< PreviousTHE SECRET TO 5G SECURITY? TURN THE NETWORK INTO A SENSOR Keeping up with the networks of the future, is complex said Henrique Vale, MEA head of Nokia Software We are about to make the leap from being a civilisa- tion that uses networks to one that runs on them in a fundamental and inextricable way. Intelligent, ‘human-critical’ networks built on 5G technology stand to make every aspect of our lives smarter, safer and more sustainable. They will combine high data-rate, instantaneous communications with low-latency network performance and massive connectivity, enabling new ap- plications for everything from eHealth and autonomous vehicles to smart cities, smart homes and the Internet of Things (IoT). The more we depend on networks, the more we need to make sure they’re protected. The next generation of networks will have to be more secure than any that has come before. Instead of being applied to network services after the fact, security will need to be built in from the start — with the entire network acting as one giant, unified sensor to keep infrastructure and services safe. SECURITY HAS TO KEEP UP WITH NETWORK SERVICES With 5G, there will be more networks doing more complex things and delivering more kinds of services than we’re used to. “Slic- ing” will become the norm: virtualisation that allows network resources to be shared with third parties, with guaranteed qual- ity of service (QoS) and isolation. Having end-to-end slices that terminate in private networks will increase the attack surface service providers need to protect: beyond securing the network as a whole, they will have to protect every individual slice, each with its own distinct requirements. Another change that will require provid- ers to fundamentally shift how they think about security is the nature of the services themselves. Today’s network services tend 20www.commsmea.com INTERVIEW NOKIA SOFTWARE CommsMEA November 2019not to change once they’ve been designed, and they operate more or less in isolation from each other. They’re static and siloed. But sliced-based 5G network services will be incredibly dynamic, responding to evolving conditions in real time. For example, imagine a remote worksite with autonomous vehicles transporting people or materials from place to place. To keep passengers safe, those vehicles need to be able to respond very quickly to shifting conditions — whether that’s avoiding a herd of animals on the road or adjusting for weather-related hazards like flooding or black ice. Some of this will hap- pen inside the vehicle and some of it will happen in the network. Vehicles’ onboard sensors and processors will combine with the network and control mechanisms in a single, end-to-end ecosystem. Security has to extend across this entire ecosystem and be as flexible and adaptive as the services it’s protecting. ANALYTICS AND AUTOMATION ARE VITAL What does flexible, adaptive, end-to-end security look like in a 5G scenario — and how can service providers build it in from the start? The first prerequisite is visibility from the device up through the network and into the cloud. Without the ability to collect, correlate and analyse data from end to end, security threats could easily be missed. In a way, with 5G the entire network becomes a sensor (or, really, a series of sensors), drawing data from various systems and devices to provide a complete, comprehen- sive, real-time view for maximum security. 5G security operations also need to be predictive and automated. That means using machine learning, multidimensional analytics and threat intelligence to cor- relate data from multiple domains and sources, catch anomalies, provide con- textual intelligence about threats, weigh business risks and recommend (or enact) mitigation steps. Analytics are important because many threats are designed to stay undetected for as long as possible, under the radar of the network security operation centre or hid- ing in the information noise of minor, rela- tively harmless attacks. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) can discover these kinds of ‘lurking’ malicious activities and trigger counter-measures. EMBEDDING SECURITY IN THE NETWORK While firewalls and other defences will still be important to help stop hackers before they access the network, attacks will inevi- tably get through. This is especially true in 5G because the network will not have conventional boundaries: it will be an open ecosystem in which all kinds of unmanaged third-party devices are connected. Strong security should be provided within the network to protect data and in- frastructure. Integrated security workflow automation and orchestration are key to this, transitioning from static defences to agile, adaptive, accurate threat responses. Ultimately, these security capabilities add up to a set