The RAN (Radio Access Network) automation market traces its origins to the beginning of the LTE era when SON (Self-Organizing Network) technology was introduced to reduce cellular network complexity through self-configuration, self-optimization and self-healing. SON’s shortcomings, together with the cellular industry’s shift towards open interfaces, common information models, virtualization and software-driven networking, are driving a transition to Open RAN automation with standards-based components – specifically the Near-RT (Real-Time) and Non-RT RICs (RAN Intelligent Controllers), SMO (Service Management & Orchestration) framework, xApps (Extended Applications) and rApps (RAN Applications) – that enable greater levels of RAN programmability and automation.

While the benefits of SON-based RAN automation in live networks are well-known, expectations are even higher with the RIC, SMO and x/rApps approach. For example, Japanese brownfield operator NTT DoCoMo expects to lower its TCO by up to 30% and decrease power consumption at base stations by as much as 50% using Open RAN automation. It is worth highlighting that domestic rival Rakuten Mobile has already achieved approximately 17% energy savings per cell in its live network using RIC-hosted RAN automation applications. Following successful lab trials, the greenfield operator aims to increase savings to 25% with more sophisticated AI/ML models.

Although Open RAN automation efforts seemingly lost momentum beyond the field trial phase for the past couple of years, several commercial engagements have emerged since then, with much of the initial focus on the SMO, Non-RT RIC and rApps for automated management and optimization across Open RAN, purpose-built and hybrid RAN environments. Within the framework of its five-year $14 Billion Open RAN infrastructure contract with Ericsson, AT&T is adopting the Swedish telecommunications giant’s SMO and Non-RT RIC solution to replace two legacy C-SON systems. In neighboring Canada, Telus has also initiated the implementation of an SMO and RIC platform along with its multi-vendor Open RAN deployment to transform up to 50% of its RAN footprint and swap out Huawei equipment from its 4G/5G network.

Similar efforts are also underway in other regions. For example, in Europe, Swisscom is deploying an SMO and Non-RT RIC platform to provide multi-technology network management and automation capabilities as part of a wider effort to future-proof its brownfield mobile network, while Deutsche Telekom is progressing with plans to develop its own vendor-independent SMO framework. Open RAN automation is also expected to be introduced as part of Vodafone Group’s global tender for refreshing 170,000 cell sites.

SNS Telecom & IT’s “RAN Automation: 2024 – 2030” report predicts that global spending on RIC, SMO and x/rApps will grow at a CAGR of more than 125% between 2024 and 2027 alongside the second wave of Open RAN infrastructure rollouts by brownfield operators. The Open RAN automation market will eventually account for nearly $700 Million in annual investments by the end of 2027 as standardization gaps and technical challenges in terms of the SMO-to-Non-RT RIC interface, application portability across RIC platforms and conflict mitigation between x/rApps are ironed out. The wider RAN automation software and services market – which includes Open RAN automation, RAN vendor SON solutions, third party C-SON platforms, baseband-integrated intelligent RAN applications, RAN planning and optimization software, and test/measurement solutions – is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 8% during the same period. For more information, please visit: https://www.snstelecom.com/son

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.

News

The fine is the second the company has received related to poor emergency services call handling this year. Back in February, an outage that lasted 12 hours blocked 92 million phone calls. 

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. 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter 

Also in the news:
Meet our Top 20 Telco AI Champions!
Are AI and Sustainability Compatible?
Singtel partners with Bridge Alliance to boost GPUaaS offering

News

The news follows BT’s initial launch of the content delivery solution in December 2023 

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 

 Also in the news:
Meet our Top 20 Telco AI Champions!
Are AI and Sustainability Compatible?
Singtel partners with Bridge Alliance to boost GPUaaS offering

News 

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 Safety 

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 

Interview

Following rural ISP Quickline’s recent success in securing its fourth round of government funding earlier this month, Total Telecom sat down with CEO Sean Royce to discuss all things rural broadband 

Founded in 2006, Quickline’s mission is to get rural communities connected “to a world of possibilities,” according to the website. The company is based in East Yorkshire and focuses on connecting local communities in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire with fixed wireless access and, more recently, full fibre technology. 

