Lumen is bringing on some more talent, and by talent I mean AI. They have teamed up with Microsoft to deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot to empower its 30K employee base in a beta test under Microsoft’s Early Access Program.. … [visit site to read more]
Latin American markets also saw smartphone shipments fall as the region experienced a 14% year-on-year drop to 27.9 million units in Q2, but is showing signs of recovery according to analyst company Canalys.
“Subdued consumer demand has led to an increase in vendors’ smartphone inventories. This has led to companies adopting a more cautious approach, targeting specific market segments that could bring them better returns,” said Canalys senior consultant Miguel Perez.
LATAM’s top-selling vendors Samsung, Motorola and Xiaomi were hit by double-digit year-on-year declines, noted Perez, adding vendors had to be conservative to avoid overstocking and increase profitability.
Samsung shifted its focus away from devices in the sub-US$200 bracket, while Motorola and Xiaomi pushed efforts towards their low to mid-tier devices.
The Korean smartphone giant remained the top shipping vendor with 9.4 million units and 34% market share, however, this was a decline from 11.6 million units and 36% market share.
Motorola took 21% of the market with 5.7 million units, a drop from 22% and 7 million units. Chinese vendor Xiaomi saw 4.6 million shipped for 17% market share, a loss from 5.3 million units and 17% year-on-year.
Transsion, the owner of smartphone brands Tecno, Itel, and Infinix, ranked fourth as it saw growth with 2.1 million units up from 1.3 million, and growing market share from 4% to 7%. Perez noted this was due to its wide portfolio of entry-level devices and popularity in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Apple was ranked fifth maintaining its 5% market share with 1.4 million units, down from 1.5 million.
Canalys noted despite varied socio-political landscapes, LATAM’s economic stability is fostering a favourable climate for the smartphone market. Inflation is largely in control and region economic leaders Brazil, Mexico and Colombia are seeing growth.
The analyst company is expecting a 2% decline in full year 2023 but 6% growth in 2024, and further growth up to 2027.
Vodafone Ukraine increased its capital investments by 75% in the first half of this year, spending over UAH 2 billion ($54.2 million) on repairs and winter preparations.
As the Russia–Ukraine war continues, Vodafone Ukraine engineers continue to restore destroyed infrastructure, repair equipment, develop and expand the network, and prepare for potential blackouts in the winter.
According to the company, over 9,000 base stations have been refitted with new batteries, which are adapted to operate in harsh conditions. They are also less sensitive to power surges and frequent power outages, with 2.5–3 times faster charging speeds than the old batteries.
Additionally, Vodafone Ukraine has supplied a further 1,124 network technical facilities with stationary generators and prepared 522 mobile generators. The company says it has a sufficient back-up supply of fuel for the winter, backed up by solar power plants and microturbine generators at a number of facilities.
The firm also reported half-year revenues of UAH 10.4 billion ($283.3 million), a 5% year-on-year increase.
Last winter was a very difficult period for Ukrainian network operators, which saw their infrastructure targeted alongside the national power grid by a coordinated Russian artillery assault. The attacks saw huge disruption to telecoms services, leaving the operators scrambling to restore and buttress their networks against further attack.
In a Total Telecom interview with Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov last December, Komarov noted two noted major problems facing the Ukrainian telcos. The first concerned recovering and restoring sites located in occupied areas of the country, while the second was ensuring the existing sites remains operational during power outages.
According to Komarov, the main targets of the Russian attacks are generating and transmission facilities of the Ukrainian Energy market, which when they occur, cause huge energy disbalances, resulting in blackouts, which get wider longer with every attack that occurs.
At the time, Komarov said that up to 25% of the network would be out of operation because of energy supply issues, resulting in 30% of the country being entered into a temporary blackout.
As such, with winter approaching once again, it should come as no surprise that the operators are turning their attention to reinforcing their power infrastructure by adding new energy solutions and a horde of new generators.
Want to keep up to date with all of the latest international telecoms news? Click here to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter direct to your inbox
Also in the the news:
T-Mobile to cut 5,000 US jobs
US government announces $3.5 million in grants to Tribal Communities
Dish seeks extension for purchase of T-Mobile’s low-band spectrum
Four bits of network expansion news, both domestic and international. … [visit site to read more]
Analyst company Canalys reported smartphone shipments in Southeast Asia fell 15% year-on-year in Q2 to 20.9 million units, the lowest total since 2014, macroeconomic conditions continue to dampen consumer confidence.
In a statement, Canalys said the low shipments have led to an increase in old stock, the stifling of new initiatives and inventory from smartphone manufacturers, and a lacklustre festive season. This was also the sixth consecutive quarter of year-on-year decline.
“Brands maintained a cautious approach to the quarter and focused on strengthening channel positioning for long-term share sustainability,” said Canalys analyst Le Xuan Chiew.
