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    Orange and LatenceTech develop connectivity quality probe 

    Simon Dux
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    Orange and LatenceTech develop connectivity quality probe 

    Telcos says AI-based tool should help to optimise network reliability for new 5G or fibre uses

    Orange has worked with Canadian startup LatenceTech to develop a software probe to measure connectivity quality in any location and from any type of terminal. Given the shift to automated operations that require real time data on network performance, developing scalable diagnostic assistance tools that are cloud-based and can be used by all manner of heterogenous equipment gives telcos an advantage given their vast estates of kit. 

    The Montreal-based LatenceTech worked with Orange to develop a tool that can measure network throughput, latency and reliability in real time. “This real-time software solution based on multiple protocols, including Two Wire Active Measurement Protocol (TWAMP), is simple to install and use,” said LatenceTech co-founder and CEO – and former Ericsson senior executive – Benoit Gendron.  

    “It is an automated container-based solution that runs autonomously on any type of terminal, including mobiles, modems, robots and cars. It is also scalable and can be deployed in multiple locations on the same network,” he added. 

    LatenceTech’s approach extends traditional methods to a strategy that balances data analysis and performance optimisation. The objective is to redefine performance metrics by emphasising the quality of network experience rather than relying solely on conventional, quantitative data metrics. 

    LatenceTech’s strategy for enhancing network performance involves deploying software systems that embed monitoring agents in client networks to improve Quality of Service (QoS). Gendron said: “These agents are engineered to evaluate and regulate network performance, with a specific emphasis on latency metrics at the server or network entry point.” This approach, he says, aligns network performance with the customer’s perspective, effectively tackling technical challenges while prioritising user experience in assessing network quality. 

    End-to-end network throughput estimation challenge 

    Orange challenged LatenceTech to incorporate its patented (Low Intrusive Fast Bandwidth Estimation) LIFBE process, a novel method for efficient end-to-end network throughput estimation – a more energy-efficient method for network bandwidth testing. 

     By leveraging LIFBE’s unique approach, which utilizes UDP probe packets and an innovative curve-fitting method for accurate throughput calculation, the goal was to dramatically reduce the data volume required for these tests from 100 to 150 megabytes to a mere 5 to 10 megabytes. 

    An essential aspect of this phase involved LatenceTech’s decision to employ the Ada programming language to refine and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of Orange’s existing C bandwidth test code. The company said prototype delivery within three months showed the practicality of the LIFBE process and Ada’s effectiveness in complex network stacks. 

    “This partnership allows us to explore areas that we could not have addressed with our own resources,” said François Jézéquel, head of business development at the Orange Fab startup accelerator. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement: LatenceTech retains the intellectual property of the components and we have exclusive use of them for our networks.” 

    “Telco as a Platform” deployment 

    LatenceTech deploys its solution using an “on-demand service” cloud platform, enabling it to meet the growing needs of service providers, which are increasingly seeking to easily and autonomously monitor their networks over a given period. This “telco as a platform” approach enables almost instantaneous implementation by the customer themselves, according to the startup. 

    As well as providing diagnostic assistance, the solution can use generative AI to detect anomalies (worse latency, reduced throughput, packet losses, etc.) and generate forthcoming latency forecasts and recommendations, based on the diagnosis from the measurements. “We want our customers to play a part in managing their own networks,” said Jézéquel. “And, with their ever-increasing 5G uses, they appreciate this autonomy.” 

     Wide range of applications 

    The product is in the final phase of development. It will be available at the end of May 2024 and unveiled at the VivaTech conference in Paris with demonstrations of measurement tests and network performance analyses on a connected vehicle, as well as a software installation walkthrough. 