of required applications: active monitoring and workflow orchestra- tion, privileged access management and analytics of user behaviour, certification and management of digital identities of network entities, machine learning of traffic patterns for threat detection, auto- mated incident responses, and more. DESIGNING FOR SECURITY Service providers want to engage the mar- ket and monetise the investments they’re making in their networks to deliver on the new 5G use cases. As they do, they will need end-to-end security performance — at scale, from the edge to the core — to defend against advanced, persistent threats. The new 5G security approach integrates and automates 5G network security by treating the entire network as a sensor. Data taken from existing systems is used to give a much greater level of information. For that, security has to be provided at four key layers: At the base level, security must be in place for both the service network and the cloud infrastructure. Moving up the stack, the entire infrastructure — span- ning software, virtual machines, hardware and devices — also needs to be “trustable”. Automated security management and orchestration provide frictionless security across all these dynamically changing elements, and all sensitive data must be secure, providing access control, privacy and regulatory compliance. Finally, to proactively detect and re- spond to security threats, security-related intelligence has to be shared across all the parts of the network — among suppliers, partners and customers. At Nokia, we’re working with standardi- sation bodies, partners and customers to build integrated 5G end-to-end security that applies across all the layers of the network. We also have an advanced secu- rity testing and verification laboratory to address the critical security needs of end- to-end networks. The job of security teams in the 5G era will be to limit how and where hackers can attack networks and services. They’ll also need to be more accurate in determining which threats are real and which can be ignored and speed up mitigation when a defensive response is needed. We’re com- mitted to providing to provide a robust 5G infrastructure that is resilient for these new apps and services. Analytics are important because many threats are designed to stay undetected for as long as possible, under the radar of the network security operation centre or hiding in the information noise of minor, relatively harmless attacks. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) can discover these kinds of ‘lurking’ malicious activities and trigger counter-measures.” Henrique Vale, MEA leader at Nokia Software 21www.commsmea.com INTERVIEW NOKIA SOFTWARE CommsMEA November 2019NAVIGATING THE 5G SPECTRUM The European Space Centre is uneasy about allowing 5G onto its frequencies, citing disruption to existing services. Jawad Abbassi, head of MENA GSMA discusses this bump in the road of 5G roll-out 5G is hailed as the gateway to un- imaginable connectivity across the globe, opening up revenue streams for business and telcos alike. According to the July 2019 5G Spectrum GSMA Public Policy Position report, 5G is expected to support signifi- cantly faster mobile broadband speeds and lower latencies than previous generations while also enabling the full potential of the Internet of Things. Autonomous vehicles, smart-cities and fibre-over-the-air are just a few of the connectivity abilities that 5G is able to support. 5G will be the heart of the future of communications. The GSMA report states that 5G is also essential for preserving the future of today’s most popular mobile applications – such as on-demand video – by ensuring that the growing uptake and usage can be properly sustained. However, the connectivity of the future is being challenged by European regula- tors. The speed, reach and quality of 5G services depends heavily on governments and regulators supporting timely access to the right amount and type of affordable spectrum, and under the right conditions, according to the GSMA report. The report states that 5G spectrum awards have already begun and the varia- tion in the amount of spectrum assigned, and the prices paid, means the potential of 5G services will vary between countries. This, in turn, directly impacts the com- petitiveness of national digital economies. “5G needs wider frequency bands to support higher speeds and larger amounts of traffic. Regulators that make available 80-100 MHz of spectrum per operator in prime 5G mid-bands [e.g. 3.5 GHz] and around 1 GHz per operator in vital mil- limetre wave bands [i.e. above 24 GH], will best support the very fastest 5G services,” said Jawad Abbassi, head of Middle East and North Africa, GSMA. 5G needs spectrum within three key frequency ranges to deliver widespread coverage and support all use cases: • Sub-1GHz spectrum to extend high- speed 5G mobile broadband coverage across urban, suburban and rural areas and to help support Internet of Things (IoT) services. Jawad Abbassi, head of MENA GSMA said that 5G will not affect other services that already exist on Europe’s radio frequencies. 