Recent data reveals a promising resurgence in the global smartphone market, with Samsung and mass-market mobile phone brands spearheading the rebound while Apple faces challenges in keeping pace. According to Canalys, smartphone sales worldwide reached 296.2 million units in the first quarter of the year, marking a notable 10% increase compared to the previous year. This growth signifies the market’s first positive double-digit year-on-year figure since early 2021, reflecting better-than-expected performance.
Indonesian telecom operator Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has unveiled impressive financial results for the first quarter of 2024, alongside highlighting strategic partnerships with global tech giants Nvidia, Cisco, and Mastercard. In Q1, Indosat recorded total revenue of $873 million, marking a robust 15.8% year-on-year increase. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) surged by 22.1%, with an EBITDA margin of 47.0%, while net profit soared by 39.4% to reach $82 million.
Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES has revealed plans to purchase rival Intelsat in a landmark deal worth €2.8 billion. The move, unanimously approved by the boards of both companies, is set to create a formidable multi-orbit operator poised for expanded global coverage and innovation.
Brussels witnessed a momentous occasion as the Gigabit Infrastructure Act received its final approval from the European Council on Monday. This legislation, eagerly awaited and heavily debated, is set to become enforceable within days, marking a significant milestone for connectivity development across the European Union’s 27 member states.
In a significant move aimed at bolstering cybersecurity across the country, the UK government has rolled out stringent regulations requiring manufacturers of internet-connected devices to adhere to minimum-security standards. The new laws, part of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act 2022, are designed to mitigate the risks posed by weak security features on smart gadgets.
Vodafone and Nokia have wrapped up a significant Open RAN trial in northern Italy after a three-month test period in the towns of Arcisate and Sernio, located in Lombardy. This trial, conducted on a standalone 5G network, aimed to assess the performance and viability of Open RAN technology in real-world conditions.
In a bid to fortify its position in the Australian regional mobile market, TPG Telecom has inked a monumental 11-year network sharing deal with Optus. Valued at a hefty A$1.59 billion ($1.04 billion), the agreement is set to significantly expand TPG’s geographic coverage, doubling it to 1 million square kilometers and enabling access to 98.4% of the population.
Epsilon Telecommunications (Epsilon), a global interconnectivity provider, has been chosen by Moratelindo, one of the largest telecommunications infrastructure and network providers in Indonesia, to connect customers to a global ecosystem of Internet Exchanges (IXs) via Remote Peering. This partnership enables Moratelindo’s enterprise customers, carriers and service providers to extend their network reach and improve content and application performance in the U.S., Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and rest of the world.
Cellnex Telecom, a leading passive infrastructure specialist, has unveiled plans to bolster its operations by venturing into land acquisition. The move aims to secure the areas surrounding its mobile sites, providing greater stability in future costs.
Qatar-based telecommunications giant Ooredoo has announced a strategic partnership with Nokia aimed at capitalizing on the burgeoning private 5G network sector. The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will see the two companies working together to develop bespoke 5G networks tailored for enterprise clients.