CAF 4 2013 Cover_Layout 1 01/07/2013 15:52 Page 1
Issue 4 2013 Édition 4 2013
Africa
Afrique
www.communicationsafrica.com
Testing, measuring Key companies and solutions serving network operations
ICT Information management for improved African mining practices
Revenue Réunion’s new deployment for network monetisation
Recherche Collaboration sur les infrastructures haut débit Kenya gains a technology hub to serve East Africa Europe m15 - Kenya KSH300 - Nigeria N400 - South Africa R20 - UK £10 - USA $16.50
FEATURES: ● Internet ● Mobile ● Infrastructure REGULAR REPORTS: ● Bulletin - Agenda ● Equipment - Équipement
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CONTENTS
Issue 4 2013 Édition 4 2013
Afrique
Africa www.communicationsafrica.com
Testing, measuring Key companies and solutions serving network operations
Bulletin
6
Events
8
Agenda
10
Equipment
30
ICT Information management for improved African mining practices
Revenue Réunion’s new deployment for network monetisation
Recherche Collaboration sur Kenya gains a technology hub to serve East Africa
les infrastructures haut débit
Europe m15 - Kenya KSH300 - Nigeria N400 - South Africa R20 - UK £10 - USA $16.50
FEATURES: ● Internet ● Mobile ● Infrastructure REGULAR REPORTS: ● Bulletin - Agenda ● Equipment - Équipement
A note from the Editor
FEATURES
IN THIS ISSUE read of the application of technologies to improve mining operations (page 18); and of innovation for business development (page 20). Read, also, about network solutions that support advances in revenue management (page 22), for improved test and measurement (page 23), and for better utilisation of radiocommunications equipment (page 26). This issue features, moreover, reports on the advances in satellite service capacity for Nigerian broadcasters (page 28), and the convergence between radio broadcasting and online communities
ICT
Main Cover Image: Ericsson Inset: IBM Contents Page Image: Shutterstock
Une note du rédacteur NOUS VOUS PRÉSENTONS une alliance qui est construite autour d'un engagement fort de tous les partenaires à apporter des solutions M2M mondiales de haut-niveau (page 19); et, en Côte d'Ivoire, nous vous présentons le marché des services financiers mobiles, qui est le plus grand et le plus dynamique de la région de l'Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine (page 21); et il y a un rapport sur la collaboration dans le domaine de la recherche avec les infrastructures haut débit d’un réseau de recherche et d'éducation (page 27)
18
Revolutionising mining operations with advanced information infrastructure; and how technological innovations are allied to business development in Kenya
Mobile
22
Innovations in revenue management for network operations in Réunion
Network
23
Key companies and solutions serving operators’ requirements for effective test and measurement
Radio
26
Building reliability and scaleability into TETRA network architectures
Satellite
28
Direct-to-home (DTH) service developments for Nigeria
Broadcast
29
The increasing convergence between traditional operations and Web-based communities
TIC
19
Autour de la qualité des services M2M; et la promotion des services financiers en Côte d'IvoireBA FR
Recherche
27
Le besoin de transfert de données rapide et stable dépend fortement de la bande passante haut débit
Managing Editor: Andrew Croft - andrew.croft@alaincharles.com
Audit Bureau of Circulations Business Magazines
Editorial and Design team: Bob Adams, Prashant AP, Hiriyti Bairu, Lizzie Carroll, David Clancy, Ranganath GS, Kasturi Gupta, Rhonita Patnaik, Genaro Santos, Zsa Tebbit, Nicky Valsamakis and Ben Watts Publisher: Nick Fordham Advertising Sales Director: Pallavi Pandey Magazine Sales Manager: Steve Thomas - Tel: +44 (0) 20 7834 7676, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7973 0076, Email: stephen.thomas@alaincharles.com Country China India Nigeria Russia South Africa Qatar UAE USA
Representative Ying Matthieson Tanmay Mishra Bola Olowo Sergei Salov Annabel Marx Saida Hamad Camilla Capece Michael Tomashefsky
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Production: Nathanielle Kumar, Donatella Moranelli, Nick Salt and Sophia White Email: production@alaincharles.com Subscriptions: circulation@alaincharles.com Chairman: Derek Fordham Printed by: Wyndeham Grange Ltd Communications Africa/Afrique is bi-monthly magazine ISSN: 0962 3841
Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
3
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BULLETIN Fresh funding for payments service infrastructure
iconectiv’s new number portability clearinghouse
WORLD BANK SUBSIDIARY IFC is committed to investing US$10mn in Earthport, a cross-border payments service provider, to expand Earthport’s presence and payments service infrastructure - and to ensure Earthport becomes part of IFC’s extensive network of over 900 financial institutions; “Earthport’s technology cuts the costs and delays of international money transfers, facilitating trade for SMEs and remittances for migrant workers,” said Vincent Gouarne, IFC director for infrastructure.
NIGERIA, AFRICA'S LARGEST country with approximately 120mn mobile subscriptions, has launched number portability, making clearinghouse solutions specialist iconectiv the supplier for the top three markets in Africa currently offering number portability; "The smooth and problemfree number portability launch in Nigeria speaks volumes of a painstaking and transparent choice of a consortium, which includes Telcordia, featuring iconectiv's experience, reliability and product robustness," said Dr Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Study indicates maturity and ubiquity of risky apps MCAFEE HAS RELEASED the results of its Mobile Security: McAfee Consumer Trends Report, documenting sophisticated and complex risky apps containing multi-faceted scams, black market crimes, drive-by downloads and near-field communication threats - identifying a new wave of techniques hackers use to steal digital identities, commit financial fraud, and invade users’ privacy on mobile devices; “Cybercriminals are exhibiting greater levels of determination and sophistication leading to more destructive, multi-faceted hacks that are harder to spot, and thus warrant a greater degree of security and vigilance,” said Luis Blando, vice president of mobile product development at McAfee.
“Cybercriminals are exhibiting greater levels of determination and sophistication leading to more destructive, multi-faceted hacks that are harder to spot” - Luis Blando, vice president of mobile product development at McAfee Monaco connects for strategic coverage LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, Inc. and Monaco Telecom have signed a strategic agreement to connect the Principality of Monaco to Level 3's global Internet backbone network, enabling Monaco Telecom to meet increased enterprise and consumer demand for more reliable and secure connectivity globally; Level 3's redundant infrastructures will be connected in the Principality with direct access to the EIG (Europe India Gateway) submarine cable, which connects Europe to India, via the Middle East, with access to East Africa.
Aastra helps enterprises transform communications ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Aastra has launched a campaign aimed at enterprises with legacy telephony systems; "With the Transform campaign we are targeting enterprises with legacy PBXs such as Ericsson MD110 and Aastra Telephony Switch, offering them customised migration plans and promotional offers to move to server based communication systems with state-of-the-art hardware and software, capable of supporting all new technologies in business communications," says Alex Naumov, head of sales at Aastra Middle East & Africa.
An increasingly competitive market in Algeria ALGERIA IS SET to become more competitive as 3G is introduced this year, and expected regulatory changes allow number portability and local loop unbundling, according to Pyramid Research; a report, entitled Algeria: Government Nationalizing Djezzy, Broadband Revenue to Soar as 3G About to Be Introduced, offers a precise profile of the country's telecommunications, media and technology sectors based on proprietary data from Pyramid's research in the market, providing a detailed competitive analysis of both the fixed and mobile sectors, tracking the market shares of technologies and services and monitoring the introduction and spread of new technologies.
Kenyans non–data users gain Facebook with USSD MYRIAD GROUP AG, which creates and connects communities across mobile and TV, has been working with Telkom Kenya to launch a Facebook for USSD service, known locally as Facebook BilaNet; Telkom Kenya is the sixth Orange affiliate to launch a Facebook for USSD service in Africa, joining Egypt, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali and Uganda.
Eutelsat begins full commercial service at 3° East THE EUTELSAT 3D satellite went into full commercial service recently at 3° East, with all traffic transferred from Eutelsat 3C onto the new satellite; with 33 operational transponders (32 Ku transponders of which 15 are 72 MHz and one 108 MHz Ka transponder), additional capacity is now available from 3° East to address video, data, telecom and broadband markets in Europe and also in Africa through a new service area.
Des acteurs de haut niveau du secteur des TIC mettent à profit l'évolution dans l'industrie AVEC UN PROGRAMME riche d'échanges et de débats, ITU Telecom World 2013, qui aura lieu à Bangkok du 19 au 22 novembre, sera l'occasion d'explorer et d'expliquer l'évolution de l'environnement commercial actuel, ainsi que d'examiner comment les TIC, grâce aux possibilités qu'elles offrent, peuvent transformer nos vies; "Une Le Secrétaire général de révolution est en marche dans le l'UIT, Hamadoun I Touré secteur des TIC, une révolution qui modifie radicalement notre façon de communiquer, de faire des affaires ou d'utiliser la technologie", a déclaré le Secrétaire général de l'UIT, Hamadoun I Touré.
6 Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
We are committed to providing our customers with cost-effective products and solutions that meet their dynamic and diverse needs - and we see Facebook BilaNet as a core element of this strategy” Mickael Ghossein, CEO at Telkom Kenya D'investissement dans l'amélioration de la connectivité en Mauritanie et au Togo LE CONSEIL DES directeurs exécutifs de la Banque mondiale a approuvé deux financements de 30 millions de dollars chacun visant à soutenir les efforts des gouvernements de Mauritanie et du Togo pour renforcer la connectivité des télécommunications en élargissant leurs réseaux à fibre optique et introduire des réformes juridiques et réglementaires destinées à stimuler une saine concurrence du secteur privé; « Nous souhaitons tirer parti de la révolution qui se produit actuellement en Afrique dans le domaine des technologies de l’information et des télécommunications afin de relever les défis du développement auxquels sont confrontés les États d’Afrique occidentale » a déclaré Colin Bruce, directeur de l’intégration régionale à la Banque mondiale.
www.communicationsafrica.com
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AGENDA
Events 2013 AUGUST 21-23
Africa Print
Johannesburg, South Africa
www.africaprintexpo.com
21-23
Visual Communications Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
www.viscomafricaexpo.com
3-5
Africa Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF)
Casablanca, Morocco
11-12
Banking & Mobile Money COMESA
Nairobi, Kenya
13-17
IBC
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
17-18
Capacity Africa
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
23-25
Med-IT
Alger, Algeria
www.med-it.com
2-4
Contact West Africa
Accra, Ghana
www.exhibitionsafrica.com
15-17
Broadband World Forum
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
www.broadbandworldforum.com
17-18
Nigeria Com
Lagos, Nigeria
www.nigeria.comworldseries.com
23-24
Southern Africa ICT Summit
Maputo, Mozambique
www.aitecafrica.com
27-28
East Africa ICT Summit
Nairobi, Kenya
www.aitecafrica.com
29-30
Big Data World Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
www.terrapinn.com
29-30
The Enterprise Technology Show Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
www.terrapinn.com
29-30
The Internet Show Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
www.terrapinn.com
29-30
The Mobile Show Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
www.terrapinn.com
SEPTEMBER www.internetsociety.org www.aitecafrica.com www.ibc.org www.capacityconferences.com
OCTOBER
Malawi plans for ICTs to reduce road carnage
One Airtel service takes to the air
THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAWI HAS challenged local car dealerships and other stakeholders in the country to introduce vehicles with information and communication technologies (ICTs) aimed at reducing road accidents. There has been much talk in public and private sectors, and in civil society, about the capability to avoid road accidents due to vehicle technology such as auto braking, alcohol sensors and other related technologies. While others downplay Malawi’s capability to embrace such technology, in the meantime arguing it would be too costly, senior government officials say they are determined to make it work. “Many people laugh it off as a mere pipeline dream. But it’s a dream we are determined to make come true,” said Malawi’s minister of information Moses Kunkuyu. “We understand many accidents occur due to use of ICT gadgets such as mobile phones whilst driving among people from across all social classes. We also understand that the emergence of GPS navigation systems in modern vehicles is also contributing to road accidents.” Kunkuyu called for responsible use of technology. He also called on car dealerships to ensure they introduce ICT products that can help reduce road accidents. These products include hands-free devices which he said could go a long way to reduce road accidents on Malawi roads. “For every gadget that increases road safety, we will be saving several lives,” he commented. Board chairperson for Malawi’s communications regulator MACRA, Martha Kwataine said the local regulator is working on ensuring that ICT facilities help in reducing road carnage. Kwataine said the regulating body is learning from countries that have achieved in embracing technologies that reduce accidents to formulate policies that will help achieve such objectives. She also challenged authorities to ensure the country’s roads are durable; arguing technology alone cannot reduce accidents.
GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE provider Bharti Airtel has launched a product called ‘One Airtel Service’, which will further ease the burden of roaming costs whilst travelling. The service will further enhance communication for travellers from Africa by enabling them to access data and SMS, in addition to the currently available voice roaming, at a flat rate while travelling within Africa and South Asia, according to a statement issued in Lusaka recently by Airtel Africa corporate communications and public relations vice president Mike Okwiri.
Mallick Mnela
8
Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
Increasing data usage Airtel Africa chief marketing officer Andre Beyers has revealed that data usage has increased exponentially over the past few years alongside the growing number of smartphones. ‘’By introducing a flat and attractive roaming rate for data and SMS use, Airtel will help lower the communication cost for millions of
frequent business and leisure travellers across the countries that we operate in,’’ he elaborated.
Bringing benefits to customers, wherever they are Airtel customers will not need to register or buy new SIM cards, as they are automatically enrolled in the One Airtel Service. ‘’Airtel customers will also receive calls for free and have the opportunity to recharge their phone credit by using the host country’s top-up vouchers. There is a nominal mark-up on the local rate to cover for exchange rate differences and currency fluctuations,’’ Beyers said. This service is poised to benefit not only the customers who want to be reached on their home numbers whenever they roam, but also all the high-end smartphone users who will appreciate using the increasing number of data applications at a flat and attractive data rate.
Nawa Mutumweno
www.communicationsafrica.com
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AGENDA
South African bank supports local peering FIRST NATIONAL BANK (FNB) has leveraged its telecommunications licenses, skills and its internal ISP - FNB Connect - to become the first bank in the country to support peering by joining the NAPAfrica platform - which Michele McCann, business development & NAPAfrica peering manager at Teraco, describes as a facility for local users to access international content and for African content to be distributed globally, so reducing transit costs and download speeds for African Internet users. “For an international content provider, choosing to peer with NAPAfrica, there is the ability to grow because of the access to a larger diverse market place,” said McCann at RIPE 66, a recent for major content providers. Lex van Wyk, CEO at Teraco Data Environments, noted that peering will deliver several benefits to FNB Connect, including access to additional quality online content and the sharing of network capacity with other carriers, Internet service providers and content providers both locally and internationally. “The sharing of network capacity impacts on the price of connectivity, ultimately lowering bandwidth costs directly to the consumer and we are hoping other banks will understand the immense benefits of peering and follow in
Michele McCann, business development & NAPAfrica peering manager at Teraco
FNB’s footsteps,” said Van Wyk. “For us at FNB, customer satisfaction is a priority and open peering fits this drive perfectly. We have used the opportunity for peering not only as a network efficiency measure, but have passed on the savings and benefits directly to our existing clients as a value added service,” said Farren Roper, head of FNB Connect ISP. “One of the benefits is free access to Online Banking and FNB sites that we are able to provide our customers,” says Roper. Furthermore, Roper said, “At FNB Connect, we
TI Sparkle reconnects with Libya THE INTERNATIONAL SERVICES arm of Telecom Italia Group, TI Sparkle has signed an agreement for the provisioning of international end-toend services to and from Libya with Gateway for Telecommunications & Informatics Company, a Libyan virtual network operator offering telecommunications solutions for multinational enterprises and telecom operators engaged in Libya. The two parties are now able to offer end-to-end international SDH and Ethernet services - with native MPLS solutions set to be added at a second stage. The services, which cater to corporate customers, are offered through a joint platform composed of Gateway’s newly-constructed Libyan national backbone and of TI Sparkle’s international capacity. International customers with demand for services to and from Libya are interfaced by TI Sparkle, while local operator Gateway
handles all Libyan customers. End-toend customer care services are provided by TI Sparkle through its NOC and help desk, together with local Gateway support. Elisabetta Ripa, TI Sparkle Chief Executive Officer reported that the company is very pleased to be involved in the new partnership, because it “adds to relevant existing relations with Libyan operators, as corporate customers’ demand for international services with Libya continues to grow”. Haitham Ebraheem, Gateway Telecom’s acting chief executive officer, added, “Our International Connectivity services are head and shoulder above any other possible service provider in Libya. This can be demonstrated through our partnership with TI Sparkle, which has presence all over the world providing such service with a proven quality.”
“Our International Connectivity services are head and shoulder above any other possible service provider in Libya” - Haitham Ebraheem, Acting CEO at Gateway Telecom 10 Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
are also excited about the quality of download speed, made possible through open peering.” Van Wyk observed that, since the initial introduction of route servers by NAPAfrica early in 2012, there has been a subsequent overall reduction in ISP operating costs in the South African market through the simplification of the peering process. He added that route servers lower the barrier to entry for African ISPs such as FNB Connect - and, with one connection, all NAP members have direct access to the FNB content at no charge. This increases access to key applications such as online banking through the clients’ current service provider. There are over 70 peers live at NAPAfrica with access to over 27 local and international carriers. Teraco offers the choice of both multi-lateral and bi-lateral peering which then helps all members to connect to the exchange based on what is preferable to their business. Teraco is the most connected data centre facility in Africa already offering connectivity to major international carriers including SAT3/SAFE, Seacom, WACS and EASSy; mobile carriers including Vodacom, MTN and Cell C; local carriers including Telkom, Neotel and Broadband Infraco and fibre infrastructure provider, and Dark Fibre Africa.
Tunisia’s telecommunications opportunities SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAS been made in Tunisia’s telecommunications sector, but the economy would benefit from further reforms to improve competitiveness and encourage investment according to World Bank experts and participants at a workshop held recently, in advance of discussions on sector reforms between the Tunisian Government and its main stakeholders in Tabarka. Tunisian government officials, ITC business leaders and civil society representatives discussed progress on the main steps undertaken in the area of telecommunications reform by the Government of Tunisia, and also highlighted the challenges ahead. “Substantial progress has been made in the sector over the last few months,” said Carlo Rossotto, lead ICT policy specialist at the World Bank. “This progress includes the approval of amendments to the Communications law to increase the powers of instance national des telecommunications. It also includes the introduction of a regulatory framework to allow for access to the landing station of Bizerte and the approval to use backbone fibre optic held by utilities including STEG and SNCFT. All of these reforms will go a long way to help improve service and access to telecommunications in Tunisia.” Despite these advances, several challenges remain. ITC services in Tunisia are expensive, creating an obstacle for foreign direct investment. While Tunisian prices are in line with ITC prices in the Maghreb they remain expensive compared to non-regional competitors. Incoming international communications prices in Tunisia are 11 times more expensive than in Turkey as measured by current Skypeout rates. This is a substantial obstacle to foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade integration. In addition, it would take over 40 per cent of the monthly income of a family belonging to the poorest 40 per cent income bracket in Tunisia to afford a mobile broadband package or a fixed broadband package.
www.communicationsafrica.com
S03 CAF 4 2013 Agenda 01_Layout 1 02/07/2013 10:38 Page 11
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S03 CAF 4 2013 Agenda 01_Layout 1 02/07/2013 10:38 Page 12
AGENDA
Flexenclosure set to help operators cut energy costs further IFC, A MEMBER of the World Bank Group, is investing US$12mn in Flexenclosure, a developer of intelligent power management solutions and modular data centres, to enable Flexenclosure to help mobile-telephone operators and tower companies to make greater use of renewable energy and cut costs by optimising their energy consumption. The rising costs of diesel fuel and the lack of access to reliable energy grids is hampering the spread of mobile-phone coverage in rural areas of Africa’s emerging markets. Flexenclosure provides an effective solution—eSite, an intelligent power management system built on the company’s patented Diriflex control software that enables the company’s clients to optimise available energy sources in the most efficient manner. The system provides energy cost savings of up to 90 per cent. As telecommunications
companies expand services further to meet increasing customer demands, Flexenclosure has developed eCentre – a complete, pre-fabricated, modular solution to house and power data and telecom equipment. Optimised for energy efficiency, eCentre is designed to be fast to deploy and fully future-proof, providing operators with a superior, modern and greener alternative to traditional brick and mortar structures. “We have an aggressive research and development program and are growing our sales operations in emerging markets. During the last year, we have opened offices in Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and Dubai,” said Flexenclosure’s CEO, David King. “Having IFC as a strategic investor will give us access to their global expertise and network, further enhancing our expansion strategy.”
Telkom Kenya partners on towers with Eaton INTEGRATED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES provider, Telkom Kenya, which operates Orange's mobile and fixed-line telecommunications services in Kenya, has signed an agreement with Eaton Towers for the management of its passive network infrastructure. The fifteen-year tower management and leasing deal is focused on both the maintenance of existing sites by Eaton Towers and the building of new sites. The principal consequence of this deal is that it will help reduce operating costs and capital expenditure, while improving network coverage and quality, as well as reducing Orange's overall carbon footprint. Telkom Kenya will retain ownership of its existing portfolio of over 1,000 towers while Eaton Towers will invest in passive infrastructure upgrades and build new towers to provide Telkom Kenya with improved coverage and network quality across the country. In parallel, the partnership will create a solid platform that will allow Telkom Kenya to focus on developing value-added services such as innovative data offers as well as an enhanced customer care experience.
12 Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
"We are confident that our agreement with Eaton Towers is a step in the right direction," said Mickael Ghossein, CEO of Telkom Kenya. "The partnership will place us in a strong position to expand our network and develop innovative new services, in particular in rural areas, helping us achieve our ambition to provide the Kenyan population with excellent nation-wide coverage and relevant offers. Through this partnership, we will be able to reduce our operational costs and, at the same time, minimise the environmental impact of our network by reducing the use of diesel fuel." Alan Harper, chief executive of Eaton Towers, said, "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Telkom Kenya as the first infrastructure tower company to operate in Kenya. This agreement extends our successful relationship with the Orange Group in Africa and brings significant benefits to all parties. Eaton Towers' expertise in tower management and its commitment to top-quality service will allow Telkom Kenya to expand and improve its network while optimizing costs."
Flexenclosure CEO David King is coauthor - with OTTO executive Jim Starkey - of High Performance Interviewing, which offers seven key concepts and over 50 ideas to sharpen interview techniques providing an integrated toolbox with which to build the skills to navigate and capitalise on any interview situation. Visit http://compactconcepts.com/buy
An Arabic mobile money implementation MASTERCARD, NATIONAL BANK of Egypt (NBE) and Etisalat have launched a mobile payment wallet in Egypt, to bring safe and convenient payment services to Etisalat Egypt’s subscriber base. The programme is an early implementation of the mobile payment solution developed by MasterCard and Egyptian Banks Company (EBC). Mohamed Kamel Bayoumi, MD at EBC said, “We have chosen MasterCard to partner with us on this transformative mobile money programme to benefit from their global experience, as they have successfully implemented more than 30 such programs around the world. Our objective, together with the Central Bank and the Government, is to bring financial services to the fingertips of each and every Egyptian.”
