News 

The deal will see over 60,000 Delta workflows transferred to T-Mobile  

This week, Delta Airlines has announced that it has chosen T-Mobile as its preferred mobility partner.  

The two companies have signed a long-term strategic partnership to bring 5G to Delta’s operations. 

The deal will see Delta move more than 60,000 workflows to T-Mobile, including devices used by flight attendants, customer agents, and ground crews on 5G-enabled smartphones, tablets, and other devices. According to Delta, this will allow for airport operations to be streamlined, from check-in to take-off. 

Delta will also deploy a T-Mobile 5G hybrid network at their headquarters in Atlanta, which will bring both indoor and outdoor 5G coverage to support the operations across the campus. 

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. 

“Connecting the world also means harnessing world-class connectivity,” said Ranjan Goswami, SVP of Customer Experience Design, Delta Air Lines in a press release. 

“Our collaboration with T-Mobile is unlocking how we serve customers at each step of their journey and ensuring our people have all the information they need at their fingertips to deliver the elevated and welcoming experiences Delta is known for,” he continued. 

Also this week, T-Mobile announced the completion of a 5G network investment in Louisiana, which totalled $290 million. The network’s development included the deployment of 300 new cell sites and over 1,870 upgrades to existing sites.  

The move comes after the company announced that it would add new capacity to the country’s leading 5G network by activating the 2.5 GHz spectrum purchased in a 2022 auction. 

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

Also in the news:
South Korea to invest $7 billion in AI semiconductors
Swisscom expands 5G partnership with Ericsson
Daisy Group set to acquire 4Com for £215m

Infinera GX Series Powers Paratus Superhighway Network Between Johannesburg and Europe

San Jose, Calif. – April 18, 2024 – Infinera (Nasdaq: INFN) announced today that Paratus Group, a leading network provider in Africa, deployed Infinera’s GX Series and FlexILS solutions to offer the lowest-latency express route between Johannesburg and Lisbon, delivering services with a latency of 123 milliseconds and supporting wavelengths up to 800G. Infinera’s solutions were deployed on the recently completed 1,890-km Paratus express fiber link between Johannesburg and Europe, via Botswana to Swakopmund, where it connects with the Equiano subsea cable from Namibia to Lisbon and on to London and the rest of Europe.

Paratus’ new superhighway offers network operators an unparalleled opportunity for capacity and redundancy where resilience and high-speed performance are required. This guarantees seamless data flow, efficient communications, and uninterrupted services. Paratus is the landing partner for the Equiano subsea cable, which offers diverse routing and geographically separated paths. Deploying Infinera’s solutions mitigates possible cable station faults and ensures the network remains intact and fully functional around the clock.

“As a steadfast partner on the ground in Africa, Paratus offers unrivalled wholesale capacity solutions for network operators, as exemplified by our advanced technology from Infinera, our infrastructure, and our commitment to offering redundancy,” said Martin Cox, Paratus Group Chief Commercial Officer.

“Our continual investment in creating Africa’s quality network is now extended with the live launch of this superhighway powered by Infinera’s industry-leading technology. This is an exciting time for network operators in South Africa because they can now enjoy the fastest and most robust connectivity from Africa to Europe,” said CEO of Paratus Group, Schalk Erasmus.

“Deploying Infinera’s GX networking solution enables Paratus to leverage the industry’s highest-capacity solution to offer its customers high-performance services while minimizing latency and maximizing reliability,” said Nick Walden, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales, Infinera. “We are pleased to work with Paratus to launch these new services to the region.”

Contacts:

About Infinera

Infinera is a global supplier of innovative open optical networking solutions and advanced optical semiconductors that enable carriers, cloud operators, governments, and enterprises to scale network bandwidth, accelerate service innovation, and automate network operations. Infinera solutions deliver industry-leading economics and performance in long-haul, submarine, data center interconnect, and metro transport applications. To learn more about Infinera, visit www.infinera.com, follow us on X and LinkedIn, and subscribe for updates.

Infinera and the Infinera logo are registered trademarks of Infinera Corporation.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the operational and performance benefits of Infinera’s GX Series and FlexILS solutions. These statements are not guarantees of results and should not be considered as an indication of future activity or future performance. Actual results may vary materially from these expectations as a result of various risks and uncertainties. Information about these risks and uncertainties, and other risks and uncertainties that affect Infinera’s business, is contained in the risk factors section and other sections of Infinera’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2023 as filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024, as well as any subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC. These reports are available on Infinera’s website at http://www.infinera.com and the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies and can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and “would” or similar words. Infinera assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements.

News 

This week, Ericsson has released its first quarter financial results for 2024, which showed profits had risen despite a decline in sales 

In spite of a 14% decline in sales, largely driven by a decrease in Networks sales (-19%), Ericsson achieved a gross margin improvement to 42.7%. 

The company attributed this lift to its product portfolio strength and ongoing cost-efficiency measures (which includes significant job cuts). 

