Denis O'Shea

"The carriers are going broke by trying to squeeze another drop out of consumers for 5G." - - - EAT More Data, please. https://lnkd.in/gyvYZWfh INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE will be our generation's Interstate Highway. . . . Enabling AI, Spatial Computing, and Autonomous Systems. https://lnkd.in/gp7VTcrF

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#eSIM #IoT #DigitalTransformation #Telecom2026 #5G #Connectivity #Innovation #SGP32 The "SIM Tray" is officially a relic of the past. 📱 We’ve officially hit the tipping point. In 2026, eSIM has moved from a "premium feature" to the global baseline for connectivity. If you aren't tracking the SGP.32 standard or the rise of Integrated SIM (iSIM), you’re looking at an outdated map. According to recent industry analysis from Juniper Research and 1GLOBAL, here is the 2026 Market Intelligence you need to know: >The Global Surge: We are on track to hit 1.5 billion global eSIM connections this year. With Apple extending eSIM-only models to Canada, Europe, and Asia, the "Apple Effect" has forced a decade's worth of digital transformation into just 24 months. >Automotive is the New "Mobile": It’s not just phones anymore. The automotive segment is now a primary driver, with over 38% of new vehicles utilizing eSIM for 5G-integrated telematics and over-the-air (OTA) updates. Your car is now a smartphone on wheels. >The Neobank Disruption: Watch out, traditional telcos. Fintech giants like Revolut and N26 are now "Embedded Telcos." By bundling travel eSIMs directly into banking apps, they are capturing the $1.5B "silent roamer" market and slashing customer churn. >IoT’s "Push" Revolution: The ratification of the SGP.32 standard is the real hero for Enterprise. We’ve moved from "scanning QR codes" to "remote push provisioning." Managing 10,000 industrial sensors is now a software task, not a manual one. The Bottom Line: Connectivity is becoming a commodity, but orchestration is the new gold mine. The winners of 2026 aren't just selling data; they are selling seamless, "zero-touch" onboarding.

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ICYMI: Episode 4 of 'A bit of tech' is out. This time, it's all about the past, present and future of Nokia Bell Labs quantum technologies with Michael Eggleston. Check out the episode trailer below and be sure to catch the full episode anywhere you get your podcasts. Apple: https://lnkd.in/dMAjVHFQ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/decRWn7a Amazon: https://lnkd.in/dqMPtiX2 iheartradio: https://lnkd.in/dFgSw4bE There's plenty more to come. We've already recorded Episode 5 so stay tuned for a fascinating deep dive into our foundational technologies research next month. For more information about ‘a bit of tech’ and to watch all our episodes visit our dedicated landing page: https://lnkd.in/dmPFPe4S

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Interoperability Is the New Infrastructure In a crisis, communication breakdowns can cost more than any hardware failure. Interoperability isn’t a buzzword — it’s the backbone of resilience. Every agency, every system, every data stream, must be able to talk to one another when seconds matter most. We see time and again with most after action reports, that communication failures prevented an effective response. See Hurricanes Katrina, Maria, etc. and most recently see Kerr Co. Texas. It’s time to treat interoperability as infrastructure — because without connection, there is no coordination. #Interoperability #Resilience #DataSharing #EmergencyManagement https://bit.ly/3Wq0XEt https://bit.ly/3J21QQI

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Virgin Media O2 and Freshwave are teaming up to deliver stronger 4G/5G coverage across 22 Haven holiday parks from Skegness to Thornwick Bay, ensuring seamless mobile service right where families relax, work remotely, or stream by the seaside. Here’s what makes this initiative a standout: 📍 Targeted upgrades in high-traffic, seasonal hotspots 📡 #Neutralhost model from Freshwave for scalable, future-ready infrastructure | Simon Frumkin 🧠 Smart use of small cells, #fiber backhaul & traffic steering to manage peak loads 🛜 Support for both guest experiences & operational efficiency 🏗️ Faster deployments through infrastructure sharing & flexible phasing This is part of O2’s wider Mobile Transformation Plan, with a clear focus: boost performance where it’s needed most. | Robert Joyce 👥 “Guests expect to stay connected—whether for streaming, work, or sharing moments,” said @James Bromley, CPO at Haven. Read how this model could become the blueprint for connectivity in coastal and rural venues across the UK. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ePA4vFAR #Connectivity #5G #Staycation #NeutralHost #Telecom #UKTech #DigitalInfrastructure #Freshwave #VirginMediaO2 #HavenParks

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Servify and Appalachian Wireless Partner to Deliver Device Protection Services https://lnkd.in/dUNskKxa #TechnologyNews #AI #TechNews #CIOCommunity #CIOLeadership #CIOInfluence #TechLeadership #ITStrategy #FutureOfIT #TechTrends

