Press Release

Virgin Media O2 has today announced the details of its spectrum transfer agreement with Vodafone UK that will see Virgin Media O2 acquire 78.8 MHz of spectrum for an investment of £343 million, materially enhancing the company’s network position and helping to improve the connectivity experience of consumers and businesses across the country.

The deal, which follows the completion of the merger between Vodafone UK and Three UK, and is subject to Ofcom approval, will bring Virgin Media O2’s total mobile spectrum share to approximately 30%, ensuring the UK has three scaled mobile network operators with a greater balance in terms of spectrum holdings.

The acquired spectrum comprises:

•                     20 MHz of 1400 MHz Supplemental Downlink

•                     18.8 MHz of 2100 MHz Frequency Division Duplex

•                     20 MHz of 2600 MHz Time Division Duplex

•                     20 MHz of 3400 MHz Time Division Duplex

The transfer is part of a wider deal struck between Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone UK in July 2024 where the parties agreed to extend and enhance their existing mobile network sharing arrangement for more than a decade, and, following the completion of their merger VodafoneThree will now participate in that network sharing agreement.

Virgin Media O2’s spectrum acquisition, incremental to its existing investment of more than £2 billion in its networks and services, will bolster the quality of its mobile coverage across the country and will deliver improved services for its customers. Businesses will also benefit, including the MVNOs who make use of Virgin Media O2’s mobile network via wholesale partnerships to deliver their own mobile services to millions of people across the country.

The transfer of spectrum reduces the previous imbalances in spectrum between mobile network operators in the UK, enhancing competition and allowing Virgin Media O2 to provide increased capacity, speeds and greater coverage for its customers.

The spectrum will be partially funded by the minority stake sale in Cornerstone in 2024, with spectrum payments extending beyond 2025 and deployment occurring over the medium term, starting this year.

Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2 said: “This acquisition of spectrum will not only create greater balance in holdings across the UK’s mobile networks, but for Virgin Media O2 it will allow us to boost coverage and further improve our network quality, building on the significant investment we are already making in our mobile network. We’re committed to giving our customers a reliable mobile experience across the country and this increase in spectrum will help us deliver on that.”

How is the UK’s telecoms market changing in 2025? Join the industry in discussion at Connected Britain, the UK’s largest digital economy event

Also in the news:
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BT accelerates fibre rollout amid cost cuts
AT&T agrees $5.75 billion deal for Lumen’s consumer fibre asset

Press Release

Telefónica Tech will incorporate the Wiz security platform into its cloud security services portfolio and offer professional services to help organizations protect everything created and run in multi-cloud environments

Telefónica Tech, Telefónica’s digital business unit, has formed a strategic alliance with Wiz, a leader in cloud security, to facilitate the adoption and secure management of multi-cloud environments by organisations in the Spanish market.

Through this alliance, Telefónica Tech will integrate Wiz’s cloud security platform into its portfolio to offer customers its incident detection and response capabilities. In addition, it will provide professional services to accompany customers throughout the process, from initial implementation to continuous 24/7 monitoring, with the aim of ensuring uninterrupted protection of applications when moving them to the cloud.

Wiz is a comprehensive cloud security platform (CNAPP) that provides complete visibility into cloud environments, identifying critical risks and vulnerabilities. It enables organisations’ development and security teams to proactively protect applications from the code phase to execution in the cloud. Its ability to contextualise threats helps to efficiently prioritise and remediate the most important issues, blocking unauthorised access and improving security posture.

With this new alliance, Telefónica Tech is expanding its cloud security services to continue contributing, on the one hand, to simplifying security management in multi-cloud environments, which is the strategy chosen by most organisations to gain efficiency and increase the development of use cases, and, on the other hand, to preventing security issues from being one of the main barriers to faster multi-cloud adoption in the business environment.

Alberto Sempere, Director of Services, Innovation and Partnerships at Telefónica Tech, said: “The alliance with Wiz allows us to complement our cloud security services offering in the current context, marked by the massive adoption of artificial intelligence, and offer customers an automated platform with which to optimise the protection of their assets hosted in the cloud and the prevention of cyberattacks.”

Tomás Carbonell, Vice President EMEA and LATAM at Wiz, said: “It is an honour to consolidate this alliance between Wiz and Telefónica Tech at a key moment for the industry, marked by the rise of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the accelerated adoption of the cloud. This collaboration allows us to offer organisations in Europe and LATAM a unique value proposition, combining Telefónica Tech’s local expertise with Wiz’s technology to protect everything that is built and run in the cloud. More than 50% of Fortune 100 companies already trust us, and we are ready to expand that impact in the region.”

