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Tag: broadband

  • SK Broadband agrees to merge with t-broad

    SK Broadband agrees to merge with t-broad

    South Korea’s SK Telecom has arranged to merge its fixed broadband subsidiary SK Broadband with the nation’s second largest cable TV operator t-broad to help both companies weather rapid changes in the pay TV market.

    Under the proposed merger, which still requires government approval, SK Telecom would take a 74.4% stake in the combined company.

    Meanwhile t-broad’s parent company Taekwang Industrial would take a 16.8% stake in the company, with the remaining held by financial investors, treasury stock and others.

    The merger ratio has been set at 75:25 based on corporate valuation analysis, the companies said. The two companies have also attracted additional investment of 400 billion won from financial investor MiraeAssetDaewoo.

    As of June 2018, t-broad had around 3.14 million subscribers. Adding SK Broadband’s IPTV subscriber base of 4.54 million recorded at the same period, the combined entity would become a media company with around 8 million subscribers.

    But the two companies could face difficulty securing competition regulatory approval for the merger due to this figure.

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  • SP Telecom to build alternative fiber network in Singapore

    SP Telecom to build alternative fiber network in Singapore

    Singapore-based telecommunications joint venture SP Telecom has engaged PCCW Solutions as a consultancy partner to help design and deploy the company’s planned alternative fiber network.

    The company has provided details of its plans to build an alternative to Singapore’s next-generation national broadband network (NG-NBN).

    SP Telecom, a joint venture between ST Engineering and Singapore Power Group, is deploying its network alongside the power lines operated by SP Group to create a separate fiber infrastructure to the NG-NBN.

    SP Telecom’s network will serve as the only rival to the NG-NBN common network infrastructure, offering route diversity and redundancy for enterprise customers.

    The alternative data fiber network will utilize SDN-NFV capabilities in a bid to allow users greater control, visibility and scalability of their network assets, as well as built-in cybersecurity capabilities.

    These capabilities will allow for the deployment of network functions as a service on demand without the need for costly hardware investment.

    SP Telecom plans to offer services including access to an IoT-as-a-Service platform, edge cloud resources, and bandwidth provision on demand.

    “An increasing number of businesses rely on their communications systems for mission-critical applications. They can no longer afford any downtime that can cause major problems and significant losses in terms of costs, productivity and reputation,” SP Telecom CEO Titus Yong said.

    “As SP Telecom forges forward towards providing an advanced solution that supports Smart City developments, we are confident that the consultancy partnership with PCCW Solutions will enable our plans of becoming an advanced network provider to meet fast-evolving digital needs globally.”

  • Could Samsung Internet actually be killing Chrome on mobile?

    Could Samsung Internet actually be killing Chrome on mobile?

    Chrome is the most popular Internet browser in the world. It’s cross-platform, it syncs effortlessly across devices, it’s fast and capable, and it comes with every Android handset, ready to rock. It’s so widely preferred by users that Android manufacturers kind of gave up on developing their own browsers and just release their phones with nothing but Chrome.

    Well, most of them.

    Through the years, Samsung has persisted and kept developing its Samsung Internet browser — an app that was once a laggy mess — and has managed to make a fast, powerful browser that supports a lot of useful plugins and works in unison with other elements across the One UI interface.

    We thought we’d ask you — do you prefer Samsung Internet over Chrome? And it turns out the result is almost 50/50! Not only that, some people report that they are on another Android phone, but make it a point to go to the Play Store and download the Samsung Internet browser.

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  • 5G to drive backhaul revenue growth through 2028

    5G to drive backhaul revenue growth through 2028

    The global satellite backhaul market is expected to reach over $32 billion in revenue by 2028, with 5G supporting one third of the overall market, according a new report released from NSR.

    According to the report, mobile wireless backhaul is the largest opportunity in this space, as satcom becomes a mainstream solution and 5G opens opportunities for satellite to seamlessly integrate with the global telecom ecosystem.

