Martin Morgan

Our monthly phone bills have decreased by 26% (37% when counting for inflation) over the past decade, resulting in €2.5 billion in savings for Irish consumers. Simultaneously, the telecoms industry has witnessed remarkable growth in product quality, with faster downloads and expanded data allowances. Cheap and abundant mobile connectivity has paved the way for highly successful digital business models, including popular platforms like Deliveroo, YouTube, social media, WhatsApp, Uber, Spotify, and many more. These applications have become integral to our daily lives. Mobile connectivity now plays a pivotal role in our economy, supporting numerous jobs across various sectors. It's fascinating to see how advancements in technology have transformed the way we live and work.

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Hats off to this initiative - A regional-based 5G model in the UK bringing telecom innovation to the local level - why not in Canada? Interesting model for Canada to consider - a focus on the local & regional level for telecom innovation and investment, instead of the same-old single broad-brush to paint all of Canada. The article below highlights an initiative by Belfast City Council, which has secured £3.8 million wireless innovation funding from the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and become one of 10 5G Innovation Regions across the UK. Over £36 million is being invested in regions across the UK, including Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to drive economic growth and innovation in key local sectors by unlocking the opportunities presented by advanced wireless connectivity and digital technologies.  See here for more details on this innovative UK telecom initiative: https://lnkd.in/giTVVQS2 The quotes say it all - per the UK's Minister of Data and Digital Infrastructure, Sir John Whittingdale: “We’re channeling millions into local areas to unlock the potential of cutting-edge 5G wireless and digital technologies which will reshape our public services, drive economic growth and boost innovation. This new fund will give local areas from across the country the opportunity to be at the forefront of the UK’s world-leading 5G revolution. “For instance, by using 5G for farming and creating science parks, we’re not just helping local communities, but also encouraging new ideas all over the UK. This is more than just linking smartphones. It’s about using powerful digital connections to transform various sectors in the economy and the public sector throughout the entire country.” As a counterpoint to this UK approach in fostering grassroots telecom innovation - Canada has consistently taken a highly centralized & top-down model. Canada's top-down / broad brush approach has created economic barriers to telecom investment, with poor end-results on cost & middling results on bridging our chronic rural & First Nations digital divide. Given our poor & middling telecom policy results, why not change things up a bit in Canada? Perhaps it's time for a policy change at Canada's Federal Ministry of ISED and at the CRTC - a subtle change with a shift to a spectrum strategy that optionally allocates some more (not all - just some) spectrum resources to the regional level for distribution & for fostering local / regional tech innovation with municipalities, industry & universities. Given that the municipal & regional level often is able to foster innovation & address service gaps in a more nimble & focused manner - a policy model change worth considering in Canada. #innovation #Canada #ISED #CRTC #telecommunication #policychange #policyalternatives #spectrum #digitaldivide #PSBN #wireless #5G #rural #FirstNations #municipalities #changeisgood

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A report from Kinetic found that speed (36%) and reliability (35%) are top internet priorities for small businesses – which are responsible for more than 40% of our country’s economic output and two-thirds of new jobs.   Telecom Ramblings shares how our new bundled fiber and voice services specifically tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized business give them an enterprise-grade experience that will scale with them as they grow.   👉Read more here: https://bit.ly/40kRKAs.

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Great article highlighting one of the points that has had a major impact on the deployment of networks across the globe - how Governments 'sell' spectrum to MNOs and the impact this can have on rollouts. We have seen auctions in the past that have raised billions for Government coffers, but that leaves MNOs with major headaches in terms of monetisation as they then must upgrade (or build) masts and networks across the entire country, add new active equipment and provision upgraded backhaul, all of which is expensive, especially when they are in price wars with each other for customers. Renewals of these spectrum allocations will become more and more of an issue as the original licence periods expire, interesting to see how the German regulator is approaching the issue – especially considering their decisions creating new challenger companies when other M&A has taken place which potentially creates more headaches later on. Worth a read. #connectivity #networks #spectrum #strategy #investment #innovation #mnos #regulation #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #enterprise #germany #europe #UK #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications https://lnkd.in/ejVdwW6T

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Having given some thought to the spectrum policy questions posed by the European Commission's white paper "How to master Europe's digital infrastructure needs", especially in relation to strengthening EU coordination on auction timing, the thoughts of my colleague Janette Stewart and I are summarised in this article https://lnkd.in/eWFPmizV.

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Multi-tenant cell sites can enhance coverage in Ireland by strategically targeting areas where two or more Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) experience coverage gaps or partial service. This approach enables more efficient resource allocation and improved connectivity.

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Vodafone has reaffirmed its commitment to providing 5G Standalone (5G SA) to Northern Ireland, as a result of its proposed merger with Three UK. Northern Ireland stands to gain billions in productivity benefits from 5G Standalone (5G SA). The roll out of the latest version of 5G technology (5G SA), would mean communities across Northern Ireland – including those in rural locations – could take advantage of the most up-to-date technology in areas spanning Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education and Agriculture. The Proposed merger could also commit to exceeding the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network 4G coverage targets, and extend 5G into rural Northern Ireland communities. Vodafone’s existing 4G network is a lifeline for many of Northern Ireland’s rural communities, while 5G is already available in a number of locations across the country. https://lnkd.in/dSGGqVzK

