Critical Success Factors for IOT
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REDtone IOT article appeared in Teletimes International. Thanks to our partner Unified Inbox for the opportunity.
Critical Success Factors for IOT
- 2. KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA OFFICIAL COUNTRY PARTNER Companies globally are reimagining business realities fast. Join Gitex to stay ahead A Dedicated Event Day just for your industry. Experience the best in your businessVERTICAL DAYS MONDAY 17 TUESDAY 18 WEDNESDAY 19 THURSDAY 20 Aseem Puri CMO, UNILEVER INTERNATIONAL, Singapore Insider on Unilever’s ‘zerobased budgeting’ strategy One of the leading minds behind the biggest fintech disruptor Industrial revolution 4.0 - how do you integrate cyber autonomy in everyday lives Becoming the world’s largest online grocery store using AI & robotics How to transform into a number one digital city in the world Insider on Total’s integration of nanosensors & robotics in digital oilfields Mapping a path to the most connected campus & pioneering the future of learning World’s first Google Glass surgeon Rafael Grossman Healthcare Futurist, Technology Innovator and Surgeon, US James Baresse Former CTO, PAYPAL Jonathan Reichental CIO, CITY OF PALO ALTO Paul Clarke Chief Technology Officer, OCADO Assine George CIO, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Keith Kaplan CEO, TESLA Pascal Dauboin R&D and Innovation Director, TOTAL Learn how the best companies across every industry including yours integrate these technologies to sharpen their competitiveness Be part of the largest indoor VR experience Powered by and Augmented Reality Machine Learning 3D Printing Robotics UAVs & 18 more sectors Startup MOVEMENT MOVEMENT DUBAIWORLDTRADECENTRE GLOBAL MOST LAUNCHING STARTUP the GITEX OUTTALKCONFERENCE- PITCHCOMPETITION MENTORCLINICS-CORPORATEACCELERATORNETWORKING Applying groundbreaking technologies to outrun your competitors. Tech investor, startup founder, music mogul defining the careers of numerous recording artists including Lady Gaga Troy Carter Head of Client Liaison, SPOTIFY The owner of world’s largest home swap club, biggest competitor to AirBnB. Debbie Wosskow Founder, LOVE HOME SWAP Founder of world’s leading bitcoin software company, raised over $30million from top tier investors Nicolas Cary Founder BLOCKCHAIN Named an ‘Emerging Tech Leader’ by Politico as well as a ‘newsmaker to watch’ by Washington Business Journal Evan Burfield Founder 1776 HEAR LIVE FROM THESE VISIONARIES WHO DID IT. Learn how companies apply the newest and most innovative concepts to clinch global success. We curate 4,000 of the best tech suppliers from 77 countries Featuring 150+ high profile practitioner speakers who achieved awe-inspiring breakthroughs We recognise dare to change companies with enviable achievement awards MARKETING & HEALTHCARE FINANCE & INTELLIGENT CITIES RETAIL & EDUCATION ENERGY www.gitex.com/visit | Tel: +971 4 308 6037 / 6901 | Email: gitex@dwtc.com | For conferences: fahad.khalife@dwtc.com REGISTER NOW & SAVE! OVER 150 SPEAKERS Game changing tech Official Airline Partner Organised byCyber Security Innovation Partner CIO Breakfast Briefing Sponsor Tech Talks Support Partner Entrepreneurship Enabling Sponsor Entrepreneurship Enabling Sponsor Startup Support Sponsor Startup Partner Startup Ecosystem Partner Digital Strategy Partner Official SME Partner Official SME PartnerOfficial Publications Cyber Security Innovation Partner Exclusive ICT Transformation Partner Strategic Partners Digital Transformation Partner Startup Digital Engagement Partner Startup Incubation Partner Robotics Partner Lead Industry Partner VIP Majlis Partner Student Lab Headline Sponsor Banking Vertical Sponsor Inteligent Cities Vertical Sponsor Green PartnerDigital Data Center Partner
- 3. More than global. Globalized.The Intelsat Globalized Network There was a time when a “global” network was good enough. But that time has passed. Today’s world demands a ubiquitous network – one that allows commerce and ideas to flow freely and makes it easier than ever for businesses to build personal relationships with customers, regardless of location. It demands a network that lets anyone connect with anyone else, anywhere on the planet. It demands the Intelsat Globalized Network, the first and only network that seamlessly integrates satellite and terrestrial technology, services and capabilities into a single ecosystem – empowering our customers to envision the impossible and connect without boundaries or complexities so that, together, we can transform the way the world communicates and the way we live. www.intelsat.com/data-telecoms/teletimes/
- 4. ATeletimesMediaLLCPublication • Qatar P.O. Box 20927, Doha Ph: (+974) 6678 0756, 3327 9600 • KSA P.O. Box 100598, Jeddah, 21311 Ph: (+966) 5098 35514 • Oman Building # 211, Street Al-Inshirah Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat Ph: (+968) 2204 3911 • U.K. 235A, Old Brompton Road, London SW50 0EA Ph: (+44) 0783 1418 072 October 20161011 info@teletimesinternational.com Scan to download PDF version 11th year of publication Haroon Rashid, Camilla Urdahl Ken Herron Farwa Al Khayal, Fakher Dawar Nasreen Akhtar Assistant Editors Technology Writer Managing Editor TELETIMES MEDIA LLC. P.O. Box 239031, Dubai - UAE Bureaus • Islamabad Corporate Communication Service # 6, Street 39, G-6/2, Islamabad, 44000 Ph: (+92) 51 2874225, 2279830 Cell: (+92) 300 9559879 Legal Advisor - Hashmat Ali Habib Marketing Coordinator - Imran Rasheed • Karachi Kelash Kumar Cell: (+92) 314 2059928 Imarn Zakir Cell: (+92) 300 2233174 • Lahore Tahir Amin Malik Cell: (+92) 301 4423510 Asia Office
- 6. 16 20 48 62 KSA named Official Country Partner for GITEX 2016 with largest-ever Saudi participation Mobile industry leaders to convene in Dubai to discuss the future of mobile in the MENA TRA participates in Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development meeting in New York The Bigger, Better, Bolder, AfricaCom The importance of collaboration in the digital economy 10 36 38 Thuraya finalizes plans for next generation constellation REDtone to provide satellite broadband to Comsats Internet Services at BHUs 28 XTreme Video partners with AsiaSat to provide 4K premium content on ‘4K-SAT’ Ultra-HD channel Intelsat EpicNG: Delivering on the Promise of High Throughput with High Performance 44 Spectrum – the lifeblood of mobile technology 59 Riding the next big wave: Promise and challenge of the Internet of Things (IoT) 50 How will Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things impact the legal industry? 18 Bypass Fraud and OTT impact on ICT investments Telecom, IoT and AI Interviews 11 39 42 54 56 CEO of the Year Dr. Khaled Biyari, CEO - STC Group Beyond traditional telecoms platforms Kamal Mokrani, Global VP - InfiNet Wireless The Internet of Things presents very strong growth for potential Walid Moneimne, CEO - Aspenta Critical Success Factors for IoT Dr. Mazlan Abbas, CEO - RedTone IoT Malaysia Moving forward towards sustainable development Asim Shahryar Hussain, MD - PSEB 26 We have a “Plan 2020” with our eyes set on the US market - Hadi Nazari, CEO - North Telecom 31
- 7. Dr. Aisha bin Bishr represents Smart Dubai at the Bridge SF 2016 Spectrum – the lifeblood of mobile technology Lan Yun, President CNBG Huawei ME 47 44 Teletimes team sincerely invites you to visit Teletimes stands # CCI-M19 Main Concourse and Z-Q30 - Zabeel Hall, at Gitex 2016, Dubai World Trade Centre +971501305097 info@teletimesinternational.com INTERNATIONAL teletimesMedia Partner 2016, Dubai
- 8. Welcome to the GITEX Special Edition of Teletimes International. The GITEX Technology Week is expected to attract over 150,000 people from around 150 countries making it the centre place for the mobile world. Teletimes will be participating in GITEX as a Media Partner for the 9th time and will be exhibiting in Zabeel Hall at Booth Z-Q30 and on the main concourse at Booth CC1-M19. We welcome all our partners and subscribers to visit us and meet our editorial team at the event. Simultaneously taking place will be the GSMA Mobile 360 series that is set to gather telecom leaders from the Middle East. Teletimes is also a media partner to this conference and I will be present at the event myself. This edition of Teletimes features our CEO of the Year 2016, Dr. Khaled Biyari – the Group CEO of Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC). He has led the company towards increasing its customer base, introducing new solutions for these customers and achieving greater overall customer satisfaction. His vigilant and dynamic leadership has also helped create an environment and culture that grooms talent and innovation to create value. You will find in this edition a detailed interview with Dr. Khaled Biyari for your interest. This edition includes content on the most important discussion areas within our industry today. Top of the list on my recommendation is a very interesting piece by Lan Yun, President CNBG Huawei ME titled “The lifeblood of mobile technology” which discusses the importance of and issues regarding Spectrum. You will also find a very informative and detailed piece on “Bypass Fraud and OTT impact on ICT investments” which is the first of a three part series by Thomas W. Wilson III. Furthermore, you should find more content on IoT, sat-comms and a panel interview with AI specialists on the impact AI could have on the legal industry. As always, you should also find the latest news and updates on key players from the industry. Please enjoy reading this special edition of Teletimes International. Your feedback is welcome on info@teletimesinternational.com With Unified Inbox and Teletimes’ compliments • A removable and reusable sticker to protect your privacy • Place on the front camera lens of your computer, tablet or smart phone Letter to Readers Dear Reader Scan to download PDF version Follow @TeletimesIntl on Twitter
- 10. 10 October 2016 KSA named Official Country Partner for GITEX 2016 with largest-ever Saudi participation Saudi startups and entrepreneurs will drive SaudiVision 2030 and Digital Economy competitiveness, the Ministry of Interior has announced in becoming GITEXTechnology Week’s Official Country Partner for the second consecutive year. SaudiVision 2030 and the National Transformation Programme 2020 call on supporting new business ventures, enhancing digital infrastructure, and increasing non-oil exports to raise the Kingdom from being in the world’s top 20 economies to the top 15 economies. Digital transformation of key industry verticals such as education, healthcare, oil and gas, and Smart Cities is expected to accelerate, driving Saudi ICT spending to reach a record-high USD 35 billion in 2016, according to technology research firm IDC. The Kingdom also hosts the world’s third- highest smartphone penetration rate at 72 per cent, and the world’s highestYouTube usage, according to communications company STC. Now, the challenge is transforming Saudi technology users into technology innovators. “Today’s Saudi entrepreneurs are the best- educated and most digitally-savvy, and will lead public and private sector digital transformation, from connected classrooms and hospitals to Smart City innovations,” said Mohammed Al Asiri, Official Spokesperson of the National Information Centre from the Saudi Ministry of Interior. “As Official Country Partner for GITEX TechnologyWeek, the Saudi government is ensuring that its organisations and entrepreneurs will further drive our knowledge-based economy and Saudi Vision 2030 goals,” Al Asiri added. Accelerators and Incubators Support Saudi Innovators Accelerators and incubators are fostering a Saudi startup culture.The King Abdulaziz City for Science andTechnology’s Badir Programme forTechnology Incubators and STC’s InspireU are supporting digital startups and signing international partnerships for global impact. Both will be major participants at the GITEX Startup Movement, a dedicated exhibition, conference, and networking programme. It aims to be the most global startup event in 2016, with 350 entrepreneurs and 250 investors from 55 countries set to participate. Saudi Grads Seek Careers withTech Giants Increasingly, Saudi university graduates are choosing the tech sector, with half wanting to be entrepreneurs and innovators, according to a recent report by employment consultancy Universum. The majority of engineering and IT graduates (61 per cent) prefer ICT careers. Global tech companies - including Apple, Google, and Microsoft – are among the top 10 most attractive employers for Saudi business and IT grads, according to Universum. Supporting ICT talent development, the Kingdom will boast its largest-ever GITEX TechnologyWeek presence. Half of Saudi exhibitors will be new.Top exhibitors will include Al Elm Information Security, the Ministry of Justice, mobily, the Saudi Export Development Authority, STC, andTAQNIA, the technology arm of the Saudi Public Investment Fund. “Official Country Partner to GITEX TechnologyWeek demonstrates the Saudi government’s commitment to nationwide digital transformation and entrepreneurs,” said Ahmed Al Khaja, SeniorVice President, DubaiWorldTrade Centre, which hosts GITEXTechnologyWeek. In addition to startups, GITEXTechnology Week will focus on emerging technology such as artificial and virtual reality, drones, robotics, and 3D printing.TheVertical Days programme will feature global experts speaking on technology’s impact on different industry verticals. Ahmed Al Khaja, SeniorVice President, DubaiWorldTrade Centre (left) signs with Dr. Abdullah bin Ghazi Al-Ghamdi, Deputy Director forTechnical Affairs, National Information Centre at the Saudi Ministry of Interior (centre) and Mohammed Al Asiri, official spokesperson of the National Information Centre from the Saudi Ministry of Interior (right). EVENT
