Soracom, a KDDI division, has integrated generative AI into its cellular IoT platform, launching Soracom Flux and Soracom Query Intelligence. These tools simplify IoT deployments, empowering non-technical users to manage data and connectivity efficiently. Enhanced with AI, these services promise to revolutionize how industries implement and manage IoT networks.
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.
Google’s ambitious $1 billion investment, partnered with NEC, aims to redefine digital connectivity between the United States and Japan through two subsea cables. As part of the Japan Digitization Initiative, these advancements promise not only improved data routes, but also crucial geopolitical advantages.
Vonage, a prominent player in cloud communications and a subsidiary of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), has clinched the prestigious Gold Award for its 5G advancements at the Merit Awards for Telecom. The accolade highlights Vonage’s commitment to fostering digital transformation through its global network platform.
In a groundbreaking collaboration, T-Mobile US and SpaceX are gearing up for the field testing of Starlink satellites, heralding a significant stride in eliminating mobile coverage dead zones. While the exact date for the commencement of field testing remains undisclosed, T-Mobile is optimistic about its imminent initiation, stating that the low-Earth orbit deployment of satellites sets the stage for the forthcoming trials.
Taking bold steps towards combatting climate change, Japan’s leading telecom firm, NTT DoCoMo, unveils ambitious initiatives looking to drastically cut its scope 3 emissions. These indirect emissions derive largely from the supply chain, making up approximately four-fifths of the company’s total greenhouse gas output. Taking the bull by the horns, DoCoMo is charting an eco-conscious path, pledging to fully utilize renewable energy sources and implement energy-saving measures across its network. With an eye on the future, the telecom titan plans to transform its supply chain to become environmentally friendly by 2040, all while leveraging technology to help suppliers and customers visualize their carbon footprint. As the telecommunications industry continues to battle climate change, stay tuned for further updates.
Intriguingly, SpaceX’s Starlink offers an innovative Direct to Cell feature allowing existing LTE phones to function even in remote locations – a potential boon for those often out of terrestrial coverage. With a rollout plan targeting texts by 2024, and full voice, data, and IoT compatibility by 2025, Starlink seems poised for a breakthrough. While the proposition seems formidable, concerns around possible limitations of Starlink’s proprietary technology remind us advantages of relying on industry best practices. Without disclosed pricing details, we can only anticipate how this venture will fare against other satellite connectivity contenders.
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure has partnered with Zayo to enhance connectivity at its Santa Clara data center. Meanwhile, a US-led operation dismantled the Qakbot malware network, preventing further infections and seizing $8.6 million in cryptocurrency. Global roaming fraud is projected to cost $8 billion by 2028. KDDI and SpaceX plan to launch satellite-to-cellular services in Japan by 2024, bridging connectivity gaps in remote areas beyond 5G and 4G coverage.
NEC Corporation has obtained O-RAN Certification from Japan OTIC (Open Testing & Integration Centres) for its MB5450 5G base station radio unit (RU), certifying that the RU conforms with the O-RAN Fronthaul Interface Specifications established by the Open Radio Access Network Alliance (O-RAN ALLIANCE). This RU has been delivered to Rakuten Symphony and is being deployed globally.
In a strategic move to enhance cybersecurity, Japan’s prominent technology players, including KDDI Corporation, KDDI Research, Inc., Fujitsu Limited, NEC Corporation, and Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. (MRI), have joined forces to initiate a groundbreaking endeavor. The project, set to commence on August 1, 2023, entails a series of trials investigating the integration of a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) into the realm of communication, encompassing 5G and LTE network equipment.
