Panama to get Public and Private 5G in 2024

Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. Panama is known as a transit country because of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal, a famous feat of human engineering, cuts through its center, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to create an essential shipping route.

According to GSMA Intelligence, Panama had 5.34 million cellular mobile connections at the beginning of 2024. However, it's important to recognize that many individuals globally use more than one mobile connection—such as having one for personal use and another for work—so it's common for the number of mobile connections to surpass the total population.

GSMA Intelligence reports that in January 2024, mobile connections in Panama represented 118.6 percent of the population. Between the start of 2023 and the start of 2024, the number of mobile connections in Panama decreased by 6,999, a decline of 0.1 percent. Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that there were 5.34 million cellular mobile connections in Panama at the start of 2024.

GSMA Intelligence’s numbers indicate that mobile connections in Panama were equivalent to 118.6 percent of the total population in January 2024. The number of mobile connections in Panama decreased by 6,999 (-0.1 percent) between the start of 2023 and the start of 2024.

Operator Digicel is featured in the most recent report by OpenSignal on Panama however Panama’s ICT regulator Asep will terminate operator Digicel's concession due to a failure to find a buyer for its assets and keep the contract valid.

Digicel has spectrum in the 1900MHz and 700MHz bands, as well as a network involving over 700 sites, covering 80% of the population. However Digicel exited Panama in 2022, claiming it was unable to compete in a market dominated by Tigo and C&W, after a Claro and C&W Panamá merger received the green light.

But law mandates that the country must have at least three mobile phone operators to guarantee competition. To attract at least one other player, Asep is planning an update of its telecoms law to simplify procedures, promote competition and create new business models to facilitate infrastructure and spectrum sharing.

Meanwhile second largest operator Cable & Wireless Panama (+Móvil) will be implementing a pilot test in a controlled environment with the fifth generation of mobile network technology (5G) in the national market.  +Móvil will be carrying out pilot tests using the 5G network in the 3.5 GHz band , with the aim of evaluating results that allow it to provide solutions to selected companies. 

The tests also include projects with strategic allies in the retail sector, implementing an extended 5G LAN network for video surveillance systems in distribution and storage centers. Another pilot project is being carried out in one of the main ports in Panama, where remote control platforms will be managed through the 5G Wi-Fi network.

Hoy más que nunca, reiteramos nuestro compromiso de inversión constante para que la mejor y más moderna red, esté siempre contigo. 💪🏽💫
¡CRECEMOS CONTIGO PANAMÁ! pic.twitter.com/lxJRao16kQ

— Tigo Panamá (@TigoPanama) July 24, 2024

Tigo as of January 2023 reportedly had 2.4 million mobile subscriptions in Panama, plus an additional 469,000 fiber customers.

Tigo Panama has pledged $100 million towards the modernizing and expansion of its network this year. This latest spend comes on top of the $475m that Tigo has invested in the country since Millicom International Cellular closed the takeover of Cable Onda in December 2018.

Tigo's latest investments will be used to increase its LTE capacity in the country to new areas, which currently sits at 95 percent.

According to the company, this part of the network is already prepped for the implementation of 5G. The company will also increase its fiber footprint, with Tigo saying that it will deploy fiber-optic networks to 90,000 homes in Puerto Armuelles, Colon City, Panama City, ​​Penonome, Azuero, and San Miguelito.

According to Bnamericas, the Panama canal authority (ACP) expects to finish deployment of a private 5G network around the end of this fiscal year, in September-October. The mobile infrastructure is currently in the installation and pilot testing phase, Augusto Sánchez, ACP interconnectivity manager, said during an event hosted by the Organization of American States' (OAS) Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (Citel) in Panama. ACP is working on a private network directly with an equipment provider, regulator Asep previously told BNamericas. The aim is to implement the mobile network throughout ACP's areas of operations. 

World's Largest Mobile Networks by Data Traffic - Q1 2024

Last year, India became the most populous country in the world. India's population stood at slightly over 1.428 billion, edging past China's population of 1.425 billion people. India and China's combined population is one third that of the whole world. As a result it won't come as a surprise that the operators with most data consumption in their networks are the ones from India and China.

At the end of Q1 2024, Reliance Jio was the operator with largest mobile data traffic flow through its network. China Mobile was just behind. 

Here's an interesting stat too: The monthly usage per AirFibre (FWA) subscription is 390 GB, 30% *higher* than for a JioFiber subscription. https://t.co/MGamLJE6xm

— Tefficient 🚥 (@tefficient) April 22, 2024

As Tefficient reported, Jio says that 5G's share of traffic is 28%, the rest being 4G as it doesn't have 2G/3G network. Another interesting stat was that the monthly usage per AirFibre (FWA) subscription was 390 GB, 30% higher than for a JioFiber subscription.

