In a groundbreaking arrangement, Telenor and Statkraft are set to secure 85 GWh/year of renewable energy for Telenor’s Finnish branch, DNA. This power deal will utilise energy from Statkraft’s upcoming wind farm project, fortifying Telenor’s quest for sustainable power. The implications of this pact spark debate on the urgency of renewable energy adoption in the telecom industry.
Delving into the realm of advanced AI, SK Telecom elevates its AI service ‘A.’, boasting features crafted around user preferences. The upgraded version introduces AI agents with unique personalities, promising each user a personalized experience. Working hand in hand with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI, SKT’s AI capabilities now consist of a Large Language Model, designed to comprehend intricate conversation details for insightful dialogues.
The UK faces a digital exclusion dilemma, with lack of strategy and leadership leaving millions potentially unconnected. Baroness Stowell highlights the imperative of bridging this gap for global competitiveness. However, the effectiveness of suggested solutions remains debatable, and conversations around online safety further complicate the situation. With potential threats to end-to-end encryption, a revised approach to digital skills may be necessary.
While Europe’s increasing $227 billion investment in IoT assures advancements, it particularly underlines the businesses’ focus on operational cost reduction and process optimization. However, economic strains and geopolitical disturbances, like the war in Ukraine and Covid-19, impede this spending surge, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. IDC, nevertheless, forecasts an upturn by 2027, with IoT remaining a viable tool in organization performance enhancement amidst challenges. For telecom providers, these shifting sands offer both opportunities and considerable challenges.
Virgin Media O2 Plans Job Cuts Virgin Media O2 is reportedly planning job cuts, with anywhere between 800 and 2,000 jobs at risk of elimination. The company has rescheduled an imminent pay rise for staff to avoid including it in redundancy packages. This news disappoints staff who were led to believe they would have the opportunity to transfer to different departments, but anonymous sources suggest suitable alternative roles may not be available. The job cuts are part of the ongoing integration process between O2 and Virgin Media, following their merger in 2021, and are expected due to real estate consolidation and eliminating overlapping roles, common methods in mergers. Read the full article T-Mobile and Bellevue Pilot Road Safety Tech T-Mobile US and the city of Bellevue, Washington, are partnering to pilot Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology, aimed at enhancing road and pedestrian safety through real-time information. T-Mobile will provide 5G connectivity,…
In a major step toward network evolution, UK’s Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has successfully tested and begun selling services powered by cutting-edge XGS PON fibre technology. This move, primed to revolutionize digital connectivity, promises customers symmetric 10 Gbps upload and download speeds but might initially be geographically limited. The transformative technology is expected to rival offerings from other telco giants whilst unlocking the potential for future technological advancements.
Vodafone UK is proclaiming the promise of 5G, with over 50% of UK adults agreeing that it could significantly impact their daily lives. But the telecom giant is also sparking conversation around its proposed merger with Three, a move believed to accelerate the UK’s digital future. The benefits of this merger extend to healthcare, utilities, and railways, showing strong potential to enhance these sectors through technologies enabled by 5G connectivity. However, this ambitious union faces challenges, including the controversial issue of spectrum distribution, crucial for 5G delivery. Yet, in the ever-evolving telecom landscape, it might be the willingness to navigate these challenges that determines their success.
Ofcom delves into an investigation concerning BT’s recent 999 emergency call service outage. BT’s back-up system reportedly failed in providing efficient location data, intensifying the emergency identification process. This significant service disruption stirred discussions in Parliament, with technology minister Lord Camrose emphasizing the company’s delayed communication to the government about the issue. While BT extended an apology planned a full internal investigation, Ofcom’s survey will spotlight possible breaches of regulatory norms mandating constant network access to emergency organizations. The potential consequences are yet unclear.
Birmingham is set to experience an exciting connectivity upgrade as ATI deploys its cost-effective, far-reaching dark fibre network. This will bring improved connectivity and colocation services, fostering future growth. The integration with Proximity’s data centre simplifies access, making services seamless. Committed to sustainable practices, ATI also reduces environmental impact, allowing customers to customize their services via an innovative AI-powered platform. This advancement promises a hassle-free and flexible network that matches the speed of our evolving times.
Industry expert Jonny Parkinson illuminates the landscape of telecommunications mergers and acquisitions amidst economic shake-ups and global tensions. Despite a dip in deal-making activity, recent predictions suggest a strategic surge in the back half of 2023. Drawing upon the resilience of telecom firms in the face of change, Parkinson underscores the potential offered by technologies like AI and cloud computing to maintain competitiveness, even encouraging alternative structuring concepts and careful due diligence for prospective M&A targets.
