Telecom Vendors

Nokia has announced that they have signed a five-year 5G deal with AST SpaceMobile, Inc., the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard 4G or 5G mobile devices. Under the deal, Nokia and AST SpaceMobile will work to achieve their joint ambition to expand universal coverage and connect underserved communities around the world. The launch of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 test satellite later this year will kick off global testing with mobile network operators on six continents.

Qualcomm Technologies announced the new RFFE modules targeted for best-in-class Wi-Fi and Bluetooth experiences. The expanded portfolio is designed for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 6E, and the next-generation standard, Wi-Fi 7. The modules are designed for a wide array of device segments beyond smartphones.

Ericsson announced the launch of its Together Apart Hackathon in Nigeria. The hackathon’s objective is to identify innovative solutions using technology and connectivity, creating tomorrow’s solutions from today’s challenges and is inspired by Nigeria’s 5G deployment.

Cisco announced advancements to its Routed Optical Networking solution, delivering on its commitment to redefine the economics of the internet and help communication service providers close the digital divide by connecting more people, places, and things.

Nokia announced research that forecasts 5G subscriptions reaching 263 million in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region by 2026. The 5G subscription growth will primarily be in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. Additionally, subscribers in South Africa, Nigeria and North African countries will increase adoption following the release of new spectrum. This trend is triggered by the increasing use of high-bandwidth consumer applications and industrial use cases.

CommScope announced that Chuck Treadway, President and CEO, joined the growing coalition pledging to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace through CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™.

ZTE Corporation, a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the mobile internet, has announced that its CEO Xu Ziyang has been awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Asia Mobile Industry Award at the GSMA’s Asia Mobile Awards (The AMOs) 2022, held in Hong Kong. The award recognizes Mr. Xu Ziyang’s outstanding leadership in guiding ZTE to continuously promote industrial innovation, increase cross-industry cooperation and boost the development of the global mobile industry.

In its recently-published Mobility Report, Ericsson forecast that the number of 5G mobile subscriptions will surpass 1 billion by the end of 2022. By 2027, that number will grow to 4.4 billion, about three-quarters of the world's population, according to the Swedish tech company.

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. unveiled the latest additions to the company’s suite of premium wearable platforms, Snapdragon® W5+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon W5 Gen 1. These platforms are designed to advance ultra-low power and breakthrough performance for next-generation connected wearables with a focus on extended battery life, premium user experiences and sleek, innovative designs. By using these platforms, manufacturers can scale, differentiate and develop products faster in the continuously growing and segmenting wearables industry.

Ericsson and Free in Senegal have collaborated to demonstrate immersive 5G experiences at the Free Senegal Innovation Xperience (FIneX) ceremony. The selected demos include music connect, connected healthcare, connected vehicles and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for smart homes, primarily focused on the role of 5G in enabling a more intelligent society. The demos also highlight the role of connectivity and cellular technology in driving digital transformation for consumers and industries across Senegal.