Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile unveil launch plans for space-based mobile network initially reaching 1.6 billion people

Thursday, 17 December 2020

•AST & Science LLC (“AST SpaceMobile”) secures necessary funding for first phase commercial launch of space-based mobile network.

•Project aims to transform mobile network coverage for the 49 largest countries in the equatorial regions – including Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, and Tanzania – from 2023.

•SpaceMobile will be the first space-based mobile network to connect directly to 4G and 5G smartphones without any need for specialized hardware.

TEXAS, LONDON, JOHANNESBURG – December 17, 2020 – AST SpaceMobile, in partnership with Vodafone Group, today unveiled plans to launch the first phase of its space-based commercial mobile communications service in 2023. The company has secured the necessary funding to take the venture to this next stage, which will cover the 49 largest countries in the equatorial regions.

Vodafone wants to ensure that our customers are always connected and everyone benefits from a digital society. This is why we are a lead, strategic partner of AST SpaceMobile, which is uniquely positioned to provide universal mobile coverage to rural areas in Africa, and in the future, Europe, further extending our leading network. The space-based mobile network will also enable us to provide instant communications in the event of a natural or humanitarian disaster. 

AST SpaceMobile will be the first service of its kind to connect standard mobile phones at 4G and 5G speeds using AST SpaceMobile’s patented space-based network. Today, more than five billion mobile subscribers constantly move in and out of wireless coverage, and AST SpaceMobile’s solution will fill these coverage gaps to enable people to stay connected whilst on the move. This is a significant breakthrough in helping to bring affordable mobile connectivity to more than half of the world’s population that do not have internet on their phone. Traditional satellite systems require expensive specialized satellite phones or ground antenna systems, which is different to AST SpaceMobile’s patented technology, where all that is needed is the phone in your pocket.

The first tranche of AST SpaceMobile’s launch plans will involve the use of 20 satellites to offer seamless, low-latency mobile connectivity that can be accessed by approximately 1.6 billion people across a vast geographical region. The initial service will target an area North and South of the equator, including rural and remote areas of a number of markets where Vodafone will integrate the technology into the services provided by its Vodacom, Safaricom and Vodafone brands. Subject to regulatory approval in each market, these will include DRC; Ghana; Mozambique; Kenya; and Tanzania. AST SpaceMobile will also apply for regulatory approval to launch the service in India.

Read more at: https://www.vodacom.com/news-article.php?articleID=7592

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By Juan Pedro Tomás on OCTOBER 28, 2020

Nokia announced that it is has deployed 5G radio, core and fixed network solutions across South African operator Vodacom’s network.

In a release, the Finnish vendor said that Vodacom is using Nokia’s 2G, 3G, 4G and fiber access networks, as well as 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) and mobile broadband services.

As part of the deal, Nokia is supplying its AirScale, Fastmile and Subscriber Data Management (SDM) / Home Subscriber Server (HSS) products to Vodacom to enhance its service offering.

Nokia’s AirScale radio network product portfolio will enable Vodacom to deploy 5G services across several spectrum bands, including the new 3.5 GHz, 2.6 GHz and 700/800 MHz bands which will be auctioned by South African regulator (ICASA) before the end of March 2021.

Vodacom will also use Nokia’s FastMile 5G gateway to offer FWA broadband services in areas not currently served by a fiber network.

Read more at: https://www.rcrwireless.com/20201028/5g/vodacom-selects-nokia-5g-services-south-africa

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Staff Writer 14 October 2020

Telkom approached the Competition Tribunal today to declare the suite of spectrum arrangements between Vodacom and Rain as a merger.

According to Telkom, this merger should have been notifiable in terms of the Competition Act.

Telkom contends that the merger is notifiable because the multiple agreements between Vodacom and Rain grant Vodacom use and control over the deployment of Rain’s spectrum.

This includes the planning, rollout, maintenance, and service of its Rain’s radio access network.

According to Telkom Group Executive for Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations Siyabonga Mahlangu, Vodacom’s ability to control Rain’s spectrum entrenches its position as a dominant player in a highly concentrated market.

“It is important that the effects of spectrum arrangements on competition are scrutinised,” said Mahlangu.

“Particularly, in light of the upcoming spectrum auction which will set the ground for the nature of competition in the mobile market for the foreseeable future,” he continues.

Read more at: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/371451-telkom-lodges-complaint-against-vodacom-and-rains-partnership.html

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Cape Town – Parliament should take disciplinary steps against Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams for defying the National Assembly by not appointing the full list of nominees for the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) council, the Democratic Alliance said on Monday.

