NTIA Approves Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Virginia for BEAD program

 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has given the green light to Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Virginia’s Initial Proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This approval marks a significant milestone in the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative, enabling these states to access funding and begin their efforts to bridge the digital divide. The BEAD program, a $42.45 billion state grant initiative under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to provide all Americans with affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet. Massachusetts has been allocated over $147 million, New Mexico over $675 million, and Virginia over $1.4 billion to enhance their Internet infrastructure.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo praised the states for their commitment to ensuring high-speed Internet access for all residents, highlighting the critical role this connectivity plays in education, job training, and economic development. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson echoed these sentiments, commending the states for their robust proposals. The funds will not only be used for deployment but also for Internet adoption, training, and workforce development once the primary goals are met. States are required to submit a Final Proposal one year after the Initial Proposal approval, detailing their subgrantee selection process and plans for universal coverage.

• Massachusetts allocated over $147 million
• New Mexico allocated over $675 million
• Virginia allocated over $1.4 billion
• BEAD program is part of the $42.45 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
• Funds to be used for high-speed Internet deployment, adoption, training, and workforce development
• States must submit Final Proposal detailing subgrantee selection and universal coverage plans one year after Initial Proposal approval

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Lambda launches NVIDIA HGX H100 + InfiniBand Clusters

Lambda, which operates a GPU cloud powered by NVIDIA GPUs, has launched a new service, Lambda 1-Click Clusters. This service provides AI engineers and researchers with short-term access to multi-node GPU clusters in the cloud for large-scale AI model training. It marks the first time such access to NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs on 2 to 64 nodes has been made available on demand through a self-serve cloud service, without the need for expensive long-term contracts. “It has been our best experience in training runs, and as a team they have been super responsive and supportive across the board,” said Mahmoud Felfel, co-founder of PlayHT.

Lambda 1-Click Clusters are designed to meet the specific needs of today’s AI teams, who may not require continuous access to top-end GPUs. These teams can now quickly spin up a short-term cluster with hundreds of GPUs for a few weeks to run experiments, pause without wasting idle GPU time, and prepare for the next iteration. This flexibility ensures that AI innovation is not hampered by financial or contractual limitations. Robert Brooks, founding team member and VP of Revenue at Lambda, highlighted the significance of this launch: “Lambda has solved a complex compute challenge only a few very large companies have: partitioning a large, high-performant AI deployment to make smaller GPU clusters.”

•   Service Name: Lambda 1-Click Clusters

•   Target Users: AI engineers and researchers

•   Hardware: NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs, NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking

•   Cluster Size: 2 to 64 nodes, 16 to 512 GPUs

•   Minimum Reservation: Two weeks

•   Self-Serve Model: On-demand access without long-term contracts

•   Recent Developments: $500 million GPU-backed facility, $320 million Series C funding round

•   User Feedback: Praised for ease of setup, stable infrastructure, and responsive support

Lambda secures $500M for its GPU cloud

Thursday, April 04, 2024    

Lambda, which offers a cloud GPU service powered by NVIDIA, secured a special purpose financing vehicle of up to $500 million to fund the expansion of its on-demand cloud offering.The special asset-based loan is secured by the GPUs and supported by their cash flow generation. The financing was led by Macquarie Group  with participation from Industrial Development Funding, and follows Lambda’s $320 million Series C funding round in February...

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BT Expands FTTP Footprint to 15 Million Premises Amid Strong Q2

 BT Group has released its Q2 2024 financial results, showcasing significant progress in its strategic priorities and continued transformation efforts. The company achieved a record full-fibre (FTTP) build, passing over 1 million premises in the quarter at an average build rate of 78,000 per week. This expansion brings BT's FTTP footprint to 15 million, including 4.2 million rural premises, with an additional 6 million where initial build is underway. BT’s FTTP customer base surpassed 5 million during the quarter, driven by strong demand with orders up 29% year-on-year and a take-up rate of 34%. Openreach, BT’s infrastructure division, saw broadband ARPU grow by 6% year-on-year due to price rises and increased FTTP volumes, despite broadband line losses of 196,000.

Consumer broadband ARPU increased by 1% year-on-year to £42.4, while Consumer postpaid mobile ARPU rose 0.5% to £19.8. The consumer base showed resilience in a competitive market, with the broadband base down 28,000 (a 0.3% decline) and the postpaid mobile base down 15,000 (a 0.1% decline). The retail FTTP base grew by 36% year-on-year to 2.7 million, with 2.6 million in the consumer segment and 0.1 million in business. 

