Viewpoint

Elemendar is a startup that exhibited at this year’s Connected Britain, in our bigger than ever startup village! Find out more about them below

1. Tell us about your startup

Elemendar is a cybersecurity startup based in the UK, co-founded by Lior Arbel and Giorgos Georgopoulos. We use advanced AI technology to help organisations stay protected from cyber threats. Our mission is to enable security leadership to make informed security decisions effortlessly. Our key products, READ and Compass, assist analysts in comprehending complex threat reports and provide a comprehensive overview of an organisation’s threat landscape, guiding security leadership in prioritising and mitigating risks effectively.

2. What is your unique selling proposition (USP)?

Our unique selling proposition is our sophisticated AI technology that automates cyber threat analysis. This significantly reduces the time spent manually processing data, allowing our AI to perform this task quickly and accurately. Both our READ and Compass products exemplify this advantage. READ provides security analysts with rapid access to critical information, facilitating the protection of their organisations from potential threats. Meanwhile, Compass delivers a strategic overview, aiding security leadership in prioritising their responses to various threats and ensuring they make well-informed security decisions.

3. What is your relationship with telecommunications and connectivity?

The telecommunications industry is critical for businesses around the world, making it a frequent target for cyber threats. Elemendar collaborates with telecommunications and connectivity providers to enhance the security of their networks. Our AI-driven solutions offer better and faster insights into the threat landscape, allowing these providers to prioritise their efforts to protect their networks effectively.

4. How have you reached your current stage of development?

Our progress has been driven by innovative research, strategic partnerships, and continuous client feedback. From participating in the first NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre, UK) for Startups Accelerator in 2017, we have refined our algorithms and expanded our product offerings. Our journey has also involved leveraging IBM’s Hyper Protect Accelerator, which provided us with top-tier security and data privacy solutions, enabling us to access opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach for a startup.

5. Why did you establish the business?

We founded Elemendar because we recognised an increasing need for smarter, automated cybersecurity solutions. Traditional methods were struggling to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats. We aimed to equip organisations with tools to stay ahead of cyber adversaries, ensuring their assets are protected and maintaining trust with their clients.

6. What does the future hold for your business?

The future for Elemendar is promising. We plan to enhance our AI capabilities, expand our product range, and enter new markets. Under the leadership of our new CEO, Lior Arbel, we are poised for growth and innovation. We are particularly excited about further developing our READ and Compass products. READ will continue to enable analysts to extract actionable intelligence from threat reports efficiently, while Compass will provide security leadership with an even more strategic and comprehensive view of their threat landscape. Our goal is to make cybersecurity simpler and more effective for everyone.

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has told ISPreview that they’re “keeping a watching brief” on how Ofcom’s recent move to clampdown on confusing uses of “fibre” terminology (here) may impact their own guidance on advertising claims. But at present, the ASA and Ofcom’s position still appear to be in some conflict.

In case anybody overlooked Monday’s developments, Ofcom began enforcing new rules that only allowed broadband ISPs to use terms like “fibre” and “full-fibre” on their websites, and in contracts, if their network brings the fibre optic cables all the way to your home (i.e. FTTP, FTTH and also FTTB). The goal was to clear up some historic confusion between slower hybrid / part fibre (e.g. FTTC) and faster full fibre (FTTP/H) lines.

“From today, broadband providers will need to be clear and unambiguous about whether the network they use is a new ‘full-fibre’ network – with fibre all the way to a customer’s home – or a ‘part-fibre’, ‘copper’, or ‘cable’ network. Providers will no longer be able to use the term ‘fibre’ on its own,” said Ofcom.

However, the regulator’s rules were somewhat restricted, not least because they only focused upon information or descriptions offered “at point of sale on the website, and before the final purchase in contract information, and in the contract summary” (i.e. it doesn’t cover websites in their entirety). Ofcom also went a bit further by stating that the use of the word “fibre” on its own for describing the underlying technology is “ambiguous, and therefore should not be used to describe the underlying technology“.

The difficulty is that the regulator’s rules did not extend to ADVERTISING, which creates somewhat of a conflict with the historically indifferent approach of the Advertising Standards Authority. The ASA has often rebuffed attempts to ensure clearer uses of terminology in these areas (here and here), which over the years did cause some comical advertising (see article picture). This is also one of the reasons why BT, in its response to Ofcom’s original consultation on the change, similarly argued for the regulator to make clear that advertising would not be impacted (here).

