Monday, August 30, 2021

Week 34 in Telecoms, Internet, Media

CORPORATE

  • KPN: Starts EUR 200m SBB [see 210727], to end 211130, first progress report 210830
  • Orange: Orange ES to phase out Amena brand Sep 2021, retains 3 brands: Orange, Jazztel, Simyo
  • SK Telecom: Launches T Universe: offering of 3rd-party subscription services (Google One, Starbucks, Xbox)
  • Vodafone: plans Vodafone Digital Services & Experiences Briefing 210929    
  • Salt: 21Q2    
  • Bouygues: 21Q2, confirms 2021 targets: organic rev growth 5%, EBITDA AL growth 7%, capex (excl spectrum) EUR 1.3b; maintains targets 2026: SR >EUR 7b, EBITDA AL EUR 2.5b (margin 35%), FCF EUR 600m
  • Iliad: Iliad board recommends offer to shareholders, based on BM&A Advisory & Support report (DCF and per comparison) [see 210730]
  • Altice: Altice PT establishes Infratower (223 macro sites, 464 small cells), sells to Cellnex, EUR 209m
  • CityFibre: Rumor: to sell minority stake to Mubadala Investment Co (Abu Dhabi) at $2.7b valuation - Rumor: to raise GBP 1b from debt (GBP 500m) & equity (GBP 500m stake to Mubadala at >GBP 2b valuation)
  • Google:
    • Bernstein: pays Apple $15b in 2021 to remain default search engine ($10b in 2020)
    • Court filing (in case brought by US AGs [see 210707]): Google App Store 2019 (sales of apps, in-app purchase, app store ads): rev $11.2b, gross profit $8.5b, oper income $7b (margin 62%); trial expected 2022
  • Forbes: Plans IPO through SPAC merger with Magnum Opus, ticker FRBS
  • Axel Springer: Acquires Politico (political news; 700 employees in N America, 200 in Europe) from Robert Albritton, rumored price >$1b
  • Comcast: Comcast Business acquires Masergy (SDN, cloud platforms for enterprises; 1400 customers in 100 countries), enables SD-WAN, UCaaS, etc

VIDEO

  • Netflix:
    • Plans global fan event TUDUM 210925 around stars from 70 original films & series
    • Tests 2 mobile games based on Stranger Things (Stranger Things: 1984 and Stranger Things 3) in PL in Android app, free for subs, no ads, no in-game purchases
  • Amazon: Rumor (MLex): FTC asks for additional info on MGM deal [see 210709], closing not expected before 2022
  • NENT Group:
    • Acquires exclusive rights to female Serie A (Italy) for Nordics, Baltics, PL, NL up to 2022/23
    • NENT Group: Capital Markets Day 210922
  • WarnerMedia:
    • CNN: To end linear distribution in UK on Virgin, BT, Freesat to focus on CNN Live (launched June 2021; 2 GBP/mo ro 20 GBP/yr) at CNN.com and Sky
    • HBO Max to end distr via Amazon Channels [see 210108], to cost 5m subs, to focus on owning customer relationship
  • YouTube: Partner program reaches 2m creators
  • Parks for Everise US survey report 21Q1 The Evolving Digital Media Landscape
  • Freewheel (Comcast) US Video Marketplace Report (VMR) 21H1
  • DirecTV (AT&T 70%, TPG Capital 30%): DirecTV Stream launches 210826, drops 2-yr contract option    
  • Report: movie piracy increases due to day-and date releases

CRYPTO, NFT

HARDWARE

  • Facebook: Plans to launch AR glasses Gemini (Project Aria) [see 200916]: collects (not displays) data, with companion app Ariane, 4 cameras (photo & video), Oculus OS (based on Android), Qualcomm chipset
  • Ziggo launches SmartWifi Pods (connect over powerline): create WiFi mesh with ConnectBox (software updated, >2m users), tech from Plume, EUR 60 (2 for 100, 3 for 160, 5 for 260)
  • Telenet trials VR robot + VR glasses over 5G (VRiendje) at Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen (UZA): transport patient virtually to different location (home); developed by Horus VR