Ndabeni-Abrahams on Friday gazetted the appointment of five Icasa councillors but excluded the sixth, Kgosi Matthews, on the list of people recommended by Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications.

Matthews has several years of experience in the postal sector and the minister’s decision not to appoint him has reportedly also raised eyebrows within the ruling party.

DA chief whip Natasha Mazzone said the minister’s stance marked her “latest decision to ignore Parliament” as she had been instructed to appoint six councillors.

“While this may seem a minor infraction, it is not. It is now the second time the minister has decided to override the power of the National Assembly regarding appointments to the Icasa council.”

Read more at: https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/da-wants-speaker-to-discipline-ndabeni-abrahams-over-icasa-a35a2b94-17df-4f48-819f-bc9b779609a5

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Sizwe Africa IT Group, a black empowerment IT company awarded the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape e-learning contract, and electronics manufacturing giant Samsung, who got the bulk of the contract to supply 55 000 tablets, have been caught in a tug of war between political factions in that province.

Information obtained by Independent Media suggests that the war was between those aligned with President Cyril Ramaphosa, led by Mcebisi Jonas through his interests at telecoms giant MTN, on the one side.

The other group, it is claimed, is led by businessman Thato Abrahams, who has interests in Vodacom – a claim he has since come out to deny.

Read more at: https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/alleged-attempt-to-scupper-big-eastern-cape-e-learning-contract-a268e53f-aff1-4288-ba5a-0e52c1df1210

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams’s husband in Sita storm https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/stella-ndabeni-abrahamss-husband-in-sita-storm-6dbb4e0f-b3f5-4e07-86ae-0105b9aeb19a

Excerpt:

According to the whistleblower, the patronage party between Sita and Abrahams continued when telecoms company Vodacom received an RT15 contract to supply tablets, mobile devices and e-Learning materials to the Eastern Cape Department of Education through the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development.

Sources at Sita say Abrahams has a close relationship with the telecommunications giant.

In a response to questions, Abrahams said: “I would like to put it on record that I don’t have any business dealings with Vodacom, Sita nor any other player in the Telecoms space.

“I would really appreciate it not to be dragged into Sita and its service providers squabbles.”

Ndabeni-Abrahams responded: “I know nothing of these baseless allegations and I would urge you to ask your sources to provide evidence of your allegations.”

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Telkom has lost a case against Vodacom in the Pretoria High Court over the latter’s use of Telkom’s ducts and sleeves to roll out its fibre network.

This outcome is great news for South African customers, who could see fewer obstacles impeding their preferred fibre network from installing infrastructure in their area.

In 2015, the Homeowners’ Associations of 15 private residential estates in the Western Cape invited Vodacom to install fibre in their complexes.

However, Telkom already had underground ducts in these estates that had been used for the rollout of telephone and ADSL lines.

Vodacom asked Telkom to allow it to install fibre in its ducts in the estate, but Telkom declined, claiming it was not obliged to share its infrastructure.

Vodacom installed fibre in these ducts anyway, leading to a conflict that reached the courtroom.

Read more at: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/fibre/364598-new-court-ruling-is-great-news-for-fibre-rollout-in-south-africa.html?utm_source=newsletter

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Source https://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/359671-communications-minister-rejects-parliaments-candidates-for-icasa-report.html

Staff Writer 12 July 2020

Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has questioned the suitability of ICASA council candidates sent to her by Parliament, according to a report in the Sunday Times.

The report stated that the National Assembly provided Ndabeni-Abrahams with a ranked list of 10 candidates for positions on the ICASA council on 5 June, and instructed her to appoint six people.

The minister reportedly replied to Parliament with a letter on 30 June, questioning the suitability of the candidates and rejecting several of them due to their “lack of experience”.

ICASA plays a vital role in the South African economy – and ICT sector in particular – as it is responsible for managing the allocation of spectrum to mobile network operators.

Mobile network operators, including Vodacom and MTN, have been requesting new spectrum from the government and ICASA for years, as it will allow them to offer better mobile data coverage at higher speeds and lower prices.

ICASA’s allocation of spectrum will also determine how and when mobile operators can roll out their 5G networks in South Africa.

Vodacom, for example, said it used temporary spectrum from ICASA to fast-track the launch of its 5G network in May.

This latest news follows a report on 14 June that Ndabeni-Abrahams was facing an unprecedented stand-off with Parliament over the appointment of new ICASA councillors.

