In the rapidly electrifying technological frontiers of Africa, Alcatel-Lucent is emerging as a beacon of innovation and growth. The France-based telecommunications giant is making strides throughout the continent at a quicker pace than on the global stage, as evidenced by its frequent new project announcements.
Daniel Jaeger, Vice President (VP) for Africa at Alcatel-Lucent, disclosed in an interview with BizTechAfrica, that though he could not divulge exact numbers, Africa is unarguably the fastest-expanding region for the company.
He fervently stated, “Our growth in Africa is substantially bigger right now than on a global level.”
Proving his point, the company has rolled out a flurry of new deployments across Africa. Highlights include launching a blazingly fast, 100 gigabit-per-second fibre-optic network with Nigerian telecom giant MTN, creating an innovative mBox platform for the Senegalese Ministry of Health as part of the groundbreaking m-Diabetes initiative, and forging a significant partnership with Somtel Telecommunications to lay out an LTE network in Somalia.
High-speed developments are burgeoning, suggests Jaeger. Glooming on the African horizon are a proliferation of broadband projects, particularly those that fit the mold of the new-gen “Ultra-Broadband” sector which envelops both fixed and wireless broadband.
He notes, “There are many thrilling projects taking flight, which also involve a host of fresh operators stepping into the arena. For instance, in LTE, we’ve observed a phenomenal rise in new players, who have unearthed a niche market for providing broadband access via LTE, primarily in areas lacking robust fixed broadband.”
With the scene replete with bright, new market players, Jaeger did not discount potential acquisitions and consolidations in the coming years, although he believes it might be a touch too soon.
He underscored the significance of regulatory strategies, stating, “A lot will also hinge on the spectrum policies of various regulatory bodies. In situations where spectrum availability remains limited, the value of companies controlling it will skyrocket.”
Jager shed light on this spectrum conundrum, explaining that while some countries have made progress in alleviating available spectrum congestion, several have not yet moved the marker. There are two key areas to examine: first, the “digital dividend” spectrum, which will liberate some space due to the transition from analogue to digital TV broadcasting; and second, the regulatory variations shaping spectrum allocation. Some regulators, for instance, have opted to grant LTE spectrum only to new players, intending to stimulate healthy competition.
The trend of Africa leaping from 2G internet to 4G has generated much discourse, but concrete evidence of such a transition is scant.
“I believe most, if not all, countries will have 3G, but a coexistence of 3G and 4G has already begun. Different market segments focus on different technologies, with 3G favoring mobility and 4G, in its formative African stage, is more slanted towards fixed wireless broadband. But these market segments and technologies will inevitably converge over time,” said Jaeger.
The VP disclosed that the objective behind implementing the mBox solution in Senegal was to lend a hand to the Senegalese populace. This was completed in cahoots with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Jaeger emphasized, “We see it as a significant part of our role as a leading player in the region to commit ourselves to projects benefiting the populace.” With respect to diseases such as diabetes that are wreaking havoc in Africa, awareness, effective information dissemination, prevention, accurate diagnosis, apt treatment, and healthcare worker training are key, he noted. Alcatel-Lucent’s platform is poised for other e-government deployments across the region, building upon existing implementations in Europe.
This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
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