StarHub is the first off the block in the race to deliver 5G services in Singapore. It ha started a six-month trial for consumers who own a t 5G-enabled smartphone on its three Mobile+ plans.
Category: Telecommunications
New MediaTek Dimensity chip guns for mid-tier 5G smartphones
MediaTek has announced the Dimensity 800U 5G SoC that aims to deliver premium experiences on mid-tier 5G smartphones.
ZTE to introduce under-display camera smartphone in China on Sep 1
ZTE will launch the ZTE Axon 20 5G under-display camera smartphone in China on September 1, 2020.
Huawei propels to top of smartphone market in Q2
Huawei has battled past sanctions and the withdrawal of Android support to climb to the top of the global smartphone market in Q2. The China smartphone maker shipped 55.8 million units, edging past Samsung which had 53.7 million devices, according to Canalys
Zoom sets up base in Bangalore
Bangalore: Abundance of IT talents
Zoom Video Communications has opened a new technology centre in Bangalore, expanding its presence in India with offices and data centres in Mumbai and Hyderabad.
TPG partners with IDEMIA on LTE SIM cards
TPG Telecom has turned to IDEMIA to provide LTE SIM cards to its SIM-only plan subscribers in Singapore.
Telstra automates network operations with SON software
Telstra minimises network and technology complexities.
Telstra has centralised and automated its network operations with Nokia’s EdenNet Self-Organising Network (SON) software.
Google sows into Jio Platforms
Photo by Karan Mandre on Unsplash
Just 48 hours after its announcement on investing US$10 billion in India, Google has pumped US$4.5 billion to take a 7.73 percent stake in Jio Platforms.
Indonesia telco turns to ForgeRock for identity infrastructure
Indonesia mobile telco XL Axiata has chosen selected ForgeRock Identity Platform for its cloud-based initiative to unify its many customer-facing systems.
AWS unveils Amazon IVS
Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced Amazon Interactive Video Service (Amazon IVS), a fully managed service that lets customers set up live, interactive video streams for a web or mobile application in minutes.
Zoom launches DTEN Me collaboration device
Following its phenomenal popularity, Zoom has created Zoom for Home, a new category to support people working remotely. The first product is the DTEN Me, a 27-inch an all-in-one personal collaboration device that comes with three built-in wide-angle cameras, an eight-microphone array and an ultra-responsive touch display for interactive screen sharing.
6G work to start in 2021
Source: “The Next Hyper-Connected Experience for All” white paper
Even with 5G still in the commercialisation stage, planning for the next generation is expected to start in 2021.
China Unicom and Singtel collaborate on eSIM swap
Photo by Sabel Blanco from Pexels
China Unicom and Singtel have inked an agreement to collaborate on embedded SIM (eSIM) swap. This move will allow enterprise customers of both telcos to perform eSIM changes over-the-air (OTA) without having to manually configure their devices’ SIM cards to change networks in either China or Singapore.
Zoom to beta test end-to-end encryption
For those who are concerned with security while using Zoom, the videoconferecing platform will be beta testing end-to-end encryption for all users in July.
Qualcomm brings 5G to mainstream smartphones
Qualcomm has announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G mobile platform for mainstream 5G smartphones. And the likes of HMD Global, LG Electronics, Motorola, Sharp, TCL, and Wingtech are expected to roll out Snapdragon 690-powered in the coming days.
SKYtel launches Mongolia’s first digital eSIM activation service
Mobile network operator SKYtel has launched Mongolia’s first digital eSIM activation service using 10T Tech’s GSMA consumer eSIM cloud solution.
China Mobile rolls out 5G medical edge cloud
Photo by Olga Kononenko on UnsplashChina Mobile has launched the country’s first 5G medical edge cloud platform to meet the need for connection, computing, storage, middleware, service, and security in the medical industry.
Taiwan Star Telecom picks Nokia for 5G network
Taiwan Star Telecom (TST) has awarded Nokia a contract for end-to-end AirScale Radio Access network portfolio for 5G non-standalone networks that will lay the foundations for 5G standalone in the future.
Qualcomm introduces Snapdragon 768G gaming chip
Photo by Florian Olivo on UnsplashQualcomm Technologies has unveiled the Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G Mobile Platform that is designed to deliver smart, immersive gaming experiences.
Nokia and Vodafone Hutchison Australia deploy low-band 5G spectrum
Singapore awards 2 5G licences
5G is finally coming to Singapore. Traditionally a fast adopter of telecommunications technologies, the nation has been a tad slower than some others in moving to the next generation of mobile telecommunications.
Google lets you Meet for free
Source: GoogleAnother free videoconferencing platform is available for everyone. Google has joined the likes of Facebook and Zoom by making its Meet business videoconferencing solution free for all from May.
Nokia inks multi-year deal with India’s Bharti Airtel
Expanding Airtel’s reach across India.Nokia has signed a multi-year contract with Bharti Airtel to deploy Nokia’s SRAN solution across nine circles in India. The move will enhance Airtel’s network capacity, particularly in 4G, by 2022.