- 11. 11October 2016 Dr. Khaled Biyari Group CEO, Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC) CEO of the YEAR ’16 by Khalid Athar Dr. Khaled Biyari has a vast experience in the ICT industry that covers a broad spectrum of technologies and clients. He has worked on developing and achieving large business opportunities in the telecom market through cooperation agreements with large international OEM’s. Dr. Khaled Biyari joined STC in May 2013 as SeniorVice President ofTechnology and Operations, and then served as COO as well. Currently, Dr. Biyari also serves as theVice Chairman ofVIVA Kuwait amongst other positions he holds in addition to his role at STC. He is a member of a number of professional organizations and has lectured and published numerous papers on communication and information systems. Dr. Biyari has also lectured on technology management and innovation as well as issues related to the ICT industry. Dr. Biyari holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from KFUPM. Since his appointment as CEO in early 2015, Dr. Biyari has led STC into a new era of success. His initiatives have included a key focus on expansion, introduction and incubation of new technologies as well as CSR amongst other things. He has led the company towards increasing its customer base, introducing new solutions for these customers and achieving greater overall customer satisfaction. His vigilant and dynamic leadership has also helped create an environment and culture that grooms talent and innovation to create value. To honor and appreciate his commendable services to STC and the telecommunications industry of the region at large, theTeletimes Editorial Board has decided to award him with the title of “CEO of theYear” which represents his outstanding performance as the best telecom CEO during 2016.
- 12. 12 October 2016 Teletimes’ CEO of the Year, Dr. Khaled Biyari (CEO of STC Group) speaks in an exclusive interview on the occassion Khalid Athar: First of all, Congratulations on becoming theTeletimes “CEO of the Year” 2016. Please share your expressions and comments on this achievement. Khaled Biyari: Our people have done an outstanding job, and through their hard work, we have expanded into new regional and global markets. Regionally, our operations in Kuwait and Bahrain have achieved positive results. Overall, we reach and serve more than 100 million customers in eight countries around the world, through 18 local and international companies some of which we own outright and others where we have a major stake. At home, we continue to contribute to the development of the economy by expanding infrastructure and coverage across the Kingdom. Our WiFi offloading initiative has given us very good ROI when addressing dense areas in need of data service coverage. A recent example is how it allowed millions of Hajj pilgrims to stay connected. All they needed was to be on our network and have a smartphone. We are also going out of our comfort zone by embracing and launching more focused information communication technology (ICT) services through our enterprise business unit revolving around the cloud, managed services and most excitingly, the Internet ofThings (IoT). We are a business, but we also realize that we have a responsibility and commitment to the development of the Kingdom’s economy, as we are a driving force behind the core ofVision 2030, Digitization. We are positive about the future of our country, and we are positive about our business and expect to see a positive revenue growth over the next three years as we continue to evolve, rollout new services and expand our service portfolio. KA: What kind of new services are you rolling out? KB: Digitization means everything is online and everything is connected. It means everything is integrated. It means you have a holistic view of all of your systems and typically using one control room; you can manage your whole operation based on real-time feedback from sensors in the field. When you are integrated end-to-end, this is very simple and allows you to focus on your business and drive the results you need. For Hajj, we delivered street sensors to measure actual heat, humidity and other metrics in real-time to an integrated Hajj
- 13. 13October 2016 operations room.This allowed government operators from a variety of different ministries and agencies to cooperate with great agility and efficiency and address possibilities of critical situations quickly. For a project like this to see the light, you typically need several companies and suppliers all working together, then you need someone to manage everything. STC delivered this project through the enterprise business unit and through STC Solutions, our ICT solutions-focused subsidiary. We leveraged our data centers, our in- house built cloud environment and our growing portfolio of IoT and managed services portfolio, and the support of STC Solutions partners. However, on the front face, all the customer saw was us, STC. Today, we have infrastructure, a cloud platform which we built ourselves, very solid partnerships with leading global technology suppliers, and the best talent in Saudi Arabia. We have the capability to build life- changing and enhancing platforms and services and that is what we are going to do.Today our eye is on IoT and we will move forward on anything IoT, provided it contributes to digitization, which in turn allows the country to achieve onVision 2030. KA: How is STC performing against this new direction? KB: STC service revenues increased by 11% in the first half of this year, allowing us to register an overall revenue base growth of 3% for the first nine months of this year. At the level of expansion activities, we would like to emphasize that the company will continue the development of fixed and mobile networks, as well as broadband reach in new areas, primarily remote and rural areas. Driving that growth was the increase in data usage on our fixed and wireless networks. Enterprise revenues alone increased by 17% over the period, which we expect to continue towards the end of the year, while data revenues jumped 30% when compared to last year’s results for the first half of 2015. Offshore, our subsidiaries continued to expand their customer base, something that we expect to continue as they bring advanced services to the markets in which they operate. But the financial numbers are not the only thing we consider when measuring our performance. We look at other factors It must be pointed out that the investments in ICT in Saudi Arabia stand at around SAR 200 billion and provide more than 60,000 job opportunities every year, positively impacting GDP, with an annual turnover of about SAR 50 billion” When it comes to IoT, we want to focus more on being an enabler. A provider of mega infrastructure and connectivity so that everyone and anything can be connected to IoT platforms which anyone can build on”
- 14. 14 October 2016 such as how we are changing things for the better of the country and the economy. For us, we want everyone in the Kingdom, regardless of where they live, to have the same connectivity and digital service experience. As we continue to deliver on that ambition, more and more people living in this blessed country can contribute towards sustainable economic development and play a part in achieving onVision 2030. KA: What will be the company’s main focus for 2017? Do you have any planned milestones set to be achieved? KB: We will continue to enhance and leverage the group’s synergies to maintain momentum and promote growth. We will bring more and more life-changing and high social impact services into to the market. We bring in new technologies and really drive digitization. We want all of our customers, regardless of whether they are youth in their early teens or a large government organization, to become more agile, more social, and more digital. If our customers are happy, we will be happy and will continue to grow and prosper. KA: What is your vision and approach towards IoT and how will we see STC move forward in the IoT space in the coming years? Data usage has increased dramatically over the past five years in the Kingdom and will continue to do so. Since this increase has been driven by mobile data usage, our greatest challenge is addressing coverage in dense areas. As I explained before, we are rolling out WiFi Offloading across nearly 5,000 sites in the Kingdom to address this challenge. This is especially important not only for smart phone users but for IoT applications, since sensors need to be connected so they can provide real-time data. When it comes to IoT, we want to focus more on being an enabler. A provider of mega infrastructure and connectivity so that everyone and anything can be connected to IoT platforms which anyone can build on.This does not mean we will not provide end-to-end IoT solutions, but rather we want more participation from suppliers and vendors in this field. To address the first part of our role which is infrastructure, we are working with some of the largest players in this field to enhance our 4G network, expand our fiber networks, have more intelligence in our systems and generally lay the groundwork for 5G networks. The question today is not really whether or not you will be connected, but rather, how will you be connected. In the end, what you want is IP connectivity. How you get it makes no difference as long as it is seamless and robust. That is our vision to make everyone and everything connected. KA: Has any progress been made towards 5G? KB: As you are probably aware, there isn’t tied down specification for 5G networks as of yet; rather it is about meshing networking technologies together in an intelligent manner. We are of course working with some of the biggest global players to develop these kind of networks, and leverage them with national networks and our cross-border international gateways. Once the standard or concept of 5G is more formalized, I believe it will be more about how different technologies are meshed together as opposed to a whole new technology. Separately, our geographical position and investments in undersea and overland cables places us in a unique position to bridge cross-continental traffic between Asia and Europe, and provide hosting and data center services to customers requiring regional presence. KA:Thriving in an era of digital transformation, how is STC evolving over the years and where do you see the company three years from now? KB: The world has changed and continues to change, in some cases in a much quicker manner than most people like.You have a whole generation of youth growing up in the Kingdom today, whose first experience started with a smartphone.They do not make many voice calls, they message a lot, and they are very social. We understand their needs and expectations and are addressing some of them through Jawwy. Small to medium enterprises are increasing across the Kingdom as more and more government initiatives promoting entrepreneurship gain traction across the country. Most of these businesses have the potential to scale, but to scale quickly they need the proper ICT solutions. Our Retail-in-a-Box solution basically includes everything an SME could possibly need when it comes to ICT services and can boost retail quickly and efficiently, thereby allowing these SMEs to focus on their core business. To focus on your question, three years from now, I see almost all services whether government or private sector, digitized with people taking them for granted. Naturally we see an opportunity in this transformation and understand our responsibilities and will continue to evolve our portfolio of services and offerings. It must be pointed out that the investments in ICT in Saudi Arabia stand at around SAR 200 billion and provide more than 60,000 job opportunities every year, positively impacting GDP, with an annual turnover of about SAR 50 billion. KA: As the CEO of a leading industry player, do you wish to raise any issues regarding regulations and industry frame- work that are important to succeed in the current era? KB: Telecom in the Kingdom enjoys huge investments, with infrastructure being developed to support high technology government initiatives that require a solid digital infrastructure. Broadband penetration is at the center of Digitization with metro and municipal fiber being a key component of this. As broadband becomes more and more ubiquitous, more and more business opportunities will be created. These need regulation that does not hamper their growth but rather encourages them to scale in an agile and effective manner.