Gemalto works on SA’s electronic identity card DIGITAL SECURITY SPECIALIST Gemalto is set to supply the Government Printing Works (GPW) of South Africa with Sealys eID cards for a national identity programme. GPW will harness Gemalto’s secure embedded software to protect the holder’s image and biometric data within the secure identity e-document, delivering outstanding levels of integrity and privacy. Moreover, GPW selected the high-end Sealys document fitted with the contactless feature, ensuring added levels of convenience with unrivalled security for citizens. Designed to modernise and replace South Africa’s traditional, paperbased ‘green book’ identity documentation, the Sealys eID card will be offered by the Department for Home Affairs (DHA) to citizens aged 16 and over. The South African government embarked on this service programme to improve confidence in official identity credentials and to prepare for the deployment of a comprehensive suite of efficient and convenient eGovernment services. Gemalto is providing GPW with an advanced and highly durable polycarbonate eID card specifically designed to counter forgery. Furthermore, the Sealy eID supports public key infrastructure (PKI) and match-on-card authentication techniques to enable easy verification of authenticity and a future-proof platform capable of providing a broad range of secure online services such as online and in-person authentication as well as legally binding digital signatures. “Gemalto demonstrated their proven ability to deliver high-end eID secure documents within an ambitious schedule,” said Professor Anthony Mbewu, CEO of GPW. “Plans are already in place for the next phases of the modernisation programme, and we are very confident in Gemalto’s deep expertise and state-of-the-art technology in supporting our future aspirations.” “Our local presence in Johannesburg provides a key benefit in ensuring a strategic partnership with the GPW,” said Ari Bouzbib, SVP of Government Programmes at Gemalto.
www.communicationsafrica.com
S04 CAF 4 2013 Agenda 02_Layout 1 02/07/2013 10:24 Page 13
AGENDA
Regulators and government in Africa are key to fibre deployment TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORS AND African governments need to clear away the red tape and regulatory risks around putting fibre in the ground to encourage network operators to invest in sinking fibre into the ground for terrestrial long-distance and last mile connectivity. According to Mark Tinka, head of engineering at Seacom, it is encouraging to see the massive investments that operators and governments have made into national fibre networks in regions such as East Africa and South Africa. However, the continent as a whole and many countries in particular need to see far more investment in fibre to spark wider adoption of broadband, adds Tinka. There are many countries with underdeveloped national fibre networks as well as an urgent need for fibre investment for carriage between base stations. In addition, says Tinka, many metros could benefit from the introduction of fibre for last mile connectivity. But given the high costs of putting fibre into the ground, many operators around the continent are taking a cautious approach to investment. Many are focusing on routes and dense urban areas that are already well-served, for example, rather than on expanding fibre to
Mark Tinka, head of engineering at Seacom
underserved areas in the countries where they operate. To encourage them to invest more widely and aggressively in fibre rollouts, governments should consider a range of regulatory, licensing and financing interventions, says Tinka. For example, a common frustration in many African countries is that fibre cables are often uprooted or severed when gas, water or electricity pipes are laid in the ground. Governments should consider laws that protect infrastructure that is already in the ground and that encourage utility companies to work together to dig up roads and lay down infrastructure. Governments also need to make it easier for operators to get
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licenses to compete as infrastructure providers and to get permissions from local authorities to lay down cable. In addition, governments need to collaborate across borders on fibre projects so that bandwidth from submarine cables can find its way inland. "Thanks to bureaucracy across borders, it can often be easier to run a cable in the ocean than on land," says Tinka. "Many governments find ways to impose taxes on cables running across borders, when they should instead be encouraging regional connectivity. It requires more focus on a regulatory level." Another obstacle for fibre lies in the tariffs that operators - often those with monopoly rights on infrastructure - charge other networks and service providers to use their fibre backbones. Tinka says such operators need to recognise that the business case for fibre needs to be built over a 15 to 20 year timespan. "Operators need to think about a long-term business case that encourages optimal use of their infrastructures," Tinka says. Now that submarine cable operators have brought plentiful international bandwidth to Africa's coastline, it is crucial to pull this capacity inland via fibre networks to enable continued broadband penetration and growth.
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AGENDA
Intersec enables Mauritel to develop real-time contextual offers INTERSEC, WHICH PROVIDES innovative service platforms for telecom operators, has been selected by Mauritel, a subsidiary of Maroc Telecom, to provide real-time promotions for targeted subscribers based on analysis of actual usage patterns. The solution will enable Mauritel to deliver contextual promotions and services based on their subscribers’ actual usage, behaviour and preferences.
“In a world now obsessed with Big Data, customer insight has never been more valuable in the telco sector, particularly on markets with a vast majority of prepaid subscribers such as Mauritania; as a result, Mauritel were looking at new ways to collect and analyse the data of their subscribers, and use this to build a valuable profile of the individual, their preferences, habits and lifestyle” - Yann Chevalier, CEO at Intersec
Multi-channel engagement in the Moroccan market Intersec’s solutions empower MNOs with real-time customer value management, mass scale LBS monetisation and augmented messaging profitability. Its LMS solution provides marketers with analytical functionality to visualise market trends in seconds, design and launch contextual offers while measuring in real-time their effectiveness. The LMS solution can process up to 100,000 events per second on a single server allowing the accurate targeting of users in realtime with new promotions and services. LMS is designed for marketing teams to offer real-time offers matching their subscribers’ preferences, profile, location and churn risk score. Yann Chevalier, CEO at Intersec, said, “In a world now obsessed with Big Data, customer insight has never been more valuable in the telco sector, particularly on markets with a vast majority of prepaid subscribers such as Mauritania. As a result, Mauritel were looking at new ways to collect and analyse the data of their subscribers, and use this to build a valuable profile of the individual, their preferences, habits and lifestyle. We answer operator’s needs when it comes to real-time customer knowledge enrichment, event-driven marketing and multi-channel engagement, and look forward to continuing to build on this successful relationship with Mauritel.”
Affordable smart devices pose threat to operators TA TELECOM CEO, Amr Shady, has spoken recently about the the growing threats facing mobile operators in the Middle East and Africa. Based in Cairo, Egypt, Amr has seen at first hand the developing world’s tech revolution and the business challenges faced by the companies driving it. “The recent launch of the locally produced ‘Inar’ tablet in Egypt reflects Africa’s increasing uptake of more advanced mobile devices. While this is great for consumers, it’s important to keep this in perspective since forecasts suggest that smartphones will have penetrated 15 per cent of the mobile handset market by 2015 and tablets will be less than this. “However, the availability of affordable tablets really asks questions of the mobile operators across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Do they really know their customers to retain their loyalty?” Opening up the market to new and compelling models Amr Shady elaborated further, with an assessment of the emergence and proliferation of new services to suit
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smarter devices. He observed that the availability of increasingly affordable devices opens up the market to other sources of information and infotainment from ‘over-the-top’ (OTT) app providers and data services via 3G and Wi-Fi channel; these were previously unavailable on the basic and feature phones, which continue to dominate the market. “To help retain customer expenditure and loyalty and minimise the dollars migrating towards OTT providers, mobile operators in MEA must provide compelling data services to users. This can be achieved by increasing demand for infotainment services, analysing subscribers’ content consumption, engaging with their subscribers’ interests and understanding their payment habits. “Even the smallest change in individual ARPU magnified across a mobile network can result in the gain or loss of hundreds of millions of dollars. With new players such as Inar coming to market, and mobile device usage continuing to soar, a lot is at stake for operators seeking to prosper from the mobile communications revolution in MEA.”
West Africa needs better backhauling GREAT STRIDES HAVE been made to grow broadband connectivity in Africa in the past five years. However, according to MTN Guinea Conakry’s CEO Phumzile Joshua Phike speaking at the 10th annual Connecting West Africa conference in Dakar, Senegal West Africa still has to overcome massive challenges to fully integrate into the digital age. “Until 2008, Africa had a significant broadband capacity deficit. The continent predominantly relied on a cable serving sub-saharan Africa and satellite capacity which came at a high cost and delivered low capacity,” said Phike. “Africa has seen a more than proportional share of this growth, nevertheless there are some challenges that are still holding back West Africa’s full integration into the digital age.”
Smartphones and drones to save lives in Malawi A MOBILE PHONE equipped to measure heart rate, body temperature and breathing, with a digital medical manual for health care staff. Unmanned drones that can drop medicine and collect blood samples in remote areas. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden, Ireland and the United Kingdom are set to develop new technology that could revolutionise health care in the country. The drones will be connected to the mobile network, meaning tracking the devices and even checking the temperature of drugs being carried is possible. Another potential benefit is understanding how diseases are spreading geographically, making it easier to identify epidemics earlier. “We are also considering using lightweight solar panels to charge the mobiles and drones with,” says Sven Carlsson, Professor of Informatics and head of the Lund University research group joining the Life Support project.
Collaborating to support life In rural Malawi, aid organisations’ health care staff currently use a printed disease manual called IMCI when diagnosing patients. The format makes it difficult to use in the field. “Mobile IMCI will make it easier for health care staff to use the manual and make a correct diagnosis. It is an aid that will save lives in the long term,” concludes Sven Carlsson. Life Support will be based at health clinics outside cities in northern Malawi. Researchers from several countries - including the UK, Sweden, Norway and Malawi - will collaborate with aid organisations working in Malawi. Of every 1,000 live births in Malawi, 133 children die before their fifth birthday, often of treatable diseases like malaria and diarrhoea. The EU project Supporting LIFE, which has a budget of EUR 3.7mn (US$4.9mn), aims to contribute to the United Nations goal of cutting infant mortality by two thirds by 2015.
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AGENDA Bringing together registries, registrars, experts and policy makers to foster cross-border collaboration THE AFRICA DOMAIN Name System (DNS) Forum, held on 12-13 July 2013 in Durban, South Africa, was scheduled to establish a platform for the DNS community across Africa and to advance the domain name industry and domain name registrations on the continent. Over the years, the Internet Society, AfTLD, and ICANN have supported the continued development and growth of Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs) in Africa through capacity building and technical support. Despite the support, the growth and sustainability of African ccTLDs and adoption of new technologies remains very low as compared to other regions of the world. To identify the bottlenecks that are keeping the industry from growing and the actions that can catalyze its growth, the three organizations determined the need for a forum to discuss these regional DNS issues. Those attending the DNS Forum seek to foster cross-border collaboration between registries, registrars, registrants, DNS experts, Government representatives, and policy makers. Topics promoted by the DNS Forum include: trends, opportunities, and challenges of the DNS industry; strategies for registries and registrars; legal issues with cross-border domain registrations; ways Governments can support domain name growth; and benefits of standardising accreditation to attract more cross-border registrars and registrations. “The Internet Society’s African Regional Bureau has been working to strengthen the ccTLDs in Africa by improving sustainability, encouraging the implementation of automation solutions at ccTLDs, and promoting the use of technology such as DNSSEC at registries,” said Dawit Bekele, Internet Society Regional Bureau Director for Africa.
Rwandan acquisition accelerates growth plan SUPPLIER OF WHOLESALE fibre optic, satellite and connectivity services in Africa, Liquid Telecom has acquired fixed line network operator Rwandatel - in a deal that comprises Rwandatel’s copper and fibre network as well as its customer base. Most of the land remains the property of Rwandatel. Liquid Telecom has built Africa’s largest fibre network, which runs from the north of Uganda to Cape Town. In total, its pan-African fibre network spans over 13,000km. Working under various brands, the Liquid Telecom Group has operating entities in Botswana, DRC, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, UK, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Liquid Telecom Group is a subsidiary of the Econet Wireless Group. Liquid’s wholesale network provides connectivity onto the five main subsea cable systems landing in Africa; WACS, EASSY, SEACOM, SAT3 and TEAMs..
