Moving Wireless Forwardtm

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 northern african Volume 16 Number 1

Forwireless comms professionals in north, west, east & central Africa COMMUNICATIONS

l How to get the best out of the latest satellites l Connecting the transportation sector l Comparing MFS on both sides of the Indian Ocean

Moving Wireless ForwardTM

NAWC 1703 p1 (Cover) RN.indd 1 06/04/2017 14:47 NAWC 1703 p2 (FG Wilson).indd 1 04/04/2017 18:07 wirelessnorthern african CONTENTS COMMUNICATIONS

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 8 News northern african Volume 16 5 News review Number 1 FEBRUARY/

Forwireless comms professionals in north, west, east & central Africa COMMUNICATIONS MARCH 2017 > Vodafone launches region’s first VNF platform l How to get the best out of the latest satellites > LTE not secure enough for public safety l Connecting the transportation sector l Comparing MFS on both sides of the Indian Ocean Volume 16 > Launch success for NEXT constellation Number 1 > Microsoft and Liquid partner for cloud > Arabsat expands capacity for CETel > 10 years of M-PESA in Kenya

Moving Wireless ForwardTM > ICT: the “new oil” in Nigeria

NAWC 1703 p1 (Cover) RN.indd 1 06/04/2017 14:47 16 Wireless solutions > Gazprom scores big with African connectivity > Intelsat goes live with IS-33e Mobile Mark is a leading supplier of > Eutelsat’s broadband plan “back on track” innovative, high-performance antennas to wireless companies across the globe. They 13 Wireless business have been in the wireless industry for > Tigo and Airtel confirm merger in Ghana over 30 years and have roots in the early Cellular trials. 16 Wireless solutions > Myriad Connect service targets SIM-swap fraud 18 Satcoms The company design and manufacture antennas from 138 MHz–6.0 GHz. Applications include public transit, Features: commercial trains, smart highways, 18 Satcoms mining, utilities, remote monitoring, > SARA FREWEN finds out how to get the machine-to-machine (M2M), and the best from next-gen high-throughput satellites. Internet of Things (IOT). Antenna styles include omni-directional and directional 22 Wireless users infrastructure antennas for network rollout; > The wireless solutions helping the multiband mobile antennas for fleet transport sector deal with traffic. management; low-profile and embedded antennas for M2M/IOT applications. 27 Industry view > NITIN MADHAVAN compares MFS trends on both sides of the Indian Ocean. Mobile Mark antennas are manufactured 27 Industry view in the USA and UK. Their responsive manufacturing capabilities and production 32 World news 30 World news controls ensure that antennas are > EU Parliament approves ‘digital dividend’ delivered on time and to spec. Their > Chile sees Latin America’s first NarrowBand IoT experienced engineering design group > ‘Internet of the gastrointestinal tract’ can take a project from initial concept > DAMM stays on track with Mumbai monorail through to final production. They also > Asian operators gain 5G headstart offer in-house engineering design and RF > Viasat improves driver safety with Orange testing facilities for custom designs. SUBSCRIPTIONS: of control can purchase an annual To find out more about Mobile Mark, Northern African Wireless Communications is subscription at the cost of £110. turn to page 12. a controlled circulation bi-monthly magazine. For more information and general enquiries Register now for your free subscription at please contact Suzanne Thomas at Mobile Mark Europe Ltd www.kadiumpublishing.com [email protected] 8 Miras Business Park, Hednesford Readers who do not qualify under the terms or call +44 (0) 1932 886 537. WS12 2FS, UK EDITORIAL: ADVERTISEMENT SALES: Tel: +44 1543 459555 Editorial director: Rahiel Nasir Senior sales executive: Andy London Fax: +44 1543 459545 Designer: Alan McClenaghan [email protected] [email protected] Contributors: Sara Frewen Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481731 www.mobilemark.com Nitin Madhavan Publishing apprentice: Jennifer Coates Editorial enquiries: [email protected] [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481729 Production & circulation: Production: Suzanne Thomas Publishing director: Kathy Moynihan [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1932 886537 Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481728

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Vodafone Egypt launches region’s first VNF platform Having selected Ericsson as its NFV adds that it also provides full and manage the increasing volume partner, Vodafone Egypt has now feature parity, and is agnostic to the of traffic from mobile broadband. gone live with the first commercial underlying cloud system with support “Virtualisation will enhance the virtual network function in the for both Open Stack and VMware. speed and efficiency of services we Middle East and North Africa. Vodafone Egypt’s network runs provide to our customers which will Since last October, Ericsson’s using a combination of virtual and in turn support our main goal to virtual Serving GPRS Support native SGSN/MME in the same reach customer satisfaction,” says Node – Mobility Management Entity pool which, according to Ericsson, Osama Said, technology director, (SGSN-MME) has been handling supports efficient capacity expansion. Vodafone Egypt. and managing commercial mobile The vendor claims its system extends broadband traffic on the cellco’s network capabilities to meet even Ericsson’s blade system for SGSN- network. The platform is said to the “most aggressive” traffic growth MME. The company’s virtualisation support multi-access technologies predictions, and provides “superior technology has been managing such as GSM, WCDMA and LTE, scalability and capacity” so that Vodafone Egypt’s mobile broadband and interworks with Wi-Fi. Ericsson operators can optimise their operations traffic since last October. LTE not secure enough for public safety, warns TCCA The security mechanisms being safety organisations are already advises those responsible for public designed into future LTE standards taking advantage of this, the TCCA safety communications to therefore are not currently at a level to match says it is only for non mission-critical consider national government policy purpose-designed professional applications, with the traffic carried with regard to foreign ownership and mobile radio standards, warns by a ‘best efforts’ commercial service. operation of telecoms infrastructure. the TCCA (TETRA and Critical It adds that for safety critical Spectrum and funding are also Communications Association). applications – such as dispatching highlighted as focus areas in the In a recently published white paper, ambulances, passing on details of white paper. The association says the the TCCA identifies four key focus terrorist suspects, dealing with major availability of spectrum is essential points for governments to consider if The TCCA says that while there is incidents, etc. – it is essential to use to enabling choice in the provision they are looking to implement LTE- no simple answer to how mobile networks that are suited to mission- of broadband data services. But even based public safety networks. broadband should be provided to critical communication. if spectrum is secured for public Among them, it says a review of public safety users, it is essential that The TCCA also points out that as safety agencies, building nationwide the security arrangements available any network employed is suited to with any commercial organisation, infrastructure will be relatively costly in LTE systems and any commercial mission-critical communication. mobile networks are subject to being in many countries. The TCCA network that is used should be bought and sold. As a result, critical therefore believes that an optimal undertaken by suitably qualified staff. deliver mobile broadband to public national infrastructure could end balance between dedicated and MNOs already have the ability to safety services. While many public up being owned by foreign firms. It commercial networks will be needed. Launch success for largest commercial satellite constellation In what its describes as the of “one of resulted in a backlog in Spacecom’s satellites at a time. One-by-one, these the biggest tech refreshes” in history, schedule Iridium’s satellites were new orbiters will be positioned near Iridium has finally launched the first eventually launched on 14 January a current generation Iridium satellite, satellites that will eventually replace 2017. They were delivered to a 625km each moving at around 17,000 miles and enhance its existing network temporary parking orbit where they per hour as testing begins. Iridium of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are currently undergoing tests. Once says “unique” inter-satcom links from spanning the entire globe. they have passed, the satellites are nearby satellites will be repositioned The first 10 satellites that comprise expected to be moved into their 780km to point to the new NEXT spacecraft Iridium’s NEXT constellation were operational orbit some time in April. as it prepares to take over service. originally due to be launched by These first 10 satellites are the start Existing satellites will eventually be SpaceX last September (see News, Aug- of what the company claims will be de-boosted and de-orbited. Sep, 2016). But the loss of Spacecom’s the largest commercial fleet in space, The second launch was expected in AMOS-6 on the launchpad (ibid.) has providing 100 per cent truly global mid-April but this has now been moved communications coverage. to mid-June following continuing A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts-off with Over the next 18 months, SpaceX delays at SpaceX. The entire Iridium the first 10 LEO satellites for Iridium’s will carry out seven more launches NEXT network is scheduled to be NEXT constellation. for Iridium, deploying ten NEXT completed by mid-2018.

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ISK fibre network upgraded to 10G Telco Systems will upgrade Internet as well as its EdgeGenie Orchestrator infrastructure in order to better serve Solutions Kenya’s (ISK) entire fibre service management system. It customers with new and improved network infrastructure to 10G. says this means the network will be services.” Formerly AccessKenya Group, fully orchestrated, allowing rapid It’s claimed the newly upgraded ISK provides cloud, communication, service provisioning along with network will enable ISK to serve connectivity and carrier services to simplified network deployment and thousands of enterprises in Kenya public and private sector organisations maintenance activities for ISK. and across the region with advanced in Kenya and across East Africa. It is a “In the last two years, we have business services. Telco Systems CEO Ariel Efrati (right) says licensed DCNO, ISP, PDNO and local been experiencing a growing demand It will also provide the company the new network will be one of the best loop operator in addition to being a for higher capacity and other layered with full MPLS services across all in Africa. Also pictured is Richard Hechle, shareholder in TEAMS. services from our customers,” says parts of the fibre network and all the MD of Internet Solutions Kenya. Telco says it will provide a Richard Hechle, MD, Internet way to the customer. In addition, fully automated software-defined Solutions Kenya. “We are confident Telco says the network upgrade will “This network upgrade is a major network with the capacity to support that [Telco Systems’] innovation now include the latest MEF 2.0 step forward in creating one of the 10GbE. The vendor will supply networking technologies will enable standards, which means ISK will be highest quality and most reliable its T-Metro 7124, T-Marc 3348 and us to deliver more capacity and able to deliver “more robust” services networks, not only in Kenya but across T-Marc 3308 demarcation devices, will allow us to better utilise our to its customers. Africa,” says Telco’s CEO Ariel Efrati. Orange enhances optical Microsoft and Liquid network in Côte d’Ivoire partner for cloud in Africa Orange Côte d’Ivoire is boosting The firm says that platforms Microsoft and Liquid Telecom have business potential and enable its data carrying capacity with a such as the Ekinops 360 (pictured) joined forces to accelerate the use startups and home-grown operations 100Gbps optical network solution. feature its “highly programma- of cloud services across Africa. to be more productive and efficient. With 12 million customers and ble” T-Chip (Transport-on-a-Chip) The companies say businesses “Cloud computing is still gaining growing, it’s claimed the company architecture which results in fast, across the continent have momentum on the continent, but can now upgrade easily to obtain flexible and cost-effective delivery traditionally been slower adopters of we believe it has the potential to 10 times its existing capacity. of new services for high-speed, cloud services, particularly in areas transform the way businesses of all The West African operator is high-capacity transport. with limited ICT infrastructure. sizes operate,” says Ben Roberts, working with France-based Ekinops By using its carrier-grade system, As well as the delivery of cloud group CTO, Liquid Telecom. on the rollout. Orange is extending Ekinops reckons operators can services, their joint effort will also “Through better connectivity, faster the transmission capacity of its increase network capacity more focus on SMB development, and the internet and secure cloud offerings, network along Côte d’Ivoire’s main simply. The company enablement of a TVWS technology businesses will have the platforms strategic routes, and has been also claims its 100G and partner ecosystem to provide and tools they need to grow and conducting intensive field tests solution guaran- further connectivity across Africa. succeed. We have the infrastructure using Ekinops’ next-generation tees Orange By combining Liquid’s fibre to enable locally and regionally optical network equipment. “perfect network reach – which now spans hosted cloud solutions keeping According to the vendor, its 100G interopera- more than 40,000km across 12 African data in Africa.” solutions allow for transmission bility” with countries – with Microsoft’s business Part of the project, ‘Business in a capacity to be increased from 10G existing solutions, the partners say they will Box’, will offer SMBs a cloud-based to 100G “very easily” and without equipment in bring the cloud closer to the end toolkit of relevant applications, changing the existing infrastructure. its network. user. They reckon this will enhance cloud services and connectivity. Arabsat expands capacity for CETel and Tunisia’s ONT CETel has upgraded its extended which orbits at 20ºE. It will use this Telediffusion (ONT) have signed C-band service from Arabsat to meet to deliver up to 200Mbps to critical an agreement to launch a Tunisian increasing demand in the mining and sensitive operations in the broadcast platform on Arabsat sector. And in a separate deal, Tunisia’s natural resources industry, as well as BADR-4. It is due to start operating Office National de la Telediffusion connectivity to rural areas in many by the end of Q217 and will allow will launch a new broadcast platform countries, especially Mali, Niger, Tunisian and regional broadcasters to using Arabsat’s help. Nigeria, DRC and South Africa. have direct access from Tunis to the As part of its upgrade, CETel will CETel and Arabsat have been long- growing 26°E neighbourhood with use more than 50MHz of extended term strategic partners. For instance coverage encompassing MENA and C-band capacity from Arabsat-5C in 2015, they built an Earth station Western Europe. which uses a 9.3m antenna at CETel’s Rohde and Schwartz was chosen In 2015, Arabsat and CETel built an teleport in Ruppichteroth, Germany. for the installation and commissioning Earth station which uses a 9.3m In separate news in February, of the platform which is said to use antenna at CETel’s teleport. Arabsat and Office National de la the latest technical specifications.

