There was some interesting metro fiber M&A this week along the eastern seaboard of the US. Fiberlight has found a means to expand its footprint in Virginia, signing a definitive agreement to acquire Metro Fiber Networks. … [visit site to read more]
As the UK’s most geographically diverse digital infrastructure provider, Pulsant champions regional thinking. Every day, there’s a push for technological innovation to go beyond the M25 and drive the brightest businesses nationwide.
This has led to our focus in the Northern Powerhouse. Pulsant have invested extensively in data centres across Manchester, Rotherham, and Newcastle. Across all their sites, Pulsant have seen the same thing: a wave of businesses poised to capitalise on digital commerce and artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities, leading to a revival of innovation, employment, and growth.
Manchester takes the lead
It is no surprise that Manchester is set to lead this Northern Renaissance. The UK’s second city recently took the crown of the most AI-ready metropolis [1].
The city of bees now boasts the most AI-related companies outside of London and the most significant number of AI technology-focused events. Opportunities for employment in data science and cloud analytics are a rich seam of possibilities for people seeking careers and a powerful driving force for new learning facilities and courses in AI disciplines.
Flagship initiatives such as the use of AI at Manchester United, collaborating with Manchester Metropolitan University[2], have catapulted Manchester to the forefront of AI discussions. And, tellingly, Manchester lies at the heart of a powerful new northern geography, with Leeds, Salford, and Liverpool all appearing in the top ten AI cities for 2024[3].
Investment in infrastructure
The level of investment in the digital infrastructure that this AI demands has been equally diverse. At one extreme, US investment outfit Blackstone has committed to a £10 billion investment to build a major AI data centre under the QTS brand in Cambois, Northumberland, on the site of a former power plant[4].
Elsewhere, the Singapore-backed Elite UK REIT has submitted a planning application to build an 80MW facility at Peel Park in Blackpool[5]. Blackpool Council is also progressing the Silicon Sands scheme within the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. This 40-acre data centre cluster has the potential to bring billions of pounds of investment into one of the most deprived areas of the UK.
The driving force behind both these examples – and others – is proximity to both power and connectivity. For example, Silicon Sands is incredibly close to the landing point for the CeltixConnect-2 subsea fibre-optic internet cable that connects the USA, UK, and Ireland. CeltixConnect2 is part of the North Atlantic Loop, which also includes Manchester. That proximity means low latency connection for intensive AI workloads and more.
High-speed, high-capacity connectivity is at the heart of AI – something seen in the 150 networks on the London Internet Exchange (LINX) interconnection fabric hosted at Pulsant’s Manchester facility. Pulsant’s partnership with LINX via their facility in Old Trafford and the LINX Scotland regional interconnection hub based at Pulsant South Gyle enables regional businesses to evolve their network using the connective power of peering and more.
Pulsant and LINX are committed to improving the infrastructure and processes that underpin digital business success and economic growth for every region in the UK.
Networks that connect into an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) like LINX means that the traffic is kept local for lower latency, enhanced performance and increased control amidst a hive of media, content, and enterprise networks.
And make no mistake, it will be AI and the associated advanced data connection and collaboration capabilities that drives the next chapter in the history of businesses in the North. Data has been referred to as ‘the new oil’. But, in the case of Northern England, AI is the new industry that it feeds.
The potential of AI and digital business to come to be considered alongside the coal, steel, and manufacturing sectors that have dominated the Northern industrial heritage, is very real – and remarkably close to being realised. The Ren-AI-ssance has begun.
Find Pulsant at stand 47b at this year’s Connected North, taking place at Manchester Central on 23-24 April
[1] See SAS AI Cities Index 2024 – where is the most AI ready in the UK? | SAS UK
[2] See Manchester United aim to use AI for ‘on-pitch advantage’ in university link-up – Manchester Evening News
[3] See SAS AI Cities Index 2024 – where is the most AI ready in the UK? | SAS UK
[4] See Blackstone gets green light for £10bn QTS data center in Northumberland, UK – DCD
Globe Telecom has moved forward with its acquisition of a 50% stake in AB Capital Securities Inc (ABCSI), aiming to strengthen the stock brokerage capabilities of its fintech unit, Mynt, which operates the widely used GCash mobile wallet.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the companies signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition in 2023.
Globe currently holds a 23.5% indirect stake in ABCSI through Mynt. It increased its shareholding in the brokerage firm to 16% last year after acquiring an additional 7.5%.
Notably, Globe independent director Antonio Periquet also serves as executive chair of ABCSI, a connection that could smooth the path for the acquisition.
“This partnership will bolster our shared mission of promoting financial inclusion by expanding stock ownership among Filipinos,” Periquet told the Inquirer.
He pointed out that while only 2% of Filipinos currently own stocks, a higher percentage already hold cryptocurrency – highlighting the opportunity for growth in retail investment.
