AST SpaceMobile has made history by successfully connecting a direct voice call between the United States and Japan via its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, using standard smartphones. The use of standard smartphones makes this a world first, as no one has previously achieved a direct voice connection from space to unmodified cellular devices. AST SpaceMobile partnered with some of its mobile operator partners, including AT&T, Rakuten, and Vodafone, to make the connection. The test call was made using AT&T spectrum and a Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone in the Midland, Texas area, connecting to Rakuten in Japan. The successful test call validated AST SpaceMobile’s network architecture and systems, including its BW3 satellite, which it describes as the largest commercial communications array in low-earth orbit. The call also paves the way for space-based cellular broadband. AST SpaceMobile’s goal is to provide coverage to close to 50% of the world’s population…
Sinch, a cloud communications provider, has announced a partnership with Synoptek, a business and digital transformation advisory company, to offer professional and managed services for Microsoft Teams Phone System. The services will be integrated with Operator Connect or Direct Routing. The alliance was formed in response to the rising demand from business clients for expert services to supplement their personnel for managing the deployment, installation, and maintenance of the Microsoft Teams Phone System as well as connecting to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Sinch is a Microsoft Operator Connect partner that assists organizations in integrating voice services into Teams via Operator Connect, allowing them to make calls to anyone, anywhere, over the PSTN. Professional and managed services help businesses complete this digital transition more quickly and efficiently. Sinch offers a carrier-grade voice network and is the largest Tier 1 network in the United States, providing reliable service to companies…
Messaging apps urge UK government to rethink online safety bill The heads of messaging apps including WhatsApp and Signal have written an open letter urging the UK government to reconsider its proposed internet law. The Online Safety Bill, which is presently being debated in the House of Lords, would provide the government with broad powers of censorship over all digital speech and information. The letter says that the measure might damage end-to-end encryption, allow indiscriminate monitoring, and fundamentally destroy communication security. The top executives of the firms say that there can be no “British internet,” and that the measure should be revised to encourage more privacy and security. Read the full article. AT&T to be the exclusive mobile carrier for US MVNOs The US National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) has signed a deal with AT&T making it the exclusive mobile carrier for almost 700 small and mid-sized independent cable…
Peerless Network, a global communications provider, has announced the availability of its SIP Trunking services on Genesys’ AppFoundry marketplace. The AppFoundry marketplace serves as a helpful solution-centric marketplace for all Genesys platforms in one place by providing a variety of integrations and apps that help deliver excellent customer experiences. According to Jim Brewer, EVP of Products and Technology at Peerless Network, the collaboration with Genesys will provide companies with the freedom to select the carrier of their choosing. Peerless Network’s SIP Trunking service will be integrated with Genesys Cloud CX. This will provide clients with direct access to the company’s IP-based network. Customers in the United States will be able to increase communications effectiveness, broaden their reach internationally, and save money on international calls. “This combination also gives U.S.-based customers the opportunity to make their communications more efficient, expand their global calling footprint, and save on international calling,”…
Telgorithm launches a new product feature dubbed Time Routing Telgorithm, an A2P text messaging API provider, has introduced Time Routing, a novel product feature that enables enterprises to better manage queued A2P messages. Businesses may use this tool to plan communications in advance, cancel them, or “expire” queued messages that are no longer required owing to time constraints on a per campaign basis. In particular, for high-volume and time-sensitive SMS/MMS initiatives, this capability enables enterprises to better manage A2P communications and save expenses. In addition to Telgorithm’s current Smart Queueing and Message Prioritization functionalities, Time Routing is provided with the API at no additional cost. Read the full article. Sinch announces strategic collaboration with Salesforce Sinch, a cloud communications supplier, has established a strategic partnership with Salesforce. Sinch will be a critical provider for Salesforce’s worldwide SMS delivery operations and will supply Salesforce and its global client base with enterprise-grade…
Primas Group has been chosen by Avaya, a leader in unified communications and contact center solutions, as a Technology Partner in the Avaya DevConnect program. Primas Group, an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) with 29 years of expertise, offers organizations enhanced customer experience workflows and pre-packaged, self-service automation in addition to personalizing their Avaya solutions. The company anticipates that by joining the Avaya DevConnect program, the company will be able to expand the reach of contact center agents. This advancement will also bring new technologies and cutting-edge AI together to create more intelligent digital interactions and automation in healthcare and other markets. The Primas Group innovation team is featuring previously unimaginable patient experience processes and revamping traditional consumer interactions. The company’s participation in the DevConnect program enables it to retain world-class compatibility with Avaya systems both in the cloud and on-premises, while also allowing for straightforward implementation. Primas…
The premium brand of IP telephony is delighted by the excellent results it has achieved at the end of its fiscal year and thanks its sales partners for their tremendous loyalty and support. IP telephony pioneer Snom, has maintained record sales figures and strengthened its market share in the fiscal year 2023. Crucial to Snom’s success has been the cooperation of its sales partners, who have made an active contribution to the brand’s success, despite the global political climate and recessionary trends of the last twelve months. As Snom’s CEO Gernot Sagl shares, the past year has been a challenging one for companies active in the B2B space. As soon as the market restraint triggered by the pandemic subsided, companies then had to deal with soaring operational, energy and fuel costs. All of this in combination created a series of knock-on effects and additional hurdles. For example, some…
Rogers Communications Inc. has announced plans to offer full 5G connections to Toronto’s subway system, including 911 access for all users. The telecom corporation has agreed to buy BAI Canada. BAI has had exclusive rights to establish the Toronto Transit Commission wireless network since 2012. Rogers will now be able to make the investments needed to develop a comprehensive and reliable 5G network for the entire TTC subway system as a result of this transaction. 5G network construction is projected to take about two years. Rogers will collaborate with the TTC on a phased deployment strategy, including network design, architecture, and rollout logistics, for both network enhancements and growth in stations, concourses, and all subway tunnels. Extensive fiber network and radio equipment improvements are required to update the network and boost the cellular capacity of the present 3G and 4G networks. In addition, they are required to improve service…
US carriers to address airline safety concerns over C-band spectrum In an open letter, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile US and UScellular agreed to take voluntary steps to allay worries about aviation safety and allow these telecom companies to fully utilize their C-band spectrum. According to the letter, the steps are intended to minimize operational impact on C-Band operations and support full-power deployments across the C-Band spectrum. In the past, airlines have resisted the introduction of C-band spectrum for 5G services due to concerns over interference with aircraft altimeters. To assure the secure coexistence of C-band frequencies and radio altimeters, which are more than 220 MHz apart, the FCC has issued licensing and technical standards. Read the full article. Deutsche Telekom now owns a 50.2% stake in T-Mobile US According to CEO Tim Höttges, Deutsche Telekom now owns 50.2% of T-Mobile US, completing a long-term objective initially stated at the company’s 2021…
A historic milestone for the Canadian telecommunications sector was realized as Rogers Communications Inc. announced it had successfully concluded its merger with Shaw Communications Inc. The merger unites two famous Canadian companies that have been connecting Canadians for over five decades. The merger creates a coast-to-coast nationwide company which has fiber-powered internet that is accessible to nearly 70% of Canadian households. The newly combined company plans to bundle more products and services, including internet, television, phone, smart home monitoring, wireless services, credit card offers and sports and media content. In the next five years, the company intends to spend billions of dollars to offer fast, reliable networks in additional towns across Western Canada. Rogers will invest $1 billion in the four Western provinces to link rural, remote and Indigenous communities, as well as unserved distant routes. The business also intends to invest $2.5 billion to expand and strengthen…