Construction of new Raxio Mozambique data centre begins

The Raxio Group, a leading pan-African data centre developer and operator, recently held a ground-breaking ceremony that formally kicked off the construction of its Tier-III carrier neutral colocation data centre, located at Beluluane Industrial Park (MozParks) in Maputo, Mozambique.

It is called Raxio MZ1 and, as the name implies, this is the country’s first carrier-neutral, privately owned data centre and Raxio’s first data centre in Mozambique. It is set to commence operations in Q1 2023.

The event was attended by members of the government, including the Governor of Maputo Province, as well as executives of MozParks, and senior representatives of the Raxio Group.

In addition to providing colocation capacity to the country’s digital backbone, Raxio MZ1 will nurture interconnection through redundant meet-me rooms. Mobile network operators, ISPs and carriers will be able to interconnect to each other and their customers, reducing the cost of access to content across the country at a time when new submarine cables will also be providing Mozambique with enhanced international connectivity.

Raxio MZ1 will be fully equipped with industry best-in-class cooling technology, security, AC/DC power compatibility and redundancy in an ‘always-on’ environment.

The facility will aim to adhere to the company’s core sustainability principles to minimize the environmental footprint through optimal equipment selection and sustainable design. In addition, the MozParks location will allow Raxio MZ1 to meet its electricity requirements from renewable sources.

To complement its internal team, Raxio has assembled experienced local and regional technical partners specialised in design, engineering, and construction.

Raxio Mozambique is part of the Raxio Group portfolio, which includes Raxio divisions in Uganda, Ethiopia, DRC, Cote d’Ivoire and Tanzania.

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MGM partnership is the largest in-building cellular enhancement project in the US

A partnership between MGM Resorts International and ExteNet Systems will see guests offered enhanced mobile connectivity through a programme to design, build and operate signal and connectivity solutions for MGM Resorts US-wide – the largest neutral host project in the country.

The project will include MGM’s Las Vegas’ casinos where an expanded 5G service will support connectivity for nearly 200,000 visitors daily. Rich Coyle, ExteNet Systems Chief Executive Officer said “The addition of greater connectivity will further enhance MGM’s world-class offerings for guests and support upcoming plans and development with future-ready solutions.”

The project will cover 25 MGM properties, consisting of 54 million square feet, more than 43,000 guest rooms, and more than 70 million visitors annually and will be completed before the end of 2024.

ExteNet is part of DigitalBridge’s portfolio of digital infrastructure companies which also includes shareholdings in the likes of Zayo Group, Vantage Data Centers, FreshWave Group and Boingo Wireless.

Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge described enhanced 5G services as “a competitive differentiator for hospitality and gaming companies”

Connecting America: state funding enables local broadband expansion


News

The latest updates on the drive to deliver a more Connected America

Total Telecom are keeping track of the latest news from North America as billions of dollars pour into developing internet access for all. If you are interested in a more in-depth look at how progress is being made, check out our new Connected America event.

30 September 2022

MGM partnership is the latest in-building cellular enhancement project in the US – Total Telecom

29 September 2022

State to fund start of regional broadband project – Morning Journal

27 September 2022

Federated Wireless launches private wireless-as-a-service offering – Enterprise IoT Insights

24 September 2022

USDA Making $502 Million Available for Rural Broadband Access – KMAland

23 September 2022

NYC to give free high-speed internet to public housing residents – SmartCitiesDive

20 September 2022

20 Providers Offering $30-a-Month High-Speed Internet Access – AARP

15 September 2022

Colorado Springs, Colo., Stands to Gain ISP Choices Soon – Government Technology

14 September 2022

Conterra Networks Continues to Lead Efforts in Fiber Infrastructure Initiatives Across Smith County – PR Newswire

13 September 2022

Ziply Fiber Raises $450M to Support its Ongoing Fiber Network Expansion – The Fast Mode

12 September 2022

Getting internet to every Mississippian. Why Sally Doty believes she will get it done. – Clarion Ledger

Igneo Infrastructure Partners to Acquire US Signal – PR Newswire

Stealth Communications Selects Nokia to Upgrade its Metro Core Network – The Fast Mode

11 September 2022

US second largest internet service provider to launch 2 gigabyte speed – The Tech Outlook

6 September 2022

These are the top 5 states with the best – and worst – fixed internet coverage – Fierce Telecom