Extract from BT’s Consultation Statement

Whilst we understand that Ofcom’s assessment is based on how to give customers more information to ensure they are making the right purchase decision, there is an inconsistency with the ASA’s approach to the term ‘fibre’. We would like Ofcom to make it clear that their position has no reflection on the ASA’s established position that using the term ‘fibre’ to describe FTTC in advertising is not misleading.”

However, most of the responses to Ofcom’s original consultation did agree that the advertising watchdog’s policy would ideally need to be updated in order to avoid inconsistencies. This is in fact something that the ASA itself similarly acknowledged may need to be re-examined.

Extract from the ASA’s Consultation Statement

“At the conclusion of Ofcom’s work we will, as an evidence-led regulator, consider any evidence provided by contributors if it has a bearing on our position. Assessing what impact any new standards have on wider advertising practices around fibre, we will evaluate whether the time is right to review our 2017 decision again in the light of more recent developments and any related new compelling evidence.”

The introduction of Ofcom’s new rules thus presents another opportunity for the ASA to conduct such a review, which is something that ISPreview asked them about again on Monday. A spokesperson for the ASA noted that Ofcom’s review “never tested for ‘misleadingness’” and reiterated that they are “keeping a watching brief on if/how the guidance impacts on advertising claims.”

The ASA’s “watching brief” includes responding to complaints and consumer concerns in this area, while at the same time keeping “under review” if or how their own guidance might need to “evolve to reflect any changes in consumer understanding/expectations around fibre broadband.”

At this point it’s worth noting that the ASA has, over the past year, clamped down on a number of adverts that strayed into a similar field. For example, they stopped broadband ISP 6G Internet (IX Wireless) from creating some confusion with the future 6G mobile standard (here) – 6Gi are separately now rebranding to Opus Broadband – and later slapped the same provider for promoting their wireless service as “full fibre” (here).

Granted, the above example is arguably from the extreme end of the debate, although it does indicate that the ASA is capable of recognising why such confusions may need to be addressed. But only time will tell whether they’re willing to align more closely with Ofcom’s new position.

Back in 2018 the ASA claimed, based on its own consumer surveys, that “fibre” wasn’t a priority identified by consumers when choosing a package; that consumers did not notice “fibre” claims in ads and that they saw it as a shorthand buzzword to describe modern fast broadband. Respondents told the ASA that they did not believe they would change their previous decisions, even after the differences between those and broadband services that use fibre optic cables all the way to the home were explained to them.

Residents of the tiny Monmouthshire (Wales) village of Llangwm, which is covered by Voneus’ full fibre (FTTP) broadband ISP network, have complained about the dire state of local internet connectivity and missed medical appointments because the local service is often said to be “sporadic” and “slow“.

The community, which is home to just over 400 people, sits in a very remote and rural area some 3 miles (4.8km) east of Usk. As a result of this, the village can suffer from poor mobile signals and isn’t reached by Openreach’s hybrid fibre (FTTC / VDSL2) broadband network, although it is possible to get a slow ADSL line in parts of the community.

Happily the situation started to improve in 2021, which occurred after alternative network operator Broadway Partners (Broadway Broadband) began to deploy a new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across the village and several other locations as part of a £2m scheme – supported by Monmouthshire County Council (here).

At this point our regular readers may well recall that Broadway Partners fell into administration in May 2023, which was said to have been caused by “adverse macroeconomic issues, including raising interest rates and inflation, in a highly competitive environment“ (here). Network operator Voneus ultimately ended up acquiring the operator’s network a few months later (here).

According to the BBC News, internet connectivity in Llangwm has suffered as a result of the fallout from Broadway’s troubles, while new owner Voneus appears to be struggling to get on top of things. The complaints highlight long service outages, extremely slow speeds, a lack of support from Voneus (their service status page for Monmouthshire highlights no problems), as well as difficulty accessing popular websites and other online services. Not what you’d expect from a modern FTTP network.

A spokesperson for Voneus said:

“We greatly appreciate the community’s patience and understanding whilst we continue to upgrade the network, and we are confident that the changes we’re making will result in a stronger, more dependable network for everyone in the community.”

According to Voneus, the infrastructure it acquired from Broadway “did not meet our high standards” and they are now “investing significantly to upgrade the network“. The provider also apologised for its poor communication and customer service in the area and said they are “working hard to improve the network“. But it remains unclear how long locals will have to wait for that improvement to arrive.

