In a significant move, AT&T has pledged an additional $3 billion investment by the end of the decade to address the digital divide in the United States, bringing its total commitment to this cause to $5 billion. This announcement comes as part of the telco’s ongoing efforts to ensure more Americans have access to affordable high-speed internet.
Seven Chinese nationals are under legal fire, suspected of masterminding an international hacking operation. Imagined to be APT31 Group members, they have allegedly dispatched 10,000 harmful emails, targeting critics of the PRC regime and stealing trade secrets.
In the ongoing geopolitical saga between the US and China, the global supply chain and the semiconductor industry are at the forefront. Both nations’ governmental bodies are ramping up subsidies to stimulate growth in domestic manufacturing and insulate against sanctions.
The lapse of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority to auction spectrum has reached a one-year milestone, casting a shadow over the United States’ telecommunications landscape and its position on the global stage. This standstill not only reflects the pervasive partisanship and dysfunction within the US government but also threatens the country’s innovative edge and economic competitiveness.
The US government has recently provided clarity regarding foreign equipment purchases under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) programme. The emphasis is on minimizing exceptions to ‘buy American’ rules, particularly reflected in the fibre-optic sector. Notwithstanding, one significant provision allows sourcing glass used in fibre optics from overseas. This comes as a relief for firms worried about supply sufficiency and costs. The spotlight of foreign vendors, meanwhile, is potentially electronics, with proposed exemptions including most semiconductors.
The US Department of Justice has accused two people it believes to be Chinese state agents of paying an FBI double agent to get information about the Huawei probe. The two individuals are accused of attempting to influence a US government employee who they thought was a cooperator to disclose sensitive information regarding the Justice Department’s investigation, including details about prospective witnesses, trial evidence, and additional charges that may be brought. According to the Justice Department, one of the defendants paid nearly $61,000 in digital currency for the data. However, the individual they attempted to bribe was an FBI double agent. The double agent gave the Chinese operatives certain documents that seemed to contain some of the material they were looking for, but the documents were created by the Justice Department and did not disclose factual meetings or trial tactics. Although the department has filed arrest warrants…
Samsung Electronics has completed an agreement to acquire network services provider TeleWorld Solutions (TWS). Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, TWS provides network design, testing and optimization services to mobile service and cable operators, equipment OEMs and other companies in the United States. This acquisition is expected to help Samsung address the need for end-to-end support in delivering network solutions aimed at upgrading the 5G and 4G LTE networks, and providing connectivity service advancements in the US. Paul Kyungwhoon Cheun, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “The acquisition of TWS will enable us to meet mobile carriers’ growing needs for improving their 4G and 5G networks, and eventually create new opportunities to enhance our service capabilities to our customers. Samsung will continue to drive innovation in communications technology, while providing optimization services for network deployments that accelerate US 5G network expansion.” Under the agreement,…
The U.S. Congress is concerned about revelations of a deal that was made between Facebook and the Chinese device maker Huawei. Huawei is not the only device constructor to have a privilege access to data from Facebook, as Lenovo, Oppo and TCL are also on that list “Concerns about Huawei aren’t new – they were widely publicized beginning in 2012, when the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released a well-read report on the close relationships between the Chinese Communist Party and equipment makers like Huawei,” said U.S. Senator Mark Warner. In an investigation done by the House Intelligence Committee, it was stated that “Huawei did not fully cooperate with the investigation and was unwilling to explain its relationship with the Chinese government or Chinese Communist Party, while credible evidence exists that it fails to comply with U.S. laws”. Moreover, the Chinese company has an history of collaboration with the…
After President Trump asked the U.S. Commerce Department to find an agreement to save ZTE Corp., an agreement has been found. It all started when an investigation found out that ZTE was doing business with Iran and North Korea by sending U.S. products. Despite the opposition of several members of congress, mostly Democrats, but also many Republicans, that are accusing Trump of bending under Chinese pressure, ZTE will be able to trade with American companies. ZTE was banned from doing any business with the U.S. since April 15th and has lost $3 billion. ZTE will have to pay a $1.3 billion fine to the U.S. in addition to a $900 million fine they already paid last year. Part of the deal, aside from the fine, includes a change in management and will have to get parts from U.S. suppliers. The situation between ZTE and the U.S. Administration created some tensions…
BullsEye Telecom has entered the VoIP based Key System market. Founded in 1999 in Michigan, BullsEye started by focusing on its local market. Since then, they provide SD-WAN, VoIP, broadband, and POTS to customers across the U.S. They acquired an experience in converting Plain Ordinary Telephone Service (POTS) to VoIP lines. It was able to be a leader company in the U.S. as a multi-location communications solutions provider. They announced yesterday the launch of its VoIP Based key system. Evan Branstnern, network endpoint engineer, explains: “The goal with BullsEye’s VoIP Key System was to replicate a phone system that people are used to while at the same time integrate the latest technology and best practices that are reflected in a VoIP-based product.” This technology will let users park calls with just a button, and then see which line is parked or available. It also let calls being picked up from…