22www.commsmea.com INTERVIEW JAWAD ABBASSI CommsMEA November 2019• Spectrum from 1-6 GHz to offer a good mix of coverage and capacity for 5G services. • Spectrum above 6 GHz for 5G services such as ultra-high-speed mobile broad- band. According to Abbassi, it is essential that governments support the 26 GHz, 40 GHz (37-43.5 GHz) and 66-71 GHz bands for mobile at WRC-19. A sufficient amount of harmonised 5G spectrum in these bands is critical to enabling the fastest 5G speeds, low-cost devices and international roaming and to minimising the cross-border interference. EUROPEAN FREQUENCY RESTRICTIONS Currently, it is not all smooth sailing, the European Space Centre is claiming that 5G systems will harm other services, such as weather forecasting. “The mobile industry has already dem- onstrated within leading international standards bodies that 5G can be used safely alongside other services, including weather sensing services, commercial sat- ellite, radar and other applications using adjacent airwaves. The weather sensing community is basing its research on a decade-old scrapped program of weather sensors that were never deployed. Their arguments fail to take into account how 5G actually works. There are tried and tested approaches to managing inter- ference issues without adopting overly restrictive protections,” stated Abbassi. “These mmWave bands offer the highest performance of 5G with the highest speeds and largest capacity. Spectrum is finite and there is little usable spectrum that has not been put into use of some descrip- tion: we need to share it fairly. This is why it is important to follow studies which make realistic assumptions about how networks will function and make the best use of the spectrum for all. This approach is being followed in the Americas, Africa and the Middle East but we need to find a global solution. Large ‘guard bands’ will be needed – that is empty tranches of unused spectrum separating services - if we have technical limits which are too severe. This will restrict the economic benefit we can gain from finite spectrum resources.” Restricting the roll out of ultra-fast 5G networks puts at risk the large socio-eco- nomic benefits citizens and businesses are expected to gain from 5G, noted Abbassi. The mobile industry is expected to add $565 billion to global GDP and $152 billion in tax revenue from 2020 to 2034 from mmWave spectrum alone. Countries risk losing out on these gains if mobile operators don’t get access to this vital spectrum. “The process to make spectrum avail- able is a long-term undertaking affecting The mobile industry has already demonstrated within leading international standards bodies that 5G can be used safely alongside other services, including weather sensing services, commercial satellite, radar and other applications using adjacent airwaves. ” Jawad Abbassi, head of MENA GSMA all governments. As evidenced in the co- ordination processes for 3G and 4G spec- trum, the ITU process is time intensive. It takes years to study and agree on harmo- nised use and allocation of the bands, as well as the time for national governments to adapt and adopt these bands into their national spectrum regulatory framework. This shows that it can take 11 years + for spectrum to be used from WRC agenda item definition,” he said. The identification of mmWave is an agenda item for WRC-19. The build-up to WRC-19 is a four-year process and this issue has been the subject of intense discussion throughout. WRC-19 is the final decision after a lot of analysis and technical study. However, if the European Space Centre upholds its objections to 5G utilising Eu- ropean frequencies, 5G would not stop in its tracks. Although 5G will require access to a range of complementary spectrum bands, 5G’s highest performance levels and most ground-breaking services will only be possible using mmWave spectrum. Identification of these higher bands at WRC-19 will realise the full potential of 5G with faster speeds, lower latencies and higher data rates. The GSMA’s Study on Socio-Economic Benefits of 5G Services Provided in mmWave Bands report highlights the use cases that will rely on mmWave. 