Verizon’s innovative deal with infrastructure specialist Vertical Bridge promises accelerated 4G and 5G deployment in the US, showcasing a unique tower leasing model that fosters collaboration and transforms mobile tower management.
Three UK experiences 5% revenue increase in Q1, but CEO Robert Finnegan calls for market structural change to boost returns. High 5G rollout costs challenge the industry, while a potential merger with Vodafone looms on the horizon.
TELUS becomes the first North American CSP awarded ‘Running on ODA’ status, joining global giants in utilizing Open Digital Architecture to transform into agile digital organizations. Achieving cost and time reductions, TELUS delivers enhanced customer experience through cloud-native, vendor-agnostic solutions.
Italian telecom giant TIM’s nine-year Power Purchase Agreement with ERG demonstrates a commitment to eco-friendly energy, sourcing 34% of its energy needs through PPAs, and targeting Net Zero emissions by 2040.
GoTo introduces over 30 new features GoTo has revealed over 30 new features across its IT management, support, and unified communications solutions. The new features include GoTo Resolve and Zendesk connectivity for remote support sessions and automated session tracking. Also, Rescue and Google Translate integration, GoTo Customer Engagement, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT integration to produce custom content. Other additions include enhanced call statistics, a centralized security dashboard, and customized surveys. The new features are intended to help consumers and IT teams save time and money while boosting productivity, usability, and the customer experience. Read the full article. Virsae and Hammer team up for a 360-degree cloud contact center experience Virsae and Hammer have collaborated to introduce Outside In – Inside Out, a 360-degree consumer and agent experience solution for contact centers. The service delivers a unified view across on-premise, cloud-based, and hybrid infrastructures, allowing network readiness evaluations, customer journey discovery and…
AST SpaceMobile has made history by successfully connecting a direct voice call between the United States and Japan via its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, using standard smartphones. The use of standard smartphones makes this a world first, as no one has previously achieved a direct voice connection from space to unmodified cellular devices. AST SpaceMobile partnered with some of its mobile operator partners, including AT&T, Rakuten, and Vodafone, to make the connection. The test call was made using AT&T spectrum and a Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone in the Midland, Texas area, connecting to Rakuten in Japan. The successful test call validated AST SpaceMobile’s network architecture and systems, including its BW3 satellite, which it describes as the largest commercial communications array in low-earth orbit. The call also paves the way for space-based cellular broadband. AST SpaceMobile’s goal is to provide coverage to close to 50% of the world’s population…
US carriers to address airline safety concerns over C-band spectrum In an open letter, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile US and UScellular agreed to take voluntary steps to allay worries about aviation safety and allow these telecom companies to fully utilize their C-band spectrum. According to the letter, the steps are intended to minimize operational impact on C-Band operations and support full-power deployments across the C-Band spectrum. In the past, airlines have resisted the introduction of C-band spectrum for 5G services due to concerns over interference with aircraft altimeters. To assure the secure coexistence of C-band frequencies and radio altimeters, which are more than 220 MHz apart, the FCC has issued licensing and technical standards. Read the full article. Deutsche Telekom now owns a 50.2% stake in T-Mobile US According to CEO Tim Höttges, Deutsche Telekom now owns 50.2% of T-Mobile US, completing a long-term objective initially stated at the company’s 2021…
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…
Telinta and Skyetel to hold a webinar for ITSPs Cloud-based VoIP switching and billing solutions provider, Telinta, has partnered with VoIP services provider, Skyetel, to offer a webinar to Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSPs). The webinar will address topics such as delivering popular VoIP services without establishing infrastructure and providing mobile VoIP services to both Android and Apple iOS consumers via brandable mobile softphones and other solutions. The webinar will also showcase unique deals available from both companies for new consumers. The event will take place on March 14, 2023, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (GMT-5). Interested parties can register on Telinta’s website. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3a25kmv7 DT to lead development of European Quantum Communication Infrastructure The European Commission has chosen Deutsche Telekom (DT) to oversee the creation of a new high-security communications network, the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (Euro QCI). The project intends to establish Europe as a leader…
The European Commission has approved a joint venture founded by several of Europe’s leading telecommunications providers, including Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone. The goal of this partnership is to create a revolutionary type of digital advertising platform that will offer a technology solution for digital advertising, while putting privacy first. The holding company, which will be headquartered in Belgium and managed independently, will include a 25% ownership position from each of the major telecom companies. The platform was created with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union in mind, and it has already undergone successful testing in Germany. The platform will be made accessible to any operator in Europe. To activate messages from marketers via publishers, consumers must explicitly opt-in to the new platform. The only item communicated is a “pseudo-anonymous digital token” that cannot be reverse-engineered. With improved transparency, protection and supervision over…
