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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 to ramp up network expansion program

    Globe to ramp up network expansion program

    The Philippines’ Globe Telecom has pledged to ramp up its network expansion and modernization program to cater to soaring demand for mobile data.

    The operator revealed that mobile data traffic on its network grew to 370 petabytes during the first three months of 2019.

    This represents a 105% increase from the 180 petabytes recorded a year earlier, and a 421% increase from the first three months of 2016.

    Data traffic growth is also driving revenue growth, with Globe Telecom reporting consolidated service revenues of the quarter of 36 billion pesos – up 13% year-on-year – and mobile data traffic accounting for 16.5 billion pesos of this total.

    “With the explosion of data traffic consumption, building more cell towers and modernizing our network infrastructure will continue to play a fundamental role in delivering superior quality of experience to our customers,” Globe CEO Ernest Cu said.

    “This is why we will continue ramping up our network rollout and utilizing next-generation technologies to enhance the way our customers experience mobile data.”

    Around 68% of Globe’s total capex budget for the first quarter of 8.8 billion pesos was allocated towards enhancing data-related services. During the quarter the company escalated its cell site deployment and invested in improving its network capacity.

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  • AU Optronic signs Taiwan’s first sustainability-linked loan

    AU Optronic signs Taiwan’s first sustainability-linked loan

    DBS Bank Taipei Branch signed a three-year, TW$2 billion ($63.5 million) sustainability-linked loan with AU Optronics – an optoelectronic solution and LCD-LED manufacturer.

    Under the terms of the conditions, the interest rate will be based on the manufacturer meeting sustainability performance targets.

    DBS Bank Taiwan general manager Lim Him Chuan said that there is a growing trend for corporates to adopt more sustainable practices in their business operations. While seeking business growth, they are also considering social, environmental and governance factors.

    In 2018, DBS Group inked four sustainability performance-linked loans amounting to over S$600 million ($435.8 million), demonstrating the bank’s commitment to sustainability while offering financial innovation to customers.

    For DBS Bank’s sustainability-linked loans, corporates are evaluated based on an annual sustainability review report assessed by an external independent party, tracking the performance of corporates in terms of governance, environmental and social criteria. When the borrower meets or exceeds pre-determined ESG targets, the interest rate will then be reduced. Borrowers not only share their commitment to sustainability but are also entitled to a competitive interest rate.

    The bank’s, head of institutional banking Tony LuoGroup further explained that unlike green loans which are used to exclusively finance or re-finance eligible green projects, capital from sustainability-linked loans can be used for general corporate purposes. This provides more flexibility to borrowers, and the impact goes beyond environmental aspects to cover comprehensive ESG developments of an organization.

  • HMD Global expands enterprise recommended portfolio

    HMD Global expands enterprise recommended portfolio

    HMD Global, licensee for the Nokia smartphone brand, has received Android Enterprise Recommended certification to three new devices in its portfolio.

    The three new devices include the Nokia 9 PureView, the recently announced smartphone with a five-camera array, as well as the Nokia 4.2 and 3.2 devices.

    HMD Global now has 14 Nokia branded devices that have received Android Enterprise Recommended Certification – more than any other smartphone brand.

    More than 50 organizations worldwide – including SAP, contacting and manufacturing company Ineco and industrial design company Mukava – have already deployed devices within this portfolio.

    Google’s Android Enterprise Recommended certification program requires devices to meet an elevated set of hardware, software, security update, user experience and other specifications. It is designed to act as a benchmark for the user experience in a variety of enterprise use cases.

    HMD Global said its recent market research found that 98% of enterprises within the European companies covered by the study use the Android Enterprise Recommended program to influence their choice of devices.

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  • StarHub selects Red Hat to help train its engineers

    StarHub selects Red Hat to help train its engineers

    Singapore’s StarHub has selected Red Hat to provide specialized training for its Integrated Network Engineering team to help them keep abreast of best practices in next-generation cloud-based platforms.

    Under the agreement, StarHub engineers will take part in the Red Hat Training and Certification program based on the Red Hat OpenStack Platform, which the operator has deployed across its infrastructure.

    The program will include hands-on and lab-based training designed to help them better understand Red Hat tools to enable the faster delivery of OpenStack solutions, as well as training and knowledge of selected tools and solutions for various real-world scenarios.

    The Integrated Network Engineering team is tasked with designing and maintaining efficient and scalable fixed and wireless networks for StarHub’s Singapore operations. It is led by StarHub CTO Chong Siew Loong.

