Telecom Review GITEX 2018

THE T E L E CO M S I ND U S T RY M E D I A P L ATFORM

GITEX Technology Week 2018 - S 80

Driving the digital future and leading the 5G revolution to empower societies Eng. Saleh Abdullah Al Abdooli, CEO, Etisalat Group

Satellite operators can “take off� with demand for onboard wi-fi connectivity

Fiber deployments on the rise in MENA region

Where do regulations stand in the journey towards 5G?

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

CONTENTS

6

2

12 Driving the digital future and leading the 5G revolution to empower societies

Adapt and evolve: The Middle East in the Digital Age

22

26

Satellite operators can ‘take off’ with demand for onboard WiFi connectivity

Telecom Egypt striving to achieve customer satisfaction

4

News

25

Research shows rapid adoption of IoT in UAE and KSA

13

Huawei at GITEX 2018

28

14

New generation of products from Infinet Wireless will ensure it meets 5G demands

Jay Srage launches new enterprise to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies

32

Fiber deployments on the rise in MENA region

34

Where do regulations stand in the journey towards 5G?

20

Huawei heralds dawn of AI age in ME region at GITEX 2018

EDITORIAL

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

3

Editor in Chief & Senior ICT Analyst Toni Eid toni.eid@tracemedia.info Senior Journalists Mark Forker mark@tracemedia.info Christine Ziadeh christine@tracemedia.info Toni Eid, founder editor in chief Telecom Review International

Editorial Team Shelley Beyak (Canada), Toni Eid (UAE), Mark Forker (UAE), Hadeel Karnib (Lebanon), Lacinan Ouattara (Ivory Coast), Jennifer Saade (Lebanon), Jeff Seal (USA), Zane Small (New Zealand), Christine Ziadeh (Lebanon) Copy Editor Shelley Beyak Advertising Enquiries Mohammed Ershad ershad@tracemedia.info Senior Graphic Designer Lara Maalouf Graphic Designer Tatiana Issa Responsible Manager Joseph Bou Daher News Provided in cooperation with AFP, the global news agency Published by

Trace Media Ltd. Zouk Mikael, LEBANON Kaslik Sea Side Road, Badawi Group Building, 4th Floor, P.O. Box 90-2113, Jdeidet el Metn Tel. +961 9 211741 M. +961 70 519 666 Trace Media FZ.LLC. Dubai Media City, UAE Building 7, 3rd Floor, Office 341 P.O. Box 502498, Dubai, UAE Tel. +971 4 4474890 M. +971 55 639 7080 Printing

United Printing and Publishing

© All rights reserved Publication of any of the contents is prohibited - Year 13 - Issue S 80 -

Are we ready for digital transformation?

T

he digital transformation will have a direct impact on the nations from government establishments to corporates.

Digital transformation is using technology to improve the connected customer experience or citizens’ relationship with authorities (in a smart cities cases) and increase employee efficiency and accelerate decision making in the corporate environment.

When you transform your business or your entity in this way, you’ll experience collaboration like never before.

Simplicity, agility, operational and innovative opportunities are all what we get if we go into the digital transformation. And at the same time, you’ll dramatically improve the bottom line through more cost-effective purchase models and increased profitability.

But we should first define the strategy to leverage the opportunities that new technologies present and have the best planning and timeframes and no doubt the digital transformation will make difference that we are all talking about and that we have been expecting for years now!

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

NEWS

4

Etisalat signs agreement with IBM partner to offer smart integrated facility solutions Etisalat Facilities Management, a subsidiary of Etisalat Service Holdings, has signed an agreement with established market leader eSolutions, part of Midis Group and a regional platinum partner of IBM, to jointly offer Smart Integrated Facility Management solutions to achieve cost savings, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

The MoU was signed between Ali Hassan Harmoodi, General Manager, Etisalat Facilities Management (eFM); and Gaby Matar, Group Managing Partner, eSolutions, on the sidelines of the FM EXPO held from 23rd to 25th September at the Dubai World Trade Center. eFM is one of the main exhibitors at FM EXPO, the Middle East’s premier event for the facilities management industry.

By partnering with eSolutions, eFM will be able to enhance its operations by utilizing IBM cloud-based solutions in areas of facility management, space management and workforce management while optimizing related operational expenses. eSolutions will empower eFM to integrate IBM latest technologies and systems and create the required use cases to benefit eFM clients. Ali Hassan Harmoodi, General Manager, eFM, said: “The facility management industry is going through a major transformation, which is reshaping its requirements and priorities, mainly driven by the technology advancement and the tendency to outsource the FM functions to an integrated facility management provider.

“We, at eFM, are pleased to partner with industry leaders to develop breakthrough

services by utilizing technology advancement, innovative services and integration opportunities to achieve cost savings and operational efficiency while keeping the end-user perspective at the core of the facility management offerings.”

Gaby Matar, Group Managing Partner, eSolutions, said: “We are extremely excited about this partnership with eFM and look forward to servicing their clients with our successful IBM Platinum Partner portfolio of MAXIMO, leveraging today’s best technology in our rapidly changing world. Together with a highly skilled team of professionals, we will deliver quality enterprise solutions that match the highest international standards reducing costs, maximizing production uptime and enabling smart decisions.”

CommScope to highlight key trends in future networks at GITEX 2018 The gap between what’s technologically possible and how organizations are leveraging technology continues to grow.

As the Middle East and Africa region reduces dependence on oil and diversifies revenue streams, investment in the digital economy is paving the way for a future of connectivity.

Below are three trends shaping the region’s growing need for fiber Increased use of consumer technology is driving the need for bandwidth: The last few years have been game-changing with regards to video on demand for the UAE and the region . In addition to watching programs on their mobile devices, consumers are buying 4K televisions to stream internet-based programs which are including more local content.

Revenues for virtual and augmented reality devices are expected to grow while smart home technologies like video security, front-door access and mood lighting are being developed to help consumers save money.

Cities are being built from the ground up: The Middle East and Africa is driving

innovation around the future of urbanism.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are among those cities seeking creative ways to use data to improve services and quality of life around healthcare, security, mobility, economic development and housing .

Saudi is building four new cities by 2020, which means fiber can be laid everywhere without disruption to traffic and businesses. The UAE’s smart city project is uncovering ways to improve traffic and energy networks across the globe.

The region is focused on homegrown innovation: The region’s start up community is booming while entrepreneurs are creating Arab-specific mobile technologies which cater to education, logistics, design, finance and art, among other industries .

Dubai’s strategy to build the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence ecosystem coupled with creative hubs like the Dubai Design District are underpinning digital transformation across industries.

During GITEX Technology Week 2018, CommScope will highlight its latest solutions to meet the continuous growth

of bandwidth needs impacted by these trends: Smart indoor technology that will take advantage of 5G: CommScope has enhanced its One-Cell C-RAN to define new levels of in-building wireless.

Success in-building will become more critical for mobile operators as they seek to create value-added services for enterprises. Enabling enterprise services—from autonomous vehicles in factories to e-health services in hospitals—can become a key business opportunity for network operators.

Greater visibility into how the network connects to devices: The imVision automated infrastructure management (AIM) solution delivers a complete and up-to-date picture of the physical layer, as well as the location and connection map for all connected devices.

Journalists are invited to learn more about these trends and technologies from CommScope’s experts at stand SR C8 at GITEX Technology Week which is taking place in Dubai on October 14-18.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

NEWS

5

InfiNet Wireless to unveil record-breaking spectral efficient solution at GITEX 2018 InfiNet Wireless, the global leader in fixed broadband wireless connectivity, has announced its plans to participate in GITEX Technology Week, to be held in Dubai, UAE, from October 14-18. On display will be Quanta 5, the company’s brand new 5 GHz point-to-point (PTP) solution, designed on InfiNet’s latest software defined radio (SDR) technology.

Providing the highest spectral efficiency available in today’s wireless marketplace—even when operating in high interference environments, often experienced in many parts of the Middle East —the new Quanta 5 solution is ideal for a diverse range of applications, and more specifically back-hauling for WiFi, LTE and 4G basestations, transmission of high resolution CCTV and video streams, as well as providing internet access to remote locations.

Speaking about the relevance of the solution for applications of all types in

the Middle East, Kamal Mokrani, global vice president at InfiNet Wireless, said, “Solutions like the Quanta 5 deliver even higher performance than our previous platforms, making it ideal for any service provider considering the launch of new generation infrastructures aimed at catering to current and future 5G and IoT requirements. We designed this solution as an all-in-one package to enable operators of all sizes to quickly deliver high capacity premium services to their corporate clients, to interconnect their network nodes wherever they are located, or simply to provide internet connectivity to end users. Quanta 5 can also be deployed as part of a wide area network to connect remote locations to the main control and operations centers, whether for oil and gas companies as a part of their smart oilfield strategy, or for financial institutions wishing to seamlessly connect all their branches and offer better a customer experience.”

Other solutions on display alongside the Quanta 5 will include the latest generation of the successful InfiLINK XG product family. Available in new frequency bands, the InfiLINK XG is the ideal solution for unlicensed backhauling in multiple bands such as 2 GHz and 3 GHz for legacy WiMAX and microwave replacements, or 4 GHz and 6 GHz which are specific frequency allocations depending on specific countries. Building on these capabilities, the InfiLINK XG 1000 doubles the capacity of the XG up to 1 Gbps. By supporting two non-adjacent 40 MHz channels instead of a single 80 MHz channel, the XG 1000 can provide connectivity over distances in excess of 60 km, delivering unparalleled reliability and scalability to meet both current and future demands.

InfiNet Wireless can be found in Zabeel Hall, Stand Z2-C8.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

COVER STORY

6

Driving the digital future and leading the 5G revolution to empower societies Etisalat’s main theme this year at GITEX Technology week is focused on ‘Driving the Digital Future to Empower Societies’. This is built on our vision to provide futuristic solutions and services that will have a fundamental impact on people’s lives.

