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Vonage joins forces with SAP to accelerate Digital Transformation with Communications and Network APIs

2024-09-12T11:18:30+10:00

Bringing together Vonage’s network APIs and SAP Business AI, the new collaboration aims to revolutionize enterprise intelligence, offering compelling business insights and immersive digital experiences

COMPANY NEWS:, Vonage, a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation and a part of Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC), announced a new collaboration with SAP SE focused on exploring generative AI and NextGen use cases using Vonage’s Application Programming Interface (API) platform and SAP Business AI.

As part of the collaboration, Vonage will provide SAP with access to Vonage network APIs from Vonage’s Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), including Quality-on-Demand (QoD), Device Location and Number Verification. The QoD API enables businesses to deliver exceptional real-time experiences, from extended reality to autonomous vehicle support and enhanced broadcast experiences, serving as a cornerstone for elevated user satisfaction. Through the use of Vonage APIs, SAP can use Device Location together with Number Verification APIs to provide an authentication experience for its customers to help mitigate the risk of fraud, while Device Location APIs, together with IoT, can help to enhance asset tracking, track and trace, and fleet management by using network-based location data.

Vonage plans to work with SAP on cutting-edge innovation that combines generative AI and immersive services on SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) with Vonage’s network APIs, which can help improve experiences with QoD to support sustainability through advanced technologies, enhanced data visualization and augmented reality training. Immersive analytics can be used to leverage data from the network to provide deeper insights, understanding and strengthen data-driven decision-making.

Michael Ameling, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer of SAP Business Technology Platform, said, “We are delighted to partner with Vonage to revolutionize the use of SAP Business AI across the API landscape. This collaboration opens a world of possibilities for developers and businesses, empowering them to innovate and succeed like never before. Our partnership is not just about cutting-edge generative AI innovation, but about redefining the future, with network API integration and transformation. Together, we bring a blend of expertise, next generation technology, and a shared vision towards customer value.”

Seckin Arikan, Head of Business Unit API for Vonage, comments, “We are excited to announce our partnership with SAP to power innovative new capabilities with communications and network APIs coupled with SAP Business AI. With the increasing demands in customer expectations, businesses need to pivot their approach to designing and delivering more secure and enhanced engagement experiences for their customers and employees and become data-driven organizations set for success -- and they need to do it faster and easier than before. Together, we aim to make new capabilities available that can help developers create new applications for enterprises to reimagine their business, improve customer experiences, and create new communications and engagement capabilities.”

Vonage’s Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) is a mature platform that makes it easy for a community of more than 1.6 million developers to embed communications capabilities into applications, systems and workflows through Communications APIs. Vonage offers a comprehensive suite of communications APIs including voice, video, messaging, and verification, as well as a portfolio of AI-capable, low-code/no-code programmable components that speed and simplify the development of applications.

With Ericsson’s mobile network leadership, this platform can be extended to enable developers to build advanced secure, reliable and innovative applications by exposing 5G capabilities as network APIs, including SIM Swap, Device Status and Number Verification to tackle fraud, as well as Device Location Verification, and Quality on Demand, along with additional network capabilities to address improved connectivity and enhanced engagement to meet the needs of enterprise customers.

To find out more about Vonage, visit www.vonage.com.

About Vonage

Vonage, a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage's Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, AI and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. The Vonage conversational commerce application enables businesses to create AI-powered omnichannel experiences that boost sales and increase customer satisfaction. Vonage's fully programmable unified communications, contact center and conversational commerce applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or remotely - providing the flexibility required to create meaningful engagements.

Vonage is headquartered in New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Israel and Asia and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), and a business area within the Ericsson group called Business Area Global Communications Platform. To follow Vonage on X (formerly known as Twitter), please visit twitter.com/vonage. To follow on LinkedIn, visit linkedin.com/company/Vonage. To become a fan on Facebook, go to facebook.com/vonage. To subscribe on YouTube, visit youtube.com/vonage.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices.

New research highlights Australia’s $24bn investment in Asia’s start-up sector

2024-09-12T10:32:10+10:00

Australian investment into Asian start-ups has surged over the past decade, totalling $23.8 billion from 2013 to 2023, according to a new paper from Asialink Business and the Tech Council of Australia (TCA).

Building the Australia-Asia Tech Corridor explores the vital connections between Australia’s and Asia’s tech ecosystems and is based on a unique data analysis of outbound Australian investment in Asian tech startups.

