This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Jeff Wang, Senior Managing Director at Accenture

The internet is being reshaped and evolving into a spectrum of digitally enhanced worlds, realities and business models. This is a game changer for communications service providers (CSPs) who will serve as an endpoint for consumers and businesses to the metaverse, a market that is expected to be worth an estimated $13 trillion in global revenue by 2030 according to a recent Citi report. While any generational shift in the internet presents threats to incumbents, CSPs are strongly positioned to capitalize on this opportunity given their proximity to customers and high levels of trust that they enjoy. … [visit site to read more]

PRESS RELEASE

Nick joins connectivity infrastructure-as-a-service provider Freshwave from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport where he was Engagement Lead. Nick was instrumental in the work of the Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator, an innovative programme that is dedicated to supporting the rollout of digital connectivity using public sector assets.

Guy Matthews, Freshwave’s Public Sector Sales Director, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Nick to our team. Nick has been leading the charge in driving digital connectivity across the UK. He’ll be a big asset to us in leading the strategic relations with forward-thinking regional and local authorities, and the mobile network operators, to enhance digital connectivity.

“Freshwave was the first provider to sign an open access agreement with a local authority and I know Nick will build upon our successes in this area and beyond.”

Nick Wiggin, Partnerships Lead at Freshwave, said: “I’m a big believer in the power of partnerships in advancing connectivity so I’m excited to join Freshwave, as they’re all about collaborating in new ways to achieve great results. I’m looking forward to helping Freshwave scale up engagement with the public sector by cooperating closely with the mobile network operators and regional authorities to help speed up the process by which local authorities can improve their digital infrastructure.”

Nick has previously spoken at Connected Britain, it returns to London on the 20 – 21 September 2023 – find out more

News

Jim Fagan will join Aqua Comms as CEO effective from 1 May 2023.

Dublin-based Aqua Comms is a subsea connectivity provider who currently offers services on seven subsea fibre cables connecting North America to Ireland, the UK and northern Europe. The company will also soon open a new route from southern Europe to India.

Jim will join Aqua Comms from GCX where he has been working as Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer since 2020. He has previously held senior roles at Telstra, Pacnet and Rackspace and has been based in Asia, EMEA and the USA.

Current CEO, Nigel Bayliff, will leave the business on 30 April 2023. Nigel joined Aqua Comms in 2016 and key achievements include having led the company through its acquisition by D9 Infrastructure in 2021.

In a statement announcing the changes to the company’s leadership, Alan Harper, Chairman of Aqua Comms said: “Nigel has achieved great success turning AC into a customer focused and profitable business with an enviable industry reputation. I thank Nigel for his enormous contribution to the success of Aqua Comms and wish him well on his next move in the industry.”

To keep up to date with the latest developments from across the EMEA submarine cable market, join us in London at Submarine Networks EMEA 2023 on 31st May and 1st June. Head to the event website for more details on how to get involved.

PRESS RELEASE

Wyld’s game-changing new satellite IoT service launches today, enabling IoT applications to be deployed across remote locations without the need for terrestrial connectivity.

Only 15% of the world’s surface has access to the internet. According to McKinsey, it is this lack of global connectivity that is holding back the growth of the Internet of Things from adding US$2-3 trillion to the global GDP over the next ten years. Wyld Connect solves this problem by allowing business and governments to connect their IoT devices anywhere in the world using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

Wyld Connect heralds a new era in remote connectivity. For example, utility and energy companies can monitor systems and equipment without costly site visits, data can be collected for vital agriculture and environmental management, and goods and assets can be tracked on sea or land across global supply chains.

CEO of Wyld Networks, Alastair Williamson, says: “We are delighted to announce the launch of Wyld’s satellite IoT network. This has been the culmination of over three years of continuous development activity. We look forward to delivering connectivity to meet the fast-growing demand in the 85% of the Earth’s surface with little or no current service.”

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With applications and positive upsides for agriculture, the environment, supply chain, and the energy and utilities sectors, satellite connected IoT is on a significant upward trajectory. Low earth orbiting satellite constellations have been launched by Wyld Networks’ satellite partners with further satellite launches throughout 2023, enabling Wyld to satisfy more use cases with its customers. Data from anywhere is becoming a reality – from condition monitoring on remote pipelines to forestry management, soil monitoring for agriculture and container tracking across oceans.

“The Launch of the Wyld satellite IoT network service, will enable us to connect data at low power to LEO satellites and delivering that data to the customers that need it,” adds Williamson.

Improving sustainability and operational efficiency is essential for companies in the business sectors Wyld is targeting. Wyld strongly believes the launch of its satellite IoT network service will enable customers to meet these crucial goals more easily.

Furthermore, developments in big data analytics are driving the need for more data from sensors on the ground. Big data platforms are hungry for the type of information Wyld’s satellite IoT can deliver.

With the launch of the satellite IoT network Wyld can address in part the satellite IoT market demand, which according to a forecast by Rethink IoT (RIoT), will be worth US$5.9bn by 2025.

NEWS

OneWeb, the satellite operator, which was rescued from bankruptcy by the UK Government, who remain a part-owner has successfully launched satellites via new partner SpaceX.

Previously OneWeb used Russia’s Soyuz rockets for launches, but their programme was thrown into jeopardy by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, forcing them to seek new partners.

On Thursday, at 5:27 p.m. ET, SpaceX launched the OneWeb 1 mission with a Falcon9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida (USA) with 40 of OneWeb’s compact Low Earth Orbit (LEO) based ultrafast broadband satellites aboard

The mission represents the next step in OneWeb’s plan to provide global broadband coverage via a constellation of 648 small LEO satellites. Prior to the launch 462 of the 150kg satellites had been launched, each orbiting at an altitude of 1,200km above the Earth. The aim is to complete the constellation by late 2023.

OneWeb CEO, Neil Masterson said “We are thankful for the support of other leaders in the space industry allowing us to quickly restart our launch campaign and we are delighted to work with SpaceX today for our first-ever launch from Florida, the home where our satellites are manufactured.

As we look to our final ‘Three to Global Reality’ launches in the first half of 2023, we are thrilled to see our connectivity footprint dramatically expand from today, and to soon activate our network globally to reach remote and under-served areas of the world.”

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OneWeb chief commercial officer Stephen Beynon explained that it will take about 100 days for the satellites to reach their intended destinations and begin services, expanding the operator’s constellation into the southern hemisphere while improving the density of coverage to the north. This will enable coverage across “a substantial part” of North America, according to Beynon, where OneWeb has a distribution agreement with AT&T.

As well as SpaceX who also operates rival LEO network, Starlink, OneWeb also agreed a launch partnership with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) – the commercial arm of India’s space agency – who may be utilised for 2023 launches.

Related content:
OneWeb’s space race: from bankrupt to billions
OneWeb to launch satellites from India in new deal