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No More BS: Actors and "SmartLess" podcast hosts Launch Data-Sane MVNO Following in the footsteps of the mobile virtual network operator (#MVNO) Mint Mobile and Hollywood actor/Canadian entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds, the comedic actors behind the popular SmartLess podcast — Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett — have launched their own MVNO, named SmartLess Mobile. This new venture aims to disrupt the wireless industry with a "direct-to-consumer, data-sane, and refreshingly BS-free" approach. Their business model is focussed on a pay-only-for-what-you-use philosophy. To achieve this, customers will need to download the SmartLess app on their devices, allowing the MVNO to monitor data usage and tailor plans accordingly. This approach recognizes that some users might rely on Wi-Fi for their daily connectivity, making expensive "unlimited" data plans often unnecessary. "If you use less, you should spend less," quips Sean Hayes, encapsulating the core value proposition of SmartLess Mobile. Investment in SmartLess Mobile comes primarily from Thomvest Asset Management, part of a group managing assets for Canadian billionaire Peter J. Thompson and family. In addition to Arnett, Bateman and Hayes, SmartLess Mobile founders include Paul McAleese, who previously led Shaw Communications, and Jeni McAleese's as chief brand officer. SmartLess Mobile offers a range of plans, starting at just $15 per month. The entry-level plan includes 5GB of data, 5GB of mobile hotspot data, unlimited talk & text, unlimited global text, and no-charge international calling to over 200 countries. Moving up, the $20/month plan provides 10GB of high-speed data, while the $25/month and $30/month plans offer 15GB and 30GB of high-speed data, respectively. Customers interested in SmartLess Mobile will need to bring their own unlocked devices. The service operates exclusively online, eliminating the need for physical retail stores and contributing to a lean, competitive business model. The SmartLess MVNO highlights a growing trend of celebrities and influencers venturing into the MVNO space, leveraging their brand recognition and direct connection with their audience. The MVNO will run on the T-Mobile 5G network, with service extending throughout the contiguous United States and Puerto Rico. Sorry, Canada, You're Not the 51st State (for MVNOs). Despite the Canadian connection (Will Arnett, Peter J. Thomson, Paul and Jeni McAleese), SmartLess Mobile won't be bringing their revolution north of the border: https://lnkd.in/g5c7QNd4 In 2021, the CRTC — Canada's rather creative telecom regulator — decided to make their own definition of what an MVNO actually is, by mandating wholesale access to MVNOs who own spectrum and infrastructure - which is mobile network operators not MVNOs. It seems Canada prefers its wireless market to be as exclusive as a Trump golf course membership😉 https://lnkd.in/gzzb6jtX

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Is NTIA’s 5-Mbps Busy-Hour Proxy Balanced on a Single Sentence? In recent debates over NTIA’s 5-Mbps busy-hour surrogate, it helps to trace the agency’s own paper trail... On June 6 2025 the NTIA’s BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice (Appendix A) instructed states that unlicensed fixed-wireless proposals must “demonstrate the ability to provide at least 5 Mbps of simultaneous capacity … to each Broadband-Serviceable Location (BSL).” (NTIA notice) The only external evidence NTIA cites for that benchmark is a single sentence on page 17 of Preseem’s Fixed-Wireless Network Report 2024 Q1—a PDF available only through a gated download form—which reads: “Most ISPs deliver between 3 and 4 megabits per second in the downstream direction, averaged per subscriber, across all technologies including fiber.” What NTIA appears to have done is treat that 3–4 Mbps figure—an average Busy-Hour Online Load (peak traffic divided by all subscribers, active or not)—as proof that “most” networks can already supply roughly that level of service per household, so simply rounding up to 5 Mbps would be a safe planning proxy. But BHOL describes what networks deliver, not what subscribers demand. Elsewhere the same Preseem data show that congestion-related network problems dominate complaint-related customer-support traffic, signaling that users want more than the delivered average. Why that citation is a shaky foundation for a nationwide 5-Mbps rule of thumb: Self-selection bias. Preseem’s sample includes only ISPs that buy its QoE appliance. Metric mismatch. The quoted 3–4 Mbps is Busy-Hour Online Load (traffic ÷ all subscribers). NTIA’s surrogate concerns simultaneous capacity per served location—a stricter, apples-to-oranges comparison. Single snapshot in time. Data come from Q1 2024. Traffic grows roughly 20 % per year; relying on one quarter of data risks immediate obsolescence. Missing confidence intervals and sample counts. The report gives averages without disclosing how many ISPs, access points, or subscribers underpin each figure—making error bars invisible. Product-induced skew. Preseem’s Active Queue Management smooths peaks; networks without such shaping would show higher busy-hour loads. Gated marketing collateral, not peer-reviewed research. Because the PDF is available only after a lead-capture form (and carries © Aterlo branding), it hasn’t undergone independent review and is, by design, promotional. Bottom line: After four years of BEAD rule-making and planning, dropping an abrupt “5 Mbps per location” design mandate—backed only by a single, gated marketing report—feels not just baseless but an affront to sound network-engineering principles. BEAD sub-applicants, state broadband offices, and the un- or underserved communities they aim to connect deserve a standard rooted in transparent, peer-reviewed data, not a footnote in promotional collateral.

