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CORPORATE
- Vodafone:
- Sunrise UPC: yallo (Sunrise UPC subbrand) launches TV offer, becomes full-service provider: 270 channels, developed with Wilmaa, free for FTTH and Home 5G subs, free TV box
- Virgin Media O2 launches Volt FMC offer for consumers & small businesses (double BB speed, doube mobile data, CPE discount GBP 150, free WiFi Plus, free RLAH in 75 countries)
- RTL: Establishes JV TechAlliance with Amobee for ad-tech solutions from Amobee and Smartclip and Yospace (for addressable TV ads), to close 22Q1
- Sony: Sells GSN Games to Scopely, $1b in cash & stock
- Google: Lowers Play Store fees to 15% (subsc riptions), 10% (ebooks and on-demand music streaming services) 2023
- Amazon:
- To hire for 150k seasonal jobs in US o/w 4500 in Illinois, 23k in California, 6200 in Arizona, 3000 in Minneapolis/St. Paul
- Amazon Accelerate 2021 conference: added 100k brands (sellers) YTD; launches new services for 3rd-party sellers: search analytics dashboard; Product Opportunity Explorer; adds services, tools, benefits; launches tools to empower 3rd-party sellers to offer products in Amazon's 21 global stores; adds tools for 3rd-party sellers for local sales (in-store pickup, fast delivery)
- Facebook:
- Snap:
- Establishes Arcadia: AR content studio (ArcadiaCreativeStudio.com)
- 21Q3; expects significant headwinds from Apple’s privacy changes to iOS, global supply chain issues, labor shortages impacting partners
- Pinterest: Rumor: PayPal plans offer, 70 $/share = $39b
NETWORKS
- Ookla Speedtest Global Index (Sep 2021) global average FBB 113/62 Mb/s, MBB 63/13 Mb/s; FBB: Monaco #1 (262), Sing #1 (256), HK #3 (255), RO #4 (232), CH #5 (230), NL #25 (165); MBB: UAE #1 (238), S Korea #2 (203), NO #3 (178), Qatar #4 (172), China #5 (165), NL #16 (107)
- NKOM (NO) report on BB at 210630 (total 2512137 HH): FTTP availability 76%, cable BB ~12%, FWA ~2%, remainder <100 Mb/s [www.ekomstatistikke.no]
- FTTP
- Eir: Rumor: plans FTTP network spin-off, outside investor to acquire 49% stake
- Altice: Rumor: Blackstone, CVC Capital Partners, Apollo Global Management, EQT, Masmovil interested in Altice PT, valuation EUR 7b; Altice denies sale plan
- PPF: Sells 30% stake in CETIN to GIC (Singapore sovereign wealth fund)
- Virgin Media O2: Bloomberg: considers network carve out, valuation GBP 9.8b
- Strategy Analytics report on PON standards
- 5G: ITU-R approves first non-cellular 5G standard (ETSI DECT-2020 NR) for IoT (for enterprises) as part of IMT-2020 (5G), for shared spectrum in 1.9 GHz band
- Cloud: TelcoDR raises $1b for cloud software acquisitions
SERVICES
- VIDEO
- WarnerMedia: 21Q3 HBO & HBO Max: 45.2m US subs (down on loss of Amazon Channels subs), 69.4m globally (+7.1m yoy); 2022 film releases to get 45 day exclusive theater window; considers new name for HBO Max; AVOD tier to have same content as SVOD tier from 2022
- Netflix: 21Q3; to change viewing stats to total hr viewed in first 28 days; Historic Top 5 for series: Bridgerton 625m hr in first 28 days, Money Heist 619m hr, Stranger Things season 3 582m hr, The Witcher season 1 541m hr, 13 Resons Why season 2 496m; Historic Top 5 for movies: Bird Box 282m hr, Extraction 231m hr, The Irishman 215m hr, The Kissing Booth 2 209m hr, 6 Feet Underground 205m hr; Squid Game 142m viewers (>= 2 min) in first 28 days; considers internal game development
- YouTube: App Annie: Apple iOS drives $3b in consumer spend YTD worldwide from paid membership channels & premium subscriptions
- MUSIC