    Deutsche Telekom reveals corporate Chat GPT subscription rates

    Simon Dux
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    Deutsche Telekom reveals corporate Chat GPT subscription rates

    Telco’s generative AI offerings will come in three US drink style sizes: M, L and XL

    Deutsche Telekom (DT) confirmed it will be offering Business GPT as an enterprise licence available in M, L and XL with modular functionalities at a fixed price. The tool for generative AI was specifically developed for business customers and is operated on the telco’s own cloud infrastructure with data storage in Europe.  

    DT is using prepaid quotas, so companies have “full control” over their expenditure. According to the teclo, they can increase or decrease the number of allocated usage rights as required. This is ideal for growing companies who simply allow additional users onto their chosen product package rather than having to purchase – and manage – new individual licences. 

    The company licence ensures that all employees work with the same version of the software. In contrast to individual licences, DT believes this form of licensing allows central management of the software-as-a-service solution and does not require IT expertise for deployment. 

    Pricing in a nutshell 

    Module M will give enterprises the chat application GPT 3.5 and GPT 4 as well as provision of an API interface for integrating the company’s own processes or connecting its applications such as the company’s website, optional connection to an authentication system – for a one-off fee of €1,700 plus €650 per month.  

     Module L gives enterprises the chat application GPT 3.5 and GPT 4 as well as provision of an API interface. The company’s own documents can be imported and an extension for Internet access allows open searches on the Internet. The price is a one-off fee of €1,700 plus €1,500 per month.  

    The heavyweight Module XL is designed for an individual project solution, while integration into the company’s own Azure environment is possible from €42,000. Internal data sources can also be integrated.  

    “Our goal is to provide companies with reliable support on their path to integrating artificial intelligence, from conception to operation, across all industries,” said DT director business customers Klaus Werner. “We are bringing AI further and further into the world of work through various solutions and products. We pay particular attention to IT security. Business GPT ensures the security of confidential data and enables efficient work processes.” 

    He added that in individual consultancy sessions in addition to each module, companies learn about possible application scenarios for their business. The application has been tested in accordance with Deutsche Telekom’s data protection and security requirements. On request, Business GPT can be set up within a company’s Microsoft Azure account. 

    Last month, DT signed up renewable energy company UKA as its first Business GPT pilot customer. As the application is tested for IT security and data protection and hosted on Telekom’s cloud environments it allows UKA to retain control of its data in accordance with the GDPR and German data protection law. Telekom MMS ensures that UKA employees can enter company data securely and use it on all end devices. 

    Santa’s little helper 

    DT said companies can easily and flexibly add their own content to the AI assistant’s database and thus customise the chat responses. The AI robot can assist in the creation of content: generate ideas, write texts, analyse data and create summaries. It can resolve customer service issues and provide personalised recommendations and information. In learning platforms, the software can answer questions from learners, explain concepts or assist with tasks. The bot can also be used in market research or for surveys. Furthermore, the tool translates in real time.  

    By integrating the company’s own product databases, service descriptions or documentation and linking to the intranet, the answers provided by Business GPT can be precisely controlled – assuming that DT has some way to mitigate hallucinations through context. Companies can also offer individual models with specific additional knowledge for different use cases of their specialist departments.  

    GPT bots are often accessed via web browsers. However, DT said that with an extension, they can also answer questions interactively as avatars in retail stores or online stores.  

    Vodafone Business launches new API to combat impersonation fraud

    Annie Turner
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    Vodafone Business launches new API to combat impersonation fraud

    For now the service is available to channel partners in the UK but will be rolled out in other unspecified markets at an unspecified time

    Vodafone Carrier Services, the wholesale division of Vodafone Business, has launched a new service called Scam Signal. It helps businesses protect customers from impersonation scams, particularly Authorised Pushed Payment (APP) fraud.

    JT Group, a global firm that offers connectivity and business solutions, and the analytics software house FICO are the first channel partners to offer Scam Signal with their mobile intelligence solutions. The service is available to other Vodafone Carrier Services’ other channel partners in the UK and will be rolled out in other countries “in due course”

    APP fraud tricks someone into sending them money, often through impersonating representatives from banks, government departments or a family member. This sophisticated fraud can also deceive a victim into making advance payments for fraudulent investments, counterfeit goods and services, and extort money through a seemingly genuine romance or friendship.

