Unveiling the turbulence in UK’s telecommunications landscape, Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) unfolds its significant workforce reduction strategy. This controversial move, intertwined with dwindling customer base and towering debts, sets a profound impact on the telecom titan’s ascension in the telecom market. Yet, amidst customer attrition, VMO2’s sturdy quarter reports defied setbacks leveraging raised prices, raising critical discussions within the industry.
The UK’s newly established business council brings together heads of fourteen industry behemoths like AstraZeneca, NatWest Group, and Vodafone, offering insights to the Prime Minister on critical economic matters. It’s interesting that Google DeepMind is the only exception to the FTSE 100 list; also significant is the vocal Vodafone inclusion, led by CEO Margherita Della Valle, along with the impending departure of BT’s CEO Philip Jansen amidst a period of shrinkage. The absence of SME representation on the council has fueled criticism, underscoring the complexity and potential bias in shaping Britain’s economic future.
Huawei plans a comeback in the smartphone market with new 5G devices using domestic chip supplies. Concerns persist about the quality of these chips and Huawei’s absence from the Android Play Store. CityFibre challenges Openreach with a faster wholesale FTTH service, while Optus collaborates with SpaceX’s Starlink to expand mobile coverage in Australia’s remote areas. Ofcom investigates O2 Virgin Media over customer complaints, and the European Court of Justice rejects a ruling on the Three-O2 merger, adding to the uncertainty in the telecommunications regulatory landscape.
As the UK’s fibre landscape intensifies with rising competition, leading players are racing to expand gigabit-capable broadband nationwide. Noteworthy, alternative network providers, referred to as “AltNets”, are displaying proactive strategies to swiftly deploy networks. On the other hand, traditional companies are recognising opportunities in fibre rollout, as seen in Openreach’s pricing approach of their wholesale lines.
In a major step toward network evolution, UK’s Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has successfully tested and begun selling services powered by cutting-edge XGS PON fibre technology. This move, primed to revolutionize digital connectivity, promises customers symmetric 10 Gbps upload and download speeds but might initially be geographically limited. The transformative technology is expected to rival offerings from other telco giants whilst unlocking the potential for future technological advancements.
Virgin Media O2 extends its RAN deal with Nokia, enhancing 4G and 5G coverage in the UK, while exploring potential 5G cloud RAN pilots. This partnership diversifies vendors and supports the nation’s digital transformation.
Rising Ransomware Costs Versus Cybersecurity Countermeasures Industry reports indicate that hackers are thriving despite advancements in cyber defense. The median cost of ransomware attacks has doubled to $26,000 over the past two years, with 95% of incidents resulting in financial loss ranging from $1 to $2.25 million. Social engineering and phishing remain highly effective tactics due to the human element. Senior leadership is increasingly becoming a cybersecurity threat. Governments and law enforcement agencies are taking more decisive actions against high-profile attacks, but these measures mainly deter hackers from targeting less coordinated markets. IoT devices used in DDoS attacks have risen to 1 million, accounting for 40% of global DDoS traffic, necessitating stronger network security and awareness. Despite improved measures, hackers are expected to continue succeeding. Read the full article Viasat Selected for AFRL’s ARBALEST Program: Enhancing Tactical Space Connectivity Viasat Inc., a global communications company, has been chosen by the…
Vodafone introduces its new division, Vodafone in Health, aiming to enhance patient outcomes and accelerate digital transformation in healthcare. Collaborating with NHS and private providers, the division seeks to innovate patient care and boost efficiency across the sector.
Virgin Media expands its gigabit network Virgin Media has successfully upgraded 1.5 million additional premises to DOCSIS 3.1, allowing users to achieve internet speeds exceeding one gigabit per second. Over half of the 15.5 million subscriber homes in the UK may now get gigabit services thanks to this latest initiative. The network improvements were made at a variety of sites around the United Kingdom, including cities such as Bournemouth, Bristol, Northampton, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Wigan, and York. VMO2 will continue to roll out DOCSIS 3.1 improvements throughout the rest of its network, after earlier stating that they will have updated their whole footprint by the end of 2021. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/hj4emdmf Avature in partnership with DIDWW Avature has teamed up with DIDWW, an international telecom operator that offers high quality VoIP services. By using DIDWW’s two-way SIP services, Avature will be able to maintain continuous communications and worldwide connection across…
Swedish vendor Ericsson has signed an agreement to provide a 5G “core” to Virgin Media O2, a new company established by a merger between Virgin Media and the mobile operator O2. Ericsson will build a VMO2 standalone 5G core, that will incorporate 4G and non-standalone 5G cores, to create dual-mode 5G core, as referred to by Ericsson. The vendor has been a supplier to mobile operator O2 UK for quite some time now. The previous deal between the two companies focused on an ongoing “network modernization program” that was introduced in June 2020. Since the older core used by O2 was also that of Ericsson, it was appropriate to continue with the same technology vendor. Moreover, the new agreement also allows Virgin Media O2 to provide a standalone 5G service. UK operators have based their 5G launches on a “non-standalone” architecture that allows the 5G RAN to revert…
