“We’re aiming for a zero-touch platform”: Vitruvi on AI and streamlining network deployment


Interview

In a tough economic environment like the UK, going over budget when building a network is not an option

At Connected Britain, the Total Telecom team spoke to Vitruvi Software’s As-built Consultant Felix Wright to discuss how the company is streamlining network deployments and why leveraging new technologies like AI and digital twins could hold the key to delivering networks on time and on-budget.

Check out the full interview here!

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Microsoft and Galgus announce major AI-related deals in Latin America

Artificial intelligence (AI) underpins two recent announcements in the Latin American region – one from technology giant Microsoft and the other from Wi-Fi optimisation specialist Galgus.

Microsoft has announced that it will invest US$1.3 billion over the next three years to build up its infrastructure in Mexico for cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

The company says the investment will go towards improving connectivity and boosting the adoption of AI technology by small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The initiative aims to reach five million Mexicans and 30,000 SMBs in three years.

According to Reuters, Mexican firms such as breadmaker Bimbo and cement producer Cemex already use Microsoft’s AI tools.

Meanwhile Galgus, a provider of Wi-Fi optimisation solutions, and Sysman, a specialist in data-driven city planning and management, have joined forces to create smart and safe cities in Latin America through AI-powered Wi-Fi technology

Sysman offers and presents information in an understandable way, allowing municipal administrations to gain a broad view of real situations, identify needs and propose potential solutions.

This facilitates informed decision-making on the most relevant aspects of the city, such as public safety, by monitoring occupancy levels and the flow of people, as well as keeping an eye on potential suspicious activity in critical areas.

These data will now be optimised thanks to Galgus’ location and presence analytics technology, which, the company says, offers unmatched precision in device counting and tracking through AI algorithms that can even detect non-connected devices and those that randomise their MAC addresses.

Additionally, with this partnership agreement Galgus says it is making significant strides in improving connectivity in cities, as its AI-powered Wi-Fi technology delivers high performance even in crowded areas. Furthermore, it suggests that it is shaping the convergence of Wi-Fi and 5G networks, providing users with a seamless experience.

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Investors waiting for the UK’s ‘fragile’ altnet ecosystem to consolidate, says Nexfibre CEO


Interview

At this year’s Connected Britain, Total Telecom caught up with Rajiv Datta, CEO of Nexfibre, to discuss the company’s fibre rollout progress since hitting 1 million premises, investor tensions around market consolidation, and what a competitive broadband market will ultimately look like. 

Check out the full interview here! 

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EU gives green light to Swisscom’s acquisition of Vodafone Italia  


News

Swisscom first announced the €8 billion deal back in March, and notified the EU in August  

The European Commission has given the green light to Swisscom’s acquisition of Vodafone Italia, without conditions. The clearance, granted under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, is a crucial step toward finalising the transaction. 

The Italian Competition Authority is still reviewing the deal, having launched a deeper investigation earlier this month to assess the transaction’s impact on market competition, Swisscom noted. 

Swisscom expects the deal to be finalised by the first quarter of 2025. 

Once completed, Swisscom plans to merge Vodafone Italia with its Italian subsidiary, Fastweb, creating Italy’s second-largest fixed-line broadband provider, behind market leader Telecom Italia.  

The merger is expected to save around €600 million through synergies related to increased scale and efficiency, Swisscom says. 

Swisscom’s CEO, Christoph Aeschlimann, called the merger a “strong strategic fit”, saying it will add significant value to both companies.  

Vodafone will also continue to provide services to Swisscom for the next five years as part of the deal. 

The transaction forms part of Vodafone’s broader strategic efforts to streamline its European footprint in recent years. This shift has involved selling off or merging various business units across Europe, including the sale of its Spanish business and a merger with Three in the UK. 

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XL Axiata uses facial recognition for prepaid SIM registration

Indonesian telco XL Axiata says it has launched a new prepaid SIM card registration process that uses facial recognition technology as a biometric ID verification measure, following a successful trial earlier this month.

In a statement circulated late last week, XL Axiata said that its prepaid customers will be required to scan their face using designated devices during the prepaid card registration process. The biometric data will be automatically cross-checked with government identity databases to verify the customer’s identity.

XL Axiata claims that facial recognition technology enables more precise identity verification, which will streamline the prepaid registration process. The technology also complies with industry Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols to ensure data accuracy and reduce the risk of fraud or identity theft.

The telco also said the biometric technology will help it comply with the Indonesian government’s regulations on prepaid number registration that claim to “enhance security and prevent the misuse of telecommunication services.”

XL Axiata staged a public trial of the biometric prepaid card registration process at XL Center Gandaria City in Jakarta, on September 12. The trial was supervised by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics of the Republic of Indonesia (Kominfo).