    APP fraud is a growing problem. For example, statistics published by the UK government show that 1 in 15 people have fallen victim to fraudulent activity and in 2022, more than £485 million was lost to APP fraud. New legislation in the UK mandates that banks must reimburse customers for fraudulent transaction losses, hence financial institutions are looking at ways to defend against it.

    Scam detection using this service improved by 30% after three months of a pilot with a UK bank, according to Vodafone.

    Suite of APIs

    Scam Signal is part of Vodafone’s suite of APIs which it describes as “a framework of computer rules that app developers and businesses can use to tackle online fraud and protect the digital identities of their customers”. 

    The Scam Signal API is contained within the secure Vodafone Identity Hub and uses analysis of real-time network data during transactions to detect and mitigate “social engineering” attempts to deceive and defraud account holders.

    Fanan Henriques, Director of Vodafone Business International and EU Cluster, said, “Vodafone is using the intelligence in our networks to help financial institutions to protect consumers by tackling fraud at its source. Scam Signal provides both end users and banks with an additional layer of protection against scammers and peace of mind that their transactions are legitimate.” 

    Banks’ priorities

    Scott Taylor, Principal Consultant, FICO, said: “By providing Scam Signal through our Customer Communication Services (CCS), we can help banks crack down on scams and reduce consumer harm by applying contextual data and analytics-driven decision intelligence. Our recent survey showed that 73% of banking customers rank fraud protection in their top three considerations when choosing a bank – businesses that spot scam signals early can not only prevent losses but gain more customers through trust.”

    Vodafone says the introduction of the Scam Signal API-based service “builds on the successful launch of other APIs in several markets which improve online verification and security including SIM Swap and Number Verify”.

    These APIs use common open standards defined by the global alliance CAMARA in conjunction the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative. 

    CACI seals $1.3bn deal for ICT services to US, European and Africa Commands 

    Simon Dux
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    CACI seals $1.3bn deal for ICT services to US, European and Africa Commands 

    Global military expenditure rose for the ninth consecutive year to an all-time high of $2,443 billion last year – NATO accounted for 55%

    CACI International announced it has been awarded a five-year task order worth a total estimated value of $1.3 billion to provide communications and information technology expertise to US European Command (USEUCOM) and US Africa Command (USAFRICOM). The new work continues and expands CACI’s current relationship with these two “4-star commands”, service component commands and associated staff elements and organisations.  

    CACI will provide IT solutions and expertise tailored to the two commands’ missions. Under this task order, CACI will modernise and improve critical software and hardware performance, optimise network IT and communications and deliver end-user support for more than 11,000 personnel across 60 locations throughout Europe and Africa.  

    This includes cloud enablement, edge computing, Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC), Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) integration and implementation of advanced cyber security and zero trust solutions. 

    “CACI’s proven performance delivering responsive IT and communications in complex, multi-regional OCONUS environments, coupled with our leading-edge technical solutions and accelerators, enhance USEUCOM and USAFRICOM’s rapid response capabilities,” said CACI president and CEO John Mengucci. “We are uniquely positioned to equip the warfighter to successfully execute their missions and enhance communication, collaboration, and coordination with partner nations.” 

    Last month, CACI International secured a single-award technology task order worth up to $239 million with a one-year base period and four one-year option periods to modernise the US Army’s Global Secure Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) Network (GSN), including the application of commercial solutions for classified (CSfC) technology to increase options for secure user access and mobility. 

    Cyber defences also boosted  

    According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a decade after NATO members formally committed to a target of spending 2% of GDP on the military, 11 out of 31 NATO members met or surpassed this level in 2023 – the highest number since the commitment was made. Another target – of directing at least 20% of military spending to ‘equipment spending’– was met by 28 NATO members in 2023, up from 7 in 2014. 

