A week in telecoms: SKT’s AI ‘superhighway'

SK Telecom plans AI ‘superhighway’

Already known for its ambition to become an AI company, South Korea-based SK Telecom (SKT) has unveiled yet another initiative that it says is expected to expedite existing AI projects.

The so-called “AI Infrastructure Superhighway” will be based on AI data centers (AIDCs), a cloud-based GPU service (GPU-as-a-Service or GPUaaS), and edge AI. Based on this strategy, the operator plans to “expand globally in collaboration with partners in Korea and abroad.”

The plans were presented by SKT CEO, Ryu Young-sang, during the SK AI Summit this week.

The operator added that it plans to develop a “comprehensive AIDC solution” that combines AI semiconductors, data centers, and energy solutions. It laid out its ambition to “lead the global standardization of edge AI and collaborate on advanced technology research, while working towards the transition to 6G AI infrastructure.”

The move builds on a recent flurry of AI activity. For example, SKT recently announced plans to work with Gen AI conversational search engine specialist Perplexity to develop Personal AI Agents (PAA) for South Korea and international markets. The pair plan to launch a beta PAA in the U.S. “within the year.”

Earlier this year, SK Telecom and KT led a $72 million funding round in domestic AI company Upstage as part of ongoing efforts to boost their AI activities.

In 2023, Deutsche Telekom, e&, Singtel, and SK Telecom joined forces to form the Global Telco AI Alliance with the aim of accelerating the use of AI within their businesses and developing AI-fuelled business models to drive growth.

Nokia and Hrvatski Telekom collaborate on APIs for 5G applications

Another day, another telco API announcement, this time from Nokia and Deutsche Telekom’s Croatian NatCo Hrvatski Telekom (HT). 

The two companies say they are collaborating on pilot projects that connect Nokia’s Network as Code platform with developer portal to HT’s network assets.

The aim, they say, is to enable developers to harness and monetize the operator’s 5G network assets and capabilities “through the creation of new consumer, enterprise, and industrial applications for Hrvatski Telekom customers in Croatia and other parts of Europe.”

Nokia also highlighted how its API ecosystem is expanding with partners such as Infobip, a cloud communications platform, and Elmo, a specialist in teledriving technology, to utilize 5G and 4G network capabilities and generate new revenue streams.

The Finnish vendor said 27 partners in Europe, North and South America, and Asia now use its platform, including operators such as BT, Dish, Orange, Telefonica, and Telecom Argentina.

Nokia’s Network as Code platform is among a number of initiatives that is trying to drive network API development and take-up. These include Open Gateway, formed out of the Linux Foundation’s CAMARA open-source API development project, and which aims to define a federated platform for operators to port and reproduce APIs.

In addition, TM Forum members are developing new “Operate APIs” to complement CAMARA network APIs in providing a standardized way to make the interfaces commercially available to aggregators and developers.

Vodafone and Three merger: on track for approval?

The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has signaled that the proposed merger of Three UK and Vodafone UK is likely to be approved by the deadline of December 7.

In a statement, the competition watchdog indicated it is ready to accept the proposed remedies offered by Vodafone and Three to allow their planned merger to proceed.

It said it has provisionally found that a “multi-billion-pound commitment” to upgrade the merged operator’s network across the U.K., “including the rollout of 5G, combined with short-term customer protections could solve competition concerns identified in September and allow the merger to go ahead.”

The CMA has now set out a remedies working paper to seek views on the effectiveness of a proposed remedy package and is inviting feedback by November 12. 

Vodafone and Three said they will need to study the working paper in detail, but said they believe it “provides a path to final clearance of their merger.”

“An appropriate balance appears to have been struck by ensuring that the significant benefits of the merged company’s investments can be realised in full and at pace to the benefit of the country and its citizens, while addressing the CMA’s stated concerns. However, it is essential that balance is preserved through to the end of the process, reflecting that the parties have offered extensive remedies, including by making their future network roll-out fully enforceable,” the two operators said.

O2 Telefonica adds B2B and AI to Mallik Rao’s remit

Mallik Rao already holds the title of Chief Technology & Information Officer at Telefonica Deutschland (O2 Telefonica), and is now taking on additional duties including the German telco’s B2B division and data platform and AI activities.

As noted by O2 Telefonica, the additional area of responsibility will be reflected in the new title, Chief Technology & Enterprise Officer, with the start of the new contract period on 5 November 2024.

The move underpins how important AI has become for telecoms as they seek to drive operational improvements and enhance customer experiences. 

O2 Telefonica now plans to create data platforms as well as centralized AI tools in Rao’s new management division, which it said will serve as a basis for further utilization in the company.

The operator added that it currently uses more than 50 AI applications “that enable added value in the triple-digit millions per year, for example in terms of more efficient and accelerated processes.”

According to Rao, “with our combined expertise in technology, business customer services and sales, as well as data and AI, we want to be the best point of contact for small, medium and large companies when it comes to digital communication and state-of-the-art connectivity solutions.”

Vodafone Business and Oracle expand IoT collaboration

Vodafone Business and Oracle Communications agreed a deeper partnership that will involve integrating the operator’s IoT services with a platform designed to provide real-time communications and connected device management for industries.

The aim is to combine Vodafone’s Global SIM with Oracle’s Enterprise Connectivity Platform (ECP) in order to enhance the ability to orchestrate, connect and manage IoT devices and new cloud-based services.

Oracle noted that ECP is based on its cloud infrastructure and uses edge architecture to give businesses the “near real-time data intelligence required to power essential new services.”

It said the combination of ECP with Vodafone Business IoT’s connectivity enables new capabilities such as embedded AI, secure device lifecycle management, connection management and advanced media routing and conferencing.

Andrew Morawski, executive vice president and general manager, Oracle Communications, said connectivity is the heart of industry transformation.

“Using drones to inspect construction jobsites, remote monitoring the health of a patient, paying the bill tableside at a restaurant—none of these scenarios are possible without wireless connectivity and industry-specific applications working in harmony. By expanding our long partnership with Vodafone and bringing its extensive global network reach and IoT expertise together with Oracle’s, wide-ranging portfolio of industry suites, we can help create new ways to delight customers and deliver new revenue streams,” Morawski said. 

Also noted…

BT has put its Global division up for sale, according to a Mail on Sunday report.