“We maintained our leading market position, but as expected our customers continued to exercise caution with their investments,” said Börje Ekholm, President and CEO, noting this is mainly due to uncertain economic conditions and current high interest rates.  

It is the same reason the company expects the RAN market to decline further, at least until the end of the year. 

“Against this tough market backdrop, we delivered solid expansion in gross margins. This underscores the competitiveness of our solutions, our commercial discipline, and our actions on costs,” Ekholm continued.  

Share price rose by 6% in early trading on Tuesday morning. 

“For the rest of the year, we expect the mobile networks market to remain weak,” said Ekholm in the earnings call.  

“If current trends persist, we expect our sales to stabilize during the second half of the year,” citing “recent contract wins and the normalisation of customer inventory levels in North America”.  

In December, Ericsson beat its close rival Nokia into securing a $14 billion Open Ran deal with AT&T. The partnership will mean that Ericsson will carry 70% AT&T’s wireless traffic by the end of 2026.    

Nokia noted its “disappointment” in the deal’s outcome, but both companies are still grappling with cost-cutting. Nokia recently announced that it would cut 14,000 jobs to shrink costs by up to €1 billion by 2026, and Ericsson are set to cut 8,500 jobs this year. 

Want to keep up to date with all of the latest international telecoms news? Sign up for Total Telecom’s daily newsletter  

Also in the news:
South Korea to invest $7 billion in AI semiconductors
Swisscom expands 5G partnership with Ericsson
Daisy Group set to acquire 4Com for £215m

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Nick Millward, Mobile Ecosystem Forum

As we journey into the future of mobile telecoms over the next five years, I’m excited about the transformative role that artificial intelligence will play. From enhanced network optimisation and intelligent customer service to hyper-personalised services and edge computing, AI promises to revolutionise every aspect of our mobile telecommunications experience. Let’s take a look at some of the anticipated innovations and transformations that AI … [visit site to read more]

Africa Mobile Networks Group (AMN) announced on Thursday that its first of its base stations in Nigeria to connect to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation is now live and using the LEO satellite network for backhaul connectivity.

It’s the first AMN base station to connect to Starlink since AMN and SpaceX signed a commercial deal in July 2023 to use Starlink for remote base station backhaul connectivity across Africa.

AMN said in a statement that Starlink’s low-latency connectivity enables its multi-carrier RANs to sustainably provide 2G, 3G and 4G services in remote, rural areas of Nigeria. AMN also said it also paves the way for the launch of 5G services, which AMN plans to do before the end of this year.

AMN, which builds, owns, operates and maintains mobile network infrastructure for African mobile network operators, currently operates 1,600 base stations across Nigeria. The company said it will continue to install new sites throughout 2024 in Nigeria, as well as Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Madagascar, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Rwanda. AMN also has operations in Bissau, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sudan, and Zambia.

Starlink has been commercially available to consumers and enterprise customers since January 2023. Last week, according to a report from Nairametrics, Starlink slashed the price of its internet router by 45%, although its monthly subscription rate remains unchanged. No reason was given, but the report suggests the move may be related to the naira’s recent appreciation against the US dollar and other foreign currencies.

According to figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission, Starlink had over 11,200 subscribers in the country as of the third quarter of 2023 – which also makes it one of the top ISPs in Nigeria, the report said.

Dialog Axiata and its parent company Axiata Group announced on Thursday that they have signed a definitive agreement to effectively take over Bharti Airtel’s Sri Lankan operations, reducing the number of mobile operators in the country to three.

Under the merger deal, Dialog will acquire 100% of issued shares in Airtel Lanka, then give Bharti Airtel ordinary voting shares via a share swap, which will allow Airtel to retain a 10.35% stake in the combined company. No financial details have been disclosed, and no timeline has been given.

While the deal remains subject to approval of Dialog’s shareholders and the usual legal, corporate and regulatory compliance procedures – to include clearance from the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) – the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has already given its blessing.

Axiata said the merger – which has been in the rumor mill for years and officially in the works since May 2023 – will enable it to leverage economies of scale and reduce duplication of infrastructure, as well as save costs and improve operational efficiencies.

“This merger brings together the strengths of two leading telco groups and bodes well for the growth and sustainability of Sri Lanka’s flagship telecom sector,” said Dr Hans Wijayasuriya, Axiata’s group executive director and CEO of its telecommunications business.

Axiata Group CEO and MD Vivek Sood said the deal aligns with Axiata’s strategy of market consolidation and resilience. “The merger will create value for the shareholders of Dialog Axiata PLC and Axiata Group through achievable synergies.”

It will also further solidify its market share. Dialog already leads the market with an estimated 57% share with close to 18 million subscribers. Airtel Lanka will add another estimated 5 million to Dialog’s subscriber base.

