With all the focus on AI and FTTx and 5G, it’s easy to forget about the other side of the digital divide and the service providers who straddle it.  Fixed wireless services have long been with us, and the underlying technology continues to evolve.  New ways to connect more and more places are a key piece of the infrastructure puzzle, and that means opportunity for those with the spectrum and a fresh approach.  With us today to talk about the next generation of the fixed wireless opportunity is Eric Watko, CEO of BroadbandOne. … [visit site to read more]

Malaysian operator U Mobile has won the rights to implement Malaysia’s second 5G network to compete with original 5G operator Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), leaving rival contenders CelcomDigi and Maxis to rethink their 5G plans.

Under the Malaysian government’s dual-network model, only stakeholders in DNB were allowed to submit applications to establish a second 5G network operator. In August, U Mobile, CelcomDigi and Maxis – each of which own 16.28% of DNB as of June 2024 – submitted their applications to run the second network. YTL declined to participate, while Telekom Malaysia was disqualified after it dropped plans to take a stake in DNB in August.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) broke the news on Friday that U Mobile was the winner. While the second 5G network will be run by a single operator (as opposed to DNB’s multi-stakeholder model), the MCMC said in a statement that U Mobile is allowed to collaborate with other telcos to roll out the network, “subject to the approval of MCMC”.

U Mobile said in a statement on Saturday that it is “excited to collaborate with various stakeholders, including MCMC and other telecommunications companies such as CelcomDigi and Telekom Malaysia to deliver world-class 5G-Advanced services to consumers.”

U Mobile also said it will reduce its foreign majority shareholding to 20%, “ensuring greater Malaysian control and inviting participation from local investors.” U Mobile’s biggest shareholder is Singapore-based Straits Mobile Investments (a subsidiary of ST Telemedia), which owns a 48.3% stake.

U Mobile will also have to sell its stake in DNB under the terms of its SSA in order to implement the second network.

The decision to go with U Mobile comes as a surprise to some industry observers who saw the telco as the underdog of the race. RHB Research and CIMB Securities issued statements in September rating Maxis as the likely front-runner for the second network.

Both CelcomDigi and Maxis issued statements on Sunday saying they will talk with various stakeholders to consider their next move. Both also reiterated that they thought their proposals should have won. Maxis went as far as to say it would “engage with MCMC to understand the rationale for their decision.”

CelcomDigi said that in the meantime, it will continue to focus on integrating its network, which it said is ahead of schedule and now 68% complete.

In any case, their respective 5G services will carry on as usual under the existing agreement with DNB. Both also have the option to buy U Mobile’s stake, although the MCMC has the final say on the outcome.

Croatian operator Hrvatski Telekom (HT) has partnered with Nokia to launch projects aimed at connecting developers to Nokia’s coding platform to foster the creation of new consumer and industrial 5G applications.

In a statement, Nokia explained that the goal is to enable developers to leverage and monetise HT’s 5G network assets, creating new consumer, enterprise, and industrial applications for Hrvatski Telekom customers in Croatia and across Europe.

Nokia highlighted that software-based 5G networks are programmable and monetisable beyond connectivity via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). These APIs give developers standardised access to network functions without the need to navigate the complex underlying network technologies.

The company cited results from previous pilot projects to expand its network of API ecosystem partners, including global cloud communications company Infobip and teledriving firm Elmo, both of which use 5G and 4G networks to generate new revenue streams.

Boris Drilo, CTIO Hrvatski Telekom CTIO said: “Through collaboration on piloting projects, with Nokia and other partners, we are exploring the great opportunities that could arise from unlocking the full potential of connecting new platforms with 5G network capabilities. Ensuring high-performing networks, foundational for the launch of new use cases across industries and businesses not only Croatia but across the globe, is essential for developers in creating new game-changing applications.”

Shkumbin Hamiti, Nokia Head of Network Monetization Platform, Cloud and Network Services, added: “With Nokia’s Network as Code platform and open and growing ecosystem of API partners, Hrvatski Telekom will benefit from having more choice, flexibility, and extreme automation to create new value for its customers. As a B2B technology innovation leader, Nokia is driving the next evolution of networking to unlock new network applications with our platform.”

El Salvador aims to enhance its digital government services with the help of a $60 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which partners with the public sector in the Latin America and Caribbean region to design and provide innovative, high-impact solutions for sustainable and inclusive development.

The Programme for the Development of El Salvador’s Data Infrastructure, approved by the IDB’s Board of Executive Directors, will enable the country to expand its digital infrastructure and improve people’s skills in using this infrastructure and the state’s digital services.

This programme, says IDB, will benefit approximately 57 government institutions, 1,140 information technology workers, and 10,000 public employees. It will train around 2,000 women in advanced digital skills and 40,000 citizens in basic digital skills.