- 15. Intelligent IoT Messaging Smart Cities Smart Homes Smart Industries shout.msunifiedinbox.com Singapore | UAE | Germany | India | New Zealand | US unificationengine.com
- 16. 16 October 2016 Mobile industry leaders to convene in Dubai to discuss the future of mobile in the MENA GSMA Mobile 360 Series - Middle East a two-day conference addresses the impact of telecoms in different sectors, beyond traditional cellular services. Covering the latest topics of mobile innovations in the Middle East, such as 5G, cyber security, mobile economy, IoT, Identity, connected living, and more, Mobile 360 – Middle instructs how Mobile Network Operators can create partnerships to be an active player with the new service offerings. Mobile 360 - Middle East features impactful activities for attendees including our MeetThe Experts sessions which take a deeper dive into the topics covered in the conference, and networking sessions with key decision-makers in the region. The mobile industry-focused event, which is now in its fourth year, brings together a world-class conference programme that includes senior representatives from the region’s mobile operators, ecosystem players, vertical industries and governments to discuss the impact of mobile across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). “This year’s Mobile 360 – Middle East will examine how positive investment in operator networks is helping to connect the unconnected, as well as create a platform for the delivery of truly innovative services throughout the Middle East and North Africa,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer at the GSMA. “The conference programme brings together an exceptional line-up of mobile industry experts who will provide world-class insights on the key opportunities and challenges facing the region including 5G, the Internet ofThings and Low Power Wide Area networks, and digital identity.” The two-day conference includes a series of keynotes, seminars, workshops and panel discussions.The agenda includes a number of ‘Meet the Experts’ sessions which offer delegates an opportunity to get fresh insight from industry experts on a diverse range of subject areas.These include 5G, digital payments, identity and privacy, the Internet ofThings and Low Power Wide Area networks. GSMA Mobile 360 Series Middle East Anthony Nicalo MikeWeston Takehiro Nakamura Zarrar Khan RicardoTavaresCarlos Domingo EVENT
- 17. 17October 2016 The ‘Meet the Experts’ sessions will include topics such as “Wireless at the Heart of IoT in the Smart City and for Low Power Wide Area,” “Keys to Evolving Operator Communication Services,” “OTT & Media: Identity & Privacy” and “Opportunity Calling: CorporateVC for Mobile Operators in Emerging Markets.” Regulatory Roundtable Mobile 360 – Middle East will also host an invitation-only, regulatory-focused roundtable for the first time.The high- level session is designed to encourage networking and discussion between CEOs, government ministers and heads of regulatory authorities from across the region.The event will focus on how the mobile industry can respond to the new digital ecosystem and will also discuss the industry’s commitment to the UN Sustainability Development Goals, highlighting the contributions of the GSMA’s Humanitarian Connectivity Charter. Partnership with GITEX and New Location Mobile 360 – Middle East will again be co-located with GITEX at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai.This year, Mobile 360 – Middle East will be held in a new location next to Gulfcomms in Za’abeel Hall 6 within the Dubai WorldTrade Centre. Mobile 360 – Middle East attendees will also have access to GITEX, which attracts more than 25,000 C-Level executives and is recognised as one of the leading ICT events in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region. AVM and DarkMatter (Silver Sponsors) are the latest to support Mobile 360 – Middle East, alongside Etisalat (Host Sponsor), STC (Platinum Sponsor) and Huawei (Global Industry Supporter). Dr. Khaled Biyari Hatem DowidarDr. Aisha Bin Bashir Osman Sultan Mats Granryd Scott Gegenheimer Teletimes team sincerely invites you to visit Teletimes stands # CCI-M19 Main Concourse and Z-Q30 - Zabeel Hall, at Gitex 2016, Dubai World Trade Centre +971501305097 info@teletimesinternational.com INTERNATIONAL teletimesMedia Partner
- 18. 18 October 2016 Communications disruption has benefits, but at what cost? The competition brought by OTT market players has resulted from disruptive technology.The mobile telecom market has had to adapt and adjust to a new playing field, which some believe is not level, while others consider the result to be a greater good for consumers.There arises a huge challenge for regulators: Should OTT applications be characterized as telecom services (voice or data) or telecom infrastructure? And ought they be subject to further regulation and taxation? Moreover, market liberalization has not only resulted from the issuance of additional MNO licenses by governments in world markets, for de facto market liberalization has occurred from the actions of OTT players and states’ benevolent attitudes toward them, with regard to regulatory classification and taxation. Regulators are caught in the crosshairs as they try to maintain competitive balance and total access to information, while also trying to preserve investor value, private and government revenue generation, and adherence to general law. The added competition from OTT application providers, Bypass Fraud and OTT impact on ICT investments Thomas W. Wilson III (Part 1 of 3) Introduction The future is now with regard to how mobile telecom operators (MNO) react to the onslaught of freemium services which shift revenues from the operators to the so called OTT (over the top) service providers. It is difficult to over-state the dramatic impact the OTT service have on MNO revenues. Why? Simply stated, MNO investment costs, required to meet increased broadband demand, are increasing at the same time that margins on MNO voice and SMS revenues are declining as users shift to OTT services. Additional revenue from mobile data plans are insufficient to fuel the necessary future infrastructure investments. Stated another way, the OTTs use MNO facilities without paying a fair share of infrastructure costs or other industry taxes and fees. Market research company Ovum estimated that the telecom operators will suffer losses of around 386 Billion USD from 2012 to 2018.This trend is only going to grow with the continued growth of application- based voice and messaging platforms. Popular applications, and especially the most famous social media applications are proliferating greatly as the Internet expands its reach globally.This exposes the MNOs’ networks to greater loads while revenues continue to be siphoned elsewhere, primarily to the OTT’s.The increased pressure on the networks comes not just fromYouTube and Facebook — there is an explosion of applications such as BBM, ChatOn, KakaoTalk, What’s App,Vibro,Tango, Instagram,Vine, WeChat, Snapchat,Yahoo, Google +, Pinterest, Skype (direct peer to peer, application which works differently than most of the others), Num Buzz, Line,Vine, LinkedIn, Fring, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Google Hangouts,Viber andTwitter.That list continues to grow. There is another, very significant threat from the OTT sector, known as OTT bypass fraud, which is transcendental in scale and if not abated in some measure, could be cataclysmic to the business model of MNOs. Prior to OTT Bypass, the OTT’s disrupted the access side of the network; however now the terminating side of the network is under peril. Many applications are tying subscribers to their GSM mobile numbers, which is a simple and convenient way to build databases that can be sold to wholesale networks, to terminate calls to their apps on their user smart phones.This is the main difference betweenVoice apps that use phone numbers (such as WhatsApp) and OTT-to-OTT voice services, such as Skype.The OTT bypass redirects calls made to a mobile number on an operator network onto data networks where the calls terminate (if the app is open on the called party’s smart phone) on the freemium application of the smart phone.This process circumvents the usual termination of calls on the MNO’s network and deprives the MNO’s of their usual termination revenue.Yet the operators continue to bear the cost of the network investment, together with spectrum, licenses, excise taxes and other fees and taxes.This situation is clearly unsustainable. Market research company Ovum estimated that the telecom operators will suffer losses of around 386 Billion USD from 2012 to 2018.This trend is only going to grow with the continued growth of application-based voice and messaging platforms” ARTICLE
- 19. 19October 2016 Shift in Revenues to the OTT’s while Costs stay with the Operators Parameters Telcos OTT Players License Costs Yes – < Many Millions No - $0 Spectrum Costs Yes – < Billions USD No - $0 Rev Share 8% AGR N/A - $0 Universal Service Fund 5% AGR No - $0 CorporateTaxes 34% LocalTax Structure but rare Customer Care Required Not Required QoS Requirements Tightly Managed Best Effort Only Security Mandatory Not Mandatory/elective Cross Platforms - Joyn Can be Done Not Possible (current apps like Skype,Viber, WhatsApp, and a cast of hundreds, as well as industry- wide efforts such as WebRTC, RCS and others) allows users to communicate more efficiently and more cost effectively. This OTT activity created initial benefits for MNOs by driving increased data usage, which, if effectively priced, improved revenues although with certain inherent risk. Some users received flat-rate unlimited data packages. The standard 80 – 20 rule tended to apply, where 20% of users created 80% of data traffic, and this was usually over unlimited data plans. Larger revenues and market share potentially mitigated financial risk, at least when these pricing plans were launched. “Operators will remain the dominant force in mobile voice but will be significantly weakened as OTT VoIP services continue to grow.” – OTT communication services worldwide: forecasts 2013– 2018 Operators in many countries have struggled, while data traffic spiked enormously from mounting messaging, gaming, video, and voice traffic over the same data networks, and, principally, OTT providers were not assisting with regard to investment in infrastructure, which is so critical towards successful deployment of broadband programs. Many operators that were slower to adapt suffered. Regulation in some markets demanded operators to stay with pricing that did not properly monetize data usage, and a resultant decrease in revenue efficiencies occurred. Impact of Smartphone and OTT Services The use of ubiquitous technologies greatly altered the basic means of either sending a message or making a voice call.The free costs, the convenience of access, as well as the unique novelty of application converted many users from traditional SMS.The prime catalyst has been and is the smartphone: eMarketer estimated the number of smartphones as of end 2015 at 1.5 billion. Seventy per cent (70%) of the world’s population will own smartphones by 2020 (Ericsson 2014). Costs for entry-level smartphones continue to decline, and global vendors are focusing on developing markets with burgeoning populations yearning for mobile services. Lower-cost smartphones sold in developing countries can greatly alter market forces in the industry.The second catalyst for change was the ability for users to send free over data networks rather than paying operators per SMS.Voice usage follows similarly, although slightly less radically. “More than half of smartphone owners worldwide are already active users of OTT messaging apps.” – Future Comms and Media, 2014 The impact of OTT’s with regard to normal peer to peer or OTT bypass against the operators is very large. In an attempt for an apples to apples comparison, above are listed some of the costs and revenues that are shifted from one sector to another: The advent of the smartphone has essentially created an entire cottage industry with regard to how people speak to and message each other as well as message each other. This new ecosystem is highly dependent upon the Internet, bandwidth requirements, and operating systems for smartphones, such as Google’s Android, Apple’s iOS, and Microsoft’s Windows platform. The second part in this series will be published in the next edition and will discuss the technical side of By-pass fraud in more detail, and address alternative approaches and potential results/outputs by addressing the issue. Operators in many countries have struggled, while data traffic spiked enormously from mounting messaging, gaming, video, and voice traffic over the same data networks, and, principally, OTT providers were not assisting with regard to investment in infrastructure, which is so critical towards successful deployment of broadband programs”
