Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Startup Stories

Introducing Calles Consolidated, a dynamic telecommunications company providing high-quality, reliable, and innovative solutions, exceptional customer service, and seamless connectivity to empower businesses and individuals.

Tell us about Calles Consolidated

At Calles Consolidated, we specialise in providing expert telecommunications design and engineering services, empowering businesses and individuals with seamless connectivity. Our comprehensive solutions encompass:

1. Telecommunication Designs: Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH), ISP, Outside plant, and small cell tower designs
2. Field Services: Fielding, As-Builts, and site surveys
3. Traffic Control Plans: Ensuring safe and efficient network deployment
4. GIS Mapping: Geospatial mapping for accurate network planning
5. Network Architecture: HLD (High-Level Design) and LLD (Low-Level Design) for robust network infrastructure
6. Base Mapping: Creating detailed base maps for network planning and deployment

And more!

In today’s digital age, reliable and high-speed connectivity is crucial for businesses, governments, and individuals. Our services matter because:

1. Seamless Connectivity: We enable fast, reliable, and secure connectivity, empowering businesses and individuals to thrive.
2. Efficient Network Deployment: Our expertise streamlines network deployment, reducing costs and ensuring timely completion.
3. Informed Decision-Making: Our GIS mapping and network architecture services provide valuable insights, enabling informed decisions and optimised network performance.
4. Safety and Compliance: Our traffic control plans and field services ensure safe and compliant network deployment, minimising risks and liabilities.

What was your inspiration for founding the company?

Being part of the telecommunications innovation in the United States is a dream come true. Although our contribution may seem small, we know that every effort counts in the evolution of this industry. Working on a project from its inception, I’ve discovered the complexity and scope of telecommunications, from fiber optics to global connectivity.

Understanding the technology behind the internet and its impact on our lives is truly inspiring. Fiber optics, in particular, has revolutionized the way we communicate and access information. Being part of this technological progress, no matter how small, is a privilege and a personal achievement.

Tell us about your business’s journey so far. What have been the biggest challenges and biggest successes?

The greatest challenge was making the decision to leave my secure position as a project manager to venture into self-employment and start my own business. I had to forfeit a steady salary for the uncertainty of payment that could take months.

I would say that the biggest challenge is building connections with new clients and offering them our services, as a startup in the telecom industry, this turns out to be a daunting task.

Our biggest success is that since Calles Consolidated was formed in 2019, we have managed to stay operational even during difficult times. We have also had the privilege of participating in multiple projects across the country.

What does the future hold for your business? Where do you see the company a year from now?

The future is exciting for Calles Consolidated. As the telecommunications landscape continues to evolve, we’re poised to capitalize on emerging trends and technologies.

In the next year, we envision significant growth and expansion, driven by our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. Specifically, we aim to:

• Strengthen our partnerships with key industry players to stay at the forefront of telecommunications advancements
• Develop and launch new services and solutions that address the evolving needs of our customers
• Expand our footprint in the US market, targeting new regions and customers
• Invest in our team, enhancing their skills and expertise to deliver exceptional service and support

A year from now, we see Calles Consolidated as a leading player in the telecommunications industry, recognized for our innovative approach, customer-centric focus, and commitment to excellence. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our customers and the communities we serve.

What are you most looking forward to about exhibiting at Connected America?

Our goal is to connect with new clients, explore fresh opportunities, and deepen our understanding of the industry. We strive to stay at the forefront of market trends, discover innovative tools that can enhance our solutions, and draw inspiration from the experiences shared by our peers.

Meet Calles Consolidated and other amazing startups at Connected America 

Company details 

HQ location: 9206 forge breeze loop Wesley Chapel FL 33545

Number of employees: 2-10

Funding situation: Bootstrapping

Website: https://www.callesconsolidated.com/

Founders: Ismael Calles

Linkedin Address: https://www.linkedin.com/company/calles-consolidated-llc

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Alternative network operator and ISP Rocket Fibre, which is in the process of expanding their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network across more of Northamptonshire (here), has caused concern after they notified their legacy base of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) customers that they would “cease providing” the service from 31st March 2025.

The provider already offers broadband packages to customers via CityFibre’s and OFNL’s national UK broadband networks. But they’ve also built some of their own FTTP in parts of Northamptonshire and, on top of that, it’s a little-known fact that they acquired a small based of fixed wireless broadband customers when they gobbled Datacentres Ltd in 2023 (trading as ISP Red Raw Internet).

