Two financial moves and two upgrade projects: … [visit site to read more]

Thursday, January 30, 2025 – ACT Fibernet, in partnership with Aprecomm, announced today that it has successfully implemented new AI-driven software on customers’ routers. The software enhances the in-home Wi-Fi experience across all devices and applications by creating an intelligent, smart Wi-Fi service.

Known as “ACT Zippy,” the new software aims to transform traditional Wi-Fi connectivity by actively monitoring the home Wi-Fi network, including all applications and client devices, to identify quality-of-experience issues, including congestion and interference, and optimize the online experience in real-time through channel switching, band steering, and other advanced features.

“In line with ACT Fibernet’s brand promise of ‘Feel the Advantage,’ we are launching a unique, industry-first AI-powered Wi-Fi solution in India that scans your home environment and automatically improves the Wi-Fi experience for all connected devices,” said Ravi Karthik, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer for ACT Fibernet. “As the number of devices connected to home Wi-Fi continues to grow significantly, providing an exceptional Wi-Fi experience is our top priority. Under ACT Smart Wi-Fi, we have planned a range of products and innovations in the home Wi-Fi sector to tackle this challenge and greatly enhance the in-home Wi-Fi experience.”

For more information on ACT, please visit: https://www.actcorp.in/company

EXA Infrastructure, the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform throughout Europe, connecting North America and Asia via the Middle East, has partnered with Teraswitch to provide 400GE connectivity and position it for global network expansion.

Teraswitch recently deployed its global network, featuring 100GE waves to connect cities across the US and Europe. However, with growing connectivity demands fuelled by advancements in Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and streaming platforms, it quickly recognised that 100GE alone was insufficient, driving the need for further expansion.

By upgrading Teraswitch’s services to 400GE, EXA Infrastructure has provided diverse, high-capacity connectivity, including services across Europe and the Atlantic. This upgrade not only increases bandwidth but also significantly reduces cost per megabit, enabling Teraswitch to pass on competitive pricing to its customers. Enhanced service level agreements (SLAs) further underscore the value of this partnership, ensuring greater reliability and network performance for clients.

“Teraswitch’s decision to upgrade to 400GE speaks to the strength of our relationship and our ability to deliver solutions that scale with customers in line with their ambitions,” said Jim Fagan, CEO at EXA Infrastructure. “This partnership underscores our shared commitment to innovation, network reliability, and helping customers thrive in today’s data-driven world.”

Brendan Mannella at Teraswitch, commented: “Our partnership with EXA Infrastructure has been instrumental in our ability to scale quickly and cost-effectively. Upgrading to 400GE not only helps us meet the growing demands of our customers but also strengthens our position in the global market. EXA’s reliability, ease of doing business, and innovative approach have been key factors in our success, and we look forward to expanding this partnership as we grow our network further in 2025.”

Looking ahead, Teraswitch has ambitious plans to expand its network reach to additional continents by 2025. EXA Infrastructure is proud to be a cornerstone of this growth strategy, reaffirming its role as a trusted partner in enabling Teraswitch’s global ambitions.

For more information on EXA Infrastructure’s high-capacity connectivity solutions, visit https://exainfra.net/

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Dario Betti & Nicholas Rossman, Mobile Ecosystem Forum

2025 offers the mobile industry the opportunity to redefine possibilities for consumers and businesses alike with enhanced user experiences and fresh revenue streams. However, the sector will also face significant challenges. Here are a few thoughts on what to expect. … [visit site to read more]

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A Reuters report says that Zayo is at the front of the pack of potential buyers for Crown Castle’s fiber and small cell business business. There’s certainly no doubt there is a process underway, as Crown Castle has been trying to figure out what to do with its fiber business for a couple years now and the only question left is how they find the door they seek. And Zayo is perhaps the most obvious potential buyer as well, but they aren’t past the finish line yet. … [visit site to read more]

CoreX has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the businesses of Volteo Digital.

This acquisition will bolster CoreX’s team through the addition of over 100 ServiceNow consultants and significantly enhance its presence in Latin America and EMEA, including a Centre of Excellence in Guadalajara, Mexico, that will be leveraged across the platform. CoreX is a ServiceNow consultancy and a NewSpring Holdings platform company.

« The ServiceNow ecosystem is experiencing unprecedented demand for digital workflow transformation, » said Rick Wright, the CEO of CoreX. « Volteo Digital’s deep roots in Latin America and Europe, combined with their elite technical talent and proven track record serving Financial Services and Telecommunications clients, immediately establishes CoreX as a major player in these markets. The acquisition is about more than geographic expansion – it’s about bringing together two innovative organisations to create a differentiated, scaled, and industry-first consultancy in the ServiceNow space. »

The strategic combination will dramatically expand CoreX’s global delivery capabilities and strengthen its position in key growth markets across the Americas. Volteo Digital’s established go-to-market and delivery operations in Mexico, Costa Rica, the US, and Spain create a delivery model that enables 24/7 support for global enterprises. The Guadalajara Centre of Excellence, recognised as a top player in the North Latin America market in terms of customer satisfaction, provides a springboard for regional expansion while supporting clients worldwide.