- Apple: Adds low-end tier: Apple Music Voice Plan, 5 $/mo with limited features, in 17 countries, access through Siri for 1 person; currently 90m tracks
- GAMING
HARDWARE
- Google: Pixel 6 Event: launches Pixel 6 ($600; 128 or 256 GB; RAM 8 GB) & Pixel 6 Pro ($900; 128, 256 or 512 GB; RAM 12 GB), with Tensor CPU & SoC (from ARM), 5G, Android 12; launches Pixel Pass in US: 45 $/mo for Pixel 6 or 55 $/mo for Pixel 6 Pro, extended warranty, Google One (200 GB storage), Google Play Pass, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium; launches Pixel Stand (gen 2), $80 (wireless charger)
- Apple: Unleashed Event: Launches new MacBook Pro (14 from $2000, 16 inch from 2500) with new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips; launches new AirPods 3 (gen 3, with H1 chip), $180; rumor: to launch new Beats Fit Pro earbuds 211101; launches Apple Music Voice Plan (access through Siri) in 17 countries, 5 $/mo (currently 90m tracks); launches new HomePod Mini (new colors)
- Comcast: Launches XClass TV in US: smart TV, built by Hisense, 43 inch for $300, 50 inch for $350 incl 12 mo free access to Peacock Premium With Ads; pre-installed apps: Hulu With Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV (Dish), Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Comcast’s Xumo, ViacomCBS’s Pluto, Fox’s Tubi, Amazon’s IMDb TV - Distr deal with Walmart
- Spotify: IKEA plans Spotify-enabled speaker that doubles as a lamp (Vappeby)
REGULATION
- CNMC (ES) approves proposal extending competitive markets (at least 3 operators, Telefonica's share <50%) from 66 (35% pops coverage) to 696 cities (70% pops coverage) where Telefonica will not have wholesale obligation; to retain wholesale obligation in 7453 munis (30% pops coverage); Telefonica's O2 brand to go nationwide
- NKOM (NO) launches regulation of Telenor's FWA service to prevent pricing squeeze
PLATFORMS
- Agreement on digital tax between FR, IT, ES, AT, UK and US - Digital services taxes to end 2023 (levies paid for the DSTs in the interim will be credited to future tax bills), US to end punitive tariffs on products from AT, FR, IT, ES, UK
- ACM (NL) starts market investigation related to EU Platform-to-Business Regulation (190711), plans first report spring 2022; Min EZK plans law appointing ACM as regulator
CORPORATE
M&A
- EQT: Sells Adamo (80% (mgt 20%); OA FTTP Spain; 1.8m premises, 250k subs incl wholesale and mobile; 300 employees) to Ardian Infrastructure [owns 30.2% stake in Inwit, 26% in EWE]; to close 22Q1; rumored valuation: >EUR 1b
- Telefonica: Sells Movistar El Salvador (60%; 40% held by Corporacion Multi Inversiones) to General International Telecom Ltd, $144m = EUR 125m (7x EBITDA 2020) o/w EUR 75m for Telefonica
- KKR: Rumor: interested in Reintel (= Red Eléctrica de España), Allianz, Axa, PGGM, Vauban (Natixis), QIC also interested; 49% stake to be sold; full valuation EUR 1.2-1.3b
INFRASTRUCTURE
- KPN:
- Orders Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite (ERP, SCM, HCM), to be implemented & managed by Deloitte and Oracle Consulting; to streamline operations (finance (planning & forecasting), procurement, supply chain mgt, HR) while reducing opex and energy consumption
- Copper to fiber migration lowers maintenance opex 67%, churn 40%, raises ARPU 8.6% to EUR 54; cloudification, move to cloud-native apps reduces datacenters from 30 to 4
- Telefonica: Orders TREE platform from Atrebo (digitisation) to manage infra (200k towers & other sites) by 2022, based on Telefonica Tech's blockchain platform (TrustOS); to provide real-time status