Also in the news:
SWR deploys Europe’s first ’Rail-5G’ Wi-Fi  
BT accelerates fibre rollout amid cost cuts
AT&T agrees $5.75 billion deal for Lumen’s consumer fibre asset

HANOVER, Md. / MADRID, Spain – June 25, 2025 – Telxius, a leading global connectivity provider, and Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) recently completed a key milestone and industry first—a 1.3 Tb/s single wavelength transmission carried out across Telxius’ 6,600km Marea submarine cable between Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Bilbao, Spain.

Powered by Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) technology, the companies also achieved the highest-ever spectral-efficiency transmission across the Atlantic, reaching a record-setting 7.0bits/s/Hz.

“We are committed to continually upgrading our network with new and enhanced systems to better support our customers,” said Carlos Dasi, CTIO, Telxius. “With advancements like Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme, deploying more capacity in the most efficient way possible is now a reality. This latest milestone demonstrates our ability to deliver that capacity across even the vastest of distances in today’s bandwidth-hungry digital economy.”

“This achievement with Telxius is the latest in a series of Ciena industry-firsts in coherent optics,” said Thomas Soerensen, Vice President, Global Submarine Solutions, Ciena. “WL6e will help Telxius provide high-capacity, diverse, and low-latency routes across the Atlantic, and will enable it to stay ahead of the evolving needs of its customers as demand for AI, content, video, and cloud applications continues to grow.”

Ciena’s WL6e is the industry’s first high-bandwidth coherent transceiver using state-of-the-art 3nm silicon to drive significant economic benefits for operators, including a 50% reduction in space and power per bit. Telxius plans to deploy WL6e in selected submarine systems across its vast network throughout this year and beyond.

Fort Lauderdale, FL, June 3rd, 2025— Beesion, the pioneer in BSS Low-Code software, announces the renewal of its agreement with On Net Fibra for the Beefiber BSS/OSS 360° platform. This extension highlights the trust On Net Fibra places in Beesion’s solutions and reflects a shared commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

Beefiber BSS/OSS 360° has supported On Net Fibra in enhancing its operational efficiency by addressing its unique needs and simplifying the management of complex processes. The platform’s customization capabilities have allowed for alignment with On Net Fibra’s specific requirements, ensuring smooth integration and consistent performance. This renewal also represents a continued collaboration to explore opportunities for further strengthening On Net Fibra’s technological architecture.

In a landscape where efficiency and reliability are paramount, On Net Fibra has leveraged Beefiber BSS/OSS 360° to enhance operations and deliver superior service. This contract renewal is a testament to the robust collaboration and mutual trust between our organizations, as we continue to support the industry with pioneering solutions.
 

About On Net Fibra

On Net Fibra is the largest provider of neutral fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connectivity services in Colombia. Operating an open-access network, the company enables telecommunications operators to deliver high-performance internet services through its robust fiber optic infrastructure. Currently, On Net Fibra reaches over 4.6 million homes across 92 Colombian cities, benefiting approximately 13.5 million people. Its mission is to promote access to quality internet, driving opportunities, development, and progress nationwide.

Nairobi, Kenya, 25 June 2025 – Hayo, a global innovator in digital solutions, has launched its National Mobile Registry (NMR) platform to help governments in emerging markets to regulate imports and ensure a controlled entry process for mobile devices. The solution identifies and addresses illegal imports, facilitating tax enforcement and boosting tax revenue. This helps governments to bring their national mobile ecosystems under control and implement systems that enhance compliance, protect citizens, and unlock sustainable public revenue.

Based on the latest available data, OECD reports that counterfeit goods accounted for an estimated $467 billion in global trade in 2021, with electronics including mobile devices among some of the top targets. Once deployed, Hayo’s NMR platform sits in the middle of governments and mobile operators to accurately monitor mobile devices and digital taxation requirements. 

“Our National Mobile Registry platform enables governments to improve visibility across their country’s mobile ecosystem, capturing new revenue, and ultimately creating a safer and fairer digital landscape,” said Feraz Ahmed, CEO at Hayo. “It enables governments to increase fiscal income, which can be reinvested into local digital economies to benefit citizens, strengthen public services, drive innovation, and support inclusive economic growth. Governments in emerging markets have a massive opportunity in collaborating with mobile operators and using platforms to combat fraud and counterfeit devices.” 

