Owners of the Linksys Velop Pro 6E and Pro 7 mesh routers, which are used by several broadband ISPs and consumers in the UK, are being advised to change the router’s passwords and Wi-Fi network names through an external web browser. The requirement comes after it was revealed that the models could transmit passwords in cleartext during the initial setup.

The issue was first discovered by a Belgian consumer organization, Testaankoop, which found that, during initial setup, both the Velop Pro 6E and 7 were transmitting the end-user’s SSID (WiFi network name) and passwords in cleartext (unencrypted) to an Amazon hosted server in the USA (we don’t know if they mean the admin or WiFi password, but it could be both). User session access tokens and database identification tokens were also transmitted.

The issue was discovered in firmware version 1.0.8 MX6200_1.0.8.215731 for the Wi-Fi 6E router and 1.0.10.215314 for the Wi-Fi 7 device. But exploiting this would admittedly require a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) style attack, one with good timing.

Since then there has been an additional patch, but there’s no mention in the release notes of whether this includes a fix for the problem and Techspot claims that Linksys still hasn’t publicly acknowledged the issue. Testaankoop says they reported the vulnerability to Linksys in November 2023 but got no response, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the company’s approach to device security.

In the meantime, the best course of action, if you have one of these routers, is to change your passwords (WiFi and router admin) and WiFi network names. But you should do this using a web browser on a PC / MAC or mobile device and NOT via the accompanying Linksys app to prevent the changes from being sent unencrypted.

Bengaluru, July 16, 2024: OnMobile Global Limited, the leader in cutting-edge mobile gaming & entertainment, announced the appointment of Bikram Sherawat as its President and Chief Operations Officer, effective July 16, 2024.

Bikram Sherawat is a distinguished technology business leader known for his strategic acumen and relentless drive in propelling sales and revenue growth. With a remarkable career spanning over two decades, Bikram has consistently demonstrated his ability to generate multimillion-dollar revenues on a global scale. His extensive expertise in international sales and adeptness in forging strategic alliances with C-suite executives across diverse markets iterate his invaluable contribution to the business world. 

In his previous stint in a multinational information technology services and consulting company, Bikram held the pivotal role of Global Business Head (Products & Platforms) and seamlessly transitioned into Global Sales Head (Geos), Channels Sales. His tenure at OnMobile previously saw him lead a dynamic global cross-functional team dispersed across multiple countries. His leadership encompassed managing and enhancing operations across various domains, including sales, content alliances, merchandising, and analytics, showcasing his multifaceted capabilities. 

Francois Charles, Chairman and CEO of OnMobile, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Bikram brings a wealth of expertise in international sales and strategic partnerships. His skill in navigating complex negotiations highlights his ability to secure advantageous deals for organizations and positions him as an invaluable asset in achieving our vision and global business success.”

Bikram holds a Master’s degree in Computer Application from IMT Ghaziabad and a Major in Economics from Delhi University. Commenting on his new role, Bikram said, “I am excited to return to OnMobile and be part of its remarkable journey. Together, we will strive to deliver exceptional value and drive significant growth for our clients and stakeholders.”

About OnMobile

OnMobile Global [NSE India: ONMOBILE] [BSE Ltd: 532944], the leader in cutting-edge mobile gaming and entertainment, is headquartered in Bangalore, India, with its presence in over 65 countries worldwide. OnMobile is focused on building customer-first Mobile Gaming products like Challenges Arena and ONMO. It recently launched a SaaS-based Gamification platform, Gamize, and offers various digital products such as Videos, Tones & Contests. Based on current deployments, OnMobile has over 110 customers and 64 million monthly users globally. For further information, please visit www.onmobile.com.

VOX Solutions, a frontrunner in comprehensive A2P voice and messaging monetization solutions, unveils a groundbreaking partnership with Orange, the largest mobile operator in Burkina Faso. The partnership between Vox Solutions and Orange Burkina Faso forms an exclusive direct connectivity alliance, guaranteeing the secure and dependable transmission of A2P messages to Burkina Faso’s clients and international enterprises. The common objective is to safeguard mobile interactions from the rapidly escalating risks of message fraud and artificial traffic inflation (AIT).

