Dell Technologies and Ericsson Form Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Telecom Network Cloud Transformation

Dell Technologies  announce a strategic partnership to combine their deep industry expertise with telecom software, solutions and support, to guide communications service providers (CSPs) through their radio access network (RAN) cloud transformation journeys.

CSPs are looking to network cloud and operations transformation to achieve improved economics and agility, while maintaining network reliability. According to a new MeriTalk study released today, sponsored by Dell Technologies, nine in 10 CSPs say network transformation is critical to their organization’s survival. However, 96 percent of CSPs surveyed say their network transformation vision is lagging due to a variety of factors including limited time and budget, as well as reliability and security concerns, ultimately holding them back from giving their customers a modern network.1

Dell and Ericsson’s partnership aims to address these concerns by working alongside CSPs to develop simple and reliable Open RAN-based network cloud transformation strategies, using Dell and Ericsson integrated solutions and support.

“Communications service providers have a crucial window of opportunity to lay the foundation for network cloud transformation and drive business growth,” says Dennis Hoffman, senior vice president and general manager, Telecom Systems Business, Dell Technologies. “Our collaboration with Ericsson, combined with our decades of digital transformation expertise, will provide network operators the full plan and technologies they need to accelerate their network and operation transformations to positively impact the trajectory of their businesses.”

“Working closer with Dell Technologies will help further develop cloud-native programmable networks that bring new ideas and practices to the telecom market,” says Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks, Ericsson. “Building upon years of collaboration, this strategic partnership will strengthen our cloudification efforts as we gear up to launch Open RAN-based commercial solutions. The cloud-native network will enable frequent updates and the rollout of new features using continuous deployment. It will ease the adoption of Cloud RAN technologies and prepare both companies’ portfolios for new markets.”

Through the new agreement, Dell and Ericsson will:

  • Collaborate to develop tailored network cloud transformation plans and advise CSPs on network architectures and operating models, while also reducing the risks associated with deploying on open, multi-vendor environments. Dell and Ericsson plan to co-create solutions that drive energy efficiencies and innovate on Cloud RAN infrastructure operations.
  • Commercially introduce Ericsson Cloud RAN software on Dell PowerEdge servers. The solution will offer continuous integration testing and lifecycle management to speed deployment and de-risk day-2 operations around updates and upgrades, with Dell as a solution partner.
  • Co-develop services that simplify the entire deployment process from factory validation to installation and ongoing operational management, backed by Dell and Ericsson’s joint support for any integrated solution.

“To accelerate cloud-based open networks, the telecom industry needs vendors to come together to develop solutions that deliver more growth opportunities with minimal risk,” says Chris Sambar, Head of Network, AT&T. “We look forward to the continued innovation and collaboration as we continue our Open RAN journey.”

In 2023, Ericsson and Dell Technologies began a collaboration to develop Cloud RAN solutions, leveraging Ericsson Cloud RAN software and RAN equipment paired with Dell Technologies infrastructure, with the common goal of broadening the ecosystem and bringing more flexibility to customers.

Ericsson is participating in the Network X Americas event in Irving, Texas, with keynote speeches by Dr. Sibel Tombaz, Head of Product Line Cloud and Purpose-built 5G RAN and Paul Challoner, CTO at Global Customer Unit AT&T.

Together with other Ericsson representatives they are at the event to share insights on the latest progress in the Cloud RAN and Open RAN market and how Ericsson is working with key partners and customers to drive the Open RAN industry forward. Discussion topics include the evolution of wireless networks, defining key performance indicators for sustainable growth into future networks, Open RAN industrialization, and more.

Dua Lipa and Coldplay’s Glastonbury 2024 performances to be livestreamed globally on BBC.com

For the first time, the BBC will livestream headline Glastonbury performances to a global audience, with Dua Lipa and Coldplay’s 2024 Pyramid Stage sets available to view on the recently relaunched BBC.com. 

Music fans around the world can tune into the stream, which is produced by BBC Studios, to watch Dua Lipa’s headline performance on Friday 28th June from 11pm-12.45am CEST and Coldplay’s headline set on Saturday 29th June from 10.45pm-12.45am CEST, both at BBC.com/pages/Glastonbury-live. Fans can also follow along with festival highlights, updates and analysis on BBC.com throughout the weekend. 

Tara Maitra, Chief Commercial Officer at BBC Studios says: “The Glastonbury Festival is an icon of British culture, and this livestream will give fans around the globe a front row seat to headline performances like never before. This is just the latest example of our focus on bringing more cultural-defining moments like Glastonbury to fans on our platforms outside the U.K. so users can experience the best of British culture wherever they may be.”  

Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music says: “At the BBC, we bring Glastonbury to you, and we’re incredibly proud of our coverage. It enables millions of people to access the magic of Emily and Michael Eavis’ festival each year. The global streams of Dua Lipa and Coldplay’s performances are another exciting addition to our offer, allowing us not only to unite music fans across the country, but across the world with the opportunity to experience these world class performances as they happen.” 

Seven-time BRIT and three-time GRAMMY Award winner Dua Lipa is making her first ever appearance on the famous Pyramid Stage, while seven-time GRAMMY Award winner Coldplay returns to headline Glastonbury for the fifth time, and for the first time since 2016. 

The BBC has been bringing Glastonbury Festival to UK audiences since 1997 and in 2024, returns with extensive coverage of the festival – including Pyramid Stage, headline performances from Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA – across its platforms. There will be over 90 hours of live performances from the five main stages on BBC iPlayer, 90 hours of radio programmes broadcast live from Worthy Farm, extensive coverage on TV and much more to discover on BBC Sounds.

More information about the BBC’s 2024 UK broadcast – a six-week long celebration of Glastonbury – is available here. 

Treemetrics and AXA Climate Announce Global Partnership to Launch Innovative Forestry Insurance Product

AXA Climate, a leader in climate risk management, and Treemetrics, a pioneering forest management company, have announced a strategic global partnership aimed at delivering an innovative forestry insurance product.

This new insurance solution is designed to provide comprehensive cover for forestry fires and storms, addressing the escalating concerns of forestry owners and investors about the impacts of climate change.

As the frequency and severity of natural disasters continue to rise, driven by climate change, the need for robust and reliable insurance products has never been greater.

This partnership leverages the expertise of both companies to offer a product that not only provides financial protection but also employs cutting-edge technology and scientific insights to better understand and mitigate these risks.

Enda Keane, CEO of Treemetrics, highlighted the critical timing of this product launch, stating, “Over our past 19 years in business across the globe, we have observed firsthand the ever-increasing rise in catastrophic storms and fires. Our collaboration with AXA Climate aims to address these challenges head-on, providing forest owners with the security and peace of mind they need to manage their investments effectively.”

Quentin Voituron, speaking on behalf of AXA Climate, emphasized the innovative approach of the partnership, saying, “We look forward to partnering with Treemetrics to come up with a  fine-grained product that makes sense to forest owners and forest managers, at the right price!”

This partnership marks a significant step forward in providing comprehensive and technologically advanced solutions to the forestry sector, ensuring that forest owners can protect their assets and invest with confidence in a changing climate.

Revolut announces debit card loyalty programme, RevPoints, in Ireland

Revolut, the global financial app with more than 40 million customers worldwide has today announced RevPoints, a pan-European debit card loyalty programme across several EEA markets, including Revolut’s 2.8 million plus customers in Ireland.

This new initiative allows customers to turn their everyday spending into extraordinary rewards, including airline miles and exclusive discounts on travel, accommodation, experiences and more.

RevPoints offers broad and accessible redemption options that cater to a variety of lifestyles and preferences — without needing a credit card.

Customers can transfer their RevPoints to more than 30 airline loyalty programmes, including Flying Blue, making travel more attainable than ever in spite of surging flight prices.

Additionally, RevPoints can be redeemed for significant discounts on premium holiday accommodation and unforgettable experiences through the Lifestyle tab within the Revolut app.

For everyday convenience and rewards, points can also be used for discounts at top Irish brands such as O’Neills and DID Electrical when shopping online with Revolut Pay, ensuring that Revolut customers can make use of every point earned.

Depending on their plan, users can earn up to 1 point per euro spent, and even accelerate their earnings by converting spare change into points, completing fun in-app challenges or on in-app bookings for Stays and Experiences.*

New users can jump-start their journey with 3,000 points (equivalent to 3,000 air miles or up to €60 in travel discounts) after making 150 eligible transactions. Plus, customers can pocket up to 10,000 bonus points by upgrading their plan and meeting spending thresholds within the first 90 days.

For those on Revolut’s Ultra plan, the rewards skyrocket. Customers who spend €2,500 a month could earn up to 30,000 RevPoints annually – enough for a free round trip from Europe to New York or a €600 hotel discount.

