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Pan-African operator MTN and technology giant NEC Corporation say they have launched Africa’s first 400G optical transponder.

Called Phoenix, this initiative, according to MTN and NEC, marks a significant milestone for the telecommunications industry in Africa, with the potential to revolutionise the way optical networks are built and operated, thereby transforming internet delivery across the continent.

Phoenix is part of the Telecom Infra Project’s (TIP) Open Optical and Packet Transport (OOPT) project group, a collaborative effort involving multiple telecom operators and technology providers. The solution has met TIP’s rigorous test requirements, earning it a Controlled Environment Silver Badge, indicative of its readiness for deployment.

TIP describes itself as a global community of companies and organisations working together to accelerate the development and deployment of open, disaggregated, and standards-based technology solutions that deliver the high-quality connectivity that the world needs.

The deployment of Phoenix is designed to accelerate internet connectivity and optimise network operations, thereby democratising access to information. More importantly perhaps, it aims to make affordable internet more widely available across Africa.

MTN has embraced this technology, integrating it into its production network, specifically across its optical network between Johannesburg and Centurion in South Africa.

Phoenix is a network device, known as a white box L0/L1 transponder, that can transmit data at speeds of up to 400 gigabits per second. Its disaggregated nature allows it to be programmed to run any vendor’s software, offering operators flexibility in hardware and software selection.

This disaggregation, we are told, leads to cost reductions, accelerates innovation, and enables quicker and easier deployment of new network services.

Telekom Malaysia reported profits doubling due to lower costs and taxes, despite revenues taking a dip due to market challenges.

Profit for the Malaysian operator surged 102.9% from MYR265.2 million to RM538.2 million (US$114 million) in Q3, primarily due to lower taxes and reduced net finance costs. Meanwhile, operating revenue declined 2.6% from MYR265.2 million to MYR538.2 million, and CAPEX stood at 15.1%  which equates to MYR1.38 billion as the operator spent on network infrastructure expansion, but this was down from 15.9% in 2022. 

The company noted strong performances from its broadband and TV brand Unifi and wholesale business arm TM Global, both having “pivotal” roles in growth this quarter. Unifi broadband subscriptions increased 4.6% to 3.12 million, while TM Global revenue grew 5% to MYR769.9 million on the back of strong data services demand. 

TM CEO Amar Huzaimi said: “Our commitment to advancing quad-play convergence services, coupled with the introduction of attractive and competitive packages, enabled us to retain and expand our customer base, solidifying our portfolio as the true convergence champion.

“Our relentless pursuit of improving mobile coverage nationwide aligns with our dedication to inclusivity, bridging the digital divide, and fostering widespread digital adoption. By ensuring our services are accessible to all, we contribute to creating a more connected and inclusive society.

“Simultaneously, our aggressive expansion of data and network infrastructure is strategically positioned to meet the growing demands of our domestic market and attract more international players. This is a crucial step towards positioning Malaysia as a digital hub for the region, contributing significantly to the creation of a globally connected digital economy.”

Orange Group unified its suite of apps under one super app called Max It, with the aim to more than double the number of active app users on its network over the next two years, as part of part of wider plans to maintain growth in the Middle East and Africa. 

Speaking to Developing Telecoms, Orange Middle East and Africa Deputy CEO Brelottte Ba noted that 22 million customers are actively using multiple Orange apps for a range of services, and the group expects this figure to more than double to 45 million in 2025 with Max It. Currently Orange serves 146 million customers in the Middle East and Africa.

“The vision is to bring the world to the fingertips of our customers. No matter what they want to do, they can do it in our application. This is, of course, a driver of growth and loyalty. We expect our customers to be spending more and being more loyal to our offers,” said Ba.

The app will first be deployed in five markets Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Botswana. It will then be launched in phases across Orange’s other 11 markets in the Middle East and Africa. 

Max It will display together three core services in one interface: managing mobile and fixed lines, Orange Money payments and mobile money transfers, and an e-commerce platform offering digital content such as online games, music, TV, and news. It will also include a digital ticketing service for concerts and transport and extra services from local and international partners. 

The executive added the launch of the super app was a natural progression for Orange as its markets in MEA mature and digitalise.

“When we look at the figures from the GSMA, smartphone penetration is at 52% and this is predicted to go up to 88% by the end of this decade. It means that the vast majority of consumers will be using smartphones in a continent that is mobile-first,” said Ba. 

“The idea is really to leverage all services we provide and make sure that customers don’t have to download multiple apps. Especially given the fact that when we look at our footprint, customers don’t have high-end smartphones that allow them to download tons of apps.”

Viettel High Tech says it has successfully deployed and validated its 5G Open RAN gNodeB, co-developed with Qualcomm, on Viettel’s live network in Hanoi.

