Google announces their Network Connectivity Center Google has announced a new product, the Network Connection Center (NCC). NCC is described as a revolution in the simplification of on premises and cloud networking. This new product is an initiative to provide a single control panel for a company of any size to manage all of its networks globally. The Network Connection Center is said to effortlessly join together VPNs, partners and dedicated interconnects, as well as third-party routers and Software-Defined WANs, in order to optimize connectivity, reduce operational burden and minimize costs. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/xaaypzwr AT&T signs a 12-year contract with the US Treasury Department AT&T has cemented a $231 million and 12-year contract with the US Treasury Department to modernize the agency’s voice and data networks and ensure cyber security protection. This agreement is part of the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) technology procurement program. Under…
The world is still standing on its tip toes and looking over its shoulder because of how our lives have changed since the end of 2019. Yes, we are all tired of hearing this, but the truth is that a pandemic is still very real, and we all have a duty to protect ourselves and each other. Therefore, some of the biggest events in the telecommunications industry are going virtual in 2021. Even though general societal norms have been halted to a large extent, we are still moving forward, albeit at a slow pace with much more cautious steps. We invite you to explore the list we have compiled of the top telecom events that will take place online this year. CC-Enterprise Webinar.Live Session CC (Carrier Community) is organising its next digital Enterprise CC-Webinar.Live Panel Discussion and Knowledge Sharing Session, scheduled to take place on April 12, 2021. During…
Orange launches satellite broadband service in France Orange-owned satellite broadband business Nordnet has officially launched its satellite broadband service in France. As is well known, Neosat provides broadband services of up to 100 Mbps to homes and businesses in areas with poor connectivity for less than €40 per month. Nordet launched its services just as a new generation of satellite broadband services is beginning to emerge around the globe. The company packages satellite broadband services with a fixed-line telephone service, together with unlimited calls to fixed and mobile telephones and certain other destinations. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/ap4rdryh Microsoft acquires Marsden In continuation to expand its capabilities to better serve industry verticals, Microsoft has acquired The Marsden Group, the company’s current partner focused on rapid prototyping and digital transformation for industrial customers. The acquisition of Marsden, an existing Microsoft Gold partner, will accelerate Microsoft’s capability to take advantage of its cloud,…
FCC establishes Emergency Broadband Benefit program The FCC has recently held an open meeting in order to discuss its next priorities. One of the most important matters discussed was the new Emergency Broadband Benefit program, which Congress has instructed the FCC to initiate. As part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress has allocated $3.2 billion for the program. Broadband providers participating in the program will be able to offer discounts of up to $50 per month for Internet services and up to $75 per month for those services on tribal lands. Currently, it is unclear how long these broadband benefits will last. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/jj52hlfl Sinch acquires Inteliquent Sinch AB, a Sweden-based company primarily engaged in the provision of cloud computing services, has signed a final agreement to acquire Inteliquent, the largest independent voice communications provider in the US, for an all-cash offer of $1.140 billion. The deal expands…
Telia takes a big step toward IoT The Swedish operator Telia has launched a global IoT connectivity offering for enterprises, pledging that it can cut almost a third off the average cost of IoT communications. The new portfolio is called Telia Global IoT Connectivity. In a statement, the operator said that the portfolio consists of a Telia eSIM, that is powered by eUICC, a global ecosystem of pre-integrated operators, a one-of-a-kind programmable network and a cloud-based platform for system management. Björn Hansen, Head of IoT at Telia, said: “This is a true game changer for IoT connectivity.” Read more: https://tinyurl.com/wtk6d7pi Ekinops with Orange gives 5G a trial run Ekinops has successfully completed 5G business connectivity testing with Orange Business Services at its Orange Labs. To test the connectivity, Ekinops used its 5G-capable OneAccess router that is based on its OneOS6 software. According to Ekinops, the software enables a variety of…