The merger deal comes as Sri Lanka’s telecoms sector has been impacted by the country’s recent economic crises. According to the latest market report from BuddeComm, operators are struggling to make enough revenue to keep up with the cost of network upgrades. Meanwhile, overall subscriber numbers have dropped 3.1% in 2023 up to September. The government hasn’t helped by increasing both the Telecoms Levy and the value added tax on mobile devices.

The deal leaves Sri Lanka with just three mobile operators, the other two being SLT-Mobitel and Hutch Lanka, who will rank second and third, respectively, once the Dialog-Airtel merger is complete. It’s also the second big mobile consolidation deal in Sri Lanka since Hutch Lanka merged with Etisalat Lanka in 2018.

UAE telco du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global internet provider Expereo to help it provide network connectivity to global enterprises with a local presence.

Under the partnership deal revealed on Tuesday, du will offer enterprises and government entities in the UAE access to Expereo’s suite of global network services that currently reach over 190 countries.

Du said its enterprise and government customers will benefit from enhanced service offerings with access to a wider range of ICT services and tailored solutions that meet their specific needs, backed by Expereo’s responsive support services.

Karim Benkirane, chief commercial officer at du, said the collaboration will also result in improved network infrastructure, ensuring better connectivity and coverage.

« This collaboration opens the doors for us to deliver cutting-edge technologies and superior customer experiences, addressing the global networking demands of our customers in the UAE and government sector,” he said.

The MoU with du was revealed the day before Expereo announced that it has added fixed wireless access to its global solutions portfolio.

The service gives enterprises direct access to wireless networks across 190 countries, either as a primary connection or as a backup. While the fixed wireless solution is pitched as a connectivity option for remote areas, Expereo says it can also be used to set up branch offices quickly.

The fixed wireless access option is also integrated into Expereo’s customer experience platform, expereoOne, which means customers have a single window to view all of their Expereo services. For fixed wireless, that includes monthly invoices and an up-to-date status of all data pools and bundles, as well as signal strength, signal quality and the carriers providing the connectivity.

News

Internet providers are preparing their post-ACP game plans

The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is fast approaching and providers and consumers alike are preparing for their next steps.

In early 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched ACP to replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit. The program provided eligible households $30 per month towards internet service ($75/month for those on qualifying Tribal land). Some households could also receive a one-time discount on purchasing a laptop, desktop, or tablet.

Now, the end of the ACP is imminent, unless Congress allocates additional funds. The program has less than $1.8 billion remaining, meaning that April is the last month in which operators will be able to provide the full $30 per month benefit with the program’s funding. In May, operators can choose to discontinue the benefit, or to put in place their own subsidized plans.

In a statement released on April 9^th, 2024 the FCC indicated that the maximum benefit providers should expect to receive in May is $14 per ACP customer, or $35 per qualifying Tribal customer. The FCC stopped accepting new ACP enrollments in February.

Several providers have already outlined the strategies they will take to “keep consumers connected at this crucial time”, as urged by the FCC.

Verizon will offer home internet for as low as $20/month through “Verizon Forward”. New Verizon Forward customers will pay $0/month for the first 6 months they are enrolled.

AT&T will continue offering its “Access from AT&T” plan which provides 100 Megabit speeds for $30/month. With the ACP’s $30 discount, this plans was previously free for some customers.

With home internet from $9.95/month, Comcast’s “Internet Essentials” plan will continue to provide a low-cost connectivity option. Additionally, customers can transfer their ACP benefit to some plans.

Charter, who was “far and away” the largest provider in the ACP program, has not made specific announcements about ACP replacements or alternatives. However, some customers who were using the ACP benefit may be eligible for Spectrum’s Internet Assist Plan. This offers 50 megabit internet for $24.99/month.

Through August 2024, Fastwyre Broadband will continue to provide the $30 ACP benefit (and $75 benefit for those on Tribal lands) at its own expense. This applies to their existing ACP customers.

A number of other providers offer discounted plans for qualifying families, some from $10 per month. The Lifeline program will continue to provide a benefit, though it is smaller than that provided by the ACP. There are also a number of charitable organizations that can offer assistance with monthly internet costs or provide internet-enabled devices like laptops or tablets.

While there is bipartisan support for extending the ACP and there have been calls from ISPs, government bodies, and advocacy groups to provide additional funding, it seems increasingly unlikely that the program will continue.

Currently, more than 23 million households rely on the ACP to access the internet. The COVID-19 pandemic made it more clear than ever that a reliable, fast internet connection is crucial for participating fully in modern life. Without the extension of ACP or a comprehensive alternative, millions of Americans face being excluded from a host of opportunities.

Are network operators doing enough to shift the tackle the digital divide in America? Join the discussion live in Houston at this year’s Broadband Communities Summit

Also in the news:
South Korea to invest $7 billion in AI semiconductors
Swisscom expands 5G partnership with Ericsson
Daisy Group set to acquire 4Com for £215m

A few interesting bits of vendor news from around the industry: … [visit site to read more]