- HFC:
- Telekom DE (DT): BNA proposes (draft decision) no ex-ante regulation for FTTH networks, relying on non-discriminatory access based on obligation of equal treatment under the Equivalence of Input principle; Telekom has an obligation to declare in good time any migration to fiber from copper infrastructure and to present its plans
- Sharing
- Stratix for ACM report (literature review) on Dynamic Spectrum Management & Sharing (overview of spectrum sharing methods, technologies and (potentially) usable frequency bands, an assessment of aspects relevant for potential pilots, and recommendations on feasible pilots and proof-of-concepts)
- Telenet: Bloomberg: plans to sell 3k mobile sites (o/w 75% rooftops, shared with Proximus and Orange BE), EUR 600m [EY: specialised manager can boost efficiency 40% relative to telco owner]
- SoftBank and KDDI order shared Multi-Operator RAN (sites, equipment) for 4G, 5G, DSS from Nokia
- Tutela Global State of Mobile Experience (2021 annual report, 2b crowd-sourced tests from 830m users in 30 countries on 30 networks): By operator: #1 TDC NET, #2 T-Mobile NL, #3 Telenor NO #4 VodafoneZiggo, #8 KPN; By country: #1 DK, #2 FI, #3 SK, #4 NL, #5 AT; By video experience by operator: #1 SoftBank, #2 Elisa, #3 NTT DoCoMo
- GSA NTS Snapshot: total 5G commercial networks 180 in 72 countries; 465 operators in 139 markets invest in 5G
- Nokia launches 360 High Gain 5G mmWave technology to overcome LoS requirements for indoor mmWave FWA over 5G, boosts capacity 5-10x (captures a 360 mmWave fingerprint of the indoor environment, picks up direct and reflected signals from any direction, and adapts to the changing environment, through advanced analytics)
- OneWeb adds 36 sats, total 358 (of planned 648), to be operational mid 2022
CLOUD
- Google: GCP Cloud Next '21: launches Google Distributed Cloud solutions for telcos
AI
- Facebook: Launches research project Ego4D: personal video (from GoPro cameras and AR glasses) + AI to develop “episodic memory” (answering questions like “where did I leave my keys?”) and “audio-visual diarization” (remembering who said what when); with 13 universities; collected 3205 hr of video from 855 participants in 9 countries
CPE
- HTC launches Vive Flow, $500: VR headset (functions as virtual laser pointer with buttons for selecting items and calling up the homescreen, with smartphone as remote control)
- Ziggo offers Chromecast With Google TV for whole home service (max 2 per address), EUR 80, with dedicated Ziggo Go TV app (Ziggo Go app is for mobile devices)
- Telegeography: internet bandwidth 2021 +29% (2020: +34%)
SERVICES
- Altice USA launches Optimum FlexAbility [a la KPN Hussel, Verizon Mix & Match]: no contract, select services from BB (100 Mb/s, 300 Mb/s for 30 $/mo, 500 Mb/s, 1000 Mb/s for 50 $/mo), mobile data (1 GB for 14 $/mo, 3 GB, unlimited for 45 $/mo; no discount for additional lines), TV (Basic for 29 $/mo (50 channels), Premier for 94 $/mo (420 channels + HBO Max, Starz, Showtime), Stream TV 5 $/mo (free for 1 Gb/s subs))
- Apple TV+: Report on piracy (up to 125k seeders per title)
- Sports:
- Prime Video presents Sport 2021 showcase (London)
- Viaplay: Pricing NL to be 'very affordable', not just for sports
- 20210919: Netflix: CEO Hastings claims streaming market is far from saturated; linear TV to disappear in 10-20 yr; will not do news/journalism or sports (except possibly when source can be controlled, as with Formula 1)
- Walt Disney: Rumor: plans to spin-off ESPN - Rumor: denies
PLATFORMS
