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Four items on four continents to start the week: … [visit site to read more]
In what may seem an unusual form of diversification, Pakistan’s Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) has said it plans to invest in the establishment of data centres, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and related technology ventures.
According to a number of reports, MPCL, in collaboration with its partners, will lead this expansion by developing Tier III and Tier IV-certified, purpose-built data centres across Pakistan to meet the data management and processing needs of a wide range of public and private institutions. Pakistan currently has 22 data centres.
As local press resource The Business Recorder puts it, these data centres will provide co-location and cloud services, addressing the evolving requirements of businesses across different sectors.
The move may seem unusual, but it isn’t totally unexpected. As the Data Centre Dynamics website points out, in August, MPCL announced the formation of a subsidiary focusing on cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). The company reportedly said this week that it has formed a new digital infrastructure subsidiary with an equity investment of some US$36 million.
The news of MPCL’s move into data centres appeared this week in a Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) stock exchange announcement, which was notable mainly for its brevity. Indeed, numbers of data centres, where they will be located, size, scale, partnerships, and timing of the date centre rollout were not mentioned.
However, the PSX announcement said the project launch ceremony for the first data centre took place this week in Karachi and suggested that MPCL’s plans to form a dedicated company relevant to the sector will help tap the rising demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
MPCL, founded in 1984, is controlled by Pakistani conglomerate the Fauji Foundation, which, says Data Centre Dynamics, is largely controlled by the country’s armed forces.
Techwave announces strategic partnership with IQGEO
~ Partnership aims to accelerate fiber network design and deployment, enhancing operational efficiency for the telecom and utility sectors~
26th September ‘24, UK: Techwave, a global leader in IT and engineering services, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with IQGeo, a provider of innovative geospatial software solutions. This collaboration aims to elevate both companies’ ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions to the telecom and utility sectors, driving advancements in network planning, deployment, and optimization.
As a Certified Design Partner, Techwave now has access to IQGeo’s Professional edition of the Network Manager Telecom software, along with a fiber dataset for training, testing, and demonstrations. This partnership will enable Techwave to design and plan fiber networks with greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness, bringing substantial value to its clients. The partnership promises to reduce fiber planning and design time by up to 90%, allowing for faster project completion and quicker network deployments. By replacing manual processes with digital workflows, Techwave will significantly reduce man-hours while optimizing productivity. The software also facilitates seamless collaboration between office and field teams, eliminating file transfers and manual updates, further accelerating the design process and improving payment schedules for contractors.
In addition, the partnership offers access to IQGeo’s global support services, ensuring swift technical issue resolution and minimizing downtime. This strategic collaboration strengthens Techwave’s ability to deliver high-performance solutions and promotes better cooperation with clients, ensuring unified efforts in expanding fiber networks and optimizing operations across the telecom and utility sectors.
Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Chris White, Vice President – Global Competency, Techwave said, “We are excited to establish a new partnership with IQGeo that will mark a significant milestone as we continue to strengthen our capabilities to deliver engineering services to our clients across the globe. We believe this partnership will provide significant value as our respective companies share a common objective to drive growth in the telecom, fiber and utility industries. IQGeo’s proven platform capabilities and global reach are closely aligned to meet our strategic objectives and provide our delivery teams with the necessary solutions to design, deploy, and maintain world class networks.”
Adding to it, Mr. Jonathan Rosen – Associate Vice President, North America Engineering said “We are excited to start a new partnership with IQGeo. From rapid design to inspections and outage restoration, this partnership will help us in our objective to transform network data into efficient digital workflows for our clients. IQGeo’ s proven platform capabilities and global reach are closely aligned to meet our strategic objectives and provide our delivery teams with the ability to engineer world class infrastructure networks resulting in improved process optimization, predictable rollouts, increased workforce efficiencies, and maximizing of network revenue.”
“Our fiber design partner program has been tremendously popular with the fiber industry.” comments Jay Cadman, Senior Vice President at IQGeo, “As IQGeo’s market share continues to grow, we are keen to build a team of skilled fiber industry professionals to help support the demand for fiber network planning and design. Fiber operators can rest assured that all IQGeo partners have full access to our latest software and have been certified in the use of our products to provide the best possible design and support services. I’m excited to welcome these new eight companies to our partner network and look forward to expanding our ecosystem in the future.”
