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FiberLocator, the US’s most prominent fibre data platform, has announced the addition of data on UK fibre providers to its extensive database, which already holds the fibre footprint and route maps of 1000+ carriers, more than 5 million connected buildings, and 6,000 data centres.
FiberLocator provides carriers, mobile operators, towercos and data centre operators with the most comprehensive, accurate, and timely fibre data available. For decades it has been the United States’ leading resource guide for developing a custom fibre network, planning data centre sites, locating on-net buildings and more. The company is constantly researching and integrating new data from providers and third parties to help guide network planners with the fibre data they need.
“FiberLocator users are generating an increasing request volume for UK-based fibre connectivity, and launching in the UK will open up many exciting new opportunities for us,” said Mike Iapalucci, Vice President of FiberLocator. “On the one hand, we see increased US demand for UK fibre. On the other hand, there is a rich and diverse fibre ecosystem in the UK. Our goal is to be the bridge between UK supply and US demand, and we’re already in the process of signing up our first suppliers.”
Fibre providers contribute footprint data onto the FiberLocator platform free of charge, advertising their fibre availability to a wide range of US carriers. This creates an additional wholesale selling channel, without the need for time-consuming framework negotiations.
“With the increased expansion of UK data centres, proximity to fibre is more important than ever for data centre users and operators,” said David Liggitt, President of CCMI. “This represents a fantastic opportunity for UK providers, and we’re thrilled to share our services with the market.”
The company aims to sign up a critical mass of UK fibre suppliers before the end of the year. and will be attending Connected Britain and Capacity Europe in London this fall.
One financial move and three bits of data center ecosystem development: … [visit site to read more]
Abu Dhabi-based Marlan Space, a new space company affiliated with International Holding Company (IHC), a global diversified conglomerate, also based in Abu Dhabi, has established a joint venture with US-headquartered space infrastructure company Loft Orbital to form Orbitworks, the Middle East’s first private space infrastructure company.
Orbitworks will be the first company in the UAE’s space sector to produce commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. With an initial investment of over US$100 million, Orbitworks aims to produce up to fifty 500 kilogram satellites annually.
Loft Orbital, established in 2017, brings extensive expertise, technology, and a strong reputation to the venture, supporting a wide range of missions across telecommunications, earth observation, and scientific research. It says it has developed a standardised satellite platform that can be configured to fly any customer mission.
Orbitworks is set to begin construction of a state-of-the-art facility that will employ advanced hardware, software and industrial technologies for integration and test of satellites.
Orbitworks has secured components for ten satellites, the first of which could be launched as early as the first quarter of 2026. Orbitworks aims to partner with local component manufacturers and technology providers in the UAE, leveraging Loft’s solutions for seamless technology integration.
The first satellite platform is expected to be assembled, integrated, and tested by early 2025. Loft and Marlan have begun recruiting talent both internationally and within the UAE, focusing on hardware, software, test engineering and other aerospace engineering disciplines.
AT&T has agreed to pay a $950,000 fine to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) after an investigation found it had failed to deliver emergency 911 calls during an August 2023 outage.
The outage, which lasted for 1 hour and 14 minutes, affected parts of Illinois, Kansas, Texas, and Wisconsin, resulting in over 400 failed 911 calls.
As well as failing to deliver the calls, the FCC’s investigation revealed that AT&T did not notify the affected emergency call centers quickly enough.
The outage occurred during the testing of AT&T’s 911 network, when a contracted technician inadvertently disabled a part of the network. AT&T’s system did not automatically adjust, which led to the disruption.
As part of the settlement, AT&T will implement a three-year compliance plan to ensure it will adhere to the FCC’s 911 and outage notification rules, which aim to prevent similar incidents and improve the reliability of emergency call services.
“We understand the importance of having critical access to 911. We’ve resolved this matter and are committed to keeping our customers connected in times they need it most,” an AT&T spokesperson said.
The FCC is already investigating an additional AT&T outage that occurred in February this year. The outage impacted 125 million devices in all 50 states, and prevented 25,000 calls to 911 call centres.
The FCC concluded in July that the outage was caused by an employee who misconfigured a single network element.
AT&T said it has implemented the necessary changes, adding that it “fell short of the standards that we hold ourselves to, and we regret that we failed to meet the expectations of our customers and the public safety community.”
Failure to adequately support emergency services is not just a US problem. In the UK, regulator Ofcom fined BT £17.5 million last month for technical faults which caused 14,000 emergency calls to be missed over an 11-hour period last summer. Ofcom also ordered measures be introduced to prevent reoccurrence.
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Four developments in last mile fiber across four different geographies: … [visit site to read more]
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PLDT’s wireless arm Smart Communications says it is banking on affordable 5G devices as a key part of its strategy to drive growth in its 5G business in the Philippines as it plans on stronger rollout of its 4G and 5G networks for the rest of 2024.
In a statement Friday, Smart said that data traffic growth is being driven in part by the number of unique 5G devices in the market, which Smart expects to continue as the price of 5G devices drops.
Meanwhile, PLDT has cited 5G adoption as one of the emerging growth streams of their Individual Business, which posted revenues of PHP41.9 billion (around US$745.8 million) in the first half of 2024. Mobile data revenues now account for 89% of PLDT’s total Individual Wireless revenues.
Alex O. Caeg, head of Smart’s consumer wireless business, said that data users, particularly gamers, are beginning to appreciate the power of 5G.
“Moving forward, 5G will definitely play an important role as compatible smartphones become more affordable,” he said in a statement.