U

AE is witnessing an increased adoption of advanced technologies and Etisalat is taking a giant leap by launching the 5G network, investing in futuristic technologies and smart services.

The ‘future of mobility’ is one of Etisalat’s key focus areas this year as traditional mobility ecosystems are getting diversified with various

evolution that would elevate services, performance and enablement. Such new technologies are one of the gateways enabling UAE’s digital aspiration/vision, market trends and Etisalat’s long-term strategy.

technological and social forces making an impact and bringing in a radical change to our way of life. This includes the emergence of connected and autonomous vehicles, which will have a profound impact on the way people interact in their daily lives.

Our theme this year will provide visitors tangible insight into the rapid advancements in technology, network, services and mobility. This will play a key role in building the next generation of smart city innovations and is relevant in driving that change to open doors to the future of urbanism.

5G will be one of the key highlights for Etisalat in showcasing the future of urbanism and mobility. 5G will be a game-changer for the telecom industry with its rich potential, an

5G and Expo 2020 Etisalat has demonstrated strong commitment to sustaining its technological leadership by investing in emerging and next generation

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

COVER STORY

7

The ‘Future of Mobility’ is one of Etisalat’s key focus areas this year

technologies. Etisalat’s investment in 5G technologies is a prime example that has gained relevance because it is considered a major enabler for the next generation of broadband service and the internet of things, which is growing exponentially due to the global adoption of connected devices.

With its implementation, 5G will provide opportunities for economic growth and massive developments in the areas of ICT infrastructure, education, employment, transportation and more.

Within that context, we had a successful launch of the first 5G fixed broadband experience in the region. A commercial 5G network was deployed in certain locations within the UAE. This year, Etisalat had some significant initiatives that set global benchmarks in supporting UAE’s 2021 vision, which identified digital technology as one of the top seven primary national sectors. Etisalat’s main objectives from 5G are to

generate incremental 5G revenue via new use cases, adding value to shareholders and delivering worldclass customer experience.

Expo 2020 is a testimony to our efforts in 5G, which became the first 5G major commercial customer in MEASA (Middle East Africa and South Asia) through its partnership with Etisalat. Such an implementation is a declaration of a new era of digital connectivity and an acknowledgement of 5G’s rich anticipated potential.

The fifth generation of network will deliver faster speeds and lower latency. It will be a critical building block in the economic competitiveness for the UAE. 5G service availability will provide high data rates with ultra-low latency, which will far exceed the current 4G, providing unlimited access to all kinds of applications and services and will drive innovation, efficiency and productivity to a wide range of business and industrial sectors of the UAE.

For the enterprise segment, Etisalat is mainly focusing on IoT opportunities for 5G and will work closely with various verticals, including smart health, security, financial and transportation.

For consumers, Etisalat will be reviewing the evolution of a number of opportunity areas, including: AR/VR gaming, 4K streaming, smart homes, high quality content downloading, etc.

Strong financial performance leading to future investments and modernization of existing network Etisalat has laid a solid foundation the past year to invest in futuristic solutions and next generation technologies to deliver the best-inclass services while maintaining our focus on digital transformation, and making a significant impact on the overall customer experience.

Our results in the first half of 2018 showcased our ability to lead and innovate, amounting to a 6% increase

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

COVER STORY

8

5G will be one of key highlights for Etisalat in showcasing the future of urbanism and mobility

in net profit year over year (AED 4.3 billion).

Etisalat has always believed in innovation and technology transformation with the backbone of a robust and one of the most advanced, fastest and widest networks in the region. Infrastructure investments have been key to this growth and leadership in the market. In 2018, we have continued investing in the modernization of mobile and fiber optic networks, and infrastructure development through investments in future technologies such as IoT, artificial intelligence and 5G. Our continuous investments over the years have led to major achievements like the 3G network coverage reaching 99.98% while 4G LTE covering 98.98%.

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) coverage has reached 94.3% of homes across the UAE, thus maintaining the UAE’s position as a global leader in FTTH, according to the latest international report from the FTTH council.

Etisalat’s network cloudification is considered one of the key innovation

projects in the coming year. This will bring in efficiency as we will be able to deliver services in a more cost-efficient manner compared to the current model.

Vision for the future and keeping up with the rapid pace of change In the past few years, Etisalat has evolved into an ICT service provider by enabling an ecosystem with an advanced network and futuristic solutions like artificial intelligence and robotics. The UAE ranks number one in digital adoption among Middle Eastern countries having implemented core digitization initiatives.

As a company, our vision ‘Driving the Digital Future to Empower Societies’ is focused on making this digital future a reality by facilitating innovation, creativity and bringing technologies of the future to all of our customers across our markets.

Our infrastructure plays a key supporting role in the country’s ambitions to get digitally competitive and bring in digital transformation.

UAE today leads in the global ICT competitive index mainly due to the continued development and increased adoption of digital strategies in various projects and initiatives implemented.

Thanks to the vision and efforts of our leadership, UAE has achieved this global recognition due to the transformation of the country across different sectors.

For instance, blockchain technology will transform the way services are delivered and the workplace will become completely paperless. The adoption of blockchain would help the government prepare for future challenges. Over 50 percent of the UAE’s federal transactions would be powered by blockchain 2021.

The UAE has chosen to adopt the development of the ‘future industry’ in various aspects as means of development. Artificial intelligence will also make a major impact in our way of living. Connectivity of people and things will be ubiquitous, and the use of robots and digital personal assistants will become commonplace.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

Our results in the first half of 2018 showcased our ability to lead and innovate

As part of our digital journey and strategy, we believe in investing in the future that will lay a foundation of ideas; this has led to an investment in our next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. Our partnership with government-supported accelerator programs is a testimony to the company’s belief and philosophy that we have to work hand in hand with the next generation by providing them the building blocks to create and innovate to make digital future a reality.

Etisalat is currently working with entrepreneurs to increase customer adoption of digital self-care channels thereby enhancing customer experience and reducing 50% calls to Etisalat customer care using artificial intelligence, analytics and insights, and machine learning.

Artificial intelligence is going to be the game-changer in business contributing $96 billion to the UAE economy by 2030 - nearly 13.6 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It is most likely that automated transport will be the norm, and people

COVER STORY

9

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

COVER STORY

will no longer differentiate between a ‘cloud’ and a ‘local’. As for play and leisure, the use of robots will become commonplace as with human augmentation.

Etisalat’s network cloudification is considered one of the key innovation projects in the coming year

Role of private and public sector in enabling smart cities The government’s continuous endeavor to drive smart solutions across existing urban systems relies on integrated and interconnected strategies, and systems to effectively provide better services and increase quality of life.

Globally policymakers and business leaders have begun to recognize the need for more and better collaboration between public and private sector.

Over the past year, Etisalat has worked hand in hand with various government and non-government

10

partners to launch initiatives that will enable them to achieve their smart city goals and empower people through technology.

As an example, Etisalat partnered with the Ministry of Interior to link homes and establishments in the country by connecting the fire alarm system to the civil defense control room reducing response time in emergencies. Etisalat Digital’s M2M Control Center solution will be used for an advanced metering infrastructure project backhauling and communication by incorporating M2M connectivity and enabling the M2M portal for thousands of smart meters.

These endeavors targeted a wide array of critical social concerns.

In the era of ‘going digital’, governments, businesses and consumers today are beginning to

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

COVER STORY

11

see the value of digitalization with the increasing presence of transformative technologies in their day to day activities.

With the evolution of technology, today’s investments are focused on innovation to create dependable products that enables distinctive experiences and spread happiness in all segments of society.

Our infrastructure plays a critical role in creating this collaborative framework focused on the values of giving, empowerment and actively working closely with the public sector.

Role of cloud computing and data management for the economic marketplace of the future Cloud will provide the digital infrastructure for tomorrow’s cities, expected to have 6 billion of the world’s population by 2045. Smart services, autonomous driving and drone technologies - all will be better managed with the cloud’s ability to store and analyze data.

The UAE cloud service market will see increased adoption by financial services, hospitality, media and entertainment, oil and gas and retail sectors.

In the past year, cloud has played a significant role in our business services; as well, the new Secure Cloud WiFi delivers the power of visibility and automation.

Moreover, Etisalat made considerable progress on its path toward virtualization, with the launch of the Etisalat Telco Cloud, becoming the first operator in the region to virtualize the mobile core for consumer data traffic, virtualizing the customer premises equipment (CPE), and the Business CPE via the virtual service. This has planted seeds for the growth of agile products and services capable of self-care and auto-healing.

With the 5G network, IoT and the cloud will also facilitate digital growth and transformation for the company.

Data management in this scenario will become a key basis of competition, underpinning new waves of productivity growth, innovation - as long as the right policies and enablers are in place. With the rapid growth of data and analysis, the rise of multimedia, social media and IoT will fuel exponential growth in data for the foreseeable future.

to make major investments in future network technologies.

Changing role of telecom operators in today’s competitive scenario In today’s competitive scenario, Etisalat has focused on identifying new growth areas, combining the great potential of digitization and our existing core competencies to improve customer experience and generate new revenue opportunities.

Etisalat has maintained a diverse and effective business model, offering added value to our customers to meet and exceed expectations by launching a variety of innovative offers and services.

We have continuously re-invented ourselves to grow our presence with innovative technologies, adopt digital transformation strategies to streamline operations, and continue

Etisalat’s overall corporate strategy has always enabled us to consistently push boundaries, by responding swiftly to the global digital advancements and proactively delivering cutting-edge services and solutions to our customers.

End-to-end digitization will both complement and enable our focus areas, which will center on key technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence and robotics.