The company today serves “more than half a million homes”, a figure which is set to increase quickly thanks to a new £250 million debt facility package secured earlier this month. The funding, which takes the form of a £125 million term loan, a £100 million debt guarantee, and a £25 million term loan provided by NatWest, will reportedly allow Quickline to expand its network to 190,000 additional locations. 

“UKIB and NatWest, who we’ve done the deal with, they see the opportunity in rural areas – they see that these areas are being left behind,” explained Quickline CEO Sean Royce, who joined the company back in 2021. “They’re seeing an operator who was laser focused about trying to build where nobody else is building. And that’s really important point today in the UK.”  

Royce joined the company as Managing Director in 2021, having spent over 30 years at Hull based ISP KCOM. In 1999, KCOM was floated on the stock exchange, and was the most successful float of that year, at the height of the dot com bubble. Royce oversaw KCOM’s completion of Hull’s whole fibre rollout, which remains the only city in the UK where full fibre is ubiquitously available.  

 A challenging broadband market 

The new funding no doubt comes as welcome relief for Quickline in a market that has seen its purse strings tighten in recent years, following a surge of investment at the start of the decade.  

 “It is a very, very difficult sector right now. Sentiment is poor in the fibre sector particularly,” said Royce, noting that capital was much more available four years ago and investors less risk averse.  

“Money was cheap and there was lots of it around […] There was this opportunity to build full fibre networks in the UK because the incumbent was distracted with BT support and buying EE. They won’t say that, but that’s exactly what they were doing!” 

This positive financial environment saw the rise of over 100 altnets across the UK, which today serve roughly 2 million customers.  

The boom of investment was not to last long, however. In the past two years, interest rates have soared and altnet investment has largely dried up as a result.  

“Investors get nervous about returns in a market like that,” said Royce. 

Full fibre and the rural divide 

Today, around 65% of the UK has access to full fibre connectivity, a figure that is rising steadily thanks to the efforts of Openreach, Virgin Media O2, and the altnet community. The vast majority of these deployments are in population-dense urban areas where deploying infrastructure can be more cost effective. Rural areas, on the other hand, typically represent a far less appealing prospect for operators, with deployments being more expensive and logistically challenging for far fewer potential customers. 

This lack of quality connectivity in small communities, Royce says, can be hugely detrimental, even resulting in their complete abandonment in some cases.  

This is especially true for communities smaller than villages, such as tiny hamlets already lacking nearby access to services like GPs, banks, and public services.  

“These little villages will wither and die, and we’re trying to regenerate the rural north of England. The first building that Quickline connected (in Escrick, North Yorkshire) did not even have mains gas!” joked Royce. 

Deploying fibre under these conditions comes with a considerable number of challenges, from working on difficult terrain to the red tape associated with crossing privately owned land. This means Quickline’s build rate is never going to achieve the same speed as its more urban-focussed rivals – Openreach, for example, regularly passes 40,000 additional premises a week.  

Nonetheless, Royce notes that progress remains steady, with Quickline expecting to pass between 500 to 1,000 rural premises a month. 

Perhaps even more important is that, in 9 out of 10 of these locations passed, Quickline is the only provider to offer gigabit capable connectivity.  

For Royce, this hints at a potential future for the broadband industry where – following considerable consolidation – the market is split into a small number of national players and rural broadband specialists. 

Transforming communities beyond connectivity 

Beyond simply rolling out broadband infrastructure to rural locations, a large part of Quickline’s business is engaging with and improving the communities they serve; in fact, Quickline has an internal team fully dedicated to this purpose. It has a company programme, aimed at supporting and sustaining rural communities by investing in their future. Named QFutures, it is focussed on three Es: education, enriching livelihoods, and the environment. It has brought over £13 million in social value to the two counties in which Quickline operates in the last year. 

“It’s not just is a couple of apprenticeships and a few laptops,” Royce jokes. Earlier this month, for example, Quickline announced a £150,000 partnership with The Prince’s Trust, a charity founded by the King that supports young people facing challenges such as unemployment. Over the next three years, Quickline’s investment will support a range of programmes, equipping young people in South Yorkshire with digital skills to further their chances of employment. 

