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February 12, 2021
18:44
Qualcomm objects to Nvidia move for Arm
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Qualcomm reportedly opposed a $40 billion move by Nvidia to acquire UK-based chip design company Arm, registering objections with relevant regulators in the US, Europe and China. CNBC stated Qualcomm cited concerns Nvidia could restrict rivals’ access to Arm’s technology to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), European Commission, UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and China State Administration for Market Regulation. Qualcomm, Huawei, Apple, Samsung and Intel are among a range of companies which use Arm’s IP in their chips. The CMA last month began seeking industry views on the deal ahead of an investigation [1] planned for later this year focused on whether Arm might withdraw its technology or raise the cost of licences if the deal goes ahead. In December 2020, The Telegraph reported the FTC had also started a review process by requesting documents from Nvidia. Qualcomm's concerns are reportedly shared by Huawei, which Bloomberg reported in October 2020 had urged Chinese regulators to either reject the deal outright or impose conditions to ensure continued access to Arm technology. When it announced the deal, Nvidia pledged to maintain Arm's independence [2] and predicted it could take up to 18 months to gain all necessary approvals. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
17:07
Rakuten strikes RCP deal with Ligado
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Rakuten Mobile secured what appeared to be one of the first publicly announced commercial deals for its virtualised, cloud-native mobile communications platform, with US satellite company Ligado Networks agreeing to use it as the basis for a 5G private network service. In a memorandum of understanding, the companies said they would begin developing a template for Ligado Networks’ product in the current quarter, using the Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP) as a foundation and working with partners to set a timeline for trials. The companies also pledged to team with enterprise customers to further “advanced use cases” and settle on a technology stack for eventual service launches, ultimately aiming to accelerate deployments of private networks based on open technology. Doug Smith, Ligado Networks president and CEO, stated the combination of its “know-how and licensed L-Band spectrum” with RCP and open RAN equipment would allow it to “create a novel blueprint for delivering new efficiencies to US companies” looking to deploy private networks. Rakuten Mobile launched its RCP product in June 2020, and later inked a reseller deal [1] with Tech Mahindra. In September 2020, Telefonica expressed interest [2] in using the platform, but did not make a firm commitment. Ligado Networks faced continued objections to a plan to deploy private networks and IoT services for the enterprise sector, but the Federal Communications Commission recently ruled the company could proceed with rollouts [3] while it considered a challenge seeking to overturn the approval. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
14:24
Telkom Kenya, Airtel clear to restart merger talks
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A Kenyan court revived the possibility of a merger between Telkom Kenya and Bharti Airtel’s local unit after dismissing regulatory objections which caused the operators to call off talks [1] in 2020, Business Daily reported. The newspaper stated the nation’s High Court dismissed questions raised by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) regarding the sale of Telkom Kenya's assets. While the EACC last month concluded any sale of Telkom Kenya was free from potential corruption, it required clearance from prosecutors before a deal could be considered. Business Daily stated Kenya's Communications Authority and competition regulator refused to bless any transaction until the EACC gave the go ahead. Telkom Kenya and Airtel Kenya have yet to issue statements on the development, but it raises the possibility for the pair to restart a merger process [2] begun in 2019. The operators cited challenges in gaining clearance for their deal as the reason for calling off talks in August 2020. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
13:49
World Bank urges level field for Ethiopia newcomers
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The World Bank backed Ethiopia’s moves to open its telecoms market with $200 million of investments to support its digital economy, but warned policies pushing new entrants to lease infrastructure from Ethio Telecom could hamper network rollout efforts. In a blog, World Bank country director for Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan, Ousmane Dione said rules limiting participation of independent tower companies could slow rollout of networks by incoming operators, especially in rural areas. Dione insisted it would be better if new mobile players, which are in the process of bidding on licences [1] to compete with monopoly Ethio Telecom, were able to “make rational decisions whether to build their own infrastructure”. “Ultimately, policies that seek to protect Ethio Telecom’s infrastructure by allowing it to charge high prices for interconnection will end up harming the company,” he added. In addition to rules around building private infrastructure, Dione highlighted competition issues from regulation on foreign ownership of finance providers preventing new entrants running mobile money services. “To benefit fully from competition does not mean offering preferential treatment to Ethio Telecom but rather creating a level playing field on which it can compete fairly with its new rivals,” he added. Among the players competing for one of two new licences in the country are operator groups Orange, Etisalat, Saudi Telecom Company, MTN Group, and Global Partnership for Ethiopia: a consortium comprising Vodafone Group and its affiliates Safaricom and Vodacom. Investment Although pointing to risks from specific government policies impacting new competitors, the World Bank supports the country’s efforts to open the telecommunications sector and is set to invest $200 million through a new Digital Ethiopia Foundations project. The scheme is designed to help “prepare the legal and regulatory building blocks for the digital ecosystem, in areas like e-commerce and Digital ID,” Dione explained. It also plans to purchase capacity from operators to support government and educational institutions to develop digital services, alongside grants for related projects. [1] [https:]
13:22
O2 UK fined for billing errors
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Ofcom penalised O2 UK for overcharging around 140,000 subscribers which cancelled their contracts, for a period spanning eight years. The regulator issued a £10.5 million fine after ruling O2 incorrectly billed departing customers between 2011 and 2019, stating the action was a "serious breach" of UK rules. Ofcom enforcement and investigations director Gaucho Rasmussen said the fine was "a reminder that we will step in if we see companies failing to protect their customers”. O2 was fined after Ofcom uncovered an error in final bills which resulted in customers being charged twice. It added the operator also failed to address problems identified in its billing process uncovered in 2011. Ofcom began probing the issues in July 2019. It said O2 had accepted the findings of its investigation, issuing refunds to the affected customers along with a sum equal to 4 per cent of the surcharges, and changed the way it processes billing.
12:56
Rakuten steams ahead with mobile ambitions
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Rakuten announced 2.5 million customers had applied for a free unlimited mobile offer by 8 February, as the operator continued to accelerate a rollout across Japan. The mobile unit recorded revenue of JPY60.7 billion ($577.9 million) in Q4 2020, up 16.8 per cent year-on-year, albeit the figure is not directly comparable as it was still in MVNO mode during Q4 2019. Operating loss of JPY75.4 billion was 43.8 per cent lower. The company launched commercial services on its own infrastructure in April 2020, followed by 5G in September. Parent Rakuten said expansion of its mobile service coverage, along with various marketing strategies had proved successful. It said customer acquisition from both in and outside the Rakuten ecosystem continued to grow, while reiterating its aim to reach 96 per cent of the population [1] by constructing around 44,000 base stations throughout the year. The operating loss was attributed to investment in future growth areas, including swifter rollout of base station installations, which was happening five years ahead of schedule. Future 4G Capex is expected to be 30 per cent to 40 per cent from a base of JPY600 billion. For the deployment of its virtualised network offering, the company pointed to an MoU with Telefonica to cooperate on open RAN and STC to collaborate on strategic mobile technology. “In addition, increased collaboration between Rakuten’s digital content services and the mobile service is aimed at realising further synergies,” the company stated. From this year, it aims to do this through the transition segments of certain businesses and subsidiaries such as its digital content business, Rakuten Kobo, transferring to the mobile segment. At group level, Q4 revenue increased 16 per cent to JPY415.3 billion, driven by gains in domestic e-commerce, which grew 35.1 per cent, and a 16.2 per cent increase in internet services. [1] [https:]
12:39
EU mulls tapping Samsung, TSMC for chip push
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A European Union-backed scheme to boost production of semiconductors used for 5G systems reportedly began assessing the viability of building a factory capable of producing cutting-edge silicon with support from top global chipmakers. Citing a spokesperson from France’s finance ministry, Bloomberg reported the facility could be supported by either Samsung or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), though noted plans had not been finalised. The aim of the mooted factory is to create chips below 10-nm, potentially as small as 2-nm, for a range of use cases including high power computing, 5G and the automotive sector. Increasing Europe’s ability to produce its own chips is the target of a project formed by 17 European Union countries including France, Germany and Spain. It is also supported by the European Commission, which has outlined similar aims for the region. The alliance was unveiled in December 2020 [1] and aims to drastically increase the 10 per cent share of the €440 billion semiconductor industry estimated to be held by businesses in Europe. Members of the group agreed to coordinate national research and work on areas deemed high growth. [1] [https:]
10:42
Millicom warns of continued Covid-19 challenges
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Millicom CEO Mauricio Ramos (pictured) admitted the company would be forced to take a prudent approach in 2021 as a second wave of Covid-19 (coronavirus) takes hold, with the effects of the health crisis evident in its latest quarterly results. In a Q4 earnings statement, Ramos said 2020 was “one of the most challenging years” in the company’s history. While it was encouraged by recent trends, a second wave of Covid-19 in Latin America meant unemployment remained very high, government finances were stretched and it remained “unclear when the worst economic impact of this health crisis will pass”. To that end, the company said it would take a similar approach in 2021 to 2020, prioritising capex to accelerate organic growth and net debt reduction, while deciding not to pay a cash dividend, although it may resume share repurchases in the second half. It is also targeting a minimum operating cash flow of $1.4 billion, to give it the flexibility to adjust its plans throughout the year. Q4 struggles Millicom reported a 5.3 per cent revenue decline year-on-year to $1 billion, due to the impact of the pandemic and weaker currencies in Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica. It also slipped to a net loss of $56 million from a profit of $223 million, due to increases in net financial and tax expenses, higher spectrum costs and foreign exchange losses. In mobile, Millicom said the reopening of some economies had a significant impact on its prepaid mobile business, however the pace of recovery in post-paid had been much slower. It recorded 2.3 million mobile net additions to reach 41.7 million customers, following solid growth across most markets, particularly Colombia. Underlying gross debt fell $768 million during the quarter to $6.4 billion at end-2020.
