EE to Pilot Mobile Edge Computing; Needs Multi-Vendor Support

Michelle Donegan reports to LightReading that "UK operator EE plans to run a number of pilots this summer to demonstrate potential use cases for mobile edge computing (MEC), in a move that shows industry momentum continues to build for the radio access network concept".

Mansoor Hanif [pictured], Director of Radio Access Networks, EE said . "I'm really passionate about MEC … because you're putting the computing power and added value right where the customer needs it most,"

"EE always liked [Nokia Networks'] Liquid Applications, according to Hanif. But the big question was "will it work across our whole network?" Since EE has deployed RAN equipment from Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. as well as Nokia, Hanif explained that the operator couldn't roll out network enhancements to only part of its customer base".

Related posts:

• Mobile Edge Computing Group Formed - here.
• StarHub Trialed Nokia's Liquid Applications at WTA Finals - here
• Nokia Adds BroadPeak's CDN to its Base Station Applications  - here
• Saguna's Optimization and Monetization Technology to be Deployed in 2014 - here

See "EE Revs Mobile Edge Computing Efforts" - here.

Verizon Transfers its Network to SDN Control

While we saw mixed feelings on SDN so far (see "[LightReading]: SDN/NFV Still Doesn’t Show Capex Savings for US MNOs" - here and ["Strategy Analytics]: "Operators are beginning to see the huge potential for SDN""- here), Verizon made a very strong statement with its "key technology partners" - Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Juniper Networks and Nokia Networks.

Verizon announced it is "transforming its network by implementing a software defined network architecture, laying the groundwork for new innovative services and applications. This SDN-based architecture is designed to introduce new operational efficiencies and allow for the enablement of rapid and flexible service delivery to Verizon’s customers.

.. To enable its network vision, Verizon and its technology vendors have co-authored a comprehensive SDN network architecture document, which includes all interface specifications and reference architectures plus requirements for both the control layer and forwarding box functions. This network architecture document will enable Verizon’s key technology partners to develop solutions to achieve the business and technical benefits of an SDN-enabled network.

Much of the foundational work required to deliver on Verizon’s next-generation network has been underway for several years. Verizon has created live lab environments in San Jose, California; Tampa, Florida; and Waltham, Massachusetts, and has commercial data center environments on both the East and West Coasts".

See "Verizon Announces Software Defined Networking Strategy" - here.

[ABI]: Citrix, Openwave and Ericsson Lead the $400M Optimization Space

ABI Research announced it has evaluated the "..leading vendors for Video, Audio, Web and Data Optimization the Gi-LAN space, and finds Citrix ByteMobile with the most compelling total value proposition, followed by Openwave Mobility and Ericsson. ABI Research finds web and video optimization performance as mainly determined by the x86 architecture, and the vendors differentiate along the lines of packaging and the depth of value adding features such as monetization, big data analytics and traffic management bundles.

The leaders in each category include:

• Overall: Citrix ByteMobile, Openwave Mobility, Ericsson:
   
• The Citrix ByteMobile ATM takes top honors with its long standing market reach and total value proposition of its web and video optimization, content caching, and added value in DPI, traffic policy enforcement
   
• Openwave Mobility takes second honors and keeps up the pressure with an innovation clean sweep in depth and breadth, analytics, subscriber and monetization innovation focus
   
• Ericsson takes a not-surprising third award with the rich value proposition of its Multi-Service Proxy and Service Enablement Platform
   
• Implementation: Citrix ByteMobile, Ericsson, Flash Networks
• Innovation: Openwave Mobiity, Citrix ByteMobile, Ericsson
  

Joe Hoffman [pictured], Practice Director, ABI Research said: “Nobody buys just video optimization, and now that the fundamental technologies are commoditized table stakes, we enrich the evaluation to consider the total value proposition including analytics and monetization, When an operator buys into one of these solutions, it is economically efficient to consider the big picture bundle.” 

"This research covers the leading vendors that offer video, audio, web and data optimizations solutions, including Allot, Avvasi, Flash Networks, Huawei, NEC, Nokia Networks, Opera Software, and Vantrix, and accounts for a large part of the US$400M in 2014 revenues in this market space".

