New and existing customers on some of Virgin Media’s (VMO2) home broadband packages look set to see a small speed boost (both downloads and uploads) from 1st November 2022 at no extra charge. The full details have not yet been officially confirmed, but those on the operator’s M100 and M200 packages will see the main […]

Rochdale-based UK ISP Zen Internet, which is certified as a B Corporation, has officially commitment to the new Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) with an ambition to achieve Net-Zero by 2040 (i.e. removing as many carbon emissions as they produce). At this point it’s worth noting that Zen previously set their Net Zero target for 2028 […]

News

The regulator’s latest announcement brings the number of private 5G licences allocated in France to 13

Back in March, French telecoms regulator Arcep announced a number of new measures to help manufacturers and other vertical industries to improve their access to 5G, including setting aside a block of spectrum in the 3.8–4.0 GHz band to be used directly for experimental industrial 5G use cases.

Since this announcement, Arcep has already allocated 10 localised spectrum licences to interested companies. Orange has the largest allocation, with three separate licences located in Charbonnières-les-Bains, Balma, and Paris

Additional licences are held by Bouygues Telecom, NTT, Transatel, Schneider Electric, Alsatis, EDF, and French research group CEA.

Each of these localised licences authorise the companies to use up to 100 MHz of spectrum in the dedicated band for a period of up to three years.

Now, French regulator Arcep has announced the new trio of companies to receive a licence following a successful applications process: the University Hospital Institute of Strasbourg, SNCF Réseau, and Capgemini.

The University Hospital Institute of Strasbourg is set to explore 5G’s ability to deliver “a new generation of smart operating rooms”, using private 5G to facilitate AI-assisted personalised and secure minimally-invasive operations.

The project is part of the wider “5G-OR” project, one of the four winners of the ‘Technical developments and application ecosystems for 5G private networks’ competition supported by the French and German governments.

SNCF Réseau’s application, meanwhile, relates to the ‘5G Living Labs” project, providing three separate locations within the city of Rennes for developers to develop 5G use cases.

Finally, Capgemini intends to enhance its existing 5G Lab in Issy-les-Moulineaux, using the additional spectrum bolster its current operations.

Arcep will continue to collect submissions for further allocations until the end of 2022.

Private mobile networks are one of the hottest topics in the telecoms industry right now. To find out more about this fascinating topic, join the experts in discussion at this year’s live Total Telecom Congress

Also in the news:
Understanding the telco’s role in the IoT market
Startup Stories: A new approach to telecoms consultancy
MTN Group joins the Telecom Infra Project’s Board of Directors

The post Arcep gives green light for three more private 5G network licences first appeared on Total Telecom.

New customers of broadband ISP BT can currently get the first 3 months of service completely free across their various hybrid fibre FTTC and full fibre FTTP packages, which could save you up to £167.97 off the price of their top “Full Fibre 900Mbps” tier. Customers can expect to receive an included wireless router, a […]

Rural broadband ISP Quickline has announced that they’re creating a new 16-strong infrastructure Build Team, which will be tasked with helping the operator to accelerate their deployment of a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based “ultrafast broadband” network across North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England. From installing track, cabling and splicing to making fibre connections […]

Press Release

Zen Internet has approved near and long-term science-based emissions reductions targets with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), as well as targeting net-zero science-based target by 2040

Zen Internet has responded to the SBTi’s urgent call for corporate climate action by committing to align with 1.5o C and net-zero through the Business Ambition for 1.5oC campaign.

As part of this commitment and validation, Zen has also become part of Race to Zero. Race to Zero is the UN-backed global campaign rallying to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time.

Zen is joining the SBTi’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign – the world’s largest and fastest-growing group of companies that are aligning with 1.5°C by making critical contributions to limiting the worst impacts of climate change and setting a net-zero target in line with a 1.5oC future. Zen’s commitment has been validated by the SBTi and is published by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the UN Global Compact and We Mean Business.

Zen’s path to net-zero will cover not only its own emissions, but also those that the company is indirectly responsible for, such as those created throughout its supply chain. The telecoms business has committed to set near- and long-term company-wide emission reductions in line with science-based net-zero with the SBTi to reduce:

·       Absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 50% by FY2028 from a FY2021 base year

·       Absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 50% by FY2030 from a FY2021 base year

·       Absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions 90% by 2040 from a 2021 base year

Force for good

The only Which? Recommended Provider for Broadband, Zen is a business committed, through its B Corporation certification and Carbon Neutral status, to having a positive impact on people and the planet.