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10 years of M-PESA in Kenya Safaricom has marked 10 years M-PESA customers were the The study found when the platform since it launched M-PESA in Kenya. biggest beneficiaries of this social was first introduced in March 2007, In early March 2017, it published value, receiving a return in value it attracted 20,000 customers. By the findings of a study carried out of KES160bn (USD1.55bn)as a March 2016 the service had more by KPMG which revealed that the stakeholder group in the financial than 16 million users, while the value ‘social value’ generated by its mobile year ending 2016. of transactions rose from KES10.3m money system grew from KES83m Neil Morris, climate change and to KES5.2tr over the same period. in 2007 to KES184bn by the end of sustainability director at KPMG Safaricom said KPMG’s report March 2016. South Africa, said: “Although complements recent findings by econ- In its True Earnings study, KPMG Safaricom earns growing revenues omists from MIT and Georgetown performed an evaluation of the from the M-PESA product, the social University who found that M-PESA social value created by Safaricom’s value it has generated for customers has lifted 194,000 Kenyan house- Since its launch in March 2007, it’s mobile money system using ‘Social continues to exceed the financial holds out of extreme poverty. claimed M-PESA has lifted 194,000 Kenyan Return on Investment’ principles benefits to Safaricom in each of the CA denies plans to split M-PESA from households out of extreme poverty. (SROI). According to the research, years since its inception.” Safaricom – Wireless Business, p13. © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, VODAFONE GROUP ICT: the “new oil” in Nigeria Smartphone re-use drives Investments in Nigeria’s growing Professor Umar Danbatta, executive telecoms sector reached USD68bn vice chairman of the Nigerian digital inclusion programme as at July 2016, according to figures Communications Commission (NCC), publicised at the Nigerian Telecoms told the audience that the regulator has Facebook has appointed HYLA Kenyan Ministry of Health, the Investment Forum. begun digital transformation through Mobile to collect high-end CHWs will use the phones to Held alongside ITU Telecom the National Broadband Plan 2013- smartphones for re-distribution in register pregnant women, receive World 2016 in Bangkok last 2018. He said that while Nigeria has emerging markets as part of its Smart automated antenatal care visit November, forum delegates heard so far hit 21 per cent, investments will Restart initiative. The programme reminders, report danger signs, and that this figure included USD35bn be needed for 3G and 4G, and to take seeks to underline the company’s track deliveries. in direct foreign investments. services to underserved and unserved commitment to sustainability They will also register new-born Speaking at the event, former ITU regions in order to reach the planned while driving digital inclusion in babies and receive immunisation secretary general Dr. Hamadoun target of 30 per cent next year. underserved parts of the world. reminders to ensure that children are Touré said Nigeria is now a “We need to deploy infrastructure It’s claimed the re-distribution of receiving necessary and life-saving “preferred destination” for telecoms to those areas that have no services,” devices will have a major impact in vaccinations. All the data collected investors in Africa. He pointed out said Danbatta. “We have come to many parts of Africa where device will integrate directly into the that since the country first opened let the global community know that affordability is a major barrier to Ministry of Health’s reporting tools. its sector to the global community, investments are welcome in this area.” mobile broadband adoption. US-based HYLA Mobile the market has grown from just The forum also heard from Nigeria’s For example in Kenya, Facebook specialises in mobile device recycling 400,000 connected lines in 2001 to communications minister, Adebayo has been working with Medic Mobile and re-commerce. It says the global more than 150 million today with a Shittu. He spoke to assure existing and getting smartphones to frontline secondhand device market is worth teledensity of 107 per cent. and potential investors of government health workers in Isiolo County. around USD17bn. The company “The next growth for voice support and protection, and claimed Devices collected through Smart claims to use “sophisticated” communication is in Quality of that since the country was now moving Restart and refurbished by HYLA technology across its global operation Service,” said Touré. “The new from a resource-based to a knowledge- are being donated to 120 community centres to extend the lifecycle of oil in Nigeria is ICT and data based economy, investors should health workers (CHWs). Supported mobile devices in the “most secure” transmission is the way to go.” “renew” their confidence in the state. by Christian Aid Kenya and the manner possible. Gazprom scores big with African satellite connectivity Gazprom Space System’s (GSS) plans to develop business for full-time Yamal-402’s Southern Beam to deliver Yamal-402 satellite has been kept busier and occasional use TV broadcasting. services based on its SkyEdge II-c in Africa over the past few months. As the winner of the Africa Cup technology in sub-Sahara Africa. In mid-February, the Russian of Nations, Cameroon will now Initially, the capacity will be used operator announced that the satellite’s participate in the Confederation Cup to implement broadband connectivity capacity was used for the 2017 Africa held in Russia in June 2017. Gazprom’s in schools and deliver services to Cup of Nations football tournament Yamal-202 will be used to arrange mobile operators in rural Ghana. that was held in Gabon at the start of backup links for TV broadcasting of GSS director general Dmitry the year. This event was broadcast by Confederation Cup games as well as Sevastiyanov said: “The partnership with Equinoxe Televison Cameroun using next year’s FIFA World Cup Finals. Gilat will further enforce our presence in Cameroon clinched their fifth title after Yamal-402’s Southern Beam which In separate news late last year, Gilat the African market and will also involve defeating seven-time champions Egypt covers sub-Sahara Africa. Gazprom says Satellite Networks (GSN) has also enhancement of telecommunication in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final. it will work with Equinoxe on further struck a deal with Gazprom to use infrastructure in Africa.”

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Creating Africa’s cashless society Mastercard promises to “empower” It claims Masterpass QR (Quick in-store purchases by scanning a QR on the continent to see the launch of more than 150,000 micro, small and Response) combats these challenges in code displayed at the checkout on their Masterpass QR last September follow- medium enterprises (MSMEs) in a “simple and user-friendly” manner, smartphones, or by entering a merchant ing a partnership with the Ecobank Kenya this year by giving them access helping to stimulate the economy by identifier into their feature phones. Trans International Group. to its Masterpass QR system. digitising a sector previously solely Masterpass QR can be used at any Mastercard’s global goal is to The company says MSMEs have dependent on cash-based transactions. supported location across Africa. As connect 40 million micro and small traditionally struggled with the cost of In Kenya, the company began well as Kenya, the system is already merchants to its electronic payments installing payment infrastructure such introducing its mobile solution via available in Rwanda, Tanzania, network by the end of 2020. By then, it as POS devices, as well as with issues various mobile banking applications Uganda and Ghana, as well as in says Masterpass QR will have been rolled of security surrounding payment. in February. Consumers can pay for Nigeria which was the first market out to 33 countries across Africa. Intersat boosts pan- continental internet Intersat is delivering internet services across Africa following the signing of a multi-year capacity agreement with SES. Based in Dubai, Intersat also has offices in Kenya and South Sudan and is said to be one of the largest providers of internet solutions on the continent. It will uses the NSS-12 satellite located at 57ºE to deliver broadband connectivity to businesses and consumers. The agreement includes a new C-band capacity lease, infrastructure services out of SES’ Betzdorf teleport, and a renewal of upgraded Ku- band capacity out of the Djibouti Teleport. The latter is managed by BringCom and has been used by SES since 2014 after it installed a nine-metre Ku-band antenna and hub equipment at the site. Intersat will also use the Enterprise+ service to deliver high-speed broadband connectivity across the continent. SES says this managed, ready-to-deploy, customised satellite connectivity solution provides carrier grade services and enables a range of applications including connectivity for ERP, VPN, VoIP services, remote data traffic, etc. Hanif Kassam, executive director of Intersat, says: “With the new and upgraded capacity and customised connectivity platform on NSS- 12, combined with an extensive teleport infrastructure, we will be able to offer truly differentiated services to our customers.”

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NCC re-plans Intelsat extends EpicNG microwave The Nigerian Communi- to millions with IS-33e cations Commission has told local operators it will re-plan the Intelsat has now gone live with what it Intelsat 33e network operators, aeronautical and 23GHz microwave frequency band. claims to be the first multi spot beam, was launched maritime mobility service providers In mid-February, the regulator said Ku-band, high throughput satellite (HTS) on an Ariane 5 and government customers. that following industry consultation, service for the EMEA, APAC, Medi- rocket last Some of the African customers it has decided to re-channelise the terranean and Indian Ocean regions. August, but its committed to Intelsat 33e’s vast 23GHz band from its original 7MHz Intelsat 33e was successfully launched in orbit testing geographic coverage include Orange plan to 28MHz in accordance with last August and is the second satellite to was delayed. Cameroon, Djibouti Telecom, Africell, recommendation ITU-R.F. 637-4. use Intelsat’s EpicNG high throughput MultiChoice, Vodacom, Telkom The new plan will take effect from 30 system. It was due to enter service at the South Africa, amongst others. May 2017. All affected operators will end of last year (see News, Jun-Jul 2016), Intelsat’s first satellite to use its be given two years to migrate from but this was delayed due to a malfunction EpicNG HTS system was 29e which 7MHz to 28MHz channel spacing in in the primary thruster which meant went live with services for the Americas the 23GHz band. New assignments orbit raising took longer than originally in March 2016. The company says on the band will now be based on the planned. The satellite eventually its EpicNG global footprint will be 28MHz plan, and channel aggrega- entered service on 29 January 2017. completed with additional launches tion will no longer be permitted. Manufactured by Boeing, Intelsat 33e From its orbital location of 60°E, over 2017-18. This includes 35e in is said to be equipped with the “most Intelsat says the new spacecraft will the next few weeks which features advanced” HTS payload design that enable the delivery of enterprise-grade, C-band spot beams as well as Ku- Full coverage is also “exceptionally flexible”. broadband services to fixed and mobile band coverage for Africa. in Morocco Maroc Telecom is claiming SureBüddy and Africell to insure screens a first in Morocco with the A new app has been launched in SureBüddy has initially started He reckons this will make users launch of its new broadband satellite Uganda in an effort to drive what’s with a non-insurance product in feel more comfortable with the idea internet service for residential and described as a “crucial need” for order to build up consumer trust, of insurance, and the initial purchase business customers. As a result, the insurance on the continent. as spokesperson Johan Basson decision is easy because it’s free. “Over company says it has become the SureBüddy works on Android explains: “Starting with screen time, they can change to insurance first operator to offer full coverage devices and is designed to be simple cover means that clients will feel products such as life cover, as their of Moroccan territory. It adds and easy to use. The app renders immediate gratification – when trust increases from this experience.” that customers can take advantage advertisements and the developer their phone screens break, they can SureBüddy will implement the of a “wide range” of broadband then uses the advertising revenue to have them repaired immediately. first phase of the service by providing packages of up to 20Mbps priced reward the user directly with cover. “The only thing the user will screen cover in conjunction with from MAD249 (USD25) per It claims the ad images are non- ever pay for is an administration fee Phone Doctor. It’s also partnered month. Enterprise users can also intrusive, use very little data, and to the repairer of a maximum 10 per with MNO Africell in Gambia, choose a VPN satellite service with disappear with a click. cent of the repair value.” Sierra Leone, DRC and Uganda. speeds up to 6Mbps. No snooping Red Cross digitises services with new app The Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire organisation’s services and benefits, (RCSCI) has launched a new mobile as well as volunteer opportunities in in Kenya app to spread awareness about its local projects. It can deliver up-to- The Communications mission and activities. It also provides the-minute emergency alerts, both Authority (CA) of Kenya resource mobilisation opportunities to nationally and locally, as well as has denied local media claims that increase the organisation’s membership information on blood donation such it is deploying a regulatory device and volunteer base, as well as tools to as locations of donation centres. management system (DMS) with improve community engagement. In addition, users can make the express intention of accessing Founded in 1960, the RCSCI now donations, register for training The RCSCI App offers users a variety private mobile data. Speaking has 12,000 volunteers throughout the courses and events, get access to of features to support the Red Cross’ earlier this year, CA director country. It operates 50 local branches the organisation’s news, and also teams in the country. general Francis Wangusi said with an additional 26 first aid teams purchase Red Cross equipment the implementation of the DMS capable of rapid deployment in through a dedicated marketplace. development of their digital policies. was driven by the need to curb emergency situations. The app was built in partnership with The RCSI says it was encouraged to the illegal termination of traffic, The RCSCI App supports mobile Connectik, a UK-based company that digitise its operations and improve its counterfeit handsets and phone devices that use Android and Apple iOS. develops digital services for enterprise services following the success of the models that have not been type It offers users a variety of features, and large member organisations. apps Connectik developed for the Red approved to work in Kenya. including membership access to the Connectik also helps governments in the Cross in Kenya and South Africa.

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Eutelsat plan “back on track” Following AMOS-6’s failure to launch be supported later in the year using Eutelsat originally set up its Under the initiative, Benin, last year, Eutelsat say its African capacity on 18 spot beams on Yahsat’s Broadband for Africa initiative in 2015 Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, broadband initiative is back on track third satellite, Al Yah 3, which is and re-branded it as Konnect Africa DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, thanks to an agreement with Yahsat. scheduled for launch later this year. last November. By working in close Senegal, Togo and Uganda are Under a multi-year deal signed last The capacity will replace the partnership with local partners to among the 17 nations that will be October, Eutelsat will use capacity payload Eutelsat previously promote high-quality broadband connected this year. on up to 16 Ka-band spot beams on contracted on Spacecom’s AMOS- at affordable prices for homes and They will be joined by seven Yahsat’s 1B satellite in order to roll 6 which was lost in September businesses, the company’s aim is more countries from 2019, including out broadband services during the first following a launchpad explosion (see to accelerate satellite broadband Ethiopia and South Sudan, amongst half of 2017. Further expansion will News, Sep-Oct 2016). connectivity across the continent. others. Nigerian MDXi goes live to peer local traffic MainData Nigeria (MDXi) and the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) have teamed up to expand the peering of internet transit traffic within Nigeria. MDXi is the region’s only Tier III certified data centre (see News, Oct-Nov 2016) and is operated by MainOne which also owns and runs an open access 4.96Tbps submarine cable system. With its IP transit network already connected to the Lagos, Accra, London and Amsterdam Internet Exchanges, it’s claimed MDXi will give IXPN the capacity to connect directly with the “greatest number” of IP transit and content delivery networks in West Africa. IXPN CEO Muhammed Rudman believes this will enhance local internet performance, lower costs, and minimise traffic bottlenecks for internet traffic in Nigeria. MainOne says its vision is to improve connectivity across West Africa. The company’s CEO Funke Opeke ( pictured ) says: “MainOne is committed to the penetration of high quality and affordable broadband internet services in West Africa, and bringing the IXPN closer to our network plays an important role in helping us realise that vision not only for Nigeria, but for all of West Africa.

