Tech

Vodacom deploys world’s first mobile radio equipment to bolster network resilience in Egypt

Published

6 months ago

June 5, 2024

Vodacom Group has announced the deployment of a world-first triple-band Mobile Radio Unit that combines the 1800MHz, 2100 FDD and 2600 TDD frequency bands into one single Radio Unit.

Making the announcement on the successful deployment of the device on Tuesday, Dejan Kastelic, Group Technology Officer for Vodacom Group, said the advanced Radio Unit from Ericsson would “enable Vodafone Egypt to reduce the cost of its 4G/5G network rollout in the country, the implementation time, energy consumption and tower load.”

The deployment of the world first triple-band Mobile Radio Unit, which is highly relevant for Egypt’s current radio spectrum allocation, will enable Vodafone Egypt to extend the reach of 4G and 5G services to even more customers in the country.

“I am proud of the innovative work done by the team in Vodafone Egypt in driving Vodacom Group’s vision to build networks that are future-proofed, efficient and customer focused.

“Combining three bands across FDD and TDD in a single radio unit is a milestone in simplifying the engineering, deployment, and operation of our network,” Kastelic said.

According to the statement, Vodacom, which acquired a 55% stake in Vodafone Egypt in 2022, has so far, invested R4.6 billion in its last financial year on growing and strengthening the network in Egypt to support increased demand.

“Vodacom is committed to providing solutions that contribute towards Egypt’s priority national development ambitions, including the Digital Egypt strategy, which comprises numerous national projects to achieve digital transformation and upgrade digital infrastructure,” Kastelic added.

Vodafone Egypt services 48.3 million customers and contributes one quarter of the company’s revenue supported by excellent customer engagement in connectivity, mobile and fixed price adjustments, and excellent growth in its financial services platform, Vodafone Cash.

As of January 2024, Egypt’s internet penetration rate was 72.2%, with 75.66 million internet users in January 2022.

The North African country
has the second largest online population in the continent though the country’s average internet download speed is amongst the slowest in the world.

Related Topics:Egypt Featured VODACOM Vodafone

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Tech

Ghana partners with The Gambia to provide free roaming services

Published

17 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and The Gambia are in the process of launching free roaming services that will enhance a West African connectivity.

The plan which is a joint initiative of the Ghana Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and The Gambian National Communications Authority (NCA) will see mobile users in both countries avoiding extra charges for calls, texts, and data, which in turn, is expected to boost trade, tourism, and economic integration across borders.

The collaboration, according to a joint statement by the two bodies, aligns with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) broader push for seamless regional communication.

“Ghana and The Gambia are forging new paths in West Africa’s digital landscape, implementing a free-roaming initiative,” the statement said.

“This move strengthens regional connectivity while highlighting the role of technological collaboration in fostering economic integration. The initiative enables mobile users travelling between the two nations to make calls, send messages, and use data services without additional roaming fees.”

It further noted that by reducing these costs, the program aligns with the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative, which seeks to eliminate barriers to communication across member states.

“It is a boost for trade and travel as the free roaming plan is expected to spur economic activities by streamlining cross-border communication.

“Businesses and individuals travelling between Ghana and The Gambia can now stay connected without worrying about exorbitant charges, facilitating smoother transactions and personal interactions. The initiative is also expected to attract more tourists by ensuring seamless digital access for visitors.

“This collaboration marks another milestone in Ghana’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity, following Ghana’s successful implementation of similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, with talks of possible roaming partnerships with Liberia.

“By focusing on digital integration, Ghana and The Gambia demonstrate the power of technology to bridge gaps between countries. This step also serves as a model for other West African nations to join the free-roaming framework, contributing to the larger goal of a connected and economically integrated region,” it added.

Tech

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Published

2 days ago

November 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from February 24-28, 2025, as a flagship event within Regenerative Ocean Week.

The Ocean Innovation Africa is set to be Africa’s most significant platform for Ocean Innovation conservation, and sustainable development in the blue economy. OIA2025 will be co-organised with leading partners, including IUCN, GIZ, OceanHub Africa, Catalyze and the Ocean-Climate Platform.

With the theme, “Science-to-Solution”, the Regenerative Ocean Week will present a line-up of sessions designed to bridge the gap between scientific research, business innovation, policy, and community engagement.

According to the organizers of the event, it will bring together African ocean innovators, investors, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to explore practical solutions that can be applied across the continent.

“These include the OIA Pitch Competition, which is a platform for Africa-based startups and entrepreneurs to showcase breakthrough ideas in ocean-impact solutions, allowing them to connect with investors and industry leaders and emphasizing Africa’s role in driving sustainable ocean initiatives,” the organizers said in a statement.