Vocus, the Australian fibre giant, eyes a substantial expansion via a potential A$6.3 billion acquisition of TPG Telecom’s enterprise, wholesale, and government assets, including the wholesale infrastructure sector, Vision Network. However, TPG’s Board’s decision remains pending, casting doubt around the contract’s finalisation.
Formulating the future of UK’s internet, Building Digital UK (BDUK) triggers the procurement process under the £5 billion Project Gigabit framework. Their ambitious objective: accelerate gigabit-speed broadband coverage to capture a minimum of 85% of premises by 2025. However, there’s a twist in the tale, as reaching remote regions still poses a formidable challenge.
Dish Wireless, through its Boost Mobile branch, is courting Amazon Prime users with discounted SIM kits for its postpaid Infinite Unlimited plan. The flat rate monthly service promises unlimited connectivity, but with potential speed limits for heavy data users. However, the lack of compatible devices and reliance on AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks pose noteworthy challenges, dampen the impact of the partnership, and call into question its ability to significantly boost Dish’s customer base.
Spectrum Enterprise, a division of Charter Communications, Inc., has recently inked a multi-year contract with the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration. The agreement will grant state agencies, municipalities, and educational institutions access to Spectrum Enterprise’s diverse portfolio of network, internet connectivity, and cybersecurity solutions. This move aims to streamline technology services procurement, fostering connectivity among employees and citizens and ensuring seamless digital operations.
T-Mobile has taken a bold step forward in the world of 5G technology, initiating the rollout of its latest innovation that promises lightning-fast speeds of up to 3.3Gbps. The breakthrough is achieved through carrier aggregation, a technique that combines four distinct 5G channels into one for compatible devices. At present, only Samsung’s newer Galaxy S23 phones are capable of harnessing this impressive speed boost.
In a significant development aimed at bolstering fiber access across the United States, Zyxel Communication, a leading provider of secure broadband networking solutions, has joined forces with Windstream to supply essential WiFi 6E hardware for their 8 gig expansion. This collaboration marks a major milestone for both companies, as they strive to bring high-speed internet connectivity to underserved communities in Windstream’s 18-state service area.
In a remarkable stride, Bharti Airtel has connected over 20 million IoT devices via its B2B branch, Airtel Business, amid India’s 5G evolution. This permits a vast assortment of IoT features offered through multiple connectivity mediums. Major deals have propelled Airtel to surpass a key milestone. Moreover, the Airtel IoT platform facilitates enterprises to manage their IoT connections via the Airtel IoT Hub.
In an exciting leap forward for 5G technology in Europe, Ericsson and O2 Telefónica in Germany have joined forces to accomplish a remarkable feat in the development of 5G Cloud RAN technology. Their groundbreaking Proof of Concept (PoC) deployment at O2 Telefónica’s Wayra innovation hub in Munich showcased the immense capabilities of Ericsson’s first 5G Cloud RAN installation on the continent. The PoC utilized cutting-edge mmWave frequency and a centralized control unit (CU), achieving an impressive end-to-end speed of over 4 gigabits per second.
Allot Ltd. is chosen by a major Asian telecom operator to provide Allot DNS Secure, offering cybersecurity threat protection and parental control features to over 50 million customers. Digital Locations unveils technology to connect smartphones worldwide to high-speed Internet from satellites, promising commercial success. Veeam integrates Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 with Microsoft’s new 365 Backup. Verizon showcases a point-to-multipoint internet solution using mmWave spectrum, reducing costs and complexities. Bridewell’s research warns of environmental challenges amplifying cybersecurity risks for over 80% of U.S. critical infrastructure organizations.
ITIF urges a reevaluation of U.S. broadband programs in favor of the significant Affordable Connectivity Programme (ACP), aiming to give low-income households internet access. Predictions show funds will be depleted by 2024, necessitating a yearly investment between $5-$6 billion, potentially sourced from outdated programs. Despite appearing feasible, the report warns digital divide issues require more than funding, including digital literacy initiatives. Unveil the evolving connectivity panorama in our upcoming Connected America conference.