Additionally, BT’s 5G base reached 11.3 million, up 22% year-on-year. 

The company's Business segment faced challenges from legacy managed contract declines and reduced low-margin sales, but cost transformation efforts provided some offset. BT Group's Net Promoter Score (NPS) improved to 25.1, up 0.3 points year-on-year, reflecting enhanced customer experience.

Key Metrics:

• FTTP Build: Over 1 million premises passed in the quarter, average build rate of 78,000 per week
• FTTP Footprint: 15 million premises, including 4.2 million rural premises
• FTTP Customer Base: Surpassed 5 million, with orders up 29% year-on-year and a take-up rate of 34%
• Openreach Broadband ARPU: Grew by 6% year-on-year
• Openreach Broadband Line Losses: 196,000, with higher competitor losses and weaker broadband market
• Consumer Broadband ARPU: Up 1% year-on-year to £42.4
• Consumer Postpaid Mobile ARPU: Increased 0.5% year-on-year to £19.8
• Consumer Broadband Base: Down 28,000 quarter-on-quarter (0.3% decline)
• Consumer Postpaid Mobile Base: Down 15,000 quarter-on-quarter (0.1% decline)
• Retail FTTP Base: Grew 36% year-on-year to 2.7 million (Consumer: 2.6 million, Business: 0.1 million)
• 5G Base: 11.3 million, up 22% year-on-year
• BT Group NPS: 25.1, up 0.3 points year-on-year
• Adjusted Revenue: £5.1 billion, down 2% from Q1 FY24
• Adjusted EBITDA: £2.1 billion, up 1%
• Reported Revenue: £5.0 billion, down 2%
• Reported Profit Before Tax: £520 million, down 3%
• Sustainability Recognition: Named one of the "World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2024" by TIME Magazine and Statista

BT accelerates FTTP build

Thursday, May 16, 2024    

BT reported full year revenues of £20.8bn, up 1%; adjusted revenue £20.8bn, up 2% on a pro forma basis due to price increases and fibre-enabled product sales in Openreach, increased service revenue in Consumer with annual contractual price rises being aided by higher roaming and increased FTTP connections, partly offset by legacy product declines and a one-off revenue adjustment in Business. Reported profit before tax amounted to £1.2bn, down 31%...

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Verizon Accelerates C-Band Expansion, Now ~60% of Planned Sites

During Verizon’s Q2 earnings conference call, key technology trends were highlighted, particularly focusing on the C-band spectrum and fiber deployments. Verizon’s CEO Hans Vestberg and CFO Tony Skiadas provided insights into the company’s strategic initiatives and advancements in these areas, which are crucial for the company’s growth and technological leadership.

C-Band Expansion

Verizon emphasized the ongoing expansion of its C-band spectrum, which is now deployed on nearly 60% of its planned sites. This rollout is critical for enhancing network performance and supporting the increasing demand for mobile and fixed wireless access. The C-band spectrum has already shown significant improvements in churn rates and gross additions, particularly in suburban and rural areas. This expansion is expected to continue, with a focus on increasing network capacity and improving customer experience.

Fiber Deployments

Verizon continues to invest heavily in its fiber infrastructure, particularly with its Fios product, which is recognized as the leading fiber solution in the market. The company’s strategy involves leveraging its extensive fiber network to support its mobile-edge compute capabilities, enabling real-time AI applications that require ultra-low latency and high bandwidth. This investment in fiber not only supports current broadband needs but also positions Verizon as a key player in the emerging AI economy.

Key Points:

•   C-Band Deployment: Nearly 60% of planned sites deployed, improving network performance and customer experience.

•   Fiber Infrastructure: Continued investment in Fios and fiber network to support mobile-edge computing and AI applications.

•   Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Strong growth with 378,000 net additions in Q2, contributing to a run rate of over $2 billion in revenue.

•   Broadband Growth: 391,000 total broadband net additions in Q2, driven by fixed wireless access and Fios.

•   AI Integration: Verizon’s network is positioned to support AI applications with its mobile-edge compute capabilities and extensive fiber footprint.

