IoT Subscription Growth Forecasts Demonstrate Slow but Steady Progress

by Kitty Weldon, posted in Internet of Things
K. Weldon
K. Weldon

Summary Bullets:

  • GlobalData’s Q2 mobile trends report provides growth rates and insights into subscriptions for mobile networks across service types and regions; it also offers clues to the progress of IoT uptake in various regions.
  • Examples of operator traction and new initiatives are quite diverse, while regional growth rates are moderate, in the range of 12% to 16% CAGR. For all regions, IoT has steadily (if slowly) been gaining ground and the outlook is positive.

GlobalData’s Q2 mobile trends report provides insights into subscriptions for mobile networks.  Among many other key findings, it offers a clue to the progress of IoT uptake in various regions.  The following regional snapshots describe growth rates and recent operator initiatives. Continue reading “IoT Subscription Growth Forecasts Demonstrate Slow but Steady Progress” →

Real Security Demands a Fundamental Change to Software Updates

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in Secure
2019 Schuchart Headshot Cropped
S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:

  • IT security issues are being exacerbated by unregulated auto-update mechanisms.
  • Systemic and fundamental change to a centralized, approval-based update system is necessary.

A simple rule of thumb for complex systems is that wherever simplicity is added, there is corresponding complexity added elsewhere. For instance, in early PC computing, only software updates were required when the latest version was bought.  Bug fixes sent to existing users were exceedingly rare, as they required physical media.  With the advent of the Internet, physical media was gradually shunted to the side as bandwidth increased.  Bug fixes were suddenly available to anyone who wanted to download and install them.  Then came auto updating.  Software began to reach out on its own to check to see if it were up to date and, if not, updated itself.  Bugs were eliminated and security enhanced.  In turn, this enabled rapid iteration software development and the so-called ‘fail fast’ mentality for startups and app developers. After all, if the app was flawed, a patch would simply be applied as fast as the developer could make it. Continue reading “Real Security Demands a Fundamental Change to Software Updates” →

700MHz Spectrum Plays a Pivotal Role in Delivering 5G Coverage

by siowmeng, posted in Network
SiowMengSoh
S. Soh

Summary Bullets:

  • 700MHz spectrum is a strategic band for operators to achieve better coverage including indoor and rural areas.
  • Mobile operators around the world, particularly in China, are using 700MHz spectrum to accelerate coverage expansion.

The deployment of 5G is gathering momentum around the world.  The number of 5G subscriptions reached 414 million globally in 2020, and GlobalData expects the number to more than double in 2021.  China is leading in 5G adoption, with its number of subscriptions representing 76% of the global figure in 2020.  GlobalData expects this to be the case in 2021 as the world continues to learn about 5G through the lens of China.  Globally, many operators have been awarded mid-band spectrum, typically in the 3.5GHz range, to kick-start 5G deployment.  With additional spectrum including between 80 MHz and 100 MHz of net new spectrum, operators can deliver much faster data speeds with 5G as compared to 4G, to demonstrate the value of 5G to both consumer and business customers.  However, the propagation characteristics of 3.5GHz spectrum mean that the coverage range from the cell site is more limited than the low-band spectrum (i.e., sub-1GHz such as 700MHz).  This means mobile operators need to increase the number of cell sites to achieve the same coverage area that they would using the lower frequency band.  It is also more difficult to penetrate walls and ultimately affect the coverage indoors, which is a problem in urban areas when using the higher band. Continue reading “700MHz Spectrum Plays a Pivotal Role in Delivering 5G Coverage” →

Carrier Global Domination Dreams Conquered by Pragmatism

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Cloud Enable, Communicate, Mobilize

R-Pritchard 071521

Summary Bullets:   

  • The refocused geographical target of Deutsche Telekom’s T-Systems ICT solutions business highlights a fundamental shift in ambitions from carriers’ earlier global domination goals in the enterprise market.
  • Market evolution, technology developments, and commercial reality (the need to lower costs) have made carriers refocus onto more sharply defined target geographies and customers.

