Sepura launches SC23 robust portable TETRA radio

22 May 2023

Sepura has launched the SC23, a robust hand-portable TETRA radio with a reduced keypad and streamlined feature set of core TETRA functionality.

The new radio complements the existing SC Series of TETRA radios, providing an ideal device for users that do not require extended functionality such as mining, utilities, transport and airport baggage handling.

Find out more

World Radio Conference 2023 - a turning point for safer and more secured societies

04 April 2023

Luz Fernández del Rosal, international cooperation, directorate strategy and central management, BDBOS Germany; and vice-chair of TCCA’s Critical Communications Broadband Group.

Luz Fernández del Rosal, international cooperation, directorate strategy and central management, BDBOS Germany; and vice-chair of TCCA’s Critical Communications Broadband Group.

The future of critical communications is on the agenda of the next World Radio Conference (WRC) that will take place in Dubai towards the end of 2023. How emergency and rescue services, police and fire brigades, utilities and other critical industries will introduce mobile broadband communications in Africa, Europe and the Middle East strongly depends on the outcome of this conference.

The outstanding properties of the frequency band 470-694MHz make it a unique opportunity for critical users to meet their additional spectrum needs for broadband. The decision of a primary allocation of this frequency band to mobile service at the WRC-23 is the first step to ensure that first responders, transport or utilities have access to the necessary communications technologies that would help them to keep us and our societies safe.

Find out more

Africa CDC and GSMA sign MoU

03 April 2023

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), intended to bring the transformational power of mobile connectivity to support Africa’s most significant healthcare challenges, was signed between the GSMA and the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

The MoU is intended to provide a framework for partnership between the two organizations on a range of priorities spanning from digital strategy, policy, and governance frameworks across the continent to drive adoption of mobile technologies with potential to strengthen Africa’s health security and outcomes for millions.

Find out more
NEC XON targets mining with ORAN

31 March 2023

5G OpenRAN (ORAN) technology that enables mobile operators to open the RAN network and use multi-vendor solutions holds huge promise for business growth in Africa. It means network operators can focus capital expenditure on competitively priced open-standards equipment rather than proprietary gear.

“It enables attractive savings of about 40% on capital expenditure and 30% on operating expenditure,” said Willem Wentzel, head of wireless at NEC XON. “It can also be deployed in a matter of two to three days instead of up to nine months. But the realities of Africa mean that 5G ORAN will initially be limited to private corporate networks in industries like mining, manufacturing and industrial where large campuses are common. Public ORAN networks are likely to remain on 4G for the moment, given the level of investment in existing infrastructure and the prohibitive cost of 5G handsets (UE) for consumers.”

Find out more