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Category: Telecom

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Telecom & Telco news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Globe Telecom deploys Infinera’s Auto-Lamda for 5G network upgrades

    Globe Telecom deploys Infinera’s Auto-Lamda for 5G network upgrades

    Infinera announced that Globe Telecom, Inc. (Globe), a major provider of telecom services in the Philippines, deployed Infinera’s Auto-Lambda solution, featuring autotuneable optics, to upgrade its existing 4G access and aggregation networks and in anticipation of providing future 5G services. By upgrading its access network with Infinera’s autotuneable optics technology, Globe can deliver more capacity on its existing network and scale to address bandwidth growth within its current network architecture while reducing both capital and ongoing operational expenses.

    Globe is the leading mobile network operator in the Philippines and offers one of the largest fixed line and broadband networks in the country. With what is believed to be the industry’s first widescale deployment of autotuneable optics over sophisticated amplified ring architectures, Globe is advancing innovation in its access network to address growing capacity demands while evolving its previously deployed IP network to support the increasing demands in mobile backhaul capacity for 5G. Utilizing Infinera’s Auto-Lambda solution, Globe can easily plug autotuneable dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) optics directly into its existing aggregation and access nodes, allowing its network to automatically tune each of the optical signals to the appropriate wavelength, which significantly simplifies deployment while increasing capacity.

    “In today’s environment, our customers are always online and want unhindered access and capacity. As one of the leading telecom services in the Philippines, we seek the best technology to support our nation’s connectivity needs,” said Jaeson Evangelista, Head Transport Planning at Globe Telecom.

    “Our network requires a solution that is easy to deploy and scalable to meet the increasing capacity needs of our customers. We chose Infinera’s Auto-Lambda solution because it provides the innovation and benefits our network needs, from operational simplicity and ease of deployment to cost savings and eliminating the need for new networking hardware. Additionally, Infinera’s autotuneable optics provide a unique solution that enables DWDM upgrades directly into third-party devices in our network, making installation and deployment easy for our engineers.”

    “Globe has a rich legacy in the Philippines for its telecommunication services and providing the country with unmatched connectivity,” said Nick Walden, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales at Infinera. “Globe’s deployment of Infinera’s Auto-Lambda solution highlights the benefits provided by Infinera’s innovation, including autotuneable optics that provide high-capacity access and aggregation DWDM networks without an extensive overhaul to an operator’s existing network infrastructure.”

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  • Inmarsat launches new customer experience platform for airlines to monetise inflight connectivity

    Inmarsat launches new customer experience platform for airlines to monetise inflight connectivity

    Inmarsat announced the launch of its innovative new OneFi customer experience platform (CXP) for airlines. The first-of-its-kind solution will serve as a catalyst to monetise inflight connectivity by bringing a host of onboard services together within a single portal interface, which passengers can easily access using their own personal devices.

    OneFi delivers a rich airline-branded digital platform to enhance the passenger experience onboard flights. It allows passengers to order food and beverages, purchase seat upgrades, receive the latest flight and destination information, and sign-up to the airline’s frequent flyer programmes, all in real-time from the comfort of their seat. In addition, passengers can browse the internet, stream videos and audio, shop online and enjoy other ecommerce offerings, using high-speed inflight broadband that airlines could choose to offer free-of-charge, funded through OneFi’s sponsorship and advertising features.

    The launch of OneFi comes at a critical time for airlines, with the global pandemic having accelerated passenger demand for digital inflight experiences. Inmarsat’s recent 2021 Passenger Confidence Tracker, the largest and most comprehensive global survey of its kind since the pandemic began, found that digital solutions that keep passengers connected and minimise their contact with cabin crew and fellow passengers can go a long way in boosting confidence. In addition, out of the 10,000 respondents worldwide, 41% believed inflight Wi-Fi had increased in importance after the pandemic.

    Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “For many years, Inmarsat has advocated the vast commercial opportunities of inflight connectivity. However, until now, airlines have struggled to realise the full potential of the business model. OneFi is a step change for those looking to monetise their Wi-Fi services and ensure they keep pace with evolving passenger needs. It will empower a digital transformation in the cabin, which is especially important at this critical time for the aviation industry.

    “OneFi allows airlines to improve their brand experience and secure passenger loyalty, with the flexibility to incorporate their own services and use existing and new partners, such as content providers, advertisers and retailers. We are in advanced discussions with leading airlines about adopting this innovative new platform and expect to see a rollout with our first OneFi customer by the end of this year.”

    In recent years, airlines have continued to increase their focus on unlocking new revenue streams through broadband-enabled ancillary services. The market for digital inflight advertising alone is forecast to grow from $266 million today to $3.3 billion by 2030, representing a 10-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42.9% between 2020 and 2030, according to Valour Consulting.

    The launch of OneFi is a significant step in turning that untapped commercial opportunity into a reality. OneFi promises industry grade targeting features, media inventory and calls-to-action that are made available to the airline and its partners. These ensure that content is contextual and relevant to the individual passenger. It also enables partners to engage in more meaningful ways with passengers and boost sales lead generation rates. The platform’s intuitive, user-friendly interface will enable airlines to boost passenger take-up rates and create a frictionless funnel to purchase.

    In addition, OneFi is network agnostic and uses open architecture, meaning it can integrate with any technology infrastructure and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) used by airlines, ensuring a uniform experience across mixed aircraft fleets. The platform is also scalable, giving airline customers the flexibility to add new third-party services over time and helping to future proof their onboard offering.