29 August 2022

New round of grants could help expand broadband access in southeastern North Carolina – Border Belt Independent

25 August 2022

Comcast and the City of Spring Hill Announce $9 Million Project to Deliver High-Speed Internet to Homes and Businesses Citywide – PR Newswire

30 July 2022

Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $105 Million in Grants to Expand High-Speed Internet Access on Tribal Land in Arizona – Press Release

Brightspeed Announces Initial Fiber Build Markets for Indiana – PR Newswire

Governor Lamont Announces Federal Approval of Connecticut’s Plan… – CT.gov

29 July 2022

New round of grants could help expand broadband access in southeastern North Carolina – Border Belt Independent

22 July 2022
Rural US wireless carriers ask for more 5G subsidies – LightReading

19 July 2022
State of Indiana and AT&T Collaborate on Plan to Deliver Fiber-Powered Broadband to Portions of Nine Indiana Counties – Press Release / Cision

18 July 2022
Home Telecom supplies 1,400 homes with better internet with $2M grant – Live 5 NewsWire

United Communications secures $130M credit facility to support broadband grants – Williamson HomePage

16 July 2022
How Washington state could use federal infrastructure money to close the digital divide – Geek Wire

Peninsula Fiber Network Plans To Improve Internet Service – Radio results Network

FCC Chair Rosenworcel Proposes 4X Increase in Minimum Broadband Speeds – tvtech

14 July 2022
Despite External Challenges – RAN Still Expected to Surpass $40b by 2026 – PR Newswire

13 July 2022
AT&T claims first with 20 Gbps symmetric speeds in production network – Telecompaper

13 July 2022
Shentel Awarded Grant to Bring its Glo Fiber High Speed Network to Frederick County, Maryland – PR Newswire

13 July 2022
Arelion expands its long-haul network in Atlanta – Fierce Telecom

13 July 2022
All 50 States on Board for BEAD, Digital Equality Broadband Funding Programs – Telecompetitor

13 July 2022
Mesa, Arizona selects 4 fiber providers inlcuding SiFi Networks and Google Fiber – Fierce Telecom

13 July 2022
FCC Awards More Than $266M in ECF Program – Telecompetitor

13 July 2022
Starry adds record subs in Q2 as total nears 81,000 – LightReading

12 July 2022
12 July 2022
12 July 2022
11 July 2022
11 July 2022

1 July 2022
FCC Awards Almost $159m in ECF Funding – Telecompetitor

30 June 2022
Construction Begins at Quantum Loophole’s Frederick Data Center Campus – Inside Towers

29 June 2022
Sen. Marklein: The battle for better broadband continues – WisPolitics

28 June 2022
Verizon delivers faster connections to 64 Native American reservations in 13 states – LightReading

27 June 2022
Clearwave Fiber Begins Buildout of Fiber Internet in Lansing, KS – PR Newswire

24 June 2022
Broadband internet provider Conterra expanding, investing nearly $10M now, $12M later in Union County – WRAL TechWire

Connectbase welcomes NYC’s Skywire Networks to Connected World platform – telecompaper

22 June 2022
Highline Commences Next Phase of Fiber Internet Expansion in Lumberton, Texas – Telecompetitor

20 June 2022
FPB wins $8 million in grants to fund broadband for unserved – The State Journal (Kentucky)

State of New York unveils broadband map – Inside Towers

18 June 2022
Hargray Fiber expands fiber Internet to Hinesville, GA – TelecomLead.com

17 June 2022
Biden aims to train more broadband workers to fend off labor crunch – Fierce Telecom

Washington County, Pa., Approves $3.2M for Internet Expansion – Government Technology

16 June 2022
Shentel Expanding its Glo Fiber High-Speed Network to Delaware – KLTV

Texas Broadband Plan Could Connect 2.8M Unserved Households – Government Technology

13 June 2022
Ohio State hosts first meeting for statewide broadband and 5G partnership – Ohio State News

11 June 2022
West Virginia Working To Avoid Past Broadband Mistakes – The Intelligencer

Connected America brings together the people and companies redefining the future of US connectivity and unites the leading stakeholders from the entire value chain. Join us in Dallas, 28-29 March 2023

MTN planning greener HQ in South Africa

MTN is accelerating its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040 with the launch of a request for proposal (RFP) to convert its South African headquarters into a ‘green’ office.

