Page 79 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

MagtiCom Tests 5G in Georgia

Georgian mobile operator MagtiCom equipment manufacturers around the commercially, stating that as long as the
has announced it has started testing 5G world’ to conduct the trials, and will also average mobile data consumption in the
technology. Without providing further partner with a fourth in the near future. retail segment does not exceed 15GB-
details, the company says it is cooperating MagtiCom did emphasize, however, that it 20GB, then the launch of the technology
with ‘three leading telecommunication does not at this stage plan to launch 5G cannot be justified.

Huawei and ZTE Pass GSMA 5G Security Assessment

China’s under fire mobile network security requirements via an independent will entail vendors submitting their network
equipment providers have successfully security audit and we congratulate them equipment products for laboratory testing,
passed GSMA assessment of their product on achieving this important first step,” where it will be evaluated for stringent
development and lifecycle management said Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer, security protocols defined by 3GPP. “The
processes, using the GSMA’s Network GSMA. “By committing to NESAS, vendors evaluation concludes with the production,
Equipment Security Assurance Scheme are helping network operators, and other by the test laboratory, of a valuation report
(NESAS). Chinese based firms Huawei and stakeholders make informed decisions that records the test results. The report
ZTE joined European vendors Ericsson about secure product development. We is provided to the vendor who can make
and Nokia in completing the first stage of look forward to others participating in the it available to its customers and other
the 3GPP and GSMA sponsored scheme. scheme, evidencing their commitment stakeholders at its discretion,” the GSMA
“The GSMA recognizes the support and to good security practice by promoting explained in an online statement.
participation of Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia a security-by-design culture within the
and ZTE who have satisfied the scheme’s industry.” The next phase of the scheme

Tcell Goes Live with 5G in Tajikistan’s Capital

Tajik operator Tcell has activated its first commercial 5G tariffs, but was offering in February this year, the local unit of
5G base stations in the city of Dushanbe. customers the chance to win 5G devices MegaFon announced that customers with
The operator received a license for with data allowances via its website. 5G-ready devices would be able to access
3500MHz spectrum in June last year, and Tcell is not the first operator to launch 5G speeds in the center of Dushanbe
its commercial 5G network is now live. commercial 5G services in Tajikistan - without paying a higher rate.
Local news outlet Asia-Plus reported that
Tcell has achieved download speeds of
nearly 1Gbps – ten times faster than the
top speed of its 4G network. The operator’s
CEO Ozodkhon Davlatshoev said: “We will
create free test centers in the city so that
people can test [5G] … There are already
applications from our corporate clients
who would like to use 5G right away. There
are still restrictions on the consumer side
… The technology is new, so the devices
are expensive…full commercialization of
the project will take at least three to five
years.” The executive added that Tcell
was investing in fiber infrastructure to
support future 5G growth. CommsUpdate
noted that the operator had not confirmed

79 AUGUST 2020