In a remarkable feat of engineering, Openreach, the UK’s leading digital network provider, is illuminating approximately 60,000 new premises every week, equivalent to the size of Tunbridge Wells in Kent. With a commitment to a £15 billion investment, the company aims to connect 25 million buildings by 2026, with a subsequent target of 30 million by the end of 2030.
In collaboration with Ericsson and Qualcomm, T-Mobile, renowned as the ‘uncarrier,’ has undertaken a groundbreaking 5G standalone (SA) test, showcasing the potential of its millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum. The test utilized an impressive eight channels, achieving a peak download speed of 4.3 Gbps, with uplink channels combining to reach 420 Mbps.
In a collaborative effort organized by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), major Japanese companies DoCoMo, NTT, Sky Perfect JSAT, and Space Compass are set to pioneer direct-to-device (D2D) services utilizing flying base stations.
In a major technological breakthrough, Nokia and Orange have announced the successful completion of an unprecedented 800Gbps per wavelength transmission over Orange’s acclaimed 6,600km Dunant transatlantic route. This milestone was achieved using Nokia’s PSE-6s super coherent optics integrated into the Nokia 1830 Photonic Services Interconnect – Modular (PSI-M). The groundbreaking trial, conducted under real-world network conditions, underscores Orange’s capability to enhance its existing optical network capacity, facilitating the support of end-to-end 400GE and cutting-edge 800GE services.
Voxility, a prominent Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider globally, is extending its reach in Europe with a strategic point of presence (PoP) situated within the Tier 3-built data center of AtlasEdge in London City. This collaborative effort aims to furnish Voxility’s clientele with scalable and cost-effective colocation services, coupled with high-speed, low-latency connectivity solutions. The Voxility PoP grants direct access to over 750 networks present at the London Internet Exchange (LINX).
In a landmark move, Zain Group, Ooredoo, and TASC Towers Holding have officially inked a definitive agreement to merge their tower assets, forming a colossal entity valued at $2.2 billion. This strategic collaboration, originating from talks initiated in July, consolidates a combined total of 30,000 towers spanning Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, and Jordan, establishing the largest tower company in the Middle East and North Africa.
In a groundbreaking move, AT&T has selected Ericsson as the primary supplier for its Open RAN equipment, set to handle 70% of its wireless traffic by the close of 2026. The five-year agreement, valued at an impressive $14 billion, signals a significant shift in the North American telecommunications landscape. Under the deal, Ericsson will replace some of Nokia’s equipment in specific areas of AT&T’s network.
SoftBank’s recent €473m acquisition of a 51% stake in Cubic Telecom indicates a growing confidence in connected vehicles’ market. Cubic’s unique software – already utilized in around 17 million vehicles worldwide – allows manufacturers to add new functionality over-the-air, enhancing safety and performance. According to McKinsey & Co, by 2030, 95% of new vehicles are anticipated to be connected, revealing the tremendous potential of this sector.
The rapid adoption of embedded SIMs (eSIMs) is poised to revolutionize the cellular Internet of Things (IoT) landscape, causing significant market disruption and driving growth, according to insights from GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
The race for 5G supremacy is intense, and LexisNexis IPlytics explores the landscape in their 2023 report. CEO Tim Pohlmann notes a significant surge in 5G patents, with the top 10 players owning 76% of declared patent families. The US leads in patent volume, followed by China and Europe. Huawei dominates the top 50 ranking. Pohlmann emphasizes the role of Chinese companies, particularly Huawei, in shaping the 5G sector, extending their influence to the automotive industry
