For communications professionals in the southern Asian region SOUTHERN ASIAN

WIRELESSCOMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 Volume 14 Number 2 l Are smart cities the answer to growing urbanisation? l A close look at the best networking monitoring solutions l The powerful pull of a home number on the road

Your Partners For Digital Growth

SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS CONTENTS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 5 NEWS 5 NEWS u Bollywood star loses 5G plea Volume 14 u Afghanistan set for 4G auctions Number 2 u Telkomsel switches on 5G u Philippines hands 25-year franchise to Dito u Skylo partners with Inmarsat for IoT u Bangladesh bans illegal handsets u No second wave slowdown, says Ericsson boss u 18 FEATURE I ‘Stop linking Covid with 5G’, telco says u Mavenir powers first smart city in Thailand Telenity is an industry-leading u Pakistan’s ‘poor telecom’ case provider of cutting-edge solutions for u Nokia to power AirFiber in India communications service providers 12 WIRELESS BUSINESS around the globe. We empower more u Globe Telecom secures US$100m loan to than 40 network operators, service, and finance capex u SLT-Mobitel emerges amongst Sri Lanka’s top 24 FEATURE II application providers in over 30 countries. 10 brands

As an established and reliable technology 18 FEATURE Network monitoring player with 20+ years of know-how, we offer products and solutions to address our 22 INDUSTRY VIEW customers’ needs and help them stay ahead Satellite connectivity through the eyes of Hughes of the competition in the new era of 5G. 28 WIRELESS SOLUTIONS 24 FEATURE Smart cities [email protected] 28 WIRELESS SOLUTIONS www.telenity.com Nokia achieves 5G speed record 31 WORLD NEWS u Mexican president attacks telcos u Russia launches satellites for UK telecom u China Mobile targets Shanghai listing Enkudo, a recently announced brand of u Bahamas considers mobile entrant u Ooredoo appoints first female CEO Telenity, provides a reliable telco-grade u Telecom Italia ‘could drop Huawei’ platform bundled with a rich pool of u Türk Telekom, Nokia in ‘5G-ready’ network premium content as a master aggregator. We 31 WORLD NEWS deliver more control over third party digital merchants and aim to increase the variety SUBSCRIPTIONS: and quality of the operators’ digital offering. Southern Asian Wireless Communications is a controlled circulation quarterly magazine. Register now for your free subscription at www.kadiumpublishing.com Readers who do not qualify under the terms of control can purchase an annual subscription Enkudo business model is based on revenue at the cost of £110. For more information and general enquiries please contact Suzanne sharing, which eliminates an upfront Thomas at [email protected] or call +44 (0) 1932 886 537. investment. We work closely with all departments covering every aspect of the EDITORIAL: ADVERTISEMENT SALES: Editor: Robert Shepherd Sales: Kathy Moynihan digital services business, be it marketing, Designer: Ian Curtis [email protected] revenue growth, customer experience, Sub editor: Gerry Moynihan +44 (0) 1932 481731 technical support or compliance. Contributors: Steve Hwang, Martin Jarrold, Kevin Graham, Production & circulation: Suzanne Thomas Shanks Kulam, Dan Losada [email protected] [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481728 www.enkudo.com Editorial enquiries: [email protected] Publishing director: Kathy Moynihan Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481729 [email protected] +44 (0) 1932 481730

ISSN No: 2052-739X © 2021 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, IC 113, Image Court, 328-334 Molesey Road, Hersham, KT12 3LT, UNITED KINGDOM. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those shared by the publisher or the editor. E&OE.

NEWS

Bollywood star loses plea Cambodian minister against 5G implementation attacks telcos The High Court in Delhi dismissed finding on the subject. Disruptions to telephone and Bollywood actress-turned activist Her plea in the court cited internet services reported across Juhi Chawla’s lawsuit challenging the clinical and experimental evidence Cambodia June 2 were a result of 5G networks rollout in India. of damage to DNA, cells and poor infrastructure development Judges cited that the plaint organ systems in plants and in the telecommunications sector, was “not based on any special animals and human diseases like according to the country’s minister damage” suffered by the plaintiff cancer and diabetes being caused of posts and telecommunications. by electromagnetic radiation or by by electromagnetic pollution Chea Vandeth blamed internet cellular technology and imposed which is generated by wireless and mobile service providers for not a fine of Rs20 lakh, because mobile phone technology. investing enough in antenna masts it held that the petition was The case was filed to get the and other infrastructure to meet filed for publicity. government to certify to the public India has witnessed a lot of growing consumer demand. opposition to 5G on health grounds Chawla filed a suit against the that 5G technology is safe to “The companies would build a implementation of 5G in India humankind, animals and every type technology has to offer, including in single tower to serve an area of alleging harmful effects of radio of organisms, from flora, to fauna. the field of wireless communications. 3,000 people, which would’ve since frequency radiation. Juhi also wants the government to However, whilst using the latter kind grown to 10,000 people,” Vandeth In a plea filed with the Delhi conduct an efficient research, without of devices, we are in a constant said. “Thus many customers High Court, she claimed that 5G participation of private interest, dilemma, because after doing our experience disrupted services, and will lead to RF exposure to all and furnish the report and declare own research and studies regarding towers are far apart from each other, the living beings on earth which whether or not the implementation the RF radiation from wire-free with companies not installing more. will be 100 times more than the of 5G in India would be safe. gadgets and network cell towers, we Companies are merely looking to turn current level and lead to serious, “We are not against the have sufficient reason to believe that a profit and line their own pockets irreversible effects on humans. implementation of technological the radiation is extremely harmful with money without bothering to Chawla said 5G should not be advancements,” Chawla said. “On and injurious to the health and deploy additional equipment.” rolled out in India until it is certified the contrary, we enjoy using the safety of the people.” Growing urbanisation and a safe after a thorough research latest products that the world of The case was heard June 2. rising number of high-rises dotting the skylines of the capital Phnom Penh and provincial towns create Afghanistan set for new 4G auctions new market opportunities for The Afghanistan Telecom ranges. They can then consolidate in each within two years. Some the sector. However, even though Regulatory Authority (ATRA) their holdings into contiguous measure of infrastructure sharing telecoms firms churn out copious has published an Invitation To blocks with, it is promised, limited or at least the potential for sharing amounts of promotional packages Apply (ITA) to participate in intervention from ATRA. There will is also required as part of the to capitalise on the growing the auction of three 2×5MHz also be coverage obligations: 4G 15-year allocations. momentum in the industry, a lots in the 1800MHz range, two data services need to reach five As of yet there has been no sizeable portion provide substandard 2×5MHz lots in the 2100MHz of the largest cities in Afghanistan comment on the reserve prices services, Vandeth argued. range and three 2×10MHz blocks within 18 months and the next 13 of (US$17.2m for each 1800MHz Nevertheless, the minister said in the 2600MHz range. largest cities within two years. lot, US$12m per 2100MHz lot and telcos were not solely to blame. Winners will not be able to In addition, winners need US$11m for each 2600MHz lot). “Some borey [gated communities] control more than 2×10MHz to be able to offer at least five However, it will become clearer allow exclusive internet service from the 1800MHz and 2100MHz operational base stations in each as to how reasonable the pricing providers to increase prices and ranges, or 2×20MHz across all of the remaining provinces within has been come June 23, by when provide inadequate services, and of the 1800, 2100 and 2600 one year, and ten base stations applications must be submitted. others do not have land for building telecoms poles,” he added. Vandeth has since tasked a Telkomsel switches on 5G in three ministerial team with gauging the quality of services provided at all borey, and the ministry ordered Indonesian cities millions of dollars’ worth of Indonesia’s Telkomsel has switched The scope of the launch The operator’s president director equipment to measure services on 5G networks in three cities and falls well short of the list of Hendri Mulya Syam said that as throughout the country. said there will be further roll-outs cities named in late May by the first 5G operator in Indonesia, Meanwhile, Malaysian-owned in the not too distant future. communication and information “Telkomsel continues to make telecoms service provider Smart Customers in Balikpapan, minister Johnny G Plate. He gradual and measurable efforts Axiata said it would inject another Medan and Surakarta can now stated that the network would be in expanding the availability US$90m into the kingdom’s access the operator’s 5G network. accessible in six residential areas of Telkomsel 5G services in mobile network infrastructure this While coverage is currently only of Jakarta and areas of Denpasar, Indonesia so that in the future year to expand and improve its available in certain districts, Batam, Surabaya, Makassar anyone can experience the best 5G network and ensure stable and fast Telkomsel said this would be and Bandung, in addition to experience with the support of a mobile broadband connectivity for “gradually expanded.” Balikpapan, Medan and Surakarta. reliable 5G network”. subscribers nationwide.

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 5 NEWS

Pandemic threat to Thai Jazz CEO telcos’ recovery, says agency says Starlink Revenue momentum for Thai telecom is ‘healthy operators is likely to slow amid a protracted economic recovery competition’ from the third wave of the Covid-19 outbreak, according to Fitch Ratings. The chief executive officer of As a result, the US agency expects Pakistani mobile operator Jazz muted sector growth in 2021 said Elon Musk’s satellite network and high 5G investment to weigh Starlink providing low-cost internet on financial profiles. to remote locations in Pakistan is Fitch now expects flat service good for the sector. revenue for the Thai mobile sector in Speaking at the ‘Internet 2021, weaker than our previous low- for All’ webinar hosted by the single-digit growth forecast, following Pakistan Institute of Development a 2.9% decline in 2020. Economics, Aamir Ibrahim, Mobile sector revenue started to welcomed the arrival of Starlink to stabilise in the first quarter of 2021 his part of the world and said it is Fitch claims the Covid-19 pandemic will harm telcos’ recovery in Thailand after four quarters of consecutive something to be embraced. decline, but the resurgence of the pandemic this year and next is Fitch expects the industry’s free “Projects like Starlink are game- Covid in April could result in likely to underperform that of other cash flow (FCF) to remain negative changers and I admire people like another contraction in the second emerging markets in Asia Pacific. in 2021, underscoring a worsening Elon Musk who think differently and quarter in light of slower economic Fitch forecasts GDP growth of only outlook for the sector. Capex intensity are not afraid to challenge every activity and consumption. 2.9% in 2021 and 4.5% in 2022, (including spectrum payments) aspect of our knowledge,” he said. Fitch believes local operators after a 6.1% contraction in 2020. will remain high at around 45% of “Maybe Starlink coming to Pakistan will refrain from raising tariffs until The Thai economy will continue revenue, the same as in 2020, mainly will cause some disruptions, but macroeconomic conditions improve, to be weighed down by high reliance to support 5G rollouts. it will also give us the opportunity due to fear of losing subscribers. The on tourism, which could take time to Meanwhile, a lack of compelling to watch, learn and grow pace of recovery in the second half recover. This suggests a challenging applications that differentiate 5G with the competition.” of 2021 will depend on the speed operating environment will persist value from 4G services suggests that The webinar was a forum in and effectiveness of vaccine rollouts. for local telecom operators in the any near-term uplift from 5G revenue which industry leaders discussed Thailand’s economic recovery from next one to two years. is unlikely to be significant. the challenges and solutions for the seamless provision of digital connectivity in Pakistan. Further, talking about the 5G Philippines hands 25-year franchise to Dito evolution in Pakistan Aamir said: Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte the operator to compete even better not use any frequency in the radio “We need to press pause on the signed into law the bill granting Dito with the two dominant networks, spectrum without authorization 5G dream while half of Pakistan’s Telecommunity the country’s third Globe Telecom and PLDT. from the NTC. The National population is still offline, and we are major telecommunication service Partly-owned by Davao Telecommunications Commission still struggling with the technology provider, a new 25-year franchise. businessman and telecoms luminary, (NTC), however, shall not unreasonably we currently have. Instead of He signed Republic Act No. Dennis Uy, Dito was made the withhold or delay the grant of such comparing our technological 11537, renewing for a quarter of country’s third telco player during the authority, permit, or licence. landscape with our neighbours, a century the franchise granted to president’s administration. Meanwhile, Dito achieved the we need to prioritize policies that DITO, previously known as Mindanao In addition, the law allows Dito to milestone of 500,000 subscribers on are relevant to our country. We Islamic Telephone Company. “construct, install, establish, operate its network, around two months after it can leapfrog towards 5G if we are The renewed franchise will allow and maintain for commercial purposes launched services in the country. deliberate in our intent to sunset Dito to operate its telecom network and in the public interest, radio and/or Company chairman and chief older technologies like 2G. However, until 2046. Its current congressional television broadcasting stations” in the executive officer Uy said: “Our we can’t dream about next- franchise expires in April 2023. Philippines for another 25 years. current subscribers are half generation technologies when almost Furthermore, this extension will help However, the law says Dito shall a million Filipinos.” half of the cellular subscribers use 2G-only phones.” Skylo partners with Inmarsat to deliver IoT solution in India via BSNL Multinational satellite-based Under the terms of the announced later this year. narrow-band IoT (NB-IoT) solution agreement, the solution will be UK-based Inmarsat said it will company Skylo has partnered with delivered in India through the pair its global satellite network with Inmarsat to use its satellite capacity state-run telco Bharat Sanchar Skylo’s IoT solution that will provide backbone to deliver IoT solutions for Nigam Limited (BSNL), while remotely located application users Musk’s Starlink machines and sensors. further expansion plans will be with real-time actionable insights. ‘welcome’ in Pakistan

6 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 NEWS

Fake and illegal handsets in People wanting to Bangladesh to be blocked thwart India’s Bangladesh’s telecom watchdog is Anyone will be able to check the progress using the country’s first National legality of the imported handsets Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) using the database simply by system to disconnect all the sending an SMS. The NEIR system linking 5G unregistered and fake phones from will work for a provisional period the mobile networks, according to of 15 days and the trial run will with Covid-19, local media reports. continue from July to September. The Bangladesh Later on, necessary changes can Telecommunication Regulatory be made based on user experience, says telco Commission (BTRC) will use the if needed, to ensure that the People with intent to halt India’s technology to identify the phones technology remains friendly for the progress are actively spreading which were either imported illegally users even in the remote areas. rumours and misinformation, or have a fake International Mobile Whenever any SIM card is inserted linking 5G with the Covid-19 Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. into a handset, it will send a signal to pandemic, a Delhi-based It has already prepared a the BTRC database where the IMEI telco lobby group said. database of legal devices and hopes numbers of the authorized handsets The body called Cellular to complete the installation work of are stored. The SIM card will only Bangladesh is clamping down on Operators Association of India fake and illegal phones the NEIR by June 9. The trial of the be functional if the handset’s IMEI (COAI) represents Reliance Jio, technology will begin on July 1. matches with the database. Those using handsets Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, Furthermore, the NEIR A person will be able to use purchased from abroad can which are all companies that registration program will pave the multiple handsets using a single SIM register them by submitting valid are likely to start field trials way for the authorised importers card, but the BTRC is yet to release documents to the BTRC. with their preferred technology of mobile handsets by restricting more details in this regard. If a user wants to sell his handset, vendors following a recent go- the use of illegal handsets. It will If a handset is not found in the he will have to unregister it via the ahead by the Department of help prevent cloning and theft and BTRC database after an active SIM specific website so that the new Telecommunications (DoT). boost revenue collection. card is inserted, the BTRC will keep user can re-register it under their “A few people with dangerous Most people buy SIM cards from the handset’s IMEI on its white list name in the database. motives and intent to derail India’s local top-up shops where ‘traders’ for seven days to let the user register However, corporates will enjoy progress by actively spreading use someone’s NID to provide the phone using legal documents some exceptions as their SIM cards rumours and misinformation, SIM cards for others. of import or purchase. get frequently changed. linking 5G and Covid-19,” said SP Kochhar, director-general of COAI. “We have apprised the DoT No slowdown due to second wave, says and the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) of the situation Ericsson India boss and urged them to take strict action against those instigating The second wave of Covid-19 has based on the demand. Everyone estimated that India can potentially people to damage India’s not impacted telecom decision- is responsible for own employees, have 40 million 5G users in the telecom infrastructure.” making and operators are everyone is working in a very first year when the next-generation The comments come on focused on managing network responsible way, and whenever service is made available to them. the back of several telecom capacities predicated on a spike there is need for increased According to Ericsson ConsumerLab towers and base transceiver in data demand, with safety capacity, managing capacity, that is report, consumers have shown stations (BTS) being vandalised protocols in place, said a top happening,” Bansal said. willingness to pay 50% more for 5G following widespread rumours Ericsson India official. Bansal added that Ericsson is plans bundled with digital services, linking 5G radiations to severe Instead, Nitin Bansal, managing fully prepared for 5G deployments while they want to pay 10% more acute respiratory syndrome director of Ericsson India and in India, backed by confidence for just 5G connectivity. (SARS) caused by Covid-19 head of network solutions Ericsson arising from its global commercial that was first reported in south east Asia, Oceania and agreements, and various live China’s Wuhan in late 2019. India said the Swedish telecom networks. 5G would bring a slew of COAI also rubbished radiation equipment giant vendor said it is opportunities for consumers and concerns saying the permitted “fully prepared” for 5G deployment enterprise applications. limit in India remained one-tenth in India as and when rollouts “We have worked across the of the levels prescribed worldwide. happen, but it is for the government globe in various countries, both “India’s telecom infrastructure and policymakers to decide on with different kind of traffic profiles contributes towards the economy the actual timelines. and different kind of spectrum. and keeps us connected. As “Data consumption continues, And we are ready with what is responsible citizens we need to I have not seen a reduction in required for rolling out 5G in ensure that it does not fall prey anything,” he said. “Operators are India,” Bansal said. to damage by unscrupulous working hard to manage capacities A recent report by Ericsson has Business as usual for Ericsson people,” Kochhar added.