You can do a comparison with Q4 2022 numbers available here.

Djibouti to Start Experimenting with 5G Soon

Djibouti, located on the Horn of Africa, is a small but strategically significant country known for its diverse culture, historical sites, and unique landscapes. Presently, Djibouti remains one of the few countries where the national telecommunications company, Djibouti Telecom, holds a monopoly over all telecom services, including fixed lines, mobile, internet, and broadband. This lack of competition has stifled the market's potential. Despite Djibouti's strategic location as a hub for international submarine cables, with Djibouti Telecom being a partner in at least eight of them, telecom service prices remain high and unaffordable for many, hindering market growth.

The government has long planned to privatize Djibouti Telecom, but these plans have faced repeated delays. However, the successful experience of neighbouring Ethiopia, which recently ended Ethio Telecom's monopoly by licensing the Global Partnership for Ethiopia consortium (led by Safaricom), has provided encouragement. The Djibouti government aims to sell a minority stake in Djibouti Telecom, maintaining some decision-making control while attracting the financial support and management expertise of a foreign operator. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize the country's economy. 

The population of Djibouti stood at 1.14 million in January 2024. Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that there were 553.8 thousand cellular mobile connections in Djibouti at the start of 2024.

However, note that many people around the world make use of more than one mobile connection – for example, they might have one connection for personal use, and another one for work – so it’s not unusual for mobile connection figures to significantly exceed figures for total population. GSMA Intelligence’s numbers indicate that mobile connections in Djibouti were equivalent to 48.4 percent of the total population in January 2024. The number of mobile connections in Djibouti increased by 28 thousand (+5.3 percent) between the start of 2023 and the start of 2024.

Djibouti Telecom, operational since 1999, has established itself as the leading international carrier in eastern Africa. Currently, it is developing a regional hub to offer a comprehensive portfolio of voice, data/IP, and capacity services over state-of-the-art network infrastructure. Its customer base includes telecommunications service providers, multinational organizations, international carriers, mobile and fixed telephony operators, internet service providers, and major government and private sector clients.

According to Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed, Director of International Business at the FSD-owned Djibouti Telecom, this prominent national operator, a cornerstone of the economy, reported an EBITDA of around $100 million this year. He explains that Djibouti may lack natural resources such as oil, gas, or precious metals, but it aims to cultivate a different kind of wealth. Leveraging its strategic location at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean along the Europe-Asia maritime route, Djibouti has capitalized on its geographical advantage. He explains: 

"Over the past fifteen years, we have invested $200 million in twelve submarine cables, transforming our territory into a key exchange point connecting Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, All submarine cables heading to Europe pass through the Red Sea, potentially through our country. By establishing operations here, carriers can seamlessly switch cables and reach various global destinations. Currently, Djibouti Telecom serves over 50 telecom operators with connections to more than 90 countries."

The latest investment, the Sea-Me-We-6 cable, spans 19,200 km from Singapore to Marseille. This cable aims to enhance network performance and support emerging technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Djibouti Telecom is already in discussions about additional projects, such as the 12,000 km Peace submarine cable linking Europe and Asia.

Djibouti’s twelve submarine cables are safeguarded by a monitored protective corridor. Once onshore, they connect to four autonomous energy stations, which are monitored around the clock.

Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed further states: 

"Investment in submarine cables has provided a foundation we can now capitalize on. This allows the country to foster a digital economy, encouraging the establishment of start-ups and data centres. However, to remain competitive, we must address the high cost of electricity, currently 23 cents per kWh."

The investments align with the Djibouti government's strategy to transform the country into a digital hub.

According to Mariam Hamadou Ali, the head of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Innovation, along with their  port activities, the information and communication technology sector presents an unprecedented opportunity to diversify our economy and stimulate innovation in new areas. 

This ministry is a first for Djibouti, a strategically significant nation in the Horn of Africa. And their  submarine cable infrastructure places them at the forefront of African countries in terms of international connectivity, solidifying our position as a strategic centre for global data and information exchange.

Currently, the digital sector accounts for 8% of Djibouti’s GDP, encompassing submarine cable infrastructure, telecommunications, fintech, and e-commerce. This share is expected to grow notes Minister Ali, who recently visited Marseille, France, to draw inspiration from the city, which has quickly become a hub for cable networks in Europe.