February 11, 2021
22:48
Open RAN advocates rise to US 5G challenge
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Ericsson and the Open RAN Policy Coalition identified testing as a key priority for a proposed US government programme aimed at speeding development of an open 5G ecosystem, but offered differing opinions on what the focus of that work should be. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) last month sought ideas on how to structure a potential 5G Challenge scheme [1], to create systems which could be used by the Department of Defence. Ericsson put interoperability testing at the heart of its proposal, suggesting the US government host a 5G lab and run an “open ecosystem plugfest” to allow new and incumbent vendors to test components. It said the results of this testing would help identify key hurdles to building an interconnected system and allow stakeholders to better understand the development status of different components. The Open RAN Policy Coalition proposed testing should focus on advancing specific use cases and interfaces, arguing real-world trials and deployments had already demonstrated interoperability in the RAN. It said the programme must not undermine work by 3GPP and O-RAN Alliance, and the government should be clear about which metrics will be used to evaluate system performance and decide on winners of the challenge. The NTIA is yet to issue details of other proposals received by its deadline of 10 February. Formed in May 2020, the Open RAN Policy Coalition [2] includes AT&T, Google, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics America, Verizon and UScellular among its members. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
18:33
Unlocking the potential of mmWave 5G
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The past two years have brought great progress in the deployment of commercial 5G networks, but to-date most of services have yet to make full use of the full potential of the 5G. This situation is beginning to change as operators increasingly upgrade to standalone (SA) 5G and adopt the use of millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum. In fact, mmWave frequencies in the 24GHz to 41GHz bands are well-suited to realize the vision for the latest generation mobile tech. Following high-profile mmWave deployments by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in the US, Japanese operators NTT Docomo, KDDI and Rakuten have also launched commercial networks, as well as SingTel in Singapore and FastWeb in Italy. Indeed, the Global Mobile Suppliers Association counts more than 120 operators spanning over 40 countries and territories that had committed investments to 5G mmWave networks by mid-2020, a majority of which (~100) were already in possession of operating licences. Whether at the planning, testing or commercial stage, operators are keen to cash in on a range of advantages mmWave holds over other 5G-suitable frequencies. Revenue potential The large bandwidth available in mmWave frequencies provides operators with a path to deliver Gigabit data rates and significantly enhance network capacity – all of which opens new business opportunities. Overall, use cases for mmWave 5G can be divided into three main scenarios: hotspots in indoor and outdoor transport hubs, venues and dense urban areas; industrial and enterprise settings; and fixed wireless access (FWA) services spanning homes and commercial buildings. FWA offers a clear business case in boosting internet access in areas which are either hard to reach or uneconomical to cover with fibre networks; For the Industrial internet alongside broader consumer uses, the ultra-low latency offered by mmWave is a clear benefit. The technology can deliver a minimum air-interface slot interval of 0.125 milliseconds, around a quarter of the range achievable in low- and medium-frequency 5G deployments. This reduced mmWave latency benefits new operator offerings involving service level agreements: the slot interval will enable them to guarantee a sub-1 millisecond latency. This can support the ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) required in industrial applications such as precision manufacturing, warehousing and logistics operations. In addition to industrial use cases, URLLC can be employed by operators in areas including AR and VR, cloud gaming, and cloud-assisted real-time computing. It is likely deployments in hubs, venues and dense urban areas will grab the most headlines in mainstream press, though. The technology lends itself to enhancing experiences in sporting or cultural venues, for example by using AR to deliver virtual tours of museums or augmenting sporting events with additional statistics and other content. There are also solid business uses cases, with the potential to enhance teleconferences, something which may garner even more interest following Covid-19 (coronavirus) lockdowns. In action The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing is set to be a forerunner in terms of providing an indication of the potential use cases for mmWave 5G. The organising committee of the event has already specified new technical requirements for communication and support services involving broad audience reach, the needs of broadcasters, and connecting both the organisers and participants in the games. It will prove a thorough test of the technology’s capabilities, with complex and diverse scenarios including the need for a large amount of network capacity in indoor and outdoor locations. The organising committee selected China Unicom as its telecoms service partner for the event, with the operator making mmWave a cornerstone of its communication plans and, in turn, delivering a key public demonstration of the technology’s capabilities, which is expected to pave the way for large-scale commercialisation along with stimulating the supply chain in China. Ecosystem maturity Such stimulus are essential in scaling adoption of mmWave 5G across people, businesses and industry organizations. The market for network and end-customer mmWave 5G equipment, be this smartphones or industrial devices, is already reaching maturity, with major OEMs and infrastructure vendors already offering product solutions along broad operator support in terms of planned or actual commercial launches. Moving forward, is now somewhat in the hands of governments and industry organizations to deliver policies which will further support 5G mmWave deployment, along with industrial strategies to ensure coordinated development. More information is available in the GSMA report “mmWave 5G: Its crucial role in the 5G commercial journey”, available for download here [1]. [1] [https:]
18:25
US chipmakers warn of loss of tech dominance
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US chip companies warned the nation's leadership on key technologies including 5G and 6G was at risk if the government failed to make significant investment in manufacturing and research. The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) called on President Joe Biden to take "bold action" by providing grants or tax credits, claiming these would “allow more of the components fuelling US economic growth, jobs and infrastructure to be made here". It played up to national security concerns by arguing additional funding would help address such issues, adding it would also enhance "supply chain resilience". The heads of SIA member companies Broadcom, IBM, Intel, NVIDIA and Qualcomm were among those pressing for action. The group argued subsidies and other incentives provided by overseas governments had played a key role in elevating global competitors and said US "technology leadership is at risk" as nations compete in next-generation mobile technologies, AI and quantum computing. Last month, semiconductor industry group SEMI urged Biden’s administration to review restrictions on trade with China [1] which it claimed threatened to harm US chipmakers’ global competitiveness. [1] [https:]
18:07
Bumble breaks $2B in IPO
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US-based dating app Bumble raised $2.2 billion in an IPO, funds it plans to employ to boost its paying user base and increase investments in untapped markets. In a statement, the company said part of the proceeds will go for general corporate purposes and partially repay loans. Bumble previously said in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission it will focus on entering new markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America, while also looking for ways to increase revenue from paying users. Bloomberg reported the company market valuation is approximately $8.2 billion following the IPO, surpassing previous expectations of between $6 billion and $8 billion. App analytics company Apptopia estimated Bumble was the fifth-highest grossing app in the US during 2020, with revenue of $109 million. Its main competitor, Match Group’s Tinder, ranked second with $220 million.
16:59
España subasta nuevo espectro 5G de 3,5 GHz
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El ministerio español de asuntos económicos y transformación digital ha convocado para el próximo 22 de febrero la subasta de los últimos 20 MHz que quedaban disponibles en la banda de frecuencias de 3,5 GHz. Está previsto que concurran a ella Telefónica y Orange y servirá para que todas las operadoras dispongan de bloques contiguos, mejorando así el rendimiento del servicio. El espectro, hasta ahora en manos del ministerio de Defensa, se licitará en forma de dos bloques de 10 MHz cada uno, con un precio de salida de 21 millones de euros para una concesión hasta el mes de diciembre de 2038. Se prevé que haya dos aspirantes: Telefónica y Orange, con el fin de ampliar el espectro que ambas ya explotan en la banda de 3,5 GHz, hasta los 100 MHz en el primer caso y los 110 MHz en el segundo. Frecuencias contiguas De cara a la calidad del servicio 5G, especialmente en cuanto a velocidad de conexión, el aspecto más relevante de la subasta es que incluye la reordenación de todas las frecuencias adjudicadas en la banda de 3,5 GHz, a fin de que cada operadora tenga bloques contiguos. Hasta ahora sólo Vodafone cuenta con esta ventaja en los 90 MHz de los que dispone, mientras que no son contiguos los 80 MHz de MásMóvil ni los que Telefónica y Orange aspiran a ampliar. Durante el mes de marzo también tendrá lugar la esperada subasta de frecuencias en la banda de los 700 MHz, necesaria para ofrecer una menor cobertura 5G en el interior de los edificios. Las operadoras han considerado excesivos públicamente tanto el precio de salida de 1.170 millones de euros como las obligaciones de cobertura establecidas, hasta el punto de que según Cinco Días el gobierno no descarta modificar las condiciones.
13:36
MegaFon strikes Uzbekistan deal
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Russia-based operator group MegaFon prepared to enter Uzbekistan through a venture with its parent company and the Uzbek state, with the newly formed business set to take control of scandal-hit former Telia unit Ucell [1]. Under the terms of the deal, ownership of state-run operator Ucell will be transferred into Digital Holding, a JV formed by Uzbek state asset management company AUGA and Digital Invest: a business set-up by MegaFon and parent USM Telecom. Digital Invest pledged to pump $100 million into Digital Holding as part of the deal, which is expected to complete later this year. When finalised Digital Holding will be 51 per cent owned by MegaFon and its affiliates, with AUGA holding the remainder. MegaFon CEO Gevork Vermishyan said: “In terms of the consumption of digital services, Uzbekistan is one of the most promising markets in the CIS, which over the past ten years has shown more than threefold growth in cellular subscribers, but at the same time it is still far from saturation." “We do not plan major structural changes within Ucell in 2021, but rather focus on finding synergies and implementing best practices in Ucell to grow its business.” Ucell has been completely state-owned since Telia divested its remaining stake in the operator in December 2018, as part of its exit of the Eurasia region [2] and in the wake of a bribery case related to the unit. GSMA Intelligence figures for Q4 estimate Ucell as the country’s largest operator by connections with 10.4 million, followed by Veon-owned Beeline (6.6 million) and Mobiuz (3.3 million). [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
12:45
Nokia accelerates open RAN play in Brazil
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Nokia advanced its open RAN push by partnering with Brazil’s Telecommunications Research and Development Centre (CPQD) to develop customised 5G applications in collaboration with domestic operators. In a statement, the vendor said the tie-up will put efforts on use cases “at the network edge”, designed for the Brazilian market and focused on fixed wireless access (FWA), smart cities, IoT for Industry 4.0, as well as critical networks. The move will leverage Nokia’s Service Enablement Platform (SEP), combining capabilities of multi-access edge computing (MEC) and RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), which the company said acts as a gateway to AI and machine learning technologies. It highlighted its technology will enable CPQD to explore the potential of next-generation networks in delivering improved network performance and reliability, while cutting down energy consumption. Ari Kynaslahti, VP and head of product management at Nokia Mobile Networks, said the collaboration will explore the potential for “innovative 5G use cases that will have real-world value in Brazil” across a range of areas. CPQD’s director of solutions and consulting Frederico Nava added the partnership will play a role in shaping the future of 5G networks in the country. Nokia was a pioneer among major telecom vendors in backing a US-focused open RAN lobby group [1] in May 2020. [1] [https:]
12:32
Former EE, Sunrise boss Swantee given Vodafone role
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Vodafone Group revealed Olaf Swantee (pictured) would join its board in July, with the industry veteran also set to step down from a similar role at Sweden-based Telia. Subject to shareholder approval, Swantee is set to join Vodafone’s top team along with a role on the group’s audit and risk committee after the company’s AGM on 27 July. As Vodafone unveiled the planned appointment, Telia announced Swantee had told them he would be “unavailable” for re-election to its board at its upcoming AGM. He has served on its board since 2016. In a long and varied career, Swantee has held senior roles in several large operators and groups in the mobile industry. Prior to quitting in the wake of a failed acquisition of a local cable company in 2020, he was CEO of Swiss operator Sunrise [1]. He was previously CEO at UK operator EE before its acquisition by BT. There he oversaw the operator's rebrand from Everything Everywhere in 2012, launch of 4G, and integration and subsequent winding down of composite UK brands Orange and T-Mobile. Swantee has also held positions at the forerunner of Orange in France, HP, and Compaq Computer and Digital Equipment, alongside board positions at several companies including T-Mobile US, Mobistar Belgium and Orange Poland. In a statement, Vodafone chairman Jean-Francois van Boxmeer said Swantee would play “a significant role in the next stage of Vodafone’s strategic development”. [1] [https:]
12:17
Industry groups welcome EU privacy agreement
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GSMA and ETNO called for further action to ensure European operators are able to compete effectively with other players in the digital economy, as European Union (EU) member states agreed revised rules on e-privacy rules in the bloc. In a joint statement, the industry associations welcomed the agreement, which comes after four years of regulatory wrangling. They said the telecoms industry was fully committed to the principle of confidential communications and supported the continent’s ambitions to lead the data economy. They added the move was an important step in the right direction in efforts to align e-privacy with General Data Protection Rules (GDPR), but warned work was still needed. “If regulatory asymmetries linked to the discrepancy between e-privacy and GDPR persist, European players will face hurdles: this is both a matter of competitiveness and ability to develop European data services inspired by European values,” they added. The statement was in response to an agreement by the European Council to negotiate a mandate on updated e-privacy rules, which aims to define cases in which service providers are allowed to process electronic communications data, or have access to data stored on end user devices. Amendments It follows work led by the Portuguese presidency to update the existing e-privacy directive from 2002 to cater for new technological and market developments, including widespread use of VoIP, web-based email and messaging services, and emerging techniques to track users’ online behaviour. The draft legislation will repeal the existing directive, with the aim to cover electronic communications using publicly-available services and networks, and metadata (such as information on location and time) related to the communication. In addition, to ensure full protection of privacy rights, and promote trusted and secure IoT, the rules will cover machine-to-machine data transmitted via a public network. The Portuguese presidency will now begin talks with the European Parliament to define the final text.