    Inmarsat is transforming global aviation by bringing complete connectivity to aircraft and flight paths across the world. It recently unveiled plans for ORCHESTRA to bring existing geosynchronous (GEO) satellites together with low earth orbit satellites (LEO) and terrestrial 5G to form an integrated, high-performance solution, unmatched by any existing or planned competitor offering. ORCHESTRA allows capacity to be boosted in high-density areas such as at airports, eliminating congested network ‘hot spots’ and ensuring the connectivity needs of aviation customers are met well into the future, with capacity scaled directly to match their requirements.

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  • Ooredoo Group and CK Hutchison poised for US$6 billion telecom merger

    Ooredoo Group and CK Hutchison poised for US$6 billion telecom merger

    Ooredoo and CK Hutchison announced the signing of definitive transaction agreements for the proposed merger of their respective telecommunications businesses in Indonesia, PT Indosat Tbk (Indosat Ooredoo) and PT Hutchison 3 Indonesia (H3I). The merged company will be named PT Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Tbk (Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison).

    The merger of Indosat Ooredoo and H3I will bring together two highly complementary businesses to create a larger, commercially stronger and more competitive world-class digital telecoms and internet company, well placed to deliver more value for all shareholders, customers and for Indonesia.

    Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison will be well-positioned to accelerate Indonesia’s economic growth and transformation into a digital society. It will be the second-largest mobile telecoms company in the country, with an estimated annual revenue of approximately US$3 billion.

    The combined company will have the scale, financial strength, and expertise to compete more effectively. Combining the highly complementary assets and products of Indosat Ooredoo and H3I will drive innovation and network improvements that will enable the delivery of outstanding digital services, as well as a broader product offering, to customers across Indonesia.

    Indosat Ooredoo and H3I own highly complementary infrastructure and the combination of these assets will also enable the merged company to benefit from cost and CAPEX synergies and provide accretive returns to all stakeholders. Annual run-rate pre-tax synergies of approximately US$300-400mm are expected to be realized over 3-5 years.

    In addition, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison will be able to leverage the experience and expertise of Ooredoo Group and CK Hutchison in networks, technologies, products and services, and benefit from their multinational operations spanning major markets in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia Pacific. The merged company will also benefit from their combined strength and economies of scale in functions such as procurement.

    Following the merger, the Indonesian mobile market is expected to retain a healthy level of competition, attractive to long-term investment across the industry.

    Ooredoo Group currently has a controlling 65.0% shareholding in Indosat Ooredoo through Ooredoo Asia, a wholly-owned holding company. The merger of Indosat and H3I will result in CK Hutchison receiving newly issued shares in Indosat Ooredoo amounting to 21.8% and PT Tiga Telekomunikasi Indonesia amounting to 10.8% of the merged Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison business.

    Concurrent with the merger, CK Hutchison will acquire a 50% shareholding in Ooredoo Asia by exchanging its 21.8% shareholdings in Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison for a 33.3% stake in Ooredoo Asia, and will acquire an additional 16.7% stake from Ooredoo Group for a cash consideration of US$387 million. Following the above transactions, the parties will each own 50.0% of Ooredoo Asia, to be renamed Ooredoo Hutchison Asia, which will retain a controlling 65.6% ownership stake in the merged company.

    Upon closing of the transactions, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison will be jointly controlled by Ooredoo Group and CK Hutchison. It will remain listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange, with the Government of Indonesia retaining a 9.6% shareholding, PT Tiga Telekomunikasi Indonesia holding a 10.8% shareholding, and other public shareholders holding approximately 14.0%.

    Subject to necessary Indosat Ooredoo shareholder approvals, the parties have agreed to nominate Vikram Sinha as CEO and Nicky Lee as CFO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison. Ahmad Al-Neama will remain President Director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo and Cliff Woo will remain as CEO of H3I until completion of the merger. Upon completion, Ahmad Al-Neama and Cliff Woo will join the Board of Commissioners of the merged company, subject to the necessary Indosat Ooredoo approvals.

    The parties are committed to prioritizing employee welfare during the integration process in adherence with applicable laws and aligned with future business growth opportunities. The combined company is expected to create exciting growth opportunities for employees, as part of a larger, financially stronger, more competitive and innovative technology company.

    Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Managing Director of Ooredoo Group, said: “This agreement is a significant step towards our shared vision of creating outstanding value for our customers and shareholders by bringing together two of Indonesia’s leading telecoms brands to create a stronger number two player in Indonesia, backed by two highly committed partners in Ooredoo Group and CK Hutchison. With this agreement in place, we can now turn our attention to closing the transaction and then working closely with CK Hutchison to leverage the combined expertise of our respective global telecoms groups to build a world-class digital telco for Indonesia.

    This merged company will deliver significant value and benefits for all stakeholders including Indosat Ooredoo and Ooredoo Group shareholders, for customers, employees and Indonesia. Through economies of scale and the realization of synergies between these highly complementary businesses, the merged company will be well placed to deliver a higher return on investment for all shareholders and build on the outstanding growth momentum already achieved by Indosat Ooredoo. Importantly, the merger will create a company with the strength and scale to accelerate Indonesia’s digital transformation and improve network performance and customer experience across the country.

    Canning Fok, Group Co-Managing Director of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, said: “This is a great opportunity to create a stronger and more innovative telco player in Indonesia and will be an accretive transaction for shareholders and other stakeholders alike. Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison will have a critical mass that will enable it to drive network expansion and improvements that will support the Government’s digital agenda and benefit customers and Indonesia as a whole.”

    “With greater scale, expanded spectrum, and a more efficient cost structure, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison will also be better positioned to extend the rollout of its network and enhance service quality and speed. CK Hutchison invests in and operates telecom businesses in 12 markets around the world, many of which have successfully rolled out 5G networks, and we look forward to expanding innovative 5G services in Indonesia when the time is right.”

