Northern African Volume 14 Number 5

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 northern african Volume 14 Number 5

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

● How smartphones are getting smarter ● Using the digital dividend for broadband ● Record ﬁ ne for MTN in Nigeria – CEO quits

To see how IDT can help you reach out and grow your business, email [email protected] or visit idtcarrierservices.com wirelessnorthern african CONTENTS COMMUNICATIONS

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 northern african Volume 14 6 News 5 News review Number 5 OCTOBER/

Forwireless comms professionals in north, west, east & central Africa COMMUNICATIONS NOVEMBER 2015 > Fibersat to offer satellite at fi bre costs > MTN Benin extends rural connectivity Volume 14 > Ethiopia uses LTE for Addis Ababa metro ● How smartphones are getting smarter ● Using the digital Number 5 dividend for broadband > Effortel delivers fi rst mobile banking MVNO ● Record fi ne for MTN in Nigeria – CEO quits > Eutelsat and Facebook partner for satcoms > Vodafone seeks more power in Ghana

To see how IDT can help you reach out and grow your business, email [email protected] or visit idtcarrierservices.com > Yahsat integrates OSS/BSS with VSAT 20 Wireless solutions > Softwire and SES to bridge information gap > Save the Children acts as VNO for 35 VSATs > Inmarsat to help develop remote services IDT is one of the largest global carriers of > Enterprise m-banking solution in Kenya international voice trafﬁ c, generating over > ATU calls for more universal access funds 30 billion international minutes last year > Ericsson manages BSS for MTN as well as creating billions of retail minutes > Mobile platforms for 100 million women through our BOSS Revolution brand. 13 Wireless business 22 Smartphones To see how our scale and reach can > Huge ﬁ ne for MTN Nigeria; Dabengwa quits help you grow your business, come see us at AfricaCom stand B17 (Hall 2), 20 Wireless solutions email [email protected] or visit > Affordable Ka-band antenna for COTM idtcarrierservices.com.

Turn to page 16 Features: to ﬁ nd out more about IDT 22 Smartphones > With smartphone adoption growing, RAHIEL NASIR rounds up the latest devices. 27 Broadband > Will the digital dividend help deliver low- 27 Broadband cost broadband? DAVE HOWELL ﬁ nds out.

32 World news > Sepura DMR in Mongolian capital > Nokia uses drones for network planning > Anite to ﬁ ne tune Bangladeshi network > TI Sparkle expands global backbone reach > Convention Centre Dublin supports Wi-Fi 33 World news > Cisco implements Europe’s ﬁ rst smartROAD

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EDITORIAL: ADVERTISEMENT SALES: Editorial director: Rahiel Nasir Sales executive: Andrew London Designer: Alan McClenaghan [email protected] Contributors: Dave Howell Production & circulation: Production: Suzanne Thomas [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1932 886537 Editorial enquiries: Fax: +44 (0) 1932 886539 Tel: +44 (0) 1932 886537 Fax: +44 (0) 1932 886539 Publishing director: Kathy Moynihan [email protected] +44 (0) 1932 886537

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NEWS

Fibersat to offer satellite services at the cost of ﬁ bre in Africa Fibersat will use a hosted Ka- smaller that we cover the same area The firm adds that it has already band payload on forthcoming with almost 100 beams. Each one of signed up “significant” pre-launch high-throughput satellites (HTS) these beams has as much bandwidth orders with key African operators from Arabsat to provide extensive as a traditional satellite beam.” but does not name them. It says the coverage over Africa using an As a result, Fibersat reckons broad- agreement with Arabsat represents a innovative system. band delivered via its system will cost major step forward in its mission. Luxembourg-based Fibersat is a a “tiny fraction” of what it costs today. For Arabsat, the deal means it will new operator and its HTS payload, The company’s CEO Christof Kern be able to expand its coverage across Fibersat-1, is planned for launch says: “By combining the benefits the region. CEO Khalid Balkheyour in 2018. The company claims its of a power-optimised HTS design says: “This cooperation with Fibersat optimised design will enable satellite and leveraging a hybrid satellite will position Arabsat as a major services to be delivered at the cost of architecture, Fibersat will be able to service provider to the growing fibre throughout the continent. offer customers unprecedented price markets of sub-Saharan Africa, Fibersat-1 will use beams that are levels for satellite services which is key with a portfolio of broadband and smaller than conventional geo satel- in price-sensitive markets like Africa. telecom services. By employing lites, but it’s claimed they can deliver This is the only way to meet the explod- an innovative payload design in up to 100 times more bandwidth. ing demand for internet in Africa, the Ka-band, Arabsat will have blanket In late October, Arianespace began “Traditional geostationary fastest-growing market in the world.” coverage over the MEA region.” preparations for the launch of Arabsat- communication satellites typically use At launch, Fibersat says it will be At the time of writing, Arianespace 6B, seen here receiving its propellant. one large beam to illuminate a large able to provide affordable internet was getting ready to launch Arabsat’s area,” states the firm. “This single access services to remote areas across next satellite. Arabsat-6B, which will November and will orbit at 26ºE to beam usually has a capacity of 1Gbps. the continent using low-cost commer- be operated as BADR-7, was expected provide telecoms and broadcast ser- Fibersat has smaller beams – so much cially available VSAT terminals. to lift-off from French Guiana on 10 vices for Africa and the Middle East. Equitel aims to be continent’s ﬁ rst m-banking MVNO Kenyan MVNO Equitel is working up for the mobile money service CRM and billing systems. It supports institutions in East Africa, along with Effortel to provide what’s claimed which is activated on its platform. a number of VAS provided by with the groundswell in mobile, to be Africa’s first fully integrated As well as being an MVNO itself, Equitel, including a branded mobile was driving the mobile banking banking system using a mobile network. Belgium-based Effortel is also an banking service that allows users phenomenon,” says Effortel CMO Equitel has a partnership with MVNE (enabler). It is responsible for to check balance updates, make Liudvikas Andriulis.” Equity Bank as part of a project that the day-to-day technical operations payments, and withdraw money He adds that the majority of aims to bring a more mobile and and administrative management of from ATMs using a PIN code sent people want more from the mobile truly integrated banking experience the Equitel-Equity service. directly to their phones via USSD. banking experience than simply the to East Africa. The MVNO claims The company says its platform “Equity Bank recognised that the wire transfer functionality offered by that 450,000 users have so far signed delivers core network capability, limited infrastructure of banking typical mobile wallet services. ‘Mobile as a service’ enables MTN Benin to expand MTN Benin will use managed able to provide mobile coverage in Ericsson says solar powered BSTs and satellite rural coverage (MRC) provided by transmission – as used in this Cambodian areas where it previously did not Ericsson to bring ‘mobile as a service’ deployment – creates a more viable exist,” says Stephen Blewett, CEO, to central and northern parts of the model for a rural network rollout. MTN Benin. “This connectivity allows country where connectivity was people in these areas to communicate previously unavailable. with family, friends and acquaintances This is the first MRC contract which they previously could not do. We Ericsson has signed. The company are also proud to see members of these claims MRC is a “cost-competitive” communities establishing themselves solution whereby operators provide as MTN Mobile Money agents.” mobile coverage for a set period MTN Benin has been an Ericsson according to SLAs and defined KPIs. associated with diesel generators. As a result, MTN Benin say it customer since 1999. The vendor is Under the terms of a five-year It adds that transmission will be was possible to create a business the sole supplier of core, packet core, contract with MTN Benin, Ericsson provided via satellite as an alternative model to provide mobile coverage radio, transmission and charging will provide access via its low-power to the high costs and civil works to parts of Benin where people have system nodes to the operator. BSTs running on solar energy to associated with building a microwave to survive on less than USD2 a day. Ericsson manages BSS platform for avoid the expense and emissions backhaul network in remote villages. “With Ericsson’s help, we are now MTN Group operations – News, p11.

October/November 2015 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 5 Register to receive your free copy of this & other business magazines: NEWS www.kadiumpublishing.com

Ethiopian metro rail uses unique LTE system In what’s claimed to be the first use Huawei provided several key trunking and single-network ticketing of LTE in an African metro railway technologies including its end-to-end data management, thereby reducing system, Huawei has provided the eLTE trunking solution and related the need for trackside devices and communications systems for the communication systems. These are lowering maintenance costs. Huawei created a bespoke end-to-end Addis Ababa City Light Rail Transit used to support vehicle-mounted In order to avoid duplicating eLTE system for the Addis Ababa City (AACLRT) project. devices and dispatching systems network capacity and minimise the Light Rail Transit project. The new railway line connects provided by another project partner, investment required for each device, urban centres and industrial areas Shenzhen Communication Technology. Huawei says it based the AACLRT’s Rail Transportation Solution for the in the Ethiopian capital. The first Huawei claims that just one of its system on a single backbone network AACLRT. This train-to-ground phase of the project involved the eLTE cells provides a wireless network that supports multiple services, communication platform uses LTE construction of two railway lines that covers 1,200m, and requires just including communication, signalling, HD video and optical transmission that span 31km and includes one four baseband units and nine radio SCADA and fare collection. technologies, and includes all control centre and 39 stations, two remote units. The vendor adds that As urban rail transit systems are necessary service systems such as: of which are underground. Further eLTE’s ultra-wideband technology increasingly using video applications, wireless, transport and IP-based fixed development phases are expected to enables wireless dispatching and the firm says it created a bespoke networks; communication power follow soon. various other services, including voice version of its integrated Digital Urban supply; telephony; and CCTV. Vodafone Ghana upgrades to secure power sources Vodafone Ghana says it has invested situation was compounded by a 24- these issues, financial constraints their systems experience intermittent about GHS4.5m (around USD1.1m) hour power outage schedule, which and the lack of an established power performance. Altogether, Vodafone says over the last four months as part affected service to some key stations sector have led to significant setbacks. these measures are helping most of its of measures to improve its fixed in specific parts of the country. As a result, Vodafone has upgraded customers remain connected for around broadband service across the country. Ghana has been facing an energy its existing power sources to provide a 99 per cent of their subscription time. The operator says the advent of crisis brought about by a lack of more reliable and resilient service. It The operator plans to continue to an energy crisis in Ghana coupled capital, leaving most people without also continues to offer all active fixed invest in measures over the coming with “external pressures” has or with limited access to power. broadband customers up to 20GB months in a bid to eventually build affected delivery of its fixed line and According to local reports, although worth of mobile data to ensure they a robust and efficient platform to broadband services. It adds that the the government is looking to address remain connected on occasions when support its fixed broadband network. Eutelsat and Facebook to expand broadband in Africa Eutelsat Communications and Under their agreement, Eutelsat Facebook have joined forces on a new and Facebook will share the capacity initiative to connect more people in and will each deploy internet services Africa to broadband. Under a multi-year designed to relieve pent-up demand agreement with Spacecom, the two for connectivity from the many users companies will utilise the entire broad- in Africa beyond the range of fixed band payload on the future AMOS-6 and mobile terrestrial networks. satellite. They will build a dedicated Eutelsat says the capacity will system comprising satellite capacity, enable it to step up its broadband gateways and terminals to accelerate activity in the region that was initiated data connectivity in sub-Saharan Africa. using Ku-band satellites to serve Scheduled to start service in the professional users. The operator online. It plans second half of 2016, AMOS-6’s high is establishing a new company based to work with local throughput satellite architecture is in London that will steer its African partners across Africa expected to contribute to additional broadband vision and business. It to utilise satellite and gains in cost efficiency. will be led by Laurent Grimaldi, terrestrial capacity Spacecom says the satellite’s founder and former CEO of Tiscali to deliver services to Ka-band payload is configured with International Network, and will rural areas. high gain spot beams covering large focus on serving premium consumer Facebook adds that Eutelsat and parts of West, East and Southern and professional segments. the partnership with Facebook will offer a Africa, and is said to be optimised For Facebook, the initiative is a Eutelsat will also enable wide footprint over sub- for community and direct-to-user continuation of its Internet.org project it to investigate new ways Saharan Africa using internet access using affordable, off- that aims to address the barriers to use satellites to connect AMOS-6 which is scheduled the-shelf customer equipment. that are keeping people from getting people in remote locations. for launch to 4ºW next year.