The situation in the community appears to echo some of the recent complaints from the Shropshire (England) village of Brockton (Lydbury North), which is also served Voneus and suffered from a protracted period of connectivity woes (here). But the cause in that situation was rather different and has since been resolved.

Rural broadband ISP Wildanet has moved to improve their network testing and monitoring by adopting a solution from VIAVI, which will enable the operator to “detect and resolve any network issues quickly” on their new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) infrastructure in Cornwall and Devon (England).

By the sounds of it, Wildanet intend to adopt VIAVI’s remote fibre test system, ONMSi, which will enable them to first verify the quality of its network as it is being built and then to monitor the fibre – “allowing Wildanet engineers to respond quickly to the exact location of an issue, should one arise.” Several other UK operators also use something similar.

Justin Clark, Wildanet’s Chief Operating Officer, said:

“Our partnership with VIAVI allows us to leverage world-class technology and enhance the confidence we have that as we build our network we have that quality assurance built-in.”

The provider, which originally started life as a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband provider in the same area, has more recently been deploying gigabit-capable full fibre broadband lines – both commercially and via public investment. Wildanet is estimated to have so far covered around 30,000 premises (Ready for Service), which puts them a bit behind the 50k target that was previously set for the end of 2023.

In January 2023 the operator also secured the £36m state aid fuelled Project Gigabit broadband contract to cover more than 19,250 premises in Cornwall (here), which was followed in April 2024 by a £41.2m contract to connect 16,800 premises across the rest of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (here). Both are designed to complement their existing commercial build.

Residential customers of the service pay from £29 per month to receive a 200Mbps (40Mbps upload) package on a 24-month term with free installation, which rises to £69 if you want their top 900Mbps (200Mbps upload) package. The provider also offers a Social Tariff for those on state benefits, which gives you 50Mbps (20Mbps upload) speeds for just £19 per month on a 12-month contract.

Broadband satellite ISP Brdy has stepped in to help homes in the Surrey (England) village of Bramley, specifically the small number of properties that may be finding it difficult to get a working fixed-line internet connection due to the ongoing and long-running underground petrol leak in the area (here).

Brdy claims that, due to the disruptions being caused by the petrol leak, “hundreds” of locals have been left “without internet as Openreach faces delays due to safety concerns about accessing underground cables“. But take note that, so far as we’re aware, most local premises are still connected to their fixed-line service (although it’s possible that a few may be struggling due to restrictions on local engineering activity).

The operator notes that “temporary mobile masts are helping the emergency services“, but it adds that “businesses and residents are still desperate for a solution” and claims that its satellite solution can offer an alternative. Brdy are thus offering 2-months of free service to affected customers (although you still have to pay £5 per month for hardware rental, which is on top of the usual monthly sub).

Residential packages cost from £29.90 per month on a 30-day plan for download speeds of 25-75Mbps or £54.90 for 75-150Mbps (these seem to use Eutelsat’s satellites), although your speeds will be reduced by an unspecified amount after you use up your priority data allowance (100GB and 300GB per month, respectively). However, it’s unclear whether Brdy supports Ofcom’s new One Touch Switch (OTS) migration system, which is now mandatory for all UK ISPs.

Brdy are separately able to provide Starlink based packages for businesses, but then Starlink can also offer those directly.

Brdy Statement

This service provides immediate connectivity to homes and businesses affected by communications disruptions, offering an alternative to traditional broadband which relies on underground cables. Affected businesses, such as Bramley Barbers, have been severely affected, with some facing financial difficulties due to the lack of internet, landline, and telephone connections. Although temporary mobile masts are helping the emergency services, businesses and residents are still desperate for a solution.

Councillor Jane Austin highlighted the worsening situation in the village, saying some businesses were on the brink of closure. While Openreach continues to work with the relevant authorities to resolve the issue, the lack of a clear end date has left residents frustrated. The delays have increased calls for alternative communications solutions, such as satellite broadband.

Brdy’s flexible and affordable options can bypass the damaged infrastructure, ensuring both homes and local businesses can get back online without further delay. With fast installation and affordable prices, Brdy’s satellite broadband can fill the gap and provide much needed stability in Bramley.

If your internet connectivity has been affected by the petrol leak in Bramley, contact Brdy today to restore your connectivity and take advantage of the 2-month free service offer for affected customers by quoting “BRAMLEYSURREY2024”.

Debt-troubled UK ISP TalkTalk has this afternoon issued a second update on their recently agreed refinancing package, which was announced on 12th August 2024 (here and here) and is said to be worth around £400m. As of today, 100% of the RCF and over 97% of bondholders have now signed up to the binding Lock-Up Agreement.