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 7 Your Partners for Digital Growth

Let’s Start with Telenity enabling operators to benefit from the user experience and increase the efficiency of growing mobile marketing business, and business operations. We are an industry-leading provider of provide their enterprise customers with higher Think of Enkudo not as another cloud- cutting-edge solutions for communications digital experience solutions. based service provider, but as a local provider service providers around the globe. Our Location Based Solutions generate delivering value to the operator, the service Our offices are in Monroe, Istanbul, Location-as-a-Service (LaaS) revenue provider, and the consumer. New Delhi and Dubai. for the operator by utilizing its network We work with our customers to transform infrastructure. The solutions encompass the What are Enkudo’s major their telco ecosystem and help them whole spectrum of modern geolocation and benefits to Mobile Operators? harness the true power of their network. We analytics capabilities, including both active modernize value-added services, creating and passive geolocation query mechanisms. By integrating with Enkudo, mobile operation efficiency and reducing OpEx. We In line with the ongoing 5G transition, operators can adapt to current user habits offer BSS for digital services to generate new our existing cloud-native product portfolio by connecting them with digital merchants revenue streams and provide innovative digital supports service-based architecture on worldwide. The best part is, you only pay services that enrich the subscribers’ mobile container deployments. We have enabled when you generate new revenues. Thanks to experience by leveraging the capabilities all our products as ETSI compliant Virtual its local partner network, Enkudo eliminates of 5G to the fullest. Network Functions (VNFs) for network any challenge that mobile operators might As an established technology player in function virtualization (NFV) based face and analyzes your target audience the telco ecosystem with 20+ years of deployments. Telenity solutions can run on for you to help you deliver exactly what know-how, we offer solutions to address our any hyperscaler and can be deployed on any the end users ask for. customers’ needs, enhance their business on/off premise telco cloud environment. Through a single integration with Enkudo, and help them stay ahead of the competition Our Digital Services Platform utilizes Digital Merchants can benefit from white- in the new era of 5G. service-based network slicing and supports labeling, co-marketing, service bundling Telenity’s products and solutions empower rich digital content & services, together with mobile operator offers, advanced more than 40 network operators, service, and with their business models, for the new reporting capabilities, easy integration and application providers in over 30 countries, consumers of the 5G world. onboarding with operators, contract lifecycle serving over one billion subscribers. management, reconciliation and settlement. How about Enkudo’s Digital www.enkudo.com/mobile-operators Tell me more about Telenity Services? solutions… Why should Digital Merchants As a master aggregator, Enkudo provides a partner with Enkudo? We provide a suite of field-proven products, reliable telco-grade platform bundled with including VAS Consolidation Platform, Digital content from a rich pool of premium content Enkudo has a broad coverage of leading Services Platform and Location Based partners. We do not only deliver more control mobile operators and payment providers. Solutions, with a perfect track record of over third party providers, but also aim Our expertise takes digital services into delivering fully integrated modular products to increase the variety and quality of the flourishing new markets. Digital merchants on the global scale. operators’ digital portfolio offering. can reach millions of new potential users Telenity VAS Consolidation Platform (VCP) Enkudo business model is entirely based and convert them into paying customers consolidates all the basic messaging and on revenue sharing, which eliminates the through Direct Carrier Billing. As your service voice services of the mobile VAS world on budget requirement on the mobile operator. user base grows locally in each market, we a single robust platform. Telenity’s VCP We work closely with all departments expand your global footprint through a wide improves the operating performance of covering every aspect of the digital network of connections. the legacy systems and paves the way for services business, be it marketing, revenue www.enkudo.com/digital-merchants migration to all-IP core networks, resulting in growth, customer experience, technical significant operational cost savings. support or compliance. Does Enkudo offer any solution The Telenity Digital Services Platform We enable access to a wide range of for Payment Providers? (DSP) meets the Business Support System content including games, mega promotions, (BSS) requirements of the ever-growing streaming audio, subscription-based video- Digital content and services present an Digital Services and Content playground. It on-demand (sVoD), edutainment, wellbeing, attractive business opportunity for payment essentially allows CSPs to claim their rightful and many others. We help you target the providers. Engaging with digital merchants share along with the OTT players. The Telenity right segment for your marketing campaigns. through a connection with Enkudo, payment DSP manages the end-to-end value chain, Narrowing down your audience improves providers can create sustainable new revenue with its powerful tools for direct carrier conversion rates and Customer Lifetime Value streams through upsell and cross sell billing, service subscription management, while optimizing your marketing spending. opportunities via bundling. bundling, campaign management and service Delivering to the needs of the market is With Enkudo, payment providers grab fraud prevention. It covers the complete the main pillar of any successful business. opportunities by accepting payments locally digital services journey, starting from the We develop localized landing pages in line for global digital services and utilize local onboarding of partners up to revenue sharing, with language, social preferences of each payment options for global digital content reconciliation, and settlement. The platform targeted market. We work with local partners, sales or service subscriptions. provides innovative service bundling, nano- to identify the proper product mix, localize www.enkudo.com/payment-providers crediting and down-selling functionalities that further boost revenues. We offer Business Messaging on Rich Communication Services (RCS), which enhances SMS with rich media capabilities, NEWS

Mavenir powers first smart Nokia to power AirFiber city in Thailand in India Mavenir, the US-based software Mavenir is using its 5G mmWave services to the project. Nokia said AirFiber Networks, an firm, is powering Thailand’s first radios and 5G Core with open Taweewat Chantaraseno, internet service provider (ISP) smart city using 5G Open Ran, API technology standards for managing director of the Thailand operating Bangalore and Tamil in partnership with Cisco, smart the deployment. These will work & Indochina region at Cisco, added: Nadu in South India, is using its city experts 5GCT and local in tandem with the cloud-native “We are delighted to be part of broadband solution to launch state-owned telco NT. solutions to deliver smart city the first 5G smart city in Thailand. high-speed data services and The smart city is located in applications such as real-time With the partnership with Mavenir expand its network to better Ban Chang, a city near U-Tapao diagnostics of traffic, public and Cisco Connected Communities serve its subscribers. International Airport that’s safety, digital signage, and Infrastructure (CCI), the host of The Finnish tech firm’s Gigabit connected to a motorway which environmental conditions. smart city can create a single, Passive Optical Networking (GPON) links Thailand’s two largest cities: “We are proud to be part of secure communications network to solution will enable the ISP to Bangkok and Pattaya. this ambitious 5G project which support all needs that are simpler to provide high-speed broadband Mavenir is supplying a cloud- sees a whole city connected on a deploy and manage from end-to-end services in Bangalore and native private network solution that series of 5G applications running visibility, ranging from smart kiosks underpenetrated areas across the uses Open RAN technology to avoid in parallel,” added Aniruddho Basu, and outdoor Wi-Fi, to smart street state of Tamil Nadu, aiming to vendor lock-in and provide flexibility general manager of emerging lighting, parking, waste and more. reach over 100,000 subscribers in as the smart city expands. business at Mavenir, added: Smart city infrastructure a year. The deployment started in “At 5GTC, we are driven to “Connectivity is at the heart of is enabling efficiency, cost April and will be completed before strengthen the potential of this deployment – connecting reduction and improved living the end of the year. Thailand through high-speed 5G,” people, communities, government for city occupants and network Once deployed, AirFiber said Shannon Kalayanamitr, chief services, and private sector services infrastructure platform helps create Networks’ subscribers will be executive officer at 5GCT. “The through local government data these efficiencies.” able to access network for remote partnership with Mavenir as an combined with new data acquired The Ban Chang smart city working, and other services over infrastructure provider enables us to through Internet of Things (IoT), operates on mmWave spectrum broadband connection such as deliver robust, secure and reliable sensors, drones, and external to deliver the fast data speeds remote education and healthcare. 5G Private Network infrastructure collected data, to fully analyse to the core required for rapidly Nokia’s GPON solution includes across enterprises, including smart it for proper city management transporting data from IoT both network and customer city applications, industry 4.0 and citizen knowledge.” devices across the city such as premise equipment. Nokia will applications – automated industry Cisco is providing its switching environmental sensors, drones, also provide network management and modern medicine.” hardware and application traffic lights, and smart poles. services to ensure timely and efficient execution of the project. Its fibre access network will help Replies sought in Pakistan’s ‘poor telecom AirFiber Networks establish a strong foundation to easily upgrade to next-generation PON technologies, service’ case which allow service providers The Peshawar High Court in during the sit-in staged by a to rapidly boost capacity and Pakistan directed the country’s proscribed organisation in many provide superior speeds. telecoms watchdog and six cities in April this year. “Robust and fast broadband has internet and cellular companies They also requested the court to become our lifeline as learning and to respond to a petition seeking take appropriate measures for the businesses have moved online. We orders for the provision of protection of their rights and those are committed to providing resilient uninterrupted and quality services of other consumers in the province. and world-class broadband services to consumers in the province. The respondents in the to our subscribers,” said Sasidev A team of judges issued notices petition are the PTA through its MG, director, AirFiber Networks. to the respondents, including chairman, Peshawar PTA director Pakistan’s telecom services “Nokia is a global technology the Pakistan Telecommunication (enforcement), four cellular are ‘poor’, says court leader, and we are confident that its Authority (PTA) and the companies, and two leading that the companies had been solution and expertise will help us companies providing internet and internet service providers. providing quality facilities address the growing and evolving telecom facilities. This followed Lawyer Noor Alam Khan to their subscribers. needs of our subscribers.” a preliminary hearing into the appeared for the petitioners before The counsel said presently, the Vinish Bawa, head of emerging petition of Mohammad Tahir and the court and contended that number of broadband subscribers business, Nokia India, added: five other consumers of cellular it was the prime responsibility had exceeded 100 million mark “We are excited to work with companies over poor internet of the respondents to provide but those companies had failed AirFiber Networks. Our industry- and telecom services. quality and uninterrupted in fulfilling their responsibilities leading GPON solution will allow Petitioners also drew the court’s modern telecom and internet towards their subscribers. AirFiber Networks to launch new attention to the abrupt suspension facilities to their consumers. The next hearing was fixed for premium and innovative services of internet and telecom services He said that it was the July 22 with the court asking the and enhance its services’ overall by the companies on the PTI’s responsibility of the PTA as a respondents to file comments about quality, thereby helping them orders, especially for many days telecom regulator to ensure the petition before that date. attract new subscribers.”

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 9

NEWS

Martin Jarrold, chief of international Bangladesh Talking satellite programme development, GVF boosts Chat function at the start of ‘Satellite cost-effective 10,000 viewers Networks Solutions’ (3PM in London) manner across we received this message – “Hello, EMENA comprised national & counting this is Timor-Leste. It is 12AM here.” the foundation to Pandemic… It is with us still, That webinar brought the total this online dialogue. security affecting everyday activities, of our series viewers to well over More recently still, on 18 May, we impacting everyday decisions, 10,000 located in at least 141 presented Enable High-performance Bangladesh’s cabinet has approved circumscribing the scope of our countries, and we greatly appreciate Network Coverage in Africa in the purchase of a US$8m device to endeavours. It has changed us; what the support of the diverse range partnership with both Intelsat and listen in on mobile-phone conversa- we choose to do, what we can do, of global audience members who Liquid Intelligent Technologies tions and read text messages. and what we are permitted to do. have been joining us on Zoom since Satellite. This programme featured, Country officials said it was Like many people since March last May last year. During this period the mbora, a customer end-user and needed for national security year, I have been doing a lot of work- series has featured 28 broadcasts, wealth creation platform that although activists warn it could related “Zooming”. Virtual space has including programmes for third party establishes market gardens with violate people’s privacy. replaced aerospace and I have come virtual conference organisers and in groups of women smallholder Bangladesh’s government is buy- to appreciate that webinars do have association with satellite industry farmers, and follows up by building a ing the so-called mobile intercep- certain advantages. Of course, whilst companies. A visit to https://gvf.org/ satellite connected Wi-Fi Hotspot hub tor from a Swiss company called there is something of an urge to return webinars/ will reveal the complete with each cluster of market gardens Toru Group Limited, according to real events, and to having human video archive as well as details of to enable low-cost convenient to Harun-Or-Rashif Biswas, a interaction with satellite industry future online events which will build access to financial services, a clinic, home ministry official. colleagues and partners again, this on the success achieved so far. and digital channels for content “The purpose of procuring this will not be a return to “normal”. We Reflecting the demand for and education, using internet vehicle-mounted mobile interceptor cannot yet grasp what the climb out of coverage of more current satellite connections. It is a prime example is to enhance the capacity of the successive lockdowns might be like; the industry topics, and requests for of what is being achieved through NTMC (a government agency),” Bis- progress of global vaccines distribution further opportunities to sponsor partnerships for connectivity. was said. “This device would enable and availability is far from equitable; events, the webinar series will For readers in south Asia this law enforcers to deter crimes.” and, the world won’t be “normal”. continue for the forseeable future, information may not seem of direct Bangladesh bought a similar The GVF-Satellite Evolution Group and as at the time of writing we interest, but there are parallels in, for interceptor in 2017, a year after pro- (SEG) webinar series actually began have just completed a short series example, India, where 5,000 remote Islamic State militants massacred in May 2020. Pandemic lockdowns produced in partnership with Intelsat. villages across 15 states get internet hostages during an overnight siege and travel restrictions had come Like the rest of the GVF-SEG series, connectivity at speeds of 2-20Mbps at the Holey Artisan Bakery, a Dhaka to necessitate that the satellite the below noted events have been from a partnership of Hughes India café, in the nation’s deadliest ter- industry, just like other communities recorded so you can catch up at (a subsidiary of Hughes Network rorist attack to date. of interest, gather only virtually. https://gvf.org/webinars/. Systems) and ISRO. The Organisation’s At the time, the government said Meeting had to be online, and in Boosting Africa’s communications communications satellites, GSAT-19 and it would use the device to identify response GVF and SEG forged this network infrastructure requires a GSAT-11, and Hughes’ Jupiter system, and track militants. new, regular and frequent series of new roadmap to affordable and were contracted by Bharat Broadband Biswas, the home ministry connections in the Zoom ecosphere. reliable connectivity, supporting the Nigam Ltd (BBNL) – a special purpose official, declined to elabo- The advantage of webinars is continent’s digital transformation and vehicle created to implement the rate on how exactly the NTMC that with them being saved to the enabling greater economic growth government of India’s BharatNet would use the new device. Cloud, their content has longevity, and meeting the growing need for network project – to provide affordable Rights activists, meanwhile, worry extending their potential audience shared prosperity. Broadband, fully high-speed broadband access to rural that the mobile interceptor’s use over distance and over time for as integrated hybrid networks, smart citizens and institutions. could violate citizens’ constitutional long as the themes of their dialogues device penetration, new business Our next significant, and geo- right to privacy, and that the tech- have continuing relevance, and an models and creative partnerships graphically broader, Asia focus will nology could be used to spy on the interested audience. As I’ve noted are the priority foundation to radical be what is now called Asia Tech X opposition and ordinary citizens. here before, the GVF-SEG series has socio-economic advance, and it is the 2021 (the virtual incarnation of what proven to be a noteworthy success. solutions to meet this objective that has in recent years been known After the 25 March 2021 webinar were examined in ‘Connecting Africa as ConnecTechAsia 2021), which is in the series, ‘Satellite Networks to Broadband – Where You Need It, scheduled for 14-16 July 2021… pre- Solutions: Development & Evolution When You Need It’ on 20 April. vailing Covid-19 circumstances per- of Capability & Performance’, which On 22 April the focus was on how mitting. GVF will be providing virtual attracted 328 registrations from 70 to ‘Enable High-performance Network conference content in the form of a countries, we received the following Coverage in Europe & MENA’. Driving short series of webinars to explore comment from an audience member the next wave of enterprise services the themes of ‘Planes, Trains, Au- in the Czech Republic, “Thanks to GVF innovation and transformation is tomobiles & Ships: Satcoms-on-the- for this unique webinar the adoption of hybrid cloud and Move’; ‘Bridging the Divide: Enabling series.” This was just one of many connectivity models to optimise Affordable Business & Community complimentary responses received the performance and resilience of Digital Connectivity’; and, ‘Natural since the series started. In another current services at lower-cost. The Disasters: Preparation & Response via example of responses to the series transformation of satellite solutions Satellite’. A final thought. Wherever Dhaka was the target in we have people dialling-in all for enterprises, and supporting you are whilst reading these words… Bangladesh’s worst terror attack around the clock. Over the Zoom applications in a secure, reliable, and Keep well, stay safe.

