Connectivity between New York City and New Jersey is a critical piece of the nation’s infrastructure. But it has been a while since we’ve seen new infrastructure built across the Hudson River. Yesterday that changed as Global InterXchange announced it’s new carrier neutral dark fiber deployment has officially gone live. … [visit site to read more]
Targeting an important market of which all Indian operators would no doubt like a slice, Vodafone Idea’s enterprise arm, Vi Business, and digital financial services provider PayU have entered into a strategic partnership to offer bespoke digital payment solutions to Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The two companies say the partnership will combine Vi Business’s digital transformation solutions and PayU’s expertise in digital payments and financial services solutions to offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to address the growing needs of MSMEs.
Vi Business and PayU say they will provide MSMEs with payment solutions, an offers engine, buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) options, and WhatsApp integration eliminating the need for redirection between apps or websites.
Vi Business, as part of its dedicated MSME programme, ReadyForNext is also offering an exclusive range of productivity and collaboration digital tools tailor-made for MSMEs at special prices. The products include location tracking, Google Workspace, personal cloud storage and mobile security solutions.
Vi Business, formerly known as Vodafone Idea Business Services, says it brings a range of enterprise-grade services and solutions to support the growing needs of its business customers ranging from small home offices to large multi-national companies.
Operating in more than 50 markets and home to 43 different nationalities, in addition to providing advanced e-commerce payment solutions for nearly half a million global merchants, PayU says it is also one of the world’s top global fintech investors, as well as a leading provider of consumer credit solutions in emerging markets.
Some interconnection, some financing, and some 5G: … [visit site to read more]
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With the long weekend done here in the US, here’s a quick look at the news out to start the week: … [visit site to read more]
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With the US out for a long weekend, here’s a quick rundown on infrastructure news from elsewhere in the world: … [visit site to read more]
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) says it has embarked on a project with UAE operator group Etisalat by e& to build what it claims is the energy sector’s largest ever private 5G network, spanning 11,000 square kilometres.
According to a statement from ADNOC on Wednesday, the private 5G network will cover its onshore and offshore operations, providing (among other things) IoT connectivity for sensors embedded in more than 12,000 wells and pipelines.
The 5G-connected sensors will relay data to autonomous control rooms, which will be equipped with AI to crunch the data and make real-time recommendations to increase the lifespan of ADNOC’s field assets and ensure safety in the field.
ADNOC added that the network will also allow for the digitalization of wellheads and provide end-to-end visibility over operations, thereby driving productivity across the company’s entire value chain.
ADNOC also said the private 5G network ties into its broader strategy to integrate AI solutions at its most remote facilities to reduce costs through automation, as well as improve efficiency, minimize emissions and enhance workplace safety, and generally fulfil ADNOC’s ambition to become “the world’s most AI-enabled energy company.”
“Global demand is rising for both energy and AI, so by investing in cutting-edge connectivity across our operations, we can ensure that we continue providing secure, reliable and responsible energy to our customers,” said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who is both the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC’s MD and group CEO.
The project is due to be completed in 2025, and is expected to generate AED5.5 billion (US$1.5 billion) in value during its first five years of operation, ADNOC said.
The Philippine government’s new project to expand the reach of fibre broadband across the country will result in more lines deployed, but it won’t get more people connected if services are too expensive, says analyst firm BMI Country Risk & Industry Research.
Last week, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved the Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP), which aims to improve and expand fibre broadband infrastructure across the country, especially for remote areas.
The PDIP includes building backbone, middle-mile and last-mile FTTx networks, as well as network security and project management. The NEDA has authorized a price tag of P16.1 billion (about US$274.4 million) for the project, which will be funded by loans from the World Bank.
However, according to local media outlets, a report from Fitch Group’s BMI earlier this week said that whether the project helps to boost the Philippines’ internet population will depend on whether the resulting services are more affordable than they are now.
BMI estimates that fibre connections in the Philippines will reach 1.58 million this year, and then grow to just 1.83 million by 2033. BMI stressed that the main obstacle to fibre uptake is cost, “particularly stemming from the elevated costs of rollout that are further increased by the Philippines’ archipelagic configuration.”
Much of the projected growth is expected to come from uptake in metro and suburban areas, driven in part by moved from PLDT, Globe Telecom and Converge ICT Solutions to offer low-cost fibre packages. Consequently, the BMI report said, “the PDIP may only provide marginal upsides to our outlook.”
That said, BMI reckons the PDIP could help by executing and managing the project in ways that encourage wholesale network providers and ISPs to lower the price of fibre packages, particularly “by extensively co-financing last-mile area rollout”.
According to 2022 figures from the World Bank, the Philippines is one of the most expensive fixed broadband markets in ASEAN, with prices more than double the regional average.
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