6 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015

Rahiel Nasir, Editorial director Yahsat integrates OSS

ON THE NETWORK and BSS to VSAT platform In what’s described as a “pioneering” says its turnkey solution, which is While Newtec is Yahsat’s preferred service provision model, Yahsat will provided in partnership with Tech partner for the Who’s right use Newtec’s platforms and operating Mahindra, is integrated with an Brazilian market, systems for its third satellite. Oracle platform, bringing Tier-1 the company about C-band? Al Yah 3 is due for launch in late capabilities to the OSS/BSS layer. says its platform 2016. It will extend Yahsat’s commercial According to the firm, this will may also be As I write this, the ITU’s World Ka-band coverage to an additional 19 allow Yahsat and its customers deployed in other Radiocommunication Conference countries and 600 million users across to benefit from a broader product territories across is getting under way in Geneva. Africa, as well as in Brazil where it range and wider implementation. the operator’s Held every three to four years, WRC will cover more than 95 per cent of the Yahsat CCO David Murphy footprint. reviews the international regulatory population (also see News, Jul-Aug 2015). adds: “This latest contract Dialog (left) is framework for radio communications In a deal announced in mid-October, award to Newtec signifies the claimed to guarantee and revises it as needed. Yahsat will use Newtec’s multi-service first time a satellite operator is optimal modulation The most controversial item on VSAT Dialog platform, baseband hubs, set to integrate a fully-fledged and bandwidth the agenda this year is the possible user terminals and various CPE. The OSS/BSS into the VSAT service allocation for all re-assignment of C-band spectrum. contract also includes the supply of an platform for both wholesale and satellite-based Terrestrial wireless operators integrated BSS/OSS system. Newtec consumer segments.” applications. have been lobbying for additional frequencies in C-band that include the 3.4GHz to 4.2GHz band used for satellite receive/downlinks. Ultimate personal gigabyte experience Naturally, the satcoms industry is Ooredoo Group will use advanced The deal is part of a renewed enhance its 3G and 4G network. against this. In rallying its supporters technologies from Nokia to boost agreement but its conditions have been “Our hands-on innovation earlier this year, the Global VSAT Forum 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE-A networks revised to include global best practices approach enables mobile broadband (GVF) said operation of IMT in the across its global operations. in terms of delivery and technology networks to deliver gigabytes of C-band could cause “excessive” levels The Qatari telco’s footprint covers for the benefit of both firms. personalised data per user per day of interference, and might preclude the Middle East, South East Asia According to Nokia, Ooredoo profitably and securely by 2020,” says future use by broadcasters and many and North Africa where it runs has taken the lead in network Nokia’s EVP Ashish Chowdhary. other industries that depend on mobile networks in Algeria and performance across its footprint, “With our latest innovations we satellite services supported by C-band. Tunisia. As part of a long-term offering 4G+ in Qatar and Kuwait, will support Ooredoo to prepare On the other side, the GSM development strategy, it has signed a 4G in Oman, Tunisia and the for the huge data demand, and Association issued a report to coincide five-year framework agreement with Maldives, in addition to launching provide high-speed data services with WRC-15 which said the use of Nokia, and will use the vendor’s the first commercial 3G in Algeria with improved network coverage, in additional C-band spectrum for mobile mobile broadband technologies and and Myanmar. In Qatar, the addition to clearer voice call services broadband in London and Shenzhen products to enhance voice and data company also recently deployed to ensure the ultimate personal alone will generate an additional services across its markets. Nokia’s high-capacity small cells to gigabyte experience.” USD440m of economic benefi t. According to its research, the GSMA says the use of C-band spectrum for SES’ Ibrahima mobile broadband can be achieved Softwire and SES to bridge Guimba-Saidou says through the development of sharing satellite technology techniques to allow mobile services to information gap in Nigeria will help drive growth co-exist with other users of the band, and knowledge such as satellite and fi xed link services. Softwire Digital Solutions will deployment of a project to provide more transfer in Nigeria. It cites studies that show that C-band use satellite capacity from SES to e-learning facilities to underserved areas. small cells can co-exist with satellite implement nationwide e-learning It is financed by Nigeria’s universal “Our satellite broadband technology services, provided that an exclusion solutions in Nigeria. service provision fund (USPF). is able to deliver a wide range of zone of a 5km radius is established Based in Abuja, Softwire Digital SES says many governments and services across Nigeria’s non-urban around the satellite installations. It Solutions is a specialist provider of public institutions on the continent have population to help drive growth and adds similar provisions can be made IT and capacity building services. It is already begun to develop broadband knowledge transfer.” to ensure the protection of continued one of several companies chosen by policies to address digital inequality but Softwire CEO Dalo Edetanlen operation of fi xed link and point-to- the Nigerian government to implement are hindered by costs, infrastructure and believes the partnership with SES multipoint services that use the band. a number of ICT projects that aim to inaccessible non-urban populations. will ensure that his company delivers The battle lines for C-band are drawn. bridge the digital and information gap “Satellites have vast coverage and a high-quality service to its clients, But whichever side is favoured at WRC, that exists in rural parts of the country. reach that’s undaunted by mountain, particularly the USPF. He adds: “We it’s clear that there are going to be some As part of a multi-year deal with SES, desert, jungle or savannah,” says hope to leverage this relationship to big casualties of war to deal with. Softwire will use capacity on the NSS- Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, SVP for expand our business and become one [email protected] 10 satellite located at 37.5ºW for the SES Commercial in Africa. of the leading ISPs in the country.”

8 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015 NEWS

SCI migrates to C-band VSAT network across multiple sites Save the Children International (SCI) With the company’s help, SCI staff worked with SpeedCast to expand SpeedCast adds that the new network will act as virtual operator to provide in the country were able to re-point the network to 51 sites. “By replacing will enable SCI to “significantly” reduce services to its network of C-band all of the VSAT systems to the new Ku-band equipment with C-band its operating costs, and claims this will VSATs across 35 sites in Africa. network. systems, we have been able to provide allow for a full investment recovery as The UK-based NGO is using Since the initial migration of its our field sites with a better service for its service delivers “greater performance a network supplied by SpeedCast core C-band network, SCI has now a lower monthly cost,” says Hawkins. at a lower price point”. France (formerly Geolink Satellite Services). SpeedCast says the rollout of the new service was particularly complex as the migration to its platform required work across multiple countries, and had to be completed to a tight deadline before the previous provider switched off SCI’s existing service. The company says the deployment to all 35 sites – which are situated in some of Africa’s most remote areas – was successfully implemented ahead of the deadline in five weeks. The new service was set up for SCI as a virtual network operator. SpeedCast says this allows the organisation to allocate pooled bandwidth efficiently and gives it the flexibility to make changes quickly. This was not possible with the previous system where each location had individual contracts with a range of different suppliers. The company adds that its team worked directly with SCI to optimise network design and meet specific requirements. For example, SpeedCast says QoS was used to prioritise certain types of traffic, such as Skype and Lync services. In addition, the company trained members of SCI staff as VSAT installers at its teleport in Germany. This approach proved to be particularly successful as one of SCI’s team members was able to quickly apply the training and completed the installation of a number of VSAT units in Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis. “During the recent Ebola emergency, I spent two months connected to the SpeedCast service, and the connection quality was better than some places in Europe,” said Mark Hawkins, global field technology manager at SCI. SpeedCast also supported the NGO in Somalia which its says can be a challenging place when it comes to finding satellite engineers.

October/November 2015 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 9 Register to receive your free copy of this & other business magazines: NEWS www.kadiumpublishing.com

Bond issue New satcoms initiative set via mobile Kenya plans to float the to transform lives in Africa first-ever government bond that will be offered exclusively via A satellite-based connectivity project Working with the Equity Bank mobiles. M-Akiba will be delivered that promises to revolutionise Group, Inmarsat has provided in partnership with Safaricom’s e-commerce and maternity services in connectivity to enable financial M-PESA. It aims to broaden access remote areas is ready to be rolled out. services, welfare and other content to the retail bond market which was The Digital Frontiers initiative forms access to more than 200 locations previously subject to lengthy and part of the UK Space Agency’s two- in Kenya. Each site has a BGAN bureaucratic processes, and only year, GBP32m (USD49m) International internet connectivity terminal which is accessible to banks and commercial Partnership Space Programme. It has pre-loaded with a range of educational traders. Using M-Kiba, deals can partnered with Inmarsat which has been materials and apps covering agriculture reach an upper limit of KES140,000 awarded funding for projects in key parts Working in partnership with Equity, and business, among other topics. (USD1,370) per day until the bond of East and West Africa. Inmarsat has provided BGAN terminals In Nigeria, the company has helped offer period closes. The initial projects will see the firm and internet connectivity to more than deliver the MAMA Connect Project deploy its most advanced L-band 200 sites in Kenya. onsite system, which is pre-loaded communications satellite, Alphasat, with maternal and child health Mobile clinic to deliver data connectivity solutions areas that currently lack communication information. The satellite network in Nigeria and Kenya. The aim is capabilities, as well as evolve business updates the content and provides real- to demonstrate how companies can models that mean more of these projects time connectivity for pregnant and in Tunisia provide socio-economic benefits to can be commercially sustained. new mothers to interact online. Ooredoo and Tunisian Red Crescent have teamed up to create Tunisia’s first mobile medical clinic. It will be Eliminating ‘pain points’ for business funded by the operator and run Chase Bank Kenya has partnered in real-time. Lipa Na M-PESA is the enhancing their efficiency.” by Red Crescent which will offer with Safaricom to launch a service Safaricom service used by retailers Njaga adds that the service will healthcare and advice for people that aims to boost the efficiency of to accept payment of goods and also help boost credit scoring once in remote areas. The clinic will businesses by aggregating all their services from their customers. users start accessing credit via the also provide training for volunteers banking services and making them “[Mobile2Bank] demonstrates how mobile app available on the Android from the Tunisian Red Crescent. accessible through a mobile. innovation in the mobile space can and iOS smartphone platforms. The areas it will target include Mobile2Bank, which is said to be be harnessed to address some of the Safaricom says M-PESA agents are Kebili, Gabes, Sidi Bouzid, Mahdia, the first of its kind in Kenya, will common pain points in business,” among those who will benefit from Kef and Zaghouan. The partnership enable businesses to make payments says Chase Bank CEO Paul Njaga. Mobile2Bank, as they can now move between the two organisations is and collections directly to their bank “With Mobile2Bank, businesses [both] floats between tills and bank accounts part of the expansion of an initiative accounts. It will also enable access to small and large will no longer need in real-time. They can also send floats launched in 2013 by Ooredoo and micro-credit and fund transfers from to carry out physical withdrawals of directly to another agent’s account the Leo Messi Foundation. one Lipa Na M-PESA till to another cash from bank accounts, thereby without having to visit the bank. Algerian ATU calls for more universal access funds The African Telecommunications Soumaila was speaking during cable cut Union (ATU) says the continent’s the opening of a training workshop A cut on the fibre cable countries should open up their ICT recently held in Nairobi involving connecting Annaba to sectors to allow private telcos and twenty journalists from six East African Marseilles disrupted internet traffic to companies to invest in the development countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Algeria on 22 October. Algeria Tele- of broadband infrastructure. South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda com (AT) said a break on the SMW4 ATU general secretary Abdoulkarim He believes journalists should be able submarine system 15km off the coast Soumaila said governments should to explain how ICT has contributed of Annaba caused it to lose 80 per utilise resources from locally established in the development of the continent: ATU general secretary Abdoulkarim cent of the international bandwidth ICT specialists, and suggested that “We want to create and strengthen the Soumaila (right) with Dean Yu, transiting via the cable. MECMA, two per cent of their turnovers should capabilities of a network of African Huawei’s Nairobi ofﬁ ce CEO. the international consortium be used to develop broadband in the journalists specialised in ICT, well- responsible for maintaining SMW4, most remote rural areas. equipped to inform the public about the to boost broadband connectivity in initiated repair work but AT warned “This money is a universal progress and benefits of the use of ICT.” African countries, especially in the most customers that this could take several access fund [to finance] high-speed The training workshop was remote areas. “Huawei uses ICT to days depending on local weather internet,” he said, adding that this is organised in partnership with ATU, the promote health, education, productivity conditions. To mitigate the impact of the target East African Community African Media Initiative and Huawei. and income improvement at work, all the cut, AT re-routed traffic to the member countries have agreed to At the event, the union signed an in order to transform positively and Algiers-Palermo cable. achieve by 2020. agreement with the latter that aims improve people’s lives,” said Soumaila.

