Four significant items of metro and last mile fiber news, three from the US and one from the UK: … [visit site to read more]

India’s digital transformation over the last decade has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the days of dial-up connections, the nation has surged into a new era of rapid digitization.

At the heart of this transformation lies the telecom industry, which has played a pivotal role in connecting millions to the digital world, many for the very first time. The expansion of mobile networks, especially into rural areas, coupled with the availability of affordable smartphones, has driven this digital revolution.

Telecom has been empowering the country’s digital journey by enabling the building of digital assets and networks in India. The industry built the country’s digital superhighway, which has been a key enabler on which the economy growth as well as the digital transformations continue to speeden.  With the penetration of telecom infrastructure, we banked the unbanked enabling the growth of digital financial transactions. Today, initiatives like UPI system, digital financial institutions have contributed in making India as one of the biggest digital payment marketplaces globally. The telecom sector has been cementing the country’s digital highways for greater dexterity with future ready technology solutions and network, ushering in an era of myriad digital possibilities for the nation. The Indian government’s initiatives under its “Digital India” mission has further added a much-needed impetus to this revolution, driving digital innovations and cutting-edge technologies.

Today, India is not just keeping pace but leading the charge in the global digital arena, spurring innovations that are shaping the future. With over 60% of its population under the age of 35, India boasts the world’s largest youth demographic, making it one of the most dynamic markets for digital technology. The Indian government’s initiatives, such as Digital India, focusing on sustainable development, inclusion, and leveraging digital infrastructure, helps add further momentum to this.

As the digital economy grows at an unprecedented rate, India presents an unparalleled opportunity for global companies. The country’s vast and varied digital ecosystem encompasses key sectors such as financial services, commerce, entertainment, education, and enterprise digitalization, all of which are experiencing significant growth.

Five Essentials for Tech Companies Entering India:

• Customize and Tailor-Make Digital Solutions

India’s diverse demographic landscape demands a deep understanding of the local market. Global companies need to design tech solutions that cater to the unique needs and preferences of Indian consumers. Success in India hinges on implementing user-friendly and culturally resonant technologies that appeal to a wide range of users. This means localizing content, features, and services to align with regional languages, behaviors, and expectations.

• Invest in Robust IT Infrastructure

The backbone of India’s digital growth is its expanding IT infrastructure. Companies entering India should collaborate with local partners to leverage the country’s extensive fiber networks and state-of-the-art data centers. This collaboration ensures data centralization, security, and scalability for businesses, allowing them to operate efficiently and meet the growing demands of the Indian market. Robust IT infrastructure also enhances the seamless execution of operations, from urban hubs to remote rural areas.

• Strengthen Connectivity

India’s vast and diverse geography makes connectivity a critical factor for success. Forming strategic partnerships with local telecom carriers and internet service providers is essential for enhancing connectivity. By doing so, companies can access next-gen technologies like 5G, which are rapidly being deployed across the country. Investing in AI and other advanced technologies will help future-proof businesses, enabling them to tap into both urban and rural markets effectively.

• Leverage Advanced Cloud Technologies

Cloud technology is central to India’s digital expansion, with a growing demand for data security and compliance. Companies should partner with cloud providers that have a strong local presence and a robust infrastructure. This ensures that data is stored securely within India, aligning with the country’s data localization requirements. As India’s data center landscape continues to expand, businesses have the opportunity to localize their data, enhance security, and improve operational efficiency.

• Adhere to Regulatory and Cybersecurity Measures

India’s regulatory environment is evolving rapidly, particularly in the areas of data protection and cybersecurity. Companies entering the Indian market must ensure strict compliance with local laws to avoid legal and operational challenges. Engaging with local experts who understand the regulatory landscape is crucial for navigating India’s complex legal environment. This includes adhering to cybersecurity regulations and data protection laws, which are becoming increasingly stringent.

India’s rapid digital transformation and expanding economy present an unparalleled opportunity for global companies. By customizing solutions for the Indian market, investing in IT infrastructure, strengthening connectivity, leveraging cloud technologies, and adhering to local regulations, businesses can tap into this dynamic and growing market. As India continues to lead in digital innovation, it stands as the next major growth market for companies worldwide.

Sharat Sinha is the CEO of Airtel Business. 

One subsea item and three bits of data center news: … [visit site to read more]

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said on Monday it has launched the AI Skills Coalition, an initiative to bridge the global AI skills gap that has the backing of 27 organizations, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, the East Africa Community and Cognizant.

According to the ITU, the coalition will serve as an online platform for AI education and capacity building that will also encourage inclusive participation by offering open and accessible skills training on generative AI, machine learning and applying AI for sustainable development.