« We believe this innovation will bring convenience, enhance security, improve speed, and minimize the risk of data forgery or duplicate identities, » said Yessie D. Yosetya, director and chief enterprise business and corporate affairs officer at XL Axiata.

Use of facial recognition technology has been ramping up in Indonesia, particularly among government agencies and companies, with much of it applied to immigration checkpoints.

On Monday, Vision-Box said it had implemented over 150 biometric touchpoints using facial recognition at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta and I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.

In July, Indonesia Immigration implemented an automated border control system using facial recognition for the international seaport at Batam Centre.

Last month, state railway company KAI said it will introduce a new CCTV system with face recognition technology to identify and blacklist passengers involved in criminal activities.

Also last month, according to the Jakarta Post, the state-owned Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) said it will use facial recognition to identify its policyholders with the aim of combating fraud in the National Health Insurance (JKN) system.

According to Statista, Indonesia’s facial recognition market is projected to reach US$68.16 million this year and grow at a CAGR of 9.3% to US$116.60 million by 2030.

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SITA and DigiYatra to boost efficiency at India’s airports

A contactless boarding pass system is set to reduce waiting times and create a better travel experience for passengers at India’s airports, according to air transport technology giant SITA.

SITA is installing its Smart Path technology across nine Indian airports in a partnership with Airports Authority of India (AAI). Part of the wider DigiYatra initiative, the collaboration introduces SITA’s contactless boarding pass system to reduce waiting times, creating a seamless travel experience for passengers, and improves airport efficiency for every traveller.

DigiYatra is an industry-led initiative that uses facial recognition technology to make terminal entry and security clearance at an airport a seamless, hassle-free, and paperless process. DigiYatra is a decentralised mobile-based ID storage platform where air travellers can save their IDs and travel documents.

AAI will use SITA’s products and solutions, including SITA Smart Path, Passenger Flow Management (PFM) solution and Face Pods. These technologies offer biometric solutions at most touchpoints across the airport, meaning a contact-free travel experience across nine Indian airports.

SITA says its biometric technology will transform the way travellers navigate through Indian airports. Sumesh Patel, President, APAC, SITA says: « It is vital in this connected era that travel across the globe is as seamless as possible, and we are ready to help India continue to innovate in their digitalisation efforts with SITA technology as the DigiYatra initiative spreads across India. »

In 2023, over 20 million users experienced DigiYatra, and with its upcoming availability at 28 Indian airports, DigiYatra aims to cover approximately 90% of India’s domestic flying population. The Ministry of Civil Aviation-led DigiYatra Foundation plans to align with the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s One ID initiative for global interoperability, further improving the seamless travel experience.

In July 2023, SITA announced a deal with AAI to provide technology to 43 of India’s biggest airports. The deal will see improvements to over 2,700 passenger touchpoints, signifying one of the largest deployments for passenger processing.

SITA has been working with the Indian government since 1952 and is a supporter of the Make In India initiative.

SITA, or Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques, was founded in 1949 by eleven airlines in order to bring about shared infrastructure cost efficiency by combining their communications networks.

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BT pledges £4m to help support UK apprentice schemes 


News

A key focus of the fund will be on enhancing the digital skills of young people 

UK incumbent BT has launched a £4 million Apprenticeship Fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), charities, and public sector organisations across England.  

The funds will be delivered over the next four years, helping these organisations to recruit and train apprentices. 

Since 2017, companies in the UK with an annual wage bill over £3 million have been required to pay an ‘apprenticeship levy’, with 0.5% of the company’s annual wage bill being paid to the government to support various apprenticeship programmes. Larger businesses such as BT can transfer up to 50% of their levy to other companies directly, which is what BT is doing here.  

BT has partnered with Babington, a leading apprenticeship training provider, to manage the fund and guide applicants through the process.  

Eligible organisations can apply for funding and, if successful, will be matched with appropriate training providers within 20 days. The fund could support up to 550 apprentices and is expected to generate a £21 million economic impact. 

“SMEs make a significant contribution to our economy, but their uptake of apprenticeships is low,” said Chris Sims, Managing Director for Small and Medium Business at BT in a press release. 

“By sharing up to £4 million from our apprenticeship levy funds, we’re giving these businesses the financial support they need to invest in talent. This not only helps create a more skilled, diverse, and competitive workforce, it also provides SMEs with additional resources to grow and scale their business,” he continued. 

The fund is available to SMEs, charities, and public sector organisations across England, including the NHS. It focuses on apprentices aged 22 and older and seeks to support local economic growth, reduce the digital divide, and enhance social mobility. 

As one of the UK’s largest employers, BT is already a major player in the UK’s apprenticeship landscape, having recruited around 3,000 apprentices and graduates in the past five years. 

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