Recent attention on telecoms, and the wider technology industry, makes Zen’s pledge a significant shift towards greater positive actions, more accountability and transparency, and acknowledgement of the responsibilities of businesses on the world around them.

Paul Stobart, CEO at Zen, comments: “The Race to Zero is something I am not only professionally, but personally passionate about. It is therefore of the utmost importance to us, that while we run our business at Zen, we strive to make a positive difference to the world. Achieving B Corp certification in 2020 was a big milestone for us and today having our commitments validated by SBTi is another demonstration that we are not just paying lip service to the sustainability agenda, but have transparent objectives that we are determined to meet. We’re under no illusions that this involves a huge amount of work within the business, but it’s something that is non-negotiable for us. We want to show the industry that it’s possible to be a successful business without neglecting our social responsibilities.”

“Our commitments will focus on collaboration and action. Cross-industry collaboration will be key to achieving Scope 3 targets. For our own Scope 1 & 2 we have a number of initiatives in place from swapping out gas use in our HQ and refurbishing the equipment we send out to customers to minimise manufacturing to investments in our data centre for increased efficiencies.”

Are the UK’s operators doing enough to tackle the growing climate crisis? Join the telecoms community in discussion at Total Telecom’s upcoming Connected North conference

Also in the news:
Understanding the telco’s role in the IoT market
Startup Stories: A new approach to telecoms consultancy
MTN Group joins the Telecom Infra Project’s Board of Directors 

The post Race to Zero: Zen commits to Science-Based Targets initiative with ambition to achieve Net-Zero by 2040 first appeared on Total Telecom.

NEWS

Since 1999 the World Communication Awards have recognised innovation and excellence for global telecoms and so it is a logical step that

we now extend this to include the most exciting early-stage startups.

For several years we have been inviting ambitious startups to showcase their game changing solutions at our events, and this year we have gone a step further, recognising them at our awards.

We started this in September at the Connected Britain Awards where we named Curvalux the winner. Their solution to improve connectivity in suburban and rural areas not only caught our eyes but has also been recognised by Cambridge Broadband Networks Group (CBNG). The two annouced a merger in October, catapulting this award winner towards long term success.

Now we have gone one stage further adding a Startup of the Year category to this years WCA, with the winner to be one of ten shortlisted companies listed below. All can be found, along with many other innovative companies, in the Startup Village at Total Telecom Congress. The ten listed below will get to take part in a pitching competition judged by a panel overseen by well-known Strategy Advisor, Roland da Silva. The winner will be announced that evening at the 2022 World Communication Awards where they will pick up the iconic WCA sail trophy.

If you are interested to watch the startups pitch, you can observe the Startup Pitching Competition at Total Telecom Congress on the 1 November 2022, reserve your place HERE

MEET THE FINALISTS

Appsec Phoenix is a platform that helps you identify which vulnerability is going to hurt you most by prioritising the vulnerabilities and using Patent-pending AI and industry insight. It helps CISOs and executives set risk-based targets that translate to tasks for engineers.

Ariadne Maps provides an omnichannel solution for physical businesses such malls, airports, retailers that covers the holistic journey of their visitors. Ariadne’s solution anonymously and precisely tracks the customers’ in-premises activities, and measures the number of people, dwell time, heatmap, transitions between areas and more… without using application, network connection or cameras.

BrightBid is a AdTech company using AI and human expertise to create more refined Google Ads recommendations for businesses to drive customer acquisition. It enables companies to compete better in Google Search, seeing on average a 35% increase in results.

COYOSY claim to be “making ethically-made portable tech scalable,” covering all portable tech needs with two modular line-ups: Sense and Compute

FlexiFone say they are Europe’s first multi-network MVNO with 100% digital operations powered by eSIMs. They say customers can choose a carrier with the best coverage in their area and via subscription get a mobile plan and discounts on apps like Netflix, Disney+, VPNs, and more.

LabLabee is an interactive, on-demand, and gamified telco cloud skills platform. They believe they can make learning and training for telco cloud and other technologies, easier, more accessible, and more attractive for both students and professionals.

Net AI is a network intelligence company developing a deep traffic analytics platform that can reduces CAPEX/OPEX/TCO for mobile operators and enable new high-margin revenue streams.

PicUp have developed an AI powered platform that uses machine learning algorithms to identify every outbound call for the users and by that get more digital capabilities such as moving to chat and improving KPIs such as stopping spam and fraud, CX, increase sales, answer rate and more.

PixselChat allows communication in real time online without needing to know the other user’s language. PixselChat allows seamless translated conversation in real-time in over 100 languages in audio/video, text and synthesised voice using embedded AI.

