SoftBank reports strong Q1 results amid 5G and AI expansions

SoftBank has announced its consolidated financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year, showcasing robust performance and strategic initiatives aimed at long-term growth. The report highlights significant year-on-year improvements across key financial metrics.

For the three months ended June 30, 2024, SoftBank reported:

Revenue: ¥1,535,722 million, a 7.4% increase from the previous year. Operating income: ¥303,927 million, up 23.4%. Profit before income...

6 August 2024 | 5G

Bridging the digital divide: How a coalition is tackling smartphone affordability

The digital divide, a chasm that has long separated billions from the opportunities of the internet age, may soon begin to narrow.

This week, the GSM Association (GSMA) announced the formation of the "Handset Affordability Coalition," a pioneering alliance of mobile operators, device manufacturers, international organisations, and financial institutions. This global initiative aims to revolutionise access to affordable smartphones worldwide for low- and middle-income populations,...

12 July 2024 | 5G

Ericsson unveils vision for digital transformation in Thailand

Ericsson has set its sights on driving the digital transformation of Thailand, leveraging its robust 5G infrastructure and global expertise. The company's vision, unveiled today, aims to accelerate Thailand's journey towards becoming a digital economy.

Central to Ericsson's plans is the newly completed 5G Innovation and Experience Studio at Thailand Digital Valley. Established in collaboration with the Royal Thai Government through the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), this...

4 July 2024 | 5G

Dutch 5G auction: KPN, Odido, and VodafoneZiggo secure crucial spectrum

Netherlands’ telecoms regulator announced this week that KPN, Odido, and VodafoneZiggo have each successfully acquired 100 MHz of spectrum in the coveted 3.5GHz band.

The long-awaited auction, which raised a total of €174.4 million, saw each operator secure their spectrum allocation for just over the reserve price.

KPN invested €58.4 million, VodafoneZiggo paid €57.5 million, and Odido (formerly T-Mobile Netherlands) acquired its share for a comparable amount....

2 July 2024 | 5G

Nokia and Telefónica partner to boost Spanish private 5G networks

Nokia and Telefónica have announced a three-year agreement to develop the private 5G network market in Spain. The collaboration aims to enhance productivity, worker safety, and sustainability across key mission-critical industries such as ports, manufacturing, and logistics.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nokia will deploy 100 units of its advanced solutions, including Digital Automation Cloud (DAC), Modular Private Wireless (MPW), MX Industrial Edge (MXIE), and Industrial...

1 July 2024 | 5G

Bringing SpaceX to the wild: Is Starlink Mini right for backpackers?

Bringing the internet to the wild: Is Starlink Mini right for backpackers?

SpaceX has introduced Starlink Mini, a new portable solution to access the internet-from-space service that is already in use on boats, planes, by "van-lifers," in Amazonian villages, and in rural homes across over 75 countries.

The Verge reports that the new Starlink Mini is a DC-powered device as thick as a laptop and incorporates a Wi-Fi router into the dish itself. Although it's tiny, the Mini is no slouch and can achieve speeds of more than 100 Mbps. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk...

25 June 2024 | Digital Transformation

AST SpaceMobile stock soars following Verizon partnership announcement

AST SpaceMobile stock soars following Verizon partnership announcement

AST SpaceMobile, a provider of satellite-to-phone services, saw its stock soar recently after announcing a partnership with Verizon. This deal follows the company's recent agreement with AT&T to provide remote coverage across the United States.

AST SpaceMobile is constructing satellites to deliver broadband service directly to unmodified smartphones, tapping into the emerging "direct-to-device" communications market. The company's chairman and CEO, Abel Avellan, hailed the...

30 May 2024 | AT&T

Vodafone Business Ireland and RingCentral unveil solution to facilitate collaboration across devices

Vodafone Business Ireland and RingCentral, a provider of AI-driven cloud business communications, contact centre, video and hybrid event solutions, have launched of Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral to organizations of all sizes in Ireland.

Already accessible in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany and the UK, this solution enables businesses to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration for their workforces from virtually any device, anywhere, at any time. With this...

22 May 2024 | Digital Transformation

BT and Global to upgrade legacy payphones through 10-year digital partnership

BT and Global, the Media & Entertainment Group, have formed a 10-year partnership to upgrade the nation’s legacy payphones and roll out more digital hubs for local communities.

The partnership is expected to provide better connectivity and hyper-local advertising in more than 200 towns and cities across the UK. Global will also continue to represent BT’s street furniture advertising sales for the next decade.

BT Group’s street furniture estate covers...

27 March 2024 | 5G

Global UCaaS market to reach more than 131m users by 2028

The global Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) market is set to grow to more than 131 million users by the end of 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3% over the next five years.

This is according to research by Cavell, a research and consulting firm specialising in the telecommunications industry.

Cavell’s set of 2024 Cloud Comms Market Reports surveyed over 100 service providers across the UK, Europe and US. The latest findings also...

25 March 2024 | Digital Transformation