T-Systems and AWS are combining their expertise to enable companies and public institutions to extend the AWS cloud to mobile edge computing environments. T-Systems has also launched a new research project in Germany to develop measures for more sustainability in the operation of data centers.

Transformation and Innovation News

New research sponsored by Oracle, Deloitte, Intel and others has underscored the vital role that technology, data, cybersecurity, and public-private partnerships play in ushering in a new future after the pandemic. The new study, called “Smart City Solutions for a Riskier World,” shows COVID-19 accelerating public sector innovation. The report found that 88 percent of city leaders surveyed call for investment in cloud platforms. 

In other new research that shows how much the world is changing, Juniper Research has found that the total spend over conversational commerce channels will reach $290 billion by 2025,  rising from $41 billion in 2021. Juniper Research has also found in a new study that the number of users of software-based facial recognition to secure payments will exceed 1.4 billion globally by 2025, from just 671 million in 2020. 

News of advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology also rolled in. Ericsson announced that trials are set to establish Hyperbat, a joint venture between Williams Advanced Engineering and Unipart, as a pioneer in the UK’s drive to make manufacturing for a fourth industrial revolution a reality. Verizon and Dreamscape Immersive announced a partnership aimed at innovating virtual reality applications using 5G and mobile edge computing. The partnership’s first priorities will focus on 5G immersive-learning and training innovations for use in enterprise, public sector, and educational environments. 

In the United States, T-Mobile kicked off its 2021 T-Mobile Accelerator Spring Immersive Technology Program. For the next three months, the handpicked startups will work directly with technologists and business leaders at T-Mobile to build the next big thing in immersive 5G technology from AR wearables to holographic communications, 3D data storytelling, volumetric video streaming, immersive virtual learning and more. In other news, T-Mobile will be working with Lumen to expand their existing relationship to allow access to Lumen's Edge Computing platform over T-Mobile's industry leading 5G network, enabling enterprises to build, manage and scale applications across distributed environments.

Additional new alliances and collaborations to bolster innovation also came to fruition in April. Deutsche Telekom purchased Celo’s native asset, an open-source blockchain focused on making decentralized financial systems and tools accessible to anyone with a smartphone. DT will be the first telecom to join the network. Italtel announced that it is a new partner of AI@EDGE, the Horizon2020 research project, which involves industries, universities and research institutes from eight different countries committed to developing an AI platform for edge computing beyond 5G. SAP launched its business-to-business accelerator program at SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo with focus on the Intelligent Enterprise. Five early-stage startups working in the areas of digital supply chain and customer experience have been selected to join the program.

Network Evolution News

In network evolution news, TELUS and the governments of Quebec and Canada are investing nearly $30 million to deploy a fiber network to more than 20,000 additional families and businesses in nearly 35 communities, a step to closing the digital divide. TELUS is also investing in additional regions in 2021 to accelerate fiber deployment that will drive innovation.

The FCC announced its latest efforts to protect customers from unwanted and scam robocalls and spoofed calls. These include notices to operators, cease-and-desist notifications, and new tracking efforts that support TRACED, which went into effect in early 2020.