Red Raw Internet ran a mainly fixed wireless network across a number of rural communities in England (parts of Wales, Bedford, Hampshire etc.), although they did also have a little bit of fibre in the ground too. Unfortunately, Rocket Fibre has now decided that it is “commercially impractical” to maintain the old wireless service, and late last month began notifying impacted customers about their intention to shut it down.

A number of smaller altnets are currently in the process of trying to keep people connected (mostly out of the kindness, as there doesn’t seem to be much commercial critical mass to it), but some customers may live in very remote areas where there are currently no viable alternatives. In those situations, they may end up having to go back to Openreach’s old and slow copper (ADSL) network, or perhaps adopt Starlink’s pricey LEO satellite service.

Copy of Rocket Fibre’s Customer Email

Dear xxxxxxxxxxxxx,

After careful review, we regret to inform you that it has been decided that offering a service to your area is commercially impractical. As a result, we will cease providing service to this location from Monday, 31st March. Additionally, your final bill will be reflective of the 31st March termination date.

We understand this may be disappointing, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this decision may cause. Please know this decision was not made lightly, and we are grateful for your support and the time you’ve spent with Rocket Fibre.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the transition, such as alternative service options or account matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team is here to help during this time.

Once again, we thank you for being a valued customer, and we wish you all the best moving forward.

Best regards,
Rocket Fibre Team

Rocket Fibre has informed ISPreview that the issue impacts fewer than 60 properties, which compares with their wider base of over 13,000 FTTP customers.

A spokesperson for Rocket Fibre told ISPreview:

“Over the past six months, Rocket Fibre has conducted a comprehensive review of the legacy wireless networks acquired in late December 2023 from the Datacentres Ltd/Redraw Internet acquisition. Following this assessment, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue wireless services in several areas that have been operating at a loss for some time.

Despite exploring multiple alternatives, rising costs associated with mast agreements, power, and maintenance have made it unsustainable to continue providing these services. As a result, we have issued notices to affected customers.

Rocket Fibre remains dedicated to assisting customers during this transition, actively helping them explore alternative solutions and providing ongoing support where needed.”

The official cut-off date is 31st March 2025, although it’s possible that Rocket Fibre might allow an additional period of grace if the situation requires it. Otherwise, the operator says they’ve partnered with other local wireless providers to take over parts of the network, where possible.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

News 

The investment will average £2 million per day for a year 

Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has announced plans to invest £700 million in its mobile network for 2025 as part of its ongoing Mobile Transformation Plan. 

The programme aims to improve network reliability, speed, and coverage in response to demand “reaching an all-time high,” with mobile data usage more than doubling over the past five years.  

The investment is part of VMO2’s broader £2 billion annual spend on both its fixed and mobile networks. 

The investment will support 4G and 5G network infrastructure expansion as well as the deployment of additional spectrum and automation. Focus areas will include: 

1. Supporting transport networks: Improving coverage along motorways, railways, and key transport hubs to support commuters and drivers.
2. Urban capacity: Deploying small cells to enhance service in busy city areas.
3. 3. Rural connectivity: Using satellite backhaul to bring coverage to hard-to-reach locations.
4. Stadiums and venues: Installing Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) to improve connectivity in high-footfall areas.

VMO2 will also phase out its 3G network, reallocating resources to improve 4G and 5G performance. It will also use AI-driven network management to optimise efficiency and service quality, it said. 

“VMO2 is committed to providing our customers with a reliable connectivity experience wherever they are. Our Mobile Transformation Plan combines the necessary financial investment with the latest technological innovation to make this a reality,” said VMO2’s Chief Technology Officer, Jeanie York. 

“We’re not just upgrading infrastructure; we’re creating a platform for future innovation. This programme ensures our customers will continue to benefit from superior reliability as new technologies and demands emerge.” 

Join us at Connected North, 23-24 April in Manchester. Get discounted tickets here!  

Also in the news:
18,000 companies affected as NTT stung by data breach
New Telefonica chairman begins to remould exec board with new COO
Vodafone and AST spacemobile launch European satellite broadband company 

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

IMDEA Networks is part of MultiX, a European scientific project involving 17 research centers and technology companies from 7 countries coordinated by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), which aims to revolutionize future 6G communication networks by transforming their design and operation. By means of an innovative system that integrates multisensory perception, MultiX aims to make networks capable of intelligently observing the environment and interacting with it in real time. This innovation seeks to transform sectors as relevant as healthcare facilities or the autonomous vehicle industry.