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 11 WIRELESS BUSINESS

‘5G smartphone share 7% in India’, Celcom and research finds Digi to merge The share of 5G smartphone sales in the accounted for the bulk of 5G devices being India market is close to 7% in the January- sold globally (86% share) despite having a but continue as March period and is expected to reach significantly smaller share of sales across 21% for the full year 2021, according to all technologies (53%). a joint report by phone brand Realme and “Every generation of cellular technology different brands Counterpoint Research. has seen a different mix of players taking the Malaysia’s Axiata and Telenor Asia are now in It found that even without a commercial lead,” said Peter Richardson, vice president advanced talks to merge their telco operations, network, India’s appetite for 5G is growing. (VP) and research director, Counterpoint Celcom and Digi into one entity, but will continue “The biggest drivers of entry-to-mid tier Research. “In 3G it was Nokia, with Samsung to be two different telco brands in the market. segments are likely to come from Asia with taking over in 4G. As we look ahead, the list of However, there will be no effect on existing India launching 5G in 2022 and Indonesia players is growing more diverse. Realme is one MVNOs arrangements for both companies. entering its growth phase,” it added. “With a of the fastest growing brands in the 5G era, The current chief executive officer (CEO) of combined population of over 1.6 billion these thanks to its appeal to younger users who are Celcom, Idham Nawawi has been nominated as the markets - in particular India - will drive 5G bound to form a core part of the 5G market.” CEO for the newly-merged company while Digi’s sales growth through the long term.” Madhav Sheth, VP, Realme and chief CEO, Albern Murty will become its deputy CEO. 5G phone sales have already crossed the executive officer, Realme India and Europe, Axiata and Telenor will each own 33.1% 50% mark in key developed markets like added. “We will also expand our product of the new entity which means that they will Korea, China, North America, with Europe and portfolio to offer affordable devices without control the Celcom Digi Berhad together. The Japan following closely. compromising on quality and premium flagship rest of the shares will be owned by other local In Q1 2021, these advanced markets products leading on technological innovation.” institutional funds such as EPF, PNB and KWAP as well as the public. Axiata and Telenor have also guaranteed that there is no plan to cut jobs or perform forced Globe Telecom secures US$100m retrenchments on the existing staff at Celcom and Digi. However, those that have overlapping positions will be offered new roles or retraining and loan to finance capex upskilling opportunities which are related to the Globe Telecom of the Philippines secured said in a disclosure. The company’s network establishment of the new Innovation Centre that US$100m in debt financing to help roll-out strategy includes aggressive cell was revealed in today’s announcement. fund its 2021 spending. site builds, upgrade of all its sites to Fourth Nevertheless, Axiata and Telenor also The Ayala-led telco told the local bourse Generation/Long Term Evolution technology didn’t discount the possibility of a Voluntary it signed the loan facility with Bank (4G LTE), and fast-tracking the fiberisation of Separation Scheme being offered to the of China (Hong Kong). Filipino homes nationwide.” employees of both telcos. For the first three months of 2021, the Earnings in the first quarter reached ₱7.3bn, Izzadin Idris, president and group CEO of telco player already spent ₱19.1 billion in 11% higher than the ₱6.59bn a year ago, as Axiata, said the announcement does not involve capital expenditures. it benefited from the tax cuts imposed under a binding agreement and there is still a lot of This year, Globe expects to shell out the newly-enacted Corporate Recovery and Tax work to be done in order to finalise the merger. a record-high ₱70bn to finance its Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law. Additionally, the merger is also still subject to massive network upgrades. The group’s consolidated service revenues, approvals from the regulators and shareholders of “The loan shall be used to finance the meanwhile, hit ₱37.8bn, up 3% than the respective companies. company’s capital expenditures,” Globe ₱36.9bn posted in the same period last year. However, the definitive agreement is expected to be ready within this quarter.

Converge ICT acquires brace of PLDT cable landing stations in Philippines Fibre broadband provider Philippines for a total of US$7.5m of Australian telecom giant the unseen backbone of internet Converge ICT Solutions is (P358.47m) to gain “strategic Telstra, maintains and operates services used by billions of people acquiring the stake of PLDT imperative to expand its capabilities cable landing stations in the around the world and make landfall unit Digital Telecommunications in telecommunications”. Philippines connected to the EAC in facilities called landing stations. Philippines (Digitel) in two firms Converge said the transaction has and C2C cable systems. The deal was also expected to involved in cable landing stations been completed as of Wednesday, Together the two submarine cable bring cost benefits for Converge, in the Philippines. June 2 and this means that the fibre systems have eight landing points which is increasing its presence The telecommunication provider now owns a 60% controlling in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, in the international cable service provider said that it stake in ANPC and a 40% stake in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and segment amid an aggressive has acquired shares of Digital DCI. ANPC has a 20% share in DCI. the Philippines, spanning 19,800km expansion program, it said. Telecommunications Phils. in Digitel, whose other major with a design capacity of 2.56Tbps. Converge aims to cover 55% of Digitel Crossing and Asia Netcom shareholder is Pacnet Network International cable systems are Filipino households by 2025.

12 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 WIRELESS BUSINESS

Telenor Myanmar faces bleak future Indosat Ooredoo Telenor Myanmar faces a very bleak future after it The new regime imposed network restrictions reported a Q1 loss of US$783m. for all operators, and on March 15 ordered a books profit The Norway-based operator said the poor state nationwide shutdown of mobile data networks. The Indosat Ooredoo closed the first quarter (Q1) of of the unit, impacted by the military coup that effect on Telenor, which provides mobile services in 2021 with a strong performance, maintaining the began in February, means it is now fully impaired. Myanmar, has been immediate and severe. company’s momentum for growth from last year. “Due to the worsening of economic and Sigve Brekke, president and CEO of Telenor, In a virtual performance update, the operator business environment outlook and a deteriorating described the situation in Myanmar as “irregular, booked revenue growth of 12.6% year-on-year (yoy) security and human rights situation, we see uncertain, and deeply concerning.” to Rp7.3tn. Cellular revenue increased by 12.5% yoy limited prospects of improvement going In the first quarter of 2021, Telenor said revenue to Rp6tn, while fixed data revenue showed strong forward,” the group said. development in Asia remained challenging, “despite growth 15.8% to Rp1.16tn. As a result of the write down, group net earnings the increase in subscriber base in all markets At the same time, the enterprise sector has shown fell to a loss of US$469m in the first quarter from a except Malaysia. However, month on month signs of recovery, with Indosat Ooreedoo’s enterprise year-ago profit of U$84m. improvements are generally seen in the revenue revenue growing by 17.1 percent yoy to Rp1.3tn. However, the coup in Myanmar is not the only trends, supported by a strong subscriber intake.” The company’s earnings before interest, taxes, challenge in Asia, which accounts for more than However, Telenor was still able to increase depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased half of the group’s top line. Sales have been group mobile subscriptions by five million to by 42.5% yoy to Rp3.4tn. The report attributed the squeezed largely by pandemic-induced drops in 187 million, which it said was fully attributed to rise to the combination of top-line growth and cost international roaming. its operations in Asia. efficiency, contributing to growth in the EBITDA In early February, Myanmar’s military cut It even managed to add two million subscribers margin of 9.7% yoy to 46.2% in Q1 2021, the off much of the nation’s connectivity after in Myanmar, while Grameenphone in Bangladesh highest point in the past seven quarters. rounding up civilian leaders and announcing and Telenor Pakistan reported respective increases Indosat president director and CEO Ahmad a state of emergency. of 1.7 million and 1.3 million subscriptions. Al-Neama said in a statement that despite the operational challenges caused by Covid-19, the company had given a satisfactory performance to open 2021. “Our growth momentum is continuing NTC to give 22% share to its to take shape, reflected in our double-digit revenue growth, a solid EBITDA performance, as well as customers booking a net profit. This performance for the first quarter of 2021 is our new benchmark for our future Nepal Telecom (NT) will allocate a 22% share to apply for a share in NTC. To apply, one must financial performance,” he said. Al-Neama explained to the customers in the next fiscal year, the be either a SIM card user, Landline, or ADSL/ that Indosat Ooreedoo’s strategy of providing simple state-owned operator said. FTTH subscriber of the company. If you are and relevant products alongside maintaining its This means all customers will neither of them, the easiest workaround would network excellence had boosted the company’s receive some stocks from the company be, getting an NTC SIM soon. strong rebound and position in the cellular market. before the end of 2021. NT’s current paid-up value is NRs15bn. “I would like to thank our loyal customers and Nepal’s finance minister Bishnu Prasad The government owns 13 crores, 72 stakeholders for their support, as this has motivated Poudel made the announcement on his lakhs, 50 thousand shares. The 22% of us to book this amazing result,” he continued. FY 2078/79 budget speech from Singh it will equate to 3 crores, 1 lakh, and 95 “We are committed to ensuring connectivity and Durbar on Jestha 15. thousand units of shares. availability for our products and digital services The telco currently has a 91.50% share Currently, the firm has only 66 lakhs that Indonesia needs during these tough times, owned by the government while the general and 60 thousand actives shares. Due to and to accelerate Indonesia’s transformation public has 8.47% and Citizen Investment Trust the low amount of shares, its price has into a digital nation.” funds claims 0.03% of shares. remained high. Last time NTC’s share was Overall, Indosat Ooreedoo booked a net profit Now, the Nepalese government is traded for NRs1,356. of Rp172bn in Q1 2021, an increase of Rp778bn disinvesting its shares by selling offering 22% However, after the disinvestment, the compared with the same period last year. It also to the stakeholders. By doing this, it will be number of shares will amount to 4 crore, 27 grew its customer base by 7% yoy to 60 million, drawing a hefty amount of capital and allow lakhs, 69 thousand, and 500 units. This may with its average revenue per user (ARPU) increasing wider public participation in the country’s contribute to a lower price for each unit of by 11% yoy to Rp32,700 thanks to a strong largest telecom operator. share. The telco will undergo some work before 46% growth in data traffic compared with the However, only NTC customers will be eligible the price is finalised for its share. same period in 2020.

SLT-Mobitel emerges amongst Sri Lanka’s top 10 brands SLT-Mobitel, Sri Lanka’s national Most Valuable Brands conducted by brand unification sets SLT-Mobitel effort to create a technology driven ICT and telecommunication service brand valuation and strategy firm as a formidable force, signalling to economy and a technology-based provider, is one of the country’s top Brand Finance Lanka. our consumers the strength of our society, we are also now able, 10 most valuable brands, according “We are extremely pleased to have offering as the undisputed leader through our synergized brand, to an annual index. been selected amongst the top ten in telecommunication services in to provide all citizens innovative The operator has been ranked at most valuable brands in the country,” Sri Lanka and pioneer in the digital and unparalleled customer- ninth place in a ranking based on the said Rohan Fernando, chairman, Sri landscape. While this unification centric services and world class 18th annual review of Sri Lanka’s Lanka Telecom Group. “Our recent is an impetus to the government’s digital experiences.”

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 13 WIRELESS BUSINESS

Ncell hikes international call tariff Singtel begins Nepalese operator Ncell has bumped up its Lithuania, Malta, Maldives, Netherlands, international call costs by six times, after Slovenia, Syria, Tajikistan and Thailand. review following the Nepal Telecommunications Authority “NTC and Smart Cell have set about the (NTA) approved the proposal to hike call same calling charges for their customers big losses rates to 19 countries. and Ncell’s hiked prices will bring uniformity Prior to the increase, regular outgoing in charges for foreign calls among the Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel), calls from Ncell to the 19 countries cost telecom operators in Nepal,” said NTA southeast Asia’s biggest telecom operator, has approximately Rs.5. Now, with the revised chairman Purushottam Khanal. begun a strategic review of some businesses rates the call tariff will amount to Rs.30. He added that Ncell wanted to raise after saying it will book a charge of S$1.21bn The countries on the list are: Belgium, its foreign call charges because it was in its annual results. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, providing the service far more cheaply Yuen Kuan Moon, the operator’s Germany, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, than other operators. chief executive officer (CEO), said at a media briefing. Some of the digital businesses have taken longer than expected to scale up, he added. TM posts strong Q1 in face of Singtel has written down impairment charges against its investments in advertising platform Amobee and cybersecurity company pandemic Trustwave and sees both companies needing a Telekom Malaysia recorded a net profit of Ongoing cost-improvement initiatives longer cycle to achieve their goals, it said in a RM325.47m for the first quarter ended March continue to show results with total statement issued before the briefing. 31, 2021, marking an increase of 113.4% operating cost ratios (% cost-to-revenue) The company’s Australian unit, Optus, year-on-year (YoY) from RM152.52m profit it improving from 88.1% last year to 79.7%, has also undertaken a review and will made in the same period last year. supporting both revenue growth while book similar charges. Revenue increased by 9.9% YoY to RM2.81 optimising cost efficiency across direct Furthermore, this review also marks the billion, driven by an increase in revenue costs, manpower, other operating costs, first major overhaul at the company since Yuen across all business lines — unifi, TM One and depreciation and amortisation. took over as CEO in January. It also comes at TM Wholesale — the telecommunications In the first quarter of 2021, TM invested a time when the coronavirus pandemic has company noted in a filing to Bursa Malaysia. 8.8% of revenue in capital expenditure crimped mobile service revenue for some firms, Coupled with continuous cost- efficiency (capex) amounting to RM247m as it continued while accelerating the use of technology and initiatives, TM managing director and to modernise its network and technology data globally as millions of people working group chief executive officer Imri Mokhtar platforms towards delivering current and online from their homes. said earnings before interest and tax future solutions for customers. “This review could involve the restructuring (Ebit) significantly improved 80.8% YoY to “Of the amount invested, 69% was for of product or business segments, a full or RM589.7m and profit after tax and minority network access including National Digital partial divestment or business combinations interests doubled to RM325.5m compared to Infrastructure Plan (Jendela) (fibre broadband with other industry players,” Yuen said in the same period last year. expansion), 12% for core network and the the statement. “We are open to all types of “We began 2021 with a positive momentum balance 19% for support systems. TM expects strategic partnerships and deals.” and a strong start to our ‘New TM’ 2021-2023 to meet the 2021 market guidance announced Arthur Lang, Singtel’s group chief financial Transformation Programme. We are pleased in February with revenue growth to be flat officer, said at the briefing that more than 90% to report a solid year-on-year performance or single-digit, Ebit to be more than RM1.6 of the charges taken by the telecom operator despite these unprecedented times,” he billion and capex guidance to be between won’t erode cash holdings and the company said in a statement. 14% and 18% of revenue,” TM said. will hire financial advisers for the review.

