Network access provider Openreach has declined to elaborate on a recently revealed proposal from their CEO, Clive Selley, which confirmed that the UK broadband giant was “exploring whether it’s practical” to deploy public EV chargers next to some of their 90,000 or so FTTC (VDSL2) street cabinets. The operator is already well-known to be in […]

Good news. After very recently remarking on another story that Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) based mega constellation of ultrafast broadband satellites still didn’t cover the whole of Shetland in North Scotland, the network coverage has now grown to cover the whole island. Customers in the UK typically pay from £75 per month, plus £449 […]

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The cyberattack against the UK telecoms regulator reportedly jeopardised the personal information of 412 employees, as well as confidential data from various companies that Ofcom regulates

Today, Ofcom has confirmed that it is among an increasing number of companies to fall victim to a ransomware attack by cybercriminal organisation Clop, thought to be based in Russia.

Over the past couple of weeks, numerous companies including the BBC, British Airways, and Boots have announced that they have had sensitive data stolen by the ransomware group, affecting over 100,000 staff in total. In some cases, the data accessed included sensitive payroll.

Now, Ofcom says that it too has fallen victim to this cyberattack, resulting in the personal information of 412 employees being accessed, as well as confidential data belonging to companies being regulated by Ofcom.

Payroll data was not accessed in Ofcom’s case, according to reports.

In the attack on Ofcom, as was the case for the previously announced attacks, the breach relates to vulnerabilities in MOVEit, software being used by organisations to transfer sensitive information.

Researchers reportedly discovered a critical vulnerability on this software back in May, with attempts to exploit this vulnerability reportedly being revealed just a month later. However, it seems these revelations came too late to stop Clop from targeting major companies around the world.

Nonetheless, Ofcom says it has reacted quickly to minimise the impact of the attack, as well as notifying the Information Commissioners Office.

“A limited amount of information about certain companies we regulate – some of it confidential – along with personal data of 412 Ofcom employees, was downloaded during the attack,” said Ofcom in a statement. “The security of commercially confidential and sensitive personal information provided to Ofcom is taken extremely seriously. We took immediate action to prevent further use of the MOVEit service and to implement the recommended security measures. We also swiftly alerted all affected Ofcom-regulated companies, and we continue to offer support and assistance to our colleagues.”

According to reports, Clop is threatening to begin publishing the sensitive data of affected companies later this week if they are not paid a ransom fee. The scale of the ransom has not been made public.

Ransomware attacks such as this have been increasing at a meteoric rate in recent years, fuelled by an influx of new cybercriminal organisations and the expansion of existing operations since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Cyber extortion activity has reached a new high in the first quarter of 2023 and the recent MOVEit data breach is a stark reminder that threat actors are always on the lookout to wreak havoc. In this case, companies using the MOVEit software became potential targets as it appears that hackers affiliated with the Cl0p group orchestrated a mass attack to find and compromise their servers,” explained Charl Van Der Walt, Head of Security Research at Orange Cyberdefense.

“Accounting for a staggering 36% of all victims in 2022, it is not surprising that large organisations are becoming a preferred target for cyber extortion due to handling thousands of pieces of personal data. Whilst this remains true in the case of the MOVEit breach, medium and small sized organisations are not safe either, as cyber criminals are opportunistic by nature.”

Is the global telecoms industry doing enough to protect their customers’ personal data from ransomware attacks? Join the telecoms community as they discuss the hottest issues in cybersecurity at this year’s Total Telecom Congress live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Also in the news:
Final bids for TIM’s fibre network expected tomorrow
Let’s talk about the symbiotic relationship between data centers and submarine cables
Mexico’s high 5G spectrum price could see Telcel the only bidder in latest auction

News

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has allocated 25 mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) licences, seeking to boost competition in the country’s growing mobile market

This week, the NCC has announced the allocation of 25 MVNO licences, arguing that these new providers will help extend telecoms services to more rural and underserved areas of the country.

Nigeria’s mobile market is currently served by four national operators: MTN, Globacom, Airtel and 9Mobile. MTN controls roughly 40% of the market, with Globacom and Airtel vying for second place with roughly 25% of the market each. 9mobile is in a distant fourth place with less than 10% market share.