“What we want to achieve through the development of this technology is that the networks stop being simple communication providers and become active observers of reality, capable of interacting with it,” explains the project coordinator, Antonio de la Oliva, professor in the UC3M Telematics Engineering Department. “To do this, we want to use multiple tools, such as cameras and communication networks acting as sensors simultaneously. In this way we will be able to have a broader vision of what is happening around us and design a new access network in which everything is connected”.

Within the project, IMDEA Networks is specifically focusing on the MultiX energy-efficient network perception system, with perception enablers that allow for localization and multi-static sensing across different radio technologies. IMDEA Networks is further involved in the development of machine-learning based algorithms to integrate all the different sensing modalities to derive fine-grained information about objects in the environment. “Multi-static, multi-band integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) with coherent integration is key to high-precision perception of the environment,” explains Joerg Widmer, Research Director at IMDEA Networks. “Capturing signals from multiple viewpoints improves spatial diversity, enhances micro-Doppler extraction, and provides richer motion signatures, while coherent processing fuses information across bands to improve accuracy, which enables real-time, intelligent interaction with the environment.”

The promoters of this project have explained that one of the many applications of this new technology is to make networks capable of recognizing if there is a higher concentration of people in a certain area, if an elderly person has suffered a fall at home, or to optimize the distribution of coverage by dynamically adapting to the needs of users.

Other potential uses MultiX is working on right now are industrial automation processes and home connected health. On the one hand, we intend that the networks can coordinate the movement of robots in real time, detecting obstacles and enabling more efficient task management,” explains Antonio de la Oliva. “On the other hand, the project is working on contactless health monitoring in the domestic environment. That is, through connected home devices, it will be possible to monitor vital signs such as heart rate or respiration. In fact, the network could even detect emergency situations, such as a heart attack, and potentially alert health services”.

MultiX also stands out for its commitment to sustainability, a key challenge for 6G technology. Thus, in order to maximize energy efficiency and reduce resource consumption, the project leverages artificial intelligence to implement low-power solutions and thus adapt to the requirements of future networks.

The project will validate its progress through two proof-of-concepts designed to demonstrate practical applications of the technologies developed. The first consists of a multilayer digital network twin, aimed at optimizing processes in the field of industrial manufacturing. The second proof will focus on contactless health monitoring in the home environment, with the aim of transforming home healthcare. These technologies combined with AI could optimize diagnosis and treatment in health-related matters even from home, according to the researchers. To support these proof-of-concepts, IMDEA Networks is developing a powerful multi-band integrated sensing and communication platform for 6G.

MultiX project has been funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe program (GA 101192521) and involves: Apple Technology Engineering BV&CO (Germany), BubbleRAN (France), Siemens AG (Germany), Telefónica S.A. (Spain), Nextworks (Italy), INTEL Deutschland GmbH (Germany), InterDigital Europe Ltd. (United Kingdom), Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni (Italy), IHP – Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics (Germany), Fundació Privada i2CAT. Internet i Innovació Digital a Catalunya (Spain), IMDEA Networks Foundation (Spain), Institute of Accelerating Systems and Applications (Greece), NEC Laboratories Europe GmbH (Germany), Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. OTE (Greece), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), Universidad de Cantabria and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain). Within this consortium, Professor Antonio de la Oliva (UC3M) acts as Principal Investigator, Valerio Frascolla (INTEL) as Innovation Director and Xi Li (NEC) as Technical Director. The project has started in January 2025 and is expected to complete its work in June 2027.

MultiX project website: https://multix-6g.eu

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

News 

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said that the investment would “cement the UK’s leadership in advanced connectivity and support projects delivering real, tangible change for people and businesses across Britain” 

This week, the UK government has announced a £23 million investment in telecoms research and development, covering a wide range of topics including 5G, quantum computing, and drone technologies.  