Samsung was the highest shipping vendor in Southeast Asia with 4.2 million units, taking a market share of 20%, despite a year-on-year decline of 26%. Chinese vendor Oppo was in second with 3.4 million shipped and 16% market share.
Xiaomi and Transsion both shipped around 2.9 million units taking 14% of the market each, through key device launches and market expansion, respectively. Realme reclaimed the fifth spot with 2.6 million units (12% market share).
“The market is expected to gain momentum in H2 2023 as channel inventory returns to healthier levels,” said Canalys analyst Sheng Win Chow.
“The ramp-up of incentive programs and new high-end launches should increase retail sales Q3 2023 onward. The long-term outlook for Southeast Asia is intact and Canalys expects mid-single-digit growth in 2024.
“Expansion of the online channel will contribute largely to future growth as investments from e-commerce operators improve infrastructure, and timely payment and logistics will enable e-retailers to scale more efficiently.
“Increased marketing expenditure will spur demand by enabling more aggressive discounting. In addition, the region’s increasing disposable income from an expanding middle-class and young population entering the workforce are strong reasons to expect an improved landscape.”
Every successful company’s communication infrastructure relies on data security and stability.
To manage that, they require well-protected servers that can manage their bandwidth and be flexible enough to be customized to the businesses needs.
As a virtualization platform dedicated to hosting UC services, SERVERware is Bicom Systems’ answer to these modern requirements.
It is a tool that provides a stable environment to allocate user bandwidth and data while maintaining maximum uptime and offering top-notch data security.
It is important to relay all of SERVERware’s greatest benefits to your clients which we will go over in this article.
As a UC provider, it is important to get acquainted with the product’s biggest strengths so you can better market it to your clientele and SERVERware has a couple that you need to keep your eye out on.
One of the most relevant aspects of SERVERware is the ability to manage every single aspect from the same dashboard.
This not only includes managing the different PBXware editions under the client’s contract, but managing resource allocation as well as the statuses of each individually created VPS.
You can freely customize the tolerance parameters of different alarms to notify your users of a fault in case one of those values is exceeded, leading to quicker reaction times in case of an abnormality.
Further customization is available to your clients through the use of partitions, allowing them to create specific spaces within their SERVERware extension to make its management easier.
Each partition can get a custom amount of resources allocated to it too, depending on how critical it is to system operations.
SERVERware provides your clients with a sizable resource pool to utilize, but a lot of it can end up idling if it is all used on a singular server.
That is why, through the aforementioned, intuitive interface, one can create a VPS with a simple button press and allocate a set amount of these available resources to it, allowing it to operate as an individual unit.
This offers your clients greater control over their assets and better customization options that lets them fine tune it to their specific needs and improve their server infrastructure without compromising server stability.
While ease of use and flexible customization are core features of any good modern UC solution, the real backbone of it is data integrity.
SERVERware protects your clients’ data through a number of different ways.
The first is done through maintaining high storage stability and scalability through the use of OpenZFS.
The second is accomplished through the use of geo-IP blocking thanks to sipPROT, our SIP attack protection solution built into PBXware.
The third is done via VPS management, allowing clients to route traffic through different subnets to prevent bandwidth congestion.
Finally, service downtime is minimal thanks to the use of geo-redundancy which allows for the creation of replications in different locations as a failsafe against unforeseen disasters or malfunctions.
SERVERware also offers VPS backups as another measure for safeguarding data.
In addition to all of the standard features, your clients are offered 3 different editions of SERVERware to choose from, allowing them to pick the one that suits their needs the best.
The first of the three is the Standalone edition, hosted on a single server and ideal for an in-house server solution.
It’s ideal for startups or smaller businesses and can be upgraded if need be.
The mirror edition introduces an extra server to function as a mirror of the primary one, letting it stand in for the main server in case of an unexpected malfunction or service disruption.
The mirror server lives up to its name as it syncs its data up with the primary server so that when it takes over, there’s little to no data loss in the failover process.
This ensures minimal service downtime and lets maintenance crews remove the issue without having to take the entire service offline to do so.
The final of the 3 is the most advanced option, the cluster edition which utilizes the infrastructure of the mirror edition while also adding more processing hosts to minimize traffic congestion and maintain maximum server uptime.
The cluster edition is also our most scalable option and is aimed at medium and larger businesses as the best option of the three.
Your clients value data protection and management greatly, so make sure they have the best of the best on hand with Bicom Systems’ own solution, SERVERware.
Though, SERVERware is only part of a greater UC solution, one that it creates when combined with our other products, gloCOM, sipPROT, and, most importantly, PBXware, where it unleashes its full potential.
If you’re eager to find out what that looks like in action, feel free to Contact Us or Request a Demo of our product for more information.
