The major new developments here are the next generation of mobile infrastructure known as 5G and Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) used for the rapidly advancing IoT services. New business models around services providers and MVNOs are also addressed.
The latest OECD data confirms what many of us in the broadband sector have warned about for years: the digital divide is widening not just within countries but between them. Fibre and 5G are expanding rapidly across OECD member nations. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is also gaining serious momentum. Yet Australia, once a global trailblazer […]
Back in 2019, I wrote about what I called “Peak Telecom”—the moment where the traditional telecoms industry hit a ceiling in growth and relevance. The internet had commoditised bandwidth, and telecoms were left managing an expensive infrastructure business, while others—Google, Amazon, Meta—captured the digital value. Five years later, new evidence shows how deeply this shift
Rethinking 5G: why faster isn’t always better, especially in regional Australia Read More »
In a previous article, I discussed the emergence of direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications and its transformative potential for Australia. With only around 30% of our landmass currently covered by traditional mobile networks, the opportunity to dramatically expand coverage using satellite technology is nothing short of revolutionary. The Australian Government is now considering legislation that would
Direct to device competition possibilities for Australia Read More »
The Government’s Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) is an innovative way to enhance mobile coverage across Australia by leveraging Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. It is well suited for a country the size of Australia. While this initiative holds promise, it also presents several challenges that require careful policy consideration. Developmental Uncertainties and Political Risks
The global transition away from 3G networks marks a pivotal moment in telecommunications, as resources are reallocated to support advanced 4G and 5G technologies. This is not the first time that this happened, the previous generation of 2G was also phased out. A big difference now is that more people are connected to the 3G
The 3G Shutdown: Lessons from Australia and the World Read More »
Australia’s 3G network is being shutdown after 20 years, making way for 4G and 5G technology
ABC Breakfast TV interview Read More »
Recently I have been interviewed a couple of times regarding mobile blackspots. The questions I received were along the following lines: In our ever-connected world, staying online and in touch is more important than ever. However, many of us still experience frustrating blackspots, limited mobile coverage in rural areas, and capacity problems in densely populated
Bridging the connectivity gap: Integrating LEO satellites with mobile networks Read More »
What have we learned from last year’s Optus outage? Interestingly I started writing this article on the Friday afternoon the global CrowdStrike outage occurred. It is amazing to reflect on the similarities between the two outages. Both occurred because of a rogue software update and both showing our lack of resilience and ICT diversity. Issues
Crowdstrike and what have we learned from last year’s Optus outage? Read More »
The burgeoning growth of SpaceX’s Starlink service is creating substantial challenges for telecommunications companies. This discussion will cover the impact on the NBN and Telstra in Australia and, more broadly, the issues faced by the South Pacific Islands, as recently discussed at the Australasia Satellite Forum organised by Communication Daily in Sydney. Starlink’s influence now
New satellite operators put pressure on incumbent telcos Read More »
The announcement of 2,800 job losses at Telstra is an ‘OMG’ moment. This is not just a readjustment of the business or some fine-tuning; it goes far beyond that and clearly indicates underlying issues forcing the company to make such a dramatic move. For years, it has become clear that Telstra has missed major opportunities
Telstra’s Massive Cost Cutting – The Underlying Issues Read More »
Over the last 30 years, I have followed the Budget announcements and have always looked at what is in it for the ICT industry. It is interesting to follow the trends in such spending. If we go back before a decade or so, ICT projects were very much standalone, often provided to telecommunications companies. However,
The 2024/25 Budget from an ICT Perspective Read More »