Zoom makes NASDAQ-100 Index list
Zoom soars to the index (Source: Pexels)COVID-19 has made a star out of Zoom Video Communications. Its popularity, usage and value has soared — all the way to becoming a component of the NASDAQ-100 Index, the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index and the NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector Index.
Facebook takes 10% stake in India telco Jio Platforms
Facebook is investing US$5.7 billion or a 9.99 percent stake in India’s Jio Platforms. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, Jio will use the new invesment to pursue new opportunities for businesses of all sizes, especially small merchants, micro-businesses and farmers, and create digital ecosystems that will empower, enrich and uplift the lives of all 1.3 billion Indians.
WhatsApp ups group calls to 8 participants
WhatsApp has raised the number of group call participants from four to eight, once its latest version is updated on Android and iOS. This feature will be particularly helpful during this period as many people are using group voice and video call platforms.
Arm joins O-RAN Alliance
Having powered generations of cellular devices, Arm has joined the O-RAN Alliance, a leading industry forum with a vision of openness and innovation fostered by a broad community of experts. And Arm aims to help drive this vision to become a reality.
Qualcomm introduces IoT modem with extremely low power consumption
Source: QualcommQualcomm Technologies, has announced the Qualcomm 212 LTE IoT Modem that requires under one micro-amp (1uA) of sleep current for extremely low average power consumption.
China Telecom Shenzhen achieves wide coverage with 5G RRUs
Commercial 5G Book RRU deployed on poles. (Source: Huawei)Providing consistent 5G coverage in residential areas, urban villages, upscale communities, and backstreet alleys can be a challenge. China Telecom Shenzhen has overcome this by deploying in hundreds of Huawei 5G C-Band Book remote radio units (RRUs) on macro and pole base stations in China.
GSMA launches Innovation Fund for mobile internet adoption and digital inclusion
GSMA has launched it Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion. Set up to increase mobile internet adoption and usage among those who have mobile internet coverage but are not using it, the fund is open for applications for countries in Africa and Asia.
Stadia Pro free for 2 months
Source: GoogleMore people staying at or working from home during this COVID-19 period are turning to gaming as a source of entertainment or to get some respite. And now they can enjoy free access to Google’s paid cloud gaming platform Stadia Pro for two months.
TPG launches S$10 mobile plan in Singapore
Source: TPGConsumers in Singapore can now get 50GB of mobile data for just S$10 per 30 days. That’s what TPG Telecom is offering for its no-contract SIM Only plan starting today. Plus, the plan comes with 300 local call minutes and 30 local SMS. In May, it will also pack a free 1GB roaming to selected countries.
Planet Computers announces 5G slider phone
There’s hope for those longing for a return of the slider phone with a keyboard for touch typing. Planet Computers has announced the Astro Slide 5G Transformer, the first 5G smartphone with a keyboard.
Avaya Spaces available to schools and charities at no charge till August 31
Source: AvayaAvaya is making its Avaya Spaces cloud meeting and team collaboration app available at no charge to educational institutions and non-profit organisations worldwide until August 31, 2020.
ZTE to unveil Axon 11 5G on March 23
ZTE will launch the ZTE Axon 11 5G smartphone in China on March 23. The company has given little away from its announcement press release other than the fact that the ZTE Axon 11 will be compatible with both SA (standalone) and NSA (non-standalone) modes.
NTT Docomo to launch 5G in Japan on March 25
NTT Docomo will launch its 5G service with a maximum data rate of 3.4Gbps in Japan on March 25. The downlink speed will increase to 4.1Gbps in June.
Technologies that matter at such a time as this
By Edward Lim
COVID-19 is hijacking life. From Facebook News Feed to printed newspapers, it’s everywhere. And it just seems to get worse with countries taking measures to prevent spread. Telecommuting has now become necessary for many.
Samsung starts mass producing fast mobile storage for flagship smartphones
Samsung eUFS UFS 3.1: 3x faster than previous generationSamsung Electronics has started mass producing the industry’s first 512-gigabyte (GB) eUFS (embedded Universal Flash Storage) 3.1 for flagship smartphones.
Apple shuts all stores outside Greater China
In a surprising reversal, Apple has announced that the temporary closure of all its stores outside of Greater China to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It’s interesting in that Apple has just re-opened its China stores.
Apple stores back in business in China
Apple’s Shanghai store is among all that has reopened.After a month of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, Apple has reopened all its 42 stores in China. The closures had hit Apple’s revenue as China is the company third largest market.
Glue introduces VR-first collaboration platform
With the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses are letting staff work remotely as part of the social distancing efforts. Collaboration platforms have become increasingly popular with many turning to the likes of Webex and Zoom. Finland-based Glue Collaboration has taken this a step further with the introduction of the next generation of its VR-first collaboration platform.
Cancelled MWC Barcelona dishes out awards
Mobile World Congress Barcelona may have been canned but the organiser has decided that the awards must still be handed out. It has announced the winners of its Global Mobile (Glomo) Awards.
