In a recently revealed Q2 report, Nokia showed flat sales at €5.7 billion year over year, suggesting reduced capital expenditure by operators. Interestingly, while a 5% sales growth in Nokia’s Mobile Networks unit occurred, a troubling 6% decline at the Network Infrastructure division offset this boost. With stark contrasts across regions, North American sales notably dropped by 42% as 5G deployments slowed, while energetic 5G deployments in India couldn’t adequately balance the losses. Mirroring these figures, Ericsson too reported a 9% year over year decrease in Q2 revenue. A gloomy yet realistic outlook from Nokia’s CEO Pekka Lundmark, coupled with analyst firm Dell’Oro’s forecast on the shrinking RAN predictions, suggests telecommunications could be in for a turbulent few years.
Spain’s government is pumping €448 million into the upgrade of over 8,000 isolated 5G base stations, an initiative set to stimulate economic and civil activity while bridging the digital divide. Interestingly, the bulk of the funds are being allocated to lesser-known entities, including wholesale and retail fibre providers Lyntia and Avatel. The rollout is part of Spain’s broader mission of delivering ultrafast broadband coverage by 2025, concurrently ramping up public access to high-speed connections. Furthermore, a €10 million fund invites proposals for innovative 5G projects in sectors such as agriculture and connected vehicles.
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.
Italy’s telecommunications tycoon, Retelit, ushers in a new era of growth under the leadership of newcomer CEO, Jorge Álvarez. With the recent Retelit-Irideos merger, Álvarez is set to navigate the future of this B2B market leader, backed by a solid 20-year career in the global telecom industry.
Ex-Vodafone CEO Nick Read joins global fiber giant EXA Infrastructure as chairman, offering leadership to drive strategic network expansion and commercial growth in the rapidly evolving telecom industry.
Hyperoptic announces over 100 layoffs, with plans to reassign 40 network build engineers to customer-focused roles amid growing competition and economic pressures in the UK fibre market. Industry consolidation seems inevitable as rival networks face similar challenges.
At the Future Enterprise Networks event, experts discussed challenges of 5G private network adoption, emphasizing security benefits and market infancy. Strategies to expand usage to SMEs and overcoming obstacles like education and cost were also highlighted.
Nigeria’s mobile market experiences a significant shift as the NCC allocates 25 MVNO licenses, driving competition and expanding service offerings. This move aims to improve connectivity in rural areas and transform the African telecoms ecosystem in 2023.
Discover how Digital Realty’s sponsorship of Submarine Networks EMEA showcases their dedication to the subsea community, facilitating discussions on vital industry challenges. Their carrier-neutral data centers and Cable Landing Stations play a crucial role in future telecommunications developments.
Geopolitical tensions challenge subsea cable projects, as governments prioritize security of critical infrastructure. Despite obstacles, the industry innovates with emerging technologies like multicore fiber to meet soaring connectivity demands.