Rural UK broadband ISP Truespeed, which is deploying a 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to homes in the South West of England (mostly in Devon, Wiltshire and Somerset), has revealed that they’ve now covered 91,000 premises (up from 75k in May 2023) and have over 17,000 customers (up from 15k). The operator, which holds an […]

A new survey of over 1,000 UK people, which was conducted by ExpressVPN, has found that 59% of respondents do not trust their neighbours with access to their home broadband ISP network via Wi-Fi and seemingly for good reasons – linked to privacy and security. But we assume this means 41% would still trust their […]

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The newly signed contract will strengthen the technological infrastructure of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), which manages more than 2.5 million UK flights each year   

A new deal between BT and NATS will see the UK telecoms giant upgrade the air traffic control specialist’s critical data network and cybersecurity systems across numerous sites. 

NATS manages all UK airspace from two air traffic control centres and provides air traffic services to 14 UK airports.  

As part of the deal, BT will be responsible for the modernisation and management of NATS’ network, as well as the company’s cybersecurity. The latter will involve the development of an upgraded cybersecurity system including a new proactive central coordination point for cyber resilience. 

“NATS is implementing a truly transformational technology programme to keep the skies safe and support our customers worldwide, so it is vital we have BT as industry leaders alongside us,” said Tim Bullock, NATS’ Supply Chain & Facilities Management Director. 

 “Secure, high-bandwidth connectivity is essential in keeping the UK’s air traffic moving in the future – so after many years of building world-class networks and cyber security for providers of critical national infrastructure, we are looking forward to delivering this now for NATS,” said Andy Rowe, BT’s Director of Central Government. 

“Under the partnership we will be responsible for both network provision and cyber security within the NATS strategic supplier ecosystem, and will be embarking on consolidating and modernising the entire network to build a world-class digital infrastructure that is fit for the future of air traffic management.” 

BT has worked with NATS for many years, including using them as a case study for their IP Connect network back in 2019. 

Join the conversation about the evolving UK telecoms landscape at this year’s Connected Britain   

Also in the news:
Sky Business considers buying up TalkTalk B2B unit
Australian govt launches Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation programme
SK Telecom to invest $100m in AI firm Anthropic  

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The operator has gained access to all of the spectrum it purchased at auction roughly four months ahead of schedule

Back in 2021, Verizon paid a whopping $45.5 billion at auction for 5G spectrum in the C-band, planning on using it at the backbone of their national 5G network.

However, there was a catch: some of the spectrum was currently being used by satellite operators, like Intelsat and SES, to provide video and radio services.

Thankfully, this issue had been foreseen well in advance by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which had introduced a plan in 2020 offering the satellite players incentives totalling almost $10 billion to clear the C-band spectrum quickly by December 2023. Since then, most satellite operators have moved swiftly to migrate their services off the C-band and therefore collect the sizable payouts.

Now, the roughly four months before the deadline for the satellite players to shift their services, Verizon has announced that the migration process is complete, and it now has access to the entirety of its C-band spectrum holdings.

As a result, it will begin to rollout the additional spectrum across the country, noting that this will allow 5G customers in some parts of the country double or even triple the current bandwidth.

“Early access to the remainder of the C-band spectrum puts us another four months ahead of schedule from our original projections. This additional spectrum will make 5G Ultra Wideband available to even more Americans and will open up more availability of our home and business broadband solutions,” said Joe Russo, EVP & President of Global Networks and Technology for Verizon. “The more spectrum we deploy on our network, the more capacity we add for our customers to connect.”

Making use of the newly freed-up spectrum is seemingly a simple task, with the operator’s existing 5G RAN only requiring a simple software update to integrate the additional airwaves.

Verizon had initially deployed 60MHz of C-band spectrum across 46 markets in 2022, a total that slowly expanded as the satellite operators gradually migrated away from the C-band. Now, full access to the company’s C-band holdings means the operator can provide a minimum of 140MHz of spectrum across the contiguous US, with an average of 161MHz.

In 158 markets in the US ­­– covering almost 40 million people – customers will have access to the full 200MHz of spectrum.

What impact will additional C-band spectrum have on 5G consumers in the US? Join the discussion at Connected America 2024, live in Dallas, Texas

Also in the news:
Cisco to buy-out Telenor from Working Group Two JV
Poland’s ‘largest ever’ broadband subsidy draws 300 applications
Italian government signs MoU to take minority stake in TIM’s NetCo 

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The two firms have been collaborating for over a decade on 4G and 5G innovations 

BT and Qualcomm Technologies have announced the continuation of their partnership with their 5G lab facilities based in Qualcomm’s offices in Hampshire. 

The facilities include 5G test labs using BT’s live environment, which allow the two firms to continue testing and authenticating new, innovative 5G technology. 

“By working directly with Qualcomm Technologies in an embedded 5G lab, we’ll be able to realise the benefits of closer working, helping to bring the next generation of technology to our customers sooner,” said Naveen Khapali at BT. 

‘Our state-of-the-art lab facilities will help facilitate and speed up the time-to-market, which means customers can benefit from the new technology sooner,’ said Bikrant Jain, Business Development Director at Qualcomm 

The two firms have been collaborating for over ten years on technological innovations. In April, for example, EE (owned by BT) set a 5G spectrum aggregation record, becoming the first European network to successfully aggregate 5G through seven different spectrum carriers, delivering the network’s fastest speeds to date. 

