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Tag: broadband

  • India has world’s cheapest mobile data rates

    India has world’s cheapest mobile data rates

    Cable.co.uk analyzed 6,313 mobile data plans from 230 different countries from October to November 2018.

    For India’s market, 57 mobile data plans were analyzed and found that the lowest rate per 1GB in the country was 1.41 Rupees ($0.02) while the highest was at 98.83 Rupees ($1.41).

    “A country whose young population has a particularly high technological awareness, India offers a vibrant smartphone market, with strong adoption and many competitors. Data, therefore, is quite staggeringly cheap,” the report mentioned.

    India is home to more than 430 million smartphone users and is the second-largest smartphone market in the world, with China being the first.

    Other countries with cheap mobile data packages include Kyrgyzstan at $0.27, Kazakhstan at $0.49, Ukraine at $0.51, and Rwanda at $0.56.

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  • Taiwan overtakes Singapore in broadband speed

    Taiwan overtakes Singapore in broadband speed

    The global average in terms of broadband speed is 11.03Mbps since May 2019, compared to it being 9.14 at the same time last year. The data from this new research was gathered by a US-based open-source project called Measurement Lab (M-Lab).

    “With average broadband speeds rising by 20.65% in the last year the global picture looks rosy. But the truth is faster countries are the ones lifting the average, pulling away at speed and leaving the slowest to stagnate. Last year, we measured the slowest five countries at 88 times slower than the five fastest. This year they are 125 times slower,” commented Dan Howdle, consumer telecoms analyst at Cable.co.uk, with regards to the M-Lab research.

    The top 15 in the league tables of 2019 comprise of all European and Asian countries, with the US being number 16 on the list.

    Some of the European countries that made it to the top 15 were Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. As for Asian countries, it included Japan and Singapore.

    The league table showed that downloading a movie in HD of around 5GB in size takes 8 minutes and 2 seconds on average in Taiwan while it took 30 hours in Yemen, which was the last-placed country in the league table.

    M-Lab is led by a variety of teams based at Code for Science and Society, Google Princeton University’s PlanetLab, New America’s Open Technology Institute among others.

    “Average speed rankings by country are.. a great starting point for deeper research and statistical analysis of the state of broadband using M-Lab’s global broadband measurement datasets,” said Chris Ritzo, M-Lab’s programme management and community lead.

    The research carried out 276 million speed tests, all on 70 million IP addresses.

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  • Google Fi announces its first Unlimited Plan

    Google Fi announces its first Unlimited Plan

    Google Fi is getting its first Unlimited Plan, which should offer subscribers everything in unlimited quantities. Well, that’s not how it really works in the United States, at least when it comes to data.

    Since the carrier’s launch in 2015, only one plan was available for customers, the Fi Flexible plan. Starting today, Fi is adding a second plan, a Google Fi Unlimited Plan. It will be available for $70 for a single line, but the more people you’re sharing it with, the less it will cost. So, for two lines, the Unlimited Plan is priced at $60, while three lines cost just $50 per line. Finally, if you add between four and six lines, you’ll be paying $45 per individual user (taxes excluded)

    Google Fi’s Unlimited Plan offers 22GB of unthrottled data per line, after which your data speed will be limited. Also, Google mentions that it “may optimize video streaming quality to 480p to extend customers access to high-speed data before they hit 22GB.”

    Besides data, you’ll get unlimited calls and texts, including international calls. Google says that the plan covers free international calls from the US to 50 countries and territories, as well as unlimited data and texting abroad in 200 destinations at no extra charge.

    To make things even more appealing, the Unlimited Plan comes with a Google One membership with 100GB of cloud storage and extra benefits such as expert support across Google, discounts on Google products, and much more.

  • Huawei to sell subsea cable business

    Huawei to sell subsea cable business

    Huawei is reportedly planning to sell its subsea cable business according to a buyer’s filing.

    Made on 31 May 2019 to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the filing showed that Hengtong Optic-Electric Co, an optical telecoms network vendor, had signed a letter of intent with Huawei Technologies to buy its 51% stake in Huawei Marine Systems.

    Through no price was given, the deal is set to be financed through a combination of cash and shares.

    The news comes weeks after President Trump issued an executive order on “information and communications technology and services supply chain” which gives him and the rest of the US government unprecedented power to ban any business dealing. The order bans Huawei from buying technology from any US company without a license from the US government.

    A few days after the order was issued, the US government then relaxed its embargo on Huawei until 18 August. The Department of Commerce (DoC) issued a temporary general license which sets out limited exclusions to the order giving operators time to get their plans in order.

    “The temporary general license grants operators time to make other arrangements and the Department space to determine the appropriate long term measures for Americans and foreign telecommunications providers that currently rely on Huawei equipment for critical services,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “In short, this license will allow operations to continue for existing Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks.”

    It has been rumored that the sale of Huawei Marine is happening because the company is now facing stronger scrutiny, which may affect its ability to win new business.

