VIEWPOINT

A crucial economic hub south of the Yangtze River Delta, Ningbo is successfully transitioning from an industrial hub to an intelligent and smart manufacturing center.

Ningbo is a thriving economic hub with 83 manufacturing championships and 283 Specialized, Refined, Differential and Innovative (SRDI) enterprises. As many as 20 advanced 5G capabilities were first put into commercial use at Ningbo. The city created history when China’s first 5G fully conected factory corps was set up in Ningbo earlier this year. This was the culmination of several steps being taken by the city over the last few years to take leadership in providing the manufacturers with the best possible 5G-enabled digital infrastructure.

“China Mobile Ningbo has two key aspects of digital intelligence. First, by connecting information highway pipelines and, secondly, by boosting data-reality synergy. It focuses on six aspects, including preparing the subgrade, paving roads, widening lanes, building a hub, installing fast chargers and providing services to ensure stable and efficient information transmission. This approach helps in stimulating the industry, which in turn helps in boosting the digitalization of the industry,” says Wang Ying, General Manager of the Government and Enterprise Customer Department, China Mobile Ningbo.

Taking The Leadership Position

China Mobile Ningbo is now scaling up the 5G industrial internet to connect information highway pipelines and boost digital intelligent synergy. The city is fast moving from the trial stage to the large-scale implementation of 5G. It has already deployed 625 5G private networks and has put 20 advanced 5G capabilities into commercial use.

China Mobile Ningbo is constructing a high-performance all-optical network to provide a simplified, trustworthy and autonomous network to businesses and manufacturers. It is also building a superior Gigabit 5G network that provides wide coverage and ensures best-in-class network performance and user experience. China Mobile Ningbo’s efforts were acknowledged and it was awarded excellent carriers in four scenarios across the country.

Building 5G-based Digital Infrastructure For Businesses of All Sizes

China Mobile Ningbo has adopted a multi-pronged approach to ensure that different types of enterprises are able to leverage the vast potential of 5G to grow their business. For instance, more than 20 manufacturers have opted for on-premise private networks, which ensures data remains on-premise while providing uninterrupted services to grow production and operational efficiency.

On the other hand, more than 500 small and medium enterprises favour lightweight private networks, which are affordable and plug-and-play networks. Power grid areas require dedicated resources and security isolation, which is possible with slide-based private networks.

China Mobile Ningbo has created digital infrastructure to help Ningbo emerge as a global information hub and deliver dual-domain services across the intranet and extranet. International infrastructure enables easy on-demand access in both domestic and international environments. There are 225 Points of Presence (POPs) outside China, covering 87 countries and regions. It also offers secure, reliable dual-domain private network support to more than 30,000 customers for easy switchover between the intranet and extranet.

China Mobile Ningbo has built a comprehensive system from pre-sales, in-sales to post-sales to provide the required support across all stages to drive the growth of 5G adoption in the city. The telco has built a flexible, scalable and secure system for the enterprises to benefit from the growing 5G ecosystem.

“We are providing customizable networking solutions to ensure flexibility. China Mobile Ningbo is also committed to providing open network data services and intrinsic security protection systems. In addition, cloud-based deployment means that the services are provided on the nearest nodes, so as network adjustment upon service changes and coordinated computing-network upgrade.” elaborates Wang Ying of China Mobile, Ningbo.

Several enterprises are leveraging the benefits of 5G in Ningbo. Take the case of Ningbo Port Wharf and Zhenhai Refining and Chemical Company, which are using 5G-enabled use cases across production, management and decision-making to gain operational efficiencies. From quality control, logistics, security management, predictive analysis, HR management, intelligent supply chain, intelligent knowledge management, and finance management to maintenance, 5G-based processes are helping the company improve efficiency across the organization. On the other hand, IKD boasts of as many as 15 5G application scenarios to enhance cost reduction and improve efficiency leading to the overall growth of the company.

Over the last three-to-four years, China Mobile Ningbo has formed partnerships to develop the 5G ecosystem in Ningbo for the overall growth and development of the industry. These partnerships have helped it to build a vibrant and thriving digital infrastructure to provide best-in-class 5G applications and services to enterprises and manufacturers in Ningbo.

China Mobile Ningbo has successfully created a 5G-powered digital infrastructure that fosters innovation and business growth. The success of China Mobile Ningbo effectively demonstrates that 5G technology is having a transformative impact on growing the production and efficiency of enterprises. The onus is then on the telcos to use 5G technology to provide best-in-class infrastructure to the enterprises for the overall economic growth of the country.

In future, China Mobile Ningbo endeavours to work closely with different industry verticals to understand their challenges and then introduce relevant 5G-powered solutions to help them address the pain points and grow.

