Quantum software defines network
Abu Dhabi-based etisalat by e& has become the first telco in the United Arab Emirates to beam 5G networking signals from space, using Eutelsat’s Quantum satellite technology. The software-defined satellite broadens its coverage and deepens penetration into those areas of the AUE that cable layers or masts struggle to penetrate. The combination of better coverage, quicker response times and the capacity for instant expansion will cover any surges in demands will help in manage growth more skilfully, it said. The deployment was finalised after a year of testing of Quantum working in tandem with a recently installed Newtech Dialog Hub.
The relationship of consumers with their network is changing and younger people are starting to expect a sort of digital umbilical chord that keeps them permanently connected to a network, according to Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology and Information Officer, etisalat by e& UAE. This means they want always on technology associate with the likes of Internet of Things (IoT) artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. These are making a bigger impact on consumer lives and satellite connectivity can empower communities and business in this rapidly evolving digital landscape, said Murshed. “This satellite gives our customers access to their data at 5G speeds even when terrestrial connectivity is unavailable,” said Murshed, “this marks another important step in the regions’ 5G adoption and bridging the digital divide.”
From a marketing perspective, the need for connectivity has grown beyond traditional comms according to Oscar Garcia, who runs the Business Marketing and Product Innovation side of the etisalat by e& business. Customers want the highest speeds in the network to meet their need for bandwidth-intensive applications such as GSM services, Remote IT, Unified communications, OTT and media streaming. However, the process of testing and implementation of the satellite service makes a critical difference to its performance. Getting the fullest performance from the network from the onset helps it to: “address the futuristic development of new age applications while being able to build and deploy 5G use cases for various industry verticals and business,” said Garcia.
Eutelsat Quantum is the first commercial Ku-band satellite with a fully flexible payload that can be remotely configured by software from a user’s premises. As a software-defined steerable beam, it can be instantly controlled to keep throughput at a maximum through both down and uplinks and optimised for any operation.
“Eutelsat’s fully steerable beams can meet the most rigorous demands of next generation mobile and satellite networks,” said Ghassan Murat, Head of Connectivity Business Unit for Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Eutelsat.