Page 62 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

South Korea's 5G Network Speeds Up in H2

carriers. South Korea was the first country to commercialize 5G
in April last year and has quickly built up a significant 5G user
base of nearly 10 million as of end-October, around 14 percent of
the country's total 70 million mobile subscriptions. The network,
however, has faced quality issues, such as limited coverage and
slower-than-expected speeds, prompting more than half a million
5G users to switch to 4G LTE through August this year, according
to Rep. Hong Jung-min of the ruling Democratic Party. The
latest report found that the network's quality and accessibility
improved compared to the first half of the year. Users could
stably connect to the latest generation network on average
90.99 percent of the time in public locations equipped with 5G,
compared to 67.93 percent of the time in the first half of the year.
Devices also switched to 4G LTE from 5G during downloads 5.49
percent of the time on average compared to 6.19 percent in the
first half of the year. Average 5G latency, however, stood at 30.62
milliseconds, similar to 34.59 milliseconds on 4G LTE, according
to the report. Hong Jin-bae, director general of the ICT ministry's
telecommunications policy bureau, said in a briefing that the
South Korea's 5G download speed and overall quality improved in relatively high latency on 5G is likely due to South Korea's use of
the second half of the year from the first half as the country races non-standalone 5G, which requires support from 4G LTE. "We are
to deploy nationwide coverage of the latest generation network, encouraging mobile carriers to transition to standalone 5G, and
according to a report. The average download speed on the high- while they have yet to make announcements, we understand that
speed network from the country's three major mobile carriers -- such plans are making progress," Hong said. Coverage for the
SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- stood at 690.47 latest generation network grew as the number of subway stations
megabits per second (Mbps) in the second half of the year, up across the country equipped with 5G network by the three carriers
33.91 Mbps from the first half, according to data from the Ministry rose to 424 on average as of November, compared to 313 in July.
of Science and ICT. SK Telecom had the fastest average download The report also found that public facilities, such as malls, theaters
speed at 795.57 Mbps, followed by KT at 667.48 Mbps and LG and hospitals, which had 5G coverage by the three carriers
Uplus at 608.49 Mbps. The country's average 4G LTE download reached 3,486 on average across 85 cities. South Korea is aiming
speed reached 153.1 Mbps, more than four times slower than the for nationwide 5G coverage by 2022, and the three major carriers
average 5G speed. The ministry publishes data on mobile network have promised to spend up to 25.7 trillion won ($24 billion) in total
quality biannually to encourage network investment by mobile to update network infrastructure by that year.

Vodafone to Test 5G Mobile Networks in Egypt

Vodafone CEO Nick Read has said that the a fundamental pillar within the framework important markets for Vodafone global and
company intends to start experimenting of the state’s plan for digitalization and played a major role in supporting digital
with 5G mobile networks in Egypt’s New comprehensive development in Egypt. transformation and financial inclusion in
Administrative Capital due to its modern Read said that the balanced path that Egypt to achieve Vision 2030, adding that
infrastructure. According to a statement by Egypt had taken in dealing with the the Egyptian market added significantly
the Egyptian presidency, this came during a coronavirus contributed to preserving to Vodafone’s global presence in Africa.
meeting between Egyptian President Abdel economic, commercial and service activity It was possible for Vodafone Egypt to
Fattah El-Sisi and the CEO of the global in the country and to achieving positive become the center of the African continent
group. The statement said that the meeting growth rates. Vodafone would explore and lead the digital transformation with its
discussed joint cooperation with Vodafone opportunities to experiment with fifth expertise, he said. President El-Sisi said
in the communications and information generation (5G) mobile networks in the New that the state was keen on constructive
technology sector. This is in light of the Administrative Capital due to its modern cooperation with international companies
group’s experience in communications infrastructure and the presence of the Misr with long-standing experience as partners
and digital transformation and reliance Informatics University, which is the only for development in Egypt, including the
on technological systems in managing one of its kind in the Middle East and Africa. promotion of Vodafone Group’s global
new facilities and cities, which represent Read said that Egypt was one of the most investments in Egypt.

62 DECEMBER 2020