10 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015 NEWS

Ericsson manages BSS for MTN MTN will use Ericsson’s Order to IT back-end systems and billed in complaints more efficiently. MTN expects the new Charging Cash BSS platform to standardise the real-time. It adds that Multi Activation Ericsson will support, operate System to enable new services such customer experience of its products provides MTN with fully automated and manage the suite of products. It as catalogue orchestrated charging, and services in all 22 countries where real-time fulfilment capabilities. says this managed services approach flexible refill and community it is operational. MTN says the new BSS platform will ensure the benefits of the BSS charging, among several other As part of the deal, Ericsson will will enable subscribers to activate new platform are realised across all MTN different voice and data offerings. be responsible for the replacement of services more efficiently and to better operations, allowing for an “agile” MTN has worked with Ericsson all legacy infrastructure with its new monitor their data costs and usage. launch of differentiated services for many years, and has used the Charging System, along with its Multi In addition, it’s claimed the operator and thus increasing the company’s Swedish vendor’s real-time charging Activation and Multi Mediation software. will be able to deal with customer capacity for innovation and speed. capabilities since 1996. According to the vendor, Multi Mediation supports the retrieval and processing of user data from all network nodes. The data can then be made available to the relevant Mobile platforms for 100 million women Tata Communications and MasterCard are combining their respective strengths in global telecoms and payments technology to financially empower women in the developing world. As part of a Commitment to Action under the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), the two companies will join forces with a network of partners that also includes Brightstar, crowd-funding platform Kiva, mobile communications company Tone, amongst others. Over the next five years, the partners will work together to improve the lives of women in the developing world through access to transformative mobile platforms comprising a range of financial, health and education applications and services. The programme will start with pilot projects targeting 25,000 women in India, Nigeria, Indonesia and Guatemala. These projects will serve as microcosms that can be replicated to ultimately reach 100 million women by 2020. According to No Ceilings: The Full Participation Report published by the Clinton Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in March 2015, 200 million fewer women than men are online in developing countries, and 300 million fewer women own a mobile phone.

October/November 2015 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 11

WIRELESS BUSINESS

Dabengwa quits following NCC ﬁ ne MTN Group CEO Sifiso Dabengwa NGN200,000 (around USD1,000) authorities on the regulatory aspects Siﬁ so Dabengwa has resigned. In a press release issued for each unregistered subscriber. of the matter. It added that company said his resignation on 9 November, he stated: “Due to the Around 33 per cent of the MTN executives were also in talks with was in the most unfortunate prevailing circum- Group’s total earnings come from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, best interests stances occurring at MTN Nigeria, I, Nigeria, making the country the and shareholders were advised to of MTN and its in the interest of the company and its operator’s biggest market. Nigeria’s “exercise caution” when dealing shareholders. shareholders, have tendered my resig- government is fighting Boko Haram in MTN’s securities until a further nation with immediate effect.” militants, and says the use of announcement was made. His decision follows the Nigerian unregistered SIMs hampers its ability The operator has now appointed Communications Commission to track potential terrorist activities. Phuthuma Nhleko as executive issues around unregistered subscribers (NCC) imposing a fine equivalent to According to reports, shares in chairman in a temporary capacity. as a matter of urgency,” said Nhleko. USD5.2 billion on MTN Nigeria. The the group fell more than 12 per cent “I will assume responsibility as “Together with the MTN board, my penalty relates to the timing of the following news of the NCC’s fine. executive chairman for the next six second priority will be to find an disconnection of 5.1 million MTN On 30 October, MTN issued a months as I proactively deal with the appropriate chief executive officer to subscribers who were cut off in August statement which said that Dabengwa Nigerian regulator and will continue take MTN forward. I will then revert and September 2015. It is based on was engaging with the Nigerian to work with them in addressing the to my non-executive chairman role.”

Moody’s stabilises outlook for EMEA will depend on the stage that a telco where GDP growth is slowing – and capex spend,” says Moody’s. telecoms companies is at in the cycle. For example, it says Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia “These operations’ free cash flow will Moody’s has changed its outlook for increased capex for operators such are cited as examples in Africa. also suffer as the price of equipment telecommunications service providers as Orange (rated ‘Baa1 stable’) to “We expect commodity prices to for 3G and 4G/LTE network rollout in EMEA from ‘negative’ to ‘stable’ differentiate its offering will offset any remain lower for longer, driven by will also increase.” on the expectation of a 1-2 per cent increase in free cash flow resulting a strengthening US dollar driving revenue growth into 2017. from higher revenues and improved prices lower in dollar terms, and Orange returns to growth The international investment margins. However, others such as unfavourable market fundamentals The Orange Group reported 3Q15 analyst and ratings agency says this Vodafone Group (Baa1 stable), are which could curb consumer demand revenues of EUR10.284bn, an overall will largely be driven by increasing nearing the end of their capex cycle. or spending,” says Moody’s. increase of 0.5 per cent following falls demand for broadband and “We also expect telcos to benefit The company adds that operations of 0.2 and 0.9 per cent in the second consumers’ ability to spend more. from efficient operating leverage, such with revenues in domestic currencies and first quarters respectively. Moody’s says KPIs including that their average EBITDA increases but which have dollar-denominated The telco reported that the trend ARPU will be “solid and sustainable” by around four per cent in 2016, debt will also remain under of continued improvement reflects and churn rates lower. The firm underpinning an average improvement pressure as financing costs and debt the “favourable” change in mobile believes this will be supported by price in adjusted EBITDA margin to 35.4 obligations increase in their currency services across all regions, which saw increases across the board as customers per cent from 34.8,” says Moody’s. of operation. Examples here include growth of 1.2 per cent in 3Q after increasingly demand bundled product With specific reference to Africa, some of MTN Group’s (Baa2 stable) declines of 1.6 in 2Q and 2.8 per cent offers including broadband and TV. the Middle East and Turkey’s telecoms operations (38 per cent of total debt), in 1Q. However, enterprise revenues However, it says there are some markets, the analyst says the outlook and Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri continued to rise with an increase of exceptions as some companies have not is now stable as revenue growth (Baa3 negative with 82 per cent of 0.5 per cent in the quarter. fully adapted to the lower pricing in their moderates, driven by an expectation total debt as of June 2015). Excluding the impact of regulatory domestic market and/or because of of low single-digit revenue growth on “Operations with revenues measures, group revenues rose 0.6 limited international diversification. average in the next 12-18 months. in currencies other than dollars per cent in 3Q after an increase of 0.4 In its industry outlook for the However, it expects negative across Africa and Turkey will face per cent in the second quarter and a sector, Moody’s expects capex to pressure on revenue growth to build increasing imported equipment costs, decrease of 0.3 per cent in the first. remain broadly stable but says this in some commodity-driven markets which will put pressure on margins Orange said its mobile customer base

INVESTMENTS, MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Date Buyer Seller Item Price Notes

Johannesburg-based Archer specialises in mobile engagement solutions for banking 17/9/15 IMImobile Archer Digital Company $5.6m & government customers across South Africa.

Westﬁ eld Capital Brookside Capital, HarbourVest, VT Technology Ventures, & Osage Venture Partners 23/09/15 Management & SevOne Financing $50m also participated in this round of series C funding. SevOne will use the ﬁ nancing to Bain Capital Ventures accelerate growth in markets such as the mobile economy & IoT.

Part of the Vedanta Group, Sterlite says acquisition enables it to offer software 30/9/15 Sterlite Technologies Elitecore Technologies Company NA solutions for OSS, BSS & revenue management.

US ﬁ rm Cloudpath specialises in certiﬁ cate-based Wi-Fi security & has developed 22/10/15 Ruckus Wireless Cloudpath Networks Company NA automated, self-service software.

October/November 2015 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 13 Register to receive your free copy of this & other business magazines: WIRELESS BUSINESS www.kadiumpublishing.com

in Africa and the Middle East grew The company says it will now upgrade The two companies originally Rodolphe Belmer steadily, with 10 million net additions the towers and roll out renewable agreed a deal in September 2014. The joins Eutelsat from year-on-year on a comparable basis energy solutions across the operator’s value of their transaction was not Groupe Canal (+9.8 per cent). African networks. disclosed but as part of the agreement where he was CEO. 15.5 million Orange Money customers Over the last two years, IHS says it Airtel was to sell and lease back © RÉMY CORTIN were reported as at 30 September has spent USD500m in the continent more than 3,500 towers to Eaton 2015 (+37 per cent year-on-year). The on power systems that feature advanced in six countries across its African increase in regional subscribers was generators, batteries and alternative operations under a 10-year contract. helped by the full consolidation of power solutions to reduce diesel This latest setback with Eaton CEO on 1 December as part of the Méditel in Morocco. consumption. The company adds that follows the termination of two other transition process. Belmer will work “Our return to growth in revenue by the end of 2016, up to 80 per cent agreements with Helios Towers Africa alongside Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s and restated EBITDA validates our of its towers will be run on hybrid (HTA) that were originally signed current deputy CEO and chief strategy of differentiation through solar solutions. in July 2014 for the sale of 3,100 commercial and development officer. quality and investment and confirms According to IHS, by outsourcing towers in four countries. Earlier this Belmer has worked at Groupe the positive momentum generated its tower infrastructure Airtel will year in June, Airtel announced that Canal since 2001 where he was over almost two years,” said group be able to deleverage through debt the deals with HTA covering Chad appointed CEO in 2012. chairman and CEO Stéphane Richard. reduction and will “significantly” and Tanzania had been terminated. Born in 1969, he is a French He added that business performed reduce its ongoing capex on passive According to reports, the agreements national, and after graduating from particularly well during the quarter, infrastructure. for Congo and DRC remain intact. HEC in 1992 he began his career in especially in France, Spain, Belgium, IHS Group CEO Issam Darwish Airtel has around 15,000 towers on the marketing department of Procter Central Europe, Africa and Middle says: “Our partnership is designed the continent which have been on the and Gamble France before moving East, and the enterprise market. to further promote network sharing, market for some time now. onto McKinsey in 1998. “This commercial momentum and deliver higher quality and reliable is supported by high levels of mobile services. This acquisition Michel de Rosen to step down as Expanded ABS-3A deal for Arabsat investment in very high-speed fixed will enable us to eventually upgrade Eutelsat CEO Arabsat will use more capacity on and mobile broadband, in line with these towers and continue to roll out After six years as Eutelsat’s CEO, ABS-3A under a multi-transponder, our Essentiels2020 strategic plan,” said innovative energy saving technology Michel de Rosen will step down from multi-year deal for Ku-band payload. Richard. “We have now exceeded 263 throughout the continent.” the position in March 2016. He will The additional capacity will be million customers worldwide with 111 Meanwhile, Airtel Africa’s deal remain in the role of non-executive used for different customer networks million in Africa and Middle East.” to sell more than 3,500 of its towers chairman of the board until the end in the Middle East and North Africa, to Eaton Towers has expired. In of his current mandate in November particularly Saudi Arabia. Arabsat says Airtel closes tower sale – and a regulatory filing made in mid- 2016. After that, de Rosen’s tenure it will use the bandwidth mostly for data terminates another October, the operator stated: “The will be submitted to the annual services for enterprises, banking and IHS Holding has completed the agreements for the sale of tower shareholders’ meeting for renewal. government institutions. sale and lease back of 949 towers assets in Africa between Bharti Airtel Rodolphe Belmer has been elected Orbiting at 3ºW, ABS-3A is one from Airtel Zambia following long- Malawi Holdings and Eaton Towers as de Rosen’s successor. He will take of the first all-electric propulsion term contracts that were originally (Lilongwe) has lapsed and therefore up the position as from 1 March satellites in space and entered announced last December. stands terminated.” 2016 but will join Eutelsat as deputy commercial service on 31 August.

