Latest news with #IwanStella
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt poised to lead regional 5G expansion, eyes additional spectrum, SME inclusion: Ericsson
Egypt is making significant progress towards a nationwide 5G rollout, but must accelerate spectrum allocation and foster adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to fully realise the technology's potential, according to Iwan Stella, Vice President and Head of Commercial Management & Strategy at Ericsson for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In an interview with Daily News Egypt, Stella welcomed Egypt's recent 5G licensing and network trials as 'important steps,' noting that modernisation initiatives and shared infrastructure are establishing a strong foundation. However, he emphasised the urgent need for more mid- and low-band spectrum to ensure reliable indoor coverage and scalable fixed wireless access (FWA) to meet both urban and industrial demand. 'Operators will only be able to deliver the low-latency connections required by Egypt's expanding industrial sector once sufficient spectrum is made available,' he said, stressing the importance of aligning with Egypt Vision 2030 through a phased rollout that balances cost efficiency with measurable milestones. While Egypt's digital infrastructure—including backhaul fibre networks and upgraded power systems—is largely 5G-ready, Stella noted that clear timelines for additional spectrum, particularly in contiguous mid-band ranges, will be critical for operators to complete network planning and accelerate deployment. He pointed to 'try-and-buy' initiatives and software-as-a-service (SaaS) models as practical methods to encourage 5G adoption among SMEs. 'Tiered service offerings—from basic connectivity for micro-enterprises to assured low-latency connections for advanced manufacturers—allow smaller businesses to scale services according to their needs,' Stella explained. Ericsson views Egypt's strong digital maturity and regulatory momentum as key differentiators in the region. Its strategy includes dual-band deployment—low-band for broad national coverage and mid-band for high-demand areas—combined with AI-powered network optimisation managed from Ericsson's Cairo-based Analytics Hub. To ensure a sustainable rollout, Stella called for transparent spectrum planning, robust cybersecurity frameworks, and incentives to encourage the adoption of energy-efficient network technologies—aligning both commercial goals and environmental responsibilities. With Egypt gaining international recognition for its broadband advancements, Stella urged policymakers to support the migration of legacy 2G, 3G, and 4G users to 5G-enabled devices. 'The quicker people and industries adopt 5G terminals—including FWA—the faster the return on investment. Once users experience high-performing 5G, they won't want to go back.' Despite cost sensitivity among SMEs, Stella believes innovations such as network slicing and edge services offer a practical bridge to private 5G capabilities without requiring heavy upfront investment. 'Egypt has all the ingredients to become a regional hub for 5G innovation,' he said. 'Ambitious infrastructure projects, a tech-savvy workforce, and a stable, secure spectrum policy can attract international R&D, cloud providers, and IoT manufacturers.' © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Daily News Egypt
a day ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt poised to lead regional 5G expansion, eyes additional spectrum, SME inclusion: Ericsson
Egypt is making significant progress towards a nationwide 5G rollout, but must accelerate spectrum allocation and foster adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to fully realise the technology's potential, according to Iwan Stella, Vice President and Head of Commercial Management & Strategy at Ericsson for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In an interview with Daily News Egypt, Stella welcomed Egypt's recent 5G licensing and network trials as 'important steps,' noting that modernisation initiatives and shared infrastructure are establishing a strong foundation. However, he emphasised the urgent need for more mid- and low-band spectrum to ensure reliable indoor coverage and scalable fixed wireless access (FWA) to meet both urban and industrial demand. 'Operators will only be able to deliver the low-latency connections required by Egypt's expanding industrial sector once sufficient spectrum is made available,' he said, stressing the importance of aligning with Egypt Vision 2030 through a phased rollout that balances cost efficiency with measurable milestones. While Egypt's digital infrastructure—including backhaul fibre networks and upgraded power systems—is largely 5G-ready, Stella noted that clear timelines for additional spectrum, particularly in contiguous mid-band ranges, will be critical for operators to complete network planning and accelerate deployment. He pointed to 'try-and-buy' initiatives and software-as-a-service (SaaS) models as practical methods to encourage 5G adoption among SMEs. 'Tiered service offerings—from basic connectivity for micro-enterprises to assured low-latency connections for advanced manufacturers—allow smaller businesses to scale services according to their needs,' Stella explained. Ericsson views Egypt's strong digital maturity and regulatory momentum as key differentiators in the region. Its strategy includes dual-band deployment—low-band for broad national coverage and mid-band for high-demand areas—combined with AI-powered network optimisation managed from Ericsson's Cairo-based Analytics Hub. To ensure a sustainable rollout, Stella called for transparent spectrum planning, robust cybersecurity frameworks, and incentives to encourage the adoption of energy-efficient network technologies—aligning both commercial goals and environmental responsibilities. With Egypt gaining international recognition for its broadband advancements, Stella urged policymakers to support the migration of legacy 2G, 3G, and 4G users to 5G-enabled devices. 'The quicker people and industries adopt 5G terminals—including FWA—the faster the return on investment. Once users experience high-performing 5G, they won't want to go back.' Despite cost sensitivity among SMEs, Stella believes innovations such as network slicing and edge services offer a practical bridge to private 5G capabilities without requiring heavy upfront investment. 'Egypt has all the ingredients to become a regional hub for 5G innovation,' he said. 'Ambitious infrastructure projects, a tech-savvy workforce, and a stable, secure spectrum policy can attract international R&D, cloud providers, and IoT manufacturers.'
