Nokia has announced a groundbreaking achievement in telecommunications, making the first cellular call using the 3GPP Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) codec. This innovation is hailed as the most significant advancement in live voice calling since the era of monophonic telephony.
Veon, a telecommunications giant, unveiled ambitious growth plans during its Capital Markets Day, sparking optimism among investors. CEO Kaan Terzioglu emphasized the promising landscape of emerging markets where Veon operates, asserting that the company’s digital transformation has positioned it for substantial growth.
The 2Africa subsea cable, touted as the world’s largest, now includes a direct connection to the UK thanks to Vodafone’s involvement. This ambitious project highlights significant global collaboration, with key partners including Bayobab, Center3, China Mobile International, Meta, Orange, Telecom Egypt, and WIOCC. The inclusion of both US and Chinese interests is particularly remarkable, showcasing cooperation despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Greenerwave, a French deep-tech company specializing in electromagnetic wave control, along with its partners in the 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks (6G-NTN) project, has released a white paper titled “Vision on Non-Terrestrial Networks in 6G Systems (or IMT-2030).” This document outlines the future of connectivity within the 6G ecosystem, highlighting the anticipated development of a new generation of wireless communication technologies expected to begin deployment around 2030.
Dutch telecommunications operator KPN has announced a partnership with pension fund ABP to form a new joint venture, temporarily named TowerCo. This entity will manage and operate 3,800 mobile towers and rooftop sites. KPN will hold a 51% stake in the venture, with ABP controlling the remaining 49%.
In collaboration with the i2CAT Foundation, Vodafone is advancing an automated multi-vendor management system tailored for Open RAN. This initiative aims to streamline the integration of diverse hardware and software components from multiple vendors, a key feature of Open RAN technology.
Swisscom has revealed that its Italian subsidiary, FastWeb, has sold its 4.5% stake in FiberCop to Optics BidCo, a subsidiary of KKR, for €439 million. FiberCop, formed in 2021 by Telecom Italia (TIM), KKR, and FastWeb, manages the ‘last mile’ fibre network, connecting homes to street cabinets.
Digicel Group has announced the launch of its subsea fibre cable, Deep Blue One, marking a major investment in enhancing international submarine connectivity. This development is poised to significantly improve internet and communication services across the Caribbean and South America, with French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago being key beneficiaries.
The Finnish telecommunications equipment provider Nokia and Swedish operator group Telia joined forces to conduct a trial assessing the utility of the 6 GHz spectrum for massive MIMO 5G. Their outdoor trial, held at Nokia’s Research and Development center in Espoo, Finland, featured the utilization of a 128TRX antenna based on Nokia’s AirScale Habrok radio and a test terminal from MediaTek equipped with integrated antennas. While specifics on speeds and feeds remain undisclosed, the trial reportedly proceeded successfully.
A bidding war erupted over the fire sale of Casa Systems’ cable business, with CommScope emerging as the surprise victor. The final price tag of $45.1 million far outstripped initial expectations, highlighting the strategic value of Casa’s assets.
