Earlier this week, the US government voted to approve the Spectrum Coordination Act, a bill obligating the FCC and NTIA to update their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) over spectrum coordination for the first time since 2003. 
It would seem, however, that this bill is something of a formality, with formal work to increase collaboration between the two governing bodies already underway. 
The FCC and NTIA held their first meeting last week as part of a joint Spectrum Coordination Initiative they launched they back in February…

Earlier this week, the US government voted to approve the Spectrum Coordination Act, a bill obligating the FCC and NTIA to update their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) over spectrum coordination for the first time since 2003. 

It would seem, however, that this bill is something of a formality, with formal work to increase collaboration between the two governing bodies already underway. 

The FCC and NTIA held their first meeting last week as part of a joint Spectrum Coordination Initiative they launched they back in February, aiming to smooth collaboration between the two organisations over national spectrum policy. Following the meeting, the pair announced the creation of a new joint task force, set to focus on ironing out the details of a new MoU.

“Congress has been clear about NTIA’s statutory role as manager of the Federal government’s use of spectrum and the FCC as the independent agency responsible for non-federal spectrum policy. Our agencies have a long history of working together to ensure that spectrum policy decisions foster economic growth, ensure our national and homeland security, maintain U.S. global leadership, and advance other vital U.S. needs. That will only continue and grow as we build this new agreement,” said a joint statement from FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Alan Davidson. 

As part of the update to the companies’ MoU, the organisations pledged to improve communication, coordination, and joint research, as well as holding regular formal meetings about joint spectrum planning.

The at times dysfunctional relationship between these two organisations has been recognised for some time.

The NTIA is the manager of the government’s spectrum usage, while the FCC oversees non-federal usage, meaning there is plenty of opportunity for miscommunication and controversy. In recent years, disputes between the organisations have focussed largely on the FCC’s opening up of certain spectrum bands already in use by services like weather and global positioning systems (GPS) to telecoms operators, thereby potentially threatening interference for these existing services.

However, perhaps the largest and most public clash took place around the start of this year, when the FCC found itself embroiled in a clash between mobile operators and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the deployment of 5G. 

The FCC had auctioned 5G C-band spectrum in February last year, raising over $80 billion in a highly competitive auction process. Verizon and AT&T quickly rushed to deploy the new spectrum, planning to activate it at the start of this year. However, the FAA raised high-profile objections to the launch of these services, arguing that they would interfere with crucial flight instrumentation.

The FCC disagreed, saying that their research showed that the C-band spectrum would not cause disruption to aviation operations; this spectrum band had already been deployed in numerous markets around the world with no recorded disturbance to the aviation industry. Nonetheless, the operators granted delays to their launch of new services using this spectrum and airlines ultimately became 5G buffer zones to minimise perceived disruption.

As this saga showed, a lack of coordination between the FCC, the NTIA, and other government organisations over spectrum policy can cause significant and costly setbacks for telecoms operators and other services that rely on this crucial connectivity. Better collaboration between the organisations offers some very tangible benefits, especially as additional spectrum bands continue to be released to telecoms operators.

The FCC is currently planning another 5G auction, this time offering spectrum in the 2.5GHz band, which will take place later this summer. 
 

Want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the world of telecoms? Subscriber to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter here

Also in the news: 
Crafting the perfect digital foundation: DE-CIX and the importance of regional expansion
TIM starts formal talks with CDP for building Italian single network
Connecting Germany: Building the fibre that underpins 5G

Telenet has announced that it has selected to deploy Netcracker Technology’s Online Charging System (OCS) as part of its ongoing digital transformation programme. Netcracker’s Digital BSS solution, of which OCS is a part, will offer Telenet converged single…

Telenet has announced that it has selected to deploy Netcracker Technology’s Online Charging System (OCS) as part of its ongoing digital transformation programme. Netcracker’s Digital BSS solution, of which OCS is a part, will offer Telenet converged single-stack support for both fixed and wireless services.

By integrating multiple IT stacks and upgrading to OCS, the Belgian operator will be able to improve its time to market, offer an omnichannel experience for its customers and reduce overall costs.

Micha Berger, CTO at Telenet commented: “Integrating our customers onto a single BSS platform is a big challenge, but with Netcracker as our strategic partner, we’ve been able to manage all the steps very well and realize business benefits, including lower costs. Netcracker’s converged BSS stack, including OCS, has given us the flexibility and capabilities to support our customers with an optimized digital experience.”

Ari Banerjee, Vice President of Strategy added: “This is the most recent phase in a long-term, trusted partnership with Telenet, which has undergone numerous mergers and acquisitions and other business changes that have presented challenges and complexities with their IT systems. Our work with Telenet keeps the focus on how to quickly realize business benefits, such as lower total cost of ownership and a simplified deployment, while continuing to provide a stellar customer experience and the flexibility and agility to adapt to future requirements.”
 

