Virgin Media O2 and Crown Commercial Service have inked a new Memorandum of Understanding aimed at enhancing technological and telecommunications solutions to bolster digitalisation efforts within the UK Government and the wider public sector. CCS, a government body responsible for aiding public sector procurement, has been pivotal in organizing the purchase of common goods and services across various organizations.
Quickline, the UK broadband operator, has successfully connected the initial homes to its Project Gigabit-funded full fibre network in Yorkshire, achieving this milestone less than three months after securing the contract. This achievement, although modest in scale, signifies a promising acceleration in the UK government’s fibre broadband initiative.
Deutsche Telekom, the German telecommunications giant, is ramping up its international wholesale services with a focus on the emerging API (Application Programming Interface) ecosystem. The company’s Global Carrier division has introduced a suite of services known as Global Carrier Digital Services, providing wholesale customers with access to a range of APIs to enhance their own offerings.
Indonesian telecommunications giant Axiata and conglomerate Sinar Mas are in talks to explore merging their respective operations in Indonesia. The potential merger would involve combining XL Axiata, owned by Axiata, with Smartfren, the mobile network subsidiary of Sinar Mas.
EXA Infrastructure, a leading digital infrastructure platform facilitating connections between Europe and North America, has unveiled plans for a significant expansion in North America. The company’s latest move involves the introduction of a new route linking Ashburn and Atlanta, aiming to bolster its infrastructure presence in the region.
In a strategic move to bolster its network reach, alternative fibre builder CityFibre has successfully acquired Lit Fibre, marking the first step in its plan to consolidate within the UK’s burgeoning altnet sector. Lit Fibre, known for its vertically integrated model encompassing both network construction and ISP services, currently serves over 220,000 premises across more than 20 towns in several regions.
The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has launched fresh consultations on proposals to prolong spectrum usage rights for major telecom operators, potentially deferring a competitive auction process until the next decade. This move has reignited tensions with market entrant 1&1, which has previously contested similar initiatives.
T-Mobile US and Verizon are reportedly in talks to acquire UScellular, with negotiations underway to divide the telco’s assets between them. According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, both major mobile network operators (MNOs) are strategizing separate deals to secure portions of UScellular’s operations.
Countries across East and Southern Africa are grappling with a widespread internet outage caused by faults in several submarine cables. According to Cloudflare Radar, which tracks internet disruptions, Tanzania is among the hardest hit, experiencing a significant drop in internet traffic to only 30% of its normal levels.
Black Box, a renowned provider of communication and technology solutions, has announced the inauguration of its state-of-the-art Hyperscale Data Center of Excellence (DCoE) in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. This milestone marks over three decades of Black Box’s presence in Minnesota and underlines its commitment to pioneering innovation and excellence in data center services and the broader technology sector.
