Also in today’s EMEA regional roundup: stc taps Ericsson’s 5G kit; Kyivstar buys solar power firm; Vodafone keeps track of your family.
Nokia warns AI is “too big” for Europe’s networks, backing that claim with a survey of “business leaders across industries and telecommunication providers” it commissioned. Just over half of surveyed businesses report poor network performance, while 81% of respondents from communication service providers said customers are asking for AI services their networks can’t deliver. The vendor – which likely wouldn’t mind a big wave of network spending – is calling for policy changes, better collaboration between business and telecom, and defending European sovereignty.
Ericsson and stc team up to boost digital infrastructure
Ericsson has announced a five-year “master frame agreement” with the Saudi operator group stc, through which they seek to improve digital infrastructure in the country. This includes 5G equipment as the telco plans to roll out 5G standalone and 5G advanced, with cloud-native and network management solutions also part of the deal. The partnership will also allow stc to deliver network slicing, which it hopes will create new business opportunities in the kingdom.
BT and Ericsson sing the praises of private 5G
Over two years after the launch of private 5G at the Port of Tyne, located near Newcastle, Ericsson and BT say the project has generated new “operational gains” such as supporting Caterpillar’s remotely controlled shovels. The UK project relies on Ericsson’s core and radio infrastructure, and uses BT’s spectrum, to cover an area of 620 acres. In the past year, the network has supported live container scanning, personal protective equipment (PPE) monitoring, emission monitoring, and high-security access control, among other use cases.
Kyivstar acquires solar power company
Ukraine’s largest operator, Kyivstar, has bought solar power company LLC SUNVIN 11, marking its first investment into renewable energy. The electricity generated from its solar plant, which has a capacity of 12.9 MW, will be supplied to the national grid. Kyivstar seeks to support its operational and financial foundations through the investment, while also supporting Ukraine’s energy resilience. The country’s energy system continues to be targeted by Russia in the ongoing war.
Germany improves 5G coverage
The German federal networks agency, Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), has published new data on 5G networks. Around 95% of territory is covered with the technology, up from 93% last year, with Deutsche Telekom covering most ground (87%, up from 83% last year). The biggest focus in 5G expansion is now on its standalone variant, the regulator said.
VMO2 taps Freshwave’s small cells
UK neutral host company Freshwave will install 4G and 5G small cells for Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) in the center of Guildford, a town on the outskirts of London. The small cells – equipment designed for boosting coverage in busy urban areas – will improve coverage and reduce pressure on VMO2’s wider network.
Who’s home?
Vodafone has unveiled a new feature on its latest router model – Ultra Hub 7 – that will allow UK broadband customers to keep track of members of their household. The app can issue alerts when account holders arrive or leave the house, as the router will keep track of smartphones connecting and disconnecting to Wi-Fi. Jury is still out on whether the feature will lead to happy parents, disgruntled offspring, or both.
https://www.lightreading.com/ai-machine-learning/eurobites-nokia-warns-networks-need-to-evolve-in-ai-era
