African fibre broadband and satellite connectivity provider Liquid Intelligent Technologies has signed an exclusive deal with Globalstar to sell the US satellite firm’s private 5G products in Africa and the Middle East. The collaboration will potentially expand on a non-exclusive basis to also cover Globalstar’s non-terrestrial satellite network connectivity, plus its terrestrial Band n53 spectrum, and IoT solutions, a statement declared.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies, owned by London-headquartered system integrator Cassava Technologies, will have an exclusive in the regions on Globalstar’s so-called XCOM RAN private 5G solution, presented as an open RAN multipoint radio system for private 5G networks. Cassava Technologies has operations in 40-odd markets in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America; the new private networks offer will work in the first two of these regions.
The XCOM RAN product uses Globalstar’s n53 holding, an 11.5 MHz chunk of mid-band time-division duplexing (TDD) spectrum at 2483.5-2495 MHz which requires a single frequency band for both the uplink and downlink channels. The n53 band has been approved by 3GPP for 5G networks, as has its band-53 4G variant. Globalstar calls it a “rare swath of mid-band spectrum not owned by a wireless operator”.
It is pitching it to integrators, enterprises, governments, carriers, and cable companies, it says. Globalstar claims “four-times capacity gains and superior performance” for its XCOM RAN system – “versus baseline 5G NR systems in both downlink and uplink transmissions”. It stated: “Reliability is dramatically enhanced by eliminating challenges such as radio interference, multiple RU clusters, disconnected RUs, and handover losses.”
A press note to promote the partnership also talked about support for “AI-driven applications”. The two companies stated: “[It is set to revolutionise the mining industry in Africa and high-end markets in the Middle East and Gulf regions… Combining XCOM RAN with the globally licensed Globalstar n53 mid-band spectrum creates a very unique offering for private and enterprise 5G networks.”
Liquid Intelligent Technologies will provide customer support for Globalstar’s products and services, including technical support and warranty services. Strive Masiyiwa, founder and chairman at the firm, said: “I’m really excited by… breakthroughs in private 5G… With this technology we are now able to provide services to large businesses like mines with their own private 5G networks that can also enable NextGen services like AI; this is huge.”
Hardy Pemhiwa, president and chief executive at Cassava Technologies, said: “We look forward to the opportunities… for our existing and potential customers in these sectors. Globalstar’s 5G enterprise solution will enable us to provide unparalleled connectivity to our customers on the continent, aligning with our ambition of becoming a leading technology company of African heritage.”
Paul Jacobs, chief executive at Globalstar, said: “The regions where Liquid is a leader are large and growing markets for our technologies which enable safe automation and remote control of mobile equipment in high value environments… Together, Liquid and Globalstar will accelerate advanced wireless technology deployments in Africa, Middle East and Gulf regions.”
