Technology – Page 166
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Partnerships & AlliancesVodafoneZiggo consults virtual twin on fibre rollout strategy
Post-trial, Dutch operator partners with Tata Consultancy Services on AI-based network planning — and perhaps other functions too.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone tests 100G PON waters with Nokia
Experimental PON tech developed by Nokia Bell Labs gets runout at Vodafone’s Competence Centre in Eschborn, Germany. Enables speeds of up to 100Gbps on a single wavelength using a combination of 25G optics and “advanced” DSP techniques. Nokia envisages commercial availability in “second half of decade”.
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Partnerships & AlliancesVantage Towers on alert as Drillisch appears on 5G radar
National roaming deal between Drillisch and Telefónica Deutschland paves way for 5G rollout by Germany’s would-be fourth MNO. Vodafone’s TowerCo spinout vies with Deutsche Funkturm and Telxius for Drillisch business. Ericsson sales veteran Peter Zehetner joins Vantage Towers as Managing Director in Germany.
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Network & InfrastructureVirgin Media’s foray into 5G signals start of Vodafone era
Vodafone signs up MVNE Digitalk to support MVNO growth strategy.
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Network & InfrastructureVodafone Hungary stumps up €135m to extend licences
Secures 15-year extensions to 900MHz and 1800MHz concessions. Supreme Court rules NMHH acted “lawfully” in blocking Digi Communications from participating in 2020 multiband auction.
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Network & InfrastructureICASA digs heels in over spectrum auction rules
Regulator stands firm against legal action taken by MTN, Telkom. VdSA proves unlikely ally.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Africa
Vodafone launches Africa.Connected campaign to bridge the digital divide, while Joosub clears things up regarding Ghana in Q3 results.
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Innovation (R&D)Vodafone ups the ante on drone innovation
Dutch, German, and UK trials flag recent progress in autonomous and unmanned flight. Ericsson emerges as important co-pilot.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Europe: Italian 3G sunset
End of road for Italian 3G network; 5G used to combat COVID-19 in Spain; Turkey enterprise unit digitises cement mix.
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Strategy & ChangeElsewhere in Vodafone Associates & JVs
Teoh junior faces TPG ire after assault conviction; INWIT’s Ferigo bemoans 5G rollout barriers.
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PremiumElsewhere in Vodafone Group: VPC targets supply chain sustainability
Telecom Italia adds weight to open RAN support scheme; VPC joins other operators in arrowing in on supplier carbon emissions.
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Financial & PerformanceBudget 2021: BT benefits but won’t move investment dial
Chancellor Sunak eyes investment-backed build-back. Short term tax break to bolster BT infrastructure expansion. However, gains will be “offset in later years”, and no movement on BT’s number one priority — business rates relief.
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Network & InfrastructureVivo taps CDPQ for fibre spin out, as KKR invests in Chile
Telefónica|Vivo signs a 50:50 deal with Quebec-based investor to launch FiBrasil. Wholesale fibre provider will expand Vivo’s geographic reach, while the OB focuses on upgrading its existing fixed-network footprint. Long-heralded $1bn Chilean InfraCo plans culminate with KKR taking 60% stake.
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Network & InfrastructureHoward Watson eyes 2027 as open RAN opportunity
Huawei 5G kit replacement in line with 2027 deadline an opportunity for urban commercial open RAN deployment. BT expects to stick with dual key vendor policy, but hopes to see more choice. Huawei kit still being rolled out as BT juggles network plans with government demands.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT taps OneWeb for rural coverage leg up
Talks confirmed, but nothing advanced. Back from brink, state-backed OneWeb offers BT space-based alternative to cable. 0.6% of UK households still without “decent” broadband connectivity, according to Ofcom.
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Partnerships & AlliancesBT activates go-to-market accelerator
Scheme provides immediate growth opportunities to participating scale-ups. Operator supports UK-wide sustainability push via provision of smart energy services. Possible application of green-tech in healthcare sector being explored.
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Innovation (R&D)Testbeds and Trials: many roads to 5G for BT
Two private networks in the West Midlands to be switched on, powering manufacturing modernisation in the region, underpinned by BT infrastructure. BT/EE powers two projects in state-backed 5G Create funding call.
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PremiumCanonical hails BT progress on 5G core
Deployment of fully cloud native core appears to be in full swing with open source developer.
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Network & InfrastructureMBNL embraces machine learning for predictive maintenance
JV working with Kortical, Blue Prism, and Greenhouse Intelligence. Algorithms predict mast cooling system failures to prevent overheating and outages.
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Partnerships & Alliances‘Techmaker’: DT’s South Korean 5G JV surfaces
New venture’s executive team to build 5G innovation pipeline from South Korea to Europe. JV initially aims to build go-to-market around 5G in-building solutions, and then spread to import and development of other systems. Working name chimes with mandate to commercialise Asian 5G tech in western markets.