- 20. 20 October 2016 H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of theTelecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), discussed the contents and implications of the ‘State of Broadband 2016: Broadband Catalyzing Sustainable Development’ report and the role of a wide range of telecommunication technologies in supporting growth in various countries during his participation in the regular meeting of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development held recently in NewYork, USA.The assembly evaluated and reviewed the Commission’s work, defined future work plans and exchanged knowledge on how to employ broadband services in achieving sustainable development. The annual report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the development of broadband services worldwide, with a particular emphasis on its impact on economic development. It provides extensive data about every country’s ability to access broadband services based on major targets set by the Broadband Commission in 2011. H.E. Al Mansoori affirmed with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary- General Houlin Zhao the UAE’s continuing support to developing countries, especially Arab states, to help them successfully migrate to Internet ProtocolVersion 6. The State of Broadband 2016 report has identified around 48 less developed countries that have notably advanced in this area, meeting the Commission’s target to provide internet services for 15 per cent of the population in developing countries. The report expects the number of internet users to reach 3.5 billion by the end of 2016 – equivalent to 47 per cent of the world population based on ITU statistics. The report noted that the major role of broadband telecommunications services is to promote economic development, social cohesion and environmental protection, if those services become accessible and affordable to people. He highlighted the importance of reducing the gender gap in information and communications technology (ICT) during the meeting, noting that more efforts are required to achieve higher scores in sustainable development and gender equality. He also announced the nomination of the UAE GeneralWomen’s Union for the Gender Balance Award. He further emphasized the importance of broadband technology in acquiring and sharing knowledge with others, as well as increasing education opportunities for women and girls especially in developing countries. He also urged the use of local multi-language content. The Director General also discussed the UAE’s support to the ITU CouncilWorking Group as coordinator for member Arab countries, in addition to the assistance being extended by the country to the Secretary General’s Consulting Committee which is planning for the ITU’s building headquarters. He voiced the UAE’s desire to name the biggest hall in the building in honor of the UAE, suggesting it be called Zayed Hall, UAE Hall or Gulf Hall. H.E. touched on the UAE’s hosting of ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018, along with its hosting of the next Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) conference as well as the nomination of positions during the 2018 Plenipotentiary Conference. Broadband is one of the major technology solutions paving the way for faster internet speed; increasing its bandwidth will enable organizations to provide innovative services supported by high- quality flow of information. It contributes significantly to the UAE’s efforts to achieve smart transformation, especially through huge projects involving Big Data, smart buildings, and the Internet ofThings, among others. TRA participates in Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development meeting in New York GOVT.
- 22. At GITEX 2016, Infoblox will launch its revolutionary ‘Actionable Network Intelligence Platform’ that uses it’s proven network intelligence to provide actionable control points, visibility, and context. It will also demonstrate its DNS Firewall as a service solution that extends the company’s industry-leading DNS protection to roaming devices off premise, as well as InfobloxThreat Insight that prevents DNS based data exfiltration with built-in streaming analytics. Infoblox manages DNS, DHCP, and IP addresses—the category known as DDI. These services are uniquely at the center of every network, making it possible for Infoblox to spot suspicious activity, instantly block outbound communications to malicious destinations, and prevent exfiltration of intellectual property, customer information, and other sensitive data. GITEX offers a great platform for our company to expose our brand and showcase our latest innovations in DNS security and automated network control to many IT decision makers from various segments of the market that attend the event.” Cherif Sleiman, General Manager - Infoblox MEA Unified Inbox is a global intelligent Internet ofThings (IoT) messaging company focused on smart homes, smart cities, and smart industries (Industry 4.0). Unified Inbox’s UnificationEngine™ platform brings together Artificial Intelligence (AI) with IoT and unified messaging to enable products and software to communicate with people and things. Perpetual inventor, classical pianist, and startup entrepreneurToby Ruckert is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Unified Inbox. With Unified Inbox, Toby built an extensive network of global telecoms, ISPs and makers and manufacturers for IoT, robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Passionate about startups, new business models and the future of communications,Toby is a popular speaker at global technology conferences on the topics of IoT, AI and other transformational technologies. As an IoT company, we are part of a growing industry that will revolutionize the world. Moving forward, we are keen to create partnerships and involve more people. I look forward to doing that at this year’s GITEX Technology Week.” Toby Ruckert, CEO - Unified Inbox This year, Juniper will demonstrate how organizations in the region can transform network infrastructure with the help of its innovative product portfolios across security, data centers and cloud solutions. It will showcase its joint solutions with partners Beta IT and Fireware exhibiting data center and security products, respectively. Live presentations will be taking place every three-four hours in Juniper’s booth. Juniper will demonstrate its powerful new security offerings with Sky AdvancedThreat Prevention, a cloud-based service that delivers a dynamic anti- malware solution and is integrated with the SRX Series Firewalls. Visitors to GITEX will also have the opportunity to see demonstrations of Juniper’s Security Director, which is a scalable and responsive network security management application. Juniper will showcase innovations designed to help our customers along their transformation journey, by delivering simple, open and smart foundations aligning the network to business objectives now, while maintaining flexibility for the future.” Samer Kudsi, Enterprise Sales Director - Juniper Networks, MENA Key people to meet at GITEX Tech Week, Dubai Inflobox Unified Inbox Juniper Networks 22 Stand F1-15, Hall 1 ceo@unifiedinbox.com Stand CLD-8, Hall 6 EVENT
- 23. Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, will be launching its revolutionary ‘Aruba Mobile-First Platform’ at GITEX Technology Week. The platform includes a unique set of software solutions and business partnerships, designed to make the enterprise network smarter, while being easier to consume and manage. The Aruba Mobile First Platform, a software layer that uses application programming interfaces (APIs) to provide third-party developers and business leaders network insights to improve applications and services. The platform accelerates integration and innovation of mobile and Internet ofThings at the speed of the developer ecosystem, rather than the pace of a single vendor. We have been consistently participating at Gitex for many years due to the importance of this regional event where many of our customers and partners attend. Our objective is to reach out to new potential clients and grow our regional business.” Ammar Enaya, Director - HPE Aruba, ME&T Following the successful rollout of its cloud- first strategy in the Middle East, Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, it will showcase its flagship ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution at GITEX 2016. Available in the cloud, hosted or on- premises Epicor ERP is built on the five principles of collaboration, mobility, choice, responsiveness and simplicity.The modern ERP solution provides a wide breadth of industry-specific functionality that supports business growth, reduces complexity and streamlines how businesses interact with ERP systems. In addition, Epicor will also showcase Epicor iScala, a dedicated ERP solution for SMEs, and Epicor HCM, an intuitive, functional, and adaptable Human Capital Management. We have witnessed strong growth in the ME and today boast more than 650 customers and over 30 channel partners.To support this growth, we have made significant investments in the region and our presence at GITEX is in line with that commitment.” Hesham El Komy, Senior Director Channel - Epicor Software In-line with the theme ‘Experience the Future of Networking’, Riverbed Technology intends to unveil its latest Riverbed® SteelConnect™, Riverbed® SteelCentral™, and Riverbed® SteelFusion™ solutions. Through its collaboration with Microsoft, Riverbed will also showcase its solutions for optimization and visibility for the highly popular Office 365, SharePoint and Azure platforms. Earlier this year, Riverbed introduced SteelConnect, the industry’s first and only product to unify network connectivity and orchestration of application delivery across hybrid WANs, remote LANs and cloud networks. SteelConnect 2.0 which will be launched at GITEX includes new platform integrations, native dynamic routing, and support for large-scale deployments. Riverbed is at the forefront of tech revolution and we will use GITEX as a platform to educate attendees on how this approach can solve the complexity in hybrid clouds and networks, improve efficiency and flexibility and enable them to easily shift workloads.” Taj ElKhayat, Vice President - Riverbed, MEA Aruba Epicor Riverbed INTERNATIONAL teletimes 23 Stand CLD-6, Hall 7 Stand B7-35, Hall 7 Stand CLD-16, Hall 4
- 24. 24 October 2016 STC has achieved the GUINNESSWORLD RECORDS title for the Largest human image of a country/continent creating the map ofThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in celebration of the 86th National Day. Singing the national anthem, numerous images were created by the participants, not only the image of the country but also the Saudi 2030 vision logo. After the success of the formation, STC Group CEO Dr. Khaled Hussain Biyari received the GUINNESSSWORLD RECORDS certificate from the official adjudicator who attended the event to verify the record.With the continuous efforts of STC for the National Day celebrations, General Manager Corporate Communication STC, Amjad Shacker said that they have devoted all of their resources to make this day exceptional and a part of history. Achieving a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title expressed the love we have for this great country and was a perfect way to commemorate this occasion. STC Solutions ranked first as the largest IT services provider of 2015, according to results from a recent report published by IDC. The report titled ‘Competitive Profiles and Analysis of Leading IT Service Players in Saudi Arabia’, based on a study of the performance of the top local and international 96 IT services providers in the Kingdom, covers performance across 13 key IT service provision categories. At the end of 2015, the IT service provision market was worth over SAR 11 billion of which STC Solutions commanded close to 13%, ranking the company 1st place. “Our market share position is a direct result of our unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, the dedication and hard work of our talents and our continued efforts in acquiring and building local in-house capabilities in areas such as systems integration, advanced systems and networking, virtualization and managed services,” said Dr. Sultan Binsaeed, CEO of STC Solutions. STC made the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest human image of a country/continent STC Solutions ranked 1st in IT services provision market Intelsat announced that Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC) has extended its relationship with Intelsat to use the company’s satellite solutions to support operations for the largest oil & gas producer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under a multi-year agreement, STC will use connectivity provided by Intelsat 10-02, located at 1° West, to provide satellite services to the oil & gas sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2016, STC and Intelsat continue to expand their relationship to support the growth of theVSAT sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.The telecom operator uses multiple satellites in Intelsat’s Globalized Network to provide high-quality broadband networking for corporate customers in the banking, government and oil & gas sectors operating throughout the Middle East and Asia. STC enhances VSAT connectivity for KSA’S oil & gas NEWS