See "ABI Research Ranks Citrix, Openwave Mobility, and Ericsson with Top Honors in the 2015 Mobile Web and Video Optimization Competitive Assessment" - here.

Flash & Nokia Expand Partnership

A 2nd agreement for Flash Networks with Nokia Networks. 4 months after announcing that "Nokia will Include Flash Network Gateway in its Offering" (here), the two companies signed an MOU for Flash's other business line - monetization

Flash announced that it has "signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nokia Networks to provide Flash Networks’ Layer8 monetization solution to mobile carriers worldwide. Nokia Networks will extend its portfolio with the Layer8 solution in 2015. This mobile monetization solution has already been selected by seven Tier 1 mobile operators around the world  (see "Flash Networks'  Monetization Selected by 7 Operators; Defines "With the Top" Model" - here) and is currently being deployed for 50 million users with a growth potential of reaching up to 200 million subscribers in 2015.

Flash Networks and Nokia Networks will not only act as the technology providers but will also manage the entire lifecycle of Layer8, including the creation of a complete ecosystem. The ecosystem, which already includes over 200 partners, will enable operators to offer use cases such as local content recommendation, coupons, price comparisons, app recommendations, the upsell of data packages, and much more. This enhanced offering adds new value to the user experience in a clientless and non-intrusive way. The cooperation will be underpinned by co-marketing and sales activities, building on and increasing the collaboration that already exists between the two companies in the optimization domain.

See "Flash Networks signs MOU with Nokia Networks for mobile monetization" - here.

Nokia's Optimization: Video Speed Increases by 50%; Akamai Detects Congestion

Nokia Networks announced their location-based solution, with which "Operators will be able to offer efficient content delivery to mobile users, as well as tailored services related to nearby points of interest based on insights gained from their subscription packages and device type as well as network data on traffic patterns, building types and other location information"

Related posts:

• Rumors: NSN's Liquid Applications Uses Saguna's Technology - here
• Akamai Expands CDN to the RAN with Saguna - here
• Saguna's Optimization and Monetization Technology to be Deployed in 2014 - here

Nokia's solution includes:

• "Nokia Liquid Applications’ throughput guidance helps content providers optimize their transmission policy to reflect dynamically changing network resources in real-time. This improves resource utilization in mobile operator's network. YouTube has successfully conducted lab tests of the throughput guidance technology, with initial results showing improvement in network utilization and application quality of experience.

• Congestion detection from Nokia’s Liquid Applications notifies upstream content providers and mobile device clients as to the most efficient time to fetch subscriber content based on real-time cell load information. Akamai, a leading content delivery network (CDN) and cloud computing services provider, is currently testing congestion detection as part of their Predictive Video over Cellular (PVoC) optimization solution for mobile networks.
   
• Nokia smart location experience optimization service provides up to 50% increase in video streaming speeds for consumers based on insights on how applications utilize network resources".

Lior Netzer [pictured], VP and General Manager, Emerging Mobile Business Unit, at Akamai, said: “Akamai’s PVoC video optimization solution is being designed to work with Nokia’s Liquid Applications to intelligently deliver video content at the most optimal times across the mobile network. It makes use of radio context information to initiate video downloads and pre-position content on the mobile subscriber’s device, enabling high quality media experience. Having insight into the real-time capacity levels of the cellular network can result in more efficient utilization of mobile networks.”

See "Nokia Networks smart location experiences place you in the center of personalized services" - here.

Nokia and Coriant Extend SON to Mobile Backhaul

Nokia Networks and Coriant announced that they are "first to extend intelligent self-organizing networks (SON) to mobile backhaul .. The SON for mobile backhaul Proof of Concept shows how advanced analytics and software defined networking (SDN) work together to create programmable, self-aware networks that assure an optimal service experience end-to-end. The same level of experience can be achieved with 20% less transport infrastructure than is needed in today’s networks.

The self-aware network extends SDN beyond automated service provisioning to automatically reconfigure network resources based on analysis of the factors that impact customer experience and service level agreements. By reversing the conventional paradigm – in which services must conform to the network – SON adapts the mobile backhaul network to the demands of mobile services. This results in a better perceived Quality of Experience because high service quality is maintained every time a user runs an application".

See "Nokia Networks, Coriant first to extend self-organizing networks to mobile backhaul" - here.