11:05
Telus taps Google Cloud for 5G, MEC
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Google bagged another telecom cloud deal, inking a ten-year agreement with Canadian operator Telus to collaborate on 5G, multi-access edge computing (MEC), and development of new products and services. Under the agreement, Telus will modernise its IT infrastructure using Google’s public cloud for enterprises, and deliver 5G and MEC capabilities to customers using the Anthos for Telecom platform. Telus will also deploy Google Cloud’s contact centre AI technology to improve customer support operations. The companies will jointly develop products and services covering communications technology, healthcare, agriculture, security, automation, entertainment and smart homes. Telus CEO Darren Entwistle called the deal an “important milestone in our longstanding growth strategy, reflecting our team’s unwavering commitment to innovation”. Thomas Kurian, Google Cloud CEO, added it will help Telus “fuel a fundamental shift to digital, leveraging data and AI to create valuable insights and improve customer experiences in multiple verticals”. The operator began its 5G rollout in June 2020 and previously outlined plans to invest $40 billion until 2023 to expand the network. Companies including Sigfox [1], LG Uplus, Orange, Telefonica, Telia, AT&T and Nokia [2] are among those to have signed up to use Anthos for Telecom since its launch in March 2020 [3]. Google Cloud revenue grew 46.5 per cent year-on-year to $3.8 billion in Q4 2020. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
10:25
Singtel CEO points to recovery despite earnings drop
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Singtel’s new CEO noted Covid-19 (coronavirus) continued to weigh on its performance during fiscal Q3 (ended 31 December 2020), but highlighted positive momentum as business activity began to resume in several of its markets. Yuen Kuan Moon highlighted a strong showing from its ICT unit while acknowledging the continued effects of the pandemic on roaming and prepaid revenue. The CEO noted the pandemic compounded intense competition in Indonesia and the Philippines, but Airtel in India maintained steady growth momentum. Group EBITA dropped 13.5 per cent year-on-year to SGD1.01 billion ($762.5 million) and operating fell 3.2 per cent to SGD4.24 billion, though this was less than the 10 per cent annual decline recorded in fiscal Q2. Singtel does not disclose net profit in unaudited results. Post-tax contribution from its regional associates increased 8.4 per cent to SGD294 million. ICT revenue increased 7.9 per cent to SGD830 million as customers adopted and accelerated their digitalisation efforts, Yuen said. Singapore Mobile service revenue dropped 25.2 per cent to SGD281 million; device sales fell 1.1 per cent to SGD258 million. Prepaid subscribers fell 12.5 per cent to 1.39 million and post-paid grew 3.6 per cent to 2.77 million. Average monthly data usage rose from 6GB to 7GB. Blended ARPU dropped 23.9 per cent to SGD23. Australia Mobile revenue at Optus remained flat at AUD1.5 billion ($1.2 billion), with blended ARPU up 3.4 per cent to AUD30. Its prepaid user base fell 14.4 per cent to 3 million and post-paid dipped 1.6 per cent to 5.7 million. Average data usage increased from 12GB to 17GB a month. Group Digital Life’s operating revenue declined 1.9 per cent to AUD315 million.
9:53
Telstra trims fiscal year forecasts
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Telstra lowered its guidance for fiscal 2021 (ending 30 June) due to low-margin equipment making up a higher percentage of hardware sales, as mobile revenue and ARPU dropped in H1. It predicted revenue of AUD22.6 billion ($17.5 billion) to AUD23.2 billion, down from a previous forecast ranging between AUD23.2 billion to AUD25.1 billion: in fiscal 2020, the figure was AUD26.1 billion. The underlying EBITDA target was narrowed from between AUD6.5 billion and AUD7 billion to AUD6.6 billion to AUD6.9 billion. The estimated Covid-19 (coronavirus) impact was unchanged at about AUD400 million. In a statement, CEO Andrew Penn said H1 results showed Telstra’s financial performance was at a turning point ahead of an anticipated return to growth in underlying EBITDA in fiscal 2022. “After a decade of disruption following the creation of the NBN, and with its rollout now declared complete, we can clearly see the path to underlying growth ahead of us,” Penn stated. Fiscal 2022 is expected to deliver mid- to high-single digit growth in underlying EBITDA, with a target of between AUD7.5 billion and AUD8.5 billion in fiscal 2023. Penn said progress on its turnaround strategy, which is less than 18 months from completion, is on track but the company remains focused on the work still to be done. He added more than 80 per cent of the milestones were delivered or are on track, noting “I am confident the many initiatives, particularly in simplifying the business and the digitisation programme, will further improve customer experience”. H1 results Net profit in fiscal H1 2021 fell 3.6 per cent year-on-year to AUD1.1 billion and operating revenue dropped 9.7 per cent to AUD10.98 billion. Mobile revenue fell 12 per cent AUD4.71 billion, due to lower handset and international roaming sales. Its mobile subscriber base increased 2.9 per cent to 19 million. Post-paid ARPU declined 8.6 per cent to AUD45.99. Enterprise revenue fell 7.2 per cent to AUD563 million and fixed-line was down 7.5 per cent to AUD2.43 billion. Capex guidance for the full fiscal year remains unchanged at AUD2.8 billion to AUD3.2 billion: it was AUD3.2 billion in the prior year. Telstra also announced it would restart job cuts [1] put on hold in March 2020 due to the pandemic. Its next wave of proposed organisational changes, which are subject to appropriate consultations, aims to reduce its direct workforce by 8,000 by the end of the calendar year. [1] [https:]
February 10, 2021
17:26
Twitter chief pushes algorithm app store
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Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey pitched a new model for social media curation which would give users the power to choose what algorithms are used to recommend content to them, arguing the approach would offer new opportunities for growth. On the company’s Q4 2020 earnings call, Dorsey said he was “really excited” by the potential for a “more market-driven and marketplace approach to algorithms”, with “an app store like view” of options for users. The approach could “not only help our business, but drive more people into participating in social media in the first place”. It was one of several examples Dorsey gave of ways to “decentralise” control of social media platforms in response to concerns about political bias [1], pointing to moderation as another area where companies could “give people better tools to curate their experience”. Metrics Twitter’s count of monetisable daily active users (mDAU) grew 27 per cent year-on-year to 192 million. Net income of $222 million increased from $119 million in Q4 2019 and revenue grew 28 per cent to $1.29 billion, the bulk of which came from advertising turnover of $1.15 billion, up 31 per cent. CFO Ned Segal said Twitter expects a “modest impact” on revenue from a planned iOS privacy update [2], but anticipates sales growth will outpace expenses in 2021. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
16:30
Un groupe de chercheurs européens planche sur la 6G
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Un institut français, le CEA-Leti, annonce le lancement d’un projet de recherche européen qui va impliquer 13 partenaires, dont Orange, Telecom Italia et NEC Europe. Dans un communiqué, le CEA-Leti explique que le projet RISE-6G est une initiative « visionnaire » basée sur la conception, le prototypage et les essais d’avancées technologiques à faible consommation. L’institut travaille sur des surfaces reconfigurables intelligentes qui permettraient un contrôle programmable des transmissions sans fil. Le CEA-Leti explique que ces surfaces pourraient prendre la forme de diodes-antennes ou des méta-matériaux placés dans l’environnement (miroirs, plafonds, murs…) et se comporteraient comme des réflecteurs reconfigurables ou des émetteurs-récepteurs « pour un accès de masse une fois équipés d’éléments actifs pour la transmission radio ». A terme, le projet RISE-6G vise à la conception et à l’intégration des briques matérielles qui serviront à construire les futurs réseaux 6G. Objectif 2030 Comme les autres acteurs de l’industrie, les chercheurs du CEA-Leti estiment que la 6G sera déployée avant la fin de la décennie, créant « la base de sociétés intelligentes centrées sur l’humain et d’industries verticales ». Pour y parvenir, l’institut pense que des avancées sont nécessaires pour appuyer une transformation durable et à long terme des réseaux en infrastructures distribuées à connexion intelligente, avec des terminaux intégrés dans l’environnement urbain. En attendant, la réflexion autour de la 6G monte en puissance dans l’industrie. En 2020 a notamment été lancé un groupe de recherche baptisé Next G Alliance. Il est chargé de définir et développer les bases de la future technologie, avec l’appui d’opérateurs américains, des équipementiers Ericsson et Nokia, ainsi que de LG, Apple et Google.
13:55
Telia targets cost cuts with new enterprise IoT play
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Telia launched a global IoT connectivity offering for enterprises, pledging it can cut almost a third off the average cost of communications. In a statement, the operator said the Telia Global IoT Connectivity service enables companies and organisations to embed a Telia eSIM in products for any market and manage their data through a cloud-native programmable network in close to real time. The offering also includes management of an ecosystem of pre-integrated operators. Telia argued the product could save an average of 28 per cent of the costs associated with global IoT communications. The company’s head of IoT Bjorn Hansen said the move “overturns the entire playing field” of IoT communication, removing the need to deal with multiple operators, and numerous tax laws and regulations by going beyond roaming and instead offering local subscriptions. Telia explained customers can access IoT networks with local profiles in more than ten countries, and connect devices with more than 400 operator partners.
13:30
EU group looks to scratch the surface of 6G
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European institute CEA-Leti announced the launch of a EU 6G research project with involvement from 13 parties including Orange, Telecom Italia and vendor NEC Europe. In a statement, CEA-Leti said the RISE-6G project was a “visionary” initiative based on designing, prototyping and testing smart and energy-sustainable technology advances, on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces that will enable programmable control. The research institute explained these surfaces may be diode-based antennas or metamaterials in the environment, such as mirrors, ceilings, walls and applications, and they will operate as reconfigurable reflectors or transceivers "for massive access when equipped with active radio frequency elements". Ultimately, RISE-6G aims to address the design of key hardware building blocks and their integration in future 6G networks. 2030 goal CEA-Leti followed other industry players in stating it expects 6G to be deployed by the end of the decade, creating the “basis for human-centred smart societies and vertical industries”. To achieve this, the group believes advances will be expected to support the long-term, sustainable transformation of networks into a distributed smart-connectivity infrastructure, where terminal types such as mirrors, signs and walls are embedded into the environment. “Our mission is to enable this disruptive new concept as a service for the wireless environment by dynamically controlling wireless communication for local, brief and energy-efficient, high-capacity communications,” said Emilio Calvanese Strinati, RISE-6G project coordinator. In addition to the two operators and NEC, academic, research and vertical players are involved in the initiative. Industry noise around 6G continues to gather pace. In 2020 the Next G Alliance [1] research group launched, tasked with developing and defining the technology, which has had backing from US operators, vendors Ericsson and Nokia and LG, Apple and Google. [1] [https:]
13:07
America Movil set for tower spin-off, books Q4 profit
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America Movil became the latest operator to announce plans to create an independent unit to house its tower assets, as it revealed a jump in Q4 2020 profit on exchange rate gains. In its earnings statement, the operator said the creation of a business dedicated to its Latin American tower assets would help “maximise the value of the infrastructure" adding it would be "entirely focused on development, construction and co-location of towers for wireless services.” America Movil's move to separate its towers to increase the assets' potential is in line with similar strategies taken by operators across the world [1] in recent years, with some then selling stakes in new units or divesting them completely [2]. The operator group expects to complete the move by the end of this year subject to approvals. Peso power In Q4, America Movil’s net profit increased to MXN37.3 billion ($1.8 billion), up almost 80 per cent year-on-year due largely to gains from favourable foreign exchange movements as the Mexican Peso strengthened against the US dollar and euro. Revenue fell 3 per cent to MXN255 billion, with the majority of the decline attributed to lower takings from equipment sales. In its earnings statement, the company noted an economic recovery following the first wave of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic “appeared to” pick up speed across most of the countries it operates in. It cited boosts from the approval of vaccines and was also positively impacted by increased confidence levels in Latin America following the US presidential election. “In this context the Latin American currencies, which had depreciated sharply against the US dollar as the pandemic began, strengthened notably.” In Q3 the company reported a sharp decline in equipment sales [3] and prepaid mobile had abated after lockdown measures began to lift across its markets. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
12:20
Blog: Can rivals capitalise on WhatsApp privacy saga?