Wateen Telecom and Huawei ink Pakistan deal

Wateen Telecom, Pakistan’s largest its nationwide optical fibre network requirements, Wateen said. financial institutions, cellular fibre optic network, has signed an after completion of the project. Wateen is fully geared for mobile operators, education agreement with Huawei Pakistan As demand for superior 4G growth and 5G era with its sector, internet resellers across to modernise its countrywide data network performance continues futuristic network architecture, Pakistan and international transmission network. to grow, both domestically and resilient fibre footprint, customers, it added. The former will deploy a state- internationally, Wateen’s network high-capacity transmission Adil Rashid, chief executive of-the-art optical transmission is designed to facilitate growth to infrastructure, and nationwide field officer (CEO) of Wateen Telecom, network from Huawei to meet the exponential increase in services organisation. along with Mark Meng, CEO of revolutionise the digital landscape internet capacity demand. The network modernisation will Huawei Pakistan, signed the of the country, it said. The new network capacity holds give the required impetus to offer agreement in Lahore at the Wateen Wateen will have enhanced the potential to perform at 100G new opportunities to benefit small, Telecom head office. capacities and higher speeds on to 400G rates to future bandwidth medium and large enterprises,

14 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 WIRELESS BUSINESS

Trio targets Kevin Graham, director, Talking critical MSMEs Australasian Critical Communications Forum-ACCF India’s Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Helping to radio has also enjoyed widespread network core others, including Tata Teleservices adoption in the public and private and operation are focussing on the medium and shape the transport sector where Singapore, centers are fully small-scale enterprises (MSME) as future of critical Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Malaysia, redundant meeting the these businesses get digitised and China, South Korea, and Australia specific needs of agencies. become better revenue options than communications have extensive deployments. The New Zealand’s emergency services the larger established corporates utility sector, municipal governments, currently use voice-centric, mostly with fixed network service providers. Last quarter, the TCCA chairman and shared public access networks analogue government-owned and “JioBusiness is bridging this gap stressed the importance of continuing servicing needs of general industry operated networks. A Next Generation by providing enterprise-grade voice global efforts in evolving open and local government are significant Critical Communications (NGCC) Public and data services, digital solutions standards in both the mission critical too. Mining, resources, oil and gas Safety Network is now under tender and devices to small businesses capability on broadband networks (including LNG) are another major evaluation stage. NGCC-PSN will replace which would make them efficient, (private and carrier) and also enhancing vertical market along with hospitals, existing disparate radio networks competitive…,” said the company in the existing digital narrowband education, casinos, conference venues with a single nationwide secure the report. There are approximately 58 standards (TETRA, P25, DMR) to and stadiums. Events such as F1 digital radio service, and prioritised million MSMEs in India. ensure seamless interoperation can be and Moto Grand Prix, Olympics, and commercial cellular broadband achieved across networks, between International government forums capability in urban, highway and Housebound devices and with critical control centres. have relied on these digital LMR rural areas commonly accessed by As populations grow, cities swell technologies for event management, Emergency Services. Secure digital Nepalis buy and man-made and natural disasters security and operations. These radio will provide voice and messaging become more frequent, so also is existing users continue to enhance services in many areas where cellular devices in droves the demand for critical services and and refresh networks and devices and services are not available. Nepalis confined to their therefore critical communications new deployments continue. Beyond In Australia, the New South Wales homes went on a mobile capability that supports service the core individual, broadcast and government, on behalf of all state and laptop buying spree to stay delivery. This includes public protection group voice call facilities there has and territory governments and the connected as the pandemic and disaster response and vital utility been increased use of inherent data Australian Government have committed confined them to their homes, services including public access functionalities such as messaging, to work with Nokia, TPG Telecom and pushing up imports to an all- communications, transportation, short-data applications, location-based SingTel-Optus, to develop and test time high. The increase in online healthcare, education and other reporting, geo-stamping of data, technology in a “proof of concept” classes and working from home government/industry services that geo-fencing applications, man-down / trial until mid-2022. This trial will became the norm for students underpin the general economy of lone worker, image transfer, SCADA and help shape the design of the national and office employees after the nations. The advancement of critical telemetry data transmission. platform for emergency service government imposed lockdown, networks is essential to address the Many in these sectors have communications that is contemplated so they had to invest in personal increasing demands coming from end commenced or are interested in to rollout in phases from 2023. devices. According to the Customs users for voice and data functionalities complimenting their LMR networks Clearly, MC LTE is gaining Department, Nepal imported nearly in resilient, secure and more with wireless broadband to enable data momentum in APAC and pathfinding Rs40bn worth of cell phones and interoperable ways. transfer requiring higher speed data projects here and in Europe and laptops in the first 10 months of the An array of multivendor solutions (video, imaging, push/pull information, USA provide valuable lessons to current fiscal year. and devices based on TETRA, P25, and internet access). The mining sector others in this region. Regulatory and Tetrapol (and recently DMR and has commenced some deployments spectrum access policy have a major Vietnamobile Chinese equivalent, PDT) have evolved. of private LTE to support autonomous bearing on options for delivering MC Significant and ongoing investment mining vehicle operations amongst broadband to government and industry launches mobile and deployment of these technologies other applications. Within government, users while supporting existing occurred as older analogue transport and general industry and extensive investments in LMR. The ID service deployments were replaced from the enterprise sectors there is clearly strategies to reach implementation, Vietnamobile has introduced mid 1990s/2000s across APAC. growth occurring for proprietary “over require significant advance planning a mobile ID service– the In government agencies and public the top” voice and data applications including determination of the optimal authentication solution safety we have seen major cities, using existing LTE carrier networks solution delivery models be that for all smartphone transactions, provinces and several national shared in the absence of availability of dedicated network v’s hybrid or carrier completely free of charge for its government Radio Networks (GRN) 3GPP compliant mission critical MCx MNO/MVNO approaches. subscribers in Vietnam. Instead of deployed using these standards. (MCPTT, MCData and MCVideo) on One thing certain is that advancing undergoing complicated and risky South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, most carrier networks. and commercializing open standards traditional authentication steps Malaysia and Australian states are all South Korea completed the first three based eco-systems will be crucial for such as providing the phone number longstanding examples where shared phases of a nationwide public-safety competitive and economic availability and authenticating via SMS OTP, GRNs replaced individual agency network, SafeNet, that commenced in of multi-vendor mission critical LMR customers only need to authorise analogue networks and improved 2018 after several years of planning, and LTE capability. Critical responders Vietnamobile to generate their levels of intra and inter-agency critical preliminary design and spectrum deserve modern communication tools mobile ID. The mobile ID service communications across their respective allocation. In March 2021 full systems to improve their effectiveness in relies on IPification, the zero-tap populations. A similar situation has acceptance was commemorated protecting and serving all citizens. compatible, passwordless mobile prevailed in many high-density allowing the commencement of active TCCA/ACCF welcomes new member authentication, user verification and cities in India, China, Philippines service including 3GPP compliant organizations from APAC to participate fraud prevention solution. and Indonesia. Digital land mobile Release 13 MCPTT functionality. The in shaping our regional future.

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 15 Intelligent. Connected. Proven. Sepura’s SCG22 mobile TETRA radio with advanced connectivity keeps your teams safe, whatever the task

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The powerful pull of a home number Telecoms solutions, such as a digital MVNO, that tap into that connection by offering the chance for users to have a ‘home’ number wherever they are in the world, will create new opportunities that will have cross-border reach and global impact. Shanks Kulam, co-founder of digital first telecoms enabler x-Mobility, explains more

s an industry, we have Nigerian diaspora community in with. They therefore present an solved many problems for the UK or the travel industry as it opportunity to any service provider Aour customers and created returns to Thailand? that can effectively target them. some amazing technology that we Because as well as travel, we also The rise of the MVNO market was can offer them, from the device find comfort and safety at home. We in part a response to some of these hardware, the app software or the like having the familiar around us and issues. MVNOs were established to network infrastructure. many of us feel a pride and a sense help target a niche audience that However, now is the time for of belonging in where we come from. MNOs couldn’t or wouldn’t. Many us to work harder to tap into Even as we travel around the of the initial niche audiences were their emotional needs with world, there is a part that never diaspora audiences that wanted solutions such as a digital MVNO leaves ‘home’, that always feel a pull to be both still ‘home’ and ‘local’ we can both connect people back to the place we are from. And at the same time and so didn’t and help them to maintain their for that reason, we often try to take automatically fit in either market. emotional connections. a piece of home with us when we They needed something new to As a species we like to move, travel. We maintain a keepsake of work for them and so MVNOs were to travel and to explore new home when we are either next door created to target them. opportunities. Most cultures or on the other side of the globe. But the physical requirements of celebrate the intrepid explorer and One of the reasons that people an MVNO, with a SIM card, mean most families have a member that tend to group together with other that not everyone can easily be downloading a digital MVNO onto got ‘out’. For some, travel is a luxury members of their diaspora is to sold to. To buy something physical, their handset, they will also be that is afforded to them, while create that reminder of home. To people need to buy it in person, able to add a Kenyan number to for others they travel to find new recreate the language, the food, the or be able to receive a delivery, that handset. They can then make employment or lifestyle opportunities shared jokes and cultural references. which puts another barrier to entry and receive calls to any friends elsewhere, as a necessity. To have a home away from home. in their way, but for some people and family they have left behind. We move around the globe for In this global world it can be and communities the logistics On many of the digital MVNOs, both personal and professional telecoms that brings us back can be almost insurmountable. those calls and messages would be reasons, we are a world of diaspora ‘home’ – the jolt of recognition of So communities that most need free if their friends and family had Intelligent. communities. In fact, one of the a call coming in prefixed by the a niche solution created for them downloaded the same app. biggest changes in our global international dialling code from your are further excluded. While a migrant worker from behaviour that the pandemic has home country. While telecoms can Yet, the majority of activity on Vietnam that was working in Australia caused has been the massive provide a piece of home that can be our phones nowadays is with the could keep both an Australian and Connected. reduction in travel and the opening kept with us, in our pocket all day, apps we download. The MVNOs of Vietnamese number on the same up of travel opportunities will be the by having a ‘home’ number on our the future will be an app that can handset. Wherever they were, they barometer to how well nations and phone we can be thousands of miles be downloaded and not a physical could make and receive calls to regions are coping with Covid-19. away, but at the same time only a SIM that needs to be bought, friends, family or for work to and Proven. As the world hopefully recovers local call away from our family. collected or delivered. from either location. from the pandemic, we’ll soon As we travel around the world our But they will, and already do, As an industry the telecoms sector start to go back to a globally ‘home’ phone numbers, whether offer calling and messaging services must remember that, even with all Sepura’s SCG22 mobile TETRA radio mobile workforce and population, that is a +84 dialing code, or even on the user’s existing handset. the available technology, consumers, we will return to having people a +61, offer us a technical and But because they are digital, they our users, still buy for emotional with advanced connectivity keeps from Thailand that work in Texas emotional connection to home. And can offer so much more and so reasons. And one of the most and people from Benin that in many cases they can offer a literal much more that will appeal to the emotive reasons that we can tap into your teams safe, whatever the task choose to live in Berlin. connection with home as we can use mobile global audience. is the desire for our global population What that means for us in the that number to make or receive calls A digital MVNO allows a user to feel connected to home, to have a telecoms sector is that those with friends and family back home. to keep their ‘local’ number, to link back to the friends, family and diaspora communities represent an We know that people both love to be able to be a part of the local experiences of home even when they opportunity. They are a distinct niche travel and be away from home and community, but to also keep a are on the other side of the world. and can be treated as such by both yet love to keep a piece of home with ‘home’ number and stay emotionally Providing an easy to use, simple providers from their ‘home’ location them. We know that for many people and technologically connected to download and cheap ‘home’ and their new ‘local’ location. a ‘home’ phone number creates a to friends and family. number that can be accessed The question is, how do we reach powerful sense of connection. We So for example, someone who from anywhere in the world them and service them properly? also know that if people are ‘away’ emigrates from Nairobi to Toronto on any handset is one way the How do we as industry support they will almost certainly have friends will be able to get a contract industry can answer the emotional For more information visit: migrant workers in Australia, the and family back home to connect with a Canadian MNO, but by requirements of our users. n www.sepura.com/SCG22 Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 17 FEATURE: NETWORK MONITORING

Testing the network The increased usage of IoT, streaming and other services mean operators are faced with commercial and technical pressures to continually protect and enhance their network. Robert Shepherd looks at some network optimising tools at their disposal

epending on what you read, the rates than 4G and other predecessors. network optimisation. number of mobile devices operating Globally, it is expected that up to 20.1% As far as operators are concerned, across the globe is expected to reach of all connections will be made over the monitoring user activity (no, not snooping) Dan incredible 17.7 billion by 2024. To put that 5G standard by 2025. and experience along with sending alerts into context, it marks an increase of 3.7 billion Of course, any advancements in technology immediately upon detecting network and devices compared to 2020. can only be a good thing for the end user, the service instabilities can drastically reduce the Another thing that’s increasing at speed is bottom line of the mobile operators and the negative effect that network problems have on our dependence on these gadgets to carry out tech companies behind the kit. That said, it does end-user applications. functions and activities, be they for business bring network operators challenges not least When voice, data, video and messaging or pleasure. The use cases for mobile devices making sure their networks can withstand the services fail to deliver the expected quality increasingly demand faster connection speeds surge when numerous users go online. levels, network and service operations centres and lower latency. This means the much- Indeed, the requirement for high-performance need to be notified instantly to take prompt heralded 5G network will be critical to fulfilling increases by the day, courtesy of IoT streaming action. This is particularly important in critical those demands, operating at significantly faster and other demands and so must the rate of hotspots such as shopping malls, airports,

18 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 FEATURE: NETWORK MONITORING

NetAlly’s network tester in action commercial centres, train stations, highly throughout the relevant country and basic beam analysis, as well as the ability to test fibre, populated areas, key commuting routes quality parameters, by frequencies and cellular coax, and air interfaces, makes it a versatile and public transport. technologies such as 2G, 3G and 4G. cell site test solution. Whether the operator is Network optimisation consists of two key Now, let’s look at some solutions. Sticking performing signal analysis, interference analysis, parts: initial and continuous optimisation. The with regulators for a moment, a company called or just inspecting fibre connections, Viavi claims former occurs during network implementation RantCell has come up with Crowdsourcing this one instrument “can do it all”. Its easy-to- to prepare it for the launch. The aim is to platform with crowdsourcing mobile testing, use interface, complemented by cloud enabled ensure that the agreed objectives for coverage, where watchdogs can enhance their supervision Viavi StrataSync, makes it simple to create quality and service performance are met. These and monitoring capabilities. Among other reports and close projects fast. objectives are often defined as target values for things, they can introduce an application that Other benefits include the ability to validate sets of key performance indicators (KPI) that can be installed on end measure network performance and the quality users’ cellular handsets/ of end-to-end services. end devices and collect Continuous optimisation is also an integral more reliable information part of network operations, particularly in a regarding the quality of Do you want more? world where networks are constantly changing. the service and network The network capacity must continuously coverage map while Then why not read about wireless communications increase due to an ever-growing traffic demand; keeping the user’s privacy. from outside your region? new network elements are regularly put into With regard to what’s operation and new services are introduced and available to the operators coverage is extended. themselves, we kick off To keep service providers on their toes, with the Viavi CellAdvisor regulators are charged with ensuring that mobile 5G, the company claims, operators adhere to terms of their licences, “is the industry’s most which means the latter run their services with easy-to-use, innovative, military precision if they are to avoid financial and comprehensive penalties, or worse. base station analyser”. Generally, regulators need current monitoring It is a field-portable tools that require running field-tests by solution to validate and specialised personnel and equipment or relying deploy 5G radio access on operators’ data and reports. networks. Furthermore, its For example, mobile operators provide combination of real-time regulators with simulations of their coverage spectrum analysis and 5G Contact us today to subscribe to