The rise of AI has prompted the telecoms and ICT sectors to prep their digital infrastructures and data centres to support bandwidth and compute-intensive AI workloads. Meanwhile, an estimated 94% of global business leaders already see AI as critical for the success of their organizations, according to a recent AI for Good Impact Report published by ITU and Deloitte.

However, insufficient technical skills and the need for extensive upskilling and reskilling are among key barriers to broader AI adoption globally, as well as a considerable lack of trust in AI amid fears that it will replace human jobs, the ITU said. Recent announcements regarding the launch of AI cloud infrastructure investments in developing markets by big-name players like Google, AWS and Microsoft have typically come with promises of local AI skills training, but the ITU says a more global and inclusive approach is needed to address the issue and ensure more stakeholders are involved.

The AI Skills Coalition aims to will provide educational materials that can bolster skills for the future and address global inequalities in AI knowledge. Meanwhile, the ITU will work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to leverage UNDP’s presence in over 170 countries and territories to deliver AI capacity development directly to partner countries.

“Capacity development is the number one ask from the developing countries that we work in,” said Achim Steiner, administrator of UNDP. “As part of this Coalition, we will work with our partners to deliver crucial foundational AI training, so that policy-makers and national governments can responsibly harness AI to achieve sustainable development.”

The initiative will also addresses underrepresentation of marginalized groups such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the development of AI products and services, the ITU said.

The coalition initiative will be rolled out in phases, starting with the launch of a new training platform developed by the ITU in March 2025. The platform will include a comprehensive training portfolio and a customizable digital library of AI material supplied by coalition members, as well as self-paced courses, webinars, access to in-person workshops, and hybrid programs tailored to diverse learning needs – all offered free of charge,

The coalition will also develop specialized government training in AI governance, ethics, and policymaking to address the specific needs of developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs), the ITIU said.

There has been a significant fiber M&A in the North Atlantic. The pan-European network operator EXA Infrastructure has agreed to acquire Ireland-based Aqua Comms. It’s a rare example of the inorganic purchase of a nearly pure play subsea cable business. … [visit site to read more]

The middle mile and metro fiber sector has been an organic story over the past few years after all the M&A in the prior decade.  Bluebird Fiber is one of the regional operators that emerged from that era, and backed by Macquarie they have been quietly investing in fiber and data center assets across a footprint centered on Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa.  With us today to talk about their approach is Jason Adkins, who was named CEO of Bluebird Fiber in March of 2024.  He moved over from UPN, where he was CEO up until the Cox Communications transaction.  … [visit site to read more]

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Multiple network expansion projects from around the world to catch up with: … [visit site to read more]

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Mozambique has completed a nationwide assessment of telecom operators’ quality of service, revealing significant disparities in performance and compliance. Movitel emerged as the worst-performing operator for data services, while Vodacom demonstrated the highest reliability.

Movitel recorded the highest rate of non-compliance with regulatory standards for data services at 74%, according to a statement from the regulator. Tmcel followed at 25%, and Vodacom had the lowest rate of non-compliance at just 6%.

The average 3G download speed in Mozambique was measured at 3 Mbps. Vodacom stood out with an average speed of 4.55 Mbps, followed by Tmcel at 3.79 Mbps and Movitel at 2.10 Mbps.

For 4G services, Vodacom again led the market with an impressive 26.57 Mbps average download speed. Tmcel achieved 11.47 Mbps, while Movitel trailed at 9.37 Mbps.

In voice services, Tmcel struggled the most with regulatory compliance, showing a 66% non-compliance rate. Movitel followed at 54%, and Vodacom was slightly better at 53%.

The success rates for completing 2G and 3G calls were: Movitel and Vodacom both achieved 95.93% and Tmcel lagged behind at 85.14%..

Coverage and network compliance

The study noted that 2G remains the dominant network technology in Mozambique, with 3G and 4G networks primarily available in urban areas.

For 2G network compliance across 31 tested areas Movitel achieved compliance in 20 locations (65%); Tmcel complied in 16 locations (52%); Vodacom met standards in 13 locations (42%).

On the 3G network; Vodacom complied in 25 locations (81%); Movitel followed with 22 locations (71%); Tmcel met targets in 13 locations (42%).

For 4G services; Vodacom complied in 24 locations (77%); Movitel followed with 22 locations (71%); Tmcel met compliance in 17 locations (55%).

The Communications Regulatory Authority emphasised the challenges of extending reliable network services across Mozambique. While Vodacom generally outperformed its rivals, particularly in 3G and 4G services, Movitel and Tmcel face ongoing issues in meeting regulatory standards.

The findings highlight the need for continuous investment and oversight to improve network quality, especially in rural areas where services remain inconsistent.

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