It’s been a busy and interesting couple of weeks for the Australian telecoms industry, with all major players presenting results and updates about their businesses. Looking over a 30-year period of competition in the telecoms industry, the big picture remains largely the same. Telstra continues to be the dominant player (over 60% market share), followed
Latest developments in the Australian telecommunications industry Read More »
For literally decades, I have been relying on the annual statistical reports on the global telecommunications market published by telecommunications giant Ericsson. The reports from the 1980s and 1990s primarily focused on telephone statistics, and over time, they expanded to include broadband and mobile data. However, due to the privatisation of telecommunication services, not all
Global 5G market advanced to 1.6 billion users. Read More »
Australia’s digital landscape has undergone significant transformations in 2023, as outlined in recent reports from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). They key findings concentrate on three critical perspectives: the state of Australian telecom infrastructure, internet usage patterns, and the dynamic trends in digital communication. ACMA’s series of research reports culminating in 2023 unveiled
Review of Australia’s Digital Evolution in 2023 Read More »
In recent communications with two esteemed colleagues, there has been a discussion on the potential for community-owned mobile networks to bridge the connectivity gap in remote areas, particularly in Australia. The central theme of these conversations revolves around the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of establishing such networks and the legal and licensing challenges that currently hinder
Ongoing obstacles to good quality, affordable broadband in remote Australia Read More »
Over the last few months, I have written articles about 5G, 6G (2030s) and even 7G (2040s). In my research of these articles, I increasingly have come across the use of haptic technologies So I started to look into the relation between haptic technology and the new mobile technologies. Already 5G and even more so
The emergence of haptic technologies Read More »
LEOs are going to shake up the Australian telecoms market. As we have foreshadowed before Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Systems such as StarLink – but increasingly also others – are going to have a serious impact on the overall telecommunications landscape in Australia, especially in the regional and remote parts of the country. So,
LEOs are going to shake up the Australian telecoms market. Read More »
The “Beyond 5G/6G Era”: A New Era of 7G Wireless Communication The recent G7 Summit in Hiroshima witnessed an intriguing development in the telecoms industry as Japan proposed collaboration on technologies that lie on the horizon—what the Japanese have called “Beyond 5G/6G era.” While the current 5G cellular network is still in its nascent stages,
The “Beyond 5G/6G Era”: A New Era of 7G Wireless Communication Read More »
Different industry tunes on the sharing of telecoms infrastructure. The Australian telecommunications industry has long been a source of contention between regulators, operators, and consumers. In recent years, the focus has been on increasing competition and improving coverage, especially in regional areas. Two recent speeches from industry leaders have highlighted the need for collaboration and
Different industry tunes on the sharing of telecoms infrastructure Read More »
ACMA recently published a paper titled: Terahertz use-cases and regulatory models information paper. The terahertz spectrum refers to frequencies in the range 100-400GHz, but the more practical range will be between 100-275GHz. This part of the electromagnetic spectrum lies between the microwave and infrared regions and has unique properties that make it attractive for various
Terahertz spectrum opening up the way for 6G Read More »
While nearly two in three Australians are now only using their mobile to make telephone calls, close to a third don’t have a landline at all anymore. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) recently produced an extensive report on mobile use in Australia. While just over 70% of people still have a landline, the
Australians are loving their mobile phones Read More »
More and more information is becoming available about the breach of the Optus systems. It looks like the hacker is more of an amateur than a professional criminal or a “state actor”. This makes the hack even more worrisome. It looks as though Optus didn’t have its security house in order. This makes the issue
The hack will be a costly affair for Optus. Read More »
Approximately a decade ago, I wrote an article with a headline like this, however with the proviso that the mobile operators at that time would fight tooth and nail against its introduction. An eSIM is a form of programmable SIM card that is embedded directly into a device instead of a physical SIM that is