Since the trial launch in September 2023, over 1 billion RevPoints have been earned and nearly 120 million points redeemed by Revolut users across seven European markets.

Christopher Guttridge, General Manager of Lifestyle Products at Revolut, said: “At Revolut we’re all about helping people get more for their money. RevPoints is set to transform everyday spending into things and experiences people love, by converting routine purchases into rewards.

Unlike many loyalty programmes, we make RevPoints accessible to all by ensuring customers can maximise the benefits of using Revolut as their primary bank account without requiring a credit card.”

Revolut customers on Premium, Metal, and Ultra plans not only get rewarded with extra RevPoints for their daily spending, but also a variety of subscriptions which include the Financial Times, Deliveroo, Tinder, ClassPass, NordVPN, and more.

Since launch, Revolut has continued to expand the partner benefits available, with more subscriptions coming coon.

Revolut was recently recognised by financial comparison site Bonkers.ie as ‘Ireland’s Best Consumer Business’ and ‘provider of the Best Current Account’, whilst it ranked 9th as part of the Ireland RepTrak® 2024 study earlier this year.

For more information, visit: www.revolut.com/en-IE

Okta invests in cybersecurity team to expand presence in Ireland

Okta has announced that it will be expanding its footprint in Ireland by further investing in its cybersecurity workforce in the region. The new high level security roles to be hired in Dublin is part of Okta’s ambition to recruit world leading cybersecurity talent, combating the growing threat landscape and building a robust security culture.

Part of Okta’s recently announced Secure Identity Commitment, the cybersecurity specific roles will focus on product development, vulnerability detection, hardening Okta’s own corporate infrastructure and onboarding critical applications. They are part of continued expansion in Ireland with additional roles to be hired in sales, marketing, legal and HR.

“Identity-based attacks have become a top method for nation-state hackers and cybercriminals.  As the leading neutral identity provider, it is important for us to recruit the best talent to support our customers, partners and our own workforce,” said David Bradbury, Chief Security Officer at Okta.

“These new hires reflect our long term commitment to lead the industry in the fight against identity attacks, and leverage Ireland’s diverse and unique talent pool to accelerate our vision of enabling everyone to safely use any technology, continued Bradbury.”

The new roles and growth of the Ireland team come as Okta opens a new office in the heart of Dublin. The new 14,000 square foot LEED Gold certified office will support Okta’s investment in new headcount and provide a green and energy efficient place for employees, customers, prospects, and partners to gather and collaborate. Opening in June 2024, Okta’s Dublin office will continue to serve as an international hub, is on target for WELL Silver certification, and will be a leading pillar of sustainability in the community.

“I am thrilled that we are continuing to grow our team in Ireland, and investing in critical cybersecurity roles in our Dublin office”, commented Jimmy Kehoe, Vice President of Emerging and Ireland GM. We have built a world-class culture in Ireland. With a new and sustainable office space, our team will be able to continue to flourish and we will be able to enable our customers and business across EMEA to realise the power of identity and safely use any technology, continued Kehoe.”

For further information about Okta’s Dublin office and to explore career opportunities, visit Okta Ireland.

First Look – Creative Zen Air SXFI earbuds & Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI headphones

The all new Creative Zen Air SXFI earbuds & Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI headphones have finally arrived and we will be testing these out over the coming weeks but today we give you a quick tour of the new duo from Creative who have been on a roll of late with their product releases.

Recently review have been the Creative Aurvana Ace series and the Creative Zen Air series earbuds which are really solid products now we have an all new ZEN SXFI series to contend with which I look forward to checking out.

The Creative Zen Air SXFI and Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI, designed to transport users into the immersive world of Super X-Fi. With a simple tap, users can expand their soundstage and be engulfed in every detail of their preferred content across platforms like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube, all powered by the built-in SXFI technology.

Boasting additional features such as Adaptive Hybrid ANC and Ambient mode, Bluetooth 5.3, low-latency of up to ~100 ms, the Creative Zen Air SXFI and Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI are poised to redefine how users engage with their favourite content.

Coupled with the SXFI APP, available on iOS and Android phones, the full potential of Super X-Fi can be further unlocked by personalising Super X-Fi to users’ exact head and ear shape for an even more precise rendition.

Beyond the Super X-Fi integration, the Creative Zen Air SXFI and Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI are packed with nifty features to cater to today’s diverse users.

With Hybrid ANC, Adaptive ANC, and Ambient mode, users can seamlessly switch between the three modes, adapting to different environments and choosing to immerse themselves in music or stay aware of their surroundings.