SECURITY

REGULATORY

  • Apple: Settles US CALS (Cameron et al, 67k developers) with developers over App Store: developers can share purchase options with users outside of their iOS app; expands the price points developers can offer for subscriptions, in-app purchases, paid apps to >500; establishes a new fund (Small Developers Assistance Fund, $100m; >50% receive $250, 6% receive $2000, 1% receive $30k) to assist qualifying US developers; to publish annual transparency report about the App Store; launches Apple News Partner Program, takes 15% commission rate - Spotify opposes: "Apple's recent changes do not address any of the core concerns Spotify and many others have with Apple"
  • China passes Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) into effect 211101 for personal information handlers
  • European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) advises against using search & browsing history and health data for credit scores


at 12:29 am 0 comments

Monday, August 23, 2021

Week 33 in Telecoms, Internet, Media

CORPORATE

  • Deutsche Telekom: Rumor: OTE to sell 70% stake in Telekom Romania Mobile Communications (TRMC)
  • Vivendi: Canal+ LU to acquire A1now TV from A1 (Telekom Austria)

NETWORKS

  • Ookla Speedtest Global Index (July 2021) global average FBB 108/58 Mb/s, MBB 55/12 Mb/s; FBB: Monaco #1 (257), Sing #2 (256), HK #3 (249), Thai #4 (216), Romania #5 (215), NL #27 (162); MBB: UAE #1 (190), S Korea #2 (189), Qatar #3 (171), China #4 (158), Cyprus #5 (154), NL #13 (101)
  • OpenVault Broadband Insights Report 21Q2 (based on data from SaaS tech): US data: weighted average data consumption 434 GB/mo o/w 405 down and 28 up (+14% yoy, -6% qoq), median usage 274 GB/mo (+23% yoy, -5% qoq), power users (>1 TB/mo) 10.8% (20Q2: 8.7%), extreme power users (>2 TB/mo) 1.5% (20Q2 1.0%); users on >= 100 Mb/s tiers 80%, users on gigabit tiers 10.5% (20Q2: 4.75%), average download speed 231 Mb/s, upload 17 Mb/s; average 4 streaming services/HH, average 25 connected devices/HH; Europe data: weighted average data usage 190 GB/mo, median data usage 95 GB/mo
  • Satellite: AST SpaceMobile 21Q2; plans second prototype spacecraft BlueWalker 3, launch March 2022 on SpaceX; distr deal with MTN Group; plans total 168 sats, average cost per sat $10.0-11.5m; each sat 693 feet^2 (64 m^2)

VIDEO

  • SkyShowtime (50/50 Comcast, ViacomCBS): Plans SVOD launch 2022 in 22 Europe countries: ES, PT, Andorra, Nordics (DK, FI, NO, SE), NL, PL, CEE (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, CZ, HU, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, RO, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia), 90k HH, to offer premium & original content from Sky Studios, NBCU, Universal Pictures, Peacock, Paramunt+, Showtime, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon; to include scripted dramas, kids & family, key franchises, premiere movies, local programming, documentaries/factual content, total >10k hr; complement to recently announced Paramount+ partnership with Sky in UK/IE, IT, DE/CH/AT
  • MGM plans day-an-date (theater & TVOD) release of animated movie Addams Family 2 in US & Canada 211001

REGULATORY


at 1:52 am 0 comments

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Week 32 in Telecoms, Internet, Media