    “Our networks can only be as good as the team managing them. This is why at StarHub, we invest in the development of our people to maintain the high levels of professional competency required to offer our customers the best network experience,” Chong said.

    “Amid rapid technological advances, we work with renowned software companies like Red Hat to hone skills that are not only relevant today, but a catalyst for future innovation.”

  • India’s Netplus to deploy Nokia GPON technology

    India’s Netplus to deploy Nokia GPON technology

    Indian multi-system operator Fastway Media’s broadband division Netplus has contracted Nokia for a high-speed broadband deployment in Northern India.

    Under the agreement, Netplus will deploy Nokia’s GPON technology to cater to the growing demand for higher capacity, speeds and quality.

    Initial deployments will focus on the states of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Netplus will use the upgraded network to provide high-speed broadband, IPTV and quad play services.

    “The demand for high speed and quality broadband is increasing across the country. Our network infrastructure will allow us to provide a best-in-class broadband network to our subscribers. We have been the front-runners in delivering high-speed broadband services across 135 cities in 6 states,” Fastway Group CEO Prem Ojha said.

    “ We are confident that Nokia’s field-proven products and solutions will enable us to enhance the overall quality of our services and will also empower Netplus Broadband in delivering converged services that include hi-speed broadband, Smart Voice, and OTT and IPTV services.”

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  • Globe digitally transforms Semirara Island

    Globe digitally transforms Semirara Island

    The Philippines’ Globe Telecom worked with the nation’s largest coal producer Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) to digitally transform Semirara Island in Antique.

    The 55 square kilometer island is home to the Philippines’ richest coal reserves, and is home to a number of coal workers and their families who rely on mobile connectivity a digital applications in their daily life.

    As part of the project, Globe, SMPC and the local government collaborated to upgrade all mobile towers in the island with LTE technology.

    The partners are also adopting a modern payroll solution for the mining company in collaboration with Ant Financial subsidiary Mynt and Ayala that takes advantage of Globe’s GCash mobile money service.

    In addition, Globe will work with public and private high schools in the island on digitally-enabled education initiatives.

    The Digital Thumbprint Program, developed by Globe in conjunction with Singtel and its Australian subsidiary Optus, has already been used to aid the education of 1.9 million students across the Philippines.

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  • Philippines publishes common tower rules

    Philippines publishes common tower rules

    The Philippines’ Department of ICT has published the rules and regulations for the new common tower provider regime with the goal of building or converting at least 2,500 common towers across the nation.

    The rules will pave the way for deployments in properties owned by the departments, other government agencies, and hard-to-access areas identified by the market’s mobile operators.

    With the rules, the DICT has committed to streamlining the issue of licenses for the deployment of telecommunications equipment in towers not built by the independent tower companies participating in the scheme.

    They also seek to encourage voluntary sharing of towers by incumbent mobile operators by offering incentives in the form of allowing companies to build passive infrastructure in government properties and to enable operators to offer, transfer and convey existing tower resources to tower sharing entities.

    Independent tower companies participating in the scheme will need to be at least 20% owned or in a consortium with companies with at least five years of experience constructing, owning, operating and/or maintaining towers.

    They must also be wholly independent of mobile operators to ensure they offer non-discriminatory access and have reached agreements with the DICT and secured the required permits.

    The DICT said that to date 22 tower companies have signed memoranda of understanding with the department over the common tower initiative.

    “This is the starting point of more comprehensive policy for our initiative on passive infrastructure sharing. This will help tower firms to acquaint themselves in our telco industry,” DICT acting secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr. said.

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  • Telenor Myanmar signs partnership with TikTok

    Telenor Myanmar signs partnership with TikTok

    Telenor Myanmar has become the market’s first official partner for short-form video sharing platform TikTok, and introduced a new mobile data plan to support the partnership.

    The operator has introduced the new Sate Kyite Kyi plan, which will offer mobile video content from TikTok and Myanmar’s other most popular video apps – including YouTube, Viu and MyanFlix – at a rate of 1 kyat ($0.00065) per megabyte.

    Users will be able to subscribe to the plan over SMS, via the MyTelenor app or WowBox content platform with subscription fees of 499 kyats per week. The plan will not be auto-renewed and must be resubscribed to at the end of each week of service.

    “We are very excited to become the first official local partner of TikTok in Myanmar. Sate Kyite Kyi is the very first result of the agreement between us and the top video apps and we are delighted to add TikTok to our partners’ list for this innovative data plan,” Telenor Myanmar head of digital services Chan May Ling said.

