US: Telecom operators agree to 5G delay in U-turn decision

 

 

 

 

 

Two major US telecom operators, AT&T and Verizon, agreed on Monday evening to a further two-week delay to a planned rollout of 5G networks across the country.

The decision followed a request by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on behalf of aviation companies that were worried about the interference of 5G signals on aircraft safety devices.

The two companies had previously rejected the request after having already delayed their launch by a month.

"We've agreed to a two-week delay which promises the certainty of bringing this nation our game-changing 5G network in January," Verizon said in a statement after talks with government officials and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

Problems of frequency

Buttigieg and FAA chief Stephen Dickson wrote to Verizon and AT&T on Friday asking them to hold off on their nationwide launch for a maximum of two weeks.

The move was triggered by concerns of "unacceptable disruption" to flights due to possible interference from 5G signals.

The C-band frequency used by 5G is close to that used by altimeter devices on planes that measure the aircraft's altitude.

Airlines are worried about serious impacts on their flights. At the same time, the two telecom companies are eager to launch their new service after having spent billions on licenses to use the frequency.

 

Limits on 5G around airports

"We know aviation safety and 5G can co-exist and we are confident further collaboration and technical assessment will allay any issues," an AT&T spokeswoman said in a statement.

Although they had initially rejected the request, both companies agreed to limit the new 5G services around major airports for six months so as to limit any possible problems for aircraft.

They had been hoping to launch in many US cities on Wednesday.

Total Telecom: Maximizing the Value of Connectivity

 

 

The British company said the investment would enable it to build products and se ..

Read more at:
https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/vodafone-adds-7000-software-engineers-to-target-digital-services/87196863

 

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Total Telecom reported that industry leaders gathered recently at Ultra-Broadband Forum 2021, organized by UN Broadband Commission and Huawei, held in Dubai to discuss building future-proof networks sustainably.

Total Telecom thinks that the expectations from digital connectivity have been redefined in the last one year. From conducting financial transactions online to remote factory management, the digital way of life is becoming pervasive.

"Connectivity reshaped how we live and work when the pandemic hit in 2020. Connectivity is more than an expansion of functions, it is an emotional bond. As long as there is connectivity, there is a bond. Where there is connectivity, there is innovation. It presents us with unlimited possibilities. I believe in our shared mission to create a connected world," says Ryan Ding, Executive Director of the Board, President of the Carrier BG, Huawei, in his inaugural address.

The C.A.F (Coverage, Architecture and Fusion) model is emerging as a way for the telcos to maximize the value of connectivity and achieve new growth. "The broader coverage the network has, the more number of connections it will grow. Further, fusion between connectivity and cloud is important to speed up digitalization. The sooner we achieve network and cloud convergence, the better competitive advantage telco operators will have. Lastly, network architecture is the cornerstone for current and future business opportunities. A future-oriented network should be more elastic, more efficient and greener," says Peng Song, President of Global Carrier Marketing and Solution Sales, Huawei.

According to Total Telecom, with the growing dependency on digital tools, there is a strong need to rethink our network strategy to expand coverage, benefit from cloud and connectivity and build a future-oriented network. The communications service providers (CSPs) need to adopt innovative network strategies to provide reliable and ubiquitous broadband coverage to power the next wave of growth and innovation.

About Total Telecom

Total Telecom offers daily online news with the option to sign up for headlines by email and monthly analysis. Total Telecom organises the annual World Communication Awards, Asia Communication Awards and a range of conferences and networking opportunities, including Submarine Networks EMEA, 5GLIVE, Connected Italy, Connected Britain, Connected Germany and the Total Telecom Congress. Find out more at www.totaltele.com

 

LONDON: Vodafone said it would add nearly 7,000 software engineers to its workfo ..

Read more at:
https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/vodafone-adds-7000-software-engineers-to-target-digital-services/87196863

 

LONDON: Vodafone said it would add nearly 7,000 software engineers to its workfo ..