    Trunking also appears to be re-born via lower capacity costs and slowdown in fiber expansion, while hybrid networks represent a long-term play for emerging OTT content distribution models, the research firm said.

    The direct impact of 5G in satcom won’t be seen before mid-2020s, but growth will be sizable, generating one of every three new dollars for backhaul capacity revenues through 2028.

    The ground segment has a key role to play in the integration of satcom into 5G, by responding to new performance requirements and making the solution transparent and easy to adopt for mobile operators.

    “The combination of competitively priced capacity with advanced ground segment makes satcom a relevant solution for mobile network operators continually seeking new sources of revenue and who are increasingly capex-conscious and risk-averse,” stated Lluc Palerm, NSR senior analyst and report author.

    “The transition to broadband is accelerating in areas like Latin America, where for the first time in 2018, 4G generated the highest share of traffic over satellite versus 2G and 3G.”

    Satcom can also find the upside of OTT in hybrid networks.

    NSR said satellite is still king for content broadcasting, and as content moves to the edge to support the explosion on IP Video and new formats like UHD and eventually VR/AR proliferate, satcom will emerge as a key tool in the ecosystem.

    Business models are evolving quickly, resulting in the increased demand for managed services.

    “With MNOs focusing on core services and minimizing capex exposure, managed services are the perfect match between satcom’s streamlined operations for remote areas and the MNO need to continue expanding coverage profitably,” the research firm noted.

    “New technologies like small cells expand the addressable market into the most ARPU-constrained and remote locations, where revenue-sharing schemes are gaining traction.”

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  • Indonesia’s FiberStar extends collaboration with Huawei

    Indonesia’s FiberStar extends collaboration with Huawei

    Indonesia’s FiberStar has signed an agreement with Huawei to jointly expand high-speed fiber network services in the market.

    FiberStar recently partnered with Huawei to build a 1Tbps backbone DWDM network linking Jakarta with Surabaya. The network consists of submarine and terrestrial cables that form a ring network with a total length of more than 3000 kilometers.

    Building on this cooperation, the companies signed a memorandum of understanding at the Huawei ISP Summit Asia Pacific 2019 in Bali to strengthen collaboration in the field of fixed networks and data centers.

    FiberStar co-founder and director Thomas Dragono said Huawei shares the company’s vision for the digital transformation of Indonesia.

    “Being the pioneer of Indonesia’s neutral infrastructure service, and considering Huawei’s advancement in the optical communications field, we have both decided to explore a deeper and stronger partnership,” he said.

    “The consensus on the advantages of optical network technologies and evolution trends are the basis of cooperation between both parties. We will leverage the advanced DWDM and MPLS technology to expand the coverage of networks in Indonesia, and further facilitate the growth of the digital economy in Indonesia.”

    FiberStar was established in 2014 as a subsidiary of Indonesia’s biggest conglomerate the Salim Group.

    The company is Indonesia’s biggest carrier-neutral infrastructure provider, offering coverage to 92 Indonesian cities across the nation’s main islands including Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.

  • Carriers to account for 20% of digital content sales

    Carriers to account for 20% of digital content sales

    The proportion of worldwide digital content paid for via carrier billing is expected to nearly double over the next 5 years, said Juniper Research.

    The study, Direct Carrier Billing: Forecasts, Player Strategies & Emerging Opportunities 2019-2024, revealed that with most leading app stores and content providers now seeking to enable carrier billing as an option, consumer spend via the mechanism is expected to rise from $28 billion last year to nearly $90 billion by 2024.

    It claimed that carrier billing deployments would benefit both operators and content publishers; allowing the former to generate a revenue stream from content while enabling the latter to gain subscribers by using carrier marketing channels.

    Juniper claimed that the convenience and growing availability of carrier billing would see it increasingly used for content subscriptions as well as impulse purchases.

