News

An Openreach statement issued today announced a delay in the expected launch of Equinox 2 pricing which they had claimed would support customers, with lower prices and “long-term certainty to help them switch to faster, more reliable broadband connections”.

Today’s statement from Openreach said “Whilst we continue to share Ofcom’s initial view that our offer isn’t anti-competitive, it’s important the regulator has time to consider all the feedback it has received fully and fairly, so our discounted Full Fibre prices won’t come into effect on April 1.”

This was a response to Ofcom’s message to the market: “To provide certainty and stability for industry, our view is that it would not be appropriate for the offer to launch until we issue our final decision.”

The change of heart from Ofcom seems at least in part to have been driven by comments from Philip Jansen, CEO of BT Group in an interview with the Financial Times where he claimed “There is only going to be one national network” and questioned the need for multiple providers.

Controversially the article was headlined “BT chief warns Openreach fibre push will ‘end in tears’ for rivals”
Today’s announcement will in particular please the altnets who were claiming via INCA that Equinox2 was putting £25 billion of investment into the UK full fibre infrastructure at risk. INCA CEO, Malcolm Corbett had said that the early decision by Ofcom had shown complete disregard for the “many smaller market entrants and the billions of pounds invested in those networks”.

Quite the bombshell from @Ofcom this morning. I’ll do a write up of my thoughts later today, but one thing that jumped out to me, was the line “we will be vigilant to ensure that all involved stick to the letter and *spirit* of the rules”. That’s new. 1/2

— Tim Creswick (@TimCreswick) March 17, 2023

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Amongst the comments on the decision was Tim Creswick, CEO and Founder of Vorboss who took to Twitter describing the decision as “Quite the bombshell” whilst CityFibre CEO, Greg Mesch, commented “Ofcom appears to be taking industry’s concerns seriously. Taking more time to properly consider the impact of Equinox 2 is the right approach if UK consumers and businesses are to benefit from a healthy competitive market for the long term.”

Hear more about investment in UK full fibre infrastructure by joining us at Connected North, taking place in Manchester on 17 – 18 April 2023

UK ISP Virgin Media (VMO2) last launched a new promotion today that discounts the price of their standalone “Gig1 Fibre Broadband” package – offering average speeds of 1130Mbps down and 52Mbps up – to just £30 per month for the first 6 months of service (£50 thereafter) on a 24-month term. Plus, the setup is […]

O2 (VMO2) has just become the last of the four primary mobile providers to start deploying their ultrafast 5G (mobile broadband) service on the London Underground (tube trains), which have been deployed on the Central Line between Queensway and Holland Park, and on the Northern Line between Kentish Town and Archway. On the Central Line, […]

Rural broadband ISP Airband has announced that they’re currently tackling one of the “most challenging installations” of full fibre technology that they’ve “ever seen” in the historic North Devon (England) village of Clovelly, which sits perched on a cliff-top, complete with steep, narrow cobbled streets and 300 residents. The build appears to form part of […]

Startup Story

Enthusiast founded Dutch startup, Usafe, is setting out to reclaim online privacy from tech giants and give it back to the user

Tell us about your startup
Usafe is a tech startup that focuses on managing digital identities to restore privacy to individuals from the grip of technology companies.

The company intends to achieve this by providing individuals with a clear view of the flow of their data. Usafe’s approach is based on three fundamental concepts: zero-knowledge proof, decentralized identity, and ongoing user education.

Established in 2019 by a talented team of experts, Usafe seeks to collaborate with established identity providers, such as banks, insurance companies, and governments, to enhance personal online privacy and establish an innovative approach to online security.

What is your USP?
Usafe’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP) can be summarized as follows:

Enhanced Security: Our decentralized platform architecture reduces the threat of data breaches, providing robust protection for sensitive information.
Elevated Privacy: The platform provides users with full control over their personal information, enabling them to access and share it as they see fit.
Empowered User Control: The solution empowers users to manage their digital identity and information in accordance with their preferences.
Interoperability: The platform is designed to be compatible with multiple platforms and devices, making it accessible from anywhere.
User-friendly: Our solution is easy to use, requires no technical knowledge, and can be accessed through an internet connection and a device.

What is your relationship with the telecom sector?
Telecom companies have a large customer base and have established trust with their clients, providing access to verified customer data. Usafe’s solution enables telecom companies to efficiently enter the competitive digital identity market.

By leveraging their existing customer data and relationship, telecom companies can offer digital identity solutions that are secure and trustworthy, thereby expanding their product portfolio.

How have you got to your current stage of development?
Our current stage of development is the result of a combination of passion for technology and problem-solving. The company was founded by individuals who are driven to create innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Currently, we have developed a working prototype that is ready to be deployed on actual infrastructure and integrated with relevant stakeholders.

Why did you establish the business?
Usafe was established as a response to the founders’ personal experiences with data breaches and privacy violations. Recognizing the need for a solution to these challenges, the founders leveraged their technical expertise as engineers to design and develop a product that would address these problems. Their experience and expertise in solving technical problems, coupled with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals in protecting their personal information, led to the creation of Usafe – a product aimed at providing users with secure and private digital identities. The company was founded with a strong focus on making a positive impact on the world by helping people regain control over their personal information.

