stra, the Australian telecommunications company, has announced a new partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. The collaboration aims to provide home phone and broadband services to customers in remote areas. Telstra’s satellite connectivity services will offer expanded options for businesses and consumers who previously had limited access to broadband, potentially bringing them online for the first time.
Virgin Media O2 Plans Job Cuts Virgin Media O2 is reportedly planning job cuts, with anywhere between 800 and 2,000 jobs at risk of elimination. The company has rescheduled an imminent pay rise for staff to avoid including it in redundancy packages. This news disappoints staff who were led to believe they would have the opportunity to transfer to different departments, but anonymous sources suggest suitable alternative roles may not be available. The job cuts are part of the ongoing integration process between O2 and Virgin Media, following their merger in 2021, and are expected due to real estate consolidation and eliminating overlapping roles, common methods in mergers. Read the full article T-Mobile and Bellevue Pilot Road Safety Tech T-Mobile US and the city of Bellevue, Washington, are partnering to pilot Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology, aimed at enhancing road and pedestrian safety through real-time information. T-Mobile will provide 5G connectivity,…
Vodafone UK is proclaiming the promise of 5G, with over 50% of UK adults agreeing that it could significantly impact their daily lives. But the telecom giant is also sparking conversation around its proposed merger with Three, a move believed to accelerate the UK’s digital future. The benefits of this merger extend to healthcare, utilities, and railways, showing strong potential to enhance these sectors through technologies enabled by 5G connectivity. However, this ambitious union faces challenges, including the controversial issue of spectrum distribution, crucial for 5G delivery. Yet, in the ever-evolving telecom landscape, it might be the willingness to navigate these challenges that determines their success.
KPN’s acquisition of Youfone expands its customer base, positioning it to potentially overtake T-Mobile Netherlands as the largest mobile operator, while boosting its fiber coverage with Primevest’s Dutch assets. Discuss these market shifts at this year’s Total Telecom Congress.
KPN acquires Primevest Capital Partners’ fibre infrastructure, extending coverage to 127,000 homes in major Dutch cities, as it aims to cover 80% of the Netherlands by 2026 and enhance customer experience.
EU Contemplates 5G Vendor Ban Amid Huawei Funding Debate The European Union is debating whether to ban certain companies from their 5G networks due to security concerns. Huawei, the company most affected by the potential ban, is receiving funding of around €3.89 million from the EU for research in areas like 6G, AI, and cloud computing under the Horizon Europe research program. Horizon Europe is the EU’s main research and innovation initiative, with a proposed budget of €12.8 billion in 2024. The EU is worried about member countries, especially Germany, being slow to restrict the use of “high-risk” vendors. Analysts suggest that stricter measures from Germany would greatly impact Huawei’s presence in Europe. Read the full article European Commission Targets Google’s Adtech Dominance with Statement of Objections The European Commission has raised concerns about Google’s control of the digital advertising ecosystem and issued a Statement of Objections against the tech…
The race for 5G dominance in the US continues, with AT&T focusing on standalone 5G architecture and monetizing services like gaming and augmented reality. With a cautious approach to Fixed Wireless Access, AT&T targets legacy copper network customers while embracing sustainability, AI, and automation for better energy efficiency and environmental impact.
Valmont Industries and T-Mobile achieve a breakthrough in infrastructure monitoring with an industry-first long-distance BVLOS drone inspection flight powered by 5G, highlighting enhanced safety, efficiency, and reduced costs. As the FAA grants more waivers, Valmont’s innovative approach revolutionizes critical inspections and sets the stage for nationwide drone-in-a-box services by 2024.
Amazon’s potential entry into the mobile market with Prime subscriptions has sparked discussions with leading carriers. While offering mobile connectivity at competitive prices, carriers and Amazon remain tight-lipped about this possibility.
Dish Network’s potential deal with Amazon may revolutionize its mobile business and offer a competitive edge against leading operators. The partnership, expected to be unveiled soon, could enhance retail exposure and propel Dish’s postpaid market growth, despite challenges with device compatibility and network deployment costs.