A confident future Nic Rudnick, CEO of the Liquid Telecom Group, said, "Liquid Telecom is expanding rapidly and this is an
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important and strategic investment. Rwanda is an outstanding FDI destination and we are very confident in the country's economic future and growth prospects." The Rwandatel transaction comes four months after Liquid acquired the East African assets of The Altech Group, including a controlling interest in Kenya Data Networks (KDN). Sam Nkusi, chairman of Liquid Telecom Rwanda, said:, “Our priority is to quickly rehabilitate Rwandatel’s core network and to build out the access network in order to serve Rwanda’s enterprises and residences with the most reliable, high speed, and affordable telecommunications. Current customers can be assured of service continuity, new products and value added services along with improvements in network availability and performance. Liquid Telecom Rwanda will now contribute to Rwanda’s information and communciations for development (ICT4D) programme, and the nation’s Agaciro vision, by providing true broadband services with comparable data speeds to anywhere in the developed world.”
“The Internet Society’s African Regional Bureau has been working to strengthen the ccTLDs in Africa by improving sustainability, encouraging the implementation of automation solutions at ccTLDs, and promoting the use of technology such as DNSSEC at registries,” said Dawit Bekele, Internet Society Regional Bureau Director for Africa. Pierre S Dandjinou, ICANN Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement for Africa, commented, “ICANN is partnering with other players in the region to implement its Africa strategy, which was developed in 2012 by the African community. Thus, this DNS Forum in Durban, as a partnership between AfTLD and the Internet Society and as a preconference event to the ICANN meeting, is another milestone that builds on the MIGworks event in Addis in March 2013, which sought to pave the way for the development of the DNS industry in Africa and to empower the African community for an increased accreditation of registrars from the continent. I believe the new gTLD programme will help grow this industry on a global and regional level, and we hope that African business players can be part of this growing industry as much as they can.”
Connect to a unified business THE RELEVANCE OF social networking to unified communications (UC) and the impact these resources have on business today cannot be overestimated. Robert Sussman, joint CEO of South African managed ICT services provider Integr8, believes that Microsoft’s offerings in Lync - as part of the software giant’s UC portfolio - is established and its application can mean game-changing influence for businesses. The reality of operating a business within the current market is such that the integration of software and other technical tools is mandatory – however, what is used, how and when remains a matter of choice. Having the right solution in place for the right purpose at the right time empowers a company to manage UC strategically and derive maximum benefit. However, says Sussman, it is particularly important for companies to ascertain their requirements and expectations and measure these against the cost implication of integrating UC technology. Sussman observes that many UC installations do not reduce communications costs – but that the benefit of productivity gains outweighs cost increases. He believes Lync 2013 represents a new dimension in corporate communication resource management and collaboration. “We have been using Lync for many years, it is technology that we are highly experienced in and understand thoroughly. The solution is integrated into key platforms and Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook and SharePoint. The main thing to consider here is the extent to which this technology connects your people, your resources, devices and data – a fundamental principle driving any sized business competing for market share in any industry today,” he explained. One particular feature of the product that Sussman says makes a “meaningful difference to the lives of clients” is the ability to use Lync to connect across a myriad of devices and platforms, as well as engage different toolsets to communicate.
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AGENDA
Autour de réforme du secteur des télécommunications en Tunisie D’IMPORTANT PROGRÈS ONT été réalisés dans le secteur des télécommunications en Tunisie, mais l’économie Tunisienne pourrait bénéficier de plus de réformes afin d’améliorer la compétitivité du pays et encourager l’investissement, ont conclu les participants et experts de la Banque mondiale lors d’un atelier organisé à Tunis. L’atelier a réuni des membres du gouvernement, des chefs d’entreprise du secteur des télécommunications et des membres de la société civile afin de discuter des principales étapes franchies par le gouvernement tunisien dans le domaine des télécommunications, ainsi que des défis à venir. L’atelier s’est tenu en amont de discussions qui auront lieu entre le gouvernement et les principales parties prenantes sur les futures réformes liées au secteur. La rencontre a eu lieu à Tabarka. « Des progrès substantiels ont été réalisés dans le secteur des télécommunications ces derniers mois » a affirmé Carlo Rossotto, spécialiste principal des politiques de technologie de l'information et de la communication (TIC) à la Banque mondiale. « Ces progrès incluent l’approbation d’amendements dans la loi sur les Communications augmentant les pouvoirs de l’Instance Nationale des Télécommunications, l’introduction d’un cadre réglementaire afin d’autoriser l’accès à la station d’atterrissage de Bizerte, l’autorisation d’utiliser le réseau dorsal à large bande détenu par les opérateurs de service public, tel que la STEG et la SNCFT. Toutes ces réformes serviront à améliorer les services et l’accès aux télécommunications en Tunisie ». Malgré ces avancées, plusieurs défis restent à surmonter. Premièrement, les services des TIC en Tunisie sont onéreux et freinent l’investissement direct étranger (IDE). Les prix de ces services en Tunisie sont en ligne avec ceux des autres pays du Maghreb, mais ils restent tout de même chers en comparaison aux compétiteurs extérieurs à la région. Les appels internationaux entrants sont onze fois plus chers que
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Carlo Rossotto, spécialiste principal des politiques de technologie de l'information et de la communication (TIC) à la Banque mondiale
ceux de la Turquie, selon les derniers taux de Skypeout. De plus, il faudrait jusqu’à 40% des revenus mensuels d’une famille appartenant au 40% des plus défavorisés en Tunisie pour pouvoir s’offrir un panier de consommation d’internet haut débit mobile ou fixe. Deuxièmement, la compétition dans le secteur reste limitée : il existe une compétition limitée entre les opérateurs de communications internationales, tandis qu’en Europe de l’Est il existe en moyenne 10 opérateurs internationaux par pays. Une telle comparaison avec des pays ayant introduit de telles réformes démontre clairement que des progrès peuvent encore être accomplis au sein du secteur des télécommunications tunisien. Des pays qui étaient au même niveau de développement des télécommunications que la Tunisie il y a 15 ans, sont aujourd’hui parmi les plus performants en Europe. « La Tunisie gagnerait beaucoup à appliquer de plus amples réformes au sein du secteur des TIC » a rajouté durant l’atelier Eileen Murray, Représentante Résidente de la Banque mondiale en Tunisie. « De meilleurs services ne vont pas seulement attirer des investisseurs, mais vont également diminuer les prix et étendre l’accès à tous les Tunisiens. »
Le Plan Shift pour IP ALCATEL-LUCENT A lancé son Plan Shift, qui détaillé sur trois ans visant à repositionner l’entreprise comme spécialiste industriel des activités et des services à forte valeur ajoutée essentielles aux réseaux ultraperformants de demain que sont les réseaux IP et l’Accès Très Haut-Débit. Ce plan industriel mobilise l’ensemble des actifs et des ressources du Groupe afin d’assurer une transformation lui permettant de répondre aux priorités de ses clients, au moment où ceux-ci déploient des réseaux de nouvelle génération pour répondre à l’explosion du trafic de données. Ce recentrage sur le segment stratégique de croissance des réseaux IP, du Cloud et du très haut-débit, sera mis en œuvre par une nouvelle équipe de direction, organisée autour d’objectifs opérationnels et financiers. Le Groupe gérera de façon différenciée ses activités d’accès mobile et fixe et les autres activités, qui entreront dans cette seconde catégorie, joueront un rôle important dans le développement du Groupe à moyen et long terme ; la Société s’attend notamment à ce que cela crée des opportunités pour les activités LTE et FTTx.
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ICT
Mining
Using lab data to unlock the modern mine Colin Thurston, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s director of product strategy - process, industries examines how laboratory information management systems are revolutionising mining practices
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S GLOBAL COMPANIES continue to increase demand for minedore based commodities such as zinc, lead, aluminium, silver and copper, the mining industry faces a wealth of new opportunities and the pressures that come with them. With mining already a high-risk endeavour that demands the measurement of human and environmental exposure to toxins and contaminants, it is essential that modern mining operations are equipped with the tools to help them manage and monitor their internal and external processes effectively. In order to assure the quality/certification of products, optimise the efficiency and throughput of continuous processes and comply with industry, international or governmental product and safety standards, the modern mine must control its processes with rigorous testing and real-time monitoring. Laboratory information management systems (LIMS) are therefore key components in the day-to-day management of a modern mine
MTN is the first telecoms company in the country to pilot a renewable energy system as a way to improve energy and telecommunications access Regulatory environment There are several critical areas of compliance for any mining operation, including security, instrumentation calibration, maintenance of electronic records, traceability of procedures and personnel, environmental and equipment monitoring. The ability of laboratory managers to have control of this vital information is an important aspect of the mining operation and ensures production can continue uninterrupted by personnel changes or equipment that falls out of calibration. Most modern mines are governed by local and international regulatory requirements. Common to all large process industries is good laboratory practice (GLP). It requires companies to conform to a number of external regulatory disciplines, including ISO 9000, which establishes a standard for the quality process in any manufacturing or laboratory environment. Additional releases of ISO standards, which also fall under GLP guidelines, relate to environmental monitoring (ISO 14000), and ISO 17025 regulates testing and calibration laboratories, which directly affects any major mining operation. Being able to electronically manage the data produced in a mine’s laboratory, in addition to managing the ongoing recalibration processes for key instrumentation, will greatly improve the functionality of the lab and provide lab managers with the validated documentation necessary for compliance with all regulations.
How the LIMS manages data LIMS offer a centralised data-management system to electronically access and share data generated by the laboratory’s instrumentation, enabling more efficient and productive management of the lab and its personnel. In some mining laboratories, manual processes are still the norm for collating information and preparing reports related to product quality, 18 Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
Laboratory information management systems (LIMS) are key components in the day-to-day management of a modern mine
production output and environmental analysis. A LIMS can offer time and cost savings and help laboratory managers increase productivity, thereby contributing to the overall financial position of the mine. Modern LIMS support existing enterprise quality control systems, such as SAP or Oracle, and can interface to other enterprise resource-planning systems (ERPs) across the organisation, as appropriate, such as manufacturing execution systems (MES) and process informationmanagement systems (PIMS). Thermo Fisher Scientific has worked with leading mining companies, implementing enterprise-wide deployments of its flagship Thermo Scientific Sample Manager LIMS with the aim of reducing costs and increasing productivity, while ensuring optimum product quality and regulatory compliance.
Looking ahead The future of mining depends on the industry’s capacity to maintain a balance between profitability and preservation of new, secluded environments. Human capital also needs to be protected, both on-site and in the surrounding communities, where measurement of human and environmental exposure must be monitored. This requires risk assessment at all stages to ensure any effects on the environment and people are always understood. LIMS address these requirements, serving as a tool to manage mining data, which enables laboratory and mining operations managers to obtain faster results, improved efficiencies, increased margins and certification of the end product. An automated information-management system can ensure documented and validated regulatory compliance with the many requirements imposed on the industry. A LIMS can also provide the audit trail to assure those regulatory authorities that the company’s mining activities have no negative impact on the environment. Modern mining operations will realise these benefits and deliver increased value to their shareholders when they automate their laboratories with world-class LIMS. ✆ www.communicationsafrica.com
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TIC
M2M
Opérateurs mobiles travaillent en faveur de l'innovation et de la qualité des services
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A « GLOBAL M2M Association » (GMA), fruit d’un accord de coopération dans le secteur du Machine-to-Machine (M2M) entre TeliaSonera, Orange et Deutsche Telekom, ont annoncé l’adhésion de Telecom Italia. Grâce à la GMA, quatre des principaux opérateurs mobiles en Europe peuvent désormais s'associer pour fournir des services M2M intégrés de haut niveau aux entreprises, facilitant ainsi l’innovation, le déploiement et la gestion de solutions M2M dans le monde entier. Cette alliance est construite autour d'un engagement fort de tous les partenaires à apporter des solutions M2M mondiales de haut-niveau dans de multiples secteurs : services traditionnels de télémesure, solutions de e-santé, services destinés à l'industrie automobile ou encore services innovants tels que les appareils électroniques grand public connectés. L'accord de coopération permet également aux clients des partenaires de bénéficier d’avantages tels que les services de roaming pour une expérience client sans-
couture, une interopérabilité améliorée ou encore le développement de partenariats et d’innovations conjointes.
sur les terminaux et les machines des clients. La certification des modules permettra d'optimiser leur interopérabilité avec le réseau.