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  • Netflix removes key feature from its iOS app

    Netflix removes key feature from its iOS app

    AirPlay is a feature found on iOS and Mac devices that allows users to send audio, video, photographs, screenshots and more between Apple devices sharing a similar network. Using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, AirPlay will let a home with multiple HomePod speakers in different rooms, share the same song throughout the house. And with several smart TV manufacturers adding support for the feature, content from an iOS or Mac device can be viewable on certain large-screen smart TVs.

    There have been a number of complaints from iPhone and iPad users stating that AirPlay was no longer working with Netflix. That was unusual because the iOS version of the streaming video app has supported AirPlay since 2013. The complaints from iOS users state that when they tried to use AirPlay in the Netflix app, a pop-up error message appeared that said, “Cannot play title. Please try again later.”

    But there is a reason why AirPlay no longer works with Netflix. As a result of what it is calling “technical limitations,” Netflix has pulled AirPlay support from its iOS app. This is actually noted by the video streamer on its support page. Considering that this was an iOS feature that Netflix had supported for over five years, it is strange that AirPlay would all of a sudden no longer work with Netflix. The company has not divulged the details of the “technical limitations” that have forced it to stop offering AirPlay support (more on that later).

    This isn’t the end of the world for Netflix subscribers used to employing AirPlay. After all, the Netflix app can be installed or is already installed on a number of smart television sets. But using AirPlay does make it easier for iOS users with Netflix to stream content from their own account to a smart TV that does not have their Netflix login information.

    “We want to make sure our members have a great Netflix experience on any device they use. With AirPlay support rolling out to third-party devices, there isn’t a way for us to distinguish between devices (what is an Apple TV vs. what isn’t) or certify these experiences. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue Netflix AirPlay support to ensure our standard of quality for viewing is being met. Members can continue to access Netflix on the built-in app across Apple TV and other devices.”-Netflix< The Netflix support page lists some other options that iOS users can try in order to cast Netflix from their phone or tablet to a compatible television. With the Netflix 2nd Screen option, subscribers open the Netflix app on their iOS device and television, signing into the same account on both devices. The mobile device and the TV must share the same Wi-Fi network. On the mobile device, the user needs to tap on "Cast" found in the upper or lower right of the screen, and select the television that he/she wants to view Netflix on. After deciding which show or movie to watch, the user hits play and the selected content will appear on the TV. Another option, found on Philips, Polaroid, Sharp, Skyworth, Soniq, Sony, Toshiba, and Vizio TVs, will allow you to Chromecast Netflix from your iOS device to your television. Simply open the Netflix app on your iOS device, and tap on the "Cast" icon in the upper or lower right hand side of the screen. Select the device you want to watch Netflix on, choose a television show or movie, and hit play. Last month, Apple became a Netflix competitor by unveiling Apple TV+. This is a video streaming service that will be available this fall on iOS devices along with certain smart TVs. There will be new, original programming from Apple along with content from HBO, Showtime and others. Could this new rivalry be behind the "technical limitations" that forced Netflix to stop supporting AirPlay? After all, it does seem strange that Netflix was able to support AirPlay for from 2013 until now, just when Apple introduces a service that will compete with it. Netflix, of course, will never admit to this. And regardless what the true reasons are, the bottom line is that iOS users will have to resort to the aforementioned alternatives if they want to cast any streaming Netflix content from their iPhone or iPad to their smart TV.

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  • Global fixed broadband subs to reach 1b by year-end

    Global fixed broadband subs to reach 1b by year-end

    The global fixed broadband market is on track to reach 1 billion subscribers by the end of 2019, driven by unprecedented growth of fiber connections in Asia Pacific, particularly China, according to Kagan.

    At the end of 2018, broadband subscriptions reached 974.7 million while broadband household penetration reached 45.5%, up from 43.2% in 2017. However, household penetration is projected to remain under 50% until 2025, the S&P Global Market Intelligence research unit said.

    Kagan: Global broadband subscirbers 2018-2023

    Source: Kagan

    China and US remain by far the largest fixed-broadband markets, together accounting for half (50.7%) of the global total in 2018. China alone claims 40.1% of the global total and 74.4% of Asian broadband subs due to large-scale fiber deployments as part of the country’s national Broadband China project.