Japan’s NTT Group is reportedly considering launching a billion-dollar Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in Singapore that would hold up to $3 billion-worth of data center assets, according to a Bloomberg article.
The article states that the company is working with financial advisors to finalise the assets that will be included in this high-profile listing.
According to reports, the listing could happen in late 2025 and would be expected to raise around $1 billion.
If successful, listing would be the largest in Singapore since 2017, potentially revitalising the city-state’s sluggish IPO market
NTT’s move would align with its broader strategy to optimise its assets while addressing the increasing global demand for data infrastructure.
The company’s decision comes amidst rising global investments in data centers, driven by the need for expansive digital infrastructure to manage growing demand for storage and computing capacity. If successful, NTT’s REIT could set a precedent, encouraging other large firms to explore similar offerings in the region.
When contracted by Bloomberg, a representative confirmed that “the company is considering a REIT,” but did not elaborate further.
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This week, Air France has become the latest airline to strike partnership with SpaceX’s low Earth orbit satellite subsidiary Starlink for in-flight WiFi.
The deal will see Air France’s fleet of aeroplanes gradually fitted with Starlink technology, allowing them to provide customers with a “ground-like” WiFi experience, with customers able to connect numerous devices at once.
The exact connectivity speeds expected to be available were not revealed, but Starlink has previously said that it’s constellation could provide in-flight WiFi speeds of 40–120Mbps.
Starlink equipment will begin being installed on the aircraft from 2025.
Once completed, the resulting WiFi service will be free to access for customers on Air France’s ‘Flying Blue’ loyalty programme (which is itself free to join).
In-flight Wi-Fi has long been a key use case for communications satellites. Starlink itself already has similar deals in place with numerous other airlines, including United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JSX, Qatar Airways, and Air New Zealand.
The largest of these, United Airlines, says it plans to have Starlink installed on over 1,000 planes next year.
Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter
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The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has approved a $400 million loan for Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL), marking a significant step toward its acquisition of Telenor Group’s operations in Pakistan.
In a statement, PTCL confirmed the approval, which had been anticipated since April, with initial expectations for completion by July.
The IFC detailed in a seperate statement, $224.5 million will come directly from IFC and an additional $175.5 million from British International Investment and the Silk Road Fund, structured over a seven-year term.
This acquisition will see PTCL take control of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers Private Limited, with plans to merge its mobile subsidiary, Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (Ufone), with Telenor Pakistan.
The combined entity is projected to serve around 70 million subscribers, reducing the number of mobile network operators in the country from four to three. The main competitors left in the market will be Zong and Jazz.
The merger represents another strategic exit by Telenor from Asian markets, following its previous mergers in Thailand and Malaysia and its withdrawal from Myanmar. Telenor still retains its stake in Grameenphone in Bangladesh.
The IFC emphasised that Pakistan’s telecommunications sector presents substantial growth opportunities, with broadband and mobile user penetration currently below regional averages. “Pakistan’s telecommunications market offers significant opportunities for growth and investment,” said Khawaja Aftab Ahmed, IFC’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Commenting on the deal, Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO of PTCL and PTML, highlighted the landmark nature of the financing: “This is the largest single financing ever secured in the industry, and it strengthens the PTCL Group while promoting long-term stability across the telecom sector. The enhanced economies of scale will allow the industry to contribute more effectively to Pakistan’s economic and social progress.”
This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Jeff Miller, President and CEO of Synchronoss Technologies
In today’s hyper-connected world, the importance of data security cannot be overstated. In Appdome’s 2024 Mobile Consumer Security Survey, 58% of consumers named mobile fraud their primary worry today, especially with AI-based scams on the rise. Deloitte’s 2023 Connected Consumer Survey found similar results, with 67% of mobile users reporting concerns about data security and privacy on their smartphones and 62% of smart home users reporting anxiety … [visit site to read more]
South African telco Vodacom said on Thursday its enterprise unit is working with local governments to implement smart city solutions for use cases such as utilities management, healthcare, education and security.