- 26. 26 October 2016 Intelsat EpicNG: Delivering on the Promise of High Throughput with High Performance Intelsat has released details of its customers and ecosystem partners achievement of a 165% to 330% increase in spectral efficiency with ground platforms and modem technologies; and up to a 300% improvement in throughput using next generation antenna technology to connect to the Intelsat EpicNG® high-throughput satellite (HTS) platform. Recent tests also confirmed that the Intelsat EpicNG platform exceeds performance expectations transmitting to and from a flat-panel antenna designed for a new class of small remotely piloted aircraft. Since late March 2016, the first of the Intelsat EpicNG satellites, Intelsat 29e, has been carrying new and transitioning networks, as well as being used in next- generation tests. In all cases, customers and partners report that the platform is meeting and exceeding its performance and efficiency expectations across a range of applications. Whether the 165% efficiency improvement on current networking hardware or the up to 330% efficiency improvement on next generation ground networking technologies, it is delivering on the promise of the high-throughput satellite era. “Given the insatiable bandwidth demands of businesses operating around the world, we designed Intelsat EpicNG with our customers’ needs front and center,” stated Stephen Spengler, Chief Executive Officer, Intelsat. “Our design goal, focusing on efficiency and thus optimizing the throughput to the individual network users, has delivered immediate operating efficiencies for our customers. Our customers in the enterprise, mobility and wireless infrastructure sectors are using Intelsat EpicNG, in most cases with existing hardware, transitioning seamlessly onto our high performance network. Bottom line, our goals of higher performance, better Customers with operational networks and hardware partners testing on Intelsat EpicNG have experienced the following performance as compared to traditional wide beam satellite services: Current Data Network Antenna Sizes Intelsat EpicNG Hardware Efficiency (bits/Hz) Comtech CDM625 2.4m Up to 2.5 Comtech AdVSAT 1.0 – 2.4m Up to 2.5 iDirect Evolution 0.83m – 3.8m Up to 2.5 Next Generation Modems Newtec DVB-S2X, 256 1.2m-3.8m Up to 5 APSK Next Generation Antennas Efficiency Improvement Gilat BlackRay 15 cm Up to 3x current GATR-FLEX 75cm Up to 4x current Stephen Spengler REPORT
- 27. 27October 2016 economics, and simplified access are being proven in operational customer networks. Intelsat EpicNG will support our customers as they expand their businesses into new applications and geographies to realize their long-term growth objectives.” OptimizingThroughput to the User Intelsat and its customers now have performance experience with the Intelsat EpicNG satellite on six different satellite data networks, emphasizing the benefits of the open architecture, which allows customers to choose the data networking hardware best suited to their applications and business plans. With the advanced capabilities of the Intelsat EpicNG digital payload, customers are also achieving advanced flexibility in terms of satellite resource allocation, including functionality to cross-connect C-band to Ku-band services on a dynamic basis, and carrier-level optimization resulting in much higher performance levels.The Intelsat EpicNG digital payload also creates an enhanced environment for battling interference and mitigating jamming with respect to government applications. Unlocking New Applications With over 30 customers already using Intel- sat 29e, the three design objectives of the Intelsat EpicNG platform—backwards com- patibility, open architecture and optimized spectral efficiency—are yielding immediate benefits. Field tests are also providing evidence of the potential to unlock new applications in sectors not currently served by satellite. Our subsidiary, Intelsat General Corporation, performed tests with a government custom- er using a 6” by 6” Gilat airborne terminal, BlackRay 71 with a flat-panel antenna, designed for a new generation of small Class III unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The customer sent data from Gilat’s small airborne antenna to the recently launched Intelsat 29e satellite at a rate of 3.9 Mbps. This compares to an uplink rate of about 1.8 Mbps from the small antenna to a conven- tional Ku wideband satellite. This link was effectively 2 times the rate of and almost 3 times more efficient than traditional wide- beam satellites. Transmitting full-motion high-definition video from antennas of this size is unprecedented in the world of satel- lite communications, and has applications in both military and commercial sectors. Transitions Seamless; Advanced Features Tested Operationally, Intelsat EpicNG service acti- vations have been seamless, as customers easily transitioned to or brought up services on the platform. Further, the Intelsat 29e digital payload features are in wide use, with customers easily operating between both wide and spot beams. Intelsat’s teleport ground station RF calibration and perfor- mance were validated as were the platform’s forward and return service performance. “Based upon our experience with live networks, we’re proving every day that the higher performance, improved economics and simplified access enabled by Intelsat EpicNG will position enterprise, fixed and mobile network operators and maritime and aeronautical service providers to rapidly scale networks on a global basis, while stay- ing ahead of explosive data-performance requirements. Our ecosystem is engaged and energized by the expected results and the benefits to be realized by our global customer base in the enterprise, wireless, mobility and government sectors,” said Kurt Riegelman, SVP, Sales and Marketing, Intelsat. Intelsat General reports unprecedented performance using Gilat’s Small Airborne Flat-Panel Antenna Intelsat General, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intelsat S.A. announced unprecedented performance in sending signals to and from a high-throughput Intelsat EpicNG satellite using a small, flat-panel antenna designed for aeronautical applications by Gilat Satellite Networks. A series of tests were performed using Gilat’s BlackRay 71 airborne terminal, with its mechanically steered 6” by 6” flat panel array. Data was sent from the small antenna to the recently launched Intelsat 29e satellite at a rate of 3.9 Mbps with an efficiency of 0.26 bits/Hz.This compares to an uplink rate of about 1.8 Mbps and efficiency of 0.09 bits/Hz achieved with a conventional Ku widebeam satellite. This link was effectively two times the rate and almost three times more efficient than traditional widebeam satellites. The Gilat terminal is designed for a new generation of small Class III Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) that are coming into service for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, and other non-military government and commercial applications. “These tests show that the first Intelsat EpicNG satellite delivers superior performance using Gilat’s very small airborne antenna,” said Skot Butler, President of Intelsat General. “The satellite receivers are more sensitive and can pick up a smaller and weaker signal better than we thought possible when we did ground testing prior to launch.” The initial demonstration was conducted at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) UAS test site in Blackstone,VA and attended by representatives from the U.S. DoD. Kurt Riegelman
- 28. 28 October 2016 ‘4K-SAT’, the Ultra-HD channel operated by AsiaSat will be broadcasting premium extreme and outdoor content from XTreme Video on AsiaSat 4. XTremeVideo is producing the best 4K content for extreme sports fans worldwide. Its UHD content on 4K-SAT will include some of the most stunning extreme and outdoor content, such as the successful mountain biking series ‘MTB Insights’ and the world’s wildest freestyle motocross show ‘Masters of Dirt’. “The brilliance of 4K definition truly comes into its own when the subject matter is as visually captivating as extreme and outdoor programming.We’re committed to bringing the highest quality programming to audiences around the globe, via partnerships with platforms, broadcasters and partners like AsiaSat,” said Joe Nilsson, Senior Director of Business Development at XTremeVideo. “XTremeVideo offers exciting, adrenaline pumping programs that are very popular amongst viewers of all ages that are interested in extreme sports.We want to bring an immersive quality viewing experience to viewers via our platform on AsiaSat 4,” said Sabrina Cubbon,VP, Marketing and Global Accounts of AsiaSat. ‘4K-SAT’ continues to impress majorTV operators and viewers across the region with unique and compelling UHD content in fashion, lifestyle, nature, movies,TV series, documentaries, extreme sports and technology. The ASC Signal Division of Communications & Power Industries (CPI) has been awarded a contract for four 7.6m C and Ku-band capable antenna from NorthTelecom. The antenna will be installed at one of the company’s teleports with an emphasis on enhancing the company’s offerings to a range of vertical sectors in the Asia-Pacific region. According to ASC Signal, the four antennas will incorporate ASC’s Next Generation Controller (NGC). The award includes training services for the NGC controller. NorthTelecom, which operates multiple teleports, provides satellite internet access, point-to-point solutions, private, networks and hubs on a variety of platforms include iDirect (TDMA, SCPC), SCPC and DVB-S2. With its teleport backbone in Europe and Asia, the company provides a range of services, including broadcast, maritime and satellite trunking. Along withVSAT internet services, the company provides capacity for these different operating sectors, as well in support of the oil and gas industry and for ISPs worldwide. NorthTelecom also provides virtual network operations to help its clients offset the cost of fixed satellite infrastructure investments. “We are investing to enhance our global outreach, particularly in Singapore to serve APAC region, these investments will allow NorthTelecom to extend its leading edge and forefront solution and services into global scale and Asia and Pacific market in the coming months.” stated Mahdi Nazari Mehrabi - Managing Director Asia. XTreme Video partners with AsiaSat to provide 4K premium content on ‘4K-SAT’ Ultra-HD channel North Telecom awards contract to CPI ASC Signal Sabrina Cubbon Mahdi Nazari NEWS
- 29. JUST LIKE THE INDUSTRIES WE CHAMPION, AFRICACOM IS EVOLVING. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT THROUGH DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY 14 - 18 November 2016 CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa https://tmt.knect365.com/africacom AllAboutCom #africacom Africa Telecoms, ICT & Media Group comworldseries AllAboutCom Over the past 19 years we’ve worked closely with our community to build the biggest and best tech event in Africa. Now it’s time to up the ante. We see an exciting opportunity to elevate AfricaCom to become a powerful vehicle for digital transformation, economic development and social empowerment.
