Page 88 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Mobitel Signs MoU to Research and Develop the Next Generation Telecom-

munication Networks and Applications

The National Mobile Service Provider, of this collaboration will be the valuable agreement will also benefit Mobitel, which
Mobitel recently signed a landmark exposure that students will gain in latest has unfailingly broadened the boundaries
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) technologies related to telecommunication, of innovation with an inclusive approach.”
with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, facilitating further experimentation and Adding further, Snr. Prof. Sampath
to co-create and co-innovate in the area of innovation before venturing into the Amaratunge - Vice Chancellor University
telecommunication, 5G, Internet of Things marketplace or on their entrepreneur of Sri Jayewardenepura said, “We are
(IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and more - journey. Commenting on the occasion, Mr. delighted to have Mobitel taking such an
with both parties sharing their respective P. G. Kumarasinghe Sirisena - Chairman interest to partner with university students
areas of expertise and knowledge towards of Sri Lanka Telecom and Mobitel said, who in turn will benefit by working with
the common goal for collaborative “We are pleased to sign this MoU with the experts in the field of telecommunication
research and development. Mobitel will University of Sri Jayewardenepura as we related technologies. We welcome this
be jointly working with the Faculty of believe collaboration with the University’s MoU as the best way to power innovation
Engineering (Department of Electrical and Faculty of Engineering can bring enormous as a partnership between academia
Electronic Engineering) of the University benefits to each of us, which ultimately will and corporates in order to drive greater
for the above mentioned cause. This benefit the citizens of the country. The opportunities. Our students look forward
MoU is a promising union of academia university has already demonstrated its to achieve maximum leverage on this
and industry to bring novel research and prowess in producing qualified engineers opportunity to learn and grow.”
development to the country. A key benefit and this research and development

Smart Completes 5G Video Call in the Philippines

PLDT Inc. mobile arm Smart benefit of 5G capabilities to be tested year, but certainly sometime next year,
Communications has successfully and demonstrated’. As reported by early next year,’ despite having previously
completed the ‘first video call in Southeast TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, last announced that it was targeting Q4 2019
Asia’ using a standalone 5G network with month PLDT-Smart postponed the for fifth-generation services to be available
equipment partner Nokia. The Philippine commercial launch of 5G services to early for home broadband and enterprise
Daily Inquirer notes that the call was 2020, as the country’s largest operator customers. Ahead of the launch, however,
made using Nokia’s 5G standalone (SA) by subscribers continues its quest to PLDT-Smart has powered up 5G sites
core, radio and user equipment installed select suitable equipment vendors for the across Luzon, specifically at Clark Freeport
at the PLDT-Smart 5G Technolab. In a project. In a news briefing, chairman and Zone, Makati central business district,
statement, the pair noted that using a president Manuel Pangilinan was quoted Ateneo de Manila University campus and
standalone 5G network allows ‘the full as saying ‘I don’t think it will happen this Araneta Center in Cubao.

88 AUGUST 2019