Read more at:
https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/vodafone-adds-7000-software-engineers-to-target-digital-services/87196863

 

LONDON: Vodafone said it would add nearly 7,000 software engineers to its workfo ..

Read more at:
https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/vodafone-adds-7000-software-engineers-to-target-digital-services/87196863

 

The British company said the investment would enable it to build products and se ..

Read more at:
https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/vodafone-adds-7000-software-engineers-to-target-digital-services/87196863

K Rajaraman appointed as new telecom secretary

 

 

 

 Rajaraman, a Tamil Nadu cadre 1989-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS), is currently working as an additional secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). He would take over new role of telecom secretary after incumbent Anshu Prakash's retires on September 30, 2021.

 The Centre has appointed K. Rajaraman as the new telecom secretary as part of a major top-level bureaucratic reshuffle.

Rajaraman, a Tamil Nadu cadre 1989-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS), is currently working as an additional secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). He would take over new role of telecom secretary after incumbent Anshu Prakash's retires on September 30, 2021.

His appointment comes just a week after the government announced wide ranging reforms in the telecom sector, including announcing steps to convert government’s dues to telcos as equity over time in a bid to ensure a three-private player telecom market.

Barclay Communications offers free telecoms support to pandemic-hit NI firms

 

 

 

 

 

THE north’s largest locally owned telecommunications provider has launched an initiative to offer support to Northern Ireland firms hit by a downturn in business as a result of the pandemic.

Barclay Communications said it will provide free telecoms solutions for 12 months to successful applicants with no obligation to continue with a contract when the period ends.

The company said the combined packages could be worth up to £250,000.

The Belfast-based telecoms company recorded its best ever year in 2020, with turnover up 33 per cent to £24 million.

It now handles more than 100,000 business connections.

Founder and managing director Britt Megahey said the company wants to support firms who through no fault of their own during the pandemic.

“We have been very privileged over the past year to have experienced our most successful period ever in our 25-year history but we are aware that many other businesses experienced the opposite,” he said.

“We recognise that those businesses, especially when furlough ends, and bounceback loans have to be repaid, will need every penny they have to thrive and invest in their business wisely. To help some of those in that challenging position we are offering to support their communication needs as they reconnect and resume business.”

The managing director said companies will be asked three questions: How the Covid-19 pandemic impacted your business; how much was spent on communication in 2019/20 during the pandemic; and how free telecoms services for 12 months would benefit your business.

Deadline for submissions is October 29.

Telecoms expansion for Mitie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAEL Ventures, a South West-based provider of acquisition, design and construction (ADC) services for mobile telecoms infrastructure, has been acquired by Mitie Group for £15m. 

The acquisition is set to broaden Mitie's expertise in the telecoms sector.

DAEL Ventures, (together with its subsidiaries DAEL Telecom Ltd, JB Towers Ltd and JISTICS), is the UK arm of Mak Holding, which is related to DAEL Group Netherlands. DAEL Group Netherlands will continue to operate under its existing private ownership and is not part of the transaction.

Alongside ADC services, DAEL Ventures also provides specialist managed services of temporary mobile infrastructure to support the special events market, as well as bespoke structural engineering and design services for telecoms assets.

Andy Train, managing director at DAEL Telecom, and James Brennan, managing director at JB Towers, will join Mitie to create a new telecoms business unit within Mitie's technical services division

Mitie chief executive Phil Bentley said: "The acquisition, which is aligned with our new growth and margin enhancement strategy, provides us with the opportunity to broaden our scale and expertise in the fast-growing telecoms sector. Mitie will now have market-leading capabilities, putting us in a strong position to take advantage of the growth prospects arising from the rollout of 5G in the UK." 

The shareholders of DAEL were advised by Bishop Fleming’s corporate finance team and BPE Solicitors.

Mitie was advised by legal firm Mayer Brown. 

DAEL Telecom and JB Towers are is based in Tewkesbury.