February/March 2017 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 11

NAWC 1703 p10-11 (News) RN.indd 11 05/04/2017 17:55 Moving Wireless Forward Mobile Mark is a leading supplier of innovative, current major projects for National Express, West high performance antennas to wireless companies Midlands, UK.” across the globe. We’ve been in the wireless industry for over 30 years and have our roots Remote Monitoring & Surveillance in the early Cellular trials. We have grown and Surveillance plays an important role in maintaining evolved over the years, along with the industry. secure settings. Network deployments need to be low We are now looking for maintenance and weather resistant. Broadband surface Today, we benefit from enhanced design capabilities distributors throughout Africa mounts offer flexibility for multi-frequency coverage and expanded production capacity – along with and are rugged and dependable. YAGI antennas a greater understanding of new and emerging Commercial Fleet Management provide practical point-to-point coverage. Our antenna markets – all of which have allowed us to become Mobile Mark has consistently lead the industry solutions are designed to handle tough conditions one of the best antenna developers in our field. with the most extensive and innovative range of while providing the reliable wireless connection antenna solutions that combine multiple wireless you would expect from a Mobile Mark antenna. Our customers have been our partners throughout technologies: from simple GPS & Cellular antennas the years. We believe in taking the time to to complex 6-cable antennas combining LTE MIMO, Mining & Exploration understand our customers’ individual needs. WiFi MIMO, DSRC and GNSS in the same antenna Modern mining operations rely on a battalion Through close consultation with clients, we are housing. This combination of wireless technologies of vehicles, ranging from massive extraction able to deliver innovative, tailored solutions that allows fleet owners to track and/or redirect their vehicles to modest-sized material transport trucks. meet specific antenna requirements. fleets of cars and trucks for optimum efficiencies. These vehicles operate in tough environments Mobile Mark antennas are rugged enough to where high vibration is a frequent wear and tear Rapid prototyping capabilities allow us to take our handle tough environments and efficient enough challenge. Mining companies throughout Africa designs from concept to reality in an extremely short to maintain reliable connections. have relied on our rugged, foam-filled mobile time span, and to verify the performance of the antenna. antennas for consistent connections. Mobile A variety of network analyzers and an anechoic chamber Public Transit & Bus Management Mark’s infrastructure antennas have been used for enable us to conduct measurements up to 13 GHz, From monitoring the location of the bus to monitoring rapid deployment and redundancy coverage for and ensure that the antennas designed meet or the condition of its tires, wireless has become an effective wireless coverage in isolated settings. exceed customer requirements. essential part of professional bus management. Mobile Mark’s multiband antennas allow the Smart Cities & Smart Highway We have onsite injection molding equipment and system to capture that information and transmit it For cities and highways, the lynchpin of a successful a fully equipped modeling shop staffed with skilled back to a central monitoring station with real-time “Smart” system will be dependable wireless connections. model makers to assist in the design phase and help connectivity. For an added touch, real-time WiFi Companies like Kapsch understand this, and have us come up with a superior product – an antenna service can also be added for the passengers. That’s worked with Mobile Mark to find ideal antenna that not only meets the customer’s electrical why companies like INIT have selected Mobile Mark solutions. Wireless networks must reach seamlessly specifications, but is also very attractively packaged. antenna to complete their product offerings. And into hard-to-cover corners of city intersections and they have made the following endorsement: along vast expanses of highways. They must be Mobile Mark antennas are used in many sectors of carefully embedded in city lighting and electrical the wireless industry. Here are just a few examples: “INIT GmbH – as a worldwide leading supplier meters. Mobile Mark offers both small network of integrated planning, dispatching, telematics infrastructure as well as embedded antenna elements Asset Tracking & RFID and ticketing systems for buses and trains – uses to help network designers tie all the pieces together. Managing and tracking important assets can be Mobile Mark bus antennas in public transportation a challenge in the field, and both RFID and WiFi projects all over the globe. Let us know how we can help offer effective wireless solutions. RFID / WiFi technology allows us to identify, monitor and For example: INIT has installed Mobile Mark antennas We understand the RF wireless world and are ready to track items ranging from medicine to fruit to in projects located in Abu Dhabi, Hertfordshire help you evaluate your options. Contact us by email, parcels to people. Since each application has its UK, Turku Finland, Oslo Norway, Montreal Canada, phone or fax and let us know how we can help. own challenges, Mobile Mark offers a range of Luxembourg, as well as several German projects. antennas so network developers can choose Mobile Mark Europe Ltd the right mix. In 2017, a fleet of more than 1,500 buses will have 8 Miras Business Park, Keys Park Rd. Mobile Mark Antennas installed in one of INIT`s Hednesford, Staffs. WS12 2FS, United Kingdom Email: [email protected] www.mobilemark.com Tel: (+44) 1543 459 555 | Fax: (+44) 1543 459 545

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Tigo and Airtel merger in Ghana

As reported in our last issue, Millicom Glo Mobile Expresso 0.24% their combined fibre footprint and and Airtel have now entered into an 1.82% Airtel 11.99% Millicom (Tigo) increased data centres will also give 13.94% agreement to combine their operations enterprise customers access to a in Ghana. The financial terms of the GT/Vodafone 21.64% diverse portfolio of “world class” agreement have not been disclosed, Scancom (MTN) 50.37% solutions. Mobile financial services but each company will have equal will also be enhanced with combined ownership and governance rights in agent networks and platforms. the merged entity. “The combination of Tigo and It’s claimed the combination of Airtel will create an operator that will Millicom’s Tigo operation in Ghana be able to offer Ghanaian consumers with Airtel’s local subsidiary will Mobile voice subscriber market shares in Ghana as at December 2016. and businesses a state-of-the-art cover more than 80 per cent of the network with high-speed mobile SOURCE: NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY population with high-speed data, data coverage,” says Millicom Africa providing the widest 3G coverage total number of mobile voice the previous month. It was followed EVP Mohamed Dabbour. “This across the country. It will have subscriptions increased YoY by 9.42 by: Vodafone (8,289,913); Tigo transaction underlines confidence in revenues of just under USD300m per cent to reach 38,305,078. That (5,339,052); Airtel (4,591,051); Glo the Ghanaian economy, and provides and a 25.93 per cent market share, represents a penetration rate of (695,306); and Expresso (93,599). the opportunity to develop nationwide making it Ghana’s second-biggest 136.34 per cent. Scancom (MTN) Millicom and Airtel expect digital infrastructure and services.” mobile voice operator (see chart). remains the market leader with the integration of their networks The merger is subject to obtaining According to December 19,296,157 voice subscribers and to provide a “major boost” for approvals from the relevant authorities 2016 figures from the National was the only cellco in the country customers in both rural and urban in Ghana and the satisfaction of Communications Authority, the to have recorded an increase from network coverage. They add that customary closing conditions.

Kenyan authority denies plans to Power and Regulated Services study in fell short of splitting M-PESA and with telecommunication operators split M-PESA from Safaricom May, some news outlets claim they Safaricom into different legal entities. in the country to determine how to Kenya’s information and communica- have already seen it. Joe Mucheru, cabinet secretary manage dominance.” tions minister has rejected recommen- In late February, Kenya’s Daily in Kenya’s Ministry of Information In mid-March, the CA issued a dations from a report commissioned by Nation reported that among the and Communications, believes press statement which said that it the local regulator that says Safaricom recommendations is a “functional the proposals are detrimental to “has no intention of splitting the and M-PESA should be separated. separation” of Safaricom’s mobile investors and innovators. “You business of market players in the In a study carried out on behalf of the money service from its core telecoms cannot begin to punish companies telecommunications sub-sector, or Communications Authority of Kenya business. According to the report, this for their innovativeness,” he told take such drastic actions that create (CA), consultancy firm Analysys Mason would require the two to have separate journalists. “There is dominance in disruptions that may destabilise looks at the degree of competition and offices and staff working below board voice, which is a big area, according dominant market players”. its effectiveness in various telecoms level, as well as distinct branding, to the report. Parliament also wants Board chairman Ngene Gituku markets in the country. While the CA accounting and systems for business to separate mobile money from confirmed that the CA’s aim is to says it plans to release the findings of operations, support and management the telecommunications and data undertake “modest” regularity measures Analysys Mason’s Dominant Market information. It added that the report business. We are having discussions that are focused on the progress of

NEW APPOINTMENTS

Date Name New employer New position Previous employer Previous position

15/2/17 Andrew Gill Tait Communications MD EMEA Motorola Solutions VP of growth & alliances for Europe & North Africa

24/2/17 Steve Collar SES Executive committee member – Has been appointed in his capacity as O3b CEO

28/2/17 Samer Abu Ltaif Microsoft President MEA Microsoft Gulf Regional GM

Head of Emerging Markets Digital 28/2/17 Ali Faramawy Microsoft Microsoft Corporate VP Transformation Organisation

Director representing 2/3/17 Vivek Badrinath Safaricom Vodafone CEO, AMAP region (current) Vodafone Kenya

Non-executive & independent University of Nairobi Lecturer on entrepreneurship & research methods 2/3/17 Dr. Bitange Ndemo Safaricom director Business School (current)

13/3/17 Béatrice Beau Eutelsat EVP, global broadband services Nc+ Member of supervisory board

VP of marketing & business 20/3/17 Ilan Tevet RAD RAD Head of service provider line of business development

February/March 2017 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 13

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the sector. He added that Analysis Intelsat and OneWeb combine participation in the debt exchange Elhage quits following changes at Nokia Mason’s report will be released once Intelsat and OneWeb have agreed offers is achieved. Either party Nokia has announced changes to its the “required processes as stipulated to merge in a share-for-share can terminate the agreement and organisation and group leadership team. in the constitution, ICT sector law and transaction. Japan’s SoftBank Group SoftBank can end its investment if the As part of the restructure, the the Fair Competition and Equality – which acquired a 40 per cent stake debt exchange offers have not been company has split its Mobile Networks Treatment as well as the Tariffs in OneWeb at the end of last year (see successfully completed within 90 days business group into two organisations: Regulations have been concluded”. Wireless Business, Dec 16-Jan 17 issue) – of the date of the agreement which one will focus on products and The CA also pointed out that while has also agreed to invest USD1.7bn in was announced on 28 February 2017. solutions, while the other on global it does not regard dominance in any newly issued common and preferred “As an early equity investor in services. This has led to the resignation market segment as an offence, it is the shares of the combined company. OneWeb, we recognised a network of Samih Elhage who was appointed “abuse and the potential of abuse of Both the merger and the SoftBank that was a complement to our next- president of Mobile Networks in 2016 dominance” that must be regulated. Its investment are subject to, among other generation EpicNG fleet and a fit with (see Wireless Business, Dec 15-Jan 16 statement said: “Uncompetitiveness conditions, successful completion of our long-term strategy,” said Intelsat issue). It has been reportedly suggested in the sector has the potential to debt exchange offers to certain existing CEO Stephen Spengler. that Elhage did not support the compromise consumer welfare in Intelsat bondholders as well as receipt “By merging OneWeb’s LEO terms of limited access to services, of certain regulatory approvals. satellite constellation and innovative Samih Elhage poor quality of service, high tariffs and The debt exchange offers together technology with our global scale, walked away from limited choice, if it is not regulated. with the proceeds of the SoftBank terrestrial infrastructure and GEO Nokia after the Abuse of dominance could also lead investment are intended to reduce satellite network, we will create firm restructured to barriers to entry into the market and Intelsat’s debt by around USD3.6bn, advanced solutions that address the its Mobile ultimately result in market failure.” assuming the minimum level of need for ubiquitous broadband.” Networks division.

INVESTMENTS, MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Date Buyer Seller Item Price Notes

Sepura’s shareholders have reached a majority decision (97%) in favour of Hytera’s 9/2/17 Hytera Sepura Company NA acquisition offer. At the time of writing, the companies were liaising with the competition authorities in Spain & Germany to gain their approvals.

Multi-currency New agreement replaces existing USD1.8bn revolving credit facility signed in 2014. Several Various VimpelCom term & revolving Up to international banks have committed to the TL/RCF in an aggregate amount of USD2.108bn. 17/2/17 international Holdings facilities agreement USD2.25bn The TL/RCF includes option to increase amount up to the full USD2.25bn, which would consist banks (TL/RCF) of a term facility of USD562,500,000 & a revolving credit facility of USD 1,687,500,000.

LATEST COMPANY RESULTS

Sales EBITDA EPS Date Company Country Period Currency Notes (m) (m) (units)

Motorola YoY sales increased 6%. Growth of 33% in Europe, Middle East & 2/2/17 US FY16 USD 6,038 NA 3.17 Solutions Africa region driven by Airwave sales in the UK.

Revenues down 0.9% YoY but in line with expectations. Upcoming joint- venture with ViaSat paving the way for future growth in connectivity 9/2/17 Eutelsat France 1H16 EUR 755.1 588 NA from 2020s. Secured Ka-band capacity from Yahsat to enable launch of African broadband initiative (Konnect Africa) later in 2017.

Fall in GAAP revenue compared to USD886.7m in 2015. CEO Tom Fallon said 9/2/17 Infinera US FY16 USD 870.1 NA (0.17) “product transition is currently holding back revenue growth” but believes results will improve in 2017 following launch of next gen ICE4 products.

