Money Moves: June 2022

Here are some of the most prominent venture capital and merger and acquisition news items from June. If you’d like SDxCentral to report on your company’s VC or M&A activity in our monthly Money Moves section, or if you have any tips on that activity, please send the information to Julia King (jking@sdxcentral.com).

Palo Alto Networks, Cisco, Fortinet Top WAN Security Vendors, TeleGeography Finds

Around one-third of WAN managers implemented at least one zero-trust security feature and secure access service edge (SASE) on their networks last year, and Palo Alto Networks, Cisco, and Fortinet are the most used security vendors, according to a recent TeleGeography report.

Y2Q: Let the Prep Begin

Quantum computing has gathered increasing tech industry attention over the past few years, and analysts expect broken algorithms and security threats posed by the computing evolution will unfold and gradually build steam over the next decade.

UK government moves to protect some journalism from social media censorship

The UK’s deeply flawed Online Safety Bill gets a rare positive amendment as measures are introduced to stop big US social media platforms from censoring some stories.

Vodafone and VMO2 will deploy 4G and 5G on London Underground

A new deal with Infrastructure firm BAI Communications, who handles the network in the Underground, will mean Vodafone and VMO2 customers will be able to make calls on the tube.

HGC wants to be the ‘engine’ of the metaverse

Hong Kong-based HGC is completely sold on the whole metaverse idea, and has launched a new suite of services in an effort to capitalise on the hype.

Telefonica gives up Mexico network, but it’s not an MVNO

Telefonica has completed the migration of its mobile traffic to AT&T’s network in Mexico and has handed back the last of its spectrum to the regulator, but it remains pretty insistent that that does not make it an MVNO.

Daily Roundup: The Long Road Ahead for Telco Sustainability

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Coalition: Ransomware, Recession Fears Drive Cyber Insurance

Cyber insurance and security software provider Coalition raised $250 million in a Series F funding round on a $5 billion valuation, benefiting from the rising cyber insurance awareness and the growing insurance and security convergence trend. 

SDxCentral 2-Minute Weekly Wrap: Microsoft Bests Amazon as Top Public Cloud

Trellix Chief HR Officer: ‘There’s No Magic Bullet’ for DE&I

The Trellix team. Source: Michael Alicea, Trellix.

Microsoft Grid-Interactive UPS Bolsters Renewable Energy

Microsoft is using data center batteries to interact with local electricity grids and provide uninterrupted service when demand exceeds the available renewable energy supply.

Mediation fails to resolve objections to Rogers and Shaw merger

Canada’s Commissioner of Competition has had a look at the proposed merger between Rogers Communications and rival Shaw, and his concerns remain unsettled.

Apple beefs up device security as spy agencies warn of increasing Chinese threats

US tech giant Apple has announced ‘Lockdown Mode’ – an upcoming security feature for iPhones, iPads and Macs made specifically to defend against state-sponsored mercenary spyware and cyberattacks.

TIM sort of clarifies details of company split

TIM has outlined more detailed plans to split its network operations from its services business, confirming recent reports that around half of its debt will go with the NetCo unit.

Nearly 90 percent of new 5G devices support standalone

The 5G device market is showing signs of maturity, with much broader support for standalone (SA) and fewer non-5G versions of handsets.

Largest submarine cable between Australia and the US launches

Southern Cross Cables says its NEXT submarine network is the most capacious yet to connect Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands, and the US.

The Long Road Ahead for Telco Sustainability

The telecom industry boasts the potential to aid in the decarbonization of other industries as connected service providers, and operators have given plenty of lip service to their net-zero targets. But new research from Mobile World Live and Galooli revealed a majority of operators have more room to fully act on their climate claims.

Worry About Post-Quantum Threats? Here Is How Orgs Should Proceed

As quantum technologies are expected to migrate from research labs to real-world commercial environments within this decade, some governments and organizations have started to recognize the potential post-quantum threats and get prepared for years to quantum (Y2Q).

Parallel Wireless Job Cuts Tied to Volatile Open RAN Market

Beleaguered open radio access network (RAN) vendor Parallel Wireless executives explained in a LinkedIn post that the firm’s recent job cuts were tied to a broader corporate strategy realignment focused on what it’s calling a “marathon” rather than a “sprint.”

Daily Roundup: Equinix Survey Pins Cyberattacks as Threat to Business Growth

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AWS, Microsoft, Google Target Telecom’s NaaS Lead, ABI Finds

Telecom network operators remain positioned to tap into the increasingly lucrative network-as-a-service (NaaS) market but must act fast if they want to take advantage of that positioning and $75 billion market opportunity by 2030, according to a recent report from ABI Research.

Forgepoint Founder on What it Takes to be a Cyber Investor

Since its conception in 2015, Forgepoint Capital has become one of the most active cybersecurity venture capital (VC) firms in the world. Founder and Managing Director Alberto Yepez said he and cofounder Donald Dixon started the fund when they saw cybersecurity becoming an integral part of digital transformation and the global economy. 

UK regulator to investigate Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard

The Competitions and Markets authority in the UK is having a look at the proposed purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, which at $68.7 billion would be the biggest deal in the history of gaming.

Vodafone and Google’s new mega AI is the best of big tech and telco collaboration

AI Booster can handle thousands of machine learning tasks a day and will ‘have a considerable impact on people’s roles, learning, and ways of working’ at UK operator Vodafone.