eSIMS are going to be a mobile gamechanger. Read More »
The NASA-sponsored Artemis program is the first step in the next era of human exploration. Together with a large number of international government and academic partners as well as businesses – and based on international standards – NASA will establish a sustainable presence on the Moon. The aims of the programme are: demonstrate new technologies,
LunaNet – developing the internet for the Moon. Read More »
In a precious article I discussed the proposed merger between the mobile operations of TPG and Telstra. I also mentioned my support for domestic roaming in regional areas. For the last 20 years, I have consistently argued that it doesn’t make economic sense to overbuild infrastructure in most regional areas. As a result, Telstra remains
The need for a comprehensive mobile telecommunications review Read More »
There is never a dull moment in the Australian telecommunications industry. While on holiday in northwest Queensland, along the Gulf of Carpentaria, I was often still able to get a mobile signal from Telstra (Lawn Hill, Adels Grove, Gregory, Burk and Wills Roadhouse and Karumba, just to name a few rather remote places visited on
It was all over the news, so I am sure you have seen the dramatic beating that Facebook received at the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street. Facebook parent company Meta slumped more than 26 per cent, erasing more than U.S.$237 billion (AU$332 billion) in market value, the largest one-day drop in history, also
Are we seeing the slow demise of Facebook? Read More »
Of course, let me begin by wishing you a good start to the new year. It will be an interesting year in many aspects and it remains a year of high levels of uncertainty, so it is important to stay flexible. As always, the year will provide many “wow” moments in relation to technology, but
My telecoms and digital economy predictions for 2020 Read More »
For decades, we have been arguing about poor telecommunications for people that are living in regional Australia and in many cases, this includes the fringes of the metropolitan cities as well. Let’s first discuss the broadband network before we address the mobile networks. This issue started to become more prevalent in the mid-to-late 1990s when
Regional telecommunications services are simply not good enough Read More »
Telstra is partnering with the Australian Government in a deal that sees the telecoms company acquire the mobile business of Digicel South Pacific for U.S.$1.6 billion (AU$2.14 billion), plus an additional U.S.$250 million (AU$333 million) depending on how the business fares over the next three years. The Government has committed to pay U.S.$1.33 billion (AU$1.73
Telstra’s Digicel South Pacific buy is politically motivated Read More »
In a surprise move, the Commonwealth Bank took a 25% stake in two of the NBN Retail Service Providers (RSPs): More Telecom and Tangerine. As electronic banking is growing exponentially, the bank wants to become more involved in the telecoms market which is key in providing access to such services. As Australia has one of
Back to the future with FttH and finally mobile roaming is on the cards. Read More »
The reason why I am asking about our mobile market competitiveness is the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently argued that because the courts allowed the merger between Vodafone and TPG, the market has become less competitive. The ACCC had argued against the merger but lost that case. It is not easy to give
Is our mobile market competitive? Read More »
We have covered several articles about the potential of 5G being a competitor to the NBN. I have always downplayed this but have also indicated that there certainly are new niche market opportunities of 5G. However, these will be incremental, and its main development is simply replacing 4G, as it offers significant network efficiencies for
Will 5G be a game changer or simply a 4G upgrade. Read More »
We are getting closer to using alternative broadband solutions, offered by international companies. Local telecommunication entities will in this respect be relegated to resellers. The reality of accessing low Earth orbiting satellite (LEO) services is now clearly on the horizon. Most of the telcos as well as governments are not prepared for the potential shock
Are the LEOs going to disrupt the telco market? Read More »
While 2021 will remain a year with lots of uncertainties, at the same we can say that the pandemic has not affected the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in any significant way. Yes, there has been a slowdown, for example, in the sale of smartphones. Shortages in both materials and expertise are slowing the
