Page 73 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

South Korean Operators Eye mmWave 5G

Operators in South Korea targeted launch than mmWave frequencies. The comments which will support mmWave 5G, though
of 5G over mmWave frequencies to industry come less than a week after the country’s as of yet none have formally launched
by the end of this year, The Korea Herald network vendor Samsung talked-up the services using this spectrum. As in Korea,
reported, though cost of delivery remains prospects for 5G over mmWave following the majority of 5G launches across the
a stumbling block for the consumer sector. a number of trials at its facility. Authorities world use mid-band frequency, providing
The newspaper’s sources noted early and operators in South Korea have been what the GSMA defines as a good mixture
use cases for the country’s second wave among the most vocal supporters of 5G, of coverage and capacity. However, while
of 5G was likely to be in smart factories, having provided early demonstrations mmWave frequencies provide higher
with consumer services unlikely to hit the of applications of the technology at the peak speeds, they suffer from greater
market until 2021 or even 2022 due to Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February coverage limitations. The GSMA and other
the cost of installing the required number 2018 and been one of the first countries industry bodies promote the deployment
of additional base stations. Current to commercially launch the technology of 5G using a combination of compatible
commercial 5G services in the country use last year. At the country’s spectrum frequencies in both ranges.
mid-band (3.5GHz) spectrum, providing auction in 2018 its three operators were
lower peak speeds but wider propagation also awarded assets in the 28GHz band,

Loon’s Balloons Arrive in Kenya to Deliver 4G Services

Google’s sister company Loon is testing driven navigation algorithms coordinating March: “Following that, we will be able to
balloons that will provide 4G services all the movements,” writes Candido in a begin providing service to Kenyans.” In
across Kenya. Loon, owned by Alphabet, post on Medium. “The balloons perform February 11 executives from across the
which also owns Google, is working with a variety of maneuvers to maximize the telecommunications, technology, aviation
Telkom Kenya to deliver the service. It number of people they are able to connect and aerospace sectors said they had
launched the balloons from Puerto Rico throughout the day.” Telkom Kenya will joined forces to establish an alliance to
(see map) and Nevada on a long journey integrate the Loon-delivered service promote the use of high-altitude vehicles
to Kenya. According to Loon CTO Salvatore with its own infrastructure. Loon CEO in the Earth’s stratosphere.
Candido, one balloon from Puerto Rico Alastair Westgarth wrote on Medium in
“flew into Kenyan airspace to begin network
testing two weeks ago”. The balloons will
operate from 20km above the ground in a
trial approved by the Kenyan government
a month ago. Kenya is around 11,000km
from the launch site in Puerto Rico, “but our
balloons do not fly in a straight line”, says
Candido. “Instead, they fly the fastest route
that drifting on the stratospheric winds
allows.” He notes: “Other balloons heading
for Kenya will fly over central Africa, and
still others will fly west out of Puerto Rico
and reach their destination after a trans-
Pacific flight. The balloons optimize for
safety first, and travel time second.” The
Loon balloons will not stop moving once
they get to Kenyan airspace. “Once we
arrive in Kenya, our flights follow a carefully
choreographed dance, again, with our fleet
management system’s machine learning-

73 APRIL 2020