Category: Broadcast

French satellite service provider Eutelsat, opens new tab has successfully carried out the world’s first trial of 5G Non-Terrestrial Network connection using OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, it said on Monday, sending its shares 9% higher.

Why it’s important
European telecom and space firms are ramping up efforts to expand internet networks with satellite investments at the core of the European Commission’s 10.6 billion euro ($11.1 billion) IRIS² programme.

5G Non-Terrestrial Networks, which improve and provide wireless coverage to remote locations directly from space, are one of the projects developed as part of the IRIS² constellation.
IRIS² will feature 270 LEOs and 18 medium Earth orbit satellites. The constellation is scheduled to be fully operational in 2030.

Market reaction
Eutelsat’s shares, which rose as much as 10.5% earlier in the session, were on track for their largest single-day rise in over three years as of 1036 GMT.
Shares of the Paris-listed company have dropped around 66% in the past year, leading to its exclusion from France’s SBF 120 index of Paris’ most traded stocks in 2024.

What’s next
OneWeb’s satellites were built by Airbus, opens new tab and used chipsets from Taiwan’s MediaTek, opens new tab and equipment from Sharp, opens new tab and Rohde & Schwarz to conduct the trial, Eutelsat said.

The deployment of 5G NTN is expected to lower the cost of internet access and expand satellite broadband for 5G devices, it added.

Context
Eutelsat is one of the main satellite operators selected by the European Union for the IRIS² programme.

The Franco-British group is piling up losses from its traditional geostationary constellation travelling further from Earth, as cheaper and smaller LEO fleets like the one owned by Starlink surge in popularity. Reuters

Space is about to get more crowded for Elon Musk.

The billionaire’s Starlink communications network is facing increasingly stiff challenges to its dominance of high-speed satellite internet, including from a Chinese state-backed rival and another service financed by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos.

Shanghai-based SpaceSail in November signed an agreement to enter Brazil and announced it was in talks with over 30 countries. Two months later, it began work in Kazakhstan, according to the Kazakh embassy in Beijing.

Separately, Brasília is in talks with Bezos’s Project Kuiper internet service and Canada’s Telesat, according to a Brazilian official involved in the negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss ongoing talks. News of those discussions is being reported for the first time.

Starlink has since 2020 launched more satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO) – an altitude of less than 2,000 km – than all its competitors combined. Satellites operating at such low altitudes transmit data extremely efficiently, providing high-speed internet for remote communities, seafaring vessels and militaries at war.

Musk’s primacy in space is seen as a threat by Beijing, which is both investing heavily in rivals and funding military research into tools that track satellite constellations, according to Chinese corporate filings and academic papers whose details have not been previously reported.

China launched a record 263 LEO satellites last year, according to data from astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell analyzed by tech consultancy Analysys Mason.

The emergence of competition to Starlink has been welcomed by Brazil’s government, which wants high-speed internet for communities in far-flung areas but has previously faced off with Musk over commerce and politics.

SpaceSail declined to comment when presented with Reuters’ questions about its expansion plans. A newspaper controlled by China’s telecoms regulator last year praised it as “capable of transcending national boundaries, penetrating sovereignty and unconditionally covering the whole world … a strategic capability that our country must master.”

Kuiper, Telesat, Starlink and Brazil’s communications ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Few of Musk’s international rivals have the same ambition as SpaceSail, which is controlled by the Shanghai municipal government. It has announced plans to deploy 648 LEO satellites this year and as many as 15,000 by 2030; Starlink currently has about 7,000 satellites, according to McDowell, and has set itself a target of operating 42,000 by the end of the decade.

SpaceSail’s launches will eventually comprise the Qianfan, or “Thousand Sails,” constellation that marks China’s first international push into satellite broadband. Three other Chinese constellations are also in development, with Beijing planning to launch 43,000 LEO satellites in the coming decades and investing in rockets that can carry multiple satellites.