Une expérience client sans couture
Innovations et partenariats
Les clients internationaux recherchent des solutions M2M transparentes, transfrontalières et disponibles dans plusieurs pays. Afin de favoriser une expérience client harmonieuse, la GMA s'engage à améliorer la qualité de service du roaming via des processus de gestion d'incidents unifiés, des objectifs de niveau de service harmonisés et des procédures communes pour les rapports d'erreurs ou la remontée d’incidents.
Les quatre entreprises ont pour ambition de former d'autres partenariats et de favoriser l'innovation autour de nouveaux projets M2M et en construisant un écosystème M2M dynamique avec des partenaires de premier plan sur toute la chaîne de valeur.
Une interopérabilité améliorée De nombreux modules M2M sont disponibles sur une large gamme de terminaux. La GMA a créé un programme de certification de ces modules destiné à terme à unifier et industrialiser les spécifications des produits M2M pour favoriser une intégration plus rapide
« Nous allons ainsi être en mesure d’offrir à nos clients les solutions M2M les plus complètes quel que soit leur secteur d’activités. », a déclaré Lucy Lombardi, viceprésidente des Relations industrielles et des Initiatives interprofessionnelles au sein de Telecom Italia. « La GMA est la preuve de notre engagement collectif en faveur d’une collaboration continue dans l'intérêt de nos clients et de l'écosystème M2M. » ✆
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ICT
Kenya
Creating a Kenyan client centre An IBM Innovation Center in Kenya is set to serve as regional ICT and business development hub
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challenges such as traffic congestion and better energy management. Centre attendees will be able to participate in virtual and inperson training, test out their new products, network with peers from around the world and receive mentoring and guidance from ICT and business experts. Mugo Kibati, CEO of Kenya Vision 2030 said, "Technology is playing a critical role in building stronger Kenyan and East African economies. IBM is an essential partner in helping us create a vibrant network of highly-skilled individuals and businesses, who are driving innovation for Africa and the world."
Professionals making progress The ICT sector has driven up to 40 per cent of the economic growth in East Africa in the past 10 years, according to World Bank’s InfoDev. In Kenya, the industry is expected to grow by 11 per cent annually, creating a need for highlyskilled professionals capable of driving innovation and entrepreneurship. “The new IBM innovation centre is an important milestone in our expansion and work in East Africa. The advanced IT and business recourses at the centre will strengthen our climate of innovation and get new East African Solutions into the global marketplace,” said Mwai. The Nairobi centre joins a worldwide
Photograph: Photo: Dai Kurokawa/Feature Photo Service for IBM
S PART OF its ongoing expansion in Africa, IBM recently opened its first Innovation Center in East Africa. Located in Nairobi, Kenya the centre will help fuel growth and innovation in the region, providing ICT partners, developers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and academics with access to the latest enterprise software and hardware, training and business and marketing support. The IBM Innovation Center is co-located with a new IBM Client Center that brings the company’s expertise to clients in the region. IBM country general manager for East Africa Tony Mwai demonstrated a visualisation of the city’s traffic patterns to Jessica Colaco, managing director of iHub, a Kenyan start-up incubator, at the IBM Client and Innovation Center for East Africa in Nairobi in early May 2013. The Smarter Cities technology, part of the IBM Intelligent Operations Center, is integral to the centre’s efforts to help the region’s ICT businesses, developers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and academics drive innovation and growth. The goal of the IBM Innovation Center is to nurture and grow regional ICT innovation and help start-ups and new business ICT solutions get to market faster. The centre is focused on solutions that use analytics, mobile and cloud technologies to solve key local and global
Country general manager for IBM East Africa Tony Mwai (L), and iHub research director Jessica Colaco (R), chat in front of a map of Nairobi on display at the newly-opened IBM Innovation Center in Nairobi, Kenya
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network of 40 other IBM Innovation Centers in 33 countries, including Morocco and South Africa. IBM connects local companies and entrepreneurs with technical and industry experts around the world and can support growth with introductions into new markets. As part of efforts to drive innovation, IBM is working to develop an ecosystem of ICT professionals in Kenya, including: • Academia: New partnerships with Jomo Kenyatta, Riara and Strathmore universities to create advanced educational and training environments were recently announced. With this growing relationship, students and professors will have access to advanced ICT coursework, training materials and software for use in the classroom. Bringing the latest enterprise technology and challenges into the classroom, students will be better prepared to meet the advanced ICT and business needs of the region. • Entrepreneurs: Working closely with partners in the venture community, IBM is supporting local start-up companies and entrepreneurs to drive innovation and help get new solutions into the global marketplace. Last year, IBM held its first SmartCamp event in Africa, providing mentoring, networking and resources to start-ups from across Africa. Kenya-based start-up MoDe went on to win the regional and global final events and was named IBM’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’. • Venture capitalists and incubators: Through ongoing workshops and meetings, IBM is working closely with the growing local venture capital community and local incubators and accelerators to identify and support entrepreneurs and start-up companies. • IT companies: Technical workshops, oneon-one support from IBM experts and access to software and hardware for testing are helping local ICT companies develop offerings and better meet client demands. Lime Technologies, Open World and Tezza are among the new IBM Business Partners to benefit from the resources at the IBM Innovation Center. Nairobi is also home to IBM’s first Research Lab in Africa, which is driving a programme of pan-African research designed to help solve some of the continent's biggest challenges such as urbanisation, next-generation public sector and human capacity development. ✆ www.communicationsafrica.com
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TIC
Côte d'Ivoire
(Photo: Abdallahh)
La promotion des services financiers
L'événement s'est tenu à Abidjan
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FC ET LA Fondation MasterCard ont réuni des acteurs majeurs de l'industrie financière afin de donner un élan supplémentaire aux services financiers mobiles en Côte d'Ivoire. L'événement a permis de souligner le potentiel considérable du marché, notamment pour étendre l'accès au financement aux foyers à faibles revenus, aux petites entreprises et dans les zones difficiles d’accès.
Le marché ivoirien et les services financiers mobiles En Côte d'Ivoire, la pénétration de la téléphonie mobile est supérieure à 90 pour cent, mais 14 pour cent seulement des Ivoiriens ont accès à des services financiers. Les opérateurs de réseau mobile ont enregistré plus de deux millions de clients des services financiers mobiles au cours des trois dernières années. Le marché ivoirien des services financiers
mobiles est le plus grand et le plus dynamique de la région de l'Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine. « Pour favoriser une prospérité partagée par tous en Côte d'Ivoire, il est important d'améliorer l'accès au financement. IFC et la Fondation MasterCard souhaitent aider les institutions financières locales à mener à bien le développement des services bancaires et financiers mobiles proposés par des distributeurs en Côte d'Ivoire, ce qui permettra d’étendre la couverture des services financiers à ceux qui ne sont actuellement pas bancarisés », a déclaré Cassandra Colbert, représentante résidente d'IFC en Côte d'Ivoire. Lors du séminaire qui s'est tenu à Abidjan, IFC a présenté l’argument commercial en faveur de la participation au développement des services financiers mobiles en Côte d'Ivoire. L'atelier marquait le commencement de la mise en œuvre d'un programme de quatre ans entrepris
En Côte d'Ivoire, la pénétration de la téléphonie mobile est supérieure à 90 pour cent, mais 14 pour cent seulement des Ivoiriens ont accès à des services financiers par IFC et la Fondation MasterCard, visant à contribuer au développement et à l'expansion des services financiers mobiles dans le pays. IFC et la Fondation MasterCard considèrent que l'accès aux services financiers est un outil essentiel à la réduction de la pauvreté, susceptible de véritablement changer les vies des personnes marginalisées sur le plan économique. ✆
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Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
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MOBILE
Revenue
A solution for the future Orange Réunion Mayotte modernises real-time data charging and policy control to offer an improved customer experience
R
ÉUNION IS A French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, 700km east of Madagascar. With three grand canyons, an active volcano and beautiful forests, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular tourist destination. On average, the island’s population is around 900,000, but during the French vacation period it increases to above one million. With a limited number of subscribers, competition between the island’s three operators is fierce.
Orange Réunion Mayotte has 300,000 subscribers and ranks second in terms of market share Jérôme Tavernier, the company’s CIO, explained that as the challenger, the operator is constantly looking for new ways to offer an improved customer experience and gain better control of data services. “We need a clear route to the future based on a new solution. Our chosen products are the Charging System, Mobile Broadband Charging and Ericsson Customer Management System (ECMS),” he said. The operator can now also propose bundled traditional voice and messaging offers with new data services. It can enforce credit and usage control, preventing bill shock and securing fair use. A scalable, flexible BSS solution, Charging System 5 delivers decoupling, configurability and a future-proof product roadmap. The charging solution enables Orange Réunion Mayotte to automate monthly account management and to create and quickly launch new targeted and innovative data offers and services. Benoit Gendron, Ericsson’s sales director for
The charging solution enables Orange Réunion Mayotte to automate monthly account management and to create and quickly launch new targeted and innovative data offers and services 22 Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
A low number of mobile phone subscribers on Réunion island means operators face stiff competition
France Telecom Orange, explained the benefits of the new approach. “With this new solution, Orange Réunion Mayotte customers are now in full control,” he said. “When they make calls or browse the internet they receive real-time notification about their spending level.” This helps customers avoid any surprises when they receive their bill and prevents them from overspending on their subscription, allowing them to have confidence in Orange. Orange Réunion Mayotte has 300,000 subscribers and ranks second in terms of market share. The solution provides customers with more than just monitoring of spending. Pamela
Ericsson and Orange are continuing to work together to ensure that the solution brings about further business benefits
Albin, an Orange subscriber who works in communications, enjoys the greater personalisation of services that the solution enables. “Orange allows me to tailor my package to suit my needs,” she said. “If I need extra data for a certain time or for a certain service, then I can buy it from Orange.”
A strategic evolution Ericsson and Orange are continuing to work together to ensure that the solution brings about further business benefits and helps the operator to increase its market share. Today, the main benefits include reduced time to market on new offers and a 40 per cent drop in maintenance costs. Jérôme Tavernier explained why Ericsson were the ideal choice for the project. “Orange chose Ericsson because we are confident that the new charging solution will support our strategic evolution and enable us to provide our customers with new innovative offers and services.” ✆
Orange inaugurates a new campus in Dakar A NEW ORANGE campus site in Senegal has been constructed by the France Telecom-Orange Group aiming to offer development programmes to the 1,000 managers of the group's subsidiaries in western Africa. The site will also host managers from all of the group’s countries, the company said. In 2013 more than 20 different managerial development programmes are expected to be held at Orange Campus Dakar. The new Orange Campus site features classrooms, a library area and an amphitheatre, and was designed to meet the requirements of different teaching methods used during the sessions. Situated next to the Orange Sonatel Competency Development Centre, the campus has a surface area of more than 300m², while holding up to 160 people. Support will be provided to every country rolling out the Orange Campus programmes.
