Ericsson and Orange Egypt announced on Monday that they have signed a multi-year deal to collaborate on accelerating the telco’s digital transformation by fortifying its backend and building a resilient architecture across its network.

Under the multi-year bundle deal, the two companies will deploy Ericsson’s Catalog Manager and Order Care products, which are part of Ericsson’s Business and Operations Support Systems (B/OSS) portfolio. Ericsson says these will be future-proofed by implementing them as cloud-native solutions using its Cloud Container Distribution.

Ericsson said the B/OSS solutions – which are aligned with TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture standards – will serve as cornerstone technologies for Orange Egypt’s strategic cloud native digital architecture.

Orange Egypt said the new capabilities could also bring greater flexibility to its customers by digitising and personalising the subscription process, as well as give it additional data and insight into customer preferences that will help it make competitive pricing decisions.

As part of the deal, Ericsson will also modernize and upgrade its charging solution, as well as expand its mediation solution, both of which Orange Egypt currently uses.

By combining all of these solutions, and building on catalog driven orchestration, Orange Egypt will be able to streamline its business configuration process within the transformation project – which will be crucial to deal with the increasing complexity of telecoms and digital services, said Håkan Cervell, VP and head of Ericsson Saudi Arabia and Egypt at Ericsson Middle East and Africa.

“Digital service experience, catalog-driven orchestration and cloud native technology are essential for CSPs to successfully manage the complex challenges arising in the era of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT),” he said.

Whereas the rollout of 4G had a huge effect on the consumer marketplace, with 5G we are seeing the enterprise market in position to take advantage.  That means an opportunity for new players to come in with new ways of delivering wireless services to that market.  SmartCIC has been doing that in Europe and the US with its sights set on a growing number of markets globally.  With us today to talk about the opportunity in cellular intelligence and fixed wireless access Toby Forman, Co-Founder and CEO of SmartCIC Global Services and SmartCIC Technologies.   … [visit site to read more]

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reportedly announced on Friday that it has launched an experimental licence module that will allow its established 5G labs across India to test 5G use cases.

The DoT has set up 5G use case labs within 100 institutes across the country with the objective to build competencies and engagement in 5G technologies for students and startup communities. The experimental licence from the DoT will enable those labs to use 5G spectrum bands to test whatever use cases they come up with without interfering with commercial 5G services.

According to ETTelecom, the experimental license is available on a “self-declaration basis” from the DoT’s Saral Sanchar portal. Applicants have to provide details such as the use case to be tested, the technical details of the experiment and which frequency band they wish to use.

“This initiative aims to simplify the experimental licence requirements for these institutions, facilitating smoother operations and fostering innovation in the 5G domain,” the DoT said in a statement.

The DoT has granted 1,500 licenses so far for conducting trials and testing of 5G services and use cases, the report said.

Last month, the DoT launched its Spectrum Regulatory Sandbox (SRS), as well as Wireless Test Zones (WiTe Zones), to streamline testing and experimentation of domestically produced wireless solutions.

The SRS is expected to encourage start-ups and SMEs to develop use cases for 5G and 6G technologies, as well as help telcos and solutions providers test gear for any technical problems.

As part of the SRS initiative, the DoT also reportedly abolished the Wireless Operating License (WOL) requirement for licensees under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, which means sandbox participants won’t need to acquire a WOL before they start experimenting.

Network International, an enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, says it has entered into a strategic partnership with fintech solutions provider Souhoola to enable merchants with the capability to offer buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) payments at its networkpay point-of-sale terminals in Egypt.

Network International launched networkpay, its direct-to-merchant service, in Egypt last year to offer various channels of acceptance including face-to-face payments, digital payments and online payments, serving 2,500 merchants in the region so far. Souhoola has over 130,000 users and a network of more than 1,600 merchant partners.

Using Souhoola’s BNPL option on networkpay POS devices, customers can split their payments into flexible instalments of up to 60 months to purchase electronics, furniture and automobiles – and even to pay school fees.

Ahmed Samir, Regional Managing Director for Merchant Services – Egypt, Network International says: “By partnering with Souhoola, we’re not just facilitating seamless digital payments; we are also accelerating financial inclusion. This partnership aims to empower merchants and consumers alike and stimulate a more accessible and convenient payment ecosystem in Egypt. »

Network International points out that the BNPL payment industry has recorded noteworthy progress over the last 12 months in Egypt. BNPL payment adoption is expected to grow steadily, recording a CAGR of 29% during 2023-2028, according to a report by Research and Markets. BNPL gross merchandise value (GMV) is expected to rise from US$1.1 billion in 2022 to US$6.1 billion by 2028.