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WhatsApp has been the most popular messaging app globally for years, and a large part of its parent Facebook’s success could be contributed to its tendency to vocalise the app’s security capabilities after introducing end-to-end encryption in 2016. In a statement highlighting 2 billion users it crossed a year ago, Facebook reiterated its commitment to ensure WhatsApp would be a place for private conversations [1], claiming protection was now “more important than ever”. This is why some users raised eyebrows after coming across a message asking them to accept a new privacy update in WhatsApp or their account faced oblivion, as they were concerned the change aimed to share more user information with Facebook. Witnessing the user backlash, Facebook decided to step back from the plan [2] temporarily, explaining the change wasn’t going to affect people’s personal communication, rather than setting new rules for contacting businesses on the app. However, as little as ten days were enough for some users to search for substitute online communication means, and a number of rival app providers complied. Facebook harvesting data Signal, an app which claims to provide “state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption”, appears to have benefited following the WhatsApp controversy. Data by app intelligence company Apptopia estimated it recorded 31.6 million global downloads between 1 January and 28 January, up 2,368 per cent from nearly 1.3 million installs in the same period of 2020. A Signal representative told Mobile World Live (MWL) its app was among the most popular titles globally, climbing to the top of download metrics in 70 countries including India, Germany, Brazil, France, the UK, Hong Kong and Iran. The “giant wave” of newcomers to the app “feels as if the whole world has realised that Facebook isn’t making apps for them, but rather that Facebook is making apps to harvest their data”, the company stated. It claimed the app doesn’t store and sell data, nor does it have “any insight into who you’re talking to or what you’re talking about”. Telegram was another winner following the growing tension over WhatsApp’s planned policy. App analytics company Sensor Tower ranked it as the most downloaded non-gaming offering globally in January, hitting more than 63 million installs, or 3.8-times its downloads in January 2020. The company’s CEO Pavel Durov highlighted in a blog the app surpassed the 500 million monthly active users mark in the first week of the year, with record new registrations gained in the following days. Telegram’s chief explained the surge showed the app has become “the largest refuge” for people seeking a communication platform centred around security. In his opinion, people no longer wanted to be “held hostage by tech monopolies” which thought they could “get away with anything” as long as their apps had vast amounts of users. The operator-run play Apart from the usual suspects of privacy-based communication apps, some operators also recorded usage spikes across their in-house platforms. BiP, the messaging platform owned by Turkish operator Turkcell, has noticed uptake on a global scale. [3]The company’s CEO Murat Erkan (pictured, right) told MWL the number of new users outside Turkey reached 19 million by 1 February, bringing the total installs of the app to more than 70 million. BiP has topped the messaging app download rankings in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Bahrain, Jamaica and Malaysia, and was also extensively used in Ukraine, Germany and India. Information sent in BiP is encrypted and gets deleted from the company’s systems after a message is transmitted, Erkan explained. “Third parties can’t intercept and access or read your messages. As BiP, we do not receive, process or share any unauthorised data,” he said. Another operator-owned messaging app noticing a rise in January was MTN Group’s Ayoba, which also claims a privacy-focused design. The South Africa-based company told MWL it recorded an increase in its organic growth which will be shared as part of its earnings reports in March. The company said the app ensured user privacy by making it impossible for messages to be read or accessed by any third party, including MTN itself. “The app features peer-to-peer private messaging which is end-to-end encrypted; Ayoba treats data with the utmost care and respect in line with its privacy policy,” it emphasised. The meaning of it all for WhatsApp Given the recent hurdles for WhatsApp in the face of declining user trust and rising competition, how big is the probability that Facebook could wave goodbye to its dominance in the app messaging market? Figures from Sensor Tower for January showed the app was surpassed by Telegram, social media app TikTok, Signal and Facebook, meaning WhatsApp missed the top three rankings for the first time since September 2020. Meanwhile, Apptopia calculated new installs of WhatsApp were 32.5 million between 1 January and 28 January, dropping 51 per cent year-on-year from 66.2 million installs. While these figures seem significant at first glance, some argue the descent will not lead to a noticeable shift among the top messaging app providers anytime soon. Mobile data platform Start.io said in a blog the organic growth of Signal and Telegram was “relatively low” compared with WhatsApp, as the latter’s new user base rise was nearly eight-times higher than Signal’s and three-times higher than Telegram’s growth. Realistically speaking, the recent turn of events might not have a huge impact on the overall position of Facebook and its subsidiaries in the digital services world. However, it holds a valuable lesson: users are becoming increasingly vigilant about their online presence and how their data is treated, while companies are becoming more vocal about their privacy skills. Eventually, the joke about people never reading an online service’s terms and conditions might as well result in users having the last laugh. The editorial views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and will not necessarily reflect the views of the GSMA, its Members or Associate Members. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
11:17
Verizon embraces eSIM for Visible sub-brand
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Verizon upgraded its sub-brand Visible, adding 5G access, international calling and eSIM activation capabilities. Visible emphasised eSIM benefits including enabling users to transfer or set up a device without having to leave home, and removing the need for a physical module to be delivered. The move adds to the brand’s positioning as a digital-only [1] alternative to traditional store-based prepaid rivals. It added its tariffs now include free calling to Canada, Mexico, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, along with access to Verizon’s 5G network, though data speeds are capped at 200Mb/s. Tier-1 operators AT&T, T-Mobile US and Verizon already support eSIM. Visible stated the eSIM feature will initially be available on the iPhone XS onwards, with plans to add Android compatibility in future. Apple introduced eSIM capabilities in its iPhone XR and XS range [2] in 2018, while Samsung did the same two years later in its Galaxy S20 line [3]. Counterpoint Research forecasts cumulative global shipments of eSIM-capable devices will exceed 6 billion by end-2025, with smartphones accounting for approximately 45 per cent (2.7 billion) of these. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
11:07
ZTE, China Telecom and MediaTek Jointly Complete Industry’s First E2E Commercial Verification of FAST
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PRESS RELEASE: ZTE Corporation has announced that the Sichuan Branch of China Telecom, ZTE and MediaTek have jointly completed the industry’s first end-to-end commercial verification of FAST in Chengdu. Based on ZTE’s 5G-NR system and MediaTek’s UE imbedded with Dimensity chipsets, the Sichuan Branch of China Telecom has conducted the verification of FAST in commercial network of 2.1GHz and 3.5GHz. According to the verification result, FAST, compared to 3.5 GHz single carrier, increases the speed rate of uplink about 3 times for a single user at the cell edge. FAST, as the main solution of uplink enhancement technology, can deeply and effectively take full advantages of TDD-NR and FDD-NR to boost the 5G uplink performance. With FAST, uplink timeslot availability can be enhanced up to 100% under the condition of the dual-stream capability of UE, realizing the maximum spectrum utilization in both time domain and frequency domain. In 5G network commercialization and innovations, China Telecom, ZTE and MediaTek will continue to deepen their cooperation to explore new features and applications of 5G, so as to provide better services for their customers.
10:30
Huawei opens new front in FCC fight
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Huawei escalated a fight with Federal Communications Commission (FCC), filing a lawsuit seeking to reverse the US regulator’s designation of it as a national security threat. The Chinese vendor argued in a court filing the FCC exceeded its statutory authority in naming it a threat and the label was “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion, and not supported by substantial evidence”. It asked a judge to scrap the FCC’s designation and “provide such other relief as this court deems appropriate”. A FCC representative told Mobile World Live the designation was “based on a substantial body of evidence developed by the FCC and numerous US national security agencies”, adding “we will continue to defend that decision”. The FCC formally named Huawei and Chinese rival ZTE as security threats in June 2020, and subsequently rejected appeals [1] from both companies challenging their designations. Under an FCC rule adopted in November 2019, the title prevents US operators from using government funding to purchase or maintain equipment from either vendor. Huawei’s lawsuit is separate from legal action [2] taken against the FCC in December 2019 aimed at overturning the rule. The company lost an earlier attempt [3] to reverse US restrictions on government contractors using its products. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
9:59
Singtel commits to 5G talent push
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Singtel committed to hiring more than 500 employees in Singapore over the next two years to work on 5G and emerging technologies, as a part of a collaborative effort with the telecoms regulator and local universities to advance the city-state’s smart nation goals. In a statement, Singtel said it will work with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the National University of Singapore and Singapore Polytechnic to expand the talent pool in areas spanning IoT, cloud engineering and data analytics. IMDA CEO Lew Chuen Hong said Singaporeans with the right technology skills can look forward to good job opportunities in a “vibrant 5G ecosystem”. “Working with academia and Singtel will ensure our workers have these skills in in-demand areas.” Singtel group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon said “we have to pivot our workforce and pivot fast” to capture growth opportunities and drive digital transformation across industries. “The learning gained from academia will complement practical on-the-job training in our workplace to build the critical competencies needed to help transition enterprises to a digital economy.” Through structured training and courses, coupled with work experience at its facilities, Singtel said employees can develop domain expertise in core areas including network engineering, digital services, 5G product and platform development, application development and advanced analytics. IMDA last month earmarked SGD30 million ($22.7 million) to accelerate the adoption and commercialisation of 5G as part of a programme which aims to support enterprises’ efforts to use next-generation technologies.
January 26, 2021
20:34
Qualcomm revamps connected car tech
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Qualcomm ramped its connected car efforts, unveiling the next version of its in-vehicle platform with updates to graphics, multimedia, computer vision and AI technologies. The company said its fourth-generation Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform features improved CPU and GPU which, combined with AI capabilities, will enable multiple high-resolution displays; up to 16 camera inputs; and a personalised driver system which can tailor factors including temperature, seat and mirror positions, and media content. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Automotive 5G platform delivering mobile access. Nakul Duggal, SVP and GM of automotive, said Qualcomm aims to “reinvent" the connected car experience, adding it wants to help automakers “democratise access to advanced infotainment technology” designed to improve passenger safety and comfort. Manufacture of the new platform is set to begin in 2022. Qualcomm highlighted broad support for its previous connected car products [1], pointing to “infotainment and digital cockpit” deals with 20 of the top 25 global automotive brands, and a more than $8 billion order pipeline. [1] [https:]
18:58
IBM targets 5G services with latest Telefonica tie-up
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IBM highlighted the importance of agility in creating new services in the 5G sphere and enabling network transformation, as it looked to boost its play in the telecoms market through a fresh partnership with existing customer Telefonica. Eduardo Argueso, IBM telco and media industry leader EMEA (pictured), told Mobile World Live one of the main focuses for the company was to develop new 5G services for the enterprise segment “in a more agile way”, and the new partnership allowed Telefonica to provide its business consumers with next-generation application development and execution with higher speed and efficiency. IBM stated its Cloud Garden 2.0 platform allows Telefonica's clients to run applications on premises or in the cloud, and simplifies the development process. Argueso said IBM will announce further tie-ups in the upcoming weeks, adding to recent collaborations with players including Nokia [1], Samsung, AT&T [2] and Bouygues Telecom. He explained 2021 will be an important year for the industry, with open RAN and 5G set to mature, and adoption of each expected to significantly increase. “The industry is realising that the convergence of networks, IT, the convergence of cloud and 5G is creating a singular moment in history where things are going to start happening at a quicker pace”. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
17:52
Don’t miss our Smart Cities Themed Week!
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Don’t miss our Smart Cities Themed Week!
17:30
Verizon sets 5G targets for 2021
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Verizon detailed wide-ranging network expansion plans for 2021, outlining goals to nearly double the number of cities covered by its mmWave-based 5G home internet and mobile edge compute (MEC) services. On its 2020 earnings call, CEO Hans Vestberg (pictured) said it has a “big year” ahead, noting it aims to add 14,000 mmWave 5G sites to raise its total to more than 30,000 by the year-end. He added the deployment will allow it to expand the footprint of its mmWave-based 5G mobile and home internet services to at least an additional 20 cities each. It also plans to add MEC sites in ten more cities. By end-2020, Verizon had deployed mmWave-based mobile 5G in 61 cities; home broadband in 12; and MEC in ten. Financials Net profit in Q4 2020 dropped 9.6 per cent year-on-year to $4.7 billion, with revenue flat at $34.7 billion. Wireless revenue was flat at $25.1 billion, comprised of service turnover of $16.7 billion (up 2.2 per cent); equipment sales of $6.4 billion (5.1 per cent lower) and other at $2 billion (broadly flat). Verizon added 653,000 mobile subscribers, down from 1.1 million: of this, additions of high-value post-paid phone customers accounted for 279,000, compared with the 791,000 it added in Q4 2019. Its Media unit posted its first quarter of year-on-year growth since 2017, with revenue up 11.4 per cent to $2.3 billion. For 2021, Verizon forecast revenue growth of at least 2 per cent and capex of between $17.5 billion and $18.5 billion. Vestberg said it expects headwinds related to Covid-19 (coronavirus) to continue, highlighting roaming revenue and “subdued” activity among small and medium businesses as key challenges.