NEW APPOINTMENTS

Date Name New employer New position Previous employer Previous position

22/09/15 Raymond de Graaf Cambium Networks SVP worldwide operations Ixia SVP operations

8/10/15 Richard Swardh Comtech EF Data VP, market development Ericsson Business development director

14/10/15 Tinus Neethling Digitata Group CEO Rorotika Technologies CEO

14/10/15 Matthew M. O’Connell OneWeb CEO GeoEye President & CEO

16/10/15 Yemi Lalude TPG Growth, Africa Managing partner Adlevo Capital Founder

19/10/15 Michel de Rosen NA NA Eutelsat CEO – steps down March 2016

19/10/15 Rodolphe Belmer Eutelsat CEO Groupe Canal CEO

19/10/15 Michael McDonnell NA CFO Intelsat CFO

Director of startup engagement & 19/10/15 Amrote Abdella Microsoft 4Afrika Regional director Microsoft 4Afrika partnerships

20/10/15 Carsten Brinkschulte Core Networks Dynamics CEO BlackBerry SVP enhanced network services

Epsilon Global Communication 20/10/15 Andreas Hipp NA NA CEO & co-founder – stepped down & Cataleya

20/10/15 Jerzy Szlosarek Epsilon Global Communication CEO Epsilon Global Communication COO

20/10/15 Jay Jayasimha Cataleya CEO Epsilon Global Communication CIO

5/11/15 Brian Jakins Intelsat Regional VP of sales, Africa Aviat Networks VP sales & services Africa

14 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015

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LPWANs to provide around a quarter From a standing start in 2015, says recent advances have enabled Africa where it is not cost effective of total IoT connections by 2020 Beecham expects that by 2020 LPWANs to be established using the to install cellular but where LPWAN The dominant position of traditional LPWANs will provide 26 per cent of the ISM bands over longer distances – up can be,” he says. “For example, LoRa cellular networks in the market for total IoT connectivity market with 345 to 50km in rural areas and 5-10km can be installed either as part of a M2M connectivity is about to change, million connections, marking an end to in urban areas. It adds that white public network available to all, or as according to Beecham Research. the near monopoly of traditional cellular space technology also promises a private network available only to In a report published in October, networks for M2M connectivity. connectivity over distances of 10km one company’s remote devices. There it said that as well as reduced energy It says there’s a growing variety and with “superior” in-building is also nothing to prevent a private consumption, low power wide area of LPWAN technologies, such as penetration compared to 3G or 4G. LoRa network from being used by networks (LPWANs) also offer low Sigfox as well as those developed by Beecham Research CEO Robin other companies through agreement cost, long range, and enable a far wider the LoRa Alliance. While most of Duke Woolley adds that LPWAN with the owning party. variety of machine-to-machine and these solutions utilise the ISM bands is ideally suited to the African IoT/ “We expect all of that to develop in Internet of Things (IoT) applications better known for use by short range M2M market, where long range, low Africa, particularly for smart farming, currently constrained by budgets and wireless technologies such as Zigbee, power and low data rates are typical land security, tracking and possibly distance from a power source. Wi-Fi and 6LoWPAN, Beecham requirements. “There are vast areas in smart metering purposes.”

LATEST COMPANY RESULTS

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

2% decline in revenues compared to 3Q14, but results were 3/10/15 Sandvine US 3Q15 USD 27.9 NA 0.019 within targets & company remains proﬁ table. EMEA is its biggest market & accounted for 37% of earnings. 4Q15 revenue down compared to $420.7m in 4Q14. Fabrix, which was sold in 1Q15, contributed $5.9m in revenue in 13/10/15 IDT Corporation US 4Q15 USD 405.8 12.4 0.05 4Q14. Core businesses performed to overall expectations, according to CEO Shmuel Jonas.

10.284 3.557 QoQ revenue increase of 0.5% reﬂ ects favourable change in 22/10/15 Orange France 3Q15 EUR 0.6 (bn) (bn) mobile services across all regions.

Overall revenues down 2% due to currency volatility. Africa fell 5.3% to $241m & EBITDA was $48m, a y-o-y fall of 12% largely 22/10/15 Millicom Luxembourg 3Q15 USD 1.64 (bn) 560 0.17 due to stronger currency movements in Tanzania & Ghana plus continued diffi cult trading conditions in Chad. 10% y-o-y sales growth in sub-Saharan Africa was driven by continued development of professional services business as 23/10/15 Ericsson Sweden 3Q15 SEK 59.2 NA 0.94 operators focus on network quality and effi ciency. Mobile broadband business was stable. Earnings up 2.0% at constant currency. On track to achieve 28/10/15 Eutelsat France 1Q16 EUR 387.7 NA NA target of revenue growth of 2-3% for FY 2015-16 at constant currency, excluding non-recurring revenues. CEO Stephen Spengler: “Results are in line with our overall 29/10/15 Intelsat Luxembourg 3Q15 USD 580.8 452.0 0.66 expectations for 2015.” Firm now has high hopes for launch of next-generation Epic satellites which is just months away. Group revenues, excluding managed services and at constant 29/10/15 Alcatel-Lucent France 3Q15 EUR 3,429 (0.07) perimeter, grew 7% y-o-y. At constant exchange rates, revenues down 5%. Proposed merger with Nokia now in its fi nal stages. International revenues year to date were EUR439.7m – up 11.1% but 7.3% lower in constant forex terms. This was partially 30/10/15 SES Luxembourg 3Q15 EUR 493.5 366.5 NA offset by growth from new agreements, notably with StarTimes in sub-Saharan Africa and YahLive venture.

October/November 2015 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 17

Full potential of mission-critical LTE now ‘unlocked’ for public safety Nokia Networks has unveiled communications solutions are 3GPP create what’s claimed to be a reliable a portfolio of products for an compliant, including QoS, high 4G network in minutes in areas end-to-end public safety network availability, mobility, security and without cellular coverage. using LTE. It says its fully featured resilient IP connectivity. Nokia says the NIB’s computing public safety LTE voice and data The network is built on a wide capabilities enable the integration of variety of Nokia products which new applications at the edge of the MANUFACTURER: include its: RAN; EPC; VoLTE mobile network. These include push- Nokia Networks platform; IMS; Core in a Box; to-talk, group calls and messaging, management solutions; self-organising location tracking, as well as PRODUCT: networks; and Liquid technology. advanced broadband functionalities devices and networks. It adds that Public safety LTE network At its heart is the vendor’s LTE such as situational awareness and the solution is supported by a Network in a Box, or NIB. This offers real-time video streaming. “comprehensive” partner portfolio MORE INFORMATION: standard authorised IP connectivity The firm says the entire infrastruc- including devices, applications, and www.nokia.com and can be installed in a vehicle, such ture provides end-to-end security for interworking functions for legacy as an ambulance or a fire truck, to public safety applications, protecting systems such as TETRA and P25. Hytera DMR handsets support RFID Hytera has expanded its portfolio of PD415, which both support conven- As well as the PD415, the Patrol critical comms devices with the PD4 tional DMR as well as analogue radio. system includes management series. The new line-up includes two One of the key features of the series software, RFID identity cards, compact handsets, the PD405 and the is an RFID reader module which is and RFID check points. The radio integrated into the PD415 as standard. itself also has an open application MANUFACTURER: Hytera The radios can then be used in Hytera’s programming interface for RFID- Patrol system, enabling users such as based third-party developments . PRODUCT: PD4 series security guards to scan distributed Both the PD405 and the PD415 checkpoints in a building and send support mixed analogue and digital allows up to two simultaneous calls, MORE INFORMATION: their current location to a control room channel operation, pre-programmed even without repeaters. The PD404 www.hytera-mobilfunk.com where their positions are monitored text message transmission, and is dust- and waterproof according to in real-time on a digital map. feature TDMA direct mode which IP55, while the PD415 is IP54 rated. JMA unveils high power Ensuring complete control remote for DAS of M2M and IoT services

JMA Wireless has introduced the high- Starhome Mach says its new M2M multiple coverage and technology power UltraWatt remote unit to its Teko portfolio provides operators, system choices. For example, providers distributed antenna system (DAS). integrators and service providers can decide upon SIM localisation It reckons the new unit has a 390W with new ways to globalise the or optimised roaming routes peak power capability, and is ideal Internet of Things (IoT), and depending on the enterprise cost for supporting multi-operator, multi- differentiate service levels on an profile and quality requirements. technology applications that serve individual device level basis. The company provides mechanisms large, high-capacity environments. According to the mobile inter-carrier which its claims not only limit risk but Unlike other offerings currently ready, and claims it provides robust services specialist, IoT/M2M visibility also maximise margins for the opera- in the marketplace, JMA says the coverage and capacity with one of and control is a key requirement that tor and enhance the service provided UltraWatt’s EVM (error vector mag- the smallest footprints in the indus- many operators are lacking today. The to both machines and people. nitude) performance is 256 QAM try. It claims the unit represents the firm reckons its new OSS/BSS soft- best performing high-power remote ware empowers operators to identify MANUFACTURER: MANUFACTURER: in the industry with EVM below inbound devices and take appropriate Starhome Mach JMA Wireless one per cent. action. This ranges from offering JMA adds that the UltraWatt the host differentiated service for the PRODUCT: PRODUCT: UltraWatt leverages advanced amplifier device, to steering it away from the M2M/IoT portfolio techniques that enable the handling network if it is poorly configured or MORE INFORMATION: of average power versus peak power has no commercial value. MORE INFORMATION: www.jmawireless.com considerations, thereby optimising Starhome Mach says it provides www.starhomemach.com for peak to average ratio results. further differentiation of services with

20 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015 WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