    This month, USEUCOM was also in Sweden signing bilateral letter of intent (LOI) outlining a framework for a cyber partnership with the Swedish Armed Forces covering: policy, interoperability, training, capability development and cyber operations. 

    Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund PIF and stc agree to form $1.3bn towerco

    Simon Dux
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    Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund PIF and stc agree to form $1.3bn towerco

    With 30,000 mobile towers, the towerco looks the same size as the Ooredoo, Zain and TASC Towers deal in December, but worth more

    Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF will acquire a 51% stake in towerco TAWAL from stc Group to create what they say is the biggest regional towerco with around 30,000 mobile tower sites and estimated annual revenues of around $1.3 billion. The partners say the TAWAL deal creates an entity with an enterprise value of $5.85 billion per the agreement. 

    The deal also pips December’s Ooredoo, Zain and TASC Towers tie-up to create what they said at the time was the largest regional towerco in the Middle East, also with around 30,000 towers and a combined estimated current enterprise value of $2.2 billion.  

    The PIF stc deal also reaches into Europe where TAWAL completed the acquisition of United Group’s telecom tower assets in September last year and began operations at 4,800 sites spread across Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia. In 2022 stc launched TAWAL Pakistan and runs an estate of more than 15,000 towers within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

    PIF and stc Group plan to combine TAWAL and Golden Lattice Investment Company (GLIC) – in which PIF holds a majority shareholding – to form the region’s largest telecom tower company. The combined new entity will be owned 54% by PIF and 43.1% by stc Group, with GLIC minority shareholders owning the remaining issued share capital. 

    The transactions – including the 51% stake sale for an expected cash consideration of 8.7 billion riyals ($2.32 billion) – are expected to be completed in the second half of 2024 after obtaining all required regulatory approvals and satisfying other necessary conditions under the agreements. 

    Telefónica and Spanish government watching closely  

    The deal won’t have gone unnoticed in Spain given how favourable it is to the Saudi incumbent. “stc is a clear beneficiary from the deal of as the sale price of TAWAL” is bigger than five times its book value and five times its revenues, Arqaam Capital head of TMT equity research Ziad Itani told Reuters, adding that the cash inflows of 8.7 billion riyals will allow the telco “to pursue additional M&A and investment opportunities”. stc Group became Telefónica’s largest shareholder in December by building a 9.9% stake worth €2.1 billion.  

    What the dealmakers said 

    “By bringing together the assets of GLIC and TAWAL, we will establish a consolidated platform on which the telecommunications sector can flourish and give people a better experience to best connect communities and businesses,” said PIF head of MENA Direct Investments Raid Ismail. 

    “These agreements are part of stc Group’s continuous endeavour to grow and maximise value in the most sustainable manner, by recycling capital while retaining ownership in strategic value-added assets to benefit from the return on these assets and enable expansion into new domains,” said stc Group chief investment officer Motaz Alangari. 

    “Today’s announcement is in line with stc Group’s strategy and the pivotal role that the group is playing in accelerating the digital transformation of society and the economy in Saudi Arabia and the region,” he said. “Combining TAWAL and GLIC is a stepping-stone to consolidating the Saudi tower market and driving further efficiencies and operational excellence to deliver superior experiences and value for customers.” 

    Telco to techco: how data driven are telcos?

    Annie Turner
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    Telco to techco: how data driven are telcos?

    Siniša Arsić from Telekom Srbija discusses his company’s challenges and progress towards becoming data driven in the era of AI with Annie Turner at our recent virtual event

    Arsić is Director of Data, Analytics & Intelligent Automation of Business Processes. As he explains, although his 27-year old organisation is relatively small, it has been a trailblazer in its use of analytics to drive growth inside Serbia and beyond. It has “daughter companies” in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and has embarked on “interesting projects” in Macedonia, Turkey and Western Europe including Austria and Germany.

    WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

    Telekom Serbija offers fixed and mobile services, and has been using analytics for the last 10 to 15 years seing data “as our biggest asset”. The analytics started for “simplified analysis” such as segmentation of customers. Like so many other telcos, data in silos is a big obstacle to establishing “a single source of truth” about customers. Multiple versions of the same data cause many business problems.

    Building a pyramid

    Arsić explains, “We had to think about how to consolidate the technology stack.it was important to see, for instance, how many tools are being used to analyse something, to process data. It’s not just Microsoft tools or spreadsheets, it is multiple tools. In some…parts of the reorganisation they have multiple tools that perform the same kind of tasks.”

    So a first step was to review the activity around data across the organsiation and to establish where to cooperate and improve to be a “top-notch operator”.

    This has been the goal for the last three years. The aim is to complete the multi-project programme in 2026. Arsić says that this could be portrayed as a pyramid with the foundational layer includes internal education project such as data literacy for staff and technical competences in ethical tools for reporting segmentation, for instance.

    He says this important to “so the majority of our colleagues understand we are not…aliens or some other interesting species”.

    This educational part was developed and run with HR and is close to completion.

    WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

    Tech consolidation, data centralisation

    The second foundation of the pyramid is that the operator consolidated its technology. It now uses SAS, which has been recognised as a “visionary” by Gartner in its Magic Quadrant January 2023 as the main analytical tool. [In November, SAS was also recognised by Gartner Peer Insights as a 2023 customers’ choice for analytics and business intelligence platforms.]

    The aim was to “unify everything onto one platform” and it is in the process of centralising its data to establish that all-important “single source of truth”. The first assets it centralised and unified were the IT and technical data for customer billing, invoices, traffic usage and their different kinds of behaviour.

    He explains, “We are now on our journey…so that customers’ data records will be complete…[and] we do not have a fragmented view, with one view in customer care, one in sales, one in marketing”. The aim is that “All those guys can go into SAS and look into that data residing in our big data analytic environment.”

    Another key part of the pyramid is data governance. Arsić notes there are few examples in “our region” but the operator is “eager to learn and fail fast. We are implementing some interesting pilots, starting with the business dictionary and the unification of our most important [governance] code books – we identified over 100 individual code books.” The plan that “the majority of them will be consolidated, aligned and standardised”.

    He continues, “Our business needs are so big that we have a lot of analytical projects that are directly are part or a major part of some business process. We are in great need…we cannot have the ‘luxury’ of to keep avoiding going into a data governance framework.”

    Security is another key issue that necessitates standardises processes and procedures.

    Marketing compaigns, personalisation

    So now the base layers of the pyramid are in place, or at least well underway, the next priority and tech enabler is “to develop a very large project [to automate] key marketing campaigns, inbound and outbound…for the first time, we unified sales, product development, customer value management and analytics,” he says.

    Now all the campaigns are centralised and automated in the SAS platform and “can be put into production or scheduled for when we want them, and pushed to the [right] channels. That enables us to create an omni-channel experience for customers, because we have all the data in one place.

    Shops still play be big role in customer experience. “People like to come, to renew their contract and to see what device they will buy, so our first focus was to unite all our sales channels, so all the channels have all the right information”. Part of the modernisation of the data structure, use and analytics has been to create a self-care portal and an app “primarily to reduce pressure on our contact centres”.

    In the main, these channels are used by younger people, Arsić says. One of the next goals is to achieve greater levels of personalisation to encourage loyalty, and for instance to address the needs of households, not a single individual.

    WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

    Driven by use cases

    What has Telecom Serbija learned from its data initiatives? He notes that most structured data now can now be modelled into the standard data warehouse and can be easily analysed and validated through source systems like Siebel or SAP.

    However, much of the data is unstructured, such as from social media or location data, and does not have “clear patterns”. It can be pictures, video, audio, emails and more. At the moment, this takes many manual hours of work “to come to any conclusion”.