    Speaking to the FT, Fergus Hanson, head of the International Cyber Policy Centre at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said, “It’s becoming a more difficult environment when trying to negotiate deals to build cables because [Huawei] is so much in the spotlight.”

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  • 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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  • 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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  • 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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  • ViewQwest to offer services over TM’s HSBB network

    ViewQwest to offer services over TM’s HSBB network

    Singapore-based fiber operator ViewQwest is expanding its footprint in Malaysia through a new partnership with Telekom Malaysia.

    ViewQwest, which currently has its own fiber network in parts of the Klang Valley and Johor, plans to use Telekom Malaysia’s HSBB network to significantly enhance its availability.

    Through the network reselling agreement, ViewQwest will offer services anywhere Telekom Malaysia offers its Unifi fiber service.

    According to the report, ViewQwest plans to introduce new broadband plans under the agreement in June or July. Speed and pricing will depend on available bandwidth and last mile infrastructure.

    The company will bundle Mesh WiFi products to new subscribers to ensure optimal Wi-Fi experiences, as well as value-added services including a geoblock circumventing Freedom DNS service.

    ViewQwest has revealed it is open to pursuing more joint ventures, acquisitions or network sharing partnerships aimed at allowing it to continue expanding in Malaysia.

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  • SES Networks restores connectivity to PNG

    SES Networks restores connectivity to PNG

    SES Networks announced it worked with PNG DataCo to restore mobile and broadband services in Papua New Guinea following an outage caused by a major 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

    The earthquake near the town of Bulolo caused damage to critical terrestrial and subsea transmission nodes between Port Moresby and Madang.

    SES Networks’ contingency teams worked with DataCo to deliver an extra 1.5Gbps of bandwidth to ease network congestion on the operator’s damaged link. This additional bandwidth was made available within hours of receiving a request.

    “Together with DataCo, we are glad that connectivity has been restored swiftly to enable communications and critical disaster recovery services in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake,” SES Networks VP of global fixed data sales Imran Malik Khan said.

    “We recognize the importance of communications services in the event of natural disasters to facilitate quicker information transfer between families and communities, as well as to coordinate recovery and search-and-rescue operations. Our thoughts are with the affected communities, and we offer our well wishes.”

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  • Japan bans handset-mobile service bundles

    Japan bans handset-mobile service bundles

    The Japanese government has passed a new bill aimed at reducing mobile prices for consumers and stimulating competition in the mobile market. The new bill includes provisions banning operators from offering bundled device and mobile plans under a single price package.

    The new law, which is due to take effect as early as the third quarter, is aimed at addressing a practice that consumers and lawmakers have complained make it difficult to compare prices between operators.

    Incumbent operators NTT Docomo, SoftBank and KDDI have been under pressure to reduce their mobile charges to help alleviate the financial pressure on consumers. As part of its efforts, the government has been seeking to address the issue of mobile operators offering device subsidies in exchange for relatively high prices for mobile services.

    Responding to this pressure, Docomo last month introduced a simplified fee structure that it says will have the effect of reducing mobile rates by up to 40%, and its rivals are considering following suit.

    The amended legislation also introduces new penalties for companies using misleading sales tactics, as well as a new registration requirement for handset retailers for regulatory purposes.

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  • HyalRoute to invest up to $2b in Philippines fiber project

    HyalRoute to invest up to $2b in Philippines fiber project

    Singapore-based shared fiber network provider HyalRoute has signed an agreement with the Philippines’ Department of ICT to invest up to $2 billion expanding to the market.

    The company’s subsidiary Philippine Fiber Optic Cable Network (PFCON) signed a memorandum of understanding with the department committing to deploy the network in various phases between 2019 and 2028.

    The DICT has, in turn, agreed to provide assistance in providing the required permits and licenses, and to closely coordinate with PFCON on the implementation of the project.

    HyalRoute was established with the goal of creating the first region-wide, independent shared fiber network platform in emerging Asia. The company currently provides domestic fiber solutions in Myanmar and Cambodia.

    DICT acting secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr said the planned deployment will support the government’s own telecommunications ambitions.

    “There is a need for more fiber optic cables in this country, thus this partnership will greatly improve our telecommunication services. We can now have cable networks that anybody can use and this jives with our National Broadband Plan,” he said.

    The deployment will also support the DICT’s Free Public Wi-Fi initiative by allowing its expansion to unserved and underserved areas of the country, Rio added.

  • HyalRoute to invest up to $2b in Philippines fiber project

    HyalRoute to invest up to $2b in Philippines fiber project

    Singapore-based shared fiber network provider HyalRoute has signed an agreement with the Philippines’ Department of ICT to invest up to $2 billion expanding to the market.

    The company’s subsidiary Philippine Fiber Optic Cable Network (PFCON) signed a memorandum of understanding with the department committing to deploy the network in various phases between 2019 and 2028.

    The DICT has in turn agreed to provide assistance in providing the required permits and licenses, and to closely coordinate with PFCON on the implementation of the project.