Until now, none of these operators have been required to make provisions for MVNOs to use their networks.

In Nigeria, only around half of the population has access to mobile broadband, with only around 4% having access to 4G. As a result, the NCC fears that the country is at risk of falling behind its regional peers, necessitating a shakeup of the mobile market.

The NCC subsequently announced their intention of introducing MVNOs in 2021, saying that the move would boost competition in the market and accelerate the provision of broader services to customers across the country.

Now, the NCC has made ten-year licences available in five tiers, each more expensive than the last, with the higher tiers allowing the MVNOs increasing control over how they make use of mobile network operator’s infrastructure and market their services.

Licencing fees ranged from 35 million naira ($76,000) for a Tier 1 licence to 500 naira ($1.08 million) for a Tier 5 licence.

No companies opted for a Tier 1 licence, while seven obtained a Tier 2 licence, seven received a Tier 3 licence, four received a Tier 4 licence, and eight received the highest Tier 5 licence. The list of recipients can be found here.

In total, the regulator raised around 5.9 billion naira ($13 million) from the licencing process.

How is the African telecoms ecosystem changing in 2023?  Join the telecoms sector in discussion at this year’s Total Telecom Congress live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Also in the news:
Final bids for TIM’s fibre network expected tomorrow
Let’s talk about the symbiotic relationship between data centers and submarine cables
Mexico’s high 5G spectrum price could see Telcel the only bidder in latest auction

News

The latest Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) will focus on microelectronics and communication technologies, providing support for 68 projects in 14 countries

The latest IPCEI from the European Commission (EC) will see €8.1 billion in public funding delivered to support various projects aimed to bolster the EU’s R&D efforts in the telecoms and semiconductor sectors.

The 68 projects in question will take place in 14 countries with the goal of creating new microelectronics and communication technologies and developing energy-efficient and resource-saving electronics systems and manufacturing methods.

According to press release from the EC, these projects will include wireless technologies, such as 5G and 6G, as well as supporting the growth of more nascent sectors like autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.

These projects will also be supported by an estimated €13.7 billion in private investment, with 56 companies already committed to contributing. These companies include major players from a the  telecoms, microchips, aviation, automotive, and manufacturing sectors, such as Airbus, Analog Devices, Ericsson, Nokia, Orange, and Renault, to name but a few.

The projects also include 30 associated participants and around 600 indirect partners.

Overall, the first projects are expected to generate results by 2025, with all projects completed by 2032.

According to the EC, these projects will create 8,700 jobs and support many more indirectly.

“The green and digital transitions require new, advanced technological solutions,” said Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager. “This is why we must increase the Europe’s own chips research, development and production capabilities. We need to be pioneers and develop truly innovative solutions and their first industrial deployment in Europe.”

This is the latest in a string of IPCEI initiatives that began back in 2018, the first of which dedicated €1.9 billion to the EU’s microelectronics sector. Since then, there have been four further IPCEIs, two targeting battery technology in 2019 and 2021, and two focussing on hydrogen production and storage in 2022.

This latest IPCEI on microelectronics and communications technology is the largest of the six projects in terms of both public and private investment, as well as the number of companies and projects involved.

This new fund is one of many initiatives the EU has spawned in recent years to help bolster the bloc’s technology sector in a bid to ensure what it calls ‘digital sovereignty’; i.e., eliminating the Union’s reliance on the likes of China and the US for critical technologies. Perhaps most notable among these schemes is the European Chips Act, which aims to deliver €43 billion in public and private investment to increase Europe’s market share in the semiconductor industry to 20% by 2030.

Is the European Commission doing enough to support the EU’s digital economy and sovereignty in 2023? Join the telecoms sector in discussion at this year’s Total Telecom Congress live in Amsterdam

Also in the news:
Final bids for TIM’s fibre network expected tomorrow
Let’s talk about the symbiotic relationship between data centers and submarine cables
Mexico’s high 5G spectrum price could see Telcel the only bidder in latest auction

VIEWPOINT

Finnish service provider DNA is moving from strength to strength as it continues to grow its market share in both mobile and fixed broadband segments. DNA’s achievements are all the more remarkable, considering it is a relatively new service provider, having launched operations in 2001.

