BT, in collaboration with NHS and Soprano, is experimenting with ‘Patient Concierge’, an AI-aided patient messaging system aimed at enhancing communication and reducing appointment conflicts. With a strong UK government backing and promising outlook from NHS staff, AI integration is on the rise for optimizing healthcare.
TELUS International and Five9 launch an advanced AI-powered Contact Center as a Service platform. Phonism integrates with Cisco’s Webex, providing cost-effective device management and streamlining collaboration. Viking Electronics endorses Ooma AirDial as a reliable POTS replacement, emphasizing wireless turnkey solutions. Cresta unveils AI enhancements for contact centers, driven by Large Language Models, promising unprecedented performance and productivity.
The Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT), launched by the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the US, intends to revolutionize telecommunications through joint R&D, funding alignments, and standard development. Offering insights into the initiative’s broad scope, TMT partner Julian Cunningham-Day highlights the coalition’s focus on supply chain diversification and market competition through Open RAN. Despite the promising advantages, potential vulnerabilities may arise from industry-wide open standards. Additonally, GCOT’s emphasis on yet to be realized 6G technology signals its proactive stance towards future complexities.
A recent survey found that 85% of broadband and mobile consumers find annual price hikes unjust, adding the frustration that 87% believe they should be able to switch providers without penalty if such increases occur mid-contract. However, the reality presented by providers paints a different picture. These unexpected cost changes and fear of penalties for ending contracts prematurely have driven 62% of surveyed participants to consider switching providers immediately after unexpected price increases. This trend prompted a response from Ofcom for clearer pricing transparency, a call further championed by Uswitch and Which?. This has led to new guidelines by the UK’s Committees of Advertising Practice, aiming to ensure providers fully disclose potential cost changes to customers.
Telecom News | Week #44: T Challenge, End of Vodafone Spain, Nokia’s Technology Strategy 2030, Samsung and O2 testing vRAN.
Harnessing strategic collaboration, China Telecom Research Institute and Huawei Technologies have verified a cutting-edge 50G PON solution, achieving collaborative PON technology working simultaneously within GPON, XG(S)-PON and 50G PON ONUs. This unrivaled development opens up an exciting era in telecommunications, allowing operators to transition effortlessly into the 50G PON sphere.
IBM has introduced Watsonx Code Assistant, an AI-powered tool for enterprise software development. Riga Technical University partners with IS-Wireless to advance 5G Open RAN technology. Snom’s phones are certified for NetSapiens, streamlining deployment for telecom resellers. Google Maps enhances user experience with AI-powered features, offering Immersive View, improved navigation, and EV charging information, striving to outperform competitors.
SK Telecom’s collaboration with AI pioneer Mars Auto, brings forth a compelling vision for autonomous trucking, leveraging SKT’s 5G prowess and Mars Auto’s AI system. With Mars Auto’s AI armed with extensive roadway data from SKT, there’s a promise of safer, more efficient self-driving services. SKT’s continued strides in telecom, signified by the company’s alliance with Deutsche Telekom and massive investment in AI firm Anthropic, show signs of transformative potential for the telecom sector.
Golden opportunity or a hasty gamble? KKR’s pursuit to acquire Telecom Italia’s anticipated NetCo has been met with challenges from Vivendi, TIM’s largest shareholder. Confronting the complexity of separate asset sales and the valuation tug-of-war, it’s clear there’s more to this story than meets the eye.
IBM and AWS are joining forces to enhance generative AI solutions. IBM Consulting will train 10,000 consultants in AWS generative AI by 2024, offering services like Contact Center Modernization with Amazon Connect. Sinch is partnering with Webex by Cisco to launch Sinch Calling with Webex, an integrated product combining messaging, meetings, and voice capabilities. Ooma is expanding its services to the Asia Pacific region to support IWG’s work solutions, providing phone and unified communications services. Connectbase is expanding data capabilities in The Connected World platform, offering detailed tenancy data for network operators expanding in the UK and Ireland.
