Greetings, everyone. Our teams have been hard at work and have cooked up something tasty for you in the Bicom Systems kitchen as we present the newest versions of SERVERware and sipPROT.

Both of them have been made more robust and easier to manage for our users with a couple of extra quality of life changes on top of the performance updates and infrastructural improvements.

SEE WHAT’S NEW IN 4.5 FIRSTHAND

Here’s what we have in store for you.

SERVERware v4.5

KVMs As VPS Engines

If you want an alternative to the usual LXCs (Linux Containers), then look no further as the SERVERware team has enabled KVMs to double as VPS engines.

While KVM VPSs may offer slightly different performance levels compared to LXC-hosted ones, they come with vastly superior security options, making them a compelling choice in today’s security-conscious business landscape.

Your data and operations are still protected by high level safeguards, providing you peace of mind and confidence in your online presence.

With the KVM hosted VPS you will still be able to enjoy all of the core functionalities that you’re accustomed to, from easy replication and seamless backups to flexible removal options, managing your VPS has never been more efficient.

Improving Our Geo Redundancy Capabilities

Speaking of security, or data integrity at the very least, the SERVERware team has also done a number of upgrades to our geo redundancy option.

The first change was to make all IPs assigned as alternate IPs get automatically configured to work on the VPS on the secondary site, after the takeover occurs, ensuring minimal service disruption and data loss.

The second change assists with cleanup, letting server admins remove redundant VPS replications directly from SERVERware’s GUI, removing a lot of unnecessary steps to do it otherwise and providing better visual clarity in the server’s infrastructure.

The last change revolves around making it easier to find out when a VPS has gone unsynced with the main server for too long with an alert once a VPS hits the two week threshold.

Improving Installation Procedures

Another quality of life benefit that’s coming with SERVERware v4.5 is the option to create ZFS pools on OS disks.

The install wizard will scan your setup, detect available disks and, based on that information, will suggest optimal ZFS pool configurations.

It should help add additional data redundancy to your system to further improve your system’s data integrity options.

Optimizing The Custom Subnetting Feature

For all of our users who operate with specific network requirements, SERVERware now has the option to add custom subnets to an already existing network, helping improve overall data flow by allowing you to adjust it to your preference.

Ubuntu 22.04 Compatible

For all the devheads and other Linux users out there, our SERVERware team has updated SERVERware to be compatible with the newest Ubuntu release, 22.04, making sure that its fantastic features are available to everyone.

QOL Cleanup Across The Board

Aside from these major changes, we have also done a bit of cleanup to improve overall visual clarity and tool intuitiveness with a number of small changes.

While there are too many to count, some of the most relevant ones are:

• Adding notices for bad storage and memory values
• Renaming domains to partitions to reduce confusion
• Improving logging for VPS trim
• Added polish to GUI updates
• Backend fixes
• And many more…

sipPROT v5

Adding A “Face” To sipPROT

One of the biggest changes that sipPROT has received in v5 is the construction of an interface for sipPROT in PBXware.

The functionalities remain the same as things like dynamic blocking and geoIP blocking are still present alongside all of the other features.

Now, however, the amount of time required to do some added configurations or other changes to the system should be greatly reduced and managing sipPROT should be more intuitive.

sipPROT Is Now Integrated Into PBXWare

With the v7 release of PBXware, users will now be able to install sipPROT directly from the PBXware interface.

You’ll still need a sipPROT license, but the installation should now only take a few clicks of a button instead of having to go through a whole separate process.

It’ll be accessible directly from the PBXware side panel.

Country-specific Block/Allowlists

Another security feature that was added in sipPROT v5.0 is the ability for admins to directly block or allow traffic from entire countries or specific IP ranges from said country thanks to Allow and Deny policies.

On top of that, transferring these lists to a new server doesn’t have to be manual anymore as the lists can be imported or exported as .csv files and be rebuilt on a new server in mere moments.

Striving Toward A Greater Product

We here at Bicom Systems always aim to bring both our customers and business partners the best product that we can, that’s why we’re always hard at work to keep up with the latest business trends and innovations of our own and integrate them into our products.

We strive to be a company that you can rely on, a company that has everyone’s mutual interests in mind which is why we’ll keep delivering our best with every new product release. We’ll make sure that you can keep up with the market.

