MTN, Africa’s largest mobile network operator, has conducted a proof of concept for what the companies say is first-of-its-kind 5G Stand Alone Core fully deployed in Microsoft Azure. The proof of concept was conducted with all of the 5G SA Core elements including control plane, user plane and management nodes, deployed fully in the South Africa Azure Region.
“Being one of the first in the world to conduct this proof of concept demonstrates MTN’s desire to keep pushing the boundaries of technological innovation that delivers value to our shareholders,” says Amith Maharaj, MTN Group Chief Technology Officer.
Executing on the PACE technology strategy, MTN Group is ramping up its rollout of 5G sites targeting a population coverage of 10-30 percent in the medium term.
MTN will use the PoC as a stepping stone to accelerate the execution of its Ambition 2025 and drive industry leading connectivity operations through technology platforms that are second to none. MTN says its strategy, Ambition 2025, is anchored in building the largest and most valuable platform business in Africa, focusing on mobile and fixed access networks across the consumer, enterprise and wholesale segments.
“The implementation of this growth strategy will be accelerated through selective partnerships and leveraging MTN’s brand as the most trusted and valued in Africa, while it will be supported and funded through enhanced cost and capex efficiencies,” according to the operator. The execution of Ambition 2025 can be identified in several growth platforms: fintech solutions, digital services, enterprise services, network-as-a-service, and the API marketplace.
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