5G will change the way the world connects, works, and plays. Copyright: Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash 23www.commsmea.com INTERVIEW JAWAD ABBASSI CommsMEA November 2019DORALEH CONTAINER TERMINAL (DCT) IMPROVES OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY & SECURITY WITH INFINET WIRELESS Second largest port on the African continent gets modernised Opened in December 2008, DCT is the most techno- logically advanced container terminal and the second largest (by capacity) on the African continent. The most significant characteristics of this port include a 1.6 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (or TEU) cargo handling capacity, more than 1000 metres of quay length, eight Super Post Panamax quay cranes with twin lift ca- pacity and 18 metres draught, allowing the port to accommodate the latest generation of cargo vessels. LEGACY NETWORK INCAPABLE OF SUPPORTING KEY OPERATIONS The old adage of ‘Time is Money’ is par- ticularly true for port operations where the ability to manage container inventories, conduct inspections and load and unload ships quickly, efficiently and safely, can have a significant impact on the port’s bot- tom line. To conduct these operations, DCT per- sonnel use a series of hand-held terminals (HHTs) and vehicle-mounted terminals (VMTs) to communicate with each other and with the DCT central control room. The HHTs are used by the inspection team to conduct random checks of containers, and by the dispatch team to ensure that containers are either sent to the right storage location or loaded onto the correct vessel. Similarly, as their name suggests, the VMTs are mounted on the handling equipment (cranes, reachstakers, trucks) and provide the driver with instructions on where to pick-up or drop-off containers. For the backhauling of data from these terminals, DCT relied, in the past, on a legacy narrow-band network. While the network did provide extensive coverage, it left much to be desired in terms of reliabil- ity and bandwidth. Abdourahman Houssein, IT manager at DCT, explained, “Real-time data transmis- sion is vital to our operations, particularly during peak hours when we are operating at full capacity. Unfortunately, our legacy network had a bandwidth limitation of less than 50Kbps, which severely impacted our personnel’s ability to conduct basic operations efficiently and effectively. For example, there were several instances where it would take up to about 10-15 seconds for data on the HHTs and VMTs to get updated.” The legacy network also posed two other significant challenges. For one, its low bandwidth meant that the network could not support voice, video and business applications. Its inability to support video streams meant that the port could not de- ploy a 24/7 security surveillance system - a must-have for any modern day port. On the ground, the port employees were also not able to use the mobile functionality of busi- ness applications. Secondly, the network Djibouti is a lifeline to land-locked Ethiopia. 24www.commsmea.com CASE STUDY INFINET CommsMEA November 2019architecture precluded a connection between the port itself and its two remote offices. For this, DCT once again used the local operator’s network, which resulted in a low bandwidth, unreliable and extremely expensive ad-hoc solution. INFINET – HIGH-BANDWIDTH, RO- BUST, RELIABLE, SECURE As a cornerstone of the Djibouti economy and a lifeline to neighbouring landlocked Ethiopia (which has gone as far as to build a dedicated railway line to transport goods safely and quickly between Ethiopia and DCT), it was clear to the DCT management team that they needed to upgrade their network infrastructure as a matter of very high priority. Tasked with this challenging undertak- ing, the DCT management enlisted the services of E2E, one of the region’s leading system integrators for the telecommunica- tions industry. After a through site survey, the E2E field manager realised that a pure WiFi solution would not be able to support all the port requirements, for example, data for the HHTs and VMTs, voice, video for remote surveillance and backup for the fibre connecting all onsite offices. With years of experience deploying wireless so- lutions and a track record of several high- profile projects across the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region, there was no doubt in E2E’s report to DCT that the final solution would have to be based on a mix of InfiNet’s InfiLINK XG, the company’s industry lead- ing point-to-point (PTP) wireless solution, along with the InfiMAN 2x2, its point-to- multipoint (PTMP) solution, a mix which would provide DCT the robust, reliable, secure, high-bandwidth infrastructure it needed to support all port operations, both now and well into the future. Over the next nine months, working closely with DCT, the E2E and InfiNet teams jointly planned, designed and vali- dated the network. To ensure maximum coverage, the project team strategically deployed a number of 300 Mbps base stations to provide coverage across all corners of the port. These base stations were then wirelessly connected to multiple subscriber terminals, providing on-site