Wireless Networks

Another 5G spectrum auction is on the way in Israel – and it could be held before the end of this year.

Globe Telecom has completed a 4G/LTE upgrade to its network in Boracay and is set to accelerate a modernisation push in other areas of the Philippines.

The government of China is reportedly turning its attention to the development of 6G technology across the next five years.

Nepal is set to begin 5G testing in the cities of Biratnagar, Birgunj, Kathmandu and Pokhara, according to the country’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MOCIT).

Senegalese operator Expresso has launched its 4G network after extensive delays.

Algeria’s telecoms minister Brahim Boumzar has confirmed that the government’s current focus is on improving 4G services rather than introducing 5G.

UAE-based operator du has signed a four-year 5G expansion deal with Nokia.

Orange Cameroon has extended its Network as a Service (NAAS) contract with NuRAN Wireless to add a further 120 sites to its footprint in the market.

Gautam Buddha International Airport has become the second airport in Nepal to deploy a TETRA (two-way radio) communication solution, following TETRA adoption by Tribhuvan International Airport. The solution will be led by SC20 hand-held radios from Sepura, a leading supplier of public safety communications, which deploys radios in both of Nepal's airports.

Cape Verde is on track to clear its “digital dividend” spectrum by the end of June.

Jordan’s Umniah has confirmed imminent plans to shutter its 2G network to allow further investment and more extensive upgrades to its 3G and 4G networks.

Hot on the heels of its rival Claro, Entel Peru has announced the launch of a 5G New Radio (NR) fixed-wireless broadband offering using 3.5GHz spectrum.

Claro Peru is now offering commercial fixed-wireless 5G broadband via its 3.5GHz spectrum holding.

Zain’s local unit in South Sudan has launched a commercial 4G offering in the capital city Juba.

Vodafone Hungary has confirmed that it now has 200 5G base stations live in Budapest, marking the completion of the expansion plan it announced in October 2020.

Claro and Entel’s Peruvian units have been cleared to offer 5G new radio (NR) fixed-wireless internet services via their existing 3.5GHz spectrum holdings.

Hard on the heels of the news of a big Nokia agreement for 5G rollout with rival operator Globe, Philippines operator PLDT is now claiming that it has the widest 5G network reach in the country.

Ecuadorian operator CNT (Corporación Nacional de Telecommunicaciones) has chosen Nokia to help it deploy the country’s first 5G network.

Zimbabwean state-owned operator NetOne is collaborating with Huawei on the second phase of its ICT services upgrade.

ZTE Corporation has released its Intelligent Orchestration Radio Network solution, which employs an innovative AI-based intelligent orchestration engine to enable MNOs to achieve maximum value from 5G networks.

Indian communications solutions provider Bharti Airtel and wireless technology company Qualcomm have announced what they describe as a collaboration for accelerating 5G in India. 

O2 Slovakia has selected Ericsson to modernise its RAN and deploy its 5G network.

Ethio Telecom has expanded its 4G coverage to six new regions in Ethiopia while at the same time pledging to extend this reach further in the near future.

UAE-based operator du has selected Ericsson to deploy 5G radio access network (RAN) products and solutions as part of a major network expansion and modernisation.

Thailand’s dtac is picking up the pace of its low-band network deployment using the 700MHz spectrum it acquired in December 2020.

Telcel, AT&T and Movistar, the three major operators in Mexico, can now connect to the Altán Shared Network, an LTE network that aims to cover most areas of the country, but in particular its underserved areas.

Orange DRC has signed a 10-year deal with Canadian vendor NuRAN that will help it to expand its rural coverage across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

It’s been a strong week for 5G in the Middle East, with Omantel launching commercial 5G mobile services and Saudi Arabia announcing that its coverage total has increased to 51 cities.

Nokia has partnered with Brazil’s independent Telecommunications Research and Development Center (CPQD) to develop applications and solutions tailored for the Brazilian market.

There’s been interesting spectrum-related news from South America recently – much of it related to rollout plans for 5G in Chile and Argentina.