Shaun Collins’ Post

Last week Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) announced a strategic agreement to acquire spectrum assets from the proposed merged entity of Vodafone and Three UK. This move, contingent on the merger's approval, aims to bolster VMO2's network capabilities and maintain a competitive market environment. The agreement, accompanied by an extended network-sharing partnership with Vodafone, signals VMO2's proactive approach in adapting to potential market shifts as a result of the merger. By securing additional spectrum, VMO2 aims to enhance its network capacity and coverage of course. The position of the Three in the newly merged entity will be scrutinised carefully. An approval of the merger will likely mean Three being required to address its part in the MBNL network sharing entity with EE. This will be complicated and will require a lot of planning. There is little doubt this announcement is in preparation of that. Vodafone and VMO2 has its own sharing entity called Cornerstone where this deal was likely brokered. The reaction of EE to this announcement will also be watched closely after it offered its less than favourable assessment of the impacts of the merger as part of the Phase II assessment currently on-going. #Telecoms #Spectrum #VM02 #Vodafone #Three #MergersAndAcquisitions #Competition #Connectivity #5G

An intriguing clash is unfolding between a group of over 50 organisations from different sectors of the European circular industry and the EU. The issue centres around the new Radio Equipment Directive which comes into force on 28th December. The directive mandates the use of USB-C chargers in all new devices, a move aimed at reducing electronic waste. The coalition of industry leaders, including the GSMA and major players in the used device market like Back Market, refurbed, and Swappie, are pushing back against the immediate implementation of the directive on used devices. They argue that the law should explicitly differentiate between new and second-hand devices, and that the USB-C requirement should be delayed for used devices until the technology is more prevalent in the second-hand market. This highlights the complexity of the issue and the diverse perspectives within the industry. My colleague Simon Bryant delves deeper into this fascinating clash in his latest CCS Insight blog post. I encourage you to check it out for a more detailed analysis of the issue. #circulareconomy #sustainability #ewaste #innovation #usbc https://lnkd.in/eUufynfe

At MWC Shanghai last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Qualcomm's CFO and COO, Akash Palkhiwala.  Qualcomm is on a roll, dominating the premium smartphone market with its Snapdragon chips and making significant strides in the PC space. Our conversation highlighted Qualcomm's strategic diversification. Akash emphasised how their expertise in multiple technologies (cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cameras, displays, AI) is being leveraged to transform industries beyond smartphones. During the interview we spoke about: 🔘 AI-Powered PCs: Qualcomm's entry into the PC market is gaining momentum, driven by their "AI-first" approach. Their chips enable powerful on-device AI processing, offering enhanced privacy, security, and lower latency. 🔘 The Future of AI: Akash envisions AI transforming various sectors in stages. Smartphones are already experiencing AI advancements, followed by the automotive industry. He predicts XR will be the next significant beneficiary, with AI assistants revolutionising user experiences. 🔘 Real-World AI Applications: Akash shared a compelling example of how AI is already transforming the automotive sector: Imagine your car's dashboard warning light comes on. Instead of vague alerts, an AI model, trained on the car's repair manual, could diagnose the problem, communicate with you, and even help you schedule a repair appointment. This simple yet powerful application demonstrates AI's potential to enhance user experiences in unexpected ways. I'm grateful to Akash for his insights. The future looks bright for Qualcomm, and I'm excited to see how they continue to drive innovation across various industries. #MWCShanghai #Qualcomm #AI #Semiconductors #Innovation #Telecoms CCS Insight

The summer festival season is in full swing, and with it comes the challenge of keeping large data hungry crowds connected. Mobile network operators are having to invest in temporary networks to meet the high data demands of festival goers. At Glastonbury this year, Vodafone installed 10 temporary cell sites. Other operators are also investing in temporary infrastructure. Businesses are increasingly using STARLINK satellite internet to avoid connectivity problems. Vodafone trialled a 5G network slice to provide dedicated access for businesses at Glastonbury. This dedicated network within a network will become much more common place as 5G Standalone rolls out over the next twelve months and large dedicated events will be able to guarantee coverage and capacity at festivals, stadia and large scale events from now on. In his latest CCS Insight blog my colleague, and regular festival goer, Ben Wood discusses the ways in which the UK’s networks are ensuring event goers will stay connected this summer. #5g #connectivity #glastonburyfestival #5gsa