Collectively, these efforts will yield a portfolio of stronghold operations that will maximize shareholder value.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

OPINION

12

Adapt and evolve: The Middle East in the Digital Age

O

Since the beginning of time, millions of organism have come to life briefly and just as quickly faded from existence. A few live on in our memories: the Dodo bird, the Woolly Mammoth, the Passenger Pigeon. The vast majority have long faded to obscurity.

ther species, however, have survived the test of time. Crocodiles roamed the planet alongside dinosaurs. Sharks infested our oceans even before then.

Why do some species die, and others survive? They adapt to the world changing around them.

distribution grid network in the world. To accelerate its global growth and improve office efficiency, Enel had introduced bandwidth-consuming services such as desktop cloud, mobile office, and videoconferencing. But its original network could not keep up with these new services due to complex network structure, high latency, and low network speeds. Enel was suffering from reduced profitability and increased inefficiency.

Like organisms, organizations must adapt and evolve, or be left behind. In the age of Digital Transformation, to adapt and evolve means to deploy the most cutting-edge ICT technologies to conquer new challenges.

To tackle these challenges, Enel selected Huawei’s Agile POL solution, an innovative approach which uses a flat network architecture and is composed of converged OLT, passive Optical Distribution Network (ODN), and Optical Network Units (ONUs). Thanks to this solution, Enel radically enhanced its network performance, reduced energy consumption by over 60 percent, saved 80 percent valuable space – and accomplished all this with 50 percent higher deployment efficiency and over 50 percent lower OPEX!

As the world grows increasingly digital, there is growing strain on existing IT infrastructure. Organizations which fail to adapt with more agile technology risk facing unhappy customers, weak performance, and eventually losing revenue to their more nimble competitors.

At Huawei, our goal is to nurture a digital ecosystem which will empower our partners and customers to flourish through digitalization. We create the technology that enables companies to navigate the changing times, and then help them implement it. Through our vast and varied portfolio of products and solutions, we equip companies to survive and thrive in the Digital Era. Again and again, we have seen how ICT acts as a lifeline to companies struggling to stay afloat.

This was the case for Enel, a leading global manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas. As a multinational company, Enel has expanded to over 30 countries and owns the largest

By embracing digitalization, Enel found a new way to deliver smarter, faster, and more economical OA services, with simpler deployment, and less space and energy. As their case illustrates, organizations which adapt new ICT technologies can weather the changing times and surmount any obstacles.

At Huawei, we take pride in our ability to adapt and evolve. We credit our agility to our passion for innovation, and attribute our success to our continuous investment in R&D, which has totaled 90Bn in the past 30 years. We are committed to continuing to create new technologies which will accelerate the digital transformation of traditional industries.

At MWC 2018, for example, we were proud to announce the launch of our Intent-Driven Network solution. This exciting new software tackles a key challenge in the industry: end users are demanding faster provisioning of services, quicker fixes for network breakdowns, and have lower tolerance for breaks anywhere in the chain that might affect their network service quality.

Previous operations and maintenance (O&M) systems, still based squarely on the physical equipment, could not address these needs.

Making use of the most avant-garde cloud, big data, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, we launched the Intent-Driven Network solution to meet these demands. This solution delivers networks driven by a business logic and service strategies based around end user experience. They will enable softwaredefined networks (SDNs) to evolve and maximize business value.

This is only one example; for decades, Huawei has toiled in R&D, investing more of our revenue into research than any of our competitors, and through our labor we have reaped a rich harvest of innovative products and solutions. We will use these to equip organizations with the tools they need to flourish in the Digital Age. Our dream is to see all our partners and customers in the Middle East succeed through digitalization. And our tool is ICT. By bringing the world’s most cuttingedge technologies to the region, we will ensure that Middle East organizations adapt, evolve, and thrive in the Digital Era.

By Charles Yang, president of Huawei Middle East

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

OPINION

13

Huawei at GITEX 2018

N

ew technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence, and smart cities are revolutionizing how governments, businesses and consumers interact with the world around them. Huawei is committed to helping its partners in the Middle East navigate the changing times. In the spirit of openness and sharing wisdom, Huawei is hosting the third annual Innovation Day on GITEX day 2 (October 15). Held under the theme, “Innovate for a Digital Middle East”, the one-day event is a platform for luminaries and industry experts to gather and discuss how all can work together to embrace digital transformation and forge ahead on the road to an intelligent world.

With the aim of promoting a 5G Ecosystem in the Middle East, Huawei will start the day with a 5G Ecosystem Conference held under the theme “5G is Now, Sailing to New eMBB Horizons”.

The second part of the event is the AI Conference, held under the theme “Activate Intelligence”, where discussions, opinions and sharing experiences will take place on how AI and smart cities are transforming and reshaping the world we live in.

As the Middle East undergoes rapid digital transformation, the leadership is putting in place strategies to accommodate their digital agendas in their national visions. As a leading global provider of information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei views the Middle East as a significant market where the company can contribute to the development of the ICT industry, bringing digital to

As ICT technologies develop rapidly and become integrated into more and more verticals, the digital economy is becoming the fastest-growing, most innovative, and widest-reaching economy. It is an important driver of global economic growth and recovery, playing a vital role in unleashing the potential of economic development, driving the transformation of traditional industries, fueling sustainable economic development, improving social management and services, and fostering innovation. every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world.

Huawei’s end-to-end portfolio of products, solutions and services are both competitive and secure. Through open collaboration with ecosystem partners, we create lasting value for our customers, working to empower people, enrich home life and inspire innovation in organizations of all shapes and sizes in the Middle East region.

“We are rapidly progressing on the digital agenda and entering the all-intelligent world,” said Alaa ElShimy, vice president and managing director, Huawei Enterprise Middle East. ”Our long-term enterprise strategy in the region is to build a digital ecosystem through which Huawei can help our Middle East channel partners meet their customers’ needs by bringing in the most cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) products and solutions, enhancing connectivity and improving user experience across different domains.

Through joint innovation with our customers, partners, and peers, we hope to achieve growth across all industries, creating a robust win-win ecosystem for organizations throughout the region.”

This year, our presence at GITEX will be building on the importance of AI as one of the future leading technologies. Our participating in GITEX is designed to help all businesses and organizations step over the threshold and stake their claim in the intelligent world. We will use GITEX as a platform to launch and showcase a range of exciting new products, with a particular focus on AI. These will include:

• Huawei’s Full-stack, all-scenario AI solutions • The FusionCloud 6.5, a next generation enterprise-class full-stack intelligent private cloud solution • The FusionAtlas intelligent computing solutions: an AI enablement platform based on “One Cloud, One Lake and One Platform” architecture to help enterprises accelerate cloud migration and achieve digital transformation • For Unified Cloud Communication, we will showcase EC3000, the latest integrated platform EC3000 to facilitate enterprise video conference & cloud communication • In the field of wireless technology, we will showcase the latest eLTEDSA solutions, wich overcomes the challenge of insufficient continuous dedicated spectrum resources around the world by using 4.5G technology to aggregate traditional VHF/UHF narrowband discrete spectrum into broadband spectrum resources To make the most of opportunities in this new world, all organizations need to embrace and activate intelligence through digital platforms that are open, agile and equipped with state-of-the-art AI capabilities.

We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, please visit https://e.huawei.com/topic/gitex2018/ en/innovation.html?source=innovation

By Alaa ElShimy, managing director & vice president, Enterprise Business, Huawei Middle East

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

INTERVIEW

14

New generation of products from Infinet Wireless will ensure it meets 5G demands

Global vice-president of Infinet Wireless, Kamal Mokrani, has said that the introduction of its new generation of products will ensure it meets the ever-evolving demands of its customers in relation to emerging technologies such as 5G and internet of things.

U

nder the dynamic leadership and vision of Mokrani, Infinet Wireless has firmly established itself globally as a solutions provider that delivers industry-leading performance, unparalleled reliability and the lowest cost of ownership of a complete family of high-capacity wireless solutions.

Telecom Review managed to secure an exclusive with the charismatic Global VP ahead of GITEX Technology Week, where the company will showcase its new range of innovative wireless solutions. In addition to this, Mokrani outlines what differentiates Infinet Wireless from its competitors, the opportunities presented by emerging technologies such as AI and 5G, and his objectives for the future.

How important an event is GITEX for InfiNet Wireless – it obviously allows you to solidify the existing relationships you have with your partners, but does the conference present you with an opportunity to generate new business opportunities? wUndoubtedly, the primary focus for InfiNet Wireless at this year’s event in Dubai, just like for previous ones, will

be to further strengthen our presence in the Middle Eastern region. We will continue to demonstrate all the benefits we can bring to our partners and end users, launch a range of innovative wireless solutions and hopefully establish new and longlasting relationships.

For us, GITEX surely remains the place to see, hear, touch, and play with other emerging technologies.

This event allows us to constructively exchange views and opinions with various players on the subjects of IoT, 5G, smart cities, intelligent oilfields, autonomous cars, etc.

Our excellence achieved over the past 25 years as a leader in the broadband wireless industry will enable us to conclude several new agreements with a number of partners and service providers from the region or even globally, ultimately allowing us to deploy new platforms for applications such as E-services in both the public and private sectors, digitalization in the energy sector, mission-critical communication, services for public safety and commercial customers, etc.

InfiNet Wireless is a global leader in fixed broadband wireless connectivity, but in your expert opinion, what is it

that differentiates InfiNet Wireless from its competitors?

Over the years, we have deliberately stayed focused on one of our core competencies which is to design and manufacture innovative fixed broadband solutions and deliver entirely wireless platforms to all sectors of the industry, wherever they are located.