CORPORATE
- Orange: Orange in Europe Day (strategy briefing): focus on convergence, to add fixed-line assets (in existing markets: ES, BE, LU, PL, RO, Slovakia, Moldova)
- Proximus: Launches Banx (banking app, JV with Belfius) [see 210622], focus on sustainability, tech from Doconomy (CO2 dahsboard), 2 tiers: Essential (free: 1 account, 1 debit card, add MasterCard for 1 EUR/mo) or Premium (6.50 EUR/mo; 2 personal accounts, 1 couples accoun, 4 debit cards, 4 MasterCards); with loyalty program (save point to exchange for discounts at partners)
- Orange BE: Launches Orange Money app (for money transfer), also for non-subs
- Destiny: Acquires Stuart (BE; managed hosting)
- Iliad: Xavier Niel (HoldCo II) reaches 96.40% (57,568,859 shares), 96.17% of votes, plans squeeze-out
- Twitter: Sells MoPub (mobile ads) to AppLovin, $1.05b cash, to provide transitional services to AppLovin [see 130909]
PAY-TV
- Ziggo to lose NBA rights to ESPN NL from 2021-22 season (starts 211019) [see 210614]
- SKO report Sep 2021:
- Living room TV usage -12% yoy (live linear -18%, delayed linear -0.4%, on demand +1.0%)
- Delayed + on demand 37.8% of usage (record high)
- Sky: Launches Sky Glass:
- streaming connected smart TV (no dish, no box), tech & OS developed with Comcast
- first in UK (211018), then other Sky markets; syndicates to Australia with Foxtel, plans further global expansionTV in 3 sizes (Small 43”, Medium 55”, Large 65”), designed by Map Project Office
- with
- Dolby Atmos, voice control, Glance Motion Technology (walk past to activate), personalised playlist
- apps pre-installed: Sky, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Disney+, ITV Hub, All4, Spotify, Peloton, PlayWorks etc
- whole home service using Sky Stream Puck, 10 GBP/mo;
- plans to launch 4K smart camera 2022 (chat, play games, workout, share entertainment at home)
- pricing
- for Small TV from 13 GBP/mo (with Sky TV; interest free, 48 mo) or 26 GBP/mo (with Sky Ultimate TV), 39 GBP/mo (with Sky Originals and Sky Exclusives, Netflix)
- pricing for Medium TV adds 4 GBP/mo, Large TV adds 8 GBP/mo)
- [suggests Small TV costs GBP 624, Medium TV GBP 816, Large TV GBP 1008]
- "By taking this step, Sky will operate across the whole value chain, from content production, through to connectivity and aggregation, all coming together on the Sky Glass screen."
- "Choose to buy your TV like you buy your mobile phone by paying in one go or spread the cost with interest-free monthly payments."
- TIM launches TIMvision Gold pay-TV package, 45 EUR/mo (promo: 30 EUR/mo for 12 mo) + EUR 10 activation fee: TIMvision, DAZN (sports, incl Serie A), Mediaset Infinity (UEFA Champions League), Netflix, Disney+; discount available on TIMvision Calcio e Sport (20 instead of 30 EUR/mo)
- T-Mobile NL relaunches T-Mobile TV App for smart TV or media player (from Android TV 8) or Apple TV (no IPTV STB required), for BB+TV subs, max 4 devices simultaneously (TV from 12.50 EUR/mo)
- Orange Slovakia launches Android TV based STB from nangu.TV (incl Assistant, Chromecast)
STREAMING VIDEO
- WarnerMedia: HBO Max to expand to 7 countries in Europe 2022: NL, GR, Turkey, Iceland, Baltics (total 27 countries in Europe, 67 globally; target 190 by 2026); annual subscription to cost equal to 8 mo (ES, FI: 9 EUR/mo or 70 EUR/yr, SE/NO 90 kr/mo or 700 kr/yr; DK 80 kr/mo or 600 kr/yr); theatrical window 45 days for Europe
- Molotov: Launches Grand Cinéma: SVOD, 20 EUR/mo, films & series from 14 channels & SVOd services (Starzplay; FilmoTV; The 6 Ciné+ channels from Canal Plus: Premier, Frisson, Emotion, Famiz, Club and Classic; Paramount Channel & Paramount Channel Décalé; Drive-in Movie Channel; RTL9; Action, PlayboyTV)
