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4G/5G

Are Africa's Mobile Operators Getting Shortchanged by MWC?

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Each year, the great and the good of the global mobile industry converge on Barcelona for Mobile World Congress (MWC). There are more than 2,400 exhibitors and over 100,000 attendees, discussing trends, launching new products and doing deals.

At this year's edition, much of the discussion will center around the arrival and development of 5G, how it creates the speed and flexibility to allow for far greater services and performance, and what is being done to make it a reality.

And the industry will engage in its usual love-in, patting itself on the back for a job well done, even if it isn't. (See MWC 5G-Gasm Risks Missing the Big Telecom Issues.)

MWC -- a useful trip for Africa's mobile network operators?
MWC -- a useful trip for Africa's mobile network operators?

Which is all well and good, but 5G isn't really a thing in Africa yet. As the region with the fastest growing mobile industry, shouldn't the world’s biggest mobile event be discussing something more relevant to its needs?

It's not that there is no 5G in Africa. Vodacom launched what it says is Africa's first commercial 5G service in Lesotho in August, while the likes of Comsol and MTN have started trials in South Africa. (See Vodacom boasts Africa's first 5G service, Comsol & Samsung Turn On 5G Pilot in South Africa and MTN, Ericsson, Netstar Claim 5G First for South Africa.)

It's just there is not a lot of it. MTN CEO Rob Shuter is on the record as saying the continent is not ready for 5G.

Even the GSMA, the mobile industry body that organizes MWC, has admitted commercial, widely available 5G is not an immediate prospect on the continent. Its Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2018 report said 3G will be the dominant technology in the region over the next seven years, accounting for 60% of connections by the end of 2025. (See Most of Sub-Saharan Africa Will Be on Mobile Grid by 2025: GSMA.)

It says the first commercial 5G services will be launched in the region by 2021, and though the number of connections is projected to grow to almost 12 million by 2025, it predicts Sub-Saharan Africa will be the last region to see 5G services launched because operators see "little incentive to participate in the race for 5G leadership."

Futuristic technology
Robert Mutai, head of technology strategy, assurance and governance at leading Kenyan operator Safaricom, says 5G remains a "futuristic technology" for African operators, as much of its efforts are still directed towards broadband coverage.

"Most of the 5G use cases that have been fronted are tailored to highly-developed economies. We would therefore need locally relevant use cases beyond broadband for the adoption of the technology to make sense here," he said.

Given this is yet to be the case, Mutai questions the relevance of a 5G-focused MWC to the African companies attending the event.

"There would be more value for African MNOs and other industry players if there were a broader focus on the technologies beyond what is latest and trendy. This would mean a focus on solutions that address the challenges that we face in Africa, such as modernising agriculture," says the Safaricom man.

Safaricom is attempting to bridge these gaps by arranging mini-MWC sessions together with its vendors, with a focus on developments that are more attuned to the needs of its customers. Mutai said this works well.

Robert Mutai, head of technology strategy, assurance and governance at Safaricom.
Robert Mutai, head of technology strategy, assurance and governance at Safaricom.

However, Thecla Mbongue, a senior research analyst at Ovum, said the focus on 5G is of relevance to African operators.

"Despite being forecast to connect selected segments of the African populations when going live, 5G is a relevant topic for Africa. For now, we forecast that, in Africa, 5G would first benefit segments such as video, VR for education, massive IoT, industrial automation, smart cities, and remote healthcare," she said.

Mutai also called on the GSMA to increase African participation at the event in general. None of the keynote speakers listed on the event's website are from African MNOs, and they are also missing from sponsor and partner lists. They are, however, paying to exhibit in their droves.

"We see a poor representation of African startups at the event, yet mobile operators across the continent work heavily with the same startups. We can also do more in follow up on some of the commitments reached at previous MWC sessions and ensure that they are brought to life," he said.

Mbongue said African operators usually had their expectations met in terms of exposure and networking, adding that given the growth on the continent they are targets for vendors and investors at the event. She said the event is of great value.

"For African MNOs, MWC is the global reference where telecoms industry stakeholders from all around the world meet and seal deals. It is seen as a platform where new trends are marketed but also where African MNOs can market themselves," said Mbongue.

Expanding horizons
This was a view echoed by Idriss N'daho, manager for VAS and ICT at MTN Côte d'Ivoire, who said the event expanded the horizons of African operators.

"During this event, we have the possibility to see all new innovations worldwide, to see what the competition is doing. We can see also the trends of the market in terms of technology," he said.

Divided opinions, then, on the worth of MWC (especially with a 5G focus) to African MNOs, suggesting the event still holds great appeal, but needs to do more to ensure it meets the needs of some of the fastest growing telecoms markets in the world.

— Tom Jackson, co-founder of Disrupt Africa, special to Connecting Africa

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