 Want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the world of telecoms? Subscriber to receive Total Telecom’s daily newsletter here

Also in the news: 
Crafting the perfect digital foundation: DE-CIX and the importance of regional expansion
TIM starts formal talks with CDP for building Italian single network
Connecting Germany: Building the fibre that underpins 5G

In the run up to Submarine Networks EMEA 2022 next month, we caught up with Lynsey Thomas from Subsea Networks to hear her take on the biggest topics in the global submarine cable market.  
In your view, what is the most exciting thing happening in the industry right now?
It is really great to see all the projects that have been in the planning, financing and design phases starting to come to fruition. LinkedIn is scattered with images of new shore end landings and final splice deployments, all across the globe. Seeing the teams who have worked so hard to deliver these projects, especially in the recent challenging times, is very uplifting.  
 
Similarly, we are seeing an increase in the deployment of SDM systems, and learning how to address the new issues faced by high fibre count designs is interesting; how and what should be tested at acceptance being a particularly important question, especially for multi-landing designs with numerous discrete fibre pair owners…

In the run up to Submarine Networks EMEA 2022 next month, we caught up with Lynsey Thomas from Subsea Networks to hear her take on the biggest topics in the global submarine cable market.  

In your view, what is the most exciting thing happening in the industry right now?

It is really great to see all the projects that have been in the planning, financing and design phases starting to come to fruition. LinkedIn is scattered with images of new shore end landings and final splice deployments, all across the globe. Seeing the teams who have worked so hard to deliver these projects, especially in the recent challenging times, is very uplifting.  

Similarly, we are seeing an increase in the deployment of SDM systems, and learning how to address the new issues faced by high fibre count designs is interesting; how and what should be tested at acceptance being a particularly important question, especially for multi-landing designs with numerous discrete fibre pair owners.  Creating a new ‘norm’ is always a challenge but the subsea industry can collaborate effectively when it is required for the greater good.

NO-UK Shore End Landing in Seaton Sluice, UK

Sustainability is a key priority at the moment. What does a “sustainable” submarine cable market look like to you?

In recent years the effects of global climate change and environmental degradation have become clear to all of us. The 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs) developed by the United Nations address this, alongside a much wider spectrum of areas affecting sustainability, such as poverty, gender equality, consumption & production and economic growth.  In our industry in particular we need address sustainability within the supply chain, from materials and manufacturing to recycling, from alternative types of vessel fuel to use of renewable energy. Owners also need to employ the same concepts within their operations – from Data Centre to office block – sustainable working practices should now be commonplace.

We are looking at this subject further as part of SubOptic 2022 where Elena Badiola and myself are co-chairing the topic area “Clean Green Submarine – connecting and protecting people and the planet”, which aims to address the environmental and social responsibility of the subsea community. This encompasses subjects such as the use of renewable energy in telecoms networks, development and implementation of sensor technology, ocean observatories, SMART cables and green initiatives for marine survey, installation & operations.  On a similar theme, submarine cable decommissioning, recovery, recycling and redeployment also falls within this topic. From a citizenship perspective aspect, we hope to address areas such as harmony amongst seabed users, meeting requirements of environment agencies, educating governments, communities and the public at large about subsea systems. As we all know, creating the next generation of subsea work force and ensuring diversity and inclusion within organizations are also crucial for creating a sustainable community. 

What are your predictions for the subsea industry over the next 12-18 months? 

I think we can expect to see the on-going construction and implementation of the many new planned and funded projects that have been discussed over the last few years. What will be very interesting is to see where and how new routes start to develop, if and when they do. There has been a lot of trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific focus of late, and developments in Europe and the Middle East are in full swing. Where will the market drive new subsea builds next, and will there be the same level of momentum to deliver multiple diverse SDM systems along similar routes? 

Supply limitations and increased demand has driven price increases throughout the supply chain, and in some cases been the cause of delay. It is perhaps time to take stock on where new connectivity is actually required, assess the real scale of the capacity that is needed and develop projects based on realistic delivery timescales;  after all nobody likes a signed contract that never comes into force, or a plan of work that cannot be met.

There is still a lot of important work to be performed by the subsea cable industry to educate, communicate and collaborate with governments, permitting & environmental agencies and other seabed users to ensure that systems can continue to be successfully deployed and operated without risk or delay. We have all seen how issues within these areas can affect cable projects, and we all have a duty of care to act in the best interests of our community, as well as the global community at large.

From a technological standpoint there have been great strides made in the last five years from ROADM BUs to SDM to Aluminium cable, and as much as I long to see what’s next, the cautious part of me would like to see all these new technologies bedded down before we take our next leap forwards. It has been great to see the system suppliers challenged by the hyperscalers to develop more innovative technologies, and I am pleased that all of the main turnkey vendors have risen to the challenge.

You’ll be joining a panel at Submarine Networks EMEA 2022 in May on “Weathering the storm: successfully managing projects from contract to completion”. Can you share a preview of what key challenges you’ll be looking to unpack during the discussion?

