Press Release

Digital clinical diagnostics and diabetes home testing provider Digostics and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) announced today a partnership that will see expectant mothers under the care of UHS maternity services become the first, anywhere in the world, to access ground-breaking new remote testing technology designed to improve screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The collaboration involves a pilot introduction of the only regulatory-approved home-use oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) testing-solution, GTT@home, developed by Digostics.

“We hope this revolutionary new at-home test is going to dramatically change the way we deliver gestational diabetes testing during antenatal care,” said Matthew Coleman, Consultant Obstetrician, UHS. “Not only is it better for the patients to self-test in the convenience of their own home, cutting down the number of antenatal appointments they attend, but it will also free up precious NHS time and resources.”

According to the International Diabetes Federation, up to 20%1 of UK pregnancies are impacted by GDM, with background risk factors2 including the age, ethnicity and body mass index of the expectant mother. Left undiagnosed or untreated, GDM can lead to perinatal complications such as foetal macrosomia (larger than average babies) that warrant unscheduled or even emergency changes to the birth-plan to protect both mother and baby. Additionally, 50%3 of women experiencing GDM can go on to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) within 10 years. The condition also confers an 8-fold4 increase for the child of developing T2D in adulthood. Prompt identification of GDM is key.

“Digostics is excited to work with UHS to explore how GDM screening can be streamlined through home-testing,” said James Jackson, CEO and Founder, Digostics. “Our aim is to demonstrate how we can transform diabetes detection in pregnancy by taking the OGTT to the expectant mother, resulting in increased test uptake, reductions in test overheads for healthcare providers and the earlier return of GDM diagnoses.”

The OGTT – a fasting test involving an initial blood test, the immediate consumption of a glucose drink and then a second blood test after a two hour wait – is the only recommended test for detecting GDM.

However, as the OGTT is currently offered only in-clinic, the inconvenience for patients and the provisioning challenges posed for healthcare providers frequently constrains test throughput and can lead to delayed testing.

“From the admin resources it takes to book and manage clinics, the clinical time taken to run the service and the clinic space taken, this can all now be done with a simple test at home using the
GTT@home kit,” added Matthew Coleman. “In addition, patients are able to test at the earliest opportunity, meaning fewer delays and, if gestational diabetes is detected, they can be treated and
managed quickly helping to keep them and their babies safe.”

The GTT@home service is based on a simple-to-use home test kit containing the novel GTT@home test device, a glucose drink and finger prickers. The test kit is mailed to the expectant mother at the time the test is due. Easy to follow instructions, online guidance and telephone support ensure that the test can be completed conveniently at home on the day of choice.

When completed, the user can immediately send their test data to their care team by scanning a snapoff fob attached to the test device with a smartphone using the GTT@home mobile app. This is
enabled by the near field communication (NFC) functionality within the device, with the process akin to making a contactless mobile payment in a store. Alternatively, the patient can post the fob in the supplied prepaid envelope for processing. The GTT@home testing service also includes a software platform that enables the antenatal care team to schedule tests and view patient results.

Key aims of the collaboration include improving healthcare equity of access and reducing health inequalities by eliminating barriers associated with in-clinic testing that can be felt more acutely within specific at-risk patient cohorts. To support this, Digostics is creating multilingual home-user support.

“We also hope that testing at home proves to be appealing to the complete background social and demographic populations that we work with and we look forward to receiving feedback from those involved in the next phase of research.” further explained Matthew Coleman.

GTT@home achieved UKCA and CE market authorisation in 2022, becoming the first and only regulatory approved alternative to the in-clinic OGTT. A first phase pilot of GTT@home involving a
small caseload of patients was conducted with UHS in November 2022. This announcement reflects the move to a higher volume second-phase project designed to prove the service’s overall
effectiveness.

“With this pilot representing a global-first, UHS’ international reputation for clinical innovation makes it the perfect partner for this project.” said Oenone Duroe, UK Market Access Director, Digostics. “We hope a successful pilot will see maternity services at other NHS trusts take their cue from UHS and explore the merits of GTT@home for diabetes home-testing.”

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Press Release

stc Group, an engine of digital transformation in the MENA region, announces today that its ICT infrastructure subsidiary, TAWAL, has signed an agreement to acquire United Group’s telecommunications tower assets.

The agreement, valued at EUR 1.220 bn supports stc Group’s ambitious strategy to expand its international footprint in key markets with significant growth potential.

Marking TAWAL’s first step in Europe, this move represents a major milestone in its international expansion journey and stc Group’s growth ambitions which have been active growing in the ICT adjacencies including recent investments in ICT, IoT, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Fintech and digital entertainment through its subsidiaries.

Following completion of the acquisition, TAWAL will own and operate more than 4,800 sites across Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia (all European Union member states, two of which are already members of the Eurozone), providing the full range of passive infrastructure services ranging from ground-based towers, rooftops small cells to in-building-solutions. As part of the 20-year master services agreement with United Group, TAWAL will deploy over 2,000 additional sharable sites, while co-location relationships with other mobile network operators will be maintained and expanded, enabling stc Group to drive digital transformation through providing world-class connectivity.

Olayan Alwetaid, Chief Executive Officer, stc Group, said: “Our agreement with United Group represents an exciting new chapter for TAWAL and the wider stc Group. The agreement is a significant milestone in our ambitious growth strategy and the expansion of our international footprint. We are already leading the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s digital capabilities and this transaction reinforces our commitment to investing in best-in-class technology and infrastructure to lead the way in enabling the world to connect.”

