Bell Mobility announced the launch of Advanced Messaging, Canada's first integrated Rich Communications Services (RCS) messaging experience. Available first on Samsung's latest-generation smartphones, Bell Advanced Messaging offers a suite of mobile messaging features previously available through specialized third-party applications.

One of Mexico's largest mobile operators, Telefónica Mexico and ItsOn announced the launch of a new fully digital renovated experience in Mexico under the Movistar On brand. The enhanced on-device experience enables Movistar On users to customize their service with bundled plans, OTT subscriptions and Value Added Services that better suit their individual needs. The new Movistar On service has attracted more than 700,000 new customers and is continuing to grow daily.

Nokia has formally launched the 5G MoNArch (5G Mobile Network Architecture) research project. Supported and financed as part of Phase II of the 5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership (5G-PPP) — under the auspices of the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme — 5G MoNArch will put fifth-generation mobile network architecture into practice. The project consortium, consisting of 14 leading industrial and academic partners and coordinated by Nokia, will focus on the implementation of a set of 5G use cases in real-world testbeds.

IoT News

Kerlink and YEAP! announced their collaboration to roll out Argentina’s first LoRaWAN network. YEAP! was recently launched by Inversiones Condor (ICondor), a strong player in telecommunications and technology in Argentina and South America, to operate the new network. Continuing its international expansion, Kerlink will provide several hundred gateways for the deployment, which begins immediately in Buenos Aires and Rosario and will provide nationwide coverage by July 2018. The deployment follows a successful pilot project early this year. The fast-growing company will supply its Wirnet^TM iBTS Compact stations in local ISM bands (923 MHz). Kerlink already has installed more than 8,500 of these versatile, long-range, two-way and geolocation-ready gateways for IoT network operators in Europe and South Asia.

mPrest announced a collaboration with Bezeq, Israel's largest telecom provider, to deliver a Smart City / Smart Campus software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering. The collaboration will bring mPrest's system-of-systems expertise to smart cities, integrating all of their IoT systems, from video cameras to waste and water management to environmental and parking monitoring. Bezeq' Smart City Application will use mPrest's software, renowned for powering the Iron Dome missile defense system, to connect sensors and smart systems across smart cities. The solution leverages advanced analytics, monitoring and control capabilities, including Video Management Systems, Smart Parking, Environmental Monitoring and Waste Management. 

A recent Juniper report looks at Virtual Reality, and forecasts that wireless VR headsets (smartphone-based and standalone) data consumption will grow by more than 650 percent over the next 4 years. The new research, Virtual Reality Markets: Hardware, Content & Accessories 2017-2022, found that data consumption will reach over 28,000PB when combined with traffic generated by VR headsets tethered to PCs and consoles, placing significant additional strain on both wired and wireless networks.

InMobi announced the launch of a mobile media platform for premium in-app video advertising. Through partnerships with top publishers in the country such as Viu, Detik, Path, BBM, Baca, LINE and others, InMobi now has become the largest mobile media platform in the country with a reach of more than 60 million video viewers. InMobi's advanced mobile media platform for video comes with industry leading viewability, interactivity and buffer-free ad experience that delivers the best performance for marketers.