To find out more, we’re a click of a button away!

CONTACT US

Greetings, valued partners and readers! We’re excited to take you on a journey through the recent Bicom Systems Partners Summit. 

This exceptional event, held from September 25 to September 28 in the picturesque Neum, was more than just a summit; it was a celebration of partnership, innovation, and shared success.

Building Bridges Across the Globe

The Partners Summit was more than just a meeting; it was a global gathering of 30 valued partners from around the world. 

Our goal was clear – to foster collaboration, exchange visionary ideas, and set the course for our collective future. It emphasized our unwavering commitment to nurturing and strengthening our partner relationships, which are the bedrock of our continued growth and success.

Key Highlights that Defined the Summit

1. Unprecedented Networking Opportunities

Partners mingled, shared insights, and forged new connections. In the serene ambiance of Neum, invaluable discussions took place, and partnerships were born.

2. Charting a Strategic Roadmap

We unveiled our strategic roadmap for the coming year, revealing exciting opportunities for growth and collaboration. Our partners received an exclusive preview of our plans, enabling them to align their strategies with ours, setting the stage for mutual success.

3. Recognizing Excellence

At the summit, we took a moment to celebrate and recognize the exceptional achievements of our top-performing partners. Their dedication and hard work were duly acknowledged and rewarded, solidifying our commitment to a partnership where everyone wins.

4. Showcasing Cutting-Edge Products

Our partners had the opportunity to explore our latest products and solutions up close. This firsthand experience deepened their understanding of our offerings and how they can be harnessed to meet the ever-evolving needs of their customers.

5. Interactive Workshops and Idea Generation

Interactive product demo sessions led by our outstanding Product Owners and their teams encouraged collaboration and idea generation. Our partners actively contributed to the development of new initiatives and strategies, reinforcing our commitment to mutual growth.

Where Ideas Blossomed – The Bicom Chats Studio

In the heart of the summit was the ‘Bicom Chats’ Studio, a space that embodied collaboration and achievement within our partner network. 

This exclusive segment served as a professional environment for interviews, discussions, and media engagement, further strengthening our connections.

A Night of Celebrations – Awards Ceremony

A Heartfelt Thank You

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the entire team who worked tirelessly to make this event a reality, as well as to our partners who joined us. 

Your dedication and enthusiasm played a pivotal role in making this summit an undeniable success.

Embracing the Future Together

As we move forward, let’s harness the momentum generated by the Partners Summit to deepen our partnerships, explore new avenues of growth, and collectively achieve new heights of success. 

Your unwavering support and commitment to our shared goals are the driving force behind our unstoppable journey.

Thank you once again for being an integral part of the Bicom Systems family. Together, we are poised for greatness!

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Chris Wade, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Gamma

A big change to the UK’s telecoms is coming. In 2025 The Big Switch Off will take effect, launching us into fully digital communications – which many agree is long overdue. … [visit site to read more]

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Nokia has established a 6G Lab at its Global R&D centre in Bangalore, India.

Billing the project as the first of its kind, Nokia claims that it will accelerate the development of fundamental technologies and innovative use cases underpinned by 6G technology. The Lab was inaugurated virtually by the Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics & IT, Government of India, Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Nokia’s 6G lab supports the Government of India’s ‘Bharat 6G Vision,’ introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that envisions a key global role for India in the standardization, development, and implementation of 6G technology. The lab will function as a platform for collaboration for industry stakeholders and facilitate the testing of innovative solutions while establishing their potential for commercialisation.

The lab includes a setup to research ‘Network as a Sensor’ technology that enables the network to sense objects, people and movement without the need for on-board sensors. Sensing will be fully integrated into the wireless network and operate simultaneously with communication services. The lab will also provide an experimental platform for researching algorithms, privacy, and sustainable system design.

The Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics & IT, Government of India, Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, said: “The inauguration of the Nokia 6G research lab in Bengaluru today is another step towards PM Narendra Modi’s vision of making India an innovation hub. Interesting use cases coming out of this lab will be related to transportation safety, health care and education which will be another big contribution in the entire Digital India suite.”

Nishant Batra, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer of Nokia, said: “We look forward to collaborating with key stakeholders to help India become a major player in 6G technology development and adoption; and take its place in the global arena as a leading developer and supplier of advanced telecom technologies and solutions.” 