Elisa (Finland) and Ooredoo (Qatar) Test Nokia's Centralized RAN for Faster Uploads

Nokia Networks announced the use of its Centralized RAN with two operators. "Centralized RAN reduces interference between neighboring cells and allows up to 10 times faster uploads at the cell edge. Battery life of smart devices last longer as they don’t need to transmit at high power to cut through the interference .. Nokia Centralized RAN technology is built on the company’s Flexi Multiradio 10 base Station .. The base stations work directly with one another over fiber optic, without the need for additional network elements":

Hartwall Arena

• Elisa and Nokia Networks have jointly conducted successful tests of Centralized RAN under extreme load conditions at the packed Hartwall Arena in Helsinki. Running on the operator’s live LTE network, the solution delivered data uploads more than two and a half times faster, while cutting smartphone power consumption by one third"
   See "Elisa, Nokia Networks boost speed of uploading content to web" - here. 

• "Nokia Networks and Ooredoo demonstrate, how uplink capacity can significantly increase with Centralized RAN. During large events in stadiums, there can be more uplink than downlink traffic as people upload pictures and videos. Nokia’s Centralized RAN links multiple LTE base stations to work directly with one another and doubles the average uplink capacity across a cell".
  
  See "Nokia Networks, Ooredoo show 10 times faster upload with Centralized RAN at ITU event in Qatar" - here
  

[Analysys Mason]: S/W Professional Services Boosted due to OSS/BSS Transformations

A new report by Shanthi Ravindran, Senior Analyst, Glen Ragoonanan, Principal Analyst, and Gorkem Yigit, Research Analyst, Analysys Mason finds that "The worldwide market for telecoms software professional services (TSPS) was USD53.75 billion in 2013. 

• The top-six suppliers (unchanged since 2011) accounted for 36.5% of the USD53.75 billion market in 2013
    
• Many communications service providers (CSPs) deployed LTE networks and conducted OSS/BSS transformations for analytics and customer experience management (CEM) in 2013. This boosted vendors’ TSPS revenue because CSPs outsourced TSPS to reduce in-house tasks and costs
   
• Nokia Networks dropped to sixth position because it terminated several unprofitable TSPS deals
    
• Huawei moved up to third position thanks to winning managed services deals abandoned by Alcatel-Lucent and Nokia
   
• Vendors (NEPs, ISVs and IT suppliers) benefited from CSPs using more commercial off-the-shelf solutions (COTS) than systems integration (SI) in transformation projects, which boosted product-related services revenue.

See "Telecoms software professional services: worldwide market shares 2013" - here.

Optimization Deployments [329]: LG U+[Korea] Tests Nokia's Base Station Cache and Video Optimization

Nokia announced that "LG Uplus has completed a three-month long trial of its Intelligent Network Platform (INP), realizing significant benefits: Up to 35% performance gain in content delivery with reduced latency for big objects of 10-30 MB. This means that mobile users save six seconds download time for a software package that usually takes 20 seconds to download. The trial also showed around 90% operating and capital cost saving in the mobile backhaul link, improved throughput, and a secure yet faster access to enterprise networks via LTE".

Related posts:

• StarHub Trialed Nokia's Liquid Applications at WTA Finals - here
• Rumors: NSN's Liquid Applications Uses Saguna's Technology - here
• Zain [Saudi Arabia] Trials Nokia's Liquid Applications - here

"Nokia’s radio technology, Liquid Applications and professional services were used in the trial. CDNetworks, a global leader in the CDN space, also participated in the trial to evaluate the Liquid Applications’ impact on its commercial CDN service offerings. With these results, LG Uplus will be able to launch even better personalized services on its LTE network .. The LG Uplus INP is currently loaded with rich Liquid Applications features: Content Caching, Video Optimization, CDN Integration, and Enterprise Zone".

See "LG Uplus, Nokia Networks trial Intelligent Network Platform in live LTE network" - here.

StarHub Trialed Nokia's Liquid Applications at WTA Finals

Nokia announced that StarHub [Singapore] has trialed ".. implementation of Nokia’s Liquid Applications solution at its 4G mobile base stations within the Indoor Stadium at Singapore Sports Hub, bringing ‘live’ sports action closer to spectators. For the trial conducted on 21 October 2014, four ‘live’ video feeds of the Rising Stars Finals played at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global were delivered concurrently to spectators on mobile devices, giving them different perspectives of the action played out in the court. Spectators were able to zoom in on the action by selecting any preferred camera angle at any time .. StarHub is carrying out further trials of the full suite of Liquid Applications".

