T-Mobile sells its wireline business for $1 On Wednesday, T-Mobile US reached an agreement to sell Cogent Communications Holdings, its wireline operations, for $1, taking a $1 billion write-down charge in the process. The wireline industry, which generated $739 million in revenue last year, houses communications systems, data processing machinery and fiber optic cable. In accordance with the deal, Cogent will also acquire some business-related liabilities in addition to the fiber network, related assets and customers. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yckz82n2 SES and LiveU launch an integrated video solution In order to provide a complete solution for live video contribution and distribution along with premium content aggregation, SES has partnered with LiveU. Customers will now have access to the most reliable and affordable live video creation and distribution systems for broadcasting live sports, news and other events from stadiums, sporting venues and distant locations. SES broadcasts more than 700 hours of…
T-Mobile is collaborating with SpaceX to expand its network coverage. Last week, the two businesses announced that they will collaborate to provide extensive cellular access, including full coverage in most parts of the United States. The collaboration seeks to beam down connectivity using SpaceX’s fleet of low Earth orbit satellites for the benefit of T-Mobile customers. With this initiative, T-Mobile consumers should be able to connect to the SpaceX satellites through a new network, transmitted from Starlink’s satellites utilizing T-Mobile’s midband spectrum across the country. SpaceX currently provides home internet access globally through its Starlink program. Even though T-Mobile hasn’t yet provided details on the network’s deployment, the company claims that this collaboration should provide nearly complete coverage almost anywhere in the US. The two companies intend to provide this service in order to replace the use of satellite phones in off-the-grid locations such as national parks or…
Ericsson to be the sole RAN vendor for T-Mobile Netherlands T-Mobile Netherlands has appointed Ericsson as a sole supplier for the renewal of its 5G network. Soren Abildgaard, CEO of T-Mobile Netherlands, stated, “I am confident that with the support of Ericsson we will continue to offer our customers the best mobile telecom experience. We have been leading in 4G for many years and we are and will continue to be so with 5G. In recent years, we have built a globally acclaimed 4G network.” According to the Dutch mobile operator, the choice was preceded by an intensive selection process that assessed, among other things, quality, equipment performance, innovation, sustainability and costs. Read more at https://tinyurl.com/4szfd6m4 Nokia and LG U+ collaborate for 5G Advanced and 6G The South Korean mobile operator LG U+ has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nokia to cooperate on the next generation of wireless…
DT and Vodafone to tackle areas of Germany with no 4G coverage Deutsche Telekom (DT) and Vodafone Germany have announced further advancements in their efforts to close 4G coverage gaps in distant or rural parts of Germany where consumers are serviced by only one mobile network operator (MNO) or no operator at all. Over the last several years, the two operators have worked to increase coverage in 3,000 to 4,000 so-called 4G gray spots, which are commonly described as places where only one MNO can provide service. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/yndfwnvb Spectralink launches DECT devices with Microsoft Teams SIP Gateway Spectralink, a global workplace mobility solutions supplier, has announced the availability of DECT devices that are compatible with the Microsoft Teams SIP Gateway. Company-critical deskless workers, who must travel to a remote site in order to carry out their duties, are very much relied upon by enterprise companies such as…
Telecom firms in Europe are coming together to assist Ukrainians in staying connected, and they are using a variety of steps that differ from company to company and from country to country, depending on the markets in which they operate. Here are some of the steps that telecommunications firms are taking. Deutsche Telekom has started providing free calls and text messages to Ukraine. This initiative affects both individual and commercial clients making calls from landlines and mobile phones, as well as roaming in Ukraine. T-Mobile Polska and T-Mobile US, the operator’s Polish and US subsidiaries, both launched comparable deals. Verizon has waived costs for consumer and corporate users traveling to and from Ukraine. Customers with foreign coverage bolt-ons will not lose any minutes from their subscription, and voice and text roaming costs have been waived. Virgin Media O2 has lifted costs for calls to and from Ukraine,…