80% of businesses: 5G will have significant impact
5G will have a significant impact, according to 79 percent of respondents to an Accenture study. However, security concerns remain as countries explore the implementation of the next generation mobile technology.
GSMA pulls the plug on MWC Barcelona 2020
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, MWC Barcelona 2020 organiser GSMA has announced the official cancellation of this year’s event. Due to take place from 24 to 27 February 2020, the event showed signs of scale […]
Arm launches AI chip for IoT devices
Source: ArmArm has launched the Cortex-M55, an artificial intelligence (AI) processor based on the Armv8.1-M architecture with Arm Helium vector processing technology for significantly enhanced, energy-efficient digital signal processing and machine learning (ML).
MWC Barcelona hit by string of withdrawals
The list is growing. Amazon has joined Ericsson, LG and NVIDIA in pulling out from MWC Barcelona. Held from February 24 to 27, the leading mobile event is expected to see fewer participants this year because of the novel coronavirus situation.
Strong demand for 5G to drive APAC smartphone sale in 2020
5G is expected to boost smartphone sale, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, in 2020. Greater China and emerging Asia-Pacific will retain the top two positions globally with respective sales of 432.3 million and 376.8 million smartphones this year, according to Gartner.
Huawei turns to TomTom for maps
Source: HuaweiSlowly but surely, Huawei is putting together the pieces for its Google alternative in the light of the US ban. The latest is a tie-up with TomTom for maps to replace Google Maps.
Zini Mobiles launches “world’s smallest mobile phone”
Zini Mobiles has launched the Zanco tiny t2, dubbed “the world’s smallest mobile phone” at just a tad over 6cm long. The 31g miniature phone is intended for those who need an ultra-lightweight mobile device that can handle essential daily tasks, including taking photos with it’s 2.4cm display.
Huawei grows while smartphone market slumps in Q3
The Honor Pro has helped Huawei grow in Q3.Amid a 0.4 percent contraction in the global smartphone market in Q3 compared to the corresponding quarter last year, Huawei continued to stride ahead with 26 percent growth. It has narrowed the gap with Samsung at the top while pulling away from Apple in third spot.
Huawei opens 5G-powered AI lab in Singapore
Singapore will have 100 more artificial intelligence (AI) architects and 1,000 more AI developers over the next three years — thanks to the newly-launched Huawei AI lab.
5G: US$13.2t sales and 22.3m jobs by 2035
5G is expected to have more impact that originally predicted. According to the IHS Markit 5G Economy Study, the new mobile technology will generate US$13.2 trillion is sales enablement by 2035 — that’s a near US$1 trillion increase from the estimate in 2017.
Huawei narrows gap with Samsung at top of smartphone market
Huawei achieves strong domestic performanceDespite the challenges of US sanctions, Huawei has steamrolled ahead and narrowed the gap with Samsung for global smartphone supremacy in Q3.
Smartisan reveals flagship Jianguo Pro 3 smartphone
Smartisan may not ring a bell to those in the region but what about TikTok? Smartisan and TikTok are both owned by ByteDance. The China-based technology company has launched the Jianguo Pro 3, its flagship smartphone that’s packed with leading features, including dual-video.
China steps up to 5G
The Huawei Mate X is one of the devices that’s ready for 5G.5G mobile phone services will be available across China from tomorrow (November 1, 2019). China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom have announced on their 5G plans which from 128 yuans a month.
Qualcomm to invest US$200m in 5G ecosystem
Qualcomm has launched the Qualcomm Ventures 5G Ecosystem Fund, which will invest up to US$200 million in building the 5G ecosystem.
Simon IoT launches management platform for IoT data market
Vast amounts of data are vital for Internet of Things (IoT). At Mobile World Congress Los Angeles, Simon IoT has launched an innovative IoT management platform and pricing model that offers “fairly priced, reliable IoT data” to companies ranging from start-ups to large enterprises.
NVIDIA announces EGX edge supercomputing platform for AI, IoT and 5G
NVIDIA has announced the NVIDIA EGX Edge Supercomputing Platform which lets organisations deliver next-generation AI, IoT and 5G-based services at scale and with low latency. Along with annoucing this at his keynote address at the opening of Mobile World Congress in Los Angeles, NVIDIA Founder and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang declared that we have entered a new era, where billions of always-on IoT sensors will be connected by 5G and processed by AI.
Singapore eyes up to 4 5G networks
5G is about to become a reality for the masses in Singapore. With 20 times faster surfing speed than 4G, the next generation mobile technology is expected to drive the nation’s digital economy.
Google Pixel 4 loses key edge
By Edward Lim
The much awaited Google Pixel 4 and Google Pixel 4 XL smartphones were announced at Google 19 yesterday. Interestingly, Google chose to talk more about the software capabilities rather than the hardware specifications, avoiding direct comparison with other flagship smartphones.
Entelechy Asia 