The new funding will impact seven technology projects led by local governments across the UK: 

• Belfast City Council – Belfast City Region 

• West Midlands Combined Authority 

• Glasgow City Council – Glasgow City Region 

• The Council of the City Of Sunderland – North East Combined Authority 

• North Ayrshire Council – Ayrshire Growth Deal Region 

• West Sussex County Council – Sussex (East and West) 

• Shropshire Council – River Severn Partnership 

Around £7 million of this funding will support projects that integrate 5G into businesses and public services, with the remaining £15 million going into AI and cloud computing research.Among the organisations set to receive new funding is the Northeast Combined Authority, which has secured an additional £1.9 million for a variety of projects. These include the further development and extraction of smart port solutions into other sectors, as well as improving transport efficiency between Nissan and the Port of Tyne.  

In the local agriculture sector, the funding will enable the deployment of wireless sensors for soil and methane monitoring, helping to boost automation and improve sustainability.  

The projects aim to establish the Northeast as a national hub for 5G innovation and deployment across multiple sectors. 

Other funding injections include £1.3 million to Belfast City Council to boost the adoption and commercialisation of advanced wireless technologies and £1 million to the West Midlands Combined Authority for Industry 4.0 technology amongst others. 

“By 2035 we could see a whole new Britain emerge, harnessing the power of technological development, from engineering biology to AI, semiconductors and cyber security, or quantum and future telecoms for a stronger economy and better lives for all in the UK,” said Peter Kyle in the announcement’s press release. 

Join us at Connected North, 23-24 April in Manchester. Get discounted tickets here! 

Also in the news:
18,000 companies affected as NTT stung by data breach
New Telefonica chairman begins to remould exec board with new COO
Vodafone and AST spacemobile launch European satellite broadband company

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

The Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency has posted a final evaluation of the previous ‘Superfast Broadband Programme’ (UK National Broadband Scheme), which reveals the various “economic, social, and environmental benefits” from the previous project to extend “superfast” (30Mbps+) coverage – run between 2016 and 2022.

The SFBB programme – managed by BDUK – was first setup back in 2010 to help extend superfast broadband connectivity to areas that were not expected to benefit from commercial rollouts, which ended up playing a key role in helping to extend the reach of 30Mbps+ broadband (download) to over 98% of UK premises today.

The programme was split into three phases (see below) and has since been superseded by the government’s new £5bn rural-focused Project Gigabit scheme, which lifts the performance target to 1000Mbps (gigabit). We should add that the final phase (3) of the SFBB programme also involved a lot more Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) lines, while most of Phase 1 and 2 were dominated by slower Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC / VDSL2) and some fixed wireless networks.

BDUK Phases One (Finished Spring 2016)
Supported by £530m of public money via the Government (mostly extracted from a small slice of the BBC TV Licence fee), as well as significant match funding from local authorities and the EU. The public funding was then roughly matched by BT’s private investment. Overall it helped to extend “superfast broadband” (24Mbps+) services to cover 90% of premises in the United Kingdom.

BDUK Phase Two
Supported by £250m of public money via the Government, as well as match funding from local authorities, Local Growth Deals and private investment from suppliers (e.g. BT, Gigaclear, Airband, Call Flow etc.). This phase extended superfast broadband services to 95% of premises in time for the end of 2017.

BDUK Phase Three
Similar to Phase Two, albeit without a solid coverage target, and funded under a new state aid judgement covering contracts awarded after 2016 (State aid SA. 40720 (2016/N)). Contracts awarded under Phase 3 by early-2022 have involved over £1bn in public funding (various sources) and mostly focused on extending FTTP coverage. These went to various operators including Openreach, Gigaclear, Airband, Quickline, Truespeed, Wessex Internet and Fibrus etc.

The BDUK agency has previously published several evaluation reports on this scheme (examples here and here), but the data they had was often incomplete (partly because the programme was still ongoing, until very recently) and only extended up to 2018. The latest report represents the “final round of evaluations for the Superfast program” and uses data up to late 2021 (covering all phases and also phase 3, but some contracts were still ongoing at the time).

The full report can be read here, including lots of additional data, but we’ve attempted to summarise some of the key points below. Take note that evaluation of BDUK’s large scale subsidies for fixed broadband will continue with Project Gigabit and be available via the BDUK research portal.

Key Impacts – BDUK Superfast Broadband Programme

➤ The estimated Benefit to Cost Ratio (BCR) was between £1.76 and £4.57 per £1 of net lifetime public sector spending. This includes benefits from increased productivity and social benefits. Allowing for future benefits to 2030, the BCR is estimated to rise to £1.87 to £4.70 per £1 of net public sector spending.