    “It will be the one of a kind data plans in Myanmar, providing users with a one-stop shop solution where they can enjoy all of their favorite videos. As you all know, Telenor Myanmar has been offering the best and most affordable products and services since its inception in Myanmar to ease users’ daily lives and we promise that we will come up with many more innovative services from this partnership.”

  • Humans cause 90% of cloud data breaches

    Humans cause 90% of cloud data breaches

    Incidents in public cloud infrastructure are more likely to happen because of a customer’s employees rather than actions carried out by cloud providers, according to a new Kaspersky Lab report.

    Companies expect cloud providers to be responsible for the safety of data stored on their cloud platforms, the report found. However, around 90% of corporate data breaches in the cloud happen due to social engineering techniques targeting customers’ employees, not because of problems caused by the cloud provider.

    Cloud adoption allows organizations to benefit from more agile business processes, reduced capex and faster IT provision. However, they also worry about cloud infrastructure continuity and the security of their data. At least a third of both SMB and enterprise companies are concerned about incidents affecting IT infrastructure hosted by a third party. The consequences of an incident may make the benefits of cloud redundant and instead evoke painful commercial and reputational risks.

    Even though organizations are primarily worried about the integrity of external cloud platforms, they are more likely to be affected by weaknesses far closer to home. A third of incidents (33%) in the cloud are caused by social engineering techniques affecting employee behavior, while only 11% can be blamed on the actions of a cloud provider.

    The survey shows there is still room for improvement to ensure adequate cybersecurity measures are in place when working with third parties. Only 39%  of SMBs and half (47% ) of enterprises have implemented tailored protection for the cloud. This may be the result of businesses largely relying on a cloud infrastructure provider for cybersecurity. Alternatively, they could have false confidence that standard endpoint protection works smoothly within cloud environments without diminishing the benefits of cloud.

    “The first step for any business when migrating to public cloud is to understand who is responsible for their business data and the workloads held in it,” Kaspersky Lab VP of global sales Maxim Frolov said.

    “Cloud providers normally have dedicated cybersecurity measures in place to protect their platforms and customers, but when a threat is on the customer’s side, it is no longer the provider’s responsibility. Our research shows that companies should be more attentive to the cybersecurity hygiene of their employees and take measures that will protect their cloud environment from the inside.”

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  • KDDI, Sumitomo to enter Myanmar mobile game market

    KDDI, Sumitomo to enter Myanmar mobile game market

    Japanese operator KDDI and conglomerate Sumitomo have revealed plans to jointly enter Myanmar’s mobile game industry through newly created joint venture Funcreate Myanmar.

    Funcreate Myanmar, a subsidiary of the companies’ Singapore-based joint venture Funcreate, will localize and distribute mobile games from Japan and other countries throughout Myanmar.

    Funcreate was established in November last year and has been a joint venture since April. It is 51% owned by KDDI and 49% owned by Sumitomo.

    The companies aim to attract more than 1 million downloads for each game title offered. Myanmar’s mobile games market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 52% due to the nation’s rapidly developing mobile phone market.

    KDDI has meanwhile established a strategic partnership with Singapore-based mobile game service provider goGame to take advantage of the latter’s expertise in game procurement, development, operation and marketing for the Asian market.

    Sumitomo, which launched a mobile game sales operation in North America in 2018, will meanwhile provide strategic marketing proposals for the new mobile game business operation, tailored to the Myanmar market.

    KDDI and Sumitomo were selected in 2014 to partner with state-owned Myanmar Posts and Telecom to operate a joint venture providing fixed and mobile services in the rapidly developing local telecoms market.

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  • 5G will hit the IoT market in late 2020

    5G will hit the IoT market in late 2020

    5G will make its first appearance in the IoT market in late 2020 and struggle for years before it can become a mainstream technology, says a new report from Berg Insight.

    According to the IoT analyst firm, the first 5G cellular IoT modules will become available for developers this year.

    While this allows early adopters to create the first IoT devices based on the 5G standard, the report also states that it will take some times for 5G to become popular in the context of IoT.

    The technology will account for just 3% of the total installed base of cellular IoT devices by 2023, predicts Berg Insight.

    “5G still has some way to go before it can become a mainstream technology for cellular IoT”, said Tobias Ryberg, principal analyst and author of the report.

    Just like 4G when it was first introduced, the initial version of 5G is mostly about improving network performance and data capacity, he added.

