Vodafone extends broadband coverage with Intelsat

Vodafone has added Intelsat’s Flex satellite connectivity service to its range of offerings in a deal which allows it to bring broadband to enterprises, government departments and charities operating in areas – such as disaster zones – that fall outside Vodafone’s terrestrial coverage. Using the Intelsat service based on a network of GEO (geostationary Earth orbit) satellites, Vodafone is providing two types of satellite connectivity products: Communications-on-the-Move (COTM) uses a vehicle-mounted antenna, while Communications-on-the-Pause (COTP) connectivity comprises a compact satellite terminal. Vodafone’s agreement with Intelsat complements its work on direct-to-smartphone connectivity using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology.

In related news, Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke said that the company may have to explore commercial partnerships to help fund satellites for its OneWeb broadband constellation if it fails to reach an agreement on the EU-backed Iris project, according to a report in the Financial Times. The Iris project is intended to provide “sovereign” satellite-based communications to the European bloc but has been beset by delays since it was announced in 2022, says the FT.

BICS, the international bit of Belgium’s Proximus, is beefing up its roaming services offer with software from Cellusys. The deal is meant to streamline, among other things, BICS’ Welcome SMS service, which controls the sending of messages service from operators to subscribers when they arrive in a new country, informing them about the rates for using data, calls or SMS while visiting that country.

Nokia has landed a microwave technology deal with Zain Iraq, upgrading the operator’s network in the south of the country. The three-year deal involves swapping out competitor equipment and introducing Nokia’s high-capacity microwave offerings, including E-band solutions that use the frequency range from 60GHz to 90GHz.

Huawei is deploying an indoor 5G-Advanced network for UAE operator du, describing it as the first of its kind in the Middle East. The network makes use of three-carrier aggregation (3CC) technology and is intended to improve connectivity in indoor spaces such as shopping malls and airports.

Telia Lithuania is combining with Ribbon Communications to upgrade the network belonging to LTG Group, the Lithuanian railway company. The upgrade will, says Ribbon, allow data to be shared within the group over a network offering increased security, higher data transfer speeds and smoother rollout of new services.

Sparkle, the international services arm of Telecom Italia (TIM), and cybersecurity firm Telsy say they have successfully implemented quantum-based security on a high-capacity link between two of Sparkle’s data centers in Athens. The proof-of-concept trial consisted of a quantum-secure videoconference carried out through Telsy’s Antares platform on a link between the two data centers. An optical networking system from Ribbon Communications (yes, them again) enabled client traffic to be encrypted and transported over a 400G link.

Switzerland-based Horisen is to supply Spain’s Go4Mobility with its SMS Platform product to support Go4Mobility’s bulk SMS service.

Carolina Dybeck Happe has resigned from Ericsson’s board of directors as she takes up a new job as EVP and chief operations officer at Microsoft. Dybeck Happe has served on Ericsson’s Board since 2022. Light Reading