She elaborates: 

"We have launched initiatives to attract investment in data centres similarly. These data centres will meet local data storage and processing needs and serve regional and international companies, further establishing our position as a regional digital hub." The government's 'Djibouti Smart Nation' program includes 150 projects with a total investment of $850 million."

To encourage competition, stimulate innovation, and improve service quality, the Djibouti government has been considering opening up the capital of Djibouti Telecom. This move aims to modernize and expand its infrastructure, enhance service quality, and boost market competitiveness.

Opening Djibouti Telecom’s capital will attract national and international private investment, enabling modernization and service improvement explains Minister Mariam Hamadou Ali. This strategy is crucial for one of the country's economic pillars capable of operating internationally, akin to the port sector.

Simultaneously, the government supports introducing a new operator in Djibouti's telecommunications market. Minister Ali  emphasises bringing in new players will increase competition, spur innovation, and better meet consumer needs with a wider variety of services and more competitive rates. She highlights the significant progress in internet connectivity, which rose from 6% in 2012 to 61% by 2022.

The government intended selling up to 40% of the company to an international investor by the end of 2022. However this has not yet transpired. 

However Minister Ali remains optimistic about the future. 

"In the next ten to fifteen years, I envision Djibouti evolving into a dynamic and prosperous digital hub, characterized by a thriving digital economy, world-class connectivity, and an innovative, inclusive society."

In late 2013 Djibouti Telecom finally unveiled its 3G service throughout the country and as of 2017 has unveiled 4G+ service. As of August 2021, 2G network covered 95% of the population, 3G network covered 80% and the 4G network covered 75% of population.

The Djiboutian government aims to bring mobile phone and broadband internet coverage to 100% of the population by 2027. During Mobile World Congress 2024, The Minister of Communication in charge of Posts and Telecommunications met with the Director of Huawei's East Africa region and discussed the possibility of a partnership for the deployment of 4G or 5G relay antennas in rural areas in order to combat the digital divide across the territory.

GenAI at Telus

TELUS have been working in Al for over a decade, first in AI/ML and now in GenAI, and partners directly with the tech giants in the AI space. They use GenAI to provide generative AI-powered experiences for its employees as well as its customers. TELUS claims to be already running GenAI safely at scale which has been tested and is constantly being improved. Their core platform enabled TELUS to develop and deploy GenAI apps around dozens of use cases. TELUS copilots and assistants are being used, at scale, by more than 30,000 TELUS employees.

TELUS is committed to ethical and responsible use of AI, and won an international Outstanding Organization 2023 prize from the Responsible AI Institute in recognition of its commitment to fostering trust and benefitting society. It’s also the first telecom company in Canada to sign the Government of Canada’s voluntary code of conduct for generative AI, which aims to ensure the transparent, equitable and responsible development and deployment of GenAI technology.

The TELUS.com GenAI support tool, powered by Fuel iX, an enterprise-grade AI engine provided by TELUS International, is one of the first customer-accessible GenAI solutions developed by a Canadian organization. It recently made history by becoming the first in the world to be internationally certified in Privacy by Design (ISO 31700-1). The support tool gives TELUS customers the ability to access fast and intuitive responses to their queries, providing them with a more convenient and seamless digital experience. Privacy by Design is a framework that proactively embeds privacy into the design and operation of systems, ensuring that privacy is the default setting.

At the FutureNet MENA conference, Tim MacGregor, VP at TELUS gave a presentation titled, "GenAI in TELUS: A gamechanger?". In the talk he looked at:

• GenAI & network optimisation:  hype vs reality
• Gen AI driving operational efficiency: success to date and defining the opportunity
• GenAI and customer experience: use cases

His talk is embedded below:

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Orange Africa & Middle East (OMEA) to Reach Net Zero by 2040

Orange Africa and Middle East (OMEA) covers 17 countries containing 18,000 employees and 149 million customers. Every 3 out of 10 Africans are Orange customers. In 2023, OMEA generated €7 billion in revenue. Today, more than 90 million customers in 17 countries have opened an Orange Money account. While 2G & 3G is still extremely popular in Orange markets, 4G has been launched in 17 countries and is available to more than 60 millions customers.

Recently OMEA published "Seeds of change": Orange Africa and Middle East 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Report. It's available here.

On their website detailing the reduction of carbon footprint, it says:

At Orange, the transition to renewable energies is a major priority. That’s why we’re launching numerous initiatives in Africa and the Middle East to help reduce our CO2eq emissions to reach our target of net zero by 2040. These include moving to solar to power our infrastructure, mini-grid solutions, and solar kits for companies and communities.