- 30. Organised by Sponsors www.casbaaconvention.com Studio City, Macau Nov 7-11 2016 #casbaacon The Operators are Coming The pay-TV universe has just Expanded! Are you in the right orbit? BankersDesigners Production SpecialistsProgramme Distributors Satellite Ops Data Miners Branding Specialists Audience Measurement Ad Agencies Broadband Carriers LEOs GEOs MNCs The Operators Content Creators OTT ProvidersTech Vendors Register now with Mandy Tsui: mandy@casbaa.com or+852 39291728 Dens TV One TV Reliance Big TV Pooq - Broadcast alliance Siti Cable Network Ltd SK Broadband D'Live NEXMediaHathway Cable Orange TV CNS CJ Hellovision Sky Pacific
- 31. 31October 2016 We have a “Plan 2020” with our eyes set on the US market North Telecom CEO, Hadi Nazari speaks to Teletimes at IBC 2016 Thank you for taking out the time for this interview. How was IBC show for NorthTelecom? First of all, thank you for providing NorthTelecom with the opportunity of speaking to your readers. As an active industry player, we participate in every important exhibition, e.g CABSAT Dubai, IBC Amsterdam, CommunicAsia Singapore etc. and every year we are able to bring newer and better technologies to these shows. NorthTelecom has built a strong and reputable name in broadcasting and maritime services. Our focus this year is maritime segment which is being addressed by our newly opened office in Singapore. That being said, a large chunk of our customers belongs to the broadcast sector and IBC provides a great opportunity for us to meet with prominent players, our current customers and our partners (existing and potential) in the industry. With reference to the broadcast segment, what is NorthTelecom currently doing in this space? We have a very unique and state-of-the-art broadcasting platform. We are in the process of building a new hotspot in Europe and we are targeting new platforms in various regions around the world. Our first hotspot was a big success and we are now targeting the European coverage with our second hotspot which INTERVIEW
- 32. 32 October 2016 we are expecting to be an even bigger success. Do you have a European office that will be handling this new teleport? We have opened an office in Germany and it has been operational for more than 4 years now.We have built this office in 2012 and this office is also basically handling the teleport operation of NorthTelecom. Would you like to comment on the current market conditions and challenges? How will NorthTelecom grow in these circumstances? Due to the recent economic conditions and effects of the financial markets, the industry is not growing as rapidly as it was growing until a couple of years ago.The target for telecom companies is to maintain the current service that they have and survive through these difficult times posed by market conditions, increasing competition, OTTs and so many other things that affect their business – for this market, its about sustainability right now. Similarly, the Satellite players are also facing a difficult time not only in the Oil & Gas segment which took a big hit but all other areas as well. The forecasted numbers for the next year have not improved much from this year. However, NorthTelecom will benefit from adding new services and solutions.We are working very hard in the maritime services sector and I think this area will be able to create a new stream of revenue for the company. Some of our readers would like an update on the overall activities of your company in Asia Pacific? Following a successful set-up and start in Asia Pacific, we are now excited moving forward. Everything is going according to plan and we are working on completing our first teleport in Singapore. Our set-up in Singapore is fully operational and now we are speaking with a player from Indonesia for partnership which is almost finalized.We are also in discussion with two key players from Malaysia and Philippines for signing a strategic agreement. I think we have achieved a lot in a very short period of time and there are many big things still yet to come for NorthTelecom in that part of the world. While we are at the subject, I would also like to tell you that our new teleport in Singapore which is currently being worked on, will be operational around April next year. I think this will be a new milestone and also a stepping stone to move forward with our growth plans, in that region and on a global level as well. Could you also please give us an update on your activities in the Middle East? We are providing a highly diversified set of services and solutions in the Middle East and beyond that ranging from broadcasting services to data solutions. We are targeting the broadcast market aggressively and are expanding our services in this area. However, if I have to talk strategically, our focus is on our maritime service right now as we see a lot of potential in the market and I know that we have a lot of potential to effectively satisfy this market demand so it seems to be the ideal growth area for us. Please share your vision for long term growth of NorthTelecom. Will you be targeting any new geographical areas? We have a “Plan 2020” and for that we have our eye set on US. As a company, we at NorthTelecom believe in completely and effectively getting settled in a market before we jump into another.When we talk about entering a market, we really go in ourselves and get the job done – it is not like entering a market on documents or entering theoretically and making announcements about it for promotion but actual work. For us, our plan is to open a US office by 2020 and then to reach the global market moving forward. Up till now, everything is going according to plan in some places, and better than planned in others – so I can see a bright future for us in all markets we are currently operating in and all others that we plan to enter in the future. Our plan is to open a US office by 2020 and then to reach the global market moving forward” Our focus is on our maritime service right now as we see a lot of potential in the market and I know that we have a lot of potential to effectively satisfy this market demand” Following a successful set-up and start in Asia Pacific, we are now we are excited moving forward. Everything is going according to plan and we are working on completing our first teleport in Singapore”
- 33. UNLOCKING BUSINESS IN SPACE The World Space Risk Forum (WSRF) is the largest specialist gathering of its kind, bringing together satellite operators, manufacturers, space agencies, risk managers, brokers, underwriters, lawyers and capital providers to network and learn more about the threats we face as an industry. For this year’s conference, to be held in Dubai from 2nd to 4th November, the theme is “Unlocking Business in Space”. The WSRF provides a forum to understand risk implications from new technology and innovations and ways to mitigate these risks. We expect more than 400 attendees worldwide for far-ranging discussions on topics including manufacturing and design innovations, regulatory and legal trends and implications, cyber and space debris risks, access to capital and impact of technology and new applications. Join us for the world’s leading space risks conference at The Fairmont The Palm, Dubai. More information and registration: www.worldspaceriskforum.com Biennial Event ● Dubai ● November 2 - 4, 2016
- 36. 36 October 2016 Thuraya finalizes plans for next generation constellation Teletimes Report ThurayaTelecommunications Company has finalized its next generation constellation plans, and is set to deliver a unique, multidimensional program of expansion and diversification. Building on its strong track record for product innovation and convergence, lead positioning in the EMEA market and growing presence in Asia,Thuraya will extend its geographical reach, move into new market sectors and launch new services and devices. Thuraya’s L-band network will undergo extensive evolution. While continuity is assured with both existing satellites Thuraya-2 andThuraya-3 continuing to operate as planned, the current satellite footprint will be enhanced significantly with the planned launch of next generation satellites from 2020. Thuraya’s next generation system will focus on delivering high mobility services in core and new markets.These will be complemented with HighThroughput Satellite (HTS) services for bandwidth- hungry applications in land, maritime and aeronautical markets. The constellation will be supported by highly advanced platforms for the provision of “new wave” IoT and content services, with multicasting and broadcasting capabilities.This will enableThuraya to address new growth markets requiring the mobility, capability and coverage that is uniquely available through L-band or HTS services, or in many instances through a combination of both. Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya, said: “Thuraya will become the provider of choice for unified connectivity through an extensive program of expansion and diversification. Unrivalled and uncompromised new generation L-band and complementary HTS form the basis from which we will aim to innovate, disrupt, and redefine. Our portfolio will transformThuraya into a one-stop shop for L-band, HTS, IoT and GSM. New markets are now accessible to us, and new technological capabilities will deliver an unparalleled portfolio of mobile products, applications and services.” Thuraya has already achieved a substantial turnaround of business performance while operating within its current sphere of operations. Its team has overcome obstacles of limited coverage, legacy issues, and a challenging market, to consistently outperform the MSS industry from 2011 to 2015. Thuraya’s future proposition allows it to present next generation plans against the backdrop of a distinctive and unique set of core strengths that demonstrate an understanding of growing and future trends. Convergence is a notable example, and the integration of terrestrial and satellite communications is already well established atThuraya. With more than 360 roaming agreements with mobile network operators around the world, end-users already use devices interchangeably both onThuraya’s satellite network and on GSM networks worldwide. Samer Halawi, CEO -Thuraya Inmarsat named Global Satellite Operator of the Year Inmarsat has been awarded the ‘Global Satellite Operator of theYear’ title at Euroconsult’s 13th Annual Awards for Excellence in Satellite Communications. Euroconsult, a consulting firm specialising in space markets, announced the winning recipients during World Satellite Business Week in Paris. The annual awards recognise companies and their management for outstanding accomplishments in the satellite sector. “We are delighted to receive this recognition from our industry,” said Rupert Pearce, CEO, Inmarsat. “With Global Xpress in commercial service worldwide, our European Aviation Network on course to commence network trials in 2017 and the first two satellites in our sixth generation fleet on order with Airbus, we are entering a highly dynamic period of growth in our company’s history. NEWS
