Dec 2020/Jan 2021

NEWS

• Grameenphone gets 500 towers from edotco
• Mount Everest welcomes 5G infrastructure
• NT urged to up its game
• Gilat carries 5G traffic over Thaicom satellite
• Pakistani government approves strategy
• Enea and Matrixx partner to accelerate 5G
• Reliance Jio calls for spectrum auctions
• Vietnam to end 2G services in 2022
• Firms partner for 5G-ready transport network

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Ooredoo Maldives introduces SuperNet broadband services

FEATURE

• 5G was the biggest technology topic a year ago, before it was relegated by coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic. Robert Shepherd gets back to the once hot talking point to see how things have progressed…or not

INDUSTRY VIEW

• Enea’s Indranil Chatterjee examines the potential implications of Covid-19

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• WIRELESS SOLUTIONS Last mile unit is easy to disguise

WIRELESS USERS

• AIS has developed a mobile IoT-based solution for monitoring the temperature of perishable goods during transportation

WORLD NEWS

• SCG22 mobile terminal deployed worldwide
• SpaceX gets FCC funding
• Bouygues launches commercial 5G in France
• MTN officials visit Ghana for ‘peace talks’
• Madagascar joins free Wi-Fi party
• Potraz boss criticises telecoms vandals

Oct/Nov 2020

NEWS

• Roke and Facebook supply affordable internet
• Kenya deploys 630km of fibre up north
• Internet services restored after outage
• Telecom Egypt and Ericsson sign deal
• IoT device deployments double in a year
• MTN officials visit Ghana for peace talks
• Liberia begins SIM registration process
• TE to provide SHG with first subsea solution
• Tunisia targets 2022 for 5G launch

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Huawei commits to 5G handsets by year-end

FEATURE

• Now, approaching one-year since the first Covid-19 cases surfaced and subsequently grounded economies, Robert Shepherd goes back to the once hot topic

INDUSTRY VIEW

• David Lofti, CEO at Evina, on how mobile fraud is draining Africa’s economy

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• Septentrio ‘Credit cards’ track from the sky

WIRELESS USERS

• Lives go wireless for villagers thanks to new base station project

WORLD NEWS

• Camilleri named non-exec chairman
• SpaceX adds 60 satellites to Starlink
• Japan’s PM orders operators to cut prices
• Yemenis could lose telecom services
• Quortus partners with TLC

Jul/Aug/Sep 2020

NEWS

• Burkina Faso deploys new IXPs and VLPs
• Telecom Egypt targets 2600MHz airwaves
• Sierra Leone explains SALCAB plan
• Ethiopia Telecom auction set for 2021
• Ghana readies tower overhaul
• Cape Verde switches to 4G
• New hurdles face would-be money providers
• Somalia has cheapest internet in Africa
• Hormuud Telecom sees increase in MoMo

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Kenya and Ghana behind only China in mobile payments

FEATURE

• Robert Shepherd takes a look at the critical comms network in place ready to help out when things take a turn for the worse

INDUSTRY VIEW

• Jiashun Tu from ZTE takes a look at how developing countries should approach 5G

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• Intellian launches latest addition to GX range

WIRELESS USERS

• Two farmers are now training students in 14 countries online and at low cost

WORLD NEWS

• ‘Aerkomm needs a telecom licence first’
• UFO turns out to be internet balloon
• Israel greenlights fibre-optics network rollout
• TIM offering ‘unlimited data via FWA plan
• Madagascar tops Africa’s net speeds
• TPG Telecom signs network deal with NAB
• TDC launches 5G in Denmark
• Cellular looting in SA by ‘WASPS’
• Vodacom to enhance telecom services

Apr/May/Jun 2020

NEWS

• Spacecom demonstrate VSAT return
• CVT considers litigation against regulator
• Firms compete for Ethio privatisation project
• Liberian operator boosts MoMo
• MainOne aids Burkina Faso project
• Nigeria’s regulator to look at social media
• Intelsat and AMN team up
• 2Africa subsea cable announced
• Niger fights virus using satcom technology

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• ‘Morocco’s prices among lowest in the world’, says minister Hafid Elalamy

FEATURE

• Should you consider Low Earth Orbit networks above geosynchronous satcoms?

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• A look at Hytera’s smart, new PoC radio with integrated DMR

WIRELESS USERS

• Talia and KNP partner up to connect the underserved in Cameroon

INDUSTRY VIEW

• How satellite-based cloud services offer opportunities that rural economies can rely on

WORLD NEWS

• Huawei and UnionPay team up
• Thuraya modernises network using Ericsson
• Belgium grants temporary 5G licences
• Singapore chooses Nokia over Huawei
• Canada’s Telus picks Samsung for 5G
• Bouygues adds users and boosts reach
• Claro Brasil launches 5G
• China Telecom makes push for US licence
• Afghan and Uzbek state operators expand 4G

