Ericsson scores Vodafone Spain 5G core deal

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Vodafone Spain lined up Ericsson to provide the bulk of a standalone (SA) 5G core network, advancing a goal to cover 90 per cent of the nation’s population with the technology by the close of the year.

Ericsson was selected as the operator’s main technology partner in the project for residential customers. The equipment maker intends to provide dual-mode 5G core technology which it stated will tap into current infrastructure to contribute to the operator’s coverage ambition.

The deal spans four years: Ericsson pledged its work would help improve “network operational processes and customer experience”.

Ericsson explained the SA 5G core houses “the network intelligence” enabling functions including slicing, improved latency and advanced edge computing.

Latency of less than 10 milliseconds is possible “within ideal conditions”, Ericsson stated.

The vendor explained Vodafone Spain would be able to deliver services based on the standardized APIs prevalent in SA 5G networks, along with offering network-as-a-platform functions.

By Michael Carroll

Source: https:www.mobileworldlive.com

Ericsson UK chief cites continued 5G challenges

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At the midway point of the 5G decade, there is still work to do in the UK to ensure the technology is being used to its potential, with a risk it will end up being monetised in the same way as previous generations, Ericsson UK and Ireland CEO Katherine Ainley (pictured) cautioned.

Speaking to Mobile World Live during MWC25 Barcelona, Ainley said although rollouts for non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) variants of 5G in the UK were broadly going well, there is still a gap in terms of experience for some users.

“There’s lots more to do,” the executive said, adding “it feels quite different in different places. If you’re in an urban area, it’s great. If you’re in a rural area, probably not quite so great”.

Among the challenges cited were further use of mid-band spectrum and expansion of SA 5G, alongside pushing for more devices to be available in the market to support the newer variant. She said there is “still a risk that it’s monetised in a similar way to 4G and 3G, but just with a different badge on it”.

Although noting slicing deployments and “some exceptions”, she added there is an ambition from its operator customers to “get to a world” where people will pay for a premium experience. Examples include consumers paying for better coverage at a concert, or “paying a little bit more because whenever you’re on a Teams call it knows and it kicks in”.

Business momentum

In the enterprise sector, she noted momentum in ports and manufacturing for private networks among other segments, indicating a need to ensure discussions are around actual use cases rather than just the technology.

“Part of the problem is if you talk about a private network, you have to have quite a deep level of understanding to know what that is and why you want it,” noting it is a different conversation if “you say to someone do you want to remove all the wires from your factory, make it super-efficient and know what all your tools and production lines are doing”?

In terms of target sectors in the UK for private 5G deployments, Ainley cited logistics and travel, manufacturing and, “further down the line” public sector with the potential for “big efficiency improvements” in hospitals and the defence sector as examples.

www.mobileworldlive.com

By Chris Donkin

Huawei and Telecom Egypt Sign Agreement to Enhance ICT Infrastructure

Huawei

Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, has announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with Telecom Egypt – WE. The agreement aims to equip Telecom Egypt’s network with advanced technological solutions in preparation for the launch of 5G services in Egypt, ensuring high-quality broadband for users. With this collaboration, Telecom Egypt becomes the first operator in Egypt and Northern Africa to deploy innovative outdoor and indoor solutions, including BladeAAU technology with high-bandwidth Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology & DIS 5G Solution with the new (pRRU) Pico Radio for indoor solution supporting multiband.

Huawei is integrating BladeAAU technology into Telecom Egypt’s network, which will optimize space utilization for antenna installations on Tower and lay the foundation for future 5G advancements. Additionally, Telecom Egypt is implementing the first 5G Digital Indoor System (DIS) in the region, utilizing three frequency bands and V-MIMO (Virtual Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology. Initial 5G tests have demonstrated exceptional user experiences, with throughput speeds exceeding 300 Mbps.

As Telecom Egypt extends its 5G network coverage, it prioritized optimal Outdoor & indoor coverage, particularly for high-value users. BaldeAAU MM 64T was equipped to meet the requirements of future capacity in Egypt and provide a multiple times higher capacity of 5G traffic, meanwhile Digital Indoor Systems (DIS) have become the preferred choice over traditional Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) due to their superior capacity and enhanced user experience.

