As sanctions bite, Russia’s MTS begins to discount cell phones MTS, Russia’s largest operator, reported a 76.2 % year-on-year drop in Q1 net profit, blaming the results largely on rising interest rates caused by Western sanctions. Russia boosted local interest rates to 20% in the early days of the conflict before lowering them twice, leaving rates around 14% today. MTS has resorted to selling used and discounted smartphones, and is planning to sell its tower assets, in keeping with the current trend of monetizing passive assets located throughout Europe and beyond. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/c65t43kb Verizon warns of record rise in ransomware According to Verizon Business, the number of ransomware attacks on enterprises has increased by 13% year-on-year, resulting in a rise exceeding that of the previous five years combined. Ransomware was involved in some manner in one-quarter of the cases investigated, with desktop-sharing software and email being the two…
DIDWW, a global telecoms operator that offers premium quality VoIP communications, today announced that its two-way SIP Trunking solution is compliant with key Avaya OneCloud™ solutions, helping customers securely and reliably expand their local and international business communications. Avaya has selected DIDWW for membership as a Technology Partner in the Avaya DevConnect program, which promotes the development, compliance-testing and co-marketing of innovative third-party solutions that are compatible with standards-based Avaya solutions. Avaya is a global leader in solutions that enhance and simplify communications and collaboration. The powerful DIDWW SIP Trunking solution offers virtually unlimited call capacity and flexible VoIP trunk configuration options to assist businesses of any size in expanding their local or international communications. The two-way SIP Trunking service enables enterprise users to access the PSTN in more than 80 countries, providing customers with an extended global reach, premium call quality, a high standard of reliability and availability,…
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given AST SpaceMobile, a five-year-old company located in Midland, Texas, permission to test a satellite that has the potential to deliver cellular broadband access for smartphone users in the US and throughout the world. According to the business, it is developing the first and only space-based cellular broadband network that will be immediately accessible by regular mobile phones. SpaceMobile, the company’s proposed network, intends to provide 4G/5G access to everyone on the world, on land, at sea, and in the air. No matter where they are, mobile customers will be able to seamlessly roam from terrestrial networks to the space-based network. AST SpaceMobile is launching BlueWalker 3, a test satellite meant to interact directly with mobile phones using 3GPP standard frequencies. The FCC has granted the business an experimental license for BlueWalker 3 space-to-ground testing in the United States. At least…
BT putting its digital voice service rollout on halt Last year, BT began rolling out Digital Voice, which is a VoIP solution that works over the company’s broadband network rather than the old analogue network, as the name implies. This service is an essential improvement, as BT points out, to replace analogue technology, which is rapidly becoming outmoded. The operator is, however, delaying the Digital Voice switchover for consumers who do not wish to switch right away. BT did not specify how long the halt will occur, nonetheless, it is confident that the switchover will take place soon. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/mt23py8u DigitalBridge enters into mobile infrastructure deal with Telenet Telenet has agreed to sell all of its mobile telecommunications towers in Belgium to DigitalBridge, a US-based real estate investment trust and a subsidiary of the DigitalBridge Group. The investment firm has agreed to pay $820 million for Telenet’s 3,322…
DT and Vodafone to tackle areas of Germany with no 4G coverage Deutsche Telekom (DT) and Vodafone Germany have announced further advancements in their efforts to close 4G coverage gaps in distant or rural parts of Germany where consumers are serviced by only one mobile network operator (MNO) or no operator at all. Over the last several years, the two operators have worked to increase coverage in 3,000 to 4,000 so-called 4G gray spots, which are commonly described as places where only one MNO can provide service. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yndfwnvb Spectralink launches DECT devices with Microsoft Teams SIP Gateway Spectralink, a global workplace mobility solutions supplier, has announced the availability of DECT devices that are compatible with the Microsoft Teams SIP Gateway. Company-critical deskless workers, who must travel to a remote site in order to carry out their duties, are very much relied upon by enterprise companies such as…
