For communications professionals in southern Africa SOUTHERN AFRICAN WIRELESSCOMMUNICATIONS MARCH/APRIL 2018 Volume 22 Number 6 l Ka-band: the best option for broadband via satellite? l RF technology: the key to smart city applications l A network on wheels – the ultimate in mobile deployments SAWC 1804 p1 (Cover).indd 1 20/04/2018 10:14 SAWC 1804 p2 (Rajant).indd 1 02/05/2018 18:44 SOUTHERN AFRICAN CONTENTS COMMUNICATIONSWIRELESS For communications professionals in southern Africa 10 NEWS 5 NEWS SOUTHERN AFRICAN MARCH/ u Quika plans free satellite internet service WIRELESSCOMMUNICATIONS MARCH/APRIL 2018 Volume 22 Number 6 APRIL 2018 u l Ka-band: the best option for broadband via satellite? Eutelsat plans LEO satellite for IoT connectivity l RF technology: the key to smart city applications l A network on wheels – the ultimate in mobile deployments Volume 22 u Bentley Walker to expand with HYLAS 4 Number 6 u ZICTA names fourth MNO for Zambia u DSA applauds ICASA TVWS decision u Ecobank claims banking app success u SSL set to build AMOS-8 SAWC 1804 p1 (Cover).indd 1 20/04/2018 10:14 u ‘Power and coverage as a service’ in Rwanda u MARS to connect Indian Ocean islands Singtel is Asia’s leading communications u Standard Chartered sets up digital bank technology group, providing a portfolio of services from next-generation 14 WIRELESS BUSINESS communication, technology services to UK government can offer billions in support infotainment to both consumers and 20 WIRELESS SOLUTIONS of African infrastructure. businesses. For businesses, Singtel offers a complementary array of workforce mobility 20 WIRELESS SOLUTIONS 22 SATCOMS solutions, data hosting, cloud, network G+D integrates M2M and consumer SIM infrastructure, analytics and cyber-security cards for connected car users. capabilities. The Group has presence in Asia, Australia and Africa and reaches over 685 22 FEATURE: SATCOMS million mobile customers in 22 countries. DR. NICOLA DAVIES and RAHIEL NASIR find out if Ka-band is the best option for enabling With more than 40 years of experience in broadband connectivity from space. fixed satellite services, Singtel Satellite’s footprint covers more than 100 countries 26 FEATURE: IOT across Africa, the Middle East and the RF components are positioned to be an Asia Pacific regions. Our three teleports integral part of the infrastructure of the point to more than 30 satellites and are Internet of Things, as AMPHENOL RF explains. supported by an extensive and robust terrestrial network of more than 428 30 INDUSTRY VIEW direct points of presence in 362 cities. 30 INDUSTRY VIEW DAVA BAUMANN discusses how a ‘network on wheels’ redefines wireless connectivity. Singtel Satellite is the trusted provider 34 WORLD NEWS with expertise in fixed satellite services, 32 WORLD NEWS mobile satellite services, broadcast u CloudAIR trial completed in Egypt solutions and maritime ICT solutions. u OBS wins world’s tallest building ICT contract Enterprises can be assured of reliable u Viasat launches ‘fastest’ satellite internet and high-quality satellite connectivity to u Peruvian villages go online for first time connect your world anywhere, anytime. u Researchers simulate conditions of Mars u Vodafone introduces 4G mini mobile mast For more information, please visit www.singtelteleport.com or email us at [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS: Southern African Wireless Communications is a controlled circulation bi-monthly magazine. Register now for your free subscription at www.kadiumpublishing.com For more on Singtel, Readers who do not qualify under the terms of control can purchase an annual subscription turn to page 13 at the cost of £110. For more information and general enquiries please contact Suzanne Thomas at [email protected] or call +44 (0) 1932 886 537. EDITORIAL: ADVERTISEMENT SALES: Editorial director: Rahiel Nasir Sales executive: Andrew London Designer: Alan McClenaghan [email protected] Sub editor: Gerry Moynihan +44 (0) 1932 481731 Contributor: Dr Nicola Davies Dava Baumann Production & circulation: Suzanne Thomas [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481728 Editorial enquiries: Publishing director: Kathy Moynihan [email protected] [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1932 481729 +44 (0) 1932 481730 © 2018 Kadium Limited. All rights reserved. The content of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in whole, including photocopying, scanning and/or recording, or transmitted in any other form by any means including electronic, digital or mechanical, or stored in any form of data storage, archival or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright holders. All enquiries should be sent to Kadium Limited, Unit 2, 1 Annett Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 2JR, UNITED KINGDOM. