With the acceleration of digital transformation, companies are expressing increasing needs for suitable connectivity solutions. Telecom operators are therefore seeking to position themselves to meet these needs.
The state-owned telecommunications company Zamtel intends to deploy private 4G and 5G connectivity solutions. The initiative aims to meet the growing demand from Zambian businesses as part of their digital transformation.
A memorandum of understanding was signed last week between the incumbent operator and the technology company Ericsson. This memorandum follows a visit by a delegation from the Swedish equipment manufacturer, led by the head of East and North Africa, Alain Maupin (pictured, right).
“This strategic partnership marks an important step in promoting digital transformation and deploying secure and high-performance connectivity for businesses in key sectors of the economy. Through the deployment of private network solutions, businesses will benefit from improved reliability, greater efficiency, and increased capabilities in automation and innovation ,” Zamtel said in a statement published on social media.
This initiative comes at a time when businesses are increasingly interested in integrating digital solutions into their operations, as well as connectivity solutions capable of supporting these applications. The GSMA explains, for example, that private 5G is suitable for businesses that require coverage, control, security, reliability, and predictable performance superior to that offered by traditional wireless solutions, particularly in complex industrial environments and mission-critical operations.
The organization adds that the technology is most often adopted to support automation and control, real-time video, and large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, particularly when mobility, resilience, and data management requirements necessitate stricter operational governance. Private 4G also fits into this trend, complementing it for certain specific uses.
Meeting this demand presents opportunities for telecom operators, who are currently diversifying their activities. The GSMA also emphasizes that the growing demand for digital solutions from businesses opens up significant prospects, in a context of slow growth in average revenue per user (ARPU), which is pushing operators to diversify their revenue streams. According to GSMA Intelligence, the potential global B2B market for telecom operators exceeds $400 billion, representing approximately 35% of current mobile sector revenue.
