Amid the AI giants like Google and Microsoft, stands Amazon with its prolific investment of $2.75 billion in San Francisco’s AI startup, Anthropic. This strategic venture is Amazon’s biggest external contribution since its establishment. In return, Anthropic pledges to use Amazon Web Services as its chief cloud solution, employing AWS’s state-of-art infrastructure for their AI models. With $7.3 billion funding recently, Anthropic is galvanizing investors globally.
Stepping Hill Hospital partners CDW, a prestigious IT solutions provider, for a digital overhaul designed to boost staff functionality and enhance patient care. As part of an 18-month transformation, the collaboration introduces advanced solutions like a new Cisco wireless network, and real-time location services, among others.
In telecom news, global circular solutions provider TXO bolsters its sustainability commitment by acquiring network decommissioning specialist Lynx UK, expanding its team and global presence. Meanwhile, the FCC strengthens rules against telemarketing abuse, aiming to protect U.S. phone subscribers from unwanted calls. Enreach introduces a Contact App Suite for enhanced business connectivity, integrating voice and call control with Microsoft collaboration tools. Additionally, Tollring unveils Record AI, an affordable cloud call recording solution democratizing AI automation for improved customer experiences across organizational scales. These strategic moves signal advancements in telecom sustainability, regulatory protection, business connectivity, and AI innovation.
Ericsson, Vodafone, and Qualcomm Technologies recently pioneered data transmission via RedCap on a European network for the first time, unlocking a more streamlined, efficient mode of connectivity for IoT and other devices. Tested on Vodafone Spain’s 5G platform, the Ericsson’s RedCap technology enhances connectivity potential while providing economic and efficient data transmission. Furthermore, the demonstration introduced a new technology, New Radio Light, for extending battery life of customer devices.
Nokia, the renowned network equipment manufacturer, recently joined the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC). Anchored by the Linux Foundation, the UEC fortifies Ethernet technologies to satisfy the escalating requirements of AI and high-performance computing. With members such as AMD, Cisco, and Microsoft, the consortium seeks to equip Ethernet with more advanced networking functions, while maintaining its simplicity and affordability.
TELUS International and Five9 launch an advanced AI-powered Contact Center as a Service platform. Phonism integrates with Cisco’s Webex, providing cost-effective device management and streamlining collaboration. Viking Electronics endorses Ooma AirDial as a reliable POTS replacement, emphasizing wireless turnkey solutions. Cresta unveils AI enhancements for contact centers, driven by Large Language Models, promising unprecedented performance and productivity.
IBM and AWS are joining forces to enhance generative AI solutions. IBM Consulting will train 10,000 consultants in AWS generative AI by 2024, offering services like Contact Center Modernization with Amazon Connect. Sinch is partnering with Webex by Cisco to launch Sinch Calling with Webex, an integrated product combining messaging, meetings, and voice capabilities. Ooma is expanding its services to the Asia Pacific region to support IWG’s work solutions, providing phone and unified communications services. Connectbase is expanding data capabilities in The Connected World platform, offering detailed tenancy data for network operators expanding in the UK and Ireland.
Spectrum Enterprise, a part of Charter Communications, Inc., today announced a multi-year agreement with MiCTA (formerly known as Michigan Collegiate Telecommunications Association), a national group purchaser of technology solutions for its nonprofit members, including government, education, libraries, charitable and religious organizations. The arrangement makes it easier for members to modernize their networks and enhance the digital experience for consumers and employees.
In a bold move set to enhance its spectrum capabilities, T-Mobile US is poised to acquire Comcast’s 600 MHz frequencies, in a deal worth up to $3.3 billion. With 39 million subscribers potentially impacted, this decision reconfirms T-Mobile’s commitment to streamlining its 600 MHz range, especially in key US cities. It’s worth noting that despite the ambitious agreement, Comcast retains the rights to exclude any licenses before completion. The deal serves both parties well, promising to augment T-Mobile’s already substantial frequencies and refresh Comcast’s spectrum focus on high traffic areas.
Brought forth by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), the exciting implementation of Wi-Fi 7 offers to revolutionize our wireless possibilities. This tech breakthrough, outpacing previous Wi-Fi versions, promises double the bandwidth and triple the speed, enabling impractical or seemingly impossible applications to become reality. The technology, based upon the IEEE 802.11be standard, will enable channel widths up to 320 MHz and support 4k QAM. With the potential for widespread deployment, Wi-Fi 7’s multi-link operation could mark a future with enhanced Wi-Fi experiences and low-latency immersive applications. However, the prerequisites of a solid fiber connection highlight challenges in achieving full-scale benefits.