Phase 1 involves the procurement of providers for alternative energy rooftops and solar car parks. This forms part of the company’s broader Project Zero initiative, which explores all forms of renewable energy on a large and smaller scale.  

MTN SA CEO Charles Molapisi said that apart from helping manage the current rolling power cut challenges, MTN’s energy strategy addresses a broad array of immediate climate and energy issues. The strategy includes mitigation initiatives to minimise and or eliminate the impacts of climate change and reduce energy costs as well as dependence on fossil fuels.

“Climate action is imperative to secure the future socioeconomic development of Africa. In South Africa, we acknowledge the importance of balancing the reduction of our impact on the environment with the need to connect more people to high-speed broadband,” said Molapisi.

“We are adopting appropriate mitigation measures that are enabling MTN and its people to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel generated power. Our focus is to reduce any unnecessary use of energy, create more energy efficiencies, increase the use of renewable energy and to generate more value from conventional sources, such as heat,” he added. 

MTN is adopting a phased approach towards the development solar renewable energy-based projects pursuant to its Net Zero Energy Strategy commitments to achieve its net zero ambitions. The MTN Net Zero Energy Project will be implemented in four phases: 

  • Phase 1 Facility – 14th Avenue Campus roof top and solar carports in car parks
  • Phase 2 Facility – Ground mounted Solar Facility on vacant land adjacent to 14th Avenue Campus
  • Phase 3 – Rooftop and Ground Mounted Solar at various other MTN Facilities  
  • Phase 4 – Off-site wheeling from REIPPs

Implementing the renewable energy project will result in improved reliability and cost effectiveness of electricity supply. Phase one could see an anticipated 7,143 Mwh generated (one Mwh is equal to 1,000 kilowatts of electricity generated per hour and to put this into perspective, the average developed economy house uses about 893 kwh a month). These projections are all subject to final bid approvals and evaluations. The preferred bidder notification for Phase one is expected in December this year.  

“The capacity of the facility will be determined by bidders after having considered the availability of roof top and car park areas and its suitability for the purposes of extracting maximum capacity. However, it is clear based on current expectations that as we move through the phases, this should be more than enough to move to complete energy self-sufficiency of our building, surrounds and assist greatly in our move to embedding alternative energy solutions into everything we do,” said Molapisi.  

This RFP addresses the following Phase one initiatives and focusses on the establishment of a renewable energy Facility at MTN’s Headquarters: 

  • Roof top – several buildings have been identified for roof top installations
  • Solar car parks – several car parks have been identified to replace current shade cloth with solar car park structures and PV panels.
  • Energy storage using battery storage 

The facility will include all required infrastructure for the safe operation and maintenance for the roof top and solar car park installations, to generate and deliver renewable electrical energy to the selected point of connection, and will comply with all relevant environmental and other legislation, as well as embedded generation and Grid Code requirements. 

Meanwhile, investing in large IPP programmes will reduce MTN South Africa’s carbon emissions, contributing to the Group-wide 2040 net zero strategy. 

MTN SA is utilising its IPP license for self-generation by using Combined Cooling Heat and Power (CCHP) technology (Tri Generation) at three of its switching centres to generate 4.75 MW of power to support building electrical base load, and to be only partially dependent on the Eskom grid. MTN also has 30 off-grid renewable energy facilities which generates an additional 57kW in remote areas where there are no space constraints. 

“We see this as an opportunity to explore all forms of renewable energy, large and smaller scale systems, as well as investing in large IPP feasibility programmes, which when implemented will reduce our carbon emissions as part of our Project Zero programme to achieve net zero by 2040,” says Molapisi. 

The plan is also aimed at ensuring network stability, where battery solutions and backup generation remain pivotal. 

“The challenge of providing renewable energy at all of our base station facilities is that this is heavily dependent on space to accommodate large solar arrays to suit our power requirements to support the latest network technology (5G). Our current backup power methodology is mainly battery backup, with key sites having permanent onsite generators and MTN deploying mobile backup generators where and when required,” concluded Molapisi.

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4iG gains approval for satellite buy

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Operators switch on to energy saving


NEWS

The prospect of power shortages across Europe this winter is leading to fears that mobile networks could go dark. In France electricity distributor Enedis is openly talking about blackouts of up to two hours a day in certain parts of the country, and whilst the plan is for essential services (hospitals, police, government etc) not be impacted the French Federation of Telecoms (FFT), lobbying on behalf of Orange, Bouygues Telecom and Altice’s SFR, have been unable to win any exemption for antennas.