The Road Ahead for Rural Connectivity 

As the UK continues to grapple with the digital divide between urban and rural areas, Quickline is positioning itself as a critical player in bridging that gap. 

The future of rural connectivity will depend on a combination of continued investment from both public and private sectors, technological innovation, and strategic partnerships across the industry. As these dynamics evolve, the extent to which rural areas can keep pace with their urban counterparts will be a key factor in shaping the UK’s digital landscape. 

Join Sean Royce speaking on the ‘Customer uptake’ panel at this year’s Connected Britain, 11-12 September in London. Tickets are available here.  

Viewpoint

Recently, South Africa MTN and Huawei jointly launched the Ultra-Long-Haul (ULH) 400G optical transport backbone project, aiming to establish high-bandwidth, low-latency, and high-reliability connections between cities in the country, laying a solid foundation for South Africa’s digital and sustainable development, and Leaping towards the F5.5G era.

MTN South Africa, in collaboration with Huawei, has successfully achieved the first ULH 400G commercial link from Cape Town to Bloemfontein. In 2024, it will further expand the deployment of ULH 400G in the backbone links to create ultra-high-speed connections between cities, in order to meet the escalating capacity demands of 5G, home broadband, and enterprise users. Meanwhile, the high-dimensional backbone sites in the network will be transformed into the latest Optical Cross-Connect (OXC) solution, which not only supports the evolution of the existing network to the 400G+ generation, but also enhances energy efficiency to meet the future capacity requirements of the massive data demand in Africa and accelerate the achievement of the goal of a complete average reduction of 50% in carbon emissions by 2030.

ULH 400G and 800G are the critical technologies of the F5.5G industry. The ULH 400G solution employed in this project adopts built-in high baud modulators and QPSK modulation. With the unique Channel-Matched Shaping (CMS) 2.0 algorithm, the transmission distance is increased by 20%, meeting the large capacity and ultra-long-distance transmission requirements of national backbone networks and transnational backbones.

Takalani Ligudu, Senior Specialist in Core Fibre and Transmission at MTN SA, said: “The Ultra-Long-Haul 400G deployment with Huawei is a result of MTN’s purpose to enable the benefits of a modern connected life for everyone. MTN has been committed to leading digital solutions for South Africa’s progress by using industry leading technologies to deliver superior network services”.

“400G solutions can not only bring more bandwidth, but also bring lower per-bit power consumption. ”Victor Zhou, president of optical transmission domain at Huawei, pointed out: “We will continue to support MTN to build a F5.5G All-Optical Premium Transmission Network, laying a foundation for the country’s digital economy and ensuring optimal user experience.”

This joint effort by MTN in South Africa and Huawei has set a new standard for the development of the communication industry in the African region and also injected new momentum into the global push towards the F5.5G generation.

Neterra, a global communications service provider, has achieved carbon neutrality for 2023 and has been officially certified by the international organization Verra. This significant accomplishment is the result of the company’s dedicated efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and invest in sustainable projects.

The Verra certification confirms that Neterra has offset 74 tons of carbon dioxide by supporting the “Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary” project in Cambodia. This project meets the CCB-Biodiversity Gold and CCB-Gold standards, highlighting its positive impact on biodiversity.

The project covers 167,000 hectares of protected dense forest and a 297,000-hectare buffer zone, home to the indigenous Bunong people and rare, endangered plant and animal species. It also hosts one of the largest remaining populations of Asian elephants. By supporting this project, Neterra contributes to the preservation of Keo Seima’s unique ecosystem and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

“Achieving carbon neutrality is a strategic goal for Neterra, and we are incredibly proud to see the results of our efforts. This marks the third consecutive year of reporting zero emissions. We will continue to strive for a more sustainable future, support projects with a positive environmental impact, and seek new ways to reduce our ecological footprint,” said Neven Dilkov, founder and CEO of Neterra.

Neterra set its ambition to become a carbon-neutral company at the beginning of 2021. Since then, it has been purchasing and using 100% clean energy for its operations and implementing comprehensive measures. Neterra has built a solar park for its own needs and plans to implement a similar project at its Data Center Park in Stolnik (SDC Stolnik).

