Page 83 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

UK Sets 2030 Open RAN Target

The UK government announced a major million will go to the 15 winners of Future agreed with Vodafone, EE, Virgin Media O2
push around accelerating the deployment RAN Competition (FRANC), a government and 3 UK to switch off all public 2G and
of open RAN in the country, upping its scheme focused on developing elements 3G networks by 2033. The aim is to free
funding for related projects and securing including radio transmitters and signal up spectrum for the mass deployment
operator commitments regarding processing equipment needed for open of 5G and other future networks which
the approach. In a statement, the UK RAN rollouts. Up to £15 million will be the government said can be used for
Department of Culture, Media and Sport poured into SONIC Labs, a facility allowing driverless vehicles and drones, immersive
(DCMS) explained it agreed with the four suppliers to test early-stage products in VR and AR experiences, and innovations
domestic operators to fulfill a goal to real-world mobile network environments. around sustainability and healthcare. New
boost deployments so 35 per cent of the The moves are part of the government’s suppliers entering the telecoms market
nation’s mobile network traffic is carried broader strategy to diversify the 5G supply and deploying next-generation networks is
over open RAN by 2030. It increased chain which it unveiled in November 2020, also an expected result from the shutdown,
previous funding of £30 million to a total months after banning the use of Huawei alongside benefits from reduced power
of up to £51 million to back projects for equipment from the next-generation use and simplification in management of
trials of open RAN and next-generation networks. Alongside the announcement, the networks.
technology. Of the overall funding, £36 the UK government explained it has

2degrees Starts 5G Testing in Auckland and Wellington

New Zealand operator 2degrees has switched on its 5G network in (USD682 million) already invested in the network. The operator
central Auckland and Wellington for testing and optimization. The plans to launch its 5G network with up to 100 sites on air and
new 5G sites, which the company noted have been deployed ahead expects to continue to activate additional BTS throughout 2022
of the scheduled Q1 2022 commercial launch, are part of a rollout as it builds out the network across the country’s main cities.
that will initially provide contiguous 5G coverage across Auckland, The company notes these network upgrades will also result in
Wellington and Christchurch. Announcing the network activation, significantly increased 4G capability, with average LTE capacity
2degrees CTO Martin Sharrock commented: ‘The 2degrees team set to double.
is gathering valuable data on network and device performance,
upload and download speeds, latency and handovers. Early test
results have demonstrated speeds over 1Gbps. Work has also
begun in Christchurch with the first 5G sites due online for testing
in December. Over the coming months the team will be rigorously
testing 5G on numerous devices so when this new network and
technology is launched for customers it will be fully optimized on
a range of 5G enabled devices.’ 2degrees’ approach to network
design and build combines the upgrade of cell sites with new
Ericsson 3G, 4G and 5G radio access network (RAN) equipment
and the upgrade of the core network. The program of work has
been underway for over two years and builds on the NZD1 billion

Croatia Gets First 5G Home Broadband Service

A1 Croatia has launched the country’s first unit. The telco says that the new service covers Zagreb and 20 other cities. A1
home internet service via a 5G network. provides access at download rates up introduced Croatia’s first home broadband
The offer has two service tiers: Premium to 200Mbps and is aimed at those users service over a 3G network in 2006 under
uses an external antenna for a more stable within its 5G footprint who cannot access the name Homebox.
connection, while Basic provides an indoor fiber connectivity. Its 5G network currently

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