16:42
Cellnex closes latest CK Hutchison tower deal
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Cellnex Telecom completed an acquisition of CK Hutchison’s towers in Sweden, the fourth deal closed in a bumper €10 billion buyout [1] of the operator group’s passive infrastructure across six countries in Europe. The infrastructure company has already finalised its purchase of the operator’s tower sites in Austria, Denmark and Republic of Ireland. This leaves just assets in the UK and Italy outstanding from the big money deal. Cellnex Telecom’s buy of CK Hutchison's tower sites across the markets, which supply the operator's respective 3 operations and Wind Tre in Italy, was announced in November 2020 [2] and was broken down into a separate transaction for each country. In total it comprises 24,600 sites, with 9,700 of these covered by its already completed deals. In a statement, Cellnex Telecom said it expected the remaining transactions to be settled in the “coming months”. The agreement includes a pact with CK Hutchison for continued use of the towers and a pledge to invest €1.4 billion on building 5,250 new sites across the six countries. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
13:02
SoftBank names new mobile chief as Son steps back
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SoftBank Corp announced current CTO Junichi Miyakawa would be appointed as its CEO and president from 1 April, as founder of its parent group Masoyoshi Son (pictured) reduced his role within the Japanese mobile business. In a statement, SoftBank Corp explained Miyakawa would replace Ken Miyauchi as the new chief, while the latter was appointed chairman, replacing Son. Miyauchi held the CEO and president position since 2015. The operator stated the change was part of its strategy to “achieve sustainable growth as a listed company”, and it needed to make changes to management at appropriate times “and pass on the strengths of its current management system to future generations”. Its nominating committee began deliberations about a successor to Miyauchi two years ago, with "serious deliberations" conducted since early 2020. The company explained it chose Miyakawa “in light of his deep knowledge of cutting-edge technologies” and management capabilities, at a time when the integration of Line [1] with its subsidiary Z Holdings will result in a major restructure. Despite stepping back from his chairman role, Son will remain on the operator's board. Speculation has been rife in recent years about Son’s succession plans: in 2018, Son said he was stepping back from the operational side of the business in favour of the investment side, when he launched the Vision Fund [2] to invest in technology companies. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
12:48
Telecom Italia seeks €1B from cloud unit launch
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Telecom Italia created a new cloud unit from the remains of Noovle, a business it acquired in 2020 [1], with the aim of cashing in on an acceleration in digital transformation among domestic companies and public administrations. In a statement, the operator said its Noovle business aims to position it as a "centre of excellence for cloud and edge computing". The unit will provide multi-cloud services including network infrastructure management in Italian data centres, design and support services, and cloud migration. The operator expects the business to have an average annual growth rate of 20 per cent and to generate revenue of €1 billion in 2024. Former Google executive Carlo D’Asaro Biondo was appointed as Noovle’s CEO, with Mariarosaria Taddeo, associate professor at the University of Oxford, serving as a non-executive chairman. “We are establishing a company with an extensive, healthy and solid base, and thanks to the transfer of TIM’s data centres and to the 1,000 cloud professionals who have joined us, we can look to the future with ambition”, Biondo commented. The new business is part of the group’s programme of “major technological investments” to back Italy’s digitisation. Cloud services were a key contributor to an 18 per cent year-on-year rise in Telecom Italia's business segment revenue [2] in Q3 2020. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
12:13
Ericsson embarks on 6G journey with Reindeer
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Ericsson outlined its goals for a European Union (EU)-backed 6G project, with the vendor and its partners set to research cell-free MIMO technology and smart compute platforms designed for the new network technology. The Reindeer project is funded by the EU and brings together companies involved in the antenna space and related academics to develop technologies said to be critical in the creation of the next generation of wireless networks. In its document on the scheme, Ericsson said it would help develop new wireless access infrastructure comprising a “fabric of distributed radio, compute and storage”. It added the technology would “advance the ideas of large-scale intelligent surfaces and cell-free wireless access to offer capabilities far beyond future 5G networks. This is expected to offer capacity scalable to quasi-infinite, and perceived zero latency and interaction with a large number of embedded devices”. Ericsson VP and head of research Magnus Frodigh added the project would be an “early marker” in 6G development: “Together with our partners, we will take significant steps in key 6G technology areas such as cell-free MIMO and Large Intelligent Surfaces.” Other contributors include Telefonica; NXP Semiconductors; Austria-based security and engineering company Technikon; Belgian indoor-positioning technology specialists BlooLoc; university KU Leuven; Linkopings University; Graz University of Technology; and Lund University. Reindeer is scheduled to run for three and a half years, and is one of a number of Europe-based projects [1] heavily involving Nokia and Ericsson designed to position the region as central in the development, standardisation and eventual deployment of 6G. In addition to initiatives in Europe, there are a range of other projects around the world [2] also eyeing 6G. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
11:47
US chip association presses for export control review
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Semiconductor industry group SEMI urged the US Department of Commerce to reassess export restrictions implemented in 2020 targeting trade with China, arguing the policies were enforced without public input and would harm domestic companies’ long-term global competitiveness. In a letter, SEMI CEO Ajit Manocha asked the agency to prioritise a review of rules blocking Huawei’s access [1] to US chip technology, which he argued "resulted in unintended differences in the scope of controls over certain foreign-made semiconductor production and test equipment, and other semiconductor devices". He also requested the department quickly process a backlog of requests for trade licences [2], stating the procedure acted as a "de facto denial" and created uncertainty resulting in companies excluding US technology. Manocha called for a multinational approach to trade policy to ensure a “level playing field”, and blasted former President Donald Trump’s administration for using a “highly unusual process” to implement “broad, ambiguous unilateral controls on semiconductor-related items”. He warned the restrictions could “stifle innovation in the US” by reducing R&D budgets, and forcing companies to shift production and research activity overseas. The SEMI chief called on the US government to "seek industry input" on the regulations as part of any review. Broadcom, Intel, Micron Technology, NXP Semiconductors and Samsung Electronics are listed among SEMI's members. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
9:44
India to impose permanent bans on 59 Chinese apps
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India’s IT ministry was tipped to impose permanent bans on 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok and WeChat, after advising the suppliers it wasn’t satisfied with their responses following initial blocks in 2020, LiveMint reported. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notified the app companies last week of the decision after it first gave them an opportunity to explain their position on addressing privacy and security concerns when issuing show-cause notices in 2020, the news outlet stated. The government banned hundreds [1] of Chinese apps since late June 2020, citing data privacy and state sovereignty [2] concerns. Its latest move comes as tensions between the two countries escalates, with continued conflict at the border region in northern India. A TikTok representative told LiveMint it is evaluating the notice, adding: “We continually strive to comply with local laws and regulations and do our best to address any concerns the government may have”. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
9:31
Vietnam to halt import, production of 2G, 3G handsets
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Vietnam moved to promote the uptake of smartphones to advance its digital ambitions, issuing a regulation banning the production and import of 2G and 3G handsets from the beginning of July, Vietnam News reported. The new rule from the Ministry of Information and Communications allows only 4G and 5G handsets to be produced or imported into the country, with the target of switching off 2G networks in Q1 2022, the newspaper stated. The regulation permits non-complying handsets made and imported prior to 1 July to be sold. The country previously set a target for all residents to own smartphones by 2025. Just 21 per cent of the nation’s 154 million mobile connections ran on LTE networks at end-December 2020, data from GSMA Intelligence showed. Smartphone penetration increased to 61.4 per cent from 53.7 per cent at end-2019. In 2020, major operators Viettel, Mobifone and Vinaphone tested commercial 5G services in parts of the country’s two largest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, using trial licences. Fitch Solutions predicted in May 2020 operators in the country would quickly move to 5G [1] as the government had prioritised the technology and the nation’s mature handset manufacturing capabilities offered advantages around device costs. [1] [https:]
9:23
Ericsson backs slicing to boost 5G credentials
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Hannes Ekstrom, head of 5G RAN at Ericsson, told Mobile World Live 5G slicing software launched today (26 January) would be a fundamental pillar to spur growth of the network technology and broaden its usage beyond consumer mobile broadband. Ericsson stated its 5G RAN Slicing system allocates radio resources at 1 millisecond scheduling and delivers multi-dimensional handling across slices. It explained the set up is designed to support different service types over a common infrastructure, arguing it will help operators target new and high-revenue generating use cases including cloud gaming, smart factories, enhanced video and smart healthcare. In an interview, Ekstrom explained 5G slicing would help to realise a lot of use cases, noting the technology was designed to be “broader” than current offerings which have been built on consumer-based mobile broadband services. “We believe that the combination of 5G, together with network slicing technology, will enable our customers to offer new and customised services with guaranteed performance to both enterprise and consumer markets.” Business case Ekstrom continued to state the company had worked to ensure the solution guaranteed, and maintained, a certain level of performance, making it feasible for its customers to develop a viable business case from it. “We believe this will maximise the 5G investments that our customers are doing, and enable new business growth from them,” he said. “We have done extensive research on the potential for network slicing from a business perspective. The software that we are launching here from a RAN perspective is one integral piece of realising 5G’s potential.” Operators KDDI and Swisscom were named backers of the solution, while Ekstrom confirmed it held a lot of proof of concept trials with various other operators, including BT, Vodafone Group, SKT, NTT Docomo, AT&T and Deutsche Telekom. He also revealed some elements of the solution required standalone architecture, which it saw as the “predominant architecture moving forward”.
