At MWC 2024, a pioneering agreement was drawn between Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Huawei, aiming to bolster AI’s transformative role in industry applications and skill enhancement. With AI driving industrial growth, both parties jointly commit to democratizing digitalization and nurturing shared cloud resources, fostering innovation and significant growth.
In an ambitious move to enhance mobile connectivity across Japan, Rakuten Mobile has announced its plan to offer satellite-to-mobile services by 2026, partnering with AST SpaceMobile. This initiative aims to leverage AST SpaceMobile’s space-based cellular broadband network, enabling direct access to smartphones for text messaging, voice, and data services.
VMO2 faced a substantial loss of £3.3 billion in 2023, worsened by a £3.1 billion goodwill impairment rooted in increased capital costs. While their debt soured under challenging economic conditions, they still managed to attract 64,000 new broadband and 47,000 mobile customers. Nevertheless, revenues witnessed a slight tumble as consumer fixed income dipped and the B2B sector lagged.
In a significant move to bolster innovation and development in mobile network technology, the US government, through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), has allocated $42.3 million to support research in Open RAN. This investment is part of a larger $1.5 billion Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund aimed at enhancing the Open RAN ecosystem. Leading the charge are telecom giants AT&T and Verizon, in collaboration with a consortium that includes notable academic institutions, industry manufacturers, and international telecom operators NTT DoCoMo from Japan and Reliance Jio from India.
Andrew Hollister, LogRhythm’s Chief Information Security Officer, highlights the ongoing struggle in cybersecurity: despite years of talk, the problem remains unsolved. Looking ahead to 2024, he points out challenges like the rise of generative AI and the need for better cloud security. He emphasizes that focusing on basics like strong passwords and regular updates is crucial for staying safe online.
In a significant development for global scientific collaboration, Aqua Comms has entered into a landmark agreement with the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), granting a 15-year lease for a portion of its subsea cable spectrum that spans from New York to Dublin and London. This arrangement, covering 25% of a fiber pair, represents ESnet’s inaugural venture into Trans-Atlantic spectrum acquisition, underscoring its commitment to bolstering the data transmission capabilities essential for cutting-edge scientific research.
Telxius, a leading global connectivity provider, has been recognized at the 2024 Data Center Market (DCM) Awards for its Derio Data Center. It has won the award for Excellence in Connectivity, providing a state-of-the-art facility near Bilbao, in northern Spain, designed to harness the potential of the subsea cables connected to it.
In an effort to bridge the digital divide in south and east London, the ‘Sub-regional Digital Infrastructure Strategy’ has been proposed. Over 156,000 premises in these areas lack comprehensive digital coverage, creating what is known as a ‘not spot.’ The strategy seeks to rectify this through interactive tools, infrastructure rollouts, and increased commercial investment, in a bid to transform London’s digital landscape.
IS-Wireless has marked a significant milestone in Poland’s telecommunications sector, unveiling the country’s first 5G campus network. Designed on the Open RAN model and utilizing local frequencies, this implementation at Bialystok University of Technology is primed to cultivate future 5G and 6G experts. The Open RAN, a rapidly expanding telecommunications model, allows for the integration of versatile components, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution.
UK’s government and Vodafone settle on ‘proportionate measures’ to assuage national security concerns over UAE-based e&’s increasing ownership stakes. This agreement follows the government’s expressed apprehension about e&’s potential influence on Vodafone’s policies due to its status as the largest shareholder. In response, a ‘national security committee’ will be created within Vodafone to monitor initiatives that could affect national security.