Moreover, the low-latency mode ensures audio stays perfectly synced up, whether users are gaming or watching movies. And with Multipoint connectivity, users can easily switch between two Bluetooth devices without missing a beat.

 

Any questions drop them in the comments or ask on our social media handles.

Pricing and Availability

Creative Zen Air SXFI is priced at £69.99 and is available for order at Creative.com.

Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI is priced at £89.99 and is available for order at Creative.com.

For more information, visit here

Unboxing and Tour

ESB ecars announces price decreases of up to 13% for tariffs across its EV charging network

ESB ecars has today announced a planned price decrease across its public EV charging network in the Republic of Ireland, which will be effective from Friday, 21st June. This will see unit rates for High-Power (200kW) chargers reduce by 13%, Fast chargers reduce by 12% and Standard chargers reduce by 8%.

Contactless payments will also be available on High-Power Chargers from the end of this week.

The existing one-off overstay fee of €8 has been replaced by a more progressive, incremental fee to further encourage drivers to free up charge points for other drivers when finished charging.

ESB’s most recent customer survey found that 76% of respondents support the overstay fee. The new overstay fee structure is 50c/min and kicks in after 45 minutes on High-Power and Fast chargers and after 10 hours on Standard chargers.

Commenting on the price reduction, John Byrne, Head of eMobility at ESB, said: “We are pleased to announce a reduction of prices across our extensive EV public charging network.

We are lowering our prices following reductions in wholesale energy costs while continuing to upgrade and improve our charging infrastructure across the country. We keep our prices under constant review and are committed to providing value to our customers with competitive prices.”

To ensure customers are notified of when overstay fees would apply, ESB is encouraging all drivers to turn on notifications on the ESB ecar connect app. Customers will receive push notifications as a reminder about the overstay fee when they start their charge.

ESB has installed 42 multi-vehicle, high-power charging hubs nationwide over the past two years and replaced over 300 chargers to increase the speed and capacity of the charging network.

ESB now has over 1,600 public charge points in place across the country with an average reliability rate of 98%.

For more information, visit esb.ie/ecars

Millions of Britons fall victim to fake websites here is how to avoid it and be aware

Over five million Britons have been scammed on a fake website in the last year and over half of those (2.7 million) have lost money from it according to a new study by F-Secure. With an average loss of £50 this totals up to £130m being stolen from Britons’ pockets, and the UK economy.

It’s no secret that cyber criminals employ sophisticated tactics to orchestrate shopping scams, and the creation of fake websites that mimic well-known, established brands is just one of those ways.

In a recent study by F-Secure, research uncovered what Britons are buying when they are hit by fake websites and it’s impacting a spectrum of industries. The most common products are:

  1. Technology
  2. Clothing
  3. Home furnishings
  4. Cosmetics
  5. Footwear

In a bigger twist, further research by F-Secure found that six in 10 consumers have avoided shopping with small and independent businesses: expressing a preference for shopping with better-known and established brands. However, more than half of the identified fake websites were impersonating three leading global mass-market brands.

Here, F-Secure’s Tom Gaffney, talks more about the issue of brand impersonation and what consumers should look out for.

The presumption that bigger brands are safer is where the danger lies because they are more prone to impersonation. They are easier to impersonate and often big brands that offer high demand items (the latest Nike shoe, Apple device for example), can be more lucrative for cybercriminals.

Fraudsters are clever – leveraging brand assets such as imagery, logos, and colours – fraudsters lure consumers in with an illusion of authenticity. They also use nefarious domains, employing slight misspellings that go unnoticed, or using subtle unconventional domains like ‘.shop’ or ‘.xyz’. This all poses a challenge in discerning their legitimacy.

The primary goal of brand impersonation is to deceive consumers into providing sensitive personal information, such as credit card details, or to lure them into purchasing counterfeit or compromised goods and taking their money. Alternatively, scammers may simply aim to defraud customers by accepting payments without delivering the promised products or services.

It’s important that consumers stay vigilant to ensure the best protection for themselves and their wallets against online scamming tactics. Here are nine top tips to staying safe when shopping online:

Check if a website is safe to use: 

Use a trusted tool like F-Secure Online Shopping Checker to check if a website is safe to buy from.

Monitor your bank accounts and credit cards

Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorised transactions and report any suspicious activity to your financial institution immediately.