Viettel High Tech, the R&D arm of Vietnamese telco Viettel, says its 5G Open RAN equipment is the first to use Qualcomm’s X100 5G RAN Accelerator Card and QRU100 5G RAN Platform on a live network with real users and data traffic. The two companies have been working on the 5G Open RAN gNodeB since the initial design was revealed at the Mobile World Congress 2023 in March. Viettel and Qualcomm announced plans in Mayannounced plans in May to collaborate on developing next-gen technology to fast track development and rollout of 5G in Vietnam and globally.

The 32T32R 5G Open RAN gNodeB was installed in Viettel’s network cluster in Hai Ba Trung District in Hanoi. Viettel High Tech says it chose that site, which has been operational since 2021, because the area sports a dense urban high-traffic population with a high concentration of mobile users – between 300-400 subscribers in a cell. That environment allowed Viettel and Qualcomm to put the 5G gNodeB through its paces and facilitate product optimization.

According to Viettel, the 5G gNodeB achieved downstream data speeds of up to 850 Mbps in real-network scenarios. Viettel says those results make it competitive with other vendors. With the equipment validation completed, Viettel plans to introduce these products across their eleven international markets and extend to other global operators.

“To enhance competitiveness and establish Viettel as a reputable global provider, we must continually improve our products and focus on key factors: high performance, Open RAN compliance, low power consumption, virtualization, and cloud-native design,” said Viettel High Tech CEO Nguyen Vu Ha in a statement. “The collaboration between Viettel and Qualcomm Technologies aims to address these critical factors, enabling our products to meet the requirements for mass commercialization in Vietnam and global markets.”

Viettel High Tech has produced a range of 5G gear, including 5G gNodeB antennas and base stations, 100G site routers, and an automatic online charging system (OCS). Earlier this month, Viettel High Tech revealed that it had developed its own 5G DFE chipset, which it said would finally give it “complete control” over its domestic 5G equipment ecosystem.

Analyst company Canalys reported the smartphone market is showing signs of recovery predicting a lower decline in 2023, and growth will be pushed by emerging markets next year. 

Global shipments were predicted to dip 5% year-on-year to 1.13 billion units this year, an improvement on the decline of 12% in 2022. 

The lower decline is due to stabilisation and growth in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America this year. In 2024, 1.17 billion units are expected to ship representing a growth rate of 4% in 2023. 

Canalys senior analyst Toby Zhu said the smartphone sector is “emerging from its darkest days” even though shipments are 20% below the 2017 peak. Consumers are also buying more expensive devices as average selling prices are now exceeding US$440 compared to US$332 in 2017. 

“Profitability is looking up for hardware makers strategically launching flashy new features to captivate consumers in key growth markets,” said Zhu. 

Fuelled by emerging markets

“The smartphone rebound in 2024 will be fuelled by emerging markets, where the devices remain integral to connectivity, entertainment and productivity,” added Sanyam Chaurasia, Senior Analyst at Canalys. 

“One in three smartphones shipped in 2024 will be purchased in the Asia Pacific versus only one in five back in 2017. This region will also witness some of the fastest growth at 6% year-over-year, driven by resurging demand in India, Southeast Asia and South Asia. As macroeconomic conditions and consumer confidence stabilise in these countries, smartphone upgradation will accelerate.” 

Canalys tipped Chinese vendors including Honor and Xiaomi to “aggressively expand outside of Greater China” due to improving business conditions. 

Is Vietnam edging closer to mobile money adoption? That appears to be the case after the announcement of an extension to the existing mobile money service pilot.

The government has issued a resolution permitting the extension of the pilot use of telecom payment accounts for small-value goods and services until 31 December 2024. In 2021, the prime minister approved the pilot of mobile money service nationwide for two years, starting from 9 March 2021. In November of that year, as we reported at the time, MobiFone became the first Vietnamese operator to be permitted to provide mobile money services in the country.

The service allows customers to use their mobile communications accounts to carry out payment for small-value goods and services, money transfer, direct deposit and withdrawal at outlets and transaction points of telecom providers throughout the country, among other forms of money exchange. All of this can be done without a bank account, a smartphone or an internet connection.

English-language news service Vietnam News says that, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the number of customers using the mobile money service was above 3.9 million by early May 2023, tripling the figure for the same period last year.

The service points out that, the number of clients in rural, remote and mountainous areas reached over 2.7 million; that’s 69% of total users.

There are now more than 9,953 mobile money service points nationwide (up 12% from March), and 15,326 units accepting payment via mobile money (up 0.2%). The total number of withdrawals, transfers and payments through  the mobile money service was over 26.1 million, at a total value of about US$70.1 million.

A new data center and three interesting bits of vendor news from around the globe: … [visit site to read more]