Artificial traffic inflation (AIT) is becoming an increasingly significant issue in the digital realm, artificially inflating traffic volumes, thereby increasing costs for enterprises and jeopardizing revenues for mobile network operators. Similarly, messaging fraud, a matter of equal gravity, involves the unauthorized or deceptive dissemination of messages, posing a threat to user privacy and security.

Ehsan Ahmadi, CEO & Founder of VOX Solutions, articulates his commitment to addressing these challenges. “Our fundamental mission is to support mobile operators such as Orange Burkina Faso in sustaining consistent revenue growth and fostering innovation. Addressing messaging fraud and AIT are central to the challenges we are eager to confront. We are privileged to commence this journey and remain steadfast in aiding our partners in achieving their business goals. This collaboration represents a significant step toward improved communication experiences and lasting success.”

The VOX-360 platform stands out as an all-encompassing and distinctive solution in the market, integrating anti-fraud functionalities, flash call authentication, A2P SMS monetization, and mobile identity capabilities. This platform empowers mobile operators to detect and prevent spam and fraudulent traffic, taking a proactive approach to protect end-users and elevate the overall customer experience. Additionally, it provides operators with the means to optimize their network monetization endeavors.

As a result of this partnership, customers of Orange Burkina Faso and its global partners can anticipate secure and dependable A2P message delivery. Additionally, Orange will enhance its capabilities to monitor all A2P SMS traffic, including one-time passwords and customer notifications.

Effectively implementing VOX-360 in networks of numerous prominent mobile operators globally, Vox Solutions remains dedicated to fostering transformation and innovation in mobile communications, this collaboration reinforcing VOX Solutions’ commitment to furnish telecom operators and enterprises with high-quality strategies, cutting-edge technology, vital data, educational resources, and skilled professionals. This noteworthy advancement further bolsters their steadfast efforts in combating fraudulent traffic.

About VOX Solutions:

Vox Solutions simplifies, improves, and optimizes Voice and SMS channels using the latest innovations in technology. The company enables mobile operators to monetize their A2P services in a sustainable way, leveraging proprietary technology.

Vox Solutions utilizes its multi-award-winning anti-fraud technology, VOX-360, to offer a reliable, accurate and real-time view of operators’ voice and SMS services. By partnering with operators, Vox Solutions provides secure & reliable 2FA services to enterprises, globally.

For MNOs, Vox Solutions is focused on monetization of SMS and Voice services, being the first  company in the market to offer a Flash Calling (Voice A2P) end-to-end solution.

For the enterprise segment, Vox Solutions focus on A2P messaging, A2P & P2P Voice, while also providing solutions focused on Cloud Communications.

Its unique VOX-360 solution also won numerous global awards for the anti fraud, flash call authentication and AI/ML innovations.

www.voxsolutions.co

VOX Solutions contact:

Name: Antonia Zgondea

E-mail: marketing@voxsolutions.co

Phone number: +85230083754

Growing Popularity of Internet Buying to Promote Global Market Share of Telecommunication

The development of new applications like distributed sensing and extended reality, among others, has increased the demand for 6G networks. Furthermore, reliable network connection is required for the increasing number of smart city programs and the increasing demand for driverless cars, which the 6G deployment may facilitate. Smart cities are expected to generate a substantial economic gain of roughly USD 20 trillion by 2026. Because of the rapid improvements in 6G technology, it is projected that the market players will have many opportunities for expansion in the future.

Some of the major growth factors and challenges that are associated with the growth of the global telecommunication market are:

Growth Drivers:

The COVID-19 pandemic’s ongoing contactless diagnosis is driving more demand for telemedicine services
Rising Penetration of Smartphones

Challenges:

These days, the telecom industry has expanded rapidly. But this company needs to make significant investments in order to develop its workforce and improve its infrastructure. Furthermore, the overall investment has increased because of the large increases in the cost of the raw materials utilized by the telecom sector over time. Consequently, the market’s potential to expand is restricted.

