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- Jason's Industry Insights - Issue #40
Jason's Industry Insights - Issue #40
Jason Presement
October 11, 2024
You won’t find a better source for Market Intelligence about Telecom, Space Communications and AI, all in one place, for free, anywhere
🌎 What’s Happening on Earth
🪐 What’s Happening in Space
🤖 Enabling AI
🍳 This and That!
💡 “Learn About” something new!
If you enjoy this newsletter, please share it!
In this Issue
What’s Happening On Earth?
Telus is purchasing O-NET, Canada’s first community-owned broadband network, from the Town of Olds. While the sale price remains confidential, the town will disclose details in its 2024 financial statements. This decision follows challenges faced by O-NET, requiring significant infrastructure investments. The deal allows Telus to take over operations, while a public forum is scheduled for November to discuss the sale. The town credits O-NET’s community-driven origins for its lasting impact on connectivity in Olds.
My Take: First question everyone asks - “how much??”.. I guess we’ll find out.
Cisco is quitting the LoRaWAN market, with sales of new LoRaWAN gateway products stopping on January 1 next year (2025) and service and support for all products and parts ending completely on December 31 2029, with a phased withdrawal for sundry parts and service between times. It is not offering an onwards migration path for customers.
My Take: Cisco had no comment. Likely part of their change in focus to invest resources in AI and Security.
Among the top five states, most were relatively small Northeastern states. The state of Connecticut had the highest percentage of Ookla Speedtest users, 65.8%, experiencing network speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps. Maryland (63.7%), Delaware (63.3%) and Rhode Island (62.7%) rounded out the top five spots. But North Dakota was a successful outlier: a geographically large and mostly rural state that came in with the second-highest percentage of Speedtest users getting 100/20 Mbps speeds, at 65.5%
My Take: I’d hope that for the money being deployed, they’d be seeing at least 100/20. As long as the cable guys are upstream-constrained, we’ll see these asymmetrical objectives.
The lawsuits cited internal company documents (much of which were redacted) to argue that TikTok created addictive features to “exploit children’s underdeveloped psychological and neurological controls to lock young users into cycles of excessive and unhealthy usage of social media.” The claims add that TikTok often falsely claims itself to be safe and appropriate for young users and has misrepresented the effectiveness of its in-app safety features.
My Take: “This bag is not a toy”
The mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) regime, once confined to individual consumers and small businesses, has been expanded to include the Internet of Things (IoT) and enterprise customers now that the CRTC on Wednesday ordered the large telecoms to modify their tariffs to enable competitors to wholesale network space to serve those particular clients.
My Take: This is great news, I think! Opens up some new opportunities for those forward-thinking providers looking to capture new markets and customer solutions.
What’s Happening In Space?
What’s in Space This Week?
A complete view of private market startup activity and investment trends in the space economy – from the investors at the forefront.
My Take: Lots of money in space. Lots of unicorns in space. Lots of speculation in space. Lots of risk is space. Lots of M&A to surely happen in space.
The FCC had originally awarded the funds in 2020 to help expand broadband access to rural areas, but later revoked the award in 2022, citing concerns about Starlink’s ability to meet speed requirements. The investigation aims to determine whether the FCC’s decision was politically motivated, especially as Starlink has recently been used in disaster recovery efforts, like during Hurricane Helene.
My Take: IMHO, it’s all about misinformation and agendas and further supports the need for “and” not “or” solutions. Or maybe they just hate Elon.
SpaceX has used its position as the world’s primary rocket launcher to push rival satellite operators to share wireless airwaves, showing how the company can flex its power in one area to benefit another part of its business
My Take: Is it an abuse of power or leverage? They did invest in all the great technology and failures along the way to drive down the economics of ferrying other companies’ products into space…
Telesat is positioning its new Lightspeed low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite fleet to compete in the growing Edge computing market. With 198 planned satellites, the Lightspeed network aims to provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity tailored for industries like enterprise, aviation, and maritime. Unlike Starlink, which focuses on consumer broadband, Telesat targets business-to-business services, offering advanced Edge processing and reliable network backups for critical operations
My Take: Can’t come fast enough, as far as I’m concerned. So many applications waiting to be proven in real time.
Airlines are rapidly adopting Starlink to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi, with Air France and United Airlines among the latest to switch to SpaceX’s satellite service. Starlink provides significantly faster speeds (200-350 Mbps) compared to traditional GEO-based providers, transforming passenger experiences. Airlines see offering free Wi-Fi as a strategic move to enhance customer satisfaction while potentially passing the costs into ticket prices. This shift is reshaping the in-flight connectivity market, challenging established GEO providers.