The Inquirer also reported that the Philippine Stock Exchange credited GCash’s stock trading service with helping drive a 21% year-on-year increase in online stock market accounts in 2023, rising to 1.5 million, now accounting for 80% of total stock market accounts.
As Türkiye prepares for its anticipated 5G spectrum auction, Türk Telekom is taking the lead, aiming to transform user experiences and drive industry innovation. In the WinWin studio, we spoke to Zeynep Özden, Marketing and Customer Experience Assistant General Manager at Türk Telekom, who shared her insights on the company’s vision and strategy in the approaching 5G and AI era.
“We are eagerly looking forward to offering new services and experiences to our users,” said Ms. Zeynep, highlighting that Türk Telekom has connected 54% of its LTE mobile base stations to fibre, surpassing the global average.
The company has conducted extensive 5G trials over the past two years, spanning sectors including transportation, healthcare, education, and sports. Notably, Türk Telekom recently showcased its 5G capabilities by installing mobile networks in stadiums for the top four Turkish Football League clubs, allowing many simultaneous experiences, a huge milestone following their initial launch at Istanbul Airport.
“We are determined to build all the advantages of 5G to every layer of society, and to build the digital future in the most efficient way possible,” leveraging innovative solutions from partners like Huawei, emphasising energy efficiency and spectrum optimisation.
Additionally, Ms. Zeynep highlighted the crucial role of AI in shaping Türk Telekom’s future, stating that AI will make network management and operational processes smarter, and help in precisely improving customer experiences, “ensuring expectations are reflected accurately in product and service development processes.”
“We hope that AI, which is one of the most crucial outcomes of digitalization, will become a powerful force in promoting network and business innovation at Türk Telekom,” she continued.
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NOW Telecom’s mobile licence revoked after ‘grossly deficient’ infra rollout
Nokia, Telia, and Finnish military demo 5G network slicing across borders
Anatel approves expansion of Starlink satellite operations in Brazil
Five bits of last mile and middle mile news from the US and beyond over the last few days: … [visit site to read more]
Spanish telecom company Telefonica has finally confirmed that it has agreed to sell its Peruvian unit, Telefonica del Peru, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection. It will be sold to Argentina’s Integra Tec International for about EUR900,000 euros (about US$1.02 million).
Though there appears to be little specific information about the new shareholder, Telefonica says Integra Tec International has extensive experience in Latin America, in the telecommunications, public services, media, energy, chemistry and natural resources industries, as well as in the recovery of companies in financial difficulties and special situations.
Telefonica adds that the objectives of the new shareholder are the maintenance and expansion of the service, the restructuring of the company’s debt within the framework of the bankruptcy process and the establishment of a sustainable business plan with a solid capital structure.
It adds that Integra Tec intends to work amicably with creditors, suppliers, workers, the Government of Peru and all parties related to Telefonica del Peru. The deal, says Telefonica, will ensure the continuity of telecommunications services for more than 13 million customers in urban and rural areas of Peru.
Telefonica del Peru, which was 99.3% owned by the Spanish company, said it ran into trouble following tax disputes and administrative decisions that put it « in competitive disadvantage », despite being the largest telecom company in the South American country.
As part of the deal, Integra Tec will assume the EUR1.24 billion (about US$1.4 billion) debt that Telefonica’s Peruvian unit owes the local tax agency and bond holders. Integra Tec has also committed to buying the 0.7% of Telefonica del Peru shares held by minority shareholders.
Reuters reports that Telefonica had bought the former state-owned Peruvian telecom monopoly in 1994 for about US$2 billion.
The transaction apparently also involves the indirect transfer of control over the shares that Telefonica del Peru holds in the rural operator Internet para Todos.
According to reports, Vodafone and Three may be preparing to launch a Pay-TV, seeking to capitalise on their newfound scale and help grow their subscriber base.
The Telegraphnotes that discussions between the two operators on this topic have already begun, but highlights that no formal decision has been made.
As such, the specifics of the potential offering are yet to be decided but are likely to include broadcast TV as well as streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Vodafone–Three’s largest rivals, Virgin Media O2 and BT (EE) both already offer Pay-TV services, hence the operator’s interest in this space is hardly surprising. However, success in the Pay-TV market is far from guaranteed. These offerings must compete in a highly competitive streaming market, with viewing habits shifting away from conventional TV services.
BT itself has notably reduced its focus on the Pay-TV segment in recent years, with the traditional customers increasingly preferring to subscribe to streaming services independently.
That said, it is worth noting that Vodafone Group already has experience with the converged Pay-TV formula, with the company already offering similar bundled services in Germany and the Netherlands with some success. In the UK, the company’s TV offering has so far been limited to providing subscribers with an Apple TV box as part of certain packages.
The £15 billion merger of Vodafone and Three was finally approved by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in December last year. The move will make Voda–Three the largest mobile network operator in the UK, with around 27 million subscribers.