What will 2021 have install for the ICT industry? Read More »
A recent session of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Australian Smart Communities Association (ASCA) masterclass on 5G, featured Dr Ian Oppermann, the NSW Government’s Chief Data Scientist and one of the country’s most respected experts in radio technology. Ian is also the Chair of the scientific advisory board of the 6G Flagship organisation,
What will 6G look like in a geopolitical divided world Read More »
As I mentioned in a previous article, I chaired three masterclasses on 5G. It is always great to listen to experts who I trust as they provide important input in the knowledge I need to obtain for that higher level of insight I need to put a range of technical and business issues together in
5G will not be the panacea for all our communication needs Read More »
Later this month, I will be sharing three masterclasses organised by the Australian Smart Communities Association (ASCA) and the Australian Computer Society (ASC) on the potential of using 5G as an infrastructure solution for smart cities. Just to make sure, I am doing this pro bono so no financial gain or otherwise for me. What
Smart Cities moving into 5G Read More »
There certainly is a lot of interest in machine-to-machine communication (M2M) and the internet of things (IoT). But what we are seeing is only what is happening on the surface. Most of the M2M activities are taking place unnoticed. For example, most newly produced electronic devices are now all M2M enabled. Over 100 million smart
Internet of Things requires a rethink of business models. Read More »
For me, the reason to download the COVIDSafe app is that my personal risk of not using it is greater than the risk of the possible misuse of my data. From a technical and legal point, I am satisfied that the app is as safe as you can expect from any technology. If you are
COVIDSafe risk assessment personal data vs your risk regarding the virus Read More »
As the rollout of fibre to the home project (FttH) remains a slow process it is no wonder that more and more people are looking towards mobile as a potential alternative. Obviously, mobile communication has improved over recent years in providing excellent access to broadband. It has also become more affordable. At the same time,
The role of FttH in the development of 5G Read More »
For as long the NBN has been under development we have heard comments that the NBN is not needed as the world will go wireless. In the early days, this was an argument from, among others, Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. However, while he didn’t often repeat this argument of fear, uncertainty and doubt, the
Do we need 5G to compete with the NBN Read More »
Optus recently requested a proper investigation by the Government in relation to a potential data storage cost blowout to retain 5G metadata. This is data that labels information about other data such as files, videos, instructions, images and so on. The telcos are now required by law to collect and store metadata and to make
Will the data retention scheme result in a cost blow out for the roll-out of 5G? Read More »
In our globalised economy, it is important that we do establish levels of fair trade and the U.S. is right in addressing that issue. However, making technology a key element of the trade war will backfire. Let’s take (again) the Huawei issue as an example. The company has admitted that the U.S/ boycott is hitting
The West is shooting itself in its IT foot Read More »
Having been involved in the telecommunications industry for a long time, I followed many of the discussions involving health concerns when the 3G and 4G mobile technologies were introduced. This time, with 5G, the situation is no different. Again, there are many communities worried about the potential negative health effects of the radiation that emanates
5G and the health scare Read More »
“Peak telecom” is described as the maximum point of expansion reached by the traditional telecommunications industry before the internet commoditised the industry to a utility pipe. I had to think of this when I read the recent outcomes of the famous Ericsson Consumer Lab survey. The company used the result of the survey to counteract market criticism
Have we reached ‘Peak Telecom’ and what does this mean for 5G Read More »
With a new government and a new Minister for Communication in place it is an appropriate time to start looking at the telecommunications issues that need to be addressed. I welcome the new Minister Paul Fletcher as he is by far the best qualified in government to take on the telecoms portfolio. I know him
Telecoms wish list for the new minister. Read More »
The Vodafone-TPG merger dilemma, what to make of the ACCC decision not to allow the merger between Vodafone and TPG?
