Ofcom has today set out their “expectations” for how they want mobile operators – Three UK, Vodafone, EE (BT) and O2 (VMO2 / Virgin Media) – to approach the phased switch-off of legacy 2G and 3G mobile services. The goal being to ensure consumers are “treated fairly” and aren’t left cut-off from vital services. At […]

Press Release

Powered by Intel processors and running on Windows 11 (OS), the interoperability development testing (IoDT) carried out recently at the Ericsson Lab in Sweden showed the use of multiple network slices on cellular-connected laptop devices for consumer and enterprise use cases such as mobile gaming and collaboration applications.

The network slicing trial utilized User Equipment Route Selection Policy (URSP), the capability that enables devices to automatically select between different slices according to which application they are using. It also used Ericsson’s Dynamic Network Slicing Selection, Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core, and Ericsson’s RAN Slicing capabilities to secure end-user service differentiation. Together they deliver the required network capabilities for this solution.

Network slicing has long been seen as vital to capturing the value that a 5G network can provide for communications service providers (CSPs) and enterprises. The market for network slicing alone in the enterprise segment is projected at USD 300 billion by 2025, according to the GSMA. By demonstrating a single Windows 11 device can make use of multiple slices, which are used according to the on-device usage profiles and network policies defined at the CSP level, the partners show the flexibility and range of potential use cases available using this technology.

This trial illustrates the opportunities for 5G monetization beyond smartphone devices and opens the door to a wider 5G device ecosystem, allowing CSPs and other members of the telecoms and IT world to expand their horizons when considering opportunities to generate profitable use cases for 5G. Laptop type devices, in particular, are vital to enterprise productivity. The inclusion of Windows 11 laptops in the ranks of devices that can be used for commercializing 5G network slicing is a sign of the ecosystem maturing. Network slicing capabilities will benefit consumer and enterprise segments by defining specific Service Level Agreement per slice for existing and emerging Windows applications and use cases, such as real-time enterprise applications like Microsoft Teams and Office365, game/media streaming, and emerging AI and augmented reality/extended reality (AR/XR) applications.

Sibel Tombaz, Head of Product Line 5G RAN at Ericsson, says: “Expanding the range of devices for network slicing to include laptops will allow new business segments to create a variety of use cases for consumer and enterprises. We have shown, together with Intel and Microsoft, how ecosystem collaboration can open new possibilities. We will continue to strengthen Ericsson’s network slicing capabilities and work with industry partners to enable more applications on several devices, spreading the benefits of 5G in the consumer and enterprise segments.”

Ian LeGrow, Microsoft Corporate Vice-President of Core OS Innovation says: “We are thrilled to showcase our cutting-edge technology and its ability to deliver fast, dependable and secure 5G connectivity on Windows 11. Partnering with Intel and Ericsson only further solidifies our commitment to innovation and openness in our platform.”

 

News

Hot on the heels of BT announcing an apprentice recruitment drive last week, Virgin Media O2 have revealed that their next generation apprenticeship scheme will create around 350 roles in 2023.

This news comes ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (February 6-12) alongside which VMO2 have commissioned some market research that reveals a lack of understanding from workers about what apprenticeships are and who they are suitable for.

It seems that whilst most people think apprenticeships are a great way to learn new skills whilst getting paid (88%) many are concerned that the roles will be temporary, lacking in job security or only available to the young.

The new roles being offered by Virgin Media O2 are a great example of how this is not the case, offering competitive salaries, the job security of a permanent position and no upper age limit.

As the cost-of-living crisis bights, the research reveals thoughts of retraining are front of mind for many people with as many as 6.5 million workers feeling they are not paid enough in their current role to cover higher bills due to the rise in the cost-of-living. However many are put off by concerns of not having time to retain (28%) as well as the cost (23%).

Head of Future Careers at Virgin Media O2, Karen Handley, commented:
“A retrain revolution is sweeping the UK in these tough times as millions of people across the country worry about their finances and are looking at how they can learn more to earn more and have greater job security but, at the same time, are concerned that training will take too much time or money.”

A quick search on the internet suggests BT and VMO2 are far from being alone in supporting apprenticeship schemes. Companies like CityFibre, Vodafone and many more prominently promoting schemes on their websites, however with a continuing skills crunch holding back technology innovation and deployment in the UK, there is clearly room to do more. The subject will be debated at the Total Telecom Connected North event in Manchester in April, with organisations like the Good Things Foundation and WM5G, UK Telecoms Innovation Network joining the discussion.

The VMO2 research was conducted for them by 3Gem Media Group Ltd and was based on around 2,000 members of the UK Workforce and 250 UK Students.

Total Telecom are proud to support the industry’s development by giving young people the opportunity to meet and engage with the industry. Find out more about this for forthcoming events, Connected North and Submarine Networks EMEA.

The BT Group has today published their latest Q3 FY23 results to December 2022, which saw the coverage of Openreach’s Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network reach 9.57 million premises (up by 810k in the quarter vs 805k last quarter) and EE increase their 5G customer based to 8.5 million (up from 8.157m). As usual, it’s […]

CityFibre has reportedly begun a new restructuring process that could result in the loss of up to 400 jobs out of their 2,000 strong workforce. The operator has blamed this on the UK’s “struggling” economy (i.e. causing rising costs for their business) and the desire to keep their rollout of full fibre gigabit broadband on […]

Broadband ISP, pay TV and mobile operator Virgin Media and O2 (VMO2) has this morning announced that they will create “around” a further 350 new apprenticeship roles across the United Kingdom in 2023, which is up from a commitment of 200 last year. The new positions are being created to cover a variety of different […]

News

The recent wholesale deal with Telenet may help pave the way for the regulatory greenlight

Orange first agreed to acquire a 75% stake minus one share in Belgian operator VOO at the end of 2021, primarily motivated by the integration of the latter’s extensive fibre networks in Wallonia and parts of Brussels.

