Indian telcos say theft of wireless radio gear is getting worse

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has reportedly urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to do more to stop the theft of telecoms gear from cell towers, which has escalated in the last few months amid aggressive 5G rollouts.

According to ETTelecom, the COAI – which represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea – sent a letter to DoT secretary Neeraj Mittal last Thursday saying that incidents of theft have increased “multi-fold” since October 2023.

COAI Director General SP Kochhar said in the letter that thieves are mainly making off with remote radio units (RRUs) and baseband units (BBUs). He also said that theft is particularly rampant in Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Assam, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Punjab & Haryana, “with just 31 districts contributing to as much as 50% of the theft incidents reported pan India”, the report said.

The letter also said that a “huge number of sites” have been robbed multiple times and claims that the stolen gear is being openly sold on e-commerce sites such as Ebay, Telefly, Seeker816, Dorfatrade, and Alibaba, according to the report.

Kochhar added that in most cases, telcos are unable to recover both the stolen equipment and the subsequent losses in replacing them. 

The increase in theft cases comes as Jio and Airtel complete their rollouts of 5G technologies across the country, while Vodafone Idea has started its rollout and is planning to launch 5G in the second half of this year,

The COAI letter asked the DoT to contact all state chief secretaries to prioritise telecoms theft cases, arrange police protection for telecoms infrastructure and block websites selling the equipment, the report said.

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Internet down due to subsea cable damage in Africa

Operators have reported connectivity disruption across Africa after multiple subsea cables had been reported to be damaged off the coast in West Africa.

Subsea cables carry the bulk of connectivity traffic with a small part carried by satellites. Reports of internet connectivity being disrupted came in yesterday (March 14). Internet security company Cloudflare reported Liberia saw disruptions lasting more than 12 hours, while in Gambia and Guinea outages only lasted 30 minutes. 

In a statement to Developing Telecoms, Orange said the ACE, MainOne Sat 3, and WACS cables had been damaged along the West Coast of Africa.

“Major impacts on international connectivity (voice and data) have been observed in several countries, particularly for Orange subsidiaries in the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Burkina Mali and Guinea,” said an Orange spokesperson. 

The operator said the cause of the outages is unknown at this time, and it is looking to reroute traffic and connect isolated countries through alternative routes. “Several terrestrial links have already been reinforced to improve the situation,” said Orange. 

Vodacom posted on X (formerly Twitter) that there had been “undersea cable failures between South Africa and Europe” which had affected South African MNOs”. The operator implemented alternative solutions and “normal service has been restored to customers”. 

Angola Cables detailed in a statement there had indeed been “cable breaks” off the coast of West Africa, specifically in the Ivory Coast. Traffic has been redirected to the SACS cable which connects Angola directly to Brazil, the US and Europe. 

“Angola Cables has network backup and restoration solutions available through cables that have not been affected by the faults off the Ivory Coast,” the cable company said. 

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Building on 5G network and services innovation will drive future growth, say operators

Huawei’s pre-show industry forum at MWC2024 in Barcelona, under the banner of the 5G Beyond Growth Summit, provided a platform for key executives from the ICT industry to share their experiences of 5G business growth and to explore prospects for 5.5G (5G-A).

The final session of the day brought together senior executives from leading operators in a panel discussion to share their 5G experiences so far and to discuss how to drive business growth in the 5.5G era.

Asked what had impressed them so far about 5G, the panellists pointed to a variety of aspects. Chika Ekeji, Chief Strategy Transformation Officer for MTN Group said that 5G’s potential particularly with regard to use cases was the feature that had most impressed him. Karim Benkirane, Chief Commerical Officer at du, UAE noted the speed at which 5G had been able to gain market share.

Yelamate Mallikarjuna Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer at Telefónica, Deutschland cited 5G’s ecosystem, but urged greater investment in people and skills. This was essential if the industry was to progress away from non-standalone 5G, Rao had observed in an earlier presentation. Quality is key to the future of networks and the future of operations because of the significant complexity involved in the way networks are operated, he noted.

Fan Ji’an, Big Data Chief Scientist at China Unicom Group pointed to 5G’s support for private networks and how these were able to positively transform the traditional working environment. Noting that the company had already deployed 500 private networks for the mining sector, he said that thanks to 5G workers who formerly worked underground could now operate vehicles from the surface.