The TCA notes that the value of Australia-linked investments in Asian startups grew 27-fold between 2016 and 2018, the paper found - hwever, it reached its lowest point since 2016 in 2023, dropping more than 86% from 2022 to reach just $779 million, mirroringa decline in venture funding from all investors.

“While the amount invested year-to-year has fluctuated in line with global conditions, we expect this relationship is here to stay and shows great potential for mutually beneficial growth,” the paper explains.

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Other key findings of the paper include:

Australian investors have led 40% of the transactions they have engaged in over the last decade.
Significantly, 77% of investments of Australian investments target seed and early-stage companies in Asia, particularly in the Consumer and B2C sectors.
Over half the value of all Australia-linked investments is directed towards Singapore, making it the premier destination for Australian tech investments in Asia.
The value of Indian capital raisings involving an Australian investor grew by 95% over the course of the decade (2013-2023) and the number of transactions doubled between 2015 and 2023.

The TCA also notes that the paper proposes establishing a regional dialogue, collaboratively led by both industry and policymakers, to deepen the Australia-Asia tech corridor - and the exchange of capital, people and technology would create the conditions for two-way investment to grow, and benefit both the Australian and Asian tech ecosystems.

Building the Australia-Asia Tech Corridor is the inaugural discussion paper in the Tech Connections Series, which aims to develop a holistic picture of the linkages between Australia and Asia’s tech ecosystems - and the Tech Connections Series is available on the Tech Council of Australia and Asialink Business websites.

Commenting on the paper, Robert Law, Director Advisory & Insights, Asialink Business said: “The development of a robust Australia-Asia tech corridor is critical for fostering innovation, growth, and collaboration; how connections can drive mutual success across both regions." -

"Success in Asia requires more than just capital. It demands a deep understanding of local dynamics and the ability to build strong, in-market relationships. Developing Asia-specific capabilities is essential for Australian investors looking to unlock new opportunities in Asia’s tech markets,” -said Leigh Howard, CEO, Asialink Business.

“The mutually beneficial exchange of expertise, via talent, investment or technology, is the foundation of strong economic relationships between Australia and Asia. These connections can support both regions to grow companies globally,” Damian Kassabgi, CEO, Tech Council of Australia.

Other comments included:

“Establishing a regional dialogue that strengthens the Australia-Asia investment landscape and explores opportunities for collaboration across policy and research will contribute to a thriving tech ecosystem in both regions and drive innovation.” - Susan Travis, Head of Research, Tech Council of Australia.

“Asia’s rapid urbanisation creates incredible opportunities for leading emerging technology companies to scale. For Taronga Ventures, we see many investment opportunities across the built environment and real asset sectors and this is a strategic driver for long-term growth.” - Jonathan Hannam, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Taronga Ventures.

About Asialink Business

Since 2013, Asialink Business has helped thousands of Australian organisations and professionals seize opportunities in Asia. As Australia’s National Centre for Asia Capability, we equip leaders, entrepreneurs and employees with the insights, capabilities and connections to succeed across Asia. Asialink Business is supported by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. It is part of the Asialink Group hosted by the University of Melbourne. To find out more, visit www.asialinkbusiness.com.au or follow us on Twitter @asiacapable and LinkedIn

About Tech Council of Australia

The Tech Council of Australia (TCA) is Australia’s peak industry body for the tech sector. The Australian tech sector is a pillar of the Australian economy, contributing $167 billion per annum, and employing 861,000 people. This makes the tech sector equivalent to Australia’s third largest industry, behind mining and banking, and Australia’s seventh largest employing sector. The TCA represents a diverse cross-section of Australia’s technology sector, including data-driven local and global companies and venture capital funds with investments in data-driven enterprises.

Direct-to-cell services to generate US$1.7 billion by 2029

2024-09-12T09:44:36+10:00

The first year of commercial direct-to-cell services will be in 2025, generating a modest US$30 million in revenue globally, according to Juniper Research. However, the firm forecast that operators will generate almost US$1.7 billion in 2029.

Despite the 8,000% growth, it predicts operators will face challenges to secure an ROI into the creation of direct-to-cell networks.

“Direct-to-cell services enable cellular connections to access network services directly from satellites in orbit. These services are enabled by satellite-capable radios in devices and partnerships with satellite network operators,” the firm said.