Feb/Mar 2020

NEWS

• Balloons to access Kenya’s airspace
• Orange gives extra €3m to help Africa
• Moroccan operators offer free internet
• MTN Benin gets AI managed services
• Liquid ready to enter Eritrea, says CEO
• Hormuud Telecom becomes ISO certified
• Operator’s plans frustrated by pandemic
• OneWeb declares bankruptcy
• Safaricom and Vodacom complete deal

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Telecom Egypt boosts internet packages

ROUNDTABLE

• Four key industry players give us the latest on Africa’s ‘smart city’ journey

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• TE Connectivity extends M12 range with rightangle connectors for PCBs and panels

WIRELESS USERS

• Avanti is donating solar satellite broadband connectivity and laptops to refugee settlements in east Africa

INDUSTRY VIEW

• Changing the landscape of the cellular backhaul market in Africa and beyond

WORLD NEWS

• Dare1 lands in La Siesta, Djibouti
• MWC to offer refunds for cancelled event
• Inmarsat launches new services in Saudi
• Bladon sign deal to supply Alkan CIT
• Paraguayan network to be completed
• Broadband growth predicted for Argentina
• Spanish firm Sateliot partners with IEEC
• Comtech acquires Gilat Satellite Networks
• Cellnex buys out OMTEL

Dec 2019/Jan 2020

NEWS

• Asteroid lands in Mombasa
• Mobilis gets Mali nod
• Algeria and Mauritania in fibre optic link up
• Nigerian services ‘one of the best in the world’
• Uganda now blocking fake devices
• ETC looking for $1.3m funding boost
• Mauritania trio hit with new year fines
• UK’s Lycamobile launches in Uganda
• Uganda: police arrest eight for fraud

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Chad government cuts telecom excise to make internet more affordable

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• New ‘TV White Space’ solution from Radwin drives broadband to remote communities

FEATURE

• JON HOWELL and SMITA SARKAR investigate monetising 5G in Africa

WIRELESS USERS

• Netcare’s new network enables the delivery of next-gen services to hospitals across Kenya

INDUSTRY VIEW

• LUCKY LA RICCIA takes a look at Africa’s 5G journey so far and where to go from here

WORLD NEWS

• Comtech acquires Gilat Satellite Networks
• Aussies consider fire-proofing networks
• Magyar Telekom facing questions
• MT coy on Vodafone Malta staff retention
• Telekom Romania ups prices again
• Broadband growth predicted for Argentina
• América Móvil fined US$70m by regulator
• Ukraine readies launch of LTE-900
• Vodafone Greece revenues up 2%

Oct/Nov 2019

NEWS

• Vodafone chief calls for big data deployment
• Tecno opens flagship store in Lagos
• Tigo rebrands to Free Senegal
• Demolition of 7,000 masts suspended
• Morocco among most advanced in Africa
• Airtel Africa boosted by interim figures
• AirtelTigo and Nokia join forces
• Nigeria blocks MTN’s USSD charge
• Submarine cable lands at Grand Bassam

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Safaricom names Peter Ndegwa as new chief executive officer

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• EXFO introduces ‘industry first‘ integrated test solution for DWDM networks

FEATURE

• ROBERT SHEPHERD looks at the pros and cons associated with tower outsourcing

WIRELESS USERS

• How IoT has become invaluable to utilities and the world of agriculture

INDUSTRY VIEW

• The race to 5G: where does Africa stand in the race to deploy the next G?

WORLD NEWS

• Oman’s 5G roadmap
• Zain launches 5G in KSA
• Bakcell gets nod for Vodafone Ukraine bid
• New route to connect OZ with Middle East
• Nokia and Orange test 5G in Poland
• Portugal to hold 2020 5G auction
• Pressure on Merkel to exclude Huawei
• Japan’s KDDI to invest in Bangladesh
• Thailand makes another 5G spectrum bid

Aug/Sep 2019

NEWS

• Work to start on US$2.4bn network
• MainOne gives timings for cable systems
• ATS selects Hughes Jupiter System
• Telecom Egypt has no short-term plans for EGX
• Civil war crippled telecom sector, says report
• Kenya accused of blowing up 12th station
• Nigeria VAS revenue down 74% in two years
• AT introduces new service
• Inwi launches mobile money service

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Ericsson and MTN launch mobile money open API platform in Ghana

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• Rohde & Schwarz and Marvin Test Solutions unveil new ZNBT40

FEATURE

• ROBERT SHEPHERD asks why, in 2019, are we still using diesel generators?