How will the Vodafone–Three merger impact the UK telecoms industry? Join the discussion next week at Connected North, live in Manchester
Also in the news:
Nokia, Telia, and Finnish military demo 5G network slicing across borders
Mobile operators quibble with Ofcom over spectrum fees
Deutsche Telekom commits to Google Cloud through 2030
With AI driving data center demand in virtually every imaginable market, we are seeing major new projects almost daily. The scale of the work, whether envisioned or already underway, is far beyond anything we have seen before, and making it all happen will be challenging. New technologies are emerging to help the process, and AI itself may be able to help. With us today is Dr. Atif Ansar, co-founder and executive chairman at Foresight. Foresight’s SaaS platform leverages AI and machine learning to keep data center construction projects on schedule. … [visit site to read more]
In a statement released today, BKartA said it suspects Vodafone and its privately owned tower spin-off Vantage Towers of engaging in anticompetitive practises designed to delay its would-be mobile rival 1&1.
The preliminary legal assessment accuses Vodafone and Vantage Towers of failing to provide 1&1 access to thousands of its mobile sites, as per a previous agreement.
“According to the information available to us at this stage, the delay and its negative effects on competition in the relevant markets could, and in view of the prohibition of abusive practices under competition law, should indeed have been avoided,” said Andreas Mundt, president of the BKartA. “At the current stage, we are considering using our powers as a competition authority to enforce the provision of the sites which have not yet been made available.”
1&1 Drillisch won 5G mobile spectrum at auction back in 2019 with the intention of building out its own network and becoming Germany’s fourth national operator. By 2021, 1&1 had signed a deal with Vantage Towers to access up to 5,000 of the towerco’s existing mobile sites, allowing them to more rapidly deploy their burgeoning 5G network.
The contract specified that 3,800 sites were to be made available by 2025.
By the end of 2022, however, it was becoming clear that access to this may sites by 2025 would be unlikely, with 1&1 saying it had been granted access to just five sites. In 2023, 1&1 formally complained to BKartA, who subsequently launched an investigation into the source of Vantage’s delays in providing the agreed upon infrastructure.
1&1 says the delays caused by Vantage have severely harmed their ability to compete in the market,
The BKartA said that Vodafone and Vantage could have taken steps to resolve this issue but instead appear to have focussed on supporting Vodafone’s rollout.
“Based on current knowledge, the companies would have had numerous options to respond to any difficulties in fulfilling the contract without causing such massive delays. For example, the companies could have temporarily shifted Vodafone’s own expansion to locations other than those planned for 1&1 and/or focused more of their own resources on contract fulfilment,” said the statement.
The regulator says it is “provisionally considering, in addition to establishing the antitrust violations, ordering the provision of the remaining sites within three years and accompanying this order with further measures”.
Vodafone and Vantage Towers now both have an opportunity to explain themselves to the regulator, with a final ruling expected “mid-year”.
How is the German telecoms market evolving? Join the discussion at Germany’s leading digital economy event, Connected Germany live in Munich
Also in the news:
Nokia, Telia, and Finnish military demo 5G network slicing across borders
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Deutsche Telekom commits to Google Cloud through 2030
KDDI and Okinawa Cellular will start providing au Starlink Direct, a direct to cell service between satellites and au smartphones, on April 10, 2025. This is the first Direct to Cell satellite service in Japan [1] .
The service is compatible with 50 smartphone models and is available free of charge to au users from today for the time being without the need to apply.
The au Starlink Direct service allows au smartphones to directly connect to the Starlink satellite that supports direct telecommunications, enabling connectivity wherever there is a sight of sky, even outside the coverage area. In addition to text messaging with friends, users can receive emergency earthquake alerts and share current location with families, providing peace of mind in emergencies. Furthermore, Android users can simply send text questions to get support for searches and other tasks from Google’s AI assistant, Gemini.
Although au’s population coverage is more than 99.9%, its area coverage rate is approximately 60% due to Japan’s unique topography [2]. au Starlink Direct, which covers all of Japan, enables connectivity in the remaining 40%. The service can be used to communicate with family members and friends, in emergencies, etc., even in mountainous areas, island areas, and campgrounds and at sea where it is difficult to provide a telecommunications environment.
KDDI is expanding the au coverage area to all of Japan to bring the experience of “Connecting the Unconnected. wherever you see the sky.”
Commenting on the launch of au Starlink Direct, Gwynne Shotwell, President & COO of SpaceX, said: “I’m very excited to bring direct-to-cell phone connectivity to Japan through KDDI, the first in Asia and one of the first in the world. Both Starlink and direct-to-cell are game-changing technologies, making connecting the unconnected simple and bringing potentially life-saving capability to the people of Japan for disaster and other emergency responses.”
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Also in the news:
Nokia, Telia, and Finnish military demo 5G network slicing across borders
Mobile operators quibble with Ofcom over spectrum fees
Deutsche Telekom commits to Google Cloud through 2030
