Nokia Siemens Networks have installed a single subscriber database that breaks down the complex telecommunication legacy infrastructure by eliminating multiple costs incurred to manage voicemail, SMS services, fraud protection and identity management as separate entities. Telcom companies will now have to innovate around a single subscriber-centric network system and store such databases in their arsenal if they want to survive. The subscriber centric services will build the bridge between telcos and the internet world.

As 3G networks gains life in Africa, operators have significant benefits from introducing a single common subscriber database which has one point that holds consistent sets of data, flexibility to change and has possible expansion of these data models.

Nokia Siemens Networks opened its headquarter office in Nairobi to serve the African region. The company’s focus for Kenya is mainly customer centric. Apart from having the single subscriber databases for the Kenyan telcos, they will deploy over 1000 base stations country wide to serve various subscribers.

“Kenya provides a central location for travel, a well educated pool of local talent and a sturdy telecommunication infrastructure,” says Dimitri Diliani who heads the African region. The company chose Kenya as part of the renewed focus to serve the African continent.

Unlike previous base stations that were as large as refrigerators; Nokia Siemens Networks have reduced their base stations to the size of two VCRs. In addition, they have cut down electricity power consumed by 3G and 2G base stations from 4000w to 800w. With the need to save energy and maintain a green enviroment, this is an added value to Africa’s ecosystem.

The company has worked on a similar project in Tanzania where they built a green solution that uses smart technology to provide power for the stations. Generators are run for 2 hours and solar power for the rest of the day.

In addition, the company will provide training opportunities to locals who will then maintain these systems. They also have a strong base of operations in Morocco and South Africa to support the region.

This defines the future of Kenya and Africa as a whole especially with the consumerisation of hi-tech communication gadgets which rely on the networks. Telecommunication companies need to prepare and provide 100% uptime on their networks.