Broadband ISP FibreNest, which is the full fibre (FTTP) network provider for UK new build housing sites that have been developed by Persimmon Homes, are celebrating today after connecting 25,000 customers (up from 23,000 at the start of 2022) to their growing full fibre network. The network, which was started 4-years ago and is today […]

Press Release

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) continues its growth journey and brings the power of its subscriber experience platform, Calix Revenue EDGE™ (Revenue EDGE), to the United Kingdom (U.K.) at this year’s Connected Britain conference. Altnet internet service providers are reshaping the future of fibre and now have an opportunity to transform their subscriber experience with Revenue EDGE. This turnkey solution has helped broadband service providers (BSPs) in the United States (U.S.) boost Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and reduce OPEX—with NPS in the 60s, 70s and in one case as high as 90. NPS measures subscriber experience and provides the best metric to anchor altnet customer experience management programs. Similarly, U.S. BSPs were able to reduce OPEX by a third.

The explosion of applications and devices at the subscriber edge represents the greatest opportunity for altnets to create managed experiences that generate new revenue streams. Altnets are already deploying Calix GigaSpire® BLAST  Wi-Fi 6 systems to deliver the ultimate managed Wi-Fi experience. The Revenue EDGE builds on this foundation by integrating real-time subscriber insights and new revenue-generating EDGE Suites—ExperienceIQ™ and ProtectIQ™. These new applications help altnets solve and support the rapidly growing management and security complexities of the smart, connected home.

The Revenue EDGE platform delivers innovative technology and cloud-based services that ensure an exceptional subscriber experience while reducing OPEX and creating new revenue opportunities. These include:

A growing suite of managed services to protect the home and family—with compete subscriber control. With the intuitive and customizable CommandIQ® mobile app, altnets can deliver managed subscriber services that generate revenue and excite subscribers. ProtectIQ allows altnets to protect and manage subscriber networks from a host of threats, viruses, malware, phishing, hijacking, spyware, adware, and malicious websites. Altnets can block 100,000 threats per month or more with ProtectIQ. ExperienceIQ helps keep family members safe with parental online controls to keep inappropriate content out of the home.
The world’s largest portfolio of managed Wi-Fi 6 systems to deliver complete coverage to homes, businesses, and communities. All Calix GigaSpire BLAST systems are integrated with Revenue EDGE, giving altnets unrivaled flexibility to mix and match systems, cut deployment times to just weeks, and reduce back-office and integration complexity. The portfolio also allows them to secure their status as market leaders by delivering additional value-added, managed services.
EDGE Insights providing network visibility that altnets can leverage to increase first call resolution, reduce truck rolls, and proactively boost subscriber satisfaction. Integrated analytics in Calix Support Cloud enable end-to-end visibility into the subscriber experience for proactive identification of issues and resolution, simplification of workflows, and subscriber upsell opportunities. Support Cloud network visibility has helped U.S. BSPs. increase first call resolution and in one case reduce truck rolls by two thirds.
Award-winning Calix Market Activation helps altnets to go to market faster and bring more engagement to subscribers. With more than three years of content and technology development invested, Market Activation makes your brand as powerful as any consumer giant’s. The Electronic Content Builder provides pre-built marketing campaigns for acquisition, upsell/cross sell, and retention. It also includes brandable onboarding content and customer education materials, plus hundreds of free photos, graphics, and videos.

For Hull-based Connexin, Revenue EDGE means they can offer a true end-to-end solution, from the full-fibre network to the Calix GigaSpire Wi-Fi 6 systems and mobile app. “We wanted to innovate and reimagine a typical broadband connection and put additional controls into our subscribers’ hands,” said Furqan Alamgir, Connexin chief executive officer. “Working in partnership with Calix, we developed a Connexin-branded mobile app powered by CommandIQ together with the Calix Revenue EDGE portfolio of Wi-Fi 6 systems and Calix Support Cloud analytics. This gives our subscribers true visibility and control to understand and manage every aspect of their connected home to create a best-in-class customer experience.”

“Altnets need new ways to differentiate and grow their brand in an increasingly competitive market,” said Eoin Heaney, vice president of international sales for Calix. “We are answering the call with the launch of the Calix Revenue EDGE solution in the U.K. market so that even the smallest altnets can think beyond speed and offer new managed services that will set them apart in the marketplace. We’re excited to see U.K. providers reaping the benefits of the Calix Revenue EDGE, a proven and tested solution that will help them to grow ARPU, create upsell opportunities, increase subscriber satisfaction, and eliminate churn.”

Meet the Calix U.K. Team at Connected Britain Stand 22 to learn more on how Calix can help altnets transform their broadband services for their U.K. subscribers.

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)—Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue create more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission: To enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix’s results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at http://www.sec.gov.

Press Inquiries:
Aleksandra Ciric
1-305-979-5136
aleksandra.ciric@calix.com

Investor Inquiries:
investorrelations@calix.com

 

 

The post Calix launches Revenue EDGE Platform enabling Altnets to deliver exceptional experiences, create new revenue streams, and increase NPS first appeared on Total Telecom.

