TechPression

Tag: Mobile technology

  • Experts highlight need for 5G deployment in Africa

    Experts highlight need for 5G deployment in Africa

    The Mobile World Congress 2023 (MWC2023) in Kigali, Rwanda, served as a crucial platform for information and communications technology (ICT) experts to address the necessity of fortifying efforts towards the deployment of 5G networks across Africa.

    The consensus is that embracing 5G can potentially reshape industries, enhance connectivity, and act as an economic driver for the continent.

    This influential event, which took place from October 17th to 19th, saw participation from over 2,500 delegates. The attendees comprised political leaders, government officials, experts, representatives from international organizations like the United Nations and the African Union, in addition to numerous technology companies and innovative start-ups. Participants came from various regions of Africa and across the world.

    Read also: Nigeria’s 5G subscriptions reached 500,000

    5G Unleashes Economic Opportunities

    The evolution of 5G promises an array of opportunities for Africa. Notably, Amir Abdelazim, a partner expert with Detecon Consulting, highlighted the potential of 5G to catalyze growth in Africa. He stressed, “The rollout and deployment of 5G is expected to contribute to the growth of Africa by creating jobs and improving incomes. The ecosystem surrounding the 5G economy is much more powerful than any other technology that preceded it in the realm of digital communications.”

    Abdelazim further expressed his admiration for African startups and their role in crafting innovative solutions. These solutions are seen as pivotal in advancing the deployment of 5G in Africa. African countries were urged to invest considerable efforts into the rapid deployment of 5G networks. This, it was emphasized, would unlock unparalleled opportunities for innovation, technology-driven progress, and economic development.

    Catalyzing Transformation Across Sectors

    Elizabeth Migwalla, Vice President of International Government Affairs for Qualcomm, underscored 5G’s transformative potential. She stated, “It is the capabilities of 5G that make this transformation possible. When properly deployed and used, every sector of the economy can benefit from 5G, spanning from education and health to governance and transportation in Africa.”

    Li Tao, President of Huawei Southern Africa Wireless Business, added his perspective, emphasizing that 5G technology has substantial potential to drive economic growth in Africa. Huawei, a prominent player in delivering 5G technology to Africa, plays a crucial role in advancing the technology’s adoption across the continent. Li Tao noted, “5G can stimulate and promote the 5G industry further by enhancing various aspects, such as devices, ecosystem, and network.”

    As per the Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa’s latest report by the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem, the momentum for 5G is building in Africa. However, the primary focus for 5G deployment has been on urban areas and industrial locations, where the need for advanced technology is most pronounced.

    Positioning Africa for 5G Success

    The experts at MWC2023 also highlighted the multiple facets of 5G that are set to benefit Africa. The economic possibilities span across sectors and are poised to enhance the quality of life and foster innovation. By embracing the full potential of 5G technology, African countries are well-positioned to stimulate innovation, enhance connectivity, and foster sustainable development.

    The role of technology in Africa is evolving at a rapid pace. Advancements in connectivity and communication are not only driving economic growth but also reshaping industries and sectors like education, health, transportation, and governance. The 5G revolution holds the promise of unlocking unprecedented potential for Africa, and it’s imperative that the continent seizes this opportunity to stay at the forefront of the digital future.

    The unanimous call from the experts at MWC2023 in Kigali is for African nations to expedite the deployment of 5G networks. This effort is perceived as a pivotal step in accelerating technological innovation, fostering economic growth, and solidifying Africa’s position in the global digital landscape. As Africa harnesses the power of 5G, it embarks on a path of digital transformation and the creation of a brighter, more connected future.

  • Nokia, UNICEF provide digital education to Senegalese children

    Nokia, UNICEF provide digital education to Senegalese children

    Nokia, a major manufacturer of mobile devices and telecom infrastructures has partnered with UNICEF to provide more accessible digital education and training in some regions of Senegal, West Africa, in an effort to reduce the digital gap.

    The company tweeted that Nicole Robertson, Vice President of Environmental, Social, and Governance, praised this collaboration. “I am delighted to announce Nokia’s partnership with UNICEF to advance digital skills and coding for children and young people in Senegal.”

    Nokia helps close the digital divide by connecting underprivileged populations. Connectivity and digital skills increase employment, education, healthcare, and digital economy involvement.

    Nokia and UNICEF planned to include instructors and students in the desolate areas, with over 100 teachers and over 10,000 middle school pupils.

    The term “digital divide” is used to describe the gap between those who have access to digital experiences and those who do not, such as technology, the internet, etc.

    Digital illiteracy, or the inability to use and maximize digital technology to its fullest potential, and a lack of infrastructure are two common causes of the digital divide.