By mid-2022, however, the pair were still struggling to convince European regulators that the deal would not harm market competition, with regulators launching an official investigation in July.

The acquisition’s prospects were markedly improved in October, when Orange announced it had entered discussions with rival Telenet about a potential wholesale partnership.

This deal would give Telenet access to VOO and Brutélé networks in Wallonia following their acquisition by Orange, potentially alleviating some of the regulators competition concerns. As such, the regulator agreed to pause their investigation while the terms of a potential deal were hammered out.

After months of negotiations, Orange and Telenet finally signed a 15-year wholesale deal earlier this week. The agreement will give Orange access to hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) network in Flanders and Brussels, as well as the company’s future fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network. Telenet, on the other hand, would gain access to VOO and Brutele’s HFC network and future FTTH networks.

Xavier Pichon, CEO of Orange Belgium, heralded the deal as a “major step” towards the VOO acquisition, noting that the deal would allow Telenet to grow into a nationwide fixed line competitor.

Now, the European Commission has announced that it will continue its acquisition investigation, taking into consideration the wholesale deal with Telenet and other concessions made by the operators.

A decision is now expected to be made by April 11 this year.

Also in the news:
Telia preps to cut 1,500 jobs as Q4 results disappoint
BT announces apprentice recruitment drive despite looming cost cuts
Colt connects to Barcelona Cable Landing Station

Alternative network builder and UK ISP Zzoomm has today announced that their multi-gigabit speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network has now covered 100,000 premises across 29 locations. The figure is double the 50,000 they reported in July 2022 and ten times more than the 10,000 they had in December 2021. The operator, which aims to reach […]

News

The operator’s latest results show service revenue down in Germany, Italy, and Spain, with the UK the company’s only major growth market

This week, beleaguered operator group Vodafone has announced its latest financial results, the first under the stewardship of interim CEO Margherita Della Valle.

As expected, they company continues to struggle in some of its largest markets, with revenues falling in Germany, Italy, and Spain by 1.8%, 8.7%, and 3.3%, respectively.

These three markets remain highly competitive, with Vodafone’s fibre business in Germany losing subscribers to rivals, and mobile price wars in Spain and Italy driving down revenues.

The UK was the only large market in which Vodafone’s service revenues had increased, rising 5.3%, largely as a result of inflation-linked price rises.

Vodafone is currently seeking to merge its UK operations with those of CK Hutchison’s Three UK, with Della Valle confirming that talks are ongoing between the two companies.

In total, these Q3 results showed total revenues of €11.64 billion, 0.4% lower than those reported for the same time last year.

Nonetheless, Della Valle said the company would not alter its forecasts for the year, still targeting full year EBITDA of €15–15.2 billion.

“Although we’re continuing to target our financial guidance for the year, the recent decline in revenue in Europe shows we can do better. We need to do more for our customers by delivering quality connectivity in an easy way,” said Vodafone’s interim CEO Margherita Della Valle.

Vodafone has been struggling to find growth for numerous years now, with key shareholders – notably activist investor Cevian capital –increasingly calling for an organisational shakeup.

Previous CEO Nick Read, who stepped down from the role after four years at the end of 2022, had long argued for market consolidation as the key to returning the organisation to growth, but very few deals at scale were ultimately struck during his tenure. Meanwhile, the company’s share value declined by around 40% during this period.

Della Valle took over as interim CEO at the start of this year, with the search for a permanent replacement still ongoing.

Now, Vodafone is pursuing a number of new strategies in order to reduce costs, having announced last year that it would seek to save €1 billion by 2026.

According to Della Valle, initiatives aimed at generating around €500 million in cost savings are already underway.

“We’ve already taken action, including simplifying our structure to give local markets full autonomy and accountability to make the best commercial decisions for their customers. In addition, we now have initiatives underway to generate around half of our €1 billion cost savings target. There is more to do and our focus is to provide a better service to our customers, become a simpler business and deliver growth,” said Della Valle.

It should be noted that this cost cutting plan includes the loss of at least several hundred jobs across the business, with the first batch of job cuts announced earlier this year. The company’s London office is expected to account for the lion’s share of the losses.

Vodafone is not alone in making job cuts in the UK, with BT also notably announcing a reduction in staff earlier this month.

Want to keep up to date with all of the latest changes in the UK telecoms sector? Join the ecosystem in discussion at this year’s live Connected North conference in Manchester

Also in the news:
Telia preps to cut 1,500 jobs as Q4 results disappoint
BT announces apprentice recruitment drive despite looming cost cuts
Colt connects to Barcelona Cable Landing Station

Civil engineering firm Light Source, which works with a number of UK operators to deploy Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband ISP infrastructure (e.g. Upp, Netomnia, Virgin Media, Airband and KCOM), appears to be experiencing problems after engineers reported being laid off and a manager said they had “entered administration“. At the time of writing, we haven’t […]