The ITS Technology Group, which manages 36 wholesale full fibre broadband and Ethernet networks across urban parts of the UK for businesses and ISPs (aka – “Faster Britain“), has today announced that they’ve completed the acquisition of dark fibre specialist NextGenAccess Ltd. for an undisclosed sum. NextGenAccess – part funded by Amber Infrastructure – is […]

Press Release

After successful pilots with Workspace and at a multinational firm’s UK headquarters, the NHIB approach has been adopted by Three UK for indoor 4G

Mobile network operator Three UK has partnered with connectivity infrastructure-as-a-service provider Freshwave on the operator’s first deployments of the Neutral Host In-Building mobile specification. After successful pilots at two of flexible office provider Workspace’s properties in London, and at a multinational firm’s UK headquarters in the capital, the approach has now been adopted by Three UK for their 4G indoor connectivity.

Eighty per cent of mobile calls originate indoors, but modern building materials, such as energy-efficient glass, make it harder for the outdoor macro signal to penetrate inside. This leaves many buildings as mobile signal dead zones, which can reduce business productivity and increase frustration. In-building small cell systems bring network indoors with guaranteed quality of service and without placing extra pressure on the outdoor macro.

The Joint Operator Technical Specifications (JOTS) Neutral Host In-Building (NHIB) specification is a recent and world-leading innovation in the telecoms sector. It’s an agreed technical standard for connecting shared in-building radio solutions based on 4G small cell technologies. All four of the UK’s mobile network operators participated in creating the specification and it reduces the complexity around a neutral host providing indoor mobile coverage to businesses. By adhering to the JOTS NHIB specification, a third party, or “neutral host” can provide mobile services to businesses on behalf of one or more of the operators. The neutral host can enable this connectivity using their own choice of vendors and equipment.

Iain Milligan, Chief Network Officer at Three UK, said: “We are investing more than ever in enhancing connectivity and coverage, and already have the UK’s Fastest 5G Network, according to Ookla. Indoor focus has been a major priority of ours with the acquisition of additional low frequency spectrum in 2020 and our agreement with Freshwave will further enhance indoor coverage, particularly for business customers.”

Tom Bennett, CTO at Freshwave, said: “This is another step forward in making assured indoor mobile connectivity easier for businesses to access around the UK and we’re pleased to have worked with Three UK on this world-leading approach. We’re excited that Three UK is now also using the specification and that Freshwave is the first company to be the neutral host for multiple operators on the NHIB specification.”

Chris Boultwood​, Head of Technology at Workspace, said: “I’m proud that Workspace provides premium spaces for our customers and that we have the premium mobile connectivity they want and need. Freshwave have been our mobile connectivity partner for many years now and ensure that we remain up to date with the changing technologies available.”

Connected Britain 2022 is happening right now! Keep up with the action across our social media platforms using #ConnectedBritain 

Also in the news:
BT and Atos strike computer vision partnership
South West ISP Truespeed appoints non-exec to accelerate rollout
Nothing changes if nothing changes: The UK’s full fibre rollout cannot rely solely on central government

The post Three UK partners with Freshwave for Neutral Host In-Building mobile deployments first appeared on Total Telecom.

Air Broadband, which offers ultrafast and gigabit speed internet access packages via various different Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) networks across the United Kingdom, has today announced it can now service over 1 million homes and businesses (up from 250,000 before). But today’s news is mainly focused on CityFibre. The provider is one of several in the market […]

Mobile operator Three UK has, following successful pilots with Workspace and at a multinational firm’s UK headquarters, agreed to join Freshwave’s new Neutral Host In-Building mobile network specification to help improve indoor 4G coverage at enabled sites. Just to recap. The Joint Operator Technical Specifications (JOTS) Neutral Host In-Building (NHIB) specification is simply an agreed […]

CONTRIBUTED CONTENT

Research shows that 89% of consumers want to initiate and reply to two-way conversations with businesses, via multiple mobile and social channels. However, over half (53%) said they were frustrated at the fact that often they cannot reply to a mobile message sent from a business, whether to ask a question, receive an update or complete an action, such as scheduling an appointment.

In all, 3,000 consumers across 15 countries were questioned for the research, which was commissioned by cloud communications firm Sinch.

And this comes after recent research from Mitto, the provider of global omnichannel communications solutions, which found that 87% of US consumers now use social media apps to message with brands, while 80% of consumers in China, Brazil, India, and Nigeria use chat apps for brand engagement.

Boosting sales

Mitto’s research among US consumers, shows increased messaging with brands is driving their purchasing decisions, with 55% reporting a brand’s social media messaging influenced a purchase via the website, 39% in store and 42% via the social media app.

The types of messaging consumers like to see from brands via social media include promo codes (70%), sales (61%), customer support (54%) and order updates (52%).

It’s clear there’s a big opportunity to generate sales through messaging. But when Sinch asked how long it typically takes to get a response from a brand on social media, nearly one-in-four people said it took a day or longer. Most respondents said they’d be less likely to buy from a brand given these unreasonable wait times.

AI-powered?

