Telecom
MTN, ZTE Tap into 5G in MEA
MTN and ZTE have partnered to test of 5G technology in Africa and the Middle East in a move they say will accelerate the commercialisation of 5G in both regions.
The trials are set to begin in 2018 and will include field and laboratory tests of 5G Ne Radio, DevOps, 5G virtual network partition and Virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC).
Babak Fouladi, Group Executive for Technology and Information Systems at MTN told Nairobi-based Africa Business Communities that the latest partnership with ZTE builds on previous collaboration between the two companies.
“After having collaborated extensively in 2G, 3G and 4G, we are excited to work with ZTE in 5G. We believe that 5G is an evolutionary step to provide connectivity, data and access to our customers. We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation in the area of 5G and thus strengthen the current collaboration, in addition to exploring together the future orientation of the construction of networks and the progress of technology and bring services to our customers.”
MTN and ZTE say the tests they will carry out on networks, applications and integral terminals using the architecture of the 5G technology will help make the business model and the user experience that can be drawn from the technology clear and inform plans for deployment in the Middle East and Africa.
‘Significant’ user experience gains
Ahead of the local tests by MTN and ZTE, Qualcomm announced yesterday that an extensive 5G network simulation the company conducted in Europe and the US over the past several months demonstrated the significant potential of 5G. They based this on quantitative insights into the expected real-world performance and user experience of 5G and Gigabit LTE devices that operate in Non-Standalone (NSA) multimode 4G/5G NR networks.
Qualcomm says its findings also provide quantitative support for the significant gains in capacity that can be realised by 5G NR over 4G LTE, as the technology industry prepares for the first wave of 5G networks and devices in the first half of 2019.
Alex Holcman, senior vice president of engineering at Qualcomm Technologies says their evaluations were done in order to help the industry in readying itself for a move to 5G.
“There is a lot of interest from various stakeholders in the mobile ecosystem – cloud platform providers, application developers, device OEMs, and others – in understanding the real-world performance that 5G NR mobile networks and devices will deliver. We undertook this comprehensive study to help the ecosystem prepare for the foray into 5G, so that application developers, for example, can begin planning new experiences and services for users with 5G devices.”
Results from the Qualcomm 5G Network Capacity Simulation show that emerging 5G networks will have the capacity and performance to support more services and experiences beyond the traditional categories of browsing, downloading, and streaming.
In a newly released report on the potential of 5G that surveyed opinions from 900 decision makers in companies from key sectors that employ no less than 1,000 employees (African firms included), Ericsson found that the main drivers behind using 5G, from a technology point of view, are much greater bandwidth, the ability to have a ‘slice’ of the network one owns, and delivery of faster, more secure transactions.
This is as respondents raised concerns about key barriers to adopting 5G in their organisation to include concerns around data security and privacy, lack of standards, and the challenges of end-to-end implementation.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
In addition to the excitement of fighting, users are encouraged to go to various locations, take part in thrilling challenges, and participate in intense competition for in-app rewards like points and victory badges. With each encounter and accomplishment, the immersion increases with each level, maintaining momentum and excitement.
Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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