CORPORATE

  • Deutsche Telekom
    • Bloomberg: Reliance Industries considers offer for T-Mobile NL
    • 21Q2
      • 5G reaches 82.4% pops coverage, calls for co-investment for nationwide FTTP by 2030
      • raises outlook 2021
      • Simpel acquisition by T-Mobile NL closed 201201, acquisition finalised 210603, based on call option agreed July 2019, cash payment EUR 259m + option fair value 26m + settlement 8m = EUR 293m total consideration
  • Freenet: 21Q2
  • AT&T: Shareholder update
    • focus on 5G, fiber, HBO Max, potential upside from DirecTV (70%)
    • targets 2021: investment $22b (o/w capex 17b + vendor financing 4b, excludes FirstNet reimbursements 1b), cash content spend 19b
    • C-band to launch end 2021, target coverage 200m pops YE 2023, target 30m fiber HP YE 2025
    • HBO Max to end distribution via Amazon Channels 21Q3 (impact included in guidance)
  • CK Hutchison: Rumor: Hutchison Telecom to sell Partner Comms 27% stake (Israel) to Apollo Global Mgt, ILS 800m = $250m
  • Walt Disney: 20/21Q3 (as of 210703)
    • streaming rev $4.3b (+57%), 173.7m subs; Disney+ reaches 116m subs (ARPU $4.16 (-10%)), ESPN+ 14.9m, Hulu 39.1m, Hulu With Live TV 3.7m
    • plans Disney+ Day 211111
    • Disney+ Hotstar to expand to Malaysia, Thailand 21Q3, full operation in Japan Oct 2021, expansion to SK, Taiwan, HK Nov 2021; Disney+ expansion to eastern Europe delayed to summer 2022, with launch in MEA; Star+ expansion to Latam Aug 2021
    • Disney+ delays price hike (to 9 EUR/mo or 90 EUR/yr) in Europe until 211103 (originally 210823)
    • buys out NHL (10%) from BAMTech, $350m, stake to 85%, MLB retains 15% (put option from Sep 2022)
    • Holiday movie Home Sweet Home Alone premieres on Disney+ 211112
  • Vivendi: Sells 7.1% UMG stake to Pershing Square (= Bill Ackman) + option on additional 2.9% by 210909, $2.8b, valuation EUR 35b = $41b
  • Betty Blocks: Raises $33m

NETWORKS & EQUIPMENT

SERVICES & CPE

  • SFR launches football packages for subs
    • Amazon Prime + RMC Sport for 14 EUR/mo
    • Amazon Prime + BeIN Sport (15 EUR/mo) + RMC Sport for 24 EUR/mo, add Le Pass Ligue 1 (Amazon, 13 EUR/mo) for total 37 EUR/mo
  • AT&T: Rumor: WarnerMedia to sell TMZ to Fox
  • TCL launches 5 and 6 Smart TV series, with Google TV
  • Samsung launches foldable smartphones (based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 & Android)
    • Galaxy Z Fold3 5G ($1800) & Galaxy Z Flip3 5G ($1000))
    • buds (Galaxy Buds 2 ($150))
    • smartwatches (Galaxy Watch4 ($250 with Bluetooth, $300 with 4G) & Galaxy Watch4 Classic ($350 with Bluetooth, $400 with 4G))
  • Honor launches Magic3 smartphone range (based on Snapdragon 888 Plus 5G and Google apps); basic model EUR 900, Pro model EUR 1100, Pro+ model EUR 1500

REGULATORY

  • Auction: Hakom (Croatia) raises EUR 48m from multiband auction (2x30 in 700 MHz band, 400 in 3.6 GHz band, 1000 in 26 GHz band; valid 15 yr) from Hrvatski Telekom, A1 Hrvatska, Telemach Hrvatska + smaller operators for 3.6 band + Eolo for 26 band
  • Platforms: US Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) propose Open App Markets Act: to allow sideloading, 3rd-party app stores, 3rd-party payment services
  • Security: GeoEdge (with InMobi, Verve Group): malvertising attack from Slovenia & Ukraine targeting consumer IoT devices (manipulate IoT devices, download apps without users’ content, theft of personal information & monetary instruments, tampering with home systems such as smart locks & surveillance cameras); antivirus apps & firewalls are not sufficient, requires continuously blocking infected ads in real-time


