Multinational wireless communications engineering firm SkyMax Network has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Swedish equipment manufacturer Ericsson to create a partnership aimed at building a next generation 5G broadband network, including a digital services delivery platform, across sub-Saharan Africa. The MoU is reportedly the result of a two-year collaboration between the two parties and will see the Swedish firm acting as SkyMax’s trusted partner for network supply, rollout and optimisation, and for managed services. In a press release the two firms noted: ‘Ericsson will explore partnership opportunities in end-to-end business and technology solutions including Radio Access and Mobile Transport network solutions, core network and provisioning systems, Business Support Systems, and Managed Services including Cognitive Software network optimizations and Business Consulting Support.’

The pair went on to note: ‘SkyMax’s 5G Digital Service Delivery Platform (5G DSDP) is its high speed data network that offers diverse offerings such as network slicing, ultra-low latency, Internet of Things (IoTs), edge computing, cloud computing, cloud telephony and Network Exposure Function or NEF (NEF enables third-party developers and enterprises to create and tailor their own network services on-demand on SkyMax 5G DSDP), all of which create a host of new opportunities.’ SkyMax hopes to expand the development of broadband networks in sub-Saharan Africa by sharing its 5G DSDP with incumbent service providers by using its 5G network slicing technologies.