Bold new world for enterprise innovation awaits, says MTNSouth Africa must create a telecommunication ecosystem that drives competition and access while building a new generation of innovators that continue to break down barriers, according to mobile network, MTN.Chief Technology and Information Officer at MTN SA, Giovanni Chiarelli, told the audience at the recent MyBroadband Conference & Expo that while the combination of device, cloud, network and services form an astoundingly powerful virtuous quartet for innovation, SAs economy will be left behind if additional frequency for expansion is not made available urgently.Other factors affecting data pricing and therefore data usage in SA include cost factors like electricity, tax and theft; exchange rate volatility; and regulation.Technology needs to provide a platform for South African innovation and these bottlenecks to growth need to be cleared. African solutions for African problems must be found, and to drive this innovation we need an ecosystem that enables innovation. If we are to deliver the 4th industrial revolution, our industry must also avoid over-regulation that will stunt agility, says Chiarelli.The virtuous quartet for innovation of cloud, devices, network and services starts with access to data, yet South Africa is one of the most constrained countries in the world when it comes to assigning high demand spectrum.Without it we will not be able to truly embrace innovation and unlock previously untapped value chains. The world of technology will not wait for us and we cannot get left behind, says Chiarelli.A recent 5G demonstration at the Gerotek test track in Pretoria was used by MTN to show the audience at the conference the power of technology in providing enterprise solutions. In this test, a driver wore a virtual reality headset to control a large vehicle drifting around on a skidpan at high speed. The windows of the vehicle were blacked out, but network latency of just five milliseconds ensured the driver was able to drift the car around the track without encountering any problems.In another real-world network performance test MTN partnered with Huawei to conduct the first 5G outdoor trial in Africa. Huaweis recently-launched commercial 5G terminal was used in conjunction with a 5G live network installation.A bold new world for enterprise innovation, efficiency and the delivery of services awaits, and we need to harness this to maximise efficiencies and opportunities to solve local problems. However, to succeed we need an ecosystem that enables innovation, says Chiarelli.MTN Cloud Connect Wireless, launched in 2018, is an example of how technology can provide solutions to problems currently being faced by businesses in SA. By harnessing Point to MultiPoint microwave technology, small offices or remote branches of large enterprises can now achieve efficient, low-cost wireless access. Rural businesses, which will increasingly be the lifeblood of the economy going forward but face immense network constraints, are being given a new lease on life.The resulting infrastructure is covering 60% of businesses across SA today, and it is intended to grow above 75% in the near future, says Chiarelli.In the absence of spectrum, however, MTNs push for rapid 3G and 4G coverage has come at a pricenot only the R40 billion investment in the past few years but also the need to re-farm existing spectrum for 3G and LTE deployment.MTN has therefore adopted a dual data strategy to drive the democratisation of access to data.Our goal is to continue to deliver high-capacity 4G in cities and broad 3G coverage in rural areas. Our new data customers will be in rural areas and they will buy smaller amounts of data ' which is why we are focusing heavily on both extending our connectivity reach, while also transforming our pricing methodology to adapt to the changing and growing markets we seek to serve. In South Africa ' weve been exceptionally aggressive in our capital investment to support our dual data strategy, says Chiarelli.The strategy has also seen MTN achieving extraordinary successes in connecting the previously unconnected. By August this year, MTNs 4G coverage had reached 88% and by the end of 2018, it will achieve 90% LTE coverage for South Africa.This took us from 0-90% 4G coverage in just five years, which is even faster than the 3G rollout which took us from 0-90% in 10 years. Putting access to the internet in the hands of all South Africans has driven this relentless push, says Chiarelli.The significant CAPEX that MTN has invested into its network in its drive to connect all South Africans has not gone unnoticed. Over the past few quarters, MTN has received a number of accolades from independent, internationally recognised benchmarking companies, who have given the operator the title of Best Network.MTN also took top honours at yesterdays MyBroadband Conference in the categories of Mobile Broadband Provider of the Year and Best Mobile Network (this second award was shared with Vodacom).The investment we have made has built a network that is second to none in South Africa. In addition to this, we will ensure that we keep matching demand with simple and extensive consumer offerings that meet the needs of all our people, despite the constraints we face, he concludes.Edited by Neo SesinyeFollow Neo Sesinye on TwitterFollow IT News Africa on Twitter
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