BT has committed £4 million to boost apprenticeships among SMEs, charities, and public sector organizations in the UK. This investment aims to enhance digital skills and support the recruitment and training of up to 550 apprentices over the next four years.
Vodafone has announced an ambitious plan to launch 300 Business IT Hubs across the UK, aimed at empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with comprehensive IT and communication solutions. This initiative seeks franchise partners to establish these hubs, which will function as independent entities under the Vodafone brand, providing localized IT support.
In a recent analysis, Vodafone has highlighted a significant opportunity cost for UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to the sluggish deployment of standalone 5G technology. According to the telecommunications giant, UK businesses are forgoing approximately £8.6 billion annually in potential productivity gains, a situation that also threatens the country’s competitiveness in Europe.
At the European Conference on Optical Communication, Huawei’s cutting-edge FTTR solution solidified its standing as the industry leader by winning the Most Innovative PON/5G/FTTx Product Award. Catering to a wide range of users—from homes to small businesses—Huawei’s solution offers superior bandwidth, minimal latency, uninterrupted Wi-Fi connectivity, and self-management capabilities, making it a favorite among global broadband users and operators. Moreover, it’s built on a point-to-multipoint all-optical networking architecture, providing ultra-gigabit Wi-Fi networks. Remarkably, the FTTR rollout is efficient and aesthetically pleasing, using a unique self-adhesive transparent optical fiber with fast deployment times.
Development Capital has announced a €6 million investment in Internet Protocol Telecom Limited (IP Telecom), a leading Irish provider of cloud-based voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and unified communications telephony services to SME & Enterprise customers in Ireland. The minority investment will be used to accelerate the company’s organic and acquisitive expansion plans in the business telephony sector, with intention to increase annual revenues from a forecast of €6m in 2023 to €11m in FY2024. The investment in IP Telecom brings Development Capital’s total investments in Irish SME’s to €100m since 2013.
Vodafone has launched Vodafone CybSafe, a cybersecurity platform tackling threats linked to human error. This solution focuses on boosting cybersecurity awareness among employees through AI, data analysis, and behavioral science. Designed for SMEs, it aims to prevent cyber breaches and enhance security practices in businesses lacking dedicated security teams.
Vodafone has expanded its strategic partnership with Microsoft, integrating Microsoft 365 Copilot AI across 68,000 employees to boost productivity and digital efficiency. Incorporating generative AI into various business areas will streamline tasks, allowing employees to focus on more creative endeavors.
Germany is investing €5 billion in a new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Dresden through the European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) initiative. The facility will leverage advanced technologies like FinFET and aims to reduce Europe’s dependence on U.S. and Chinese semiconductor imports. This strategic move promises to enhance Germany’s role in the global semiconductor industry.
Barcelona-based Sateliot has launched four LEO nanosatellites via SpaceX to expand its satellite IoT services. This move aims to connect eight million devices and secure €30 million in funding. Utilizing a 5G core through AWS, Sateliot’s NB-IoT constellation targets 100% global coverage and offers cost-saving IoT solutions.
SonicWall’s CSE is offering secure, cost-effective remote and internet access for cloud migrations. Alphabet is negotiating to acquire cybersecurity firm Wiz for $23 billion. Cresta’s 2024 State of the Agent Report shows U.S. contact center agents are enthusiastic about generative AI. Spanish trade unions have accepted Zegona Communications’ revised workforce reduction plan for Vodafone Spain.