•   Private Networks: Increasing adoption of private networks, setting the stage for future growth in AI and enterprise solutions.

•   Operational Efficiency: Leveraging AI for operational improvements, including customer care and network management.

•   Financial Performance: Strong free cash flow generation, enabling continued investment in technology and debt reduction.

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Digital Realty posts mixed Q2 amid steady data center demand

Digital Realty reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2024, showcasing a steady demand for data center capacity but reflecting some mixed financial metrics. The company posted revenues of $1.4 billion, a 2% increase from the previous quarter but a 1% decrease compared to the same period last year. Despite these revenue trends, Digital Realty managed to maintain a solid position within the competitive data center market, driven by continued investments in infrastructure and strategic partnerships.

Net income for Q2 2024 was reported at $75 million, with net income available to common stockholders at $70 million, or $0.20 per diluted share. This marks a significant decline from the $0.82 per diluted share in the previous quarter and $0.34 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. This drop in earnings per share highlights the challenges Digital Realty faces in managing its cost structure and optimizing its profitability amid fluctuating market conditions.

On a more positive note, Digital Realty reported an Adjusted EBITDA of $727 million for the second quarter, reflecting a 2% increase from the previous quarter and a 4% year-over-year increase. This growth in EBITDA underscores the company's ability to effectively manage its operations and generate consistent cash flow, even as it navigates a complex and evolving market landscape. The company also reported Funds From Operations (FFO) of $511 million, or $1.57 per share, an improvement from $1.41 per share in the prior quarter and $1.52 per share in the same period last year.

Looking forward, Digital Realty remains cautiously optimistic. The company continues to see robust demand for data center space, evidenced by its leasing activity and strategic investments. However, the competitive environment and economic uncertainties necessitate a focused approach to maintaining financial health and operational efficiency. Digital Realty's leadership has reaffirmed its commitment to capitalizing on growth opportunities while managing risks effectively.

Key Metrics and Accomplishments in Q2 2024:

• Revenue: $1.4 billion (2% increase from previous quarter, 1% decrease year-over-year)
• Net Income: $75 million
• Net Income Available to Common Stockholders: $70 million, or $0.20 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA: $727 million (2% increase from previous quarter, 4% increase year-over-year)
• Funds From Operations (FFO): $511 million, or $1.57 per share
• Core FFO per Share: $1.65
• Constant-Currency Core FFO per Share: $1.66 for Q2, $3.33 for the first half of 2024
• Annualized GAAP Rental Revenue from New Leases: $164 million
• Annualized GAAP Rental Revenue from Renewals: $215 million
• Debt Outstanding: $16.3 billion

Outlook:

• Revenue Guidance for 2024: $5.55 - $5.65 billion
• Adjusted EBITDA Guidance for 2024: $2.80 - $2.90 billion
• Core FFO per Share Guidance for 2024: $6.60 - $6.75
• Constant-Currency Core FFO per Share Guidance for 2024: $6.60 - $6.75
• Leasing Activity: Expected strong demand for data center space to continue
• Capital Expenditure: Focus on strategic investments and infrastructure expansion

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Sparkle Partners with Unitirreno for New Subsea Cable Landing in Genoa

 Sparkle has partnered with Unitirreno, a collaboration between Unidata and industry experts, to land its new subsea cable system at Sparkle’s Genoa Landing Platform. The Unitirreno Submarine Cable System will traverse the Tyrrhenian Sea from Genoa to Mazara del Vallo in Sicily, with future branches to Olbia, Rome, and other locations. This open cable system architecture boasts a capacity of 480 Tbps and spans approximately 1,030 km, with service expected by Q2 2025. Utilizing Sparkle's Genoa Landing Platform, Unitirreno will connect to the Genoa Digital Hub, facilitating interconnection with European terrestrial networks and Internet Exchange Points while minimizing environmental impact and administrative overhead.

• Partnership: Sparkle and Unitirreno
• Cable System: Unitirreno Submarine Cable System
• Route: Genoa to Mazara del Vallo, with branches to Olbia and Rome
• Capacity: 480 Tbps
• Length: Approximately 1,030 km
• Completion: Expected by Q2 2025
• Infrastructure: Genoa Landing Platform and Genoa Digital Hub
• Environmental Impact: Minimal, with reduced setup costs and complexities
• Strategic Advantage: Alternative to Marseille, connecting Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and European hubs

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