- YouTube: Oxford Economics for YouTube: YouTube (creators) contributed $20.5b to US GDP in 2020
- Kantar report on churn US 21Q2 (vs 21Q1): Peacock 13%, Peacock free 9%, Pluto TV 6%, Crackel 8%, Tubi 10%, Prime Video 4%, Netflix 4%, Apple TV+ 9%
- Walt Disney: Disney+ to launch in HK 211116, 73 HKD/mo ($9) or 738 HKD/yr ($96); to offer 1200 films & 16k episodes at launch - And in Taiwan 211114, 270 TWD/mo ($10) or 2800 TWD/yr ($100)
- Netflix: Raises prices in NL from 8, 11, 14 to 8, 14, 16 EUR/mo for Basic, Standard, Premium - In BE from 8, 12, 16 to 9, 13.5, 18 EUR/mo
WFH
- Cisco publishes (first quarterly) Hybrid Work Index survey report (preferences, habits, technology usage)
- GSMA Intelligence report (How networks stayed the course as everyone stayed at home): average global mobile data traffic 6 GB/mo, speeds dropped and recovered faster in 5G countries
FTTP
- Telefonica: Bloomberg: considers selling stake in fiber access unit, valuation EUR 15b - Reuters: to sell 15-35%, 5-10 candidates [to raise max EUR 5b]
- Swiss court confirms ComCo measures against Swiccom over market abuse with FTTP: no network expansion unles with Layer 1 access based on P2P topology with 4 fibers; Swisscom claims will delay expansion by several years, planned switch to P2MP topology, target 60% coverage YE 2025 ("Competitors also benefit from this as it reduces their own investments and costs"), may appeal at Federal Supreme Court; "Providers without their own network always have access to the maximum available bandwidth and, thanks to [1] the fibre-optic partnership and [2] wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) network access model, have additional access options to the lowest network level Layer 1. These two access options were originally put forward by COMCO itself." [Salt gets Layer 1 access on P2MP because it co-invests]
FWA
- T-Mobile US reduces Home Internet price from 60 to 50 $/mo
- BT pilots Tarana Wireless FWA tech G1 (hundreds of Mb/s per sub at 3-5 km with no LoS, 30 km with LoS, unlicensed spectrum (5 GHz)); Tarana: “Tarana here is after end-game broadband. We’re not here trying to build a stopgap to fiber. We’re believers that wireless is a true alternative to fiber and is a long-term durable alternative to fiber because the technology trends are in our favor at this point.”; Supersonic (= MTN) pilots Tarana in ZA at 150 towers (to expand to 400); Wisper (US) demoed Tarana: 300 Mb/s at 8 km, non-LoS
- Starry plans IPO via merger with FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corp (SPAC) at $1.66b valuation, to raise $452m
NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY
- Analysys Mason for Nokia: IP network automation (service fulfilment, network lifecycle management, network & service assurance processes) reduces opex 65%
- BT (with Toshiba) plans world’s first commercially available quantum-secured metro network in London
- Rigetti Computing (makers of quantum computers & processors) plans IPO via SPAC merger with Supernova Partners Acquisition Co, valuation $1.5b
- Mobile X Global plans launch on Verizon (provides Network as a Service) 2022: personalised plans, global connectivity without data roaming charges, based on proprietary cloud platform X0.1
SECURITY, OUTAGES, LEAKS
- Min EZK (NL) publishes updated Regeling veiligheid en integriteit telecommunicatie (Rvit) (already notified at EC) on mobile network security, AT as regulator
