PRESS RELEASE

TM Forum’s annual Digital Transformation World (DTW) is a major event in the communications industry, where innovation comes to life, inspiration is sparked, connections are made, and knowledge is gained. Around 3500+ attendees, 50+ CSP VPs, and above from 100+ countries joined this event. Network automation is a hot topic and it is one of the 5 main tracks during this exhibition.

As the front runner of this digital era from the African continent, MTN shows its impressive influence in this industry. Mr. Mohamed Salah, Head of Network Operation and Transformation joined the release of TM Forum Autonomous Networks white paper 5.0 (Autonomous Networks: Empowering digital transformation – evolving from Level 2/3 towards Level 4 (IG1326)) as a contributor.

Figure 1: TM Forum Autonomous Networks white paper 5.0 release

After the white paper release, he also delivered a keynote speech titled “Leading Africa’s Progress of Autonomous Network” at the Autonomous Networks summit in DTW 2023.

Figure 2: Mr. Mohamed Salah, Head of Network Operation and Transformation, MTN Group

Strategy

MTN, the largest mobile network operator in Africa, provides voice, data, fintech, digital, enterprise, wholesale, and API services to more than 290 million customers in 19 markets.

During the speech, Mr. Mohamed Salah provided insights into MTN’s company strategy “Ambition 2025” and the technical strategy “PACE” (Platform, Agile, Connectivity, and Experience) which anchors to accelerating the PACE of Ambition 2025.

Within PACE, value-based automation is one of the most important pillars, and it is charged with the adaptation of autonomous networks into MTN’s network.

Strategy to Implementation Approach

From 2021, MTN has embarked on its journey to the Autonomous Networks. In 2023, MTN passed through the milestones of consensus & standardization and started to focus on commercial promotion. “For autonomous network implementation, we have a clear understanding that value-based automation is the key.”, introduced by Mr. Mohamed Salah.

A 3-D model of Service, Network, and Value Stream is used to select the value scenario, where service refers to service experience and service type (ToB/ToC/ToH/…), Network refers to the infrastructure (transport, IP, RAN, etc.) and Value Stream mainly refer to the operation flow. After the certain scenario passed the value scenario selection, it entered the 4-step iteration loop of the autonomous network level including assessment, Gap analysis, Solution Design, and Implementation to promote the autonomous network level of each scenario.

Achievements

Up until 2023, MTN has implemented 21 autonomous network use cases in 5 OpCos. During the presentation, Mr. Mohamed Salah also introduced some of their cases cooperated with Huawei.

Intelligent load shedding management: South Africa is facing a power supply issue and suffering load shedding daily. In 2023, there were 1176 hours of total power outage up to week 29, which had a big effect on the network availability and customer satisfaction. Proactive management was implemented to address this challenge. With the load shedding plan from the power supplier and the network data such as traffic, and site location as input, the same make intelligent scheduling to for battery replacement, mobile generator deployment, and fuel refilling. The work orders are dispatched automatically to close timely in advance to avoid site outages.

After the system was implemented, the network availability improved by 4% compared with before.

Best experience mobile backhaul: NPS (Net Promoter Score) is important to MTN, to support this goal, a best experience mobile backhaul network is mandatory. Traffic engineering to avoid network congestion used to be a time-consuming and highly required workload. MTN implemented a network digital map to have real-time awareness of the network resource status information such as pack lost rate (PLR), site availability, link availability, etc. The dynamic paths are calculated and the traffic optimization engineering is carried out automatically. After this autonomous network use case was implemented, more than 12k times of automatic traffic engineering was done by the system, and network traffic increased by 15%. This automatic traffic engineering effectively avoids user traffic suppression caused by network congestion and provides important support for the network NPS.

At the end of his speech, Mr. Mohamed Salah shared the MTN autonomous network framework blueprint (2023) with the whole industry as a reference for all the attendees to know MTN’s strategy and practices in Autonomous Networks.

 

Transport for London (TfL) – in partnership with Boldyn Networks – today confirmed that Euston station on the Charing Cross branch platforms has today become the latest place on the London Underground to go live with 4G and 5G mobile (mobile broadband) cover, which customers of EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three UK will benefit from. […]

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News 

The new mandate replaces two current agreements that are set to expire in late 2026 

UAE-based satellite company Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) has announced that its Government Solutions arm, Yahsat Government Solutions, will provide the UAE government with satellite capacity and managed services for the next 17 years, in a deal worth AED 18.7 billion ($5.1 billion). 