    H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Thani Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Ooredoo Group, concluded: “This merger is a landmark deal for Asia and for Ooredoo Group. It furthers our strategy to drive more value from our portfolio and accelerate digitalization across our global footprint. I look forward to a long and successful partnership with CK Hutchison and to working together to build Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison into a digital champion for Indonesia.”

    Completion of the transaction will be subject to the approval of Ooredoo Group, CK Hutchison, Indosat Ooredoo shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary terms and conditions. Assuming all approvals are received, the proposed combination is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

    JP Morgan is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Ooredoo Group. Goldman Sachs & Co. and HSBC are acting as joint financial advisors to CK Hutchison. Barclays is acting as financial advisor to Indosat Ooredoo.

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  • India announces major telecoms reforms to boost industry

    India announces major telecoms reforms to boost industry

    The Union Cabinet approved on Wednesday several structural and process reforms in a relief package targeting the telecom sector to ensure its healthy growth in a digital era.

    In a move lauded by industry players as a positive step towards promoting the industry and addressing long-standing concerns, the reforms are expected to foster healthy competition, protect the interests of consumers, infuse liquidity, encourage foreign investment and reduce regulatory burden on telecom service providers (TSPs).

    These reformatory measures will fuel the proliferation and penetration of broadband and telecom connectivity, which has witnessed heightened demand against a pandemic backdrop, where activities such as work from home and remote learning have driven an unprecedented surge in data consumption.

    The measures comprise nine structural reforms and five procedural reforms plus relief measures for TSPs. Bringing respite to the industry, all TSPs have a four-year moratorium for payment of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) due. According to minister Ashwini Vaishaw, the moratorium will ensure significant cash flow for telecoms without affecting the government’s revenue. This will help India’s telecom giants address prevailing cash flow issues, enabling them to conserve capital to fund capital expenditure and invest in 5G. Vodafone Idea, for instance, will be able to defer payments of about Rs 96,000 crore.

    To encourage foreign investment, another structural reform includes 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) under automatic route permitted in the telecom sector, though neighbouring countries including Pakistan and China will not be allowed to invest under the automatic route. Previously, only 49% was under the automatic route.

    In addition, spectrum sharing will also be made free, with an additional spectrum usage charge (SUC) of 0.5% for spectrum sharing being scrapped. There will also be no SUC for spectrum required in future spectrum auctions.

    The Cabinet also announced that there is no need for separate KYC to switch from postpaid to prepaid, or vice versa.

    Currently, India is the world’s second-largest telecommunications market with a subscriber base of 1.16 billion. These reforms demonstrate the government’s commitment towards building the nation’s digital future.

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  • MTN, Smart extend 5G roaming of Philippines to South Africa

    MTN, Smart extend 5G roaming of Philippines to South Africa

    MTN South Africa network will be the first mobile operator in Africa to provide 5G access to customers from the Philippines through its international roaming agreement with the Philippines’ leading mobile services provider, Smart Communications.

    The agreement delivers on MTN’s and Smart’s commitment to keeping its travelers connected and providing them with access to 5G; both at home and when traveling as capable devices become available.

    “We’re excited to launch 5G roaming in South Africa with Smart’s network because of what it means for customers,” said Arne Casteleyn, general manager – international roaming, MTN GlobalConnect. “With MTN Y’ello Connect Roaming Hub and our central roaming team, we never stop innovating, developing and deploying faster roaming services to provide our customers with access to a next-generation network.”

    Casteleyn further explained that providing 5G services for visitors coming to Africa is crucial to get the same data speeds as at home and to harness trends such as the Internet of Things (IoT). “We continue to ramp up the roll-out of 4G, VoLTE, and 5G roaming with the world’s top operators which proves MTN’s commitment to provide excellent roaming services to its travelers as travel restrictions ease with mass vaccinations.”

    “This is part of Smart’s commitment to bring our world-class services anywhere in the world by expanding our 5G roaming coverage in Africa, after our successful rollout with 46 partners in Europe, USA, Middle East, and Asia,” said Ray Arsenal, AVP and head of roaming partnerships.

    Established in 2018, MTN GlobalConnect is based in Dubai and its team is made up of more than 25 nationalities.

  • Nokia partners Uniti Group for first commercial launch of WiFi Beacon in Australia

    Nokia partners Uniti Group for first commercial launch of WiFi Beacon in Australia

    Nokia and Uniti Group’s retail brands including FuzeNet, HarbourISP and UnitiBroadband, have announced the first commercial launch in Australia of Nokia’s WiFi Beacon.

    Utilizing mesh technology, Nokia’s Beacon 1.1 solution will allow Fuzenet and HarbourISP to provide residential customers with superfast and reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout the home.

    Kurt Magner, Chief, Consumer & Small Business at Uniti Group, said: “As the digital revolution enters our living rooms, kitchens and offices, so must our Wi-Fi networks. Nokia’s WiFi solution ensures uninterrupted connectivity and high speeds into every corner of our subscribers’ homes, transforming them into true digital homes. We are thrilled to be the first service provider to offer a Nokia WiFi Beacon solution in the country.”

    Anna Wills, Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand at Nokia, said: “Service providers often have no visibility of poor in-home network issues. A sub-standard Wi-Fi experience inside the home negates the benefits of excellent broadband service promised by providers and is increasingly the leading cause of consumer complaints. Consumers who are seeking uniform in-home coverage with no disruptions. The Nokia solution, which is a combination of local and cloud-based Wi-Fi optimization, helps achieve the best overall Wi-Fi performance for residential customers.”

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  • Inmarsat launches Velaris for unmanned aviation industry

    Inmarsat launches Velaris for unmanned aviation industry

    Inmarsat announced the launch of its advanced new Velaris connectivity solution, which is uniquely positioned to serve as a catalyst for the safe and rapid growth of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) industry.