    Read also: Safaricom and Nokia collaborate on Africa’s first 5G slicing trial

    Nokia and UNICEF’s digital divide solution

    To achieve their objective of providing children and teachers in the remote area of Senegal with access to the Internet and digital education, Nokia and UNICEF have developed a comprehensive plan with the provision of specialized digital training, internet upgrades, and coding training.

    According to Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Senegal, UNICEF protects children and youth from the digital revolution. Digital technology should assist all children in the classroom and at home, regardless of their background.

    “This catalytic relationship with Nokia is a big step in improving Senegal’s children’s education through innovative technology.”

    It’s remarkable how technology is changing the world. Tech is humanity’s biggest potential in the modern age. Coding will also be incorporated into UNICEF Finland and UNICEF Senegal’s training.

    15 Most In-Demand Tech Skills In 2023

    More on UNICEF and Nokia

    UNICEF, officially the United Nations Children’s Fund, is a UN agency that provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. With a presence in 192 countries and territories, the agency is one of the most well-known social welfare organizations. UNICEF provides vaccines, illness prevention, HIV treatment for children and mothers, nutrition, sanitation, education, and disaster assistance.

    Nokia, a Finnish multinational telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics company, was founded in 1865. Nokia’s headquarters are in Espoo, Finland, in the larger Helsinki metropolitan area, but its roots are in Tampere, Pirkanmaa.
    Over the past 150 years, the firm has worked in many fields. Since the 1990s, it has focused on large-scale telecommunications infrastructure, technology development, and licensing. It was founded as a pulp mill and has long been associated with rubber and cables. Nokia helped design the GSM, 3G, and LTE mobile phone standards. Nokia sold the most mobile phones and smartphones worldwide for a decade, starting in 1998.

  • 5G Network In Africa

    5G Network In Africa

    Buried deep in every individual is the fear of being left behind by society. We see this in the way people run after trends. People keep running to meet up societal standards of perfection in various aspects of life. This constant need to improve and do more has moved us from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations of technology to the computer age that is now called, 5G. Calendar

    What is 5G Technology

    5G network is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software. All the high-level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used in this generation. 5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps(gigabytes per second) peak data speed, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience.

    It was gathered in a study conducted by Viavi Solutions in February of 2021 that the 5G network is no longer a myth as many countries have already gone past the testing phase and that the 5th generation of computers is forcefully advancing.

    Commercial 5G is now available in 1.336 cities in 61 countries across the world, equal to an increase of 350% on 2020 data, which listed just 376 cities possessing this technology. The growth of 5G has reached 30% of the world population with China, America, Asia, Europe, and Africa as groundbreakers in this astonishing age of fifth-generation technology.

    List of African countries with 5G network

    According to GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications- an organization representing mobile network operators worldwide), Safaricom launched 5G network in Kenya in February 2021. This makes Kenya the second country in Africa to launch 5G after South Africa’s 5G roll out in 2020.

    In South Africa, Vodacom launched its commercial 5G network in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria in May 2020. In June 2020, MTN launched the 5G technology in 100 sites across
    Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, and Port Elizabeth.

    5G Network in Nigeria

    5G Network in Nigeria
    In Nigeria, NCC (Nigeria communication commission) surpassed the price it sold GSM licenses over 20 years ago in the auction of its 2 available lots of 100 MHz TDD slots of 3.5GHz band ranging from 3500-3600 MHz and 3700-3800 MHz.

    The bid for 3.5GHz license spectrum at Transcorp Hilton where Professor Danbata, the vice-chairman of NCC announced that after 11 rounds of bidding which lasted for 8 hours, Mafab Communications Ltd and MTN Nigeria Plc, emerged the two successful winners of the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction for the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) technology to support the delivery of Ubiquitous broadband services in Nigeria.

    The winners of the auction of the 3.5 GHz license spectrum MTN Nigeria and MAFAB Communications Ltd, would pay the sum of $273.6 million as full payment of the license fee before February 24, 2022, and roll out 5G network across Nigeria.

    In this fifth generation, VLSI (Very large scale Integration) technology has become ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, resulting in the production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic components.

    In Conclusion

    There are several technology corporations like Qualcomm, (a multinational technology corporation that has over the years, spearheaded ground-breaking research especially in Al (Artificial Intelligence), wireless technology and mobile communication standards) who, building on their 3G and 4G technology leadership, continue to spearhead research for the 5G evolution.

    Their efforts are leading to the invention of technologies that will unlock the full potential of 5G and enable an even more intelligently connected future for humanity.