5G Holds Immense Potential Opportunities For Digitization
…As MTN , Ericsson Start 5G Deployment Trial In Africa
By Olabisi Olaleye
Head of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, Rafiah Ibrahim said that 5G holds immense potential of opportunities including driving the industry’s digitization and the pursue for innovation.
Speaking at a sise line while disclosing that MTN and Ericsson have started the first five G customer trial deployment in South Africa via a fixed wireless access site at technology company Netstar’s headquarters in Midrand.
“Our collaboration with MTN South Africa will enable us to jointly develop 5G use cases based on real business needs that will support MTN to meet their future business requirements.”
The field deployment in Midrand, he said, is situated between Johannesburg and Tshwane (Pretoria), and is part of Ericsson’s continuing efforts to deliver end-to-end 5G capabilities to support MTN South Africa’s growth as well as 5G and enterprise ambitions.
“The Ericsson 5G solution deployed operates on 28 GHz band with a total operating bandwidth of 100 MHz using Ericsson trial antenna integrated radio units and Intel 5G Mobile Trial Platform providing Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in the customer premises. Many of the Netstar employees can also connect to this trial 5G network through the different WiFi access points”.
CTIO MTN South Africa , Giovanni Chiarelli also stated that, “We have been working in close partnership with Ericsson on 5G for tests in the lab, field trials, and now initial customer test deployment. Throughout this process, our customers and their service requirements are our top priority. Our aim is to build a network to cater for current and future required services.”
Chiarelli explained that the current discussion regarding the imminent release of much-needed additional spectrum, should also include 5G spectrum in the primary 3.5 GHz band.
“ICASA has a great opportunity to get South Africa on par and in some instances, ahead of the international game, by allocating 5G spectrum at the same time as the additional 4G spectrum. The additional 4G spectrum will extend high speed internet access to all South Africans and will help to further drive down the cost of communication. Access to 5G spectrum will see our nation able to actively participate on the cutting edge of the digital economy and we cannot afford to fall behind the 4th Industrial Revolution,” he said.
Adding that facilitating the delivery of next-generation mobile broadband, cloud and providing support for massive Internet of Things (IoT) deployment, this collaboration will also enable new industry to increase throughput and reduced latency.
