Wireless Networks

Vietnamese telco Viettel says it has become Qualcomm's first global partner for its in 6G Early Access programme, which it says expands its collaboration with the company across 6G, AI, data centre technologies, and advanced digital products.

Ukraine’s three main telcos – Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine and Lifecell – expanded pilot 5G services to Kyiv on Wednesday, with Odesa next on the list.

China Unicom Beijing and Huawei say they have launched what they claim is the world’s largest deployment of Huawei’s “GigaUplink” technology in a 5G-Advanced network.

Advanced technologies company Thales and operators Singtel (Singapore), Optus (Australia), AIS (Thailand) and Globe Telecom (Philippines) have announced the successful deployment of the world’s first multi-operator enterprise eSIM connectivity network for the Internet of Things (IoT).

South Africa mobile network operator rain and technology giant Huawei say they are jointly accelerating the deployment of a sub-1GHz massive MIMO 5G network across South Africa, with plans to deploy a multi-thousand-site scale commercial network.

Latvia’s SJSC Latvijas dzelzceļš, a group of transport, logistics and technology companies mainly focused on the provision of a competitive railway infrastructure, will be the first railway company in the Baltics to use a private 5G network technology provided by Latvian operator LMT Group.

Papua New Guinea saw movement on the 5G front on Friday after Digicel PNG announced its mobile network is now officially 5G-ready, while the country’s regulator released two draft plans for 5G spectrum bands.

Malaysian 5G wholesaler Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) announced on Wednesday it’s doubling the mid-band capacity of its network, whilst also confirming that second 5G telco U Mobile has offboarded all of its 5G subscribers from DNB’s network to its own.

Operator Yas Tanzania and technology giant Ericsson have announced the first commercial deployment in Africa of Ericsson’s AIR 3285 radio, supporting what they describe as a major step forward in network performance and user experience across the country.

Tanzania Community Networks Company, a community-focused technology, information and internet business, has announced a deal with Korean IT company Innonet, to accelerate the deployment of TV white space (TVWS) connectivity solutions across East Africa.

A strategic partnership announced last week in the Philippines continues the trend towards using IoT to enhance business and public service efficiency across a wide range of use cases.

There are signs that some mobile connectivity is now available on Mumbai Metro 3’s relatively new underground Aqua Line, after a number of delays.

Zambia’s state-owned telecommunications operator, Zamtel, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with tech giant Ericsson related to private 4G and 5G connectivity.

Huawei announced on Wednesday that MTN Zambia has commercially deployed the vendor’s five-band LampSite indoor 5G solution in the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka.

Brazil’s Ministry of Communications says that, following the auction of the 700MHz band, held in April by telecoms regulator Anatel and the Ministry of Communications, highway coverage will be expanded.

Tirana International Airport (TIA) has become the first airport in the Western Balkans to deploy Airbus’ airport safety solution, a solution powered by Vodafone Albania’s 5G network.

Cambodian telco CamGSM (a.k.a. Cellcard) revealed on Monday it has doubled its 5G network coverage since its initial launch in January, and is on track to double it again by the end of July this year.

Digicel Samoa announced on Monday it has expanded its nework on Savai’i with the launch of two new telecoms towers in Samalaeulu and Falelima, which it says will improve mobile and data connectivity for customers across the island.

NEC XON, a leading African integrator of ICT solutions and part of NEC, a Japanese global company, says it has reinforced its position in the African wireless connectivity market through a strategic distribution partnership with Mimosa Networks.

It is being widely reported in the African technology press that pan-African operator MTN plans to turn its African towers into an AI inference grid.

The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has announced funding for a feasibility study to install approximately 1,500 turnkey mobile communications base stations across Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria.

Indian telco Bharti Airtel launched its 5G network slicing service for postpaid customers on Tuesday, making it the first such service in India.

Critical event management company Everbridge has announced the next phase of Estonia’s nationwide public warning modernisation initiative, adding end-to-end cell broadcast capabilities across government agencies and all three mobile network operators in the country.

Edotco Malaysia said on Friday it has deployed a new fixed wireless access (FWA) solution in Uma Lesong, Sarawak that it’s also pitching as a viable and scalable model for other underserved communities in geographically challenging areas.

Ericsson, China Mobile and Chinese handset maker Oppo revealed on Wednesday they have successfully tested network slicing at the consumer device and app level on a live 5G Standalone (SA) network.

Ericsson announced on Tuesday that Telekom Slovenije has switched on Slovenia’s first 5G Standalone (5G SA) mobile service after completing an extensive modernization and expansion of its 5G network.

MagtiCom, the largest telecommunications provider in Georgia, has selected cloud-native software company Mavenir as its strategic small cell technology partner for a nationwide small cell deployment project.

U Mobile, Malaysia’s newest 5G network provider and wholesale operator, has announced that it has added VIBE Mobile, part of the Elite Links supply chain and distribution company, to its list of strategic mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) partners.