“The endgame is to occupy as many orbital slots as possible,” said Chaitanya Giri, a space technology expert at India’s Observer Research Foundation.

China’s rush to occupy more of lower-Earth orbit has raised concerns among Western policymakers, who worry that it could extend the reach of Beijing’s internet censorship regime. Researchers at the American Foreign Policy Council think-tank said in a February paper that Washington should increase cooperation with Global South nations if it wanted to “seriously contest China’s growing foray into digital dominance.”

The researchers also described Qianfan as a crucial part of the space component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The $1 trillion global infrastructure development plan is a signature policy of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, but has been accused by critics of being primarily a tool to expand Beijing’s geopolitical influence.

China’s commerce ministry and telecoms regulator did not respond to requests for comment. China’s foreign ministry said in response to Reuters’ questions that while it was not aware of the specifics surrounding SpaceSail and Chinese LEO satellites expanding overseas, Beijing pursues space cooperation with other countries for the benefit of their peoples.

SpaceSail has said it aims to supply reliable internet to more users, particularly those in remote areas and during recovery from emergencies and natural disasters.

Wild West
Starlink’s rapid expansion and its use in the war in Ukraine has caught the attention of military researchers like those at China’s National University of Defense Technology, prompting significant state funding for rival satellite networks.

Hongqing Technology, which was founded in 2017 and is developing a 10,000-satellite constellation, this month raised 340 million yuan from mostly state-affiliated investors.

Last year, SpaceSail secured 6.7 billion yuan ($930 million) in a financing round led by a state-owned investment fund focused on upgrading China’s manufacturing capabilities.

Chinese researchers, including many affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army, have also turned their attention to the field. China published a record 2,449 patents related to LEO satellite technology in 2023, up from 162 in 2019, according to Anaqua’s AcclaimIP database.

Many focus on cost-efficient satellite networks and low-latency communication systems, according to a Reuters review, underscoring China’s push to close the technology gap.

“The space world is moving fast and busy experimenting,” said Antoine Grenier, global head of space at the Analysys Mason consultancy. “Pioneers are enjoying this relative freedom and are shaping it to their advantage to claim key positions before rules become more stringent – like the wild west.”

Some of the Chinese research appears to be targeted at Starlink, with one PLA-linked patent application describing the U.S. system as critical to reconnaissance and military communications while posing “threats to network, data, and military security.”

Beijing is also developing tools to track and monitor Starlink’s constellation. Researchers from two PLA-affiliated institutes said in a January study published in a Chinese engineering journal that they had designed a system and algorithm for tracking megaconstellations like Starlink’s, which was inspired by how humpback whales trap their prey by circling them and creating spiralling bubbles.

“With the growing trend of space militarization, developing tools to monitor and track these megaconstellations is critically important,” the researchers wrote. Investing

In Q4 2024, global cloud infrastructure services spending rose 20% year on year to US$86 billion. For full-year 2024, spending also grew 20%, up from US$267.7 billion in 2023 to $321.3 billion in 2024. The key driver behind this growth was the expansion of AI models, which significantly accelerated cloud adoption. By the second half of 2024, the top cloud vendors all reported positive returns on AI investments, with AI applications having a notable impact on their overall cloud business performance. As AI market competition intensifies, cloud hyperscalers plan to further expand investments in cloud and AI infrastructure in 2025 to keep pace with rising demand. Canalys forecasts global cloud infrastructure services spending will grow 19% in 2025.

In Q4 2024, the ranking of the top three cloud providers – AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud – remained unchanged from the previous quarter, with their combined market share accounting for 64% of global cloud spending. Collectively, their total spending grew 25% year on year.

AWS, the market leader, maintained a 19% annual growth rate, consistent with the previous quarter. Meanwhile, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud suffered a slight decline in their year-on-year growth rates compared with the previous quarter. This slowdown was primarily due to strong AI-driven demand outpacing supply, as the leading cloud providers reported that growth remained constrained by limited capacity, creating a tight supply-demand balance.