Network-as-a-service could be worth $75bn to telcos but the clock is ticking

Telcos must adapt to avoid being squeezed out of the burgeoning network-as-a-service (NaaS) market, claims a new report.

Groundhog Day as yet another European connected car club emerges

This one is called Punxsutawney Phil, and if it sees its shadow the telco industry must endure another six weeks of new connected car groups.

UK signs landmark data sharing agreement with South Korea

A new ‘data adequacy agreement’ between the UK and South Korea should provide a significant boost to trade between the two countries.

Securing ‘Sensitive Data’ Is Harder Than You Think

Skyhigh Security CEO Gee Rittenhouse. Source: McAfee

Daily Roundup: Nitel Nabs Hypercore to Boost SD-WAN Growth

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7 Layers: FINOS Touts Fintech’s Open Source Future

Cloudflare Claims Completion of Zero-Trust Platform

Cloudflare added several new capabilities to its zero-trust and secure access service edge (SASE) platform, called Cloudflare One. Included in the additions are email security protection, data loss prevention, cloud access security broker (CASB), and private network discovery.

Equinix Survey Pins Cyberattacks as Threat to Business Growth

The No. 1 threat to business growth is a cyberattack, according to Equinix’s 2022 Global Tech Trends report.

NEC Boosts 5G Open RAN SI Capabilities

NEC says it’s still early innings in the open radio access network (RAN) game, but that operators will need integration help to get the most benefit from what the technology can provide. Oh, and it just acquired a firm that can do that.

EU approves regulation for ‘too big to care’ tech platforms

The European Parliament has waved through the Digital Services Act and Digital Marketing Act, designed to curb the influence of US tech giants which it defines as ‘gatekeepers’.

Ericsson beats Huawei to win T-Mobile Netherlands 5G work

T-Mobile Netherlands has announced that Ericsson will be the apparently sole RAN vendor for its 5G network upgrade.

OneWeb gets satellite landing rights in Brazil

Brazil’s telecoms regulator has granted a satellite landing rights license for low earth orbit satellite firm OneWeb, as the government sets its sights on improving connectivity in the country.  

Telekom Malaysia and Cisco partner on 5G-as-a-service

Malaysia has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to 5G, but incumbent Telekom Malaysia (TM) has struck a deal that could help it recover some lost ground.

Iliad chipping away at Italian mobile market as 700 MHz opens up

Iliad now has 9 million customers in Italy and certainly has reason to celebrate, with the latest regulatory figures showing that it is continuing to eat away at its rivals’ markets shares.

Nokia to upgrade Ice’s 5G network in Norway

Kit vendor Nokia has signed a five year deal with Norwegian operator Ice to upgrade and expand its 5G radio network infrastructure.

Nitel Nabs Hypercore to Boost SD-WAN Growth

Nitel last week acquired Hypercore Networks in a move CEO Margi Shaw said is part of an “inorganic growth strategy” for the Chicago-based network provider. Hypercore is the company’s first acquisition since it received investment from U.K. private equity firm Cinven last December.  

Nokia Network Resiliency Drives Sustainability, Business Goals

An intelligent and resilient network foundation that connects people, things, and processes is vital for companies pursing environmental and business sustainability, according to Nokia‘s Jochen Apel, global VP of transportation, manufacturing, and energy and resources.

Daily Roundup: Juniper Cloud Metro Strikes at 5G, Edge Challenges

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HPE Diversity Officer Urges Momentum for Long Road Ahead

Diversity at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and in the industry as a whole isn’t close to where it needs to be, according to the company’s Chief Diversity Officer Aisha Washington.   

5G FWA ‘Killer Use Case’ to Bridge the Digital Divide

Fixed-wireless access (FWA) broadband connections are set to surge, with 5G-enabled FWA lining up to be a “killer use case” for driving adoption and bridging the digital divide challenge around the world, according to a new report from Counterpoint.

County Broadband intends to expand network to 500,000 premises by 2027

Rural fibre firm County Broadband says it will grow its workforce to 270 by the end of the year in order to facilitate its ambitions of a 500,000 premise network in the East of England over the next five years.

VMO2 and Nokia help create UK’s ‘first 5G connected hospital’

Virgin Media O2 and the NHS have collaborated to build the UK’s ‘first 5G connected hospital’ which it claims will transform healthcare.

TIM reportedly plans an even split between NetCo and ServCo

It looks like Italian operator group TIM expects its restructure to be close to a 50-50 split of staff and debt into the resulting new companies.

Eir sells half its fibre network

Irish telco Eir has completed a deal to sell a shade under half of its fibre broadband network to investor InfraVia, a move that will help it to fund its rollout plans.

KDDI advises customers to use landlines amid massive mobile network outage

Japanese MNO KDDI’s network went down at the weekend, reportedly leaving around 40 million people unable to connect.

NEC acquires Aspire to fuel Open RAN plan

Japan’s NEC has strengthened its Open RAN systems integration (SI) credentials by acquiring Aspire Technologies.

Ransomware Attacks Defy Deterrent Efforts, Titaniam Finds

A majority of organizations claim to use data protection, prevention, and detection service, however many were still hit with ransomware attacks last year, according to Titaniam’s recent survey and report.