Seaborn Networks, developer-owner-operator of transoceanic subsea fiber optic cable systems, announced new high capacity connectivity from its Seabras-1 IP Network directly into key global IX locations including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Ashburn. In other Internet Exchange news, DE-CIX, operator of the world’s leading IX by peak traffic in Frankfurt, Germany, announced its further expansion in Southeast Asia with a new Internet Exchange opening in Singapore in the second half of 2020.

Consolidated Communications announced its enhancement of SD-WAN, a software-based technology solution that optimizes network performance using the company’s private network and gateways.

With 5G and Wi-Fi 6 on the very near horizon, the Wi-Fi Alliance is introducing new terminology to distinguish forthcoming Wi-Fi 6 devices that are capable of 6 GHz operation, an important portion of unlicensed spectrum that may soon be made available by regulators around the world. Wi-Fi 6E brings a common industry name for Wi-Fi users to identify devices that will offer the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates extended into the 6 GHz band.

In South Asia, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has deployed Nokia’s technology to expand the capacity of recently installed 100G transport network to 200G optical network for both domestic and international traffic. This capacity expansion has been carried out in the major cities of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and with it, PTCL becomes the first operator in the country to deploy high-performance 200G 8 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM).

Leaderboard News

A major news headline this month was the cancellation of Mobile World Congress 2020 in response to company pullouts over the potential threat of the novel coronavirus. Nearly 6 percent of attendees at the event come to Barcelona each year from China, and many operators and major global and market leaders elected to reduce risk to their staff, customers, and other stakeholders.

Partnership and strategic alliance news made headlines this month. AI company Cerence has signed a memorandum of agreement with LG Electronics (LG) to develop a new software solution that integrates LG’s webOS Auto In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system with Cerence ARK (AI Reference Kit), a new turnkey voice assistant for the automotive market. It also announced a new collaboration with Microsoft to integrate Cerence Drive products with the Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform. Deutsche Telekom has selected Vlocity to support its digital transformation in Europe. Vlocity’s cloud software will be used to help Deutsche Telekom simplify buying experiences, accelerate time to market, and increase revenue through new communication and digital services. And Chayora Holdings Limited and Telstra International have entered a strategic partnership aiming to provide world-class colocation services and network connectivity from Chayora’s hyperscale campus serving the Tianjin-Beijing corridor in the People’s Republic of China.

A new study from Juniper Research has found that mobile operator voice revenue will drop to $208 billion by 2024 from $381 billion in 2019, as users continue to prefer more flexible and free OTT (Over-the-Top) services. Another new study from the research firm has found that the global number of roaming subscribers will reach 1.1 billion by 2024, rising from 900 million in 2020. This represents a growth of 28 percent over the next four years.

Microsoft announced AI for Health, a new $40 million, five-year program and part of the AI for Good initiative, that will leverage artificial intelligence (AI) technology to empower researchers and organizations addressing some of the world's toughest challenges in health.

DataBank, a provider of enterprise-class data center, connectivity and managed services, announced that Colony Capital has made a $185 million investment into DataBank to continue growth and expansion. 

In Canada, Genwave Technologies announced the acquisition of GWI Telecom, the professional installation, testing and wireless services division of Mississauga, Ontario-based Gap Wireless.