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The Spirent C2 Appliance is a Layer 2-7 router, switch, Wi-Fi, application and security test solution in a portable form factor House Ad JULY 2020.indd 1 21/06/2021 16:30 Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 19 FEATURE: NETWORK MONITORING

Spirent’s C2 in action and deploy all physical interfaces, such as and monitor large-scale networks for surveillance (active and passive) and bluetooth surveys on the fibre, coax and RF, as well as the option to and troubleshooting. same walkthrough, making it quick and easy to upgrade to new features and technology with The PacketScan is a high-density multi- validate Wi-Fi network performance while at the software licenses, perform PIM detection plus protocol 2U rack mounted network monitoring same time validating indoor location services interference analysis and hunting with the same appliance that can capture and process packets or IoT deployments, as well as possible 2.4GHz solution. With regards to applications, there is over IP on high-speed Ethernet links of 1 Wi-Fi interference caused by bluetooth co- Interference analysis and PIM detection over Gbps and 10 Gbps links. existence in the same band. CPRI, comprehensive RF signal analysis and Packet Data Analysis (PDA) is a tool for live “It’s surprising how many bluetooth devices antenna analysis with optional RF source. monitoring of signalling and traffic over IP. are already present in most environments, and Rohde & Schwarz offers Qualipoc, It is distributed with GL’s Packet Analyzers, with the expansion of location-based services SmartMonitor and SmartAnalytics, which allowing users to monitor live IP networks such as way finding and asset tracking, it’s combine to form a solution for QoE-centric including capture, analysis, and reporting of only going to increase,” says James Kahkoska, (quality of experience) network monitoring. every call in detail. chief technology officer at NetAlly. “But The smartphone-based network probes Hot off the press, NetAlly has just launched deployment is a very manual process, prone to QualiPoc, for data collection, which can operate EtherScope nXG v1.5 software with Bluetooth configuration errors.” as static probes distributed over several network and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) site survey Infovista TEMS offers a portfolio of eight hotspots (e.g., shopping malls, event venues etc., capability as part of its AirMapper Site Survey network testing tools used to optimise mobile moving probes in a fleet setup, e.g., installed in Ecosystem of products. Bluetooth is the network quality and application performance by taxis, public transportation and a combination second most popular wireless technology in the measuring end user experience. of the above. It also has web-based controlling world, used for many applications from indoor As far as network operators are concerned, software “SmartMonitor” for test configuration location services to IoT device connectivity. TEMS delivers the ability to walk test, drive test, and real-time dashboard. However, until now, there were no solutions in and dynamically analyse service performance It’s replete with remote real-time control of the market to perform location-based surveying under real-life conditions indoors, outdoors, network probes and remote test configuration. and visual heatmapping of Bluetooth beacons. and during travel. For industries leveraging Additionally, there is web-based analytics NetAlly spotted the gap in the market and so connected mobile applications for automation, software “SmartAnalytics” for data analytics: produced the first bluetooth and BLE site survey remote control and Industrial IoT, TEMS delivers a software suite to implement comprehensive solution on the market. the ability to measure and track connectivity data analytics based on measurements NetAlly says the new functionality will allow and provides visibility into factors that affect from network problems. EtherScope nXG users to perform a passive application performance. Through close Next up is GL bluetooth or BLE cooperation with equipment vendors, chipset Communications, site survey using the manufactures and device vendors, Infovista TEMS which offers its AirMapper app and quickly provide in-depth subscriber (QoE) and PacketScan – All- internal radio, thus network (QoS) insights to make better network IP Analyzer. The providing full visibility investment choices TEMS resides within a solution can capture into bluetooth portfolio of Infovista network lifecycle automation and analyse high network coverage and solutions used by more than 1,700 customers, volumes of phone performance through including 350 mobile network operators. calls over a wide the company’s Link- The Spirent C2 Appliance is a Layer 2-7 router, range of protocols Live Cloud Service. It switch, Wi-Fi, application and security test on IP and Wireless will also allow users solution in a portable form factor. With Ethernet (2G, 3G, 4G, IMS, to perform both Wi-Fi line-rates at 10GE, 5GE, 2.5GE, 1GE and 100M and 5G) networks. It test ports, C2 support the complete suite of can capture, analyse Viavi CellAdvisor 5G Spirent test solutions for other interfaces such as

20 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 FEATURE: NETWORK MONITORING

Wi-Fi and automotive. The appliance is the ideal platform and Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 rise exponentially, but cellular internet-of-things tool throughout the test lifecycle for performing 5G Modem-RF System, as well as a Motorola (IoT) devices are set to permeate more industrial functional, performance and benchmark testing edge+ smartphone based on the Qualcomm sectors in the coming years, saving human of data centre, highspeed routers, access Snapdragon 865 5G Mobile Platform were beings from some of the most unpleasant jobs. It points, service provider network infrastructure, used for the tests. also means a solution will eventually be required and evolving SDN and NFV technologies across Deployment of industrial-grade LTE and for network congestion and data transfer speeds. different configurations required for in-lab and 5G private wireless networks opens new Furthermore, experts have said that 6G live/operational networking testing. Unique C2 opportunities in the future for Nornickel in the ought to be capable of solving those problems features include the ability to accommodate areas of robotics, remote and autonomous before they arise, potentially enabling a network up to three interface cards (NICs) with fully operations, end-to-end transport automation, connection density ten times greater than synchronised hardware timing crossing NICs and analytics and security to enable a revolutionary that of 5G, and peak data rates up to fifty ports. In addition, C2 offers a single clocking breakthrough in digital transformation for times faster than the rate of 5G. The Federal source for all test ports in one appliance the mining industry. Communications Commission in the US has for synchronized TX and RX clocking across If you’ve made it this far, it might opened spectrum for experimentation, and China NICs as well as additional port count for interest you to know. have already launched what is described as a 6G time-sensitive tests. Although 5G is flying commercially, satellite, so that actual potential of 6G should researchers and engineers have for some time be revealed in the next 10 years. The way things been experimenting with 6G. As a result, not only are going, we will be talking about 7G before 6G Private wireless will the number of mobile devices continue to has made its mark. n networks Shaping the future of Asia’s untapped In April this year, Nornickel, one of the world’s largest producers of palladium and high-grade connectivity market with satellite nickel and a major producer of platinum and copper, joined forces with Finnish tech giant, Nokia, to successfully complete testing he internet’s involvement in this –satellite, however, offers truly an original and uncontested of a private LTE/5G-ready wireless network an increasingly wide palette numerous benefits to markets concept. I see neXat as a raw Tof functions in our everyday lives, like those in Asia where internet diamond in the sense that the deployed in one of the mines of the Skalysty the tools of governments, and day- penetration is lacking. operators are yet to understand and mining enterprise at a depth of 875m – to-day operations of businesses, It is easy to deploy and see the potential of this service. a significant portion of the world scalable and has proven its What excites me is that neXat can Eurasia’s deepest mine. Other partners in still isn’t connected to it. value as a provider of immediate redefine the hub services that can According to this report, infrastructure for commercial, be offered and overcomes certain this project were the telecom operator, Tele2, the countries with the highest government and emergency limitations without any CAPEX. It Qualcomm and SPBEK-Mining. number of unconnected people relief communications empowers ISPs to simplify their are concentrated in Asia. For whereas terrestrial networks business by offering a one stop So, what happened? Nornickel’s private example, India has the highest can be costly to deploy, solution for customer & service wireless network was piloted simultaneously in number of disconnected especially in remote regions. management. It is a unique people - 50% of the country’s For teleport operators entering platform and the first aggregator 5G and LTE bands to support mission-critical and population - despite having the into new markets like those in of its type,” said Rajeev. “neXat will second largest online market Asia, SatADSL, through our develop to the benefit of operators business-critical functions, such as reliable and in the world. China, in second neXat platform, offers a Service as a marketplace for capacity secure voice and data communications, video place, has 582 million people (PaaS) that opens new markets as it grows and more operators not connected to the internet. for teleport, hub, and satellite connect to it. By enabling them surveillance, remote management of machinery In 2019, 39% of the country’s operators to sell unused satellite to enter new markets for the first through video channels, communications population was living in rural capacity and offers monetizable time more efficiently and without areas, explaining in part the high customised satellite services and CAPEX, operators looking to expand between production sites and the control number of unconnected people. extended hub capabilities. neXat their reach into new geographies The urban-rural divide is an issue is a complete OSS/BSS in the need look no further than neXat. centre, plus many others. for many countries, and causes cloud acting as an intermediary It will be a matter of time before The pilot network was deployed at the issues such as disproportionate between teleport and hub more teleport operators realise access to education, operators and the marketplace. the benefit of being a part of this Skalysty mine on the Nokia industrial-grade health services and more. platform and join hands with us.” private wireless connected digital mine solution, Other countries in the top 10 “This is also a very exciting time include Pakistan, Bangladesh and SatADSL in Asia for the company, and I look forward including 4.9G/LTE and 5G core hardware Indonesia. We might assume that to SatADSL widen the influence of To expand our reach in the Asian and software, Flexi Zone Micro LTE and Nokia high ranking of these countries it’s platform in a relatively untapped owes their large populations until market, Rajeev Nair is SatADSL’s Asia Pacific market. The company AirScale 5G base stations plus a special solution we consider the portion of their new Senior Vice President APAC is proving itself in the African, populations that unconnected and will be leading our drive in the European and South American for mission-critical group communications. people account for: 65% for region to connect the unconnected markets, so expanding the reach This test confirmed that Nokia’s private Pakistan; 59% for Bangladesh; and provide teleport operators further into Asia where there’s and 36% for Indonesia. The figures with a platform to reach new so much opportunity is a logical LTE/5G-ready technologies can reliably support are even starker when compared to markets, expand their coverage and approach which will mean even wireless broadband communication in a real- the relatively small percentage of grow their revenue. more growth,” Rajeev added. unconnected peoples in countries Rajeev has considerable Rajeev’s first move will be life underground mining environment. The like the United States (14%). experience in the satellite industry building relationships with satellite having worked as a Sales Director operators, teleport operators & results proved the feasibility and efficiency of covering diverse international ISPs and making them aware of a dedicated 4.9G/5G network operating as a Tapping into the regions such as India, Middle what value SatADSL and neXat can East, South Asia, Europe, Australia offer them. neXat allows satellite, unified data transfer environment for existing market and Africa. He is an Engineer in teleport and hub operators to offer Electronics & Telecom with a MBA the full range of SatADSL value- Nornickel platforms, as well as new digital Internet penetration is crucial in Marketing. In the last 17 years, added services to their own clients. in today’s world to stimulate products with different traffic profiles. Rajeev worked in the satellite It offers classical and packaged economic, social, and industry while working with Measat, satellite connectivity services, with In addition, Compal 5G laptop and Motorola organizational growth. Making Intelsat and Bharti Airtel, and also customer management, monitoring, broadband services affordable edge+ smartphone, both based on Qualcomm worked with Tata Sky and Reliance billing, and online payments. n and accessible, low deployment Infocom. Rajeev aims to replicate Snapdragon 8cx 5G with Qualcomm Snapdragon costs and ease of access are his successful track record in key considerations in increasing X55 5G Modem-RF System, were used to developing new markets to expand penetration. Many terrestrial the neXat services into Asia Pacific. demonstrate 5G mmWave technologies. connectivity options can’t provide “SatADSL’s neXat platform is 5G supporting Compal laptop based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx 5G computing

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 21 INDUSTRY VIEW: SATELLITE

What a difference a year makes Lessons learned from the global pandemic by Dan Losada, vice president, Hughes Network Systems

t is hard to believe that one year ago, we were singular, shared experience. No matter where you have distinct advantages over those without. at the start of the pandemic. It was around lived or worked, there was no escaping the need Now, 12 months into the pandemic, as the annual satellite industry conference in to stay away from people outside your household, vaccine programs expand and stay-at-home Washington, D.C. last March that we started to work and study from home and wear a protective orders lift, one thing is certain: Internet access Ihear rumors of a highly contagious virus that was mask. Zoom meetings across continents looked is no longer a “nice to have,” it is a necessity, spreading from one continent to another. Most of eerily monotonous thanks to commonly used enabling telehealth, supporting education and us didn’t know anything about “social distancing” digital backgrounds. delivering social services. or “herd immunity.” By the time the satellite show Yet, even as citizens from the Seychelles shut down early in March 2020, global travel to Southern Asia to San Francisco shared the New drivers of connectivity drew to a halt and stay-at-home orders became experience of staying at home, hand-washing and commonplace everywhere around the world. social-distancing, the vast differences in digital The pandemic accelerated the need for connec- In some ways, the global pandemic brought access grew more pronounced. Never has it been tivity around certain drivers. With COVID, there people together like never before, thanks to a more apparent that those with Internet access was suddenly a more pressing need to scale up

22 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 INDUSTRY VIEW: SATELLITE

telehealth services. Mild COVID cases would be Direct-to-home service service costs among dozens of users, the treated remotely so they wouldn’t overwhelm price-per-user decreases substantially to align medical facilities or further spread the illness. Many people live in areas where there is no better with market rates. Elderly patients or those with pre-existing condi- terrestrial broadband access, like hard-to-reach For implementation, Community Wi-Fi is tions were also better served by receiving care mountainous or desert regions or exurban especially attractive to governments striving to from the safety of their homes. Of course, all of communities where fiber or cable to the last provide Internet access to entire towns on short this demands connectivity, as do the many pop- mile was deemed too costly. Very Small Aperture timelines and without massive cost implica- up sites and processes supporting testing and Terminals (VSATs) have helped solve this problem tions. A shared VSAT model is also ideal for local vaccine distribution. by enabling delivery of satellite broadband service providers hoping to expand services to The disparity between the connected and the services almost anywhere. VSATs comprise an areas with smaller populations that may have unconnected was perhaps most glaring after the antenna (the “dish”), an outdoor and an indoor lower per capita income. sudden shift to remote learning. School systems unit. As convenient, two-way ground stations, they As ISPs and MNOs around the world seek and communities, along with families and make it possible to transmit and receive satellite to serve growing broadband demands in their students without access at home, faced added data practically anywhere. That means, ISPs can markets while expanding their wireless footprints, stress and strain. There is simply no remote provide reliable, convenient, and affordable satellite satellite Internet, satellite backhaul and learning without connectivity. Even the bulk of connectivity services to consumers, as YahClick, Community Wi-Fi Hotspot services will continue today’s in-class education throughout developed the joint venture between YahSat and Hughes, is to be an important part of the infrastructure. regions relies on connectivity. doing, for example, for thousands of subscribers in Simply put, satellite broadband connects the In an environment where remote work is South Africa using Hughes JUPITER terminals. unconnected by enabling service providers to recommended and in-person services are rare, improve their offerings, deliver better throughputs, citizens in communities around the world still Satellite backhaul and support education, economic development need access to basic health information and and social connection. government services at the local, state, and Satellite backhaul of cellular traffic has been national levels. They need to be able to find used for decades, supporting no less than 70,000 The way forward: connectivity updates on infection rates in their area, review sites today with 200,000 sites projected by everywhere World Health Organization guidelines or learn 2029, according to NSR. For cellular operators, a about quarantine related rules and restrictions. major barrier to expanding service in low density Now, as we look to post-pandemic life, Connectivity is the public’s best way to secure and rural areas has been the prohibitive cost governments across Africa and Asia are exploring information and services. of backhauling traffic over terrestrial facilities, ways to ensure all citizens have the connectivity whether using microwave, fiber or cable. The cost they so desperately need, with satellite offering Bridging the digital divide of terrestrial backhaul, such as fiber or cable, the fastest and most efficient solution for hard- is directly proportional to distance, making it to-reach and remote locations. Governments are Disparities in access don’t have to span increasingly unjustifiable the further the reach best positioned to implement effective connectivity. continents to be profound. For instance, in from urban centers. What’s more, not everyone can Certainly, that includes cable and fiber broadband Indonesia, many citizens have direct-to-home afford direct-to-home Internet service but nearly where available and affordable. Yet, across large Internet access and yet, many do not. Across the half the world’s population has a smart phone swaths of Africa and Southern Asia, satellite island nation, there are places where cable or and roughly half of all global internet access continues to proliferate as the technology of choice fiber are simply impossible to connect, making is by mobile device. for connectivity, with good reason. satellite the broadband of choice for many. To Providing cost-effective backhaul is now at the The BAKTI program and others underscore the help connect the unconnected in Indonesia, top of the priority list in justifying business cases rising trend of governments taking a more active both private industry and the government deliver to meet this growth. Next generation HTS and role in bridging the digital divide. In Botswana, satellite solutions. Pasifik Satelit Nusantara associated ground networking solutions such Botswana Telecommunications Corporation uses (PSN), the oldest private telecommunication as the Hughes JUPITER System being deployed satellite (and the Hughes JUPITER System) to and information service provider in Indonesia, throughout Africa and worldwide present operators expand its high-speed business broadband service provisioned the Hughes JUPITER™ System with a viable path to profitable expansion and across the country with hundreds of remote for broadband services over the PSN VI High- the ability to connect more people who otherwise terminals connecting businesses and homes. Throughput Satellite (HTS) and also implemented would not have access. One of the largest telecommunications more than 5,000 Community Wi-Fi Hotspots companies in East Africa uses satellite broadband to help connect even more. On the government Community Wi-Fi hotspots to deliver video and Internet access to schools. In side, BAKTI, a division of the Indonesian Ministry the Philippines, Cignal TV Inc., the premier direct- of Communications and Information, launched Satellite-enabled Community Wi-Fi Hotspot to-home satellite provider, offers Internet service to an initiative to help close the digital divide by services successfully bring Internet to places two million subscribers using the same JUPITER deploying satellite connectivity across 8,000 where it is either not available or unaffordable for terminals and network management system cellular and Internet access sites. locals. Deploying Wi-Fi access points makes the that Hughes employs to power HughesNet®, the Internet service providers (ISPs) and mobile last mile affordable for the consumer, who can company’s flagship satellite Internet service with network operators (MNOs) face two challenges in access the service with any Wi-Fi enabled device. more than 1.5 million subscribers. bridging the digital divide. The first is justifying However, this kind of shared access still requires a Around the globe, governments and the investment to extend service to reach these broadband backbone to carry traffic to and from communities, ISPs and MNOs alike were unconnected populations, many in rural and hard- the Internet connection point. overwhelmed by all that the pandemic to-access areas. The second is offering service at In this model, a shared, high capacity VSAT wrought. But today, the focus has shifted from a price point the market can afford. When average can be configured readily to support traffic managing dramatic spikes in network traffic, per capita income is $315, as in sub-Saharan requirements of local users. The service enables to understanding how to better serve existing Africa, a monthly service fee of $40 dollars for providers to expand their networks cost-effectively customers and apply innovative ways to expand Internet access is out of the question. To over- and to make Internet available and affordable to services and connect everyone. Because pandemic come both of these hurdles, satellite connectivity unserved and often ignored market segments, or not, the lesson we’ve learned above all others is presents an ideal solution with three applications. while still attaining profitability. By sharing that we need connectivity everywhere. n