    Powered by the Inmarsat ELERA global satellite network, Velaris will provide secure communications for commercial UAVs – commonly known as drones – to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and seamlessly integrate with aircraft in commercial airspace. Backed by military-grade cybersecurity, it allows operators to send their UAVs on long distance flights and access various applications, such as real-time monitoring, to ensure safe integration with other air traffic. In addition, Velaris allows a single pilot to remotely operate multiple UAVs at scale, making operations more commercially viable.

    Over the next seven years, the commercial UAV market is projected to increase from $2.32 billion in 2021 to $11.29 billion in 2028, marking a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.39% during this period. This will have a far-reaching impact on various aspects of business and society, ranging from cargo delivery, urban transport and surveillance to emergency services and disaster relief, including the supply of critical items such as medicine, test kits and food for remote communities.

    To support this fast-paced growth, Velaris will unlock unprecedented new digital automation capabilities within the UAV industry, leading to significant advances in safety, productivity, customer service, location access and accuracy, while also reducing the overall cost of operations. Importantly, it will also support the transport of people and goods in an environmentally friendly manner.

    Anthony Spouncer, Inmarsat’s Senior Director of UAVs and Unmanned Traffic Management, said: “Commercial UAVs have the potential to revolutionise a vast array of different industries throughout the world. However, to truly unlock their potential on a commercial scale, it is imperative that autonomous vehicles and unmanned aviation are safely and securely integrated into managed commercial airspace. That’s exactly what Velaris, as Inmarsat’s first global UAV connectivity solution, will deliver.

    “Inmarsat’s unparalleled experience in air traffic management and aviation safety, combined with our established track record in civil and military UAV communications, ensures that we can support global regulators, air navigation service providers and UAV operators with seamless airspace integration. In addition, thanks to our ambitious and fully-funded technology roadmap, including our brand new ORCHESTRA communications network of the future, Velaris will continue to develop and evolve alongside the UAV industry, remaining its gold standard connectivity solution for decades to come.”

    Inmarsat was recently crowned winner at the prestigious Air Traffic Management (ATM) Magazine Awards for its Pop-Up Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) Platform, developed with Altitude Angel. Furthermore, Inmarsat is well-integrated in the air traffic management industry as a consortium member of Cranfield University’s recently opened Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC). The company participates in several projects that aim to revolutionise the future of flight, including the UK Government funded Project HEART (Hydrogen Electric and Automated Regional Transportation) – which is developing the country’s first automated, zero carbon regional air transportation network – and Airspace of the Future (AoF) – which focuses on integrating UAV services with the wider UK transport ecosystem.

    “We work with our global partner ecosystem to develop UAV terminals that deliver smaller, more cost effective multi datalink solutions,” added Spouncer. “These are optimised for a wide range of use cases so that our customers can always have the highest possible standard of connectivity. I’m pleased to launch Velaris today. Coming soon after the launch of Inmarsat ORCHESTRA and ELERA, this truly emphasises Inmarsat’s long-term commitment to the commercial UAV market.”

  • Australia opens application for low band 5G spectrum auction

    Australia opens application for low band 5G spectrum auction

    The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has opened applications for the upcoming 2021 auction of 5G spectrum in the 850/900 MHz band.

    Low band spectrum forms the backbone of 5G connectivity in Australia. Spectrum in the sub‑1 GHz bands can carry signals across longer distances and is essential to the deployment of wide-area networks, such as mobile services and fixed wireless internet.

    ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the allocation of 5G-optimised spectrum in the 850/900 MHz band will support new and existing operators to better deliver services across regional, rural and remote areas of Australia, as well as to major population centres.

    “The spectrum available in this auction will facilitate a wide range of new services that will benefit businesses and consumers across Australia,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

    The ACMA will auction 70 MHz of paired spectrum in the 850/900 MHz band across all of Australia. The application period runs from 1 September 2021 to 21 September 2021 with the spectrum auction scheduled to commence in late November/early December 2021.

    “We encourage all interested parties to apply during this window so they can participate in the auction in late 2021,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

    The spectrum auction is an opportunity for interested parties to bid for spectrum that will accommodate the deployment of 5G services in Australia.

    The ACMA has prepared an applicant information package (AIP) for interested parties, which provides a detailed auction guide, information on the spectrum available and starting prices.

    The auction forms part of the Australian Government’s plan to make 2021 the   Year of 5G. The ACMA auctioned high-band spectrum in the 26 GHz band in April this year for a total revenue of $647 million.

  • Telkomsel chooses Infinet Wireless to provide connectivity in challenging terrain

    Telkomsel chooses Infinet Wireless to provide connectivity in challenging terrain

    Infinet Wireless, the global leader in fixed wireless broadband connectivity, provided its solutions to Telekomunikasi Selular, known by the trade name Telkomsel, one of the biggest cellular telecommunication operators in Indonesia and the sixth largest operator in the world.

    Having most of their Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) with IP microwave technology-enabled, as well as VSAT and optical cable, Telkomsel came to need large bandwidth using more cost-efficient technological solutions at the same time. The telecommunication operator selected Infinet Wireless solutions, such as Quanta 5, among others. It resulted in building up a radio link of 180 km to provide connectivity despite different obstacles, such as obstructive hills in the area, the ocean and the islands.

    Telkomsel selected Infinet Wireless’ orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) radio equipment, ticking the box for the most cost-efficient way for a wireless carrier that provides coverage in rural areas. The company’s technological partner, KISEL Group, a telecommunications services infrastructure provider, supplied the equipment, designed deployment of the links, and carried out support for the deployment of OFDM backhaul. KISEL Group planned to rely on a more cost-efficient solution by taking advantage of the unlicensed 5 GHz frequency band — a steady, carrier-class product, providing high-throughput performance and capable of working in nearLOS / NonLOS conditions.