Asked about network efficiency as a key focus for China’s 5G operators, Huang Lilian, General Manager of 5G co-construction and sharing work team at China Telecom noted that while there were many 5G models, the shared access network approach between China Telecom and China Unicom was probably unique.

“RAN sharing has built the world’s largest (standalone) 5G shared network, now with more than 1.2 million base stations covering towns and villages, said Huang Lilian. “Many operators face the challenge of high investment. We saved 270 billion RNB and reduced carbon emission by 10 billion tons. This is the practice I want to share for building a large network efficiently.”

On the subject of service innovation and network experience, Fan Ji’an said that over the past 5 years China Unicom has employed 5G for different industries and public services such as healthcare and education. As an example of innovation in an industrial context a multi-campus 5G network built by Unicom for the Schneider Electric energy equipment manufacturer uses cameras to detect the components and track stock levels on their production lines.

“For this you need enhanced MBB to support video, but also low latency,” explained Fan Ji’an. “That means the relationship between the network experience and service innovation is key.”

MTN Group’s Chika Ekeji acknowledged that operators in Africa may not yet have some of the advanced use cases that will become important to the continent, but he said there was a need to discover how to get creative around leveraging 5G technology.

In an earlier presentation, Ekeji outlined how these aims are enshrined in MTN’s “CHASE” framework which is designed to address the barriers to 5G in Africa through a series of measures including timely access to new spectrum bands for cost-effective 5G coverage, financing schemes to make handsets more affordable, regulatory support for more efficient spectrum use, collaboration with content providers to offer 5G service bundling and promote the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as AR/VR, and better articulation of 5G capabilities and use cases, especially to businesses on the continent.

“As we look forward we have to find a way to unlock value for Africa’s young population,” said Ekeji. “Coverage and handsets are critical factors…as is engaging with the leadership of the regulatory bodies around these issues.”

Responding to a question about how du would market 5.5G to its customers, Karim Benkirane said that since launching fixed wireless access (FWA) in the UAE 3 years ago, du had doubled market share in terms of subscribers. In a presentation earlier in the day Benkirane explained that du had already achieved 98.5% population coverage with 5G, and that the share of data volume accounted for by 5G had also risen to beyond 60 per cent.

“5G FWA already represents a huge opportunity, and FWA with 5G Advanced can really deliver performance equivalent to fibre. Also the (optimum) latency will be achieved to make a great user experience,” he said.

The panel concluded with an acknowledgment by all particiants of the need to work jointly to develop a blueprint for the sustainable growth of 5G, and to embrace new challenges and opportunities in the era of 5.5G.

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Viettel wins Vietnam’s first round of 5G spectrum auctions

Viettel Group announced it has officially won the Ministry of Information and Communications’ auction for the 2500-2600 MHz band for 5G usage in Vietnam.

Under the new spectrum licence, Viettel will have rights to the 2500-2600 MHz band for the next 15 years, and can use the band for both 4G and 5G services.

No financial details were disclosed, although earlier media reports have said the starting price for the 2500-2600 MHz band was VND3.9 trillion (US$158 million).

The MIC kicked off an auction for the 3700-3800 MHz band on Thursday, and is expected to hold a third auction for the 3800-3900 MHz on March 19. The starting price for both of those bands is VND1.89 trillion. According to VNEconomy, each bidder is only allowed to win one band.

Viettel said the 2500-2600 MHz band would give it an advantage over the other two bands, as it offers slightly wider coverage. Viettel also said that 5G devices it has researched and produced support the 2500-2600 MHz band. According to Viettel, only 17% to 20% of devices in Vietnam currently support 5G connectivity.

Viettel said it plans to launch the national 5G network “in the shortest possible time.” Earlier, Nguyen Van Son, director of Viettel Telecom’s Mobile Centre, told the state Vietnam News Agency that Viettel plans to focus its 5G deployments in locations where there is both high demand and a high concentration of 5G-compatible devices, such as “industrial zones, export processing zones and innovation centres.”

An October 2023 report from VNMedia said that the 2500-2600 MHz auction winner will be required to deploy at least 3,000 5G broadcasting stations using the band within two years after they receive the licence. They must also commit to launching commercial 5G services using the band within the first 12 months.

