News

The new Reduced Capability (RedCap) technology could open the door for a greater integration of IoT devices with existing 5G networks

Telefonica Deutschland has revealed it has successfully trialled 5G RedCap devices in its commercial 5G network in Munich.

RedCap, a key part of standardisation body 3GPP’s Release 17, is aimed at supporting the IoT over mobile networks.

It has three major advantages over existing IoT connectivity technologies (such as 4G LTE or NB-IoT):

• higher peak data rates, able to support data hungry IoT devices like video surveillance cameras or smart grid monitoring;
• lower latency, perfect for IoT devices that need near-real-time data transmission;
• and improving the battery life of devices thanks to improved efficiency and reduced complexity.

To access this benefits, IoT devices will need to be equipped with 5G RedCap-compatible radio module. The 5G network itself, on the other hand, will not need any modification – thought 5G standalone (SA) architecture will be required.

Telefonica itself launched 5G SA in Germany in October last year, saying the upgraded 5G network already covers 90% of the German population.

“5G RedCap can bring new momentum to the Internet of Things. The technology closes a gap between the previous 4G network and high-performance 5G applications in the IoT sector,” explained Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer of Telefonica Deutschland.

“O2 Telefónica has successfully trialled the integration of 5G RedCap devices in the network. With our network, we are creating the technical prerequisites for connecting millions of devices efficiently and cost-effectively. It will be crucial to see how the market, the product world and digital applications develop.”

Telefonica says that it is already working with device and module manufacturers to help accelerate the development of the 5G RedCap-capable IoT device ecosystem. These devices are expected to be commercially available in 2025.

Will 5G RedCap prove a catalyst for growth in the German IoT industry? Join the operators in discussion at this year’s Connected Germany event live in Germany

Also in the news:
Digi Spain sells 6m FTTH accesses to Onivia
Vodafone’s 5G standalone network now connects around half the German population
Broadband poles no problem for Brits says new study

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Several items from European operators of note from early this week: … [visit site to read more]

Interview

We spoke with Luis Uribe, the CTO of Entel, to share his experience and insights on the latest optical transport technology and how is digitally transforming Chile in F5G (Fixed 5^th Generation)-Advanced era

Watch the full interview from the link below.

When it comes to digital services, Entel is a highly diverse telecoms company, offering mobile, fixed broadband, and enterprise services to customers throughout Chile and Peru.

“Our optical transport network builds a solid foundation for mobile services, broadband services, and enterprise leased line services. It offers ultra-large bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and simplified architecture to meet business requirements for up to a decade. It is an essential part of Entel’s strategy,” said Uribe.

But as the demand for these digital services increases, so too does the pressure on the network to be faster, more resilient, and more powerful. Networks must evolve to meet these increased demands and, as such, last year ETSI released its F5G-Advanced standard, a shift that will take existing networks capable of 200G networks to 400G and even 800G.

In fact, Entel’s own backbone network in Chile is closely mirroring this evolution. Launching their 10G Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) system back in 2005, Entel began upgrading the network to 100G nationwide in 2017, and 200G in the capital area in 2022. Now, they are launching the country’s first 800G optical network.

“In the future, we will not only build out the 400G/800G backbone network to cover the whole country,” said Uribe. “We believe a green all-optical architecture will help us to build the best fixed broadband and mobile broadband services in Chile.”

The deployment of this 800G network – known as the Galileo Project within Entel itself – will provide a solid foundation upon which Chile can develop as a digital economy, in line with the government’s 2035 Digital Strategy.

“This deployment will provide state-of-the-art network coverage in all major cities from Arica to Puerto Montt with capacities of up to Nx800 Gbps in 1+0, 1+1, 1+R, and 1+1+R redundant. It is prepared to deliver high-capacity with very high availability, up to 99.999%,” explained Uribe. “This will be present at the national level including extreme areas. Entel believes Chile’s 2035 digital transformation will rely on such high capacity, nation-wide coverage, and ultra-high reliability network.”

Also in the news:
Digi Spain sells 6m FTTH accesses to Onivia
Vodafone’s 5G standalone network now connects around half the German population
Broadband poles no problem for Brits says new study

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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