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A historic milestone for the Canadian telecommunications sector was realized as Rogers Communications Inc. announced it had successfully concluded its merger with Shaw Communications Inc. The merger unites two famous Canadian companies that have been connecting Canadians for over five decades. The merger creates a coast-to-coast nationwide company which has fiber-powered internet that is accessible to nearly 70% of Canadian households. The newly combined company plans to bundle more products and services, including internet, television, phone, smart home monitoring, wireless services, credit card offers and sports and media content. In the next five years, the company intends to spend billions of dollars to offer fast, reliable networks in additional towns across Western Canada. Rogers will invest $1 billion in the four Western provinces to link rural, remote and Indigenous communities, as well as unserved distant routes. The business also intends to invest $2.5 billion to expand and strengthen…

Telecom News

Verizon wins a $2.4 billion FAA contract for system upgrades

By Aiste Kryzanovske April 4, 2023

Verizon has been awarded a $2.4 billion contract to update the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) telecommunications and information management systems. If all options are exercised, this agreement, which represents fresh business for the corporation, will last 15 years. The deal was awarded under the FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS) procurement program, which replaces the old FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) contract system. Harris Corp., who was previously in possession of the FTI award, lost the contract. In addition to network access for administrative information systems such as email, payroll and online training, Verizon will offer telecommunications, information management services, network connectivity and other capabilities. Also, Verizon will offer services for program management, network engineering, test and evaluation, and network security management. The contract infrastructure will serve as the cornerstone of the Next Generation Air Transportation System. Verizon Business CEO Kyle Malady said: “From dynamic services and bandwidth…

News Roundup

A quick roundup of the news in Telecoms | Week #13

By Aiste Kryzanovske March 31, 2023

Vodafone Germany to cut 1,300 jobs in realignment efforts Vodafone Germany has revealed intentions to cut 1,300 positions in management, double functions, and areas with no direct customer interaction as part of a realignment and return to growth effort. In addition, the operator intends to establish 400 new customer-facing positions, resulting in a total loss of 900 positions. The decision comes on the heels of a 1.8% year-on-year decline in fiscal Q3 service income due to client losses in Germany, which is likely to be a special focus of cost-cutting efforts. Telecom companies such as BT and Orange Business have also recently announced layoffs. Read the full article. Five9 launches AI Summary tool for contact centers Five9, a cloud contact center service provider, has released Five9 Agent Assist 2.0 with AI Summary, driven by OpenAI’s language model technology. The solution produces summary highlights of client call recordings in seconds, decreasing…

Telecom News

Unified Office announces Alexa-based AI notifications for business

By Aiste Kryzanovske March 30, 2023

Unified Office, a managed service company that provides cloud-based business communications services, has announced the availability of its new Alexa-powered AI-based Performance Notifications Suite. The suite incorporates Alexa-powered communications into Unified Office’s AI-based notifications platform, allowing clients to receive mission-critical notifications through Alexa-enabled products. The AI-based alerts platform from Unified Office is designed to provide organizations with enhanced visibility and convenience, allowing them to respond faster to events that may harm their business. The platform employs the latest advances in linear regression methods, predictive analytics and AI. The new Alexa-powered AI-based Performance Notifications Suite allows hotels to alert personnel with information such as how many guests are checking in or out, ordering room service, leaving early, and more. Restaurant owners may be provided with trend information and be informed of after-hours events. The suite works in conjunction with Unified Office’s Complete Connect Now business communications platform and…

Telecom News

SMS conversations with brands are a growing trend among consumers

By Aiste Kryzanovske March 29, 2023

Attentive’s State of Conversational Commerce Report indicates that consumers are increasingly comfortable interacting with brands, as long as they perceive value. The report surveyed over 8,000 consumers from the US, Canada, the UK and Australia and found that 91% of those questioned have opted into the SMS program of at least one brand, or are interested in doing so. Conversational commerce refers to interactive, people-driven experiences that support the entire customer buying experience, from awareness to post-purchase. The report showed that conversational commerce has been widely adopted in the shopping journey. This approach presents an opportunity for brands to engage with customers and close a revenue gap through personalized, immediate attention. The majority of respondents (88%) would engage in a two-way conversation with a brand about a product, and 87% would reach out to resolve a checkout issue. The report also found that consumers were willing to spend…