Bicom Systems, a trailblazer in the field of unified communications, has unveiled a potent weapon in the VoIP provider’s arsenal – gloCOM Meeting.
This groundbreaking solution not only revolutionizes collaboration but also seamlessly integrates with other Bicom Systems offerings, creating an ecosystem that amplifies business efficiency and connectivity.
In this comprehensive exploration, we delve into the remarkable benefits of gloCOM Meeting for UC providers, while shedding light on its seamless integration with other solutions such as gloCOM and gloCOM GO.
In a world where remote work and virtual interactions are the new norm, gloCOM Meeting emerges as an indispensable tool for VoIP providers keen on empowering their clients with cutting-edge collaboration capabilities.
This advanced platform redefines the boundaries of collaboration, bringing teams closer and transcending geographical constraints. As UC providers, presenting the unmatched benefits of gloCOM Meeting to your clients unveils a horizon of possibilities:
gloCOM Meeting shatters communication silos by combining video conferencing, screen sharing, chat, and file sharing within a singular platform.
This integration eliminates the need for juggling multiple tools, thus elevating communication efficiency and accelerating seamless collaboration.
The platform’s intuitive user interface ensures that virtual meetings are conducted without a hitch. With high-definition video and crystal-clear audio, gloCOM Meeting transforms remote meetings into engaging and interactive experiences.
You can underscore how the platform fosters clear communication, enabling participants to feel connected irrespective of their physical location.
In an era where data security is paramount, gloCOM Meeting is designed to address these concerns effectively.
The solution employs robust encryption and top-tier security protocols, safeguarding sensitive discussions and confidential information during virtual meetings.
Having every form of communication handled by one UC solution lets a client’s company connect every worker and handle every piece of information through the same channels without the need to swap to a different app altogether.
This leads to a streamlined communication process, helping improve efficiency in every corner of the client’s business.
In the interest of making meeting management more intuitive, gloCOM Meeting offers your client a suite of tools with that goal in mind.
Everything from scheduling meetings to moderating them has been made easier thanks to the ability to add multiple organizers which can both assist in meeting moderation and even standing in for the head organizer if they are unable to attend for whatever reason.
Clients can even record meetings to review later so workers can retain their focus for its duration, improving overall business communication and dataflow.
For businesses that hold their brand identity dear, gloCOM, as a whole, offers customization and white-labeling options which gloCOM Meeting is included in.
As an UC provider, you can spotlight how clients can embed their brand essence into virtual meetings, thus enhancing professionalism and engendering trust.
The true potency of gloCOM Meeting emerges from its seamless integration with other Bicom Systems solutions. This harmonious union culminates in an ecosystem that not only simplifies communication but also amplifies productivity across the board.
UC providers hold the key to unveiling this unified approach, showcasing the remarkable synergy between gloCOM Meeting, gloCOM, and gloCOM GO:
Serving as the keystone of the Bicom Systems ecosystem, gloCOM stands as a comprehensive unified communications application.
As a UC provider, you can highlight how gloCOM serves as the nucleus for voice, video, messaging, and presence, providing a centralized hub that empowers employees to communicate seamlessly across various channels.
In a world where mobility is of the essence, gloCOM GO emerges as a mobile extension of gloCOM. You can illuminate how gloCOM GO extends the functionality of gloCOM to smartphones, allowing users to remain connected and productive even while on the move.
By seamlessly integrating gloCOM Meeting, gloCOM, and gloCOM GO, you can present clients with a cohesive communication ecosystem that transcends traditional confines.
This integration streamlines collaboration, guarantees consistency across devices, and augments the overall user experience.
Embracing gloCOM Meeting translates into empowerment for you as a UC provider, unlocking a treasure trove of advantages:
By wielding gloCOM Meeting you gain a competitive edge by furnishing clients with a potent collaboration tool designed to meet the demands of contemporary business.
By addressing the escalating need for seamless virtual collaboration, gloCOM Meeting elevates customer satisfaction by facilitating effective and efficient communication.
As businesses fathom the value of unified communication and collaboration tools, the demand for gloCOM Meeting is poised to surge, translating into unprecedented business growth for you as a provider.
You can metamorphose into a trusted advisor, expertly guiding clients through the process of integrating gloCOM Meeting and showcasing tailored features to align with their unique requirements.
The unveiling of gloCOM Meeting marks a momentous stride in the realm of business communication.
For UC providers, this innovation heralds a golden opportunity not just to fortify collaboration for their clients, but to create an iron-clad alliance among distinct Bicom Systems solutions.
By incorporating gloCOM Meeting into your portfolio, you can position yourself as a trailblazer in delivering advanced communication tools that transcend geographical boundaries and elevate business operations.
