Page 64 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

competitive, highly efficient connectivity while accommodating for of both businesses and consumers, while also providing cost
the rapid expansion of our mobile customer base. We intend to efficiencies for the company and maximizing shareholder value.’
leverage our licenses to deliver value that meets the aspirations
Telecom Egypt, Huawei, Put in Service the First Green Tower in Africa

Telecom Egypt, the country’s first integrated telecom operator, in Technology in Egypt. That is why Huawei has joined hands with
cooperation with Huawei Technologies, the world’s leading provider Telecom Egypt, one of the largest telecommunications companies
of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure in Egypt and the Middle East. Liu added that Huawei is keen to
and smart devices, announced the activation of the first eco- provide suites of innovative technologies to save energy in order
friendly wireless network tower made of Fiber Reinforced Polymer to build a sustainable low-carbon future. He also pointed out that
(FRP). Through this cooperation, Telecom Egypt becomes the first recent studies show that FRP poles produce 43% less carbon
operator in Africa to install this green tower. The material used for dioxide emissions, compared to steel, and also reduce end-to-
building the tower emits less CO2 than steel, the alternative. Highly end energy consumption by nearly half during manufacturing
resistant to wind and high temperatures, the tower is approximately and shipping. Liu also explained that energy solutions for green
18m high, with a special camouflage fence made of environmentally sites depend on passive cooling, which eliminates the need for
friendly materials. It supports wireless network antennas and air conditioning, and thus leads to a 47% reduction in energy
radio units featuring the latest energy-saving technologies and consumption compared to sites with equipment rooms. Finally,
partially powered by solar cells. The Managing Director and CEO Liu noted that the site is fitted with solar panels providing about 2
of Telecom Egypt, Adel Hamed, said that the implementation of kilowatts, leading to an additional 20% reduction in carbon dioxide
this type of mobile site in Egypt is unprecedented. It underscores emissions.
the efforts of all those in charge of the project, and their ability to
implement the entire site in a timely and systematic manner, as per
the highest international green quality standards. Hamed further
explained that Telecom Egypt’s green sites also feature the latest
Radio Access Network technologies, such as radio units optimized
to offer top performance with 40% less energy consumption
than traditional sites. These new technologies also contribute to
improving the signal quality by about 20%, compared to regular
antennas, this means that fewer base stations need to be installed
resulting in a lower environmental footprint and an additional step
towards environmental sustainability, Hamed added. Jim Liu,
CEO of Huawei Egypt confirmed that the company is focused on
developing the infrastructure of Information and Communication

Zain Looks at Mobile Satellite Coverage for Saudi
Arabia

AST SpaceMobile has signed a memorandum of understanding Brazil, even though the company made a similar announcement in
with a branch of Zain to expand satellite service to mobile phones. January. Last year the Nasdaq-listed US company said its initial
The deal is with the Saudi Arabian branch of Zain, the group that trials will focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana,
has operations in seven countries in the Middle East and north Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Three years ago
Africa. Zain Saudi Arabia’s CTO, Abdulrahman Al-Mufadda, said: American Tower, Japan’s Rakuten, South Korea’s Samsung and UK-
“We are committed to expanding our digital services and based Vodafone all invested in AST SpaceMobile. Al-Mufadda
communications to deliver an inclusive ecosystem that covers the added: “We are confident that our collaboration with AST
whole kingdom with the highest service quality and reliability, SpaceMobile could help to potentially provide space based cellular
thereby enhancing our role in achieving a more connected and broadband connectivity in the kingdom, particularly in remote
sustainable world.” AST SpaceMobile makes it clear that it is a non- areas. In doing that, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that
binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) that has been every citizen and resident in this precious land is connected
signed. But Chris Ivory, the satellite company’s chief commercial wherever they may be.” AST SpaceMobile said the MoU would
officer, said: “We hope this collaboration will further access to enable the companies to collaborate towards new telecom
reliable, space-based cellular broadband for current and future solutions and satellite-based digital services in Saudi Arabia and
mobile users in the country.” The announcement comes days after aim to increase access to mobile services in remote locations,
AST SpaceMobile repeated that it has a non-binding MoU with TIM including on land, at sea and in flight.
64 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023