    Singapore maintains the highest fixed-broadband household penetration in the world, at over 100%.

    In terms of access technology, 51.4% of the global fixed broadband subscribers are using fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP), which overtook DSL in 2016 to become the largest fixed-broadband platform on a global scale.

    FTTP remains the fastest-growing fixed-broadband platform, growing by 13.8% year over year in 2018.

    According to Kagan, fiber subscriptions have overtaken DSL in Asia and Eastern Europe, with China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and US being the five largest fiber-optic markets in the world.

    Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa are still in favor of using DSL, making it the dominant multichannel platform in these continents, while cable leads in North America and Latin America.

  • Telin Singapore secures OSPAR certification

    Telin Singapore secures OSPAR certification

    Indonesia’s PT Telkom has announced that its subsidiary in Singapore has secured certification that will allow it to serve a wider range of clients in the financial sector.

    Telin Singapore has completed an Outsourced Service Provider Audit Review (OSPAR) report signifying its compliance with the Association of Banks In Singapore (ABS) guidelines.

    The certification will allow the company to increase its client base in the financial sector, as local financial sector companies require technology service providers to be in compliance with ABS guidelines.

    An independent audit is a part of this certification process, and OSPAR meets this requirement.

    In addition, Telin Singapore has achieved Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Compliance (PCI DSS) for companies that handle branded credit cards from the major providers.

    “The OSPAR proves that our controls and processes are secure and robust. Through obtaining OSPAR, our financial services clients could rest assured that their data is securely stored according to the highest security standards in our data centers,” Telin Singapore CEO Andreuw Th.A.F said.

    “A loss or breach of customer confidential data and disruption to banking services will result in reputational and financial damage to the financial institutions.”

  • Shanghai launches 5G trial district

    Shanghai launches 5G trial district

    The City of Shanghai has launched 5G trials in the Hongkou district, which also has the distinction of having a gigabit broadband network.

    The 5G trial, backed by China Mobile, involves providing full coverage of the district.

    During a commencement ceremony for the trial, a 5G video call was placed using the Huawei Mate X foldable 5G smartphone.

    The city plans to deploy over 10,000 5G base stations by the end of the year, and over 30,000 by 2021.

    As part of the trials, the city also plans to provide support for over 100 companies developing 5G-related application scenarios.

    The wide-scale trial follows Huawei’s deployment of trial 5G services at Shanghai’s Hongqiao Railway Station in February.

    Other Chinese cities are also investing in taking an early lead with 5G deployments, including Chengdu in the Sichuan province and Wuhan in Central China.

    The latter city has deployed a trial 5G network encompassing over 100 5G base stations to explore developments in autonomous vehicles, drones and satellite-based positioning, the report states.

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  • Philippines taps UNDP to accelerate free Wi-Fi rollout

    Philippines taps UNDP to accelerate free Wi-Fi rollout

    The Philippines’ Department of ICT (DICT) has signed a partnership agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) aimed at fast-tracking the deployment of free Wi-Fi access in public places.

    Under the agreement, the UNDP will provide support for the government’s Pipol Konek – Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places Project.

    The UNDP will conduct area-based network analysis of target sites, oversee monitoring of project impact, and continue to provide technical training to stakeholders involved in the rollout.

    The UNDP and the DICT will meanwhile jointly take charge of project oversight. The project participants plan to hold workshops and consultative meetings to address the challenges with the rollout and investigate potential solutions.

    The DICT sought the assistance of the UNDP in September last year to expedite the project and aid in the capacity-building initiatives of the companies involved in the rollout. A formal signing ceremony was held last week during the first project board meeting.

    “Today as we set to seal this meeting of minds, the Department is optimistic that our goals of providing free Internet access and promoting knowledge-building among our citizens will soon be realized,” DICT acting secretary Eliseo M Rio Jr said at the signing ceremony.