    However, he stresses that, “Right now, we are very use-case driven…[so]…we do not approach data that we don’t have a use case for or that we don’t have a clear intention to use. Unstructured data is very. very big data. For now, we cover the essential use cases only.”

    Network and operational efficiency

    And what about data use regarding the network? Last year Telecom Serbija used data with machine learning models to plan capacity and prevent congestion. He comments, “Our networks is very well dimensioned, but we need to prepare for 5G,” which is not yet launched in Serbia.

    Arsić says the model used was “very smart” and each week forecasts which cells on the mobile network will become congested. The model also recommends the optimal upgrade for each and the cost.

    His team is bulding a single dashboard that will display all this information for the network planning team, providing a near-time interactive tool created from output from machine learning engines.

    This is the first level of support for the network division, but many more are in the pipeline that will leverage AI for operational efficiency. This will include improved network maintenance at different levels.

    Another recent development which will be key going forward is cloud migration. The operator has started working with AWS on possible migration strategies and what it would bring in terms of business agility or operational efficiencies if we do the same things as we do now in the cloud. He concludes, “but for now, our data remains sitting on-premise”.

    WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

    See more video from our Telco to tech event here

    See our on-demand and upcoming in-person and virtual events here

    BT adds McKinsey partner to board to help with strategy

    Annie Turner
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    BT adds McKinsey partner to board to help with strategy

    One of the first moves by new CEO Allison Kirkby in her mission to improve BT’s fortunes and share price

    The Financial Times [subscription needed] reports that Allison Kirkby, BT Group’s new CEO, has appointed Tom Meakin (pictured) to the board as a temporary measure.

    Meakin is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company where his role is global co-leader of consumer tech and media. He is on secondment to BT to act as interim chief strategy and change officer until BT finds someone permanent for the role.

    According to Kirkby’s memo seen by the FT, she intends to set up a strategy and change unit to “define the next phase of our transformation” which will include enterprise-wise programmes.

    The new unit will comprise BT’s established corporate strategy and development, and group transformation and assurance teams.

    New broom, new strategy?

    In an interview at a TelecomTV event in December 2023, BT Group’s outgoing CEO, Philip Jansen said he felt one of his achievements at BT was “a crystal-clear strategy with a plan that everyone understands and that we’ve just got to execute really well and I don’t think we had that, for lots of reasons, when I arrived.”

    He added, ““In my five years…the board has never wavered on the strategy – investing a fortune on making the company better [with] stronger new networks, new IT, new technology, new digital interfaces everywhere across the whole company.

    “So that is working. Now the impact of that [level of investment] is that for one set of stakeholders, the shareholders, the share price has gone down. Now I personally think it will come back. And so the job is trying to balance all the different stakeholders

    Maybe not so much

    For BT watchers, this is an echo of a similar division led by Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Mike Sherman. When he quit in January 2021, it was assimilated into a new Digital unit, led by Harmeen Mehta as Chief Digital and Innovation Officer.

    The Digital unit is responsible for IT, digital innovation, BT-wide business transformation, and data and product strategy.

    BT has worked with McKinsey on assorted projects over a number of years.

    Kirkby succeeded Jansen in February and has been a member of BT Group’s board for several years. One of her main concerns is to improve BT’s share price which has fallen about 17% since the start of 2024.

    Virgin Mobile Saudi Arabia partners Hitek to develop smart cities 

    Simon Dux
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    Virgin Mobile Saudi Arabia partners Hitek to develop smart cities 

    The Beyond One-owned MVNO will provide connectivity for Saudi smart cities, incorporating AI and IoT

    Beyond One’s Virgin Mobile Saudi has become to the preferred technology partner for Middle Eastern regional technology services company Hitek, part of the Farnek group of companies, and the two will develop a joint strategic approach to developing smart cities in Saudi Arabia. Initially, the partners said the agreement will cover smart building solutions for potential projects in Saudi Arabia but did not rule out other markets. 

