Dr. Peter ANTON

Strengthen your 5G network with the latest in security tech! ABI Research explores how Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is transforming 5G network protection in this new white paper. Discover how you can safeguard your critical infrastructure against modern threats. Download now: https://nokia.ly/4dxjC7o #Cybersecurity

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Download the #whitepaper to see how #XDR is transforming #5g network #security! Nokia Michela Menting

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This week I was invited to Spirent Communications EMEA partner event in Valencia, as a guest speaker on evolving telecoms & networks - and the impact for suppliers of test equipment and network-assurance. The full day of presentations as background helped me hone my speech. (NDAs carefully observed in this post). I’ve always found test vendors interesting, as they have a better view of the “real world” of telecom operators’ and enterprises’ upcoming deployments and launches than almost anyone else. Telco don’t put anything in the market without comprehensive testing first, especially given compliance risks as well as commercial ones. The event was a reality check – and eye-opener on some things I hadn’t previously considered. Spirent mostly sells gear that emulates traffic or devices, to see if network equipment or software performs appropriately. For instance, an MNO might want to test several vendors’ 5G core networks in their internal labs, to compare performance, security and reliability. It is easier to use a box to mimic 100s of devices generating radio or core network requests, rather than racks full of physical smartphones instead. There are also test systems for Wi-Fi, enterprise network security (eg SD-WAN and SASE), O-RAN and various emerging 5G capabilities, including cloud-based elements, plus ways to automate the test and lab processes. Two adjacent sectors speak to network testing outside traditional mobile networks, in areas that I’ve covered recently myself. It has specific systems for testing positioning and timing functions, especially those delivered from satellite. Think about GPS and various peers, and their importance to devices from smartphones to cars, boats and planes. Clearly you can’t put a physical satellite in your lab (or a constellation), so if you want to test a new device or complex system, you’ll have to emulate the satellite signals instead. Given the growing number of LEO and GEO providers offering positioning, connectivity etc, that’s an important test domain to consider. Another new area is testing of networks used in AI datacentres. The scale and workloads mean the internal connectivity in DCs full of GPUs is different to that in conventional DCs – and again, these need testing before deployment. Again, it’s much easier if you can emulate a load of GPU servers in the lab, rather than run and configure/connect real physical boxes with all the cost and power implications. My own speech covered my normal terrain – the telecoms downturn and future outlook, new stakeholders and models in networks (wholesale, #private5G, utilities, #neutralhosts), shifts in #spectrum & sharing between #5G, #WiFi, broadcast and defence users, coverage/performance needs in rural areas and indoors, virtualisation and disaggregation, APIs, the impact of AI on traffic patterns – and shifting regulation. All these will change and extend the testing landscape, I think. Thanks for the invitation Lisa Elliott & Mark Bateman!

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Need another great reason for the Competition and Markets Authority to approve the proposed merger between Vodafone and Three UK? Try improved railway coverage! According to the MNOs if the merger is approved it will mean they can deploy true 5G across the UK’s rail network, which they claim would unlock £3 billion for the UK economy. I am always sceptical on some stats like this, not to mention others like how stand-alone 5G would reduce delays on the rail network, but it would be nice to be able to connect when on a train! #connectivity #networks #investment #innovation #mnos #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #UK #masts #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications #technology #rail #railways https://lnkd.in/ee8yrxHt

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Really excited to have unveiled the next evolution in our New EE journey with Howard Watson, our Chief Security and Networks Officer, this morning.   We've launched the UK’s newest mobile network: 5G standalone on EE across 15 cities – and we’ll be adding many more locations over the coming months.   5GSA is the next evolution of the UK's best mobile network, built to power the #AI demands of the future. We're not just bringing customers a better experience thanks to greater speed, reliability and capacity with 5GSA on EE.   It will also open the door to emerging business models that use ultra-reliable low-latency communications and network slicing.   5GSA on EE sets a new standard for connectivity. It builds on a decade of mobile leadership and is underpinned by the world-leading innovation of BT Group. It's available now across a range of handsets and new plans. And that's not all we've announced today…   We've also unveiled the Smart Hub Pro and Smart WiFi Pro, ensuring our EE home broadband customers are some of the first in the world to benefit from the latest WiFi standard designed to meet the growing demands of a connected home – Wi-Fi 7.   This is a game-changing UK-first!   WiFi 7 features the latest tri-band tech, offering faster speeds and more capacity to support more devices in more corners of the home.   Benefits extend to older devices that aren’t WiFi 7-enabled: Samsung will perform better, Xbox will play better and Netflix will stream better. And the Smart Hub Pro and Smart WiFi Pro work with the EE app to access services such as Game Mode and advanced in-home network and parental controls.   Our partnerships with some of the best tech companies out there have played a crucial role in helping us reach this point.   So huge thanks to Cristiano R. Amon and QUALCOMM EUROPE, INC., and James Kitto at Samsung Electronics UK for playing your part in today's exciting launch 🤝   On our brilliant partners, I mentioned being a network optimised for AI.   That in part is down to an exciting world-first and UK-exclusive partnership with Google. Google One AI Premium is now part of EE’s Full Works line up, inc Gemini Advanced to tackle even complex projects with AI-powered tools.   What we’ve announced today isn’t just a better way of connecting. These are the key foundations for how our networks will continue to evolve for EE customers. More here: https://lnkd.in/eazd2p-8