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 23 FEATURE: SMART CITIES

Smart thinking Approximately 60% of the world’s population lives in Asia, putting strain on the continent’s cities. But are smart cities the answer to sprawling urbanisation? Robert Shepherd investigates

he creation of smart cities has been advanced technology and the highest standards internet of things (IoT) sensors, artificial captivating the sector for more than or more, but southern Asian countries have been intelligence (AI) and distributed hybrid multi- a decade. As technology continues working harder to keep up with their northern cloud IT architectures, smart city innovation Tto advance at speed and humans no longer neighbours by investing heavily in key cities. in APAC continues to accelerate at a speed not need to carry out jobs that robots can now do When you think about it, the introduction of experienced anywhere else on the planet. So, with aplomb, countries on every continent are smart cities makes sense. After all, the idea is why has APAC embraced smart city technologies planning for a very different future to the one simple - embed smart technology everywhere to so quickly? There’s more than one answer to this they envisaged just 15-20 years ago. make a city better and its citizens healthier, safer question and to list them all would be soporific. Although this is happening on every continent, and more prosperous. However, the main one is, well, people. to varying degrees, it is particularly true in the While adoption has been slower in some Asia’s cities are synonymous with both large Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Countries like China regions, such as Africa, that has not been populations and high population density. Put (including Hong Kong), Japan, Singapore and the case in APAC. Furthermore, with recent it this way: 16 of the world’s 28 megacities South Korea have long been synonymous with shifts such as wider availability of low-cost (cities with population exceeding 10m) are in

24 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2Q1 2021 FEATURE: SMART CITIES

Asia. In fact, the United Nations forecasts that “In many countries across Asia’s the urban population of Asia’s megacities will Steve Hwang, head of double by 2030 from 2010. Similarly, eight of developing markets, this has led to government and cities the world’s largest cities with highest population program Asia-Pacific density are located in Asia. Rapid urban growth the growth of the private healthcare and Japan region at translates to rising income growth and lifestyle Nokia changes, which are stretching the infrastructure sector while the public sector and resources of cities, particularly in emerging southern Asian countries. struggles to catch up” India alone has a population that’s bigger than the whole of Africa’s, which is a very cities manage their growth more efficiently, sobering thought. Nations like India and sustainably and resiliently. Sensors paired RAN Smart City in Ban Chang, Thailand. many of its neighbouring (mostly developing) with AI algorithms provide a real-time view of The launch of the 5G smart creates synergies countries, there are so many other fundamental conditions and usage patterns, enabling city between public and private sectors for a fully issues to be addressed, so why should smart systems to intelligently adapt to demand and functional smart city. Ban Chang is connected to cities take precedence over, let’s say, social respond to issues. Fast and reliable network a motorway linking Thailand’s two largest cities: deprivation and inequality? speeds with minimal latency are key to solutions Pattaya and Bangkok. What’s more, the Ban Steve Hwang government and cities program like this that need to collect, filter and analyse Chang Smart City 5G Private Network operates lead Asia-Pacific and Japan region at Finnish vast amounts of data from thousands of sensors on Millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum, tech giant Nokia says smart city solutions will and other data sources in real-time. spectrum which is ideally suited for a network be transformative for emerging markets due to Now, let’s see how smart city infrastructure operating Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, their ability, if properly implemented, to help has made a difference in southern Asia. drones and smart poles, all applications which cities become more efficient and productive, In 2012, the now Motorola-owned IndigoVision require fast data uplink to the core for real-time which can lead to reductions in time and rolled out its IP video solution to be used as analysis and city management. cost for operations. part of a surveillance system with more than Mavenir’s Aniruddho Basu, general manager “For instance, let us consider smart 3,700 cameras in the new terminal three at of Mavenir’s emerging business Unit, says the transformation in a city’s public healthcare Delhi International Airport (DIAL). At the time, company is particularly proud to be part of an system,” he says. “Typically, it takes a high the project was believed to be the largest single “ambitious 5G project” which sees a whole city school student around seven or eight years installation of an IP video system in Asia. The connected on a series of 5G applications running to become a professional doctor. However, as new terminal was built as part of the massive in parallel. “Connectivity is at the heart of this shown by the rapid rate of urban growth cities infrastructure development for Delhi ahead deployment connecting people, communities, in Asia have been witnessing, the region’s of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Delhi is government services, and private sector services emerging cities cannot wait for a new generation India’s second largest airport and with the through local government data combined of medical professionals as demand would recent expansion can handle north of 34 million with new data acquired through Internet of outpace supply. In many countries across Asia’s passengers per year. Things (IOT), sensors, drones, and external developing markets, this has led to the growth Then, in 2017, India’s STL (formerly Sterlite collected data, to fully analyse it for proper city of the private healthcare sector while the public Technologies) helped Gandhinagar to become management and citizen knowledge,” he adds. sector struggles to catch up. However, such the country’s first smart city. The company Smart cities have become such big business a gap would only emphasize growing income was enlisted to deliver the end-to-end smart that IDC, the global market intelligence inequalities (and access to paid, for-profit city solution for Gandhinagar, made up of Wi-Fi, specialists, runs the Smart City Asia-Pacific services) in emerging markets.” smart lighting, environmental sensors, smart Awards (SCAPA), now a staple event. Nokia has been working with a raft of smart help desk/call centre and a control room. At the 2020 (virtual) awards, a total of 19 cities across southern Asia, but for legal reasons While India’s smart city plan is still in its smart city projects across APAC, excluding the locations cannot be listed at this stage. infancy, the Narendra Modi government is Japan were recognised across 14 functional Nokia’s smart city solutions, which have encouraging cities to forge public-private e-service categories. been presented as “City-as-a-Platform” partnerships to accelerate the pace of project In case you missed it, among the winners offerings based on the Nokia Bell Labs Future X implementation. What’s more, the Modi were Malacca City in Malaysia (Economic architecture, are designed to comprehensively administration has also started to rank the development, tourism, arts, libraries, culture and address smart urban infrastructure efforts based smart cities under an Ease of Living Index, open spaces), New Delhi in India (Sustainable on the work the company have already been using certain minimum standards for cities to infrastructure) and Sentosa in Singapore doing in European and North American markets. compare and evaluate their progress. Under (Transportation – connected and autonomous Nevertheless, Hwang argues that with smart the program, India’s Ministry of Housing and vehicles, public transit, ride-hailing/ride-sharing). city solutions geared towards healthcare, more Urban Affairs has developed a set of Ease of Talking about the dominant themes, applications around mobile healthcare can Living Standards. A total of 78 indicators, 56 Gerald Wang, head of public sector at IDC be realised especially with greater use of 4th core indicators and 22 supporting indicators APAC, notes that further automation of city Industrial Revolution technologies such as the are covered. These have been grouped under operations, creating better accessibility to internet of things (IoT), big data, industry-grade 15 thematic categories, which in turn form the digital ecosystems and tools for residents, and private wireless networks and even 5G. Hence, four pillars of urban development: institutional, enhanced government services, all dominate smart city applications can help overcome social, economic and physical. the “transformation themes” of smart city shortages in human personnel, not only in More recently, this year in fact, American projects in SCAPA 2020. terms of healthcare delivery but also for other network software provider Mavenir joined forces He adds: “This year, many Asia Pacific smart essential public services. with Thai state-owned telecommunications city projects focused on agile public policies It’s true that smart city applications like smart company National Telecom, 5GCT, a local and initiatives for social inclusivity, intuitive grids and buildings, air and water monitoring, business specialised in delivering end-to-end 5G and innovative city services, sustainable smart transportation, smart waste collection, smart cities and Cisco Systems (Thailand), a critical infrastructure revolutions and disaster response and more are helping APAC networking company, to launch the first 5G Open global engagements.”

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 25 FEATURE: SMART CITIES

Nevertheless, IDC notes that the current global Covid-19 pandemic further strengthened cities’ resolve to create cutting edge “live, learn, work and play” digital ecosystems. “With the direct impact of Covid-19 halting day-to-day activities to the bare essential services, the race to digital for socioeconomic resiliency and survivability is much more exigent than ever before,” Wang continues. “City governments would do well to accelerate their digitalisation plans and learn swiftly from the investments and innovative projects of our SCAPA 2020 winners.” Indeed, governments are often cited as being key to the delivery of smart city projects. They are also criticised for not stumping up the required cash to take their country to the next level. While that may be true, smart cities require leaders who can drive a vision forward through to implementation. Leaders do not have to necessarily come from local governments. More often than not, smart cities are a collaborative effort that brings together the public and private sectors and can be driven by individuals from any sector. Take the likes of Cisco, Google and Siemens, all of which The Malaysian city of Malacca won at the IDC’s Smart City Asia-Pacific Awards (SCAPA) 2020 have “smart city” initiatives to promote fibre networks, big data, and the “Internet of Things”. “Yet, what smart cities as a whole can do life expectancy in the region’s emerging nations IBM hosts the annual Smarter Cities Challenge, is more commonly understood it is to bring rose by six years (as compared to four years in which rewards the most innovative cities in improvement to the lives of the city’s citizens the region’s more advanced countries).” the world with grants. and businesses via innovation,” adds Hwang. It’s clear APAC is punching above its weight There’s more data if you can stomach it. “Such improvements can be measured in when smart cities are concerned. After all, the In its 2019 report, “Smart Cities: Shifting different ways, whether it is the ability for evidence is overwhelming. Asia”, Swiss multinational investment bank people and organizations in a city to access However, it’s been said that smart cities can UBS projects that APAC will account for 40% key public services, improved safety or a only make sense if put in the broader picture of of the global addressable market growth for cleaner urban environment. Although the giving every citizen the right to basic services. Is smart city projects, or US$800bn by 2025. understanding of smart city aims is clearer, that a fair comment? What’s more, according to the second annual there remains no set, comprehensive definition Hwang says that “contentions to such Global Interconnection Index (the GXI), APAC of what they encompass; however, we feel comments boil down to the many different will be the second fastest growing region for such a definition will become clearer over solutions geared for various urban applications – interconnection bandwidth, with a projected time and with the emergence of more smart which tend to be grouped under the overarching, 51% CAGR from 2017 to 2021, reaching 2,220 cities around the world.” umbrella term of ‘smart cities’”. He adds: terabits (Tbps) by the end of this calendar year. Based on Nokia’s own research and “As such, we believe that there is, if not That said, smart cities mean something experience within this space, Hwang said it should be, freedom in referring innovations in different to different regions and people, observed that many growing cities in emerging terms specific to their use case, i.e., ‘smart because each has different needs. markets share several commonalities. mobility’, ‘smart factories, or ‘smart buildings’. As far as Asia is concerned, the smart city “Firstly, emerging cities have been seeing Understandably, this can cause confusion as generally, but not always, consists of six key continuous economic growth,” adds Hwang. any one of those specific use cases may not areas: smart connectivity, smart governance, “Many of these cities – especially across directly address contributions to the lives smart services, smart automation, smart Asia are already leading contributors to their of daily citizens as a whole. However, even health and smart mobility with varying levels nation’s economy, but they are also projected to if certain applications are geared towards of digitalisation. Of course, we mustn’t forget take on greater roles as centres of education, even a single section of the population, they cybersecurity, which underpins every smart city technological development and innovation to must be viewed as working in concert with regardless of location. attract more people to reside in urban centres.” each other as components to drive holistic As far as Hwang is concerned, how smart Hwang also pointed to the fact urban smart city developments. Essentially, even cities are defined and interpreted depends populations are continuously rising. “In 1950, if certain applications are geared towards on the urban stakeholder in question, only around 17% of Asian populations lived in even a single population segment, they can be they smart infrastructure players, cities but that figure has since risen significantly stimulate snowball effects and build upon application developers, device manufacturers, to over 50%,” he says. “By 2050, Asia’s urban other applications to stimulate long-term telecommunication operators, equipment populations are projected to double but such innovation in smart cities.” manufacturers or cloud service providers. He growth will also entail demographic challenges. Southern Asia has its challenges like any also says there can also be variations depending Finally, a seismic demographic shift is other part of the world, but the fact it’s on each country in southern Asia, or the rest of happening. Since 2000, due to advancements in various smart cities projects are leading the the world for that matter. healthcare and lower fertility rates, the average way can only help. n

26 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 NEWS

4 SOUTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS January/February 2019

SASIA 19Q4 p4 (Rajant).indd 4 01/04/2021 13:07 WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