Hayo’s NMR platform also aids governments in identifying false device prices, preventing fraud and eliminating counterfeit devices. It monitors and enhances control over imports and tax collection, leading to increased revenue that can be reinvested into local communities. The system is designed for end-to-end automation, with fully configurable options to comply with specific government or authority rules and regulations.

“Every counterfeit device that slips through the cracks represents lost revenue, reduced safety, and a missed opportunity to reinvest in national priorities,” said Ahmed. “By giving governments real-time visibility into what’s entering the country, our NMR platform helps to shut down grey market channels while protecting the entire value chain. We’re well positioned to help government officials and regulators identify challenges and opportunities, then take action to meet their digital goals. With more than three decades of experience, we’re excited to consult and share our recommendations.”

Hayo’s NMR solution architecture contains a device map powered by GSMA, a legal framework for importation within the platform, and registration of personal devices. It is ITU-T compliant and aligned with ITU recommendations addressing counterfeit, stolen, illegal and non-compliant mobile devices, with end-to-end system functionality.

About Hayo 

Hayo is a global digital service provider that is unlocking the full potential of communications, transformation and innovation in Africa, the Middle East and around the world. It combines networking, technologies, and digital solutions to deliver on-the-ground innovation that has a positive impact on local people’s lives. It has extensive coverage across the African continent, as well as over 500 service provider relationships globally. Hayo provides bespoke digital solutions for governments, service providers, mobile operators, enterprises, retailers and regulators, spanning voice, SMS, CPaaS, security, IoT and more.  

Hayo: Bringing Innovation to Life 

www.hayo.net

Developed and manufactured by Camozzi Technopolymers—part of the Camozzi Group—and brought to the UK market by Camozzi Automation UK, the V4000 PLUS LE Series is crafted from sustainable, bio-renewable raw materials. This innovative product series exceeds performance standards while cutting carbon emissions by an impressive 85% (compared to the standard Series V4000 PLUS). Known for their technical expertise and commitment to quality, Camozzi Automation is one of Europe’s most innovative manufacturers, with its headquarters in Italy.

Camozzi Automation appointed Altnets as its first UK distribution partner, stressing Altnets’ extensive telecoms experience, dedication to innovation and sustainable supply chain practices. The relationship is already making waves with the release of the V4000 PLUS LE Series, which is seen as a watershed moment for environmentally conscious Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across the UK.

“At Camozzi Technopolymers, a key part of our identity is our commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles, with a strong focus on advancing sustainable manufacturing processes”, said Nausicaa Martinelli, Sales Manager at Camozzi Technopolymers. She added: “The V4000 Series PLUS LE marks a significant result in this journey, as it embodies all the essential elements of a truly traceable green product—from the use of bio-based raw materials and energy-efficient electric injection moulding machines to 100% green energy powering the production process.”

“At Camozzi, we’ve long prioritised sustainable innovation, and Altnets was the clear choice to carry our message forward in the UK,” said Les Brogden, Sales Director at Camozzi Automation UK.

“Their technical knowledge, market insight, and shared sustainability values make them the ideal partner to introduce the V4000 PLUS LE to UK telecoms providers.”

Introducing the V4000 PLUS LE: A Greener Future for FTTx

The product series consists of three components: a Low Emissions Connector, an End Cap, and a Reducer, all of which are designed to provide superior functional and technical performance while also aligning with the UK’s carbon reduction targets. These modernised components contribute to greener telecommunications builds and have strong impact resistance and thermal stability, assuring long-term dependability. Camozzi Technopolymers’ products, manufactured in Italy, exceed quality standards and combine creativity, durability, and sustainability in a ground-breaking solution.

With the UK Government’s net zero targets creeping closer, this partnership comes at a crucial time for ISPs. Due to its strong focus on ESG, Camozzi Technopolymers has made a Life Cycle Assessment of the connectors Series V4000 PLUS LE. This methodology made it possible to calculate the Carbon Footprint value of the connector.

“Altnets and Camozzi Automation UK are spearheading the journey towards a greener future in the UK telecoms industry,” said Leigh Buckwell, Altnets’ Technical Director.

“Altnets remains dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions in the telecommunications sector, supporting and emphasising innovation to meet the rapidly evolving needs of our customers while reducing environmental impact.”

As ISPs seek solutions to decrease emissions and future-proof infrastructure builds, the V4000 PLUS LE arrives at a pivotal moment. It is a significant step forward in environmental responsibility alongside technical engineering quality, designed for challenging circumstances and built for longevity. Together, telecoms industry specialists can make a meaningful difference in carbon emissions associated with the sector by adopting sustainable practices and choosing planet-friendly solutions that benefit both fibre builds and our environment, now and into the future.