We have been and continue to be a market-driven company which delivers unique technological value to our channel partners and end customers. We are continuously listening closely to all our external and internal stakeholders and making sure we are always ready to meet their ever changing and demanding needs. Today, we can proudly claim that we are able to deliver industryleading performance, unparalleled reliability and lowest cost of ownership

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

of a complete family of high-capacity wireless solutions, allowing our customers to build future-proofed infrastructures and letting them focus on running their respective businesses in the most productive way possible.

Looking at it from a purely technical perspective, InfiNet has created a sustainable competitive advantage based on several technological features and ensuing benefits to our end users which other wireless vendors simply do not yet have.

For example, we have optimized our underlying protocols and hardware platforms to carry video streams much more efficiently than anybody else.

We are today working on a brand-new range of Software Defined Radios (or SDR’s) which will deliver significantly higher capacity and performance, while requiring even less radio spectrum than is possible with today’s technologies, e.g. up to 1.2 Gb/s in only 40MHz of channel size.

Our new generation of wireless products will enable us to make the next leap forward by delivering futureproofed platforms with advanced capabilities to help address increasing customer demands, new IoT and 5G applications as well as new service trends.

There is a lot of excitement in the ICT industry regarding the emergence of technologies like 5G and IoT. What new opportunities can these emerging technologies provide for InfiNet Wireless?

5G and IoT are expected to be major game changers for the next generation of technological platforms and associated applications and services. Their ultimate goal is to support the rising number of users by providing better speed, handling more data, greater responsiveness and connectivity to smart devices.

However, the requirements for managing such platforms in a costeffective manner will create various new challenges. For instance, the need to support future and diverse applications will require higher capacity, more reliable connectivity,

INTERVIEW

15

lower latency, access security, etc.—all of which require tighter integration between the access platforms, core and transport layers of an end-to-end fixed and mobile network.

At InfiNet, we recognized very early on that legacy cabled infrastructures can only take this technological revolution up to a certain point. Many of the unique selling points of IoT and 5G involve the necessary feature of mobility, with hard-wired solutions severely hampering the delivery of future applications and services.

Wireless platforms, such as ours, present themselves as the obvious candidates for any organization with serious intent on deploying future 5G and IoT infrastructures.

Our long-term goal has always been to significantly boost population coverage of high-speed broadband while at the same time minimizing capital expenditure and unlocking additional value in the most cost-efficient way.

Attending events such as GITEX in Dubai allows our R&D teams to meet with like-minded developers and contribute to the future of business and consumer communications, all part of an open ecosystem that works together to realize these major game changers.

We hope to secure new and exciting partnerships with various key players and help create tightly integrated solutions that combine InfiNet’s solutions for next generation widearea wireless IP networks with thirdparty ICT platforms for distributed, centralized and virtualized radio access.

InfiNet Wireless has been a leader in the effort to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas in Africa. Can you highlight some of the successful projects you’ve been involved in on the African Continent?

We have thousands of success stories from all corners of the world, with our wireless solutions deployed in all sectors of the industry. For Africa in particular, InfiNet’s solutions have been largely deployed by internet service providers (ISPs) of all sizes to provide internet access for both urban and rural

Our new generation of wireless products will enable us to make the next leap forward

communities, ultimately bridging the digital divide.

One of the most successful projects we have deployed is with a wellestablished ISP in Algeria. This service provider offers connectivity not only to enterprises of all sizes, but also to several schools and education establishments, often located in remote and difficult-to-reach parts of the country.

By deploying InfiNet’s advanced and reliable solutions, that can sustain even the harshest of terrains and climates, the ISP was able to deliver its services wirelessly across distances of more than 100 km, ultimately increasing studying opportunities for remote communities and contributing to the nurturing and development of the local economy.

Probably the biggest impact InfiNet has had in Africa was in the health sector, where mobile clinics were connected wirelessly to the nearest and better equipped hospitals in countries such as South Africa, Cameroon and Tanzania.

Visiting doctors and nurses were able to deliver primary healthcare directly to patients in rural villages with experts

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

available remotely to help diagnose and treat common complaints such as HIV, Malaria, STIs and pregnancy without requiring patients to travel to the city.

We have also delivered wireless solutions to various players in the mining industry, such as Anglo American and the De Beers Group, to enable them to connect remote sites to their control centers for the simultaneous transmission of voice, data and video. Homeland security, border control and traffic management are just three other applications in which our wireless solutions have been used to improve people’s daily lives, across the African continent.

CCTV solutions developed by InfiNet Wireless have reduced crime in a Colombian town by 45%. Are you implementing your cost-effective wireless infrastructure in any other Latin American countries to help law enforcement officials fight crime?

Building on our past successes in Latin America, with both public and private sector projects, we are today implementing a growing number of new large-scale CCTV projects throughout the region. There are also many emerging requirements for video surveillance, especially when combined with other applications related to deploying solutions for traffic management and smart cities, a relatively new concept in many countries of the region.

We are also witnessing an increasing demand for homeland security due to various political unrests and the mass migration of communities.

In Brazil, for example, as part of a “growth acceleration program”, the government made significant investments in order to narrow the gap between the richer and poorer districts of its major cities, ultimately reducing violent crime and improving the overall security and safety of its citizens.

In the southern districts of Columbia, where rising crime rates were stretching police and government

INTERVIEW resources very thinly, InfiNet and its local partners worked very closely worked with the local authorities to provide a state-of-the-art CCTV infrastructure to prevent drug trafficking and theft of remote government assets. In Mexico, various port authorities have deployed CCTV solutions to monitor and secure the movement of cargo containers for a wide range of commodities such as petroleum, chemicals and agricultural produce. In Chile, we are working with the main service providers to provide remote monitoring of various mining locations as well as some of the country’s top skiing resorts.

To address such a diverse need for security, we have further enhanced our existing solutions to carry even more data within the same spectrum and provide high definition video streams to allow all the usual analytics (e.g. face recognition, ANPR, etc.) to be undertaken by the local and regional law enforcement agencies in a dynamic manner. We are also designing a few new projects for surveillance technologies using drones, which are rapidly gaining popularity in the LATAM region.

There have been some economic issues across the ICT industry this year, but how has 2018 been thus far for InfiNet Wireless, and what are your primary objectives and goals looking ahead to 2019?

The use of any wireless technology, whatever its application, is often hampered by regulatory barriers which can make it difficult for companies such as InfiNet Wireless to develop the latest platforms, especially as airwaves become an even more scarce resource. Despite all these challenges, we have had a number of successes from all regions of the world throughout 2018 and we expect our company growth to continue to grow by double-digits in the years to come.

There is a general consensus that digital technologies are going to transform almost everything we do and hopefully make future infrastructures more reliable, more connected, safer, more efficient and, above all, smarter.

16

One of our most important goals as far as R&D is concerned is to continuously improve everything we deliver to our customers, e.g. capacity, spectral efficiency, latency, reliability, etc. Our new SDR wireless architecture will enable us to make the next leap forward by delivering much higher broadband performance that will in turn help transform how people use technology in their daily lives.

This is indeed a major and strategic area of focus for our management team and we aim to enable seamless distribution and transport of content and applications by cooperating very closely with many of the big ICT and telecoms brands, to ultimately develop future-ready wireless solutions which will deliver advanced features and capabilities.

We expect our company growth to continue to grow by doubledigits in the years to come

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

PREVIEW

20

Huawei heralds dawn of AI age in ME region at GITEX 2018 Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, will unveil its newest AI-driven technologies at GITEX Technology Week to take place in Dubai from October 14 to 18.

O

n top of launching Huawei’s most advanced global products and solutions in the Middle East, the event will be a platform for Huawei to drive the region’s digital ecosystem by deepening its collaboration with partners through the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), joint demonstrations of the world’s most developed digital technologies, and conferences where industry experts and leaders will gather to discuss the best path forward to building a digital Middle East.

Under the theme ‘Activate Intelligence’ , Huawei’s booth Stand Z1-D10 in Za’abeel Hall will demonstrate how ICT technologies, designed to equip Middle East organizations for the next big step on the road to intelligence and digital transformation, are revolutionizing the way governments, businesses and consumers interact with the world around them.

By 2025, the world will see upwards of 40 billion smart devices. More than 86% of businesses and organizations will use AI, and data utilization will reach 80%. Like air we breathe, AI services will be everywhere, creating an intelligent

world that will reveal endless vistas of opportunities.

As digital technologies develop at an accelerating pace, their reach is rapidly extending into every vertical sector, opening new venues for innovation and growth for organizations across the board. ICT has become the world’s most important and impactful industry.

It is at the heart of global economic growth, driving societal progress, revitalizing traditional industries, fueling sustainable economic development, and improving social management and services.

The Middle East stands most to gain from the growth of ICT. The region

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

is undergoing seismic changes as leaders are spearheading their societies’ transformation into diversified, knowledge-based economies. ICT is at the crux of the success of the region’s vision for the future. Nascent AI technologies in particular will underpin the next leap forward into an intelligent world, where people, vehicles, homes and devices are fully connected, delivering new experiences, insights and capabilities.

At GITEX, Huawei will lay out a blueprint for leading the Middle East into the Digital intelligence Age. Visitors to Huawei’s booth will have the opportunity to witness firsthand the emerging power of AI. The new partnerships, products and solutions to be announced at GITEX will include Huawei’s fullstack, all-scenario AI solutions, the latest AI chipset with machine learning, the new FusionCloud 6.3, a next generation enterprise-class full-stack intelligent private cloud solution, the CloudLink, which will lead enterprise communication and collaboration into the era of intelligence, and the new FusionServer with intelligent computing features: an AI enablement platform based on “One Cloud, One Lake and One Platform” architecture to help enterprises accelerate cloud migration and achieve digital transformation. Based on all AI technologies, Enterprise Intelligence (EI) will bring intelligent application to cloud services in government security, transportation, etc.

