Page 24 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

I have already signed up as a mentor and that are trying to weather the storm of BT has launched new learning content on
look forward to learning a huge amount COVID-19. I have lots of friends and crucial topics - such as how to protect
and helping a small business to thrive family working in small businesses that yourself from cyber-attacks and using
into the future.” Sherry Coutu, Founder at are no longer in work, so I felt personally social media to reach new customers.
Digital Boost, said: “At Digital Boost, we motivated to support the small businesses In the last year alone, BT has delivered
help those who work for and lead small that are fighting for survival. My expertise over 190 free learning webinars for small
businesses and charities to survive the is in sales/partnerships and I have so far businesses. BT is also acutely aware that
COVID-19 crisis and be more competitive conducted two mentoring sessions. The it’s an extremely worrying and uncertain
in the long-run. BT is a key partner in our feedback from them was great and I feel time for small businesses and is providing
effort to help prepare the UK to build back a sense of pride knowing that I’m making access to expertise to small business
better after the pandemic.” Brett O’Brien, a direct impact to help these small firms leaders around maintaining wellbeing by
Internal Engagement Manager at BT, has stay in business.” BT has already helped boosting their mental and physical health.
been involved in the pilot of the mentoring tens of thousands of small businesses A free online Wellbeing Toolkit is already
scheme, providing his sales expertise to a acquire new digital skills through its Skills available and a webinar series specifically
small business. Brett said: “I volunteered for Tomorrow program which aims to designed for small businesses will launch
to be a Digital Boost mentor as I felt it was reach 1 million small business owners and next month.
my duty to support the small businesses their employees by 2025. In recent months,

BT Wins a New Contract to Connect Dutch Diplomatic Missions Around the
World

BT announced it has signed a contract well as with external partners. Users will
with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs benefit from secure access to data and
to provide communication services to cloud services. Joris van Oers, managing
their embassies and consulates in 120 director for Europe at BT, said: “I am really
countries using the latest software defined proud that the Dutch government has put
networking technology. The contract is their trust in us to connect their embassies
valued at 33 million euros over the initial and consulates around the world. We
period of four years, with an option to be can build on many years of experience
extended to a total duration of up to nine serving public sector customers such as
years. It was won in a public, EU-wide tender EU institutions and governments in many
procedure. The new network services will countries, and we are happy to support the
form the foundation for the ministry’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their journey
digital transformation journey and will into a more digital future.”
enable secure collaboration internally as

China Mobile and CBN Finalize Collaboration
Agreements

China Mobile, China’s largest mobile 2021, and Phase Two spanning 1 January jointly construct the 700MHz network, will
provider by subscribers, and 5G licensee 2022 to 31 December 2031. As noted by comprise investment in the establishment,
China Broadcasting Network (CBN, also TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, expansion of capacity as well as upgrade
known as China Radio and Television), have the two companies had inked a co- and renovation of the 700MHz network at
built upon the collaborative framework construction agreement that would enable a ratio of 1:1. The network will be owned by
agreement that the pair signed in May last China Mobile utilize the 700MHz spectrum both companies as an indivisible integral
year regarding 5G network co-construction for 5G services whilst CBN would benefit asset at a ratio of 1:1, and China Mobile
and sharing with the inking of a series of from an accelerated rollout and entry into and CBN will both have the right to fully use
‘specific collaboration agreements. The the market by using Mobile’s existing the 700MHz network to provide services to
deals comprise four new agreements, networks. The new agreements are as their respective customers. China Mobile
each of which last until 31 December follows. The 5G Network Co-construction will provide CBN with a transmission carrier
2031 and separated into two phases and Sharing Collaboration Agreement, network linking between 700MHz 5G base
with Phase One ending on 31 December under which the two companies will stations and CBN’s connection points in

24 JANUARY 2021