www.communicationsafrica.com
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NETWORK
Diagnostics
Providing innovative test and measurement solutions As the communications industry develops rapidly across the continent, providers of test and measurement solutions are facing an increase in demand
A
S THE COMMUNICATIONS industry develops rapidly across the continent, providers of test and measurement solutions are facing an increase in demand Many of the leading companies in the field are therefore expanding their range to meet this heightened demand, continually developing new strategies and methods to cope with ever more sophisticated modes of communication. For example, Anritsu, which designs, manufactures and provides maintenance for test and measurement instruments and is a leader of long-term evolution (LTE) testing, optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs), spectrum analysis, vector network analysis and signal generation, has launched the Fiber Visualizer tool for its MT9083 series of OTDRs. The MT9083 range offers high performance optical testing with 45 dB testing, seven-inch widescreen and 12-hour battery life. According to Anritsu, the new tool provides a better level of insight into optical fibre cables, connections and splices, enabling installers to efficiently check the quality of an optical fibre installation by using automated processing on the test equipment rather than requiring expert analysis of an image or trace. The tool automatically selects the correct testing parameters for the fibre under test, ensuring correct instrument set-up prior to testing, the company claimed. The firm has also added TD-SCDMA signalling test capability to its popular rapid test designer (RTD) solution for 3GPP mobile communications devices. This enables chipset and mobile device makers to reliably test their
Over time, the migration of network elements in combination with software defined networking (SDN) will transform today’s networks into a fully software defined infrastructure that is both highly efficient and flexible www.communicationsafrica.com
implementation of the 3G mobile communications standard used by China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile network operator. Other new products on the market include oscilloscope manufacturer Tektronix’s newly improved USB 3.0 test solutions, including an industry first transmitter test solution for the SuperSpeedPlus 10 Gb/s specification. Other enhancements include a new USB 3.0 oscilloscope-based layered decode capability and an enhanced automated solution for SuperSpeed USB transmitter testing that improves test throughput by up to 60 per cent. The faster data rates for USB 3.0 bring new test challenges, most notably major increases in channel loss and reduction in signal to noise ratio as well as more complex link training and timing requirements that must be verified. As design margins shrink, it's more important than ever to have an accurate and standard specific measurement system available. According to the company, all of these needs are fully met by the Tektronix SuperSpeedPlus USB test solution (option SSP). Brian Reich, general manager - performance oscilloscopes at Tektronix said, “Just as important industry standards such as USB 3.0 evolve over time, it's critical that our test and measurement tools evolve as well. The latest enhancements to our USB solutions enable engineers to verify compliance to the latest versions of the USB specification, seamlessly decode bus operation speeding debug efforts, and dramatically reduce test times while conducting automated compliance tests.” The new TekExpress USB automation software (Opt USB-TX) also leverages Tektronix’s USB compliance test expertise and at the same time incorporates a new software architecture that provides significantly improved performance, the company said. Alongside subsidiaries SwissQual and
Hossein Moiin, executive vice president of technology and innovation and member of the executive board at Nokia Siemens Networks
ipoque, Rohde & Schwarz showcased its test solutions at the LTE World Summit, which took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from 24-26 June. Roland Steffen, executive vice president and head of the test and measurement division at the company said, “Together with our subsidiaries SwissQual and ipoque, we offer an integrated set of test solutions for the entire network lifecycle, a unique approach that isn’t available anywhere else on the market. This integrated approach not only brings efficiency to our customers, it also helps them reconcile the demands of subscribers with their financial objectives in a demanding business environment.” One of the company’s latest products is the Power Viewer Mobile app, which transforms Android smartphones and tablets into highprecision base units for power measurements. The USB-compatible R&S NRP power sensors can now display the measured average power Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
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NETWORK
Diagnostics
“The latest enhancements to our USB solutions enable engineers to verify compliance to the latest versions of the USB specification, seamlessly decode bus operation speeding debug efforts, and dramatically reduce test times while conducting automated compliance tests” - Brian Reich, general manager - performance oscilloscopes at Tektronix the overall network. As our network continues to grow, so too will customer expectations. JDSU will help us meet those needs.”
Looking to the future
The new Rohde & Schwarz Power Viewer mobile app
value directly on mobile devices with Android 4 operating system and can be downloaded for free at the Google Play store. According to Rohde & Schwarz, these solutions enable network operators to deploy their wireless networks effectively, with handheld test instruments used for on-site base station installation and interference hunting. Benchmarking solutions from SwissQual provide essential comparative data on network performance, while deep packet inspection from ipoque delivers in-depth knowledge of subscribers’ behaviour. It gives insight into the data traffic generated by apps and mobile services, enabling operators to control, monetise and optimise the traffic. Africa’s increasing interest in test and
24 Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
measurement solutions is demonstrated by MTN Uganda’s recent decision to select JDSU’s ariesoGEO platform and GEOperformance application to improve its network quality and customer experience. The ariesoGEO solution now supports MTN Uganda’s global system for mobile communications (GSM) and universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) networks, and is ready to support the rollout of its LTE network, while ariesoGEO uses location intelligence to transform radio access network (RAN) planning and performance engineering. Rami Farah, CTO of MTN Uganda said, “ariesoGEO will enable us to take a proactive approach to customer service, helping us react quickly to issues, while improving the quality of
Data networking and telecommunications equipment company Nokia Siemens Networks has meanwhile begun putting its Technology Vision 2020 into practice, aiming to enable mobile broadband networks to profitably deliver one gigabyte of personalised data per user per day by 2020. Reducing latency to milliseconds is an area where Nokia Siemens Networks has already taken significant steps by introducing Liquid Applications, which turns the base station into an intelligent part of the mobile operator’s network to store, process and deliver local content in close proximity to the end user. Nokia Siemens Networks has reinvented telecommunications for the cloud, starting ‘cloudification’ of software elements from its customer experience management and operations support so access elements. Over time, the migration of network elements in combination with software defined networking (SDN) will transform today’s networks into a fully software defined infrastructure that is both highly efficient and flexible, the company claimed. Hossein Moiin, executive vice president of technology and innovation at Nokia Siemens Networks said, “Until now, end users have learned how to use mobile broadband networks to enrich their lives. In the future, end users will teach networks and devices how to evolve and adapt to 2020 lifestyles. Technology Vision 2020 is a guide that equips mobile broadband networks to adapt to those lifestyles. We are working closely with customers, partners, top universities and research institutes to make Technology Vision 2020 a reality.” ✆
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Since 1895
Over 100 years of
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NEW White Paper Understanding amplitude level accuracy in new generation Spectrum Analyzers
2013
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RADIO
TETRA
Understanding TETRA network architectures The reliability and scalability aspects of the different TETRA network architectures, and whether modern IP/MPLS networks can be of benefit to them
I
N TERMS OF reliability, the interconnection of base stations is often the weakest part of the calculated network availability for terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) communications. A solution for this issue is to introduce a link redundancy topology, which can be achieved by link switchover in the synchronous link domain, the use of standard IP routing protocols and the use of multi-protocol label switching (MPLS). Equipment reliability is also an important factor when considering the total availability of a TETRA network solution. This is determined by the robustness of the hardware and software.
Scalability and capacity The two aspects of scalability in TETRA networks are the size of networks and the capacity. Most TETRA solutions are limited in terms of scalability. This is because the network is either designed for local or regional coverage with limited expandability or it is designed to provide large regional or nationwide coverage, making the solution less competitive and too complex for small networks. Limitations may be applicable which prevents expansion of an installed network, or require costly upgrades to different product lines. Capacity is also important when considering scalability aspects. This is to provide sufficient performance to support the maximum expected call load and mobility of users during peak hours.
Hierarchical circuit switched networks Circuit switching is rejected as an optimal technology to build TETRA networks, due to the overall cost of parts and the rarity of COTS components. Furthermore, the report suggests that the complex hardware
In conducting an evaluation of a TETRA system architecture, focusing availability, scalability and whether the solution is future-proof 26 Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
Many TETRA system suppliers have developed solutions based on a fully distributed IP network topology architecture, low-speed synchronous links and the necessity for an overlay data network prevents circuit switched networks from being the best solution.
router equipment that supports OSPF protocol, or more advanced MPLSenabled routers to achieve the highest level of availability. Equipment redundancy can easily be achieved by duplicating the softswitch and the COTS hardware means costs are kept to a minimum. ✆
Hierarchical proprietary IP-based networks Second-generation IP-based TETRA networks use proprietary equipment to meet requirements for mission-critical reliability and performance. Packet switching of voice, data and signalling offers simpler architecture, greater flexibility and better integration opportunities than circuit switching, with fewer instances of component obsolescence. However, the cost is high and secondgeneration networks still entail complications with regards to their configuration and troubleshooting.
Full distributed open IP-based networks Many TETRA system suppliers have developed solutions based on a fully distributed IP network topology. By implementing the TETRA Switching and Management Infrastructure (SwMI) component on each site, a resilient network can be created simply and at a low cost. However, there remains a problem regarding the base station link redundancy and the variation of bandwidth requirements.
Softswitch open IP-based networks The paper argues that the interconnection of systems and base stations through IP networks is a logical choice, since the COTS server equipment and operating systems support IP connectivity. Almost all Voice-over-IP (VoIP) service providers use softswitch technology in their core networks.
The standards for the systems Multi-vendor, open-standards based IP routers can be used in this type of system architecture. Depending on the requirements for availability, a selection can be made from low-cost COTS
Network reliability is key to TETRA device use
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RECHERCHE
Infrastructure
La technologie de transmission et de commutation Collaboration dans le domaine de la recherche avec les infrastructures haut débit d’un réseau de recherche et d'éducation
Le déploiement 500 Gbps GÉANT a implémenté une mise à niveau importante des infrastructures, y compris la dernière technologie de transmission et de commutation pour la prise en charge d'une capacité jusqu'à 2 terabits par seconde (Tbps) sur le réseau principal, assurant la pérennité des infrastructures réseau importantes jusqu'en 2020. Une capacité de 500 Gigabits par seconde (Gbps) sera disponible sur le réseau principal à partir de la première implémentation, proposant des circuits en Europe qui permettront des transferts de données à des vitesses jusqu'à 100 Gbps, ou des multiples de cette valeur, assurant de la sorte une collaboration plus rapide sur des projets critiques et répondant à la demande croissante de transfert de données. Le CERN a été le premier client 100 Gbps, reliant Genève à son centre de données en Hongrie, pour pouvoir traiter et stocker d'importantes quantités de données depuis le grand collisionneur de hadrons (Large Hadron Collider, LHC). «Il s'agit d'un projet énorme destiné à actualiser le réseau de base GÉANT de 50 000 kilomètres, remplaçant tout l'équipement existant par la dernière technologie de transmission et de commutation et installant plus de 150 nouvelles pièces en 10 mois» explique Michael Enrico, responsable technologique en chef pour DANTE. «Les projets importants impliquant des partenaires mondiaux, comme le LHC du CERN et le prochain Square Kilometre Array (le plus grand radiotélescope au monde), génèrent d'importants volumes de données qui doivent être www.communicationsafrica.com
Photograph: Shutterstock
G
ÉANT, L'INFRASTRUCTURE DU réseau de recherche et d'éducation, connaît une évolution rapide. Longtemps considéré comme le réseau de recherche le plus avancé au monde grâce à sa disponibilité à 99,999 %, son développement continu et une gamme de services multi-domaines en expansion pour améliorer les performances et les accès, GÉANT développe sur cette réputation une mise à niveau complète de sa technologie de transmission et de commutation – pour assurer la pérennité du réseau jusqu'en 2020. Cet important réseau continuera à permettre la recherche et l'innovation qui constituent des éléments clés de la croissance européenne grâce à son soutien de quelquesuns des projets de recherche les plus grands au monde présentant la plus forte concentration de données. Initié il y a plus de dix ans pour permettre une collaboration au niveau de la recherche et un partage des connaissances entre les chercheurs du monde, GÉANT a joué un rôle capital dans la facilitation de projets de recherche qui aident à maintenir la compétitivité européenne et à résoudre certains des plus grands défis de l'humanité. Le réseau avancé et les services de GÉANT permettent de réaliser des projets de recherche dans des domaines aussi variés que le changement climatique et le contrôle environnemental, l'alimentation et l'énergie, la physique des particules et la radioastronomie, la médecine et la bioinformatique. Avec les réseaux NREN (National Research and Education Networks), GÉANT connecte plus de 40 millions d'utilisateurs dans plus de 8 000 universités, instituts d'enseignement supérieur, instituts de recherche, bibliothèques, musées, archives nationales et hôpitaux, ainsi que 22 000 écoles primaires et secondaires.