The deal essentially extended the group’s debt maturities to September 2027 and buys them more time to fix the foundations, or to find a buyer for the parts of their business that can still be saved. The latest update confirms that TalkTalk has now secured almost total support from the key parties, making it easier to proceed.

Refinancing Update: Update on support level for the transaction

Further to the announcement on 2nd September, the Company is pleased to announce that additional [revolving credit facility] lenders and bondholders have entered into the binding Lock-Up Agreement supporting the transaction.

As of 16th September 2024, 100% of the RCF and over 97% of bondholders have now signed up to the binding Lock-Up Agreement.

The level of support from lenders means the Company can now implement the transaction consensually via contractual amendments under the RCF and a consent solicitation and exchange offer, which is expected to be the quickest and most cost-effective implementation route.

The Company thanks creditors and stakeholders for their ongoing support and looks forward to closing the transaction in the coming months.

News

More than half of these jobs will be cut this month, with the full total to be cut by March next year, according to the operator

Back in June, Verizon announced its intention to cut around 4,800 jobs as part of wider restructuring. This “voluntary separation program” would impact US-based management positions and see the company’s 105,400-strong workforce reduced by around 4.5%.

This week, the initial cost of the job cutting measures has been revealed, with Verizon facing a $1.9 billion pre-tax charge in Q3 related to severance pay.

The majority of the job cuts are expected to be implemented this month, with the remainder to be carried out until March 2025.

In addition to these cuts, the company also expects to record charges of $230 million to $380 million during the same period related to the company ceasing to use real estate assets and exiting non-strategic portions of certain businesses, according to reports.

Combined, these measures are expected to make up a large part of CEO Hans Vestberg’s plans to save Verizon up to $3 billion by 2025.

Verizon – alongside its competitors AT&T and T-Mobile – has been attempting to slimline its workforce for a number of years now, citing a highly competitive marketplace and a struggle for organic growth. Last year alone saw the company scrap over 6,600 jobs, with a large number of these jobs reportedly being shifted oversees.

In total, the company has reduce its headcount by around 34,000 since Vestberg’s inauguration in 2018.

It should be noted, however, that Verizon is not tightening the purse strings across the board – in fact, quite the opposite.

Earlier this month, Verizon signed a deal to purchase fibre network operator Frontier Communications for $9.6 billion. The deal, the largest in Verizon’s history, will add around 2.2 million broadband subscribers to its footprint in 25 states.

Vestberg described the deal as a ‘strategic fit’, arguing that growth in the broadband market would be more achievable compared to mobile.

How is the US connectivity landscape shifting in 2024? Join the industry in discussion at Connected America

Also in the news:
CMA questions Vodafone–Three merger after second probe
UK govt to class data centres as critical national infrastructure
Connected Britain 2024: The Award Winners

News 

The company initially received backlash back in June before an intervention from the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) 

Meta has announced that it will begin training its AI models using public content shared by users on Facebook and Instagram in the UK, having paused the training in June due to regulatory clashes. 

The company intends to start this process in the coming months, with customers of their platforms to be informed via in-app notification.  

Meta argues that the use of this training will allow the company’s AI models to better reflect British culture, history, and language. In reality, of course, this is more about accessing the many millions of posts that will help to enhance their product offerings and maintaining a competitive edge against rival models. 

The decision follows discussions with the ICO after Meta paused its AI training in the UK to address regulatory concerns. Meta has since received clarity from the ICO, which confirmed that using public data under the legal basis of “Legitimate Interests” is acceptable. As a result, Meta expects its AI models to launch in the UK sooner than originally planned. 

Stephen Almond, Executive Director Regulatory Risk at the ICO has released the following statement:  

“Meta has since [since June] made changes to its approach, including making it simpler for users to object to the processing and providing them with a longer window to do so. Meta has now taken the decision to resume its plans and we will monitor the situation as Meta moves to inform UK users and commence processing in the coming weeks.” 

“We have been clear that any organisation using its users’ information to train generative AI models needs to be transparent about how people’s data is being used. Organisations should put effective safeguards in place before they start using personal data for model training, including providing a clear and simple route for users to object to the processing. The ICO has not provided regulatory approval for the processing and it is for Meta to ensure and demonstrate ongoing compliance.” 

Meta remains under scrutiny from various regulators over its handling of consumer data, particularly in Europe where the rollout of its Generative AI products remain paused as a result of regulatory inquiry.  