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How TriCAD Supports BEAD & FCC-Accelerated Broadband Projects 🚀 With the FCC’s Rapid Broadband Assessment Team (RBAT) and Accelerated Docket Process expediting pole-attachment dispute resolutions, speed, accuracy, and compliance in Make-Ready Engineering are more critical than ever. This is where TriCAD Design Consultants (P) Ltd. Geospatial and Engineering Design Services delivers measurable value. 🔹 Accurate Pole Loading & Replacement Analysis TriCAD provides NESC & GO95–compliant Pole Load Analysis (PLA) using utility-approved tools such as O-Calc and SPIDAcalc to clearly distinguish: ·        Pre-existing violations versus new attachment impacts ·        Incremental load requirements for stronger or taller poles ·        Cost-optimized engineering solutions aligned with FCC rulings 🔹 Faster, Scalable Make-Ready Engineering (MRE) Using utility-approved tools such as  Katapult  our teams help: ·        Minimize resubmittals and engineering disputes ·        Support accelerated FCC and utility review timelines ·        Keep BEAD-funded projects on schedule and within budget 🔹 End-to-End BEAD & FTTH Program Support from route planning and GIS mapping to HLD / LLD design, Permits, BoQs and construction drawings, TriCAD enables: ·        Rapid FTTH expansion in rural and underserved communities ·        Seamless coordination with utilities, municipalities, and fiber providers As the FCC moves to unleash high-speed infrastructure builds, TriCAD stands ready to help broadband providers move faster, reduce risk, and deliver compliant FTTH networks at scale. #PoleLoadingAnalysis #MakeReadyEngineering #MRE #NESC #GO95 #FCC #PoleAttachments #BroadbandExpansion #USFiber #Directorofengineering #TelecomEngineering #katapultpro #Ocalc

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Implementing rigorous fiscal oversight within the 21 billion dollar ACP Extension Act represents a pivotal opportunity to modernize the technical frameworks of American telecommunications. By transitioning toward an audited model, we can address the legacy bureaucratic hurdles that often stall infrastructure projects. This approach encourages the standardization of site acquisition and zoning protocols, ensuring that capital is deployed toward physical assets rather than being dissipated by administrative friction and municipal delays. The emphasis on accountability directly facilitates the streamlining of permitting and regulatory compliance. Current initiatives are targeting "shot clocks" that mandate review timelines of 60 to 90 days, significantly accelerating the deployment of fiber and small cell technology. Reducing procedural bottlenecks regarding NEPA and right of way access ensures that technical milestones are achieved with greater precision, which is essential for maintaining the momentum of national connectivity. Ultimately, a lean and transparent funding structure fosters a stable landscape for long term private investment and technical innovation. By resolving long standing obstacles in the infrastructure lifecycle, we build a resilient digital backbone capable of meeting future capacity demands. This focus on efficiency and fiscal sanity ensures that our national infrastructure build out remains sustainable and results oriented. #BroadbandInfrastructure #Telecommunications #RegulatoryReform #SiteAcquisition #FiscalAccountability

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Hot off the press...OBUSPA integrated with prpl and RDK 📢 There has been a revolutionary shift in how quickly broadband service providers using prpl Foundation and RDK platforms can deploy new services, from months and years to a matter of weeks. Two of the most widely used carrier-grade open source platforms for home broadband management, prpl Foundation’s prplWare and RDK’s RDK-B software, have integrated the Broadband Forum's Open Broadband USP Agent (OBUSPA) project’s releases with their middleware stacks. “One of the biggest hurdles for service providers in both differentiating their offerings and maintaining end user satisfaction has been the slow, complex process of delivering new applications and services to customer devices,” said John Blackford, Connected User Work Area Co-Director and Chairman of the Board at Broadband Forum. “This adoption highlights the momentum of open source in CPE and the adoption of Broadband Forum’s USP as the foundation to building an improved user experience.” Read the full news announcement here: https://lnkd.in/esja-Zbf

