Page 33 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS
Nation’s famed politeness and etiquette is something that we all share is our love of Ireland. We know our customers value
internationally known through the varied local small talk; the weather, footie and speaking to someone on the other end of
ways Brits address and thank each other. the telly, all make us feel comfortable and the phone who understands their issue,
The research shows ‘thank you’ is the most able to relate to someone on the other whether that’s about their products or
popular way to show appreciation someone side of the phone.” Marc Allera, CEO of BT the weather. “BT is already back on the
with ‘ta’ and ‘nice one’ being the next two Consumer, said: “We know how important high street and within 20 minutes’ drive
favorites, particularly in Scotland and the providing a personal, and local service is to of 95% of the UK population, and now as
North West of England. Rob continues, our customers and today we’re celebrating part of our ambition to be the best for
“Britain is a nation of dialects, with unique delivering our commitment to answer all of service we’re now answering 100% of our
lingo in every corner of the country. But our customer service calls in the UK and customers’ calls in the UK and Ireland.”

BT Expects New Network Safeguard Rules to Cost It GBP500M Over Next
Five Years

Following on from the British government’s was cited as saying: ‘The way it works limited to a minority presence of no more
announcement earlier this week that it will at the moment is when you put a 5G box than 35% in the periphery of the access
limit the use of equipment from ‘high risk’ on a mast it has to be on top of a 4G box network, this 35% cap is also reportedly
vendors in operator’s networks, BT has from the same supplier … More than 35% to be applied to how much 5G data traffic
suggested that the development will cost of [our] 4G boxes are Huawei. We are going can flow through Huawei equipment,
it around GBP500 million (USD653 million) to have to take out some Huawei 4G boxes not just the proportion of equipment.
to comply with the ruling. According to The and not use them again. That is probably As such, this may mean BT needing
Guardian, BT currently uses more Huawei the single biggest cost. In order to make to replace additional Huawei-supplied
equipment in the masts and towers of its 5G work we are going to have to use other equipment where it is being used in highly
mobile network than is allowed under new manufacturers’ equipment.’ Meanwhile, populated, high-traffic areas such as
government rules, and as such it will be the executive was said to have suggested London and Manchester. ‘[The cap] is not
required to take this out and replace it with that the total cost to the company could just number of masts, it is traffic as well.
kit from other vendors. Speaking on the rise beyond GBP500 million. With the new The mechanism for defining traffic has
matter, BT’s chief executive Philip Jansen rules meaning that high risk vendors are not [yet] been agreed,’ Jansen pointed out.

Cisco Joins Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi Technology
Partner Program to Connect More People to a
Faster Internet

Cisco announced that it has joined benefits in areas such as education, said Dan Rabinovitsj, Vice President of
Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi Technology financial services, health, agriculture Facebook Connectivity. “With Express Wi-
Partner Program to close the digital and transport. Express Wi-Fi is part of Fi, Cisco and Facebook will extend access
divide and enable more people around Facebook Connectivity, a collection of to the internet in underserved areas where
the world to get connected to a faster, programs, technologies and partnerships connectivity can offer more opportunities
better internet. According to the 2019 EIU designed to increase the availability, for development and growth.” “Cisco has
Internet Inclusivity Index commissioned affordability and awareness of high-quality a history of connecting the unconnected,
by Facebook, about 3.8 billion people don’t internet access. With Express Wi-Fi, local and as an Express Wi-Fi technology
have fast and reliable internet access. entrepreneurs, equipment manufacturers, partner, we can accelerate the potential
The study revealed that, in contrast to mobile network operators and service for better, faster internet services without
previous years, progress has stalled on providers can build, grow and monetize boundaries,” said Greg Dorai, Vice
closing the digital divide. Although mobile their Wi-Fi businesses in a sustainable President of Wireless Product Management
internet services continue to improve, and scalable way. Through the Express Wi- for Enterprise Networking, Cisco. “This
many low-income countries are seeing Fi Technology Partner Program, Cisco will program offers another path for Cisco to
slow progress. As part of its corporate build network hardware and software that team with its service provider partners to
commitment to global problem solving is compatible with Express Wi-Fi, helping deliver sustainable, high-quality public Wi-
and building a better future, Cisco has a to bring more people online and improve Fi via networked solutions that are ready to
goal to positively impact 1 billion lives by the internet experience. “We are pleased integrate with Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi.”
2025. The internet has the potential to to have Cisco join us in providing more
transform more people’s lives, bringing affordable, fast and reliable connectivity,”

33 FEBRUARY 2020