The signing of the cooperation protocol comes within the framework of Huawei’s strategy, which accentuates the great importance of developing the ICT infrastructure in Egypt and supports digital transformation plans by providing the latest innovative technologies.

Additionally, the cooperation is in line with Telecom Egypt’s vision that aims to become a leading ICT operator by investing in establishing high-quality 4G/5G collaborative networks. In compliance with the current developments and launch of 5G networks. In addition, it will increase DOU (Dataflow of Usage) using data throughput and provide the users with communication services and better data transmission.

Mohamed Nasr Eldin Telecom Egypt CEO expressed his delight of signing the cooperation protocol with the leading Huawei to equip WE and develop its capabilities laying the groundwork of 5G and the launch of its various services. He said:

We are proud to cooperate with Huawei, which is a strategic partner for us in localizing the ICT industry and implementing the digital transformation strategy in Egypt. We are also pleased that Huawei with its expertise in this field will enable us maintain our leading position in providing the latest and best technological solutions to our customers and offering high-quality 5G services.

– Mohamed Nasr Eldin, CEO, Telecom Egypt

We are pleased to cooperate with Telecom Egypt, as this cooperation affirms the confidence and assurance in our ability in providing the best leading solutions worldwide to prepare Telecom Egypt’s network to lay groundwork for 5G, in addition to the growth of 4G.

– Mr. Benjamin Hou, CEO, Huawei Egypt

He pointed out that the innovated technology either MM 64T Blade Antenna or DIS 5G was equipped to meet the requirements of future capacity in Egypt and provide higher capacity of 5G traffic. He also assured that Huawei is keen on gearing all its efforts and innovations to provide the best services in the field of communications, in order to support economic development, being in line with the government’s vision towards developing ICT industry in Egypt.

Telecom Egypt is keen to spread modern communication technologies, including high bandwidth of the TDD 2.6 GHz band with MIMO Technology, aiming to provide users with an ideal experience of using networks, as well as the technologies and the updates that Huawei creates to achieve unparalleled communication services.

Source: Extensia

Kenya strengthens tech links with Ericsson, Malaysia

Ericsson

Kenya is expanding its partnerships with Malaysia and the technology firm Ericsson in order to encourage innovation and investment in the IT industry and speed the East African country’s digital transformation.

The Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy is leading the initiative.

Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, who leads the portfolio, met with Malaysian and Ericsson delegations at the ministry’s Nairobi offices on Monday.

The High Commissioner of Malaysia to Kenya, Ruzaimi Mohammed, paid a courtesy visit.

Following the meeting, Kabogo revealed that the two addressed bilateral relations, particularly in terms of technological innovation and investment.

“Kenya’s rapid growth in the tech industry coupled with Malaysia’s expertise in the same field allows for a strategic partnership that will boost our digital transformation agenda,” he said.

The two countries already have strong technological relations.

Last November, at the Malaysia-Kenya Tech Summit in Nairobi, they signed a memorandum of understanding for Malaysia to foster digital transformation in Kenya.

This allows Kenyan enterprises to gain access to Malaysia’s digital knowledge, while Malaysian firms may tap into Kenya’s tech economy.

Yesterday, Kabogo hosted the Ericsson delegation.

The discussions focused on how to improve connectivity and expedite digital transformation.

Kabogo believes that a strong telecom industry is critical to unlocking new potential for businesses and consumers.

“As we strive for a digitally inclusive economy, partnerships with the private sector remain crucial in improving lives, redefining industries, and shaping a sustainable future for all Kenyans,” said Kabongo.

Source: Extensia

Telia, Ericsson ready 5G rail trial

Ericsson

Telia began preparing for the end of a 2G-based rail communication system by teaming with Ericsson and the Swedish Transport Administration to test a 5G alternative.

The operator, vendor and government unit plan to trial the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), a 5G-based standard expected to fast-track critical railway communications.

Testing will take place on a 40km stretch of railway running between two towns in central Sweden.

Telia explained FRMCS offers greater automation options than the GSM-R system currently used in Europe, which is set to be phased out by 2033.

The trial forms part of FP2-MORANE-2, a €13.5 million European Union (EU) project to test FRMCS in real-world conditions and a trio of laboratories running from this year until 2027.

Telia explained FP2-MORANE-2 goals span conventional and high-speed rail lines.