Access our detailed report at:

By service type, the global telecommunication market is segmented into fixed voice services, fixed internet access services, mobile voice services, mobile data services, pay-tv services and machine-to-machine services. The mobile data services segment is to garner a highest revenue by the end of 2036 by growing at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. This can be explained by the substantial rise in the usage of cellphones by consumers. During the projected period, the rapidly growing demand for high-speed broadband services for both home and business applications is expected to further assist the segment expansion. Moreover, it is anticipated that the data services sector would grow at a rapid pace due to the high demand for cloud gaming and online 4K UHD video access.

By region, the Europe telecommunication market is to generate the highest revenue by the end of 2036. In this region, the growing trend of Industry 4.0 in conjunction with the growing demand for pay-TV services drives the telecommunications sector. Additionally, the rapid development of access to telecommunications networks and the increase in the number of service providers accessible have contributed to the growth of the European market. For example, the U.K. government collaborated on telecom innovation in October 2023 with nations including Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States of America. The U.K. government contributed 70 million euros for telecom research and development as a result of this partnership.

This report also provides the existing competitive scenario of some of the key players of the global telecommunication market which includes company profiling of AT&T Intellectual Property, China Telecom Corporation Limited, Telefonica S.A., Vodafone Group Plc., KT Corp., Airtel India, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., Deutsche Telekom AG, Verizon, and others.

Source: https://www.researchnester.com/reports/telecommunication-market/6258

News

The company says it will use the funds to accelerate its rollout of full fibre infrastructure

Today, Cornwall-based ISP Wildanet has announced that it has received a £35 million investment from the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB).

The investment will be used to fund the further expansion of Wildanet’s fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) network, providing connectivity to a further 20,000 homes and businesses.

“Today’s announcement supports and accelerates our far-reaching roll out plans for Cornwall and unlocks growth in our own company as we continue our mission to transform connectivity and opportunities in Cornwall, at the same time as creating a dynamic, profitable and sustainable business,” said Helen Wylde-Archibald, CEO of Wildanet.

“Wildanet’s success in forging strong partnerships with both national and local government, with institutional investors and banks, is delivering new investment into Cornwall. We’re proud of these achievements and the leading role we are playing as a champion for digital inclusion and the creation of a modern digital economy in the South West.”

Earlier this year, Wildanet was awarded a £41 million Project Gigabit contract to roll out new connections to more than 16,800 homes and businesses in East Cornwall, West Cornwall and the island of St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly. Earlier still, in 2023, Wildanet won two contracts worth £36 million to connect up to 19,250 homes and businesses in South West and Mid Cornwall.

For the UKIB, this new investment aims at providing additional support for Wildanet’s Project Gigabit contracts.

“The nature of Cornwall’s location and its geography makes it one of the most difficult to reach places for internet providers and as a result has lower speeds than the UK average,” explained Ian Brown, UKIB’s Head of Banking and Investment. “Our financing for Wildanet’s rollout will support communities and grow economies that would otherwise miss out on the benefits associated with improved connectivity.”

Wildanet is not the only altnet to be benefiting from the UKIB’s renewed support. Just last week the UKIB invested £150 million in major altnet Hyperoptic, aiming to again drive an acceleration of the UK’s full fibre infrastructure.

Wildanet won the Sustainability Award at the 2023 Connected Britain Awards for helping local Cornish businesses to become B-Corps!

Join the operators in discussion at this year’s Connected Britain, the UK’s largest digital economy event

Also in the news:
Australian Government and AWS Collaborate to Strengthen country’s Cybersecurity
Solving congestion challenges in FTTP deployment
Vodafone Invests £120m in AI Chatbot ‘SuperTOBi’

News 

The investment is the latest step in SK Telcom (SKT)’s path to becoming global leader in AI 

South Korean telco SKT has announced that it will invest $200 million in California-based Smart Global Holdings (SGH), an AI data centre solutions company.  

Under the terms of the agreement, SKT will invest $200 million in SGH by acquiring 200,000 preferred shares, worth $32.81 each. This will equate to a roughly 10% stake in the business. 

SGH will use the capital to “add to the Company’s financial flexibility as SGH further expands the scope and scale of its Penguin Solutions branded end-to-end AI factory offerings,” as stated in the announcement’s press release.  