at 9:27 pm 0 comments

Sunday, August 08, 2021

Week 31 in Telecoms, Internet, Media

CORPORATE

  • Swisscom: 21Q2; raises outlook 2021: rev CHF 11.3b (unchanged), EBITDA 4.5b (from 4.4b), capex 2.2-2.3b (unchanged)
  • United Internet: 21Q2; raises guidance 2021: rev EUR 5.6b (from 5.5), EBITDA 1.25b (from 1.22); plans max EUR 160m (10%) SBB until 220430
  • 1&1: 21Q2; raises otlook 2021: rev EUR 3.10b (unchanged), EBITDA 670m (from 650m)
  • AT&T: Closes transaction with TPG Capital; DIRECTV to own & operate DIRECTV, AT&T TV & U-verse video services (now called DirecTV Stream); AT&T has 70% of combination (receives $7.1b cash, transfers $195m debt; HBO Max and Regional Sports Networks excluded), TPG 30% (contributes $1.8b cash) [see 210517]
  • CK Hutchison: 21Q2; impairment HKD 15.5b on Wind Tre
  • RTL: 21Q2, streaming (NL, DE) >3m subs (+72%) o/w 2.029m for TVNOW (RTL+) and 1.016m for Videoland (RTL NL), rev EUR 107m (+34%), plans Fremantle expansion via M&A (rationale: high-end factual, scale to become preferred partner for streamers, acquisitions for talent & content; target rev 2025E EUR 3.0b from 1.5b in 2020), raises 2021 outlook: rev EUR 6.5b (from 6.2), adj EBITDA 1050m (from 975), adj EBITDA before streamer start-up losses 1200m (from 1125); plans RTL+ int expansion from 2022; RTL DE to acquire German publishing assets & brands (Stern, Brigitte, Geo, Capital, Schöner Wohnen, Eltern, Art) from Gruner + Jahr, EUR 230m, joint editorial team 1500 journalists, synergies 100m EUR/yr from 2025, pro forma 2020 rev EUR 2.63b, adj EBITDA 496m, rationale: scale & resources, boost RTL+, journalistic powerhouse; cross-country competencies in ad tech (smartclip, YOSP CE), streaming tech (BR Bedrock), int ad sales (RTL AdConnect), other (ENEX, FC Group, bce)
  • Square: Offer for Afterpay, $29b ion stock, premium 30%
  • Superhuman raises $75m: email productivity app, 30 $/mo
  • Rakuten acquires OpenRAN partner Altiostar Networks, valuation >$1b

NETWORKS

  • Delta Fiber (EQT) raises EUR 1.45b (to be extended by EUR 600m) debt underwritten by ABN Amro, ING, SEB, Santander, DB to expand FTTP to 2m premises YE 2025 using XGS-PON (from Sep 2021; later 25G-PON), to focus on small towns; claims current total construction capacity 800k premises/yr; to avoid towns where others have announced plans; 'We zijn op weg de derde infrastructuur van Nederland te worden voor vast internet'; currently 900k premises, adding 20k premises/mo
  • Rakuten establishes Symphony
  • 1&1 orders virtualised Open RAN and Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP; stack of access, core, cloud, operations solutions) from Rakuten; core of 4 datacenters, decentralized datacenters to be connected via 1&1 Versatel

SOFTWARE & SERVICES

  • Netflix: Companion VR experience (30 min) to movie Army of the Dead launches at Westfield Century City parking garage
  • NENT Group: Partners with wiip (studio US) to produce originals for Viaplay; first climate change anthology series The Uninhabitable Earth (premiere 2022)
  • YouTube: Launches Shorts Fund, $100 over 2021-22 (100-10k $/creator)
  • Spotify: Rumor: tests paid-with-ads tier Spotify Plus, 1 $/mo
  • Microsoft launches Windows 365 (Cloud PC service), from 20 (single virtual core, 2 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage) to 162 (eight virtual cores, 32 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage) $/mo/user
  • Miami launches CityCoin (cryptocurrency): programmable city-based tokens (unlock new community-driven revenue stream for local governments, engage & incentivise citizens); mining started, based on Stacks protocol
  • Google: Plans to launch Pixel 6 (6.4 inch, 90 Hz) & Pixel 6 Pro (6.7 inch, 120 Hz) autumn 2021, based on own Tensor SoC, Titan M2 security chip