The much-anticipated second Indian 5G spectrum auction has concluded, raising a mere US$1.35 billion. This is a long way from the US$13 billion that the government had hoped to raise, and it is only a tenth of the value of the total spectrum on offer according to sources. The three major telecom operators in India - Bharti Airtel Services, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea Limited - bought spectrum to renew licences and bolster their mid-band holdings, rather than focusing on enhancing their 5G spectrum holdings. This is likely to be as a result of 5G uptake remaining low in India, due to a lack of affordable devices and some very high data tariffs. This was not unexpected, as many warned the Indian government had set the reserve price for 5G spectrum far too high. The operators have long argued that the government needs to do more to promote 5G adoption in India, by reducing taxes and subsidies. The underwhelming result of the auction is a setback for India's ambitions to become a global leader in 5G. However, it is still early days for 5G in India, and the market is forecast to pick up in the coming years as prices of devices ease and market competition reduces tariffs. What do you think about the results of India's second 5G spectrum auction? #5G #India #SpectrumAuction #Telecom

At MWC Shanghai 2024, I had the pleasure of interviewing Anna Yip, Deputy CEO for Singapore Consumer and CEO of Business Development at Singtel, on the company's innovative use of AI and 5G technology. Anna shared how Singtel is leveraging AI to transform customer service, by implementing a system that summarises, synthesises, and highlights key customer issues. This not only empowers their agents to deliver faster, more personalised support but also makes the job more engaging and rewarding for employees. Singtel is also harnessing AI to revolutionise marketing communications, enabling the development and testing of campaigns at a faster pace. As a pioneer in 5G, Singtel was one of the first operators to deploy a standalone 5G network. Anna highlighted how this technology is already being used to transform industries such as auto making, chipmaking, and logistics, with the promise of much more innovation to come. The conversation highlighted Singtel's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to improve customer experience and drive innovation in the telecommunications industry. I was particularly impressed by their focus on using AI not just for efficiency but also to enhance the quality of jobs for their employees. I'd like to thank the GSMA for the invite to MWC Shanghai and congratulate them on hosting another successful show. Events like MWC bring together industry leaders from around the world to share best practices, explore emerging technologies, and chart the course for the future of telecommunications.  These conversations are critical for accelerating innovation and ensuring that the industry continues to meet the evolving needs of its customers. #MWC24 #AI #CustomerService #5G #Innovation #Telecoms

The recent announcement of a proposed merger between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks has sent shockwaves through the technology industry. While the merger promises significant benefits in terms of innovation and cost reduction, it has triggered concerns from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK. The CMA is investigating the potential impact of the merger on competition in the UK market. Specifically, the CMA is concerned that the combined entity could have a dominant position in the networking equipment market. The CMA has until August 14, 2024, to decide whether to refer the case for a more in-depth investigation. This decision will be closely watched by the industry as the emerging virtualised network infrastructure market shapes up though the most important issue in hand will be how the CMA defines the market that the new combined organisation is addressing. Once that is determined, the assessment will be more straightforward. That said, the networking market is being transformed by the new technology that is now available. That is very likely to be main thrust of the response from HPE and Juniper. It will be interesting to see how the CMA's investigation progresses and what the ultimate outcome will be. This case could have a significant impact on the future of the networking equipment and tapestry of network technologies that are available in the UK.

A global alliance of major telcos, including Deutsche Telekom, e&, Singtel, SoftBank, and SK Telecom, has officially joined forces to develop a large language model (LLM) specifically designed for the telecom industry. This groundbreaking collaboration aims to harness the power of #AI to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by telecom operators, ultimately enhancing efficiency and driving innovation across the sector. By working together and pooling resources, these industry leaders are paving the way for a new era of AI-powered telecommunications. The potential applications of this telco-specific #LLM are vast, ranging from improved customer service and fraud detection to optimised network performance. While the development of LLMs is still in its early stages, the formation of this global alliance signals a strong commitment to exploring the transformative potential of AI in telecommunications. It will be fascinating to witness the potential advancements that emerge from this collaboration and the impact it will have on the industry as a whole.