    Last year, Beyond One, the newly formed subsidiary of private global investment company Priora Management Holding Dubai, acquired Virgin Mobile Middle East and Africa (VMMEA), the region’s largest mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), with active operations under its Virgin Mobile and Friendi Mobile brands in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Kuwait. Founded in 2006 VMMEA has more than three million users in multiple GCC countries for both its Virgin Mobile and Friendi Mobile operations. 

    That deal saw Virgin Group invest alongside Beyond One, retaining a minority stake in the company and a seat on the board. Beyond One is equity funded by Priora Management Holding Dubai – owned by Swiss businessman Remo Stoffel – and Beyond One Group CEO Markus Tagger.  

    Beyond One also owns Virgin Mobile in Latin America and at MWC it signed a deal with Amazon Web Services use a combination of AWS Regions and AWS hybrid cloud offerings—including AWS Outposts and AWS Local Zones—to modernize the Beyond One stack. At the time the company did not confirm whether this partnership would be extended to the Middle east. 

    Smart initiative  

    Virgin Mobile Saudi CEO Yaarob Al Sayegh said the telco will be responsible for “advanced telecommunications solutions”, including 5G networks, digital services and enablement. “By leveraging HITEK’s expertise in digital solutions and our capabilities in telecommunications, we aim to build robust infrastructure that will not only enhance connectivity but also enable the seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies like AI and IoT.” 

    He added: “Together, we are committed to developing innovative solutions that will improve the quality of life for residents and drive economic growth across the region.” 

    According to a statement on the deal, Hitek will be looking to deploy digital solutions to optimise waste, water and energy management, environmental monitoring, citizen engagement, retail and hospitality, data analytics and AI integration, smart transportation, real estate and urban development as well as education technology. 

    “Through this ground-up partnership with Virgin Mobile Saudi, we can deliver, an advanced bespoke all-inclusive, intelligent and analytical digital platform, connecting people, assets and spaces,” said Hitek managing director Javeria Aijaz. “By utilising IoT enabled building management systems, machine learning, cloud and artificial intelligence-based technologies, [plus] FM operations management, [we] will have a 360-degree overview of all facilities, 24/7, from a dedicated and centralised platform, enhancing efficiency, welfare and sustainability.” 

    Berlin Open RAN test lab carries out first certification for VVDN 

    Simon Dux
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    Berlin Open RAN test lab carries out first certification for VVDN 

    Rohde & Schwarz and Viavi support European OTIC in Berlin for O-RAN conformance certification for VVDN kit

    The European Open Testing and Integration Centre (OTIC) in Berlin, supported by Rohde & Schwarz and Viavi, has awarded its firdst O-RAN conformance certification for international markets. The certification of an indoor O-RU of the LPRU-series from VVDN Technologies was completed according to O-RAN specified processes as defined by the O-RAN Alliance.  

    Indian contract manufacturer VVDN Technologies has developed its LPRU-series 5G NR Radio Units (O-RU) to be fully compliant to O-RAN ALLIANCE standards. The VVDN 4T/4R Split 7.2 radios are covering 5G NR TDD bands n77, N78 and n79. They are compact, lightweight, easy to install, and provide optimal coverage for indoor applications. 

    VVDN alsready has production ready radio units for Private 5G Network for multiple countries and markets. The company has both low power (4T4R 1W) and mid power (4T4R 20W) radio units suitable for private 5G deployments. VVDN’s radio units support global requirements in Band 48 CBRS, Band n78/n77 (3400 to 4100 MHz), and bandwidth up to 100Mhz, TDD duplex mode 4T4R and 2T2R for indoor and outdoor applications. 

    Last October the company, which also makes smartphones, announced plans to expand its manufacturing outside India although at the time founder and president Vivek Bansal would not be drawn on whether such a facility would be in the US, Middle East or Europe. Bansal hinted in an interview that Poland and Mexico were potentials. VVDN already has a small manufacturing presence in Fremont, California, to serve US customers.  