- Twitch reports data leak
- Facebook: Network outage hits Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messsenger for ~6h 25m, caused by faulty configuration changes on backbone routers; Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) update to datacenter routers - Fortune: rev loss $100m - SMS traffic up in France - AT&T: mobile traffic down ~10%
- Facebook: Network outage hits Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Workplace due to configuration change for 2 hr
- Microsoft Digital Defense Report: state-sponsored hacking from Russia (58%), Ukraine, UK
PLATFORMS
- Google and YouTube ban ads & monetisation on climate denial content
- Google: Search rivals (DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Qwant, Lilo) ask EC to act on antitrust ruling, based on DMA [see 180718, 210927]; preference menu that let users choose their search default when setting up an Android device is not available on Chrome desktop or on other OS and is only shown once to users
- Apple:
- Reuters: EC plans antitrust investigation over iPhone NFC chip (allows only Apple Pay to access)
- Reuters: ACM (NL) finds that Apple's requirement for developers to use in-app payment system is anti-competitive, demands changes
- EC proposes AI regulation
- EP proposes ban on police use of facial recognition technology in public places and on predictive policing (using AI tools in hopes of profiling potential criminals before a crime is even committed) and on private facial recognition databases (like the ones used by Clearview AI)
- BEREC publishes final Report on the ex-ante regulation of digital gatekeepers (DMA)
- OECD adopts OECD Recommendation on Enhancing Access to and Sharing of Data (EASD)
- Ireland joins plan to adopt minimum of 15% corporate tax rate [see 210605], total 136 countries (representing >90% of global GDP), to yield additional $150b yearly tax rev, to split a separate $125b in corporate tax receipts between participating governments worldwide
- FTC (Japan) starts investigation of mobile OS dominance of Apple (iOS, market share 70%) and Google (Android, market share 30%)
- EBU, EDRA, AER call on EC to include digital voice assistants in DMA
Launches Sky Glass:
- streaming connected smart TV (no dish, no box)
- tech & OS developed with Comcast
- first in UK (211018), then other Sky markets
- syndicates to Australia with Foxtel, plans further global expansion
- TV in 3 sizes (Small 43”, Medium 55”, Large 65”), designed by Map Project Office
- with
- Dolby Atmos
- voice control
- Glance Motion Technology (walk past to activate)
- personalised playlist
- apps pre-installed: Sky, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Disney+, ITV Hub, All4, Spotify, Peloton, PlayWorks etc
- whole home service using Sky Stream Puck, 10 GBP/mo
- plans to launch 4K smart camera 2022 (chat, play games, workout, share entertainment at home)
- pricing for Small TV from 13 GBP/mo (with Sky TV; interest free, 48 mo) or 26 GBP/mo (with Sky Ultimate TV), 39 GBP/mo (with Sky Originals and Sky Exclusives, Netflix), pricing for Medium TV adds 4 GBP/mo, Large TV adds 8 GBP/mo)
- [suggests Small TV costs GBP 624, Medium TV GBP 816, Large TV GBP 1008]
- Quotes:
- "By taking this step, Sky will operate across the whole value chain, from content production, through to connectivity and aggregation, all coming together on the Sky Glass screen."
- "Choose to buy your TV like you buy your mobile phone by paying in one go or spread the cost with interest-free monthly payments."