Similarly in Germany, Deutsche Telekom is planning to use mobile emergency power systems, typically diesel generators, if there are prolonged power failures. But with 33,000 towers across the country, a spokesperson says they cannot support them all.

Against this background it is no surprise that telcos are starting to take their energy consumption more seriously.

In France, Bouygues Telecom has signed up to Ecowatt, a government-backed initiative that monitors power consumption in real time across France. The aim is to avoid the blackouts by making customers, staff, and partner organisations more aware of energy saving measures, but in the longer term Ecowatt focuses on the climate change problem and states an aim to drive the expansion of the green energy asset portfolio to 10 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2025.

Across the border in Switzerland, Swisscom are looking to further its position as one of the countries most sustainable companies and is joining DETEC’s Energy Saving Alliance. The alliance seeking to secure energy supply this winter through voluntarily taking measures to use energy in a more efficient and sparing manner. For Swisscom this includes reducing indoor and outdoor lighting in shops and offices during the evenings and night and lowering the room temperature in all buildings to a maximum of 20C, as well as seeking to drive greater awareness amongst staff and review usage of buildings and equipment.

However, energy consumption is not just a concern in Europe and not all operators are looking for a short-term fix. In Asia, NTT Docomo and NEC have reported an average 72 percent reduction in power consumption by using AWS Graviton processors in its 5G core network as opposed to incumbent x86 processors. The results are prompting NTT DoCoMo to push ahead with plans for networks in a hybrid cloud environment using AWS Graviton processors designed for energy efficiency to help reduce the carbon footprint of IT networks.

Discover the sustainable leaders of the telecom industry at this years World Communication Awards. Finalists for The Sustainability Award include AsiaInfo, China Unicom Global, Colt Technology Services, KT, Orange Polska, Turkcell, and Vertical Bridge. Join us on the 1 November to see who wins.

RELATED CONTENT: NTT UNVEILS SUSTAINABILITY-AS-A-SERVICE

The Future of Live Concerts Redefining The 5G Edge

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Greg Elliott, VP of 1623 Farnam

Over the past couple of years, discussions around how 5G networks will influence entertainment, and specifically the music industry, largely centered around the ins and outs of virtual events. This was for good reason: crowd limit mandates and quarantine restrictions made live concerts disappear. Instead, artists performed streaming shows and festivals through online platforms. In regard to testing the limits of 5G networks … [visit site to read more]

IFC supports WIOCC’s African aims with major investment

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets – has announced that it is expanding its relationship with West Indian Ocean Cable Company Holding (WIOCC Group), a leading digital connectivity and infrastructure provider in Africa, with a $30 million equity investment.

The new investment will support WIOCC Group’s continued rollout of terrestrial fibre optic networks, investment in new subsea cables, and the launch of world-class, open-access core and edge data centre infrastructure across the continent.

WIOCC offers connectivity services through its extensive open-access, carrier-neutral digital infrastructure to cloud operators, content providers, broadband and mobile operators and ISPs across Africa. It is also a strategic investor in hyperscale terrestrial networks, and in multiple subsea cables including 2Africa, EASSy, Equiano and WACS as well as establishing a rapidly growing data centre footprint in Africa,

IFC’s equity investment builds on its previous financing to WIOCC Group, in the form of a $20 million loan issued in 2020 via IFC’s fast-track Covid-19 financing facility, which was set up to help sustain economies and preserve jobs during the pandemic crisis.

In the past fiscal year, ending in June 2022, IFC invested $1.3 billion in digital infrastructure, with over half of those investments taking place in Africa’s telecommunications, media and technology sectors. 

IFC’s digital infrastructure strategy in Africa is aimed at enabling reliable and affordable connectivity. This includes investing in the growth of independent tower operators, data centres and broadband, as well as supporting mobile operators, with an emphasis on supporting expanded connectivity in fragile and conflict situations (FCS) and low-Income International Development Association countries (LIC-IDA).

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Scottish IoT project aims to revolutionise peatland restoration in Europe


CONTRIBUTED NEWS

A network of remotely monitored Internet of Things (IoT) sensors is being trialled by FarrPoint to help monitor the health of peatland in Scotland’s Western Isles, in what is believed to be the first project of its kind in Europe.