January 25, 2021
20:47
Apple hit with further iPhone slowdown claims
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A European consumer group turned up the heat on Apple, filing a third class action lawsuit accusing the vendor of throttling iPhone performance and demanding millions in compensation for affected consumers. The Euroconsumers’ legal action in Italy seeks average compensation of €60 for each user affected by the “planned obsolescence” of the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S and 6S Plus, up to a total of €60 million. In a statement, the organisation noted the case builds on lawsuits filed in Belgium and Spain [1] in December 2020. It plans to initiate a fourth case in Portugal “in the coming weeks”. Els Bruggeman, head of policy and enforcement at Euroconsumers, argued the vendor “defrauded” users and subjected them to “frustration and financial harm”, stating “our ask is simple: American consumers received compensation, European consumers want to be treated with the same fairness and respect”. The group previously said it decided to take legal action after failing to resolve the issue with Apple out of court. In 2020, Apple agreed to pay a total of $613 million to settle US lawsuits [2] related to the matter, and was fined €25 million by French competition authorities [3] over the same issue. The company stated in 2018 it would never “do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades”. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
17:28
Verizon pushes for mobile subsidy overhaul
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Verizon urged the US government to increase funding to a subsidy programme which helps low-income consumers purchase mobile services, arguing the move would boost choice and help close the nation's broadband coverage gap. In a blog, Verizon pressed Congress to replace the existing Lifeline programme, which provides consumers an average subsidy of $9.25 per month, with a new benefit offering between $20 and $50 per month. It added the revamped offering should allow consumers to choose from a variety of tariffs, rather than a designated plan. Citing the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Verizon argued existing policies “don’t go far enough” to address a lack of broadband access, adding its proposal would “empower more Americans to thrive in the internet age and help ensure that no one is left behind by the digital revolution”. Verizon’s plea comes four months after it inked a $6.25 billion deal to acquire MVNO Tracfone [1], which is one of the largest service providers participating in the Lifeline programme. Others have also pressed for higher Lifeline subsidies: in April 2020, a group of 27 politicians called on Congress to allocate $1 billion in supplementary funding to the programme as part of Covid-19 relief legislation, arguing this "would allow for a better reimbursement rate and other support that would secure the levels of service needed for modern applications". In September 2020, AT&T EVP of federal regulatory regulations Joan Marsh wrote in a blog the current subsidy “isn’t adequate to support critical broadband needs”, but noted boosting the benefit to $35 per month would raise the annual cost of the programme to between $8.1 billion and $12.1 billion, from approximately $981 million in 2019. [1] [https:]
17:05
TikTok rival Kuaishou set for bumper IPO
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Tencent-backed app company Kuaishou Technology targeted raising HKD41.9 billion ($5.4 billion) from an IPO set to take place later this week, South China Morning Post reported. The China-based company’s flagship Kuaishou app provides a platform to share short-form videos and competes directly with ByteDance’s Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. In its IPO prospectus, the company said it was the world’s second-largest short video platform by daily average users (DAU) for the six months ended June 2020. In China alone, the company said it had 302 million DAUs during the period, with an average user spending more than 85 minutes a day on the platform. It also operates in several other countries under the Kwai brand: this was one of the Chinese apps banned by India [1] alongside TikTok in 2020. The bumper listing is set to take place on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange later this week with shares beginning public trading on 7 February, the newspaper reported. If the listing is oversubscribed and additional equity is released, SCMP estimated it could raise an additional HKD6.2 billion. [1] [https:]
16:02
Orange se suma a un plan europeo de sanidad digital que prevé una inversión de 24 millones de euros
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Un grupo de empresas, entre las que se halla Orange, ha anunciado la creación de un ecosistema paneuropeo de salud digital, y prepara una inversión de 24 millones de euros en el nuevo proyecto. La empresa biofarmacéutica Sanofi, la firma de asesoría Capgemini, la firma de seguros Generali y la propia Orange destacan que dicho proyecto es “único en Europa”, y explican que la futura empresa conjunta, con sede en Francia, comprenderá una plataforma virtual que funcionará a partir de junio y una sede física en París que debería abrir sus puertas en diciembre. Los socios compartirán tecnologías, conocimientos y datos con aproximadamente un centenar de firmas incipientes, a fin de crear servicios digitales que mejoren el sector sanitario. La firma también colaborará con instituciones educativas y empresas del ámbito sanitario, tecnológico y de seguros. Stéphane Richard, consejero delegado de Orange, ha declarado que su objetivo es “sacar partido de la tecnología digital para que todo el mundo pueda disponer de mejores servicios sanitarios”. Afirma que el potencial de la sanidad electrónica es “inmenso” y añade que la creación de un ecosistema multidisciplinario de grandes grupos europeos y empresas incipientes permitirá acelerar “el desarrollo de soluciones en beneficio tanto de pacientes como de cuidadores”. Paul Hudson, máximo directivo de Sanofi, se muestra convencido de que Europa cuenta con todas las bazas necesarias para liderar la innovación sanitaria digital en todo el mundo.
15:58
Huawei desmiente que vaya a vender sus marcas emblemáticas
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Huawei ha desmentido categóricamente la noticia, aparecida en los medios de comunicación, de que haya iniciado conversaciones para vender sus marcas emblemáticas de smartphone a un consorcio respaldado por el gobierno regional de Shanghai. Un representante de la empresa afirma en una declaración que “tales rumores no tienen ningún fundamento. Huawei no ha trazado ningún plan en ese sentido. Seguimos plenamente comprometidos con nuestro negocio en smartphones, y continuaremos ofreciendo productos y experiencias punteros a los consumidores de todo el mundo.” Dichas afirmaciones se han hecho públicas poco después de que Reuters informara de que Huawei se halla en conversaciones iniciales para vender las marcas de sus líneas Mate y P, y apuntara que la empresa china podría abandonar el mercado de smartphones de gama alta. En el mismo artículo, la web de noticias afirmaba que el posible comprador sería un consorcio liderado por una entidad inversora respaldada por el gobierno de Shanghai, y que la venta se debería en parte a las dificultades que encuentra Huawei para abastecerse de chips, debido a las restricciones impuestas por Estados Unidos. Las especulaciones empezaron a circular después de que Huawei se desprendiera de su marca económica Honor. Según parece, después de la venta Honor podrá acceder a los componentes y al software que Huawei tiene prohibidos. La firma china tiene por costumbre sacar dos líneas de smartphones emblemáticos por año. Los teléfonos de la marca P suelen aparecer en marzo, y los Mate en setiembre u octubre.
12:49
Ofcom stalls UK 5G auction
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UK regulator Ofcom pushed back plans to hold a 5G spectrum auction, moving the initial bidding start date by two months due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. In a statement, the body said the principal stage of the auction for the 700MHz and 3.6GHz to 3.8GHz frequency bands set for this month [1], is now scheduled for March. Ofcom added it will continue to monitor developments of the situation following the outbreak. A BT spokesperson told Mobile World Live the operator is "disappointed" but understands the move. "The auction and subsequent release of spectrum remains central to the future rollout of mobile networks and 5G. The economy’s recovery from Covid-19 is dependent on resilient digital infrastructure and we urge Ofcom to resist any further requests for delays.” The regulator previously said the auction will lead to an 18 per cent increase in mobile capacity [2] in the UK and the goal was to boost 5G network rollouts and improve mobile broadband. Its auction plan faced challenges from some of the country’s operators, as they sought a different approach to awarding the spectrum in the wake of requirements to invest heavily into removing Huawei equipment [3] from their networks. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
12:38
Asset sale to net Orange €1.3B
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Orange agreed a deal to sell a large portion of its fibre infrastructure to a consortium of French companies for approximately €1.3 billion, as part of a strategy to share the cost of increasing connectivity to rural regions. In a statement, Orange said it was selling a 50 per cent stake in Orange Concessions, a newly created subsidiary housing some of its fixed network assets, covering around 4.5 million FTTH plugs in rural France. It has entered into an exclusivity agreement with La Banque Des Territoires, CNP Assurances and EDF Invest for the sale, following a competitive process, which values Orange Concessions at €2.67 billion. The deal is expected to complete by the end of 2021. Orange explained the agreement would enable the subsidiary to reinforce the operator’s goals for rural connectivity development, supporting its ambitions in public initiative networks while sharing the required investment. The networks operated through the unit would be open to all operators, while Orange would continue to manage rollout and maintenance. Orange also holds a call option to enable it to take control and consolidate Orange Concessions in the future. Cash raising The sale comes as Orange prepares to outline its strategy [1] for its mobile towers, worth an estimated €10 billion, following long-term rumours about the future of the assets. Indeed, operators in Europe have been shedding towers and other assets in an effort to raise funds to upgrade their networks and free-up funds for 5G. Commenting on the sale, CEO Stephane Richard said the “achieved valuation reveals the value of Orange’s investments in fibre as well as the relevance of such a strategic move”. [1] [https:]
12:19
Huawei rubbishes rumours of flagship brand sale
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Huawei issued a strenuous denial of media reports claiming it was in talks to sell its flagship smartphone brands to a consortium backed by the regional government in Shanghai. In a statement, a representative for the smartphone manufacturer said the claims were unsubstantiated: “There is no merit to these rumours whatsoever. Huawei has no such plan. We remain fully committed to our smartphone business, and will continue to deliver world-leading products and experiences for consumers around the world.” The comments came swiftly after Reuters reported Huawei was in early stage talks to sell its Mate and P-series brands, citing the move as one which could signify its exit from the high-end smartphone market. In its report, the news website stated the potential buyer is a consortium led by a Shanghai-government backed investment entity, with the plan said to be partly due to Huawei's problems sourcing chips [1] during ongoing US restrictions. The speculation follows Huawei’s divestment of its budget-focused Honor brand [2]. Following the sale, Honor is reportedly able to access components [3] and software Huawei is currently banned from acquiring. Huawei generally releases two sets of flagship smartphones every year, with its P-branded handsets in March [4] and Mate handsets launched in September or October [5]. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:] [4] [https:] [5] [https:]
11:55
Orange joins €24M Europe e-health scheme
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A group of companies including Orange unveiled plans to create a digital health ecosystem across Europe, piling up €24 million in the initial phase of the novel project. Claiming the move to be “unique in Europe”, biopharmaceutical company Sanofi, consulting services provider Capgemini, insurance company Generali and Orange said the France-based joint venture will consist of a virtual platform which will run operations from June and a physical base in Paris expected to open doors in December. The partners will share technologies, expertise and data with approximately a hundred start-ups to implement digital services for improving the healthcare sector. The venture will also work with educational institutions and companies in the healthcare, technology and insurance spheres. Orange CEO Stephane Richard stated the move aimed to “harness digital technology to improve health services for everyone”. Describing e-health’s potential as “immense”, he added the creation of a multidisciplinary ecosystem of major European groups and start-ups will open the way to accelerate “the development of solutions for the benefit of both patients and caregivers”. Sanofi’s chief Paul Hudson expressed belief Europe had all the necessary assets to be a leading global player in digital healthcare innovation.
11:01
Thai court backs AIS compensation claim
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A Thai court dismissed a petition filed by TOT to overturn an arbitration panel’s ruling, with the state-owned enterprise required to compensate AIS for revenue share related to a concession deal between the two operators. The Central Administrative Court’s decision means TOT needs to pay AIS THB1.35 billion ($45 million) including interest, covering an international direct dialling service running from November 2008 to September 2012, part of a 900MHz concession agreement which expired in September 2015. In May 2017, the Thai Arbitration Institute ruled TOT was liable to pay AIS the revenue share. TOT can appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court within 30 days. In September 2019, AIS ended a dispute with TOT [1] after agreeing to lease towers from the state-run company for ten years. Last week, the operator won a long-running case [2] with CAT Telecom relating to an expired concession agreement involving a subsidiary. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
10:41
Jio books continued gains on subscriber growth
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Jio Platforms, the digital arm of Reliance Industries, reported continued financial gains in its fiscal Q3 (ending 31 December 2020), as the conglomerate’s mobile unit recorded double-digit growth in subscribers and ARPU. Net profit jumped to INR34.89 billion ($478.5 million) from INR13.5 billion in fiscal Q3 2019/20. Operating revenue rose 32.4 per cent to INR184.9. billion. Reliance Jio subscribers hit 410.8 million, up 40 million. Blended ARPU increased 17.9 per cent to INR151, average data usage per month rose 14.2 per cent to 12.9GB and total data traffic grew 28.4 per cent. Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries chairman and MD, stated India is among the leaders driving the digital revolution, and to maintain this lead “Jio will continue to accelerate the rollout of its digital platforms and indigenously-developed next-generation 5G stack and make it affordable and available everywhere”. The company said Jio Platform’s 5G radio equipment integrated with its core network and smartphones achieved over-the-air throughputs exceeding 1Gb/s.
10:27
ZTE profit drops despite double-digit revenue growth
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ZTE booked a significant fall in profit in 2020, pointing to challenges presented by the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and the external environment, despite a rebound in profitability in the final quarter. Net profit for the year fell 15.2 per cent to CNY4.37 billion ($674.6 million), with operating revenue increasing 11.7 per cent to CNY101.4 billion. The company does not break down revenue by division in preliminary earnings. In a statement, chairman Li Zixue said the revenue growth was driven by domestic and international markets across its three business segments: carrier networks; consumer; and government and corporate. Li said it gained market share in China due to growth in 5G and other infrastructure sales. In international markets, he said the company reported improved profitability on the back of sound operations and efforts to target high-value market segments. Net profit in Q4 rose 62.2 per cent year-on-year to CNY1.66 billion.
