The UK’s groundbreaking Online Safety Bill, focused on child protection and adult control, has recently been approved by Parliament. Despite optimism for its ‘game-changing’ potential, critics argue of potential privacy encroachments and inherent ambiguities.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority is charting the course for fair AI practices, guided by seven strategic principles. Their balanced approach, drawn from a diverse pool of inputs, aims to ensure competitive integrity and consumer welfare in the AI-driven market. The spotlight is on accountability, ensuring AI creators shoulder responsibility for their solutions’ implications. Additionally, advocating for consumer freedom in choice and flexibility, they aim to deter anti-competitive practices. However, who exactly should uphold the principle of transparency remains unclear.
A notable investment from Saudi Telecom into Telefonica has the Spanish Government on the edge, forcing them to balance their national interest and fostering foreign investment. The complexity surrounding the acquisition decision transcends even Spain’s economic landscape, impacting political alliances and national security. With a swift resolution unlikely, this multifaceted negotiation promises to test Spain’s decision-making in an increasingly interconnected economic world.
Unveiling the hidden importance of fibre optic cables in delivering quality and reliable internet services, we spotlight Prysmian, European industry front-runner. Delving into the connection between prudent cable choice and tangible savings in network installation, while highlighting the formidable costs of cable failures. Prysmian’s commitment to innovation shines in miniaturising cables without compromise, resulting in practical and ecological benefits. Prysmian’s Telecom Business Director is set to reveal more insights at the Connected Britain Conference.
AT&T has delicately entered the 5G fixed-wireless access (FWA) industry with its Internet Air product, targeting a specific demographic and remaining wary of impacting its mobile and fibre operations. Discussing the challenges and benefits of this strategic approach, we examine its potential against market leaders T-Mobile and Verizon. Are they being too cautious? Are they possibly missing out on the emerging FWA boom in the U.S?.
As mobile operators grapple with record levels of international roaming traffic, they are faced with intricate wholesale roaming partnerships. Syniverse’s Senior Director, William Oliver, sheds light on intricacies surrounding such relations, mainly due to time-consuming discount calculations. Oliver proposes ‘multilateral netting’ as a solution to streamline cash flow and decrease workloads, taking into account not just roaming bills, but a variety of other payments.
ITIF urges a reevaluation of U.S. broadband programs in favor of the significant Affordable Connectivity Programme (ACP), aiming to give low-income households internet access. Predictions show funds will be depleted by 2024, necessitating a yearly investment between $5-$6 billion, potentially sourced from outdated programs. Despite appearing feasible, the report warns digital divide issues require more than funding, including digital literacy initiatives. Unveil the evolving connectivity panorama in our upcoming Connected America conference.
The Competition and Markets Authority, UK’s competition watchdog, leans towards approving Broadcom’s monumental $61 billion takeover of VMware, after an in-depth Phase 2 investigation. The pivotal concern was whether it would discourage innovation due to reduced competition in the server market. However, the analysis suggests that competition in UK’s server hardware component supply won’t be notably hindered by the deal. This takes Broadcom a step closer to becoming one of the world’s largest server virtualisation software suppliers.
The shift towards automation in communication service providers (CSPs) is somewhat paradoxical: while advancing in efficiency, it risks diminishing vital human interaction. A recent study by Omdia underlines this predicament, indicating that despite chatbots’ growing usage, consumers predominantly favor human contact, especially when seeking resolutions. Meanwhile, emails emerge as the main channel for consumer engagement, a revelation challenging cost-cutting efforts that bypass burgeoning automation.
Speculations are intensifying concerning a potential merge between Dish Network and EchoStar. Recent developments fuel questions about the strategic motivations behind this corporate ‘re-marriage’. Despite Dish’s financial burdens and shrinking customer base, it’s making strides in mobile network expansion, while EchoStar’s strong financial standing and plans for a global 5G network radiate growth.
