Day: October 4, 2023

Will Network Slicing be the Savior for 5G in the Enterprise?

by John Marcus, posted in Internet of Things, Mobilize
J. Marcus

Summary Bullets:

• The enterprise is where 5G was meant to shine, but the long and evolutionary rollout approach by network operators has limited the impact.

• Some of the use cases originally targeted by 5G have been deployed using 4G or non-standalone (NSA) 5G from public or private networks, but the advanced features of standalone (SA) 5G such as network slicing could finally help realize the industry’s claims now that availability is starting to appear.

So much verbiage has been expended by the telecom industry (including analysts like me) regarding the potential for 5G to enterprise organizations and to the network service providers themselves. After five years or so, the hype has died down considerably as the impact has yet to materialize at the expected scale. For the consumer market, serious questions remain around the potential for 5G – even for SA 5G – when (once it’s widely available) the full palette of features enabled by the 5G core network and requisite radio spectrum will be realized. Beyond mobile gaming, the conversation tends to stop after connected car-related advances.

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Malicious Synthetic AI Poses an Ominous Security Threat to Business and Governments

by Amy Larsen DeCarlo, posted in Secure
Amy Larsen DeCarlo – Principal Analyst, Security and Data Center Services

Summary Bullets:

• The recent rash of synthetic AI-driven deepfakes have business and government entities alarmed about potential security implications.

• The US National Security Agency (NSA) has issued guidance on how to detect images designed for malevolent purposes and what steps they can take to minimize damage from deepfakes.

Advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI) are offering promising use cases. But the technology can also be applied for more nefarious purposes. Cyber criminals can harness synthetic AI to spread misinformation, cause harm to organizations, and potentially to profit from their attacks. In one of the most recent high-profile cases, the actor Tom Hanks criticized a dental plan advertisement that used an AI-generated image of him without his consent. In a separate case, the “CBS Mornings” host Gayle King said a deepfake video using her likeness and voice to hawk a weight loss product was created and distributed without her permission. The synthetic AI video was built using a sanctioned post publicizing King’s radio show.

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ESG Watch: Virgin Media O2 Business Launches New ESG Tools for Large SD-WAN and Mobile Customers

by Rob Pritchard, posted in Communicate, Network, Secure
R. Pritchard

Summary Bullets:

• Virgin Media O2 Business’ carbon calculator aims to provide trustworthy information to business customers on emissions related to their services, forming a basis for an annual carbon footprint report.

• The Virgin Media O2 Business Tech Donation Programme focuses on digital inclusion, enabling enterprises to offer free refurbished smartphones, mobile data, texts and calls to 11 to 16-year-olds and people over 65.

In common with almost all telecoms services providers, Virgin Media O2 Business is looking to enable and improve reporting on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for its SD-WAN and mobile business customers in the UK. Its carbon calculator aims to help customers realize their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies as they strive to meet the needs of customers, regulators, investors, and talent.

Continue reading “ESG Watch: Virgin Media O2 Business Launches New ESG Tools for Large SD-WAN and Mobile Customers” →