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 an ambitious move to enhance the United States’ emergency services network, AT&T, in partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), has announced plans for a significant upgrade and expansion of FirstNet. This initiative, which could see an investment exceeding $8 billion over the coming decade, aims to build upon the network’s already extensive coverage and capabilities.
In a pivotal move, CELLSMART, Abundant IoT and TMR embark on an IoT convergence mission through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). CELLSMART, with its unmatched cellular knowledge, brings speed and on-the-ground engineering support, transforming IoT rollouts.
Delving into Wind Tre’s recent maneuverings with a proposed sale to EQT, marks another twist in the intricate telecommunications landscape. Initial strategies aimed to restructure the Italian operator’s fixed and mobile assets were fueled by intense competition. Yet, the hanging threads of existing network sharing agreements and a looming February deadline complications, streamed the planned transaction to an impasse.
In a groundbreaking move, Viasat, Inc., alongside Terrestar Solutions, Ligado Networks, Omnispace, and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), have come together to announce the formation of the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA). This new consortium is set to enhance and promote the burgeoning Direct-to-Device (D2D) communication landscape, promising to deliver unprecedented scale and diversity in mobile satellite services.
In a significant move towards enhancing developer access to advanced network capabilities, Ericsson’s Vonage has teamed up with telecommunications giant Verizon. This collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, aims to integrate Verizon’s network APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) into the Vonage platform. This integration is expected to foster deeper consumer engagement and loyalty by enabling enterprises to offer a more seamless and enriched customer experience across various stages of the customer journey.
BT, Ericsson, and Qualcomm demonstrated successful 5G network slicing trials for diverse applications, proving its potential to improve service quality in the 5G SA era. Disney invests $1.5 billion in Epic Games to blend its iconic franchises with Fortnite. D&H Distributing launches the Go Big AI Program to help partners use AI technologies. IPFone acquires VoIP company Joon to expand its cloud communication services and enhance offerings through synergistic technologies.
In a significant development for Italy’s telecom landscape, WindTre has finalized an agreement to purchase OpNet, a renowned Italian Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) expert, for a deal worth €485 million. This acquisition not only enhances WindTre’s spectrum holdings but also integrates a pioneering 5G standalone network into its portfolio.
Telecom giant Telenor faces a considerable setback as the company braces itself for a $760.3 million blow from its investment in True Corp, spurred by a noticeable decline in share value in 2023. However, amidst this financial turbulence, Telenor maintains a positive outlook. The company affirms that this financial drawback is merely for book records and does not reflect changes in Telenor’s belief in the value of their True Corp asset.