REGULATORY

  • Facebook: EC deepens investigation of Kustomer acquisition [see 201130] after finding concerns over misuse consumer data from Kustomer to give it an unfair advantage in personalised advertising
  • Twitter: Curation team partners with AP & Reuters to add more context to news & trends, aid with use of public service announcements during high-visibility events, misinformation labels etc



at 7:53 pm 0 comments

Monday, August 02, 2021

Week 28-30 in Telecoms, Internet, Media

CORPORATE

  • KPN: 21Q2; opex savings 9m, YTD 30m target 2021-23 250m; maintains outlook, capex FTTP 2021 450-500m, capex for FTTP drops after 2026; plans SBB EUR 200m in 2021; ambitions Consumer: preferred digital partner for households (1. best digital access with fiber, 5G, in-home WiFi, 2. best digital omni-channel experience with mobile-first & app-centric customer approach, 3. best digital 3-party services through entertainment partnerships); business clear segmented customer focus for SME, LCE, Tailored Solutions; Glaspoort closing (210609) deal: to receive cash (238m on closing + 234m contingent (financial asset, fair value 218m) in annual installments), net book gain 649m (gross 840m + 191m tax expense), carrying amount of 50% stake 495m (incl  share premium contribution paid 39m), net cash flow 217m (under CF from investing)
  • Orange
    • Interested in acquiring stake in Ethio Telecom (Ethiopia)
    • 21Q2, impairment EUR 3.7b on Orange ES
    • Investor Conference on Orange MEA (targets 2023: rev growth 6%, EBITDA AL growth DD), Orange Business Services (rev CAGR 2022-23 2%, EBITDA AL to return to growth in 2022), Orange Cyberdefense (rev growth DD, EBITDA AL margin to double in medium term)
  • Orange BE: 21Q2
  • Telefonica: Plans acquisitions in Brazil
  • BT
  • Proximus: 21Q2
  • VOO: Rumor: Nethys has shortlist of bidders out of 20 candidates
  • Vodafone:
  • Liberty Global
    • 21Q2; expands cost savings Sunrise UPC by CHF 50m (cost to captrue CHF 100m), total runrate CHF 325m (NPV CHF 3.7b); Virgin Media O2 plans fiull fiber upgrade by 2028 (to potentially pursue broadband wholesale market in UK), "costing marginally more than our previously planned Docsis 4 migration, and only a modest annual increase to our current capital expenditure budget"; confirms 2021 targets: adj FCF $1.35b (+26%); plans SBB in 3 yr of >= 10% of market cap; received offer for UPC PL from Iliad at 9.3x adj EBITDA 2021E = EV PLN 7.3b
    • VodafoneZiggo: 21Q2; maintains guidance: adj EBITDA growth 1-3%, capex/sales 19-21%, cash distribution EUR 550-650m; on track for nationwide 1 Gb/s by 2022
    • Telenet: 21Q2
    • Sunrise UPC: 21Q2
  • Iliad
    • Liberty Global: "We recently received a non-binding offer from Iliad SA to acquire 100% of our UPC Poland business at 9.3x its 2021E Adjusted EBITDA (PLN 782m), reflecting an enterprise value of PLN 7.3 billion ($1.9 billion). Discussions are in process and there can be no certainty that a transaction will ultimately be consummated."
    • 21Q2
    • Xavier Niel launches tender offer: 182 EUR/share for 12 trading days (through HoldCo II = HoldCo = Xavier Niel, currently owns 42,112,852 shares with 72,340,678 voting rights = 70.63% of capital and 78.67% of voting)
  • Cyfrowy Polsat: To rename to Polsat Box
  • PPF: Sells Telenor Montenegro to 4iG, to close 211130
  • Adamo (EQT): Rumor: EQT to collect offers
  • Tele2: 21Q2; 25% T-Mobile NL stake value increased to SEK 7106m = EUR 697m
  • Gamma: 21Q2 trading statement: growth in line with market expectations; outlook 2021  maintained
  • Vivendi
    • Sells 5% Mediaset stake to Fininvest, 2.70 EUR/share = EUR 160m, to sell entire 19.19% stake held by Simon Fiduciaria on the market
    • 21Q2
  • TF1 (Bouygues): 21Q2
  • NENT Group
    • 21Q2; raises Viaplay target from 250 to 500k subs YE 2021
    • Distr deal in PL with Vectra (1.7m subs)
    • Distr deal in PL with UPC Polska: to be part of TV packages, with promos, STB integration
  • NBCU
    • Rumor: FandangoNow (NBCU 70%, WarnerMedia 30%) to merge with Vudu (NBCU 70%, WarnerMedia 30%)
    • 21Q2: Peacock 20m subs, reaches total 54m sign-ups/MAU, plans roll-out in Europe (UK, IE, IT, DE, AT, CH) as free add-on for Sky subs: AVOD, 7k hr     
  • Lionsgate: Acquires 20% stake in Spyglass Media Group (library of 200 feature films)
  • Netflix: 21Q2; to add mobile games (no extra cost) as new content category; no plans to add live sports; no M&A plans
  • Spotify: 21Q2
  • Google: 21Q2 
  • Amazon: 21Q2
  • Facebook: 21Q2; outlook 21H2: modest growth deceleration, outllok 2021: expenses $70-73b (technical & product talent, infrastructure, consumer hardware-related costs), capex $19-21b (data centers, servers, network infrastructure, office facilities), tax rate high teens; plans smart glasses (made by Ray-Ban = EssilorLuxottica)
  • Twitter: 21Q2; to focus on bitcoin (to invest aggressively, opens up entirely new use cases for everyone on Twitter), AI (to increase relevance & discovery), decentralisation (to improve the quality of conversations) for growth
  • Snap: 21Q2
  • Pinterest: 21Q2
  • Microsoft: 21Q2; Teams reaches 250m MAU, 80m Phone MAU