The all-new Introducing the Wearable CDM-650 Smart Radio by Doodle Labs

Comtech’s new CDM-650 Satellite The Wearable Smart Radio by Doodle collaborate productivity enhancement Modem leverages the heritage and Labs is a compact, wireless mobile with other team apps on an encrypted private feature set by the company’s SLM- mesh router with an integrated Wi-Fi members both wireless mesh network. 5650B/C, CDM-625A and CDM-425 hotspot to allow internet-enabled de- in the field and The Wearable Smart Radio modems – the company says - which vices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) offsite loca- supports many use cases in in- have been adopted and deployed to connect to the mesh network. tions using the dustry sectors like construction, globally to support government and It apparently provides long-range, devices they agriculture, logistics and mate- commercial applications. high-speed private wireless mesh already have. rial handling, healthcare, public The CDM-650 was purpose- connectivity for personnel in the Field workers safety, disaster management, built for secure government and field. The Wi-Fi hotspot capability can use the border patrol and defence de- military networks, and is suited allows field workers to seamlessly company’s ployments. doodlelabs.com for fixed location, on-the-pause and communications on-the-move applications. Furthermore, the product features turbo product Wittra takes IoT straight to ‘proof of value’ codes, three LDPC code families, VersaFEC-2 high performance Wittra says its ‘IoT Network Kit’ ease of integration users can collect, ‘IoT Out Of The Box’ experience for LDPC short and long block forward is redefining the IoT landscape by communicate, and control assets. use across many market sectors”. error correction and a range of taking customers straight to ‘proof Devices run on a 6lowpan IP-based Each tag contains several sensors modulation, including BPSK, QPSK, of value’. The company claims true mesh radio network which uses which include temperature, acceler- OQPSK, 8PSK, 8-QAM and 16-QAM. its solution provides a simple, the sub-GHz spectrum providing ometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, By employing the combination of practical approach for tracking and long range and good penetration of and positioning. Additional sensors what Comtech describes as “state- monitoring assets. What’s more, structures for robust and reliable can be added via a plug on sensor of-the-art forward error correction its ‘ground-breaking’ positioning data delivery in any setting. approach covering humidity, ambi- and modulation techniques”, the technology enables total asset The Network Kit contains the ent light, and air pressure. The mesh CDM-650 can optimise satellite visibility in all environments never Wittra gateway, sensor tags, mesh network is extended in range by the transponder bandwidth usage. considered possible using routers and all the associated addition of Wittra’s Mesh Routers “We are pleased to introduce the narrow-band technology. accessories ensuring your IoT project creating a multi-hop self-forming new CDM-650 Satellite Modem to Reducing the complexities is up and running and self-healing true mesh network. address the needs of foreign govern- in any IoT project Wittra in hours; “With the launch of the Wittra IoT ment and military entities,” says Fred offers unique pre-inte- deploying Network Kit, I believe we position Kornberg, chairman of the board and grated, pre-tested the Wittra ourselves at the forefront of the IoT chief executive officer of Comtech. and pre-secure Solution via industry. It is a response to clear “The advanced feature set available products for imme- its cloud- market needs to provide practical in the CDM-650 provides the per- diate deployment. based API IoT solutions that bring value to formance, reliability and scalability Based on open “is simple customers quicker and with much needed for secure and mission-criti- standards to ensure and intuitive less complexity”, says Thomas cal networks.” comtechtel.com interoperability and offering a true Bennet, CEO of Wittra. wittra.se Evina’s anti-fraud mission continues with TrafficScreener

Evina, the specialist in cybersecurity edge technology to detect bots as can be mastered while fraudulent 20% of budget merchants lose when for mobile payments, has unveiled they arrive on a merchant’s page. payments by bots are similarly pre- they acquire fake traffic. Specifically, a new tool that it says extends the “When dealing with a CPC (cost vented. While DCBprotect protects TrafficScreener enables merchants anti-fraud protection throughout the per click) model, merchants need to the payment page from bots, Traffic to receive real figures that reflect the entire monetisation flow, starting know what type of click - fraudulent Screener detects bots that derive quality of their traffic. evina.com from the source of traffic. or authentic - is leading to their directly from the The Paris-headquartered firm with webpage, “ say Farid Taha, chief banner ads. By operations in Europe, the Middle customer officer at Evina. “This has revealing real East and 15 African countries says long been a blind spot when dealing traffic and real TrafficScreener helps merchants with ad traffic and it’s why Evina conversation master mobile traffic monetization created a tool that provides visibility rates, merchants by detecting fake visits. on all visits following ad clicks.” can optimize After creating Evina DCBprotect, This new product represents the their mobile the anti-fraud solution that blocks flip-side of Evina DCBprotect which monetisation ac- bots at the time of payment, Evina stops bots from making payment tivities. The aim now leverages the same cutting- attempts. Now, traffic monetisation is to reduce the

28 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

HD-EFI product series expands Look out for... Nokia achieves with thread-in configurations 5G speed record Amphenol RF says post contacts for easy installation achieved by using a conical interface Nokia achieved a 5G speed record it is “proud to into wireless filters, amplifiers and unique plug design, and offer during a trial with Türk Telekom in announce the and distributed antenna systems. excellent electrical performance the Turkish capital city, Ankara. expansion” of its HD-EFI thread-in connec- through 6 GHz, along with all the The record, which reached HD-EFI product line, tors are engineered with white existing benefits of this product line. over 4.5 Gbps, is the first to be “designed to satisfy” bronze plating to improve low PIM The HD-EFI product series is a achieved on 5G New Radio (5GNR) the need for a compact performance and set them apart micro-miniature interface which only, utilizing Nokia’s AirScale 5G RF interconnect solution. The latest from the existing options. These allows large board tolerance stack RAN solution on 26 GHz mmWave addition to the HD-EFI series consists connectors are available as straight ups, blind mating and multiple RF spectrum, 800 MHz bandwidth and of panel mount receptacle jacks, panel mounting receptacle jacks in lines. In addition to the thread-in a single user device. a common component in wireless both smooth bore and limited detent connectors, various PCB and cable- During the trial, Nokia’s AirScale infrastructure filters. These HD-EFI interfaces. These 50 ohm connectors mount connector configurations are Base Station connected with a jacks feature thread-in mounting and are designed for crash-proof mating, available. amphenolrf.com mobile device to transfer data across Turk Telekom’s 26Ghz mmWave spectrum at a peak speed of 4.5 Gbps. Nokia was selected by Turk MOTOTRBO Ion: Making yourself heard Telekom to deliver the ultra-low latency, connectivity and capacity Motorola’s MOTOTRBO Ion is a next The MOTOTRBO Ion smart radio even stream video in real-time. required to test the full range of 5G generation business-ready smart is purpose-built for a variety of With an ultra-rugged design, it connectivity in the scope of this trial. radio with voice, broadband data and enterprise environments. The dual stands up to harsh conditions and The high speeds achieved during multimedia capabilities to connect microphones, speaker exposure to dust, water and repeated the trial will enable more high- teams, inform operations and keep size and audio drops. It features cloud-based pro- bandwidth and latency-sensitive businesses running smoothly. engineering provide gramming and provisioning, remote enterprise services, such as remotely The device brings real-time crystal clarity and updating and real-time device moni- controlled devices for industrial intelligent data to existing business noise suppression toring, allowing businesses to deploy needs or mission-critical applications. workflows. Its fully open Android for powerful audio and maintain their radio fleets with 5G-powered networks will also allow application ecosystem allows for that outperforms minimal touch and downtime. customers to enjoy VR/AR experi- seamless integration of the mobile smartphones, To keep the roaming workforce ences, download 4K video content or data applications that commercial especially in loud connected anywhere you do games in a matter of seconds, as well industries depend on, such as those environments. The business, the MOTOTRBO Ion as enable enhanced capacity fixed used for enterprise-grade barcode device also features enables seamless communication wireless access connectivity. scanning, as well as team communi- an integrated cam- through voice and data, over Nokia said that “with this cation platforms used for messag- era to send photos both public and private networks. successful test”, the companies are ing, meetings and shared content. and videos, and can motorolasolutions.com effectively demonstrating how a 5G rollout can improve service quality and download speeds for consumers, as well as supporting enterprise and ‘Innovative v45C qualified for operation business use cases, including Industry 4.0 and digital transformation. on Intelsat FlexMaritime network’ “During the trial we solely used mmWave spectrum over the 5G Intellian brings to market its v45C of more compact antennas has spot beam technology, HTS satellites test network which reached record antenna, which has also been become possible. The v45C has can overcome this limitation. speeds above 4.5 Gbps,” according qualified for operation on the Intelsat been developed to bring VSAT to By providing high-power service to Yusuf Kıraç, chief technology of- FlexMaritime network. By combin- new markets where there is limited to small, tightly-focused areas, ficer at Türk Telekom. Thanks to this ing Intellian’s compact, antenna space available for communications frequencies can be reused across the technology, which provides numer- with Intelsat’s FlexMaritime High equipment, such as workboats, satellite’s coverage area, supporting ous benefits for users and opera- Throughput Satellite (HTS) service, leisure craft, fishing boats, small global service while reducing the cost tors, we achieved the high speeds this approval will deliver global con- commercial and government vessels. of delivery. intelliantech.com and large capacity targets promised nectivity to customers in the smallest Intelsat is among the first to take by 5G. These technologies also act package available to date. advantage of this capability as a bridge to develop and pave the Until now, service providers have with the addition of a 45cm way for “Terahertz” systems that required antennas of 60cm or larger category to its FlexMaritime provide ultra-high speed and capac- to deliver high throughput services HTS service. VSAT delivery to ity, which are planned to be used owing to the higher power demanded small antennas has traditionally in 6G.. We will continue to lead the by smaller units, but with the advent been restricted to localized development of all new generation of HTS technology teamed with regions in order to conserve technologies in our country, as we innovative antenna design, the use power, but through the use of are doing today.”

Q2 2021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 29 NEWS

4 SOUTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS January/February 2019

SASIA 20Q1 p36 (YB).indd 4 03/04/2020 17:33 WORLD NEWS More Telecom acquires Orange to lay off 485 Powercom Pacific employees Australia’s More Telecom Under the terms of the acquisition, Orange Spain business has acquired national inter- Powercom Pacific staff will be moving will lay off up to 485 net and phone provider, Powercom with the business and maintain employees in the coming weeks, Pacific, substantially increasing the ongoing employment with More citing years of shrinking income company’s SME customer base. amid Spain’s hypercompetitive The purchaser is the land down small business owners who want ex- and increasingly low-cost under’s most successful and longest- cellent service and we are confident telecommunications sector. running NBN provider with a sister we can deliver on this front.” The France-headquartered opera- retail business, Tangerine Telecom. More Telecom has also expanded tor had already signalled that com- Powercom Pacific owns several its SME reach via the launch of other petition in Spain - its second-largest brands including Powercom, Montime- business services such as More market - was a long-term trend in dia and QTelecom and all customers which is expanding in both customer Payments and More Bookkeeping. the region after posting worse-than- will be migrating to More Telecom. numbers and product offers. The More Telecom and Tangerine expected results in the first quarter. Under the terms of the acquisition, “The More business consistently Telecom business model works on a Orange, like a number of other Powercom Pacific staff will be moving seeks exciting expansion opportuni- B2B/B2C business model delivering players, has been facing growth with the business and maintain ties and with Powercom, we identi- more efficiency and faster speeds issues separate from the pandemic’s ongoing employment with More. fied a business with complementary due to the balanced bandwidth load- impact as the sector, which has More Telecom general manager, cultural and business models,” he ing between the business peak hours spent extensively on infrastructure Andrew Branson, said the acquisition added. “The Powercom customer during the day and the consumer such as fibre-optic cabling, strengthens the More business base consists of long term, loyal, peak hours during the evening. scrambles to fund its upgrade to next-generation 5G networks. “The telecommunications sector has spent years enduring revenue Deutsche Telekom upgrades telecom sites loss as a consequence of the hypercompetitivity of the market and Deutsche Telekom (DT) nical teams have already upgraded 5G network in a limited number the multiplicity of low-cost actors,” has built up 5G capacities a total of 45,000 antennas for 5G of cities across Germany at the Orange Spain said in a statement. at 75 locations across Germany, the services during 2020. The German beginning of July 2019. “This (context) is a huge challenge for operator said in a release. telco expects its 5G network to In February, it installed the the company, which has shouldered The company added that it had reach 90% of the country’s popula- first 5G standalone antenna in intensive investments in the past 20 implemented Dynamic Spectrum tion by the end of the year. Garching, near Munich, to carry years and needs to keep doing so Sharing (DSS) to upgrade these LTE By the end of March, more than out trials of this technology. amid the technological transition.” sites and has created additional 66 million people in around 5,000 Deutsche Telecom connected the The statement added that LTE capacities at 173 locations. towns and cities across Germany antenna to a 5G standalone core adapting operations by reducing DT also noted that its 5G network will be able to use the telco’s 5G network via cloud infrastructure. the workforce will be essential to currently reaches around 80% of network. Over 50,000 5G antennas The operator also noted that the ensuring Orange’s competitiveness the German population, while LTE are already transmitting with infrastructure in the core network in the face of structural changes, population coverage is now 98.6%. 5G across the country. will also be fully upgraded to a new, noting that negotiations with labour It had previously said that its tech- DT started the rollout of its cloud-based 5G architecture. unions would begin imminently.

WIOCC extends connectivity to new locations in SA

West Indian Ocean Cable to Doonside, Kingsburgh and ready, optical transport network Company (WIOCC) has Isipingo in KwaZulu Natal. (OTN)-enabled hyperscale national extended its national hyperscale Furthermore, WIOCC’s policy of not backbone network and its wholly- network in South Africa with 30 new imposing aggregation restrictions, will owned metro networks. The flexible points of presence (PoPs). allow clients to serve multiple end- infrastructure is easily and quickly Part of a multi-billion-rand users over a single WIOCC connection. scalable, meaning clients benefit investment, the PoPs are along the “This latest addition enables from rapid turn-up of capacity from country’s southern coastline, on a internet service providers, mobile 1Gbps up to multiples of 100Gbps. new 1,700km terrestrial link between network operators, content providers Services available from WIOCC the cities of Durban and Cape Town. and cloud operators to deliver their in South Africa include high-quality WIOCC said it will also mean services more cost-effectively into Carrier IP Transit (IPT), point-to- more affordable connectivity to a significant number of additional point national connectivity and coastal towns from Somerset West, locations,” the company said. high-performance Metro Connect, Grabouw, Caledon and Swellendam This capability has been as well as open access colocation in the Western Cape, through integrated into WIOCC’s, 16Tbps- services in specific locations.

Q2 021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 31 WORLD NEWS Mexican president attacks telecoms firms over roadblocks to registry Mexican president Rights groups Andres Manuel Lopez say it poses a Obrador attacked the country’s human rights telecoms companies for impeding violation and could an initiative to create a national lead to wrongful biometric mobile phone user convictions registry that is opposed both by if people’s industry and rights groups. identities are stolen Backed in May as a measure to improve public safety by the Senate, the registry would require companies to pay for collection of their clients’ biometric data, which would then be stored and managed by the telecoms regulator. Telecoms sector groups argue it would cost the industry hundreds suspended its implementation, service,” he said at a press who use unregistered pre-paid of millions of dollars to implement. according to local media. conference. “Now as they also phones for kidnapping and extortion Rights groups say it poses a human However, Lopez Obrador said have lots of money to buy or rent calls. The registry’s information rights violation and could lead to operators were impeding a law media, they’re running a campaign would be available by request from wrongful convictions if people’s designed to protect people. against us,” he added, singling out law enforcement officials. identities are stolen. “These telephone companies... Telmex, a unit of America Movil, the While over 150 countries around The Latin American country’s have a lot of power, in addition company controlled by the family the world maintain cellphone user data protection body plans to acting with great hypocrisy, of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. registries, only about 8% of those to challenge the registry before the because they already request Supporters of the measure say also require biometrics, according to Supreme Court. Judges have also that data to contract a telephone it will help crack down on criminals global telecoms industry lobby GSMA.

Russia launches satellites for UK telecom

A Soyuz rocket took countries around the world. fully placed in target orbits and have launches from the Vostochny cosmo- off from the Vostochny The company is competing been taken under customer control,” drome of 36 satellites each taking cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East, against billionaires Elon Musk and Roscosmos said in a statement. place in March and in December. carrying 36 UK telecommunications Jeff Bezos in the race to provide fast “Mission success!” OneWeb posted OneWeb’s first six satellites were and internet satellites, the internet via satellites for the world’s on Twitter. The UK company plans also launched by a Russian-made Roscosmos space agency said. remote areas. Images released by for its global commercial internet Soyuz rocket, taking off from the London-headquartered OneWeb is Russia’s space agency Roscosmos service to be operational by 2022, space centre in Kourou in French working to complete the construction showed the Soyuz rocket taking off supported by some 650 satellites. Guiana in February 2019. of a constellation of low Earth against hazy skies Monday April 26 Monday’s launch was the third The company launched 68 more orbit satellites providing enhanced at 7:14 am local time. batch of its satellites placed into from the Baikonur launch site broadband and other services to “All satellites have been success- orbit from Russia, with earlier in Kazakhstan in 2020.