The company’s Penguin Solutions designs, builds, deploys, and manages AI and accelerated computing infrastructures at scale using Nvidia Graphic Processing Units (GPUs). 

“SGH and Penguin Solutions have a proven methodology to deploy their AI infrastructure solutions at some of the most innovative and demanding large-scale enterprise customers in the world. We believe that this collaboration leveraging SKT’s vast technology portfolio with Penguin’s AI data center solutions would enhance the reach and capabilities of both companies and position them to continue innovating in their fields,” said Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SKT. 

Leveraging the strengths of both companies, the partnership will “enhance customer offerings in the development of differentiated global end-to-end AI factory and data center solutions and services, advanced memory market products and services, and NPU-based AI edge servers.”  

SKT has made significant investments in the last few years to “step up on all fronts to transform itself into an AI company,” said the company’s Chief Financial Officer Kim Jin Won.  Last month, for example, the company invested $10 million in a generative AI search engine called Perplexity, which is attempting to disrupt Google’s hegemony over the search engine industry. It has also invested $100 million in AI company Anthropic, to develop a multilingual large language model (LLM) customised for global telcos.   

Last year, the company also joined forces with e&, Deutsche Telekom, and Singtel to form the Global Telco AI  Alliance, aiming to explore the greater integration of AI technologies within the telecoms sector.  

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

Also in the news:
Australian Government and AWS Collaborate to Strengthen country’s Cybersecurity
Solving congestion challenges in FTTP deployment
Vodafone Invests £120m in AI Chatbot ‘SuperTOBi’

News

The cable is expected to be ready for service by the end of next year 

Indonesian telco Telin and infrastructure developer BW Digital have announced a strategic partnership to build the Nongsa-Changi submarine cable, which will connect Singapore and Batam, Indonesia.  

The announcement follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two companies at International Telecoms Week in Washington, USA, this May. 

The cable system will be 50km long and be compromised of a minimum of 24 fibre pairs. The cable, say the companies, will help to meet the “unprecedented demand for connectivity” between the two countries, as “data traffic moving between these two prime locations for data center development continues to grow exponentially.”  

“The Nongsa-Changi cable represents a key component of the digital ecosystem we are building in NDP [Nongsa Digital Park],” said Ludovic Hutier, CEO of BW Digital.  

“With a landing at the doorstep of the data center (DC) campus, it will provide DC operators with fully diverse and secured connectivity, and enable them to further address the spillover demand from Singapore,” he continued.  

It was only in May that Telin announced a similar partnership with Singtel, for the joint development and construction of the Hawaiki Nui 1 submarine cable system between Singapore and Batam. This system will be 100km long, again with 24 fibre pairs, and aims to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2026.  

Ooi Seng Keat, Vice President of Digital Infrastructure & Services at Singtel noted that “Batam is emerging as a prime location for data centres due to its close proximity to Singapore.” 

“We are proud to continue our successful partnership with BW Digital, as we work together to develop Indonesia’s digital industry at Nongsa Digital Park and establish the Hawaiki Nui 1 submarine cable system,” said Budi Satria Dharma Purba, CEO of Telin. 

Both of these developments are part of Telin’s Indonesian Cable Express (ICE) programme, a submarine cable communication system consisting of seven segments, which was first announced in September last year. The initiative is aimed at enhancing digital connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region, and seeks to solidify Indonesia’s position as a hub for digital connectivity. 

Keep up to date with all the latest telecoms news from around the world with Total Telecom’s daily newsletter 

Also in the news:
Australian Government and AWS Collaborate to Strengthen country’s Cybersecurity
Solving congestion challenges in FTTP deployment
Vodafone Invests £120m in AI Chatbot ‘SuperTOBi’ 

Network testing firm Global Wireless Solutions has today published the results of a new study that examined connectivity experiences in the UK, which saw Virgin Media (O2) win two awards for ‘Best Broadband Experience‘ and ‘Best Combined Connectivity Experience‘, while EE came top for ‘Best Mobile Experience‘.

The results from GWS’ 2024 Nationwide Connectivity Experience Report are based on the collection of 573 million data points and over 1.5 million tests conducted across key performance metrics (i.e. throughputs, reliability, latency, packet loss, and video streaming metrics). The tests were conducted on the devices of real-life users from GWS’ proprietary opt-in consumer panel of 6,000 participants (18+).