The Vodafone-TPG merger dilemma Read More »
What is the business case for 5G? There is a lot of hype around 5G but none of it is new. We saw the same propaganda – fuelled by the manufacturers – in the run-up to the launch of the 3G and 4G versions of the mobile technology. Driverless cars and a range of other
What is the business case for 5G? Read More »
Macquarie Bank Is going to launch a mobile product in the telecoms market. This is an interesting development.. It doesn’t happen that often that an investment itself launches a mobile service, to be known as Nu Mobile. Even more remarkable is that it launches a niche mobile service known as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator
Can Macquarie Bank run a niche mobile service? Read More »
In my various media comments on TPG’s withdrawal from the mobile network market, I commented on the one side that the government’s ban on Huawei was a great excuse for the company to abandon its ambitious infrastructure plans. Building such a new network doesn’t make economic sense, especially within the context of a merger with
New opportunities to open up the mobile market. Read More »
The 5G auction brought in $853 million in the government’s coffers, while this is a lot of money the total amount of the spectrum sale is lower because of limited competition, partly because of the restrictions there were put on Optus and the nbn company regarding the amount of spectrum they can have in metropolitan
Comments on the 5G auction Read More »
Despite the big PR splash from Telstra in relation to its 5G announcement, there was not much news beyond phones that look very similar to 4G phones and (video) services that can also be provided over 4G. I remain convinced that 5G is not going to provide any new revenues for Telstra and for Optus
No quick wins with 5G for Telstra Read More »
The merger between Vodafone and TPG will bring the number of Mobile Network Operators in Australia from four to three. Since the announcement there have been plenty of discussions if this merger will reduce competition and thus favour Telstra and Optus or if TPG will indeed maintain its position as national price beater in the
More competition in countries with four rather than 3 mobile providers Read More »
While I would have loved to see TPG entering the mobile market to bring some good competition to it, in the end business sense has prevailed and Vodafone and TPG have decided to look at merging the two companies. The market has long been dominated by egos and that has made it difficult sometimes to
Vodafone – TPG merger Read More »
After lots of talk about 5G being a potential competitor to the NBN, Optus is throwing the cat among the pigeons. Its announcement of a fixed wireless product is challenging the NBN head-on. It will be interesting to see what the reaction from the national broadband company will be, as it has already hinted at
Optus makes sure there will be competition in 5G Read More »
With a faltering NBN in Australia, many people in the media and outside the industry are suggesting that perhaps we don’t need an NBN at all as with new mobile technologies such as 5G the quality problem of broadband access in Australia could be solved in this way. This argument is not new, the Prime
Mobile broadband is no alternative for fixed broadband Read More »
‘Wireless is just one wire less’ or ‘Wireless is just spectrum wrapped around a fibre core” The Australian mobile telecommunication industry is continuing to resist structural changes, but the reality is that if they don’t transform, technology will do it for them. We have seen the fixed telecom operators slowly being pushed back into the
What is the future for our mobile network operators? Read More »
Telstra is Australia’s largest telecommunications provider offering a full range of telecom services throughout Australia. The company provides basic access services to most homes and businesses, local and long-distance telephone call services, and mobile and internet services. Wholesale services are also provided to ISPs and RSPs while advertising and subscription television services are provided through subsidiary
Australia’s top three Telcos face growing competition Read More »
In all reality it looks like the multi-technology mix (MTM) as it is currently being rolled out by the nbn company is as good as it will get. Some Australians will have an excellent service, especially those on fibre-to-the-home (FttH) and fibre-to-the-curb (FttC) technologies. Others won’t see any difference from the current ADSL services they
The future NBN might look rather different Read More »
It is still a battle to extend the perception of the importance of high-speed broadband beyond fast access to the internet or to Netflix. But the social and economic benefits are equally important, especially looking towards medium- and long-term future development of the region. The healthcare, government services and education sectors are undergoing massive transformations,
The importance of high-speed broadband in regional Australia Read More »
There are a number of industries leading the current changes brought about by the digital evolution – but none more so than the ICT industry. This sector alone has been transformational in developing the appropriate infrastructure, services and equipment required to underpin our societies of the future. The enormous shift towards digital technologies continues
Telecoms infrastructure and digital technologies lead the way Read More »
As the roll out of FttH remains a slow process it is no wonder that more and more people are looking towards mobile as a potential alternative. Obviously mobile communication has improved over recent years in providing excellent access to broadband; and it has also become more affordable. At the same time there is the
The role of FttH in the development of 5G Read More »
With an NBN that is failing many customers it is no wonder that more and more people are looking towards mobile as a potential alternative. Obviously mobile communication has improved over recent years in providing excellent access to broadband; and it has also become more affordable. At the same time there is the fabulous hype
The role of the NBN in the development of 5G Read More »
For more than a decade I have followed the trials and tribulations of New Zealand’s third mobile operator, 2Degrees. This story started at a time when regulation in New Zealand (or more to the point, the lack of it) very much favoured the incumbent operator, at that stage called Telecom New Zealand. From the very
2Degrees – where to go from here? Read More »
In 2017 mobile broadband subscriptions are growing rapidly and LTE infrastructure now carries over 65% of all global mobile traffic. While mobile and fixed will always exist in parallel, there is no doubt that with a faltering fixed network and an excellent mobile network, mobile will give fixed a run for its money. With competitively
Mobile infrastructure will ultimately rely on fibre broadband Read More »
The global mobile market has become far more competitive in most markets around the world due to liberalisation, the rise of Over-The-Top (OTT) providers and, in some cases, the introduction of MVNOs. In addition, as operators go hunting for new revenue streams, there has been much regional and international expansion occurring – along with consolidation.