backhauling of the WiFi network as well as to supporting video transmissions for security surveillance. In addition to the onsite network, DCT deployed a number of InfiLINK XG units delivering up to 500 Mbps and connecting the central port facilities with two remote DCT offices. Finally, to manage the entire network, DCT selected InfiNet’s InfiMONITOR network monitoring system. STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR FUTURE GROWTH In operation since December 2017, the InfiNet Wireless network has far exceeded DCT’s expectations and the requirements detailed in the initial RFP. “At the top of our requirements list for the new communications platform, was the ability to ensure seamless real-time data exchange over WiFi for our HHT and VMT operators. For this, we had spec’d out a bandwidth requirement of 50 Mbps but the capability of the InfiNet network to support speeds up to 300 Mbps, coupled with the extremely robust and reliable design, means our operators can now com- municate 24/7, with zero downtime or loss of connectivity. This additional bandwidth has also allowed us to extend coverage for voice and data to our Quay cranes which is not only a major bonus for our operational efficiency but also allows us to signifi- cantly reduce costs associated with voice telephony over legacy mobile network,” Houssein explained. InfiNet’s network monitoring system, the InfiMONITOR, allows the port’s IT team to have 24/7 visibility of the entire network, automate the management of the links and keep track of several key perfor- mance parameters such as utilisation level of each communication link, status of all local and remote network nodes or cluster of nodes, radio signal level, CPU utilisation level, etc. Security, both in terms of securing access to the network and physical security of the port, has been another major advantage of the InfiNet Wireless network. For one, un- like the legacy narrow band network which had few, if any security features at all, the InfiNet units come with in-built bullet- proof network access control. In today’s cyber-climate where hackers are looking for the slightest vulnerability to gain access to an organisations’ critical assets, this high-level security benefit is paramount. Secondly, the high-bandwidth network can support real-time video transmission which has allowed DCT to deploy a surveil- lance system platform across the entire area of port. “Over the next few years, we plan on expanding the port’s footprint to include, among other things, a dedicated railway line. We are also planning to add more remote offices to support our growing staff and cargo handling. The future-proofed and scalable design of the InfiNet solution allows us to easily expand our coverage to include these future port extensions. With InfiNet Wireless now being the backbone of our operations, I am confident that we will be able to deliver our aggressive growth plans and firmly establish ourselves as one of the key ports-of-call in Africa,” conclud- ed Houssein. Doraleh Terminal Project Requirements • Reliable, high-capacity network to support the transmission of data, video and voice • Easy to deploy and maintain network • Future-proofed to meet port expansion requirements Solution • InfiLINK XG • InfiMAN 2x2 • InfiMONITOR Benefits • Extremely stable, secure, high- bandwidth network • 24/7 real-time voice/data com- munication, allowing significant improvement in operational efficiency • Ability to deploy video-surveil- lance of entire port 25www.commsmea.com CASE STUDY INFINET CommsMEA November 2019ZAIN KSA OPENS UP 5G TO 20 CITIES IN SAUDI Zain KSA CEO Sultan Al Deghaither details the progress of this massive project Our 5G journey started in early 2018, as we wanted to capi- talise on the potential of this new technology. To implement this, we built upon our virtual network environment and software development capabilities. During the trial phase, our team developed an understanding of the technology, its challenges and its potential applications, while working with our part- ners to fine tune 5G capabilities for both hardware and software. During the beginning of 2019, we acquired a new infrastructure spec- trum based on our strategy to bring 5G to the market, this was followed by the deployment of more than 2000 sites, resulting in the achievement of the first 5G voice call in the region in May 2019. Zain KSA officially launched commercial services for the public on 5 October, 2019, and it currently offers 5G services within 20 cities in the Kingdom, with a plan to launch six more throughout the 2019 calendar year. This will be supported by the launch of a further 600 sites. The launch of 5G is part of a multi-year plan aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which is to enable a fully inclusive digital society. We intend to endorse our country’s clear targets for connectivity and available bandwidth, with Zain striving to deliver them on time. As we progress, we are harvesting immediate results , which are reflected on the Speed Test Global In- dex, where KSA has rapidly evolved during recent months, and the trend is expected to last, with the contribution of our 5G com- mercial service. 