WIRELESS USERS

• Pan-African telecom group helps Mombasa hospital make telemedicine a reality for people who can’t attend a consultation

INDUSTRY VIEW

• Following the successful launch of the AMOS-17 satellite in early August, ERAN SHAPIRO tells us how it will help the African and Asian markets

WORLD NEWS

• KT signs 5G deals with Europeans
• NY firm lands major Saudi contract
• Free 5G and public Wi-Fi at Beirut airport
• Aussie complaints drop 21% in H1
• Vodafone secures Oman deal
• Taliban fires warning to Afghan telecom firm
• Vietnam’s slow internet

Jun/Jul 2019

NEWS

• Google wants partners for new cable system
• Global chooses Eutelsat to back up WAPP
• Cape Verde to build new telecom connection
• Sudan internet up and running again
• Ghanaian arrested for alleged mobile fraud
• Liberian government investigates regulator
• Ugandan tech plant to roll out solutions
• American Tower buys out rival
• Huawei wants Morocco to be 5G pioneer
• Airtel launches Niger’s first 4G LTE network

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Orange finds partner to help with Africa’s financial services industry

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• OneWeb and Intellian team up to build user terminals for remote enterprise networks

FEATURE: SMEATURE PHONES

• ROBERT SHEPHERD asks how telecom firms plan to do business with people on low incomes

WIRELESS USERS: TRANSPORT

• ExecuJet becomes the first business carrier to get high-speed Wi-Fi as Honeywell brings in-flight connectivity

INDUSTRY VIEW

• ANSHOO GAUR explains how CSPs can build an agile data network

WORLD NEWS

• HK release 5G spectrum auction details
• Israel holds 5G tender
• US sanctions ‘put telecom firms off Cuba’
• Huawei to connect remote parts of Canada
• America Movil posts solid growth
• Australia’s broadband boom
• Venezuela targets 4G development

Apr/May 2019

NEWS

• CETel to deliver connectivity in remote areas
• Sonatel targets Gambia market expansion
• Airtel and URA partner to ease tax payment
• Telecom Egypt signs for PEACE cable system
• Côte d’Ivoire mobile industry to tackle theft
• Somali MP calls for forces to withdraw
• Orange rolls out 4G to Guinea
• Moroccan police arrest ‘fictive call centre’ suspects
• Togo struggling with mobile internet
• Huawei ready to roll out 5G for football fans

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Orange launches Tunis Digital Centre to provide support for start-ups.

WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

• HERE Technologies, Shields and Infosys team up for 5G network design and deployment.

FEATURE: SATCOMS

• JON HOWELL investigates the challenges of in-building wireless.

WIRELESS USERS

• How students in Mauritius inspired a Wi-Fi network upgrade

INDUSTRY VIEW: IOT

• MERVYN BYLEVELDT explains why now is the time for an agile wireless network.

WORLD NEWS

• InfiNet deployed to create digital oilfield
• Telecom market rises in Romania
• ZTE launches first cyber-security lab in China
• Vietnam fastest growing for mobile payments
• China threatens with retaliation in Huawei row
• Mexico pilots new payment systems
• Ex-France Télécom directors face charges
• Ericsson chief executive makes 5G rallying call

Feb/Mar 2019

News

• Konnect payload successfully mates with platform
• Expresso loses licence to operate in Ghana
• Mobile gender gap evident in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Egyptian mobile market shows signs of recovery
• Gambian firms restructuring
• Serius Telecoms enters new market
• Orange launches smartphone across Africa
• Nigeria to tackle mobile cybercrime
• MTN launches affordable smartphone in Nigeria
• Nokia and Telecom Egypt sign MoU
• Maroc Telecom acquires Millicom subsidiary

Wireless business

• Ibrahim stands down from big job at Ericsson to advise CEO.

Wireless solutions

• Giesecke+Devrient debut new platform at Mobile World Congress 2019.

Feature: SATCOMS

• Satellite is changing perceptions and breaking new ground, writes Dr. NICOLA DAVIES.

Wireless users

• How telemedicine has been a game-changer for medics and patients alike.

Industry view: IoT

• IoT is about to change the way we all live and work, as NORA WAHBY explains.

World news

• Bahrain moves forward in race for 5G
• Telefónica’s download upgrade
• TDC shuns Huawei for Ericsson
• MegaFon extends Mastercard partnership
• African operators facing ‘countdown to no’
• Trustonic launches new cyber security app
• A1 chooses Nokia for 5G strategy

Dec 2018/Jan 2019

NEWS

• Mara announces African-made smartphone
• Digitalisation accelerated in Senegal
• Safaricom trials urban base stations
• ‘Mowali’ to scale up mobile financial services
• Briton jailed for Liberian cyber attack
• NCC holds hazardous handsets programme
• Telecom Egypt doubles backbone capacity
• TCCA sets out roadmap for critical comms
• Mobile money worth trillions in Kenya
• ATU appoints Kenyan as new head
• SES ‘revolutionises’ mining activity in Mali

WIRELESS BUSINESS

• Liquid Telecom to invest billions in Egyptian network infrastructure

FEATURE: SIMS

• RAHIEL NASIR discovers that advances in technology are future-proofing the SIM card

WIRELESS USERS

• The network designed for the 2010 World Cup that is now saving lives in Tshwane

INDUSTRY VIEW: 5G

• Virtualisation will help drive Africa’s journey towards the 5G era, as LUX MAHARAJ explains

WORLD NEWS

• New 5G record for self-driving vehicle
• Mavenir open RAN alliance
• Cross-border TETRA comms with Airbus
• IoT device for prosthetic limbs
• Vodafone tackles international call fraud
• Hughes to power satellite for Indonesian bank
• Thailand sees its first TDD-LTE network