The service providers in other regions can learn from the success of China Mobile Ningbo and use the 5G technology to empower businesses to improve production and efficiency while enhancing their contribution to the economic growth of their country.

Alternative network ISP Quickline, which is rolling out their gigabit speed full fibre (FTTP) broadband infrastructure to 96 rural locations (55,000 premises) across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England, has today announced that their service has started to go live across Tetney, Kirton and Barnetby le Wold in North Lincolnshire. Almost 4,500 households across Tetney, in […]

VIEWPOINT

Written by Simon Lacey | Senior Lecturer in International Trade | University of Adelaide[1]

Recent efforts by the European Commission to deny Chinese telecom equipment vendors access to EU markets lays bare the façade of any distinction between U.S. calls for decoupling and European notions of de-risking. These efforts have also spurred some pushback, not only from the equipment vendors themselves – primarily Huawei – and the Chinese government, but also from European telecom operators and member state regulators.

For operators that use Huawei equipment in their network-product mix, it is they who must bear the initial monetary impact of firstly sourcing a greater proportion of their material needs from a reduced pool of more expensive vendors, but secondly they must also bear the cost of removing existing equipment (alleged to be “high risk”) from their networks.

These costs are estimated in the billions of euros and will put a strain on telecom operators already competing in a market with razor-thin margins. Moreover, these costs are almost certain to be passed on in part or in full to consumers, further exacerbating already high inflation and putting an even bigger drag on efforts to get economies in Europe moving again.

The objections emanating from some member state regulators is that the Commission can advise but not dictate what member states can or even should do in order to protect national security, which is a clear member state competence. National telecoms regulators also believe, quite justifiably so, that they have a better understanding of the technical and other risks faced by their networks, and that the EU Commission’s one-size-fits-all approach here is counterproductive and unnecessary.

The Commission’s approach also leads one to question whether there is any substance to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s claims that Europe does not endorse decoupling as advocated by the previous and current U.S. presidential administrations, but instead is seeking a supposedly more nuanced policy of “de-risking”. The approach being pushed by Commissioner Thierry Breton, exhorting member states to move more quickly under the so-called EU Toolbox on 5G Cybersecurity, to reduce and eventually eliminate their exposure to Chinese equipment vendors is, ultimately, just another ban, similar to the one imposed by successive U.S. governments under the mantra of decoupling.

However, various leaders from governments to international organizations to representatives of global business have all rejected both decoupling and de-risking, with the WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently stating at the World Economic Forum Summer Davos meeting in Tianjin, China that “decoupling or fragmentation is something that the world simply cannot afford to have”. In a similar vein, at the recently held Nikkei forum in Tokyo, Deputy Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong strongly criticized de-risking, noting that “it is hard to see how de-risking, at its current ambition and scale, can be strictly confined to just a few strategic areas without affecting broader economic interactions”. Outside of a small number of capitals such as Washington and Brussels, the notion of decoupling or de-risking is perceived as inflammatory and unhelpful.

As Huawei in its response to the EU’s recent calls has noted, these actions go against the tenets of free trade. In fact, they appear on their face to violate the EU’s commitments under various WTO agreements. To be specific, WTO members may not adopt or apply technical regulations (which is what the Toolbox is) with a view to or with the effect of creating unnecessary obstacles to international trade. This means that technical regulations should not be more trade-restrictive than necessary. Moreover, in order to be necessary, any technical regulations also have to be apt to achieve their stated regulatory objectives, which the EU’s Toolbox arguably is not, since it does nothing to enhance cybersecurity. In fact, it is precisely this aspect of the Commission’s approach which is at the heart of push-back from both telecom operators such as Deutsche Telecom and national regulators such as the Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (RTR), namely that they disagree on the existence of the purported risk as presented by the Commission and thus on the necessity of the EU’s intrusive and discriminatory regulatory response.

Also worth noting in the context of the bilateral trade relationship between the EU and China is the fact that the EU’s two largest equipment vendors for 5G, Nokia and Ericson, are free to compete in China and are not subject to the kind of sweeping restrictions imposed upon Huawei in Europe. In fact, according to one industry estimate, by the end of the 2023-2024 purchasing period, Nokia and Ericson will have deployed more 5G base stations in China than they will have in the whole of Europe combined. This is an astonishing indication of how open the Chinese market is to foreign equipment vendors despite itself being home to the world’s most technologically advanced and economically competitive company in this space globally, Huawei.

To conclude, it would be helpful if the EU Commission could adopt a more evidence-based and technically sound approach rather than imposing what is essentially a one-size fits all solution to a set of poorly identified and abstractly articulated political risks. Moreover, the Commission should find ways of mitigating any perceived risks in cooperation with those that understand these risks the best, namely telecom operators and national network regulators. In doing so, the Commission should address these risks in ways that are apt to actually mitigate them, rather than having recourse to unhelpful and discriminatory policies that violate international trade rules, fail to achieve their intended objectives and needlessly drive up costs for European companies and consumers.

