Better Mobile Coverage Getting Closer on East Coast Mainline
The London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has reported that their joint project to deploy new 4G / 5G mobile network infrastructure into train tunnels outside London King’s Cross station has reached a key milestone, with a new (bespoke) antenna being installed inside the Gasworks and Copenhagen tunnels. The project, which is being supported by Network […]
Delays as CityFibre Suspends More UK FTTP Broadband Builds UPDATE
As fibre optic network operator CityFibre continues its drive to reduce costs and boost coverage growth, such as via mergers and acquisitions (here), the news starting to reach us today is that they’ve also taken the decision to “pause” more of their full fibre (FTTP) broadband contracts with UK build partners (contractors). So far the […]
Ofcom Look to Approve BeetleSat’s LEO Broadband Satellites
The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has proposed to grant an Earth Station Network Licence (ESNL) to NSLComm in support of its plans to launch a new global constellation of 264 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which could be used to provide broadband to mobile sites (backhaul), as well as military, aviation, maritime and enterprises. […]
Safaricom: Kenya’s new smartphone plant could reduce prices by 30%
News The factory, a joint venture between Safaricom, TeleOne, and Jamii Telkom, is aiming to produce the cheapest smartphones in Africa A new smartphone manufacturing facility in Kenya is already making waves, with Safaricom’s CEO Peter Ndegwa suggesting locally built 4G smartphones could be up to 30% cheaper than their imported counterparts. Speaking on an investor call back in November, Ndegwa said that most of the cost savings from building these phones domestically would be passed on...
The path is clearing for Europe to adopt 5G-Advanced
Viewpoint Futureproofing 5G with 6GHz spectrum Mid-band spectrum – the frequencies in the 1GHz–6GHz range – have always been of paramount importance to 5G. Offering the perfect blend of coverage, speed, and capacity, mid-band spectrum provides operators with a cost-effective 5G deployment option that is still capable of delivering all the latest 5G experiences for their customers. The availability of additional mid-band spectrum, however, is growing slim. Mobile data consumption is growing...
The toll of antidumping measures on Europe’s 5G and FTTH ambitions
Viewpoint In the race towards a technologically advanced future, Europe finds itself at a crossroads marked by a stark reality—its 5G uptake of a mere 2.5% as of Q4 2021 pales in comparison to the robust strides made by North America, China, Japan, and South Korea. While optimistic projections suggest a future surge in adoption, the continent faces a persistent challenge in lagging behind its global counterparts. However, on the Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) front, the latest market figures unveil...
Verizon and AT&T release financial results as market spending slackens
News The two firms have released their financial results for Q4 of 2023, both of which reflect current market conditions Verizon have released their annual earnings report, in which total revenue for 2023 stood at $134 billion, a 2.2% year-on-year decrease. Operating profit fell around 25% to $22.9 billion, and net profit decreased by 44% to $12.1 billion. In Q4, the firm reported a loss of $2.57 billion, and earnings per share down to 64 cents, having been heavily impacted by Verizon’s...
Millicom offloads 1,100 Colombian towers to KKR
News The sale-and-leaseback deal was agreed for an undisclosed sum This week, Millicom’s subsidiary Tigo Colombia has agreed to sell around 1,100 of its mobile towers to US investment firm KKR. The towers will be managed by KKR in partnership with NEXO LatAm, the digital infrastructure platform that manages KKR’s fibre investments throughout Latin America. Tigo itself will continue to make use of the divested towers for its mobile network via a long-term leasing agreement with KKR. The...
Scotland to evaluate R100 fibre broadband project
News The project has been subject to many delays, with the target date being pushed back seven years The Scottish government has issued a new contract notice to begin an evaluation study to assess the value for money of the country’s R100 (Reaching 100% superfast broadband”) project. The R100 scheme aims to improve the connectivity of some of Scotland’s most rural communities, many of which have been overlooked by previous public and private broadband investment schemes. At the outset of...
Etisalat by e& launches new FTTH plans
News The plans are the first of its kind in the UAE, according to the company Etisalat by e& has announced the launch of two new fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) plans of 5Gbps and 10Gbps to enhance the connectivity experience that the company can bring to customers. The 5Gbps plan is priced at AED 1799 ($489.80) per month and the 10Gbps plan is priced at AED 2,699 ($734.83) per month. “With the launch of ground-breaking 5Gbps and 10Gbps speeds, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,”...