Point-to-multipoint platform ALSO LOOK OUT FOR Perpetual power for challenging RF areas using energy Cambium Networks has launched a video surveillance applications. unlock 900MHz capacity with 900MHz version of its flagship PMP According to Cambium, the the PMP 450 platform. “We expect harvested from 450 point-to-multipoint wireless plat- propagation characteristics of to achieve three to four times the form. It says the new PMP 450i access 900MHz frequencies “outperform” amount of available bandwidth in the RF signals point allows for deeper frequency many others and are ideal for con- same channel size, even in the same propagation to suit the needs of rural necting subscribers and noisy and interference- A UK company has launched what’s broadband deployments, SCADA sensors that are difficult prone environments,” claimed to be revolutionary new and sensor data backhaul, and even to reach. It says the PMP claims the firm. technology that turns RF waves 450i has the same capac- The 450i is said to into usable electricity to charge MANUFACTURER: ity as its other PMP 450 offer 100Mbps subscriber low-power devices. Cambium Networks radios, and provides the capacity in a 20MHz ‘Freevolt’ was developed by an infrastructure needed to channel. It is 802.3at international team from Drayson PRODUCT: PMP 450i deploy networks in non- compatible, includes Technologies and Imperial College, line-of-sight and remote an auxiliary port, and London. It harnesses the unused MORE INFORMATION: environments. customers can re-use wireless energy generated by www.cambiumnetworks.com Cambium says users of its PMP the 30 VDC power supplies transmission signals on mobile, 100 systems can now upgrade and common to the PMP 100. Wi-Fi and broadcast networks. Paul Drayson, CEO and chairman of Drayson Technologies, says Freevolt solves the problem of Ka-band antenna aims to fl atten costs harvesting usable energy from a C-COM Satellite Systems is planning COTM antennas of delivering small RF signal. “Companies have to launch a new COTM (comms- are traditionally significant been researching how to harvest on-the-move) flat panel antenna. It “expensive, amounts of energy from Wi-Fi, cellular and says the iNetVu inMotion leverages elaborate and bandwidth broadcast networks for many years. the broadband speeds offered by high difficult to at a But it is diffi cult because there is throughput satellites (HTS) in Ka- support”. It says fraction of only a small amount of energy to band to provide low-cost, always-on most are available mainly the price. C-COM harvest and achieving the right connectivity into a moving vehicle. in Ku-band, and are equipped with claims it will cost significantly less than level of rectifying effi ciency has The Canada-based company says pricey, high-powered transmitters that a Ku-band COTM antenna and deliver been the issue – until now.” deliver limited amounts of bandwidth. significantly more bandwidth to users The Freevolt harvester comprises MANUFACTURER: C-COM C-COM hopes its new antenna will such as governments, broadcasters, oil a multi-band antenna and rectifi er open up land-based COTM markets and gas companies, first responders, etc. which is said to be capable of PRODUCT: iNetVu inMotion such as buses, trains, military vehicles Full production of the iNetVu absorbing energy from multiple RF and many others that require broadband inMotion antenna system is expected bands at almost any orientation. MORE INFORMATION: internet via satellite while on the move. to begin in 2Q16 following type It’s claimed the small, lightweight www.c-comsat.com The iNetVu inMotion will use next- approvals on Ka-band services for use design is scalable and suitable for a generation HTS which are capable of the system across the globe. range of uses, such as low-energy devices in the Internet of Things which can be perpetually powered. Drayson will be the fi rst Access point and backhaul in a single unit company to market the patent- Proxim Wireless has combined a Proxim’s ORiNOCO individual units in hetnet pending technology which is now WLAN access point with a carrier 2.4GHz AP and environments. It enables commercially available for license class wireless point-to-point backhaul Tsunami Quickbridge rapid deployments by to the international developer radio and integrated them into a 5GHz PTP backhaul automating configuration and business communities. single ruggedised enclosure for radio. The company processes, exhaustive The fi rst commercial application outdoor deployments. says combining the software-based device of Freevolt is the CleanSpace Tag, The ORiNOCO QB-9100 features two functions into a configuration capabilities, a totally portable personal air single unit is designed and easy upgradability. pollution sensor that was co- MANUFACTURER: to reduce hardware With its very high developed with the PA Consulting Proxim Wireless footprint, capital outlay, throughput 866Mbps data Group. The idea behind CleanSpace and recurring site rental costs. rate, jumbo frame support, and IEEE is to create a crowd-sourced network PRODUCT: QB-9100 products can all be centrally 1588v2 synchronisation, Proxim says of personal air sensors, initially ORiNOCO QB-9100 managed using ProximVision Advanced, the QB-9100 products provide all the across the UK before expanding to Proxim’s hybrid controller-network necessary features and capacity for major cities across the world. The MORE INFORMATION: management system. The firm says backhauling small cells. Moreover, aim is to start a social movement www.proxim.com this gives network administrators the integrated 802.11n AP enables the where people can connect and work “great” flexibility and control of offload of data to Wi-Fi. together to reduce air pollution.

October/November 2015 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 21 Register to receive your free copy of this & other business magazines: FEATURE: HANDSETS www.kadiumpublishing.com Smart operators With more MNOs now relying on data revenues to prop up ﬂ agging ARPUs, RAHIEL NASIR looks at what the continent’s smartphone market has to offer.

6,100 lobal mobile penetration reached 99 Latin America million per cent in the first quarter of this year, North America +330 according to Ericsson’s latest annual Asia Paciﬁ c Mobility Report published in June. Smartphones Middle East and Africa G accounted for almost 75 per cent of all mobiles Central and Eastern Europe +120 Western Europe sold worldwide during 1Q15, compared to around Total 65 per cent in 1Q14. “2014 saw more than 700 2,600 +1,940 additions million [new] smartphone subscriptions, due million +3.5 to the addition of new subscribers and existing +750 billion subscribers exchanging their basic phones for smartphones,” said the report. “It took over five years to reach the first billion smartphone +230 subscriptions, a milestone that was hit in 2012, and less than two years to reach the second billion.” +140 Ericsson believes that greater affordability in 2014 2017 2020 developing markets such as Africa will mean smartphone subscriptions will surpass those for Almost 80 per cent of smartphone subscriptions added during 2015–2020 will be from Asia Paciﬁ c, the basic phones by 2016. This looks likely. In its Mobile Middle East and Africa. SOURCE: © ERICSSON (JUNE 2015) Phone Tracker data for the second quarter of the year released in August, International Data Corporation 2,250 (IDC) forecasts that smartphone shipments in the Middle East and Africa will reach 165 million 2,000 units by the end of 2015. The global technology consulting firm said more than 41.9 million units of smartphones were shipped in the MEA region 1,750 during the quarter, representing a year-on-year increase of 60.2 per cent (compared to 2Q14). In Africa, 54.1 per cent of the handsets shipped 1,500 during 2Q15 were smartphones. IDC said this was at the expense of feature phones which suffered 1,250 year-on-year declines of around 25 per cent in Africa and 24 per cent in the MEA region as a whole. Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa contributed Millions 1,000 significantly to the overall growth seen in Africa, with year-on-year growth of 46, 99 and 49 per cent respectively. Together, IDC said these three countries 750 accounted for 27 per cent of all smartphone shipments across the continent during the second quarter.

500 GENERATION UNITS SHIPPED SHARE % 2Q14 2Q15 2Q14 2Q15 250 2.5G 41.8 31.9 2G 26.0 23.5 3G 27.2 35.6 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 4G 5.0 9.0 Mobile PC/router/tablet Smartphone Feature/basic phone TOTAL 39.0m 43.5m 47.3 52.7 Mobile phone shipments in Africa according to Mobile subscriptions split per device in Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. SOURCE: © ERICSSON (JUNE 2015) cellular technology. SOURCE: IDC MOBILE PHONE TRACKER, 2Q15

22 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015 FEATURE:FEATURE: HANDSETSHANDSETS

The tracker also revealed that Samsung, Tecno some notable areas where there currently seems and Huawei are currently Africa’s top smartphone Nabila Popal, to be no LTE activity include parts of Western vendors with a combined 44 per cent share of Research Africa such as Mali, Mauritania and Niger, as shipments. Huawei has now replaced Apple from manager, well as Eritrea and Mozambique in the East, and the top three list in the previous quarter. MEA & Turkey, CAR and Congo Brazzaville in Central Africa. In terms of total mobile shipments which IDC Nonetheless, IDC’s Popal said there is include feature phones as well as smartphones, currently a boom in 3G- and 4G-enabled devices Samsung, Tecno, Nokia, Alcatel and Huawei on the continent, with 3G increasing in volume currently represent the top five vendors in Africa by almost 45 per cent and 4G increasing by 100 with a combined market share of 53.9 per cent. per cent from 2Q14 to capture a 35.6 and nine The remaining 46.1 per cent is made up of other “Africa is witnessing a huge per cent share respectively (see Mobile shipments in vendors. Nabila Popal, IDC’s Mobile Phone Tracker Africa according to cellular technology, previous page). research manager for MEA and Turkey, said: growth in many new vendors The cost of network expansions aside, it could “Africa is witnessing a huge growth in many new be argued that a lack of affordable devices as well vendors that did not exist a year before, such as that did not exist a year before… as locally relevant online content hinders the Lenovo, X-Tigi and Condor Electronics, each rollout of mobile broadband technologies such now shipping over half a million units a quarter. This has resulted in smartphone as LTE. Or should operators take the approach There is rapid growth of 89.5 per cent in volume of ‘if you build it, they will come’? That’s what from Q2 2014 in the smartphone market. This penetration on the continent to Dhiraagu, for example, has done in the Maldives. has resulted in smartphone penetration on the Earlier this year the MNO launched the first continent to increase to 54.1 per cent from just increase to 54.1 per cent from commercial LTE-A service on the islands while 31.8 per cent a year ago in Q2 2014.” admitting that there were very few handsets Like Ericsson, IDC said the region’s just 31.8 per cent a year ago.” in the country’s market that supported the smartphone growth is largely being driven by technology. Dhiraagu, which claims to be the the emergence of low-priced devices. These are largest telco in the Maldives, said its aim was primarily powered by Google’s Android operating due to a young and increasing population, as well to be a “front runner” in introducing the latest system. In Africa, the platform currently as rising GDP. Africa’s current mobile penetration mobile broadband technologies. represents 92.6 per cent of the market while the rate of 78 per cent, the lowest compared to other others have shown declines – Windows Phone now regions, also indicates room for growth. Spoilt for choice accounts for 3.3 per cent, Apple iOS 2.8 per cent, The report added that 80 per cent of mobile and BlackBerry 1.3 per cent. subscriptions in Africa were GSM/EDGE-only Of course in Africa there is certainly no lack of Android is said to be particularly dominant in in 2014. Of the rest, most were WCDMA/GSM handsets. With all the world’s major vendors the low to mid-priced market – just over 45 per while a small proportion were just CDMA. In beating a path to the continent’s markets, as well cent of smartphones shipped across Africa in sub-Saharan Africa, Ericsson said GSM/EDGE- as devices developed especially for the region, it 1Q15 were below USD100, while almost 75 per only subscriptions will remain predominant could be argued that local consumers have never cent were under USD200. Popal reckons this up to 2020, due to the high number of lower had it so good when it comes to new mobiles. price bracket seems to be the ‘sweet spot’ for most income consumers using 2G-enabled handsets. For example, established in Hong Kong nine vendors launching in the region, as well as for However, it predicts that over the next five years, years ago, Tecno Telecom is now one of world’s established ones looking to increase their shares WCDMA/GSM will fall to 55 per cent as LTE/ largest mobile phone makers, and in 2008 it made by targeting the lower end of the market. WCDMA/GSM and LTE/CDMA begin to rise. a decision to focus on Africa as its key market. “This has resulted in phones priced under In September, the Global mobile Suppliers As testified by IDC above, Tecno continues to USD200 accounting for about 36 per cent of the Association (GSA) confirmed that worldwide be one of the continent’s top three mobile phone Middle East smartphone market, while at the other LTE subscriptions continue to grow faster brands and the company is aiming to consolidate end of the spectrum the USD450+ price band has than any other mobile communications system its position with the recent launch of its flagship seen its share fall from 25 per cent in Africa and technology. It said there were 755 million LTE handset, the Phantom 5. 48 per cent in the Middle East a year ago, to 14 subscriptions globally by the end of June 2015. The dual SIM smartphone uses Android 5.1 and 34 per cent [respectively] today,” she said. But while APAC leads with around 390 million and supports 4G (LTE-FDD Band 3/7/20) and Ericsson’s report stated that the total number of LTE subscribers as at 2Q15, MEA trails at 3G (WCDMA 900MHz/2100MHz). It has an global mobile subscriptions in 1Q15 was around around 25 million. That’s despite most African internal 3GB RAM as well as a 32GB ROM, a 7.2 billion and are growing by 1.5 per cent quarter- countries either having seen the launch of 5.5-inch full HD screen, an eight megapixel front on-quarter. Seventy-five per cent of that growth in commercial LTE networks or still progressing/ camera plus a 13 megapixel back camera. The the first quarter came from Africa and Asia, and piloting deployments. According to GSA data, Phantom 5 also features a fingerprint scanner Ericsson expects this pattern to continue to 2020. It said the strong growth particularly in MEA is Left: the Phantom 5 is Tecno’s latest ﬂ agship device for Africa. Middle: the Style from Johannesburg-based AG Right: the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ with its innovative edge touchscreen.