Revenues up 42% from $197.5m in 2015; growth driven by broadband Gilat Satellite 14/2/17 Israel FY16 USD 279.6 19.2 NA & in-flight connectivity. Aiming for 2017 revenues of between Networks USD280m to USD300m & adjusted EBITDA of around USD20-24m.

Total revenue was down 2%, with product revenue down 4% & service 11.6 15/2/17 Cisco US 2Q17 USD NA 0.47 revenue up 5%. Revenue by geographic segment was: Americas down (bn) 3%, EMEA flat, & APJC down 3%.

2.7% YoY growth. Video is 68% of group revenue & grew 4.7% to EUR1,398.8m. Fully protected contract backlog increased from EUR7.4bn 24/2/17 SES Luxembourg FY16 EUR 2,068.8 1,451.5 1.34 to EUR 8.1bn for year ended 31 December 2016. This included EUR 0.3bn from O3b & EUR 0.1bn from RR Media, which were consolidated in 2016.

Delivered on all 2016 financial targets & returned to growth at 7.5%. VimpelCom 27/2/17 Netherlands FY16 USD 8,885 3,232 0.23 Reported YoY revenues up 27.7%, but earnings in Algeria organically (VEON) decreased 14%. Company has now re-branded as ‘VEON’.

15% YoY decrease in Network Services; 2% YoY decrease in Media 28/2/17 Intelsat US FY16 USD 2,188 1,613.4 NA revenues; & Government earnings flat. Forecasts FY17 revenue to be in a range of USD2.180bn to USD2.225bn.

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separation of the division, although of the group’s acquisition of Airtel’s Nokia’s official line is that “with the operations in the country together integration of Alcatel-Lucent largely with Orange Côte d’Ivoire. complete”, Elhage has decided to The operator’s plans for Burkina leave to “pursue new opportunities”. Faso include the development of 3.75G Nokia president and CEO Rajeev mobile internet and mobile financial Suri described Elhage as a close friend services. The company says its Orange and advisor through times both good Money solution for international and bad. “From helping lead the trans- transfers will be further extended in the formation at Nokia Siemens Networks West African Economic and Monetary and creating a disciplined operating Union (UEMOA). It also plans to model that remains a competitive expand its optical fibre network. advantage, to being one of the driving “We are at a decisive turning point forces behind the acquisition of Alcatel- in the development of the telecoms Lucent and its fast and successful market,” says Ben Cheick Haidara, integration, Samih’s contributions to CEO of Orange in Burkina Faso. Nokia have been remarkable.” “Our ambition is to continue the Marc Rouanne, currently chief work accomplished in recent years WIOCC CEO Chris Wood (right) presenting some of the veterinary drugs to KWS innovation and operating officer in the mobile money and mobile deputy director Edwin Wanyonyi. (CIOO), will become president of the internet fields to make Orange the Mobile Networks business group. Igor leading partner for Burkina Faso’s “Epsilon Global Communications carriers’ carrier”, has its main office Leprince, currently EVP of Global digital transformation.” made the strategic decision to focus on in Nairobi, and its CEO Chris Wood Services, has been appointed president its core service provider offering,” says says the continent’s wildlife has of the new Global Services division. Cataleya in management buyout Epsilon CEO Jerzy Szlosarek. “The always been dear to his heart. In addition, Nokia will also split A joint management team has timing was right to dedicate ourselves In late March 2016, Mohawk, a its CIOO organisation. Its current acquired Cataleya from Singapore- fully to innovating within our Cloud- 13-year-old lion with a distinctive operating activities will be moved to a headquartered Epsilon Global centric networking platform.” black mane, was shot dead after newly-appointed COO organisation, Communications group. Financial Hipp becomes Cataleya’s chairman straying away from the Nairobi innovation activities to the CTO, and details have not been disclosed. and CEO and will oversee its global National Park and before a suitably- incubation to a chief strategy officer. The team includes technology operations. The company will maintain equipped veterinary team could reach Other personnel changes announced startup accelerator Incipio and a group its Silicon Valley-based R&D facilities him. As a result, Wood began raising by the company include: Monika of R&D and engineering specialists. and headquarters in Singapore while funds for the KWS through multiple Maurer, current COO of Fixed It was led by Andreas Hipp who expanding its operations in Pune, India. activities and initiatives, starting at Networks, assumes the position of co-founded Epsilon in 2003 and was In the coming months, Cataleya a global telecoms industry event in group COO; Kathrin Buvac, chief the former CEO of both Epsilon and plans to make announcements Chicago last May. strategy officer, gains additional Cataleya until October 2015. around features and functionalities Following this initial support, he responsibilities for incubation of Cataleya specialises in IP related to NFV, cloud and UCaaS wanted to see how WIOCC could select new business opportunities; and networking and in developing and (Unified Communications as a partner with KWS moving forward. CMO Barry French has been given deploying next-generation carrier Service) in addition to its machine “Out of this came [the] donation additional responsibilities for health, grade switching systems. Under learning-based fraud identification of additional anaesthetic drugs and safety, security and environment. its new ownership, it’s claimed the and mitigation capabilities. medical consumables for use by All of the changes became effective firm will be able to push intelligent veterinarians during wildlife rescues. from 1 April 2017. networking applications and services WIOCC supports lion conservation The hope is that this will help prevent into new areas and develop new WIOCC has donated much-needed similar tragedies from occurring in Orange launches brand in Burkina Faso commercial models for next- drugs and consumables worth the future,” says Wood. In mid-March, Orange announced generation session border controller KES500,000 (USD4,860) to the Kenya KWS says WIOCC’s donation will the launch of its brand in Burkina (SBC) technologies (see Wireless Wildlife Service (KWS). WIOCC, help support the work it is doing to Faso, less than a year after the closing Solutions, p16). which describes itself as “Africa’s protect and conserve lions.

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Cataleya launches virtualised session border controller Cataleya has launched a virtualised functionality of the hardware version Cataleya says the platform enables vOrchid One works with vCenter software version of its session border of its Orchid One appliance (pictured), users to deliver up to 2,250 concurrent for VMware, Openstack for KVM, controller. The Singapore-based vendor combining Big Data, real-time network sessions per core with a QoS analysis and is said to support multiple API says vOrchid One provides all of the analytics and machine learning to engine that allows the system to detect standards and protocols. guarantee IP network performance. and predict voice performance. It offers According to Cataleya, the MANUFACTURER: Cataleya vOrchid One is designed to deliver full WebRTC to SIP interoperability platform enables operators of all end-to-end visibility into network as well as support for VoWiFi. sizes to deploy intelligent networks. PRODUCT: vOrchid One performance from transport to appli- The firm adds that the software’s It reckons the platform delivers an cation layers. It’s claimed service integrated intelligent firewall and immediate competitive advantage MORE INFORMATION: providers benefit from “comprehen- built-in fraud management services with faster monetisation of intelligent www.cataleya.com sive” visibility via near real-time and enables service providers to protect networks and the ability to deliver trending analytics reporting. against voice fraud. higher QoS and QoE for customers. Small cell radio platform aims to be alternative to SDR ip.access has come up with a new Despite the proliferation of approaches. By combining the new It also supports ip.access’ SUMO band- and RAT-flexible small cell software defined radio hardware, hardware platform with its “operator- multi-operator technology which designed specifically for the needs of ip.access believes integrators struggle proven” UMTS and LTE software is said to further reduce the specialist integrators. with inherent performance and stacks, ip.access says the S60z removes capex challenges in cost-sensitive reliability, as well as the need for the software integration burden (while deployments such as rural networks. MANUFACTURER: extensive integration of the software still offering low-level access), and ip.accesss necessary to run the device, the enables integrators to achieve the components for which often have to RAT and band flexibility they need. PRODUCT: S60z be sourced from multiple vendors. The S60z platform has been In contrast, the firm claims its designed to support all UMTS and MORE INFORMATION: new S60z provides integrators with a LTE bands (both FDD and TDD) in www.ipaccess.com complete ‘cellular engine’ that offers frequencies ranging from 500MHz a carrier-proven alternative to SDR to 3.6GHz. High capacity 24GHz point- Scalable LTE test solution to to-point link from Proxim help operators prepare for 5G

Proxim Wireless has as licensing approval is IxLoad LTE XAir2 has been designed to test system’s real-world subscriber introduced a high required. Because its new emulate mobile subscribers at scale in modelling, Ixia says users do not need capacity, 24GHz, point- Tsunami GX-824 operates order to validate the performance and to be protocol experts to develop test to-point (PTP) radio. in a license-exempt band functionality of 4.5G- (LTE-A Pro) realism. From a single tool, it says It is license-exempt similar to 5GHz, the and 5G-related products and services. they can perform capacity tests, detail and said to be ideal for vendor says customers and Developed by network testing, a cell throughput, measure voice providing a trunking carriers can proceed with visibility and security specialist Ixia, and video quality, and model a wide backbone for the firm’s their deployments without the new RAN test product combines variety of mobility scenarios. 5GHz portfolio. any regulatory delay. scale and performance testing with The firm adds that 5G presents While 6, 11, 15, 18 or 23GHz have It’s claimed the GX-824 delivers realistic subscriber emulation and unique technical challenges in terms of long been used as backbones for lower almost 1Gbps in a full duplex system, QoE validation. It can also be used for Wi-Fi and LTE-unlicensed spectrum. capacity point-to-multipoint base totalling just under 2Gbps of actual testing LTE on unlicensed spectrum. It says IxLoad LTE XAir2 has been de- stations, Proxim believes this approach throughput. Proxim says moving The vendor says IxLoad LTE XAir2 veloped to address complex scenarios often results in delays and extra cost almost 2Gbps of backbone capacity facilitates the realistic emulation of involving features like Carrier Aggre- to the license-exempt 24GHz band massive amounts of subscribers with gation, 4x4 MIMO and 256 QAM. MANUFACTURER: frees-up 5GHz spectrum for last-mile multi-Gigabit OTT traffic via the Proxim Wireless access links using some of its other internet, to help customers’ future- MANUFACTURER: Ixia Tsunami products. proof their networks and devices. PRODUCT: Tsunami GX-824 The GX-824 is said to be rugged The platform features Ixia’s XAir2 PRODUCT: IxLoad LTE XAir2 and offers support for either GbE or load module. It claims this provides MORE INFORMATION: fibre as the interface. It is managed LTE user equipment emulation that MORE INFORMATION: www.proxim.com by the vendor’s ProximVision enables a “powerful” eNodeB Layer 1 www.ixia.com Advanced hybrid controller. to 7 test solution. By using its IxLoad

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New service targets ALSO LOOK OUT FOR SIM-swap fraud Optical DSP Myriad Connect has launched a But according to Myriad, criminal tampered with via compromised third boosts fibre service to counter the growing threat groups and insiders at financial parties within an operator or bank. of ‘SIM-swap’ fraud. organisations and network operators The service uses SSD authentication capacity When a customer lets their operator work together to gather personal data and no persistent data is held with Nokia and Facebook have tested know that their SIM card is damaged, and then pose as contract owners to any third party. Myriad reckons this new optical digital signal processing lost or stolen, the current module is secure a new SIM. Once activated provides a more secure service than technologies over a live 5,500km deactivated and a new one is issued. by the fraudster, he or she is able current two factor authentication transatlantic submarine link. to access bank accounts and other services which, for example, use It’s claimed the test showed an MANUFACTURER: sensitive data authenticated through SMS to store data and are therefore increase of almost 2.5x more Myriad Connect the SIM. vulnerable to being intercepted. capacity than the stated optical The threat from SIM-swap is It adds that a clear audit trail is also transmission capacity of the system. PRODUCT: Anti SIM-Swap said to be the greatest in regions established, where the user’s identity The partners trialled new fraud service where mobile banking penetration is verified by a party external to the ‘probabilistic constellation shaping’ is highest. The firm believes its transaction. The company reckons this (PCS) technology from Bell Labs. MORE INFORMATION: new service can help reduce this results in a technology that will “greatly This uses ‘shaped’ QAM formats to connect.myriadgroup.com by providing a real-time check on enhance” the security of transactions flexibly adjust transmission capacity the card. It adds that this cannot be vulnerable to SIM-swap fraud. to near the physical limits of a given fibre link. In the first experiment for an installed submarine link, Nokia and Facebook used PCS based on Satellite QoE ‘revolutionised’ with 64 QAM, combined with digital non-linearity compensation and dynamic network access platform low-linewidth lasers. They say they Comtech EF Data has unveiled its links in Comtech’s Heights Networking The technology leverages the achieved a record spectral efficiency Heights Dynamic Network Access (H-DNA) Platform. The firm says it instantly VersaFEC-2 high-performance LDPC of 7.46bps per Hz, indicating the technology with the claim that it offers assigns capacity based on network- waveform, as recently announced as potential to upgrade the cable to a “step change” in satellite network wide demand and intelligently utilises an option for Comtech’s CDM-570A/ 32Tbps per fibre in the future. performance as well as a vehicle to total network bandwidth at all times. L-IP satellite modems (pictured ). Nokia adds that tests based on provide “exceptional” end user QoE. It also allocates all available It also uses ACM, dynamic power its commercially available Photonic H-DNA is designed for the return bandwidth per user demand and control, IP optimisation, low framing Service Engine 2 validated the configured SLAs, ensuring that all overhead, multi-tier QoS and WAN successful transmission of 8 QAM MANUFACTURER: capacity is used at all times. Comtech optimisation. As a result, Comtech wavelengths running at 200Gbps Comtech EF Data says H-DNA can provide sub-second claims H-DNA offers the “most and 16 QAM wavelengths running at reaction time to changing user robust reliability” and delivers the 250 Gbps. In addition, the firm says PRODUCT: Heights Dynamic demand and link conditions without most user IP bits per Hertz compared 200G 8 QAM wavelengths supported Network Access introducing the excessive jitter and to any other solution in its class. a spectral efficiency of 4bps per latency normally Hz while exhibiting sufficient MORE INFORMATION: associated with performance margin to support www.comtechefdata.com any comparable reliable, commercial operation. technology. System could help reduce rising capex TEOCO’s SMART Capacity initial deployments of its solution network event data in combination Management Solution aims to help CSPs with customers have demonstrated with subscriber behaviour. optimise current network capacity and the potential of reducing upgrade As data demand grows plan ideal capex investments for traffic spend by 10 per cent or more. exponentially and LTE and VoLTE growth. The analytics, assurance TEOCO says the platform does networks are increasingly rolled out, and optimisation specialist claims this by identifying the four most TEOCO says capacity management common areas of capex waste as it will be more continuous in nature This graphic shows a genuine MANUFACTURER: TEOCO relates to capacity. These include: with the demand on ‘what-ifs’ and ‘probabilistically shaped’ 64 QAM delays in re-purposing older ‘next best actions’. constellation, with the height of the PRODUCT: SMART Capacity infrastructure; failure to promptly The firm reckons its data and bars representing the ‘probability’ Management Solution re-farm spectrum; leaving ‘default’ algorithm driven SMART solution of transmitting a given constellation settings across sites; and ineffective can evaluate network traffic and its point. Nokia draws attention to how MORE INFORMATION: management of software licenses. provisioning while identify potential it is ‘shaped’ – in existing hardware www.teoco.com SMART is said to offer a way to plug cost savings through ‘what-if’ models it would look like a flat square with capex leakage in these four areas, using centred around customer behaviour. all points equally probable.