Under a five-year transversal contract with the National Treasury, Vodacom Business said it is delivering digital solutions that will enable municipal governments to make services more efficient and inclusive.
“We aim to use our experience and expertise in understanding government needs to achieve their smart city goals,” said Vodacom Business Director Videsha Proothveerajh in a statement. “This includes digitalising utilities management, healthcare, education and security, which streamline operations, enhance efficiencies and improve the lives of citizens.”
Vodacom Business’ smart utilities management system uses connected smart meters to provide real-time information on consumption and enable more accurate billing and revenue collection.
On the healthcare front, Vodacom Business offers a stock visibility solution for healthcare facilities to better keep track of equipment, supplies and dispensing of medication, and a smart dispatch system that allows users to track ambulance requests. Meanwhile, the AitaHealth smartphone-based platform helps community health workers to deliver preventative care services at home.
Smart education solutions include remote learning and streamlined online admissions processes. And public safety apps include IoT-based soltuions such as bodycams and real-time firearm tracking and geofencing.
Vodacom Business said it has also developed and deployed a “citizen engagement” app that enables “two-way communication and collaboration between citizens and municipalities, including logging service requests and tracking their progress.”
The South African government has been keen on harnessing smart-city tech for several years now. In 2021, the Department of Cooperative Governance published the South African Smart Cities Framework in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
In 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched several smart city infrastructure projects, including the ZAR84 billion (US$4.8 billion) Mooikloof Mega City project near Pretoria, and another smart city project near Lanseria Airport near Johannesburg.
However, it’s been slow going for both projects. According to the latest media reports, Mooikloof is still in the construction phase and has been reportedly hampered by funding disputes between the government and developer Balwin Properties.
Meanwhile, developers at the Lanseria site reportedly have not yet broken ground, having spent the last four years developing a plan for the project and getting the necessary approvals to build out the bulk infrastructure
All of which could mean that existing municipalalities that adopt smart city solutions from Vodacom and other solution providers may potentially end up as poster children for the promised benefits of smart-city tech long before dedicated smart city projects are completed.
SpaceX has reportedly said it plans to invest US$1.5 billion in Vietnam in the near future as an apparent sweetener to convince the government to allow the company to launch its LEO satellite broadband service Starlink in the country.
According to a report issued by the official Vietnam News Agency on Thursday, the investment plan was proposed by Tim Hughes, SpaceX’s senior VP for global business and government affairs, during a meeting in New York City on Wednesday with Vietnamese party general secretary and state president Tô Lâm.
The report offered no details on where or when the US$1.5 billion would be invested, and SpaceX has not publicly confirmed the report.
Lâm said the Vietnamese government is considering the investment proposal, and asked SpaceX to coordinate with relevant Vietnamese agencies and partners to complete any investment procedures, the VNA report said.
Lâm also reportedly said during the meeting he hopes that SpaceX will “help Vietnam respond to natural disasters in a timely and effective fashion” – a timely topic as communities struggle to get back on their feet and stay connected after Super Typhoon Yagi battered northern Vietnam earlier this month.
In a meeting with Vietnamese prime minister Pham Minh Chinh just before Yagi made landfall, Hughes pitched Starlink as a way to enhance education, training, and disaster prevention efforts in the country, according to VN Express.
SpaceX has been actively lobbying to get approval to launch Starlink in Vietnam since September 2023 as part of its broader strategy to expand in Southeast Asia. So far, Starlink has been cleared to offer services in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
According to Reuters, a key sticking point in the discussions between SpaceX and the Vietnam government is rules regarding foreign ownership. SpaceX would need to set up a JV with a local partner to operate in Vietnam, and would be limited to a 50% stake, whereas SpaceX wants a controlling stake.
SpaceX would also need to find a way to comply with laws regarding domestic data storage and content restrictions, the report said.
One factor working in SpaceX’s favour is that Vietnam has recently demonstrated a willingness to make concessions to foreign companies to help local players cope with surging demand.
In July, the government said it would allow foreign investors to own data centres in Vietnam for the first time. The change was made because its local data storage law was generating more demand for storage than local data centre operators could handle.