5G will bring about substantial change for the Kingdom’s telecom industry, creat- ing new business models and unlocking opportunities for many sectors such as; financial, ICT, agricultural, tourism, enter- tainment, automotive, health, education and public sectors. The technology is also expected to contribute significantly to the country’s economy, creating thousands Zain KSA CEO Sultan Al Deghaither 26www.commsmea.com CASE STUDY ZAIN KSA CommsMEA November 2019of new jobs. Zain KSA has worked on the strategy, design, planning and optimisa- tion of its 5G network. We hold however a long-standing successful partnership with Huawei and Nokia, who have been largely instrumental in the swift delivery and implementation of our 5G network. ENABLING THE ROLL-OUT Given the strict timelines Zain KSA had for launching the network, we faced several challenges to achieve our target and vision. We wanted to ensure that the consumer’s 5G experience was at its best in terms of quality, service, and coverage availability from day one. We owe it to our diverse teams for working very long hours to make sure we got 5G off to a very suc- cessful start. We began our journey with exten- sive research of the 5G ecosystem, and discovered that our competitors were learning equally as fast. We concluded that we would have to try new things and keep learning if we wanted to succeed. Our research included lessons learned from earlier positive and negative 5G experi- ences in other parts of the world, before going live. However, no general recipe for success was noted and we had to work on defining our own. The Government and the Regulator here in Saudi Arabia, have been very supportive in ensuring our society reaps the benefits of high connec- tivity and accessibility, enabling a digital society. Zain KSA will continue to steadily expand its 5G network coverage across the Kingdom, enhance its services and launch innovative offerings and solutions. Zain aims to be on par with global digital technology advancements, and offer significant new services to support the networks’ capabilities and coverage, creating value to customers, enterprises, industries, and government. We believe that access to the 5G network offers an optimal telecommunications platform to develop activities in artificial intelligence and virtual reality disciplines. We are confident that our professional team will offer end-to-end 5G networks that are faster, more secure, and capable of revolutionising lives, economies, and societies by creating joyful experiences for our customers in KSA. CUSTOMER FOCUSED The deployment of 5G technology across the Kingdom is expected to contribute towards realising the digital transforma- tion goals specified in Saudi Vision 2030. The technology will allow consumers, enterprises, and government entities to utilise advanced digital solution technolo- gies, including access to new fronts such as rich entertainment content, enabling IoT across multiple sectors, industry 4.0, and smart services. Essentially it will make We achieved remarkable outcomes in a very short time, not only launching 5G connectivity and services in KSA, but ensuring its availability over multiple locations in the country, in what we understand to be one of the largest commercially available deployments in the world.” Zain KSA CEO Sultan Al Deghaither our lives better across work, education, entertainment, security, transportation and government. We achieved remarkable outcomes in a very short time, not only launching 5G connectivity and services in KSA, but ensuring its availability over multiple locations, in what we understand to be one of the largest commercially available deployments in the world. On the global level, we are ensuring that the Saudi vision 2030 is realised, by positioning the Kingdom at the forefront of 5G advancements, with the likes of South Korea, Switzerland, and the USA. This contribution makes us extremely proud. Zain KSA recently inaugurated its 5G network at the Neom Bay Airport, an area regarded as Saudi Arabia’s futur- istic gateway. Zain KSA also showcased technologies that will be enabled by the 5G network during the inauguration ceremony of the Kingdom’s new “welcome the world” tourist visa. We have benefitted greatly from the expertise of our parent company Zain Group. The Group supports Zain KSA to be a leader in the sector and drive technology innovation in the King- dom forward. Zain KSA will continue to enhance its services and launch innovative offerings that guarantee satisfaction for its 8.3 million customers. We are keen to offer 5G services to all business and individual clients through various service packages at competitive rates. We remain committed to investing fur- ther in infrastructure, and developing our services to be on par with global digital technology advancements and will offer remarkable new services to support the 5G network’s capabilities and coverage. 