In the heady days of the 1990s, when telecom markets in the Western world opened up to competition, carriers developed plans for global domination – sometimes on a go-it-alone basis, but more often than not via partnerships and joint ventures. Who today remembers Global One (Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom/Orange, Sprint), Unisource (KPN, Swisscom, Telia), and Concert (BT-MCI, then BT-AT&T)?  Billions of dollars were spent investing in worldwide expansion ambitions, but nobody emerged as triumphant in the battle to dominate the global enterprise market.  More recently, Telefonica has been reducing its footprint in Latin America, Vodafone has refocused on Europe and Africa, and BT has been selling off its in-country assets outside of the UK.  T-Systems will still support key strategic accounts under its revised strategy, reflecting a reduction in MNC account ambitions which is salient across the whole sector. Continue reading “Carrier Global Domination Dreams Conquered by Pragmatism” →

ASEAN 5G Q2 2021 Roundup: Wider Industry Collaborations Driving Enterprise 5G Ecosystem

by Alfie Amir, posted in Communicate, Internet of Things, IT Leader, Mobilize, Network
Alfie Amir
A. Amir

Summary Bullets:

  • Indonesian telcos have launched 5G networks, while a Malaysian provider has detailed its deployment plan from this year until 2024. In more mature markets, telcos continue to expand their coverage and enterprise capabilities through new partnerships and collaboration initiatives.
  • 5G adoption has been revised slightly upward, driven by new launches and deployment commitments and wider industry collaborations.

Key Enterprise 5G Developments

April 2021 – Singtel Launches GENIE 5G-in-a-Box to Drive 5G Solution Development in Singapore: With 5G Garage and partnerships with AWS and Azure on 5G edge computing, Singtel is taking a further step with its 5G-in-a-box solution to accelerate enterprise 5G development in the country.  The portable and modular solution enables enterprises and device manufacturers to test and experience 5G networking as well as develop new applications anywhere with the need to join Singtel in its testing facilities.  Singtel also recently announced a Melbourne-based innovation center to focus on AI, cloud, and 5G solutions as part of its new enterprise strategy.  This could benefit its telco associates in the region such as AIS, Globe, and Telkomsel in driving the ecosystem and developing new 5G solutions in their respective countries.  (For more, please see “Singtel and Ericsson’s GENIE 5G-in-a-Box Will Drive 5G Solution Development in Singapore,” April 13, 2021; and “Singtel’s NCS Strategy Hits the Right Notes, but Might be Looking in the Wrong Places,” May 31, 2021. Continue reading “ASEAN 5G Q2 2021 Roundup: Wider Industry Collaborations Driving Enterprise 5G Ecosystem” →

AI-Injected Automation is the New DevOps

by Charlotte Dunlap, posted in Cloud Enable

Summary Bullets:

Charlotte Dunlap – Principal Analyst, Application Platforms

• Modernizing workflow processes has become a complex endeavor as a result of increased data sources and volumes

• Automation, when applied to IT, provides capabilities that bring insights and diagnostics into various backend systems

AI-injected automation has become the power source for digitizing companies in a pandemic era, ensuring resilience, agility, and efficiency for modern, distributed apps. Modernizing workflow processes has become a complex endeavor as a result of increased data sources and volumes, heightening the need for comprehensive data management, integration, and security strategies. Automation, when applied to IT however, provides capabilities that bring insights and diagnostics into various backend systems, including pre-determined automation of problem remediation and policy controls.

Continue reading “AI-Injected Automation is the New DevOps” →

X Marks the Spot: Employees Company-wide Support the Customer Experience via XCaaS

by Gregg Willsky, posted in Cloud Enable

Summary Bullets:

Gregg Profile Photo
G. Willsky

• In combining UCaaS and CCaaS, XCaaS acknowledges that ultimately, employees from all parts of an organization jointly drive the customer experience.