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Guaranteeing a great reception

As users on the continent begin to leverage the latest satellite platforms, they will need the ground infrastructure and services – such as BICS’ and Eutelsat’s new backup system – to match. Next-generation high-throughput satellites continue to connect Africa, but what on Earth can be used to get the very best out of them? SARA FREWEN finds out.

s has been well documented, Africa The biggest innovation in the region’s market requirements of users across continent,” says continues to be the world’s fastest- in 2017 will be the availability of high-throughput Gillet. “We believe that not only do we need to growing mobile phone market. Yet more beams in both C- and Ku-bands, such as those provide cost-effective options to extend networks, Athan 300 million of its 1.13 billion inhabitants still offered by Intelsat’s IS-33e and IS-36, the first but the operators should also focus on making lack access to mobile phones and the internet. satellites for Africa to use its EpicNG HTS their networks future-proof so they can react The rapid expansion of the mobile market is platform. The company has always claimed this quickly to changing end-user demand.” changing how media companies deliver content will enable mobile operators to give customers He goes on to state that this was the driving to consumers, and the number of people with a fibre-like experience, driving both market force behind the design of Intelsat’s EpicNG smartphones on the continent is reported to expansion and increased data use per customer. platform. “The open architecture and backward have nearly doubled in the past two years to 226 Jean Philippe Gillet, Intelsat’s EMEA VP compatible design allows operators to seamlessly million. Satellite technology, and especially the of sales, says increased demand has put extra migrate their existing network onto the platform new generation of high-throughput satellites pressure on operators to extend their networks as and realise service improvements with their (HTS), will play a major role in both delivering well as make them more robust to accommodate existing terminals. By delivering more data at content to mobile subscribers and connecting added demand from existing customers. He lower cost per megabit, EpicNG improves the consumers who don’t yet have service. The identifies four factors that operators will need to economics of providing bandwidth and cellular latest breed of spacecraft which leverage HTS face these challenges: flexibility to quickly adapt backhaul to African telecom providers.” technology promise higher performance, better to new requirements; a network with performance With high-throughput satellites offering three economics, and new hardware and services that that will improve over time and stay ahead of user to five times the efficiency of earlier platforms, enable simple access to connectivity. needs without requiring technology replacement; Intelsat reckons that not only do users gain the According to analysis by Euroconsult, the overall economics that provide a winning business case assurance of meeting booming demand, but they use of satellite capacity in sub-Saharan Africa has for the user and the VSAT operator; and simplified also see the cost of ownership go down. Thus, it been increasing along with mobile connectivity. access which reduces the technical skill and says service providers are able to stay ahead of It is growing at an average of 11 per cent annually mechanics of deploying satellite solutions. user demand and even expand their networks into for the past five years, and is expected to continue “Intelsat works closely with Africa’s telecoms new areas where demand for bandwidth has not at that same rate for the next five. operators and has a good understanding of their been met.

18 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS February/March 2017

NAWC 1703 p18-20 (Satellite) RN.indd 18 05/04/2017 11:22 Register here for your free digital edition http://www.kadiumpublishing.com/forms/africa/nawc_reg.htm FEATURE: SATCOMS

Linking space and Earth PAAs are a growing area of development with companies such as Phasor, Gilat, Boeing There is no point in developing better satellite and others developing new systems. But so far, hardware if you don’t have the equipment on they have been more widely used in the military the ground that can take advantage of all the market or within scientific research such as radio technology that they offer. And perhaps one of the astronomy, rather than the commercial sector. unsung heroes here is the antenna – the key link Safavi-Naeini says this is largely because of their between space and Earth. complexity which has made them cost prohibitive For example, the ASC Signal division of and difficult for private companies to use. Communications and Power Industries (CPI) has C-COM is working with the University of AnaCom’s developed a high-wind version of its 2.5 metre Waterloo on what it describes as a design that ELSAT BUC features Nomadic antenna. The trailer mountable, carbon- uses a “very advanced” software algorithm to an upconverter, power fibre antenna is said to be ideal for use in remote control low-cost modules and calibrate them to amp, monitor, control and power field deployment applications, and is capable of work together. Each module will be small and supply in a single enclosure. operation at L-, X-, C-, Ku-, Ka-, Q- and V-bands. simple, and while thousands will be needed for a ASC Signal says the 2.5m system combines single antenna, C-COM reckons scaled production an “innovative” antenna design with its “state- should streamline the cost of development. The US-based vendor’s ELSAT is available of-the-art” Next Generation Controller (NGC) to The antenna will use a beam-forming in transmitter output levels up to 100W and provide the industry’s highest level of acquisition, calibration algorithm invented by the university, in single or redundant configurations. The tracking accuracy and performance from antenna and a beam-forming computer that identifies the upconverter, power amp, monitor, control and systems of this size. whole system, characteristics of each module power supply are included in a single enclosure. Company president Keith Buckley claims and records data. “We are not using any exotic AnaCom says the only cabling required to indoor that as mobility continues to be a prominent and technologies,” said Safavi-Naeini. “We use equipment are IF connectors. dominant requirement for remote applications, his very low-cost microwave technology, low-cost It adds that the units have a rugged construction firm continues to deliver Earth station antennas packaging technology and low-cost materials. for continuous outdoor duty in all types of that “seamlessly” integrate fixed and mobile Because of this, the modules may deviate from environments, and claims they are particularly systems into the same network architecture. their normal ideal parameters, but then we have suitable for SCPC, MCPC and DAMA “What is unique about our approach is that we the beam-forming computer that tracks these applications. An ‘ovenised’ high stability crystal are able to utilise the same antenna controller modules and also identifies any errors. If a oscillator is used to lock the TX synthesiser, and systems, regardless of the antenna platform, module fails, the central beam-forming computer additional temperature and ageing compensation thereby reducing costs to customers and providing detects that immediately and redistributes the are provided by an onboard microprocessor. uniform operation across the entire network.” radiation task to other modules.” The BUC features a monitor and control Meanwhile late last year, Canada-based In land mobility, C-COM plans to target HTS (M&C) system that can be used in combination C-COM Satellite Systems revealed it had services in Ka-band, including those of ViaSat, with the unit’s internal metering function to come up with new Ka-band in-motion antenna Hughes, O3b Networks, Inmarsat and others. It monitor operational parameters. The system technology. Developed in partnership with the says the PAAs could also see use in 5G systems also enables users to monitor and control the University of Waterloo, the company said that the as well as with multibeam radar. converter on the same M&C bus as most indoor patent-pending calibration method is expected equipment, such as modems and multiplexers. to be used in low-profile two-way phased-array More bang for your BUCs Furthermore, AnaCom says the ELSAT includes antenna (PAA) systems for land-mobile satcoms. built-in test facilities for improved maintenance Speaking at the time, Dr. Safieddin Safavi- The block upconverter (BUC) is used in the and reduced dependence of external test Naeini, a professor at the university’s department transmission of signals and represents another vital equipment. To improve and simplify maintenance of electrical and computer engineering, said: part of the satcoms ground infrastructure chain. routines, it says the units can be connected to an “The main advantage of this method is that it Here, VSAT equipment specialists such as AnaCom external computer to monitor critical parameters significantly reduces the calibration time and come into their own, and one of the latest products such as transmitter power output and IF levels, enhances its accuracy. The entire calibration can be it has added to its range is an XKu-band BUC power supply and TX synthesiser voltages, alarm performed during system initialisation in the field.” which operates at 12.75-13.25GHz frequencies. details and internal temperature.

2 1

C-COM is working with the University of Waterloo on a phased array antenna design that uses a “very advanced” software algorithm to control low-cost modules and calibrate them to work together. Picture 1 above shows an RX array panel prototype (eight modules of 4 x 4); picture 2 (top, right) a single RX 4 x 4 module; picture 3 (below, right) a single TX 4 x 4 array module.

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Other features include remote configuration Breaking new ground and access via Ethernet and serial protocols, together with a flash memory so that the BUC Newtec is a well-established vendor of ground always starts up with the same operating infrastructure in the satellite market, and in 2016 conditions it had before it was powered off. it launched what was claimed to be the first DVB- Advantech Wireless is another satellite S2X VSAT modem. equipment specialist that includes BUCs in its Describing the MDM5000 as its most advanced portfolio. It recently released 125W to 200W VSAT modem to date, the company says it is Ka-band UltraLinear solid state power amplifier capable of receiving forward carriers of up to (SSPA)/BUC products based on second 140MHz and processing more than 200Mbps of Gilat Satellite Networks claims its Scorpio “VSAT- generation Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology. throughput. With forward symbol rates from 1 in-a-box” lowers the cost barrier for ubiquitous GaN is a semiconductor compound that makes to 133 Mbaud and coding up to 256APSK, it’s broadband deployment. miniaturised, high-power, wireless transmitters claimed the MDM5000 will boost efficiency and possible. Cristi Damian, Advantech’s VP business performance on legacy satellites while “fully system and is designed to facilitate service development, says: “GaN technology allows us to unleashing” the potential of next-generation HTS. management via an electronic B2B interface. reach power levels that were not possible before, On the return channel, Newtec says the device GSN says its enables ISPs to manage their and to serve customers that are looking for supports SCPC, TDMA, and offers its proprietary services totally independent of the satellite solutions in this fast growing market segment.” Mx-DMA technology for up to 75Mbps. network operator, providing a complete With weatherproof IP67 rated enclosures, the The modem is designed to handle a wide range management suite. It includes real-time viewing new SSPB-4010Ka series of products have been of services, including internet access, VoIP and of the service status, events, alarms and statistics, designed for Ka-band LEO and GEO satellite backhauling, along with video contribution and as well as historic/trend analysis of the service uplink applications. Advantech claims these multicasting. As with Newtec’s previous Dialog over longer periods. TotalNMS is also said to latest systems are the “most advanced” GaN modems, the MDM5000 incorporates Layer 3 provide ISPs with an automated and easy-to- based Ka-band units in the market, providing routing, advanced QoS, TCP acceleration, use interface for simple creation, activation and higher power and higher reliability. They convert pre-fetching, compression and encryption. It management of end-to-end services with a high L- and Ka-Band signals from 27.5GHz to also supports a new Layer 2 mode, facilitating level of flexibility. 31GHz (in bands), while the integrated amplifier integration with various networking topologies Shifting away from hardware, BICS and Eutelsat delivers an output power of 100W to 200W. The and routing protocols such as MPLS and BGP. have partnered to deliver satellite-based business integrated units come complete with detachable Dual demodulators for “seamless” beam switching continuity solutions for operators in Africa. power supply, phase-locked oscillator, mixer, on future HTS networks are also included. Headquartered in Belgium, BICS is a global filter and proprietary cooling mechanism. Meanwhile, Gilat Satellite Networks (GSN) has wholesale carrier for voice, mobile data and Other attributes are said to include high added the Scorpio “VSAT-in-a-box” to its range. The capacity services, and has offices on the continent linearity, support for remote monitoring and company reckons the outdoor terminal incorporates in Accra, Cape Town and Nairobi. It says robust control, and protection against overdrive, thermal “breakthrough technology”, lowering the cost backup capacity is vital in countries where runaway and out-of-lock conditions. barrier for ubiquitous broadband deployment. geographic and environmental conditions can Advantech has also used second generation GaN According to GSN, Scorpio’s innovative design jeopardise quality data and voice services. technology in its SapphireBlu SSPA/power block increases system reliability due to the complete Furthermore, it believes that an operator’s ability which is designed to service new satellites operating integration of the indoor and outdoor units into to ensure the provision of high-quality services in the 12.75 to 13.25GHz band. The small form factor a single weatherproof box. It says the solution distinguishes it from the competition. SSPA is designed to be hub mounted very close to the addresses the cost efficiencies required for residential The new solution is based on BICS’ RouteFlex antenna’s flange input, eliminating losses through customers and small businesses worldwide. system which automatically detects anomalies a waveguide. As a result, the company claims it The compact and lightweight system has and re-routes critical traffic through the best is now possible to use just a relatively small SSPA been designed to allow rapid self-installation available path. It achieves this by combining on its own to transmit the signal. It adds that and easy roof mounting. Scorpio connects to C-band capacity on the EUTELSAT 8 West B because of this efficiency, air conditioned shelters the home network with a single Ethernet cable, satellite which orbits at 8ºW with BICS’ teleport for a Klystron or indoor mounted HPA can be thus providing, according to GSN, a “simple in France, IP transit global network, and an eliminated. Furthermore, instead of needing demarcation point for improved network automated on-demand solution for IP traffic. multiple antennas at a teleport, operators can diagnostics and increased customer satisfaction”. The resulting service comes in three product reduce their number, simplifying operations. Hagay Katz, head of the VSAT line of business variations: open community, closed community The SapphireBlu units have a built-in L-band at the company, says: “With our VSAT-in-a- and occasional use. interface backup converter without separate box, ISPs will be able to save in installation and BICS and Eutelsat claim their new solution upconverters. Advantech says they operate as maintenance expenses while internet users will will enable operators to offer their end users 1:1 redundant or 1+1 phase combined to provide enjoy rapid self-installation and activation, in access to “consistent, cost-effective and high- additional power when traffic demands. It claims addition to low power consumption.” quality” services at all times, even in the event of they are very power efficient, reducing opex for Scorpio is part of GSN’s complete SkyEdge a terrestrial network outage. power consumption, and capex from reducing the II-c VSAT ground system. This includes the “BICS is dedicated to supporting customers need for uninterruptible power sizing. company’s TotalNMS network management across the African continent, particularly the 30 per cent of countries that are landlocked and often depend on poor terrestrial connectivity”, says Johan Wouters, VP capacity business unit, operations and customer services, BICS. “In countries with limited access to submarine cables, which are often prone to damage or incidents, RouteFlex can also change the way operators use Newtec describes the MDM5000 as the world’s first DVB-S2X VSAT modem. satellite to back up their services.” n