Yahsat is a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment company and offers satellite services to over 150 countries globally. 

Under this new deal, Yahsat will provide the government with satellite capacity using their Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2 satellites, as well as via two new satellites, both due to be launched by 2028. 

Yasat signed a deal with Airbus for the construction of these satellites back in June. 

In addition to the satellite services, the deal also covers operations, maintenance, and technology management services related to the ground segment satellite systems and terminals. 

“This award is a testament to our long-standing relationship with the Government and the quality of service that we provide as we continue to strive to consistently exceed customer expectations,” said Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Yahsat’s chairman, in a statement. 

“By complementing our existing fleet with Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 next generation satellites, we will be able to serve the government with new cutting-edge solutions that are not currently possible. The performance of the new satellites is expected to significantly surpass current industry capabilities including capacity, coverage and flexibility allowing us to offer a wide range of next generation applications to our end user.” 

Want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the world of telecoms? Subscriber to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter here  

Also in the news:
Vodafone’s Andrea Dona: The UK has fallen behind on 5G, but not lost the race
Zegona in talks to buy Vodafone Spain
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News 

The collaboration is an extension of the 2021 5G and edge cloud solutions partnership between the two firms 

Ericsson and Google have announced an expansion of its partnership with Google Cloud to develop an Ericsson Cloud RAN solution on Google Distributed Cloud (GDC).  

According to a statement from Ericsson, the partnership to develop an Ericsson Cloud RAN on GDC aims to “offer integrated automation and orchestration and leverage AI [artificial intelligence] /ML [machine learning] for communications service providers to benefit from”. 

The partners successfully demonstrated the full implementation of the Ericsson vDU (virtualised distributed unit) and vCU (virtualised central unit) on GDC Edge, running the solution on a live network in the Ericsson Open Lab in Ottawa, Canada. 

GDC is designed to transfer fully managed virtual hardware and software functions to the edge and enterprise data servers. By joining the Distributed Cloud, service providers will have access to Vertex AI, Big Query, and other Google Cloud services that will improve the usability of Cloud RAN datasets. 

This, sequentially, will allow CSPs “to control, inspect, configure, and optimise their RAN infrastructure”, according to Ericsson. 

“This partnership enables us to deepen and expand our valuable collaboration with Google Cloud, and it opens new opportunities for operators to utilize the benefits of cloud-native solutions and automation,” said Mårten Lerner, Head of Product Line Cloud RAN at Ericsson.  

“Ericsson remains committed to ensuring the adaptability of its Cloud RAN applications on diverse cloud infrastructures, offering operators enhanced flexibility and choice in deploying Cloud RAN as well as supporting the evolving hybrid cloud architectures together with Google Cloud.” 

Back in 2021, Google Cloud and Ericsson announced a partnership to jointly develop 5G and edge solutions for communications service providers (CSPs), aiming to unlock new enterprise and consumer use cases. This, in turn, was built on a previously formed service partnership to enable application migration through cloud-native, container-based solutions. 

Want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the world of telecoms? Subscriber to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter here 

Also in the news:
Vodafone’s Andrea Dona: The UK has fallen behind on 5G, but not lost the race
Zegona in talks to buy Vodafone Spain
Connected Britain 2023: the award winners 

News

The auction saw all available spectrum in the 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz, and 2.6 GHz bands purchased by the nation’s operators

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) has announced the results of its latest spectrum auction, with all three of the country’s major operators not only participating, but purchasing all available spectrum.

The auction has been in the works for a long time, with PTS explaining that the allocations should help bolster the nation’s wireless services for years to come, particularly 5G.

“The assignment aims at an efficient and secure use of frequencies that contributes to the continued digitalisation of Sweden,” said PTS in a statement.

“PTS shall assign national block licenses in the 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz, and 2.6 GHz bands. The licenses shall be assigned well in advance before the current licenses expire. The purpose of the assignment is to enable continued digitalization and technology development, to contribute to the mobility objective of the Government´s broadband strategy by deploying new masts along roads and railways and in other areas.”

The auction itself was concluded in a single day last week, raising a total of SEK 4.23 billion ($380 million) for the Swedish government.

More specifically, Telia purchased 2×15 MHz in the 900 MHz band, 2×20 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band, and 2×30 MHz in the 2.6 GHz band, paying SEK 1.55 billion ($140 million).

