Mobile and Telecoms
Sunsetting 2G/3G: No User Left Behind
As the global 2G and 3G network sunset progresses, there is a need among operators to migrate users to a 4G network, retain those subscribers, and manage this transition without loss of revenues or market share. With millions of subscribers currently on 2G and 3G networks in some parts of the world, transitioning these users to 4G is a daunting task for operators. Radisys understands this need and has successfully ushered several operators through the same evolution all around the world. Checklist for 2G/3G Subscriber Migration To successfully transition 2G and 3G users and improve the customer experience, Radisys suggests that mobile network operators (MNOs) consider these factors when evaluating their ecosystem partners and business practices: Is there a cost effective 4G han...
OneWeb and Paratus Sign a Multi-year Gateway Installation Agreement
Paratus will build a OneWeb teleport (Gateway) in Angola which will serve to provide Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Services to Angola and surrounding SADC countries. Paratus Group announces a multi–year agreement with global telecommunicationsprovider, OneWeb, to build a gateway in Luanda, Angola, which will be operational in the second half of 2023. This new gateway will provide low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services to several countries in the region and will bring secured solutions not only to enterprises but also to towns, villages, municipalities, and schools, including the hardest–to–reach regions of multiple African countries. This is the first of several planned OneWeb gateways in Africa. This agreement, combined with the recent launch of the Paratus fiber connection to the Democratic Re...
YahClick tackles connectivity and security challenges with new solutions at AfricaCom 2022
Sulaiman Al Ali, Chief Executive Office of YahClick YahClick, the Data Solutions subsidiary of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC, has announced its presence at AfricaCom 2022, the largest digital infrastructure event in Africa, where they will showcase their latest solutions tackling connectivity and security in the region. A part of Africa Tech Festival 2022, the country’s biggest technology event, AfricaCom 2022 will be held from 8th – 10th of November, under the theme of connecting the next billion people. YahClick has been operational in Africa for the past 12 years, which has enabled the company to get an in-depth understanding of the markets they serve, the infrastructure requirements, as well as the challenges the continent faces. This learning, paired with YahClick’s cus...
Liquid South Sudan Rebrands
Image sourced from Insurance Chat. Liquid Telecom South Sudan, a pan-African technology company and a business of Cassava Technologies, has today officially rebranded as Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Sudan, reflecting its transformation into a one-stop-shop technology group for local businesses and consumers. The rebrand also indicates Liquid’s expansion into several business services, including Cloud, Cyber Security, and other technologies adding to its existing products and connectivity services. “This strategic rebranding to Liquid Intelligent Technologies is us saying that our customers and the country are now positioning for future applications that run on the assets that we have built in Africa,” says Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Sudan CEO Martin Mushambadope. “We ar...
Zambia: Airtel Africa acquires spectrum for $29 million
Sourced from Comms MEA Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, today announces that its Zambia subsidiary, Airtel Networks Zambia plc (‘Airtel Zambia’), has purchased 60 MHz of additional spectrum spread across the 800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands from the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), for a gross consideration of $29m, payable in local currency. This additional spectrum will support our network expansion in the market for both mobile data and fixed wireless home broadband capability, including 5G rollout, providing significant capacity to accommodate our continued strong data growth in the country. Zambia is one of our largest markets by revenue. This investment reflec...
Cellulant joins forces with Lusaka Chamber of Commerce to digitize payments for businesses in Lusaka
Gilbert Lungu, Cellulant Zambia Country Manager. Image sourced from Africa Business Communities. Tingg’s uptake across Africa is in high gear, with products like In-store payments which leverage mobile money and mobile banking as payment methods through USSD and QR Codes Cellulant Zambia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lusaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to offer digital payments to its member businesses. Lusaka Chamber of Commerce members can now readily access payment solutions that will enable them to accept payments from their customers’ preferred mobile money wallet. Cellulant’s payment platform, Tingg, which integrates over 290 banks across Africa, is a one-stop payments aggregator for Multinational Corporations and Small and Medium...