Vodafone and Nokia test 100G PON tech Nokia’s new technology has been tested for the first time by Vodafone in Germany. The prototype used a single 25G laser and DSP technology developed at Nokia Bell Labs to create the single wavelength 100G PON transmission. Gavin Young, Head of Vodafone’s Fixed Access Center of Excellence, said the 100G PON is 40 times the capacity of today’s GPON networks and 10 times the capacity of the XGS-GPON. The 100G PON enables flexible tariffs and operates by grouping modems using a methodology similar to that already used in cable networks, suggesting that this cable network experience can help to better evaluate and take advantage of the new PON technology. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/xpai96uz Spectrum Enterprise leverages Cisco Meraki’s cloud platform Spectrum Enterprise is leveraging a new managed network solution based on Cisco’s Meraki cloud platform. Spectrum Enterprise’s Managed Network Edge (MNE) was designed to…
The European Commission (EC) has appointed Nokia, a Finnish international telecommunications, information technology and consumer electronics company, to supervise Hexa-X, a primary 6G research project aimed at boosting the continent’s progress in developing the technology. The two-and-a-half-year Hexa-X initiative was funded by Horizon 2020, the EU’s research, and innovation program, and will start on January 1, 2021. The project is aimed at connecting the physical, digital and human worlds, firmly embedded in future wireless technologies. The project is led by Nokia, which coordinates the efforts, with Ericsson being assigned as the technical manager. The partners in the consortium are from academia and industry, including service providers, network providers and European research institutes. The partners include Orange, TIM, Telefonica, Intel and Siemens. The Finnish service provider said in a statement that it expects 6G to become commercially operational by 2030, following a normal ten-year intergenerational cycle and taking…
Deutsche Telekom hits 50% 5G population coverage Deutsche Telekom, the largest German telecommunications company, has expanded its 5G connectivity to 3,000 towns across all German states. A total of 18,000 antennas, out of the 30,000 already installed, have been upgraded to support 5G services in the last 5 weeks, and as a result, 50% of Germany‘s population now has 5G coverage. Walter Goldenits, Head of Technology, commented: “The 50 percent is no reason for us to rest on our laurels. The 5G rollout continues with the same intensity. Two thirds of the population are our next target. And we want to achieve this too this year.” Read more at https://tinyurl.com/y4z6fd2m Google Cloud and Orange announce their collaboration Google Cloud and Orange announced that they are partnering up for data, AI and edge computing development. The two companies plan on transforming Orange’s IT infrastructure, developing future cloud services, improving operational efficiency…
European telcos: We’re ready to “lift the continent out of this recession” The European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO) has released a joint statement calling on EU institutions and national governments to support 5G and fiber rollout, stimulate the uptake of technology, fight misinformation, and focus on digital skills and education. According to ETNO, a new approach is needed to ensure that spectrum auctions are timely and conditions for spectrum assignment support network deployment. Sharing agreements for Radio Access Network (RAN) should be supported and incentivized, as well as all fiber investment models should be adequately encouraged. Moreover, future EU initiatives should dramatically reduce roll-out costs for both mobile and fixed networks. Read more at https://tinyurl.com/yadrfxfg Microsoft’s new Teams features fight video conferencing fatigue Microsoft Team’s brand seeks to fight “Zoom fatigue” and exhaustion of physical isolation with its new updates and features. The news includes a shared background to make participants…
Spanish telecom operator MasMovil agrees $3.3 billion private equity bid KKR, Cinven and Providence have made their Public Acquisition Offer for Spanish telecoms operator MasMovil. The three venture capital funds have proposed to pay EUR 22.5 per share of the telco, which is valued at almost EUR 3 billion. According to the statement, KKR, Cinven and Providence will pay a 20 percent premium on the current MasMovil share price. Meinrad Spenger, MasMovil Chief Executive, said that they have signed an agreement with the bidders on a deal which would be “beneficial for the shareholders and other stakeholders in the company.” Furthermore, the bidders noted that they would maintain continuity in MasMovil’s strategy, staff and executive team. Read more at https://tinyurl.com/y754vsc9 Google Cloud signs major UK government deal The technology giant Google Cloud has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) to make its cloud solutions…