Embrace the transformative power of gloCOM Meeting today, and empower your clients to unravel the true potential of unified collaboration. In unity, there’s strength – and gloCOM Meeting exemplifies the epitome of unity in communication.
Deutsche Telekom has announced an upgrade to its cross-continental Lambda network, adding a third route across the channel between London and mainland Europe.
The new route runs between London and Ostend, Belgium, and adds to the existing routes between London and Paris, and London and Amsterdam.
The Lambda network is a high-bandwidth optical network that delivers cross-continental connectivity, which Deutsche Telekom describes as a cost-effective alternative to building a private network.
scThe network is powered by Ciena’s WaveLogic 5 Extreme 800G and is built on Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (DWDM) architecture, which is used to increase the bandwidth of existing fibre networks by allowing different wavelengths to be supported over a single fibre.
As a result, 1G, 10G, 100G, and 400G services can be offered across the whole network, allowing for the development of new applications and the opening of new business opportunities and markets, the firm argues.
“The three routes connecting London to continental Europe significantly support the region’s efficient exchange of traffic,” said Beatrix Kapitany, head of international sales, network infrastructure solutions at Deutsche Telekom.
“That’s why we are especially proud to have implemented this third route, which will further increase the stability of customer services. But of course, we will not stop here and will soon follow up with additional routes for other locations to support the growth of our clients.”
The firm plans to add further routes along additional locations, having recently announced a new route from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Varazdin, Croatia, which the firm says will result in a 5ms latency improvement.
Want to keep up to date with all of the latest international telecoms news? Sign up for Total Telecom’s daily newsletter
Also in the news:
T-Mobile to cut 5,000 US jobs
Dish seeks extension for purchase of T-Mobile’s low-band spectrum
Brazil making rapid 5G progress but challenges remain on the horizon
Two of the biggest things clients value are data security and service uptime.
They are factors of great importance when it comes to maintaining quality of a provided service as it often puts both their reputation (and yours) on the line if the product is not up to the task.
Different forms of disruption can bring a server down at any point or compromise it which is why having a fast and efficient network failover rate can be the difference between being the best service provider or a middling one.
For all of you UCaaS providers out there, know that this issue is covered for PBXware through SERVERware’s very own geo-redundancy policy, however, it is important to relay the importance of this feature to your clients.
It will help both of you in the long run and save you from having to deal with extra support calls.
Geo redundancy is relatively self-explanatory in name alone.
It is a safety measure introduced into critical systems to ensure maximum uptime.
It revolves around having multiple server locations spread around the world where the main server’s data is stored and synced up on a regular basis.
The purpose behind this is that, should the main server fail due to a SIP attack, a natural disaster or a sudden malfunction, the GR server can take over once the failover procedure kicks in.
This ensures minimal server downtime even in the worst of scenarios, allowing end-users to continue using the service without interruption and for maintenance crews to work on fixing the issue on the main server in the meantime.
Well, the surface level of reasoning behind geo redundancy is better data security and virtually no downtime in case of maintenance or disasters.
But, if we were to delve a bit deeper into it, the long term benefits of such a system are twofold.
They help prevent any major financial losses for your clients from compromised data or service downtime while keeping both their reputation and yours at a high level.
This helps garner more trust and attracts more potential clients to your product down the line.
Honestly, it is a fantastic safety option for nearly every client.
Though, for on-site implementation, that comes with the caveat of the company having to buy their own servers or rent them from a third party which would be housed in a different location.
Clients that benefit the most from this are businesses that operate with a lot of critical systems and data in mind and would gladly welcome the added protection.
Before geo redundancy is put in motion, there are a few steps that need to be considered.
However, it is our job to take care of those, but it is a good thing to keep in mind when describing the whole process to your potential clients.
Once we have determined that your client could benefit from this feature, we will further discuss what type of setup is required based on their budget, capabilities and data or service sensitivity.
When all of that is sorted, it is up to you to choose the most fitting GR server location.
While, in the past, this usually had to be somewhere nearby due to potential latency issues, modern advancements in data transfer technology allow for them to be set up much further apart for added safety with minimal latency increases.
After all that, it is time to implement the geo redundancy options in question, syncing the data up to the GR site and putting everything in motion.
All that is left then is to customize the failover procedure and everything should be good to go.
Just make sure to remind your clients to regularly sync up data between the main and GR servers to minimize data loss.
Providing good quality data security is the key to a reputable business, something that both UC providers and their clients should be well aware of.
Geo redundancy offers the opportunity to keep both sides content in that regard.
One side benefits from having their business and data secured from any unwanted disasters or attacks while the other benefits from a satisfied customer and an increase in desirability.
Looking for a secure UC solution that helps you make your name in the business? Get in touch with us!
Four interesting bits of upgrade and expansion news from around the world to keep up with: … [visit site to read more]