TelWAI believes the future of surveillance is built on wireless mobile networks that can be rapidly deployed at low cost. TelWAI delivers the autonomous detection of security and safety threats by using its wireless AI-driven surveillance camera.

Good luck to all those pitching their businesses during the Total Telecom Congress. The winner will be revealed that evening at the World Communication Awards. Book your place at www.worldcommsawards.com

Total Telecom Congress takes place in London on the 1-2 November 2022. Operators / CSP’s and public sector employees can attend the conference free of charge – REGISTER HERE. We have a limited number of complimentary passes available for early stage startup investors, incubators and accelerators – to request one email rob.chambers@totaltele.com

The post Join Total Telecom as we recognise world class startups first appeared on Total Telecom.

NEWS

The new Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm, situated off the Yorkshire coast, is the largest in the world

This week, Vilicom, a BAI Communications (BAI) company, announces the successful live deployment of a Vodafone 4G mobile network at the world’s largest offshore wind farm in operation, Hornsea 2.

The windfarm itself, built by Danish firm Ørsted, became operational at the end of August and spans around 300 square miles of the North Sea, roughly 90km east of the Yorkshire coast. It will provide 1.3GW of renewable energy to the UK, enough to power over 1.4 million homes.

The wind farm’s LTE network will provide connectivity to the hundreds of staff that oversee the operation and maintenance of the wind farm, with the network coving not only the wind farm itself but also the route to and from port.

“Building a complete mobile infrastructure on an offshore wind farm is a technical challenge, but I’m delighted we’re able to provide the connectivity that Ørsted’s Hornsea 2 needs to connect to the outside world and be efficiently managed,” said Vodafone UK’s Business Director, Nick Gliddon. “It is testament to the great collaboration between us and Vilicom.”

The specific spectrum being used to operate the network has not been announced.

Vodafone and Vilicom have reportedly been working closely with the Ørsted team on the Hornsea 2 project for the past two years, including providing a temporary LTE solution throughout the project’s construction phase.

Offshore wind farms, naturally, present a difficult challenge when it comes to connectivity. Historically, offshore locations largely relied on very high frequency (VHF) radios or very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite technologies for their communications needs, but these carried inherent limitations when it came to bandwidth, latency, and reliability, particularly in rough weather.

More recently, however, it is mobile networks that are growing in popularity for offshore energy plants, being able to overcome their predecessors’ latency and bandwidth shortcomings.

Indeed, Ørsted itself appears particularly fond of using private mobile networks for their latest wind farm deployments, having worked with Chunghwa Telecom and Ericsson to deploy a private LTE network at their Greater Changhua 1 & 2a Offshore Wind Farms in the Taiwan Strait just last year. They also deployed a similar private LTE network in partnership with Norwegian connectivity specialist Tampnet for the Hornsea 1 wind farm, Hornsea 2’s smaller predecessor, earlier this year.

How is the telecoms industry stepping up to the sustainability challenge? How are connectivity choices for challenging geographies evolving? Join the experts in discussion on these topics and more at the upcoming Total Telecom Congress

Also in the news:
Understanding the telco’s role in the IoT market
Startup Stories: A new approach to telecoms consultancy
MTN Group joins the Telecom Infra Project’s Board of Directors

The post Vodafone and Vilicom unveil 4G network for offshore wind farm first appeared on Total Telecom.

U.K. altnet market are facing big challenges. It’s time to look past the network build—and even further past the “race to the bottom” (only focusing on speed and price).

The post An interview with David Green, Sales Director Cloud Solutions, Calix first appeared on Total Telecom.

VIDEO INTERVIEW

U.K. altnet market are facing big challenges. It’s time to look past the network build—and even further past the “race to the bottom” (only focusing on speed and price).

In a competitive landscape like this, subscribers crave more. They want to be truly delighted with a seamless solution, including services like security and parental controls. With customer acquisition as a top priority, ISPs should be thinking of ways to truly differentiate.

Calix helps ISPs position themselves heads above others. This cloud platform offers a subscriber-first mindset in its approach, giving true value for ISPs that translates directly into realized KPIs like resolution time improvement, reduced truck rolls, and improved Net Promoter Scores (NPS).

As Calix continues to add services in the U.S., ISPs in the U.K. will keep benefiting in big ways. Watch David Green from Calix share his thoughts on the current state in the U.K. market—and how Calix can help. Speak with a UK ISP expert today.

 

To find out more about Calix, please click here.

The post Avoid the race to the bottom on speed – how experience providers beat the competition by embracing managed services ~ David Green from Calix shares exclusive insights first appeared on Total Telecom.