UK AltNets Freedom Fibre and VX Fibre Announce Strategic Merger Freedom Fibre and VX Fibre, both prominent UK alternative network providers, have announced their merger, solidifying their position in the market. The combined entity, operating under the name Freedom Fibre with CEO Neil McArthur at the helm, will boast a network spanning 285,000 premises. Freedom Fibre, established in 2020, specializes in wholesale-only services and maintains a strategic partnership with major UK broadband provider TalkTalk. With market consolidation gaining traction, this move is seen as a strategic merger to enhance business strength, diversity, and growth ambitions. Read full article. IBM Acquires StreamSets and webMethods for €2.13 Billion IBM has revealed its €2.13 billion cash acquisition of StreamSets and webMethods platforms from Software AG, majority owned by Silver Lake. These acquisitions, integral to IBM’s focus on AI and hybrid cloud, enhance application modernization and AI deployment capabilities. StreamSets contributes data ingestion capabilities…
In the third quarter of 2023, Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data reveals a robust global uptrend in fixed network speeds. The median download speed for fixed networks worldwide reached an impressive 83.95 Mbps, marking a substantial 19% increase from 70.3 Mbps in the same quarter of 2022.
A surge in data roaming is poised to take center stage, driven by the escalating adoption of 5G services among consumers, according to research conducted by Kaleido. The study foresees a substantial 36% annual increase in both consumer and IoT roaming data usage, projecting a remarkable climb to nearly 5,000 Petabytes by the year 2024.
Broadband users face the most disruptions during peak hours, particularly at 11 am on Fridays or Wednesdays, according to a recent survey. The study pinpointed additional vulnerable time slots between 6 pm and 9 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm, and 10 am. The primary culprit for disconnections, as reported by users, is broadband provider outages, accounting for a majority of the incidents. Other contributors include power cuts (42%), planned maintenance to external cables (18%), and router issues (17%).
Telecommunications is a dynamic sector that offers exciting career opportunities, yet often overlooked by young individuals. Despite over 60% of telecom engineers being over 50, the youth seem to overlook it. It is crucial to emphasize the need for fresh talent to join this fast-growing, top-paying industry that heavily influences our daily lives. Even for those not a tech gurus, there are a multitude of roles available in the field, from design engineer to satellite engineer. Engaging in telecommunications has the potential to offer opportunities for global travel, like Emma Philpott, who had no initial telecom intent yet found herself traveling from Abu Dhabi to Antarctica.
As Santa Claus gears up for his global sleigh ride, Verizon’s holiday tech squad is set to collaborate with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) for the 21st consecutive year. In a bid to enhance NORAD’s capabilities in tracking Santa’s journey on Christmas Eve, Verizon will leverage its robust network infrastructure.
Several prominent German telecoms associations, including ANGA, Bitkom, BREKO, BUGLAS, and VATM, have united in a call to the German government, urging a reduction in funding for fibre-optic projects. Citing concerns over the overwhelming response to the German Gigabit funding program, the associations propose a cut in funding to €1 billion between 2024-2026.
In a groundbreaking trial, SK Telecom (SKT) and Thales have successfully tested the encryption and decryption of identity data on a 5G network, aiming to safeguard user privacy from potential quantum threats. The experimentation utilized Thales’ cutting-edge 5G Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) SIM cards within a trial 5G standalone network environment provided by SKT.
SIPPIO, the global leader in voice enablement for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, is celebrating a year of substantial performance, with a 157% increase in year-over-year growth. Complementing this achievement, the company has secured a significant 45,000-seat commitment for Operator Connect from one of the world’s largest global service providers. This success highlights the surging demand for Microsoft Teams Phone and Zoom Phone, signalling a significant shift towards collaboration-based voice in the workplace.
Global satellite communications leader Viasat, Inc. has joined forces with Safran Data Systems to introduce InRange, a revolutionary system ensuring continuous telemetry data relay for launch vehicles in flight. This collaboration aims to liberate launch providers and spaceports from ground network dependencies during missions.