Industry News Imported

Nokia is deploying a cloud-based Subscriber Data Management (SDM) solution that enables Vodafone Egypt to offer services to its 4G customers. The deployment, under the Spring SDM project, helps the service provider to continue transforming its operations around telco cloud technology.

The adoption of Nokia’s Telco Cloud Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) helps Vodafone Egypt scale its network to meet unprecedented increases in data traffic while simplifying its operational model. The Nokia SDM solution is currently used for other applications, such as Mobile Number Portability (MNP) and Equipment Identity Register (EIR). Nokia also provides cloud integration and implementation services to enable a smooth transition to the SDM solution. The deployment is a significant step in the complete transformation of Vodafone Egypt’s network to continue providing the best-in-class services to its subscribers.
In addition, by deploying Nokia Registers, Vodafone Egypt is able to manage its subscriber data and authentication from a centralized location and across all technologies regardless of whether they are fixed or mobile. This leads to better network efficiency and faster, smoother introduction of new services. As a result, Vodafone Egypt is able to maintain its leadership position while significantly reducing the time-to-market for the launch of new services.

Osama Said, CTO at Vodafone Egypt, said: “This deployment is a testimony of our strong and enduring relationship with Nokia. Nokia’s proven SDM solution is enabling us to enhance efficiency by consolidating subscriber data across various networks. This is one of the earliest applications over the cloud and is not only helping us by offering a superior experience to our customers but also by simplifying our operational model.”

Sharaf ElDin Mohamed, Head of the Vodafone Egypt Customer Team at Nokia, said: “This is a significant deployment for us and underlines our capabilities in telco cloud and SDM technology. We are excited to help Vodafone Egypt deliver improved customer experience and innovative services, which enables the operator to improve customer loyalty and maintain its leadership position in the industry.”

Source: www.itnewsafrica.com

Lenovo and Qualcomm unveiled what they described as the first 5G computer powered by a Snapdragon processor, although it is not set to hit the market until 2020.

Debuted at Computex in Taiwan under the banner “Project Limitless”, Johnson Jia, SVP of the PC business group at Lenovo said: “With real 5G in a PC, it’s all about satisfying users’ need for speed: faster file transfers and streaming in 4K, 8K and even AR/VR; faster and higher quality video chats on-the-go; even faster screen refreshes for mobile gaming.”

Qualcomm has been touting its concept of always connected PCs for several years now, with a range of vendors having brought products to market supporting the technology. To date, these have used LTE networks for connectivity.

And while much has been made of the potential of 5G to drive connectivity across form factors, so far smartphones and Wi-Fi hotspots have led the way.

Ahead of the launch, Miquel Nunes, senior director of product management at Qualcomm Technologies, told Mobile World Live: “The capacity improvements, the latency improvements, are going to change the way people use PCs. You have a network without any boundaries.”

He expects the new device to appeal to markets including enterprises, attracted by the flexibility such devices can offer.

“Enterprises today are typically confined to a building or campus. This removes those boundaries: you can work from anywhere and have the same access you would on a local network on a remote network,” he continued.

Project Limitless is powered by Qualcomm’s 8cx platform, which the company said is “the world’s first 7nm platform purpose-built for PCs that offer 5G connectivity”.

It uses the US company’s X55 5G modem, and also includes an X24 LTE modem for areas beyond 5G coverage.

 

Source: mobileworldlive.com

The European Commission believes that Google, Twitter and Facebook are not actively fighting fake news ahead of elections to the European Parliament scheduled for May 23-26, said the European Commissioner for Digital Economy Mariya Gabriel in Brussels.

According to her, more measures are needed to enhance the integrity of services, including advertising services. Moreover, the data provided still does not have a sufficient level of detail necessary for an independent and accurate assessment of how the platform policy actually helps to reduce the spread of misinformation in the EU, TASS reported.The European Commissioner noted that in the run-up to the elections, all three platforms should intensify efforts to combat disinformation and do their best for users to have a fair choice of reliable information.

In autumn 2018, the European Commission signed with three companies the Code of Conduct and practices to combat disinformation.

 

Source: Telecompaper

MTN Ghana has announced a partnership with the International Federation of Skate Soccer (IFSS), to organise a skate soccer league in Ghana. According to the organisers, it is designed to provide clarity on intricate product details and focus on the desired promise to customers, in alignment with the brand.

Skate Soccer is a truly exciting sport and the first of its kind. The sport is played by physically challenged individuals especially polio survivors.

The main focus of this is to get the physically challenged off the streets and better their lives. Skate Soccer create an environment that gives opportunity to the physically challenged to showcase their talent in the game of soccer while brightening their lives.

In this game, polio survivors sit on a slightly larger skateboard and play association football. The ball is controlled by their hands and the rules are very similar to regular association football. Brands that have been leveraging this Event are Binatone, who is the main sponsor supported by some of the Radio and TV stations.

The event, according to MTN, will provide a platform to interact, motivate and reward its existing and potential subscribers through sales activities, brand engagements, public relations activities and CSR.