Iliad posts disappointing results but steps up 5G spending

French telecommunications However, Credit Suisse and JP Paris-based group said it would sell to turn a profit from its Italian group Iliad reported slight- Morgan analysts said the figures for its 30% stake in On Tower France, business this quarter, sooner than ly weaker than expected first-quarter its main French market and for Italy which it values at a minimum of previously forecast, but delayed the revenue growth and said it would were slightly weaker than expected, 600 million euros (US$731m). launch of its broadband offer there revise a key cash flow target as it while Poland was ahead of forecasts. Iliad, which had previously guided until after the summer as a result steps up spending on 5G networks. Iliad said it would review its for a French operating free cash of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company, controlled by 2021 cash flow target for France in flow of around 900 million euros In Poland, it said its integration billionaire Xavier Niel, reported like- order to speed up spending on 5G this year, said it would give a new of mobile operator Play, bought for-like revenue growth of almost networks in the country, where it target in September, also taking in late 2020, was proceeding 5% for the first three months of the launched the cheapest offer of the into account a global shortage in ahead of schedule, with 8,000 new year, helped by a rise in mobile and four main operators late last year. semiconductor components. customers added over the first broadband subscribers. To help ramp up spending, the The company said it expected three months of 2021.

32 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 WORLD NEWS China Mobile targets Shanghai Stock Exchange listing China Mobile, the be used in a series of projects. telecom operator the first red-chip American funds and investors from world’s largest mobile They include 5G boutique network company to trade A-shares on the owning stock in companies believed operator in terms of subscriber rollout, artificial intelligence (AI), Chinese stock market’s mainboard. by the government to have ties to numbers, has approved plans for a cloud computing, and next- China Mobile’s plan to enter the the Chinese military. The Trump ad- potential US$6.06bn listing on the generation mobile communication mainland A-share market follows a ministration had strained relations Shanghai Stock Exchange. technologies such as 6G, involving similar move by Hong Kong-traded ri- with China, after the former accused As part of that plan, the Chinese a total of 56bn yuan (US$8.71bn). val China Telecom, which said in March the latter of spying through compa- state-owned company will issue up Furthermore, the company said that that it plans a Shanghai main board nies such as tech giant Huawei. to 964.8 million shares or 4.5% if the actual funds raised fall short of offering that could raise US$4bn. However, China Mobile did not of its total issued shares,” the the amount needed, the company will However, both companies are say the Shanghai offering was operator said in a statement. supply the rest from internal resources being ejected from the New York linked to the US delisting. China According to a local media or money raised from other sources. Stock Exchange (NYSE) after former Mobile will hold a meeting for report, the funds raised from its The planned share sale in Shanghai US President Donald Trump issued shareholders in Hong Kong on June listing in the A-share market will may make the nation’s largest wireless a November executive order barring 9 to seek approval for the proposal.

Bahamas considers mobile entrant Telecom

The Bahamas is assessing the viability of Italia ‘could introducing a third operator to the archipelago’s mobile market to drop Huawei‘ compete with current incumbents ALIV and BTC (Bahamas Telecom Italia is considering Telecommunications Company). cancelling a contract Watchdog the Utilities Regulation with Chinese tech giant Huawei for and Competition Authority (URCA) supplying equipment to build part of is expected to undertake an evalua- the telecom firm’s 5G network in Italy. tion before the end of June 2021. According to reports, Telecom The electronic communications Italia sent a letter informing sector policy in URCA’s Draft Annual Only one licence was available at the time, with REV beatinf a rival bid from Huawei of its intention to withdraw Plan 2021 states: “the government Virgin Mobile Bahamas. Latin American group Digicel dropped out of the from the deal due to nervousness of the Bahamas will consider race due to concerns over the steep concession requirements surrounding security. whether further liberalisation The USA has been pressuring of the mobile telephone market market analysis to support any ond licence at auction a year prior. countries to ban Huawei equipment, should be undertaken in the form recommendations made.” Only one licence was available at citing security risks. Although Huawei of a third mobile operator. The BTC’s monopoly over the Bahami- the time, with REV beatinf a rival bid has continuously denied posing a policy requires that URCA provide an market was finally broken in No- from Virgin Mobile Bahamas. Latin security risk, as regards Europe only advice and recommendations to vember 2016 by the launch of ALIV American group Digicel dropped out Britain and Sweden have banned the government on this matter, – the mobile unit of Cable Bahamas of the race due to concerns over the the company’s equipment. including a feasibility and (REV) which won the country’s sec- steep concession requirements. Telecom Italia had initially planned to give the contract to Huawei and Ericsson, but later brought in Nokia to share the contract among the three companies. Qatar-based telecom giant Ooredoo Although Italy has not imposed an outright ban on Huawei, under appoints first female CEO in Oman current legislation it can impose strict conditions on 5G deals Qatar-based telecommu- telecoms industry for 17 years and channels, the company said. As involving non-EU vendors. nications giant Ooredoo recently held the position of CEO Ooredoo Oman embarks on a new Telecom Italia’s move follows a has taken an unusual step and of Starlink, one of the group’s era, Noor is anticipated to steer the review of its supply policy, including a appointed Noor Al-Sulaiti as chief companies. Prior to that, she was next phase of its strategy. cost and benefit analysis. executive officer (CEO) of Ooredoo general manager at Phono and This will be centred on driving The company had already ruled Oman, making her the first woman FASTtelco in Kuwait. the country’s digital transformation, out Huawei from the core of its 5G appointed to this position in one of Noor’s experience has equipped nurturing the development of its network, where sensitive data are the group’s main markets. her with a deep understanding of people and to help realise the goals processed, by not inviting the Chinese Al-Sulaiti has been in the the market, products and delivery of Oman’s 2040 Vision. company to a tender last year.

Q2 021 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 33 WORLD NEWS

Türk Telekom and Nokia to deploy commercial private ‘5G-ready’ network

Finnish tech giant Nokia management and governance model. and Türk Telekom will “At Arçelik, we are committed implement the first commercial to integrating new technologies private 4.9G/LTE network in into our business model and this Turkey for manufacturer Arçelik deployment positions Arçelik at Global, the companies said. the forefront of manufacturing The industrial-grade 5G-ready digitalisation,” said Utku Barış private wireless network will be Pazar, chief strategy and deployed at Arçelik’s Çayırova- digital officer, Arçelik. based washing-machine factory An initial application will see the and will provide the platform for network deliver pervasive, reliable Arcelik to accelerate its digital low-latency coverage throughout transformation and implementation the facility to enhance automated of Industry 4.0 use cases. guided vehicle (AGV) performance. Under the terms of the deal, With AGVs used throughout Finland’s Nokia is helping with ‘5G-ready’ network Nokia will also provide solution the manufacturing process for design, deployment and on-going component logistics, improved indoor positioning for tracking Raghav Sahgal, president, Nokia managed services, and deliver the connectivity will enhance AGV speed, assets in real-time and enable new cloud and network services. private wireless infrastructure based control and operational efficiency. video analytics-based applications “Deployment of the first private on the Nokia Digital Automation Nokia and Arcelik plan further for site safety and security. 5G-ready network in Turkey for Cloud (DAC) platform. collaboration in order to develop “Arçelik has a highly progressive Arçelik is a major step forward in Türk Telekom will provide 4.9G/ and implement additional use approach to introducing latest both its approach to manufacturing LTE spectrum and also will be cases in the mid-term. innovations into its manufacturing digitalization, and as an inspiring responsible for project end-to-end The network will support accurate practices and workflows,” added example of innovation in the region.” Alaska’s GCI announces 10 Gbps strategy

Alaskan operator GCI plans will be the first to get upgraded to 2 of DOCSIS and HFC advancements operating officer Greg Chapados to take 10 Gbps service into Gbps and will not be charged extra alongside ongoing fibre deployments. said in a statement that the latter the wild within the next five years, for the faster speeds. The company launched its effort “should be substantially setting an interim target to deliver “Alaska will lead the nation gigabit service in 2015. It noted complete” by the end of 2022. 2 Gbps to a majority of residents in in 2 gig speeds,” said GCI chief approximately 77% of Alaskans In May this year, Altice USA the US state in 2022. executive officer Ron Duncan in a now live within its 1 Gbps footprint revealed it is pushing to deploy a 10 The company outlined a plan statement. “And it will be our turn, but added it was working to expand Gbps product by the end of 2022. to serve 77% of Alaskans with 2 once again, to wait for the rest of the that figure with planned 1 gig Meanwhile, Circle Fiber announced Gbps service in 2022, including country to catch up.” launches in Nome and Kotzebue in in March it was deploying XGS- those living in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Duncan Whitney, chief product 2021 and a previously announced PON fibre technology in Missouri Juneau, Petersburg, Sitka, Wrangell officer at the company, told media Aleutians Fiber Project designed to deliver speeds up to 10 Gbps, and Valdez. It said customers that in order to make the leap to 10 to reach rural Western parts of and AT&T started its own XGS-PON currently on its 1 Gbps rate plan Gbps, GCI plans to use a combination the state. GCI president and chief rollout a year prior. Citymesh wants to be Belgium’s fourth MNO Citymesh is preparing to fourth mobile network operator. telecoms market in Belgium.” the ground up according to the latest enter Belgium’s mobile Now, the company has announced The spectrum package will give standards,” said De Geest. “Thanks to market after announcing its that the new partnership it will enable Citymesh access to 700MHz, sufficient capacity in the 5G package, intention to apply for the spectrum it to secure the required investment of 900MHz, 1,400MHz, 1,800MHz, we can also use these state-of-the- package set aside by the country’s around €100 million in order to apply and 2,000MHz spectrum, which the art 5G networks to realise a unique regulator for a potential fourth for reserved spectrum package. company will add to the spectrum offering on the consumer market.” national mobile operator. “Citymesh has had the ambition for in the 2,600MHz and 3,500MHz Belgium has been seeking a fourth In December 2020, Citymesh years to become the fourth telecom bands which it already owns. This mobile operator since at least 2019, was acquired by IT service provider operator,” said Citymesh CEO Mitch broad array of spectrum will not only with the market being dominated Cegeka, at which time the former De Geest. “We have found the final allow Citymesh to provide improved by Proximus, followed by Orange said that the acquisition will enable pieces of the puzzle; we have national B2B services, but also present a Belgium and Telenet. A study by the the necessary capital and expertise 4G and 5G spectrum, a clear vision competitive consumer offering. regulator in 2018 had concluded required to achieve its long-held and, together with Cegeka, a strong “We have the great advantage of that a fourth national operator aspirations of becoming Belgium’s and complete offering to shake up the being able to build our networks from could reduce prices.

34 SOUTHERN ASIAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS Q2 2021 THE LAST WORD

Q&A audience, being quizzed by certainly more that can be done Simon Fletcher someone who effectively to assist deployment. wanted to explain how On the bigger picture side of CTO this big, far-reaching things, I hold the sustainability and Real Wireless topic, would impact ESG agenda in the corporate space her role. I think the rest close to my heart. Establishing What was your big career break? reer giving good advice, of the panel was quite regulations around corporate I think in terms of establishing but I think truly good ad- pleased that her question entities to make ESG more than my career, my entry to the inter- vice is so clear, so logical that it had been fielded by me and just an extended CSR policy would national technology arena came becomes part of your ethos, your not themselves and wonder to be something I would like to see. when I was thrust into the front whole ethic, rather than some- this day if she had attended the It would really help drive business line of creating the joint venture thing a specific person shared. session from the very start or just and industry towards a more between NEC and Siemens to Many people like to give advice come in for the Q&A at the end. sustainable future. The sector is create the first global market and I think that’s a great thing. certainly ripe for more effective platform for 3G. For a number of Giving advice is a way of sharing If you could live anywhere, governance and incentivisation. years, it was the market-leading experience and shows our inher- where would it be? platform for 3G products. It really ent human nature to want to help I’ve been fortunate to travel a If you had the oppourtunity to shaped my philosophy for how others. Advice is usually based lot through my life and career, work in a different industry, projects of similar scale should on personal experience good or and two places have always which would you choose? be approached and how large bad and giving advice is our way resonated – Norway, where my I would have to say financial corporations through strategic of trying to impart knowledge wife has family, and Japan, where services and investment banking. collaboration can effectively com- that we’ve gained though our lives I have visited many times for It may not be an obvious choice, pete in an early adopters market. either through success or failure work. While they are very different but it’s probably influenced The second break would be when and wanting others to benefit cultures on the surface, there by my father who worked as a I was invited to be the Chair of the from it without the trial and error are distinct similarities in terms banker loaning to new start and Green Radio Programme, a UK- that we ourselves have experi- of the friendliness and welcome established businesses, so I was based research programme tasked enced. My best piece of advice that both give to visitors. They exposed to that sector from an with looking at energy efficiency of would be to listen to those who also both have strong records early age. Looking back, I clearly networks. Around the same time, give it and consider what they’ve for their use of renewable decided to rebel against that I headed up the UK delegation to been through to get to that posi- energy, which is something direction and pursued my career China on a number of occasions to tion of giving advice that tells you that is close to my heart. In my interests in electronic engineering. talk to them about energy efficien- the true value of the wisdom they career, I’ve always been aware In an ideal world, maybe cies for radio networks. This shaped are trying to share. that the communications and venture capital investment would my view on the importance of If I was to single out an individ- technology that are my work has be my alternative choice and sustainability and energy efficiency ual, I would have to name Walter the potential to help build a more maybe when I have that million and how ICT can contribute. Tuttlebee who really brought home sustainable energy future and this dollars from the earlier question to me the concept and importance is something I’m keen to explore that could still be an option! While Who was your hero growing up? of open innovation especially in further in the years to come. others may wish they’d pursued I’d have to say Bill Gates. I terms of shaping outcomes of a career in medicine or politics, I remember my first experiences projects and initiatives. What would you do with $1m? think my alternative career may with the early personal computers Obviously and predictably, the well have seen me following in my and recognising something that What’s the strangest question first thing would be to pay off the father’s footsteps more closely. was going to change the way you’ve ever been asked? mortgage, but after that I think we lived and worked every day. Apart from this question… I recall I’d want to look at investing. The What’s your career highlight? Through my formative years I was one of my early attendances UK has a fantastic history of en- As I mentioned earlier, I was part of always dabbling with computers of MWC and taking part in a trepreneurial inventors and small the team working on the spec and and playing with programming technical panel session. During companies in the start-up space integration management for the and MS DOS and windows were the Q&A after the discussion, I can go a long way with some first jointly developed 3G base sta- emerging and I think that’s when was asked by a journalist what initial seed investment. That type tion. The pinnacle of that was being the initial spark, pardon the impact the development and of Angel investment has always present in the lab for the switch on pun, of interest for electronic adoption of smart cities would appealed and being able to play and testing of the first base station. engineering was lit and, in many have on television and the media, a role, however small in start-ups It was jointly developed by NEC and ways, that was the defining the sectors she was involved in. that could be the next big thing is Siemens, and the atmosphere in moment for my career direction. The discussion panel was focused something that appeals. that lab as it was switched on was Given that, there’s really no doubt on the much wider picture; the something I will never forget. that Bill Gates, who for me was infrastructure, transportation, Which law would you most I’m also very much enjoying the instigator of the personal connectivity, energy systems and like to change? taking part in the UK5G Advisory computer revolution has to be IoT, the broader impact of smart I think with reference to my Board working in a committee named as my childhood hero. cities on the socio-economic work for Real Wireless, there is that is focussed on helping the activities, but she was hyper a need to simplify and update UK benefit from 5G. Working What’s the best piece of focused on her sector, her role, the planning restrictions on the as co-chair of the International advice you’ve been given? her industry. It was a bizarre height and location of masts and working group gives a unique That’s a very hard question – I moment when I was in front of infrastructure. It’s all moving in opportunity to consider the UK remember people through my ca- an engaged and switched on the right direction, but there’s role on an international stage. n

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