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• Vodafone, A1, Ericsson claim world first 5G SA international roaming connection
  in Business Telecommunications
  By Josh Martinez

  European telcos Vodafone Germany and A1 Bulgaria, have teamed with equipment vendor Ericsson to establish what they claim is the first successful 5G SA international roaming connection between two different operator groups.

  The connection between Vodafone and A1 aims to enhance the responsiveness and reliability of roaming services for businesses with operations in multiple markets.

  The test used the standard defined by 3GPP/GSMA, which enables automatic setup and centralised control of connections between operators, removing the need to manage multiple routes individually.

  The connection used Ericsson's dual-mode 5G Core, multi-level and multi-vendor Security Edge Protection Proxy platforms of Vodafone Group and A1 Group.

  The companies see the demonstration as an important step forward in being able to offer commercial 5G SA roaming, supporting high quality voice calls and picture messaging, video streaming and fast data services.

  It also opens the door to new applications like dedicated network slices to control industrial robots and autonomous vehicles at factories and warehouses, as well as simultaneously connecting several AR/VR headsets for use at major events, whether in-country or across multiple markets.

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  According to Vodafone, 5G SA, when applied to roaming services in the future, will enable customers to experience the same benefits when travelling, including in busy areas such as city centres and at main transport hubs.

  The three companies say they were able to seamlessly support the data connectivity of a mobile subscriber from A1 Bulgaria, roaming on Vodafone Germany’s 5G SA network using a standard device, and supported by generally available core network software using the latest 3GPP industry standards.

  “Vodafone Germany was the first operator to launch a commercial 5G SA network in Europe," Alberto Ripepi, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone Group, said.

  "Now, we are taking our expertise overseas with the world’s first 5G SA roaming demonstration.

  "Ultimately, 5G SA roaming will enhance the customer experience at international events like football championships and provide the same consistent fast connectivity at a company’s warehouses and factories across many markets.”

  Todor Tashev, Senior Director Competence Delivery Center for A1 Group, A1 Bulgaria, said the world first international 5G SA roaming connection between two operator groups is a key technological milestone.

  "A1 is investing resource and expertise in delivering the best experience to our customers across all A1 Group countries, and the completion of this initial connection is an important step toward providing European citizens and tourists’ high-quality connectivity on the go," Tashev said.

  "We are looking forward to working with our joint teams to bring this capability to subscribers in a live network environment.”
• Ericsson expands antenna manufacturing footprint in India
  in Business Telecommunications
  By Josh Martinez

  The antennas division of Ericsson, Ericsson Antenna System EAS is expanding its local manufacturing footprint in India, which the telecoms equipment vendor says will position the country as a strategic innovation hub.

  According to Ericsson, it will localise 100% of EAS passive antenna production for the Indian market, which will enable faster time-to-market, deeper collaboration with local partners, and greater adaptability to customer needs.

  "This initiative supports India’s rapid 5G rollout and bolsters Ericsson’s ability to respond with greater agility to evolving market needs—both regionally and globally," Ericsson says.

  Ericsson’s global manufacturing footprint already includes facilities in Mexico, Romania, and China, and the vendor says the Indian manufacturing facility will further diversify and future-proof its supply network.

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  “At Ericsson, antennas are critical, serving as the entry point to enhanced network performance and innovation,” says Mikael Eriksson, Head of Ericsson Antenna System.

  “Expanding in India strengthens our ability to deliver cutting-edge technology at speed, closer to where our customers are building next-generation networks.”

  Ericsson says a significant portion of antennas manufactured in India will be exported, establishing the country as a strategic hub within Ericsson’s global supply chain.

  "This expansion reflects our commitment and long-term investment in India’s industrial and digital future," says Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India.

  "By localising production and building out a robust ecosystem, Ericsson is ensuring faster deployment, increased responsiveness, and stronger protection for its customers against environmental or external disruptions."
• Telstra marked 80 years of powering the Good Friday Appeal by ‘helping drive $469m in donations’
  in Strategy
  By Telstra

  COMPANY NEWS: Telstra has supported the Good Friday Appeal (GFA) for the 80th year by providing the pop-up call centre, helping drive over $1m in donations raised through the annual telethon - and this contributed to an impressive $23,822,792 raised this year, with all funds going to The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.

  For 80 years, Telstra has partnered with the GFA providing reliable support and infrastructure to power the crucial operations of the phone room - and during the partnership, “Telstra has helped raise a whopping $469M via the annual telethon”.

  On average, the phone room annually receives around 7000 calls during the 8-hour telethon, resulting in over $1M received via phones and over $4M received online.

  John Ieraci, Head of Telstra Enterprise Technology Services said, “Supporting the Good Friday Appeal is a true highlight for our team each year. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our technology in action, helping volunteers connect with thousands of generous Victorians to raise vital funds. Every year, spanning eight decades now, we look for ways to make the donation process faster, simpler and more reliable - because behind every call or click is a story, and a family we’re proud to support.”

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  Telstra notes that since the pandemic, the Good Friday Appeal has relied on Telstra’s Contact Centre Genesys Cloud system - “a robust, cloud-based platform that powers the operations behind the telethon”.

  “The system provides volunteers with a user-friendly interface that makes onsite training quick and straightforward, while supporting multiple communication channels including phone, email and webchat. This gives donors the flexibility to contribute in a way that suits them best,” observes Telstra.

  “With real-time visibility into calls answered, queued or on hold, the platform enables GFA to accurately track donations and keep the live tally updated throughout the day. It also automates essential tasks such as routing calls and sending confirmation emails, ensuring operations stay efficient from start to finish.