 

Nokia launches the world’s first live 5G standalone 700MHz service

 

 

 

 

Nokia has launched the world’s first live 5G standalone 700MHz service in Australia in partnership with TPG Telecom.

The low-band service will help to cover wide outdoor areas in addition to deep indoor urban environments, making it particularly useful for IoT deployments.

Barry Kezik, Executive General Manager Mobile and Fixed Networks at TPG Telecom, said:

“We’re excited to be the first network in the world to realise the true potential of low-band 5G SA at 700MHz.

TPG Telecom’s low band 5G will expand our 5G coverage, supporting our goal of reaching 85 percent of the population in Australia’s top six cities by the end of the year and changing the way people and things connect to the TPG Telecom 5G network.”

The service uses Nokia’s latest equipment from its ReefShark-based AirScale range including its unique triple band remote radio unit that supports 700, 850, and 900MHz bands.

Dr Robert Joyce, Chief Technology Officer at Nokia Oceania, commented:

“Nokia is proud to support another 5G world first. We have a long-standing partnership with TPG Telecom, and we have jointly developed our unique triple-band radio solution specifically for them.

Today, we get to see the result of that joint effort and collaboration which will deliver premium wide area 5G SA coverage for TPG Telecom and its customers.”

Nokia’s triple-band radio unit also supports 3G, 4G and 5G simultaneously across all of TPG Telecom’s low-band frequencies.

The 5G SA service is now live on TPG Telecom’s network in Sydney.

Samsung, Ericsson, Foxconn arm, 9 others express initial interest in telecom PLI scheme

 

 

 

 

 

 

AS MANY as 12 international and domestic companies have submitted initial offers of investment to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the telecom products’ production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, sources in know of the development said.

Taiwan’s Rising Star, an arm of Foxconn, US-based Sanmina Corp, Jabil, Nokia, Samsung, Ciena, Mavenir USA and Ericsson are among the international companies, while Gurgaon-based VVDN Technology, Noida-based Dixon Technologies India, Coral Telecom and HFCL are the domestic companies that have shown interest so far, sources said.

All these companies fall under the non-micro, small and medium enterprises segment and will be required to make a minimum investment of Rs 100 crore. In February this year, the Central government had cleared a Rs 12,195-crore PLI scheme for domestic manufacturing of telecom and networking products such as switches, routers, radio access network, wireless equipment and other internet of things (IoT) access devices.

The working guidelines for these companies were notified on June 3. As per the norms, the year 2019-2020 will be considered the base year to calculate incremental sales for the PLI scheme, which is scheduled to run from April 1 this year to March 31, 2026.

Though the government has agreed to consider the expenditure incurred on plant and machinery as investment for determining eligibility for the incentives under the PLI scheme, it has also limited the amount of the funds the companies can spend on research and development (R&D) as well as technology transfer.

While the expenditure incurred on R&D cannot exceed 15 per cent of the total investment committed by the companies, the money to be spent on technology transfer cannot exceed more than 5 per cent, as per the norms.

The idea behind capping the investment on R&D as well as technology transfer, a senior DoT official said, was to ensure “incremental production” over the next five years.

“The priority right now in this PLI, as well as others, is incremental sales and production. While R&D is good for the long term, the immediate requirement is to make sure companies invest in production lines,” an official said.

Any investments in R&D will yield results only in the long run, which is not what the telecom ministry wants right now, other officials said.

“Only those investments, which are done after April 1 this year, will be considered. And, there was a demand from the industry that they would need some help in the R&D as well as transfer of technology. So, if companies, on their own, spend more on R&D instead of focusing on production, the result will take much longer to come,” one of the officials said.

 

The telecom ministry is also unlikely to accept the demand of the industry to push the base year for consideration of incentives under PLI to 2020-2021 from 2019-2020, the officials said.

“The industry had been kept in loop all through the designing of the scheme. They knew very well when the scheme would start, when it would end and what are the various investments that would be considered. We feel that there would be no need for extension of the scheme’s deadlines right now,” an official said.