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which means users don’t need to set a Separately, the company has teamed up password to protect their privacy. with Google to unveil what’s claimed to TECNO has also introduced its Camon be the “ultimate” premium smartphone. range of phones which include the C8 that The Nexus 6P has Android 6.0 Marshmallow, is designed to capture “perfect” pictures Google’s latest operating system for even in low light, and the C5 which is mobile devices, as well as the latest additionally 4G-enabled. version of the octa-core Qualcomm Another firm focusing on the continent is Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor. Johannesburg-based AG Mobile. It was setup The device is equipped with the in 2007 by a group of South Africans with a reversible USB Type-C port, and Huawei vision to offer mobile devices and smartphones claims the included Type-C fast charger “for Africans by Africans”. The company gives up to seven hours of battery life says: “Our handsets hold their own among devices in approximately 90 minutes, while using its from a 10-minute charge. of their class, each manufactured according to latest wireless charger each can be fully powered The two partners reckon the Nexus 6P offers the high-level specifications, which make them not in around two hours. best all-around camera which is ideal not only for only good-looking but highly functional too.” outdoor photography but also in conditions where Among the company’s latest devices is the AG Dealing with the pressure the lighting is less than ideal. They say the larger Style smartphone which has a MediaTek MT6582 1.55um pixels capture more light even in the dim- quad-core 1.3GHz processor, and pre-loaded Huawei reckons its new flagship device ushers in mest conditions to produce “stunning details and apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, WeChat, a “new era for human-machine interaction” as it sharp images”. The device is also capable of record- Instagram, BBM and Playstore. It will also be one of redefines how touch technology is incorporated ing 4K and high-frame-rate slow-motion videos. the first devices to support the new Wi-Fi Calling into smartphones. The Mate S features Fingerprint A fingerprint sensor, 32/64/128GB storage service launched by South African MNO Cell C. Sense 2.0, an upgraded version of the advanced chip capacity, 5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED display, With 3G connectivity and Android 4.4 KitKat, the level security and single-tap unlock technology used and an 8MP front facing camera with Google’s Style features an 8MP back camera, a 2MP ‘selfie’ on Huawei’s Mate 7. It’s claimed this is now faster, HDR+ technology are also included. camera, and a five-inch FWVGA display. It offers more sensitive, and has more accurate self-learning ZTE is also including pressure sensitive 10 days of standby time and four hours of talk time. functions to improve recognition speeds by 100 per devices as part of its latest flagship series of The big news from Samsung’s mobile phone cent. In the Mate S, the fingerprint sensor is used smartphones. The new AXON range includes division is the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5. for more than just privacy. It allows users to control the mini which was claimed to be the world’s With increased 4GB RAM, the manufacturer notifications, scroll through photos, take selfies, first smartphone with the enhanced touchscreen claims its new smartphones offer the “most answer calls, and even dismiss alarms quickly. functionality when it was first unveiled in July. powerful” capacity and processing power on The smartphone also uses an advanced version With a body made from Boeing 787 aircraft- the market. Both devices also feature a curved of Huawei’s Knuckle Sense technology, providing a grade aluminium-titanium alloy, ZTE says the mini 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED screen to host of new features and functionality at the tap of has both a “premium look and feel”. The handset provide what the company describes as a “more a knuckle. For instance, users can quickly switch is 3.5mm thin and 70mm wide, and has a 5.2-inch immersive” multimedia experience as well as between apps by drawing a shortcut letter on the Super AMOLED full HD curved-edge screen. “more productivity on-the-go”. screen, such as a ‘c’ to activate the camera, ‘m’ to Other features include a Qualcomm Snapdragon The Galaxy S6 edge+ has Samsung’s new ‘Apps listen to music, or ‘e’ to surf the internet. Personalised 616 octa-core processor and Adreno 405 GPU, 3GB edge’ which allows users to access their favourite knuckle shortcuts can also be created. RAM, 32GB ROM, and support for three different apps by swiping the edge display. There’s also Huawei says another innovative feature is biometric authentication options: fingerprint, ‘People edge’ – from the edge screen, users can the Mate S’ pressure sensitive touch technology voice control and eye-scan. quickly find their preset contacts and call or send (available in selected markets to be confirmed). This Apple unveiled its latest iPhone models earlier messages to them directly. perceives different levels of pressure on the screen this year, and at the time of writing they were The Galaxy Note5 includes an all new S Pen that is allowing the user to complete different actions – expected to make their debut on the continent with said to offer improved writing capabilities and a vari- such as zooming into a photos or launching MTN South Africa in mid-October, and Cell C, ety of practical applications. Users can now quickly an app – by applying increasing pressure. Vodacom and other operators following soon. jot down ideas or information when the screen is Huawei expects more new and unique Like Huawei’s Mate S and ZTE’s AXON mini, off without even unlocking the phone. They can pressure sensitive touch applications the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus also feature also annotate PDF files and capture lengthy web to become available. pressure sensitive technology which articles or long images simultaneously via a Apple calls ‘3D Touch’. They also ‘scroll capture’ feature. introduce Live Photos which, according Both devices support 4G, use Android, to the manufacturer, brings “still and have 32GB or 64GB storage options. images to life”, although some critics They also offer 4K (Ultra HD) video have joked that this is called video and filming and ‘Live Broadcast’ which has been available on phones for years. lets users instantly stream live, full HD The new iPhones feature Apple’s A9 video, straight from the phone. chip which the company claims is Other features include Samsung’s fast the “most advanced” ever in a smart- wired and wireless charging technology. phone, delivering faster performance With wired charging, the company says and “great” battery life. the devices can be fully charged It adds that the devices are designed with the “strongest” glass on Top: Huawei’s Mate S. Right: the ZTE Axon. any smartphone, as well as 7000 series Far right: Apple’s latest iPhone 6 and aluminium – the same alloy said to be iPhone 6 Plus. used in the aerospace industry. ■

24 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015

FEATURE: THE DIGITAL DIVIDENDNEWS Reaping the

The Mawingu Project in Kenya uses TVWS technology to create Wi-Fi hotspots. dividend It now covers around 50 locations throughout Nanyuki including ﬁ ve schools. As Africa switches from analogue to digital broadcasting, will this create an opportunity to rollout low-cost wireless broadband, especially to remote users? DAVE HOWELL ﬁ nds out.

n 17 June, the ITU deadline for the rollout of wireless broadband, especially to remote However, there are clear differentials across switchover from analogue to digital and rural users. In Africa, many countries such as service providers in Africa when you you terrestrial television broadcasting for Egypt, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, amongst consider the entire sub-1GHz band which O119 countries belonging to ITU Region-1 – which others, have government-led digital strategy therefore doesn’t offer the interoperability or an includes Africa – was reached (see News, Jun-Jul plans in place. The question is whether these ecosystem of wireless services that the digital 2015). The transition creates the so-called ‘digital governments will take the opportunity provided dividend could deliver. dividend’ as the UHF/VHF spectrum that was by the digital dividend and use the freed spectrum Having said that, the continent became the first previously assigned to analogue broadcasting can to improve wireless connectivity. region to offer any kind of harmonisation plan now be re-used for other applications. In addition, last year’s ITU-hosted spectrum after 47 sub-Saharan countries agreed to clear According to the ITU, digital dividend allocation conferences agreed that mobile services both 700MHz and 800MHz frequency bands for spectrum is located between 200MHz and would adopt both the 700MHz and 800MHz bands. mobile telephony in 2013 (see News, Aug-Sep 2013). 1GHz. It says these frequencies possess superior signal propagation characteristics compared Prof. H. Sama Could white space ﬁ ll the void? to those at, for example, 2.4GHz. This means Nwana, less infrastructure is required to provide wider Executive The push to deliver more services to an existing mobile coverage, resulting in lower costs for director, user base across Africa is continuing at pace. LTE is communication services, especially in rural areas. Dynamic expanding, but it’s how operators and governments The union adds that the amount of spectrum Spectrum across the continent approach the expansion of to be released in the switchover depends on the Alliance mobile access that is now at a critical point. geography and topography of a country, the The potential earnings, however, could be degree of penetration of cable and/or satellite vast. Speaking at the Commonwealth Digital television services, requirements for regional or Broadcasting Switchover Forum 2015, Mortimer minority television services, and spectrum usage “Inane public ofﬁ cials in control of Hope, the GSMA’s director of spectrum for in neighbouring countries. The amount also Africa, said that the digital dividend could deliver depends on the digital television technology TMT policy at ministries and regulators a USD49 billion contribution to GDP by 2020. being implemented to replace analogue services. Africa has experienced the fastest growth in So while individual nations are at liberty to re- must truly realise what a brake mobile broadband services, expanding by 800 use digital dividend spectrum as they see fit, some per cent in the last five years. But penetration believe it can be best deployed for the cost-effective they are on our African countries.” levels remain low at 17.4 people for every 100,000

October/November 2015 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 27 Register to receive your free copy of this & other business magazines: FEATURE: THE DIGITAL DIVIDEND www.kadiumpublishing.com

consumers in the region. The digital dividend order to use it devices must communicate with between USAID and NetHope, and was the first clearly has the potential to change that. a regulator database to obtain a list of currently time TVWS frequencies were combined with solar- However, using the spectrum to deliver fast available white space channels and ensure other powered base stations to deliver low-cost broadband wireless broadband on the continent is further users of the frequencies are protected. to a rural area that lacks even basic electricity. complicated by another broadcast technology: Under its 4Afrika initiative, Microsoft has been Mawingu’s TVWS internet signals are TV white space. This leverages the ‘buffers’ in the championing TVWS technology across the continent converted into ordinary Wi-Fi hotspots, and the frequencies below 800MHz that were previously for several years. It has worked with various project plan was to cover 50 locations throughout 2014. used to guard analogue TV channels against partners on trials in countries such as Botswana, The project now connects eight customer sites, interference from one another. Ghana, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania. five schools, the Laikipia County Assembly office, Broadband signals delivered through TVWS A number of deployments have taken place in Laikipia District Community Library, Red Cross technology can travel longer distances (around Kenya, most notably a project dubbed ‘Mawingu’ and the Burguret Dispensary healthcare clinic. 10km), are able to penetrate obstacles such (the Kiswahili word for ‘cloud’) in Nanyuki, Despite the work Microsoft has been doing as trees and buildings, and are more robust a market town in Laikipia County. It started using TVWS, Steve Blythe, director for spectrum compared to other wireless internet delivery three years ago in collaboration with the Global strategy at Orange, believes the technology has methods. TVWS spectrum is unlicensed, but in Broadband and Innovations Alliance, a partnership remained in the R&D phase for a number of years, and that there have so far not been any