VNA reports that the MIC has set a target to provide 5G coverage to 99% of the population by 2025, with minimum data speeds of 100 Mbps.

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stc Bahrain launches AI facial recognition for eSIM activation

stc Bahrain has launched what it claims is the first instant mobile eSIM activation service that uses AI-powered facial recognition to authorise users, one month after Bahrain’s telecoms regulator approved use of facial recognition for telecoms services.

Subscribers can use the My stc BH app to buy a new eSIM and download it instantly. The app enables users to choose their favorite number and preferred mobile plan.

After that, stc subscribers can activate the eSIM instantly by capturing a live photo using their smartphone’s camera for identity verification. Once facial recognition software on the backend verifies the customer’s ID, the eSIM is activated and ready to use.

The telco says this makes the remote activation process both easier and more secure. It also eliminates the need for users to present or upload documents, visit a physical branch or wait for a delivery agent to come and authenticate and/or register their fingerprint.

« By leveraging AI face recognition technology and eSIM capabilities, our existing and new subscribers can get an eSIM number online and activate it without visiting any stc outlet, » said stc Bahrain CEO Eng. Nezar Banabeela in a statement. “Our aim is to empower customers by offering a seamless digital experience that enhances convenience and efficiency.”

stc also credited Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) for supporting the facial recognition activation service, though it gave no details what that involved.

Last month, the TRA issued a position paper updating its official Electronic Solution Requirements document to include use of facial recognition technology.

Under the updated guidelines, among other things, telecoms players in Bahrain can only use facial recognition technology for identity verification of subscribers. Telcos must also clearly inform subscribers in advance that facial recognition data will be collected and processed, what specific data is being collected, and that it will only be used for ID purposes during the onboarding process. They must also obtain subscriber consent first and provide an easy opt-out option.

Telcos must also enact explicit policies prohibiting the use of facial data for any purposes beyond identity verification, and ensuring that the data is not processed for marketing, surveillance, or any other unrelated purpose. Use of facial recognition also must also comply with relevant data privacy and protection laws.

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Benefits & Challenges of 5G Technology in UCaaS

5G, the fifth generation of wireless mobile networking technology, represents a revolutionary leap forward, introducing groundbreaking advancements in speed, latency, capacity, connectivity, and the innovative concept of network slicing. As 5G gradually unfolds across the globe, it holds the promise of reshaping the technology and communication landscapes.

Exploring the tangible improvements to speed and latency, 5G technology is capable of delivering speeds up to 20 times faster than its predecessor, the 4G/LTE network. While actual figures may vary, Statista‘s research found the “reliable” 5G speed to be an average of seven times faster than 4G.

Perhaps more important even than speed, network latency refers to the time it takes data to travel from source to destination. Latency over a 5G network is expected to drop from around 50 milliseconds to an astonishingly low 1 millisecond, making interactions virtually instantaneous.

As 5G continues its rollout, the transformative impact on technology and communication is eagle anticipated.

The implications of these impressive figures and other advancements ushered in by 5G are significant improvements within the Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) landscape. Below we will discuss five areas where 5G has the potential to elevate and refine unified communications solutions.

UHD Video Calling

Leveraging the high speeds and minimal latency of 5G, UCaaS solutions could deliver Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) video calling and conferencing. The crystal clear visual and voice quality would make virtual meetings and collaborations even more effective than before. Team meetings would be free from misunderstandings and interruptions, trainings would be highly effective, and conversations with customers would be professional and efficient.

Read more about the benefits of video conferencing in our article gloCOM Meeting: Expanding Growth Through Unification.

Remote Collaboration

While we have written extensively about the benefits of remote working and our tools to enable remote collaboration and productivity, it is crucial to also consider the challenges associated with working outside a traditional office setting.

One of the biggest hurdles faced by remote workers is internet reliability. Even the most sophisticated and well developed solutions can be compromised by low seeds and high latency, leading to problems with lag, subpar sound or video quality, and dropped connections.

Unleashing 5G around the globe holds the potential to be a gamechanger in refining hybrid work environments. With exceptionally high-speed connections, even in remote or rural areas, the prospect of uninterrupted productivity becomes a reality.