Huawei will also host a joint conference with a leading operator in ME region to demonstrate their newest WiFi solutions and another joint exhibition with a leading public services government authority. In addition, Huawei will organize a roundtable on Finance Services Industry (FSI) CXO and ecosystem and sign MoUs with leading regional partners, in addition to networking with its partners through an award ceremony to recognize the recipients of the company’s HCIE training program

PREVIEW As AI-driven technologies are transforming the world’s digital landscape, Huawei is committed to helping their partners in the Middle East navigate the changing times. In the spirit of openness and sharing wisdom, on October 15 Huawei will host its third annual Huawei Middle East Innovation Day on the sidelines of GITEX. Held under the theme, “Innovate for a Digital Middle East,” the one-day event is a platform for luminaries and industry experts to gather and discuss how all can work together to embrace digital transformation and forge ahead on the road to an intelligent world.

The event will start with the 5G Ecosystem Conference held under the theme “5G is Now, Sailing to New eMBB Horizons.” The conference will gather operators, regulatory agencies, vertical industry leaders and broader ecosystem advocates to discuss the 5G industry from the perspectives of business, technology, and policy to demonstrate how 5G will enable the transformation of vertical industries and promote regional economic development. The 2nd part of the event will be held under the theme “Activate Intelligence in ME Region”, where Industry leaders and luminaries will gather for keynotes, discussions and experiencesharing on how AI- enabling digital transformation and reshaping the world we live in.

Alaa ElShimy, managing director & vice president, Enterprise Business, Huawei Middle East, said: “The world is transforming around us.

Emerging technologies like AI are on the verge of changing how we live, work and play. Now is the time to seize new opportunities and activate intelligence through digital platforms that are open, agile and equipped with state-of-the-art AI capabilities. Huawei is committed to supporting our partners and governments in the Middle East as they forge ahead on their journey of digital transformation, and we hope that GITEX will be an opportunity to showcase how new technologies can drive business growth and empower

21

organization to reach the next level of capabilities.”

Huawei’s presence at GITEX is made possible in part through the strong support of their partners, including their Diamond sponsors, Foresight, GAPP and Redington, and their Gold sponsors, Emitac, Enterprise Systems and VisionTech. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages.

Huawei is committed to bringing its global expertise and latest innovations to the Middle East region and creating maximum value for governments, telecom operators, enterprises and consumers.

For more information, please visit Huawei’s GITEX 2018 microsite.

The event will be a platform for Huawei to drive the region’s digital ecosystem

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

ICT FEATURE

22

Satellite operators can ‘take off’ with demand for onboard WiFi connectivity

Connectivity is now recognized as a basic human right and the ever-evolving demands of customers have now resulted in an expectation to be connected at all times!

T

his demand to be connected now extends to when we’re flying from one destination in the world to another.

Emirates Airlines has long been a pioneer in championing WiFi connectivity for its passengers onboard all of its flights since becoming the first carrier in the world to offer such services over a decade ago.

However, the demand to have access to WiFi has now risen exponentially over the past number of years as we have become a more ‘connected society’.

This new growth area in relation to inflight connectivity has led to a lucrative new opportunity for satellite operators to create new revenue models in what

has become an increasingly disrupted and competitive telecommunications industry.

Airline carriers need to be able to provide their passengers with access to high performance WiFi connectivity. Basic WiFi access for free for a couple of hours does not satisfy passengers. This has created a new challenge for the aviation industry.

Put simply, airlines that don’t provide WiFi services will lose market share and profits will plummet. This demand and expectation from passengers has created a vacuum for satellite operators to deliver enhanced broadband connectivity to the airline industry.

However, it has become evident that many challenges lie ahead. In-flight

connectivity is made via satellite and this inevitably creates intense competition between satellite operators to secure lucrative contracts and agreements with airlines.

The satellite industry is undoubtedly enhancing connectivity to the airline sector, but satellite broadband still needs to be significantly improved in order to meet the growing market demands.

In the current climate, the connectivity that exists today is restricted and limited in terms of bandwidth which doesn’t sufficiently support and facilitate the required level of functionality that the airline industry expects.

In addition to this, there are also many regulatory barriers to overcome if the

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

aviation industry is going to achieve its overall objective, which is deliver uninterrupted WiFi connectivity to its passengers on-board any flight. There are still many countries that prohibit the use of WiFi over their territories, with India being a prime example of this policy.

Airlines are going to have to invest heavily not only in connectivity bandwidth but also in CAPEX. The WiFi connectivity challenges for airlines are not exclusive to passengers. Cockpit connectivity is also a major vertical for satellite operators. Airlines are now recognizing the benefits of installing and integrating new technologies into its existing system in order to relay real-time data from cockpits back to air control centres.

One satellite operator that has taken advantage of the opportunity within the aviation industry is UAE satellite provider Thuraya Telecommunications Company.

The operator released a new innovation solution entitled ‘Thuraya Aero’ which has resonated with many within its target market. The cutting-edge innovative solution is a satellite communication service that enables in-flight connectivity for internet access, voice calls, text messaging and high speed data applications on board small- to mediumsized aircrafts.

Developed in partnership with trusted leaders in aviation solutions - namely SCOTTY, Cobham and SRT, Thuraya Aero is suitable for fixed wing and rotary wing aircrafts as well as any other air platforms flying missions beyond line of sight.

CEO of Scotty Group Kurt Kerschat highlighted the critical importance for airlines to be able to provide its passengers with the opportunity to be connected at all times.

Kerschat said, “When you look at the cooperation that we have with two parties involved with the Thuraya Aero solution, I think it represents the perfect match from a business perspective.

If you examine the current situation in the modern world, it’s very evident that connectivity is entering all aspects of our daily lives. Connectivity is critically important in almost every industry across the globe. People want to be connected all the time, and that extends to when

ICT FEATURE they’re travelling by air, they want to be connected when they’re on an aircraft.

You see that now with a number of airline carriers such as Emirates that you can connect to WiFi while onboard.

Connectivity on the aircraft is vitally important for passengers, and this is something we call ‘cabin connectivity’.”

Andreas Krenn, managing director of ProtectivesTrading, which is a company based in Dubai that provides crucial and life-saving equipment to defense and law enforcement units in the Middle East and Africa, echoed the sentiments expressed

by Kerschat and illustrated the complex differences in connectivity demands between passengers and the cockpit.

Krenn said, “It’s very important to focus attention on the connectivity requirements in the cockpit. The cockpit usage and demands of connectivity are not comparable to that of a passengers’ use of WiFi. Passengers will be accessing applications like WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. In relation to cockpit connectivity, you need to think about data link applications directly related to air traffic management, optimizing route trajectories and enhancing operational efficiencies – all to the benefits of aircraft operators. Further to enhance the operational efficiencies, the cockpit connectivity demand is driven by regulatory requirements. The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) has introduced new rules which need to be rolled out by aircraft operators in the next two years. Every new aircraft that is being delivered to go into service has to be equipped with specific connectivity equipment to fulfil the requirement which links the cockpit with the air traffic management systems,” added Krenn.

Other satellite operators such as SES Networks and Eutelsat have identified the golden opportunity that is being presented by increasing connectivity demands in the aviation industry. They have both restructured their strategies accordingly in an effort to grab a share of the market.

In truth, multiple satellite operators globally are placing much more emphasis on the aviation industry in an effort to create new revenue streams outside of its traditional core business model. This

24

was evidenced further by the agreement between Air France and Golden Eagle.

Air France awarded a long-term contract for in-flight connectivity systems and services to a partnership consisting of Global Eagle, a US leading provider of satellite-based broadband connectivity and Orange Business Services, which is a subsidiary arm of the French telecommunications behemoth Orange.

The collaboration between Global Eagle and Orange Business Services will deliver high speed internet, industryleading passenger portal interfaces and services, integrated billing and passenger data analytics supporting Air France’s digital transformation initiatives and its progressive customer experience vision.

“In-Flight Connectivity gives Air France the opportunity to enhance the customer experience and to take a major step towards digital transformation,” said Pierre-Louis Biaggi, vice president, Connectivity at Orange Business Services. “Orange Business Services has leveraged its high performance network and its strong experience in project management to support Air France’s ambitious goals. Together with our partner Global Eagle, we will enable Air France to be the first airline in Europe to take full advantage of the KU-Highthroughput satellite network and thus drastically increase on-board passenger connectivity experience.”

“Air France sought industry-leading connectivity solutions with the highest reliability and quality to power superior customer service, innovation and digitization,” said Josh Marks, Global Eagle CEO. “Together with our partner Orange Business Services, we are proud to support Air France’s ambitions with high-speed gate-to-gate internet, integrated with our powerful customer portal for the Air France short and medium haul fleet.”

Expect to see more and more of these types of collaboration and partnerships as satellite operators and providers of satellite-based broadband connectivity attempt to seize the lucrative opportunities that now exist in the aviation industry.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

ICT FEATURE

25

Research shows rapid adoption of IoT in UAE and KSA

Linksys are celebrating 30 years of networking and WiFi innovation for the home and business this year, and it has announced that there is rapid adoption of IoT in the Middle East with a growing number of people investing in smart devices for their home, according to latest study by Linksys on consumer Wi-Fi usage trends, ahead of GITEX Technology Week.

T

he possibilities of IoT in the home are endless, from smart lighting and thermostats to smart fridges to machine learning devices.

Linksys’ study shows there is growing use of voice assistants and TV signals that are primarily internet based.

“The number of people using smart devices in the home is increasing rapidly, which means there is also a growing need to upgrade to bigger, faster home Wi-Fi systems,” says Amanulla Khan, Managing Director Linksys Middle East, Turkey and Africa. “People may not realize that even if they only stream Netflix on a smart TV, it affects the overall Wi-Fi experience for others in the household by using bandwith.”