"Nokia’s Liquid Applications, an industry first solution, brings superior services to mobile broadband customers from the mobile base station. This is achieved by bringing applications, content, popular Internet sites or enterprise solutions into the base station whereby these are stored, processed and delivered directly and rapidly to mobile devices, increasing customers' mobile surfing performance. The solution will also allow mobile operators to offer other innovative services such as augmented reality and location-based services". [Related post: "Rumors: NSN's Liquid Applications Uses Saguna's Technology" - here]

See "StarHub and Nokia Networks at the edge of mobile content delivery" - here.

Nokia's Software Cuts Signaling by 80%

 
Nokia Networks announced that it has "..conducted the first live network trial of a software feature that improves smartphone performance on 3G networks. Nokia High Speed Cell FACH* cuts smartphone-generated network signaling by up to 80%, boosts response time by up to 65% and achieves up to 20% faster browsing. Up to 40% power savings, contributing to longer smartphone battery life for subscribers, were also shown. The tests were run on the commercial 3G/HSPA network of a major European operator using test devices fitted with Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processors that support High Speed Cell FACH .. Part of the Nokia Liquid Radio WCDMA Software Suite, High Speed Cell FACH is already available, so operators can prepare for the market when smartphones support the feature" .

User experience and resource usage efficiency during IM test

See "Nokia Networks shows how to make smartphone browsing 20% faster while reducing power consumption by 40%" - here.

Nokia will Include Flash Network Gateway in its Offering

    

Nokia Networks announced it ".. has signed a partnership agreement with Flash Networks to include Flash Networks’ Harmony™ Gateway [see chart below] as part of its mobile broadband core network offering. The market leading solution [see "Flash Networks (40%) and Citrix (30%) Lead the Mobile Optimization Market" - here] enables operators to optimize video and web traffic for an improved user experience, including faster web browsing and downloads, smoother video viewing, and content control services. 

Source: {Core Analysis}

Thorsten Robrecht [pictured], VP, Head of Product Management, Nokia Networks said: “With the addition of Flash Networks’ offerings into our mobile broadband portfolio, we create a significant value-add and enable mobile operators to maintain a competitive edge by providing the fastest network possible while handling the dynamic growth in mobile data”.

Flash Networks' Harmony™ Mobile Internet Services Gateway

See "Nokia Networks enters into partnership with Flash Networks" - here.

[ABI]: VoLTE (w/IMS) is the Next Big Thing; $30B Market to 2019

   

A new report by Sabir Rafiq [pictured], research analyst, ABI Research finds that ".. as the first wave of LTE deployments achieve coverage, VoLTE is the next big thing. VoLTE runs on IMS, and the market will total over $US30 billion through 2019 as it becomes widespread. 

Leading infrastructure vendors such as Ericsson and Nokia are fully committed to VoLTE and IMS space and equip customers with this next wave in mobile broadband. Similarly, other vendors such as Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, and Cisco recognize the impact VoLTE and IMS will have on the market. These vendors are active in the VoLTE space by offering credible solutions in order to attract and retain customers ..  IMS mobile core revenue corresponds directly with the popularity of VoLTE”.

".. With the availability of VoLTE smartphones, operators realize benefits with improving quality in voice service, and also top-line growth with value adding services. This leads to increasing VoLTE services in smartphones, with Apple [see "iPhone 6 also supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE)" - here] and high-end Android  [see "New Moto X on Verizon to get Advanced Calling 1.0, run VoLTE - here] devices leading the way. 

[see also: "GSA: 116 MNOs Offer HD Voice - Even on 2G Networks!" - here]

VoLTE will become extremely important in the future and ABI Research believes competitive positioning will lead operators to VoLTE/IMS"

See "Mobile Broadband Operators Scramble for VoLTE, Creating an IMS Land Rush as Ericsson and Nokia Stake Claims on the $US30 Billion Market" - here.

