Point Topic’s recent analysis reveals that global fixed broadband connections will rise to 1.39 billion by the end of this decade. While some regions will reach near-saturation, others will see significant growth opportunities.
In a groundbreaking move, Hong Kong has allocated mmWave frequencies to its four mobile network operators without charging for the spectrum. The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) announced on Tuesday that it will distribute 1.2 GHz of spectrum in the 26 GHz and 28 GHz bands in the third quarter of this year, following applications from the telcos earlier this year.
The 2Africa subsea cable, touted as the world’s largest, now includes a direct connection to the UK thanks to Vodafone’s involvement. This ambitious project highlights significant global collaboration, with key partners including Bayobab, Center3, China Mobile International, Meta, Orange, Telecom Egypt, and WIOCC. The inclusion of both US and Chinese interests is particularly remarkable, showcasing cooperation despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
SES has announced agreements with several regional satellite network operators to create the SES Open Orbits™ Inflight Connectivity (IFC) Network, promising seamless connectivity services to airlines globally. This innovative Ka-band platform will integrate SES’s geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite networks with those of NEO Space Group (NSG) from Saudi Arabia, AeroSat Link (ASL) from China, and Hughes Communications India (HCI).
Reports have surfaced indicating that Nokia is on the brink of finalizing a significant deal with Portuguese mobile network operator MEO to deploy 5G radio access network (RAN) infrastructure. The move comes as MEO currently relies on Huawei equipment for its RAN operations.
The US government has taken a significant step by revoking specific licenses that allow American chip manufacturers to export goods to Huawei, the Chinese tech giant. This action will notably reduce the sales of major chip producers like Intel and Qualcomm to China.
VTech has entrusted its European subsidiary, Snom Technology, to expand business product sales in Asia-Pacific (APAC). From April 2024 onwards, the German manufacturer will be responsible for all sales of VoIP telephones in the region, with Fabio Albanini, currently Head of International Sales for EMEA, now also in charge of this new area.
The US Senate has made a significant leap forward with a new regulation requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the platform or face a US ban. This move, echoed by President Biden’s support, stems from fears surrounding TikTok’s algorithm and ByteDance’s potential to share American user data with the Chinese Communist Party. However, TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew vehemently denies these allegations.
According to Counterpoint’s Market Pulse Service, China’s overall smartphone sales saw a modest 1.5% year-on-year growth in Q1 2024, marking a second consecutive quarter of positive growth. Notably, Huawei experienced a remarkable 69.7% year-on-year increase in market share, solidifying its position in the market. This growth was attributed to Huawei’s successful launch of the 5G-capable Mate 60 series and its enduring brand reputation, particularly in the premium segment priced above $600. In contrast, Apple witnessed a 19.1% year-on-year decline in market share during the same period, partly due to Huawei’s gains in this segment.
Embracing certain compliance measures with the U.S. ‘Clean Network’ program, Nokia seemingly reduced its orders with supplier Foxconn Industrial Internet, marking another move away from China-based telecoms equipment. Though these adjustments primarily impact specific equipment types, both entities express an unusual blend of caution and resilience.