The project will form part of the European Rail Traffic Management System, which the EU Agency for Railways explains is a single “signalling and speed control system”, with goals around cutting equipment costs and boosting train speeds, network capacity and overall safety.

Staffan Akesson, head of Infrastructure at Telia Sweden, emphasised the role of Europe’s rail modernisation plan in delivering “a more sustainable transport system”, adding the trial would also feed into the operator’s work on critical communications for “other essential societal infrastructure”.

Source: Mobile World Live

Ericsson proves 5G NTN backhaul credentials

Ericsson

Ericsson employed low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to handle 5G backhaul in a remote area, advancing the potential of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) as a connectivity option in areas not covered by mobile or fixed infrastructure.

In a trial conducted in Spain with industrial digital technology multinational Oesia Group and the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), Ericsson used a portable 5G gNodeB to connect to a data centre laboratory operated by 5TONIC, an R&D facility initiated by Telefonica and IMDEA Networks Institute.

The trial focused on connecting the transport element of the private gNodeB network with the laboratory’s Control Plane functions, proving the set-up can be used to maintain connectivity in areas lacking traditional infrastructure.

Ericsson explained the set-up connected 5G devices at the remote location using the portable private network, with the NTN element providing broader connectivity. The transition from mobile to satellite access was shown to be smooth, employing 3GPP Advanced Traffic Steering-Switching-Splitting technology.

Manuel Lorenzo, head of Technology and Innovation at Ericsson Spain, said the “seamless transition between mobile and satellite access”, would enable continuity of service.

There is also potential to apply the approach in areas affected by disasters, UC3M Signal Theory and Communications Department expert Daniel Segovia noted.

Maria Grana, director of technology with Oesia’s Inster unit, explained it provided a satellite terminal using an electronically steered Ku-band antenna which connected to Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO constellation.

She said the trial is “a significant achievement for satellite communications”.

UC3M coordinated the trial, which employed Ericsson’s 5G infrastructure alongside the Inster terminals.

Source: Mobile World Live

Cell C 5G launch in South Africa is imminent

Cell C

Cell C is planning to launch 5G services in South Africa in the next couple of months as its financial turnaround plan gains traction.

CEO Jorge Mendes told TechCentral in an interview on Thursday that the company is at an advanced stage of preparing to launch 5G to its subscribers – and it plans to use the technology to deliver both 5G on smartphones and to offer a range of new, 5G-based fixed-wireless broadband solutions with large data bundles that compete with fibre.

Cell C’s 5G launch plans come after a period of intense negotiations with network partners MTN and Vodacom, which operate the last-mile infrastructure that connects consumers to the company’s core network. Mendes said those discussions have progressed well and that Cell C is confident it will be able to launch a 5G offering that makes commercial sense.This is very, very exciting and is a different place from where we were 24 months ago on the technology side

He said Vodacom and MTN have proved to be good partners and that there is mutual respect between the three operators, despite the fact that they compete head-on in the marketplace for a share of consumers’ wallets.

Mendes said Cell C’s decision, taken several years ago, to shut down its own radio access network in favour of outsourcing that function to Vodacom and MTN has worked well. Not only has it significantly reduced the company’s capital expenditure, it has also greatly improved Cell C’s network quality, he said.

Cell C has spent the past 18 months deploying a Mocn – multi-operator network core – roaming system, which has allowed it to create a virtual representation of its network on top of either MTN or Vodacom’s infrastructure.

VoLTE

This, according to Mendes, has given Cell C significantly greater control over where it directs user traffic, allowing it to lower costs and be more efficient.

It is also aggressively moving voice calls off old circuit-switched technology and onto an internet protocol-based technology known as VoLTE that routes calls over 4G/LTE.

“This is very, very exciting and is a different place from where we were 24 months ago on the technology side,” said Mendes.  

Source: extensia.tech

Zimbabwe: ISP commits to build $15 million data centre

Zimbabwean Internet Service Provider (ISP) Dandemutande is planning to build a USD 15 million data centre in the country. The company made the commitment under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Partner2Connect programme, which was revealed on Tuesday, February 18, via a post on X.

The technical capabilities of the data center have not been specified, but it is confirmed that it will be Tier 3. This standard guarantees a redundant infrastructure with multiple paths for power supply and cooling, thus limiting theoretical downtime to just 1.6 hours per year. In addition, the data center will be carrier-neutral, meaning that different providers will be able to host their infrastructure there without restriction.