In addition to running network performance tests, GWS generated insights into app usage and polled consumers on their wireless experiences. For example, this revealed that people have between 13 and 14 connected devices running on their home broadband networks. What’s more, over half of all households say that the majority of members in their house are using the WiFi simultaneously for more than 5 hours a day.

The data also reveals that when on their Smartphones, Brits spend 78% of their time connected to WiFi (much of this will be from when they’re at home or in an office) and 22% on 4G/5G (mobile data). But the main focus of all the testing was to establish which broadband and mobile providers delivered the best experience.

The Results

Best Fixed Broadband ISP

In terms of fixed broadband, Virgin Media was found to have the Best Broadband Experience out of all ISPs tested. As a highlight, Virgin Media led the pack when looking at mean download throughputs (across all panellists), offering over 170Mbps. The next closest provider was Vodafone, which offered less than half the throughput (over 75Mbps), illustrating a significant divide in performance (this probably has more to do with the fact that Virgin has a higher take-up of faster speeds).

Virgin Media also performed best in video streaming, finishing top with best resolution and quickest time to load. In addition, GWS also measured the percentage of time that ISPs were able to maintain high definition (HD) resolution during the streaming tests (i.e. maintaining video resolution at 720p or greater). Virgin Media led the way at 94%.

Broadband Provider Ranking for H1 2024

1. Virgin Media
2. Vodafone
3. TalkTalk
4. Sky Broadband
5. EE
6. BT
7. Plusnet
8. Three Broadband (mobile)

Best Mobile Operator

GWS found that EE provided the Best Mobile Experience by a major operator in the UK. EE performed top in most of the test categories, including reliability, latency, and all three video streaming tasks. In terms of HD streaming, EE came top with 80%. When looking at throughputs, Three UK had the highest download throughput at 63Mbps and was tied with EE for the highest upload throughput at 17Mbps.

Mobile Operator Ranking for H1 2024

1. EE
2. Vodafone
3. Three UK
4. O2

Best Combined Mobile and Broadband Provider

Finally, Virgin Media and O2 were found to have provided the Best Combined Connectivity Experience. While VMO2 performed at or near the top in a majority of the metrics, Sky Mobile also performed well in video streaming and reliability. Interestingly, reliability across all combined providers remained constant when compared to last year’s results.

When looking at throughputs, the fastest average available download throughput by a combined provider was offered by VMO2 at over 150Mbps – well over double the average of its closest rival (EE/BT with an average download throughput of over 65Mbps). When looking at available uploads, VMO2 was also top with an average throughput of 34Mbps.

Combined Mobile and Broadband Ranking for H1 2024

1. O2 + Virgin Media
2. Sky Mobile + Sky Broadband
3. EE + BT
4. Vodafone + Vodafone Broadband
5. EE + EE
6. Three UK + Three Broadband

Dr Paul Carter, CEO of GWS, said:

“We’ve released this report to provide a holistic look at the state of the UK’s wireless connectivity – which includes whether you’re connecting via an ISP or mobile network. What we need from our networks varies depending on where we are – if you’re going to be using your phone at home while sharing a network with other people or devices, most of the time it will require higher speeds than if you’re on the go using your mobile network. Our life isn’t one-dimensional running on one network, so nor should our testing be. That’s why we’ve tested the different types of networks people are accessing on their phones, to provide a more meaningful overview of the UK’s connectivity experience today.”

Sadly, we don’t get a more detailed breakdown of the results for each individual provider, which is a pity as the vague ranking table doesn’t really provide much in the way of useful information. The use of WiFi terminology also suggests that the broadband testing was conducted over a local wireless network, which leaves connections open to all sorts of performance issues due to the highly variable nature of wireless signals in different environments and at different distances. It’s often far better to test over a wired link.

Finally, the study also included ‘Three Broadband’ as an option in the broadband table, which is slightly confusing as they use broadly the same 4G / 5G technology as Three’s regular mobile broadband network. But being able to fairly compare a highly variable mobile network with a modern fibre-based fixed line one is fraught with difficulty.

