

In a recent development, the Japanese government has passed a significant amendment to longstanding telecom regulations, marking a pivotal moment for NTT, the country’s telecom giant. The amendment, announced by NTT on Wednesday, encompasses several key changes, including the liberation from R&D information sharing obligations and the allowance for non-Japanese directors on its board.
The clock is ticking for the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), offering qualified households valuable monthly internet discounts. However, with the fund balance dipping below $1.8 billion, the financial resources may only last until April. Several providers have presented strategies to maintain continuity, offering budget-friendly plans of as low as $10.
The UK Government’s newly established Critical Imports Council aims to lessen the disturbance of essential goods flow from unpredictable global supply chain disruptions. Business and Trade Minister, Alan Mak, highlights strengthening critical goods supply against real-world crises through collaborative efforts with industry experts. With representation from diverse sectors including telecommunications, the council will focus on assessing risks and creating robust mitigation strategies.
Enreach for Service Providers, part of Enreach, the fast-growing European contact leader, has today announced a partnership with Netherlands-based CloudCTI, which delivers cloud-based CRM and ERP integrations to telecom service providers and resellers. The agreement will provide customers with access to 200+ CRM integrations. It will also support the customer experience (CX), analytics features and AI roadmap within Enreach UP, which combines, UCaaS, CCaaS and productivity tools in a fully converged contact solution, optimised for desktop, IP phone or mobile devices.
Microsoft is collaborating with UAE’s AI firm G42 in a landmark move aimed at accelerating AI innovation across such sectors as finance, healthcare, and education, with a considerable investment. This move, merged with strategic geopolitical consideration, has sent ripples across the global telecommunications industry, indicating a shift in its dynamics.
Bridging the digital divide in vast and harsh terrains like the Scottish Highlands, VMO2 embarks on a novel approach, utilizing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites from Starlink for critical backhaul services. Bypassing conventional, costly terrestrial infrastructure, VMO2’s tests have proven the potency of satellite technology in improving coverage across the UK.
Telecommunications heavy hitter T-Mobile finds itself under scrutiny as fixed wireless service providers in Maine, New York, and Maryland report disruptions attributed to T-Mobile’s 5G operations. Bloosurf has appealed to the FCC, seeking a refrain on T-Mobile’s 5G functions where they intersect with its own services, stirring up a complex debate hinging on a 1977 FCC decision regarding interference.
Tarifica’s Data Dive analysis is spotlighting the significant roles of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and fiber technology in escalating global internet connectivity. While fiber offers incomparable speed and reliability, FWA presents a cost-effective alternative where cabled installations are infeasible.
Global smartphone shipments saw a notable 7.8% year-over-year increase in the first quarter of 2024, according to data from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. The total shipments for the quarter reached 89.4 million units, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth and indicating a solid recovery in the smartphone market.
Vodafone Idea, a struggling telecom operator in India, is set to embark on a significant equity fundraising effort to secure more than $2 billion. This move comes as the company faces mounting bills and aims to finance the rollout of its 5G network.