As AI becomes more efficient and widely adopted, demand is expected to grow exponentially. In response, cloud hyperscalers are making significant investments to grow AI model training, deployment and cloud-based applications globally. AWS’ capital expenditure hit US$26.3 billion in Q4, with total spending projected to exceed US$100 billion in 2025. Microsoft’s Q4 capital expenditure reached US$22.6 billion, and it plans to invest around US$80 billion in data centers over the fiscal year. Google announced in its Q4 earnings call that it expects its capital expenditure to reach approximately US$75 billion in 2025. “Cloud hyperscalers are investing at an unprecedented rate,” said Yi Zhang, Analyst at Canalys. “The race is no longer just about offering the best AI services – it’s about growing fast while ensuring financial sustainability and long-term competitiveness.”

The AI race remains fiercely competitive, with hyperscalers advancing their proprietary models while rapidly adapting to new market entrants. In January 2025, the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek introduced DeepSeek R1, a model widely regarded as a game-changer for its benchmark performance and cost efficiency. DeepSeek gained global recognition for achieving GPT-4o-level performance at a fraction of the cost. Leading cloud providers responded swiftly, integrating DeepSeek R1 into their platforms almost immediately.

“The rapid adoption of DeepSeek R1 by leading cloud providers highlights its disruptive impact, challenging industry norms with its cost efficiency and high performance,” said Rachel Brindley, Senior Director at Canalys. “As AI evolves, new models will continue to emerge, driving innovation and competition across the ecosystem. Vendors are responding swiftly, ensuring seamless access for customers to explore and integrate the best options.”

Amazon Web Services (AWS) maintained its leadership position in the global cloud market in Q4 2024, securing a 33% market share and achieving 19% year-on-year revenue growth. For full-year 2024, AWS’ cloud infrastructure revenue exceeded US$100 billion, keeping it on top. At AWS re:Invent in December, it introduced AWS Nova, a foundation model available exclusively on Bedrock, offered in three variants: Micro, Lite and Pro. In January 2025, AWS announced the integration of DeepSeek’s latest R1 foundation model into its flagship AI platforms, Amazon Bedrock and Amazon SageMaker. To adapt to the accelerating pace of technological advances, particularly in AI and machine learning, AWS shortened the lifespan of certain servers and networking equipment from six years to five, effective from January 2025. Concurrently, AWS continues to expand its capital investment, most recently committing over US$1 billion to AI-focused data center projects in Ohio and Georgia.

Microsoft Azure remained the second-largest cloud provider in Q4 2024, with a 20% share and impressive annual growth of 31%. Microsoft reported that Azure’s growth included a 13% contribution from AI services, which grew 157% year on year. In December, Azure announced the integration of OpenAI’s latest GPT-o1 model into the Azure OpenAI Service. Notably, GPT-o1 features a multimodal design, enabling both text and visual inputs. In January 2025, DeepSeek R1 was officially released on Azure AI Foundry and listed in GitHub’s model catalog. It is now part of Microsoft’s extensive portfolio of over 1,800 AI models available on these platforms. In December, Microsoft announced the completion of all three Azure availability zones in Saudi Arabia, with operations set to begin in 2026. In February, it revealed plans to invest approximately US$700 million to expand its hyperscale cloud and AI infrastructure in Poland by June 2026.

Google Cloud, the third largest cloud provider, retained an 11% market share and reported strong 32% year-on-year growth. As of 31 December 2024, Google Cloud’s revenue backlog grew to US$93.2 billion, up from US$86.8 billion in Q3. Additionally, the number of first-time commitments in 2024 more than doubled compared with 2023. In December 2024, Google launched Gemini 2.0, its most advanced multimodal AI model, fully powered by TPUs. Two months later, the Gemini 2.0 series – Gemini 2.0, Flash, Flash-Lite and Pro – is fully available via the Gemini API on Google AI Studio and Vertex AI. In December, the company announced the launch of its forty-first cloud region in Mexico, marking its third cloud region in Latin America, following those in Chile and Brazil. Canalys

Despite competition from visual media content, FM radio channels in India have managed to retain an ad share of 2.3 per cent in 2024, said Madison world in a report.