➤ Estimated environmental benefits range from £0 to £959 million for Phase 3. Due to the range of benefits it has been excluded from the overall BCR, but if included the environmental benefits could drive the BCR to be as high as £8.01 for every £1 of public expenditure.

➤ Employment: Subsidised coverage was estimated to have increased employment in the areas benefitting from the Programme, leading to the creation of approximately 23,700 local jobs by the end of 2021.

➤Turnover: Subsidised coverage also increased the turnover of firms located in the areas benefitting from Phase 3 of the Programme by 1.6% , increasing the annual turnover of local businesses in Phase 3 areas by £827 per annum, and for the whole programme by 1.4%, approximately £2.6 billion per annum by 2021.

➤Elasticity of output: A 1% increase in broadband speed led to a 0.019% increase in GVA (Gross Value Added). For small and medium-sized enterprises, the elasticity was slightly higher at 0.26%, meaning that each 1% increase in broadband speed had a larger increase in gross value added.

Speed category before upgrade	Elasticity of output to broadband availability
2Mbit/s	0.018%
5Mbit/s	0.016%
10Mbit/s	0.035%
30Mbit/s	0.014%
80Mbit/s	0.007%

➤ Under Phase 3 of the Superfast Broadband Programme, 292,618 premises received subsidised coverage by September 2021. Subsidised coverage increased the share of premises in the programme area able to access superfast speeds by between 41 and 47 percentage points, and the share of premises with gigabit capable coverage by between 43 and 56 percentage points.

➤ Superfast take-up: Subsidised coverage led to a significant increase in the maximum download speeds of connections taken by households and/or businesses by September 2021 (34 to 60 Mbit/s). However, the impacts of the programme on average download speeds were relatively small. This indicates that ‘early adopters’ have taken advantage of the enhanced broadband connectivity enabled by the Programme. However, the Programme had not led to widespread take-up of faster broadband services by September 2021. 

It should be noted that most subsidised coverage was delivered in 2019 and 2020. As take-up will lag deployment, it is premature to draw any firm conclusions on the impact of the programme on take-up of faster internet services.

➤ House prices: Findings suggested that the programme led to an average increase in house prices of between £1,900 and £4,900, suggesting that buyers were willing to pay a premium to obtain houses benefitting from subsidised upgrades. This can potentially be interpreted as a measure of the average gain in social welfare associated with access to superfast and gigabit capable broadband networks (i.e. on the basis that the maximum households are willing to pay should reflect the marginal gain in wellbeing derived from access to the technology).

➤ Change in energy consumption: Energy consumption data for areas that have benefitted from the Superfast Broadband Programme was provided by the BEIS sub-national energy consumption statistics. The results suggest that receiving superfast broadband led to an increase in energy consumption.

For domestic energy consumption, the results suggest that:

• Each additional connection in a postcode leads to an increase in domestic electricity consumption of 0.1% for an urban property; the equivalent to 0.36kWh per connection per year, and 0.04% for a rural property; equivalent to 1.27kWh per connection per year
• Each additional connection results in a 0.02% increase in domestic gas consumption, for an urban property, equating to an additional 2.5kWh of gas consumption and 0.05% increase in domestic gas consumption, for a rural property, this is equivalent to an additional 7.3kWh 

➤ Economic value of environmental benefits: The Superfast Broadband Programme yielded an estimated value in environmental benefits totalling £3,477 million (£1,728 million – £4,554 million) over the evaluation period. This was primarily driven through reduced greenhouse gas emissions through reduced commuting, enabled by increased working from home (noting the uncertainty in the estimated impacts). 

It is important to note that key environmental impacts (e.g. land use change and associated biodiversity impacts, embedded carbon in the fibre network, etc.) have not been estimated, nor monetised and so the estimated benefits present a partial view of the economic value of the associated environmental impacts.

➤ Comparisons with prior findings: The net cost per additional premises passed was by 2022/23 estimated at £1,270 for Phase 3, versus £217 for all Phases of the programme. This increase in cost was driven by a change in technical focus to gigabit capable technologies (which are more costly to deploy) and a change in spatial focus to areas that are harder to reach. Contracts awarded under Phase 3 are also expected to generate substantially lower levels of implementation and take-up clawback than contracts awarded under Phase 1 (which were often commercially viable without subsidy). Even with this being a higher cost than for previous Phases of the Superfast Broadband Programme, Phase 3 of the Programme still appears to be one of the most efficient Programmes supporting broadband deployment in the EU.