Network International adds that this partnership with Souhoola aims to spearhead this growth, advance financial inclusion and transform the digital payments landscape in Egypt.

NEWS 

Onivia was established in 2019 as Spain’s first independent wholesale fibre network operator 

Digi Spain has announced that is has sold 6 million fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) accesses to wholesale fibre provider Onivia for €750 million. 

This acquisition marks a significant expansion for Onivia, which is owned by a consortium comprised of Macquarie Capital, Abrdn, and Arjun Infrastructure Partners, increasing the network operator’s FTTH coverage to approximately 10 million Spanish households, over a third of the market. 

Digi Spain’s network currently serves around 4.25 million homes, with plans for further expansion to cover an additional 1.75 million homes over the next three years. This expansion initiative is projected to extend the network’s reach to a total of 6 million homes, spanning across twelve provinces in key regions including Madrid, Segovia, Avila, Castilla-La Mancha, Comunidad Valenciana, and Murcia.  

As part of the agreement, Onivia has secured the option to acquire any future fibre rollouts from DIGI within these provinces. 

Digi Spain will retain access to the FTTH network as an anchor tenant and will continue to serve its current customer base.  Simultaneously, the network will be opened up to all other Onivia ISP customers, allowing for increased competition in the market.  

“With this acquisition, Onivia confirms its position as largest neutral and independent player, enhancing the value-added proposal for our telco customers, increasing coverage, and offering latest XGS-PON technology,” said Onivia’s CEO Jose Antonio Vázquez Blanco in a press release. 

The transaction is still subject to standard regulatory approval, which includes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) clearances in Spain and European Commission merger control. 

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Also in the news:
FCC rejects SpaceX’s request for spectrum
Amazon invests $2.75 billion in AI startup Anthropic
T-Mobile gets green light to appeal class action lawsuit

Press Release

AXIAN Telecom, one of the leading pan-African telecom groups, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vivek Badrinath to its Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director (NED)

Before his new appointment, Mr. Badrinath spent three years at Vantage Towers AG where he was the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board. He led the establishment of the towers company in 2020, facilitated its IPO in 2021, and eventually its sale to Private Equity in 2023. Under his leadership, Vantage Towers effectively managed 88,000 telecom towers across eight European countries.

Mr. Badrinath has held extensive leadership roles within the telecommunications sector. In 2016, he assumed the position of CEO of Africa Middle East Asia Pacific at Vodafone, joining their Executive Committee. In this capacity, he provided oversight to Vodafone’s operations across various regions including the Vodacom Group, India, Australia, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and New Zealand. Additionally, he served as the Interim CEO of Vodafone Business during his tenure. Prior to his time at Vodafone, Mr. Badrinath held key positions at Orange, starting in 2004 as the CTO of Orange Mobile before advancing to the Group CTO. His journey at Orange culminated in his appointment as CEO of Orange Business Services and subsequently as Deputy CEO of Orange Group, where he spearheaded initiatives in Innovation, Marketing, and Technology.

He also served as the Deputy Chief Executive at the renowned international hospitality group Accor Hotels where he was responsible for overseeing marketing strategies, digital solutions, distribution channels, and information systems.

Hassanein Hiridjee, Chairman of the Board commented: “We are delighted to welcome Vivek Badrinath to the AXIAN Telecom Board. Badrinath’s leadership in managing telecom infrastructure and driving strategic growth aligns perfectly with AXIAN Telecom’s vision of responsible expansion across Africa. With his wealth of knowledge and commitment to excellence, we are confident that he will make significant contributions to our mission of enhancing connectivity and improving the lives of communities throughout the continent. On behalf of the Board, I extend our warmest welcome to Badrinath.”

 “I’m thrilled and deeply honored to become a part of AXIAN Telecom. Drawing from my experience and expertise in the telecommunications sector, I am looking forward to playing a pivotal role in driving AXIAN Telecom to new heights in Africa. I firmly believe that together, we can make a substantial and noteworthy impact across the continent,” said Mr. Badrinath about his appointment.

Mr Badrinath also previously served on many boards as a Non-Executive Director including Nokia, GSMA, Atos and Accor Group.

He is a recipient of the French Legion of Honor and the National Order of Merit.

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Also in the news:
FCC rejects SpaceX’s request for spectrum
Amazon invests $2.75 billion in AI startup Anthropic
T-Mobile gets green light to appeal class action lawsuit

News

The telco has been hard at work upgrading its network to the new architecture since the start of the year 

This week, Vodafone Germany has announced its network construction update for the first quarter of this year. Within this time frame, Vodafone has made strides in bolstering mobile connectivity infrastructure across the country, completing over 1,200 construction projects.  