Source: ghanaiantimes.com

Alphabet Inc’s Google has suspended business with Huawei that requires the transfer of hardware, software and technical services except those publicly available via open source licensing, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday, in a blow to the Chinese technology company that the U.S. government has sought to blacklist around the world.

Holders of current Huawei smartphones with Google apps, however, will continue to be able to use and download app updates provided by Google, a Google spokesperson said, confirming earlier reporting by Reuters.
“We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications,” the Google spokesperson said.
“For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices,” the spokesperson said, without giving further details.

The suspension could hobble Huawei’s smartphone business outside China as the tech giant will immediately lose access to updates to Google’s Android operating system. Future versions of Huawei smartphones that run on Android will also lose access to popular services including the Google Play Store and Gmail and YouTube apps.
“Huawei will only be able to use the public version of Android and will not be able to get access to proprietary apps and services from Google,” the source said.
The Trump administration on Thursday added Huawei Technologies Co Ltd to a trade blacklist, immediately enacting restrictions that will make it extremely difficult for the company to do business with U.S. counterparts.

On Friday the U.S. Commerce Department said it was considering scaling back restrictions on Huawei to “prevent the interruption of existing network operations and equipment.” It was not immediately clear on Sunday whether Huawei’s access to mobile software would be affected.
The extent to which Huawei will be hurt by the U.S. government’s blacklist is not yet known as its global supply chain assesses the impact. Chip experts have questioned Huawei’s ability to continue to operate without U.S. help.
Details of the specific services affected by the suspension were still being discussed internally at Google, according to the source. Huawei attorneys are also studying the impact of the blacklist, a Huawei spokesman said on Friday. Huawei was not immediately reachable for further comment.

Representatives of the U.S. Commerce Department did not immediately comment.

 

Source:Telecom.com

Vodafone is readying itself to take over the Ashanti Region in what has come to be known as “Ashanti Month,” The telecommunications company is committing a huge investment into a host of activities and interventions in the region throughout the month of May.

As has already been communicated in previous years, Vodafone considers the region a very important part of its ethos and strategic delivery in Ghana. This year’s agenda coincides with the 2Oth Anniversary celebration of the Asantehene’s coronation and is set to take on an elevated form from previous years.

The annual Vodafone Asantehene Open Golf Championship is billed to be the highlight of the month and has been slated for the 8th to the 12th of May. Other activities include SME clinics for the company’s enterprise clients, mega promotions and giveaways, health walks, market activations, health screening exercises, digital coding for the youth, digital education awareness for selected primary schools in the regions as well as the Royal Otumfuo Dinner for key stakeholders, which takes place after the golf championship.

Commenting, Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Obo-Nai said:

“This year’s Ashanti Month is different because it aligns with the 20th Anniversary of the Asantehene and that alone gives it an elevated level of awareness and visibility. We commend the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his unparalleled contribution and leadership in the economic and social development of this region. We also want to assure all our customers that we will continue to remain a leader in innovation and creativity in the industry whilst ensuring that their technological future is exciting.”

Vodafone is in the third year of its golf sponsorship deal with the Manhyia Palace. Throughout this time, the telecom company has achieved great dividend for its customers and stakeholders in the Ashanti region due to the platform.

Source: Ghanaweb

Digital Innovation through Blockchain technology will take center stage when this year’s HackLab Foundation’s Hackathon opens on Friday April 19th at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

The programme is borne out of a partnership between Vodafone’s Enterprise Business, Stanbic Bank, IBM and The HackLab Foundation to digitally empower technology students at the University.

This year’s theme, “Can Blockchain Technology transform the Services Sector?” is expected to create a spark and revolutionise the thinking of the student developers on campus. The event will bring together 600 developers from over 18 institutions across Ghana to find plausible and scalable solutions for the Ghanaian and African market using Blockchain technology. Vodafone is also expected to support the best developers in implementing their ideas at the end of the session.

Blockchain technology remains a very popular technology across the world and it will be interesting to see how the students will use it to tackle pertinent issues in the services sector.

Commenting ahead of the event, Angela Mensah-Poku, Enterprise Business Director at Vodafone said:

“We are always excited about the opportunity to unearth young talents in the digital technology sector. Blockchain technology is a very fascinating concept which has captured the attention of the world and this hackathon is a demonstration of our commitment to lead a digital revolution in Ghana. Our status as a leading telecom company in Ghana means we have the power to drive change in our society and this is one of the many avenues we are deploying to accelerate Ghana’s digital journey.”

Over three years, Vodafone has succeeded in executing a strategy of igniting a digital revolution in Ghana, leaving no one behind. The impact of this is felt in several platforms and initiatives including the yearly Hackathons, National Digital Coding, Instant Schools online portals and the youth skills & jobs portal.

Source: Ghanaweb

The Mobile Industry has celebrated World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), with a market activation at the Rawlings Park (Makola) in Accra Central.

The event organised under the global theme “Trusted Smart Products”, was aimed at educating traders, commuters and the general public in the safe use of mobile technologies, applications and services provided by mobile network operators.It provided an opportunity for the mobile network operators to highlight issues on mobile and digital security and also educate the public to avoid the purchase and use of fake phones as well as pre-registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards and to report wayward merchants and persons who trade in such products to the law enforcement authorities.

Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, in his remarks, underscored the symbiotic relationship between the consumers and the mobile operators and reiterated the relentless commitment of the industry to provide world-class telecommunications with consumers at the core of their operations.

“Consumers have rights and equally have responsibilities, and we will work with our customers to ensure they do not compromise on their security and data privacy as they gain access to new services, more responsive products, greater convenience and choice,” Mr Ashigbey said.

“We… caution all Ghanaians to be vigilant and desist from disclosing their mobile money PINs and avoid discussing their wallet or financial details with anybody over a telephone call. We should be quick to report fraudulent numbers to the toll free short code 419 for immediate resolution,” Mr Ashigbey said.

A member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications, Sam George, called for the development of a legislation which will criminalize fibre cuts that deny consumers of data and internet services offered by the telecommunication companies in the country.

He explained that fibre cuts, which was often caused by road construction and building construction, put huge financial burdens on the telecommunication companies and deny consumers of communication and internet services.

He also lauded the Chamber for organizing the event to sensitize consumers on their rights and also the opportunity to interact with the mobile network operators and seek solutions to challenges facing them in the use of mobile services.

Customers were also sensitized on the importance of fibre optic networks within their communities, which are critical to the delivery of quality telecommunications services.

Private developers, Road contractors and utility companies were implored as partners to work with the mobile industry in safeguarding this critical infrastructure from cuts to guarantee quality service for all.

The event was characterized with fun activities, such as drama, comic dancing, comedy and customers who participated in other educational games were rewarded with assorted products from their network operators

Senior officials from the mobile industry, network operators, tower infrastructure companies, Members of Parliament, Consumer Protection Agency, Data Protection Commission, Mobile Phone Dealers Association, media and the general public graced the occasion.

Source: Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone aimed to be the world’s first operator to connect 5G smartphones to its live 5G network in the Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona, the carrier said in a statement.

As it paves the way to launch 5G technology in a number of European cities during the second half of 2019, Vodafone said it has completed trials over a four-week period in the two cities with three 5G smartphones that will be launched in 2019.

Vodafone reported that it was able to make a 4K video call on its network during the trial, using 5G download speeds.

Vodafone said that both the smartphones and its 5G network were fully compliant with the latest version of the industry standard for Non-Standalone 5G — 3GPP’s Release 15 — which was approved in December 2018.

Vodafone has already rolled out a 5G network in the city center of Barcelona. During Mobile World Congress, which starts on Monday, the carrier said that a car will drive around the city streets, measuring and reporting the 1.5 Gbps speeds that the network is already delivering.

Vodafone has invested in single Radio Access Network (RAN) technology across 98% of its European 4G footprint. The operator said that the investment will allow it to add 5G on top of its existing 4G network in the future. Additionally, Vodafone has been participating in 5G spectrum auctions in its European operating markets. More than two-thirds of Vodafone’s single RAN sites within major European cities already have sufficient backhaul to support 5G network speeds, the telco said.

“Vodafone’s networks are increasingly ready for 5G, which will enable us to deliver significant benefits over time for consumers, businesses and society. Our focus now is on optimizing the customer experience before we launch 5G in some European cities later this year,” said Johan Wibergh, CTO of Vodafone Group.

Vodafone’s other 5G network trials include an investment of 90 million euros ($102 million) in Milan, Italy, to build a 5G network covering over 80% of the city. It has launched 31 5G use cases to date working with 38 industrial and public sector partners. The use cases cover the fields of health, security and surveillance; smart energy and smart cities; mobility and transport; manufacturing and industry 4.0; education; entertainment; and the digital divide.

Also, Vodafone UK is trialling 5G in seven cities and successfully completed the country’s first holographic call in September 2018.

Vodafone Spain, which completed what it claimed to be the world’s first 5G call at Mobile World Congress in 2018, has 5G cell sites across six cities.

Source: rcrwireless

 

Ghana has recently begun a partnership with Nokia to begin trials for introducing the ultra-fast 5G network, the trials which are not limited to Nokia will be a series of partnerships by the government with other multinational telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics companies in Ghana.

Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, shared her plan of getting Ghana on par technologically with the rest of the world.

According to her, “It is only a matter of time before connected 5G devices will be on our streets and homes, and we have to look and plan ahead and look at the kind of infrastructure we need to put in place to support this evolution taking place. We are still at the very preliminary stages of this issue, and so when we have more information, we will put it before the Ghanaian people. We are having our regulators and technical people look at that space to offer the best training so as to equip our people to also benefit from all these innovations.”

The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) and the National Communication Authority (NCA) are discussing the modalities of these trials.

The Communications Minister noted that a lot has changed since the introduction of that policy document in 2003 and there is the need for a review of that policy document to be more forward-looking because developments in the sector have long overtaken the policy. The ministry will, therefore, be having a conference to kick-start the process with the office of the vice-president and key international stakeholders and organisations such as Huawei, Google, Oracle and Microsoft to develop the ICT strategy and policy.

Source: Pulse News