January 22, 2021
20:01
Apple, Google accused of stifling Covid-19 apps
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Google and Apple faced further pressure on their respective app store policies, being accused of unfairly restricting tens of millions of app developers working on Covid-19 (coronavirus) related services in complaints sent to six global competition regulators. The complaints were made by intellectual property activist and app developer Florian Mueller. In a blog, he argued the tech giants' rules covering Covid-19 apps were “unreasonably restrictive” and “totally inconsistent with the fact that both Apple and Google distribute products that definitely misinform users" regarding the virus and its symptoms. Mueller sent formal grievances to competition authorities in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, US, UK and European Union after the companies demanded he amend a Covid-19 focused mobile game to be about viruses in general rather than coronavirus before allowing it onto their marketplaces. "People who are looking for a Covid-themed game should be able to find it, because it's a legitimate game about viral infections." Criticism of the companies' policies increased during 2020, with a high-profile example being a spat with Epic Games [1]. Apple also faces scrutiny from regulators in Europe [2], the US, Japan, South Korea and Australia. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
17:49
Samsung ponders $10B US chip factory move
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Samsung was said to be weighing a $10 billion investment in the construction of an advanced chipmaking facility in the US, Bloomberg reported, explaining the move is a bid to keep pace with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which in 2020 outlined plans to expand its presence [1] in the nation. Sources told Bloomberg a preliminary proposal targets breaking ground this year with the goal of commencing operations in 2023. Samsung reportedly purchsed land next to an existing facility in Texas in 2020. The news outlet added the factory would be Samsung’s third to use an advanced manufacturing technology known as extreme ultraviolet lithography and would be capable of producing chips based on a 3nm process. Samsung currently uses extreme ultraviolet lithography at factories in South Korea. TSMC initiated a plan to build a $12 billion semiconductor factory in the US in 2020: construction is scheduled to begin this year, with operations to commence in 2024. Recent figures from TrendForce showed TSMC held a 54 per cent share of the global foundry market in 2020 and Samsung 17 per cent. The analyst company predicted TSMC’s position would remain unchanged in 2021, with Samsung gaining one percentage point. [1] [https:]
16:27
Objeciones del Reino Unido a la fusión entre Telefónica y Liberty
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La autoridad reguladora de la competencia del Reino Unido ha explicado el alcance de su investigación sobre la propuesta de fusión de O2 UK con el proveedor de telefonía fija Virgin Media. Dicha investigación se centrará en el impacto de la transacción sobre las operadoras móviles virtuales y el suministro de redes troncales de fibra. En un documento de carácter consultivo publicado el 21 de enero, la Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) del Reino Unido explica todo el alcance de la detallada investigación que emprenderá sobre el acuerdo entre Virgin Media, propiedad de Liberty Global, y O2 UK, de Telefónica, anunciado en mayo de 2020. Una de las principales dificultades aducidas por la CMA es la posición de Virgin Media como segundo mayor proveedor de fibra óptica de las operadoras de telefonía móvil del país, tan solo por detrás de Openreach, propiedad de BT. El organismo regulador expresa también su preocupación por la posibilidad de que la nueva empresa tenga la capacidad de alterar acuerdos con otras operadoras de telefonía móvil e incentivos para hacerlo. Así, por ejemplo, podría subir precios, modificar condiciones o reducir la calidad de servicio. En cuanto al mercado de las operadoras móviles virtuales, investigará un riesgo similar de que O2 modifique las condiciones o reduzca la oferta de servicios de telefonía móvil mayoristas, así como la repercusión de dichas acciones sobre la capacidad competitiva de las operadoras de telefonía móvil y sobre los consumidores. Cuota en declive La CMA no prevé investigar las repercusiones directas que podría tener sobre el consumidor el hecho de que O2 y la operadora móvil virtual Virgin Mobile pertenezcan a una misma empresa. “La evidencia a la que hemos podido acceder sugiere que Virgin Mobile posee una cuota de mercado modesta, y en declive en el ámbito minorista.” “Otra evidencia consultada sugiere que O2 y Virgin Mobile no son competidores cercanos. Virgin, en particular, busca sobre todo atraer clientes de telefonía móvil mediante la venta cruzada de su oferta de telefonía móvil con un complemento de servicios de telefonía fija.” Los comentarios sobre el alcance de la investigación de la CMA se cerrarán el 4 de febrero.
16:19
Alphabet deshincha los globos de Loon
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Alphabet ha anunciado el cierre de su filial Loon, debido a problemas financieros. Alastair Westgarth, consejero delegado de Loon, explica en su blog que, si bien la firma ha encontrado durante los últimos ocho años “varios socios” interesados en ofrecer conectividad a Internet mediante globos aerostáticos, no ha “hallado una forma de reducir los costes en la medida suficiente como para desarrollar un negocio sostenible a largo plazo”. Loon empezó a funcionar en junio de 2013 como proyecto del X lab de Alphabet, y adquirió el rango de filial en 2018. En 2020, Loon cerró acuerdos con AT&T y Vodacom Group, y lanzó un servicio comercial en colaboración con Telekom Kenya. Al parecer, los planes de lanzamiento en zonas rurales de Mozambique en cooperación con Vodacom, programados para finales de 2020, no tuvieron éxito. Astro Teller, director de la división X de Alphabet, señala en otra entrada de blog que las operaciones de Loon se irán reduciendo durante los próximos meses. La empresa matriz prevé donar 10 millones de dólares en apoyo de organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro y firmas que tengan como objetivo principal suministrar conectividad y educación en Kenia. Añade que la decisión de cerrar ha sido “difícil” y que se está trabajando para dar nuevo uso a una parte de la tecnología. “Esperamos que Loon sirva como trampolín para futuras tecnologías y empresas que resuelvan las lagunas en el mapa de conectividad del planeta... Queremos compartir lo que hemos descubierto y ayudar a los innovadores creativos a conocerse entre sí.”
16:17
China Mobile y Nokia colaboran en la automatización de la RAN
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China Mobile se ha asociado con Nokia para efectuar pruebas con redes de radio RAN provistas de inteligencia artificial (IA), a fin de conocer las necesidades de ancho de banda y detectar anomalías. La operadora quiere automatizar sus redes para reducir los costes de funcionamiento. En una prueba realizada en Shanghai, se ha desplegado un controlador inteligente de RAN (conocido por las siglas inglesas RIC) en la nube Edge mediante la plataforma de servidor AirFrame Open Edge de Nokia. Según el fabricante, permite “incrementar las capacidades de optimización de la red mediante la automatización en bucle cerrado guiada por directrices”. La predicción de tráfico en tiempo real en la red 5G de la operadora ha superado el 90% de precisión. Nokia explica que su RIC actúa como puerta de entrada para las tecnologías de IA y aprendizaje automático, lo que permite una serie de mejoras de la red en tiempo real a partir de los datos. La segunda prueba se ha llevado a cabo en la ciudad de Taiyuan, en la provincia china de Shanxi, y ha servido para estudiar la automatización de operaciones en las redes 4G y 5G de China Mobile en más de 10.000 celdas. Nokia ha declarado que el sistema provisto de IA detecta los problemas de la red con mayor precisión y podría reducir significativamente “el tiempo necesario para analizar dichos problemas y hallar su origen”. Huang Yuhong, director adjunto del China Mobile Research Institute, ha declarado que el RIC podría desempeñar un papel clave en la habilitación de capacidades de IA y aprendizaje automático en la RAN. Pasi Toivanen, director de Edge Cloud Platforms en Nokia, ha afirmado que su empresa cree que la inteligencia avanzada de la RAN “será un activo clave de cara a mejorar la eficiencia de la red inalámbrica” y la experiencia del usuario.
16:13
Samsung podría invertir 10.000 millones de dólares en una fábrica de chips en Estados Unidos
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Según Bloomberg, Samsung podría estar sopesando una inversión de 10.000 millones de dólares (más de 8.000 millones de euros) para la construcción de una planta avanzada de fabricación de chips en Estados Unidos. Dicha medida tendría como objetivo competir con Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), que en 2020 detalló sus planes para ampliar su presencia en el país. Las fuentes consultadas han indicado a Bloomberg que existe una propuesta preliminar para iniciar la construcción en 2021, a fin de que las instalaciones puedan ponerse en funcionamiento en 2023. Al parecer, Samsung adquirió en 2020 un terreno junto a una planta que ya posee en Texas. El mismo medio de comunicación añade que dicha fábrica sería la tercera de Samsung donde se usa la tecnología avanzada de fabricación conocida como litografía ultravioleta extrema, y que podría producir chips mediante un proceso de 3 nm. En la actualidad, Samsung utiliza la litografía ultravioleta extrema en fábricas de Corea del Sur. En 2020, TSMC puso en marcha un plan para construir una fábrica de semiconductores en Estados Unidos por 12.000 millones de dólares (casi 10.000 millones de euros). Se prevé que la construcción se inicie a lo largo de este año y que empiece a funcionar en 2024. Cifras aportadas en fecha reciente por TrendForce muestran que en 2020 TSMC contaba con una cuota del 54% del mercado mundial de fundición de semiconductores, mientras que Samsung se hallaba en el 17%. La firma de analistas pronostica que la posición de TSMC no cambiará en 2021, mientras que Samsung ganará un punto porcentual.
December 18, 2020
17:45
Feature: MBBF20 Keynote quotes
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This year's Mobile Broadband Forum from Huawei featured a first-class lineup of keynote speakers - here's our snapshot of the best quotes.
16:30
Google pulls plug on Android Things
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Google revealed plans to abandon its Android Things OS for IoT devices, after already scaling back its ambitions for the platform in 2019. The company notified developers in an FAQ post it will no longer allow creation of new projects on the platform from 5 January 2021, adding a full shutdown will follow on the same date in 2022. After the latter date, the Android Things “console will be turned down completely and all project data will be permanently deleted, including build configurations and factory images”. Android Things launched in December 2016, pitched as an extension of its smartphone OS for a range of IoT devices including smart light bulbs, plugs, and thermostats, among other things. Google added compatibility with smart displays, speakers and additional devices in its Android Things 1.0 update in May 2018 [1]. In February 2019, Google scaled back its ambitions for the platform [2], narrowing its focus to smart speakers and displays. The Verge noted Android Things will join a number of other discontinued Google offerings, including its Daydream View VR venture [3] and Nest Secure alarm system. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
16:29
Record de portabilidades de móvil en España en septiembre
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Casi 750.000 números de móvil cambiaron de operador en España durante el mes de septiembre, una cifra nunca vista hasta ahora. Sumando los de numeración fija, durante el periodo citado se superó el millón de cambios. Según la Comisión Nacional de Mercados y Competencia, el parque español de líneas móviles a 30 de septiembre se situaba en los 54,9 millones, 124.600 más que un año antes, lo que representa un incremento interanual del 1,5%. 45,1 millones son líneas de contrato y 9,9 millones lo son de prepago. [1] La cantidad de líneas M2M asciende a 7,5 millones, un 14% más que hace un año. Telefónica (Movistar, O2 y Tuenti) encabeza el mercado con un 29,85% de las líneas, seguida por Orange (con Jazztel, Amena, Simyo y República Móvil) con el 24,02% y Vodafone (más Lowi) con el 22,34%. El grupo MásMóvil (incluye Yoigo, Pepephone, Lebara, Hits Mobile, Lycamobile y Llamaya) suma un 17,23% del total de líneas y el 6,56% corresponde a marcas virtuales. Las tres operadoras principales, por tanto, concentran el 72,6% de todas las líneas. Precisamente las OMV (+ 31.094 líneas) y Más Móvil registraron saldos netos de portabilidad positivos en septiembre, mientras que Movistar (-26.315 líneas), Vodafone y Orange presentaron saldos negativos. [1] [https:]
14:36
Les actionnaires de CK Hutchison approuvent le rachat de tours par Cellnex
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CK Hutchison vient de faire un pas supplémentaire en vue de la vente de ses tours européennes à Cellnex Telecom pour 10 milliards d’euros. Les actionnaires de la société de Hong Kong ont en effet donné unanimement leur accord à la transaction. La vente à Cellnex concerne des tours situées en Autriche, au Danemark, en Italie, en République d’Irlande, en Suède et au Royaume-Uni. L’accord prévoit des transactions séparées pour chaque pays. La première devrait être bouclée avant la fin décembre et le reste en 2021, si toutes les conditions requises sont réunies. Environ 24 600 sites sont concernés, les deux partenaires prévoyant d’en installer 6 700 de plus. Des contrats de services d’une durée de 15 ans ont par ailleurs été inclus dans les transactions. Quand l’accord a été annoncé, Cellnex a expliqué sa volonté de renforcer sa position en Italie, au Royaume-Uni et en Irlande, tout en ajoutant à son empreinte l’Autriche, la Suède et le Danemark.