Telefonica partners with Meta A new agreement between Meta and Telefonica has been inked to create a Metaverse Innovation Hub in Madrid. Local startups and developers will have access to a 5G laboratory inside the Hub, where they will be able to use a metaverse end-to-end testbed using Meta and Telefonica’s networks and equipment. The hub’s goal is to test innovative network topologies, use cases and devices in order to speed metaverse network and device readiness. Participants will have access to Telefonica’s open innovation ecosystem, as well as the Innovation and Talent Hub Resources and Meta’s engineering capabilities. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/mf2jbjxu Turkcell partners with Ribbon and Odine Ribbon Communications has teamed up with Odine, a virtualized and containerized infrastructure and solution integrator, to provide Turkcell, a Turkish integrated telecommunications and technology services provider, with next-generation voice interconnect services. Ribbon’s SBC SWe, which delivers the features and capabilities of appliance-based…
Oracle Communications has been chosen by Vodafone UK to lead the network policy for its standalone 5G network. Vodafone will be able to make more intelligent policy decisions and swiftly test and deploy new services using Oracle’s cloud native network policy management technology as part of its 5G core. Customers will be able to get their hands on exciting new 5G options sooner, thanks to this new agreement, which includes holographic calls, lag-free 5G game streaming and film downloads up to 4X faster than 4G networks. The solution, which is comprised of Oracle’s 5G Core Policy Control Function (PCF) and Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), enables the implementation of sophisticated network policies across wireless, fixed and cable networks, as well as IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) networks. In the case of Vodafone, the solution will provide data from which Vodafone customers may select the optimal network offer…
Nokia inks a 5G deal with Elisa Estonia Elisa Estonia, a subsidiary of Elisa Finland, has selected Nokia for a national 5G RAN deployment, as well as the replacement of current 4G infrastructure in a five-year arrangement. On completion of Estonia’s spectrum auction in early 2022, deployment is planned to begin in the following year. Nokia will supply Elisa with equipment from its newest ReefShark System on the chip-powered AirScale equipment portfolio, which will cover the nation’s countrywide radio network. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/y4bvm323 BT announces the creation of a Clinical Advisory Board BT has announced the formation of a Clinical Advisory Board, which will be made up of experienced healthcare experts. The aim of this initiative is to help drive the development of innovative, connected healthcare solutions that will improve results and experiences for the NHS and their patients. The professionals will contribute decades of expertise and deep knowledge…
With Christmas fast approaching, we would like to present 12 articles to read during the 12 days of Christmas. We hope that this collection of articles will take you on a joyous voyage of telecom business, VoIP, and personal development education. It has been over a year since organizations rushed from the traditional office to a virtual workplace due to the coronavirus. The transition from office to home leads to other changes: many of us now communicate much more often in the virtual world, rather than face-to-face, which means that nonverbal communications are now more important than ever. Full article: https://voip.review/2021/02/08/importance-nonverbal-communication-virtual-environment/ Most phones today allow users to see the calling party’s phone number before they answer. This feature, called Caller ID or Calling Line Identity (CLI), is a way to let people know who is calling and decide whether they want to answer the call or not. However, callers…
Ericsson releases 10 Hot Consumer Trends report Ericsson’s ConsumerLab 10 Hot Consumer Trends study, which addresses early adopter perspectives and aspirations up to 2030, has been released. The report discusses hybrid retail experiences at the fictitious ‘Everyspace Plaza’ mall, where consumers examined 15 hybrid shopping mall facilities meant to expand the conventional experience via the use of digital technologies. According to Ericsson, the ConsumerLab 10 Hot Consumer Trends study represents the expectations and forecasts of over 57 million early technology users worldwide. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/54w7xe68 Vodafone to auction a unique NFT Vodafone will sell an NFT of the world’s first ever SMS text message, “Merry Christmas,” which was transmitted on the Vodafone network in December, 1992. The exclusive NFT ensures ownership of a one-of-a-kind, exact reproduction of the original communication protocol used to send the first-ever text message. All profits from the auction will be donated to the UNHCR,…