« Latin America represents a massive growth opportunity for ServiceNow solutions, » said Fernando Gordoa, CEO of Volteo Digital. « Bringing together Volteo Digital’s regional knowledge and established delivery capabilities with CoreX’s strategic vision, executive leadership team, and investment backing creates an organization poised to capture this market opportunity. Our Center of Excellence in Guadalajara will be the foundation for this expansion, allowing us to scale our talent pool and delivery capabilities across the globe. »

The acquisition is expected to close in Q1 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The combined company will maintain Volteo Digital’s operations in Mexico, Costa Rica and Spain, with plans for significant expansion across all locations.

News 

T-Mobile had previously only mentioned testing with Samsung devices, with no mention of Apple’s iPhones 

Apple has been “secretly” working with T-Mobile and SpaceX test Starlink’s network using Apple’s latest iPhone software, according to a Bloomberg report.  

The iPhone’s latest software update, which was released this week, will allow selected T-Mobile customers to connect directly to the satellites.   

The test will “begin with select optimised smartphones” and the full launch will “support the vast majority of modern smartphones”. 

The following alert was sent to initial beta users: “You’re in the T-Mobile Starlink beta. You can now stay connected with texting via satellite from virtually anywhere. To start experiencing coverage beyond, please update to iOS 18.3.” 

When an iPhone on the T-Mobile network has no connectivity, the pilot devices will attempt to pair with Starlink satellites. The software is designed to connect automatically, even if the device is not in use. 

Medium resolution images, music & audio podcasts should work with the current generation Starlink direct-to-phone constellation.

Next generation constellation will do medium resolution video. https://t.co/yfDPbkgSJH

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2025

Back in November, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a license for T Mobile and Space X to provide coverage to remote areas, in an effort to eliminate “dead zones”. 

“The FCC is actively promoting competition in the space economy by supporting more partnerships between terrestrial mobile carriers and satellite operators to deliver on a single network future that will put an end to mobile dead zones,” said the FCC Chair at the time, Jessica Rosenworcel. 

It is worth noting that, iPhone (14 or later) users can already connect to satellite for free emergency text messaging, thanks to Apple’s partnership with satellite firm Globalstar, which was agreed in 2022.  

It is unclear what impact these tests with SpaceX will have on Apple’s relationship with Globalstar moving forward. 

Join us at this year’s Connected America, 11-12 March in Dallas. Get discounted tickets here! 

Also in the news: 

A few items, both international and domestic, to catch up with at midweek. … [visit site to read more]

News 

The launch of DeepSeek has rattled the global AI industry, potentially offering a far cheaper alternative to market leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic 

Founded in 2023 by former hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek has quickly positioned itself as a strong competitor to the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s CoPilot, having seemingly trained a comparative AI model at a fraction of the usual cost (around $6 million compared to the industry standard of billions).  

The launch has brought into question the current US dominance in the sector. By reducing the costs of AI development and deployment, DeepSeek has created an economic advantage for itself in terms of startup and operating costs, but has also challenged the way the AI industry operates, which has the potential to transform the future of AI adoption and accessibility. This is because DeepSeek has proved that  advanced models don’t require massive budgets, lowering barriers for new players. If its claims about faster inference speed are true, it may accelerate AI adoption and shift investment away from costly, chip-heavy models 

DeepSeek’s own website describes the chatbot as achieving a “significant breakthrough in inference speed over previous models. It tops the leaderboard among open-source models and rivals the most advanced closed-source models globally.” 

Both the chatbot release and the slimmer startup costs has caused panic in the global financial markets, especially in the case of chip giant Nvidia, which lost almost $600bn (£482bn) of its market value on Monday, which was the biggest one-day loss in US history. Today, however, stocks have begun to recover, having gained around 2.5% in early trading yesterday. In short statement since the market tumble, Nvidia called DeepSeek “an excellent AI advancement.” 

President Trump has responded to the news, calling it “a wakeup call for our industries that we need to be laser-focused on competing to win”.  

The success of the launch is also a huge boost for the Chinese AI industry, as technological geopolitical tensions between China and the West continue to rage. Yesterday, China’s state-owned Global Times suggested that the US has failed to halt Chinese progression in the sector, adding, “the Biden administration’s four-year crackdown on China’s AI and computing power has not only failed but has also spurred the country to forge a unique path for AI development.” 

Join the discussion around AI at this year’s Connected America, 11-12 March in Texas. Get discounted tickets here! 

Also in the news: 

Tim Höttges to remain at the helm of Deutsche Telekom until 2028 
VMO2 bring connectivity to rural notspot with Starlink
A ‘vulnerable soft underbelly’: UK joint committee explores subsea cable security