In a recent surge of developments within the data center industry, Microsoft has taken the lead with its commitment to invest a staggering £2.5 billion in expanding artificial intelligence (AI) data center infrastructure in the UK. This landmark investment comes amidst a thriving year for the sector, showcasing a 13% estimated growth compared to the previous year, according to Synergy Research Group.
In a major technological breakthrough, Nokia and Orange have announced the successful completion of an unprecedented 800Gbps per wavelength transmission over Orange’s acclaimed 6,600km Dunant transatlantic route. This milestone was achieved using Nokia’s PSE-6s super coherent optics integrated into the Nokia 1830 Photonic Services Interconnect – Modular (PSI-M). The groundbreaking trial, conducted under real-world network conditions, underscores Orange’s capability to enhance its existing optical network capacity, facilitating the support of end-to-end 400GE and cutting-edge 800GE services.
In a landmark move, Zain Group, Ooredoo, and TASC Towers Holding have officially inked a definitive agreement to merge their tower assets, forming a colossal entity valued at $2.2 billion. This strategic collaboration, originating from talks initiated in July, consolidates a combined total of 30,000 towers spanning Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, and Jordan, establishing the largest tower company in the Middle East and North Africa.
Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of a 49% interest in Cellnex Sweden and Cellnex Denmark (“Cellnex Nordics”), the Swedish and Danish operations of Cellnex Telecom (“Cellnex”), Europe’s largest independent operator of wireless telecommunications infrastructure, for a total value of c. EUR 730 million, of which EUR 558 million is recognized upfront.
Telefónica, the notable Spanish telecom giant, is hinting at sizable workforce reductions. Yet, figures conflict between reports, leaving uncertainty about the affected employee count. Amidst global economic instability, these layoffs align with Telefónica’s strategic shift to prioritize cash generation and operational excellence. Such a move echoes other industry leaders’ recent job cuts, suggesting a broader trend.
Switching to a cloud-based VoIP system has the potential to cut CO2 emissions from telephony equivalent to removing 22 million cars from the road. In an era prioritizing sustainability, traditional landlines contribute to significant carbon footprints and electronic waste. VoIP, utilizing the internet’s power, eliminates physical infrastructure, reduces electronic waste, and operates efficiently. Beyond resource conservation, VoIP’s energy efficiency, support for remote work, and future innovations, including AI optimization and renewable energy sources, position it as a sustainable solution. Join the movement for a cleaner world with every VoIP-powered conversation—a pledge to the planet.
In a strategic move to bolster its European presence, nLighten, the digital infrastructure platform under the umbrella of I Squared Capital, a renowned global infrastructure investor, has successfully acquired Gyro Center (“Gyro”), a high-performance data center situated in Amsterdam. This acquisition marks a significant stride for nLighten as it progresses towards realizing its ambition of establishing and operating the foremost data center platform in Europe.
When it comes to digitization strategies, providing superior customer service is paramount, a concept particularly relevant in the telecom field. Saudi Telecom Company (stc), underlines this belief by revitalizing its customer experience through a strategic collaboration with Huawei. Transforming its big data platform into a Customer-Centric Platform (CCP), offers a unified view of customer data, leading to enhanced marketing segmentation and customization. Improved efficiency and data value are already showing dividends with marked reduction in customer churn and accelerated return on investment.
Japanese telecommunications giant NTT Docomo is set to revolutionize its commercial network with the adoption of Nokia’s Open RAN compliant 5G AirScale baseband kit. The comprehensive deployment includes both Centralized Unit (CU) and Distributed Unit (DU) software, emphasizing Nokia’s industry leadership in the mobile communication sector.
In a bid to level up its national network capabilities, Swisscom has partnered with Nokia to breathe life into its Next Evolution Wavelength Transport Optical Network (NEWTON). This cutting-edge network is designed to deliver high performance, cost efficiency, and an elevated customer experience. Amid the increased demand for robust support from remote workforces to cloud computing, Swisscom turned to Nokia’s comprehensive range of optical networking solutions, a move that saw a significant upgrade which included the launch of 22 backbone sites and 560 metro sites.