Smart TVs lead the way According to the Linksys study, 85.4% of respondents from the Middle East own at least one smart TV, out of which 27.9% respondents own multiple smart TVs. UAE ranks above Saudi Arabia in the adoption of smart TVs, with 86.6% and 84.2% respondents respectively.

Watching TV through the internet is very popular in the Middle East, with internetbased entertainment being the primary source of TV for 22.3% of respondents.

This is widely seen in the UAE, among 26.8% of respondents, and 17.8% seen in

Saudi Arabia. Subscribing to TV services is still big in the Middle East and the study highlights about 25.5% of Middle East respondents using their smart TVs for subscription-based TV services. Of this figure, 52.1% use it to download TV series and movies, and 31.4% use it to livestream sport events.

62%. Adoption of smart lighting was higher, at 58%, and 52% of respondents are considering investing in this by 2020. The Middle East will see a steady adoption of voice assistants such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, with 28.5% of respondents considering such a purchase by 2019.

Voice Assistants on the rise The use of chatbots and virtual assistants, commonly called voice assistants, is rapidly increasing. The use of voice assistants such as Amazon Echo, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home is on the rise, with 35.7% ownership amongst respondents.

Khan explains: “While we are now talking smart lighting and voice asistants, in the next couple of years we’ll move to even smarter connected devices in the home driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Solutions include Phyn, a smart water management system that protects your home from leaks by learning from your usage, and Whirlpool’s smart kitchen range, which automatically preheats the oven and cooks dishes based on recipes. These innovations will accelerate the number of IoT devices in the home and also the need for up-tospeed Wi-Fi. Whoever wants a smart home needs to be smart and futureproof his or her home network too.”

Other smart devices that have reached the 40% adoption barrier include connected security cameras and smart lighting, with 39.3% and 39.6% of Middle East respondents owning such devices respectively. While the use of smart doorbells is very popular – they are owned by almost half of the Middle East respondents (46.5%) –thermostats by Nest and Netatmo lag behind, with only 24.6% of respondents owning such devices.

Living in the digital age, the internet is increasing a part of our daily lives and a new normal for all. Linksys’ study forecasts that 58.5% of respondents who don’t own any smart home devices are keen to adopt IoT in their homes, with UAE at 55% and Saudi Arabia at

During GITEX, visit the Linksys stand at Hall 1 of Dubai World Trade Centre – the trade fair will run from 14-18 October 2018. Visitors will be able to experience a smart home with Intelligent Mesh™ technology brought to reality by Award Winning Velop Whole Home Wi-Fi system with entry-level Dual-Band offerings.

Linksys will also showcase a range of disruptive intelligent business solutions for SMBs.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

INTERVIEW

26

R

evamping fixed broadband has been a quantum leap in broadband services in Egypt. How can you see its effects on Telecom Egypt and telecommunications services in Egypt?

The fixed broadband revamp introduced a new strategic offering to the fixed data market by increasing the minimum (from 1Mbps to 5Mbps) and maximum (from 16Mbps to 100Mbps) speeds of internet in Egypt. The revamp not only focuses on the service the customer is receiving, but also, for the first time, on the customer experience and satisfaction. Telecom Egypt has invested heavily in its network to deliver the revamped speeds, and in its IT systems to improve transparency and customer satisfaction by informing the customers, in advance, of their attainable speeds.

Since the launch of the new WE Internet packages, customer usage has dramatically increased. This is a sign of customer satisfaction and it is perfectly aligned with natural customer behaviour to increase usage to access online content when the quality of service is satisfactory.

Telecom Egypt striving to achieve customer satisfaction Egypt’s largest incumbent operator Telecom Egypt has been heavily investing in its network to deliver high internet speeds and improve customer satisfaction, said CEO Eng. Ahmed El Beheiry. In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review, Telecom Egypt CEO highlighted the efforts undertaken to enhance broadband services in Egypt and the operator’s CSR initiatives aiming at developing the Egyptian society.

WE is now leading the Egyptian market with this unmatched high speed offering, which allows its customers to enjoy and expand their usage of applications and services that require high speed internet.

The modernization of our infrastructure, which enabled the WE Internet launch, paves the way for opportunities in new revenue streams including: • Digital transformation • Data transfer and backups • Quality monitoring • IoT • Security monitoring Telecom Egypt recently signed strategic partnership agreements for various global submarine cable services. Can you outline to us the primary benefits these collaborations will provide for Telecom Egypt and the region?

Telecom Egypt is proud to have recently entered into several strategic partnership agreements for global international services with large industry players. This allows our partners to enhance their reach

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

and connectivity to meet their increasing demand for capacity. This partnership also presents their customers with a world-class service through Telecom Egypt’s reliable and diverse terrestrial and submarine networks.

TE’s strategic partnership with Airtel will enable its customers to access large capacities on a number of Telecom Egypt’s cables, including: TE North, SEAME-WE 5, AAE-1 and the newly acquired MENA Cable. This will complement Airtel’s global network portfolio with high quality and diversified new routes to Europe and the rest of the world. Such agreements also allow TE to realize returns on its assets as well as expand its terrestrial infrastructure across the country to maintain the supreme service level mandated by the international market.

Our partnerships help fuel intra-regional trade, boosting the economy domestically and regionally, and highlighting Telecom Egypt’s position as the partner of choice for regional and global operators to improve their connectivity and reach to better serve their end customers.

Can you tell us more about Telecom Egypt’s vivid role in developing Egyptian society and the company’s corporate social responsibility priorities in recent years?

At Telecom Egypt, we believe that corporate social responsibility is one of our most important duties. It is an ongoing commitment to develop and improve educational, cultural, economic and social aspects of the life of Egyptian citizens.

In this respect, Telecom Egypt seizes every opportunity to fulfil its responsibility.

These efforts are clearly shown in numerous community initiatives that touch various aspects of life, including health, education, empowerment of women and youth, social integration of people with special needs and community development. These initiatives mainly target vulnerable groups, remote and disadvantaged areas.

The most prominent of these initiatives are giving financial and technological support to large medical institutions that provide free services to the deprived, launching an electronic network to

INTERVIEW link more than 200 MOH blood banks all over Egypt, giving support to the Special Olympics champions inside and outside Egypt, the development of poor villages, providing training and education opportunities, and supporting small enterprises, etc.

On the other hand, Telecom Egypt maintains strong relationships with civil society. Through these relationships, we succeeded to develop a framework that enables us to better understand society’s needs and fundamental problems, and therefore, make a real difference in the Egyptian In light of all the aforementioned initiatives, Telecom Egypt highly prioritizes sustainable development. As ICT plays a vital role in achieving these goals, we commit ourselves to using our technological, financial and human resources to add value to Egyptian society. TE also commits to improving the quality of Egyptian lives and driving sustainable development through various communication solutions and services.

Despite the long journey, we still have an overwhelming feeling that there are more goals and Telecom Egypt enjoyed a revenue increase of 16% in its recent Q2 results. Are these figures evidence of a successful investment strategy?

TE’s revenue growth came as a result of targeted investment with the main driver being the strong growth in data services (+45% YoY) including mobile revenue.

The main goal of our investment strategy is to boost Telecom Egypt’s revenue and profitability to increase the shareholder value in the long-term. Being the largest, incumbent operator in Egypt, our strategy will boost Egypt’s economic growth by developing the country’s telecom infrastructure to provide the best service quality to our customers. Our investment strategy focuses on three main pillars: the mobile launch, overhauling Egypt’s internet infrastructure and expanding Egypt’s international network.

1. Taking a closer look at the mobile launch, our aim is to build on the successful launch by integrating this new segment with TE’s existing businesses to boost operational growth and capitalize on our existing assets.

27

2. Our second objective is to overhaul Egypt’s internet infrastructure to provide the best service quality to our customers, and induce revenue and economic growth. As such, we have launched our rebranded “WE Internet” to increase the maximum and minimum speeds offered to our customers and enhance their customer experience. We are looking to reach 100% of homes with fiber to the curb by 2020 and work on content development as a product offering.

3. Our third objective is to expand Egypt’s international network to implement our vision of making Egypt a digital route. This will be done by expanding our international submarine and terrestrial cable presence. We have recently acquired MENA Cable to become the second fully owned submarine cable of Telecom Egypt in addition to TE North. In the future, we are looking to invest in new routes and landing stations, and develop digital applications to turn Egypt into a regional datacenter and cloud computing hub.

What are your primary objectives and goals for the remainder of 2018?

In 2018, we intend to continue to reposition our brand by focusing on the young and data-savvy Egyptian population. We will continue to enhance our customer service to improve customer experience and deliver products that are the best value for money. We intend to complete our product offering to the market. We have recently launched our first total telecom offering including landline, fixed broadband and mobile, and we intend to launch our dedicated enterprise offerings before the end of the year. Financial inclusion is also at the top of our agenda. ePayment, mobile money and e-wallets are very important and fast-growing services worldwide. The diversification of ICT services is also a key priority for Telecom Egypt in the coming years. Fully integrated business solutions and other adjacent services like cloud computing, datacenters, big data and IoT services, will be the primary engines of growth in the future. We are currently enhancing all our business solution systems and operating solutions systems with stateof-the-art technologies to meet the demands of such market.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

INTERVIEW

Jay Srage launches new enterprise to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies

28

Jay Srage established himself as one of the most prominent leaders and visionaries in the ICT industry in the Middle East during his highly successful tenure as president of Qualcomm in Eastern Europe and the MEA region.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

T

he US chipmaker, which is one of the world’s most valuable companies, expanded its operations to the Middle East and Africa in 2008. It turned to the dynamic and innovative Srage for leadership in order to oversee its entry into a new and challenging marketplace.

