Page 115 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Safaricom Set For 5G Launch This Year

Safaricom, Kenya’s largest mobile operator Business Daily quotes the firm’s Acting that the launch will enable Safaricom
by subscribers, has completed testing CEO Michael Joseph as saying that it will to further expand its data business and
and trials of 5G services, and plans to roll initially target major urban centers in select counter slower growth in revenue from
out a commercial network later this year. cities with the new 5G service. He added traditional voice services.

Nepal Telecom to Switch off CDMA Services by July 2021

Nepal Telecom (NT), Nepal’s largest mobile services in Kathmandu and currently uses February 2019 on the condition that the
network operator (MNO) by subscribers, frequency in the 800MHz and 1900MHz operator returns 6MHz of airwaves after
has announced plans to switch off its bands. Nepal’s Radio Frequency Policy the CDMA network shutdown. Meanwhile,
CDMA service during the 2020-21 fiscal Determination Committee (RFPDC) NT has also announced that its 4G LTE
year and use the spectrum for 4G services, previously announced in April 2019 that service is now available in more than
reports local news site My Republica citing CDMA networks will be shut down by 2022 2,000 locations across all the country’s
NT’s managing director, Dilli Ram Adhikari. in order to refarm the 800MHz spectrum 77 districts, as part of an aggressive
The operator originally launched CDMA band. The NTA awarded 2×10MHz of expansion program initiated last year.
services in 2006 to provide limited mobility 800MHz spectrum to NT for 4G LTE in

eir Confirms Fiber Network Now Live in 28 Towns; 5G Available in 20 Towns
and Cities

Irish communications provider eir has To that end, the operator is targeting plans to continue investing heavily this
announced that its next generation a further 20 towns with fiber by April, year with a view to reaching ‘every major
gigabit-capable fiber network is now while ultimately its project will see the town’ in the Republic. Further, it said the
available in 28 towns across the country, technology cover some 1.4 million homes upgrade and expansion of its 4G coverage
claiming that more than 50,000 premises and businesses – equivalent to around 84% is continuing apace, with it reportedly
are already passed by the infrastructure. In of the country total. Meanwhile, eir also having updated more than 500 sites to
a press release regarding the development, took the opportunity to reveal that its 5G bring LTE-based connectivity to more than
eir said the work represented ‘the first mobile network is now available in a total 98% of the population. Once the upgrade
part’ of a EUR500 million (USD551 million) of 20 towns and cities nationwide, covering program is complete, eir expects to achieve
investment program, while adding that ‘more than 25% of the population … out of 99% 4G geographical coverage, up from a
it expects the fiber rollout to ‘ramp up doors’. In terms of future expectations for present figure of 92%. In terms of specifics,
considerably in the coming months’. 5G coverage enhancements, the operator eir’s fiber network is now confirmed as
being available in the following locations:
Balbriggan, Balgriffin, Ballybunion,
Barna, Boyle, Cahir, Carndonagh, Carrick-
on-Shannon, Castletroy, Claremorris,
Clonakilty, Collooney, Coolock,
Dunshaughlin, Galway, Kilcock, Kilkenny,
Kilrush, Letterkenny, Midleton, Moat,
Nenagh, Portlaoise, Rathkeale, Ratoath,
Rochestown, Santry and Tallaght. 5G
coverage locations, meanwhile, blanket:
Athlone, Bray, Carlow, Castlebar, Cork,
Drogheda, Dublin, Dundalk, Ennis, Galway,
Kilkenny, Killarney, Letterkenny, Limerick,
Naas, Sligo, Tralee, Trim, Waterford and
Wexford.

115 FEBRUARY 2020