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The study identified two key challenges in maximising return on investment:

- The low cost of low-power IoT connections
- The commoditisation of connectivity

Juniper Research’s report predicts lower-power connections will represent the most prominent case for direct-to-cell, owing to demand for connectivity and remote monitoring from nomadic industries such as maritime.

However, these connections will generate an average of less than $2 per month, diminishing operators’ ability to secure a return on investment.

Given the commoditisation of mobile connectivity, the study also predicts that operators will struggle to convince mobile subscribers to adopt an additional subscription for direct-to-cell services on top of existing cellular plans.

Juniper Research urges operators to focus on tailoring direct-to-cell services specifically to nomadic travellers and remote subscribers.

“Operators must promote the substantial coverage their direct-to-cell networks serve and apply premium pricing for data-intensive connections for broadband and consumer use cases,” remarked research author Sam Barker.

“This will attract users of profitable direct-to-cell services, such as mobile broadband and smartphone subscriptions.”

Australian developer XRG bags US defence contract

2024-09-12T09:32:33+10:00

The United States Department of Defence has awarded Australian company specialising in building and operating immersive XR products and experiences xReality Group (XRG) a $5.6 million contract to deliver a new immersive training capability.

The contract has been awarded to XRG coursed through Acrolect Solutions and DBA Endurance Group who serve as prime contractors to the US Department of Defence for the research and development effort.

This project represents the first sale of Operator XR’s immersive training systems to a US Federal Government customer.

It will be delivered within 20 months starting 11 September 2024. The contract includes pathways for follow-up work within the DoD and broader US Government agencies.

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“The strategic importance of this project cannot be understated, representing Operator XR’s first major engagement with the US Department of Defence,” said XRG CEO Wayne Jones.

“Operator XR will be jointly developing a cutting edge capability that has the potential to expand into further global agencies as well as the many operational units within the US Defence Force.”

Dell Technologies and Red Hat Announce Collaboration to Fuel Open Source AI Workloads on Dell PowerEdge and Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI

2024-09-11T11:09:00+10:00

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI becomes a preferred platform for AI deployments on Dell PowerEdge servers
Dell PowerEdge servers to be the first servers validated for Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI to help customers more seamlessly develop, test and run large language models (LLMs) to power enterprise applications

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) and Red Hat, Inc., the world's leading provider of open source solutions, are bringing Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI), a foundation model platform built on an AI-optimised operating system that enables users to more seamlessly develop, test and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (gen AI) models, to Dell PowerEdge servers. This joint effort establishes RHEL AI as a preferred platform on the Dell PowerEdge R760xa server.

This collaboration helps organisations more readily implement successful artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) strategies to scale their IT systems and power enterprise applications across their businesses. Dell and Red Hat are providing a more consistent AI experience on optimised, AI-enabled hardware solutions, all delivered on the trusted platform of RHEL AI on Dell PowerEdge. This initiative aims to simplify the AI experience for users by continuously testing and validating hardware solutions, including NVIDIA accelerated computing, with RHEL AI.

RHEL AI brings together open source-licensed Granite large language models (LLMs) from IBM Research, InstructLab model alignment tools based on the LAB (Large-scale Alignment for chatBots) methodology and a community-driven approach to model development through the InstructLab project. The solution is packaged as an optimised, bootable Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) image for individual server deployments across the hybrid cloud and is included as part of Red Hat OpenShift AI, Red Hat’s hybrid cloud machine learning operations (MLOps) platform, for running models and InstructLab at scale across distributed cluster environments.

RHEL AI on Dell PowerEdge servers will be available in Q3 2024. Test drive the solution in Dell Customer Solution Centres located globally.

Supporting Quotes

Joe Fernandes, vice president and general manager, Generative AI Foundation Model Platforms, Red Hat

“AI by nature requires extensive resources spanning enabled servers, compute power and GPUs. As organisations evaluate and implement gen AI use cases, it is imperative that they build on a platform that is able to scale with their business while also providing the agility to experiment and develop AI-driven innovations. By collaborating with Dell Technologies to validate and empower RHEL AI on Dell PowerEdge servers, we are enabling customers with greater confidence and flexibility to harness the power of gen AI workloads across hybrid cloud environments and propel their business into the future.”

Arun Narayanan, senior vice president, Dell Technologies

“Validating RHEL AI for AI workloads on Dell PowerEdge servers provides customers with greater confidence that the servers, GPUs, and foundational platforms are tested and validated on an ongoing basis. This simplifies the gen AI user experience and accelerates the process to build and deploy critical AI workloads on a trusted software stack.”