Under Srage’s direction, Qualcomm enjoyed phenomenal success, spearheaded a number of new projects and programs with operators in the region and was at the center of a movement driving advanced LTE products on the road towards 5G. However, after serving Qualcomm with outstanding distinction for over a decade, the ambitious Srage is launching a new kind of enterprise called Centrigent - with backing from major regional players in the technology, analytics and consultancy sectors.

In an engaging discussion, the charismatic Srage highlighted how emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, cloud, IoT and blockchain are going to fundamentally reshape, revolutionize and impact almost every industry in the entire world.

The former Qualcomm executive explained that he plans to modularize and incorporate these emerging technologies under one architecture so that they can be applied and integrated across multiple industries, bringing a cross-common foundation with a bespoke element specific to each customer. He has identified a clear gap in the market, and Centrigent has been borne out of that vision.

INTERVIEW context of broadband speeds from 3G to 4G to 5G - and on the smartphone business ecosystem. The main driver for the telecommunications industry, specifically on the mobile side, has been the smartphone – and there hasn’t been any other mobile device that can remotely match the success of the Smartphone. What has happened in the last few years is that the smartphone business has slowed down globally to single-digit year on year growth. So this development has forced companies in this industry to think about how to get their doubledigit growth from adjacent markets.”

According to Srage, the industry has now come to an intersection point, with next generation emerging technologies now possessing the capabilities to connect devices beyond the smartphone.

Srage said, “We’re now at an intersection point of having 5G as a technology that enables devices beyond the smartphone. As we approach that intersection point, other major disruptive technologies are emerging such as AI, IoT, Blockchain and managed cloud services; when combined into a single architecture, has the potential to evolve and transform everything we do and experience across every industry and sector…”

Before explaining in detail what Centrigent can offer businesses and customers, Srage provided a bit more context and background as to why he started his new enterprise, in an exclusive interview with Telecom Review.

Srage claimed that large corporations and enterprises continue to look at emerging technologies in a blinkered fashion, and are approaching it from a viewpoint of bringing one specific technology to one specific industry.

The CEO and founder of Centrigent argues that the strategy adopted by many enterprises is fundamentally restricted, and that they need to approach the global market from the perspective of a dynamic matrix of multiple technologies across multiple industries. However, that represents a significant challenge to most companies that are positioned in a one by one matrix.

“If you examine the macro level of telecommunications, it has been focused predominantly on the network technology evolution within the

“Moving from 1 by 1 matrix to n times n matrix creates an opportunity to build a single multi-technology blueprint that will be foundational

29

to most companies across many industries, and this is how Centrigent started,” added Srage.

The vision of this new enterprise is to develop a cohesive and coherent strategy that enables the integration of emerging technologies such as AI, cloud, internet of things, 5G and Blockchain into existing operations across a diverse range of different sectors.

Srage said, “There are differences between one industry and another of course, but in terms of what the main objectives are, they’re pretty much all the same. Every industry wants to increase its efficiency, reduce its costs and increase its revenues, whilst optimizing its overall product portfolio.

That foundation is what Centrigent provides. Then based on every

The whole concept of Centrigent is to examine the landscape from the five emerging key technologies currently disrupting the market

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

INTERVIEW

30

industry we work with, we will start implementing the elements that are specific for that particular industry, and then we will take it to the next level by putting additional elements that are specific to that customer.

Whereas, the other approach adopted by large tech companies: “If you build it they will come.”

The former Qualcomm executive believes that his new company is completely unique and highlighted the difference between his business and traditional management consultant or technology companies. From his perspective, the first step that he wants to take on in the next three months, is to raise awareness of the opportunities that exist by working with Centrigent.

Srage said, “The whole concept of Centrigent is to examine the landscape from the five emerging key technologies that are currently disrupting market and industry norms and build an end to end platform that integrates into legacy operations. We separate the myth from reality and implement solutions that are based on existing but leading technology products that will gradually and in steps drive the evolution of those operations.

Making large disruptive moves will create significant risk; however, an agile gradual integration will create an evolution across organizations, products and operations. There are three elements to the DNA make-up of Centrigent: client business growth achieved through end-to-end product entry services into new markets, consultancy and training services, and upgrading existing operations with new digital platforms.”

Srage has expressed his desire to work with the world’s leading ‘big five’ consultancy firms which are KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young and Accenture, and explained how he can provide them with cutting-edge complementary services in order to enhance their own portfolio on digital transformation.

The first element is to bring in innovative products and choice

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

to consumers. There are great companies in emerging markets with amazing products; however, lack the funding and the market knowledge to create a full setup for international expansion. That’s where Centrigent comes in.

Srage said, “To create demand for these new technologies, you need product and choice for the consumer.

But, today there is little product variety when it comes to smart devices including smartphones.

So this creates an opportunity.

Whether it’s IoT or a new type of smartphone that can be positioned against the commodity smartphone business, many products are coming from OEMs and vendors that are not currently present in the region.

There are brilliant products coming from Turkey, China and South East Asia, but they don’t have either the capabilities or the budget to expand internationally.”

“Centrigent business model is to provide the full end-to-end service to those companies. So basically, we become an extension to their company in the region providing engineering, product positioning, market analysis, channel setup, distribution, marketing planning and execution working with existing partners that have proven success in that space over the last decade,” Srage explained.

According to Centrigent’s CEO, this approach has resonated with a lot of potential customers because it’s a win-win situation for them. They enter a new market in full without the cost of the setup.

Srage noted, “ There’s no risk. If they sell, they win. And then if the business ramps up within two to three years, they have the option to establish their own regional presence or continue working with us as a strategic partner.

Either way, we both win.”

The second element of Centrigent’s core business is more focused towards CEO and management level consultancy services.

INTERVIEW Srage explains, “CEOs at many organizations across different industries want digital transformation.

The problem they encounter at the beginning is when they go to recruit staff, they still don’t know what the requirements are to achieve digital transformation, and ultimately end up hiring the wrong organization. It is critical to have a partner like us that will be there for the first six months or one year that truly understands the industry and can help them execute your digital transformation goals. Once a strategy is established at a management level, Centrigent provides the necessary training across the organization to get that strategy to propagate across the company and build the necessary skillsets for that transformation.

“This approach enables executives of these organizations to increase their understanding and knowledge of digital transformation through the hands-on interface we can provide.

It’s consulting on the strategy and organizational efficiency in order to build up those capabilities and skillsets.”

The third and what would be the most exciting and disruptive element is building the product platform that will change the consumer experience and company operations. When building the platform architecture, Centrigent has the ability to bring in a full implementation of products that map and correlate directly to its technology services we provide. As an example, our clients hear about AI and its impact on the industry and its capability to increase efficiency, and we bring real product solutions that integrate into their existing legacy systems to achieve their business growth objectives.

Under the direction and dynamic leadership of Srage, this new enterprise Centrigent is destined to make a major impact in the ICT industry. To deliver on its promises, Centrigent with major regional backing has signed a partnership MoU with Mindsets, the leading strategy consultancy firm in the Middle East, to bring those products to its customers.

31

The two companies are looking to combine innovative products, analytics and strategy consultancy to take the clients, the industry sectors and the regional economy as a whole to the next level of diversity, efficiency, productivity and returns.

Srage gave a sneak peek on the kind of game changing platforms Centrigent is building. The company is developing a one of a kind human resources development platform that will completely revolutionize employee performance across any organization, business or government entity. It has the potential to become a national platform of human knowledge development. The full details of this incredible HR platform will remain under embargo until a later date by year end, but from the details Srage provided, it truly does possess the potential to change work behaviors and we can categorically and emphatically state without any misconceptions that this platform will be a game-changer.

It is critical to have a partner like us that can help them execute their digital transformation goals

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

ICT FEATURE

32

as part of its commitment, the service provider is continuously enhancing this network connectivity.

Etisalat is working closely with R&M currently to upgrade and extend its FTTH network with the innovative SYNO dome closure solution from R&M. This undertaking enables Etisalat to have one of the first ‘patch-free’ connectivity solutions in the region, which translates to a resilient, tamper-proof network that increases the reliability and uptime of crucial connectivity services for both home and business users.

Fiber deployments on the rise in MENA region

As the demand on data is exponentially growing, the importance of fiber has grown even more. Its positive outcomes are centered on the improvement of services, connectivity and living conditions, in addition to providing more access to information for more people and businesses. Its ultimate advantage is its ability to transfer vast amounts of data at the local and global levels.

F

iber deployment visions and plans are seeing the light today in the MENA region as more telcos are investing in fiber technologies.

The UAE remains in the lead According to the leading industry body FTTH Council, the UAE is ranked number one for the highest fiber to the home (FTTH) penetration among all its global counterparts for a second year in a row.

The council published its annual report recently that highlighted the UAE with a coverage of 94.3% compared to countries such as Singapore (90.3%), South Korea (81.6%), Hong Kong (75.6%) and Japan (69.1%).

Following this announcement, Saleh Al Abdooli, CEO, Etisalat Group, said the

achievement was “only possible due to the continuous support and vision of the leadership of UAE in the development and modernization of the infrastructure.” He added, “Etisalat invested more than AED 31 billion in the network infrastructure.

This has led to the launch of innovative services meeting the growing demand and changing requirements of our customers across the country.”

“Our network is a backbone to our longterm strategy as a company to enable and drive digital transformation across our network. Today’s announcement signifies that we have maintained consistent leadership globally in FTTH penetration setting a benchmark in the global telecom industry,” he said.

The UAE was ranked number 1 thanks to the role of Etisalat which is providing a significant amount of this coverage and

Prior to the upgrade, Etisalat utilized above ground fiber cabinets, which required maintenance every two weeks.

Not only was this cumbersome, but it also added the risk of disruption of services due to unintentional disconnection of fiber cables. The harsh conditions in the Middle East also meant that contamination and corrosion were both common challenges the service provider faced. Currently, the telco now employs a ‘set and forget’ approach as the SYNO Dome’s gel cold seals conform to IP68, the industry’s highest ingress protection ratings, and require no maintenance. At the same time, the modular nature of the cabinet allows technicians to make modifications to the connections very easily and with minimal risk to services of other customers.

