In this week's news roundup, we looked at the top news stories from the B2B tech & telecoms industry. The stories cover topics including 5G, cloud, agri-tech and Rich Communication Services (RCS) news. Here are our highlights from the week.
monday:
Nokia rolls out AVA AI at the edge for 5G CX
Nokia has introduced an AI enhancement that sits at the network edge and promises to enhance the 5G customer experience around gaming and streaming.
AVA Quality of Experience (QoE) at the Edge enables AI to be deployed closer to the customer, and in turn facilitating real-time CX improvements.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3f2crYe
KBC puts virtual assistant at centre of new digital-first strategy
Belgian bank KBC says it is moving from an omni-channel to digital-first distribution model, putting a new AI-powered customer assistant at the centre of its strategy.
From now on, KBC products, services and commercial processes will be designed with the emphasis on ‘digital first’, with a virtual assistant, called Kate, central to this.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2UwcUsf
Tuesday:
BT launches cloud-optimised network services with VMware
BT has announced the launch of a new generation of cloud-optimised managed network services to expand multinational customers’ choice of software-based connectivity solutions.
The first service, based on VMware SD-WAN, is available to customers globally and already in live deployment.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3pBVYPs
Google, IFC report predicts Africa’s Internet economy to be worth $180 billion by 2025
Google and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) released a report, e-Conomy Africa 2020, which estimates that Africa's Internet economy has the potential to reach 5.2% of the continent's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025, contributing nearly $180 billion to its economy.
The projected potential contribution could reach $712 billion by 2050.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3nxVHLz
Wednesday:
£15bn: 5G’s economic promise to the UK
New research from Analysys Mason, done at the behest of Ericsson and Qualcomm, suggests that the UK could stand to gain £14.8 billion in economic growth in the 15 years between 2025 and 2045 if it manages to harness 5G correctly.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3kLPuKg
How agricultural tech is advancing the UAE’s food security goals
One of the technologies touted to help the UAE achieve food security is hydroponics, which is used at Armela Farms to grow 5,000 heads of lettuce (in 19 varieties) and a tonne of kale (three kinds) every day. Yazan Abu Jaish, Managing Partner at Armela Farms, points out two major benefits of hydroponics: A severely reduced risk of pests and other insects, and sustainability.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2KpS4sS
tHURSDAY:
IP House collaborates with Console Connect hyperscale for cloud connectivity offering
Data centre and cloud services provider IP House has announced its partnership with Console Connect, a global Software Defined Interconnection platform.
Launched in 2018, IP House offers a privately owned enterprise-class colocation data centre in London.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2ISFLEZ
Telstra leverages subsea network for low-latency financial trading
Telstra has unveiled a global financial trading solution to provide low latency connectivity directly to eight of the world’s most valuable futures and commodities marketplaces.
Telstra Octagon leverages Telstra’s low latency subsea network and direct exchange connections, giving organisations the ability to trade faster across key exchanges in the US, Asia and Australia.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3fkId30
Friday:
African fintech startup Chipper Cash raises $30M backed by Jeff Bezos
African cross-border fintech startup Chipper Cash has raised a $30 million Series B funding round led by Ribbit Capital with participation of Bezos Expeditions — the personal VC fund of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
Read the full story here: https://tcrn.ch/2IVkvOm
Mobile operators on track to make $52.2bn from RCS by 2028
Mobile operators are set to earn more than $52.2 billion from RCS by 2028, according to the findings of a report by business messaging intelligence company, Mobilesquared.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2IRgJWE
