spot beam, Ku-band high extend their networks and meet the uses its EpicNG high throughput throughput satellite to serve these surges in demand for services. system. Intelsat 33e was launched by regions, and will be its second to use Select customers have already Arianespace from French Guiana EpicNG following IS-29e’s launch committed to take advantage of together with Intelsat 36 on 24 August. earlier this year for coverage across Intelsat 33e. In Africa, they include Built by Boeing and equipped the Americas and North Atlantic. Telkom South Africa, Orange, IP with what’s claimed to be the “most According to Intelsat, EpicNG’ Planet, Vodacom,