Keep up to date with the latest telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter 

Also in the news:
CMA questions Vodafone–Three merger after second probe
UK govt to class data centres as critical national infrastructure
Connected Britain 2024: The Award Winners

The HGAP programme allows businesses to access free support from Gateley Global to overcome their barriers to growth and manage it sustainably. Those businesses that meet the eligibility criteria will be appointed a Key Account Manager (KAM) that will work with them to agree a growth ambition, baseline their current position, identify key challenges, and implement and monitor a plan for growth.

The KAM from the HGAP will provide ongoing, intensive support to implement the agreed growth strategy, using the considerable resources of professional services group Gateley and the large active network of professionals in the WMCA region. There are over 100 service offerings available to eligible businesses, including, but not limited to: strategy and business model development, leadership development, go-to-market strategy, governance, tax, and legal services, finance, HR, IP rights and valuations, commercial property, overseas markets, R&D tax advice, regulatory advice, and capital allowances.

To be eligible for the programme, businesses must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Have increased revenue or headcount by more than 20% for the past 2 years
Carry out 75% of their activities within Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, or Wolverhampton
Have a revenue of between £1 million and £36 million or have received funding of >£500,000 in the past 3 years
Have under 250 employees

The programme is entirely free of cost, with access to Gateley Global’s specialists backed by WMCA.

Dr Jamie Elliott, Delivery Manager – Business, WMCA said: “The High Growth Accelerator Programme is a game-changer for businesses in the West Midlands region, offering invaluable support at no cost. By participating, companies can tap into expert guidance tailored to their specific needs, helping them navigate challenges and unlock new growth opportunities. This programme is an excellent way for businesses to sharpen their competitive edge, drive innovation, and ensure long-term success in the region’s thriving economy.”

“The HGAP supports promising Midlands-based businesses to accelerate their growth, with access to our award-winning consultants to create, manage, and advise on the best strategy for success,” commented Rebecca Bekkenutte, Managing Director of Gateley Global. “This is a fantastic opportunity for business across the region to identify their pain points and overcome them — completely free of charge.”

The programme is specifically looking for businesses from the following sectors: aerospace, electric vehicle manufacturing, health and medical technology, logistics and distribution, professional and financial services, creative content production, future housing manufacturing, modern or low-carbon utilities, very light rail, 5G adoption, and e-commerce.

Are you the director of a business that meets the eligibility criteria, and are looking for complimentary support to accelerate high growth? Express your interest by filling in this form.

Rome, 13 September 2024

Sparkle, the first international service provider in Italy and among the top global operators, announces a new agreement with Nexim Global, Italo-American telecommunication operator, for the provision of International IP Transit and other IP services. The agreement was signed in Amsterdam during the IBC2024 event that draws together the global media, entertainment, and technology industry to share insights and expertise and create business opportunities.

Nexim Global provides a robust international backbone infrastructure and a globally distributed content delivery network (CDN), specializing in media broadcasting and distribution services. With over 8,600 km of fiber optic network, Nexim Global offers unmatched expertise in delivering high-performance multimedia solutions. In addition to media services, Nexim provides on-demand broadcast and AV contribution services for international clients, as well as global connectivity solutions.

Under the agreement, Sparkle will provide IP Transit at its Point of Presence (PoP) in Milan, along with DDoS protection and other IP services in Amsterdam and Frankfurt, enabling Nexim to achieve high-speed, low-latency access to the global Internet, thus enhancing its customers’ online experience. The two operators thus strengthen their collaboration which also includes other synergies in the field of international connectivity.

The deal with Nexim confirms Sparkle as a partner of choice for the media & broadcasting industry offering ultra-fast and energy efficient Internet connections.

About Sparkle

Sparkle is TIM Group’s Global Operator, first international service provider in Italy and among the top worldwide, offering a full range of infrastructure and global connectivity services – capacity, IP, SD-WAN, colocation, IoT connectivity, roaming and voice – to national and international Carriers, OTTs, ISPs, Media/Content Providers, and multinational enterprises. A major player in the submarine cable industry, Sparkle owns and manages a network of more than 600,000 km of fiber spanning from Europe to Africa and the Middle East, the Americas and Asia. Its sales force is active worldwide and distributed over 33 countries.

Find out more about Sparkle following its X and LinkedIn profiles or visiting the website tisparkle.com

Media Contacts:

sparkle.communication@tisparkle.com

X: @TISparkle