11:59
Operators warn on tough deadline for Nigeria SIM rules
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Industry bodies representing Nigerian mobile operators cautioned a two-week deadline to ensure all users comply with new ID requirements would cause significant difficulty and could carry Covid-19 (coronavirus) risks. During an investor call, MTN Nigeria executives highlighted issues flagged by local trade associations ALTON and ATCON on new rules announced by the country’s communications regulator on 15 December. After pausing the registration of new SIM cards earlier this month [1] for the duration of an audit of user data, the Nigerian Communications Commission announced a new requirement to add National Identification Numbers (NIN) to each registration. Operators were given until 30 December to comply in full. Following the deadline, the regulator noted, all SIMs not registered with the new requirement would be disconnected and any operator found breaching its order would face “stiff sanctions”, potentially including having their licence revoked. ALTON and ATCON estimate around 25 per cent of the population has been issued with an NIN and, although operators have been cleared to issue the numbers themselves, it remains a massive task in the timescale. The groups also warned a likely surge in crowds to complete registration constituted a Covid-19 risk. Their concerns have apparently attracted the support of some politicians in the country. On its update call MTN Nigeria COO Mazen Mroue noted it currently follows all rules and is part of a taskforce established to “capture NINs as fast as possible” noting “very few of the 208 million or so SIMs in the market have NINs captured”. It has also received the equipment allowing it to perform the registrations and is working with authorities on the issue. The company estimates it can register 448,000 subscribers per day using the kit. GSMA intelligence figures for Q3 show the operator has around 75 million connections. [1] [https:]
11:50
Shareholders clear CK Hutchison, Cellnex tower deal
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CK Hutchison moved a step closer to completing a €10 billion sale [1] of its European tower assets to Cellnex Telecom after the Hong Kong company’s shareholders blessed the transaction. Shareholders unanimously approved the sale in an EGM held today (18 December), during which they also voted to re-elect Wong Kwai Lam as a CK Hutchison director. The vote advances a deal struck with Cellnex in November involving the sale of tower assets and businesses in Austria, Denmark, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Sweden and the UK. The agreement involves separate transactions in each country: CK Hutchison previously stated it expected the first of these to close by end-December and the rest in 2021, all subject to “relevant conditions” being met. Around 24,600 sites are involved, with the companies partnering to deploy roughly 6,700 more. Long-term service contracts spanning 15 years are also included. When the deal was announced, Cellnex explained it strengthened its position in Italy, the UK and Ireland, while adding Austria, Sweden and Denmark. [1] [https:]
10:42
Google faces further competition claims
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A coalition of 35 US states filed a lawsuit seeking the break-up of Google, claiming it holds a monopoly over search and advertising markets. State attorney generals repeated accusations made in a Department of Justice (DoJ) action in October [1], arguing Google used exclusivity and revenue sharing deals to boost adoption of its services on PCs and mobile devices, and to dominate emerging voice-based search channels including assistants, smart speakers, TVs and connected cars. They also alleged Google engaged in “discriminatory conduct on its search results page” to impede specialised search services such as Yelp and Expedia from reaching consumers. The attorney generals sought remedies ranging from a court order preventing Google from continuing anticompetitive conduct, to a potential break-up to restore competition. In a blog responding to the move, Google director of economic policy Adam Cohen cited its response to the DoJ litigation, adding claims on displaying search results had already “been closely examined and rejected by regulators and courts around the world”. [1] [https:]
10:01
Swisscom advances SA 5G plans with Ericsson trial
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Ericsson and Swisscom demonstrated carrier aggregation (CA) across TDD and FDD in a trial of standalone (SA) 5G voice and data calls, claiming milestone progress toward deployment of the technologies in Europe. Voice over New Radio (VoNR) tests were conducted using Ericsson network kit and Oppo’s Find X2 Pro handset running Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chipset. The aggregation element used Ericsson equipment and a mobile test device based on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 888 [1] platform. In a statement, Ericsson president of Europe and Latin America Arun Bansal described the work as “an important step towards unleashing the full potential of 5G”. Swisscom CTO Christoph Aeschlimann explained SA 5G would bring "new opportunities" including "network slicing and dedicated on-premises" deployments. Ericsson noted all 5G networks in Europe are currently non-standalone, though it expects operators in the region to begin moving to SA in 2021 [2]. Qualcomm and Ericsson demonstrated CA across TDD and FDD [3] in a SA 5G trial in August, explaining at the time the capability would boost coverage and data rates. Enrico Salvatori, SVP and president of Qualcomm Europe, stated the demonstrations Swisscom "show how close we are to bringing those benefits to people, and industries, across Europe”. [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
December 17, 2020
18:29
Google, Qualcomm extend Android updates
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Google expanded Android update processes, working with Qualcomm to offer an additional year of OS and security upgrades on devices using the chipmaker’s Snapdragon platform. Qualcomm said it is enabling up to four Android OS versions and four years of security updates, initally on devices running its latest Snapdragon 888 chipset [1], though a representative told Ars Technica it would expand to other chips in the range in time. In a blog, Google explained the move was an extension of its Project Treble initiative [2], which instituted architectural changes in Android in 2017 to make it faster and easier for OEMs to deploy OS updates. While Project Treble benefitted OEMs, Google explained it required chipmakers to support more iterations of the same OS on each chipset, increasing engineering costs and limiting “the duration for which SoC vendors offered Android OS software support on a chipset”. Its collaboration with Qualcomm addressed this problem, allowing the same OS framework software to be used across multiple chipsets to “dramatically” lower engineering, development and deployment costs. Kedar Kondap, Qualcomm VP of product management, stated the change was expected to accelerate “Android OS upgrade” rates on Snapdragon-based devices. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
17:33
Mast attacks cost UK operators 170,000 hours
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UK regulator Ofcom revealed 159 operator masts were attacked so far in 2020 as a result of Covid-19 (coronavirus)-related and general anti-5G conspiracy theories, causing base station downtime adding-up to 170,000 hours. In its annual Connected Nations report assessing the state of the country’s mobile and fixed networks, the authority revealed the scale of vandalism to mobile infrastructure in 2020 attributed to baseless claims. “Over this year, a number of unsubstantiated claims [related to the pandemic] have circulated, often through social media,” it noted. “Prior to this, there were also false claims that the Electromagnetic Field (EMF) emissions of 5G base stations posed an increased risk to people’s health.” As the pandemic took hold, there were reports from the UK and a number of other countries [1] of vandals taking down or setting fire to infrastructure apparently inspired by conspiracy theories linking 5G to Covid-19 [2]. Elsewhere in the report, Ofcom said the UK’s fixed and mobile networks had remained resilient during the pandemic. Fibre and 5G rollouts also continued apace despite the challenging circumstances. By the end of 2020, it expects around 3,000 mobile sites to be transmitting 5G signals across the market’s four operators, around ten-times more than at the end of 2019. [1] [https:] [2] [https:]
17:04
Researchers crack secret to self-repairing screens
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A team of researchers at The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) reportedly claimed a breakthrough in screen protection, developing a method which enables cracked or damaged displays to repair themselves. The Economic Times (ET) reported the team developed a colourless polyimide (CPI) display offering glass-like transparency and featuring a protective coating comprising linseed oil-filled microcapsules and silicone. The newspaper added the approach could be particularly well suited to foldable devices due to inherent scratch resistance. In a related article, Engineering and Technology explained CPI offers a high tensile strength and is already “widely used in consumer electronics”. The outlet stated when a screen is damaged, the linseed oil flows from the microcapsules to fill cracks. Because the oil is “easily hardened at room temperature”, it can repair up to 95 per cent of damage “within just 20 minutes” under the right conditions, Engineering and Technology added. It noted these characteristics mean linseed oil is already a popular choice for protecting works of art. And it highlighted development of self-repairing screens could form a key element in cutting the growing problem of electronic waste, an issue the European Parliament prioritised last month as it cleared recommendations around improving mobile phone repair processes [1]. [1] [https:]
17:03
CCA inks tower deal with Tillman Infrastructure
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US industry group the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) signed a strategic partnership with Tillman Infrastructure, aimed at helping small operators negotiate more favourable tower deals as they expand their networks. As part of the agreement, CCA members will receive preferrential terms and pritoritised processing of co-location deals for Tillman Infrastructure’s nationwide tower and rooftop assets. They will also have access to “turnkey deployment services” from Tillman Networks and in-building connectivity-as-a-service from Tillman Digital Cities, part of the same Tillman Global Holdings umbrella as the infrastructure unit. CCA has approximately 100 operator members. Tillman Infrastructure is a CCA member: it currently owns or manages more than 1,000 sites in the US, with another 2,500 in development. Bill Hague, Tillman Infrastructure CEO and CCA Board Member, said the partnership will deepen ties with “critical connectivity partners and help expand their coverage while creating a sustainable model”. Tillman Infrastructure signed a similar deal with the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) in October. In 2017, Verizon and AT&T inked a deal with the company [1] to build, lease and co-locate equipment of hundreds of new mobile towers. [1] [https:]
16:14
Google pledges persuade EC to clear Fitbit deal
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The European Commission (EC) approved Google’s divisive $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit [1] following an in-depth probe into competition and privacy implications, though clearance is subject to the tech giant keeping its promises around data use. In a statement, the EC noted its assessment of the competitive landscape of the digital health sector together with commitments made by Google had persuaded it to clear the deal. Detractors across the globe have raised concerns around privacy [2] and Google’s use of data derived from the wearables for unrelated services, with investigations opened by regulators in several markets [3]. The EC noted it had also received comments from parties concerned Google would grasp a dominant position in the digital health sector after closing the deal. During its investigation the EC dismissed sector competition issues on the grounds Europe’s digital health sector was still nascent, with many active players. It also noted “Fitbit has a limited market share in Europe in the fast-growing smartwatch segment where many larger competitors are present, such as Apple, Garmin and Samsung”. To try and appease privacy concerns, Google made a series of promises to the EC earlier this year covering data separation and opt-in facilities for users. The pledges are valid for ten years. Google also made commitments around the use of open access to APIs in an attempt to appease any competition worries. Clearing the deal, EC EVP and Competition Commissoner Margrethe Vestager (pictured) said: “The commitments will ensure that the market for wearables and the nascent digital health space will remain open and competitive.” [1] [https:] [2] [https:] [3] [https:]
15:36
Partner Interview: Macquarie Telecom
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Ronnie Contractor, Head of Technology Services at the Australia-based telco, reveals why the company chose to work with Oracle as its Microsoft Teams partner and how the partnership will develop in the future.
14:40
Google persuade la CE d’accepter le rachat de Fitbit
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Suite à une enquête approfondie, la Commission Européenne (CE) a finalement décidé d’approuvé l’achat controversé de Fitbit par Google pour 2,1 milliards de dollars. Les commissaires voulaient vérifier l’impact de la transaction sur l’équilibre de la concurrence et ses implications pour les données privées, en dépit des engagements donnés par le géant américain. Dans un communiqué, la CE explique que son étude du marché de la santé numérique ainsi que les assurances données par Google l’ont persuadé de donner le feu vert. Les opposants au rachat s’étaient inquiétés d’un possible détournement des données collectées par les wearables au profit de services sans lien direct avec la santé. Ces craintes ont justifié le lancement d’enquêtes par les régulateurs de plusieurs pays. La CE a par ailleurs enregistré des critiques soulignant que Google se trouverait en position dominante sur le marché de la santé numérique en cas d’acquisition de Fitbit. L’enquête de la CE a finalement minimisé les conséquences du rachat pour la concurrence, le marché européen de la santé numérique étant encore émergent et riche en intervenants. La CE note par ailleurs que « Fitbit a une part de marché limitée en Europe sur le marché en croissance rapide des smartwatches, où des concurrents plus gros sont présents, comme Apple, Garmin et Samsung ». Pour apaiser les préoccupations relatives au détournement de données, Google a concédé une série de promesses à la CE. Valables dix ans, elles devraient garantir en particulier la séparation entre les données collectées par Fitbit et celles collectées par le groupe.

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