Saturday, July 18, 2020

Week 29 in Telecoms, Internet, Media

TECHNOLOGY

Samsung 6G white paper The Next Hyper-Connected Experience for All
  • targets earliest commercialization 2028, mass commercialization around 2030
  • advanced services: immersive extended reality (XR), high-fidelity mobile hologram, digital replica
  • 3 requirements:
    • 1. Performance (spectral efficiency 2x 5G, energy efficiency 2x 5G, connection density 10x 5G, peak data rate 1000 Gbps = 50x 5G, air latency <100 microseconds (μs) = 0.1x 5G)
    • 2. Architecture (resolve issues arising from limited computation capability of mobile devices, implement AI from initial phase of technology development, enable flexible integration of new network entities)
    • 3. Trustworthiness (address security & privacy issues arising from widespread use of user data & AI tech)
  • candidate technologies: Terahertz spectrum, novel antenna technologies to enhance coverage of high frequency band signals, advanced duplex technologies, evolution of network topology, spectrum sharing to increase efficiency of frequency utilization, use of AI in wireless comms

HARDWARE
  • Vodafone: Vodafone UK launches GPS tracker Curve, with WiFi, mobile, GBP 20 + 2 (24 mo contract) or 3 (12 mo contract) GBP/mo
  • Amazon: Launches Dash Cart: smart shopping cart for Amazon stores (not Amazon Go) for cashierless check-out
  • Facebook: Launches Hero robot: wraps fibre round power lines for fast deployment; first customer NetEquity Networks (non-exclusive, royalty-free licence)

SERVICES

Telecoms
Google
Amazon
  • AWS launches Amazon Interactive Video Service (Amazon IVS): managed service to set up live interactive video streams for web or mobile app; tech from Twitch; latency <3 sec; first customers: Blackboard, 17Live, DeNA's Pococha, ScreenCloud
  • Launches Amazon Influencer Program streaming on Amazon Live [see 170331, 190207]
  • Launches Breakthrough: developing artist program (video & audio content, global marketing support, custom merch stores on Amazon.com, increased visibility across Amazon Music’s playlists & programming, high-profile Amazon Original tracks available only on Amazon Music, support for the artists’ Twitch channels etc); first candidates: Gabby Barrett (country), Kiana Ledé (R&B), JAY1 (rap), Arlo Parks (rap), Provinz (folk pop), Malik Harris.(pop)
Facebook
Snap
Video
  • Netflix: Launches shuffle feature
  • Amazon: Amazon Prime Video adds live TV in DE (no extra cost): 38 channels from ARD/ZDF o/w 28 in HD
  • Comcast: Launches Peacock in US for non-subs, 3 tiers: Peacock Free, Peacock Premium (5 $/mo or 50 $/yr), Peacock Premium No Ads (10 $/mo or 100 $/yr), Comcast & Cox subs get 5 $/mo discount, max 3 simultaneous screen; free tier launches with 13k hr, Premium with 20k hr, live Premier League, US Open, Women's Open; 20 live channels at launch (target 75 after 1 yr); range of apps (excl Amazon, Roku)
  • RTL: Videoland (RTL NL) launches 3 tiers (same content): Basic (5 EUR/mo with ads, 1 screen, no download for offline viewing), Plus (8 EUR/mo no ads, 2 screens, downlaods), Premium (10 EUR/mo no ads, 4 screens, downloads); Premium equals current SVOD service
  • MultiChoice/Showmax: Expands to 40 countries in Africa
Music

NETWORKS

5G
FTTP
Satellite


CORPORATE

Proximus CTO interview
  • changed strategy to NetCo/ServCo-model, with wholesale
  • to add 400k FTTP homes/yr
  • 5G roll-out in Wallon on hold, current radiation limits precludes 5G launch in Brussels (Vlaanderen 20,58 V/m up to 900 MHz, 30,7V/m up to 10 GHz; Wallonia 3V/m per tech; Brussels 6V/m in total); 5G first for Private networks (Port of Antwerp) or slices; mmWave (26 GHz) to be of interest in ~5 yr
Infrastructure sales
  • Orange: Rumor: Orange PL considers selling max <50% of FTTH network
  • Telefonica: Rumor: to sell 12 more datacenters to Nablax (= Asterion), EUR 150m; considers buying stake in Nablax
  • Vodafone: Reuters: plans European towers IPO in Frankfurt, with UBS & Morgan Stanley; valuation EUR 12-16b to raise EUR 3-4b; includes Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Ltd (JV with Telefonica, towers in UK, ES, DE, Brazil) & Inwit stake (JV with TIM,towers in IT)
Divestments
  • Proximus: Rumor: to sell stake in BICS (Proximus 57.6%, Swisscom 22.4%, MTN 20%), acquirer to buy majority stake [see 1911249] - Confirms, Proximus to hold 49%
  • BT: Sells BT France to Computacenter
  • Open Fiber: Reuters: Wren House (= Kuwait’s sovereign wealth fund KIA) interested in Enel's 50% stake in Open Fiber
  • Sony: SME sells Syco stake to Simon Cowell
Acquisitions
Results
  • Netflix 20Q2;
    • outlook
      • 20H2: less subs growth; oper margin targets: 16% for 2020, 19% for 2021
      • launch plans 2020 largely intact, 2021 higher (weighted more to H2)
      • FCF 2020 break-even or positive (due to pause in production), 2021 negative (but better than 2019 peak of -$3.3b)
      • path to positibe FCF over next few years unchanged
      • cash content-to-content amortization ratio of 1x still many years away
      • need to raise debt diminishes (none expected for 20H2)
    • appoints Ted Sarandos (CCO) Co-CEO & Greg Peters (CPO) COO
    • viewing stats first 4 weeks
      • Never have I ever 40m
      • Space force 40m
      • Too hot to handle 51m
      • Floor is lava 37m
      • Da 5 bloods 27m
      • Extraction 99m
      • The wrong missy 59m
      • The Willoughbys 38m
      • La casa del papel (part 4) 65m
  • Telia: 20Q2
  • Telenor: 20Q2; cuts outlook
  • Tele2: 20Q2; reinstates FY guidance & extraordinary dividend proposal
Google/Alphabet
Amazon
  • Partners with Crossover Health (primary care services) to establish local health centers (20) near Amazon fulfillment centers & operations facilities US (5 cities), first in Dallas-Fort Worth area (pilot), next in Phoenix, Louisville, Detroit, San Bernardino-Moreno Valley area
  • Plans fulfillment center in Pflugerville (Texas), to open 2021; 1k FTE, 820k ft^2
  • Partners (through The Climate Pledge) with We Mean Business (global nonprofit coalition working with businesses to accelerate the transition to zero-carbon economy) to accelerate goals; Verizon, Reckitt Benckiser, Infosys, Oak View Group join The Climate Pledge     
Other:


REGULATORY

Spectrum
  • Anacom (PT) plans multiband auction Oct 2020
  • Multiband auction LU started 200713: 2x30 MHz in 700 band (reserve price 5.6m EUR/block of 2x10 MHz), 330 MHz in 3.6 GHz band (reserve price 0.3m EUR/block of 1x10 MHz), duration 15 yr; 5 bidders: Eltrona, Luxembourg Online, Orange Luxembourg, Post Luxembourg, Proximus Luxembourg
  • BIPT (BE) awards 5 temporary licenses from 200801 (until auction) for 3.6-3.8 GHz band for 5G (to be lanched by 210301) to Cegeka, Entropia, Orange, Proximus, Telenet; 40 MHz each, 400k EUR/yr each
Equipment/China
  • UK Gvt (DCMS Secretary) ban Huawei due to US sanctions: no new euipment after 201231, remove all 5G equipment by 2027, recommends removing Huawei from fiber networks; total cost GBP 2b, 5G delay 2-3 yr - Observer: ban partly for geopolitical reasons, could be revisited if POTUS Trump not reelected
  • Frontier Economics: Australian 5G deployment costs to rise by >AUD 2.1b; Oxford Economics: 5G rollout costs in Australia go up 30% as result of Huawe ban
Other telecoms
  • Free choice of modem: VodafoneZiggo rejects ACM's free CPE choice proposal
  • Regulation broadband and B2B: Orange Denounces ARCEP's (Chair Sébastien Soriano) criticism (Les Echos, 200707) of its strategy regarding FTTP (too slow), B2B market (share of small business market 63%, SME 62%)
Platforms general
  • Facebook and Twitter ban posts promoting conversion therapy
  • EU Platform to Business regulation (2019/1150, P2B Regulation) comes into effect: promots fairness & transparency for business users
  • US imposes 25% import tariff on selected French goods from 210106 in retaliation for digital sales tax FR
  • PrivacyAffairs: total 340 GDPR fines since launch 2018, total EUR 158m
  • ECJ sides with Max Schrems against Facebook: overturns Privacy Shield but not Standard Contractual Clauses (transfers based on individual agreements remain legal), blocks personal data transfers to US; Irish data regulator may suspend data transfers outside EU if recipient country does not provide sufficient privacy protection (a la GDPR)
  • Saugmandsgaard Øe (ECJ): platforms not liable for copyright infringment before EU's DSM is adopted in national law (210607 at teh latest)
  • Ofcom (UK) opens consultation until 200924 on regulation of video-sharing platforms (VSPs), asks for good practice, technical capabilities of VSP services, any issues & challenges to further its understanding of the sector & the risks of harm; plans guidance by summer 2021
  • EC starts inquiry into consumer IoT (incl voice assistants, smart home devices, wearables), providers could use control over user data to distort competition or otherwise close off these markets for competitors (restrictions of data access & interoperability, certain forms of self-preferencing, practices linked to the use of proprietary standards); to send out RfIs to market participants; plans prelim report spring 2021, final report summer 2022
  • Data transfer: ECJ sides with Apple & Ireland: no tax payment to Ireland required
Self-regulation
  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Twitter: hacking
    • Hackers access verified accounts by targeting employees with access to internal systems and tools; Twitter temporarily disabled verified accounts to tweet - Rumor: inside job, 'Chaewon' offered to change email address tied to any Twitter account - FBI starts investigation - ~130 accounts impacted    
    • Twitter update
      • social engineering: attackers successfully manipulated a small number of employees and used their credentials to access Twitter’s internal systems
      • 130 accounts targeted o/w 45 taken over (password reset, login to the account, send Tweets) o/w 8 account info downloaded incl privatye messages (non verified accounts; most accounts have been restored
      • attackers had no aaccess to previous passwords, e-mail addresses, phone numbers
      • "We’re acutely aware of our responsibilities to the people who use our service and to society more generally. We’re embarrassed, we’re disappointed, and more than anything, we’re sorry."


at 6:50 pm
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