IoT helps curb motorbike theft in Uganda
10 June 2022
Ugandan fintech Boda Boda Banja, which provides un-or underbanked people with the opportunity to buy or lease a motorbike or ‘boda boda’, has hired mobile operator Telecom26 to deploy IoT to help track down stolen motorcycles in the east African country.
Motorbike theft is a big problem across Uganda with solo drivers seen as easy targets for thieves, both companies said. They added that in 2021 more than 170 motorcycles were stolen from members of the Gulu West and Gulu East Boda-Boda Associations in Northern Uganda.
Find out more ‘Legacy networks play crucial role in the transition to 5G’ says Ericsson exec
07 April 2022
Africa’s 3G networks could be phased out in the next couple of years as part of plans to increase the capacity of the continent’s 4G and 5G coverage, according to a senior Ericsson executive.
Speaking exclusively to Northern African Wireless Communications, Todd Ashton, vice president and head of Ericsson south and east Africa, said 2G and sometimes 3G will remain important technologies during the roll out of 5G due to their role in mobile money and to serve the old feature phones still prevalent on the continent, but the continuous global build-out of 4G and 5G networks, and the corresponding increase in capabilities, have become an enabler for phasing out current technologies. This facilitates further enhancements of the networks by releasing more, important parts of the spectrum for 4G and 5G.
Find out more
Côte d’Ivoire to launch 5G in 2023
06 April 2022
Côte d’Ivoire will roll out 5G in 2023, according to Kanvoli Kacou Bi Djè, the director of legal affairs and international cooperation at the Ministry of Digital Economy, Telecommunications and Innovation.
Making the announcement Tuesday, February 22, 2022, during the “All About” discussion forum initiated by the Government Information and Communication Center (CICG), the minister said that the government has already adopted the roadmap for the deployment of this mobile technology.
The implementation of 5G in Côte d’Ivoire is expected to support the accelerated digital transformation brought about by the global Covid-19 pandemic since 2020, with the technology offering more opportunities for businesses operating in all areas of activity. 5G will also provide high-speed Internet connectivity to populations to meet the new digital consumption habits developed during the pandemic. These include streaming, online video games, telecommuting, cloud, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things.
Find out more Algeria targets 5G launches in 2022
06 April 2022
Algeria is clearing and optimising radio frequencies to be used for 5G as it prepares for a widespread launch of the technology “soon”, according to reports.
The country’s telecoms minister Karim Bibi Triki is reported as saying the north African country’s government has previously been focused on improving subpar 4G coverage and service quality. However, due to increasing demand for broadband connectivity the launch of commercial 5G is now being seriously considered. This, Triki said, could happen before the end of 2022.
Find out more