While analyst reports forecast radio to continue holding its ground in future as well, innovation in content may help radio’s survival, experts told businessline.

For the last four years the radio segment’s ad revenue share has remained constant at around 2 per cent, after a 43 per cent drop during Covid-19 to ₹1,270 crores. In 2024, it increased to ₹2,462 crores, said Madison World.

“The rate of growth is good at 8 per cent, but not good enough to beat the overall market growth of 9 per cent. In a way you could argue that digital radio is bound to replace traditional radio. Nevertheless, a growth rate of 8 per cent in a digital dominated world is quite creditable,” said Madison in a report.

In terms of ad volume, radio grew by 4 per cent year-on-year in 2024, indicating a slowdown in growth after an 18 per cent jump between 2022 and 2023.

Real Estate and home improvement remain the largest contributors to ad revenue, accounting for 15 per cent of total revenue in 2024.

FMCG remained stable at 12 per cent of the total contribution, while the auto sector saw a strong growth of 11 per cent and maintained its 11 per cent share of total revenue.

Despite the positives, Group M still expects radio’s ad revenue to fall in 2025 to ₹2,009 crore. It also pointed out that India remains one of the few countries where traditional mediums like radio and print continue to show positive growth.

According to Lloyd Mathias, business strategist and Independent Director of Hindustan Times’ Fever FM, traditional mediums are under pressure to keep up with digital. However, radio has the potential to cash in on passive consumption.

“Radio can be consumed passively, which means you can ‘listen’ to the radio, even when driving, commuting, jogging etc.,” said Mathias, adding that growing interest in podcasts may benefit radio.

“So, while growth in ad revenue may continue to be difficult for radio, innovative content and formats, could help, arrest the slide,” he said.

Private FM radio channels have been allowed to broadcast news bulletins from state-owned All India Radio in an unaltered form.

The government is looking to expand radio coverage to more cities through the Phase III FM Radio Policy launched last year. The Hindu businessline

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday (February 21, 2025) released its recommendations for the Framework for Service Authorisations for provision of Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

The recommendations include a proposal to remove the minimum net worth requirement of ₹100 crore for the Internet service providers to offer IPTV service and its alignment with the provisions contained in the authorisation for Internet Services to be issued by the Department of Telecom.

“Terms and conditions for Radio Broadcasting Service have been made technology agnostic enabling adoption of digital technology. Service authorisation for ‘Terrestrial Radio Service’ should be delinked from frequency assignment and the auction of spectrum for frequency assignment for Terrestrial Radio Service shall be done separately…,” said the TRAI.

It also suggested that the Information & Broadcasting Ministry should prescribe separate Programme Code and Advertisement Code for radio broadcasting service providers.

As per the existing guidelines for various broadcasting services, licences/permissions/registrations are given by the I&B Ministry under the Indian Telegraph Act, for provision of broadcasting services. They include TV channel uplinking/downlinking (including Teleport), FM Radio, community radio stations, Digital Satellite News Gathering/Satellite News Gathering, Direct-To-Home, Headend-In-The-Sky, and IPTV services.

The government has notified the Telecommunications Act (2023), which repeals the Indian Telegraph Act, but the appointed date for various sections of the new Act is yet to be notified. The Ministry, through a letter dated July 25, 2024, sought suggestions from TRAI on the terms and conditions in this regard. On October 30, 2024, the Authority initiated a consultation process by releasing a consultation paper and also held an open-house discussion on December 18, 2024.

Based on the inputs and previous relevant recommendations, TRAI restructured the terms and conditions, aimed at “promoting growth and enhance ease of doing business in the sector”.