Hi3G (owned by CK Hutchison) 2×10 MHz in the 900 MHz band, 2×20 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band, and 2×10 MHz (FDD) plus 1×10 MHz (TDD) in the 2.6 GHz band. In total, the company paid SEK 1.21 billion ($110 million).

Finally, Net4Mobility (the joint venture between Tele2 and Telenor Sweden) took home 2×10 MHz in the 900 MHz band, 2×20 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band, and 2×30 MHz in the 2.6 GHz band, spending SEK 1.47 billion ($130 million).

The 900 MHz licences will be valid from the start of 2026 until the end of December 2048, while the 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz licences will begin at the same time and run a little longer, to the end of December 2050.

Want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the world of telecoms? Subscriber to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter here 

Also in the news:
Vodafone’s Andrea Dona: The UK has fallen behind on 5G, but not lost the race
Zegona in talks to buy Vodafone Spain
Connected Britain 2023: the award winners 

Insight

Andy Bell, Head of Public Sector at ITS

Digitalisation has long been on the local government agenda. The ambition to utilise modern technologies to improve how we live and work is a priority. While technology has advanced, the biggest obstacle to adoption has often been a lack of long-term strategy and access to the infrastructure to support it. Andy Bell, Head of Public Sector at wholesale full fibre provider specialist ITS Technology Group gave us this exclusive interview on how this is changing, fast.

The switch to full fibre 

The UK is undergoing a once in a generation telecom infrastructure upgrade as the country’s legacy copper networks are replaced with full fibre cables capable of delivering futureproof highspeed connectivity and broadband services. Local authorities are playing a vital role in this as they look to deliver on their strategic ambitions and find new solutions that will create a better future for their communities.  

Delivering infrastructure that works for the long term 

Decision-making and influence in a local authority can make or break a digital strategy and its outcomes. The public private partnerships that reap the strongest outcomes are those where there is deep collaboration from the very early stages – to have the opportunity to really dig into the ‘art of the possible’ – which helps to shape plans for the long term. That is why at ITS we refer to ourselves as a strategic connectivity partner rather than simply a supplier. 

ITS has more than 80 local authorities located across its UK-wide fibre footprint and has a strong track record of working with the public sector. We sit on several procurement frameworks including Crown Commercial Services’ NS3. We signed the first UK concession agreement which was with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to reuse its CCTV ducts to build out a network to support businesses. We have since forged further agreements including flagship joint ventures LCR Connect in Liverpool City Region and Digital Greenwich Connect in The Royal Borough of Greenwich. By establishing commercial entities, the joint ventures will channel back 50% of the returns directly to the councils involved to support their wider objectives. Our mission is to build relationships for the long term.  

By bringing together an ambitious council with the proven track-record of a network provider, it will also deliver on the needs of a mixed economy, not just what is most commercially attractive. This approach helps to close the digital divide. 

Social value 

The economic benefits of full fibre are well understood. As a gateway to the technologies that increase collaboration and productivity, this infrastructure is boosting local economies through for example, attracting inward investment, and nurturing and retaining a highly skilled workforce.  

As well as delivering modern public services, the social value that can underpin these networks at a very granular level are a fundamental benefit of making full fibre and high-speed services available to everyone. By striving towards a shared and equal community where nobody is left behind, it will build a future-facing community and improve lives. There isn’t a one size fits all. Social value must be tailored to the needs of each local authority area and can take many forms – for example, WiFi access in community hubs, creating apprenticeships, mentoring local businesses, and preparing children for the world of work, or delivering digital skills courses for all ages. 

Successful collaboration 

The most successful collaborations are those where the local authority is truly engaged in the process – this not only helps with the mechanics of the rollout itself, from where the network is built, to reuse of existing assets, highways, and wayleaves, but it also ensures that there is support around the uptake of services and the future outcomes delivered by the infrastructure.  

Ultimately, whatever the device and application in use, whether it is being accessed indoors or outside, it will rely on a fast internet connection to function. Full fibre is the key to enabling all aspects of our lives – from smart technologies applied across services including transport and health, to working from home, and streaming Netflix. The digital agenda must be designed so that no one is left behind. 

Want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the world of telecoms? Subscriber to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter here 

Also in the news:
Vodafone’s Andrea Dona: The UK has fallen behind on 5G, but not lost the race
Zegona in talks to buy Vodafone Spain
Connected Britain 2023: the award winners