My Take: Free is good, but airplane internet that actually works is better. Many airlines offer free Internet to their top-tier frequent fliers as it becomes a more important perk to woo travellers to change airlines. I can think of many people who would have to think twice about getting on a five or six-hour flight that doesn’t have decent Internet. The bar has been set pretty low with existing services. Once someone experience much higher speed Internet on a plane, they’ll have a really hard time going back. It’s kind of like 3G vs 5G and DSL vs Fiber.
The Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) has partnered with GSMA to enhance global mobile connectivity by integrating satellite and terrestrial networks. This collaboration, announced at Mobile World Congress 2024, will focus on Direct-to-Device (D2D) and IoT services using 3GPP standards. The goal is to create a seamless and scalable mobile ecosystem that expands coverage and improves connectivity for both consumers and enterprises globally, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
My Take: Non-standard solutions may get you there first, but standards always win in the long run. Unless you’re Apple. Then you can do what you want.
Information on NGN-ARCH, 3GPP, standardized the NTN (Non-Terrestrial-Networks) feature in Release17.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper is developing Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite connectivity, aiming to offer mobile services where terrestrial networks fall short. This initiative, part of Kuiper’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, is designed to complement existing mobile networks by providing coverage in remote areas. Initial services are expected to support messaging, with future plans for more advanced, 5G-like capabilities after the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC). Kuiper’s D2D approach will target regions that traditional mobile coverage cannot reach.
My Take: The advantage of not being first is that you can take advantage of the trials others have started to clear and come to market with a better product. It’s just that pesky market share issue that needs to be dealt with in a market that is quickly being consumed by competitors.
Enabling AI
The telecommunications sector is leading the way in generative AI (GenAI) adoption, with 70% of telcos either fully implementing or testing the technology, according to a global SAS study. Telcos plan to invest heavily in AI, with key areas including customer engagement and predictive analytics. Despite these advancements, concerns around data privacy and security remain significant. The telecom industry’s swift integration of GenAI is outpacing other sectors, such as retail and banking.
My Take: According to the infographic below, this will all have a negative margin impact over time. We’ll see
Our latest research breakthroughs demonstrate how you can use simple text inputs to produce custom videos and sounds, edit existing videos or transform your personal image into a unique video. See the research paper.
My Take: “Create a video of Zuck and Elon in a boxing ring, sparring with each other, without either person throwing a punch. Background music - Theme music from the movie ‘Rocky’”"
We’re introducing canvas, a new interface for working with ChatGPT on writing and coding projects that go beyond simple chat. Canvas opens in a separate window, allowing you and ChatGPT to collaborate on a project. This early beta introduces a new way of working together—not just through conversation, but by creating and refining ideas side by side.
My Take: Better collaboration with ChatGPT. Saves having to regenerate the entire prompt when you can edit aspects with more granularity
🔗 Flow - Think it. Speak it. Send it.
Focus on what you want to say, not how to say it. Flow frees you from the keyboard and lets your thoughts flow naturally.
My Take: If you want a nearly flawless voice dictation tool that works with any application, you should try Flow.
Learn About - GPT4AII
GPT4All is an open-source software ecosystem that enables individuals and organizations to train and deploy large language models (LLMs) on everyday hardware. It democratizes access to large language models (LLMs) by enabling their ease of deployment to local systems.
Unlike many AI solutions that require powerful GPUs, GPT4All is optimized to run on standard CPUs found in typical laptops, desktops, and servers. This makes it accessible to a broader audience, allowing more people to harness the power of AI without needing specialized equipment.
Its cross-platform compatibility ensures that it can be deployed on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, providing flexibility for diverse use cases. By prioritizing local processing and privacy, GPT4All offers a robust alternative to cloud-based AI solutions.
The primary function of GPT4All is to allow users to train and deploy customized LLMs tailored to specific needs. This flexibility is crucial for various applications, from personalized chatbots to domain-specific content generation. By supporting a range of Transformer architectures, including Falcon, LLaMA, MPT, and GPT-J, GPT4All provides adaptability across different model types and sizes.
One of the standout features of GPT4All is its support for LocalDocs plugin, which enables users to create a personalized knowledge base from their documents. Users can fine-tune these models for specific tasks or domains, enhancing their effectiveness for particular applications.
The LocalDocs feature supports Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), allowing the AI to provide context-aware responses based on local data. This capability is particularly useful for professionals in fields like legal research, market analysis, educational content creation, and people who publish exceptional newsletters.