The recommended authorisation framework provides for two distinct sets of terms and conditions: “The Broadcasting (Grant of Service Authorisations) Rules” and “The Broadcasting (Television Channel Broadcasting, Television Channel Distribution, and Radio Broadcasting) Services Rules”.

The salient points of recommendations include that broadcasting service authorisations should be granted under Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act; terms for the grant of service authorisations have been harmonised for similar services and covers eligibility criteria, application process, etc.; and that migration of existing licensee to new regime should be voluntary, till the expiry of licence/permission.

No processing fee or entry fee will be required for migration in case of broadcasting services.

However, the validity period of the respective service authorisation should be from the effective date of migration to the authorisation regime, irrespective of the validity period of existing licence/permission.

The Authority has suggested adding new services like “Ground-based Broadcasting of a Television Channel” and “Low Power Small Range Radio Service”.

To protect the interests of service providers, it has suggested that amendments to terms and conditions of service authorisations (except for reasons of national security) should require TRAI’s recommendations. It said infrastructure sharing on a voluntary basis, among broadcasting service providers as well as with telecom service providers/infrastructure providers, wherever technically and commercially feasible, should be allowed.

TRAI has also suggested changes in the terms and conditions, including fees and charges, for various broadcasting services. The Hindu

The MoU exchange ceremony occurred in Shanghai, with Measat represented by Chief Operating Officer Yau Chyong Lim and SPACESAIL by its President, Dr. Jason Zheng. This partnership aims to facilitate the deployment of SPACESAIL’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) broadband services and solutions, including its Thousand Sails mega-constellation, also known as “Qianfan.” The collaboration will focus on emerging technologies such as Direct-to-Device (D2D) communications, satellite-based IoT services, and Earth Observation (EO) capabilities in Malaysia and other Asian markets where Measat operates. Additionally, both companies will conduct a joint study on rain fade effects in Q-/V-band high-frequency transmission.

Commenting on the MoU, Communications Minister YB Fahmi Fadzil said: “In 2024, Malaysia marked the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, celebrating the many positive outcomes of this cordial friendship. Looking forward, there are abundant opportunities for deeper collaboration, especially in harnessing advanced technologies to enhance people’s lives. These innovations can potentially drive a wide array of benefits, from improving the delivery of government services to fostering economic growth through industrial and commercial applications. Additionally, with Malaysia serving as Chairman of ASEAN this year, we hope to showcase the country’s technological capabilities and explore new opportunities across the region.”

Yau Chyong Lim, Chief Operating Officer of Measat, added: “Measat is excited to begin this partnership with SPACESAIL to advance LEO satellite services across our markets. We firmly believe in a multi-orbit satellite network to achieve progress in society. We are pleased to have the opportunity to integrate the capabilities of SPACESAIL’s Thousand Sails mega constellation with Measat’s fleet of Geostationary Orbit (“GSO”) satellites. In regions where Measat operates, satellites have immense potential to further bridge the digital divide and overcome geographical challenges. We look forward to realising this multi-orbit potential – from expanding the reach of established use-cases like satellite broadband in remote areas to advancing cutting-edge satellite solutions such as D2D connectivity and satellite-based IoT.”

Dr Jason Zheng, President of SPACESAIL, stated: “For SPACESAIL, this partnership with Measat is another milestone in delivering global broadband connectivity and driving innovation in the satellite industry by synergising our respective strengths. China and Malaysia are two nations that value the role of technology in empowering businesses and improving lives. I look forward to achieving technological progress by tapping on Measat’s local expertise while strengthening bilateral ties – including in upcoming fields like the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial network communications. I thank the Government of Malaysia, particularly the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, for welcoming SPACESAIL’s interest in offering our services in the country in collaboration with local industry leaders such as Measat.”

SPACESAIL’s Thousand Sails mega-constellation, which has launched 72 satellites to date, seeks to provide low-latency, high-speed and ultra-reliable satellite broadband internet services worldwide. The mega-constellation is targeted to consist of more than 15,000 satellites in the future. Broadcast Media Africa

Vodafone will open a research facility in Spain for integrating Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite and terrestrial mobile broadband services with AST SpaceMobile and the University of Málaga. Vodafone announced the center on Feb. 19, calling it the first of its kind in Europe.