Etisalat received round-the-clock support and extended comprehensive trainings to not just their staff, but partners and technology providers as well. All of this has allowed the UAE to lead the world with innovative future-ready projects.

“We are proud to be a part of the FTTH projects that are shaping the future of the Middle East. Our commitment to service providers such as Etisalat is that we will continue to introduce world-class solutions and industry best practices to support their ambitions,” said Nabil Khalil, executive vice president, R&M Middle East, Turkey and Africa at R&M Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

The KSA commits to FTTH deployment In KSA, the National Transformation Plan 2020 aspires to spread the FTTH in 90% of the dense and urban areas by the year 2020.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has making great strides in the field of fiber deployment, mainly with the help of its partner, Corning Incorporated. Earlier this year, STC and US industrial materials manufacturer, Corning Incorporated, announced that Corning will supply and share its FTTH optical solutions with STC, as an enabler to the STC national network for high-speed connectivity and fiber to the home (FTTH) applications.

“STC enjoys a strong reputation as an innovator in the Middle East,” said Clark Kinlin, executive vice president of Corning Optical Communications. “It established itself as a leader in advanced broadband technologies such as FTTH. Corning shares STC’s commitment and vision for innovation, and together, we will leverage our engineering capabilities, experience and solutions to build the KSA national network to the highest possible standard.

We are honored to make the investment necessary to extend our partnership with STC.” The arrangement builds on the existing strategic relationship between STC and Corning, which has already supplied more than 1.5 million kilometers of optical fiber in STC’s KSA network. As part of this strategic relationship, the two companies will also develop a program to provide advanced technical training to STC fiber engineers and technicians.

“STC is building the largest fiber network in the history of the Kingdom,” said Eng. Nasser Al Nasser, STC CEO (who was the company’s COO when the partnership was announced). “I am delighted to see us strike such an initiative with Corning, which will help meeting STC’s strategic goals for digital Services, and will align with the objectives of the National Transformation Program (NTP 2020) and Vision 2030. Corning is a pioneer in fiber optics solutions and FTTH, and we are excited to build such an extended strategic relationship with one of the most progressive and internationally renowned companies.”

On the other hand, Integrated Telecom Company (ITC), the leading information and communications technology company in Saudi Arabia and Sofrecom, an Orange Group subsidiary, signed an agreement to lead the Outside Plant

ICT FEATURE (OSP) implementation and management in all regions of Saudi Arabia for the next 3.5 years and to provide planning, design and supervision expertise and knowledge transfer to ITC employees.

Signing this agreement comes as a step toward ITC’s commitment to the agreed plan with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) for rolling out high speed fiber optic broadband internet in Saudi Arabia.

ITC is initiating site supervision for the development of the OSP infrastructure project that is in-line with the Saudi Vision 2030. It has announced a major expansion plan for its FTTH broadband network in various cities. The company is interested to acquire the services for site supervisions and project management for OSP implementation.

Leveraging its deep expertise in broadband internet technology, Sofrecom, part of the Orange Group, will partner to help ITC in the planning and design of the new FTTx network as well as supervise the implementation supervision covering 640,000 households. Ghassan Itani, ITC CEO, said: “This will help us empower the digital Saudi generation under Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Plan 2020. ITC will continue its journey to develop the infrastructure in fiber broadband to urban and dense area across the Kingdom.”

“We aim to offer the best of our expertise to build a more connected world,” notes Guillaume Boudin, Group Sofrecom’s CEO. “Very high broadband is key to support new digital services. This new agreement between ITC and Sofrecom demonstrates once again our reference position on VHB, and fulfills our aspiration to support the digital transformation of our customers.”

A fiber network from Cape Town to Cairo Egypt has been very active lately when it comes to fiber deployment. Leading pan-African telecoms group, Liquid Telecom, and Telecom Egypt, Egypt’s first integrated telecom operator, announced at the 2018 Annual Meetings of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will enable Liquid Telecom to shortly complete Africa’s terrestrial fiber network

33

stretching all the way from Cape Town, South Africa, to Cairo, Egypt.

Under the MoU, Liquid Telecom will link its network from Sudan into Telecom Egypt’s network via a new cross border interconnection – bringing together a 60,000 km network that runs from Cape Town, through all the Southern, Central and Eastern African countries, and has now reached the border between Sudan and Egypt. The Cape to Cairo network - often referred to as “the One Africa” broadband network - has been in the making for over 10 years and serves some of the largest global companies with some of the fastest network speeds on the continent.

Commenting on the announcement, Ahmed El Beheiry, Telecom Egypt’s managing director and chief executive officer, said, “This MoU is a great step in our strategy to penetrate the African market and avail Telecom Egypt’s most advanced technology and global infrastructure services to customers across Africa. We look forward to working alongside Liquid Telecom to develop new network services and products that will help stimulate intra-regional trade.”

Strive Masiyiwa, founder and executive chairman of Econet, said, “Completing our vision of building a single network running on land, all the way from Cape to Cairo, is a historic moment for the company and for a more connected Africa. This network not only represents a remarkable engineering achievement that has overcome some of the most challenging distances and terrains on the continent, but it is also supporting the rise of Africa’s digital economies.”

Masiyiwa also observed, “Wherever the One Africa network has been completed we have seen dramatic increase of data traffic between nations connected to it.

We expect to see a lot of traffic between Egypt and the rest of Africa. Where there is improved communications, improved trade follows as well. We need to see more trade between African countries.”

As part of the strategic partnership, Liquid Telecom and Telecom Egypt will share network infrastructure and explore further areas of collaboration, including joint network services, a peering arrangement and a voice interconnection agreement.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

ICT FEATURE

34

Where do regulations stand in the journey towards 5G? Developments in the telecommunications industry in terms of fifth generation networks are happening at an accelerated pace now that we’re getting closer to the end of 2018 – a deadline that some telcos gave for 5G deployment. The successful completion of the first implementable Release 15 5G New Radio (NR) specifications was announced in December 2017 at the 3GPP TSG RAN Plenary Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, and last June, industry players announced the official approval of the “5G standalone” specifications.

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2018

T

he completion of SA specifications which complements the NSA specifications not only gives 5G NR the ability of independent deployment, but also brings a brand new end-to-end network architecture, making 5G a facilitator and an accelerator during the intelligent information and communications technology improvement process of enterprise customers and vertical industries. New business models will be enabled and a new era where everything is interconnected will be opened up for both mobile operators and industrial partners.

“The freeze of standalone 5G NR radio specifications represents a major milestone in the quest of the wireless industry towards realizing the holistic 5G vision. 5G NR standalone systems not only dramatically increase the mobile broadband speeds and capacity, but also open the door for new industries beyond telecommunications that are looking to revolutionize their ecosystem through 5G,” said Balassa Bertényi, chairman of 3GPP TSG RAN at the announcement of the historic milestone.

Erik Guttman, chairman of 3GPP TSG SA, added, “The agreed completion of the stage 3 freeze milestone for the 5G standalone system has great significance. The 5G system specification has now reached its official stage of completion, thanks to the intense efforts of hundreds of engineers over the past three years. A special acknowledgment is due to those who led this remarkable effort in diverse committees.”

According to Guttman, 5G promises a broad expansion of telecommunications, as an ever more central component of our economies, societies and individual activities. The 5G system opens the way for commercialization of services based on the new radio and 5G core network and their advanced extensible capabilities. The new system provides the foundation for ongoing specialization for support of new business sectors, for unlike 4G and past generations, 5G supports the very specific requirements

ICT FEATURE and individual service characteristics of diverse communications.

3GPP activities have already begun to leverage the 5G system to realize opportunities in areas such as industrial automation. This activity will intensify in the months and years to come, in increasingly many sectors, all on the foundation of the work that has been achieved on this occasion.

However, amid all of this excitement, the importance and impact of regulations should be taken into consideration, for they can highly affect the benefits of 5G technology. The best regulatory framework is one that encourages new advancements while also protecting the environment. Instead of putting up barriers to a technology’s development that can have negative repercussions on the whole industry, regulations should help promote them while preserving the industry and environment.

A recent study commissioned by Accenture and CTIA states that curbing the current delays in installations of small cellular infrastructure could generate tens of billions in economic development - a 12 month reduction in current timelines would translate to an additional $100 billion for the US economy over the next three years.

In April 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an order containing sweeping regulatory changes to accelerate the deployment of next generation wireless services. The order removes significant regulatory barriers to wireless infrastructure deployment and revises existing processes to expedite environmental and historic preservation review.

The order eliminates the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for certain small wireless network facilities. Advanced 5G wireless networks will rely on a high quantity of small antenna systems deployed in close proximity to each other rather than on traditional cell towers or monopoles separated by great distances.

With this move, the FCC aims to accelerate 5G deployment by reducing

35

impediments hampering the process, thus allowing telcos to move swiftly towards 5G capacity and insuring coverage in rural areas.

Small cells are the future of the next generation 5G wireless applications. That is why they have to be ubiquitous in order to provide reliable coverage and enable a new generation of connected devices.

The new 5G “small cell” systems can often be co-located with existing wireless facilities or placed on existing structures such as telephone poles or street lamps and do not pose the same degree of environmental or historic disruptions as larger facilities.

Further actions to alleviate deployment burdens might follow soon in order to expedite 5G deployment as soon as possible. These changes are intended to facilitate the introduction of advanced consumer and commercial devices, and services and systems that will rely on wireless connectivity, including a wide range of “smart” technologies, unmanned vehicles, internet of things, augmented reality and artificial intelligence-driven advancements.

The best regulatory framework is one that encourages new advancements while also protecting the environment