Gulf Business
27-03-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Join our tech panel event on April 23 in Dubai
Scenes from our most recent panel event on February 20, 2025. (Gulf Business) The Gulf Business Business Breakfast is back this April: this time with a sharp focus on the technologies powering the next wave of digital innovation across the region. Taking place on 23 April 2025 at the Metropolitan Hotel Dubai , the high-level panel event will bring together senior voices from telecoms, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and e-mobility. Register here: Agenda: As the region accelerates towards a digital-first future, the event will explore how emerging technologies are transforming industries, reshaping business models, and influencing regulatory frameworks. Attendees can expect dynamic conversations with a cross-section of tech leaders, policymakers and innovators—delving into how the UAE and wider GCC can position themselves at the forefront of global innovation. Big names, bold ideas Among the confirmed speakers are: Rifad Mahasneh , General Manager, OKX MENA Iwan Stella , Head of Strategy and Commercial Management, Ericsson Middle East and Africa Cherian Varghese , Senior Vice President, Technology – Middle East and Africa, Oracle Samar Mittal, Vice President and MEA Head of Cloud & Network Services, Nokia Dr. Mohamed Madkour , VP, ICT Strategy & Marketing, Huawei Middle East & Central Asia Vasudha Khandeparkar , AI, Analytics and Data Practice Lead, Grant Thornton UAE Andreas Hassellof , CEO and Founder, Ombori Additional top panellists will represent companies including e& , Tahaluf , and more. The agenda includes keynote speeches, four sector-specific panels, and plenty of opportunities for networking and audience Q&A. Agenda: Gulf Business Business Breakfast Date: 23 April 2025 Time: From 8:00am Venue: Metropolitan Hotel Dubai 08:00am – Registration & Breakfast 09:00am – Welcome by Manish Chopra , Publisher, Gulf Business 09:05am – Chair's Opening Remarks by Gareth van Zyl , Group Editor, Gulf Business 09:15am – Keynote Speech 09:30am – Panel: Telecoms & Cloud – The Next Frontier The impact of 5G Advanced and the roadmap to 6G The shift from telco to techco Sovereign cloud, data security, and the future of telecom innovation Key panellists: Iwan Stella, Ericsson Cherian Varghese, Oracle Dr. Mohamed Madkour, Huawei Samar Mittal, Vice President and MEA Head of Cloud & Network Services, Nokia 10:00am – Keynote Speech 10:15am – Panel: Artificial Intelligence – A Regional Powerhouse The UAE's rise as an AI innovation hub AI's impact on finance, healthcare, and logistics International partnerships and regulatory outlook Key panellists: Vasudha Khandeparkar, Grant Thornton Andreas Hassellof, Ombori 10:45am – Panel: Blockchain Evolution – From Pilots to Pioneers From proof-of-concept to full-scale deployments How UAE regulations are attracting blockchain leaders The role of tokenisation, DeFi, and CBDCs Key panellists: Rifad Mahasneh , General Manager, OKX MENA 11:15am – Keynote Speech 11:30am – Panel: The State of E-Mobility UAE's roadmap for EV adoption and infrastructure Connected mobility through telecom and cloud EV subscription models, battery tech, and sustainability policies 12:00pm – Closing Remarks Registration is now open. Join us for a morning of strategic insight, meaningful connections, and forward-thinking dialogue.
Gulf Business
17-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Ericsson's GCC expansion and the future of 5G: Iwan Stella at LEAP 2025
Iwan Stella, VP Head of Strategy & Commercial Management, Market Area Middle East & Africa at Ericsson, speaks to Gulf Business at LEAP 2025 about the company's regional expansion, particularly in Saudi Arabia. He shares insights on how Ericsson is strengthening 5G connectivity, the impact of digital transformation, and what's next for 6G. Watch for key takeaways on the future of telecom in the region.