As 5G becomes increasingly pervasive, it will transform the landscape, offering a reliable foundation for seamless remote collaboration.

Network Slicing

With the introduction of 5G came network slicing, a cutting-edge technology that enables network administrators to partition the network into virtual “slices”, dedicated to specific and unique requirements.

In the realm of unified communications, network slicing emerges as a powerful tool to reserve bandwidth for specific applications or services. Imagine allocating slices of the network for activities like video conferencing, data backups, or customer interactions, ensuring optimal performance and customization within the UCaaS framework.

Mobility

Mobile devices have become an integral part of the contemporary workforce, with businesses increasingly adopting unified communications apps, hybrid work options, and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies.

The transformative influence of 5G technology is already available on many mobile devices around the world, giving us a taste of the incredible benefits to come.

Where UCaaS mobile apps are already enabling on-the-go collaboration and seamless communication between locations, adding 5G to the mix would make call quality pristine with absolutely no change detected between locations.

Cloud Computing

The advantages of transitioning communication to the cloud are expansive and unmistakable. We have discussed those benefits extensively on our blog. So it comes as no surprise that shifting a greater portion of operations to the cloud would be wildly beneficial to businesses.

5G network speeds would support a full adoption of cloud technology, helping businesses to reduce upfront and ongoing costs and optimize their operational efficiencies and productivity.

The emergence of cutting-edge technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) brings vast potential to the UCaaS landscape to revolutionize meetings, collaborations, and training.

The integration of these technologies could be made seamless by 5G technology and its exceptional speed and minimal latency.

Virtual Reality, employing specialized headsets, creates a digital, interactive environment where users can engage and look or move around.

Augmented Reality, on the other hand, overlays digital information or graphics onto real-world surroundings, enhancing the user’s perception.

These immersive experience technologies could bring a paradigm shift in the dynamics of virtual meetings, collaborations, and trainings, and virtual assistants.

Envision having a holographic representation of the person you are speaking with or gaining virtual access to a distant environment. This sounds futuristic and abstract, but it has already been implemented in other sectors, the gaming sector for example with VR games and AR apps like Pokemon Go.

Integrating these same technologies, powered by 5G, into unified communications would open new doors to unprecedented levels of productivity and collaboration.

While the potential of integrating 5G with Unified Communications sounds promising and exciting, the journey is not without its hurdles.

We would be remiss not to discuss the challenges and considerations associated with this groundbreaking technology.

Finances

One of the most significant hurdles to universal deployment of 5G is the restrictive costs. Deploying a 5G network involves substantial investment in new infrastructure, including antennas, base stations, and other advanced technologies. These financial commitments can be a significant or impossible burden for businesses. 

Integrating 5G technology into UCaaS solutions may require adaptations or upgrades to existing infrastructures and hardware, incurring additional expenses. As organizations strive to embrace the enticing communications benefits of 5G, they must carefully weigh the financial implications and the ultimate Return on Investment (ROI).

Security

As with any new technology, we must consider the security and privacy risks that may come with integrating 5G into UCaaS. Vulnerabilities, from risk of attack to potential security breaches, have not been fully identified and addressed yet. 5G is a very high profile technology, making it an attractive target for track. 

As communications solutions providers, we are often responsible for protecting sensitive communication and data exchanges, so we cannot dive into new technologies without doing our due diligence. At the very least, the adoption of 5G should include the implementation of a plan for security and real-time monitoring.

Limited Access

As 5G is still in its rollout phase, coverage is not yet universally available to integrate into Unified Communications as a Service solutions. A report from Ericsson estimated that global 5G coverage would reach 45% by the end of 2023. It is expected to reach 85% in 2029.

Integrating 5G into a UC solution too early could result in spotty service, particularly in rural or remote areas or countries that have not begun deploying 5G, leading to disparities in the quality and reliability of the UCaaS services.

The emergence of 5G technology and its implications are exciting, to say the least. Converging high network speeds, low latency, and the opportunity for immersive experiences with UCaaS opens the door to redefining communication and collaboration.

Despite the immense challenges holding us back, we cannot help but feel excited about the promise of transformative technology and unlimited innovation. Will you join us on this exciting journey into the future?