Futurum Tech Webcast The Futurum Group

In this episode of Infrastructure Matters, Krista Macomber, Camberley Bates, and Steven Dickens discuss key takeaways from AWS re:Invent 2023, including the cloud juggernaut’s pragmatic approach to cloud computing, focusing on AI, hybrid solutions, and cost optimization. It is also investing heavily in new features and services, and partnering with other companies to expand their reach.
Key themes include:
Gen AI: AWS made a big push towards AI with announcements like Q, a helpful service for developers and cloud admins, custom silicon updates for Graviton and Trainium, and a focus on the AI layered cake.
Hybrid is here: AWS acknowledged the hybrid cloud reality with announcements like S3 Express One Zone, an S3 offering for high performance computing, and AWSM2, a managed mainframe migration service.
Cost optimization: With the economic headwinds, AWS emphasized cost optimization with announcements like the DB2 offering on AWS, which allows customers to run their legacy workloads in the cloud.

An Assessment of Key Developments Across the 5G-IoT Ecosystem Including T-Mobile Verizon Spur FWA, New Nokia FastMile Products, and Ericsson FWA Tariff Views 
In this episode of The 5G Factor, our series that focuses on all things 5G, the IoT, and the ecosystem as a whole, I’m joined by my colleague and fellow analyst, Todd R Weiss, for a look at the top 5G developments and what’s going on that caught our eye including the latest on the T-Mobile Verizon US 5G FWA horse race, Nokia introduces new FastMile products to address FWA scaling challenges, and Ericsson provides recommendations on 5G FWA plans. 
Our conversation focused on:
US 5G FWA Horse Race Heats Up. T-Mobile is the fastest-growing internet provider in the U.S., a trend that started almost two years ago. Both T-Mobile and Verizon have managed to make FWA-based home internet service an easy installation, and the bundle proposition is vital because most of these subscribers have the service bundled with their mobile cellular offering. Combined, T-Mobile and Verizon added about 940,000 FWA/5G home internet subscribers in Q3 2023. We delve into why both mobile operators are making deep strides with their FWA service offerings and why FWA is altering the overall broadband services competitive landscape.
Nokia FastMile Addresses 5G FWA Scaling Challenges. According to GSMA Intelligence, over 90 fixed broadband service providers across 48 countries have already launched 5G FWA services. However, as FWA service uptake begins to top 15%, user experience can diminish across the board, given that existing mobile users and FWA subscribers are competing for the same limited resources. To solve this capacity challenge and boost 5G FWA deployments, Nokia has introduced next generation 5G fixed wireless broadband devices to its FastMile product portfolio. Latest in this portfolio is the Nokia FastMile 5G Receiver (5G26-A) and the Nokia FastMile 5G Gateway 7. We review the Nokia’s FastMile portfolio and why we see it meeting the challenges of scaling FWA including addressing digital divide concerns. 
Ericsson FWA Tariff Recommendations. According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report June 2023, over one-quarter of FWA service providers now offer speed-based tariff plans (also referred to as quality of service, or QoS). The remaining three-quarters are still best-effort, with volume-based tariff plans (buckets of GB per month). Ericsson is recommending the adoption of speed-based tariffs, emphasizing the appeal of presenting 'up-to' speed values in contracts. We examine why this approach allies with subscribers being more drawn to plans that clearly define potential speeds, aligning with consumer expectations and building trust.
We discuss the prospects for the LLM intended to help telcos worldwide, including in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, to develop GenAI services, such as “AI agents”, flexibly and according to their respective environment.

On this episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast – Interview Series, host Steven Dickens welcomes Rocket Software’s Phil Buckellew, President, Infrastructure Modernization Business Unit, for a conversation on the company’s announcement that it plans to acquire OpenText’s Application Modernization and Connectivity Business, the strategy behind the move, and the implications for the mainframe modernization landscape.
Their discussion covers:
The announcement that Rocket Software plans to acquire OpenText’s Application Modernization and Connectivity Business, and the strategy behind it
Why Rocket Software is a good home for the Micro Focus team
How this may change the company’s scale and optionality for clients who want to modernize their mainframe
How clients should think about this acquisition, the implications for Rocket, and more widely, the mainframe modernization landscape
Learn more about Mainframe Modernization on Rocket Software’s website.
 

In this Futurum Tech Webcast, host Steven Dickens interviews Parv Aggarwal on the Diaspora Bank Project, discussing integrating Ripple's CBDC platform into the project's initiatives. Aggarwal explains how they aim to connect the African diaspora with the continent, particularly through remittances. The project emphasizes the potential of CBDCs to streamline payments and enable investment vehicles for the diaspora, reducing the friction and high fees associated with traditional remittance methods. The discussion also covers how the project leverages the XRP ledger for efficient cross-border payments and financial inclusion, particularly in rural areas.
Their discussion covers:
How the Diaspora Bank Project aims to redirect remittance fees into investments in Africa.
How CBDCs provide a seamless payment rail and enable multi-platform functionalities.
How the project uses the XRP ledger for low-fee cross-border remittances and investments.
The focus on financial inclusion and economic development through the Diaspora Bank Project.
Learn more about Ripple on the company's website and the Diaspora Bank Project entry on Devpost.
 

In this episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Steven Dickens welcomes Kennedy Ng’ang’a, founder and CEO of Nairobi-based tech company, Shamba, about leveraging Ripple's CBDC platform for ecological data integration on blockchain. Shamba focuses on providing crucial ecological data, such as vegetation coverage and rainfall, to drive parametric insurance solutions. Shamba’s solution utilizes the Ripple CBDC platform to create B2B solutions for institutions like banks and insurance companies, which are traditionally averse to other forms of cryptocurrency. The discussion highlights the use of CBDCs in humanitarian and environmental projects, detailing how the company uses satellite data to inform insurance decisions and trigger smart contract events for direct payments to affected parties.
Their discussion covers:
How Shamba provides ecological data to the blockchain for parametric insurance.
Using the Ripple CBDC platform for B2B solutions in insurance and banking.
How CBDCs are leveraged for Web3 applications in humanitarian and environmental projects.
How the Shamba Oracle is utilized to trigger payments based on ecological risks.
Learn more about Ripple on the company's website and Shamba’s entry on Devpost.
 

In this Futurum Tech Webcast, Steven Dickens and Orang Dialameh discuss ExtoLabs' role in advancing digital payments and CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) initiatives. Dialameh, CEO and co-founder of ExtoLabs, explains how their technology addresses the friction in digital payments, particularly in emerging markets. The discussion delves into the technicalities of integrating XRP ledger for secure, low-cost transactions and the nuances of maintaining privacy and KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance in digital currencies.
Their discussion covers:
ExtoLabs' focus on reducing friction in digital payments, highlighting the challenges in both mature and emerging markets.
The use of Bluetooth technology for offline transactions and the adaptation of the XRP ledger for secure, rapid transactions.
The importance of privacy in CBDC systems, ensuring anonymity for users while maintaining KYC standards.
The potential of distributed ledgers in addressing data privacy issues and their application in both CBDC and e-money solutions.
Learn more about Ripple on the company's website and ExtoLabs' entry on Devpost.