Page 80 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Vodafone UK Claims British First with Switch-On of OpenRAN 4G Site

Vodafone UK claims to have become Mavenir supporting Vodafone UK with our first live OpenRAN site in the UK, and
the first British mobile network operator the deployment. With its first OpenRAN that’s an important milestone. This new
(MNO) to switch on a live Open Radio site now live, Vodafone UK has said it will approach has the ability to make us less
Access Network (OpenRAN) 4G site. In a begin work to identify communities across dependent on current larger technology
press release regarding the development, the UK where they can more economically suppliers, and find ways to reduce the cost
the cellco revealed that this first site is introduce voice and high-speed data using of rolling out mobile coverage. OpenRAN
connecting customers around the Royal the new technology. Commenting, Scott can also help close the digital divide
Welsh Showground in Powys, Wales, with Petty, Vodafone UK’s CTO, said: ‘This is between urban and rural Britain.’

Taiwan Star Launches Commercial 5G Service

Taiwan Star has become the latest of reported to have 5G coverage of 50% of the aiming to use the launch as a key driver for
the country’s mobile network operators country’s major metropolitan areas, and subscriber growth, with the cellco said to
(MNOs) to announce the commercial it is aiming to increase that figure to 80% be looking to increase its customer base
launch of 5G services, Digitimes reports, by the end of 2020, while it has plans to to four million within five years, up from the
following launches from Chunghwa reach other cities, counties and suburbs of 2.4 million it currently has.
Telecom, Taiwan Mobile Company and Far the metro areas by 2023. Meanwhile, it has
EasTone last month. Initially Taiwan Star is also been reported that the MNO is now

Orange Announces Full 5G Coverage in Bucharest

Orange Romania has announced its
5G network in Bucharest has now been
expanded to cover the entire city, enabling
100% of its population to access download
speeds of up to 1.2Gbps. Initially launched
in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Iasi on 5
November 2019, the operator’s 5G network
has since been expanded to Timisoara,
Brasov, Constanta and Mamaia. Orange
customers who want to upgrade to 5G can
now choose the Smart 15 subscription with
unlimited 5G data, an option previously
included only in the more expensive
Smart Plus 20 and Smart Plus 25 tariffs.
Priced at EUR15 (USD17.7) a month with
a contractual period of 24 months, the
Smart 15 plan offers unlimited 5G data,
7.2GB of roaming data within the European
Economic Area (EEA), unlimited calls and
SMS within Romania and the EEA, 600
international minutes, as well as access to
Orange TV Go services.

80 AUGUST 2020