Prominent UK telecom companies like BT, VMO2, and Vodafone have been selected beneficiaries of government funding for research into Open RAN technology. Innovative projects, with a focus ranging from energy efficiency to security, will share in the £88 million ($121 million) funding. The main goal is to figure out whether Open RAN can rival traditional RAN, especially in high-traffic areas and rural deployments, in terms of cost, reliability and energy consumption.
Exploring efficient energy solutions, BT is turning to liquid cooling techniques to lower network switch power usage. Collaborations with Iceotope and Juniper hint at precision cooling for servers—a potentially industry-first initiative. Meanwhile, strategies with Immersion4, Nexalus, and Airsys run the gamut from full immersion to cooling-unit encased cold plates. Crucially, every energy-reduction experiment aids BT’s ambitious journey toward net-zero emissions by 2031.
The surging interest in cloud-based applications represents a flourishing sector of the tech sphere, by providing an enhanced user experience and considerable savings on terminal investments. Telecommunication giant, ZTE, demonstrates this potential with their virtual STB (vSTB) solution in the television industry – a pioneering effort that bypasses traditional terminal downturns hampering TV service expansion. This solution effectively confronts challenges of limited service quality and hard adaptation processes linked with operator TV services, and eliminates sizable terminal outlays. Similarly, the cloud STB product presented by China Mobile and ZTE capitalises on China Mobile’s robust computing capacities and thus streamlines content broadcast to every terminal.
OneWeb’s constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites will enhance network coverage for Softbank, particularly in challenging regions. The move aligns with Softbank’s ‘Ubiquitous Network’ strategy, which unifies diverse non-terrestrial network (NTN) solutions to expand digital services. Besides its surprise partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink, Softbank continues to boost its stake in OneWeb, supporting its Japanese launch and integration into the Ubiquitous Network.
Telecom equipment expenditure in North America experienced an unexpected downturn in the first half of this year. Despite global telecom hardware revenues remaining steady, North America’s marked decline significantly impacted the total number. In contrast, other markets, particularly Asia-Pacific, showed robust growth. The reasons behind North America’s decline extend to slowing 5G expenditure and reduced spending on broadband access equipment. Looking ahead, no major global alterations are anticipated, though the volatility of the telecom industry hints at potential changes.
Brought forth by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), the exciting implementation of Wi-Fi 7 offers to revolutionize our wireless possibilities. This tech breakthrough, outpacing previous Wi-Fi versions, promises double the bandwidth and triple the speed, enabling impractical or seemingly impossible applications to become reality. The technology, based upon the IEEE 802.11be standard, will enable channel widths up to 320 MHz and support 4k QAM. With the potential for widespread deployment, Wi-Fi 7’s multi-link operation could mark a future with enhanced Wi-Fi experiences and low-latency immersive applications. However, the prerequisites of a solid fiber connection highlight challenges in achieving full-scale benefits.
Elevated expectations surround the fixed wireless customer premises equipment (CPE) market, largely fueled by an upsurge in 5G device development. Recent data indicates over twofold growth in 5G FWA CPE shipments, predicting a robust growth of 86% in 2023. However, the fluctuating sample size in the annual survey calls for a prudent interpretation of these statistics. As the data suggests, 5G devices are set to dominate the market, with a projected rise from 29% to 40%. The swift expansion of battery-powered pocket routers promises a solid growth in the overall FWA CPE shipments, with telcos driving 77% of the market. The United States leads in leveraging the 5G technology, promising extraordinary industry advancement.
A notable investment from Saudi Telecom into Telefonica has the Spanish Government on the edge, forcing them to balance their national interest and fostering foreign investment. The complexity surrounding the acquisition decision transcends even Spain’s economic landscape, impacting political alliances and national security. With a swift resolution unlikely, this multifaceted negotiation promises to test Spain’s decision-making in an increasingly interconnected economic world.
Unveiling the hidden importance of fibre optic cables in delivering quality and reliable internet services, we spotlight Prysmian, European industry front-runner. Delving into the connection between prudent cable choice and tangible savings in network installation, while highlighting the formidable costs of cable failures. Prysmian’s commitment to innovation shines in miniaturising cables without compromise, resulting in practical and ecological benefits. Prysmian’s Telecom Business Director is set to reveal more insights at the Connected Britain Conference.
The Online Safety Bill emerges as a tool for platform owners to tackle illicit content. Yet, penalties attached to non-compliance may be a hefty burden. The proposed “spy clause” infamously mandates the scanning of private user content, leading to vocal debates around privacy and the technology needed to enforce this clause. Amidst strong sentiments about potential surveillance, the UK government remains unwavering, resulting in possible market exits by platforms such as WhatsApp. With the telecom industry on the brink of substantial readjustments, the importance of staying informed is evident.
