Page 87 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

WHOLESALE NEWS

5G Roaming Subscribers to Reach 147 Million Globally By 2025

A new study from Juniper Research has urges operators to bypass the creation of now, in preparation for the recovery of the
found that the number of international non-standalone 5G roaming agreements market.’ The research identified operators
5G roaming subscribers will reach and focus on basing 5G roaming in North America and the Far East as
147 million by 2025; increasing from agreements on standalone architecture leading in 5G roaming agreements. By
4.3 million in 2021. This represents a immediately. Research author Scarlett 2025, it anticipates that over 35% of 5G
growth of 3,300% over the next four Woodford noted, ‘The current decrease in roaming subscribers will be attributable to
years. It predicts that standalone 5G international roaming traffic must not be these two regions. However, the research
architectures, which leverage innovative used as a reason to neglect future roaming warns that these early agreements must
core network technologies and high levels activities. Given that roaming agreements be extended to include standalone 5G
of virtualization, will be instrumental in can take between 12 and 18 months to roaming capabilities, as the prevalence of
allowing operators to create appealing be established, operators must focus non-standalone networks diminish.
5G roaming packages for this growing on standalone 5G roaming agreements
number of subscribers. It predicts that
the higher degree of software-defined
network applications in standalone 5G
networks will create greater efficiencies in
routing of voice and data roaming traffic,
thus reducing operators’ investment
needed to offer 5G roaming services. The
new study, Mobile Roaming: Emerging
Opportunities, Regional Analysis &
Market Forecasts 2021-2025, argued that
current non-standalone 5G architectures,
which leverage the same core network
technologies as 4G, will not be sufficient in
aiding operators to launch cost-effective
international roaming services over 5G
networks. Despite the global pandemic
causing substantial decreases in
international roaming traffic, the research

Brazilian Fiber Wholesale Network Deal is Confirmed

Following news of a potential agreement Telefônica Brazil (Vivo) and Telefónica investors in infrastructure, is investing a
to set up a new fiber optic broadband Infra, the infrastructure arm of Telefónica total of up to R$1.8 billion (about $315.7
wholesaler in Brazil, this deal has now Group, each of which will hold a stake of 25 million) in this joint venture. It will start
been confirmed. Telefónica Group, a major percent. Operating as a neutral wholesale with a portfolio of 1.6 million homes
international operator, and Caisse de company, FiBrasil is set to deploy and passed (HPs) contributed by Telefônica
dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), operate fiber optic networks in selected Brasil, but FiBrasil aims to expand its
a global investment group, have reached mid-sized cities across Brazil outside the network to reach around 5.5 million HPs
an agreement for the construction, state of Sao Paulo, and to offer fiber-to- within four years. However, this may be
development and operation of a neutral the-home (FTTH) wholesale access to all part of an even bigger coverage drive.
and independent optical fiber wholesale telecommunications service providers, Christian Gebara, Telefônica Brasil's CEO,
network in Brazil. It will be called enabling them to offer these services to said: “Fiber will be a key driver for Vivo's
Infraestrutura e Fibra Ótica SA (or FiBrasil). their end customers. This is clearly a major future top-line growth aiming at reaching
Telefónica Group and CDPQ will each hold initiative, a fact underlined by the amount at least 24 million HPs by the end of 2024,
50 percent in FiBrasil, although Telefónica of money that is going into it. CDPQ, one and FiBrasil will be Vivo's platform for
Group's participation will be held through of the world's largest global institutional expanding coverage to greenfield cities."

87 FEB-MAR 2021