FTTH

  • Telefonica: Telefonica Colombia to spin off FTTH network, sells 60% stake to KKR, $300m    
  • Telefonica DE: O2 to provide fixed-line services over Tele Columbus (2.4m HP) from 210721, total reach 26m HP
  • Proximus: Wallon OA FTTP JV with Eurofiber launches as Unifiber, to invest >EUR 800m over 10 yr; targets several 10s of thousands of premises by YE 2023 (first in Waterloo, Morlanwelz), 100k premises/yr from 2024, >= 500k by 2028
  • Telenor: Telenor DK access deal with Onefiber (OpenNet) for FTTP network (100k premises)
  • Adamo: To raise EUR 600-900m to expand in rural areas (3.2m premises)

VIDEO

  • VodafoneZiggo
    • Ziggo Sport licenses Ligue 1 (football FR) rights (coming seasons, from beIN (holds rights until 23/24 season)); extends rights for several years to IndyCar series, Formula E, Six Nations (rugby, men & women); adds BNXT League rights (BE/NL basketball) from Feb 2022
    • To expand Ziggo Movies & Series offering
  • Pathe Thuis: Launches Premium Films service for new films (15 EUR/film)
  • CuriosityStream: To launch linear channel, with Spiegel TV Wissen & Autentic, as relaunch of Spiegel TV Wissen in DE, CH, AT
  • Netflix
    • Extends Shonda Rhimes (ICM Partners) deal to include films, games, VR content, branding & merchandising, live events & experiences, extends by 5 yr, rumored upfront payment $150m, total value (incl bonuses) $300-400m - Rumor: could include Bridgerton video game, Bridgerton fan convention [see 210521]
    • Extends & expands licensing deal with Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (Illumination), to include DreamWorks Animation, multi-yr: animated feature films in US, exclusive (window 4 mo after Peacock)     
    • Bloomberg: appoints Mike Verdu (formerly EA, Facebook/Oculus) VP Game Development, to launch streaming games within 1 yr, will not charge extra
    • Plans first store in Tokyo, 22H1
    • Paris Theater (movie theater NYC, leased for 10 yr Nov 2019) reopens 210806
  • Walt Disney
    • Scarlett Johansson sues over PVOD release of Black Widow for breach of contract; rumored: she lost $50m in bonuses [see 210711] - Disney opposes (no merit, she received $20m to date)
    • Day-and-date release of adventure movie Jungle Cruise (Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt) raises $34m in theaters N America (4310 screens) + $30m on Disney+ globally (PVOD, $30) + $28m from international theaters (47 countries) on opening weekend
  • WarnerMedia
    • HBO/HBO Max reaches 67.5m subs at 21Q2 (o/w 47.0m in US), raises target to 70-73m subs YE 2021 (from 67-70) - Plans >10 original movies for HBO Max in 2022; theater window to be reduced to 45 days - Delays HBO Max launch in several countries Europe to early 2022
    • To launch CNN+ 22Q1 first in US, to add 450 staff (currently 4k): SVOD and TVE app for pay-TV subs (linear TV feeds of CNN, CNN International, HLN, CNN en Español channels exclusively for pay-TV subs), news, non-fiction, long-form, live programming (8-12 hr/day), original series, catalog content, localized features