Peatland covers around 20% of Scotland and is vitally important to the environment as it stores 1.7bn tons of carbon, the equivalent of around 140 years of Scotland’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is estimated that 80% of this peatland is damaged, which allows it to dry out. If this continues it will release a large amount of CO2 into the atmosphere, making climate change worse.

The deteriorating nature of peatlands is not just a local problem. Across Europe, these ecosystems store five times more CO2 than forests.  This is a particular concern in Finland (home to almost a third of Europe’s peatlands) and Sweden (where one quarter are located), with the remainder in the UK, Poland, Norway, Germany, Ireland, Estonia, Latvia, The Netherlands and France. Ensuring these peatlands are preserved is of paramount importance across the continent.

IoT Trials in Western Isles, Scotland

The year-long trial, which covers a peatland area surrounding Loch Orasaigh in the Western Isles, is being carried out by UK digital connectivity specialist, FarrPoint in collaboration with NatureScot Peatland ACTION, the Carloway Estate Trust and Scottish Water with funding from the Scottish Government.

This work aligns with the Scottish Government’s £250m, 10-year peatland restoration initiative, to significantly reduce carbon emissions and support biodiversity as part of its climate change plan. Peatland ACTION-funded restoration work around Loch Orasaigh has been phased over several years and the FarrPoint IoT sensors are currently gathering a baseline dataset prior to restoration of this area. Post restoration monitoring is also planned using the same technology.

Real-time data to inform peatland restoration work

Monitoring peatland to measure its water content has traditionally been a manual task, with regular travel to monitoring stations in often remote locations, often on foot. FarrPoint’s IoT solution to monitor peatlands could become a game changer in helping to save peatlands in the UK and beyond, by providing real-time information to inform how restoration work impacts the health of the peatland.

 Dr Andrew Muir, FarrPoint’s CEO, said:

“Scotland’s peatlands are one of our key natural resources in the fight against rising carbon emissions and we must make efforts to protect them.

“When in good condition, our peatlands offer multiple benefits to the environment and our communities. With 80% of Scotland’s peatlands damaged, projects such as this can help us fight climate change and support biodiversity.

 “Digital technologies will become central to our ability to limit the damage of climate change and hit our net-zero targets. This summer’s drought has shown how vulnerable the UK is to extreme heat and this trial will provide valuable and timely data which will help inform future peatland restoration activities.

“Connecting remote and rural areas with digital technologies can be extremely challenging, and whilst benefits have been shown for larger cities, this trial will create key learnings that can be applied to other remote regions of Scotland and Europe.”

Mairi McAllan, Environment Minister said:

“Peatland restoration represents a cornerstone of our action to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. Restoring Scotland’s iconic peatlands can help us sequester and store carbon from the atmosphere, support biodiversity and provide good, green jobs – often in rural communities.

“Since the launch of the Peatland ACTION programme in 2012, around 39,000 hectares of degraded peatlands have undergone restoration in Scotland. We are committed to significantly increasing the rate of restoration and have invested £250 million to fulfil our commitment to restore 250,000 hectares of peatland by 2030.

“This innovative project, which has been awarded £60k from Scottish Government’s Digital Directorate, highlights how new and digital technologies will be crucial in helping us deliver our net zero ambitions.”

 

Lucy Elliff, Peatland ACTION Monitoring Officer at NatureScot said:

“Using these sensors in a remote area has enabled us to gather real-time live data, which is important to monitoring the response of water table dynamics to peatland restoration. Projects like this help us explore how emerging technologies can be used to meet the challenges of monitoring peatland restoration work which is often in remote locations.”

Wider smart community project benefits

As part of the same project, FarrPoint is also exploring the broader use of IoT solutions to benefit the local community in the Western Isles. Working with the Scottish Government, it has already consulted with local residents to identify other key social and economic issues that could be solved by using IoT technology, such as deploying remote sensors in the local community (The Pairc Trust) to monitor humidity and temperature levels for its archive of paper-based records and local artefacts. Many of these items need to be conserved in a stable environment, in particular humidity variations proving a key challenge due to the local climate.

This approach to “stackable” use cases, where multiple uses can be delivered over the same infrastructure is seen as essential, particularly in more remote areas, to improve the investment case.

Join us at the Total Telecom Congress for sessions including Data is the new gold: creating revenue from a telco’s most valuable asset. Find out more at www.totaltele.com/congress