Nokia Adds BroadPeak's CDN to its Base Station Applications

Nokia announced a number of new features, including 3rd party application extending its Liquid Applications:

• Video Orchestration provides a new multimedia experience at special events, including race tracks, football stadiums, and fairs. This enables new video services, for example, streaming a live feed from inside a racing car, in real time, to fans at the trackside.

• Real-time Analytics capture user and service performance data to provide operators with new real-time insights into user experience for optimizing content delivery
  
  
• Nokia Networks has recently signed an AppFactory agreement with Broadpeak [see "StarHub Deploys Broadpeak CDN (w/ HLS Support)" - here] adding the France-based vendor to its list of 3rd-party application developers and collaborators. Broadpeak’s nanoCDN application will be developed for Liquid Applications to extend content delivery network capabilities to the base station.

• New LTE Quality of Service (QoS) features will allow operators to better manage network resources as well as high quality services for users. A nominal bit rate can now be provided for users at the cell edge experiencing poor radio conditions, for an improved level of service. LTE’s dedicated bearer functionality is also exploited to deliver high-quality and prioritized streaming services for third parties, such as Content Delivery Network providers.

See "Nokia Networks introduces advanced content delivery solutions, extends Liquid Applications" - here.

Nokia's Big Data Analytics Optimizes QoE

Nokia Networks announced it is "unveiling research that combines newly developed telco-scale big data analytics, artificial intelligence and full process automation to make experience management dynamic. 

The Nokia Networks FutureWorks innovation is the world’s first technique to instantly optimize the individual application sessions of subscribers to deliver high Quality of Experience (QoE) to almost 100% of all sessions, even under high loads. This cannot be achieved by current methods because, without this, an automated, immediate and iterative loop between analytics, decision and optimization has been missing".

The innovation could help operators to increase customer retention substantially. Up to 30% extra capacity can also be created as more application sessions would run simultaneously with high quality, with sessions getting exactly the resources they need. This opens up a variety of potential new use cases. For example, the network could dynamically adapt to sudden use changes, subscribers could be provided with a consistent video experience along a travel route, or service-affecting faults could be corrected in real-time, relieving customer care.

The QoE enhancements can be achieved by utilizing telco-scale artificial intelligence in an analytics and decision engine that immediately pinpoints the cause of issues in a subscriber’s application session and decides automatically on the best corrective action. Machine learning techniques ensure ever more accurate decisions over time even when data is incomplete or new situations arise.

Full process automation is then applied to immediately implement the appropriate action, such as service adaption or traffic steering.

The innovation has been proven by Nokia Networks tests in real network environments using commercial devices. In the future, dynamic experience management could be deployed in multi-vendor 2G, 3G and LTE networks.

See "Nokia Networks big data innovation promises dynamic experience management" - here and "Applying telco-scale big data to dynamic experience management" - here.

[Anaylsys Mason]: Ericsson and Amdocs Led the Telecom Software Market in 2013

A recent report by Glen Ragoonann and Justin Van Der Lande, Principle Analysts, Dean Ramsay, Analyst, and Mark H. Mortensen [pictured], Practice Head, BSS, Analysys Mason finds that "The value of the worldwide telecoms software market grew by 7.0% (or USD1.6 billion) between 2012 and 2013, from USD23.1 billion to USD24.8 billion. The overall market is still highly fragmented: the top-six suppliers accounted for just 48.6% of the market, and no supplier had a share of more than 12.0%."

• Ericsson increased its leading market share position in 2013 as it continued to integrate the ConceptWave Software and Telcordia Technologies product lines into its OSS/BSS solution sets and expand its contracts with Tier 1 and 2 communications service provider (CSP) customer
   
• Amdocs’ revenue growth was slightly below the market average and the rates achieved by the other top four vendors. However, it remained strong in revenue management and service fulfilment, and maintained its second-place position in the overall telecoms software market.
   
• Strong growth in the network management system (NMS) and SDP segments has increased Huawei Technologies’ market share to 9.6%.
    
• Oracle continued to increase its share, driven by the integration of its service fulfilment and BSS (notably Siebel CRM) products, and to capitalise on its strong brand in emerging markets. Oracle’s revenue is growing at a higher rate than any of the other top-six vendors.
   