T‑Mobile now runs fully on renewable energy T-Mobile was the first and only US carrier to declare an ambitious plan in 2018 to source 100% of its entire power usage from renewable energy by the end of 2021, and the company has now revealed that it has met this objective. T-Mobile created a renewable energy plan that includes eight virtual power agreements, 19 retail partnerships, one Green Direct program, and unbundled Renewable Energy Certificates that assist projects around the country to help attain the 100% target. In order to meet this goal, the corporation has invested in sufficient wind and solar power to account for every unit of electricity utilized on an annual basis. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2p9dkvcy Cosmote receives a fine for mishandling cyberattack Cosmote, Greece’s largest mobile provider, was the target of a cyberattack by an unknown entity in September 2020. Over the course of five visits, the…
TIA releases supply chain security standard The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has compiled the SCS 9001 specification, which it claims is the world’s first supply chain security standard designed particularly for the ICT industry. The SCS 9001 standard applies to all ICT sector goods, including software, hardware and services that are linked to the association’s global networks. SCS 9001’s goal is to validate end-to-end cyber and physical security throughout ICT network infrastructure. The new standard is based on a Quality Management System (QMS) that operationalizes industry best practices and recommendations such as ISO 27001, the Prague Proposals, applicable NIST standards, and the CSIS Criteria for Security and Trust. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2p8hzdru Metro by T-Mobile US now part of the Affordable Connectivity Program Metro by T-Mobile has joined the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). All eligible Metro by T-Mobile customers, new and old, will be able to obtain free…
Nokia inks a 5G deal with Elisa Estonia Elisa Estonia, a subsidiary of Elisa Finland, has selected Nokia for a national 5G RAN deployment, as well as the replacement of current 4G infrastructure in a five-year arrangement. On completion of Estonia’s spectrum auction in early 2022, deployment is planned to begin in the following year. Nokia will supply Elisa with equipment from its newest ReefShark System on the chip-powered AirScale equipment portfolio, which will cover the nation’s countrywide radio network. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/y4bvm323 BT announces the creation of a Clinical Advisory Board BT has announced the formation of a Clinical Advisory Board, which will be made up of experienced healthcare experts. The aim of this initiative is to help drive the development of innovative, connected healthcare solutions that will improve results and experiences for the NHS and their patients. The professionals will contribute decades of expertise and deep knowledge…
Telefónica, Aerial launch Remote Care project pilot The first pilot project regarding “Remote Care” for elders was initiated by Telefónica, the Canadian firm Aerial and the municipality of Luciana. This solution does not require new devices nor wearable equipment, but includes a movement detector interface for the home WiFi, which utilizes existing wireless signals combined with artificial intelligence and contextual analysis to detect presence and motion. The cloud-based AI engine is intended to share data about a senior’s behaviors with their family members. In order to facilitate remote monitoring of elders, this technology also compares the data to normal behavioral patterns. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4ae6w5j9 T-Mobile experiences data breach In a recent cyber assault on T-Mobile, over 40 million individuals’ information was exposed, including names, birthdays and social security numbers. The business claimed that the stolen files contained data from over 7.8 million current T-Mobile accounts as well as data…
T-Mobile US is experimenting with fiber broadband by launching a symmetrical gigabit fiber service in New York City. The service is offered for a fixed monthly fee, but the prices have not yet been announced. This service, which offers 940Mbps upload and download rates as well as a WiFi 6 router, is now being tested in selected Manhattan apartment buildings. The company is undertaking a very restricted trial with a third-party supplier to offer residential internet using fiber-optic lines from that partner rather than deploying its own lines. T-Mobile did not reveal the identity of its local partner. The decision to collaborate with a local broadband provider is consistent with T-Mobile’s well-known practice of leasing rather than constructing fiber for its cell sites. Because T-Mobile is not installing new fiber connections but rather utilizing those that are already in place, initial expenses are kept low, and T-Mobile is…