Use unique and strong passwords

If user details are stolen from a legitimate retailer via a data breach, shoppers could be at risk. So it’s important to use a strong, unique password when creating your online accounts.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Always enable two-factor authentication (2FA) where available. Two-factor authentication works by adding extra security to online accounts (beyond your username and password).

Be vigilant about email scams

If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from a big brand urging you to click a link, don’t do it. If you think it’s genuine, go directly to the official website by typing the URL into your browser.

Use a credit card or PayPal

Many credit card providers offer insurance against fraud. PayPal also offers some support for safe online shopping. Avoid wire transfers or other untraceable payment methods.

Beware of big bargains

Nowadays, comparison engines have essentially removed the need for retailers to provide large discounts. So, it’s important to be wary of huge offers that seem too good to be true.

Be vigilant even with brands you know and trust

Given that scammers often impersonate bigger brands, make sure to remain vigilant even when shopping with the brands you know.

Use a reliable internet security app

The best way to stay safe online is by using a trusted internet security product. With F-Secure Total, your passwords are monitored, you’ll be alerted of breaches if they occur, and your access to potentially harmful shopping sites will be automatically blocked.

Rise of the robots’ must ensure an integral role for human beings in the Irish co-operative agrifood sector of the future

A vision for a technologically and digitally enabled future for the Irish co-operative agrifood sector, with the skills of human beings remaining integrally engaged, was presented today at the final conference of the LeadFarm 5.0 project, held in Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

The conference was opened by the Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins TD. The initiative started in May 2022 spearheaded by ICOS Skillnet in collaboration with Léargas and supported by the EU Erasmus+ programme.

In the future, advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and big data will be integrated into all aspects of daily life. This integration aims to solve social challenges, improve quality of life and enhance the success of enterprises.

The LeadFarm project focused on developing a competency framework and roadmap for Irish agrifood co-operatives to transition the skills of their people towards ‘Society 5.0’ or the ‘super-intelligent society’. It has been a collaborative effort involving a broad and diverse range of co-operatives including management, farmers and workers from Ireland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Latvia and Portugal.

A training curriculum emerging from the project emphasises human skills acquisition in areas such as digitalisation, sustainability, management and entrepreneurship while highlighting the potential to balance digital advancements with human-robot collaboration. The approach aims to improve employment opportunities and skills in rural Ireland, creating a sustainable future for the industry.

Minister Niall Collins TD said:

“I congratulate the ICOS Skillnet for taking proactive steps to clarify the competencies required for the adoption of digital innovation by agri-food cooperatives. Initiatives like this ensure that Ireland shapes its future rather than simply respond to technological change ”.

ICOS President Edward Carr said:

“The purpose of this conference is to disseminate the outcomes of the LeadFarm 5.0 project to as many stakeholders as possible. It outlines the good work carried out by this pan-European initiative and showcases the benefits to co-operatives and farmers across Europe.

“ICOS is the lead partner in this project. This is with the specific aim to support various stakeholders including co-operatives, social enterprises, boards of directors, farmers, trainers, and educators, with a particular focus on those at risk of exclusion such as youth and women.

“The concept is about ensuring the long-term sustainability of the industry through skill and talent development. We are focused on creating a more digitally aware society that will be human-centred and will take advantage of technology to tackle problems that affect the whole of society as well as our own industry.

“The agri-food co-operative sector must participate, join this trend, and support the creation of a society which is aware and committed to the problems it faces, avoiding becoming a sector that remains a trace of the technological past.”

International collaboration and engagement of the lead partners from seven countries has fostered international collaboration and the exchange of best practices. All intellectual outputs have been secured for practical application within Ireland, ensuring the Irish agrifood sector can be aware and prepared for significant technological advancements.

Minister Niall Collins acknowledged the importance of the project’s achievements and the promotion of future success for Irish co-operative enterprises within the framework of Society 5.0.

Future Impact

Further Background:

LeadFarm 5.0 arises from the need to improve the knowledge, capacities and skills of European agri-food co-operatives regarding the use of digital innovations that can be easily adapted to new agricultural models that will largely replace the intensive industrial farming model and that will require changes in business decision-making processes.

Agrifood co-operatives need to improve and innovate key capacities, skills and competencies for change in the fields of action for climate and AI without neglecting the most basic human values linked to co-operatives.

This needs to take into account the industry trend towards automation of production processes, in the context of AI development, the internet of things, cognitive computing, the use of cobots (collaborative robots), and promoting precision agriculture, without forgetting climate change mitigation.

Empowering the human being must be at the centre of all of this, supported by technology at the centre of production processes.