With the help of Squire Technologies’ agile 5G IWF (Interworking Function), iMobility is ready to upend South Africa’s (SA) telecoms market with new 5G wholesale service offers. The project paves the way for fresh mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) entrants as the country embraces a 5G future.  

In recent years, the deployment of fixed wireless 5G by several mobile network operators (MNOs) has set the stage for telecoms market diversification.
Private networks, edge and cloud services, and software-defined infrastructure services are some 5G opportunities emerging MVNOs can use to make a market impact. To better understand the transformation that the South African telecoms market is experiencing, we spoke to data network expert
Nazeer Adam, Founder of iMobility.

How is the South African telecoms market embracing 5G, and how does iMobility’s strategy fit into the picture?

“Initially, 5G benefits and revenue will come from manufacturing and the business sector, using services like private networks and network slicing. You can see the telecoms industry heading this way, and we’re glad to be spearheading the movement in SA.

“Recently, as the 5G race speeds up, more operators are investing in 5G services. Similarly, we’ve partnered exclusively with a 5G Spectrum Licensee to provide 5G services. Few operators have been granted 5G spectrum by the regulator. So, we’re thrilled to have an exclusive go-to-market partnership with them to do sales, technical and marketing. It gives us access to a RAN network with our own PLMN and business-led network, enabling us to compete against the MNO’s.

“Contact centre solutions remain a core area for us, but the data space is where we see the potential for exponential growth. I ran data networks long before forming iMobility, so it’s a bit of a coming home for me, and we’re excited about what we can do in this sphere. 

“Initially, we’re focusing on data packages. However, as 5G IoT and bot technology develop, we’ll also seek to introduce products in those areas.” 

Like many African countries, South Africa faces many challenges, such as high rates of poverty, rolling power outages, and unreliable infrastructure. How does this new iMobility product contribute to solutions for these problems?

“There isn’t a lot anyone can do about rolling power outages. We have contingency plans to counteract them, but just about everyone is affected. However, regarding infrastructure and poverty we’re seeking to make a difference with our primary focus being empowerment.

“Poverty is the biggest issue, and unemployment is a major contributing factor. SA is one of the most unequal countries in the world, and an unfavourable business climate is hampering economic growth and job creation. Distributing 5G data packages will enable businesses to transform their operations through enhanced connectivity, stimulating job creation. It’s an alternative to expensive, cumbersome fibre connections with sporadic coverage

“The coming 5G industrial boom could reduce poverty by degrees, but only if businesses are ready to take advantage of the opportunities.

“We’re not going to solve poverty and the infrastructure problem in one go, but we’re hoping to make a difference by doing our part.”

How do iMobility’s 5G data packages support businesses?

“Mostly, data packages across the telecoms market are for individual subscribers, and there’s not much catering for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). There are numerous ways to sell our 5G data offers, and it’s up to our Partners how they want to do it, but we want to deliver a better service for SMEs. Through a more reliable service enabling high throughputs for real time applications, we hope to boost the development of SMEs in several sectors, such as education, blue light services, manufacturing and more.

“Despite the increased use of fibre across the country, the remaining gaps need the wireless connectivity of 5G. Delivery of our 5G data packages takes a fraction of the time it takes to deliver fibre connections. While customers are waiting for a ditch to be dug for fibre, hoping it will reach them, our product is already good to go, stretching across 1,600 5G base stations in metro regions, and our coverage is increasing rapidly. 

What steps have you had to take to get yourself into this position where you can offer 5G data packages so much sooner than other Operators?

“The challenge is that many Licensees are not 5G ready. Some don’t support the 5G Charging Function (CHF) and Diameter protocols, meaning we needed to integrate our systems with those that are two generations old. 

“Squire Technologies solved this problem with their innovative 5G IWF. The forward and backwards compatibility of the IWF allows us to connect our 5G CHF with multi-generation legacy systems using Diameter or Radius protocols. Thus, operators with older systems can benefit from 5G packages through our real-time billing facility and craft their own 5G offers for customers, whether capped, uncapped, or fair usage offers. 

It sounds like the 5G SVI-IWF will enable iMobility to scale up rapidly, is that correct?

“Yes. Getting data out to customers rapidly is a strategic goal. Squire Technologies’ 5G IWF gives us the agility we need as we can integrate with practically any Licensee or Partner. 

What’s in the future for iMobility?

“In the future, we hope to implement external, onsite CPUs that guarantee superior service quality. It will be like mounting an antenna outside your house or business, creating a far more stable and faster connection.

“Right now, we are pleased with Squire Technologies for delivering this leading 5G IWF. I have known the team at Squire Technologies for their excellent work on previous projects, and we were delighted that they could satisfy our unique technical requirements at a competitive price for this 5G project. I am sure our partnership will create a positive change for businesses and individuals in South Africa.”