Mohammed Alhakbani, Chief Executive Officer, TAWAL, said: “We are delighted to partner with United Group in our first investment in the European market. The partnership supports our goal to continue to provide innovative and efficient ICT infrastructure solutions to our partners and deliver the quality of services we are renowned for.”

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval from the relevant authorities in Bulgaria and Slovenia. Upon completion, TAWAL’s operations in the European market will be rebranded as “TAWAL Europe” and will serve as TAWAL’s platform for any future expansion in Europe.

TAWAL currently owns a portfolio of over 16,000 telecom towers. The company is actively supporting digital transformation plans in Saudi Arabia, expanding its reach across new cities and rural areas in the Kingdom and actively rolling out smart-city-ready technologies such as camouflage telecom towers, smart poles capable of hosting 5G and IoT applications, in-building solutions, and small cells.

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News

The sale of half the company’s stake in the mobile tower business could raise up to £750 million, with the company suggesting they could sell their full stake if the right offer were to be made

This week, reports suggest that Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has initiated the process to sell at least half of its stake in Cornerstone, the infrastructure firm that owns and manages the operator’s mobile towers in the UK.

According to The Financial Times, VMO2 has appointed Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan to oversee the sale, with potential suitors having already been informed of the details.

Cornerstone operates the largest mobile infrastructure network in the UK, comprising over 20,000 sites, including towers, rooftops, small cells, and other deployments. In total, the infrastructure business is estimated to be worth up to £3 billion.

VMO2 owns a 50% stake in Cornerstone, with the other half is owned by Vantage Towers, the towerco spun off by Vodafone back in 2020.

As such, VMO2’s sale of half its stake (25% of the business overall) could net the company somewhere around £750 million.

According to reports, VMO2 would also consider the sale of its entire stake if an attractive offer were to be made.

That VMO2 is looking to monetise its passive infrastructure should come as little surprise. Faced with the expensive task of rolling out fibre and 5G at a blistering pace, in recent years numerous operators, including Vodafone, Telefonica, and Deutsche Telekom, have moved to spin off and sell their mobile tower units in exchange for quick cash.

Investors, meanwhile, continue to see these assets as a valuable and reliable long-term investment, with towers being snapped up not only by infrastructure giants like Cellnex and American Tower Company but also by private equity funds.

Indeed, over the past year alone we have seen a number of major tower deals in Europe. Last summer, for example, Deutsche Telekom agreed to sell a majority stake in its tower unit to Brookfield Asset Management and private equity group DigitalBridge Group.

Just a few months later, Vodafone Group followed suit by agreeing to sell its 82% stake in Vantage Towers to a consortium comprising KKR, Global Infrastructure Partners, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

Exactly what VMO2 will use the proceeds from a potential sale for is currently unclear, but the operator certainly has no shortage of capex-intensive plans for the next few years. The company is currently aiming to upgrade its hybrid fibre coax network to fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) by 2028, as well as having recently formed a joint venture with InfraVia called Nexfibre, which aims to pass five million homes with FTTP by 2026.

All of this fibre deployment does not come cheap, and any additional liquidity will surely go a long way towards making these goals more attainable.

However, there is another potential motivation for raising these funds now. Last month, the company was also linked to a potential takeover of its UK fibre rival CityFibre, a deal that would carry with it a price tag of around £3 billion.

Such a deal – if ultimately permitted by various regulatory bodies – would represent a major shakeup for the UK’s fibre landscape, reducing the country to just two nationwide networks.

How is the UK’s telecoms market evolving in 2023? Join the operators in discussion at this year’s Connected Britain conference

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Press Release

Hull-based IoT and digital infrastructure specialist, Connexin, has announced the launch of its latest offering – the Connexin SmartHome App. Designed with next generation Wi-Fi in mind, the application is packed with features to enhance the homeowners’ broadband experience.

Following a well-received pre-launch and trial of the product at Connected North, the Connexin SmartHome App offers users the ability to manage their Wi-Fi network with ease, acting as a remote control for their router. Users can set up guest networks, change passwords, view connected devices and maximise security via the app.

One of the app’s key features, ProtectIQ, included free as standard with all Connexin Fibre packages, gives customers safety and security of their home network with 24/7 network protection. By protecting against viruses, malware and intrusions, the app can send alerts should there be any attempts to compromise the user’s network.

By utilising ExperienceIQ, app users can leverage parental control and safety features to improve network security. Users can easily prioritise bandwidth, set time restrictions, monitor network activity and block websites to individual devices or users.

Alex Yeung, Co-Founder & Deputy CEO at Connexin said:

“In this day and age broadband is no longer a luxury, it’s essential. It keeps us connected to the people we care about, it keeps our children learning and many of us now work or run businesses from our home offices and dining tables. As a broadband provider, we pride ourselves on giving our customers an amazing Wi-Fi experience, giving them complete control on their home network, and keeping their family members safe and protected while online.

The launch of the Connexin SmartHome app is a key milestone in our journey as a broadband provider, and we’re excited for our customers to experience what it has to offer. We will continue to enhance our customer’s experience by setting new standards and bringing new innovative products and services to the broadband market.”

Existing Connexin Fibre customers can now download the app to enjoy the latest features and level up their home Wi-Fi experience. The Connexin SmartHome app will be available to all new customers from today and can be downloaded immediately after installation.

ProtectIQ and ExperienceIQ will be available to users as add-on features from May 2023. ExperienceIQ will cost just £2 per month or free for customers on Connexin’s top 1Gbps packages.

Customers can learn more about the Connexin SmartHome App and its features at: home.connexin.co.uk/products/connexin-smarthome

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