- 37. Europe’s Leading Military Communications Event for Satellite Professionals Tuesday 8th November - Thursday 10th November 2016 | Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel | London, UK A: Architecting Space Systems Hosted by: Rachel Morford, Project Leader, Future & International Programs, MILSATCOM Division, The Aerospace Corporation | 8.30 - 11.45 B: The Low Earth Orbit Small Satellite Constellation Revolution Hosted by: Alex da Silva Curiel, Business Development Manager, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd | 12.30 - 16.30 PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS |7TH NOVEMBER 2016 SMi’s 18th Annual C O N F E R E N C E & E X H I B I T I O N 2 0 1 6 To keep updated with programme developments or to reserve your place, please visit: www.globalmilsatcom.com/teletimesint Global MilSatCom Community #GlobalMilSatCom @SMiGroupDefence BOOK BY 30TH SEPTEMBER AND SAVE £100 LEAD SPONSOR GOLD SPONSOR SPONSORS EXHIBITORS Deanna Ryals, Chief of International MilSatCom, U.S Air Force Colonel Leonardo Musmanno, Head of Navigation, Surveillance and SatCom Division, Italian Ministry of Defence Colonel Christophe Debaert, Head of French SATCOM Programs, DGA France Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Sandler, Assistant Chief of Staff G6, U.S Marine Corps Forces for Europe and Africa Wing Commander Rhys Taylor, Joint Communication and Information Systems (J6), New Zealand Defence Force Lieutenant Colonel Frank Valentin Nielsen, CIS Operations Support Department, Danish Defence Command Major Attila Horvath, SatCom Specialist, Hungarian Defence Forces Major Nicolas Stassin, Defense Staff/ Strategy Department/ Defense Development Division/ Capabilities Section/ Enabling Space, Belgian Defense Major Luciene da Silva Demenicis, Head of the Geostationary Satellite of Defense and Strategic Communications Training Section, Space Operations Center, Brazilian Air Force Dr Gregory Edwards, Director of Infrastructure Services, NATO NCIA Magali Vaissiere, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, European Space Agency Dean Olson, Senior SatCom Policy Analyst, DoD CIO, U.S Department of Defense Anthony Vraa, Wideband SATCOM Action Officer, J6 C4 Transport Division, Joint Staff Michael Laney, Lead International Engagement for MilSatCom, U.S. Air Force MINISTERIAL ADDRESS: Harriett Baldwin, Minister of State for Defence Procurement, UK Ministry of Defence KEYNOTE ADDRESSES: Clare Grason, Programme Manager, Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services, DISA Lieutenant Colonel Abde Bellahnid, Directorate of Joint Capability, SATCOMS & SAR Requirements, Department of National Defence Canada HOST NATION ADDRESS: Air Commodore Nick Hay (TBC), Head Capability C4ISR, Joint Forces Command, UK Ministry of Defence SPECIAL GUEST ADDRESS: His Excellency Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director-General, UAE Space Agency MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT SPEAKERS ALSO INCLUDE:
- 38. 38 October 2016 COMSATS Internet Services has signed an agreement with REDtone Telecommunications Pakistan for partnership in satellite broadband internet services. According to the agreement REDtoneTelecommunications will connect 50 basic health units across the Punjab over satellite internet broadband services. While expressing his views on the partnership, CEO CIS, Amir Malik revealed that “Agreement with REDtone will enable CIS to enhance its internet broadband reachability to distant Basic Health Units (BHU) to extend telemedicine services for the underprivileged community. Under this partnership we will further explore facilitations in education and agriculture sectors as well.” NadeemYunus, CEO of Redtone Telecommunications stated that “REDtone has been working on new approaches to spread connectivity in Pakistan including Yahclick. One of REDtone`s latest initiative is to connect the unconnected in the remote and rural areas of Pakistan to address the health, educational and social aspirations of the unconnected world. We are proud to be associated with COMSATS Internet Services for the project of Basic Health Units in Punjab, benefiting the communities to connect with the rest of the world.” An agreement between COMSATS Internet Services (CIS) and DMD Max has been signed at CISTechnology Park for the sharing of data center infrastructure. According to the agreement DMD Max will utilize the data center facility of CIS for its all technical operations in Pakistan to extend its services to his customers in Pakistan and worldwide. On this occasion Mr. Amir Malik, CEO, COMSATS Internet Services, shared his view by saying that “This agreement will lead to great success both for CIS and DMD Max and we are proud to offer our services and in future will also explore new business opportunities jointly in the ICT sector. CIS has established state of the art data center and successfully offering the cloud computing stack services including Virtual Private Servers(VPS). Instead of investing on very expensive hardware, customers prefer to acquireVirtual Private Server (VPS) from CIS. We at CIS pursue the highest levels of corporate responsibility to benefit our valued customers and ensure long-term sustainability.” Mr. Majjid Bashir Ahmed, Chairman, DMD Max has said on the signing ceremony ‘’It is an honor to have the partnership with Pakistan’s pioneer company for data center services.They have a dedicated team and the best technical resources. DMD Max as a service provider to mobile operators, have a pride in working with CIS to provide our services to mobile users. DMD MAX created the MobileTV product to help our partners go beyond the 2 Billion smartphones and penetrate the low and mid-tier device markets that other entertainment providers can’t reach. Our target is to reach the mass audience as low end devices still have the highest penetration in the market.” REDtone to provide satellite broadband to Comsats Internet Services at BHUs Aftab Raza Khan Data Center infrastructure sharing agreement signed between CIS and DMD Max NEWS
- 39. 39October 2016 Kamal Mokrani, Global Vice President, InfiNet Wireless Interview - Gulraiz Khalid Gulraiz Khalid: What level of potential do you see in the broadband and communications market in the Middle East? Which segments are you targeting? Kamal Mokrani: The past 3 or 4 years have undoubtedly been very exciting years for broadband communications in general across the world, with the Middle East being no exception. We have witnessed an increased spread of both fibre and wireless based infrastructures to provide even more capacity to the end users, as well as connect the previously unconnected. Key areas of application have included M2M and IoT requirements, the development of smart homes, buildings and even entire cities. Wireless broadband has now become an important part of any future-proof telecoms infrastructure as the economy becomes even more reliant on the Internet and associated applications. At Infinet, we believe this trend will continue well into the future and will be driven by new initiatives which will focus on ensuring that broadband services are available to the region’s poorest, ultimately closing the digital divide. In countries such as Jordan, the UAE and Oman for example, where civil stability has taken a stronghold, we will see the most progress towards building ICT With InfiNet’s wireless solutions, we go beyond the use of traditional telecoms platforms INTERVIEW
- 40. 40 October 2016 infrastructures to provide the users with even more advanced services, whereas in less developed markets which have little or limited fixed infrastructure, we will see mobile broadband becoming the only viable way to deliver connectivity. Over the short to medium terms, we will be focusing more efforts on developing and supplying new solutions for these markets and targeting service providers of all types, from ISP’s to 3G/4G/LTE mobile operators, as well as the enterprise, government and energy sectors. On a separate front, and in the face of increasing national and regional public safety concerns, we expect that many governments in the Middle East will be revising their existing plans and developing new communications strategies for securing their national borders with the objective of protecting people’s lives and national interests, which will create fresh and significant business opportunities for us. Such requirements for border control and safe cities will allow us to positon our wireless technologies for applications such as video analytics and advanced ICT technologies. Our value propositions for this market sector will enable authorities to integrate our wireless solutions with a diverse range of information modules and communication methods across the whole region. GK: As an exhibitor in the on-going GITEX Tech Week this month, would you like to tell us about what you are showcasing this year. KM: For 2016, our main objective will be to showcase a brand new range of best in-class solutions for backhauling 4G/ LTE traffic, for mobility applications, for deploying high-capacity networks for Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) and for meeting the increasingly demanding and complex needs of enterprises of all types. We will also be sharing with our visitors, many of our achievements in the safe city arena where we have deployed hundreds of infrastructures around the world ensuring public safety at all times. In terms of specific products, we are very excited to use GITEX as a platform to unveil the InfiLINK XG 1000, the latest addition to our Point-to-Point product portfolio. Designed specifically to meet the backhauling needs of wireless internet service providers (WISPs) and enterprise backhauls for applications like digital oilfields, the InfiLINK XG 1000 is able to provide throughputs of up to 1 Gigabit per second over the air in 5 GHz license-free frequency bands, effectively doubling the capacity of InfiNet’s previous highest performing product, the InfiLINK XG. In addition, we will also be launching an extended range of its award-winning InfiLINK XG models which now support new frequency bands such as 2.x GHz, 3.x GHz and 4.x GHz, as well as the previous 5.x GHz and 6.x GHz bands. With spectral efficiency as high as 13 bps/Hz and a real throughput of 130 Mbps in just 10MHz of spectrum, and up to 480Mbps in a 40MHz channel, the InfiLINK XG models are ideal for unlicensed backhauling in the standardWi-Fi frequency bands, for mobile operator backhauls and high-capacity access, in-band small-cell LTE backhaul and public safety networks. Finally, we will also showcase our new generation InfiMAN 2x2 product family, complemented by a brand-new smart antenna base station sector unit (known as the Qmxb) and a new range of subscriber terminals fitted with 300 mW (25 dBm) radio transmit modules. These latest additions to our Point-to- Multipoint family were designed specifically for high-density WISP applications, video surveillance deployments in areas where unlicensed 5 GHz spectrum is congested and for Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) wireless connectivity in urban environments. GK: Please tell us about InfiLINK XG and its application in detail. KM: 1) InfiLINK XG 1000 is a family of point-to-point