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NAWC 1703 p18-20 (Satellite) RN.indd 20 05/04/2017 15:53

Register here for your free digital edition WIRELESS USERS: TRANSPORTATION http://kadiumpublishing.com/forms/africa/nawc_reg.htm The road to success

The 120km long Ain Sokhna Free Road in Egypt has a total of 28 exits that require monitoring 24 hours a day. How wireless solutions are helping the continent’s transportation sector overcome congestion on its communications networks.

n recent years, the Egyptian Armed Forces easily scalable network that it could add new sites traffic with no detriment to network speed. have established what is today known as the and services to in the future without the need to The vendor’s InfiLINK 2x2 Mmx and Smn National Service’s Projects Organisation. In ‘rip and replace’ the existing infrastructure. point-to-point FBWA wireless infrastructure Ipeacetime, the organisation – which has more It approached NextGen Communications to was selected to provide a series of secure than ten sub-companies and factories – specialises design, implement and commission the entire communications links, ranging from 50Mbps in public service and civil production to ease fixed broadband wireless access (FBWA) network. to 300Mbps, offering high-speed connectivity the burden on the state and assist in economic The Cairo-based system integrator recommended to carry the traffic from the IP cameras to the development projects across the country. It aims solutions from InfiNet Wireless for their flexibility main operating centre in Cairo. All the data to increase national revenue with a focus on and easy scalability, with the promise that they transmission channels are combined into a single strategic industries, and to develop relationships could seamlessly carry both video and voice and manageable platform. and cooperation between private and public Almost immediately after the initial sector organisations. It also aims to establish key deployment of the network, the ease of scalability development projects in the provinces of North was demonstrated to the road operating company and South Sinai, South Valley, and the border when it needed to implement a new IP telephony regions in order to assist their development and system on all exits. InfiNet says its network to attract new investments into these areas. “simply and smoothly” accommodated the new One of the organisations run by the Armed requirement without the need to add any further Forces is the National Company for Building, hardware or software. Developing and Operating Roads. It required The system now provides the National a high-capacity broadband infrastructure to Company for Building, Developing and provide real-time surveillance across the strategic Operating Roads with the high capacity needed Ain Sokhna Free Road, including monitoring of for real-time video and voice traffic. NextGen all of its exit junctions and toll gates. The 120km general manager Ahmed Abd E-Fattah adds: long road has a total of 28 exits that require “Infinet Wireless offers the network stability monitoring 24 hours a day to meet the strict InfiNet Wireless’ InfiLINK 2x2 wireless infrastructure and performance required to provide safety and control, safety and security requirements. In carries traffic from the IP cameras to the main security to both staff and users of the Ain Sokhna addition to this, the road operator also wanted an operating centre in Cairo. Free Road.”

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NAWC 1703 p22-24 (Wireless Users) RN.indd 22 05/04/2017 15:30 Register here for your free digital edition http://kadiumpublishing.com/forms/africa/nawc_reg.htm WIRELESS USERS: TRANSPORTATION

The “OUTsurance Guys”

Traffic Freeflow is an independent company that owns and manages the Pointsmen Project currently operating in the South African cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Tshwane. Its aim is to alleviate road congestion by providing highly trained, dedicated and passionate men and women to help guide traffic. Traffic Freeflow is said to be committed to being the most professional service provider for relief of traffic congestion in South Africa. As well as contributing towards road safety, the company also creates job opportunities in underprivileged communities. The project was introduced in 2005, and right from the outset it was co-sponsored by municipal An “Outsurance guy” helps Egyptian geese and their goslings cross a busy Cape Town road. authorities as well as insurance firm OUTsurance. As a result, the pointsmen and pointswomen who specialist in hosted enterprise mobility applications, surveillance, or multimedia dispatch. What made bring relief to rush hour drivers have become and deployed its innovative Econz Timecard system. matters worse was that ground handling services locally known as the “OUTsurance guys”. The solution provides data about the pointsmen, were being carried out in a complicated and noisy Thousands of motorists around South Africa such as the time the arrived for work and departed, environment, making voice dispatch error-prone have come to rely on the pointsmen of which there their GPS location, and a breadcrumb trail, all and thereby increasing security risks. are two types: static and mobile. Static pointsmen captured in a web-based system. ECONZ says Huawei provided a system capable of are assigned to specific high-traffic intersections, Timecard enables real-time tracking so that project interworking with the existing TETRA platform while mobile pointsmen are dispatched on managers can be sure that the correct intersections to improve the accuracy and efficiency of ground motorcycles to traffic hotspots at a moment’s are manned. The data collected also integrates into dispatch. It supplied an eLTE core network, notice. The latter are thus able to respond quickly Traffic Freeflow’s payroll system to ensure wages base stations, trunking terminals, multimedia to major intersections that are experiencing faulty for time spent are accurate. dispatching, and other devices and systems. or malfunctioning traffic signals. “Timecard sits right on [the pointsmen’s] The vendor said its real-time, large-bandwidth Gauteng province (Johannesburg and cellphones and allows them to quickly clock in, eLTE platform will enable the airport to carry Thswane) has one of the country’s highest and thus they can be tracked at all times,” said out multimedia trunking dispatch, video traffic densities and consequently one of the Kelley. “We have reduced the need for physical surveillance, and other applications on a single highest road fatality rates. Construction, power checks by our project managers, thus saving time, network that covers both indoor and outdoor outages and accidents have led to massive traffic costs of the running of the scooters, and keeping working areas for the ground staff. To cope with congestion across the major cities. Working hand- our project managers safely out of the rush hour noise in the airport, Huawei’s system supports in-glove with their Metro Police stakeholders, traffic. Now we have visibility at the enterprise throat vibration mic earpieces, noise-cancelling more than 200 pointsmen are dispatched to level to know who is where and when they arrive headphones, and additional accessories to troublesome intersections and hotspots. and leave.” guarantee voice trunking performance. “When traffic lights go out, traffic slows down The company added that eLTE can offer and backs up,” said Traffic Freeflow COO John eLTE firsts for Africa complete video dispatch and real-time monitoring Kelley. “The pointsmen not only play a crucial services through backhaul of onsite images to the role in getting traffic flowing, but as they are Huawei has claimed a couple of firsts for Africa command centre. It also provides an open eSDK for often at the same intersections during rush hours, using its eLTE system. It says this is the first LTE interconnection with third-party airport applications. motorists tend to become very fond of them and broadband trunking solution to provide voice and Huawei claimed another first for eLTE in 2015. appreciate the good job they are doing.” video dispatching, and claims it “greatly increases” After providing the communications systems However, he went on to explain that the the efficiency of an emergency or control centre. for the Addis Ababa City Light Rail Transit company’s six project managers would each have to The company says its eLTE systems are based on (AACLRT) project, it claimed that it had become drive to each assigned intersection in order to ensure advanced wireless broadband technology, and the first company to use LTE in an African metro attendance and that every pointsman was presenting provide 100Mbps downlink and 50Mbps uplink railway system. themselves as brand ambassadors for the sponsors. throughput. As a result, it says a single network Addis Ababa is Ethiopia’s economic centre and “We were unsure as to the time the pointsman can support multimedia trunking, voice and video transportation hub. It also is the headquarters of the started at the intersection, and if he/she stayed scheduling, high-definition video surveillance, ultra- United Nations Economic Commission for Africa the full shift or, indeed, if they were at the correct remote data acquisition, and mobile office services. and the African Union. However, its outdated place. Other issues included the costs of using six Other features include a compact core network, transportation infrastructure had become a scooters per day, fuel costs and e-tags, and not the distributed base stations, and terminal devices bottleneck, preventing economic growth in the fast- least, having our project managers in peak traffic that can be used in harsh outdoor environments. growing city. Until recently, the main methods of hours twice a day, every day.” Earlier in 2016, Huawei announced that it had public transportation were overcrowded buses and Furthermore, Kelley wanted to be sure the staff won the bid for a broadband trunking project in minibuses. A new metro rail system was therefore were being paid correctly according to the hours Algeria that is said to be the first commercial deploy- envisaged to reduce traffic congestion in Addis worked. As a result, the company needed to know ment of an eLTE system at an airport in Africa. Ababa, boost economic growth in Ethiopia, and that the pointsmen were in the right place at the Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers was using usher in a new era of urban light rail construction right time, how long they were there, and also check TETRA for routine scheduling and dispatch. But the not only in the country but in Eastern Africa. times and attendance back at its offices. It called technology’s narrowband system proved insufficient In 2015, a trial of the Addis Ababa Light Rail, upon ECONZ Wireless, the South Africa-based for broadband data transmission, mobile video Africa’s first modern urban light rail system,

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began operations. Built by China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Company, the first phase of the project involved the construction of two railway lines that span 31km and included one control centre and 39 stations, two of which are underground. Huawei was contracted to provide several key technologies including end-to-end eLTE and related communication systems for AACLRT’s railway line which connects urban centres and industrial areas throughout the capital. The Ethiopian government wanted the system to be based on advanced technologies that would not become obsolete within the next decade. In addition, the system would need to meet diverse service requirements, facilitate O&M, and reduce costs. A train-to-ground wireless Above: a bus in Algoa Bay equipped with free on-board Wi-Fi, is ready for communications system also was required the road. Right: W-Link’s WL-R220 router is at the heart of its wireless system. to provide train dispatching and ticket data transmission services. thereby reducing the need for trackside devices satisfied. And this is where proprietary technology In order to avoid duplicating network capacity and lowering maintenance costs. from Moben comes in. The Polish technology and to minimise the investment required for As urban rail transit systems are increasingly specialist has developed View2Surf (V2S), a each device, Huawei says it based the AACLRT’s using video applications, Huawei said it created platform for mobile operators which facilitates system on a single backbone network that supports a bespoke version of its integrated Digital Urban advertising while users surf the internet. multiple services, including communication, Rail Transportation solution for the AACLRT. Operating out of Bloemfontein in South Africa, signalling, SCADA and fare collection. This train-to-ground communication platform Ntosamo is an accredited distributor of V2S. It Huawei said its eLTE network operates on uses LTE HD video and optical transmission specialises in selling advertising space on the the dedicated LTE TDD 400MHz frequency technologies, and includes all necessary service internet, using Wi-Fi as the medium. It integrates band to avoid interference from external wireless systems such as: wireless, transport and IP-based Moben’s platform to any Wi-Fi hotspot. Anyone signals. The company also claimed it provides fixed networks; communication power supply; using the hotspot to browse the internet with a more stable trunking services than analogue train telephony; and CCTV. mobile device is shown full screen adverts after dispatch communications systems. It provided consuming a certain amount of data. Every time eLTE broadband-trunking, handheld terminals Free Wi-Fi on South African buses the user clicks on the advert or even skips it, a and also customised the EV750 vehicle-mounted sale is completed and the data are duly paid for. devices and dispatching systems for train drivers. Whether sourced via LAN, Wi-Fi or mobile, no Spurred on by its experiences, Ntosamo has provided by another project partner, Shenzhen one can reach the internet without data. But, as now ventured into free public transport Wi- Communication Technology. South Africa-based RF specialist Otto Wireless Fi working closely with a number of partners Huawei said that just one of its eLTE cells Solutions points out, the paradox is that companies including Udy Net, Otto Wireless Solutions, provides a wireless network that covers 1.2km, who supply data need to make profits from their Algoa Bus Company, Afrihost and W-Link. and requires just four baseband units and nine sales, while consumers using that data to reach When asked about their profitability, business radio remote units. The vendor added that the internet want them for free. That results in two sustainability and how they could attract back eLTE’s ultra-wideband technology enables forces moving in opposite directions. younger passengers, bus operating companies wireless dispatching and various other services, According to Otto, the solution is advertising- revealed that Wi-Fi was seen as a value-added including voice trunking and real-time wireless sponsored free Wi-Fi. This is where suppliers service. Ntosamo, in collaboration with WISP transmission of ticket data over a single-network, and users of data meet and everyone’s needs are Udy Net, approached W-Link for the supply of a robust bus router that would cater for the encryption of V2S into its software. After a six- month integration and testing phase, W-Link’s WL-R220 router was approved for use in a proof of concept. This POC was run with a local bus operator in Bloemfontein for a three-week period, covering major intercity routes in South Africa. The results were beyond initial expectations, culminating in a commercially viable solution that could be tailored and offered to any public transport company in the country. The POC findings were taken to Algoa Bus Company in Port Elizabeth and the project to install Wi-Fi into its 410 buses was approved in October 2016. As the local W-Link distributor, Otto Wireless Solutions supplied the routers, while Afrihost supplied the data. Ntosamo is now in advanced discussions with many other public transport operators in South Africa, where corporate sponsorship for the routers from would- Huawei created an end-to-end eLTE system for the Addis Ababa city light rail transit project. be advertisers is currently being discussed. n