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It was great to speak with Capacity Media - a techoraco brand recently about the pivotal point the UK has reached in its 5G journey. While 5G coverage has improved significantly in recent years, we’re still trailing behind other countries in fully leveraging its capabilities. To truly harness the benefits of 5G, widespread availability of standalone (SA) architecture, paired with widespread mid-band spectrum coverage, is crucial. This "gold standard" of 5G unlocks a range of new applications that non-standalone deployments cannot match. A key advantage is network slicing, which allows operators to create multiple virtual networks tailored for enterprises, broadcasting, gaming, and more – all on a single physical infrastructure. Yet challenges remain in bringing the value of 5G SA to society and businesses at scale. Collaboration with government to simplify and accelerate planning and access will be key to overcoming these obstacles, and ensuring the UK doesn't miss out on the immense economic benefits of widespread 5G SA adoption. Thank you to Capacity for the opportunity to share my perspectives on this important topic! https://lnkd.in/drZxfJf2 #5G #standalone #networkslicing

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Communication Service Providers (CSPs) today are exploring new and different ways to unlock the untapped potential and revenue streams of their networks. A key to this is having the ability to deliver differentiated services on 5G standalone. But how do you enable premium services in your network in the first place? The first episode on Differentiated Connectivity in Ericsson’s Tech Unveiled series carries great insights and know-how on the subject, giving operators a blueprint to get there. How do you think technologies like network slicing and differentiated connectivity as a whole will change telco offerings in the future? 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gNTvKpWb #TeamEricsson #5GSA #NetworkSlicing #Technology #Technology

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Communication Service Providers (CSPs) today are exploring new and different ways to unlock the untapped potential and revenue streams of their networks. A key to this is having the ability to deliver differentiated services on 5G standalone. But how do you enable premium services in your network in the first place? The first episode on Differentiated Connectivity in Ericsson’s Tech Unveiled series carries great insights and know-how on the subject, giving operators a blueprint to get there. How do you think technologies like network slicing and differentiated connectivity as a whole will change telco offerings in the future? 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gqueYpnE #TeamEricsson #5GSA #NetworkSlicing

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Discover the power of the new ThingSpace Rules Engine. Join our panel of experts as they demonstrate how this innovative tool puts control back in your hand for managing devices. Gain insights on setting up rules and hear real-world success stories. Don’t miss out - click the image to unlock better cost control today. #newThingSpace #RulesEngine #DeviceManagemen

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As I walked out of Thames Tower at the end of another successful Imagine Live event last week, I reflected on the ingredients that make this event so special and important.   Imagine Live is an annual event where we invite customers and colleagues into our UK HQ to showcase Ericsson’s products and services. Each day is dedicated to a different customer, with time for our team to explore as well. With 5 keynotes, 10 workshops and around 15 demonstrations there were lots of opportunities to share insights and explore Ericsson’s technology. The event works so well because:   1.     We’re focused on the customer. With over 60 customers every event, that’s 250+ customers over the four days. Aside from what they learn about Ericsson UK & Ireland, customers told me how valuable our event is in getting different parts of their businesses together in one place. It makes for a good team day. There is also a lot of collaboration too, where we work with our customers to solve shared challenges, diving deep into topics like monetizing 5G. Unlike a large industry event such as MWC, at Imagine Live we can offer each of our customers closed sessions where we showcase developments without their competitors being in the room. That’s another plus. 2.     There’s the magic of gathering in-person. It was wonderful to see our space bursting to the seams with customers and colleagues. All that human interaction! It generated such a buzz. It's exciting - and necessary - to have face-to-face interaction at scale. That energy doesn’t happen the same way online via Teams. It’s also the kind of event where you can have many important conversations, not by following a tight agenda, but instead creating the space that allows collaborative conversations to happen. One customer told me they’d achieved more here in three hours on a project than they had in three months! Being outside of their own offices’ customers get a different perspective on their business. 3.     We can get up-close with the technology. At Imagine Live, you can see, touch and feel our latest work and innovations. Even for someone like me who is very familiar with our products and services, nothing beats seeing it in action. There was a popular demo on how network slicing works in a stadium environment, operating end to end. I could see a real ‘light bulb’ moment in the room where people suddenly went: ‘I really get it now!’   Thanks to the team behind the event who bring everything together seamlessly, and to our customers for coming along and seeing what we’re up to. The exciting thing to me is that next year we’ll have a whole host of new technology to showcase. I can't wait!   #ImagineLive2024 #CustomerEvent #Collaboration #5G