Press Release

Altnet Hyperoptic has hit a new customer milestone, now connecting more than 300,000 customers across the UK to gigabit-capable full fibre

The milestone follows Hyperoptic relaunching its brand with a renewed focus on customer experience. Hyperoptic’s ‘In your corner’ campaign presents a welcome alternative to providers that offer poor customer service, lack of transparent pricing and unreliable network connectivity.

Hyperoptic’s network now passes more than 1.4 million homes across 64 towns and cities in the UK. Early deployments, starting with the UK’s first residential gigabit connection in Wandsworth in 2011, were in multi-dwelling units. Since then, continued growth has come from connecting new build developments and residential streets in densely populated areas.

Hyperoptic’s Founder and CEO Dana Tobak said: “The most important job we have is to connect customers – that’s how we show people across the UK that there’s a better way for broadband to be done. We know that broadband users deserve better, and we’re committed to a five-star customer experience.”

Key to Hyperoptic’s success is a focus on delivering a five-star customer experience, as research reveals the poor service that UK broadband users are putting up with. Almost a quarter (23%) of broadband users have never switched, and 30% say they want to but it’s too time consuming or too much hassle. 22% said they would switch, but they know their current provider would make it hard for them to leave.

In 2019, leading global investment firm KKR acquired a majority stake in Hyperoptic.

Hyperoptic is on a mission to reach 500,000 customers and two million homes passed, maintaining market-leading penetration and excellent customer experience as the company scales.

Also in the news:
Stonepeak buys minority stake in Cellnex Nordics
Telefonica Germany partners with Skylo for satellite-supported IoT
Sky Mobile network outages linked to removal of Huawei equipment

News 

Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has deployed six new 4G masts on the remote Scottish Island as part of its role in the government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN) project 

This week, VMO2 has revealed it has used helicopters to deliver 4G masts to the island of Islay in Scotland due to its highly rural nature and lack of supportive infrastructure. A total of six masts will be deployed on the island, a move that the operator says will make a dramatic improvement in connectivity for local people and businesses.  

The move is a part of the VMO2’s commitments to the £1 billion SRN programme, a public–private partnership that will see the UK’s operators deliver connectivity to some of the UK’s most hard-to-reach areas. VMO2, EE, Three, and Vodafone are jointly aiming to expand the geographic coverage of 4G to 95% of UK by the end of 2025 as part of the project. This involves upgrading existing infrastructure as well as the deployment of new equipment, all of which will be shared between all four operators. 

The SRN is backed by £500 million of public funding, with an additional £500 million provided by the mobile operators. 

When it comes to Islay, only 60% of the island has 4G coverage from all four mobile network operators. However, after the SRN upgrades have been delivered, this will increase by 20%. 

“Argyll and Bute has languished behind other areas due to our geography and logistical challenges, including 22 inhabited islands,” said Councillor Liz McCabe, Policy Lead for Islands and Business Development. “However, over the last number of years significant investment has been made and we have seen major coverage improvements. The SRN programme will enhance this further with multiple operator coverage improvements to many parts of our remote rural areas.” 

“Many rural parts of Scotland are already benefiting from our rollout of new and upgraded masts, and nowhere will benefit more from our investment than the Argyll and Bute area, where we are working to upgrade more than 60 sites as part of our commitment to the Shared Rural Network programme,” added Paul Kells, Director of Network, Strategy and Engineering at Virgin Media O2. 

The SRN programme was launched in 2020 and has made relatively slow progress due to the vast amount of planning and research into new sites for deployment. However, this has improved in recent months, with VMO2 announcing in May that their SRN rollout had reached 50 sites, covering an additional 2,200km2 of land with 4G connectivity. In March, Vodafone also announced that they had reached 57 sites. Other Operators have also made significant progress in their rollout. As of August this year, Three UK had completed the construction of its 100th site, and EE became the first mobile operator to reach the milestone of building or upgrading 1,500 remote sites across the UK. 

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Also in the news:
TDC mulls its options in rapidly shifting Danish market
Singtel to sell cybersecurity firm Trustwave for $205 million
Reliance Jio secures $2 billion 5G loan 

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