La vision de GÉANT est développée sur sa réputation d'excellence des réseaux, à l'innovation et à l'apprentissage en connectant et supportant la croissance des communautés de recherche et d'éducation
distribués, analysés, stockés et rester accessibles. Ce besoin de transfert de données rapide et stable dépend fortement de la bande passante haut débit dédiée proposée par des réseaux de recherche comme GÉANT et le besoin d'un réseau terabit grandit chaque jour.» La structure précédente du réseau GÉANT (connue comme GN2) portait sur la livraison d'un réseau hybride utilisant la technologie de routage et de commutation la plus innovante. L'accent a ensuite été mis sur le développement et la livraison d'un portefeuille de services étendu permettant aux utilisateurs de tirer le meilleur du réseau via leur NREN local. Par sa gamme de services de connectivité, les chercheurs (et autres utilisateurs) peuvent sélectionner la bande passante et les performances qui correspondent le mieux à leurs besoins, avec des options allant des connexions protocole internet (Internet Protocol, IP) haute capacité aux circuits point à point dédiés à ultra haut débit, y compris des services point à point 'à la demande' innovants. Ceux-ci sont à leur tour supportés par une gamme complète de services de gestion et de contrôle réseau pour permettre des performances de bout en bout sûres et cohérentes indépendamment de la localisation des utilisateurs. Avec ses partenaires NREN, l'objectif de GÉANT est de garantir une disponibilité à 99,999 % par l'identification rapide, la résolution des erreurs réseaux et des fonctions de sécurité puissantes pour détecter et empêcher les attaques malicieuses. Des applications qui abordent les questions d'autorisation et d'authentification, vérifiant les identités des utilisateurs et leurs droits pour leur offrir un accès aux ressources selon les besoins, sont développées et déployées via les partenaires du projet NREN. Cela permet aux chercheurs, académiciens et autres personnes de se déplacer facilement dans les limites du réseau tout en conservant l'accès à leur réseau et aux ressources des autres NREN et institutions. ✆ Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
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SATELLITE
Nigeria
Expanding and improving access to satellite TV A new platform is providing the whole of Nigeria with access to the country’s eighth direct-to-home (DTH) service on the AMOS-5 satellite
S
PACECOM, OPERATOR OF the AMOS satellite fleet, announced in March that Daar Communications had launched its DAARSAT satellite TV service across Nigeria. DAARSAT is now available to the West African country as a stand-alone digital TV service, joining fellow Nigerian DTH services Infinity and HiBand, among others, on the AMOS-5 satellite, which is located at the 17°Eprime orbital position. Spacecom president and CEO David Pollack said, “Our partnership with DAAR serves as an excellent example showing Spacecom’s commitment to DAARSAT. The agreement secures a long and mutually beneficial relationship between our organisations for many years to come.” Pollack added, “We are proud to add another DTH platform to the AMOS-5 17°E neighbourhood through our relationship with the leading communication group, Daar Communications. Delivery of high quality service on a powerful platform is what elevates AMOS and helps our business grow.”
“Our partnership with Daar serves as an excellent example showing Spacecom’s commitment to DAARSAT” - David Pollack, president and CEO of Spacecom Security Conax, a global provider of multi-device and digital TV services solutions, also recently announced that DAARSAT has upgraded to the Conax Contego Broadcast content security solution. According to Conax, the new solution, supplemented by the advisory role and integration provided by the company, will aid DAARSAT in positioning and securing its DTH and DTT platforms for digital migration. The solution will also enable secure content delivery that supports rich and flexible, interactive on-demand services and viewing options for an enhanced subscriber experience, Conax added. Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications said, “Conax competence, forward-thinking security solutions and experience in the growing African market are key factors for selecting the Conax Contego Broadcast solution and commitment to Conax as DAARSAT security partner. “We need a future-oriented solution and security partner that will help us capture new business and enable expansion in additional regions and markets. We are highly confident in our partnership with Conax and Conax’s proven solutions for securing our business into the future,” he added. Conax Chipset Pairing ensures that smart cards can be used only with secure devices, prevents card sharing by securing the link between the smart card and the client device and enables secure authorisation of several devices in a connected home, preventing illegal content redistribution. Saad Mouneimne, director of area sales – Middle East and Africa at Conax said, “We are excited about DAARSAT’s ambitions for expansion. 28 Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
The AMOS 5 satellite was launched in 2011 to the 17° Eprime orbital position, a new orbital slot over Africa
Conax Contego Broadcast is a world-class security solution that provides DAARSAT with a stepping stone ideal for operations with ambitions for digital migration and the plethora of opportunities available for adding rich new attractive services. “Conax Contego Broadcast provides total security for one-way operations positioning for the future. The new platform provides DAARSAT operations with all-inclusive support for subscription, pairing, fingerprinting and messaging, with optional support for DRM control and pay-per-view. Easy upgrade is available to Contego editions, enabling advanced service offerings such as video-on-demand and multiscreen content delivery as consumer demands increase.” ✆ www.communicationsafrica.com
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Radio
BROADCAST
Radio plays in new media There is, increasingly, a social aspect to radio broadcast industry engagement with online communities - extending from traditional community values
S
INCE ITS INCEPTION, the Internet has been eyed with both hope and caution by traditional media outlets. Radio broadcasters have looked to the Internet to extend their brand and increase awareness for their stations. Enter social media sites - principally, Facebook with their interactive ability to add friends and build an online community. How are radio stations using social media? The results and the strategy to build the radio/Facebook relationship are not uniform and the jury is still out on exactly how social media can benefit a station’s bottom line. Describing the relationship between radio and its traditional media siblings is a lot more straightforward than explaining the relationship between radio and new media. Wireless, and then radio, grew up alongside film, magazines, and newspapers. By 1950 visual wireless, or television, came on the scene posing a threat to radio’s existence. While there were moments when relations between these media were strained, radio adapted to coexist in the expanding media environment. Over time, radio maintained its relevance and thrived by focusing on rock music, going portable, improving its fidelity, encouraging creative personalities, and also by fine–tuning its formats to reach specific target audiences. In recent years, the Internet has been diffusing thanks largely to its World Wide Web interface. The creation of the MP3 audio format, along with portable players, and music sharing have allowed individuals to become their own music directors. Additionally, satellite radio has arrived on the scene. While radio has grappled with the changes, its two newer media siblings have moved quickly - in the case of satellite radio, adding car manufacturers, channels and subscribers; in the case of the Web, streaming and podcasts. Finally, as radio has adapted to the new realities, the Internet has experienced another growth spurt in the form of Web 2.0 and as the market for satellite radio has matured, a number of its constituent companies have merged, and mobile operating systems with music and radio apps have proliferated on consumer hand phones and tablets.
Still acting on 1.0, now managing 2.0 The radio industry’s reactions to the latest developments with its younger siblings have been multifarious. From some vantage points, there are rivalries, with radio acting against perceived threats - and, from others, radio has seen the potential for collaboration. While www.communicationsafrica.com
Radio broadcasters in Africa are utilising the internet to improve on brand awarness for their stations.
Radio practitioners and researchers are exploring radio’s relationship with Web 2.0’s newer social software platforms enough time has elapsed to allow valid elucidations on the relationship between radio and Web 1.0, the arrival of Web–based social software services is still relatively recent, and represents an area needing greater attention. How are radio stations utilising this new social software? Are some applications a threat, or does radio see them more as a tool and collaborator in reaching and maintaining relations with listeners? What is the proper way to create and manage a Facebook page? These are only some of the questions that are popping up in water cooler conversations at radio stations the world over. Radio practitioners and researchers are exploring radio’s relationship with Web 2.0’s newer social software platforms - specifically, the current behemoth in this arena, Facebook. Along with the widespread adoption of the Internet, users are now shifting from being passive media recipients to active content creators on the Web. This development has culminated in the rise of the Web 2.0 and newer interactive online services, which are usually referred to as social software or social media. Social network sites have set up an appropriate infrastructure for users to interact with one another, independent of time and location and at a significantly extended reach. Unlike radio’s long–held broadcast model of point–to–mass, the Internet allows not only one–to–one or one–to–many communication to take place, but also many–to–many and many–to–one communication. By lowering the barriers to communicating online with user– friendly and intuitive features, social network
sites enable its members to access and share content and information such as music, videos or photographs, as well as news or opinions. Even though the Internet requires resources to be allocated - and human resources, in particular, may be costly - it offers significant advantages for radio stations: Firstly, it is usually free of charge; secondly, the Internet allows multimedia content, encouraging richer user experiences; and, thirdly, it can be accessed without any geographical bonds. On the other hand, the informational advantage of air personalities shrinks since a huge load of information is omnipresent online and can be easily searched. Since acquiring and retaining a large–scale listenership is crucial to commercial station businesses, especially because it depends on revenues from advertising, they have started to discover the opportunities that social network sites offer in terms of community building. Radio stations can present themselves on Facebook. A wide range of content can be covered, and the senders and recipients of communication can take place. The radio station Facebook profiles/pages in different countries may be similar, in that they have to conform to the basic Facebook layout. The differences can come in terms of the specific content and items that were utilised to shape the appearances of profiles, to generate engagement, and disseminate information. Even over just a few weeks, the sheer amount of data posted and observed for even a few stations is voluminous. While most stations have 'fan' pages, some stations run on 'friend' pages - the difference being that one must be personally accepted as a friend, rather than getting the automatic acceptance from 'liking', to be connected. 'Friend' pages have limits of 5,000 friends, yet there are no limits to the ‘likes’ one can receive on a fan page. Research indicates that most radio stations on Facebook have migrated over to 'fan' pages — which are identical in appearance to friend pages. The evolution of the radio–Facebook relationship continues to evolve, as radio broadcasters continue to look for creative and rewarding ways to connect to listeners through new media frameworks. Yet, structures are illdefined, and commercial relationships can seem vague or marginal. There does not seem to be any set pattern, for example, for management what or when to post items on a station's page - for sustainable associated advertising/commercial relationships to be viable. The rulebook is still being written. ✆ Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
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EQUIPMENT
CSG’s partner agreement automation service CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, Inc, which provides software and servicesbased business support solutions that help clients generate revenue and maximise customer relationships, now offers CSG Exchange – the latest component of its wholesale business management solution (WBMS). CSG Exchange automates the sharing of active agreements between carrier partners, including rate sheets, complex agreements, statements, invoices, and even dispute records. By automating and formalising the transfer of contractual information, CSG Exchange provides rigorous control while eliminating manual processes and resource costs. Agreement and rate information is validated upon receipt, with granularity down to the line level and all relevant parties notified of the results. The service also provides an independent repository for all agreements which can be used as a formal point of reference during disputes with partners. “The international telecoms market is extremely competitive and characterised by increasingly thinning margins. The ability to efficiently automate as many processes as possible is vital,” said Hassan Iftikhar, vice president, product management at CSG International. “The CSG Exchange service allows carriers to automate the partner agreement process resulting in reduced turn-round times and less time spent in dispute with partners.” CSG Exchange includes three distinct processing service offers: refile agreements; bilateral agreements; and statements & invoices. CSG customers can derive distinct value from using one or more of the services to modernise and streamline their business processes. CSG Exchange utilises the bilateral agreement formats compliant with upcoming Global Business Exchange for Telecom (GBET) standards.