According to the company, this effort, which averaged 13 projects daily, underscores the company’s commitment to enhancing its LTE and 5G network capabilities. 

During this period, Vodafone commissioned 155 new base stations and upgraded almost 500 existing stations to 5G standalone (SA), which Vodafone calls 5G+. Nearly 170 measures were implemented to address LTE dead spots, ensuring more consistent coverage across the country. 

Deploying 5G SA constituted almost 40% of the total construction efforts. As a result, approximately half of Germany’s population now has access to Vodafone’s 5G+ network. 

Favourable weather conditions in March 2024 further expedited construction efforts, with over 550 locations seeing project completion. On average, three new mobile phone stations were activated daily during this period, contributing to the integration of 67 new locations into the Vodafone network. 

In related company news, last month Vodafone Germany announced that it will cut 2,000 jobs over the next two years as part wider company restructuring. It is hoped that the move will save the company €400 million. 

The cuts are part of cost-cutting measures announced by new Group CEO Margherita Della Valle in May last year, in which 11,000 jobs are expected to be cut globally over the next three years. 

 “Vodafone wants to make itself even simpler, faster, leaner and therefore more powerful in the next two years,” said Vodafone Germany CEO Philipp Roggein a speech to employees. 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter 

Also in the news:
FCC rejects SpaceX’s request for spectrum
Amazon invests $2.75 billion in AI startup Anthropic
T-Mobile gets green light to appeal class action lawsuit

Remittances are in the news yet again, this time in the shape of LemFi, a cross-border payment solution that allows people in the diaspora to send and receive funds back home. LemFi has announced that it has secured the approval of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to operate remittances in Kenya.

LemFi, formerly Lemonade Finance, provides a mobile app that enables Kenyans in other countries to send money home. As the Techpoint Africa news service explains, Kenyans in the United Kingdom, the US and Canada, for example, can send funds to Kenya in minutes via financial institutions such as M-Pesa, mobile money wallets, and bank accounts, with no fees.

The LemFi app also provides a Kenya shillings wallet offering, allowing users to fund their accounts with mobile money and to open accounts. Users can exchange their shillings for a number of foreign currencies including US dollars and British pounds.

In Nigeria LemFi is licenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria as an International Money Transfer Operator. This enables it to directly partner with banks to deliver its services and conduct inbound money transfers to Nigeria in line with regulations. It also operates in Ghana and recently signed a new deal with Visa’s Cross-Border Solutions division to expand its operations into new global markets like China, India, and Pakistan.

With the new Kenyan licence, the company says it can focus its resources and efforts on providing secure and efficient services while adhering to CBK’s regulatory framework.

LemFi is part of a burgeoning and highly competitive remittance market. Less than a month ago we reported that, in LemFi’s home market of Nigeria, neobank Kuda had won a licence allowing it to offer remittance and multi-currency wallet services to Africans living in Canada.

PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications on Thursday launched a new push to drive adoption of eSIM among prepaid subscribers by allowing them to keep their existing number when they make the switch.

Under the latest promotion, Smart Prepaid subscribers can upgrade their physical SIM to an eSIM for a fee of Php99 (around US$1.75) and keep the same number.

Smart is also hoping to entice non-Smart prepaid users to switch to its service, saying that they can switch their physical SIM to a Smart Prepaid eSIM at no charge.

In both cases, subscribers must have an eSIM-compatible smartphone, and they have to go a Smart stores to make the switch.

According to Smart’s head of Prepaid, Lloyd R. Manaloto, Smart prepaid customers need to bring their current physical SIM and a valid government ID. Non-Smart have to obtain their Unique Subscriber Code from their current network provider, and submit required documents such as a valid government ID, a screenshot of their current balance, and a signed application form, among others.

Smart launched its prepaid eSIM service in July 2023, but up to now, subscribers couldn’t keep their old number. Jerome Y. Almirante, head of Innovations and Digital Services at Smart, said this is the first eSIM service in the Philippines that lets prepaid customers keep their old number.

“By being able to upgrade their physical SIM to an eSIM while keeping their number, mobile users avoid the usual hassles that come with having a new number – from tediously informing your contacts to painstakingly updating apps and online accounts linked to your number,” Almirante said. “With this new capability in place, we’re making it a lot easier and more convenient for subscribers of all networks to finally enjoy the many benefits of eSIM technology.”

Smart’s rival Globe Telecom began offering a prepaid eSIM for local users last month via its GlobeOne App after a six-month delay. However, for the time being, only iOS users can access the eSIM option in the app, according to Unbox.ph, and users must change numbers.

Globe has been offering prepaid eSIMs to tourists and business travellers visiting the Philippines since the end of last year. That eSIM is available for iOS and Android phones.