Ready to future-proof your fibre network while reducing environmental impact?

Speak to the Altnets team today to learn more about Camozzi Technopolymers’ V4000 PLUS LE Series and how sustainable, high-performance microduct connections can support your next build.

Email info@altnets.co.uk to request product details and technical specifications or to discuss your project requirements.

Digicel Group and Symptai Consulting Limited have joined forces to offer businesses better access to world-class solutions and experts to support all their technology needs. This milestone builds on Digicel’s initial stake in Symptai, acquired in December 2021, and underscores the Group’s continued commitment to driving secure digital growth and transformation across the region.

Symptai, a leading technology advisory and cybersecurity consultancy firm, boasts a 27-year track record as regional experts in cybersecurity, data privacy and protection, anti-money laundering, risk and compliance, and digital transformation. With Digicel Business’ mobile and ICT solutions, Symptai’s deep expertise supporting governments, financial institutions and large enterprises will continue to enhance Digicel’s business solutions across the Caribbean.

“This is a major step forward in strengthening Digicel’s capabilities in cybersecurity, data privacy and digital transformation,” said Liam Donnelly, Chief Business Officer, Digicel Group. “For over five years, Digicel has been a pioneer in the cyber and SOC (security operation centre) services for businesses and now we’re taking it to the next level. Globally, there’s a dearth of cyber expertise, so you can imagine across the Caribbean, with a population of about 45 million people, the demand is great. Now, with the combined expertise of Digicel and Symptai, there is an even larger pool of knowledge and experts to better serve our customers and have even greater reach across the region and beyond.”

“Symptai and Digicel have been working in tandem for a number of years now and as a business partner, Digicel has everything you could want for your company,” said Marlon Cooper, CEO, Symptai Consulting. “The technology, the network, the consultants, the partners (locally and internationally) are all there, which means that whether you’re a small, medium or large-sized business, we have the products, services and people to meet you where you are, and also to help you as you scale.”

Now that Symptai is fully part of the Digicel Business family, customers can expect a seamless and strengthened value proposition—backed by Digicel’s global strategic partners and Symptai’s proven experience. This unified approach positions Digicel Business as the leading technology partner for businesses of all sizes, not just in Jamaica, but throughout the region.

Digicel Business and Symptai Consulting remain committed to delivering greater value and stronger security solutions to customers, empowering Caribbean businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

ENDS

About Digicel

Enabling customers to live, work, play and flourish in a connected world, Digicel’s world class LTE and fibre networks deliver state-of-the-art mobile, home and business solutions.

Serving 10 million consumer and business customers in 25 markets in the Caribbean and Central America, our investments of over US$5 billion and a commitment to our communities through our Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago have contributed to positive outcomes for over 2 million people to date.

With our Connecting. Empowering vision at the heart of everything we do – supported by our DIGI values of Diversity, Integrity, Growth and Innovation – our 5,000 employees worldwide work together to make that a powerful reality for customers, communities and countries day in, day out.

Digicel Business provides end-to-end fully managed business solutions with its robust network, expert resources and cutting-edge technology. These all work in synergy with one aim – efficiencies across businesses, large or small. Partnering with industry-leaders to deliver innovative products and technology, Digicel Business’ consultative approach to customer engagement ensures the best possible solutions for all businesses.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more.

News

Speaking at DTW in Copenhagen, Vikram Sinha, CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH), called on operators to go ‘all in’ on AI transformation

As was to be expected, the topic of AI dominated discussions on the opening day of DTW this year. Numerous operators took to the stage to exhort the technologies potential to transform the telecoms world and help telcos return to growth. Chief among these AI cheerleaders was IOH CEO Vikram Sinha, who said telcos should be embracing the new technology as much as possible.

“AI is not the metaverse – it’s real today,” said Sinha. “We have to go all in. We have to get serious. We need to see how we can make 12-15% growth the norm for telcos,” he said.

Sinha explained how IOH’s AI strategy revolved around turning the network and its wealth of data into a ‘product factory’ for consumer AI use cases.

“We want to solve customer problems and we want to be with them on that journey,” he said, adding that IOH was targeting use cases across the consumer value chain.

