Ofcom has published its 2023 Mobile Matters report, which uses Opensignal’s crowdsourced data (collected between 1st October 2022 and 31st March 2023) to benchmark the performance of UK mobile data (mobile broadband) networks by both technology (3G, 4G and 5G) and operator choice – including Three UK, O2, Vodafone and EE. The results hold few […]

Alternative network operator Freedom Fibre is reportedly exploring a possible acquisition of struggling provider VXFIBER, which alongside subsidiary and ISP LilaConnect has recently had to cut jobs (here) and pause its UK rollout of a new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network. At present Freedom Fibre’s full fibre network – backed by an investment of £84m […]

The battle for which broadband ISP can offer the UK’s fastest WiFi guarantee has continued today after Virgin Media (VMO2) announced that they were boosting their own guarantee from 20Mbps to 30Mbps at no extra cost (i.e. a minimum download speed of 30Mbps via WiFi in every room, or you get £100 back). The original […]

Digital infrastructure firm Boldyn Networks (formerly BAI Communications) has announced that they’ve rolled out a new “high capacity” fibre optic network in the South London Borough of Sutton to improve the area’s CCTV network, which is being done in partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL). The network is expected […]

Press Release

Wind River®, a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems, today announced that VxWorks® is used in the On-Board Computer (OBC) to command the Astroscale ELSA-M Servicer spacecraft.

Astroscale develops innovative solutions to create sustainable space systems and mitigate the growing and hazardous buildup of debris in space. Astroscale’s End-of-Life service line (ELSA-M) provides a space debris solution to safely and responsibly capture and retire multiple satellites in one mission.

“Astroscale is addressing the hazardous matter of space debris, and we’re proud to help them advance their mission to develop sustainable space programs,” said Avijit Sinha, chief product officer, Wind River. “Our industry-leading technology demonstrates the continuing Wind River leadership in real-time software solutions for mission-critical systems. For decades, Wind River has successfully supported complex space missions and helped customers navigate the unique challenges of these programs.”

“Our ELSA-M service strives to solve satellite operators’ end-of-life disposal challenges. With increasing regulatory, industry, and public pressure to prioritize space sustainability, Astroscale’s ELSA-M service presents a proactive way for satellite operators to protect the orbital environment and the services that they offer,” said Stephen Wokes, director of engineering, Astroscale Ltd. “The extremely complex rendezvous operations require the highest levels of precision, quality robotics, and onboard systems for successful maneuvering and capture, making it imperative to work with proven technology such as that from Wind River as our software foundation.”

The OBC will support the rendezvous between Astroscale’s servicer spacecraft and the client satellite. Astroscale’s software applications on VxWorks are responsible for the computer vision processing for the computer system that will command ELSA-M. A high level of precision is needed for robotic operations, including maneuvers during rendezvous between the ELSA-M servicer and retired satellites.

An in-orbit demonstration (IOD) mission to capture an inactive satellite is anticipated to launch in 2025. This will be the first time a commercial active debris removal (ADR) satellite will complete the end-to-end operations of a removal service with a full-sized and fully representative client satellite. The mission is part of Astroscale’s partnership with OneWeb and the European Space Agency (ESA).

VxWorks delivers unrivaled deterministic high performance and sets the standard for a scalable, future-proof, safe, secure, and reliable operating environment for running mission-critical computing systems that demand the highest standards. For more than three decades, Wind River has delivered the most proven software platform to bring dozens of intelligent systems to space, resulting in some of the most significant space missions in history.

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Also in the news:
EU and Japan sign deals for subsea cables and semiconductors
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Ofcom probes VMO2 as customers complain about contract cancellation

News

A new report from think the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) suggests that lesser federal broadband subsidies should be cancelled, with funding used to support the Affordable Connectivity Programme (ACP)

This week, the ITIF is calling on the US government to consider cancelling several ‘redundant’ broadband programmes to instead use their funding to support the ACP.

The report suggests that the ACP should “become the premier federal broadband program” due to its flexibility and direct support of low-income households but warns that the current funding will soon fall short of the total demand.

The Affordable Connectivity Programme (ACP) is the US government’s “largest-ever broadband affordability effort”, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a long-term $17 billion plan to support eligible low- income households afford access to the internet.

The ACP offers these households discounts of up to $30 per month on their internet service bills, or up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. The project also provides one-time discounts of up to $100 to help disconnected families purchase a laptop, desktop, or tablet.

The funding comes as part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by the Biden administration in November 2021.

At this year’s Connected America conference in March, the FCC’s Press Secretary, Paloma Perez, gave an update on the recently-awarded ACP funding, saying 17 million homes had been enrolled nationwide.

Since then, this number has increased to almost 20 million, but many millions of eligible households still have not signed up, with the FCC estimating that in total 50 million homes could qualify for discounts across the country.

To make matters worse, according to estimates based on data from apcdashboard.com, the roughly $17 billion appropriated for the programme in 2021 will likely run out during 2024.

