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.
Witness the transformation of UK’s iconic red phone boxes as telecommunications giant BT empowers local communities to repurpose disused kiosks into practical assets. Adoptions through BT’s programme have evolved phone boxes into life-saving defibrillator stations, libraries or mini art galleries. As these kiosks brace for their centenary, BT gears up to offer a thousand more, sparking a fusion of tradition with communal ingenuity.
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority recently adjudicated a dispute over the supposed misleading adverts of ISP, 6G Internet. The ASA ruled that the company name erroneously suggested the availability of non-existent 6G services. The decision underlines a recurrent issue of consumer confusion over service offerings in the telecommunications sector. Despite the controversy, 6G Internet has not indicated plans to adjust their brand name, possibly sparking inevitable customer confusion as the prospect of true 6G technology looms nearer.
As mobile operators grapple with record levels of international roaming traffic, they are faced with intricate wholesale roaming partnerships. Syniverse’s Senior Director, William Oliver, sheds light on intricacies surrounding such relations, mainly due to time-consuming discount calculations. Oliver proposes ‘multilateral netting’ as a solution to streamline cash flow and decrease workloads, taking into account not just roaming bills, but a variety of other payments.
Infosys, a global leader in consulting and technology services, has entered into a significant €1.5 billion, five-year partnership with Liberty Global, a leading international telecommunications and entertainment company. The collaboration aims to deepen their ties across the realms of digital entertainment and connectivity.
To provide immediate relief, Verizon has extended its offering of unlimited calling, texting, and data services for prepaid and postpaid customers residing on Maui. This special arrangement, available from August 10 to August 31, 2023, aims to provide solace to thousands of consumers and small business owners who heavily depend on their mobile devices during this challenging period. The initiative covers all prepaid and postpaid consumer and small business customers with billing addresses on Maui.
In a strategic move to expand its enterprise customer base, Sky Business is reportedly eyeing the acquisition of TT Business Direct Limited, TalkTalk’s B2B service catering to 80,000 corporate clients. This proposed acquisition is a fallout of TalkTalk’s ongoing struggle to stabilize its financial conditions, with debts amounting to over £1.1 billion. The company’s asset liquidation could potentially disrupt the UK telecoms market, an exciting possibility that will be discussed in depth at this year’s Connected Britain conference.
TDS, UScellular’s parent company, is reportedly reviewing strategic paths for the mobile operator, with market whispers around a possible sale or welcoming new investors, guided by Citi advisor. Currently the fifth-largest mobile service provider in the U.S., UScellular’s assets, including investment in 5G and numerous mobile towers, make it an attractive prospect for big-name telecoms like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. However, its segmented presence may pose challenges.
As Rakuten Symphony’s CEO, Tareq Amin, unexpectedly departs, it heightens the mystery around the company’s subdued performance this year. Despite a promising start and securing a deal with Germany’s greenfield mobile operator 1&1, Symphony’s momentum appears to have plateaued. Yet a recent MoU with Veon to explore Open RAN solutions offers a beacon of hope. Amidst tricky market conditions and scarce major RAN deals, all eyes are now on acting president Sharad Sriwastawa to breathe new life into Symphony.
