Mobile Technology and Wireless Communication News Headline Updated on 27 November 2019

The headline on 27 November 2019

T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom is reportedly examining a possible merger with French peer Orange. Source: Reuters > Deutsche Telekom examines possible merger with Orange: Handelsblatt

Global smartphone sales continued to decline in Q3 2019, contracting by 0.4% as consumers became more concerned about getting value for their money, according to Gartner. Source: Gartner Says Global Smartphone Demand Was Weak in Third Quarter of 2019

Verizon is offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on Samsung Galaxy and iPhone devices, among others. Source: Black Friday and Cyber Monday at Verizon: The best tech deals

Cisco announced it has more than 20,000 customers for its Viptela and Meraki SD-WAN offerings. Source: Cisco Blog > Why 20,000 Customers Trust Cisco for SD-WAN Solutions

Angela Merkel said Europe should set up an agency that certifies components for the region’s 5G networks, in a bid to address safety concerns over equipment from Chinese suppliers such as Huawei. Source: Bloomberg > Angela Merkel Demands European 5G Agency for Joint China Approach

The headline on 26 November 2019

Netrounds today announced that it will deploy its automated active service assurance solution in Rakuten Mobile’s cloud-native network across Japan. Source: Netrounds to Provide Automated Active Assurance for Rakuten Mobile’s Telco Cloud

Actor Ryan Reynolds has acquired a stake in budget friendly MVNO Mint Mobile. Source: Inc.com > Actor Ryan Reynolds Just Bought a Wireless Carrier. And His Reason for the Buy Makes Sense

New research from STL Partners suggests accelerating 5G rollouts could cut global mobile network carbon emissions by 0.5 billion tons by 2030. Source: Accelerating 5G Roll-out Could Cut Global Mobile Network Carbon Emissions by Half a Billion Tonnes by 2030

Apple has agreed to pay about $467,000 to settle allegations that it violated U.S. sanctions by dealing with a blacklisted entity for more than two years. Source: WSJ article > Apple Settles Allegations of U.S. Sanctions Violations

The headline on 25 November 2019

Ericsson’s latest Mobility Report forecasts 5G subscriptions will top 2.6 billion by the end of 2025. Source: Ericsson Mobility Report: 5G subscriptions to top 2.6 billion by end of 2025

Vendors bidding for German 5G deployment contracts must guarantee the network will be free of foreign state influence. Source: Reuters > German 5G bidders must guarantee no foreign state meddling: CDU

KT Corp. said its satellite-operating subsidiary, KT SAT, has successfully conducted a 5G data transmission with a satellite connection. Source: Markets Insider > KT SAT Conducts World’s First Satellite 5G Connection

A10 Networks announced it has hired former Belden executive Dhrupad Trivedi as its new president and CEO. Source: BusinessWire > A10 Networks Announces Dhrupad Trivedi as New CEO

InterVision, which is an IT service provider, has launched a managed SD-WAN offering for its enterprise customers. Source: BusinessWire > InterVision Announces Comprehensive Managed SD-WAN Offering

Huawei has filed three defamation lawsuits against critics in Paris for comments made during a television program that alleged the technology vendor is controlled by the Chinese state. Source: Bloomberg > Huawei Sues Critics in France Over Remarks on China State Ties

France’s 5G spectrum will be sold at a floor price of $2.4 billion, which is significantly greater than the amount the country’s telecom regulator Arcep previously recommended. Source: Reuters > France’s 5G spectrum to be sold at floor price of 2.17 billion euros: minister

The headline on 22 November 2019

MEF announced the proof-of-concept winners from this week’s MEF19 conference in Los Angeles.

Pure Storage, a manufacturer of high-speed storage equipment for data centers, became the latest tech infrastructure provider to issue weak guidance, at least in part due to worsening macroeconomic conditions and the U.S.-China trade war. Source: CNBC > Pure Storage’s stock plunges, and its weak guidance is the latest ominous sign for tech infrastructure vendors

The U.S government has granted a license to Microsoft to export software to China’s Huawei. Source: Reuters > Microsoft granted license to export ‘mass-market’ software to Huawei

Verizon is partnering with the creator of Snapchat, Snap, to develop new augmented reality features using 5G technology. Source: Verizon becomes Official 5G Innovation Partner to Snap Inc., the creator of Snapchat

AT&T Mexico signed an agreement to provide wholesale last-mile wireless access to Telefónica Mexico for at least 8 years while the provider gradually migrates its traffic to AT&T Mexico’s access network. Source: Telefónica Mexico Notice