• While the term “Customer Experience as-a-Service” sounds like a gimmick, cloud-based communication, collaboration, and customer service technology are firmly entrenched and will remain so.

XCaaS = UCaaS + CCaaS

On the surface, this equation may resemble algebra, trigonometry, or an amalgam of the two. But you won’t spot it in any mathematics textbook.

Instead, this summation depicts an alchemy that has arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has driven much higher usage of UCaaS (i.e., Unified Communications as-a-Service) and CCaaS (i.e., Contact Center as-a-Service) solutions which in turn has created a hyper-focus on employee communication and collaboration as well as serving customers. In combining UCaaS and CCaaS, XCaaS (i.e., Customer Experience as-a-Service) is an acknowledgement that every employee ultimately serves the customer, both those who are customer facing and those who are not, and facilitates communication and collaboration between those two universes to optimize the customer experience.

Continue reading “X Marks the Spot: Employees Company-wide Support the Customer Experience via XCaaS” →

Capgemini’s New Sustainable IT Portfolio Addresses Growing Interest in Decarbonization

by Rena Bhattacharyya, posted in IT Leader

bhattacharyya-100143
R. Bhattacharyya

Summary Bullets:

  • Capgemini deepened its commitment to its sustainability practice by announcing a new ‘Sustainable IT’ portfolio.
  • IT services providers are well placed to offer carbon reduction consulting services.

Technology providers, enterprise customers, and financial investors are increasingly making business decisions influenced by environmental sustainability considerations.  A growing number are looking at their own carbon footprints and setting timelines for reduced emissions; many are also weighing the environmental impact of organizations when identifying potential partners, providers, vendors, and investment opportunities. Continue reading “Capgemini’s New Sustainable IT Portfolio Addresses Growing Interest in Decarbonization” →

Whatever Happened to AT&T’s AirGig?

by Malcolm Rogers, posted in Network

m rogers
M. Rogers

Summary Bullets:            

  • AT&T’s announcement of Project AirGig in 2016 was a compelling and novel way to think about providing high-speed broadband services.
  • Following a press conference and tease of a 2021 release in 2018, AT&T has gone silent on the project, prompting questions about its future.

Bygone BPL

During the mid-2000’s, broadband over power line (BPL) technology (using power lines to simultaneously transmit data signals) was an exciting topic in the telecommunications industry.  The hope was the technology could deliver speeds equivalent or greater than ADSL and provide a cheap and effective means of connecting rural communities and improving broadband infrastructure in brownfield areas without the need to lay new fiber.  The IEEE developed standards, and various governments, carriers, and even utilities launched trials and services.  While the technology caught on for some utilities as a means to monitor the health of their own grids, most if not all commercial attempts to develop a consumer access product failed.  Failures were blamed on a few factors, including radio interference easily impacting unshielded power lines, complications managing right-of-way access with utilities, and slower than predicted data rates.  Today, BPL for consumer access is all but dead; however, at the end of 2016, AT&T announced a new project, ‘AirGig,’ with a lot of similarities. Continue reading “Whatever Happened to AT&T’s AirGig?” →

Platform Equinix: How the Data Center and Cloud Ecosystem Transforms the Global WAN

by siowmeng, posted in Cloud Enable, Communicate, Network

SiowMengSoh
S. Soh

Summary Bullets:

  • New network service offerings are emerging and giving enterprise customers more options; the Equinix and Coevolve partnership is a good example.
  • Cloud connectivity and network edge services will become more important in supporting different IT workloads, and enterprises are better served by service providers that have a strong partner ecosystem.

Even for multi-national corporations (MNCs), there are now alternative providers to global carriers and system integrators for wide area network (WAN) services. With the adoption of cloud services, the ongoing shift to enable remote working, and business uncertainties (e.g., travel, retail, and hospitality), the network solution needs to be more agile to adapt to changing requirements.  The Equinix and Coevolve partnership is just one example. Continue reading “Platform Equinix: How the Data Center and Cloud Ecosystem Transforms the Global WAN” →