Mobile Experts released a report on the growth of Private LTE and 5G in sectors like offices and schools. EnGenius launches the EOC655 series for outdoor connectivity, designed for smart cities and public safety. UK Altnets have urged the government for harsh penalties against fibre infrastructure vandalism. Klika Tech won the 2024 IoT Global Awards in the “Smart Cities, Government & Utilities” category.
Manx Telecom’s strategic partnership with Aqua Comms promises to bolster the Isle of Man’s telecommunications infrastructure by introducing secured subsea fibre accessibility. The move aims to meet growing digital demands, enhancing the island’s connectivity in terms of security, capacity and resilience. This expansion also future-proofs the needs of data centre users and fibre broadband consumers by catering to emerging technologies.
The 2021 ‘Build America, Buy America Act’ significantly reshaped U.S. telecommunications, demanding domestic purchases from companies eyeing a piece of the $42 billion BEAD funding. Despite industry concerns, majority purchase from U.S. vendors remains crucial.
In a groundbreaking development, Rakuten Mobile, in partnership with Nokia, has successfully conducted a trial demonstrating the capability of transmitting data at a rate of 1 terabit per second (Tbps) over a single wavelength. This trial spanned an impressive distance of 820 kilometers across both subsea and terrestrial networks in Japan, setting a new benchmark in the Asia Pacific region for this level of data transmission.
In a bold move, Millicom is widening its synergies with Harmonic, specifically leveraging Harmonic’s advanced cOS broadband technology to expand high-speed internet access across nine Latin American countries. This strategic advancement is enabled by the enhancement of existing nodes using Harmonic’s hybrid fibre-cable technology.
As debate swirls around potential alterations to EU telecom sector merger regulations, European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager maintains her stance. Even with industry pressure for a shakeup due to challenges like 5G rollouts and shrinking profit margins, she insists on preserving existing rules.
In a bold move to reshape the UK’s broadband landscape, VMO2, backed by shareholders Liberty Global and Telefónica, has announced the launch of a new fixed network company, ambitiously positioned as a direct competitor to BT’s Openreach. Dubbed NetCo for now, this venture aims to accelerate the adoption of full fibre broadband, offering a fresh financing framework and a potential platform for the consolidation of alternative network providers (altnets).
VMO2 faced a substantial loss of £3.3 billion in 2023, worsened by a £3.1 billion goodwill impairment rooted in increased capital costs. While their debt soured under challenging economic conditions, they still managed to attract 64,000 new broadband and 47,000 mobile customers. Nevertheless, revenues witnessed a slight tumble as consumer fixed income dipped and the B2B sector lagged.
The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) champions a new initiative for alternative network providers, aiming to streamline infrastructure sharing, and promote cost-effective fibre rollout. This solution addresses challenges faced where Openreach’s Physical Infrastructure Access option is unavailable, minimizing local disruption from additional duct installations.
The telecommunications sphere is preparing for a significant event: Altnets’ inclusion in the revered EB100 digital guide. This recognition represents Altnets’ successful year, fueled by innovation, community contribution, and robust growth. Altnets’ appearance on this list is a testament to its commitment to high-quality service and client satisfaction.