• Alcatel-Lucent and Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN) both lost market share following another challenging year of flat revenue in a growing market. NSN’s loss is largely the result of the sale of its BSS unit to Redknee.

See "Telecoms software: worldwide market shares 2013" - here. 

[Infonetics]: VoLTE Slows down the IMS Market (led By Huawei)

A new report by Diane Myers, principal analyst for VoIP, UC, and IMS, Infonetics Research finds that deployments of VoLTE services slows down the IMS equipment market - "The global service provider VoIP and IMS market totaled $878 million in 2Q14, down 6% from 2Q13, and down 12% sequentially .. Huawei and Metaswitch are the standout IMS/VoIP vendors in 2Q14, bucking the down quarter"

"To date, nationwide launches of voice over LTE (VoLTE) have taken place only in small countries and city-states such as South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong .. Larger nationwide launches of VoLTE in the U.S. and Japan are expected to begin toward the end of 2014; this, in addition to the activity of operators in Europe, Canada, and other parts of Asia, will fuel IMS equipment related to VoLTE in 2015.

The large network equipment vendors—Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, and Nokia—are benefitting from VoLTE-related activity and product sets that extend beyond IMS". 

See "Service provider VoIP and IMS market enters period of correction after ramp-up to VoLTE" - here.

Survey: Operators Satisfaction from OSS/BSS Vendors

Jason Marcheck [pictured], Research Director, Current Analysis, published a summary of a "OSS/BSS purchase drivers and vendor satisfaction from large operators around the globe representing approximately half of the global telecom CapEx spend".

The main conclusion is - "The companies that topped the list in questions related to vendor satisfaction seem to be better known as large SI players than as OSS/BSS specialists"

Jason describes his thoughts on the grades and concludes - "I hear a lot of OSS/BSS vendors beam with pride that that they are “product companies,” with the clear implication being that operators value the product more than the SI that comes in and pulls it all together. That is a good story. However, our results say that delivery matters most" 

See "OSS/BSS Vendor Satisfaction – Are “Product Companies” Missing the Boat on Delivery?" - here.

Nokia: VoLTE is Doing Better than OTT's VoIP Under Load

Gerald Reddig [pictured], continues its story on Nokia's testing of VoLTE vs. OTT VoIP [see "NSN: VoLTE Beats OTT VoIP 4:0!" - here].

The first report showed clear advantages to VoLTE in battery, bandwidth and signaling consumption.

However ... "These tests, however, were conducted under ideal radio conditions with no network load. The Smart Labs team was curious what the results would be with a more realistic scenario. To find out, the team tested both services again – but this time placed the system under various non-Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR) loads, including best-effort services such as file downloads, e-mail and Internet browsing, and with poor radio conditions. It turns out that VoLTE voice quality is not affected at all by non-GBR traffic thanks to Quality of Service (QoS) configuration, so VoLTE voice quality was kept at a good level"

"It turns out that VoLTE voice quality is not affected at all by non-GBR traffic thanks to Quality of Service (QoS) configuration, so VoLTE voice quality was kept at a good level". 

See "Which is better, VoIP or VoLTE? A reality check" - here.

TM Deployments [309]: Zain [Saudi Arabia] Trials Nokia's Liquid Applications

Nokia announced that "Liquid Applications, a Nokia solution which enables innovative services and revolutionizes the mobile broadband customer experience, was successfully demonstrated by Zain KSA and Nokia in Saudi Arabia last week. The demonstration was first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa, and was carried out in Zain’s live network, powered by Nokia’s radio and core network elements. The demonstration showed improved throughput and more efficient transmission between the base station and core network".

"Liquid Applications, an industry first solution, brings superior services to mobile broadband customers. This is achieved by bringing applications, services and content into the base station to allow local storage, along with access to real-time radio and network information. This turns base stations into hubs for local service creation and delivery".

See also 'Rumors: NSN's Liquid Applications Uses Saguna's Technology" - here.

At the end of Q1, 2014, KSA had 8.4M active subscribers, the 3rd largest MNO in Saudi Arabia (17% market share). 94% werepre-paid customers and data revenues rose by 52% compared to the same quarters in 2013.

KSA has close to 6,000 network sites.

See "Zain KSA, Nokia run Liquid Applications on live network, a first for Middle East & Africa" - here.