Page 33 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

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Eutelsat KONNECT Satellite Enters into Service

Eutelsat Communications revealed that up with 80% of the capacity in service by Africa. The satellite will supplement, then
its KONNECT High Throughput Satellite the end of the year, and 100% by March gradually replace, the capacity leased from
(HTS) entered into service at the 7 2021. The KONNECT satellite was built a third-party operator. The availability of
degrees East orbital position. This is the by Thales Alenia Space and the first to KONNECT marks a major step in Eutelsat’s
first Eutelsat satellite that will provide use Thales Alenia Space’s new Spacebus fixed broadband connectivity strategy.
fixed broadband. Arianespace launched Neo platform. The satellite is all-electric, Orange purchased all available French
Eutelsat’s KONNECT from French Guiana and has 75 Gbps of capacity across a capacity of the satellite in July, and its
in January earlier this year. The availability network of 65 spot-beams. Coverage subsidiary Nordnet will begin broadcasting
of KONNECT was delayed due to COVID-19 will initially be split between Europe fixed broadband services in January 2021.
pandemic-related interruptions in the with approximately 55% of the capacity Additionally, Eutelsat’s recent acquisition
ground segment rollout. The satellite is focused on high-demand areas such as of BigBlu Broadband adds a retail pillar to
now operational and will gradually ramp France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the U.K., and its distribution network.

Maximizing Wireless Network Value for a Golden
Decade of 5G

At the 2020 Global Mobile Broadband Forum (MBBF), Huawei's
Executive Director and President of the Carrier Business Group
Ryan Ding gave his keynote speech "Maximizing Wireless Network
Value for a Golden Decade of 5G". Ding said that the coming
decade will be a golden age for 5G's progress around the world,
and that the whole industry must have faith in 5G, build the best
5G networks, and make the most of them for shared value. 5G is
developing much faster than previous generations. Currently, there
are more than 100 commercial 5G networks worldwide, and budget
5G mobile phones have dropped to CNY1,000. This is driving up
the number of 5G users around the world, and leading carriers are
already benefitting from 5G data plans. They are seeing an increase
in the ARPU of 5G users through multi-metric service packages
and upgraded services like 5G messaging and enriched calling.
To further develop 5G and encourage more people to embrace 5G,
carriers need to build the best 5G networks possible. They need operations. This will help reduce the costs of deploying industry
to provide coverage across all scenarios such as for dense urban applications. Ding emphasized that developing industrial 5G
areas, suburbs, and indoors so that users always have access applications is an industry-wide effort, rather than just carriers'
to 5G services. Carriers also need to improve 5G connectivity to responsibility. Accelerating this development is only possible
deliver a consistently superior experience to users. In addition to when telecommunications integrates with other industries. In the
the consumer market, the industrial market will become a new recently frozen Release 16, 3GPP added an improved standard for
revenue stream for carriers. 5G is being applied in more and more broadcasting services and 5G functions like location and ultra-low
sectors over the year since it was first deployed. Many industry air interface latency. Upcoming releases, including Release 17, will
applications have become increasingly commoditized and can address additional industry needs. At the end of his speech, Ding
be replicated on a larger scale. Carriers are also exploring how to stated that the next decade will be a golden age for 5G. The whole
use 5G to enable vertical industries. Unlike consumers who care industry needs to have faith, build the best networks possible for
most about data speeds, industry customers have a variety of consumers, and nurture new capabilities for industry customers
needs, and so it is crucial that carriers maximize network value to maximize the value of wireless networks for a golden decade
by nurturing new capabilities. To meet these diverse needs, the of 5G. At the 2020 Global Mobile Broadband Forum, Huawei will
telecom sector needs to provide fundamental network capabilities, share insights into global industry trends and hot topics with
highly reliable network services, and flexible networking solutions carriers, regulators, partners, and media analysts from around the
necessary for industrial 5G applications. The telecom sector will world. They will explore how innovation in ICT technologies such
also need to make improvements from end to end, ranging from as 5G and AI can be mutually beneficial to industries and society
network planning, construction, maintenance, and optimization to at large.

33 NOVEMBER 2020