M&A
- Orange: To buy out Groupama (21.7%) from Orange Bank (1.6m subs in FR, ES), to raise equity EUR 230m
- Iliad: Xavier Niel (Holdco II) reaches 90%, to start squeeze-out
- Polsat Plus: Plans tender offer (SBB), max 82,904,517 shares at 35.00 PLN/share = PLN 2.9b (EUR 630m) - Plans EGM 211116
- Sony:
- Acquires Bluepoint Games
- Sells Sony Pictures Television Channels (22 channels + 2 OTT services) in Central and Eastern Europe (12 countries: Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro.) to Antenna Group
- Mediahuis: Plans offer for Aachener Verlagsgesellschaft (AVG; Aachener Zeitung, Aachener Nachrichten)
STRATEGY
- Vodafone: Vodafone Digital Services & Experiences Briefing: focus on
- Deep & trusted customer relationships (improve NPS; multi-product connectivity strategy Digital First)
- Leading digital consumer services (h leads to higher ARPU, improved distribution efficiency, higher NPS and lower churn; to further develop consumer IoT, Vodafone TV, home services, device lifecycle services and loyalty applications)
- The leading FinTech in Africa (58m customers; Vodacom has clear financial ambitionsto grow its new services, which include financialservices, at or above 20% CAGR)
- The global IoT connectivity leader (130m devices connected; current rev EUR 0.9b, addressable markety EUR 10b)
- Verizon: Defines 5 vectors of growth:
- 5G adoption
- Network monetization
- Investments in MEC (with AWS)
- “mix and match” model with partners (Disney+, Discovery+, Apple Music, other)
- MVNOs
- Ericsson strategy update, launches new look & feel for brand;
- Launches new
- Purpose (To create connections that make the unimaginable possible)
- Vision (A world where limitless connectivity improves lives, redefines business and pioneers a sustainable future)
- Expects 4 future scenarios in era of hyper connectivity
- Enabling new ways of learning
- Redefining business
- Reimagining entertainment
- Tackling the climate crisis
WHOLESALE
NETWORKS
- Vodafone and partners (Benu Networks, Casa Systems, Cisco, Nokia) first to test disaggregated broadband: open architecture Broadband Network Gateway (BNG), works across separate software & hardware from multiple vendors
- Rumor: Open Dutch Fiber plans FTTP in Ridderkerk, to finish 2022; KPN plans FTTP in Ridderkerk, to start 2022
SERVICES
- COMMS
- Microsoft: Microsoft updates Skype ("Skype has been in our lives for nearly two decades, and we are here to stay")
- VIDEO
- NBCU: Rumor: to relaunch Peacock early 2022; to hold exclusive rights to Universal movies (after theater window); focus on Winter Olympics China; new UI; marketing phrase For All Fankind
- CNBC: Apple TV+ had <20m subs in US/Canada at 210630 - The Information: 40m global users o/w 20m paying subs; Entertainment Strategy: 8.1m US subs
- Netflix: Viewing stats: top 10 series & top 10 films by # accounts (viewed >2 min) and by overall time spent
- Amazon: Expands IMDb TV (free AVOD) to UK; distr first as part of Prime Video, later as Fire TV app
- Facebook: Distr deal for Facebook Watch with Vodafone in Europe: STB integration; first in DE, IT, CZ, PT, GR
- GAMES
- WEB
- Google:
- Cancels plans for bank accounts (Plex), syncing with Google Pay [see 191113]
- Google Search On event: enhances Seaarch using Multitask Unified Model (MUM): ML for more detailed and context-rich questions (to combat misinformation); enhances Shopping with Lens (take a photo and add a query to find answers), more images, in-store inventory checks
- Amazon: Hardware event
- Facebook: Establishes XR Programs & Research Fund, $50m in 2 yr, to develop metaverse ("a set of virtual spaces where you can create and explore with other people who aren’t in the same physical space as you")
SPECTRUM
- NKOM (NO) ends 5G auction (190 MHz in 2.6 & 400 MHz in 3.6 GHz, valed 220101 - 411231); winners:
- Telenor (2x40 in 2.6 for 416m + 1x120 in 3.6 for 1.01b, total after discount 1.22b)
- Telia (2x30 in 2.6 for 289m + 1x100 in 3.6 for 781m, total 910m after discount)
- ICE (NOK 554m for 1x80 in 3.6)
- Altibox (= Lyse; NOK 845m; to launch FWA 22H1; 1x50 in 2.6 for 53m, 1x100 in 3.5 for 792m, total 724m after discount)
PLATFORMS
- Google:
- Starts appeal at ECJ (Luxembourg, 5-day hearing) against EUR 4.34b EU antitrust fine over Android [see 180718]; claims markets defined too narrowly, ignores Apple iOS
- ACCC (Australia) publishes Digital advertising services inquiry (final report), claims Google (vertically integrated) dominates in digital ads
- Movement for an Open Web files complaint at EC over Google Search (ad-tracking changes) [see 210622]
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