Overall, the SFBB programme largely achieved its targets, often on time (except for Phase 3 that was less target focused), and appears to represent good value for money. But we should caveat that some figures, such as around the estimate impact on house prices, should be taken with a big pinch of salt (broadband is not the only factor in house pricing). Ultimately the decision about how much you pay for a house will always come down to a matter of personal choice, which is of course different for everybody.

Similarly, trying to accurately gauge the economic impact of deploying faster broadband is notoriously difficult, not least since most premises won’t be starting from a point of zero connectivity. Likewise, we’re all very different in our consumption requirements, and not all homes and businesses get the same benefit from having access to significantly faster broadband speeds than are currently available.

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Broadband ISP and mobile operator EE has today revealed the results from last year’s trial delivery of TV content via a new Content Delivery Network (CDN) technology, which reflects BT’s effort to integrate their “world’s first” MAUD (Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery) solution into Edgio’s CDN.

Most telecoms operators use sophisticated CDNs and related systems to help manage network load, which caches popular internet content closer in the network to end-users (i.e. improves performance without adding network strain). Such systems also help to lower the provider’s impact on external links and keep bandwidth costs down.

Similarly, BT first started talking about their new IP transmission technology, called MAUD, back in December 2023 (here). Unlike traditional “unicast” delivery methods, where each broadband connected viewer watches the action via a dedicated, personal internet stream, MAUD uses “multicast” to group those single streams into one shared one, directing it to those that want to watch the action.

MAUD’s integration is also made completely transparent to the player application, which means content service providers (e.g. BBC, Netflix etc.) don’t need to modify their customer apps to take advantage of it (saving time and money). BT previously claimed that its MAUD technology uses up to 50% less bandwidth during peak events and reduces energy usage through the use of fewer caches, but this wasn’t put to the test until EE began their first live trial in August 2024 (here).

According to Chris Bramley, BT’s MD of NAS and Architecture (Networks), they’ve been “delighted with the results” from their first trial (blog). The test is said to have shown that, during peak times on the network, the MAUD solution converted over 60% of traffic from unicast delivery to multicast delivery.

Chris Bramley said:

“The trial used BBC Two content on EE’s set-top box TV platform in the live network – taking the technology from proof of concept to real-world. The trial has shown that during peak times on the network, the MAUD solution has converted over 60 percent of traffic from unicast delivery to multicast delivery. In simpler terms, the trial has demonstrated MAUD’s ability to flatten peaks of network traffic, by switching to multicast delivery, which is a more efficient way of delivering content over the internet.

Moving to the next stage of the trial, BT Group is looking to broaden the scope to include more channels, build out the full feature set, as well as to test the addition of dynamic ad insertion, which would enable a seamless, personalised ad experience for viewers. As seen during the recent Super-Bowl, there is high demand for ad space for live sports with CEO of Fox, Lachlan Murdoch, commenting that ‘ad space had sold out at record pricing’.

As millions look forward to watching the next live event, we’ll continue to innovate and collaborate with content and application providers, on technologies such as MAUD, to make sure that we collectively deliver the best experiences for our shared customers.”

Admittedly, from the consumer’s perspective, this is one of those seamless changes where if it’s working correctly then you probably won’t even notice it’s there. On the other hand, anything that helps to reduce network congestion is likely to result in more customers receiving higher quality streams.

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News

Hackers potentially had access to sensitive data for over 10 days

This week, Japanese telco NTT has revealed it has been the subject to a major data breach, potentially compromising the data of almost 18,000 corporate customers.

The breach was first discovered on February 5, with NTT confirming the following day that some customer information may have been exfiltrated.

Initial action was taken on February 6 to restrict access to the compromised device and, following an internal investigation, access to a second compromised device on the internal network was blocked on February 15.

For now, the extent of the impact caused by the breach is unclear.

NTT says the data of 17,891 corporate customers may have been affected, with compromised information including the customer contract number, customer name (contract name), name of customer contact, telephone number, email address, address, and information related to service use.

Corporate smartphones provided by NTT Docomo were not affected.

NTT apologised for the incident, saying it will take measures to strengthen its cybersecurity.

This is not the first cybersecurity incident to befall NTT this year, with the company having suffered a major distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack back in January.