News

The labels argue that Verizon deliberately ignored customers pirating music over its network

A group of major record labels including UMG Recordings, Warner Music, and Sony Music are suing US wireless giant Verizon, accusing them of knowingly facilitating music piracy.

The lawsuit argues that “early 350,000 infringement notices” have been sent to Verizon since 2020, covering the piracy of 17,335 tracks from artists or bands. The lawsuit alleges that Verizon “fostered a safe haven for infringement in light of its lax policies and thus encouraged its subscribers to infringe”.

“Verizon’s failure to take meaningful action against its infringing subscribers drew subscribers engaging in Internet piracy to purchase Verizon’s services, so that those subscribers could infringe Plaintiffs’ (and others’) copyrights and avoid obtaining that copyrighted content through legitimate channels. Infringing subscribers were drawn to Verizon’s services both because of its lax policies concerning copyright infringement and faster internet speeds that facilitated the use of P2P protocols for those willing to pay more,” read the lawsuit.

“Verizon fostered a safe haven for infringement in light of its lax policies and thus encouraged its subscribers to infringe. The specific infringing subscribers identified in Plaintiffs’ notices, including the particularly egregious infringers identified above, knew that Verizon would not terminate their accounts despite receiving multiple notices identifying them as infringers, and they remained Verizon subscribers so that they could continue illegally downloading copyrighted works.”

The affected labels are pushing for the maximum possible financial penalty for each breach of the Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), potentially awarding each plaintiff $150,000 per violation.

In total, this could find Verizon liable to pay up to $2.6 billion to affected companies.

This type of lawsuit is not without precedent in the US. Over the past decade, the question of whether CSPs should be held responsible for copyright violations committed by their subscribers has been at the centre of numerous lawsuits. Perhaps the most notable of these occurred in 2019, when a court found Cox Communications guilty of failing to remove known music pirates from its network, ordering the company to pay $1 billion in damages.

This total was ultimately deemed excessive following an appeal process that concluded this year, with a new trial being organised to determine a more reasonable amount.

Thus, while it seems a stretch to suggest – as the lawsuit does – that music pirates are subscribing to Verizon specifically due to the company’s lax attitude towards copyright infringement, there is a legal precedent for CSPs being liable for their customers’ piracy.

Verizon has yet to comment on the situation.

Keep up to date with all the latest telecoms news from around the world with Total Telecom’s daily newsletter

Also in the news:
Australian Government and AWS Collaborate to Strengthen country’s Cybersecurity
Solving congestion challenges in FTTP deployment
Vodafone Invests £120m in AI Chatbot ‘SuperTOBi’

Alternative network operator and gigabit broadband provider toob, which is deploying a full fibre (FTTP) network across parts of Southern England (they also share some of CityFibre’s infrastructure), has today become the latest ISP to launch a cheaper social tariff for those on certain state benefits.

The new toob essentials plan offers a 50Mbps full-fibre symmetric speed broadband connection for just £20 per month (no setup fees and a 1-month rolling contract) and is available to anybody within toob’s own network (excludes their availability via CityFibre) who is in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Income Support.

Nick Parbutt, CEO of toob, said, “We founded toob on the belief that digital inclusion is vital in the modern world and that full-fibre broadband should be available to all. We are pleased that our new tariff, toob essentials, will be able to help connect people who may be struggling with the cost of getting online.”

The Hampshire-based operator was originally backed by £75m from the Amber Infrastructure Group (here) and “up to” £87.5m from the Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund (here). During 2023 the operator also secured £160m of additional funding (debt financing) from Ares Management‘s Infrastructure Debt strategy (here), which could be upsized to £300m over time to support growth.

Toob’s own fibre network is known to cover 150,000 premises (24th Aug 2023 – not all RFS) and they’re aiming to reach 300,000 premises across parts of Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex in the future. The provider recently revealed that they’d passed 50,000 customers (here), which is more than double the 20,000 they had in June 2023.

Finally, a quick reminder. We know social tariffs can be a divisive topic for some, but that is not an excuse to abuse the comment system in order to post offensive remarks toward those who take state benefits. Such posts are against our rules and will be removed.