Orange Africa and Middle East publishes "Seeds of change", its 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, which illustrates our actions in the region. Reducing our energy consumption, developing our use of renewable energies and strengthening our transition to a circular economy are the pillars of our initiatives. We are constantly innovating with all stakeholders for a positive impact and for the benefit of individuals, society and the planet.

In Africa and the Middle East, where electricity is an essential issue, we resell surplus energy generated by our own solar farms to surrounding communities at an affordable price. This essentially converts our telecom equipment into mini grids (small solar farms), where consumption and payments can be controlled remotely.

We’re also developing various renewable energy projects that enable us along with Energy Service Company (ESCO) partners to equip our telecom towers with solar systems. Today, 10 Orange countries in the Africa and Middle East region are benefiting: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Madagascar, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

In Morocco and Tunisia, we’ve launched major solarization programs along with partners. We now produce 3.4 MWp of solar energy to supply data centers in seven of our countries in the region. More than 8,000 sites, or nearly 20% of our sites in Africa and the Middle East, are solarized.

We have also designed a range of services so that everyone can adapt their electricity to their needs and budget, such as our popular solar kit offer.

These programs, which are extending to other countries this year, reduce fuel consumption by up to 80%, depending on the site, powering our mobile phone infrastructure while avoiding more than 330,000 metric tons of CO2eq each year.

In Jordan, we’ve completely changed our electricity supply model and now use our own solar resources to the tune of 60 GWh. Commissioning three solar farms in 2019 generated enough power to cover 52% of Orange Jordan’s electricity needs in 2023 on a full-year basis. In terms of Jordan’s CO2eq emissions, this corresponds to 22,863 metric tons of CO2eq avoided in 2023 (scopes 1 & 2).

Our circular economy approach prioritizes mobile device collection and recycling, both of which require special treatment in countries where there’s a lack of national waste treatment, such as in Africa and the Middle East. Not only are we trying to extend the lifespan of electrical and electronic equipment, but we’re also aiming to collect 100% of the volume of electrical and electronic equipment waste from mobile phones sold in Africa and the Middle East by 2030.

We’ve partnered with the UN to introduce a circular economy for mobile and network equipment waste in Egypt, helping to develop local infrastructure and skills. E-waste in Egypt accounts for 20% of the total e-waste in Africa so the Egyptian government is looking at boosting its recycling rate by 25% by 2030 while ensuring the safe disposal of hazardous waste. The first mobile refurbishment center will launch in 2024 to help strengthen the skills of locally recruited technicians.

In the absence of efficient local recycling channels, the waste is collected and sent back to France to be recycled according to European environmental standards. Since 2010, Orange has partnered with the social cooperative organization Les Ateliers du bocage to open mobile waste collection workshops in three African countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire). These workshops have now dealt with more than 2 million mobile phones while creating job opportunities in the area.

You can learn more about OMEA in the video embedded below:

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Data Usage in Estonia is Growing Thanks to Improved Coverage and 5G

According to DataReportal’s key insights on digital adoption and usage in Estonia as of early 2024: Estonia had 1.24 million internet users at the beginning of 2024, with an internet penetration rate of 93.7 percent. In January 2024, Estonia had 1.04 million social media users, representing 78.7 percent of the total population. There were 1.92 million active cellular mobile connections in Estonia in early 2024, equating to 145.7 percent of the total population.

Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that many people use more than one mobile connection—such as one for personal use and another for work—making it common for mobile connection figures to exceed the total population count. GSMA Intelligence also reports that the number of mobile connections in Estonia increased by 17 thousand (0.9 percent) from the start of 2023 to the start of 2024.

Investment in Estonia’s telecom market has concentrated on upgrading fixed-line infrastructure and deploying 5G services. Fixed broadband subscribers are gradually transitioning from DSL to fiber, with legacy copper networks being replaced.

The mobile network operators (MNOs) Telia, Elisa, and Tele2 have established comprehensive LTE infrastructure and have recently directed investments towards 5G. Several 5G trials have been conducted, but commercial service launches have been hindered by a lack of available spectrum. The regulatory body began addressing this issue in May 2022 by awarding a 3.5GHz concession to Elisa. A second license will provide sufficient spectrum for national coverage by 2022. Delays in spectrum allocation were partly due to challenges in offering services in areas bordering Russia.

Progressive government policies on broadband infrastructure and an active regulatory regime have also contributed to Estonia achieving one of the highest broadband penetration rates in Europe. Broadband is available through various fixed-line and wireless technologies, including ADSL2+, FttP, cable, Wi-Fi, and WiMAX. Elisa’s consolidation with the main cable company Starman in April 2017 has enabled it to offer a more comprehensive suite of bundled services, enhancing its competitiveness with Telia.