    KISEL Group turned to Wirakom Sistem, the largest Indonesian Infinet Wireless solutions provider, who contributed to the successful design of a network that delivered the aggregated 108 Mbps service with the longest link ever, which at 180 km is a record-breaking length.

    When comparing vendors’ solutions, KISEL Group representatives spotted Infinet Wireless products’ top-notch technology and necessary resilience to work in extreme weather conditions. Added to this was a high level of user-friendliness when it came to engineers’ work, and the fact that Infinet Wireless solutions are highly cost-effective.

    “We were impressed with Infinet OFDM as one of our rural transmission solutions, especially the new Quanta range, which covers nLOS terrestrial transmission in hilly terrain with good quality and at an affordable price. Thanks also to the Kisel & Wirakom team, which has been supporting us as an intermediary company. It has delivered the service in several projects in Telkomsel, especially related to reducing satellite cost and special area development projects. Infinet has made the impossible propagation possible, delivering sufficient capacity and good quality,” said Teddy Indira Permana, General Manager Transport, Passive & Power Planning Division, PT Telkomsel.

    “The project was challenging due to the remote locations and long-distance of the area we wanted to cover – more than 180 kilometers; but we are more than happy with the Infinet solution deployed. We managed to provide regular and terrestrial areas with the required bandwidth capability needed for the telco systems to run smoothly with high availability performance. In addition, we have also future-proofed the whole wireless infrastructure network for further expansion,” Umar Syatri, Chief Operation Officer / Deputy Chairman of KISEL Group, concluded.

    “We are proud to introduce the best point-to-point solutions to our partner and customer, which have met the requirements. We have delivered a hundred links of Infinet Wireless products, and anticipate Quanta 5 will exceed expectations,” Wiwit Ratno Ongko, CEO of Wirakom Sistem, a distributor of Infinet Wireless solutions in Indonesia, summed up.

    In Indonesia’s diverse landscape, Infinet Wireless technology, especially that of OFDM radio, is proving to be a truly valuable solution, which is why Telkomsel, together with KISEL Group, is planning to expand the current framework. Considering the fact that Infinet Wireless solutions have already proven their productivity, the evolution promises to be even more exciting and profitable.

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  • Powering 5G and beyond with satellites

    Powering 5G and beyond with satellites

    The development of 5G and its applications in the Internet of Things, where 1.8 billion active 5G connections are estimated by 2025, is generating greater interest in satellite solutions to fulfill the criteria of reduced network latency, increased data volume, and connection density. In areas where terrestrial networks are absent or found lacking, satellites can fill the gap to provide ubiquitous connectivity in an increasingly connected world.

    In powering the next wave of technological innovations, satellites offer coverage that surpasses terrestrial networks, delivering high-powered reliable connectivity and secure global mobility. Satellite connectivity plays a particularly significant role in maritime and aeronautical industries, as well as use in critical disaster relief and emergency response missions.

    Without a doubt, satellites are emerging as integral components in 5G networks to address the unprecedented surge in connectivity demand to ensure that consumers and enterprises have access to data anytime, anywhere. Advances in this field have also been rapid to keep up with the global digital evolution. Satellite connectivity, once synonymous with high costs and high latency, is now viewed in a new light with recent advancements. For instance, low earth orbit (LEO) constellations have gained momentum as a more cost-effective alternative to improve coverage area, improve quality and deliver low-latency connections, particularly for remote populations. Next-generation LEOs are launched to significantly increase bandwidth to benefit all rungs of societies.

    With satellites playing an important role in the global connectivity ecosystem to connect the unconnected and provide backhaul connectivity for mobile network operators, both satellite communications startups and giants are pushing boundaries to deliver innovation and seamless solutions. For instance, UK satellite operator Immarsat recently announced the launch of Orchestra, a new and innovative multi-orbit global narrowband network that combines geostationary (GEO), low earth orbit, highly elliptical orbit (HEO), and terrestrial 5G. Building on existing connectivity capabilities, Immarsat also launched ELERA to accelerate IoT development and support humanitarian missions.

    SES also unveiled its O3b mPOWER constellation of 11 satellites to deliver multi-gigabit connectivity services to industries including telecommunications, aviation and maritime. This system is capable of providing intelligence-driven connectivity services with optimized global bandwidth availability and resiliency.

    To support intelligent 5G networks, satellite connectivity must be embraced to empower consumers, enterprises, and governments. For communications providers and mobile network operators, this means that satellite solutions are becoming important features to enhanced 5G networks to keep up with increased broadband demand. Satellites will complement terrestrial networks through traffic offloading, harnessing satellite’s multicasting or broadcasting functionality for new uses, enabling verticals such as smart mines, ports, and farms. It also opens up opportunities for the use of cloud in industries such as marine and offshore and fisheries, where activities are conducted predominantly in remote areas.

    However, mobile network operators tend to place emphasis on 5G upgrades in highly-populated cities. Because of this, satellite-based broadband is critical to increasing the reach to often neglected, underserved populations in rural areas, where connectivity can close a digital divide already aggravated by the pandemic to raise overall digital inclusion levels.

    In Asia Pacific, for instance, countries comprising tens of thousands of islands, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, are well-positioned to benefit from satellite as a viable and affordable alternative to connect the country and underserved geographies, as opposed to incurring high economic costs from building terrestrial network infrastructure.

    In the industry, some providers are primarily focused on providing 5G services to smartphone users – serving as mobile roaming partners to offer connections to hard-to-reach precincts. In view of this, 3GPP is currently looking into introducing non-terrestrial networks in 5G standards, to be published in the 3GPP Release 17 in 2022. This could signal new collaboration opportunities between mobile network operators and satellite operators in the near future.