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  • Broadband access equipment revenue hits $3.4b in Q4

    Broadband access equipment revenue hits $3.4b in Q4

    The market was bullish in last year’s fourth quarter for broadband access equipment revenue, according to a report, but Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) spending declined.

    Dell’Oro Group announced on Monday that broadband access equipment revenue hit $3.4 billion, growing 8% year over year in last year’s fourth quarter compared to the same quarter in 2017.

    Increased shipments of GPON optical line terminals (OLTs) and DOCSIS 3.1 customer premises equipment (CPE) counteracted a decline in CCAP spending.

    “FTTH deployments globally continue to show strength,” said Dell’Oro’s Jeff Heynen, research director, broadband access and home networking, in a prepared statement.  “Both 2.5 Gbps GPON and 10 Gbps EPON equipment marked year over year increases, particularly in China. The gains on the telco side helped to offset surprising weakness in cable CCAP spending, as MSOs delay new capacity purchases while they determine how to move forward with distributed access architectures (DAA).”

    Among other capabilities, DAA will give the cable industry a better starting point for virtualized networks and software-defined networking. At last year’s SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, SCTE President and CEO Mark Dzuban said during a panel discussion that the cable industry needed to do a better job of defining DAA in order to launch it at scale.

    Total cable access concentrator revenue was down 18% year over year, mainly due to a slowdown in CCAP license purchases in North America. Cisco, Arris, Casa Systems and Harmonic are among the leading CCAP vendors.

    The total number of DSL port shipments grew 16% year over year with VDSL ports increasing 13% and G.fast ports increasing by a whopping 232%, according to Dell’Oro.

    PON OTL shipments grew 6% over the same timeframe, driven by strong demand for 2.5 Gbps GPON units in China and across the entire Asia-Pacific region.

    Overall, Dell’Oro’s fourth-quarter 2018 Broadband Access Quarterly report said that 2.5 Gbps GPON, 10 Gbps EPON and Gfast equipment all saw increased spending in the quarter.

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  • T-Mobile promises cheap 5G services

    T-Mobile promises cheap 5G services

    T-Mobile has just announced that it’s starting limited home internet pilot, an invitation-only test for in-home internet service on LTE, which is meant to connect up to 50,000 homes by the end of the year, in both rural and underserved markets in the United States.

    The carrier states that due to LTE network and spectrum capacity constraints it can’t expand the pilot to more than 50,000 households, but if T-Mobile’s pending merger with Sprint is approved, it will most certainly cover more than half of US households with 5G service by 2024.

    If you’re interested, then you’ll be happy to know that the T-Mobile Home Internet pilot is offered exclusively in areas the carrier expects to deliver speeds of around 50 Mbps through fixed unlimited wireless service over LTE (no data caps). The cost is $50 per month with AutoPay, and there are no annual service contracts, no hidden fees, and no equipment costs.

    Considering customers pay at least $80 per month for wired in-home broadband service these days, T-Mobile pilot programs seems quite a good deal. Moreover, the carrier claims that if the merger with Sprint is approved, it will be able to cover more than half of US household with 5G broadband service by 2024 possibly at the same price.

    Upgrade from LTE to 5G for free, but the monthly fee could be different

    If you’re eligible and chosen to take part in T-Mobile’s Home Internet pilot, a small router will be shipped to you and you’ll be given simple step-by-step instructions on how to install it. You’ll also have to install a mobile app on your phone to optimize placement of router in the house, but that’s just about all you need to do to access T-Mobile’s LTE speeds.

    The router will be upgraded to provide customers 5G services when they will be available in their region, at no additional costs. However, it’s yet unclear whether or not the monthly price will be increased when that happens.

    It’s not the first time that T-Mobile’s CEO John Legere promises something, but it’s also worth mentioning that he kept his promises most of the time.Two weeks ago, I laid out our plans for home broadband with the New T-Mobile. Now, we’re already hard at work building toward that future. We’re w alking the walk and laying the foundation for a world where we can take the fight to Big Cable on behalf of consumers and offer real choice, competition and savings to Americans nationwide.