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those shared by the publisher or the editor. E&OE. Printed in England by The Magazine Printing Company SAWC 1804 p3 CHANGE PIC NO RADWIN.indd 3 26/04/2018 17:50 See us at East Africa Com May 15-16, 2018 Our beams cover billions of viewers. Kenya Booth #12 Our focus is only on you. More Coverage. More Throughput. More Services. Across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. Spacecom’s AMOS satellite constellation, consisting of AMOS-3 & AMOS-7 co-located at 4°W and AMOS-4 at 65°E, provides high-quality broadcast and communications services across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. With AMOS-17 planned for launch to 17°E in early 2019, Spacecom will further expand its reach, reinforcing its position as a leading satellite operator. www.amos-spacecom.com SAWC 1804 p4 (Amos).indd 1 26/04/2018 17:55 Register here for your free digital edition kadiumpublishing.com/register/sawc.html NEWS Quika plans to launch world’s first free satellite internet service A new company has been set up to technology mitigates several key launch what’s promised to be the engineering challenges to deliver world’s first entirely free high-speed “seamless auto tracking, unlimited satellite internet for consumers in instantaneous bandwidth through developing countries. true time delay, and a 90 per cent London-based Quika was founded reduction in power consumption over by Alan Afrasiab, the CEO and conventional design”. According to president of global satellite networks Isotropic, its technology automatically and services provider, Talia Group. tunes the beam-pointing to maintain Speaking during the launch of the precise accuracy over time that is Quika in January, Afrasiab said: “We uniquely needed for Ka-band systems believe that left unbalanced, entire to optimise the efficiency of the links communities and regions will be Quika believes that the opportunities the internet provides shouldn’t be in the service provider’s network. abandoned by technological and limited by geography, culture, wealth or infrastructure. It will use GEO In a separate deal, Avanti economic progress. Quika will help and LEO satellites to provide Ka-band services for free. Communications is also working bridge this digital and economic divide. with Isotropic to develop a self- “The main reasons for people not plan chosen. The free version will have With offices in the UK and USA, installing terminal to expand its using the internet are inequalities in fixed bandwidth offering download/ Isotropic Systems is developing a markets in Africa, the Middle East relation to income and education, upload speeds of 3Mbps/1Mbps. terminal to support the satellite and Europe. A working prototype as well as the lack of infrastructure, Quika will use high throughput Ka- industry to ‘reach beyond’ traditional is expected in early 2019 and full relevant online content and services, band satellites. It said that while data markets. It claims the fully integrated scale production by mid 2020. plus relatively high costs of access speeds will be fast, internet services high throughput terminal will be the Quika will initially launch its and usage.” provided by geostationary satellites first to offer multi-service, high- internet services in Afghanistan Quika’s free service will be partially mean an average latency of 638ms. bandwidth and low power. and Iraq at the end of Q318 before funded by advertising and through This will make Quika unsuitable for The two companies said they launching in 27 countries in Africa at the subsidisation of the paid version applications such as online gaming will jointly develop an “out-of-the- the end of the year. In the region of which will be available on a pay or screen sharing. However in the box consumer web experience” the continent they include: Algeria, monthly basis or via pre-paid plans. future, the firm aims to utilise low- that eliminates the need for skilled Benin, Cameroon, Congo Republic, Prices have yet to be announced. Earth orbit satellites that promise to installation, and allows internet usage Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Egypt, Ghana, Paid services will include a variety reduce latency to under 100ms. to be fully subsidised by advertising. Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, of bandwidths designed for SMEs In the meantime, Quika has part- Isotropic said its optical technology South Sudan, Togo and Tunisia. and local ISPs, and offer download nered with Isotropic Systems to develop will enable terminals that meet or However, the company points out speeds of 5-50Mbps and upload a self-installing terminal to help bring exceed traditional VSATs at one-tenth that its ultimate vision is to offer speeds of 1-3Mbps depending on the broadband to consumers at no cost. the current cost. It claims that the free broadband services globally. Eutelsat plans LEO satellite for IoT connectivity Eutelsat has commissioned its first ELO will ELO will also test connectivity LEO (low Earth orbit) satellite. be used to in other frequency bands. Eutelsat Nano- and microsatellite specialist assess the hopes that the synergies developed Tyvak International, a subsidiary of performance through the partnership with Sigfox, of LEO US and Italy headquartered Terran satellites in as well as with other strategic Orbital Corporation, will build the providing IoT alliances in the telecom industry, spacecraft for the operator.