www.csgi.com
Policy server aids integration, analytics and emergency communications SERVICE PROVIDERS CAN rapidly create and introduce new mobile data and digital lifestyle services with the Tekelec’s new Policy Server (PCRF). Latest capabilities enable service providers to: • Create and quickly introduce flexible offers using dynamic quotas. The Policy Server’s new rules engine allots dynamic quotas, which provide more flexibility within subscribers’ existing plans. • Introduce and scale Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services. Tekelec’s Policy Server gives service providers flexibility to request different amounts of bandwidth depending on the type of device and service. By allocating bandwidth based on the devices requesting it, operators can zero-rate voice traffic over LTE networks, manage voice sessions on IMS networks and implement quality of service controls for VoLTE calls. • Enhance support for Wi-Fi services. The Policy Server recognizes when devices are on Wi-Fi networks, which allows operators to differentiate charging of services based on network access type. • Improve customer service with unprecedented analytics. • Prioritise communications for first responders during emergencies. The Policy Server supports the Enhanced Multimedia Priority Service (eMPS) standard in the 3GPP Release 10 specification. “Tekelec’s Policy Server provides the underlying technology to usher in new flexible offers and partnerships, and give service providers ThinkingNetworks that align network resources with subscriber needs and revenue drivers,” said Houck Reed, vice president of product management and marketing at Tekelec.
www.tekelec.com
Gemalto integrates Qualcomm technology to improve design and deployment of M2M solutions THE CINTERION PORTFOLIO of cellular modules and devices offered by Gemalto gain a new module based on the QSC 6270-Turbo chipset developed by Qualcomm Technologies. With support for Java and for the SensorLogic cloudbased software as a service (SaaS) platform, the new device enables Gemalto to launch the next generation of embedded solutions and services that simplify machine-to-machine (M2M) technology deployment and speed up customised applications development. The Cinterion M2M end-to-end solution portfolio provides secure wireless connectivity for a variety of applications including automotive telematics, tracking & tracing, alarm systems and mHealth. The Cinterion modules utilise the application processor power to host customers’ application software directly onboard the module, eliminating the expense of additional processing and memory chips, thereby reducing overall cost, complexity and space. Multiple applications can run in parallel and the rich application environment allows the vast Java global developer community to reuse existing resources and to speed up the complete system integration. The architecture also simplifies overthe-air (OTA) provisioning and remote updating, to distantly manage M2M applications that often remain in the field for more than 10 years. Cinterion modules and solutions are seamlessly
30 Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
Cinterion modules utilise application processor power to host application software directly onboard the module, eliminating the expense of additional processing and memory chips, reducing cost, complexity and space integrated with the SensorLogic application enablement platform, which permits to quickly transform all sorts of devices into manageable assets that optimize business performance. From medical devices, automobiles and smart metres to shipping containers and alarm systems, more and more products are equipped with sensors that are together collecting massive amounts of data. Currently, most of this data remains siloed. And the vast majority of embedded software development is still customised for each specific device, leading to slow development cycles and interoperability issues. The complete Gemalto M2M’s Edge to Enterprise offering, including the Cinterion SensorLogic cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) platform allows to integrate big data from the edge of the network into existing processes of any kind. “When we integrated Oracle Java onto the QSC6270-Turbo chipset, we wanted to enable the worldwide Java development community to imagine, develop and deploy cellular-based
M2M applications,” said Nakul Duggal, vice president of product management at Qualcomm Technologies. “We are pleased that Gemalto shares our vision for the Internet of Everything and has now added the Java-enabled QSC6270Turbo to their complete range of solutions utilising Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. technologies that it offers to the ecosystem.”
Gemalto’s Cinterion portfolio gains extended capabilities with Qualcomm technology
www.communicationsafrica.com
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EQUIPMENT
Elitecore brings core session management platform for next-generation services ELITECORE TECHNOLOGIES, A global provider of OSS/BSS solutions, has introduced EliteCSM to market. This is a core session management platform for next-generation networks with preintegrated products including AAA, map gateway, PCRF, diameter signalling and charging gateway. The platform serves as a one-stop solution to increase revenues from existing and emerging services without having to go for a major overhaul each time there is an innovation - thus helping operators to adapt quickly to unpredictable changes in business environments. Using a common diameter and radius stack across all products enables easy integration processes for seamless connectivity. EliteCSM drastically reduces development costs and project timelines, and also solves complex integration issues with multi-vendor network elements like GGSN, PGW, HSS, PCRF and OCS vendors, allowing operators to reuse their network for future services with negligible customisation. Dhaval Vora, VP, product management at Elitecore, said, “With
emerging 3G, 4G networks and changing network dynamics, operators are trapped in a rigid eco-system in which new service creation and software development becomes time-consuming and expensive to design. It also causes service delays and disruptions in multi-vendor and multi-network deployments wherein each vendor has a different product roadmap or release timeline. To address these challenges, our EliteCSM platform delivers a future-proof investment making operators more flexible and efficient in creating new plans.” The EliteCSM platform addresses multiple access networks such as FTTH, ADSL, 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, LTE, IMS and WiMax networks. The platform is designed for extreme performance and scalability and helps operators manage increasingly complex processes associated with next generation transformation by offering value-added services that drive ARPU growth.
www.elitecore.com
A secure SCADA-aware solution for power utilities and transportation networks RAD HAS LAUNCHED a new ruggedised IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 compliant SecureFlow Ethernet switch/router. SecureFlow provides flexible connectivity for Ethernet intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) as well as older serial remote terminal units (RTUs) with full redundancy over various topologies using fibre optic rings, 2/3G cellular modems and external radio systems. The gateway function enables it to comprehend
both Ethernet IED and serial RTU protocols - so, in utility applications, SecureFlow can convert old IEC-101 SCADA protocols to the new IEC-104 IPcompatible equivalents, or Modbus serial to IP, DNP3 and others. These conversions enable seamless communication of IP SCADA to both old and new RTUs. Moreover, the solution’s advanced security package includes a per-port SCADA-aware firewall employing deep
packet inspection, and an integrated VPN agent for inter-site connectivity using IPsec, so that critical information is encrypted end-to-end. “What makes SecureFlow unique is that it is the only secure, SCADA-aware switch/router in the market that incorporates up to 16 Fast Ethernet and two Gigabit Ethernet ports as well as integrated serial interfaces, protocol gateway functionality and an advanced firewall in a single box,”
states Mati Epstein, who commands responsibility with respect to power utilities & transportation at RAD. “Bringing distributed security directly into every node in the network, rather than restricting it to a central site, protects the entire system from the latest generation of risks, which can emanate from many different directions,” Epstein explains.
www.rad.com
Portable renewable energy system launched in Rwanda ENTREPRENEURS HAVE THE potential to earn up to RWF 30,000 (US$46) per month in revenue from the MTN Comeka ReadySet. The portable solar energy system is designed to improve the lives of Rwandans living off-grid or without regular access to electricity. Distributed by MTN Rwanda, the Comeka ReadySet is a multifunctional energy system that can charge mobile phones as well as power lights, radios, tablets and other devices. It can also provide Rwanda’s enterprises and small- and mediumsized businesses an opportunity to earn additional revenues from a phone charging business, MTN said. The system, which is manufactured in California, USA by Fenix International, is available in MTN Service Centers and dealer shops at a cost of RWF 115,000 (US$177). Robert Rwakabogo, senior manager of marketing operations at MTN Rwanda said, “In addition to charging phones off an environmentally-friendly and cheap source of power, the Comeka ReadySet solution can also provide power for night lighting. This can help business owners keep their shops open for longer and generate extra earnings. We have already had a pilot phase and we have a positive response from end users and we are confident this system will serve our rural subscriber base effectively.”
“We have already had a pilot phase and we have a positive response from end users and we are confident this system will serve our rural subscriber base effectively” - Robert Rwakabogo, senior manager of marketing operations, MTN Rwanda Fenix International’s former vice-president of business development, Luke Filose and CEO, Michael Lin (left to right), displaying a solar power generator and ReadySet battery (Photo: Engineering for Change/Flickr)
According to MTN Rwanda, the system’s battery draws its energy from a 15-watt solar panel and offers a mains adapter for when the sun is not shining. MTN is the first
MTN is the first telecoms company in the country to pilot a renewable energy system as a way to improve energy and telecommunications access for all Rwandans www.communicationsafrica.com
telecoms company in the country to pilot a renewable energy system as a way to improve energy and telecommunications access for all Rwandans. While the Comeka ReadySet may prove an attractive backup energy solution for urban dwellers, the product is also targeted for business, the company said. The device can charge up to 10 phones a day or provide the power for up to 30 hours of lighting on full charge. MTN’s research has shown that Rwanda’s entrepreneurs can earn up to RWF 360,000 per year in revenue. The Comeka ReadySet Solar Kit includes a solar panel, mains adapter, two universal mobile phone chargers and a five-watt LED bulb. The device itself features two USB ports, two car lighter adapter ports and a display to show energy levels and recharge status.
Communications Africa Issue 4 2013
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Telkom Kenya signe un partenariat avec Eaton Towers TELKOM KENYA, LA filiale du Groupe Orange qui propose des services de télécommunications fixe et mobile au Kenya, a annoncé la signature d’un accord avec Eaton Towers concernant la gestion de l’infrastructure de son réseau passif. L’accord, d’une durée de quinze ans, prévoit la maintenance des sites existants par Eaton Towers, ainsi que la construction de nouveaux sites sur mesure. Ceci permettra de réduire les coûts d’exploitation et les investissements tout en améliorant la couverture et la qualité du réseau, et de réduire l’empreinte carbone d'Orange. Telkom Kenya restera propriétaire de son réseau de 1 000 tours, tandis que Eaton Towers investira dans la modernisation des infrastructures passives et la construction de nouvelles tours pour offrir à Telkom Kenya une couverture et une qualité de réseau améliorées. Ce partenariat constituera une base solide qui permettra à Telkom Kenya de se concentrer sur son cœur de métier : développer des services à valeur ajoutée, comme les usages de data sur mobile, et proposer un service clients d’excellente qualité. « Nous sommes convaincus que ce partenariat avec Eaton Towers représente un pas dans la bonne direction, », a déclaré Mickael Ghossein, Directeur
Général de Telkom Kenya. « Ce partenariat nous permettra d’étendre notre réseau et de développer de nouveaux services multimédias, en particulier dans les zones rurales, en ligne avec notre objectif d’offrir à la population kenyane la meilleure couverture réseau possible ainsi que des offres de qualité. Grâce à ce partenariat, nous allons pouvoir réduire nos coûts d’exploitation ainsi que l’impact environnemental, de notre réseau, en minimisant sa consommation énergétique. » Alan Harper, Directeur Général d’Eaton Towers, a commenté : « Nous sommes enthousiastes à l’idée de travailler en partenariat avec Telkom Kenya, d’autant que nous sommes la première entreprise de gestion d’infrastructure à démarrer des activités au Kenya. Cet accord est le prolongement de relations fructueuses avec le groupe Orange en Afrique, et apporte des avantages significatifs aux deux parties. L’expertise d’Eaton Towers dans la gestion des tours et son engagement à fournir un service irréprochable permettra à Telkom Kenya de se concentrer sur l’extension et l’amélioration de son réseau tout en optimisant les coûts.» Pour Orange, cet accord représente une avancée majeure dans la démarche d'amélioration de son efficacité et de contrôle de ses coûts d’exploitation
Pour Orange, cet accord représente une avancée majeure dans la démarche d'amélioration de son efficacité et de contrôle de ses coûts d’exploitation dans les pays où il est présent en Afrique.
dans les pays où il est présent en Afrique. Le partage d’infrastructures passives est un élément clé de cette stratégie et des accords similaires ont été conclus en Ouganda, en Côte d’Ivoire et au Cameroun.
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Testimony to the in-built excellence of Kirloskar Green Gensets is provided by the fact, that there are over 85,000 of them helping keep telecom towers across India up and running round-the-clock. Tried, tested and proven in one of the largest mobile telephony markets in the world, there are another 4,000+ gensets deployed in similar applications across Asia, Middle East and Africa Obviously, when it comes to reliably keeping people connected around the world, Kirloskar Green Gensets have few equals.
Advantage user • Largest selling genset brand in the 5 to 625kVA range • Reliable and complete power solution • Sales, spares and service network across Africa • High powered performance • Unmatched fuel economy • Easy and low maintenance • Long lasting • Low noise and vibration levels