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Thursday School: Hiding In Plain Sight! Now I’m not suggesting that Vodafone UK Chief Network Officer Andrea Donà follows my blog looking at mobile sites hidden on historic structures, but this week he talked about Vodafone’s use of Horton Tower in Dorset to hide Mobile Infrastructure in plain sight. This should be applauded, as too few consumers (or planners?) are aware of either the large MNO efforts or limitations of disguised sites. https://lnkd.in/eTtGtz-N So, 2 Simple Questions this week. - Would you like more mobile sites to be hidden on existing buildings? - How much month extra are you willing to pay to (not) see more #HiddenInfrastructure?   #InvisibleInfrastructure #EdgeDC #Telecommunications #EveryDaysaSchoolDay #Mobile 🤳🏼 Previous Post: https://lnkd.in/e6qkyFcJ

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A Greener Future for Connectivity

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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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Seeing a lot of talk about the UK’s 5G capabilities recently, but just how true is it? Well, our 5G connection is lagging behind other G7 nations, and the situation isn’t improving. With average speeds falling short, even city dwellers are grappling with unreliable service. A recent report highlighted that British users access 5G only about 10% of the time, a stark contrast to more than 40% in India. The root causes are multifaceted, But a lack of long-term investment and poor planning frameworks have compounded the problem. The £500 million announced in this weeks’ budget doesn’t touch the sides of the estimated £37 billion needed for full 5G rollout by 2030. This isn’t just about loading memes faster; it’s about adding £159 billion to the UK economy by 2035 through seamless connectivity. #5G #UKTelecom #DigitalEconomy #InfrastructureInvestment

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According to RootMetrics EE have again won best network in the UK in the first half of 2024! So dominant are EE that they won (or jointly won) every single metric that was measured, a massive level of dominance. Congratulations to EE and BT Group, it does make you wonder though about why the regulator is taking so long to approve or reject the proposed Vodafone and Three UK merger – as I wrote yesterday, until a decision is made investment decisions are not being made as the decisions are fundamentally different for a merged company vs two individual companies. While its great to see one party being dominant for a long time, it reminds me of football leagues that see one winner year after year – ultimately the lack of competition leads to diminished product… #connectivity #networks #investment #innovation #mnos #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #enterprise #UK Virgin Media O2 #towers #masts #inbuilding #property #realestate #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications #technology https://lnkd.in/eCDX_2s6

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This is an interesting take on the proposed Vodafone and Three UK merger from Financial Times – basically asserting that the Competition and Markets Authority’s view on the merger will be based on ensuring that consumers are not in any way forced to pay more for services – either at a consumer or a wholesale level. This seems to lack nuance to me – the major issue in our industry (Shared Access are a neutral host that designs, builds and owns telecom infrastructure that can be shared and help facilitate increased capacity and coverage vs each MNO building and funding the same infrastructure side by side) is that as long as we as consumers continually demand LOWER tariffs for MORE data (or services like 5G) there is NO incentive for any profit based business to invest in delivering those services. What most of this analysis misses regarding the potential merger is that we need better and stronger networks – the existing regulatory structure and approach has created the current scenario. Maybe it’s time for the regulator to think different? #connectivity #networks #merger #acquisition #m&a #investment #innovation #mnos #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #enterprise #UK #towers #masts #inbuilding #property #realestate #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications #technology https://lnkd.in/eih_PqEp

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Some fascinating insights from Andrea Donà on a broad set if subjects from 5G SA and slicing use cases for broadcast, to cloud strategy, Open RAN and the 6G eco system as well as justifying merger in the UK market. https://lnkd.in/eXXDBQWg

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There have a been a number of announcements about #MNOs launching #PrivateNetworks, this is another example from Vodafone España. A question for you all out there - do you believe Private Networks will be deployed and driven by the MNOs? On the one hand MNOs have lots of #spectrum and they understand how to run and deploy networks. On the other hand are MNOs really set up to innovate and serve the needs of a diverse customer base? Could it be more likely that Neutral Hosts, Installation companies or even existing wifi and cabling type companies are better suited to address the needs of the customer base? #connectivity #networks #privatenetworks #private5g #investment #innovation #mnos #wifi #2g #3g #4g #5g #business #enterprise #spain #property #realestate #growth #mobile #mobilenetworks #telecoms #telecommunications #technology Ericsson https://lnkd.in/eiFf6FzS

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