The ITIF estimates that the ACP will require between $5 billion and $6 billion a year to remain effective.

But where can the government find this funding?

According to the ITIF, the solution lies in streamlining the highly convoluted broadband subsidy landscape, particularly scrapping programmes that are becoming obsolete as a result of more modern programmes, such as the ACP itself and the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding programme.

The report argues that the FCC’s Lifeline programme, which also provides discounts for low-income families, is outdated and should be scrapped in favour of the ACP. The report further suggests that the FCC’s Universal Service Fund High Cost programme and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect programme can also be cannibalised to fund the ACP, having been made redundant by the more effective (BEAD) programme.

Combined, reallocating the funding from these three programmes should provide roughly $6.43 billion, enough to sustain the ACP.

“Federal broadband programs are dangerously out of balance,” said Joe Kane, director of broadband and spectrum policy at ITIF and author of the report. “Congress has created effective subsidy programs that render older programs duplicative and wasteful. Yet the old programs persist, siphoning funding away from more effective ones and increasing phone bills.”

But while reallocating funding from these older projects could be a fine way to extend the lifetime and impact of the ACP, it is important to remember that funding is not everything. As the report points out, the digital divide in the US not only relates to lack of access to affordable connectivity, but also to digital literacy.

“If its funding is secured and made sustainable, the ACP is the best policy tool available to defray the cost of Internet subscriptions and connected devices,” said the ITIF report. “Once this relatively low-hanging policy fruit has been picked, broadband policy is not finished. Remaining offline groups will require different kinds of help to achieve full digital inclusion.”

Want to learn more about how government funding is transforming the connectivity landscape in the US? Join the digital ecosystem in discussion at this year’s Connected America

Also in the news:
EU and Japan sign deals for subsea cables and semiconductors
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Sky (Sky Broadband) has begun to roll-out a new software update (Entertainment OS v1.2) for the operating system that underpins their broadband-based Sky Glass and Sky Stream pay TV platforms, which adds a variety of new features, such as a “manage all” option for Playlist and enhancements for Netflix. Overall, the latest update introduces four […]

Alternative network and UK ISP Gigaclear, which has already built a gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network to 420,000 premises in rural areas (across 24 counties), has today announced that they’re investing £9m to expand their roll-out into rural parts of Sussex in England. The initially limited deployment will start by working to cover more than […]

News

The Australian operator is aiming to cut costs by roughly A$500 million by 2025 as part of its T25 strategic plan

This week, Telstra has informed almost 500 members of staff that their jobs are being cut as part of ongoing cost-saving measures seeking to reduce costs by half a billion Australian dollars.

According to a report in The Australian, the majority of the roles being cut will be from the company’s enterprise business, with consumer-facing roles unlikely to be affected.

The jobs being cut will be subsumed into existing roles, with Telstra suggesting that increasing digitalisation and automation of operations should help to streamline the business.

The specific number of staff being made redundant this week is unclear, but Telstra said that the company would see a net reduction in staff of 472, after the creation of a number of new roles.

The process could involve both forced and voluntary redundancies.

“I can confirm we have proposed some changes to continue to reshape our business so that we remain competitive, efficient as well as effective in the way we work,” said Telstra in a statement. “These are critical for us to remain competitive and achieve our customer ambitions.”

This is the first major round of job cuts Telstra has undertaken since Vicki Brady took over the role of CEO in summer last year, replacing the outgoing Andrew Penn, who was retiring after seven years in the position.

Back in 2021, Penn had created a new strategic growth plan for Telstra dubbed T25 aiming to streamline the company’s operations and reduce costs by A$500 million by 2025. This followed the company’s previous strategic plan, T22, which saw roughly 8,000 jobs cut over a four-year period, alongside cost-savings of around A$2.5 billion.

Since taking over as CEO, Brady has reflected that the T25 plans to cut costs were now “much bolder” than when they were first devised due to inflation and the global economic climate. Nonetheless, she reaffirmed earlier this year that she is “absolutely confident” that the T25 strategy remains necessary and will be effective.

Telstra currently employs roughly 30,000 people across Australia.

It should be noted that Telstra is not alone in the Australian telecoms sector when it comes to making significant job cuts. Earlier this year, NBN, the state-run broadband provider, said that it would cut 500 jobs by the end of the current financial year, motivated by rising costs and growing competition.

Want to keep up with all of the latest telecoms news from around the world? Sign up to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter

Also in the news:
EU and Japan sign deals for subsea cables and semiconductors
Home Office lambasted over Emergency Services Network delays
Ofcom probes VMO2 as customers complain about contract cancellation

Ofcom has today proposed new rules to force mobile network operators, such as Three UK, Vodafone, EE and O2 (inc. MVNO operators), to protect consumers who travel abroad from mobile BILL SHOCKS on data (broadband), call and text charges by introducing new roaming alert protections for consumers and small businesses. At this point you might […]