More on EMEA Telco Leaders – Page 167
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Venturing & InvestmentsSoftBank tie-up leads to GoStudent investment
DT and strategic partner SoftBank co-invest in ed-tech platform provider GoStudent. Investment collaboration one of promised benefits from renewed friendship last year, with GoStudent the first to profit from DT–SoftBank tie-up. Claure exit from SoftBank sees hiccup in new DT relationship, however.
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Public AffairsÁlvarez-Pallete warns of dangers of “digital slavery”
Telefónica Executive Chairman asserts that societal imbalance and data exploitation are risks that must be addressed as the world’s economies are digitised. Dire warnings of ‘slavery’ fit with Group commitments on creation of a digital rights framework that would see operators positioned as trusted partners.
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Public AffairsTelco giants join iPhone encryption battle
Vodafone, Telefónica, and Orange add to voices calling for encryption technologies to be outlawed. EC asked to stop iPhones denying data access. Assertion comes amid wider controversy involving monitoring of illegal activity.
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PremiumVM O2 picks ITV for IPTV advertising support
VM O2 signs ITV for content aggregator play. Addressable advertising and “full” integration among the benefits. JV’s first IPTV service pushed back for a 2022 launch.
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Network & InfrastructurePeru’s IpT likes open RAN, but sees room for improvement
CTO of rural provider lauds lower energy consumption, shorter implementation times, compared with traditional 4G rollouts. Flags “some limitations” on capacity and scalability, however; “overall cost” of open RAN equipment still in same ballpark as kit from mainstream vendors.
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PremiumElsewhere in UK: VM O2 augments EV fleet
VM O2 augments EV fleet; becomes founding member of National Databank to provide free data to low-income households.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Enterprise: BT links up with TIM & Telefónica in Turin
BT Enterprise ties with Italian telcos for connected cars and the University of Hertfordshire for smart city solutions.
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Innovation (R&D)T-Labs taps Merantix for AI voice fraud detection
Deutsche Telekom’s research arm ties with natural language processing partner Merantix Labs to co-develop deepfake detection tool. Seen as a likely necessity for future AI robustness, and builds on broader voice tech from across the Group.
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Venturing & InvestmentsDT backs wireless asset tracking startup MonoLets
Group continues to build out IoT ecosystem with cash injection into US connected-label startup. hubraum flags system as potentially “really useful” add to DT’s IoT armoury.
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PremiumBT focuses energies on health industry
BT ramps up plans with formation of Clinical Advisory Board populated by eight NHS clinicians. Move builds on operator’s sign-up to Health Tech Alliance and The Kings Fund as part of efforts to expand in the industry through collaboration.
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PremiumVM O2 completes UK Gigabit rollout
Connectivity now reaches 15.5 million homes. Company to invest further £10bn in next five years.
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PremiumElsewhere in Spain: Telefónica landed with RTVE funding bill
RTVE funding still billed to Telefónica and co.; LeasePlan and Microsoft tie-ups.
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PremiumEE climbs on board with BAI
EE and Three UK become first two operators to sign up for neutral host network. A further key element is enabled for the Emergency Services Network. Motorola Solutions appeals CMA decision to investigate dual role as Airwave and ESN supplier.
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PremiumTelefónica goes to market with enterprise 5G
Spanish 5G standalone network to be deployed in 2022. Three enterprise connectivity options to be available, including Private Dedicated 5G. Galicia emerges as most prolific region for 5G use-cases.
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PremiumEricsson benefits from Huawei 5GC fade-out in Spain
Telefónica España reportedly awards contract to Swedish supplier for 5G core. Huawei gear apparently to be replaced, although unclear the extent of Ericsson’s installation. More than 50% of Ericsson R&D on 5GC done in Madrid.
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PremiumEE trudges on with Shared Rural Network progress
46 ‘fresh sites’ delivered under SRN programme. EE to upgrade a further 1,532 sites with 4G by 2024 in ‘partial not-spot’ phase.
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PremiumElsewhere in BT Technology: DCMS hands out R&D investments
DCMS Future RAN competition hands four BT partners a portion of £36m R&D tranche.
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Innovation (R&D)DT’s Nemat puts focus on the human factor at heart of AI
Nemat suggests there should be a ‘Hippocratic Oath’ for AI software engineers. DT programmes in place to reduce energy consumption and bias when training machines.
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PremiumElsewhere in Germany: TDE teams with Westenergie Breitband
O2 Germany teams with Westenergie Breitband for fixed access; Wayra-backed IoT platform joined German portfolio; Allianz takes fibre funding to Austria.