There are certainly a lot of challenges to be discussed; from contracting, project funding, construction, permitting and regulation, to design and geopolitics. I am looking forward to hearing from experts, all of whom are currently engaged in large-scale construction projects across the globe. It’s always interesting to hear about the specific issues faced in particular regions, from North Sea cable crossings to congested landing points, and between Maja Summers, Katherine Edwards, Cynthia Perret and Alice Shelton, I think we will be able to cover a lot of different aspects of the project lifecycle.

What are you looking forward to most about attending Submarine Networks EMEA 2022?

I’m especially looking forward to meeting up with people I have been collaborating closely, albeit virtually, with over the last two years. Project managing system builds remotely has been proved to be possible, but it certainly lacks the thrill of being on-site to witness the fruits of your labour. It will be great to get together with all the people who have worked so hard on projects recently and to celebrate their success.

Having been involved with the subsea telecommunications industry since 1995 Lynsey’s previous roles include VP Global Sales for Xtera, Director of Operations for Apollo SCS Ltd and Department Head for the Cable & Wireless Submarine Systems Engineering team. During her time at C&W Lynsey worked on the Europe India Gateway system, leading the Commercial Working Group and co-chairing the Purchaser Group from conception through to contract. Having worked worldwide as a supplier, customer, operator and consultant, she has an extensive knowledge of the telecoms market. Lynsey has served as a trustee in the renewables sector and is a freelance writer and previous columnist for The Guardian.

Submarine Networks EMEA 2022 will be taking place at the Business Design Centre in London on 17th and 18th May. Join Lynsey and 600 other industry leaders at the EMEA region’s leading subsea conference to discuss the latest updates and developments from the industry. Head to the event website for more information on how to get involved.

It is well established that the coronavirus pandemic has served as a catalyst for enormous digitalisation all over the world, leaving enterprises, governments, and individuals more reliant on connectivity than ever before. 
Underpinning this vital global connectivity are internet exchange points (IXPs), physical locations containing network switches that route traffic between different internet service providers’ networks. Currently, even the most advanced markets in the world rely on a small number of these IXPs…

It is well established that the coronavirus pandemic has served as a catalyst for enormous digitalisation all over the world, leaving enterprises, governments, and individuals more reliant on connectivity than ever before. 

Underpinning this vital global connectivity are internet exchange points (IXPs), physical locations containing network switches that route traffic between different internet service providers’ networks. Currently, even the most advanced markets in the world rely on a small number of these IXPs, typically based in metropolitan areas, which handle terabits of data every second.

However, as demand continues to increase and delay in data transit becomes even more problematic for enterprise applications, this reliance on a relatively small number of IXPs is becoming a growing challenge.

For DE-CIX, one of the largest IXP players in the world, meeting this challenge has led to a growth strategy that is not only international but also local, gradually increasing their IXP presence in all their key markets in recent years. In the company’s home market of Germany, this regional expansion is almost complete. 

“We’re happy to announce that DE-CIX Leipzig is coming soon and will be operation in late summer. This is basically the last region where no exchange or even local interconnection platform was available,” explained Andreas Sturm, Chief Business Development Officer at DE-CIX. “After the past two years of growth, we are nearly present in all 11 metro regions.”

[embedded content]

You can watch our full interview with Andreas Sturm from the link above.

Explaining the company’s motivation for this regional focus, Sturm noted the improved reliability and customer experience that local IXPs can bring to customers, giving businesses the digital foundations they need to compete on a global level.

“The reason behind expanding more regionally is that we believe traffic needs to be exchanged more locally. When traffic is exchanged more locally, the customer experience is better and service is more reliable. People are moving their digital lives onto the internet, so having more reliable local exchange points is a true benefit,” he explained.

“In Germany, the challenge is that we are not known as a very digital society. But our businesses compete on a global scale and in order to do that they need to become fully digital. This requires the perfect digital foundation.”

Indeed, as companies continued to become more reliant on the cloud and the edge, existing infrastructure in many cases will not be sufficient to deliver the high-quality connectivity businesses require. This will become particularly apparent in the coming years, as more and more enterprises look to AI and automation to enhance and streamline their operations. 

“The missing piece for them – and for us – is to link the data silos with each other, to have a seamless workflow,” he explained. “The next thing that will happen after cloudification is artificial intelligence, which will rely on very high data quality. In order to use this effectively, we need to make sure that all applications are interconnected and that the data is delivered smoothly from one end to the other,” said Sturm.

“For us, now is the time to bring the pieces together. We’ve built the core, we do offerings for cloud, and now we need to link this to give people easy access to everything they need to be more competitive in the digital domain, » he concluded.
 

To hear more from Andreas and DE-CIX on the topic of Germany’s changing digital landscape, join us for our live Connected Germany conference TODAY, 5–6 April, in Mainz. Register here.

Also in the news: 
Startup Stories: We are the future of loyalty
« The introduction of 5G capabilities in real production are enabling new connected mobility services »
FCC places Russia’s Kaspersky on US security risk list