Who inspired you?
We were inspired by the experiences of those around us who have suffered from data breaches and privacy violations. We saw the frustration, anger, and helplessness that resulted from these incidents and were motivated to find a solution that would empower individuals and give them back control over their personal information. The company was inspired by the many individuals who have been impacted by these challenges and sought to make a positive difference in the world by addressing this problem.

What does the future hold for your business?
Regarding the future of Usafe, we strongly believe that the decentralization of digital identities is the way to go. We are proud to be part of a company that is at the forefront of this industry and we are excited to see where it will go in the future. We know that this market will become more competitive over time, but we are confident that the benefits our product brings to internet users make it all worth it. We are committed to continuing to improve our solution, so that we can provide the best possible digital identity experience for our users.

COMPANY CV
Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
URL: https://www.usafe.digital/blog
CO-FOUNDER: Aleksandr Arakelov

Usafe will showcase their solutions at the Total Telecom Congress Startup Village at the event in The RAI this November. If you would like your startup to participate, visit the website to find out more: totaltele.com/congress

 

Press Release

ST Engineering iDirect’s leading Mx-DMA® MRC waveform technology will enable Mexican connectivity service provider Aitelecom/APCO Networks (Aitelecom) to support services on its new MicroGEO satellites that will be built by satellite manufacturer, Astranis Space Technologies (Astranis). The satellites and ground infrastructure will deliver critical connectivity for 4G cellular backhaul and enterprise services across Mexico and part of Central America. Deployed on Aitelecom’s existing Dialog® platform, the services will be made available to hundreds of sites across the country and part of Central America.

This agreement further strengthens the long-standing relationship between ST Engineering iDirect and Aitelecom and creates a roadmap for the future which will see the companies evolve together to meet Aitelecom’s current and future requirements.

The demand for cellular backhaul services across Mexico has seen a major surge in recent years. In 2022, more than 74 percent of mobile phone users in Mexico accessed the internet through their mobile phone. By 2027, it is projected that this will rise to around 88 percent [1].

ST Engineering iDirect’s Mx-DMA MRC return technology and GTP acceleration was a critical consideration for Aitelecom as it will enable the company to serve a myriad of use cases in a single return link without making tradeoffs between speed, efficiency and scale. This also lowers their total cost of ownership, whilst minimizing network configuration complexity and creating flexible connectivity for all LTE/4G types of sites. Mx-DMA MRC will empower Aitelecom to scale its services while simplifying its operations, sharing capacity seamlessly and very efficiently amongst its user terminals, and satisfying the most demanding throughput requirements presented by its MNO and enterprise customers.

The MicroGEO satellites from U.S.-based Astranis are small and highly capable spacecraft that are designed and manufactured at a rapid pace in comparison with larger GEO satellites, and at a lower cost. The satellites are slated for launch in Q3 2024 and will enable Aitelecom to go to market rapidly, delivering high-speed, flexible services with advanced ground infrastructure to match.

“We are excited and motivated to take the next step in our company’s evolution towards a fully vertically integrated service provider controlling our own destiny in terms of capacity, technology and service delivery,” said Orlando Castillo, CEO of Aitelecom. “With ST Engineering iDirect´s Mx-DMA MRC as the focal technology, we are confident that service continuity, quality of service and unparalleled support will be paramount in the delivery of our solutions to our customers.”

“We are excited to partner with Aitelecom and ST Engineering iDirect to offer an end-to-end, managed service for our customers,” said Astranis Chief Commercial Officer, Doug Abts. “This offering will allow us to expand high-speed coverage throughout Mexico, offering a turnkey service for an affordable price.”

“The sheer flexibility of Mx-DMA MRC will enable Aitelcom to serve the burgeoning markets in Mexico and Central America in the most operationally and cost optimal manner,” said Darren Ludington, Regional Vice President, Americas at ST Engineering iDirect. “Extending our commitment and partnerships with Aitelecom allows them to augment their service delivery to reach new parts of the region.”

[1] Source: Statista

 

Ofcom has this morning announced that they will need “an additional two months” to undertake further analysis of Openreach’s “Equinox 2” discount scheme, which will delay the operator’s planned 1st April 2023 launch of cheaper wholesale prices on their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband ISP products. In case anybody has forgotten, Openreach were preparing to introduce another […]

Mobile benchmarking firm Opensignal has published the results of their latest study, which reveals that the fastest UK city for 5G (mobile broadband) internet download speeds is Birmingham (162.7Mbps), while the West Midlands in England tops the table for fastest UK regions on 151.4Mbps. The report is based off crowdsourced data gathered from users on […]

Press Release

Lightpath, an all-fiber, infrastructure-based connectivity provider that is revolutionizing how organizations connect to their digital destinations, announced today the launch of an enhanced national long-haul network that will offer high bandwidth wavelength and Ethernet services between Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Ashburn, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Miami.