“AI has to be for all. It cannot be only for high end customers,” he said. “We have been working on creating a product on SMS – this would touch everyone. Similarly, you can have an [AI] personal tutor. Everyone can have a personal nurse, and farmers and have AI support. If our customers start seeing a product which is helping their daily life better, that is solving their problem, the respect for you will go up. Your ARPU will really go up.”

In-house AI capabilities

IOH has been positioning itself as an AI company for a number of years now, seeing the emerging technology as a key driver of revenue growth on their journey from telco to techco. Earlier this year, the company launched a Sovereign AI Factory, powered by Sahabat-AI, a 70-billion parameter large language model that operates in Indonesian and five additional local languages. This, IOH says, will allow GenAI services to be delivered to all Indonesians, not only those that speak English. This large language model (LLM) will form the basis of numerous IOH products, expanding on their ability to create AI use cases in-house.

With digital sovereignty of ever increasing importance, being able to create these products independently and with local partners is a growing focus.

“We have created a vertical Chief Product Officer,” said Sinha. “Telco never had a product team[…] but in three years time you’ll need to have product capabilities to make sure that you don’t outsource everything.”

But while many of AI-driven use cases are already in development, both by IOH and other telcos, few are currently commercially available at scale. For Sinha, part of the challenge lies in how telcos frame these AI use cases in discussions with customers.

“Don’t talk about POC [Proof of Concept], talk about Proof of Value,” said Sinha. “Once customers talk about value, we’ll have a flywheel effect.”

“Progress is better than perfect,” he added.

A platform for AI innovation

Speaking on stage alongside Sinha, Danish telco Nuuday’s CEO Christian Thrane took a different approach to AI use cases, noting that a telcos size and the size of its target market would impact its ability to develop AI use cases alone.

“For us, it’s a lot more about creating the platform and working with partners,” he said. “I always say to partners, we’re a small market, one of the most advanced markets globally, so come and test it out.”

Perhaps more importantly, Thrane highlighted the importance of collaboration across the telco industry, working together to create solutions that only telcos can provide.

“It’s almost impossible to think about the role of AI and not be a bit nervous at times right? I think the purpose is right there, staring in our face. It’s about stepping into it and not trying to outsmart each other as an industry […] really leaning into what can we do together quickly and to make sure that AI models rely on trusted, reliable data for the customers in a private way.”

“Five years from now, if we haven’t done this right. We’re toast,” Thrane concluded.

Also in the news:
SWR deploys Europe’s first ’Rail-5G’ Wi-Fi  
BT accelerates fibre rollout amid cost cuts
AT&T agrees $5.75 billion deal for Lumen’s consumer fibre asset

Press Release

Ekinops, a leading optical transport and network access specialist, today announced that Global Caribbean Network (GCN), a provider of wholesale capacity to telcos in the Caribbean region, has upgraded its existing subsea cable network using the Ekinops360 WDM platform with FlexRate™ technology.

GCN operates a cable system in the Guadeloupe region of the Caribbean consisting of critical routes unserved by other cables. With service areas separated by long spans that have challenging optical requirements, GCN needed a solution that could support services from 10G to 100G on extended links over 350Km. Using the 400FRS04-SF module, ROADMs and low noise amplifiers from Ekinops, GCN is now able to deliver the bandwidth needed for the local service providers throughout the region to offer high bandwidth internet services to the local populations.

GCN built its original cable system as part of a public service delegation contract with the regional council of Guadeloupe. By its nature, the contract requires control of the cable be returned to the regional government after a fixed period of time. As a pre-requisite GCN needed to modernize the infrastructure with a future-proof network capable of supporting higher capacities. Recognizing Ekinops’ ability to deliver the solution, services and support it needed within a tight schedule, GCN selected the Ekinops360 even after comparing it to purpose-built submarine systems.

“We were very impressed with Ekinops ability to not just meet our requirements but also their willingness to work with us in finding the best solution,” commented Axel Adenet, Chief Operations Officer at GCN. “We made it our mission to upgrade the network with cutting-edge equipment and technology, as we wanted to ensure that the cable system may continue in operation for many years and Ekinops proved to be the best partner for doing that. Being able to use a French technology company has also been a key factor in our choice since national sovereignty stakes are high for these strategic data flows.”

“The platform flexibility of the Ekinops360 makes it highly efficient for a wide range of applications, including subsea deployment,” said Frank Dedobbeleer, Chief Revenue Officer, EMEA & APAC at Ekinops: “Ekinops origins are actually in the submarine world, so we are able to leverage our deep expertise in this area to address the needs of customers like GCN.”

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