The hub aims to enable switching between satellite and cellular networks on smartphones. The initiative follows Vodafone’s successful space-based video call in January 2025 and aligns with its goal to expand mobile coverage across multiple markets.

Opening by summer 2025, the hub is supported by an initial grant from the Spanish Space Agency. The hub will be located at Vodafone’s European innovation center in Málaga, Spain.

The Vodafone hub will focus on the design, testing, and validation of open source hardware, software, and processing chips that can work in space and terrestrial networks. It will house a space-to-land gateway to allow its partners and other operators to test and validate their own services connected to AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites before launching them. Vodafone plans to evolve the hub into a comprehensive network and service operations center for European third-party companies.

Alberto Ripepi, Vodafone’s chief network officer, said: “Vodafone, together with AST SpaceMobile and the University of Málaga, will forge partnerships with like-minded organizations to build harmonious space and Earth networks to meet Europe’s ambitious targets for ubiquitous digital connectivity.”

This venture builds on Vodafone’s existing relationship with AST SpaceMobile, solidified by a commercial agreement signed in December 2024. The agreement, lasting through 2034, allows Vodafone to offer space-based cellular broadband in its markets and through partner operators. Via Satellite

Internet service provider 360 Broadband will expand and upgrade internet access in Fannin County, Texas, with the help of a $52 million award from the Texas Broadband Development Office’s Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) II Program.

The grant will fund part of a $65 million project to bring high-speed fiber internet service to the region, transforming connectivity for residents, businesses, and community institutions. In total, the buildout will improve internet speeds and reliability for 12,000 locations, with 4,355 funded by the grant and the remainder by 360 Broadband. The project is already underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, creating good local jobs in the process.

“This is a pivotal moment for Fannin County,” said Kris McElroy, CEO of 360 Broadband. “Reliable, high-speed internet isn’t just a convenience – it’s necessary for education, business, healthcare, and overall quality of life. We’re honored to lead this effort.”

“Our mission has always been to connect under-served communities in our area, and this will allow us to take that commitment even further,” commented Drew Beverage, COO of 360 Broadband. “We’re not just laying fiber; we’re laying the foundation for long-term growth and quality of life in Fannin County.”

The BOOT II Program, spearheaded by the Texas Comptroller’s office, aims to bridge the digital divide by funding projects that deliver reliable, high-speed broadband to underserved areas. The Manila Times

There was a time that radio, broadcasting, and newspapers ruled the minds of global consumers, and then came the wave of OTT platforms that offered personalised content, playlists, and unique narratives that empowered the viewer. This changed the game and the entertainment sector rose to much significance. Also, as OTT media became mainstream entertainment, platforms now have a constant need to revamp their catalogue, marketing tactics, business partnerships, and technology to stay ahead in the game. The bar is raised on hygiene and consumers are discerning about the overall experience.

The figures show that the Indian OTT streaming video market is currently in its second expansion and two billion dollars in advertising and one billion dollars in subscription is the current business value.

Business Model Disruption
The business model is where the major disruption has occurred. Aggregation is largely emerging as an answer to consumer questions at large. In India, there are an average of two OTT platforms being launched every quarter or so, and everyone is fighting for the same viewer. This pushes up the cost of digital inventory, thereby pushing up the cost of consumer acquisition which is already hitting the roof, making direct subscriptions expensive. India has a saving mentality and they like bundled options, which are slowly emerging as the mainstay of many OTT platforms, especially the smaller ones.

There is a hybrid model, a freemium model, and the subscription model. Within the subscription model, the direct-to-consumer relationship is evolving into an aggregation and bundle model. But each platform will want to write its P&L narrative considering who is their TG, what is audience pool, content type, pipeline, and so on.