27www.commsmea.com CASE STUDY ZAIN KSA CommsMEA November 2019GITEX 2019 saw the demonstration of flying cars, personal NFC chips, and government smart services Gitex was a showcase for future technology in 2019. GITEX 2019th dt tif fl ii SCI-FI MOVIES PREDICTED GITEX 2019 28CommsMEA November 2019www.commsmea.com EVENTS GITEX REVIEWThe 39th edition of Gitex Technology week was an ode to the future of telecoms, technology, and how the world will oper- ate. Visitors were able to view, participate and learn more about the incredible technological advancements that are becoming available with the advent of 5G. The tech week saw countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and nations across Asia and Africa each bring- ing their own unique take on the future of tech. Saudi Arabia was the official country partner for the event which drew in over 100,000 visitors. The annual tech ‘must-do’ event, held between October 6 and 10, 2019, was themed ‘Synergising the Mind and Tech- nology Economy’. The exhibition was divided into sepa- rate themed categories including artificial intelligence, 5G, future mobility, lifestyle tech, and smart cities. UAE-based telco, Etisalat showcased not only devices, but solutions powered by 5G technology. 5G is the major focus this year for the telecoms provider, with a showcase of digital trans- formation and innovation across industry verticals such as transportation, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, aviation, and oil and gas, according to Etisalat. GITEX 2019 has been a launchpad for some of the world’s most innovative technology, and some of the most innova- tive tech companies have launched their digital propositions. Highlights of this Gitex include some amazing developments that were once only in the realms of the imagination, and dreamed up in the realm of sci-fi. Etisalat showcased a 5G-pow- ered future Etisalat opened the gates to the 5G future with robot vehicles, personal NFC cards, and lifestyle tech designed to make your life easier. We have all watched those movies with autonomous vehicles and implanted tracking devices, but now, they are a reality, with Etisalat taking the lead on introducing almost fantasy technology to UAE audiences at Gitex tech Week 2019. No driver’s license needed? Etisalat showcased the Renault EZ-UL- TIMO, a robo-vehicle equipped with level advanced autonomous driving capability, and the Lazareth Flying Motorcycle, a four-wheeled mechanical sculpture with a V8 Maserati engine that can convert from ride-to-fly mode in approximately 60 seconds, as well as the Hexa aircraft. The EZ-ULTIMO, powered by an all- electric drivetrain, can connect to urban environments and highway infrastruc- ture, and can drive itself without human input, as long as there is a network for it to connect to. Perhaps the off-road version, based on satellites will debut in 2020. To fulfil our inner-geek needs, Etisalat also displayed its LIFT Aircraft Hexa. A drone-like aircraft controlled using a joystick in the cockpit and stabilised by a flight computer. It weighs around 200kg, seats one person and has 18 sets of propel- lers, motors and batteries. In the event of an emergency, flight controllers can take over the aircraft and fly it remotely like a drone. The aircraft can travel just more than 97km/h at its top speed and includes air-cushioned floats, allowing it to land on water if necessary. Going bionic Just when you thought your mobile was the best communications device you had, along comes a bionic communications solution straight out of Star Trek. The new concept, introduced at the 39th Gitex Technology Week gives humans bionic abilities via microchips implanted in their bodies. Etisalat and Swedish company Biohax have launched microchips that can be implanted in your hand, and loaded with personal data, including heath his- tory, allergies, personal passwords, and more. Jowan Osterlund, the founder and CEO of Biohax International said that his firm has manufactured thousands of such chips in Sweden and Europe. The bio-compatible technology, the size of a rice grain is implanted between the thumb and forefinger via an injec- tion, a bit like a vaccine, and is designed to enable seamless digital interaction with most everyday encounters, for example, 29CommsMEA November 2019www.commsmea.com EVENTS GITEX REVIEWNext >