    As countries accelerate digitalization ambitions, connectivity will become the new driver of economic growth and social cohesion. Citing Indonesia as an example, where its digital economy is predicted to triple to US$124 billion by 2025, the government is already looking into launching its largest telecommunications satellite in the near future. Clearly, the rise of satellites can be transformative. It is the vision of many for the region to witness faster digitalization and stronger economies.

  • Huawei’s chairman says that sourcing chips is its biggest problem

    Huawei’s chairman says that sourcing chips is its biggest problem

    Let’s use our imagination a little, shall we? Had the U.S. not placed Huawei on the Entity List for security reasons in 2019 and followed that up exactly a year to the day by changing Export rules banning Huawei from receiving chips from certain foundries using American technology, the smartphone market “league tables” would be different. Huawei would not have sold sub-brand Honor and would most likely be the top handset manufacturer on this planet.

    But the truth brings a harsher reality to Huawei as the manufacturer is predicted to finish the year as the seventh-largest smartphone shipper with Honor right behind it. Still, the company’s current rotating chairman (the position rotates, not the actual executive) Guo Ping is determined that Huawei will never drop out of the smartphone industry. Citing the U.S., Guo says that the policies of individual countries have no impact on Huawei’s place in the world and the firm will never limit its business to selling in China only.

    This morning, Guo told new Huawei employees that “The U.S. has created many difficulties for Huawei but they are solvable. It is in the supply chain where the US has a big impact on Huawei. We need more investment and innovation to deal with the US sanctions. Huawei has established and helped its industrial chain partners to solve the problems of supply continuity and competitiveness.”

    The Chairman said that Huawei employees should have the attitude that “what does not kill me makes me stronger,” and added that “if every employee works diligently and effectively and makes achievements, Huawei will become better and the U.S. will not be able to beat us.” For those who believe that the company should give us its mobile phone business, ponder this statistic.

    After real estate and automobiles, the mobile phone sector is the third-largest “industrial sector” in the world. This calls to mind the famous quote from bank robber Willie Sutton who was once asked why he robbed banks. “Because that’s where the money is,” was his reply. Why should Huawei give up on making phones when it still is where plenty of money lies.

    While being placed on the Entity List makes it hard for Huawei to access the U.S. supply chain, Guo says that the major issue affecting Huawei is its inability to buy chips. The chairman says, “At present, the biggest difficulty for us is the mobile phone business. As we all know, chips for mobile phone need advanced technology as they are small and have low power consumption. Huawei can design its own chip but no one can manufacture it for us. That’s where we (are) stuck.”

    As a country, China has been hoping to become self-sufficient when it comes to manufacturing chips. This would prevent tech companies in the country from having to worry about having their businesses held hostage. “Technology should be used to give full play to its value. It is imperative to combine 5G with artificial intelligence, cloud and enterprise application scenarios to unleash the potential of Internet of Everything and Intelligence of Everything,” said Guo.

    “Huawei phones have a lot of unique technologies of their own. We are looking forward to the day when the core problem of chip manufacture will be completely solved in China,” Huawei’s current chairman states. Huawei’s Chairman is also thinking ahead about 6G. He sees 5G becoming the universal global network that most people envision it becoming. But as for 6G Guo, sees the next generation of wireless connectivity being used as a regional network for industrial use.

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  • Inmarsat launches ELERA to power IoT and critical connectivity

    Inmarsat launches ELERA to power IoT and critical connectivity

    Inmarsat has unveiled Inmarsat ELERA; a global narrowband network that is ideally suited to the rapidly evolving world of the Internet of Things (IoT) and for global mobility customers, including aviation, maritime, governments and select enterprises.

    “ELERA is perfectly suited to the needs of the connected IoT world,” said Rajeev Suri, CEO, Inmarsat. “Global reach, extraordinary resilience, faster speeds, smaller and lower cost terminals are all part of ensuring that we remain ahead of others in meeting the needs of our customers.”

    “ELERA is a further sign of a company with true momentum and one that is delivering new innovations and strong performance,” continued Suri. “I expect that Inmarsat will grow strongly in 2021 compared to the previous year, and that growth will span most of our business units. Our progress was evident in the first half, where we saw strong growth in revenue and EBITDA and robust cash flow. We have sharpened our strategy to focus on driving growth, accelerate decision making, launch new innovations, and are creating a more commercially focused, customer-centric culture.”

    ELERA builds on Inmarsat’s #1 position in Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) and will be a springboard for innovation, unlocking, accelerating and scaling pioneering use cases on land, at sea and in the air. Its foundation is Inmarsat’s world-class L-band network and incorporates new innovations ranging from higher speeds to smaller, low-cost terminals and [the previously announced] Inmarsat-6 satellites, the first of which (I-6 F1) is scheduled to launch before the end of the year.

    Coming just 14 days after Inmarsat announced ORCHESTRA, the world’s first network to combine GEO, LEO and 5G into one harmonious global communications solution, ELERA underlines Inmarsat’s strategic focus on the global mobility segment of satellite communications. It is also a signal of a company with momentum, delivering major technological innovations and growth.

    The unique capabilities of ELERA, combined with Inmarsat’s superior spectrum and the ideally suited orbital position of its satellite networks, will make it the essential catalyst for new IoT use cases, across everything from autonomous transport and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to industrial and agricultural IoT applications.

    ELERA is built on Inmarsat’s market-leading L-band network, which already delivers the world’s most reliable and flexible global connectivity service with unique resilience in all conditions and full global redundancy. It supports everything from worldwide maritime and aviation safety services and humanitarian missions to IoT applications across agritech, transportation and utilities, among many others.