The ecosystem emphasizes privacy and security by allowing models to run locally without internet access. This ensures that sensitive data remains secure within an organization's infrastructure. With a strong community and open-source ethos, GPT4All represents a significant step forward in making advanced AI technologies more accessible and customizable for diverse applications.
It’s free. Give it a try!
This and That
A test that uses cells from the inside of your cheek may accurately predict the risk of death within the upcoming year, new research hints.
My Take: Seems COVID tests did the same thing?? 😇. I think they need to crowdsource a bunch of data before they can accurately predict anything. And what if you take the test, find out you’re chicken is cooked in within the next 12 months, go out and rack up all sorts of debt, and then 13 months later, you’re still here?
There is a "speed limit," on sustained wind speed, called maximum potential intensity, but it is not absolute: It is dictated by several factors, including the heat present in the ocean. Current calculations of the maximum potential intensity for storms typically peaks around 200 mph (322 km/hour).
But that may change in the coming decades as oceans warm and the climate changes
My Take: Doesn’t change the fact that people will still choose to live in areas predisposed to hurricanes and uninsurable flood damage. This article suggests that wind speed is just one, perhaps less significant variable including hurricane size, storm surge heights, or rainfall—which are all catastrophically large. Maybe we need a new rating system.
Where were you when the space shuttle Challenger exploded?
The answer to that question is just one example of how generations identify with a shared experience. Baby boomers may have watched from a break room at the office or heard about it on the radio. Many Generation X kids sat in a classroom and watched live on television as the first space-bound teacher, 36-year-old Christa McAuliffe, perished with six fellow astronauts.
My Take: January 28, 1986. I was sitting in some vector calculus class, wondering whether it would be better to poke my eyes out with a fork or an ice pick. Good thing no one had cell phones, or the Internet or anything. Had to rely on good old television and radio broadcast news.
Infographic Of The Week
My Take: Odd that telecommunications would have a negative offset, especially over 5 years. That means lower productivity. Lower margins. Telecom isn’t alone, apparently. Food and beverages, life sciences, financial services, and insurance are all industries with negative margin impact.
Here’s a link to the Bank of America study. It doesn’t really identify anything specific, although I didn’t study the survey methodology in detail. Studies always have a margin of error, and the output is only as good as the inputs..
Podcast Recommendation
Will being too cautious stifle your dreams? Never Play It Safe author Chase Jarvis reveals how embracing risk can reward you with a more fulfilling life!
What We Discuss with Chase Jarvis:
Creativity is not limited to traditional artistic pursuits; it's a fundamental human trait that can be applied to all aspects of life, including career choices and personal development.
Our brains are designed to keep us safe, which can discourage risk-taking. However, rewards often lie on the other side of uncertainty and discomfort.
Time management is less important than understanding and changing our relationship with time. Viewing life as long rather than short can lead to more thoughtful and fulfilling decisions.
Intuition is a powerful tool that combines rational thought with cellular memory. Developing and trusting your intuition can lead to better decision-making in various aspects of life.
Embracing creativity and personal growth is always possible, regardless of your past or current situation. By making a conscious decision to tap into your creative potential and applying even a small amount of effort, you can create significant positive changes in your life. Start by acknowledging your creative abilities and taking small steps towards expressing them in your daily activities.
And much more...
Listen Here!
Movie/Streaming Recommendation
Monsters - NetFlix
IMDb: 8.6/10
JMDb: 8/10 (It’s a little disturbing at times…)
"Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" is the latest instalment in Ryan Murphy's "Monster" anthology series on Netflix. This season delves into the infamous 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menendez by their sons, Lyle and Erik. The series explores the complex dynamics within the Menendez family, presenting multiple perspectives on the events leading to the crime.
The show attempts to balance the narrative between portraying the brothers as victims of alleged abuse and as perpetrators of a brutal crime. Javier Bardem delivers a haunting performance as José Menendez, while Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch bring depth to the roles of Lyle and Erik, respectively.
Critics have noted that while the series offers compelling performances, it struggles with tone, often veering into sensationalism. The depiction of abuse and its psychological impact is both powerful and controversial, sparking debates about its accuracy and sensitivity.
On October 7th, it was announced that the next season will focus on Ed Gein, exploring his life as a "celebrity serial killer." Despite its flaws, "Monsters" remains a gripping watch for true crime enthusiasts intrigued by the complexities of real-life cases.
Until Next Time
Comments here are my own and do not represent the opinions, views or thoughts of any person, company or organization that I may be associated with.
Feedback, comments and ideas are welcomed. Message me on LinkedIn or contact me at [email protected]
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