    Test mechanics 

    The O-RU verification followed the O-RAN fronthaul conformance test specification defined by O-RAN WG4, including the Control, User, and Synchronization plane (CUS-Plane) and the Management-plane (M-Plane). WG4’s objective is to deliver open fronthaul interfaces, in which interoperability between Distributed Unit (DU) and Radio Unit (RU) from multiple vendors can be realised. 

    The Berlin OTIC, one of four in Europe, is part of a publicly funded project called i14y Lab with its main facility hosted on premises at the Deutsche Telekom innovation campus. The others are located in Turin, Madrid and Paris, sponsored by TIM, Telefónica and Orange respectively. All approved Open Testing and Integration Centers (OTIC) worldwide cooperate with the O-RAN ALLIANCE in the O-RAN Certification and Badging Program, which represents a mechanism to ensure confidence in O-RAN solutions within the industry. 

    The i14y Lab is an open lab for interoperability testing of disaggregated telco systems, such as open RAN, led by Deutsche Telekom together with consortium partners. Rohde & Schwarz is one of the consortium members and offers an integrated solution for conformance testing of O-RAN Radio Units together with Viavi Solutions.  

    Both companies are active in specifications development in the O-RAN Alliance and have combined their capabilities: the solution consists of the Viavi TM500 O-RU Tester and the R&S SMBV100A vector signal generator (VSG), R&S FSVA3000 signal and spectrum analyser and Vector Signal Explorer (R&S VSE) software from Viavi TM500, with the O-RU Test Manager from Viavi as single point of control, providing a seamless user experience. 

    Image (l-r): Andreas Gladisch (i14y Lab Deutsche Telekom), Veneeth Sankarakutty (VVDN Technologies), Alexander Pabst (Rohde & Schwarz)

    Proximus to acquire more 5G spectrum from ICT services group

    Annie Turner
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    Proximus to acquire more 5G spectrum from ICT services group

    NRB acquired 20MHz in the 3600MHz band to offer 5G directly to its customers but has now decided to embrace the MVNO model

    Belgium’s former incumbent, Proximus, it looking to acquire more 5G spectrum from NRB in the 3600MHz range. Proximus says the acquisition will support its “ambition to continue to offer the best mobile experience in Belgium for decades to come”.

    NRB is selling its 5G licence to refocus on its core business, while maintaining its commitment to offering 5G services. The companies are discussing a possible wholesale agreement.

    The NRB Group is one of the biggest ICT firms in the country and serves public and private sectors organisations in Europe. In 2022, it had revenues of €505.4 million and more than 3,450 employees.

    Spectrum auction in 2022

    When the 5G spectrum was auctioned in the summer of 2022, Proximus decided to invest €600 million over 20 years.

    At the same auction, NRB acquired 20 MHz in the 3600MHz frequency band to provide 5G services to customers in the public and social sector, industry and biotech, energy and public utilities, financial organisations and insurance companies.

    Now the Belgian company has decided against rolling out its own mobile network, but intends to continue offering 5G services to customers as an MVNO – possibly through a partnership with Proximus.

    Raising the limit

    Acquiring the additional 20 MHz in the 3600 MHz band would give Proximus a total of 120 MHz so that the operator could add more capacity where needed. In future, it could be used to improve throughput and latency, as well as the security of data flows on private mobile networks.

    The agreement between Proximus and NRB was submitted to the BIPT, the federal telecoms regulator. The latter has approved the transaction, subject to the effective transfer of rights taking place after the publication of a new call for applications for the 3410-3430 MHz band in the Belgian Official Journal.

    That publication is imminent and the call for applications will be accompanied by an increase in the spectrum cap from 100MHz to 120 MHz to enable Proximus to acquire NRB’s 20 MHz.

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