The headline on 21 November 2019

ZTE and the Guangdong Branch of China Mobile have provisioned MEC-related B2B2C end-to-end network slicing services. Source: ZTE partners with China Mobile to provision the 5G end-to-end network slicing + MEC services

The headline on 20 November 2019

Oracle has expanded its Chicago Innovation Lab to help construction, communications and utility companies spark growth through modernization. Source: Oracle Expands Innovation Lab to Advance Industries

Alibaba Group raised up to $12.9 billion in a landmark listing in Hong Kong, the largest share sale in the city in nine years and a world record for a cross-border secondary share sale. Source: Reuters > Alibaba raises up to $12.9 billion in landmark Hong Kong listing

The U.S. government on Wednesday started issuing licenses for some companies to supply good to China’s blacklisted Huawei. Source: Reuters > Some Huawei suppliers get U.S. approval to restart sales to blacklisted firm

The headline on 19 November 2019

Adva today announced that conova communications is using its technology for secure, high-capacity transport between data centers. Source: BusinessWire > conova deploys ADVA OLS solution for highly secure DCI connectivity

Ciena announced that Romania’s Agency of Administration of the National Network for Education and Research (AARNIEC) has deployed its 6500 Packet-Optical Platform and 3930 Service Delivery Switch. Source: Ciena > Romania’s Agency of Administration of the National Network for Education and Research Upgrades Network with Ciena

Verizon turned on its 5G Ultra Wideband service in Boston, Houston and Sioux Falls, so it’s now available in 18 U.S. cities. Source: Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband service available in more cities

The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) announced that satellite manufacturer OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture of OneWeb and Airbus, has joined SIA as its newest member. Source: SIA > INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURER ONEWEB SATELLITES JOINS SIA

The headline on 18 November 2019

EdgeConneX announced that Packet, a bare metal cloud service provider, will deploy its platform at the EdgeConneX Edge Data Center in Detroit, Michigan, enabling the expansion of the Sprint Curiosity IoT platform. Source: edgeconnex > Access to high quality “in region” connectivity and bare metal cloud solution will energize region’s autonomous vehicle sector with improved data collection capabilities and user experiences

Mobilitie has been selected to deploy a custom wireless network for the U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles. Source: PR Newswire > Mobilitie to Light Up Premium Wireless at Los Angeles’ U.S. Bank Tower

Nokia and Hitachi Kokusai Electric are collaborating to deliver local 5G and private wireless LTE networks to industrial and government customers in Japan. Source: Nokia and Hitachi Kokusai Electric bring local 5G and private LTE networks to Japanese enterprises

Colt Technology services recently announced the appointment of Gary Carr as its chief financial officer reporting directly to CEO Carl Grivner. Source: Colt Technology News > Colt appoints Chief Financial Officer

The headline on 15 November 2019

WOW! announced the appointment of John Roy, who previously worked at Comcast, Media One and Charter Communications, as its vice president of engineering operations. Source: PR Newswire > WOW! Names John Roy as Vice President of Engineering Operations

Sprint has announced new corporate environmental goals, including a commitment to source 100% renewable electricity across its entire operations by 2025. Source: Sprint Goes Carbon Neutral and Announces New Environmental Goals

T-Mobile is asking the IRS to ensure it isn’t subject to a proposed rule that could limit the tax benefits of combining with Sprint due to Sprint’s large losses. Source: Kansas City Business Journal article > Fear of losing billions in tax writeoffs may change Sprint/T-Mobile calculus

The UK’s Labour party has outlined a plan promising free broadband for all homes and businesses in the country by partially nationalizing BT and taxing tech companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google to fund the $20 billion project. Source: Guardian > Labour pledges free broadband for all homes and firms in the UK

The headline on 14 November 2019

Palo Alto Networks announced updates to its Prisma Access platform including new cloud-delivered software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) and data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities. Source: PR Newswire > Palo Alto Networks Delivers the Industry’s Most Comprehensive Secure Access Service Edge

Nokia and AT&T have launched an IoT innovation lab in Germany to demonstrate how IoT solutions can help solve business problems. Source: Nokia and AT&T launch IoT Innovation Studio in Germany

Intelsat’s stock tumbled as concerns over the timing and terms of a C-Band radio spectrum auction grow. Source: Barron’s > Intelsat Stock Tumbles as Controversy Grows Over 5G Spectrum Auction

Mobilitie is deploying a future-ready wireless network at the CBS News studio in Washington D.C., to help employees work and research without interruption. Source: PR Newswire > This Just In: Mobilitie Launches Wireless Network at Historic CBS News Bureau