Digital dividend spectrum assigned No national digital dividend assignments Wholesale network significant deployments. coun tr “There are a number of reasons why this has i e 2014 50 s been the case: issues around the development of the cognitive techniques used; concerns about the viability of data stored in the interference management databases; and the real-world experience that would be deployed. The first two points need further clarification before proceeding as ensuring that the primary licensee for the spectrum, within which sit the white spaces, is not affected in any way,” he says. Adam Denton of Coleago Consulting supports this view. Despite the deadline for the analogue switchover in ITU Region-1 having come and gone, he says the reality is that in many African countries the transition to digital TV has yet to

coun be completed. Denton also points out that the tr i e

s 800MHz spectrum identified for mobile at the 2012 22 World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07) has yet to be released. “Given the complexity of managing the digital TV transition, it is probably unrealistic to simultaneously deploy white space solutions in the UHF band. As a result, it is likely to be quicker and easier to release the 800MHz spectrum for mobile than to setup the spectrum databases, the policy frameworks and the interference management regime needed to manage white space solutions.” The GSMA’s Hope also believes that a number of uncertainties remain in terms of the deployment of TVWS technology. He coun tr i

e adds: “TVWS should not disrupt international s 2010 3 harmonisation efforts that have gone into identifying spectrum for mobile services – particularly in regards to digital dividend spectrum. Right now, the focus should be on preparing for WRC-15 this November in Geneva.” Connection challenges

There is no doubt that the digital dividend could transform how mobile broadband is delivered to a mass audience across Africa. The harmonisation of projects and decisions about where investments should be made is hampering the rollout of faster Digital dividend spectrum assignments from 2010-2014. Africa as a region still has a long way to go with only wireless connection services. Kenya and Rwanda Uganda having assigned frequncies and Rwanda now offering a wholesale network. © GSMA INTELLIGENCE for instance are looking closely at more wholesale usage of LTE.

28 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015 FEATURE: THE DIGITAL DIVIDEND

Prof. H. Sama Nwana, executive director at the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, says ensuring THE OPERATOR’S VIEW the digital switchover across Africa in order to MTN is Africa’s biggest mobile operator. So what are its plans for the digital dividend? BERTUS EHMKE, release the digital dividend will be a good start. the company’s senior manager for spectrum strategy, says internet connectivity is not the goal. But he adds that this needs political will, funding and a good telecommunications, media and “MTN has already launched LTE in several of using digital dividend spectrum that has technology (TMT) strategy. countries in Africa. However, these networks been freed? “Analogue TV currently occupies “Secondly, inane public officials in control of operate mainly in re-farmed 1800MHz and the 800MHz band earmarked for LTE, and TMT policy at ministries and regulators must 2600MHz spectrum. Coverage is challenging the analogue switch-off will enable the digital truly realise what a brake they are on our African with these high frequencies. Also, the specific dividend, also known as LTE Band 20. countries. There is usually neither urgency, re-farmed 2600MHz bands are not always well “However, one needs to understand that strategy, funding or competence with these supported on devices, leading to slow take-up. several African countries also run CDMA officials. This sort of culture must go and new “Since MTN’s radio networks throughout networks at 800MHz (Band 5). Some of these competencies developed.” Africa are all modernised, the introduction of licenses have significant tenure left and it is Nwana goes on to say that what Africa needs are LTE in the digital dividend band will be a very possible that operators may want to keep running visionary ministers, regulators and TMT leaders quick, largely software-enabled, switch-on. This these networks for a few years still. Only then will who have the commitment and management skills will drastically and rapidly extend coverage the band be fully usable as Band 20 for LTE.” to execute projects of national importance such beyond the dense city centres currently covered. How could TV white space (TVWS) as DSO, fibre, 3G/4G – and all whilst addressing “However for MTN, simple internet technology fit into the development of wireless affordability and accessibility concerns. connectivity is not the goal. It serves as the broadband across Africa? “Thirdly, political will and funding is required. enablement layer in order to deliver a digital “As a rule, terrestrial TV transmissions carry The business case is simple: for every 10 per lifestyle to the consumer. The goal is to engage fewer channels in African countries than their cent growth in broadband subscriber numbers, the consumer in every avenue of his/her European counterparts, implying that there is there is a 1.3 to 1.4 per cent growth in GDP in life, through entertainment, commerce and an opportunity to allocate more white space sub-Saharan markets (World Bank); for every transactions, information and education.” spectrum in between these channels. doubling of mobile data use, there is a GDP Does Ehmke (pictured below) believe the digital “But for TVWS to function effectively, increase of 0.33 to 0.6 per cent. So it makes simple dividend is the chance Africa has been waiting for standardised technology as well as regulatory sense to build these 4G and Wi-Fi networks, and to rapidly develop wireless broadband services? competence is needed. The technology is highly keep doubling the speeds.” “It would be a little myopic to say that the digital reliant on real-time databases which guide While there are also practical challenges such dividend is the one and only key to providing operators as well as equipment to which bands as power and electricity sources to consider, rapidly developing wireless broadband services in they should attempt to use. The upkeep and delivering new services across Africa will clearly Africa. However, it is a formidable building block. management of such a real-time database, is a require more bandwidth. “Realistically speaking, it really only delivers highly specialised – and expensive – ongoing “Low frequency spectrum (sub-1GHz) is an 30MHz of paired spectrum, which may initiative. It is doubtful whether African essential element to providing cost-efficient mobile deliver throughputs sufficient for today’s regulators and departments of communication coverage as a direct result of its propagation online engagements. However, at the will be able to allocate such generous resources advantage,” says Orange’s Blythe. “This benefit pace that internet traffic grows, Africa to this, given all of their other responsibilities. is true in all regions, but especially so in Africa will also need to look further ‘south’ for “This may easily see private entities where many countries are geographically large more capacity – regulators should also rising to fulfil this function. But with significant areas of low density populations. look lower in the band, specifically this is where clashing of interests This makes the delivery of mobile services in a at ‘digital dividend 2’ (700MHz) and may come into play – will private cost-efficient manner a challenge.” further bands becoming available.” entities serve the aspirations of Blythe believes that this is why the digital So does he also think that the country as a whole without dividend is essential; it is sub-1GHz spectrum regulators are a stumbling block being tempted into favouring and has been fully standardised for use by LTE. here? What is standing in the way themselves or third parties?” “The deployment of 4G networks across Africa has been limited to date and is well behind other spectrum. Indeed as said before, most countries on in realising the potential of mobile broadband: regions. There are a number of reasons for this the continent have missed the deadline that was set “Governments and regulators must do their part but a key factor has been the limitations on the for their digital switchover. Those such as Tanzania, particularly by the timely releasing of spectrum use of spectrum, i.e. the lack of availability of Namibia and Mauritius are making progress and to accelerate mobile broadband deployments, spectrum bands that would facilitate a cost- could show the way for others, but it’s clear that such as the digital dividend, that can play an efficient deployment. there isn’t the urgency that is necessary to push important role in facilitating faster and efficient “700MHz as well as 800MHz spectrum will be through tangible change on a regional basis. network deployments.” a key enabler that facilitates the delivery of 4G. And as Blythe has already pointed out, the The report adds that the 700MHz and These deployments will then enable the delivery deployment of 4G has been hampered by the 800MHz lower frequency bands in particular of high-speed mobile broadband in areas that are availability of suitable spectrum. He adds that Africa offer the broadest geographical coverage and are currently without internet services due to the lack is three times the size of Europe, but has only one therefore more cost-effective for wider areas. of fixed networks and the cost of satellite.” and a half times the population. “So one of the With fibre still having some way to go in key questions is how can wide area coverage be connecting the continent, does Africa have a Slow progress on faster networks delivered to such a large landmass, where the wireless broadband future? There are green shoots population density is low, with good customer of success and a level of tangible progress, but While few would dispute the benefits of using experience in an economically viable way?” more needs to be done and at an accelerated pace. digital dividend frequencies to accelerate mobile In its latest report into broadband provision, How the region achieves this is as yet unclear. The broadband rollouts, many countries in Africa do the GSMA states that national spectrum digital dividend that is now available is slowly being not seem to be in any great rush to harness the management policies also play a critical role exploited – but not quickly enough for many. ■

October/November 2015 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 29

Alliances unite to expand spectrum for unlicensed technologies The Wireless Broadband efforts to drive forward, innovate, WBA CEO Shrikant Shenwai a new generation of internet access.” Alliance (WBA) and the and promote the use of unlicensed says effective spectrum The alliances say radio technologies Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) will wireless technologies at both the utilisation is “the in unlicensed spectrum, such as work together to promote and support technical and regulatory level. They oxygen” needed Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ZigBee, have been the development of unlicensed wireless aim to expand the available spectrum as for future widely adopted over the last 20 years. technologies, including TV white space. well as co-develop guidelines that ensure innovation. The DSA adds that the Wi-Fi ecosystem The WBA focuses on driving interoperability within the ecosystem. is “invaluable” to connecting the next next-generation Wi-Fi and its role WBA CEO Shrikant Shenwai says “The combination of Wi-Fi and four billion consumers in emerging in public services such as the IoT, the growing appetite for data, both other unlicensed wireless technologies markets. It believes the work it will do Smart Cities, 5G, etc., while the for consumer use and increasingly in require effective spectrum utilisation with the WBA will support governments DSA advocates laws and regulation voice and IoT deployments, means to provide the oxygen of future with their economic growth, and that will lead to more efficient and innovative solutions need to be innovation,” he says. “The work enable a new wave of startups to bring effective spectrum utilisation. The explored to maximise the efficiency undertaken by the WBA and the innovations in the unlicensed wireless organisations plan to combine their of wireless spectrum use. DSA will expedite the availability of ecosystem to the top of the agenda. DMR to sit alongside TETRA in Mongolia Teledensity Sepura has made its debut training to the public safety user in Mongolia with the teams operating in Ulaanbaatar. surpasses Municipality of Ulaanbaatar selecting Batgerel Chuluunnast, Global its critical comms technology for Telecom’s GM, says: “Sepura radios 100 per cent public safety organisations. will be beneficial to users operating The vendor’s DMR system will in the city’s noisy streets thanks replace the municipality’s legacy to their crystal-clear audio, and in Nepal analogue infrastructure, and is being will allow clear and uninterrupted The Nepal Telecommunica- deployed as part of a major initiative communication which is a vital tions Authority (NTA) says by the city authorities to address and With their “crystal-clear” audio, requirement in emergency situations.” teledensity in the country is improve risk prevention and disaster Sepura’s radios are expected to perform With a population of more than now at 101.4 per cent with mobile management in the capital. well in Ulaanbaatar’s noisy streets. 1.3 million people, Ulaanbaatar is subscribers using multiple SIMs. The DMR solution will run Mongolia’s largest city. It is the centre The country’s population stood alongside an existing TETRA system the migration from analogue to of the nation’s road network and is at 26.49 million in 2011, and, supplied in 2010 by Teltronic – the digital communications for the entire connected by rail to both the Trans- according to the NTA’s latest Spanish critical comms specialist municipality. The specialised network Siberian Railway and the Chinese management information systems acquired by Sepura earlier this year. integrator will be responsible for the railway system. The Municipality of report, mobile penetration is now Global Telecom, Sepura’s channel complete installation and deployment Ulaanbaatar is independent and not at 90.4 per cent. There are 24 partner in Mongolia, will oversee of the new system, and will deliver part of any province. million mobile subscribers, two million who use satphones or limited mobile connectivity, as well as around 840,000 fixed line users. DAS supported European Games crowds The authority reckons that A distributed antenna system units that deliver coverage and only around 75 per cent of total (DAS) supported capacity capacity for the stadium bowl, back- subscribers are active, but plans to crowds at the first European Games of-house areas, and car park. At peak look into the market to determine held in Azerbaijan earlier this year. usage, TE says the system handled the exact number. Local system integrator Mikrolink 40GB of download traffic, 15GB of Nepal’s mobile market is populated Azerbaijan used TE Connectivity’s upload traffic, and 4,000 simultaneous by six operators which include Smart FlexWave digital DAS to provide users on 3G for one carrier alone. Telecom, UTL, Nepal Satellite Tele- wireless services at the 68,000 seat The vendor reckons its FlexWave com and STM Telecom Sanchar. But Baku Olympic Stadium in June. The Prism transport and high-capacity, high- it is dominated by state-owned Nepal system supports 2G, 3G and 4G power remote units provide a robust, Telecom which has around 12.5 services for three mobile operators multi-operator wireless solution that’s million fixed and mobile users, with 32 sectors of 900MHz, 1800MHz a cost-effective investment for large and Ncell which has roughly 12.3 and 2100MHz. public venues. Tamer Pakel, GM of million mobile customers. TE Connectivity claims it ensured Mikrolink Azerbaijan, adds: “TE’s Data penetration has also that the capacity crowds at the games digital DAS gave us the performance increased in the country to hit 41.3 TE Connectivity’s DAS headend at the received “strong and consistent” and flexibility we needed to deliver per cent by mid-April. Most mobile Baku Olympic Stadium supported 40GB mobile services throughout the event. high-quality wireless services to our internet customers use GPRS, of download trafﬁ c during peak usage. The deployment included 42 remote mobile operator customers.” EDGE or W-CDMA networks.