Bob Pette, vice president, Enterprise Platforms, NVIDIA

“In today’s fast-paced market, it is critical for organisations to be equipped with validated and trusted AI-enabled solutions to kick-start their gen AI use cases. Red Hat and Dell will extend gen AI capabilities for customers with an optimised experience for NVIDIA accelerated computing, including NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs, with Dell PowerEdge servers and RHEL AI.”

Waveconn to acquire 100% of American Tower’s Australian properties

2024-09-11T10:28:13+10:00

Australian digital infrastructure owner and operator Waveconn has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of global telecoms infrastructure giant American Tower's assets in Australia.

The assets include the wholly owned subsidiaries of American Tower Corporation - AT Australia Pty Ltd and AT Australia Operations Pty Ltd (together AT Australia).

The acquisition expands Waveconn’s portfolio by around 170 sites across Australia, comprising land under mobile towers and building rooftops.

While financial details were not disclosed, the average minimum cost to construct a communications tower has been widely estimated to be US$100,000 (A$$150,000), which would value the deal at somewhere upwards of A$25 million.

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American Tower is one of the largest global developers of multi-tenant communications real estate with a portfolio of over 224,000 communications sites and data centre facilities.

Waveconn owns and operates around 1,400 tower and rooftop sites nationwide with hundreds more actively under development.

The Australian infrastructure owner specialises in building, owning and managing digital infrastructure for a range of clients, including the three national MNOs, government radio networks, and wireless internet service providers.

The transaction, subject to customary conditions precedent, including  Foreign Investment Review Board approval, is expected to close in the 4th quarter of 2024.

Broadband access equipment market down but spending grew: Dell’Oro Group

2024-09-10T19:44:37+10:00

Total revenue for broadband access equipment market decreased to US$4.2 billion in 2Q 2024 down 8% year-over-year (Y/Y), according to market research firm Dell’Oro Group.

Spending, however, did improve by 4% from 1Q 2024, which saw the lowest total spending in nearly three years, Dell’Oro Group said.

“Cable operators continue to feel squeezed between fibre ISPs and Fixed Wireless providers who are siphoning away their valuable residential subscribers,” said Dell’Oro Group vice president Jeff Heynen.

“As a result, fixed wireless CPE unit shipments posted their fourth consecutive quarter of Y/Y growth, while Cable operators reduced their CPE purchases, pushing unit shipments to historically low levels,” explained Heynen.

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In its 2Q 2024 Broadband Access and Home Networking quarterly report, Dell’Oro Group listed the following:

Total PON equipment spending was down 6% from 2Q 2023, driven by an 18% decline in spending on PON OLTs.

2Q 2024 spending on fixed wireless CPE increased 32% Y/Y, driven once again by strong growth in 5G Sub-6 GHz unit shipments in North America.

Spending on Docsis infrastructure dropped 25% Y/Y, though total spending on DAA equipment (RPDs, RMDs, R-OLTs, and vCMTS platforms) was essentially flat Y/Y.

Spending on residential Wi-Fi routers jumped 13% Y/Y as consumers are consistently upgrading units and mesh systems they likely purchased during the pandemic.

Singtel achieves 5G coverage across Singapore’s MRT network

2024-09-09T09:14:27+10:00

Singaporean telecommunications company Singtel claimed it has achieved full 5G coverage throughout Singapore’s mass rapid transit (MRT) network.

The coverage includes all six underground lines as well as 27 stations of the newly-completed Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).

Singtel implemented the 5G coverage in early 2022, deploying a team of specialised engineers carrying out the network upgrades.

Singtel engineers had to work within constraints such as conducting testing and installation works during stations’ non-operational hours to avoid disruption to train services.

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They had to work within confined spaces, which require specific tools and precise and safe execution.

In keeping with Singtel’s goal of achieving net zero by 2045, its engineers reconfigured existing hardware that originally served the 3G and 4G spectrums within the MRT tunnels to 5G.

“Whether traveling above or below ground, our customers can rely on our strong connectivity to work on-the-go, keep in touch with their loved ones, surf the internet, stream videos or game on their mobile devices,” stated Singtel CEO Ng Tian Chong.

“We’re proud to have achieved this new milestone, demonstrating our commitment to delivering the best connectivity in Singapore.”