Lightpath customers can choose bandwidth options up to 100 Gbps, in the form of a wavelength service or switched Ethernet service. Long-haul customers can also easily scale up their bandwidths as their demands change over time. This high-performance network will also serve as the intercity backbone connecting Lightpath’s core markets of New York Metro, Boston Metro, and Miami Metro.

Additionally, Lightpath now offers long-haul customers the ability to connect locally in non-core long-haul cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Ashburn. Lightpath can offer these customers all-fiber connectivity from the local, long-haul point-of-presence to their specified end location.

“Many Lightpath customers require powerful connectivity between major cities – connectivity that is reliable as well as easily scalable. This enhanced long-haul network will address those needs, while adding the ability to connect them locally – all in a single bundle from Lightpath, with Lightpath support standing behind it,” commented Chris Morley, CEO of Lightpath. “These long-haul enhancements create a cohesive and powerful long-haul solution that offers customers incredible performance with the highest levels of reliability.”

Lightpath announced its entrance into the Miami market in late 2022. Lightpath customers can now easily connect in-and-out of Miami and have access to the entire Lightpath network of over 20,000 route miles of fiber connecting over 13,500 service locations. Lightpath’s Miami network will connect diversely to the Lightpath network through Atlanta and Dallas.

This enhanced long-haul network also opens up connectivity options for customers seeking to utilize Lightpath’s previously announced New York to Ashburn express route, that is geographically diverse from typical routes along Interstate 95. For customers with end points in Ashburn, this route offers direct connectivity back to locations in the New York Metro region.

 

 

VIEWPOINT

With 5G making its way into the mainstream, telcos need superior antenna efficiencies to improve the user experience and leverage new revenue opportunities. In addition, telecom services are using more energy than ever before as more and more devices are connected and 5G offers extraordinary possibilities to drive new use cases from technologies like IoT, Edge, and Cloud.

Telcos not only have a social responsibility to save energy and reduce emissions, but they also need to do so in order to reduce energy costs. Huawei, a global provider of ICT solutions, is working closely with the industry to address this issue by developing new power-efficient innovations that will boost energy savings and enable telcos to build networks that are extraordinarily efficient.

“One of the biggest focus areas for telcos is energy efficiency. In the past decade the industry focused on gains from shrinking dimensions but neglected efficiency. Now we must place emphasis on efficacy as efficient antenna will contribute to a highly efficient network,” says Eric Zhao, President of Huawei Antenna Business Unit.

SDIF Technology brings high efficiency to antenna

There has been a greater focus of Huawei antenna toward higher network energy efficiency. Understandably, antennas play a pivotal role in wireless networks as they are the medium of RF energy transmission to mobile devices.

“If we can improve antenna efficiency, we can reduce the loss of energy during transmission, and that’s going to save energy consumption,” Eric adds.

Huawei says that its highly energy-efficient antenna with Signal Direct Injection Feeding (SDIF) technology helps telcos maximise energy saving while improving coverage. As a result, they can increase coverage and save energy.

The numerous cables and independent components inside an antenna are replaced by SDIF technology. Further, the traditional wires are replaced by metal striplines and the input and output are directly connected by metal striplines. As a result, there is no loss because the structure is directly connected.

Huawei’s unique SDIF technology has been designed for all antenna scenarios, and the company says that the antenna series is designed to meet the band- and region-specific configuration requirements, helping telcos get about a 20% increase in the energy efficiency of all bands.

Antenna innovation is moving towards generalized efficiency.

Eric further said that antenna innovation shall move towards a more comprehensive aspect. We can call it generalized antenna efficiency, it includes:

RF efficiency, reduce the internal energy loss in antennas, reduce the waste of energy into heat and convert more energy into electromagnetic waves for network coverage.

Coverage efficiency means project more energy into the target area. This maximizes the signal strength of the area where coverage is required and reduces the interference of the location where coverage is not required. For example, based on Huawei’s latest Meta Lens technology, by managing antenna pattern to ensure power is concentrated in the appropriate directions, operators will get better network performance from high coverage efficiency.

And Beamforming efficiency, means enables antenna focusing more energy to user device which need date transmission, and reduces interference to other user devices. This relies on high-precision hardware design to provide phase consistency between multiple arrays. In this way, users can obtain better service experience and network capacity is improved.

RF efficiency is a research field in the industry today and generalized antenna efficiency is the next research direction. Generalized antenna efficiency improvement will further help operators improve network energy efficiency and performance.

What’s next for telcos?

The ease of deployment will be one of the main problems for carriers as the year progresses. Huawei thinks that telcos will require new technologies and structural designs as networks continue to develop in order to boost their capacity while also making the network more deployable and more energy efficient.

“Antenna vendors need to be fully aware of the network development trends. The design must adhere to the target network’s requirements, which include beamforming functions, evolution capabilities, and more bands integration. Moreover, antenna deployability needs to be improved. More integration, reduced weight, and wind load are required. Via our leading-edge research labs, we will continue to advance fundamental technological research and promote new breakthroughs,” Eric adds.