The company’s fleet consists of electric or hybrid vehicles, and all documentation processes are digital, eliminating the need for paper. In the offices, Neterra ensures that only reusable dishes and utensils are used—no single-use or plastic items are purchased or provided. Employees also actively participate in reforestation initiatives, planting thousands of trees to help restore Bulgarian forests.

News

SpaceX says it will gradually replace its first-generation satellites with larger, more advanced alternatives

This week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has confirmed that it will allow SpaceX to gradually replace its existing first-generation Starlink satellites with second-generation satellites.

SpaceX has roughly 6,281 Starlink satellites in orbit around the Earth, which are used to provide global coverage for communication services. The company currently has permission from the FCC to expand this total to 12,000 Starlink satellites, with its ultimate goal being to increase the scale of the constellation to roughly 42,000 devices.

However, having first been launched in 2019, some of these satellites are nearing the end of their five-year lifespan. As such, SpaceX has been applying to the FCC to be allowed to replace defunct satellites with newer models.

According to SpaceX, these new satellites will be equipped with “advanced beam-forming and digital processing technologies”, which will allow for “narrower beam capabilities to provide more targeted and robust coverage” of broadband services.

This new beamforming tech was a point of contention for satellite operator Dish Network, which said the tech could potentially cause interference with their existing services. However, the FCC dismissed these arguments, noting in its authorisation statement that it ‘disagreed’ that the technology would result “in SpaceX violating Commission and ITU EPFD (equivalent-power flux density) limits”.

SpaceX says it will replace existing satellites only when they reach the end of their commercial lifespan, which is typically around five years. Exactly how fast this means the entire existing constellation will be transitioned is unclear.

It is worth noting here that SpaceX is also in the process of launching satellites cable of direct-to-cell (DTC) connectivity, allowing customers to access their communication services directly via their normal smartphone, without the need for a Starlink terminal. So far, the company has launched over 100 of these DTC satellites, though it is forbidden to use them commercially until it receives approval from the FCC.

Unfortunately for SpaceX, the path to approval could be a difficult one, with both AT&T and Verizon this week writing to the FCC to again raise issues of potential service interference.

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter  

Also in the news:
Meet our Top 20 Telco AI Champions!
Are AI and Sustainability Compatible?
Singtel partners with Bridge Alliance to boost GPUaaS offering

News 

The Chinese government continues to funnel money into its domestic chip capabilities in order to reduce reliance on US technology 

The Shanghai Semiconductor Industry Investment Fund (SSIIF), managed by the local government to support the city’s chip industry, has doubled its size to around $2 billion after a recent funding round.  

The new funds were primarily contributed to by state-backed entities based in Shanghai, in the city’s strategic push to bolster its semiconductor industry amid ongoing US sanctions targeting China’s tech sector. 

This cash increase is expected to enhance the SSIIF’s ability to finance crucial semiconductor projects aimed making China less reliant on foreign technology.  

Since its establishment in 2016, the SSIIF has been instrumental in supporting major players in the local chip industry, including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), China’s largest chip maker. 

The latest funding boost into the SSIIF comes on the heels of Shanghai’s launch of a new $6.2 billion Integrated Circuit Industry Parent Fund in July 2024. This fund , part of the Made in China 2025 plan, aims to bring China’s semiconductor industry up to international standards by 2030.  

The move underscores China’s intention to reduce its dependence on foreign technology, particularly after the export controls imposed by Washington. The US has imposed strict sanctions on China, restricting its access to advanced semiconductor technology, including chips, equipment, and software. These measures target Chinese firms like SMIC and block them from acquiring the critical US-made tech required to produce the most advanced chips. 

While China has certainly made rapid technical progress in semiconductors in recent years, the US government remains unphased. Earlier this year, the US secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo dismissed Huawei’s latest chip technology breakthrough powering its latest smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro, describing it as “years behind what we have in the United States”. She also confirmed that the US would not trade with China on technologies that affect national security. 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter  

Also in the news:
TIM partners with Nokia to expand Brazilian 5G
Sky signs major broadband deal with CityFibre
Meet our Top 20 Telco AI Champions!