    HyalRoute was established with the goal of creating the first region-wide, independent shared fiber network platform in emerging Asia. The company currently provides domestic fiber solutions in Myanmar and Cambodia.

    DICT acting secretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr said the planned deployment will support the government’s own telecommunications ambitions.

    “There is a need for more fiber optic cables in this country, thus this partnership will greatly improve our telecommunication services. We can now have cable networks that anybody can use and this jives with our National Broadband Plan,” he said.

    The deployment will also support the DICT’s Free Public Wi-Fi initiative by allowing its expansion to unserved and underserved areas of the country, Rio added.

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  • NOW Telecom details “NVNO” model

    NOW Telecom details “NVNO” model

    The Philippines’ NOW Telecom has introduced a new model aimed at partnering with small and medium sized businesses to deliver wireless broadband services to individual areas.

    The company’s new NOW Virtual Network Operator (NVNO) model will see the operator partner with SMEs and even individuals to bring NOW’s fixed wireless broadband technology to a particular area.

    The SMEs will be given exclusive distributorship rights over the broadband services in the given areas, which could be an office building or a local village area.

    NOW plans to enter five year business partnerships under a revenue sharing model. The business partner would be responsible for selecting the area, selling the product, marketing and installing the service and ensuring payment by subscribers.

    NOW’s Fiber in the Air service is a fixed wireless broadband internet service that provides guaranteed broadband internet for enterprises with a capacity of 2.4Gbps.

    To be selected, business partners will have a local business in the area and a strong local influence.

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  • Roadmap reveals the Transition for an Android browser will Happen

    Roadmap reveals the Transition for an Android browser will Happen

    Back last summer, we told you that Mozilla is working on a new Android browser called Fenix. The app will eventually replace Firefox for Android and a support document posted by Mozilla offers something of a roadmap for this transition. After the Firefox browser app for Android receives Firefox68 in July, future updates will only carry security patches and bug fixes. The Firefox browser will be moved to the Extended Support Release (ESR) branch where Mozilla can manage engineering, testing, and release builds until Firefox reaches EOL (End-of-life) status.
    As we said, the Fenix browser will replace Firefox, but not until Mozilla is sure that Fenix has reached “migration readiness status.” So Firefox will continue to be kept secure and supported until Mozilla is sure that its new browser is ready to receive the migration of Firefox users. Based on the timeline created by the not for profit developer, Firefox will be kept alive until sometime next year.
    The timeline for Firefox, calls for an update to version 67 on May 14th, 2019 followed by the Firefox68 update to be disseminated on July 9th. After being moved to the ESR branch, the browser app will be updated in September, October, and December (again, these updates are for security and bug fixes only). As soon as Fenix is ready to receive those using the legacy version of Firefox, support for the latter will come to an end.
    Fenix was built from scratch; it will feature a brand new UI. Like Samsung’s OneUI interface, the most used elements will be found on the bottom of the screen. Swiping up on the display will show more available actions, and once you’re finished browsing on Fenix, open tabs are saved in a bundle called “sessions.” When the browser is in use, active tabs can be manually saved in sessions.
    Mozilla once said that “Fenix is not your parent’s Android browser.” We won’t know how accurate that statement is until the app is ready for prime time next year.
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  • Verizon expands 5G to 20 more cities

    Verizon expands 5G to 20 more cities

    Following the launch of 5G services in Chicago and Minneapolis, US operator Verizon announced 20 new cities where it will turn on its 5G Ultra Wideband network this year. Verizon previously said it will launch 5G services in parts of at least 30 cities in 2019.

    The new cities include Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, Ohio; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Phoenix, Arizona; Providence, Rhode Island; San Diego, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Washington, DC.

    Verizon also said it will roll out its fixed wireless 5G Home broadband service to some of those markets, but didn’t specify which ones would see the service. The 5G Home service delivers 300 Mbps to subscribers for $50 per month for customers with Verizon wireless service or $70 per month for those without.

    Verizon said it’s now taking pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, the first 5G-capable phone to launch in the US. Verizon has a limited period of exclusivity for the phone before carriers T-Mobile and AT&T can begin offering the device.

    “The Galaxy S10 5G on Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network will give our customers access to incredible speeds and the latest and greatest streaming, augmented-reality, gaming, and consumer and business applications that bring us into a future powered by 5G,” said Brian Higgins, Verizon’s vice president, device and consumer product, in a statement.

    Verizon is offering new and existing customers the opportunity to trade in an eligible smartphone and save up to $450 off the S10 5G, which retails for $1,300. Verizon is offering the 256GB version of the device for $54.26 per month for 24 months with its device payment plan; while the 512GB version is available for $58.33 per month for 24 months.

    Access to Verizon’s 5G network is available only to customers who have an “Above” and “Beyond Unlimited” plans and a 5G phone. Both plans include unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband data, hotspot and 4K HD video streaming in areas where the 5G network is available. During the company’s first 5G network launches in Chicago and Minneapolis, Verizon was charging customers an extra $10 per month, but the carrier will waive that fee for a limited as a promotion.