Nokia, TPG and Mediatek are collaborating to showcase the power of carrier aggregation technology in live-streaming 360-degree broadcasts, a key element for future metaverse applications. The demonstration at Nokia’s 5G Futures Lab used multiple sub-6 GHz frequency bands to maximize 5G uplink speeds, enabling real-time transmission of high-quality video. The technology could revolutionize the viewing experience for TV, movies, sports and industrial metaverse scenarios such as remote-controlled robots performing hazardous tasks.
As Three UK reports a 4% revenue boost, courtesy of an expanded active customer base, its operations cost, inflated by 19%, outpaces earnings, hinting at potential sustainability issues. In a different landscape, Telecom Italia shows a 5.5% Q2 profit increase, largely on Brazil’s performance, though competitive pricing in Italy has forced a hefty debt, leading TIM to consider selling its landline grid. At the same time, BT Group sees an uptick in revenue by 4%, attributed to raised prices and improved customer satisfaction. Contrarily, US-based Qualcomm, hit by reduced consumer spending, anticipates a similar upcoming quarter, resulting in a sharp fall in share price. Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel highlights a 14.1% YoY revenue increase, fueled by its growing 4G and postpaid customer base.
Despite the seemingly lagging global investment in standalone 5G networks, promising trends in the telecom sector indicate an upcoming surge. With minimal progress indicated by Global Mobile Suppliers Association’s statistics, the industry pins hopes on major moves from operators like New Zealand’s Spark and Vodafone. Meanwhile, the increasing adoption of 5G SA in private networks for various sectors shows an encouraging forecast. The journey towards profitable 5G investments seems complex, yet strides are being made in the right direction.
In a remarkable stride, Bharti Airtel has connected over 20 million IoT devices via its B2B branch, Airtel Business, amid India’s 5G evolution. This permits a vast assortment of IoT features offered through multiple connectivity mediums. Major deals have propelled Airtel to surpass a key milestone. Moreover, the Airtel IoT platform facilitates enterprises to manage their IoT connections via the Airtel IoT Hub.
Taking dynamic major strides in the quantum computing sector, T-Systems, Deutsche Telekom’s IT wing, is partnering with IQM Quantum Computers, offering its customers unique access to the complexities and potential of IQM’s quantum infrastructure. Leveraging the power of quantum mechanics and harnessing the elusive ‘qubits’, this promising collaboration forms a critical intersection of cloud technology and quantum computation, manoeuvring towards transformative problem-solving capabilities.
The premier Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council has unveiled a refreshingly ambitious approach towards bolstering global connectivity. Highlighting fundamental areas of mutual support, an intriguing plan of Arctic submarine network expansion piques interest. Meanwhile, an equally significant strategy promotes semiconductor industry growth, echoing an urgent call for autonomy in the global supply chain. These pacesetting initiatives promise not only to redefine EU-Japan ties, but also to spark essential digital security dialogues for the evolving tech landscape.
Breaking speed boundaries, Ericsson and MediaTek recently achieved an impressive 565 Mbps upload speed within the consumer 5G sector, sparking excitement about the potential of fixed-wireless access (FWA). This feat was made possible through the integration of two of Ericsson’s software features and MediaTek’s T830 chipset for 5G FWA routers. The growing importance of upload speed on multiple applications including online gaming, video streaming, and cloud storage is nudging broadband consumers into creators, underscoring the significance of this development.
Huawei plans a comeback in the smartphone market with new 5G devices using domestic chip supplies. Concerns persist about the quality of these chips and Huawei’s absence from the Android Play Store. CityFibre challenges Openreach with a faster wholesale FTTH service, while Optus collaborates with SpaceX’s Starlink to expand mobile coverage in Australia’s remote areas. Ofcom investigates O2 Virgin Media over customer complaints, and the European Court of Justice rejects a ruling on the Three-O2 merger, adding to the uncertainty in the telecommunications regulatory landscape.
Telecom alliance Alaian is partnering with chip manufacturer Qualcomm to empower start-ups specializing in Extended Reality (XR). The alliance, comprising of seven telecom giants along with towerco Cellnex, targets initiatives involving metaverse, virtual platforms, and various services or applications from all over the globe. Despite a lukewarm response to the metaverse and the disappearance of mixed reality from the limelight, the conglomerate remains optimistic. Future XR experiences can greatly benefit from the expertise and resources provided by co-operating with Qualcomm.
Samsung, the South Korean tech giant, has reported its lowest operating profit in 14 years for the April to June quarter. The decline is attributed to the ongoing downturn in the memory chip market. While the precise details are yet to be disclosed, analysts expect the chip division’s poor performance to be the primary cause.