Telecom News

Nokia unveils enhanced AVA Energy efficiency software for CSPs

By Aiste Kryzanovske March 28, 2023

Nokia has released an update to its AVA Energy efficiency software, which now features improved algorithms and power-saving strategies, allowing communication service providers (CSPs) to achieve significant reductions in electricity use in their networks. The enhanced Nokia AVA Energy efficiency tool’s improved machine learning algorithms will allow CSPs to reduce power usage in their data centers, as well as network base stations, batteries and air conditioning units in telecom networks. Based on customer testing, Nokia AVA Energy efficiency software can reduce power use by up to 30%, which is an increase of around 10% from the original program. The upgraded solution enables operators to automatically shut down idle and underutilized equipment using algorithms. It also offers the possibility to entirely disconnect gear through remote power control modules. Businesses use Nokia’s AVA Energy efficiency software to reduce overall energy costs while addressing environmental sustainability issues in their operations.…

News Roundup

A quick roundup of the news in Telecoms | Week #12

By Aiste Kryzanovske March 24, 2023

Premium smartphones account for over half of global handset revenues in 2022 According to Counterpoint Research, higher-priced smartphones – those costing more than $600 – accounted for 55% of entire handset revenue in 2022. This is the first time that premium market revenue has accounted for more than half of the worldwide smartphone market. In 2022, revenue attributed to handsets costing $1,000 or more increased by 38%. Apple did well in the premium market, rising 6% year on year and accounting for three-quarters of overall sales in the sector. With more OEMs producing foldable devices in the luxury market, Android smartphones might experience a fresh wave of growth in 2023. Read the full article. Vonage launches no-code video conferencing solution for businesses With the introduction of Vonage’s Meetings API, companies now have a developer-free method of integrating video conferencing into their websites or platforms. The no-code, customizable API is designed…

Telecom News

Organizations’ cybersecurity readiness is troubling, says Cisco

By Aiste Kryzanovske March 23, 2023

According to Cisco’s first-ever Cybersecurity Readiness Index, just 15% of global organizations are rated to have the ‘Mature’ level of preparation required to be resistant to current cybersecurity hazards. The index illustrates where organizations are succeeding in cybersecurity preparedness and where deficiencies may worsen if global business and security leaders do not act. The analysis assesses a company’s ability to sustain cybersecurity resilience in the face of new threats, and includes 19 distinct solutions across five basic pillars: identity, devices, networks, application workloads and data. In a poll of 6,700 private sector cybersecurity leaders from 27 markets, participants were questioned as to which of these technologies they had installed and the current stage of deployment. Businesses were then divided into four readiness stages: beginner, formative, progressive and mature. More than half (55%) of companies polled worldwide are in the Beginner (8%) or Formative (47%) stages of cybersecurity readiness,…

Telecom News

Orange Belgium gets approval for acquisition of VOO

By Aiste Kryzanovske March 22, 2023

The European Commission has given Orange Belgium permission to purchase 75% of the capital, less one share, of VOO SA. The decision, which was made public on March 21, allows Orange Belgium to proceed with the proposed acquisition and strengthens the business’s convergent multigigabit strategy on a national scale. Orange Belgium’s undertakings, according to the European Commission, completely resolve the competition issues discovered during the purchase process. On completion of the acquisition, Orange Belgium hopes to run a high-speed network across Wallonia and a portion of Brussels. The company’s ambitious investment strategy, along with the combined personnel talent and knowledge of VOO and Orange, is anticipated to raise the standard of services provided to clients and boost competition in the Walloon and Brussels areas. Xavier Pichon, Chief Executive Officer at Orange Belgium, expressed his satisfaction with the European Commission’s decision: “We are thrilled by the decision of…

Telecom News

Fusion Connect launches new features for MS Teams Calling Service

By Aiste Kryzanovske March 21, 2023

Fusion Connect, a global Managed Communication Service Provider (MCSP), has announced the availability of new Microsoft Teams Calling Service features. These enhanced capabilities are intended to turn Microsoft Teams into a full business phone system, improving collaboration and productivity for mid-market and corporate businesses in the United States and throughout the world. The newly added features include compliance call recording, a receptionist/attendant console and IT Service Management (ITSM) integration. These features are in addition to those revealed by Fusion Connect in December 2022, which include business continuity, a simpler administrative site and employee productivity tracking. The enhanced features are now accessible in additional countries in Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, offering organizations a more complete and simplified solution. With these new features, organizations can make the most of their Microsoft 365 investment while also benefiting from critical collaboration, continuity and workforce management tools. Compliance call…