It was stated that the ranking of the candidate list was seen by the minister’s associates as an attempt to force her to align her choice with the views of the Parliament.

Read more at: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/359671-communications-minister-rejects-parliaments-candidates-for-icasa-report.html

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Staff Writer 12 June 2020

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) licensed temporary spectrum to Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Rain, and Liquid Telecom in April.

The temporary spectrum is aimed at easing network congestion and help mobile operators to maintain the quality of their broadband services and lower the cost of access to consumers.

Five spectrum bands were made available for temporary assignment: 700MHz, 800MHz, 2,300MHz, 2,600MHz, and 3,500MHz.

This temporary free spectrum will be closed at the end of November and will be then be placed on auction in December 2020.

ICASA’s acting chairperson Keabetswe Modimoeng said ICASA will get “attractive offers” from bidding companies because they will have “experienced open spectrum” and will want to regain access.

Read more at: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/355821-temporary-spectrum-what-vodacom-mtn-telkom-and-rain-are-doing.html?source=newsletter

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Are the emergency spectrum allocations being used to promote the sale of 5G enabled smartphones?

MTN’s 5G enabled phones are not cheap. Who will be able to afford these phones?

Who will really benefit from 5G?

We refer to our post from 2019: Who Will Benefit? South Africa, 4IR, Smart Cities, 5G (For Some?). This question is even more relevant today, considering the current state of hunger and unemployment in South Africa. https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/who-will-benefit-south-africa-4ir-smart-cities-5g-for-some/

EMFSA: at R20 000 per phone? A critical measure introduced by the regulations is the temporary release of high demand spectrum (HDS) for the duration of the national state of disaster in order to ease network congestion, maintain good quality of broadband services, and enable licensees to lower cost of access to consumers. https://www.icasa.org.za/news/2020/emergency-release-of-spectrum-to-meet-the-spike-in-broadband-services-demand-due-to-covid-19

The High Court in Pretoria has ruled that level 3 and 4 lockdown regulations are invalid and unconstitutional. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mtNqj91h3c

On the 6th of April 2020 ICASA made the following International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum bands available for temporary assignment: 700MHz, 800MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz and 3500MHz bands. https://www.icasa.org.za/news/2020/emergency-release-of-spectrum-to-meet-the-spike-in-broadband-services-demand-due-to-covid-19

6th May 2020: SA’s big mobile operators, such as Vodacom and MTN, were unable to launch 5G services until more spectrum was licensed to them by the communications regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA).

https://www.itweb.co.za/content/xnklOqzLAEG74Ymz

https://techcentral.co.za/mtn-will-be-ready-to-use-extra-spectrum-within-six-weeks/97450/

MTN’s initial launch was supposed to be from 1 June, but this has been delayed. MTN’s 5G will be available in SA in MTN’s LTE coverage areas and at LTE price points.

Current 4G devices will not be able to use the new network, which will require new 5G-enabled wireless devices. The service is only available in LTE coverage areas.

MTN is pushing Huawei’s P40 and P40 Pro as its first 5G-capable devices on its network.

P40: Huawei Pro R R20,000 – 25,089.00

P40: Huawei P40 R16,999 – R17,000

https://www.businessinsider.co.za/huaweis-new-range-of-5g-smartphones-lands-in-sa-on-monday-202

The emergency spectrum allocations can be used until either three months after the national disaster period has ended or 30 November 2020.

7 million projected job losses due to Covid-19 in South Africa

https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/gautengs-covid-19-jobs-bloodbath-could-be-as-bad-as-two-million-jobs-makhura-warns-48131995

Hunger numbers: Millions, millions, millions need food https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-05-08-hunger-numbers-millions-millions-millions-need-food/

https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/watch-lockdown-queues-for-kilometres-as-11-000-food-parcels-distributed-in-pretoria-20200521

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Telecom infrastructure company Helios Towers plans to acquire additional mobile-phone tower sites in South Africa from Eagle Towers, Bloomberg reported. The company first entered South Africa in 2019 through a partnership with Vulatel that brought the group 500 sites. It will add another 65 with this deal, which it expects to be concluded by the second half of the year, CEO Kash Pandya said.

Helios also received an order from the country’s largest mobile operator Vodacom to build towers over the next fifteen months. Vodacom recently announced that it would start rolling out 5G services in South Africa’s three largest cities. 

Read more at: https://www.telecompaper.com/news/helios-to-expand-tower-business-in-south-africa–1338829?utm_source=headlines_-_english&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=18-05-2020&utm_content=textlink

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