    The new innovations that the company is investing in to bring to market in the near future include spectrum management technology to deliver L-band speeds up to 1.7Mbps, the smallest footprint, low cost L-band terminal and two new L-band satellites, which are the largest and most sophisticated commercial communication satellites ever created.

    The new spectrum management capabilities (known as Carrier Aggregation) being incorporated into the ELERA network will deliver the fastest speeds globally available to L-band customers, far outstripping the capabilities of any other worldwide L-band network.

    Live customer trials in commercial aviation are scheduled to start during the course of 2022 and this technology will be rolled out across a range of sector specific applications for Inmarsat’s mobility, government and IoT customers over the coming few years.

    ELERA will also see the creation of the smallest footprint, low cost terminal for L-band users, delivering the ideal framework for satcom IoT at scale, with supporting cloud-based management, for vertical sectors such as infrastructure, rail, logistics, mining, agriculture, government, maritime and aviation.

    Inmarsat is launching two new satellites to enhance the ELERA network. The I-6 satellites, the first of which is scheduled to launch at the end of 2021, are the largest and most sophisticated commercial communications satellites ever built.

    The L-band capacity on each I-6 satellite will be substantially greater than Inmarsat’s 4th generation spacecraft and, among other enhancements, they will deliver 50% more capacity per beam; meaning that much more data can be carried over the same geographical area, in addition to unlimited beam routing flexibility.

    ELERA will also deliver a major extension to Inmarsat’s portfolio of voice-enabled devices, bringing new capabilities and innovations to hundreds of thousands of customers. This initiative represents our commitment to voice service innovation and underlines the company’s long-term commitment to the handheld voice services over satellite market.

    “ELERA is the exciting vision of how Inmarsat is planning to transform the capabilities offered to IoT and mobility customers for years to come and confirms our long-term commitment to L-band services. We will be sharing further detail on these innovations with our partner community in the coming months and continue our programme of announcements as we achieve major milestones.” said Rajeev Suri, CEO, Inmarsat.

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  • Nokia trials AI technology in Melbourne to keep streets clean and safe

    Nokia trials AI technology in Melbourne to keep streets clean and safe

    Nokia the City of Melbourne have conducted a trial using Nokia Scene Analytics artificial intelligence (AI) technology to develop a deeper understanding of waste disposal behaviour. This will allow the city to tackle the issue of waste dumping more efficiently keep laneways – the busy and narrow city streets and pedestrian areas – even more clean, safe and free of garbage.

    To decrease the frequency of waste contractor visits to busy areas, the City of Melbourne has offered local residents and businesses subscription-based access to the large-capacity compactor facilities. With the compactor in place, Council then wanted to understand how the service was being utilised and how to mitigate illegal waste dumping, which can quickly create safety and hygiene issues in the area.

    Under its ‘emerging technology testbed’ initiative, the City of Melbourne worked with Nokia to leverage an existing network of installed cameras as internet of things (IoT) sensors to monitor one of the compactors. The Nokia Scene Analytics solution employed an AI-powered algorithm to filter and collate data from the cameras, while also combining other data sources, such as operational data on the compactor itself, to create real-time alerts and produce reports. Initial trial results demonstrate that Scene Analytics can support the City’s objectives for better, safer citizen experiences while simultaneously lowering maintenance and down time costs for waste management services.

    This innovative use of Scene Analytics has been recognized on a national stage as the partnership between Nokia and the City of Melbourne was shortlisted for the Communications Alliance’s ACOMMS awards in the Artificial Intelligence category.

    Lord Mayor Sally Capp, City of Melbourne, said:“This is a great example of using new technology to help remove illegal waste more quickly, make our city cleaner and protect the environment. Our partnership with Nokia is another way we are gathering data to make Melbourne a safer, smarter and more sustainable city. This innovative project will help to avoid hazards and make our streets even cleaner by allowing our waste services to better understand behavior trends related to the illegal and dangerous dumping of waste.”

    Rob Mccabe, Head of Enterprise of Australia and New Zealand,Nokia,said: “The City of Melbourne is using robust AI technology to offer its citizens, visitors and businesses a greener and more liveable community. In helping the City of Melbourne monitor and enhance services with real-time driven actions, Nokia Scene Analytics is supporting the safety, security and operational continuity of this city in a proactive and automated way.”

  • Tata Communications posts 14.9% YoY PAT

    Tata Communications posts 14.9% YoY PAT

    Tata Communications has announced its financial results for the quarter ended 30 June 2021. Consolidated revenue came in at INR 4,103 Crore (USD 556 Mn), growing 0.7% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), and decreasing 6.8% year-on-year (YoY). This YoY contraction is primarily due to reduction in Voice business and moderation of Collaboration traffic in the Data segment.

    Consolidated EBITDA stood at INR 986 Crore (USD 134 Mn); a reduction of 5.3% YoY. This quarter, EBITDA has been impacted by a provision of INR 33 Crore on account of license fee on revenue from pure internet services which was allowed as deduction in the definition of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) earlier. Despite this impact EBITDA margin has expanded by 40 BPs YoY. CAPEX for this quarter grew to INR 381 Crore as compared to INR 372 Crore in Q1 FY21.

    Data business revenue came in at INR 3,104 Crore witnessing a growth of 0.6% QoQ and a 2.2% YoY reduction. Data business continues to be affected by COVID related slowdown. Enterprise decisions have been slow due to macroeconomic headwinds leading to longer lead time for deal wins. Service delivery was affected by lockdowns during the 2nd Wave of COVID-19 pandemic. EBITDA for the segment stood at INR 932 Crore; up 0.4% QoQ and decline of 2.4% YoY. EBITDA was affected by provision of license fee made during the quarter and despite this impact EBITDA margin is maintained at 30%.