Last Thursday, the operator launched what it says its “most affordable 5G device”: the Smart ZTE Blade A75 5G, which retails at PHP5,450 (a little under US$100). Under the current offer, subscribers can buy the smartphone in six monthly instalments at 0% interest.
Smart is also selling the ZTE Blade A75 5G with package bundles for its prepaid and postpaid 5G services.
Smart added it has also been offering device financing for 5G phones through various bank partners.
Apart from device affordability, Caeg said that for Smart to accelerate 5G growth momentum, we must leverage on our site rollouts and capacity enhancements, continue to offer the best value-for-money packages, and deliver excellent customer service to delight our subscribers.”
“We [also] see the potential of premium subscriber benefits for those using the 5G network, » said Kristine A. Go, SVP for Smart’s consumer wireless business.
BT and Edgio have announced the launch of the world’s first Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery (MAUD)-enabled Content Delivery Network (CDN).
The partnership aims to improve the delivery of live television over the internet, by offering benefits such as cost reduction, enhanced content quality, scalability, and more sustainable streaming.
Edgio, integrating its CDN with BT Group’s MAUD technology, will be the first to implement this solution in a live environment. The companies plan to trial the delivery of EE TV content on selected set-top boxes within the live network in the coming months.
MAUD combines multiple streams into a single ‘multicast’ in the core of the network, which is then converted back into single streams to serve individual customer. In this way, MAUD improves the efficiency of live streaming over the internet, giving a more reliable user experience.
For CDN operators like Edgio, MAUD will be particularly impactful for for live streaming TV, reducing the impact of other internet traffic and ensuring consistent content quality, especially during large-scale events with more viewers.
According to BT, MAUD technology requires up to 50% less bandwidth during peak events, reducing strain on the network and energy consumption, as well as removing the need for extensive hardware. Content providers can integrate with the MAUD-enabled CDN without needing to modify their existing player applications.
“Our collaboration with Edgio represents an important step in developing an efficient live streaming solution that aligns with the needs of content delivery networks. By integrating MAUD with CDNs, we aim to provide a practical solution for content providers,” said Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT.
“The partnership allows us to deliver more consistent and high-quality experiences to our clients, particularly in markets with diverse network solutions,” said Emma Whitmore, Group Vice President EMEA at Edgio.
Join BT at this year’s Connected Britain, 11-12 September in London. Get tickets here
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On Day 1 of Connected Britain (September 11), ten startups from the Startup Village will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, including investors and industry experts. The winner will be awarded the Connected Britain 2024 Startup of the Year Award at the prestigious Connected Britain Awards ceremony later that evening.
After a competitive first round of judging, here are the ten startups shortlisted from the 90 attending the show this year!
Connected
Specialising in advanced building management solutions, the company focuses on integrating technology to enhance the efficiency and functionality of commercial spaces. Their offerings include smart building technologies for managing lighting, heating, cooling, and security, all designed to be energy-efficient and user-friendly.
ZIM Connections
This eSIM marketplace provides a variety of affordable data plans for over 190 countries. The platform allows users to compare, select, and purchase eSIM plans in three steps, simplifying international travel by eliminating roaming fees and ensuring global connectivity.
yWe Media
Based in Oxford, yWe Media focuses on ethical digital solutions in media and audio. It offers privacy-friendly products such as cookie-free analytics and customisable podcast hosting. The company emphasizes ethical data usage and helping businesses avoid reliance on large corporations.
EV Mobiliti
Providing comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) solutions, EV Mobiliti offers services including public and rapid charging, charge station booking, and consultancy. Its MELT system prevents internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles from blocking EV charging slots, and their priority booking service enhances charging efficiency and revenue for charge station operators.
Appella AI
This startup delivers AI-powered voice assistants designed to boost customer service for businesses. Its solutions handle call routing, FAQ answering, appointment scheduling, and real-time transcription. With a focus on data security and customisation, Appella AI integrates with over 100 apps to align with specific business needs while ensuring accurate and reliable AI interactions.
Thinking Machine
An AI-driven platform aimed at mid-to-large enterprises, Thinking Machine optimises telecom and IT procurement costs. The platform continuously audits contracts and invoices to identify savings opportunities, reduce hidden costs, and streamline vendor management, providing immediate financial benefits without complex integrations.
Qomodo
Focusing on cybersecurity, Qomodo offers solutions for identity verification and fraud prevention. Its tools ensure secure and seamless online transactions, helping businesses mitigate risks associated with identity theft and fraud. It provides real-time identity verification, user authentication, and risk assessment to enhance trust and safety in digital interactions.
Halleyx
Specialising in advanced logistics and supply chain solutions, Halleyx offers a platform that optimises and streamlines logistics operations. Its tools enable real-time tracking, management, and analysis of supply chains, enhancing efficiency and transparency for businesses.
Lumilinks
Founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, Lumilinks helps organisations effectively use their data. Led by data science expert Dr. Tim Drye, the company offers services such as data storage, visualisation, and analysis. They transform complex data into understandable charts and graphs and use advanced techniques like machine learning to predict future trends.
Polaris is a live GPS-sharing public safety app. It acts as “digital North Star” for humans globally, starting from women and girls. IT does this by providing AI-powered self-protection features, connecting users to 24/7 multilingual helplines, and digitally integrating with user’s local emergency institutes.
Watch these amazing startups present their business cases on the Innovate Britain stage on September 11 at Connected Britain! Tickets for Connected Britain 2024 are still available here