    “This is only relevant for a smaller subset of high-bandwidth cellular IoT applications like connected cars, security cameras and industrial routers. The real commercial breakthrough will not happen until the massive machine type communication (mMTC) use case has been implemented in the standard,” explained Ryberg.

    The report also identifies homeland security as an area where 5G cellular IoT can have a major impact already in the early 2020s.

    “5G enables the deployment of high-density networks of AI-supported security cameras to monitor anything form security-classified facilities to national borders or entire cities”, said Ryberg.

    “How this technology is used and by whom is likely to become one of the most controversial issues in the next decade.”

    In a separate report, Berg Insight predicts the global number of cellular IoT subscribers will reach to 9 billion in 2023 from 1.2 billion in 2018, largely driven by the “momentum scale” of deployment in China.

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  • SES Networks to provide connectivity luxury cruise ships

    SES Networks to provide connectivity luxury cruise ships

    SES Networks has won a deal to provide high-speed satellite broadband services for a fleet of luxury cruise ships in the Asian market.

    The Luxembourg-based satellite operator has signed a contract to provide its Signature Cruise Solution to Dream Cruises, a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s Genting Cruise Lines.

    Dream Cruises will use the connectivity solution for its cruise ship fleet, consisting of the World Dream, Genting Dream and newly-launched Explorer Dream.

    The solution has already been implemented onboard World Dream and Explorer Dream, and will be introduced on Genting Dream in September.

    It uses SES Networks’ O3b constellation of medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, with backup from its geostationary fleet for added network resilience, as well as a suite of managed services.

    “Today’s cruise passengers demand excellent connectivity even when they are traveling on the high seas,” Dream Cruises president Thatcher Brown said.

    “As part of our efforts to provide our guests with the best possible services and amenities on board our ships, we partnered with SES Networks because of their high-speed capability to deliver a terrestrial broadband-like internet experience in some of the most challenging of conditions.”

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  • Japanese, Taiwanese cellcos suspend Huawei device sales

    Japanese, Taiwanese cellcos suspend Huawei device sales

    The first crop of Asian operators have responded to the US trade ban on Huawei and its implication for Huawei’s access to the Android OS by freezing sales of new Huawei devices.

    Japan’s KDDI and SoftBank have both revealed plans to postpone the planned launch of Huawei’s new range of smartphones, which had initially been scheduled to launch this month.

    Meanwhile NTT Docomo has announced it will stop taking orders for the new devices, but has not yet announced plans to suspend the scheduled launch of a new high-end Huawei handset.

    But Huawei has insisted it will continue offering services and support for its existing products in Japan without disruption despite the decision.

    Meanwhile, in Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile have both revealed they plan to stop selling Huawei devices after their current stocks sell out. The operators no longer intend to launch the latest crop of Huawei devices.

    The US Commerce Department last week officially added Huawei to the list of companies covered by president Donald Trump’s executive order declaring a state of emergency. The presidential declaration gave the government powers to regulate commerce by prohibiting US companies from trading with foreign companies deemed to present a national security threat.

    This decision has prompted a number of key Huawei suppliers to announce they will stop trading with the vendor – including Google, which said it will comply with the order and cut off Huawei’s access to Android.

    The Commerce Department has subsequently issued a 90-day reprieve allowing companies to continue trading with Huawei, but only to provide products and services required to maintain existing solutions.

    But Huawei will still be prohibited from using all but the open source version of Android in new devices and risks losing access to Google’s suite of services for even its existing devices after the 90-day window.

    Huawei has contingency plans in place such as its own operating system, which it has been developing for some time and promises at least some compatibility with Android apps, as well as its own app store.

    The Chinese vendor has repeatedly denied any suggestion that the Chinese government could use its equipment to spy on foreign nationals.

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  • 2 in 3 cellcos plan to deploy 5G within 18 months

    2 in 3 cellcos plan to deploy 5G within 18 months

    Mobile service providers anticipate significant new revenue opportunities from the coming deployment of high-speed 5G networks and a host of new IoT-driven use cases

    According to a new survey fielded by the Business Performance Innovation (BPI) Network, in partnership with A10 networks, but they also believe much-improved security will be essential to realizing that potential.

    The new study report, “Securing the Future of a Smart World,” demonstrates that carriers are moving decisively toward 5G commercialization and that security is a top concern.