Unexplored Yet Markets
The potential of the regional market is unexplored yet is immense; at present, there is about 36 per cent of the regional market is left unpenetrated and showcases a huge potential for the OTT players.

While platforms like Stage, Aha, Hoichoi, and Chaupal are trying to serve regional audiences, it’s the larger OTT platforms that need to take the plunge with a deeper more regional approach to enhancing their footprints. For example early on when Netflix and Amazon Prime were working to establish themselves in India, they saw tremendous success with shows like Sacred Games and Mirzapur respectively because a huge chunk of the population was able to identify with it at a deeper level than they were able to relate to the global content which was offered. But India is not just a Hindi-speaking market, it has diverse languages and content perspectives.

The Fresh Content Narrative
People increasingly turned to OTT platforms for fresh and high-quality content, as they had obviously been fatigued by the routine Indian TV serials. Additionally, OTT provided a platform for creators and artists to reclaim their status in the entertainment industry, which may have otherwise been overshadowed by a shift in the cinema or other forms of entertainment.

India is a land of great cultural and demographic diversity, presenting multiple chances for OTT players to reach out to a wide variety of viewers. But is that still the narrative of content or is it getting influenced again by television style or cinema offerings? That is the question that OTT platforms need to ask themselves constantly and revamp their pipeline to stay ahead in the game. Collaboration on content creation doesn’t only amortise the rising content cost, but partners are also able to leverage each other’s strengths, understand consumer insights better, co-market, and monetise the product with combined reach strength.

Technology and thereof Experience
An immersive experience helps set the OTT spaces aside from other forms of entertainment. As the users get to experience a newer, contemporary form of entertainment consumption, it builds a deeper connection between the user and the platform. Also, India being a mobile-first country, OTTs will need to leverage the 5G model to their advantage for faster and more reliable access to end-users with zero buffer and immersive experiences that can be AR/VR or E-commerce built into content-led.

Also, OTT spaces need to understand the critical importance of personalised experiences and content, in terms of suggestions, playlists, etc when dealing with their audience. Speedy players and great recommendation engines along with a simple UI/UX are becoming the staple requirement of the day and non-negotiable. BW Marketing World

Broadband Infraco is dedicated to playing a pivotal role in expanding digital infrastructure accessibility and skills across South Africa. The PCC’s position to allocate spectrum to the SDIC or any of the mandated SOEs on an open-access basis will go a long way in providing cost-effective broadband services to marginalized communities. BBI welcomes this announcement and will work with key stakeholders to fulfill this objective.

This comes on the back of BBI’s strategic focus which encompasses several key areas to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach as follows:

• Collaboration with Regulatory Bodies: We are committed to engaging actively with ICASA and other regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with spectrum management, license conditions, and universal service obligations. This collaboration aims to reduce data costs and improve the quality of service for all South Africans.
• Partnerships with SMMEs: Broadband Infraco will work closely with SMMEs to implement transformation imperatives and ensure the rollout of digital infrastructure is inclusive and widespread.
• Digitization of Government Services: We support the PPC’s agenda by providing the necessary infrastructure for digitizing government services. This initiative will enhance the efficiency and accessibility of public services, making them more user-friendly and effective.
• Bridging the Digital Divide: Our focus is on a holistic approach to infrastructure rollout, enhancing digital skills development, and lowering the cost of devices and data. We are committed to initiatives that improve digital literacy and provide affordable access to technology, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.
• Utilizing State Broadband Assets to Benefit the Country: Duplication of telecoms infrastructure causes broadband services to become expensive. The PPC position which includes giving significant attention to the consolidation of state-owned fibre assets that sit within other SOEs, such as Eskom, Transnet, PRASA, Sanral and others, will make a huge difference in providing digital services to all corners of the country.

Broadband Infraco applauds the PCC leadership in paving a way to resolve matters of national significance and is committed to expanding digital infrastructure accessibility and skills, thereby supporting the broader goals of the 4th Industrial Revolution and bridging the digital divide. TechAfrica News