Connected & Smart Technology News
Partnerships & Alliances
O2 brings 5G to CAV real-world testbed in London
O2 UK to use its 3.4GHz, 5G‑ready spectrum in the testing and development of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) by joining the Smart Mobility Living Lab (SMLL) in London.
Products & ServicesMovistar Car free for a month
Movistar is offering free activation and a month’s subscription to its Movistar Car service as part of seasonal promotions.
- Products & Services
Movistar+ TV now Chromecast-compatible
Telefónica España confirmed that content from its Movistar+ pay‑TV platform can now be ‘cast’ to television sets via Google Chromecast.
- Innovation (R&D)
Cycling gets smarter, greener, safer with BT IoT tech
Internet of Things (IoT)-based ‘smart’ cycling trials completed in Manchester, UK, by BT’s Future Business Technology.
- Innovation (R&D)
Vodafone Italy ropes up for vertical 5G
OpCo has been busy exploring 5G innovation and partnership possibilities.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone under pressure to rethink CityFibre partnership
CityFibre wants end to VfUK exclusivity to capture more business. Openreach turns VfUK’s head with generous FTTP discounts.
- Operations
Vodafone opens London digital hub ‘The Speechmark’
London mayor Sadiq Khan cut the ribbon to officially open Vodafone UK’s new digital hub.
- Strategy & Change
Deutsche Telekom eyes ‘true convergence’ with all in one home OS
Group developing single OS for smart-home, TV, and comms.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Orange-backed SoundHound helping Deutsche Telekom find voice
New buddy for DT’s vaunted ‘voicification’ strategy.
- Partnerships & Alliances
T‑Systems flags smart‑city partnership with Arcus Infrastructure Partners and Arthur D. Little
T‑Systems (T‑Sys) highlighted a smart‑city partnership with infrastructure fund Arcus Infrastructure Partners and management consultant Arthur D. Little.
- M&A
Telefónica España acquires 50% stake in alarm business
After the abrupt end of its Securitas partnership, Telefónica is again attempting to integrate security services into its connected home strategy. Despite allusions to “smart” solutions, Prosegur currently remains principally a traditional burglar alarm business. Shareholder and partner.
- Innovation (R&D)
O2 UK’s smart ambulance trial creates remote consulting room
Telefónica UK (O2 UK) provided connectivity for a smart ambulance at Millbrook Proving Ground in September 2019, as part of a trial which it claims “has the potential to revolutionise patient diagnosis, transport and treatment”.
- Innovation (R&D)
Telefónica sets up 5G vehicle-testing in Malaga
European operating businesses are continuing to ratchet-up participation in connected vehicle projects as part of efforts to develop 5G industrial use cases. A testing centre in Spain appears to fit with smart city ambitions, while, in the UK, connectivity for ambulances as part of research into using 5G as ...
- Products & Services
Vodafone Greece enables smart waste collection system in Athens
Vodafone Innovus, Vodafone Greece’s (VfGr) Internet of Things solutions subsidiary, was reported to have helped set up a new “smart waste collection” system in Athens.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone Germany 5G in planes, trains, stadiums, and automobiles
Partnerships with Airbus, Thales, and North Rhine-Westphalia help VfD target different 5G markets. Network slicing and edge computing underpin various use cases of the next‑gen tech.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone takes IoT on road with Geotab and Trinsic
Vodafone Automotive and Geotab club together to create Vodafone Business Fleet Analytics. New telematics and analytics platform initially available in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and UK. Vodafone extends partnership with Trinsic to woo automakers with branded connected-car solutions spread across multiple markets.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Axiros enlisted for T-Mobile’s push on home front
Connected-home angle to TMPL’s fibre broadband expansion drive.
- Products & Services
T-Mobile US planning family-orientated addition to its SyncUp product set
T‑Mobile US (TMUS) appeared to be planning a family-oriented adjunct to the SyncUP DRIVE connected-car product set it launched in 2016 (Deutsche Telekomwatch, #58).
- Products & Services
Telekom Deutschland keeps home fires burning at IFA
Commercial smart speaker available. Expansion of smart homes services. Magenta VR on display. Wi‑Fi optimisation at home.
- Venturing & Investments
Deutsche Telekom hub:raum-backed smart-home startup Ecoisme ceases trading
Ecoisme, a smart-home startup backed by Deutsche Telekom’s hub:raum innovation unit, flagged that it had “ceased trading due to becoming insolvent”.
- Partnerships & Alliances
ZTE provides Deutsche Telekom’s CarConnect solution with a new terminal
ZTE provides “completely revised” terminal for Deutsche Telekom’s CarConnect solution.
- Partnerships & Alliances
Deutsche Telekom seeks next level in Microsoft partnership
Leadership love-bombs Nadella, seeking a replenished, “forward-looking” relationship after German cloud tie-up demise. Mix of opportunities seen in old ground (cloud and IoT) and new (voice interfaces).