Keep up to date with the latest telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter 

Also in the news:
EY launches suite of AI agents for telcos
Discussing the fate of the BEAD Program with Dr. Nathan Smith
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison Becomes First Mobile Operator in Southeast Asia to Deploy AI-RAN with Nokia and NVIDIA

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Broadband and mobile operator Vodafone UK has today announced that they’ve successfully conducted trials with Ericsson of three new Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) powered software solutions. This showed that they were able to reduce the daily power consumption of their 5G radio units by 33%.

The trials, which took place at select London sites, harnessed Ericsson’s latest Service Continuity AI App suite with Intelligent Energy Efficiency, which claims to “dynamically manage the network’s energy needs without compromising on performance“, supporting operators to reduce both their operating expenditure (OPEX) and carbon emissions.

As part of the trial, Vodafone UK implemented three key use cases: 5G Deep Sleep, 4G Cell Sleep Mode orchestration, and a Radio Power Efficiency Heatmap. These features are designed to work in tandem to measure, predict and optimize energy consumption across the network, with the ability to power down components during low traffic periods and rapidly reactivate them when needed.

➤ 5G Deep Sleep: AI-powered predictive algorithms enable radios to enter an ultra-low energy hibernation state, saving up to 70 percent energy consumption during low traffic hours.

➤ 4G Cell Sleep Mode Orchestration: Creates a behavioral model of network cells to optimize sleep parameters, automatically balancing energy savings and performance.

➤ Radio Power Efficiency Map: Creates a visual map of all network cells, using ML to identify and rank underperforming sites for targeted improvements.

Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer & Network Director at Vodafone UK, said:

“By working with Ericsson to successfully apply these innovative software solutions to our network we’re able to significantly improve energy efficiency without impacting the service our customers receive. Reducing power consumption at our trial sites is a big win – both financially and environmentally and shows we can continue to improve the efficiency of our network as we build 5G coverage across the UK.”

We should point out that Vodafone aren’t the first UK mobile operator to play with these sorts of technologies, with EE deploying a similar set of solutions last year (example).

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The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has called on the government to be “bold and brave” when they publish their new Planning and Infrastructure Bill (PIB) tomorrow, which it’s hoped may contain some measures that will benefit the roll-out of gigabit broadband and 4G / 5G mobile networks.

In case anybody has forgotten, the Labour Party’s 2024 General Election Manifesto (here) previously made clear that they would be making a “renewed push to fulfil the ambition of full gigabit and national 5G coverage by 2030.” This was later supported by the expression of a desire for more flexibility in the planning system (here), which might make it easier to deploy new digital infrastructure – those who oppose new telecoms poles and mobile masts will be watching closely.

Naturally, broadband and mobile operators have not been shy about producing their own wish lists for what this could mean (here, here and here), which often echo a strong desire for the full embracement of flexi-permits and the cancelling of plans for street works charging. Not to mention those that continue to push for easier access to run new fibre into large residential buildings (MDUs) and the many calls for greater infrastructure sharing.

Till Sommer, Head of Policy at ISPA UK, said:

“The rollout of full fibre gigabit broadband is one of the largest infrastructure projects of its generation, with our members already having invested more than £40bn to achieve gigabit connections in 85% of premises. While this is predominantly a private sector project, the Government is right to remove barriers to planning to facilitate the connectivity gains that will power the UK for decades to come.

The Bill is ambitious, especially when it comes to more traditional projects like power networks. We’d love to see the same action and ambition for broadband infrastructure. Now is the time to be bold and brave, turbocharging the existing permissive and competitive planning regime via flexi permits and greater cross-governmental support.

Futureproofing communications networks in this way will deliver significant economic and social benefits, and provide the foundation for the Government’s digital transformation agenda.”

Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, said:

“We’ve put growth at the heart of our plans as a government, with our Plan for Change milestone to secure 1.5 million homes and unleash Britain’s potential to build.

We need to reform the system to ensure it is sensible and balanced, and does not create unintended delays – putting a hold on people’s lives and harming our efforts to build the homes people desperately need.

New developments must still meet our high expectations to create the homes, facilities and infrastructure that communities need.”

However, so far most of the talk around the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill has tended to focus on other sectors, such as energy, housing and transport. At the same time, the government is also under pressure to restrict the deployment of certain types of digital infrastructure (here), such as metal and wood poles (telegraph / telecoms poles).

Suffice to say that while there is hope for some changes to boost digital infrastructure, it’s currently unclear precisely how much of the new bill will actually deliver on that.