As internet giant Hurricane Electric curbs access to the notorious web forum Kiwi Farms, it raises pivotal discussions around online free speech. However, the Electronic Frontier Foundation forewarns of a hazardous trajectory, as hysteria around controversial platforms could pave the way to excessive intervention from mighty internet infrastructure providers. Meanwhile, the role of such companies in managing online content remains a hot topic.
Infovista is set to revolutionize telecoms with their Ativa™ Suite. Promising to reduce fixed voice blackouts and service disruptions, an impressive aspect of the tech is that it could potentially reduce solution times for CSPs by 66%. This major step towards automation could transform customer relations. While on the other side, milestones such as Ericsson and TDC NET launching Denmark’s first 5G Standalone network, Vodafone initiating the UK’s largest Open RAN rollout, and Vodacom and Eskom venturing into virtual power wheeling, signal a fast-paced evolution of global telecommunications.
In a record-breaking flurry of innovation submissions, the Connected Britain Awards are turning the spotlight on frontrunners shaping the UK’s digital frontier. The anticipation builds as the official shortlist for 2023 announces contenders across 15 award categories.
The France-based Iliad Group has carved a unique path in the European telecommunications landscape, touting its “Iliad way” as the driving force behind its outperformance in the three key markets of France, Italy, and Poland. Iliad reported impressive group organic revenue growth, with France contributing 7.7%, Italy 12.2%, and Poland 5.6% for the first half of 2023.
In a recent announcement, Verizon is set to launch its latest cellphone plan, the Unlimited Ultimate, priced at $90 per month. This development follows the earlier introduction of Verizon’s myPlan lineup. The Unlimited Ultimate plan boasts an array of enhanced features, making it a compelling choice for consumers.
As Hurricane Idalia sets its sights on Florida for this week’s impending landfall, Verizon is taking proactive measures to ensure the readiness of its personnel and resources, poised for rapid deployment to aid in the swift recovery of critical communication infrastructure. With the anticipation of substantial damage caused by the storm’s fierce winds and flooding, Verizon’s network team is preparing for worst-case scenarios.
In an intriguing development, T-Mobile US will undergo a noteworthy operational shift. This involves a 7% workforce reduction, essentially 5,000 jobs, largely affecting corporate and redundant roles. This maneuver, stated by CEO Mike Sievert, aims to lessen costs in customer acquisition and retention while propelling operational efficiency. Amid a previous triumphant Q2 report, this unexpected announcement leaves a nuanced taste among the telecom firm’s workforce, promising an enthralling evolution for attentive stakeholders and observers.
Safaricom announces a milestone of 5 million customers in Ethiopia, making significant strides towards their goal of 10 million by next March. However, a stiff competition lies ahead as they trail the market leader, Ethio Telecom, by a considerable margin. Safaricom breaks into the Ethiopian market as the first private player, with significant growth potential and challenges on the horizon. They are poised to disrupt Ethio Telecom’s monopoly with the introduction of M-Pesa, keenly eyeing financial inclusion. Amid anticipation of new competitors, Safaricom’s persistent efforts and ambitions could potentially shake up the Ethiopian telecom market.
Norway’s Telenor pushes forward with a dramatic leadership change aimed at augmenting its growth trajectory in line with its 2025 vision. Notable moves include former Head of Telenor Asia, Jørgen C. Arentz Rostrup, stepping in as Head of Telenor Nordics, while his predecessor Petter-Børre Furberg takes over his former position. Google Cloud’s ex-head of telecoms, Amol Phadke, also joins the team as EVP and group CTO, with a focus on technology transformation.
The recent Huawei Network Summit 2023 in Jakarta became a milestone for the Asia Pacific telecom sector, reinforcing Huawei’s commitment to relentless innovation. The Summit demonstrated advanced solutions like the Intelligent Cloud-Network and novel products geared towards enhancing digital productivity. Focusing on the growing need for robust network operations amidst digital transformation, innovative strategies were introduced across various platforms. Transformative solutions promulgated include offerings for streamlined office networks, improved AI training efficiency and convergent network management.