The 5G implementation across MRT lines brings Singtel’s 5G coverage to over 1,700 outdoor and 1,000 indoor locations including all shopping malls and transport hubs along the MRT.

Singtel has been deploying 5G network for consumers since 2020.

Singtel deployed 5G to support connectivity in VivoCity. In 2021, it achieved two-thirds nationwide coverage in 2021.

In 2022, it reached 95% network coverage ahead of the IMDA regulatory requirements of 5G coverage by the end of 2025, Hardware Zone reported.

Black Sky launches in Australia

2024-09-06T09:39:24+10:00

Black Sky Industries has launched in Australia, establishing its headquarters in Logan, in Southeast Queensland as well as launch, test, and manufacturing facilities throughout Western Queensland.

The launch will see Black Sky drive the production of capable sovereign-scaled rocket motor and defence systems.

Black Sky said it is “reimagining how rockets are designed, developed, and manufactured at scale.”

As a local producer of ammonium perchlorate (AP)—crucial to conventional solid rocket motors used in aerospace and defence industries—Black Sky produces solid rocket propellant and motors, and offers its homegrown, proprietary Wagtail Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) technology for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and drones.

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Cortex1, Black Sky’s proprietary software platform, underpins all aspects of its operations, from research and development and manufacturing to powering products and platforms, including launch control, tracking, and mapping through data-driven propellant formulation and characterisation technology using artificial intelligence.

“At Black Sky, complex rocket manufacturing is done with a high degree of innovation, security, and safety but at much lower cost than others. This has the potential to save Australia and our allies billions of dollars and ensure taxpayer funds can be utilised in other areas,” claims Black Sky co-founder and industry veteran Blake Nikolic.

Black Sky co-founder Dr Vu Tran, who also co-founded technology startup Go1, said Black Sky will help secure and strengthen local defence supply chains and reduce Australia’s dependence on external jurisdictions.

“Australia spends $50-$55 billion on defence each year yet we’re lucky to have just one company in the top 100 list of defence suppliers. Black Sky aims to change that,” Dr Tran said.

“Having sovereign defence capability will help Australia achieve greater efficiency and resilience in the delivery of defence technologies, and in our ability to protect the nation.”

Dr Tran highlighted the benefits of manufacturing locally.

“This includes lower geopolitical risks, increased operational transparency, regulatory compliance alignment, intellectual property protection, enhanced ability to customise products, less dependence on international suppliers, reduced exposure to global supply chain disruptions, faster time to market and quality control—with a predictable cost structure.”

“It also encourages the growth of local businesses while building a skilled workforce to develop a consistent pipeline of local talent with proximity and access to local R&D institutions,” Dr Tran said.

Black Sky Industries, formerly known as Black Sky Aerospace, is Australia’s only sovereign developer and supplier of solid rocket propellant and solid rocket motors to the defence sector.

Black Sky has ambitions of creating hundreds of advanced manufacturing and defence industry jobs over the next decade.

Recent key hires at the company include former L3Harris Technologies director David Johnson as general manager, enterprise development and defence innovation veteran Stephen Delo.

Half a million premises in WA eligible for fibre upgrades: NBN Co

2024-09-04T19:32:40+10:00

More than 500,000 premises across Western Australia (WA) are eligible for fibre upgrades on the NBN network, wholesale broadband operator NBN Co claimed.

More than 63,000 homes and businesses are ordering NBN full fibre, NBN Co said in a statement.

According to NBN data, in the past 10 years, data consumption across the state has grown by more than 700%.

The average household in WA uses around 433GB of data per month which is the equivalent of streaming 43 hours of 4K Netflix and refreshing Facebook more than 50,000 times.

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The spike in consumption is attributed to demand for HD streaming, online gaming, and the number of connected devices using data-intensive applications.

The average Australian home now has around 22 connected devices. It is expected to increase to 30 by 2030.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in a statement that the local government areas of Stirling, Wanneroo, Gosnells, Rockingham, Bayswater, and Canning lead the highest number of fibre connections.

"The upgrades are available right across the state, including homes and businesses outside the Perth metropolitan region, which means that more people than ever in our regional areas can also access the benefits of a nbn full fibre connection,” said NBN Co chief customer officer Anna Perrin.

“Access to this technology is a game-changer for families who have struggled with dropouts and slow speeds over copper. I strongly encourage households to check the NBN Co website to see if you are eligible for a full fibre upgrade,” said Rowland.