The Sinch study found 70% of people had interacted with an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot at least once, but what happens when a live service agent needs to step in? A resounding 95% of respondents wanted to be instantly handed off to a live agent in these situations, but this is a stark contrast to the 35% of businesses currently enabling this, according to a recent IDC white paper.

Sinch said the situation “amplifies the imbalance” between consumers’ desire for more intimate digital brand interactions and the limitations of brands’ current one-way messaging realities.

“Because many brands aren’t yet equipped to provide this enhanced conversational experience, customers are being unintentionally ignored, which can lead them to abandon a business altogether,” says Jonathan Bean, chief marketing officer of Sinch. “Activating omnichannel two-way messaging is a critical way of boosting the customer experience and forging more loyal, satisfied relationships with consumers.”

That said, it’s clear that messaging specialists, and the telcos that carry such messages, have an opportunity to generate more sales, in hopefully helping enterprises meet customer expectations going forward.

Making bills pay

Around 20 years ago, the Telecommunications Managers Association (TMA) in the UK had a number of key issues in its sights, including the high price of leased lines from only a limited number of suppliers, and the lack of a broadband alternative for businesses, as incumbent BT was not unbundling its exchanges, to enable the faster introduction of ADSL and other forms of broadband.

Another key topic was billing, specifically the difficulty in companies actually understanding their telecoms costs, and often being overcharged as a result. Also, it was concerned that alternative service providers were finding it very difficult to resell telco services, because carrier billing systems were too complicated.

While most phone exchanges have now been unbundled as a result of market forces and thanks to government action, and the resulting different broadband services are now widespread, the issue of billing problems has still not gone away.

The TMA became the Communications Management Association (CMA) to reflect the fact its members were no longer just managing telephone call records, but also extensive data ones too, as a result of the convergence of telephone networks and computer networks. And eventually, the CMA was taken over by the British Computer Society (BCS), the IT managers’ association.

This little history perfectly illustrates the extensive problems being faced by those having to manage communications bills, they are big, and growing, as a result of the wider communications services all markets internationally are creating.

Coping

So how to cope at the sharp end? Well, implementing robust revenue assurance protocols before and after each bill run can make a big difference to the bottom line, for one. And checks should also be performed to ensure that buy prices are in accordance with the tariff agreed with the carrier. Assuming the carrier gets it right can be a costly mistake made by many.

These are basics, but without an automated billing platform most end customers and resellers cannot tally up charges as they grow their business, and the bills become a big threat to the bottom line.

I spoke to Gareth Pritchard, marketing manager for Union Street, a provider of billing platforms. He says that while billing automation is key to enable organisations to cope, resellers also shouldn’t lose site of the opportunities.

For instance, in mobile, most users demand unlimited call and data packages, even though most don’t need them for their actual usage. The clever providers, he says, will buy a large bundle from a carrier and then resell pieces of it to end customers using “unlimited” accounts, which they won’t make use of.

This results in bigger profits for the reseller, providing they have a decent automated billing system to carefully manage the operation.

Roaming

For the last three months, I’ve been trialling Vodafone‘s 5G MiFi device, a mobile router that provides either personal communications use or which can be shared with multiple devices. It can be deployed in either a fixed space to support retail use, for instance, or carried on your travels.

I’ve been using it around the UK, in search of those slowly growing 5G signals, and abroad. Where there is a 5G signal to be had, the network performance is solid and the battery is also reliable, sometimes lasting a couple of days without having to re-charge.

Outside the UK, I have also tried to use it in the US, Spain and the Middle East. It didn’t work in California, as a Vodafone bod hadn’t flicked the necessary switch in a data centre. Although I hadn’t warned them of my impending travel, that was part of the trial in my mind.

In Spain’s Canary Islands, I was only able to find a 4G signal, but this was excellent and supported two smartphones and a very happy Mrs Savvas, an F1 nut. While on holiday, she watched the entire Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on her iPad by the pool, with no service drops.

As I write this, I’m on a business trip to Tel Aviv, Israel. I can’t find a 5G signal in the centre of town at the moment, but the 4G signal, and even the 3G one that occasional pops up, is good enough for the basics. The networks that appear through this device while abroad are often Vodafone’s interconnectivity partners, and that’s why Vodafone has always been a reliable operator to use while travelling.

The author is Antony Savvas, a global freelance business technology journalist. This article first appeared on www.vanillaplus.com

 

 

The post Messaging and billing are key to the bottom line first appeared on Total Telecom.

Satellite operator OneWeb, which is partly owned by the UK Government, has announced that 36 of their Low Earth Orbit (LEO) based ultrafast broadband satellites have just arrived at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, ahead of an expected launch to space next month. The operator has already launched 428 of their small […]

Low-cost broadband ISP TalkTalk has called on the government to be more proactive in encouraging the take-up of new full fibre and other gigabit speed capable networks. One of their proposals calls for a national information and awareness campaign to help highlight the benefits of such connections. At present the industry is still primarily focused […]

Network operator CityFibre has today announced that they’ve covered 2 million UK homes with their new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network (up from 1.9m in August), which represents 25% of their 8 million target. Better yet, they passed the second million some three times faster than their first million. The achievement forms part of […]