The headline on 13 November 2019

Amdocs announced today that it has expanded its role in delivering integration and validation services within the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) initiative. Source: Amdocs Accelerates Service Provider Journeys to 5G and Open Cloud Networks with Expanded Integration and Validation Services as Part of the Telecom Infra Project

EKINOPS announced that T-Mobile Czech Republic (CZ) is using its open hardware and software to streamline management across part of the telco’s product portfolio with the OneAccess branded OneOS6 operating system. Source: PR Newswire > Ekinops Enables T-Mobile Czech Republic to Deliver Legacy and Virtual Services Across Single Operating System

Researchers from Purdue University and the University of Iowa today detailed 11 new 5G design vulnerabilities. Source: Wired article > As 5G Rolls Out, Troubling New Security Flaws Emerge

Nokia has been selected by the California OES Public Safety Communications office to upgrade a statewide microwave network to support first responders. Source: Nokia selected by California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to upgrade statewide microwave network to support first responder communications

The headline on 12 November 2019

D2iQ announced the release of Kommander, a new product that delivers federated multi-cluster management and governance across disparate clusters for any on-premise or cloud Kubernetes distribution. Source: PR Newswire > D2iQ Introduces Kommander for Enterprise-Grade Governance and Management of Kubernetes Clusters

Oracle Communications has launched a new cloud-native deployment option for billing and revenue management (BRM). Source: PR Newswire > Oracle Introduces Cloud Native Modern Monetization

Nokia and Sendai City together tested connected drones for tsunami evacuation alerts, using a private LTE mobile network provided by Nokia Digital Automation Cloud. Source: Nokia joins Sendai City in the world’s first test of private wireless connected drones for tsunami evacuation alerts

Advanced RF Technologies deployed its ADXV Medium Power Remote (MPR) DAS in Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), bringing wireless connectivity to 5 million travelers each year.

The headline on 11 November 2019

WeWork is in talks with T-Mobile CEO John Legere about possibly taking over the embattled co-working company, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Source: CNBC > T-Mobile CEO John Legere is a candidate to become new CEO of WeWork

Zain has selected Ericsson to build its 5G network in Bahrain, with commercial 5G services expected to go live by year-end. Source: Erisson > Zain selects Ericsson for 5G in Bahrain

Delta will debut its new 5G-ready cell site gateway DCSG Platforms AGCV208S and AGC7008S at the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) Regional Summit in Amsterdam. Source: PR Newswire > Delta Launches New 5G-Ready Cell Site Gateway AGCV208S Series

The headline on 08 November 2019

Microsoft certifies 3 SD-WAN vendors to deliver Office 365. While it announced its first networking partners today, Microsoft is still working with other vendors that want to be certified. Those vendors include Cisco, Oracle and Riverbed. Source: AsiaOne > Microsoft Office 365 Announces New Partnerships to Optimize O365 Networking

Sprint unveils new unlimited perks including Amazon Prime and Hulu. Source: Sprint Newsroom > New ‘Sprint Perks’ Unlocks $875 in Value for Customers on its Top-Tier Unlimited Plan

PCTEL reported revenue of $23.6 million in the third quarter. Source: BusinessWire > PCTEL Reports $23.6 Million in Third Quarter Revenue

AT&T announced it reached its goal of hiring 20,000 military veterans one year ahead of schedule. Source: AT&T Reaches Goal of Hiring 20,000 Veterans Ahead of Schedule

The headline on 07 November 2019

Sequans Communications and Seong Ji Industrial announced that Seong Ji’s LTM600 LTE Cat M1/NB1 module, based on Sequans’ Monarch chip, has been certified by LGU+, one of Korea’s leading mobile operators. Source: Sequans and Seong Ji Announce New LTE-M/NB-IoT Module Based on Sequans’ Monarch Technology Now Certified in South Korea

Smarsh announced its cloud-native Enterprise Archive solution was now available to bring cloud scale and multi-cloud deployments to the enterprise information archiving space. Source: Yahoo Finance > Cloud-Native Archive from Smarsh Delivers Global Enterprises Unprecedented Flexibility and Scale

Alphabet’s board of directors has opened an investigation into how executives handled claims of sexual harassment and other misconduct, including behavior of Chief Legal Officer David Drummond. Source: CNBC > Alphabet’s board of directors is investigating executives over inappropriate relationships

Counterpoint forecasts more than 200 million 5G smartphones will ship in 2020. Source: Counterpoint > 5G-Enabled Platforms Will Proliferate in 2020

Chinese state media reports China has officially started researching sixth-generation telecoms (6G) technology, aiming to promote the latest wireless innovation. Source: Reuters > China kicks off work on 6G research, state media say

The headline on 06 November 2019

Apple has published four new white papers outlining technical details of certain privacy features in its newest operating systems. Source: Reuters > Apple publishes new technical details on privacy features

Huawei’s chief executive said the Chinese tech giant can survive without the U.S. and that he’s not concerned with China-U.S. trade talks. Source: WSJ > Huawei Founder Says Chinese Giant Doesn’t Need the U.S.

