Unveiling the turbulence in UK’s telecommunications landscape, Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) unfolds its significant workforce reduction strategy. This controversial move, intertwined with dwindling customer base and towering debts, sets a profound impact on the telecom titan’s ascension in the telecom market. Yet, amidst customer attrition, VMO2’s sturdy quarter reports defied setbacks leveraging raised prices, raising critical discussions within the industry.
Samsung is set to make waves in the tech world once again as it gears up for its second Unpacked event of the year. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, July 26, at 7 AM ET, will be held in Seoul, Korea, in a notable departure from its usual venues in San Francisco and New York where Unpacked has taken place in the past.
The enigmatic billionaire Patrick Drahi is reportedly considering a bold move to hit an astounding 29.9% stake in UK’s telecom titan, BT, which naturally raises eyebrows and fuels speculation. Tracing Drahi’s relationship with BT, it started just last year with a humble 12.1% stake acquisition. Despite BT’s cautious response, Altice, Drahi’s representative, remained adamant about any takeover intentions. Today, a quarter of BT already belongs to Drahi, drawing closer government scrutiny under the freshly enacted National Security & Investment Act.
Vodafone’s first quarter saw a slightly stable 3.7% growth in service revenue, boosted by outcomes in the UK, Italy, and Germany, despite the pandemic-triggered disconnections. On the contrary, Germany experienced a 1.3% dip in service revenue, which however marks an improvement from the earlier quarter’s 2.8% decline, hinting at progress. The recovery was thanks to a strategic increase in broadband prices. In Italy, the revenue plunge decelerated from 2.7% in the fourth quarter to 1.6%, thanks to mobile prepaid base stabilization and noteworthy expansion in corporate fixed-line operations.
The Linux Foundation-led Ultra Ethernet Consortium brings AMD, Arista, Broadcom, and others together to refine ethernet architecture, addressing the escalating network requirements of AI and high-performance computing. Pledging to enhance ethernet performance, the alliance will leverage ethernet’s adaptability, ensuring scalability and cost-effectiveness for diverse workloads. Aiming for a holistic tune-up rather than a complete overhaul, consortium endeavours will encompass detailed protocols, signaling mechanisms, and software solutions.
The UK’s newly established business council brings together heads of fourteen industry behemoths like AstraZeneca, NatWest Group, and Vodafone, offering insights to the Prime Minister on critical economic matters. It’s interesting that Google DeepMind is the only exception to the FTSE 100 list; also significant is the vocal Vodafone inclusion, led by CEO Margherita Della Valle, along with the impending departure of BT’s CEO Philip Jansen amidst a period of shrinkage. The absence of SME representation on the council has fueled criticism, underscoring the complexity and potential bias in shaping Britain’s economic future.
Spain’s government is pumping €448 million into the upgrade of over 8,000 isolated 5G base stations, an initiative set to stimulate economic and civil activity while bridging the digital divide. Interestingly, the bulk of the funds are being allocated to lesser-known entities, including wholesale and retail fibre providers Lyntia and Avatel. The rollout is part of Spain’s broader mission of delivering ultrafast broadband coverage by 2025, concurrently ramping up public access to high-speed connections. Furthermore, a €10 million fund invites proposals for innovative 5G projects in sectors such as agriculture and connected vehicles.
Outpacing the global auto industry, Zeekr, a subsidiary of Geely, has launched a groundbreaking 5G-enabled factory in Ningbo, China. Developed alongside China Unicom Zhejiang, this advanced facility leverages 5G for superior data processing, revolutionizing car manufacturing customizability. However, obstacles such as infrastructure robustness and data security come with the territory of employing 5G in production processes. Nonetheless, the potential of this intelligent blend of automotive and digital tech seems irresistible, prompting worldwide industry attention towards Zeekr’s trendsetting venture.
Unveiling a battery and solar-powered 5G site in Texas, Ericsson demonstrates an innovative and eco-friendly approach to creating energy-smart network solutions. This next-generation site not only offers enhanced energy management, potentially trimming operational expenses and reducing energy consumption, but also hints at lucrative future revenue streams from selling excess power. As Ericsson continues to explore greener alternatives, it’s intriguing to see how telecom companies worldwide will adopt this sustainable model.
The South African telecom giant, Telkom, recently rejected an acquisition bid from a consortium led by its former Chief, Sipho Maseko. The bid, whose details remain undisclosed, sparked extensive board deliberations and was followed by a 7% fall in Telkom’s share price. CEO Serame Taukobong maintains, however, that offers for a takeover will remain on hold until viable proof of deliverability is presented.