2G is on 900 and 1800 MHz, 3G is on 900 and 2100 MHz with good coverage, 4G/LTE has started with all providers on 800, 1800 and 2600 MHz (Bands 3, 7, 20) plus 2100 and 2300 MHz (Bands 1 and 30) on Tele2 all over the country and is generally available for prepaid. 5G has started to be available on some high-data postpaid plans from Telia since November 2020 and on Elisa since June 2022.

Telia Eesti is part of Swedish telecom giant Telia Company, Telia has the best overall coverage in Estonia and focuses heavily on 4G/LTE services.

The major mobile operator in Estonia is Telia and it has a market share of over forty percent. They provide the largest network coverage consisting of 4G and 5G services available in most major cities across the country. Although Telia’s plans are mainly costlier than rivals, they provide more data and speed.

Ericsson and Telia have launched the Baltic region's first enterprise 5G private network, Ericsson Private 5G. This private cellular network became operational in early May at Ericsson’s supply site in Tallinn, Estonia.

Ericsson highlights that the 5G private network’s advanced capabilities, including reliability, predictable latency, security, and speed, enable various use cases such as asset condition monitoring and management, computer vision, digital twins, collaborative robotics, and precise indoor positioning.

The Tallinn supply site is strategically significant to Ericsson’s global supply chain, accounting for nearly half of the company’s new product introductions (NPIs). These NPIs require extensive research and development to ensure the products are relevant, competitive, and scalable, which is crucial for their successful market introduction.

Telia Eesti switched off of its 3G network in September 2023 this has enabled Telia to focus on the build-out of its 4G and 5G networks instead. The company currently has 150 5G base stations in Tallinn.

Elisa is the number two mobile operator in Estonia, owning about 30% of the market. These firms often give the same kind of network coverage that we find in Telia at reasonable prices. Elisa is a little bit slower compared to Telia, but both speeds are sufficient for most users. Elisa Group’s Estonian arm offers competitive rates, especially for family plans and long-term contracts. The company is rapidly deploying 5G in major cities.

With regards to spectrum, in May 2022 Elisa won 130 MHz of spectrum for which it paid EUR 7.2 million. Then in November 2022, it won 2x10 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum which laid the foundation for it's 5G coverage. Finally, in May 2023 Elisa won 800 MHz of 26 GHz spectrum for EUR 1.63 million. It hasn't commercially used the spectrum yet.

Tele2 Eesti is a subsidiary of Tele2 Group, Tele2 boasts the fastest mobile broadband speeds in the country. It has invested significantly in 4G and emerging 5G networks.Tele2 has the smallest share of approximately 20% in the Estonian mobile market. They are the cheapest, but their network coverage is only half of what Telia’s and Elisa’s are. Tele2 is are also among the three operators, their speeds being the slowest but satisfactory for basic internet access.

Back in 2022, Tele2 won the 700 MHz spectrum auction. It already had 3.5 GHz licenses and was also using 2300 MHz band for 5G. According to their press release, the added 700 MHz frequency band would allow them, in addition to better coverage, to offer services that do not require large data volumes, such as Internet of Things (IoT) services. 

Alongside rivals Telia and Elisa, Tele2 obtained 800MHz of spectrum in the 26GHz band back in 2023. It spent EUR1.6 million (US$1.7 million) on 24.7-25.5 GHz despite the fact that there are currently no devices commercially available in Estonia capable of operating via the 26GHz band.

Tele2 previously revealed that Nokia is its primary partner for 5G core networks in the standalone era, with deployment expected to have started during 2021. Nokia said it will deploy standalone 5G core and voice-over-5G technology for Tele2 operations in Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The Baltic countries climbed closer to the top of the global mobile data usage chart: Latvia #3, Lithuania #7 and Estonia #11 (of 39 countries) https://t.co/dJO6QUwOAx pic.twitter.com/2A6m4KiAST

— Tefficient 🚥 (@tefficient) July 8, 2024

Tefficient's latest report identified that the data usage in Estonia has been growing along with other Baltic countries as can be seen in the chart above.

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How will Green Networks Evolve: Elisa's Distributed Energy Storage (DES) Case

At Mobile Europe's Telco to Techco 2024, Jukka-Pekka Salmenkaita, VP of AI & Special Projects at Elisa presented a talk looking at their Distributed Energy Storage (DES) solution. His talk is embedded below:

You can learn more about DES and download a whitepaper from their website here.

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