Syniverse and China Telecom Global (CTG), a subsidiary of China Telecommunications Corporation, have formed a strategic partnership to provide mobile operators in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) with connectivity solutions for migrating to 4G and other advanced voice, data and video services
The partnership is set to allow customers of the Middle East and Africa operators to move to the next generation of mobile internet services like 4G, Rich Communication Services (RCS) and the internet of things (IoT).
A crucial part of implementing 4G in developing markets such as in the Middle East and Africa involves the deployment of an IPX network, the network backbone that makes 4G roaming possible, and Diameter, the industry-standard signalling protocol for messages from mobile devices.
The Syniverse IPX Network aims to decrease network complexity and ensure high-quality, end-to-end mobile services through a secure connection to more than 750 operators in 150 countries. The Syniverse Diameter Signaling Service is set to provide a tool for managing, simplifying and translating data across networks, enabling 4G data to be passed between operators and devices securely.
Leveraging this reach and capacity, CTG seeks to be able to customise a cost-efficient connectivity solution for each operator while providing high performance and security.
CTG has continued to strengthen its collaboration with leading African mobile operators by dramatically strengthening its network build-out and providing world-class connectivity across the continent and the world.
4G connectivity in the Middle East and Africa
The Middle East and Africa have one of the fastest-growing groups of internet users and highest-growing demand for 4G connectivity. The professional business development and operation team of China Telecom (Africa and the Middle East) Limited in the region is experienced in serving multinational companies in Africa and the Middle East, and through their partnership, CTG and Syniverse are strategically positioned to capture business opportunities in this fast-growing market.
“The 4G service – and soon 5G – will quickly become the new mobile-service standard in the developing mobile markets of the Middle East and Africa,” said Deng Xiaofeng, CEO, China Telecom Global. “To meet this demand, China Telecom Global is working closely with Syniverse to deliver this service offering to our operators’ subscribers in a flexible, cost-efficient way.”
“The increasing sophistication of 4G rollouts and the need to quickly complete these service upgrades present challenges that will only be able to be fully solved with the high-performance technology of IPX,” said Dean Douglas, CEO and President, Syniverse.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market offer a promising opportunity for the rollout of 4G and other advanced mobile services in the next few years, according to GSMA Intelligence. As the mobile penetration rates are below 80 per cent, it allows plenty of room for subscriber growth.