Ericsson released a new report outlining how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation can help to boost cost-efficient customer experiences as 5G drives the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0. Source: Ericsson report: AI-powered operations key to improving customer experience

Huawei is not yet directly engaged with any U.S. company over the firm’s proposal to ease concerns about the security of its platform by licensing its 5G network technology. Source: Reuters > Huawei founder says not yet talking directly with U.S. firms to license 5G

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) announced that Vitess, a database clustering system, has graduated from the incubation stage. The cloud-native database system reaches version 4.0 with a focus on usability and performance. Source: Cloud Native Computing Foundation Announces Vitess Graduation

The headline on 05 November 2019

U.S. Cellular announced new unlimited plans starting at $30 per line/month for four lines. Source: BusinessWire > U.S. Cellular Offers Customers Choice and Customization with New Unlimited Plans Starting at $30 per Month

Ericsson and OPPO have established a joint 5G lab in Shenzhen, China, focusing on 5G innovation. Source: Ericsson and OPPO strengthen 5G collaboration

Deutsche Telekom is now offering its enterprise customers new IT services and applications for Apple Mac devices, includes deployment infrastructure, app development, Office 365 integration and flexible leasing. Telekom also provides AppleCare for Enterprise and device lifecycle management for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Source: Telekom Media > Telekom to offer new services for Apple business customers

Infinera announced it has rescheduled the release of its financial results for the third fiscal quarter from tomorrow afternoon to the pre-market opening on Nov. 12. Source: Yahoo Finance > Infinera to Reschedule Third Quarter 2019 Earnings Conference Call to November 12, 2019

The headline on 04 November 2019

Vodafone Group announced that Vivek Badrinath will be appointed CEO of its new European tower company (TowerCo) effective 1 April 2020. TowerCo will be legally separated into a new organization and will become operational by May 2020. Source: Vodafone announces executive committee changes

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said licenses for American companies to sell components to Huawei would be coming “very shortly.” Source: Bloomberg > Ross Optimistic on China Deal, Trump Wants It Signed in the U.S.

 

Ciena has officially closed its acquisition of Centina Systems, which will be integrated into Blue Planet division. Source: blueplanet blog > Closing the Loop: Ciena closes acquisition of Centina

U.S. government funding in artificial intelligence has fallen short and the country needs to invest in research, train an AI-ready workforce and apply the technology to national security missions, according to an independent government-commissioned panel. Source: Reuters > U.S. urged to invest more in AI; ex-Google CEO warns of China’s progress

KP Performance Antennas expanded its line of TV White Space (TVWS) antennas to include support for frequencies from 470-698 MHz and 2×2 MIMO radios. Source: KP Performance Antennas Releases New Flat Panel TVWS Antenna

The headline on 01 November 2019

AT&T has added three new opt-in automatic fraud call blocking related features to its free Call Protect app, meant to help users avoid unwanted robocalls.

• Calls identified as “Spam Risk” can now be blocked automatically for no charge.
• Calls from anyone not in your address book can be sent to voicemail automatically.
• Calls can be blocked using Siri shortcuts. “Hey Siri, block the last call.”

Source: AT&T Call Protect Adds More Features at No Charge

Nokia launched NetGuard Adaptive Security Operations, which the vendor said replaces manually intensive approaches to cybersecurity with automated processes that leverage machine learning, threat intelligence, and analytics. Source: Nokia Press Release > Nokia launches NetGuard Adaptive Security Operations for 5G era

Inseego announced that it has donated 4G LTE MiFi mobile hotspots to the Northern California VOAD network to provide critical communications during the power outages and wildfires that have displaced hundreds of thousands of residents statewide. Also, powered by Sprint and Verizon, Inseego is donating backup batteries and solar-powered portable chargers for recharging wireless devices in remote locations and harsh conditions. Source: BusinessWire > San Diego-based Inseego Donates Mobile Hotspots to Disaster Relief Organizations Throughout the State of California

Senior government officials in multiple U.S.-allied countries were targeted earlier this year with hacking software that used Facebook’s WhatsApp to take over users’ phones. Source: Reuters > Exclusive: Government officials around the globe targeted for hacking through WhatsApp – sources