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5G

C&W communications in the vanguard of pre-5g testing in the CARIBBEAN

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Field trial of LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro) technology in Antigua and Barbuda, sets groundwork for next generation of transformative technologies

 PUNTA CANA, DR – July 17, 2017 – At the 33rd CANTO Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition, John Reid, CEO of C&W Communications (C&W), announced that C&W has completed a groundbreaking pre-5G (fifth generation wireless broadband technology) trial in Antigua. Once installed, Antigua will be the first country in the region with the most advanced pre-5G network, delivering download peak speeds of up to 800 Mbps. In the trial’s next phase, the Company expects to test a 5G prototype reaching 2 to 5 Gbps peak speeds, which will have a profound positive impact on the island.

The announcement came as part of Reid’s keynote address today to prominent Caribbean officials at the 33rd CANTO Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition in the Dominican Republic. “These are exciting times for C&W Communications, as we continue to invest and develop more pioneering innovations to meet the needs of our customers and enable growth in the region through transformative technology,” said Reid. “This pre-5G trial in the Caribbean, is a significant step towards the evolution of C&W’s mobile networks across the region to 5G, and providing Gigabit speeds to our customers in Antigua,” he continued.

C&W’s pre-5G technology trial, a combined effort with parent company Liberty Global, is based on LTE Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro), the latest LTE evolution, that delivers lower latency, more capacity and improved reliability for customers. This translates into a faster mobile internet experience where customers can better participate in advanced technology such as richer video experience and new apps.

In early October, the Company will further test a 5G prototype network designed to deliver wireless data connections above 2 Gbps. If the trials are successful, and the business case favorable, the Company plans to invest another $5 million in Antigua alone to significantly upgrade the wireless infrastructure there. C&W has invested $1.5 billion in the region over the last three years.

5G is a new set of standards beyond traditional 4G/LTE technologies. This set of standards will allow operators to deliver wireless data connections above 1 Gbps and to enable the Internet of Things (IoT). C&W’s pre-5G trial and 5G prototype trials are part of a partnership with Ericsson, who will provide the equipment and software in Antigua and across the Caribbean.

The 5G Revolution

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Personal devices are increasingly present in our daily lives: at work, at school and at home. Smartphones, tablets, PCs, and wearables  are just some of the devices that simplify our day-to-day activities.  for 2020 estimate that there will be 5.5 billion mobile devices globally, and according to Cisco’s VNI Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast for 2015 to 2020, 70 percent of the world´s population will be using a mobile device.

With the growing demand for Internet-connected digital devices, fourth generation (4G) technology cannot meet these devices’ greater bandwidth and faster data transfer requirements. For this reason, fifth generation (5G) technology is being developed to achieve a higher quality digital connection. But what is the impact on existing infrastructure? What technological requirements are needed to achieve a good experience in the digital world?

Various international bodies and entities are working on identifying and agreeing on new radio spectrum frequencies to assign to 5G services. This development work is focused on identifying new spectrum bands for use with network equipment and devices (phones, tablets, etc.), delivering faster connection speeds, lower latency, and better overall implementation.

The radio spectrum is a limited resource regulated by each country; therefore, establishing international criteria for its use is no easy job. Furthermore, since this resource is used by multiple communications technologies, frequency availability is scarce. The agenda for the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU), 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference includes the study of 11 potential spectrum bands for use by 5G technologies.

Note that 5G technology will provide the connectivity necessary to develop any kind of business or industry, which will open up big opportunities. Operators will be responsible for building a ubiquitous and invisible network, which will allow for optimal adaptation of 5G to the business models and use cases that companies require.

Summing up, 5G deployment calls for connectivity, next-generation networks, and interoperability, i.e., agreements among different industry stakeholders, operators, device and processor manufacturers, and software developers, among others.

The acquisition of Cable & Wireless Communications’ (C&W) operations by Liberty Global will have a significant impact in this context, since the merger will allow both companies to serve 10 million mobile, video, broadband, and voice service subscribers. “Together we will establish ourselves as the leading consumer and B2B communications provider in Latin American and the Caribbean,” said C&W representatives. This merger will improve C&W Networks’ ability to invest in its networks and infrastructure, as well as in innovation and products that will truly meet their customers’ demands.

 

An Omnichannel Strategy Will Make the Difference for Telecom

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In recent years, advancements in technology and consumer demand have gradually led us to a model in which the core focus is no longer the product, but instead the customer. Today, we’re at a crossroads. At a time when customers use a variety of physical and digital channels to research, compare, buy and upgrade. If we’re unable to offer an enhanced experience across these different channels, it’s easy to see how we could lose customer loyalty. So, what’s the answer?