    Even if 5G services won’t be as cheap as we want them to be, it’s quite clear that thanks to competition customers will have at least a couple of alternatives that will fit their budget. And when it comes to competition, T-Mobile has been able to undercut its rivals many times in the past.

    T-Mobile’s Home Internet pilot is an admirable initiative

    Although all major US carriers announced plans to roll out 5G networks across the country by the end of the year, none have been willing to share anything about prices. Well, at least T-Mobile says it will offer lower prices if Sprint merger is approved.

    T-Mobile’s initiative is quite admirable considering that almost half of American households have no competitive choice for high-speed in-home broadband with speeds of 100Mbps, and in rural areas, more than three quarters have no high-speed service or only one option at their disposal.

    The Un-carrier won’t just bring better internet speeds to rural and underserved areas, but it will also allow 9.5 million households to cut the cord if the merger with Sprint is approved.

    At the other end, AT&T and Verizon are expected to announce their 5G network pricing as well, as both are preparing to launch home 5G services before bringing them to smartphones. It’s a fight between three giants that will have at least one winner: consumers.

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  • China Mobile reports $17.6b profit for 2018

    China Mobile reports $17.6b profit for 2018

    China Mobile has reported a 3.1% increase in net profit for 2018 to 117.78 billion yuan ($17.58 billion) as the company focused on reducing costs and increasing operational efficiency.

    Operating revenue declined 0.5% in reported terms to 736.82 billion yuan, but grew 1.7% after 2017’s results were recalculated using the new IFRS revenue standard..

    Telecommunications service revenue fell a reported 0.4% but grew 3.7% in comparable terms to 670.9 billion yuan.

    The operator’s net profit was also aided by the listing of the company’s tower division China Tower in August last year.

    China Mobile reported a 4.3% increase in its total customer base for the year to 925 million, of which 713 million are 4G customers – a 9.7% increase from 2017. But mobile ARPU fell 8% to 53.1 yuan as a result of strong competition.

    Meanwhile total wireline broadband subscribers increased by 39% to 157 million, of which 147 million were household broadband customers. Household broadband blended ARPU grew 3.2% to 34.4 yuan.

    “2018 was a challenging year for telecommunications operators. Competition amongst peers changed in characteristics as products and services have become homogenized while cross-sector challenges have intensified. The value of traditional telecommunications business rapidly diminished, coupled with multiple challenges from a complex and rapidly-changing policy environment,” China Mobile chairman Yang Jie said.

    “In order to counter market competition, overcome the major obstacles in the ongoing reforms and enhance management, we continued to encourage everyone across the Company to take the ‘Big Connectivity’ strategy even further and implement the integrated development of the “four growth engines”.”

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  • Australia to spend $114m to fill more mobile black spots

    Australia to spend $114m to fill more mobile black spots

    The Australian government has allocated A$160 million ($114.1 million) towards extending the national Mobile Black Spot Program for a further two rounds.

    The funding for rounds five and six of the program, which aims to fill gaps in mobile coverage in regional and remote communities, will be used primarily to help improve coverage at public interest premises such as medical facilities, schools and economic centers.

    The additional commitment brings the current government’s funding in the program to A$380 million. So far 1,047 new base stations will be delivered under the program at a total cost of A$760 million. Of these, 682 have been switched on nationally.

    Additional funding is being provided by local and state governments, mobile operators, businesses and community organizations.

    Applications from operators, businesses and local communities for round four of the program recently closed. This round will see 180 new base stations constructed, including 73 which will specifically target public interest premises.

    “Fast and reliable connectivity is essential to ensure regional areas remain competitive with access to the same business and study opportunities as the rest of Australia. We’re ensuring our regions are not left behind,” Australian minister for regional services and deputy leader senator Bridget McKenzie said.

    “All stakeholders are strongly encouraged to submit an application when we open the tender process and take advantage of the additional rounds under this fantastic program.”

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