The initiative aims to provide all government institutions access to the state cloud, making online services more available and improving governance. As many as 6.3 million citizens and businesses in El Salvador will benefit from more accessible and efficient digital services.

Anderson Caputo, Chief of the IDB’s Connectivity, Finance and Markets Division, explains: « The Programme for the Development of El Salvador’s Data Infrastructure is designed to optimise and modernise the state’s data infrastructure, in line with how hybrid cloud computing models are being used globally. This will give the state greater control over sensitive information, boost interoperability, and help upgrade its technology, » 

The programme is structured around two components. The first will finance work to adapt and equip a building to operate a State Data Centre. This component will also focus on migrating digital services and strengthening connectivity for interoperability, among other activities. 

The second component centres on boosting digital skills by training specialists in digital government infrastructure, as well as information technology personnel at user institutions. It will also train citizens in digital skills, with a special focus on women, girls and people with disabilities through modules that build awareness about how important it is for these groups to access technologies.

Four items to catch up with before the whole US election thing comes to a head over the next few days: … [visit site to read more]

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The pan-European infrastructure provider euNetworks has built another intercity fiber route and added to its list of Super Highways. This time they have overbuilt Frankfurt to Paris, another of the core FLAP-D legs, with diverse, modern infrastructure. … [visit site to read more]

Ukrainian telco Kyivstar said on Wednesday that it has invested UAH1.9 billion (US$46 million) over the last two years to upgrade backup-power facilities for its network, the second phase of which is now underway.

Kyivstar’s owner Veon said in July it would install more energy infrastructure for Kyivstar to to bolster its energy resiliency to maintain crucial communication services and protect digital operations against extended blackouts caused by attacks on national energy infrastructure. The project has been a major focus for Kyivstar since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Kyivstar said that as of this month it has installed 124,000 new lithium batteries at base stations, which are also supported by close to 2,400 generators. Kyivstar said that over 68% of its mobile network has a four-hour backup-power supply.

The telco has also installed 50,000 uninterrupted power sources in 24,000 apartment buildings in 92 cities to keep its fixed broadband service running. Kyivstar also plans to install more powerful batteries to back up the fixed line service and continue to deploy GPON, which uses far less electricity than copper wires.

For the second phase of the project, which is now underway, Kyivstar plans to install 113,000 new batteries at base stations and 1,427 industrial generators.

Kyivstar’s current goal is to enable 25% of its network to run entirely on generators, and achieve six-hour redundancy for all key facilities.

It is also focusing on critical telecoms facilities identified by the government’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), which are provided with enough backup power for at least three days in case of full-scale blackouts.

Kyivstar has also called on businesses with their own industrial generators to collaborate with telecoms operators to connect telecoms equipment to their facilities.

A few interesting items to catch up on: … [visit site to read more]

Brazil-based digital bank platform Nubank announced plans on Tuesday to join Brazil’s increasingly crowded mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) space in a bid to expand its portfolio beyond financial services.

The new service, branded NuCel, will cover 93% of Brazil and offer high-performance 5G connectivity via an MVNO arrangement with mobile operator Claro Brasil. The service will be rolled out gradually, and will initially be available only for customers with devices that support eSIM, although this also means the service can be activated digitally and quickly.

NuCel promises to not only offer a user-friendly mobile service with flexible and no-commitment plans, but also integrate services from the Nubank ecosystem.

While only some functionalities will be available in the initial testing phase of the service, at launch, NuCel customers will be able to use Nubank’s “Caixinhas Turbo” tool, a savings box with a return of 120% of the CDI on amounts deposited by the customer, with a limit of up to R$10,000, for at least one year.

NuCel will offer three plans, with monthly data caps at 15GB, 20GB and 35GB. Customers of Nubank’s higher-end services Ultravioleta and Nubank+ will automatically receive extra gigabytes if they exceed their data allowance.

All plans include the Caixinhas Turbo service, unlimited voice for local and long-distance calls, unlimited WhatsApp (including voice and video calls), and unlimited access to the Nubank app. Payments can be made via Nubank’s credit card.

“NuCel was created to simplify the current telephony portfolio with flexible plans, no surprises for customers, and the autonomy that only a 100% digital platform can offer,” said Livia Chanes, CEO of Nubank in Brazil.

Nubank customers who want to sign up for the service can sign up in the banking app to receive notifications when the service is ready to go.

Brazil already has well over 100 MVNOs, the most recent entry being Unifiquemost recent entry being Unifique, which already has an actual 5G network, but applied for an MVNO licence to expand its reach outside of its network coverage in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.

Nubank may be counting on the popularity of its banking services as a hook to draw customers. In June 2024, Nubank said it has more than 95 million customers in Brazil.  It also has over 8 million in Mexico, and 1 million in Colombia.

Nubank is also potentially well funded, having reported over US$1 billion in net profit and over US$8 billion in revenues in its 2023 financial results.