These days, customers no longer perceive telecommunications networks as an end in and of themselves, but rather to access services, content and applications that bring value and a positive experience. Along the way, players with high household penetration, such as Google and Facebook have emerged. This could relegate your place in the market to a ordinary “broadband vendor” if you’re unable to offer something that entitles you to be original.

The truth is that today’s users – your customers – are exposed to countless devices through communicating and access information. Additionally, consumers are now living in a multiscreen world, a truth that is giving rise to new forms of content consumption, as well as products and services. How do we adjust to this new reality?

Without a doubt, today’s digital hyper connected world requires an Omni channel strategy to magnify the user experience.

Increased penetration in social networks and the opportunities offered by these networks generate new communication models between users and between businesses and their customers. This is where telecommunications companies have an advantage. You provide the framework that allows organizations to create their digital presence, so don’t get left behind now that market trends are moving in a new direction.

C&W Networks has the knowledge and tools to help you take that next step. Here are some areas worth highlighting:

  • Omni channel experience
  • Customization
  • Proactive approach on social networks
  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Simplification of management and reporting tools
  • Connected areas
  • Simplification and transparency of processes
  • Improved relations with providers

What do you think? Leave a comment below and help us build the future of telecommunications together.

 

 

Technological Trends that will Lead the Way in 2017

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It’s no news that technology has transformed the way people interact, both in their personal and professional life. According to Singularity University in Silicon Valley, we are going through a transition between a linear world and a global one. It is time then to change the way we see things, how we think and how we react.

Exponential Technology Growth: With faster and better ways of achieving the best productivity, new technologies bring improvements in not only better products and services, but lower expenditure and increase in accessibility.

Global Internet Access: It took twenty years to reach the first billion users; just five years to get to two billion; and another four years to hit three billion. By the year 2020, which is in three years, it is estimated that over three billion new users will have connected to the web. Many will do so this year bringing new business opportunities.

Connectivity: In the 1960s, computers were rare and too expensive for a single person to own. The concept of a sharing economy came about and a group of people who took turns to access the same system. Today, accessing the internet is seamless on both computers and personal devices. Additionally, many companies today create interactions between people and offer possibilities never dreamed of before.

Evolution of Business Models: The advancement of technology makes it simpler for new business models to enhance in a more efficient, economical approach. Innovative discoveries are occurring more frequently than before and billion dollar deals are created in a matter of months. When new innovations are released, technology is a key part of the idea. Organizations must create a key strategy around the new spectrum and rethink about the most important tactic by reinventing the policies (price, values, etc.). This year in 2017, the digital culture will be seeing more companies creating and innovating a new digital culture.

The Digital Experience: People are using technology in their everyday life by accessing applications from their mobile devices. People use it at work including the usage of messages, video applications and many other platforms that allow them to manage documents and agendas ensuring greater interaction between mediums. Consequently, the process of creating and sharing knowledge is getting faster and faster. With all the information generated by the sharing economy, companies need to identify behaviors and use this to find value in new places. Chatbots will be adopted in the coming year, precisely because they are a response to this demand. People want to answer certain questions, search for information or make complaints in the same way they obtained that product or service: digitally.

Changes in the Value Proposal: Data is the driving force behind the next major wave in the search for the value proposal. It is this combination of quality of data and intelligence on which companies are focusing their technological efforts on increasing the power of their networks, achieving unlimited connectivity and using the total power-generating capacity to compile, add, correlate and interpret data and, therefore, make dramatic improvements to people’s lives.

Are you ready to help your clients be part of this era? Find out what C&W Networks can do for you and join them on the road to a hyper-connected future.

C&W Networks’ Latin America and the Caribbean Blog Aims to Keep the Industry Up to Date

By | 4G LTE, 5G, Blog, Broad Band, Ethernet, Featured, IoT, IP Services, MPLS, Security, WAN | No Comments

The company is launching a new means of communication with the industry. The goal of the blog is to provide interesting content for all those involved in the world of telecommunications.

C&W Networks’ new blog gives readers access to the company’s latest news on products and services, as well as specific information on telecommunications and technology markets in Latin America and the Caribbean and, of course, global IT trends. Through the content presented in this space, the company seeks to position itself as a resource for business decision-making.

Blog posts will be written in English and Spanish by well-known journalists with industry expertise, featuring relevant, first-hand information. The blog will present interviews with company leaders, plus chats with industry experts about the hottest topics of the moment.

Those of you following us on this new medium will find exclusive and relevant regional content that can help you make decisions based on reliable, accurate information. Come, be a part of the community at C&W Networks, awarded best wholesale telecommunications company in the Caribbean for the fourth consecutive year.