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

Also in the news:
Sky Business considers buying up TalkTalk B2B unit
Australian govt launches Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation programme
SK Telecom to invest $100m in AI firm Anthropic

Bournemouth-based communications, IT and broadband provider 4Com has recently been on somewhat of an acquisition spree, acquiring seven businesses over the past 16 months, and they’ve this week agreed their 8th purchase by acquiring part of FutureTel‘s (FT Security Systems Ltd) customer base for an undisclosed sum. The latest acquisition is the second such deal […]

Internet video stream giant Netflix has continued its steady move into the video gaming market this week by launching a “limited beta test” of their new remote play cloud gaming service, which is currently only available to a “small number” of broadband using customers in the United Kingdom and Canada on selected TVs. Over the […]

Budget broadband ISP Plusnet has today finally launched a SOGEA powered Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC / VDSL2) package, which is a standalone broadband connection that removes the accompanying phone service. Sadly, the provider still shows no sign of offering existing customers a digital (IP-based) phone solution. At the time of writing we still don’t have all the […]

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Telesat has awarded the contract to build 198 satellites its Lightspeed low Earth orbit (LEO) programme to space technology company MDA 

The contract is the largest in MDA’s history, being valued at around CA$2.1 billion (USD $1.56 billion), and will include the design, manufacture, and testing of the satellites, which will take place at MDA’s plant in Montreal. 

The programme will begin immediately, with Telesat aiming to launch its first satellites into orbit by 2026 and offer commercial services by 2027. 

The total cost for Lightspeed constellation is approximately $3.5 billion, which takes into account costs for launches, ground systems, and user terminal technology. Telesat will contribute CA$1.6 billion (USD $1.19 billion) in equity, and CA$2 billion (USD $1.49 billion) will come from Canadian government financing. 

This funding will be enough for the company to launch the first 156 satellites of the constellation, allowing it to offer global coverage. The remaining 42 satellites needed to complete the constellation will be launched gradually using the revenues generated from the constellation. 

“MDA is a world class satellite prime contractor with an impressive track record and a number of recent high profile, strategic space programmes announced, and it is a privilege to be working side-by-side with them on the flagship, game-changing Telesat Lightspeed constellation. MDA’s deep expertise as a LEO prime contractor, as well our own leading expertise in satellite operations and systems engineering, gives us the highest level of confidence in meeting our objectives,” said Dan Goldberg, Telestat’s President and CEO. 

“We believe in Telesat’s mission and vision and are excited that our software-defined digital satellite product will be a key enabler in meeting their goals as we work together to usher in the next generation of space-based satellite communications,” said MDA’s CEO Mike Greenley. 

The company had previously contracted European satellite specialist Thales Alenia Space to manufacture 298 satellites at an estimated cost of $5 billion, but the project was halted due to pandemic-related supply chain issues. Now, Telesat says it has saved roughly CA$2 billion (USD $1.49 billion) by reducing the size of its satellites by 75% and switching suppliers. 

Telesat aims to achieve a 30% return on investment from Lightspeed, which targets the enterprise and government connectivity market, and will not compete with firms such as Starlink in the direct-to-consumer market. 

How is the emergence of LEO satellite constellations changing the telecoms ecosystem? Join the operators in discussion at this year’s Total Telecom Congress live in Amsterdam 

Also in the news:
Australian govt launches Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation programme
Poland’s ‘largest ever’ broadband subsidy draws 300 applications
Italian government signs MoU to take minority stake in TIM’s NetCo  

News

Grants of up to A$5 million (USD $3.24 million) will be available to projects that help to boost network reliability in the face of natural disasters

This week, the Australian government has opened applications for the Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation (TDRI) programme, which will make up to A$50 million (USD $32.42 million) available to support telco networks remain functional during natural disasters.

The TDRI programme is split into two rounds: the Power Resilience Round and the Innovation Round.

The former, comprising A$30 million (USD $19.45 million) of the total funding, will focus on projects aiming to help telco networks’ power supplies become more reliable in the face of natural disasters.

The government notes that power outages are the leading cause of telecoms disruption during natural disasters in Australia.

The second funding pool, containing the remaining A$20 million (USD $12.97 million), is less specific, available for any projects seeking to improve the resiliency, redundancy, and availability of telecoms networks following natural disasters.

Applicants can include mobile network operators, mobile network infrastructure providers, and NBN Co (the state-run National Broadband Network), as well as Australian solution providers.

Each project can be awarded up to A$5 million (USD $3.24 million).

“Access to telecommunications coverage during a natural disaster can be the difference between life and death,” said Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland. “While no network is ever 100% disaster-proof, the Albanese government is determined to do what we can to boost the resilience of our telecommunications networks.

“The new Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation program will fund a wide range of innovative local projects across Australia to reduce the likelihood of telco outages during disasters.

The application process closes on 20 October 2023, with the TDRI itself set to run from 2023 to 2025.

The TDRI programme is part of the Australian government’s far larger Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia scheme, which includes a total of A$1.1 billion (USD $710 million) for rural connectivity projects.

Also in the news:
Cisco to buy-out Telenor from Working Group Two JV
Poland’s ‘largest ever’ broadband subsidy draws 300 applications
Italian government signs MoU to take minority stake in TIM’s NetCo