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NAWC 1703 p22-24 (Wireless Users) RN.indd 24 05/04/2017 15:31

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An ocean apart NITIN MADHAVAN looks at the trends in mobile financial services and telecoms on both sides of the Indian Ocean and discovers similarities as well as marked differences.

he wireless communications markets in The value of m-banking in Africa These figures are lower in Kenya. While formal India and Africa have really advanced inclusion for men in Kenya has risen steadily since over the past couple of years, and we have The African focus now is on expanding the 2006, formal inclusion for women leapt between Tseen operators launching new services as well as mobile money system and adding digitisation to 2009 and 2013 driven by the spread of MFS. strengthening existing ones. improve efficiency – making previously manual This has lessened women’s exclusive reliance on Whilst some areas in both regions still have processes more automated and relying more on the use of informal services. Compared to men, low mobile penetration rates, their markets have systems, networks, processes and technology. however, women still have lower access to formal evolved beyond the initial ‘land grab’ phase In many respects, mobile money is ‘old news’ prudentially regulated services such as banks (35 per of service providers competing for licenses to the African market – Safaricom has been cent for women compared to 50 per cent for men). and rolling out the early networks. The more championing mobile money and payments with Formal inclusion and exclusion also differ across established operators are now looking at revenue M-PESA in Kenya for 10 years now. Whilst other regions within Kenya. Formal inclusion is more improvements through increasing their services countries like Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe than 70 per cent in most parts of the country, but and making their offerings more competitive. are beginning to expand, Kenya and Safaricom slightly lower in the western and coastal areas. One of the most important services in this region remain leaders of the pack. The northern parts of the country continue to face is mobile money and money transfer, with the likes However, although 350 million of the world’s higher levels of exclusion, up to about 52 per cent. of M-PESA which was introduced in Africa in unbanked adults live in sub-Saharan Africa, Going back to South Africa, getting a new 2007, and Immediate Payment Services launched mobile financial services have not had the license for MFS in the country is now difficult by the National Payments Corporation of India in same level of success as Kenya elsewhere on thanks to its formal regulatory framework. 2010 (the NCPI is an umbrella organisation for all the continent. Vodacom and MTN shut down Mobile money proponents I have spoken to say retail payment systems in India). their mobile money services in South Africa the regime is now harder to navigate for new The mobile money markets on both sides of last year, and other countries have struggled. In entrants. Compare that to India where a special the Indian Ocean have now grown beyond initial South Africa’s case, this is most likely because dispensation for non-banks financial companies micropayments and simple money transfers and, the country’s banking system is already very or e-money providers is available. certainly in India, we are transitioning towards a sophisticated and around 80 per cent of the For example, Bharti Airtel has started its own largely cashless society. population have some type of formal bank account. bank, known as a ‘payment bank’. These payment

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banks generally get a quicker license owing to accounts in November alone. Meanwhile, Oxigen Nitin Madhavan, the capital investments and various other factors Wallet claims its daily average users increased by Regional business when compared to the process of gaining a full- 167 per cent since demonetisation began. development fledged license to start a bank. The initiative has also presented an manager, However, while this may make it more attractive opportunity for telcos to open banks, offering Neural Technologies for telecoms companies to become banks, competitive interest rates and allowing people with great power comes great responsibility. to deposit cash and use their mobiles to make Furthermore, regulators in both India and Africa payments for everything from cabs to airline are getting tougher on the telcos. The public sector flights. This new opportunity gateway has has become more involved, and operators on both encouraged new players into the market, but has customers declines by a staggering 96 per cent sides of the ocean are beginning to find themselves also raised concerns in the fintech community when moving from a branch infrastructure to a facing huge fines for any money laundering or about cybersecurity and account hacking. mobile platform.” illicit activity conducted on their networks. Should Another key driver in mobile financial services In emerging economies, all this adds up to a they fall foul of fraudsters repeatedly, they run the (MFS) is serving the unbanked and underbanked. very attractive prospect. risk of having their licenses revoked. According to the World Bank, around two billion But for me, the positives of this transition towards adults worldwide don’t use formal financial How IoT will affect the market less cash and a more ‘mobile’ payment society services and more than 50 per cent of adults in outweigh the risks. By taking money from paper the poorest households are unbanked. The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has the to wireless, many of the previously unbanked The Indian market has around 75 per cent mobile ability to take mobile money a stage further and populations in the rural communities of India penetration and 53.1 per cent financial inclusion, integrate more areas of daily life for people within and Africa will now be able to move and store presenting a clear opportunity for MFS. As part these two markets. Mobile money in emerging funds more easily and safely than ever before. of its Global Telecoms Risk Management Survey 2016, regions will be the catalyst for creating smart The majority of the population whose transactions Neural polled 113 individuals at different levels cities, transferring vast amounts of data over are monitored and protected are good, honest folk in operators from every part of the world. The networks without requiring human-to-human or and this increased visibility in transactions, both results, published in February 2016, revealed that human-to-computer interaction. domestic and across borders, will help the countries compared to other regions, Central Asia (which Once these smart cities emerge, their in which they operate to trade more freely with includes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) saw inhabitants will start to see the full potential of the West. In order to trade with the USA and EU, greater opportunities in the fields of allowing the the IoT, as interoperability will not be limited countries must be able to show that they are on unbanked to establish a credit history (25 per cent), to banks and telecoms, but spread to utilities, top of any potential crime (money laundering) and helping the World Bank’s ‘unbanked’ initiative municipal authorities and transportation systems. and terrorism threats within their borders. The (17 per cent) (see graph below). Any company will be able to integrate into this data available to telcos makes them one of the best EY (Ernst & Young) Global Telecommunications payment and mobile money ecosystem and force positioned to spot terrorism and crime and help law leader Prashant Singhal also points out that the competition to innovate. Once an ecosystem enforcement to stop these threats, enabling greater there are three benefits for financial institutions is built, machines or devices will be able to trust and better trading potential. promoting MFS: expansion of reach; decrease in determine the best rate and company for every capital expenditure due to lesser need for physical aspect of daily life automatically, from electricity India’s MFS drivers infrastructure; and lowering of transaction cost. to groceries to healthcare. “The cost of mobile banking channels is As the IoT spreads its wings worldwide, the India has recently completed a massive demonet- significantly lesser compared to traditional technological leaps made by India and Africa isation drive following the abolition of its largest channels,” says Singhal. “For instance, a mobile will set them in good stead to take advantage of currency notes in a fight against unaccounted banking transaction can be done at 10 to 15 the digital future. It will be interesting to see how wealth and corruption. This initiative has been a per cent of the branch banking cost. The cost these two regions measure up against the UK and boon for local e-payment providers. For example, involved in financial infrastructure is also much USA in five years’ time. My money would be on mobile payments and commerce platform less – USD400 for agent-enabled mobile banking these currently ‘emerging’ markets overtaking the provider Paytm reported a three-times surge in as compared to USD250,000 for a traditional currently ‘developed’ world and setting the bar for new users, adding more than 14 million new branch. Furthermore, for banks the cost to serve them as we transition into the digital age. n

Provides a channel Shows that our Allows us to Allows the unbanked Assisting the World Not applicable for new services & revenues for our company is compete with to establish a credit Bank’s unbanked Other to my customers innovative our peers history initiative 58 company

52 50 50 47 45 43 43 42

33 29

25 25 25 25 24 22 22 19 17 17 17 17 Figures in percentages Figures 16 14 13 11 11 11 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 6 5 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Africa Central & Central Asia Eastern Europe Middle East North America Southeast Asia Western Europe TOTAL Latin America Operators in Africa see MFS as a big opportunity to provide news services and revenues. SOURCE: GLOBAL TELECOMS RISK MANAGEMENT SURVEY 2016, NEURAL TECHNOLOGIES

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EU Parliament approves ‘digital dividend’ for mobile broadband The European Parliament TCCA CEO Phil Kidner were published in 2016 to establish critical services having to compete has approved the use said his members harmonised technical conditions with consumer services for bandwidth. of 700MHz spectrum for mobile will continue to in the 700MHz band for public “France is currently the only broadband. It will be allocated in lobby for reserved protection and disaster relief (PPDR) member state that has allocated 2020, while any European Union spectrum in the mobile broadband services. dedicated spectrum for PPDR in the member states that need to delay (for 700Mhz band. With the European Parliament 700MHz band,” said Kidner. “We certain technical or financial reasons) now having approved the use of are following closely the progress will be able to do so until 2022. will ensure the availability for the spectrum, the TCCA said EU of the Swedish PPDR stakeholders’ In a press announcement published broadcasting services in the sub- members can now start preparing recommendation to hold one of the in mid-March, the parliament said 700MHz band until 2030, and may for the implementation of mobile three 700MHz allocations as a national coordinating the release of the also compensate end-users for any broadband services for mission- asset for a future nationwide mission- spectrum in EU member states is direct costs caused by migration or critical communication applications. critical mobile broadband network. crucial to allow innovative mobile the reallocation of spectrum. However, the association’s CEO “There are also positive developments services, such as remote healthcare, The TCCA, which represents Phil Kidner said his members will in Norway, where a report to the smart cities and connected cars, to the global critical communications continue to lobby governments to national regulator clearly recommends work across the union. industry, welcomed the news. It reserve dedicated spectrum within the taking the needs of PPDR onboard in It added that member states said binding technical provisions 700MHz band to prevent mission- the licensing conditions.” Chile sees Latin America’s first NarrowBand IoT project A water utility company in water company will be able to bill out the update to the NB-IoT network. wide-area network (LPWAN) Chile has successfully tested for actual, rather than estimated, The pilot in Chile is claimed to connectivity focused on adapting a telemetry solution for residential consumption. Telemetry will also be the first time NB-IoT technology devices to the needs of the Internet water meters using NarrowBand allow the supplier to detect leaks has been used in Latin America. of Things market. It is therefore IoT technology (NB-IoT). and unaccounted water flows. The partners plan to expand the said to enable increased battery life, The system used real data from The experimental deployment project in the near future and appropriate use-specific cost, wide meters installed with residential was led by Spanish telco Telefónica. include more than 300 residential coverage and indoor penetration. At customers. It will enable them It worked with Danish vendor water meters by reusing the the same time, the technology aims to know their exact daily water Kamstrup, which provided the smart 700MHz LTE network. to allow for great scalability and usage, and means that the unnamed meters, and Huawei, which carried NB-IoT is offers low-power comprehensive security. Wi-Fi optimised at botanic research institute Wi-Fi out in The Leibniz Institute of used the WHG series WLAN With two WHG405s deployed, IPK Plant Genetics and Crop gateway-controllers from wireless is able to offer Wi-Fi service tailored Windhoek Plant Research (IPK) has optimised specialist 4ipnet. According to the for individual user groups. Guests Windhoek’s Police Dept. its Wi-Fi network using what’s Taiwan-based vendor, its controllers are assigned to the first service zone has replaced the Wi-Fi used claimed to be a “unique” system. are “unique” because they integrate and authenticated via the built-in for transmission in its CCTV systems IPK is a non-profit and user authentication, role-based access local user-database with accounts with wireless video surveillance. internationally renowned botanic policy enforcement, and centralised generated using 4ipnet’s WTG Namibia aims to be the safest genome institution in Germany, and AP management into the same box. keypad-based ticket printer solution. African country by 2020. As part of needed to provide comprehensive Furthermore, 4ipnet says WHG’s The second service zone is that ambition, RADWIN’s point-to- coverage and reliable connectivity Service Zone feature allows a single configured for visiting researchers. point and point-to-multipoint (PtMP) for its researchers. To meet this gateway to simulate multiple Here, users are authenticated by systems were installed in dozens of objective, IPK upgraded its legacy independent virtual networks, each 802.1x directly with their home crime hotspots throughout the capital. Wi-Fi network to a solution based with their own user roles, access institution’s ‘eduroam’ account. The The systems are said to on the latest .11ac standard, and policies, and customised login pages. third service zone, ‘ipk’, is exclusively transmit high-quality video from reserved for the institute’s employees. the cameras directly to police 4ipnet’s EAP757, EAP76, and headquarters, enabling on-the-spot OWL630 APs were deployed to detection and response to events. accommodate the various research “Now that we are using labs, lecture halls, libraries, RADWIN’s systems, we’re getting guesthouses and outdoor facilities. the highest video transmission quality with zero video pixellation The Leibniz Institute’s new Wi-Fi and low jitter, which is vital for our network features several AP from mission critical operations,” said 4ipnet including the OWL630 (inset). police spokesperson Cillie Auala.