    In Core Connectivity, there is healthy growth in revenue by 1.7% YoY, and EBITDA increased by 0.3% YoY with margins at 42.6%. Digital Platforms and Services were affected by the moderation of Collaboration traffic which was at its peak in Q1 FY21. Revenue strengthened by 2.9% QoQ but reduced by 12.8% YoY. There are early signs of recovery and an uptake of usage-based services in geographies where economies have opened.

    “In a challenging quarter impacted by the second wave of COVID-19, we have delivered a robust performance,” said A S Lakshminarayanan, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Communications. “The global markets are slowly opening up and we are witnessing greenshoots of demand recovery.”

    He added, “Our focus is to continue investing in developing innovative digital ecosystem solutions driven by customers’ needs. Early demand for our recent launches for live sports on our Media Edge Cloud and IZO™ Financial Cloud is testament that we are moving in the right direction.”

    Commenting on the results, Kabir Ahmed Shakir, Chief Financial Officer, Tata Communications, said, “Our focus on growth and profitability continues to deliver results. A healthy profit and free cash flow is empowering us to innovate and accelerate growth while streamlining processes and bringing in further efficiencies. We are well-poised to enable enterprises make the shift with digitalization playing a pivotal role enabling businesses derive positive growth.”

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  • ZTE receives 2021 Global Server Product Innovation Award by Frost & Sullivan

    ZTE receives 2021 Global Server Product Innovation Award by Frost & Sullivan

    ZTE Corporation has been presented with 2021 Global Server Product Innovation Award by Frost & Sullivan, based on the investigation and analysis of 2021 global server product market, as well as the research and evaluation on mainstream server competitors within the industry.

    This award is to honor ZTE Corporation’s continuous innovation and progress in the global server product market, its technology leadership position in the industry, and its contribution to the overall development of the server industry.The reform of IT infrastructure is the engine of the digital transformation of enterprises. Regarding the rapid increase in data traffic in the era of the digital economy, enterprises’ IT infrastructure requires stronger computing power to deal with the massive data. Meanwhile, due to differences in products and services and different application scenarios, each type of industry has also formed diversified and customized needs.

    Under this background, the opportunities and challenges coexist for the server vendors. In terms of computing power, simply expanding data centers might help in dealing with data, but it also makes the data centers’ structure more complicated and harder to conduct operations and maintenance. Regarding this difficulty, companies and organizations require not only powerful data processing capabilities, but they also want more intelligent operations and maintenance, and simpler deployment methods of IT equipment.

    In terms of differentiated demands, servers, the infrastructure platform for enterprises’ IT systems, are required to respond to a large number of service requests and process services. In addition, companies and organizations in related industries have also proposed more differentiated requirements on performance, reliability, adaptability, and flexibility of servers.

    For instance, the financial enterprises rely on servers, storage and cloud operating systems to build a stable and reliable financial cloud platform; the telecom enterprises need to effectively assist customers in the reform of “network moving with the cloud” and “cloud and network integration”. The power enterprises require to ensure the power market safety and under control, and provide a stable and smooth operation environment for the national grid information system, etc. Products or services that can better meet the differentiated needs of various industries will stand out under the change.

    In the new era of servers becoming high performance, high reliability and diverse computing power, coupled with companies in related industries put forward higher requirements on the server performance, reliability, adaptability and flexibility. ZTE keeps up with the trends, constantly innovating technology and launching new products to meet new requirements:

    In the aspect of data processing, The G4X server newly introduced by ZTE uses 2 Intel Xeon third-generation extensible processors (Ice Lake) with a single processor up to 40 cores. Its performance is at the top level of the industry, providing an efficient engine for enterprises in the process of digital transformation.

    In the aspect of meeting the needs of multiple industries, ZTE G4X server boasts four to eight built-in heterogeneous and intelligent computing acceleration engines, which can satisfy the requirements of various scenarios of artificial intelligence, image processing and industrial control, etc.

    In the aspect of server reliability, ZTE G4X server can effectively meet the server reliability requirements of government, finance, railway, power grid and other enterprises. For instance, all ZTE servers are designed and produced based on telecom equipment standards. The reliability of the products is also verified by telecom product requirements, and can be efficiently adapted to the business environment of enterprises.

    In the aspect of environmental adaptation, ZTE adopts stringent standards for verification from R&D and design to producing and manufacturing. For example, to verify and improve ZTE G4X server’s reliability under high-stress environmental conditions, the server is tested at high and low temperatures ranging from 0 to 50 degrees. Moreover, to improve the protection capability of ZTE’s products in complex environments, ZTE uses a higher level of 6-8kV test standards. Furthermore, to identify extreme working conditions of products and continuously improve the product design, ZTE also conducts a HALT (High Accelerated Life Test) test.

    In the aspect of flexibility, ZTE G4X server realizes a flexible combination of “1 product, 2 chassis and 7 models” through modular design, effectively reducing O&M costs and deployment time for enterprise customers. It even refreshes world records of SPEC CPU performance tests, setting new world records in floating-point calculation and integer calculation performance tests.

    Overall, ZTE G4X server features ultimate performance, flexible expansion, high reliability and efficient O&M, providing new momentum for the digital transformation of various industries.

    Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as product revenue, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

    Frost & Sullivan’s analysts and consultants continuously research a wide range of markets across multiple sectors and geographies. As part of this ongoing research, it identifies companies that have successfully introduced new and innovative products into their markets, with emphasis on product innovation and customer value. This involves extensive primary and secondary research across the entire value chain of specific products. Against the backdrop of this research, Frost & Sullivan is pleased to recognize ZTE Corporation for 2021 Global Server Product Innovation Award.

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