MUSIC

WEB SERVICES

  • Facebook: CEO Zuckerberg plans migration to become metaverse (embodied internet, decentralized) [see 200916, 201215] - Establishes product group, head Vishal Shah (Instagram)
  • Twitter
  • Snap: Acquires Vertebrae (AR shopping: lets brands create and manage 3D versions of their goods; 50 employees)
  • Pinterest: Adds features allowing creators to get fees from shoppable pins
  • Square: Acquires Crew: messaging app for frontline workers (helps companies communicate with large groups of employees through broadcast messages, or target only certain groups, such as workers at certain locations or managers only)
  • Microsoft to launch Windows 365 210802 to create cloud PCs for businesses: streams Windows 10 or 11 in browser or Microsoft’s Remote Desktop app; 2 tiers (editions): Business, Enterprise, powered by Azure Virtual Desktop

TELCO SERVICES

HARDWARE

  • GSA 5G devices update 210630: 873 devices (o/w 557 commercially available) in 22 form factors from 131 vendors; 431 phones (o/w 38 commercially available), 158 FWA devices (o/w 56 commercially available), 119 modules, 53 enterprise routers/modems, 39 hotspots, 15 laptops, 16 tablets, 10 in-vehicle routers/modems/hotspots, 32 other
  • HMD Gobal launches Nokia XR20 smartphone (from EUR 500: rugged, 5G, Zeiss Optics), C30 feature phone (EUR 100, 6.8 inch), Nokia 6310 feature phone (EUR 40); deal with Spotify to pre-install; 30 day free ExpressVPN trial
  • Motorola launches Edge 20 Pro (from EUR 700), Edge 20 (from EUR 500), Edge 20 Lite (from EUR 350)
  • Vodafone ES launches Vodafone TV 4K Pro: STB made by Sagemcom, 5 EUR/mo rental for FMC subs (V-Home software, audio functionality designed by Bang & Olufsen, integrated Dolby Atmos speakers, 4K HDR, voice control via Alexa, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, Bluetooth-enabled voice-control remote)
  • Swisscom adds blue TV app for Apple TV
  • Free allows Apple TV as STB, 2 EUR/mo for 48 mo

NETWORKS

  • Nokia and Vodafone jointly developed ML-product, running on Google Cloud, to quickly detect & remediate network anomalies
  • Comcast deploys tech for locating fiber cable breaks within 90 sec
  • Fixed
    • Virgin Media O2 plans full fiber (15.5m lines; not Docsis 4.0 at 60 GBP/home) by 2028
  • 5G
    • IBM Inst for Business Value report on 5G and edge computing
    • Vodafone UK to supply UK Power Networks with network slice (trial, with General Electric, ABB, Siemens, Univ of Strathclyde) to build Constellation (smart substation trial)
    • Vodafone UK report: 5G (incl Private 5G) to contribute GBP 6.3b to manufacturing industry by 2030
  • Satellite

REGULATORY

  • Spectrum
    • Spain raises EUR 1.1b from 700 auction; 2x10 MHz (until 2041, automatic renewal for 20 yr) each for Telefonica (EUR 310m), Vodafone (350m), Orange (350m) + annual fee (EUR 15m for each)
  • Platforms
  • Google
    • Autorité de la concurrence (FR) fines EUR 500m over failing to negotiate in good faith over neighboring rights of Google News Service (daily fine EUR 900k) 
    • Publishes Privacy Sandbox timeline, to phase out 3rd-party cookies 23H2 
    • EC & national Consumer Authorities (incl ACM) call on Google to comply with consumer rules - EU orders to improve hotel, flight search results within 2 mo (improve presentation, explain ranking)  
  • Amazon
  • Facebook: EDPB orders urgent probe into how WhatsApp uses data


at 12:47 am 0 comments
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