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On Monday, Mario Draghi presented a crucial report on EU competitiveness, highlighting urgent issues in technology and connectivity with significant implications for Ireland. Building on previous reports, Draghi emphasised the telecom sector’s insufficient scale, outdated competition policies, poor spectrum management, and digital ecosystem imbalances, all contributing to Europe’s lagging global performance. We are accustomed to Ireland ranking exceptionally highly on international competitiveness overall, often second or third in the world, but that is not matched by our digital competitiveness where we rank only 21st. As the next College of Commissioners is appointed and the Dáil resumes, these reports open the door for vital discussions on Europe’s competitiveness and the future of telecommunications. Vodafone has long advocated that Europe’s and Ireland’s economic success hinges on next-generation connectivity. Ireland’s Enterprise White Paper focuses on digitalisation and decarbonisation, both reliant on robust connectivity. But the fundamental challenge of balancing ever-increasing regulation with the investment in connectivity that will be required to improve our competitiveness remains. Getting this right means building the world’s best connectivity in the EU, delivering the service and innovation citizens and businesses deserve. For Ireland, it’s about thriving in the digital age and strengthening our position in a competitive Europe. The message is clear: urgent action is required and we look forward to working with policy makers here to ensure Ireland is best positioned to compete. https://lnkd.in/eq8WvRiJ

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"The age-old wisdom of a Native American proverb, “You can’t wake a person who is pretending to be asleep”, resonates strongly with the current malaise pervading the telecoms industry. It is a fitting metaphor for the industry’s collective denial of its own flawed 5G gambits, which is costing it dearly in capital and, more deeply, compromising its long-term viability." Credit: Luke Kehoe, "5G: telcoms’ denial of its flaws and failures is costing them dearly" Short term the industry needs to get back to basics - customers, efficiency, 101 running a good business Long term... #6G cannot be the next #5G https://lnkd.in/eQDy-vj6

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Mind the Gap....... The monetization gap is real, has existed for years and is arguably the main reason why telcos are on a path to commoditization. Continued over investment in new technology areas at the expense of seeking the maximum return from those investments. But something has changed. The plateauing of and in some cases the decline in mobile traffic levels creates an opportunity for a strategic re-think, a re-balancing of investment focus away from high capital intensity towards R&D, with much greater weight placed on the services consumers / businesses require and the network needed to deliver that. From build it and they will come to enthuse them and they will spend. Link to eBook in comments. #telco #mobile #monetization #BSS

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Excellent to be featured among other industry experts in Comms Dealer's October Kaleidoscope where I delved into the potential of emerging technologies like IoT in a world that's constantly evolving. In my opinion, embracing these advancements in the telco industry will definitely open doors to new possibilities. How we define 'communication and collaboration' isn't the same as when I first joined the industry. One thing for certain, two things for sure, we're driving progress and connectivity in ways we only begun to imagine.   Full feature here: https://lnkd.in/eWmhAD-H  

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What a phenomenal week the last one turned out to be!    You know how we all try to do our bit for the planet? Like unplugging our chargers or flipping the light switch off as we leave a room? Well, our team has taken those everyday energy-saving habits and scaled them big time. And this led to Ericsson’s eco-friendly innovation being honored with the Green Future Best Practice Award at the Deutsche Telekom Campus Fair 2024! 🌍🏆   The journey that brought us here was a team effort between our MELA SCR team and the local business team on the ground, particularly the Deutsche Telekom Key Account Manager, who all poured their expertise into crafting an award submission that shone a light on our collaborative spirit and innovation. Together, they crunched the numbers and showcased how Deutsche Telekom’s network in Germany is making leaps in capacity and energy performance, all while lowering its carbon footprint with our new energy-efficient radios. We're talking a massive 60.8 GWh energy saved annually, and a reduction of 4,290 tons of CO2e. This is what modernization with a conscience looks like, and it's helping DT sprint towards their ambitious Net Zero goal by 2040.   But this isn't just about celebrating a win. It's about setting the stage for what's next. The innovation we've highlighted here is ready to be rolled out to other markets, driving sustainability and business benefits far and wide. Here's to our team's hard work and to all the exciting, earth-friendly advancements on the horizon! #Sustainability #GreenFuture #Innovation #TeamEricsson #NetZero #EnergyEfficiency #DeutscheTelekom #ClimateAction Stefan Growe | Alina Claire Ostenda | Christian Francke | Cornelia Izquierdo-B. | Souleiman Midani | Yasser Ayad | LOUISE HUGHES | Marisol Soltero | Rory Moore | Cordula Knüppel | Martin Ostermeier | Jan Thünnesen

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Before building out new middle-mile networks or upgrading existing ones, network operators should look at six key considerations as they source a robust middle-mile or broadband transport solution. Find out what they are from Kurt Raaflaub on the Infinera blog: #MiddleMile #BroadbandNetworks #OpticalNetworking

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Interesting, if we are now at or near 'peak CAPEX' for telcos, which has historically been around 16-20% of revenue, will some of that now be turned towards R&D to bridge the monetization gap highlighted in the blog here? Pointless building a car and then not fuelling it. #telco #monetization #bss #revenuemanagement #billing

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Our @VerizonBusiness CRO of Global Enterprise & Public Sector, Massimo Peselli had some interesting thoughts on innovation and connectivity following Wednesday's Innovation Sessions event at Radio City Music Hall. What is your take on technology's future impact on the entertainment industry?

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If you want some pragmatic insight on how CSPs should look to leverage AI then check out this interview with Kailem Anderson #AI #blueplanet #OSS

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Telcos are calling for compliance parity with OTTs on pesky calls and SMSes. Despite significant progress in curbing unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) via SMS, voice calls remain challenging. Telcos want regulatory bodies to extend compliance to OTT apps like WhatsApp, which are currently unregulated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunicators (DoT). TRAI is set to discuss the potential regulation of OTT players soon. Meanwhile, telcos are leveraging distributed ledger technology (DLT) to combat UCC and collaborating with the government on new measures. #RegulatoryCompliance #Telcos #SMS https://lnkd.in/eZhYj7fw

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