American Tower and Airtel Africa Inc Strategic Partnership
American Tower Corporation’s (ATC) African operations and Airtel Africa plc (Airtel Africa, or the Group) today announced that they have entered a multi-year, multi-product agreement, leveraging ATC’s vast portfolio of communications sites and new site and product development capabilities across its footprint in Kenya, Niger, Nigeria and Uganda in support of Airtel Africa’s network rollout. The companies’ combined efforts will substantially increase connectivity on the continent, extend digital inclusion to underserved communities, and advance their mutual greenhouse (GHG) emissions reduction objectives. All new site development under the agreement will comply with ATC’s new green site specifications, which will substantially reduce reliance on fossil fuels, while advancing American Tower’...
Imran Abbas named as new Link Africa CEO
Imran Abbas, Chief Executive Officer, Link Africa Link Africa (Pty) Ltd., South Africa’s largest independent Fibre Network Operator, has named Imran Abbas as its incoming Chief Executive Officer, with effect from 1 December, 2022. He will take over the reins from Craig Carthy, who is moving on to new endeavours. At the same time we would like to wish Craig all the best with his new endeavour. Willy Govender, Chairperson of the Board at Link Africa, warmly welcomed Abbas on behalf of the company, noting that his leadership signalled a new phase in Link Africa’s growth journey. “With more than 30 years of local and international telecommunications industry experience, he brings a unique set of skills, perspectives, and relationships to lead Link Africa into the future,” Govender said. “Build...
Siemon unveils new high-density fibre optic cabling system
Siemon, a leading global network infrastructure specialist, has announced its innovative LightVerseTM high-density fibre optic cabling system in Africa. The new cabling system improves fibre network performance, manageability, scalability, and flexibility in data centre and LAN environments. Engineered for excellence with a range of sleek enclosures and panels, the fully featured LightVerse system is specifically designed to address today’s fibre installation challenges, while also providing a robust, quality foundation for evolving network requirements. Available in 1U Core and Plus versions and 1U, 2U, or 4U Pro versions ideal to support a wide variety of applications, LightVerse supports up to 96 fibre terminations in a single rack unit for any termination method, including pr...
Why “Tech Freedom” Must Reign in Wireless Communications
Bonnie Glick is the Director of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University. As Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2019-20, Glick served as the Deputy for all U.S. policies and as the Chief Operating Officer of the agency. There are two ways to think about the concept of “tech freedom.” One is to focus on intent and capability. On this view, free tech is that which isn’t designed and cannot easily be used to coerce, censor, or oppress. Another approach is to consider provenance. Tech from sources with accountable governance and transparent ownership is freer than technology that originates in a more opaque or corrupt environment. In practice, these ideas amount to something similar, because tech with trusted provenance tends to be more ...
Ericsson: Cellular connectivity key to tackle surging electricity demand
Ericsson has released a Connected Energy Utilities report in partnership with Arthur D. Little, highlighting the significance of cellular technology in the digitalisation of the energy sector. As energy costs and demand for electricity rise, the report explores a vision of the near future in which the utility sector harnesses cellular connectivity to mitigate the increasing complexities of meeting the needs of a rapidly evolving electric grid and consumer demand profiles – enabling utility providers to expand capacity, optimise utilisation of infrastructure, increase grid reliability, and boost operational efficiency through a secure and reliable network. In addition to growing demand and an ever-evolving mix of energy sources, the utility sector is also facing growing challenges in cost c...
Liquid Dataport lands Equiano Cable in Cape Town
David Eurin, CEO of Liquid Dataport Liquid Dataport, a business of Cassava Technologies, is bringing much-needed access to affordable internet in South Africa. Liquid Dataport has acquired a pair of fibre cables on Equiano, the new West coast submarine cable, capable of delivering up to 12 Terabytes of new internet capacity, providing the South African economy with the boost it needs to ensure the successful digital transformation of businesses and individuals. The additional capacity augments Liquid Dataport’s existing pan-African fibre network, global satellite connectivity and subsea cable backbone that ensures businesses on the continent have access to affordable and reliable high-speed connectivity – a vital element as they leverage the digital economy. The Equiano sea cable is ...