32 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015 WORLD NEWS

Drones used for network planning

Nokia Networks has for immediate reporting and any Nokia points out that the use used drones to analyse necessary actions to improve of RPAs also reduces climb times du’s network in Dubai. In a proof network performance. for technicians, which is especially of concept carried out at the city’s The RPAs were also used for important when weather conditions International Stadium, remotely tower inspections where Nokia says make scaling a tower too dangerous. piloted aircraft (RPA) carried they provided unique and detailed Furthermore, it says drones can smartphones loaded with Ascom’s panoramic and top-down views of help supervise the quality of an TEMS network testing applications the lattice tower captured in one pass. installation with remote monitoring to gather data and provide KPIs. Other applications included radio via wireless video streaming. According to Nokia, using drones planning and line of sight testing. Although Nokia’s trial was a proof for automated testing and analysis Here, engineers were quickly able of concept, this is not the first time is more efficient than traditional to find out if a frequency used was drones have been used to test wireless manual walk tests as they can cover impacted by trees, if there was networks. Earlier this year, Nambia’s a desired area more quickly. The sufficient power to cover the distance, regulator carried out audits of 25 Nokia says using drones company adds that the test data is what the simulated latency would broadcast transmission towers with for automated testing and analysis is more efﬁ cient automatically sent to a central server look like, and what performance over the help of RPAs and German-based than manual tests. so that it can be instantly processed such a connection could be expected. RF specialist LS Telcom. TI Sparkle expands IP ‘Wringing every last drop’ backbone with new POP of Wi-Fi access at hotels TI Sparkle, the international established their presence in the OneAccess Networks will monitors traffic flows generated services arm of the Telecom area. The company will also provide use Passman’s application by the hotel’s customer-facing and Italia Group, has expanded its IP connectivity to Russian service performance management (APM) administrative applications. worldwide IP backbone with a new providers who consider Stockholm software in its routers to optimise the OneAPM’s intelligent load balancing point of presence in Sweden. as one of their main European hubs. delivery of Wi-Fi guest access services and traffic routing capabilities The POP is located in Bromma, With a global fibre network of for hotel customers across Europe. are designed to enable dedicated western Stockholm, at Telecity’s around 570,000km, TI Sparkle Established in 1995, Passman bandwidth to be assigned to high- data centre which is claimed to be says it offers a “full range” of specialises in IP-based services and priority applications such as customer Sweden’s first independent carrier connectivity solutions to CSPs and Wi-Fi guest access in the French web-surfing. It’s claimed this optimises neutral facility. The data centre aims telcos. It says the Stockholm POP hospitality sector. The firm has the available bandwidth and, as a to address the increasing demand for will increase its global IP backbone equipped more than 3,200 hotels, and consequence, the user experience. IP transit services coming from the network in Northern Europe, as well says its partnership with OneAccess “The need to apply innovative Nordic countries which are said to as further improve the performance will offer a new level of network network management solutions be experiencing double digit growth of Seabone, its Tier1 IP transit visibility and control to hotel guests. that contain costs and wring every in internet traffic. network. According to the operator, Its software can act upon insights last drop of performance from their TI Sparkle says its POP will support Seabone is strengthening its regional generated by OneAPM, OneAccess’ connectivity has never been more major ISPs, OTT players and global positioning globally, especially in proprietary APM software, which apparent,” says Bertrand Meis, content providers that have already Africa and Asia where it now leads. operates from inside the router and CEO, OneAccess Networks. Anite to help GrameenPhone ﬁ ne tune its network GrameenPhone will use test Meanwhile, Xynergy is described as a equipment from Anite to “powerful, scalable, and easy-to-use” enhance its network. web-based enterprise-level platform The operator, which is the largest in for analysing drive tests, OSS call Bangladesh and part of Telenor, will trace, small cell/DAS, and network use Anite’s Nemo series of products management data. to analyse wireless voice quality and The Anite Invex II Siddharth Dash, sales director at network data. Invex II and Walker Air (above) and portable Anite’s network testing business, says: will be deployed to benchmark wireless Walker Air (right) benchmarking tools. “With this suite of integrated products, broadband networks, both outdoors GrameenPhone will be able to and indoors, while the Xynergy Drive intuitive software and scalable military- efficiently measure the quality of end- Test module will be used for automated grade hardware designed to create a user experience, effectively analyse the processing and the centralised online “superior” benchmarking solution Android-based system enables extensive results, automate data processing, management of collected data. for wireless broadband networks. synchronised measurements to and make it instantly available Invex II is a mobile benchmarking, Walker Air is a portable tool for be performed, and comprises a online. This will enable them to measurement and optimisation indoor benchmarking and multi- master tablet and up to seven test effectively fine-tune the network – system. Anite claims it combines technology measurements. The terminals connected via Bluetooth. all to the benefit of the end-users.”

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Spectrum “LTE bubbles” connecting refarmed Vinaphone will use ZTE’s U.S. military in the ﬁ eld help for spectrum refarm- ing, service optimisation, and future SES Government Solutions raw sensor and video data back to and marine can be a sensor providing network planning in central Vietnam. (SES GS) has demonstrated command centres for offsite analysis. vital information to deployed units The MNO, which is the country’s a cloud-based solution that delivers During the demonstration, SES through the O3b system,” says SES. third largest, will re-allocate some real-time data using 4G mobile says mobile phones and tablets It adds that the system can be of its GSM 900MHz frequencies to devices and O3b satellites. outside of Wi-Fi range could be used scaled by adding multiple nanoLTE provide UMTS services, and expand During a recent trial for U.S. to transport real-time video through nodes, with ranges up to 22 miles network capacity in the 2100MHz Government customers, SES the “LTE bubble”, and stream the possible depending on the exact band. It will use ZTE’s distributed combined O3b’s satellite broadband footage without delay over O3b network configuration. software-defined radio base stations, connectivity and the field deployable satellites back to a cloud server SES GS president Pete Hoene unified MicroTCA platform, as well 4G nanoLTE system from RIVA located in Ashburn, Virginia. says: “The U.S. Government can now as new RRUs, a unified hardware Network. It’s claimed the setup The company says the mission- integrate smartphones into remote platform and network management delivered real-time HD video critical technology is compatible field operations and create a mobile system. The project is expected to feeds and image files stored in the with any smartphone and paves the workforce without facing any delays complete in 2016, involving networks cloud to individual remote field way for an increased use of mobile in communication, and with full that cover around a third of Vietnam’s team members. The same link also devices for military operations. “In connectivity all the way back to U.S.- area and about 20 million users. allowed the teams to collect and send essence, each soldier, sailor, airman based analysts and decision-makers.” ‘Super Wi-Fi’ Channel layering boosts covers Kabul connectivity at centre The Afghan Wireless The Convention Centre voice and video applications during Communication Company Dublin (CCD) is now using concerts, exhibitions, shows, etc. (AWCC) has launched Super WiFi in a 802.11ac Wi-Fi network from All this presented a challenge Kabul City. Subscribers can now use Meru to support the high density of when delivering ultra-high density, more than 350 hotspots strategically mobile devices used in its facilities. high-speed and reliable connections positioned throughout the city to The CCD includes 22 purpose- in difficult areas with large numbers The CCD’s unique glass-fronted access mobile and fixed high-speed built meeting rooms, a 2,000-seat of simultaneous users. atrium runs the full height of the internet access at homes or offices. auditorium with full theatrical Working with its local partner, building and houses a variety of AWCC is also using the new Wi-Fi stage and fly tower, and 4,500m2 of IT Group, Meru replaced the zones that presented a challenge network for data offloading. The exhibition space. Since opening in CCD’s existing Cisco WLAN using for the Wi-Fi network. operator says subscribers can use 2010, it has hosted more than 1,000 AP822 access points and its Network their 3G bundles to take advantage events that have attracted visitors Manager. As part of an initial trial, says that by using only a single of faster Wi-Fi services in areas from around the world. Meru says the vendor introduced the centre to channel for coverage, the other where its 3G Accelerator is available. they make extensive use of the its virtual cell technology and unique channels can be layered to provide It adds that they will also benefit internet, email, VoIP and other concept of “channel layering”. Meru capacity for high-density areas. from what AWCC calls its “Super Secure” login protocol. Port takes the smartROAD to success M2M in The Port of Hamburg are also used to deliver data to improve in Germany is aiming analysis of the port area’s environ- to become smarter with the mental situation. Indonesia implementation of Europe’s first Other solutions deployed as part of Indosat and Ericsson have smartROAD initiative from Cisco. the smartRoad proof of concept include set up the Device Connection smartROAD uses an Internet of smart lighting, and the management M2M platform in Indonesia.“Our Everything (IoE) approach with and monitoring of all road traffic. All cloud-based M2M service delivers real-time data and analytics to data is processed by analytics software, a higher, faster level of support and improve resource management, traffic and findings are made available via a more agile service for business cus- flow, infrastructure condition and centralised, integrated dashboard. tomers,” says Ooredoo Group CEO environmental management. The port Cisco says all sensors and systems are Dr. Nasser Marafih. “The platform authority is piloting an integrated Hamburg’s smartROAD proof of concept connected by a highly secure network will play a key role in speeding up the concept of the IoE for the first time, is a result of a deal signed in 2014. infrastructure. The firm says it has also implementation of smart city tech- with various relevant use cases put in place a “comprehensive” security nologies.” Indosat is the first member running on a real infrastructure. such as the Kattwyk Lifting Bridge, framework for the whole installation of the Ooredoo Group to launch the For example, structural sensors enabling the technical maintenance that gives visibility into safety and platform, with Qatar, Algeria and provide real-time data on the department to precisely and predictively security, and enables the port’s man- Tunisia scheduled to follow this year. condition of movable infrastructures plan maintenance and repairs. Sensors agement to take actions in real-time.

34 NORTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS October/November 2015