  “Importantly, the success of the telethon hinges on this technology performing flawlessly. Any downtime risks lost donations - which is why extensive planning and preparation goes into ensuring the system runs smoothly, reliably, and without interruption when it matters most.”

  “The Good Friday Appeal is more than just a fundraising event; it's an iconic tradition that unites the community and connects people across generations,” said Rebecca Cowan, Executive Director of the Good Friday Appeal. “What’s remarkable is how many people still choose to pick up the phone to donate. It’s a powerful reminder that the phone room remains a vital and inclusive way for people from all walks of life.”

  “Telstra’s ongoing support ensures that this tradition not only lives on but continues to make a real difference to the lives of sick kids and their families. Thank you to Telstra, this would not be possible without their support.”
• ACCC seeks stakeholder views on Telstra's proposed SSU and Migration Plan variations
  in Technology Regulation
  By Gordon Peters

  The competition regulator, the ACCC, is seeking submissions from interested parties on Telstra’s proposed variations to its structural separation undertaking and Migraton Plan.

  On 27 February 2012 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) accepted Telstra’s structural separation undertaking (SSU) - and the SSU commenced on 6 March 2012 and contains a number of obligations designed to promote competition from that date until the NBN fibre network is complete.

  The ACCC notes that the SSU contains four key elements:

  • a commitment by Telstra to cease the supply of fixed line carriage services using telecommunications networks over which Telstra is in a position to exercise control from the Designated Day.
  • interim equivalence and transparency obligations regarding access to Telstra’s regulated services (no longer required following the Designated Day).
  • compliance monitoring processes, to provide the ACCC with transparency over Telstra’s compliance with the SSU
  • the migration plan, which sets out steps for Telstra to progressively transfer its fixed-line voice services to the NBN.

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  “Since the SSU commenced, Telstra’s structural separation has occurred progressively, through Telstra ceasing to supply fixed-line voice and broadband services over its copper and HFC networks as the NBN fibre network has rolled out,” observes the ACCC.

  “Telstra’s obligations under the SSU have changed since the completion of the NBN fibre network on 1 July 2020, known as the ‘Designation Day’, and amendments to the Telecommunications Act 1997 which came into force on 25 August 2020.”

  The ACCC reports that in the original reporting obligations under the structural separation undertaking, Telstra’s reporting obligations under the SSU originally comprised:

  • a confidential monthly compliance report on any ‘equivalence issues’ identified by Telstra or reported to Telstra by the ACCC or wholesale customers.
  • a confidential annual compliance report, which includes details of equivalence issues identified by Telstra or reported to Telstra by the ACCC or wholesale customers. This report also states the issues that Telstra has identified as breaches of its SSU obligations.
  • quarterly public operational equivalence reports, which outline Telstra’s performance against 33 equivalence and transparency metrics. An accompanying confidential report setting out a reasonably detailed explanation of any negative variances of 2% or more.
  • quarterly confidential migration plan reports, which outline a number of matters, including the total number of disconnection orders processed that quarter and the proportion of orders completed by the ‘required date’.
  • six-monthly public and quarterly confidential Telstra Economic Model (TEM) reports outlining the list of internal wholesale prices and external wholesale prices.
  • a report on the common ticket of work tasks under the SSU that identifies common retail/wholesale job tasks to form the basis of comparative etric

  See the Telstra Wholesale website for additional Telstra reports and further information.
• GE Vernova, Ericsson, Nokia team with Anterix to drive 900 MHz private wireless
  in Business Telecommunications
  By Josh Martinez

  Private wireless networks provider Anterix, has announced a collaboration with energy technology manufacturer GE Vernova and telecoms equipment vendors Nokia and Ericsson to expedite the adoption of 900 MHz private wireless networks by utilities

  The four organisations are collectively offering incentives to utilities in the form of bundled or cost-effective services through the AnterixAccelerator program.

  AnterixAccelerator is designed to expedite the adoption of 900 MHz private wireless networks by utilities, helping them accelerate the digital transformation of the power grid.

  According to Anterix, more than 15 of the nation’s leading utilities are actively participating, alongside current Anterix utility customers and members of the Anterix Active Ecosystem (AAE).

  “This groundbreaking collaboration is paving the way for a new era of utility innovation and reliability, propelling us toward a smarter, more connected energy future,” said Anterix President & CEO Scott Lang.

  "With the support of Ericsson, GE Vernova, and Nokia, we are combining technology and human insight to create a more resilient, sustainable, and intelligent energy landscape for generations to come.

  “Through this partnership, we’re establishing the strategic foundation for the long-term future of utility grid communications.”

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  The announcement received praise from leaders of Ericsson, GE Vernova, and Nokia, all of whom are deepening their involvement in the AnterixAccelerator initiative:

  Dana Jaber, Vice President and Head of Utilities, Ericsson Americas said private broadband networks are a key driver in the digital transformation of utilities, enabling the integration of diverse use cases.

  "By enhancing the value of the AnterixAccelerator initiative, we are empowering utilities to own and operate these networks to meet their critical needs on security, resilience, safety and reliability,” Jaber said.

  Jeff Pittman, Head of Enterprise, Mobile Networks, for Nokia North America said the vendor's collaboration with the AnterixAccelerator initiative is a natural progression in advancing utilities’ digital transformation with the adoption of 900 MHz private wireless broadband.

  “We have been a trusted partner in modernising the communications infrastructure of utilities, supporting their TDM to IP/MPLS transition for the last two decades," Pittman said.

  "Our transformative and scalable technology solutions are based on open, future-proof LTE and 5G standards as well as IP/MPLS services, providing a uniform platform to unite the utility industry across the nation.”