In little over two decades, the service provider has set a new benchmark by becoming a market leader in fixed broadband subscriptions in 2021 and has recently overtaken Telia to occupy the second position in the mobile subscription market.

DNA’s success is commendable, considering that it was a challenger to well-established service providers Telia and Elisa. The service provider has differentiated itself from its peers by focusing on quality network performance and customer experience. The launch of 5G has also helped accelerate its growth.

While Elisa is a market leader with 3,595,000 subscribers, DNA and Telia reported 2,729,000 and 2,722,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2023. The service provider also recorded an increase in Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for mobile communications by 3% to touch Euro17.7.

Ensuring the best-in-class customer experience 

What lies at the heart of DNA’s tremendous growth is its unwavering focus on providing a best-in-class network experience to its customers. The service provider also continues to make significant investments in building 5G networks as well as fiber optic networks and transmission systems.

The service provider recently reported that its 5G network now reached 86% of the population by the end of March 2023. “DNA has continued significant investments into the construction of its 5G network as well as fibre optic networks and transmission systems. DNA will replace its remaining copper-based networks with modern solutions by 2025, and the project is proceeding as planned. We will shut down our 3G network in stages during 2023–2024, which will free up bandwidths for more modern network technologies,” says Jussi Tolvanen, CEO at DNA while sharing Q1 2023 results.

Standing out in terms of network quality

The recent SpeedTest report of the top mobile operators in Finland in Q1 2023, reveals that DNA delivers the fastest median download speed at 101.59Mbps. The report further says DNA had the highest consistency in Finland in Q1 2023, with 94.3% of results showing at least a 5Mbps minimum download speed and 1Mbps minimum upload speed.

DNA also stood out from its peers in 5G performance. DNA had the fastest median 5G download speed in Finland during Q1 2023 at 264.09 Mbps, while Telia had a download speed of 254.89 Mbps and Elisa recorded a download speed of 225.59 Mbps, as per SpeedTest report.

The SpeedTest results are in line with the Omnitele study, commissioned by DNA, to measure and compare its data speeds. The study was carried out in October-November 2022 and compared the data speeds offered by the top three service providers in the country’s ten largest cities, including Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Oulu, Vantaa, Turku, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti and Pori. The Omnitele study reveals that “the average download data speed measured with the DNA subscription was 532Mbps. The results for Elisa and Telia subscriptions were 445 and 422Mbps, respectively.”

DNA has been able to achieve this because of its commitment to providing a superior experience to its subscribers. The service provider’s focus on expanding the 5G network and providing a quality 5G experience is helping it to grow its market share and Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).

The service provider started offering 5G FWA in 2020. It is now also providing 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service, enabling it to deliver ultra-high-speed broadband to suburban and rural areas and supporting home and business applications in areas where it is tough and expensive to deploy and maintain fiber networks.

Further, DNA provides guaranteed high-speed and reliable internet speed of more than 100Mbps leading to a superior customer experience. Further, it ensures turnkey installation for quick and easy. These initiatives have ensured consistent positive customer feedback for its network services and have enabled DNA to differentiate itself from other service providers. FWA is one of the most important 5G use cases and DNA’s early lead in this is likely to help it acquire more subscribers and lead to faster monetization of its 5G investment.

The Finnish service provider has also taken the lead in the retail consumer segment. Besides providing a world-class 5G, DNA also offers a three-year extended warranty if the device is purchased from them. Further, its tariffs are built to address customer demands and in line with the evolving needs of the subscribers.

DNA’s strategy of investing in building a best-in-class 5G network is helping it stand out from its competitors and differentiate itself from its peers. With its success, it is inspiring other telcos to focus on quality and customer experience to grow their market share and monetize 5G. DNA is reaping the benefits of its strategy of delivering the best-in-class 5G network experience to its customers.

Click here to find out more about the incredible growth journey of Finland’s DNA!

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