    • 67% will deploy their first commercial 5G networks within 18 months and another 20% within two years
    • 94% expect growth in network traffic, connected devices and mission-critical IoT use cases to significantly increase security and reliability concerns for 5G networks
    • 79% say 5G is a consideration in current security investments

    “Mobile carriers anticipate significant revenue opportunities and exciting new use cases as they move forward with their 5G deployments. However, the industry also recognizes that 5G will dramatically raise the stakes for ensuring the security and reliability of these networks,” said Gunter Reiss, vice president of A10 Networks.

    “New mission-critical applications like autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and remote patient monitoring will make network reliability vital to the safety and security of people and businesses. Meanwhile, dramatic increases in traffic rates and connected devices will significantly expand the attack surface and scale for cybercriminals.”

    Operators still have a significant amount of work ahead to fortify their networks for the coming of 5G. For example, while more than 80% of mobile operator respondents say they will need to upgrade Gi/SGi firewalls at the core of their networks, only 11% have completed the implementation of new Gi/SGi firewalls.

    Realizing the potential of full-scale 5G networks requires major investments by carriers—and payback on that spend is a crucial issue for the telecommunications industry. Operators see significant opportunities to increase revenues and innovate new business models.

    The top-three benefits derived from 5G

    • 67% – Overall growth in the mobile market
    • 59% – Better customer service and satisfaction
    • 43% – The creation of new 5G-enabled business models

    Top drivers for 5G

    • 61% – Smart cities
    • 48% – Industrial automation and smart manufacturing
    • 39% – High-speed connectivity
    • 35% – Connected vehicles
    • 37% – Fixed wireless

    Assessing 5G security needs

    Chief among security concerns are core network security and DDoS protection.

    • 63% – Advanced DDoS protection the most important security capability needed for 5G networks.
    • 98% of respondents said core network security was either very important (72%) or important (26%) in 5G build-outs.
    • 79% have or will upgrade their Gi/SGi firewalls
    • 73% have or will upgrade their GTP firewall

    “Operators overwhelmingly understand the importance of upgrading security in a more connected and smart world,” continued Reiss.

    “Now it’s time to take decisive action. Carriers need to move ahead aggressively with their plans to upgrade legacy DDoS protection and consolidate security services at the core and edge of their networks to address the growing concerns. A10 Networks 5G security solutions including Gi/SGi firewall, GTP firewall and AI-based DDoS protection enable operators to secure and scale their networks now and protect against the massive cyber threat coming with 5G.”

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  • Verizon Media unveils Hong Kong expansion plans

    Verizon Media unveils Hong Kong expansion plans

    Verizon Media has announced an aggressive expansion program for Hong Kong for the next 180 days and the year ahead, including the expansion of its Yahoo Studio in the market.

    The studio will be equipped with audio-visual production equipment for creating HD videos with virtual settings and advanced motion capture capabilities to deliver broadcaster grade production.

    The studio produces Yahoo TV live programs including celebrity talk shows and Engadget Updates.

    “The new studio can unleash video creativity, enabling us to produce more live programs, HD videos with 3D virtual settings, and e-commerce shows,” said Lorraine Cheung, head of audience at Verizon Media. Live programs include finance, tech, lifestyle, and entertainment programs.

    Cheung said the company will unveil its first virtual character this July. The virtual character will not only be a Yahoo KOL but also a co-host of Yahoo’s homegrown TV programs. “The character aims to enhance overall user experience via more fun interaction, turning media into a two-way conversation.”

    In addition, Verizon Media is bringing its new Yahoo Rewards membership program to Hong Kong. The program will allow users to earn points with their daily online engagement such as polling, following groups, e-shopping, and content consumption on Yahoo App.

    The company plans to roll out a Good Deeds Good Life campaign to the app, which will allow users to earn points by engaging in social causes that benefit the community.

    Verizon Media recently unveiled a first-of-its-kind virtual reality advertising offering for demand-side platform users, which aims to help advertisers seamlessly extend existing display and video assets into VR environments.

    “We see huge potential in AR and VR technology on improving engagement of ad and branded content. Our focus is to introduce the technology and facilitate the market adoption.” Verizon Media Hong Kong senior director for APAC ad creative technology Roger Li said.

    Verizon Media, a division of Verizon, was renamed from Oath in 2019. “The purpose of Verizon Media is to transform how people stay informed and entertained, communicate, and transact,” said Rico Chan, managing director of Verizon Media Hong Kong, Japan and INSEA. “The company’s priorities include growing our member-centric ecosystem, building brands B2B customers love and trust, as well as videofy our brands and platforms.”

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