[1] The views expressed here are those of the author and not attributable to the University of Adelaide.

 

Press Release

Change at the helm of Retelit: Jorge Álvarez will lead the company in a new phase of growth and market consolidation

Retelit, Italy’s largest telecommunications player focused on the B2B market, announces the appointment of Jorge Álvarez as Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, succeeding Federico Protto, who remains temporarily at the Group, supporting the Board of Directors, to ensure due continuity in the transition.

The new CEO will seek to lead the Group into a new phase of consolidation and growth, including following the integration with Irideos.

Following the finalisation of the acquisition of Irideos and the start of the integration and refinancing of the Retelit Group, Federico Protto is stepping down as CEO to pursue other professional opportunities.

“I am very happy to welcome Jorge Álvarez, formerly Operating Partner at Asterion Industrial Partners, to Retelit. Thanks to Jorge’s proven experience in the sector, we will be able benefit as much as possible from the investments made and increasingly contribute to the development of the ICT sector in Italy, supporting companies and public administrations in the process of digital transformation and as they pursue innovation to tap into the opportunities offered by the new technologies. Jorge succeeds Federico Protto, whom I thank for the contribution and leadership he
has shown in guiding the company over the past eight years, during which the Group has experienced significant growth and the opening up of new business areas. I wish him all the best in his new career path” stated Jesús Olmos, CEO of Asterion Industrial Partners.

“I would first like to thank my colleagues, with whom we have shared a formidable journey, which has led the Retelit Group to be a leader in B2B services and solutions and which has been a great
opportunity for me to grow professionally and personally. A great deal of credit is due to Asterion, whose acquisition of Irideos has enabled it to further stimulate growth and value creation. Finally, I would like to extend my best wishes to the new CEO, Jorge Álvarez – to whom I will provide all necessary support – to continue on this fantastic growth journey” stated Federico Protto.

Jorge Álvarez brings more than 20 years of experience in the global telecommunications industry to the Retelit team. A telecommunications engineer, Jorge has held positions at Nortel Networks, H3G and Telefónica and holds an MBO from Duke University.

“I proudly join Retelit and a team of more than 1,000 professionals whose work every day makes it possible to connect businesses, objects and people with digital assets and expertise. Retelit is a unique player, the partner of choice for operators, OTTs and hyperscalers, and a digital enabler for companies, enterprises and the public sector. My goal is to continue to provide our clients with the highest quality of our services and the best solutions on the market. The ever-changing environment and the digital transformation that is impacting Italy present us with significant new challenges, which, together, we will be able to take on in order to grow and innovate” stated Jorge Álvarez, Retelit Group’s new CEO.

The Group today can rely on expertise covering the entire spectrum of the ICT world. It boasts infrastructural assets unique to the Italian market: more than 30 owned Data Centers – including
Avalon Campus, Italy’s largest Interconnection hub; more than 40,000 km of network bringing access technologies to major Italian and European cities; 25,000 km of state-of-the-art fiber optic
submarine cables, on three continents.

Also in the news:
SK Telecom overhauls AI service ‘A.’ using ChatGPT
Leveraging 5G to develop new value and unlock digital dividends
SKT invests $100m in flying taxi company Joby Aviation

Alternative network provider and UK ISP LightSpeed Broadband, which recently announced job cuts and a slowdown of their plan to reach over 1 million premises across the East of England with a gigabit-capable full fibre (FTTP) network by 2026 (here), has been acquired by Kompass Kapital for an unspecific sum. Just to recap. LightSpeed previously […]

Approximately 30 customers of GoFibre‘s (BorderLink) alternative full fibre broadband ISP network in Scotland (e.g. Stonehaven) have been left to suffer internet connectivity problems for several days. The issue occurred after one of the operator’s legacy connectivity suppliers, Scottish ISP Caleycom, suddenly went into liquidation. In case anybody has forgotten. GoFibre currently plan to deploy […]

The Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council in Essex (England) is demanding that UK broadband ISP Gigaclear cough up £25,000 after the operator installed a new street cabinet to support their gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network on the corner of Five Acres and Cambridge Road, without consultation. According to recent reports, local residents in the area have complained […]

News

Around a third of the site’s 2,900 staff will see their jobs cut or be relocated

Today, BT has reportedly informed staff at its Adastral Park site in Ipswich that it intends to reduce the site’s workforce by roughly 1,100 over the next two years.

The site, which spans over 100 acres and includes BT Labs, currently employs around 2,900 people in various roles, from research and development to core network operations.