products capable to up to 1 Gigabit per second over the air in 5 GHz license-free frequency bands effectively doubling the capacity of InfiNet’s previous highest performing product which was InfiLINK XG. InfiLINK XG 1000 key features: • Brilliant spectral efficiency of up to 13 bps/Hz making possible to achieve 1 Gbps capacity utilizing only 80 MHz of spectrum, which is significantly better than that of the competing solutions including both 802.11ac-based ones and proprietary systems. Better spectral efficiency allows to save valuable spectrum for other users. • Smart and flexible radio sub-system utilizing two non-contiguous frequency channels, supporting split-frequency operation and Instant DFS technology, which allows on-the-go frequency channel change if the current channel gets congested. • Compact and lightweight form-factor combined with integrated high-gain antennas and a high-power transmitter allowing to build long-range high-capacity wireless links occupying a fraction of the rooftop space taken by legacy licensed microwave systems. InfiLINK XG 1000 main applications: • Unlicensed backhauls for wireless internet service providers (WISPs) • Enterprise backhauls connecting campuses and production facilities in the projects such as digital oilfields, etc. 2) New InfiLINK XG models covering 2, 3 and 4 GHz frequency bands are the further evolution of InfiLINK XG family of products designed to bring one of the most remarkable wireless point-to-point technologies to a number of new licensed and license-exempt frequency bands. Key features: • Spectral efficiency as high as 13 bps/Hz allowing to squeeze maximal throughput out of very limited amount of spectrum typically available. At just 10 MHz channel real throughput can be up to 130 Mbps, which matches the capacity of an 802.11ac- In terms of specific products, we are very excited to use GITEX as a platform to unveil the InfiLINK XG 1000, the latest addition to our Point-to-Point product portfolio”
- 41. 41October 2016 based radio operating at 20 MHz channel, which might not be available in a licensed band. •TDD synchronization and frequency re-use allowing to deploy multiple point-to- point links at the same frequency channel or at the adjacent channels.This allows to build a network of tens or hundreds of point-to-point links using just two or four licensed frequency channels. • IEEE 1588v2 transparent clock timing transport for synchronizing LTE base stations and other network infrastructure units. Key applications: • InfiLINK XG 2 GHz o Unlicensed backhaul in Wi-Fi frequency band for operator and enterprise networks o In-band small-cell LTE backhaul • InfiLINK XG 3 GHz o Operator backhauls and high-capacity access using frequency resource vacated from defunct WiMAX networks or low- frequency microwave systems o Small-cell LTE backhaul • InfiLINK XG 4 GHz o Public safety networks o Backhaul and access wireless links for appropriate license holders GK: Many of our readers will be interested in how InfiNet products and solutions help build Smart Cities. Please talk in detail about this. KM: Different people define the concept of Smart Cities in a multitude of ways. For us, a smart city is a location where the traditional networks and associated services are built in such a way so as to improve efficiency across major areas of day-to-day use of digital and telecoms technologies, all aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of flows, for example, of energy, of food, of water, of materials and of people through urban dwellings, and ultimately improving the quality of life of the city’s citizens and its businesses – digitally, physically and economically. With InfiNet’s wireless solutions, we go beyond the use of traditional telecoms platforms to make a better use of available resources and provide, among others, urban and rural transport networks, water supply, electricity and waste disposal facilities, as well as more efficient ways to light and heat buildings. Our solutions integrate well with sensors of all types and monitoring devices connecting the digital and physical world, and an advanced software infrastructure enabling remote operation of geographically distributed systems. GK: Strategically, what will be your focus for the coming years. Do you have any milestones in mind? KM: If other Middle Eastern cities take a cue from what we did with du in the UAE and ITC in Saudi Arabia, I am very optimistic the region will advance at a much quicker rate, bridging the digital divide and joining more connected regions as technology leaders. We have however, like everyone else, seen a major decline in capital expenditure in the Middle East because of the very low oil prices, but we expect many new projects to be developed in the coming months and years, which will help us successfully position our solutions and consolidate our presence in the region. As briefly mentioned earlier, each country in the Middle East region has its own characteristics and challenges, ranging from the tenuous geo-political climate in the region to internal unrest and uncertainties fuelled by the record-low oil prices. Our next big areas of focus in this region will be homeland security, education and the Oil & Gas sector.These are the areas where we strongly believe that budgets will be made available by the relevant government bodies to ensure sustainable growth of their respective economies. Such forecast growth will undoubtedly drive our future budget and allow us to get even closer to our customer base and invest in a stronger local presence to support their requirements. With InfiNet’s wireless solutions, we go beyond the use of traditional telecoms platforms to make a better use of available resources and provide, among others, urban and rural transport networks, water supply, electricity and waste disposal facilities, as well as more efficient ways to light and heat buildings”
- 42. 42 October 2016 The Internet of Things presents very strong growth for potential Walid Moneimne, CEO - Aspenta Interview - Gulraiz Khalid As Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Walid Moneimne leads Aspenta’s strategy and connected world vision. Dr. Walid brings twenty years of industry experience, with deep experience leading complex enterprise technology initiatives and building high performing teams. He has worked with technology companies that include Dell, Hewlett Packard and Xerox. He was a Managing Director at Global Emerging Markets Limited and oversaw all GEM activities in the Middle East and North Africa. Prior to this, Dr. Walid was the Senior Vice President for Nokia Networks for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Dr. Walid holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Grenoble, France, an M.B.A. from HEC France and Wharton Business School, United States. Gulraiz Khalid:You have seen the telecom sector evolve over the past decades with decision-making positions in major industry players – do you think that the way things are shaping, there is space for a “Global Operator”? Walid Moneimne: Definitely. As we move forward the globally connected world is fast becoming a reality.The next major trend that will impact global telecommunications is the explosion of connected devices and growth of mobile connectivity - mobiles are cheaper, more convenient, and more useful, even when landline connectivity is an option. One of the segments in telecom that calls for a global operator is SLA (service level agreement), enabling global enterprises or global manufacturers to streamline their processes, reduce support and administration costs as well as centralize management regardless of country. GK: How important are partnerships to your and any other business in the telecom space today? WM: Partnerships are crucial to succeed. INTERVIEW
- 43. 43October 2016 There is a growing awareness across the telecom industry that partnerships - if implemented and used in the appropriate way - can help operators overcomes challenges. Partnerships can take various forms, the options range from joint ventures to supply relationships, and from R&D collaboration to licensing. Each of these approaches is linked to different levels of financial participation, management models, process integration and the achievement of different objectives. Nowadays the real challenge is not to only decide who to partner with, but why and how. GK: With the growing demand for data and its applications in M2M, IoT etc. – is there a new business model telecom companies should adapt? WM: In today’s Internet-dominated age, business is global, and businesses must increasingly consider the global consequences of their plans and strategies, as global factors frequently determine their relative success in the marketplace. To maximize the potential of the Internet ofThings, all these different devices and services need to be affordable and interact with each other seamlessly. Collaboration between companies from different sectors is, therefore, very important. Taking a global view has the potential to impact new product opportunities and efficiency that will power top- and bottom- line gains. Businesses that decide to introduce smart, globally connected products will see many new market opportunities by pushing IoT to its limits. GK: As an experienced industry veteran, which areas do you see with the highest growth for potential? WM: I believe that Internet ofThings presents very strong growth for potential and there is a growing need to develop and introduce affordable and efficient models that others can build on. In my opinion ConnectedWearable Devices, Connected Cars, Connected Homes, Connected Cities, and the Industrial Internet are the key verticals. In wearable devices, new consumer categories are emerging in fitness bands, GPS locators and smart watches. Cars are becoming more connected thanks to fleet management and tracking systems. Industrial Internet impacts three main areas: building automation, manufacturing, and resources. Factories and industrial facilities will use the IoT to improve energy efficiency and remote monitoring and control. The potential of Internet ofThings is enormous, though the development of global-facing solutions, the sky’s the limit for the IoT. GK: As an experienced industry veteran, do you see yourself working beyond your current role at Aspenta in the telecom sector? WM:Yes, I am participating in various board activities within the IT and telecom sector. Aspenta continues to grow while we are bringing more management capabilities within the headquarter in the USA.This will soon allow me to have more time available for additional activities. In today’s Internet-dominated age, business is global, and businesses must increasingly consider the global consequences of their plans and strategies, as global factors frequently determine their relative success in the marketplace” I believe that Internet of Things presents very strong growth for potential and there is a growing need to develop and introduce affordable and efficient models that others can build on. In my opinion Connected Wearable Devices, Connected Cars, Connected Homes, Connected Cities, and the Industrial Internet are the key verticals”