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Back in September, we shared Volume 1 of the VIAVI Reference Guide to Fiber Optic Testing. Now we’re bringing you Volume 2. This edition takes a deeper dive into advanced fiber characterization, including: 🔹 Chromatic Dispersion (CD) 🔹 Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) 🔹 Attenuation Profiles 🔹 Best practices for qualifying high-speed fiber links and entire networks As networks evolve to higher speeds and denser wavelength services, mastering these concepts is critical for technicians, engineers, and network planners. Download your copy now: https://lnkd.in/eZzXWrSJ #FiberTech #LearningInTheField #FiberTesting

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By proactively managing networks and optimizing capacity using PNM and PMA technologies, providers can be better prepared for an unpredictable broadband environment, including challenges such as peak usage spikes, sudden migration to higher consumption patterns, or the emergence of marquee streaming events that will tax broadband capacity. Learn more about OpenVault's Vantage, broadband's only ready-to-deploy integrated solution! https://lnkd.in/grgkN5aj #OpenVaultVantage #broadbandnetworkmanagement #broadbandnetworkcapacity

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From Hospitality to Healthcare: How Different Industries Use UC Solutions. Here’s real use cases and offerings from our portfolio from Hospitality, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, and more. #uccnetworks #ucconnect

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Big step forward for TCXC Labs Inc.   Proud to collaborate with researchers and engineers at Durham College — including the Office of Research Services, the The AI Hub at Durham College , and the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation at Durham College applying the TelecomsXChange (TCXC) stack across AI, cybersecurity, and software engineering to develop new solutions for the telecom industry. Grateful to Sushant Katare, CCP, CISSP, and Vibha Tyagi for their invaluable support in bringing this collaboration to life. Special Thanks to Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for their financial contribution.

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🎫𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗿: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗦𝗜𝗠 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲 The latest GSMA eSIM Compliance Report 2025 & the announcements from CES 2026 make one thing clear: eSIM is no longer just a "digital SIM card." It has become a foundational technology that unlocks entirely new device categories & enterprise capabilities. Critical takeaways from the report & how they align with the future we saw at CES: 🚀 𝟭. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 & 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 The GSMA report highlights a massive surge in eSIM-enabled devices—growing from just 4 certified products in 2017 to 66 in 2025. While smartphones (88 units) & modems (196 units) lead the way, we are seeing a shift toward "standalone" experiences. 𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆- RayNeo’s X3 Pro AR glasses proved this by using a built-in eSIM for standalone 4G, AI chat, translation—eliminating the need for a tethered smartphone. 🔐 𝟮. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲  Security has moved to the forefront. Since 2019, products without hardware/software security certifications are no longer permitted. PP-0084 via Common Criteria has emerged as the clear industry standard for hardware security, used by 97 products today. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗼𝗧 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁- The eUICC Security Assurance (eSA) Scheme, introduced in 2022, has seen rapid adoption & is now the primary method for software compliance in the IoT sector. 🌐 𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗚𝗣.𝟯𝟮 / 𝗜𝗼𝗧 𝗘𝗿𝗮 While the ecosystem is currently 97% Consumer-focused, the infrastructure for the "IoT Era" is ready. Specifications for SGP.32 were only finalized in early 2025, yet 8 eUICCs and 5 eIM (IoT Remote Manager) products are already certified. 𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆- Teal Communications, Inc. & emnify showcased the power of these new standards with "Factory-First" models & SGP.32 Chameleon eSIMs, allowing for dynamic, software-based carrier switching & zero-touch global deployment. ⚙️ 𝟰. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 The industry is moving away from single-operator lock-in toward programmable connectivity. 𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆- Platforms like uCloudlink Group Inc (Nasdaq: UCL)’s "Global Super Black Card" & CloudSIM tech are bridging the gap between consumer ease-of-use & enterprise-grade flexibility. 💡 As eSIM moves up the value stack, the real competitive battleground is no longer the SIM itself-it’s the Intelligence & Orchestration layer. ♻️ Repost this to help your network get started ➕Subscribe to #global5gevolution newsletter https://lnkd.in/ge9gsyjE ➕Subscribe our YouTube https://lnkd.in/g8M7YvKq ➕Follow us on Kaneshwaran Govindasamy & Global 5G Evolution ➕Click comments #eSIM #IoT #SGP32 #CloudSIM #CES2026 #DigitalTransformation #AI #AR #Connectivity #IoTConnectivity #GSMA #TelecomInnovation

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The new Waypoint 33 Compass is out. Each month I pull together clear, practical insight for leaders who want to understand where the industry is heading without the noise. This issue highlights: • Coaching habits that strengthen team performance • Smarter workflows that reduce friction • Wireless planning and coverage insights • Market signals shaping 2026 If you want a monthly snapshot that helps you stay informed and make better decisions, give the new edition a read and subscribe for future updates. The link for subscribing is in the comments below. #telecom #wireless #broadband #digitaltransformation #leadership

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