Some members of staff will face redundancy, with the operator offering staff the chance chance to relocate to other BT locations in the UK “wherever possible”.

Back in May, BT announced that it will aim to cut roughly 55,000 jobs – around 40% of its current workforce – by the end of the decade, citing the need for more streamlined operations and digitalisation in today’s tough economic climate. The company has been trying to generate significant cost-savings for years, last year increasing its target to £3 billion in cost-reductions by 2025, of which job cuts will play a key role.

However, today’s announcements surrounding staffing at Adastral Park are seemingly not part of these wider cost-saving measures, but are rather taking place as a result of the company’s Better Workplace Programme, which aims to consolidate staff in fewer and more modern buildings.

“We’re consolidating into a smaller number of buildings around the UK that provide cutting edge technology and great working environments for our people,” explained BT in a statement. “As part of these activities, we’re proposing to reduce the size of our presence at Adastral Park and move some roles to other BT Group locations over the next two years.”

Nonetheless, the operator says it remains “committed to Adastral Park for the long-term” and will continue to invest in the site in future, nothing that the location requires “significant investment to modernise”.

The operator said that it currently has no plans to sell the land or any of the roughly 100 buildings it owns at Adastral Park, but it will be consolidating staff into a smaller number of offices and other spaces on-site.

What do the latest job cuts mean the UK telecoms sector? Join the operators in discussion at the UK’s largest digital economy event Connected Britain

Also in the news:
SK Telecom overhauls AI service ‘A.’ using ChatGPT
Leveraging 5G to develop new value and unlock digital dividends
SKT invests $100m in flying taxi company Joby Aviation

News 

The deal will support the operator’s ambition to achieve nationwide standalone 5G coverage by the end of the year 

Jio, India’s largest telecoms operator, is set to sign the contract as early as today at Nokia’s Headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, according to sources speaking to the Economic Times.  

The purchase will be financed by several global banks, including HSBC, Citigroup, and JP Morgan, whose combined loans will total around $4 billion. Finnish state-owned export credit agency Finnvera is set to issue guarantees to the lenders. Representatives from the banks are likely to be present at the signing, as well as Senior Executives from Reliance Group. 

In October last year, Jio signed 5G equipment contracts with both Nokia and Ericsson.  

At the time, financial details of the deals were not disclosed; however, media reports have since suggested that the deal with Ericsson was worth $2.1 billion. 

Now, this deal with Nokia will see the total 5G investment reach roughly $3.6 billion. 

Earlier this year, Jio’s president Mathew Oommen said the company aimed to become “the largest 5G SA (standalone) only network operator in the world in the second half of 2023”, with the company targeting nationwide coverage by the end of the year.  

In related news, earlier this week, Reliance Industries announced the launch of a budget 4G phone, (costing $12), aiming to convert the 250 million 2G users in India to 4G. The company says its goal is to pass the benefits of the internet-capable mobile technology to every Indian.

How is the Indian telecommunications market evolving in 2023? Join the operators in discussion at this year’s Total Telecom Congress live in Amsterdam 

Also in the news:
Ericsson to consolidate Estonian operations with new €155m tech hub
Airtel joins the 5G race in Nigeria
Transitioning from 5Good to 5Great to maximize 5G revenue potential 

 

VIDEO INTERVIEW

Martin Connelly, UltramapGlobal Co-Founder, and Mychael Owen, Brand and Marketing Lead at UltramapGlobal were once again present at Submarine Networks in London, UK in the summer of 2023. Harry Baldock, Editor of Total Telecom chatted to Mychael in this 8 minute video.

Harry and Mychael went back to basics, exploring what UltramapGlobal is, how it works, and – in straight-to-the-point style, Harry asked Mychael to explain just how good UltramapGlobal actually is.

Here’s a short introductory quote from Mychael:

“UltramapGlobal created AssetMonitor®. The world’s most chosen subsea cable protection software. We protect the world’s most important subsea cables from sea vessel strikes. 

And with regards to how UltramapGlobal works, at our core, we’re two things. Our software, AssetMonitor®. And our Global Monitoring Teams. The software identifies threats. Then filters the serious risks to our monitoring teams. They intervene to avoid cable strikes. 24 hours a day. 365 days each year.”

Mychael then addressed Harry’s ‘so how good are you?” question,

“AssetMonitor® is the world’s most chosen. 100% of customers experience fewer cable strikes after choosing us. And over 50% of UltramapGlobal clients have no cable strikes – at all.”

Neat! There’s more in the video.

 

Call to action

Read more at www.ultramapglobal.com. And experience UltramapGlobals brand new “UltramapGlobal in 30 Seconds” video on the homepage.