Sweden and Angola have cherished a successful partnership for half a century as this year marks 51 years of cooperation between the two nations – Sweden & Angola - with telecommunications as one of the main economic pillars tying both nations together. In 2001, Ericsson opened its doors in Angola as the government implemented regulations to further develop Angola’s telecom sectors. Since beginning operations in the sub-Saharan nation, Ericsson has played a key role in revitalizing Angola’s telecom infrastructure.
Over the last twenty years, Ericsson has significantly contributed to the evolution of the telecom sector. In the early 2000s, we helped establish and expand the first 2G and GSM mobile networks across the nation. As Angola entered an era of political stability and optimism, Ericsson understood the importance of working closely with telecom operators to expand and enhance mobile networks across the country. This was an essential step as mobile networks played a key role in boosting the livelihoods of residents in the nation.
Soon after introducing 3G to Angola in 2007, Ericsson signed a five-year agreement with Unitel in 2008, where Ericsson was responsible for planning the evolution and expansion of the network. In 2012, Ericsson further helped Angola become one of the leading countries in Africa to introduce the 4G network. In Angola, such efforts to enhance and expand networks played a significant role in facilitating economic development and rural access to communication. .
Over the years, the government of Angola has supported efforts to build and develop the telecom sector to prepare the nation for the digital age. Developing Angola’s telecom sector not only diversifies its economy but also reduces the nation’s dependence on offshore crude oil production. The June 2021 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report showed that mobile data traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa will grow 7 times by 2026, and mobile broadband subscriptions are set to account for 76% of all mobile subscriptions by 2026. As the country enters the age of digitalization with mobile subscriptions increasing across the country, it becomes important for mobile operators to continually innovate and develop digital infrastructure and meet the nation’s demand for high-speed network connectivity.
Ericsson has continually supported the nation with high-speed connectivity, increased network capacity, and telecom infrastructure required for the digital age. In a move to accelerate Angola’s digitalization, we collaborated with Unitel in 2013 to successfully demo LTE-Advanced technology for the first time in Africa, where Unitel transferred data across its live network in Luanda carrying commercial traffic. Furthermore, in 2014, Ericsson hit another milestone on the African continent by working with Unitel in Angola to successfully demonstrate the end-to-end LTE-A’s capability to support data speeds up to 450 Mbps. This was the first time 450 Mbps speed has been demonstrated on a commercial LTE network in Africa and is also one of the first demonstrations of its kind in the world. This technology not only helped Unitel match its spectrum assets but also provided higher data speeds to increase network capacity and enhance Unitel’s end-user experience.
At the start of the year 2021, Ericsson signed a three-year frame agreement with Unitel, for supplying Ericsson Radio System solutions as well as other Core/ Business Support Systems(BSS) solutions to transform Unitel’s existing 2G/3G/4G Radio Access Network (RAN) and core infrastructure / BSS and prepare the service provider for future 5G services in Angola.
Ericsson is also committed to building local talent and growing the telecom sector in Africa. In the final quarter of 2020, we launched our Graduate Program in Africa, with Angola as a participating country. The program aimed at growing the technical skills of graduates, training them in Ericsson technology, and offered fresh graduates the opportunity to work with pioneers in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). By working alongside local mobile operators and providing innovative network solutions across the continent, Ericsson aims to keep setting #AfricaInMotion.
Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Edge Computing, which play a major role in the digital transformation space, require constant innovation in telecom service and solutions to operate efficiently. Ericsson is committed to helping Angola in this transformation journey and providing local operators with superior performance networks to face the coming data-driven age.
Ericsson and Unitel sign frame agreement for network expansion & evolution to benefit Angola
Like what you’re reading? Please sign up for email updates on your favorite topics.
Subscribe nowAt the Ericsson Blog, we provide insight to make complex ideas on technology, innovation and business simple.