“The data centre will provide high-quality, reliable and scalable services in the SADC [Southern African Development Community] region , creating jobs and economic activity, while contributing to the local tax base. It will target underserved segments such as small businesses, content providers, financial institutions, government agencies and healthcare providers,” the ITU explains on its website.

Dandemutande has committed to completing the data centre by 1 June 2026. The facility is expected to boost the ISP’s capacity to “meet the growing demand for data services driven by digital transformation and economic growth”. The ITU estimates internet penetration in Zimbabwe, where the population was 16.3 million in 2023, at 32.6%, according to the World Bank. In this segment, the company faces competition from telecom operators (TelOne, Econet, NetOne and Telecel) and satellite internet service provider Starlink.

In addition to strengthening its telecom infrastructure, Dandemutande is positioning itself in the fast-growing data center market. According to data portal Statista, the data center market revenue in Southern Africa is expected to reach USD 1.42 billion in 2025. This figure is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.14% over the period 2025-2029 to reach USD 1.73 billion.

Source: extensia.tech

Telstra, Ericsson push APAC network first

Ericsson

Australia-based operator Telstra signed-up with Ericsson to deploy what the pair claimed as the first programmable network in the Asia Pacific region, citing benefits around the provision of bespoke capabilities to customers.

The four-year project will see the operator’s radio network upgraded to Ericsson’s latest open RAN-ready hardware and deployment of 5G-Advanced software.

AI and automation technology is set to be used to optimise network management, through self-detection of problems and self-healing.

Ericsson noted the new infrastructure would provide a platform for development of new applications and give the operator the ability to tailor connectivity based on customer need.

Highlighting the fact it and Telstra were founding members of API focused company Aduna, Ericsson explained the new kit would provide the means to “open the network to tech innovators from wider ecosystems via network APIs”.  

Telstra CEO Vicki Brady said: “We are at an inflection point, where customer needs for technology and connectivity are becoming more sophisticated, requiring a step change in how connectivity is delivered and consumed. At the same time, demand for mobile data on our network has tripled over the past five years.”

The executive added its new network infrastructure would “evolve our offering and improve the efficiency of how we use our spectrum so we can increase our 5G network capacity to deliver better consistency of performance, reliability and speed to millions of customers”.

Source: Mobile World Live

Ericsson CTO confident industry is on the right path

Ericsson SVP and CTO Erik Ekudden (pictured) insisted the industry is on the cusp of the next wave of innovation, with pieces coming together from across the technology stack, as the vendor used its pre MWC25 Barcelona briefing to heavily push its programmable networks and API strategy.

Speakers from across Ericsson’s business used its annual media and analyst summit to provide a broad overview of the company’s activities in areas including fixed wireless access (FWA) uptake; 5G enterprise; the extended reality (XR) opportunity; and creating the best networks for AI, before discussing plays across open networks and its API push.

Ekudden opened, explaining Ericsson is pursuing a strategy across a range of areas, because it believes in the opportunity for its customers and the whole industry “to take the next step”.

“We are now getting all the pieces in the puzzle together across this tech stack from high-performing programmable networks, radio transport to core networks, across the whole layer of management, orchestration, monetisation and exposure, moving towards autonomous networks,” he explained.

Ahead of MWC25 Barcelona, Ericsson also unveiled its latest radio, antenna and RAN products to advance its programmable networks portfolio.

In total, it released seven energy-efficient and high-performing massive MIMO and remote radios, indoor 5G offerings and open fronthaul products dubbed RAN Connect.

With its enhanced portfolio, Ericsson stated it will offer 130 radio products supporting open and programmable networks during 2025, “outpacing the competition”.

Aduna
Ericsson has also taken the lead in Aduna, a venture bringing together big operators and platform providers, to accelerate and coordinate the industry’s efforts around APIs.

The technology chief said it was intent on using Aduna to “create one industry-wide platform that has all the capabilities of these networks available”, together with distribution partners including Google Cloud.

“This is where it all comes together, so the full technology stack is available.  We provide all the components and in doing this, working together with partners in the ecosystem, we have a chance to unleash a lot more value in other industries.”

Source: Mobile World Live