INDUSTRY WATCH
Alex Russell , Regional Sales Manager , SADC at Nutanix
Portability of licenses across on-premises and cloud platforms in Africa
In recent years , the channel has been looking for a way of exploring different upgrade models , ecosystems , and licensing options . While the pandemic can be considered a catalyst , the reality is that the seeds of this digital transformation were planted long before the pandemic shut the world down . The challenge , especially for developing markets , is that cloud services introduce a new level of complexity .
Research has found that demand for the cloud will be driven by cybersecurity , sustainability , and AI trends . It stands to reason that African enterprises want flexibility in infrastructure to take advantage of these trends . Whether this is from an on-premises or working with public or private cloud providers , businesses are looking to realise the actual value of a hybrid multi-cloud policy . For this to happen , they need access to a software layer across cloud services .
One of the biggest problems facing African enterprises is that most vendors tend to charge twice for each cloud deployment . There are separate licenses for on-premises and public cloud solutions . For example , if a customer has invested in on-premises licenses , these cannot be repurposed for public cloud solutions .
As you can imagine , this creates a challenge for those companies wanting to benefit from hybrid cloud environments . They want to invest in the cloud and future-proof their systems , maintain their existing investments , and double up on licensing costs . At a foundational level , licenses in this new world must be flexible . If a customer decides to shift to a multi-cloud environment , why should they pay twice ?
Secondly , while midband spectrum , 1-6GHz is considered ideal for 5G , even within this range , the highest frequency currently in use in South Africa is 3.5GHz . The higher the frequency , the lower the range and the poorer the building penetration . Allocating the upper 6GHz band to 5G would exacerbate these issues , making it dysfunctional for all intents and purposes .
Thirdly , there is no IMT chipsets or equipment available for 6GHz , and manufacturing it at scale would be costly and time-consuming . Moreover , there is no incentive to produce this equipment for regions like the Americas and South Korea , where the entire band is designated for unlicensed Wi-Fi . Yet it is manufacturers of this equipment that stand to be the biggest winners from the flawed WRC decision .
It stands to reason that the WRC ’ s decision to allocate the upper 6GHz band to cellular operators in Africa was based on flawed research and will ultimately benefit no one . The push for this allocation is driven by equipment manufacturers eager to sell gear , rather than the actual needs of network carriers or consumers .
But there is a better solution that would benefit everyone if the decision were reversed and the upper 6GHz band was allocated for unlicensed Wi-Fi use , and it already exists .
The channel can fundamentally reshape how licensing works by adding value through licensing flexibility and helping optimise workloads . But for this to happen , vendors must enable partners to drive infrastructure in a way that suits their businesses .
The carrot for partners is increased service revenue . Workload optimisation is increasingly vital to getting value out of cloud investment . Not all workloads are equal . African enterprises need help in understanding this and recognising the benefits . As well as cost , there are added advantages in reduced energy consumption , faster throughput , more unified data , and greater productivity .
A portable license is a bring your own license agreement , BYOL . This enables the portability of on-premises licenses into a public cloud environment . At the same time , this BYOL supports application migration and management across multiple clouds at no extra licensing cost .
Yes , it may signal a transformation of the traditional approach to some . But it comes down to providing companies in general , and the channel in particular , with the means to create a future-proof hybrid cloud environment without adding to the existing complexities of licensing .
Wi-Fi-cellular handover allows for seamless switching between Wi-Fi and cellular networks without user intervention , using Hotspot 2.0 and Passpoint for automatic authentication . It has been successfully implemented globally , where users have benefitted from improved connectivity for years .
Not only does this technology improve call quality and offer coverage in hard to reach areas , but it also frees up licensed spectrum for the cellular networks . In South Africa , despite setbacks like the bankruptcy of the Vast public Wi-Fi network , which was testing this technology , Wi-Fi Handover presents a compelling reason to rethink spectrum allocation .
Thus , the debate over the 6GHz spectrum is far from over . For the sake of better connectivity and more efficient use of resources , it is crucial to reconsider the allocation of the upper 6GHz band and prioritise unlicensed Wi-Fi , a proven and necessary technology for the future , rather than the failed 5G experiment . p
66 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com