Forging a powerful alliance, Virgin Media O2 and Tesco affirm a ten-year extension of their two decade-long partnership, potentially marking a new era for Tesco Mobile, UK’s leading mobile virtual network operator. With over 5.5 million customers, and a recent 9.4% increase in sales generating £970 million in revenues, this joint venture shows no signs of slowing down.
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.
In a significant move to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor industry, the Japanese government has committed approximately $307 million in subsidies to a high-profile semiconductor project. This initiative brings together major players NTT from Japan, Intel from the United States, and South Korea’s SK Hynix. Their collaboration focuses on the development of advanced optical semiconductor technology, which promises faster data processing speeds and reduced energy consumption compared to traditional electrical semiconductors.
NOC Portugal recently entered into a significant agreement with Nokia, encompassing a 5G Standalone Core implementation and a joint effort to develop APIs. This collaboration marks a step forward in NOC’s commitment to innovating in the 5G realm, offering customers new, cutting-edge services.
The FCC has recently approved rule changes aimed at streamlining access to the 70 GHz, 80 GHz, and 90 GHz spectrum bands, immensely benefiting airborne and waterborne vehicles and promoting more innovative broadband service options. These updates will also impact the way backhaul service for 5G operates, enabling smaller, lower-cost antennas to be utilized, and ensuring a more efficient use of the spectrum through modifying the link registration process.
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.
In a significant development in the field of satellite communications, Hellas Sat has joined forces with Thales Alenia Space, a collaboration between Thales and Leonardo, under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement marks the beginning of their joint venture on a pioneering optical communication satellite project.
As the new year unfolds, Vodafone has released a compelling report, underscoring the urgent need for regulatory reforms to bolster Europe’s telecommunications sector. The report, titled “Why Telecoms Matters,” paints a stark picture of the challenges Europe currently faces, emphasizing the pivotal role of mobile technology and digital transformation in overcoming these obstacles.
Prominent telecom operator, BT, steps into the fray of a groundbreaking class action lawsuit. At the core lies accusations of excessive pricing for traditional landline users, contrasted against fairer prices for bundle consumers. While BT robustly contests any allegations of abusing its market dominance, millions of claimants eagerly seek compensation.
Facing an economic upheaval, telecom leaders like Nokia, Ericsson, and AT&T post disappointing financial outcomes for 2023, attributed to factors like changing customer behavior and a challenging macro-economic environment. However, there are glimmers of hope, evidenced by Nokia’s significant free cash flow generation amidst a major slump in sales.