Competitive global mobile market sees the rise of regional leaders Read More »
Last week I chaired a number of very well-attended sessions at the Connect Conference in Melbourne. My compliments to the organisers, who had gathered together a range of excellent speakers, very different from the commercially motivated group of speakers who so often feature at commercial conferences. The Plenary Opening session featured Dr Amanda Caples, the
The Next Big Thing Read More »
The overall telecoms services revenue reached over $42 billion in 2016, a growth of under 1% for the 12 months to June 2016. The overall market is predicted to grow at a stronger rate in 2017. The strongest growth is coming from the second tier providers, which grew at over 10% during that time period.
Australia’s telco market grows slowly with mobile broadband driving growth Read More »
In 2017 the global mobile market has its sights firmly set on the opportunities offered through mobile data as well as looking for potential new revenues streams presented by the enterprise sector, data mining, 5G and international expansion. Mobile saturation has occurred in many of the developed markets and this has forced some of the
International expansion has strengthened the operations of many mobile operators Read More »
The Australian mobile market is dominated by the three major mobile network operators Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone (VHA), though there are numerous MVNOs which have a significant market share. MVNOs have been able to offer LTE services on a wholesale basis since early 2016, thus encouraging growth in the LTE sector and cementing the role
Australia’s MNOs prepare for migration to 5G Read More »
The overall telecoms services revenue reached over $40 billion in 2016, a growth of 2.0% for the 12 months to June 2016. The overall market is predicted to grow more strongly in 2017. The strongest growth is coming from the second tier providers, which grew at over 10% during that time period. The market incumbent
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone face increasing threat from 2nd Tier Market Read More »
Since the ACCC indicated that it is again opening up its investigation into mobile roaming there has been a great deal of noise from the various telco players regarding the pros and cons of mobile roaming. However very little attention has been given to the more subtle underlying issues. While most the operators involved in
Mobile roaming – does customer service matter to the mobile operators? Read More »
In the USA the FCC has started the discussion on the next level of telecoms in the wireless market, aimed at making spectrum in bands above 24GHz available for flexible-use of wireless services, including next-generation, or 5G networks and technologies. New technologies such as massive-MIMO are going to make it possible to deliver ‘fibre-like’ speeds
The next development in wireless broadband Read More »
The three LTE networks operated by Optus, Telstra and Vodafone have been developed rapidly during the past two years. These MNOs are striving to provide an infrastructure capable of meetings customer demand for mobile broadband services, and are also preparing for the possibilities anticipated through the deployment of 5G within the next few years. Telstra
Australia’s MVNOs now accessing the world’s fastest LTE networks Read More »
The merger was not approved by the New Zealand Regulator (6/2017). During the last decade there has been considerable merger and acquisition activity in the telecoms sector across global regions. Where these processes are not possible, for regulatory or commercial reasons, operators have found ways to share resources in a bid to provide improved services
The Chinese telecom market is the largest in the world in terms of subscribers and is undergoing transition. Mobile subscriptions outnumber fixed voice connections and voice is giving way to data as the primary revenue generator. China’s telecom market is served by three operators; China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile. All three are integrated
China Continues to Evolve as a World Leader in the Digital Media Sector Read More »
It probably is because we are so good at doing that in our industry. We start with over-promising and under-delivering and then in following years we fix it. So why would 5G be different? Our admirable technology companies are telling us that 5G will be 100x faster than 4G and that it will have 50x
