Page 78 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2023

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Ofcom to Make Over 6 GHz of mmWave Spectrum Available

Ofcom announced that it will make over 6 the ongoing roll-out of wireless networks.” be used in high-traffic areas, such as
GHz of mmWave spectrum available. The The main challenge for mmWave is that Oxford Street or sports stadiums, which
spectrum will span the 26 GHz (24.25- it has a limited range and can be easily is what some US operators have started
27.5 GHz) and 40 GHz (40.5 GHz-43.5 blocked by obstacles. “mmWave networks, to do, to provide high-speed coverage to
GHz) bands and deliver large increases therefore, need to be densified to provide large numbers of users. In addition, some
in speeds and capacity. VP of Marketing reliable coverage, requiring significant operators are using mmWave as a last
said: “Many countries, including the US, investment. Operators are, therefore, likely mile alternative to economically extend
are already seeing the clear performance to want to acquire mmWave spectrum for broadband access to homes or businesses
benefits of mmWave. Data from Ookla enterprise private network deployments, in lieu of deploying fixed network facilities
in the US revealed mmWave is achieving to connect high volumes of devices that like fiber.” Furthermore, the regulator says
extraordinary speeds – almost 1.6 Gbps need high bandwidth connectivity, such that making the 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands
median 5G download speed. “However, as the industrial IoT and smart healthcare available for new uses at the same time
mmWave does have some known across a controlled environment,” explains will “maximize this spectrum’s potential” to
challenges, but can still have a key role in Eigen. “MmWave technology may also benefit people and businesses.

MTN Group Holds PoC Trial for 5G SA Core in Microsoft Azure

plane and management nodes, deployed
fully in the South Africa Azure Region, and
allowed MTN to ‘experience the benefits
associated with deploying a core network
in Azure including fast deployment time
(days vs months) and ease of scale’. ‘Being
one of the first in the world to conduct this
proof of concept demonstrates MTN’s
African mobile operator MTN Group has operated by Microsoft that provides desire to keep pushing the boundaries of
carried out a proof of concept (PoC) for access, management, and development technological innovation that delivers value
a 5G Standalone (SA) core which it said of applications and services. The PoC to our shareholders,’ said Amith Maharaj,
had been ‘fully deployed in Microsoft was conducted with all of the 5G SA core MTN Group Chief Technology Officer.
Azure’ – the cloud computing platform elements including control plane, user

78 MARCH-APRIL 2023