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Press Release

Juniper Networks, a leading provider of secure, AI-driven networks, today announced that its customer and partner, Granite Telecommunications, a $1.8 billion provider of communications and technology solutions, has expanded its service offerings to include Juniper Networks’ full-stack of campus and branch services, including Wired Access, Wireless Access and SD-WAN, all driven by Mist AI™. This move will enhance Granite’s ability to support its customers’ unique verticals, such as healthcare, retail, education, manufacturing, hospitality and financial.

Granite has been working closely with Juniper for several years, and with this expanded AI-driven enterprise portfolio they now offer Juniper’s full suite of campus and branch networking solutions. By leveraging Mist AI and a single cloud across the wired, wireless and SD-WAN domains, Granite saves time and money with client-to-cloud automation and assurance, while accelerating deployments with Zero Touch Provisioning and automated configurations. In addition, Granite delivers more value to its customers with a broadened service portfolio that offers new highly differentiated services.

“Granite stands as Juniper’s largest AI-Driven SD-WAN partner in Managed Services within the Americas, underscoring the strength of our relationship and confidence in Juniper’s cutting-edge networking technology,” said Rob Hale, President and CEO at Granite. “As we expand our partnership, we are poised to elevate the customer experience to new heights by offering a full suite of Juniper solutions, imbued with the defining qualities of reliability, performance and security that characterize Juniper.”

Granite has been expanding its nationwide support to address the changing and growing needs of its customers. The company is committed to delivering specialized services for the unique requirements of its customers’ verticals. The addition of Juniper’s software-defined branch and wireless services is expected to be a significant benefit to many of its customer sectors. These services are designed to improve the performance and security of networks in various industries and make it easier for businesses to manage their network infrastructure.

“We are very excited to take our relationship with Granite Telecommunications to the next level,” said Sujai Hajela, Executive Vice President, AI-Driven Enterprise at Juniper Networks. “They have proven to be an exceptional partner and leader in the communications industry, who is especially adept at leveraging AI and the cloud to deliver high value managed services to their customers. With the full AI-driven enterprise portfolio, Granite can truly differentiate from their competition with exceptional client-to-cloud user experiences.”

With this expansion, Granite continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing customers with the best possible network experience. The addition of Juniper’s full-stack solutions will enable Granite to enhance its capabilities and better serve its customers, while also providing the company with a competitive edge in the market.

How are the latest breakthroughs in communications technologies shaking up the US enterprise space? Join the ecosystem in discussion at Connected America 2024

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News

The initial public offering (IPO), set to take place in September, would be the largest US IPO in nearly two years

This week, Arm has made its first public filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its IPO, preparing to sell billions of dollars-worth of shares on the Nasdaq market.

The filing indicates that SoftBank has acquired full control of Arm, having purchased the 25% stake in Arm held by the SoftBank Vision Fund for $16.1 billion. As a result, Arm likely has a valuation of over $64 billion.

The number of shares to be made available has yet to be announced, though previous reports have suggested that SoftBank will seek to sell up to a 10% stake in the company, which, at the above estimation, would be worth around $6.4 billion.

Arm’s importance to the global technology ecosystem should not be underestimated. The chip specialist’s technology sits in more than 90% of smartphones, as well as a host of other devices, from laptops to specialist networking equipment.

According to its filing with the SEC, Arm estimates that “approximately 70% of the world’s population uses Arm-based products”.

SoftBank first took Arm private for $32 billion back in 2016. By 2020, however, SoftBank were looking to offload the company, eventually agreeing a sale of Arm to rival chip specialist NVIDIA for $40 billion. This deal ultimately fell through in 2022, with the companies citing numerous complex factors, from the global economic downturn caused by the pandemic to the onerous regulatory hurdles the deal would need to clear.

Since then, SoftBank has instead turned its attention to the possibility of an IPO, including reportedly holding talks with numerous tech companies over potential investment, including Amazon and Nvidia.

What are the latest steps in telco transformation in 2023? Join the operators in discussion at this year’s live Total Telecom Congress

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News

The changes include the onboarding of Google Cloud’s ex-head of telecoms, Amol Phadke, as chief technology officer (CTO)

Today, Norwegian telecoms group Telenor has announced a number of changes to its leadership structure, aiming to bolster growth as part of the company’s 2025 strategic plan.

The reshuffle includes what is essentially a job swap for the heads of its Nordic and Asia business units, with Jørgen C. Arentz Rostrup taking over the role of EVP and Head of Telenor Nordics from Petter-Børre Furberg, who in turn will move into Rostrup’s role as EVP and Head of Telenor Asia.

Rostrup served as Telenor’s CFO from 2016–2020 before moving into the Head of Asia role. During this time he oversaw two of the company’s largest mergers to date, combining Telenor’s DTAC with True Corp in Thailand and Digi with Celcom in Malaysia .

“Jørgen was sent to Asia three years ago with a mandate to deliver growth and modernisation and capturing opportunities in the region. After completing the two biggest telco mergers in Southeast Asia and setting up and implementing a strong and future-proof organisation in the region, he will now return to the Nordics,” said Telenor’s president and CEO Sigve Brekke (pictured, right) in the announcement.

Furberg, meanwhile, had most recently served as CEO of Telenor Norway and headed up the company’s Nordics division. However, he has extensive Asia experience, having held the role of EVP Head of Emerging Asia from 2017–2019, as well as a variety of other senior roles in Telenor’s Asian businesses in Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, and Myanmar.

“When Petter-Børre is returning to Asia, we can utilise the competence of one of our most experienced leaders with 15 years in previous and different roles in the region. He will play an instrumental role in ensuring the implementation and success of the two mergers as well as continue to develop Telenor’s business in the region,” explained Brekke.

In addition to this Nordics–Asia swap, Telenor has also announced that Amol Phadke (pictured, left), previously head of telecoms at Google Cloud, has been appointed EVP and group CTO.

In the new role, Phadke will set the company’s technology and research strategy, as well as being responsible for Group Security.

“I am thrilled that Amol has agreed to lead the next wave of our technology transformation and to help us drive the use of technology as an enabler for profitable growth. His extensive leadership experience from global technology companies and unique telecom credentials will enable us to navigate the tremendous technology shift in our industry and unlock the resulting value for Telenor, our customers, and partners,” said Brekke.

Phadke takes over the role from Ruza Sabanovic, who has served as CTO since 2015. Sabanovic herself will reportedly “be the subject of another announcement in due course”.

Speaking to Reuters, Brekke highlighted Phadke’s experience in the telecoms sector, as well as his experience with AI.

“[We] to use AI in all of our operations to make operations more efficient, develop new products, increase energy efficiency,” Brekke said.

According to the report, Phadke said the company would use AI to reinvigorate the business, including automating network functions and improving customer interactions.

In contrast to the likes of BT, however, he said that the increased adoption of AI would not lead to job cuts.

Phadke will begin his new role on September 1st, while Rostrup and Furberg will begin on October 1st.

What are the latest steps in telco transformation in 2023? Join the operators in discussion at this year’s live Total Telecom Congress

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