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Tablet Comunitário brings the internet to remote communities Mozambican tech startup campaigns on various education Kamaleon has developed and health initiatives in partnership what it believes is an “innovative and with governmental and private engaging” way of promoting digital organisations. The Community Tablet literacy through a shared platform. will be used to spread up-to-date The Tablet Comunitário (Community messages and interactive lessons that Tablet) is a solar powered mobile showcase symptoms, prevention and computer. Built on a trailer to provide treatment options, thereby replacing internet access to remote areas, it the need for leaflet distributions to features touchscreen displays and convey life saving information. virtual keyboards. Kamaleon is Kamaleon founder and CEO Dayn also offering training on how to Amade said: “A few years ago, anyone use the internet to members of the who could not read and write was con- community and the local workforce. sidered illiterate. But today, this concept The company’s ultimate aim is goes further, encompassing people for the Community Tablet to promote who do not know how to use ICT. digital inclusion and a knowledge- “Health organisations and schools based society in Africa. in Africa often face a unique set of It began last November by obstacles, including a lack of access launching in Mozambique where to much-needed health education The solar powered Community Tablet is quite literally a mobile device. It is built on a 24 million people reportedly lack an and counselling platforms. The trailer so that it can be towed (top), and features touchscreen displays (bottom) and internet connection. Kamaleon said Community Tablet was created to help virtual keyboards to provide internet access to people in underserved areas. the system will be used to support solve these problems.” BodyCap creates ‘Internet of the gastrointestinal tract’ Ingestible connected pills biocompatible medical grade plastic, when the measurement is outside of data, says BodyCap. that enable wireless medical and follows the intestinal transit after the range set by the healthcare It adds that each device can store monitoring have been approved for being swallowed by the patient. The professional. up to 2,000 data events and can use in Europe’s hospitals. pill then uses 433MHz frequencies to Each e-Celsius pill is provided in remain operational for up to 20 The e-Celsius Performance was wirelessly transmit measurements of standby mode. When the device days, but leaves the patient’s body developed by France-based BodyCap the patient’s core body temperature is ready to be used, an activation naturally after one to three days. which specialises in miniaturised every 30 seconds. box wakes it up and links it to the The e-Celsius will be sold directly wireless monitoring devices for The readings are sent to a monitor e-Viewer for data collection in real- or through specialised distributors e-health applications. The disposable called an e-Viewer which can be up to time mode, or by recovery from the for a unit price of EUR40 to EU60 electronic capsule is coated in a one metre away. The data show alerts pill’s internal memory with no loss (USD42-63), depending on volume. DAMM stays on track with win for Mumbai monorail DAMM Cellular has DAMM will provide its TetraFlex been awarded yet another system to meet the customer’s contract to provide a TETRA-based requirements for a feature rich, reliable radio system for the second phase of and safe communication system. Mumbai Monorail. The Denmark The vendor reckons the key to its critical communications specialist’s system’s success as a rail solution is system was first used by the Mumbai its decentralised architecture. It says Metropolitan Region Development the platform is a completely IP-based The TETRA network Authority (MMRDA) in 2012. solution with distributed architecture will cover the monorail This latest deal is for phase II of that provides the “much needed” fault between Wadala Depot (pictured) and Gadge Maharaj Chowk. the comms network which extends tolerance to communication networks, coverage between Wadala Depot such as the one being installed for the Consort Digital marketing director lines and cover 19km with 17 stations and Gadge Maharaj Chowk. As Mumbai Monorail. Devdarsh Jain adds: “The project will when phase II is completed. before, New Delhi-based TETRA Furthermore, DAMM says be completed in record time due to Each monorail will have four system integrator Consort Digital TetraFlex is integrated to systems for modularity and ease of deployment coaches with a combined capacity will be responsible for the supply, signalling, public announcements, of the DAMM Outdoor base stations.” of 600 passengers, thereby carrying installation, integration and onboard train communications, The Mumbai Monorail is the first nearly 300,000 commuters on a daily commissioning of the entire project. telephony and centralised recording. such project in India. It will have two basis across the proposed route.

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Zong boosts Asian operators gain 5G 4G network headstart with Ericsson in Pakistan Ericsson is helping NBTC secretary demand for broadband and video on Zong, China Mobile’s Singapore pave the general Takorn mobile devices, but also provide a subsidiary in Pakistan, way towards 5G, and has also carried Tantasith outlined “viable and cost effective” alternative is expanding its 4G network and out the first live end-to-end transmission plans to support the to residential fibre connections. services in the country. of the technology in Thailand. transformation to a Thailand’s National Broadcasting The cellco rolled out an additional In late February, the vendor “Digital Thailand”. and Telecommunications Commission 1,000 4G sites across Pakistan in announced that it was piloting key (NBTC) expects to have broadband 2016, expanding its 4G coverage to technologies in the evolution to 5G that provide Singtel with the flexibility connectivity throughout the country more than 100 cities. It currently has will enable Singtel to offer faster speeds to centralise, distribute, scale and by 2018, covering big cities as well as around 6,000 4G sites nationwide, in Singapore by the end of the year. virtualise RAN functions to “efficiently more than 75,000 villages nationwide. and claimed this makes it the Ericsson’s AIR 6468 radio, which is said meet performance requirements today Speaking at the event, NBTC country’s biggest operator in terms to provide 64T64R Massive MIMO and on the road to 5G”. secretary general Takorn Tantasith of LTE coverage. China Mobile has capabilities, will be tested and progres- Earlier this year at an event to said: “Along with the fixed internet so far invested more than USD300m sively deployed on the operator’s LTE mark 111 years in Thailand, Ericsson deployment, we plan to release more in Zong’s 4G network. network. The company said Massive carried out the country’s first live 5G spectrum of 380MHz by 2020 which The operator said it will continue MIMO is key to achieving Gigabit LTE end-to-end demonstration using its will add to the 420MHz already to invest and grow its services speeds as it improves spectral efficiency 5G test bed and core technologies. allocated to the telecommunications to “enable a fully connected to triple or quadruple the number of It claimed to have achieved a peak industry. This will handle the rising environment” for citizens. As data paths of base stations. throughput of 5.7Gbps and latency as demand for online services, IoT and part of this, the company recently The two partners will also pilot a low as 3ms. The company said these innovative applications as the country launched what it described as Cloud RAN. Ericsson said this will speeds not only support growing transforms into a Digital Thailand.” Pakistan’s first cloud based electronic medical record (EMR) and practice management software. Zong’s Cloud Clinik platform aims Jio build largest All-IP services platform to provide EMR solutions for small Cisco is supporting Indian Since its launch, it’s claimed Jio has to handle ever-increasing volumes of and big medical facilities. With this operator Reliance Jio accelerated India’s monthly user data data, and also promises to help shape cloud-based solution, it said doctors Infocomm to expand its All-IP consumption 40 times, the highest the future of India with end-to-end will be able to manage their hospitals converged network. Said to be the in the world. It’s also claimed that digital solutions and broadband for all. and clinics in a paper-free manner world’s first network of its kind, the the operator’s premium broadband In addition, Cisco says Jio’s infra- with no upfront investment. multi-terabit capacity platform is built service, priced at USD0.15 per GB, structure and CDN extends beyond Among some of the features on on Cisco’s Open Network Architecture is the most affordable in the world. India into Singapore, France, London, offer, Cloud Clinik enables medical and Cloud Scale Networking technologies Jio has more than 185,000 miles New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, staff to register patients, manage featuring IP/MPLS. The vendor says of fibre and has built what’s said to and Frankfurt. As a result, it says the appointments, send automated this enables Jio to offer a combination be India’s largest cloud data centre operator has direct interconnect with SMS and email alerts to patients, of high-speed data, mobile video, in order to develop platforms for global carriers and content providers issue e-prescriptions and e-referrals, VoLTE, digital commerce, media, applications and vertical solutions. enabling “low-latency and high-quality and more. cloud and payment services. Its All-IP network has been created experience” for users in India. ‘Not-spots’ eliminated at Sky As part of consolidating to provide a consistent, strong signal its operations, UK- source so that employees could use based satellite broadcaster and their mobile devices, connect to the communication services provider internet and communicate wirelessly Sky has extensively redeveloped its wherever they were on campus. offices. But with multiple floors and While the company had installed the use of dense materials at its site a single operator DAS in existing in west London, wireless signals were buildings at its site, it wanted multi- Set over three floors, Sky Central has a total combined area of around 46,000m2. heavily affected. operator coverage to cope with user The biggest area of concern volumes throughout the much larger imperative that a scalable, high safety access services. It delivered an involved the second phase of the Sky Central area. performing and future-proof solution end-to-end all fibre solution on a single development, Sky Central. Set Martin Eddleston, planning was selected.” converged system within the building. over three floors, this has a total and delivery manager for network Systems integrator Herbert In- Zinwave adds that the platform combined area of around 46,000m2 implementation at Sky, said: “With Building Wireless recommended supports any frequency from 150MHz encompassing office space, a studio, the number of colleagues occupying Zinwave’s UNItivity system because to 2700MHz, and claims it is only production facilities, and R&D our new building and the importance of its ability to support multiple solution that can provide consistent zones. It was vital for Sky to be able of mobile communications, it was operators, services, as well as public mobile coverage inside metal lifts.

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First LTE-R 5G to deliver benefits network SK Telecom and the ‘twice as fast as fibre’ Busan Transportation 5G infrastructure will outstrip 12,000 Corporation (BTC) claim to have the economic benefits of fixed 10,000 deployed the world’s first LTE-R fibre broadband in the UK by 2026, network. LTE-R is a standard for according to a report by Telefónica- 8,000 next-generation railway comms owned mobile operator O2. Ultrafast broadband systems. The two partners first signed It states that 5G will introduce 6,000 5G a contract for the deployment of entirely new industries, platforms 4,000 LTE-R in August 2015. Since then, and services. In addition to GBP7bn Gross value added value Gross SK Telecom has built the network of direct economic value through 2,000 (economic impact,(economic GBPm) for the 40.48km long Busan Subway businesses using the technology, the 0 Line 1 using 10MHz bandwidth in report says the ‘ripple effect’ through

the 700MHz frequency band. In the supply chain will also see 5G 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 February 2017, SK Telecom and BTC indirectly boost UK productivity by economic benefits as fibre by 2026. GBP17.5bn for broadband overall. piloted the LTE-R network and plan an extra GBP3bn a year. Citing data from UK regulator “Mobile is the invisible infrastructure to commercialise it in April 2017. O2 also believes that the added Ofcom, O2 says more than four in that can drive the economy of post- value of 5G to the economy will every five adults in the UK now owns Brexit Britain,” says O2 CEO Mark become apparent almost twice as a smartphone and nearly three quarters Evans. “The future of 5G promises Big fibre in quickly as fibre broadband (see graph, use a mobile device to access the a much quicker return on investment right). Despite fibre broadband rollouts internet on the go. It says the combined than fibre broadband, and a range of already taking place in the country and value of 4G and 5G connectivity unprecedented benefits: from telehealth Hong Kong 5G not scheduled for launch until 2020, will add GBP18.5bn to the economy applications to smarter cities and more Prysmian Group, the Italy- the latter is forecast to achieve the same in less than a decade, compared to seamless public services.” based energy and telecom cable systems specialist, is claiming a world record after delivering the densest and highest fibre count UROS connects smart water grid with IoT underwater optical cable ever made. Roaming specialist UROS by a unique M2M platform pro- says: “The world’s smartest digital The firm said its FlexTube cable (Uni-fi Roaming Solutions) viding global connectivity via the water solutions combined with global containing 1,728 optical fibres was is working with Finland’s Jyväskylä eSIM ecosystem. connectivity and security enable successfully deployed by Australian Energy to create smart management Jyväskylä Energy will use this water management to enter a new telco Superloop for its TKO Express solutions for national water opera- M2M platform to connect its era in which water will be distributed project. This provides broadband tion systems around the globe. has water management platform via intelligent water networks and connection between Siu Sai Wan UROS offers worldwide roaming initiative called ‘Pisara’. This is said in which water quality will be con- on Hong Kong Island and the data and IoT solutions for mobile oper- to offer preventive maintenance trolled using AI and smart sensors.” centre hub of Tseung Kwan O (TKO) ators, enterprises and consumers. solutions aimed at avoiding water Laitinen adds that people in on the mainland. Prysmian says the The company says its “bill shock- supply crises and at guaranteeing communities around the world previous record was set in 2014 with free” services – which include high-quality water for consumers. will soon be able to monitor, in a FlexTube cable with 720 fibres. smartphones, apps and Goodspeed Sakari Laitinen, development real-time, the quality of their most 4G mobile Wi-Fi – are provisioned manager at Pisara Water Business, valuable asset – clean water. IoT for Viasat improves driver safety with Orange Honda Orange Business Services temperatures, and roaming-enabled Honda is using IoT to deliver (OBS) has signed a multi- which provides global coverage. the MyHonda Connected Car million dollar three-year contract OBS also provides an IoT system. Using Bright Box’s with Viasat Group for a global IoT management platform that will telematics solutions – which are roaming service for up to 350,000 allow Viasat customers to manage powered by the Cisco Jasper Control SIM cards. It will allow Viasat to and update their own SIMs. It says Center automated IoT connectivity provide global coverage across a the platform can be integrated with management platform – Honda number of markets for services that The Viasat Group’s remote telematics the customer’s back-end system to will deliver a variety of connected include insurance, fleet security and boxes will be able to remotely send provide detailed reports and retrieve services across Europe. They include safety, and telematics. and receive data via the IoT. billing information. vehicle data and diagnostics, alerts Italy-headquartered Viasat In addition, it’s claimed IoT con- and scheduling of maintenance, specialises in satellite-based OBS will provide the IoT nectivity will also allow customers to and GPS tracking. Cisco Jasper says security systems, which it says connectivity to enable the company’s improve the quality of their driving that its partnerships with 50 service incorporate the very latest telematics telematics boxes to remotely send which translates into increased safety providers in more than 100 countries information technologies to and receive data, texts and voice. for passengers as well as vehicles. will enable the car-maker to expand guarantee absolute security for It says the SIMs are reinforced This will ultimately help to lower the its services globally as needed. the vehicle and its occupants. to withstand vibration and high average costs of insurance premiums.

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