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SoftBank

SoftBank acquires Graphcore

Graphcore, the UK artificial intelligence (AI) chip firm, has been acquired by SoftBank Group. Under the deal, Graphcore becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate and will continue to operate under the Graphcore name. “This is a tremendous endorsement of our team and their ability to build truly transformative AI technologies at scale, […]

July 12, 2024

SoftBank wraps 5G test of HAPS over Rwanda

A High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) – a very high-flying solar-powered unmanned aircraft – has wrapped a demo stratosphere flight delivering 5G connectivity over Rwanda. The exercise was backed by Japanese media conglomerate SoftBank. The aircraft delivered two-way 5G connections for 73 minutes from a height of almost 17 kms. The test included a ZOoom video […]

October 23, 2023By Chris Forrester

Japan: SoftBank, OneWeb distribution deal

SoftBank and OneWeb have signed a Distribution Partnership Agreement to deliver satellite communication services across Japan. SoftBank and OneWeb will promote the delivery and upgrade of satellite communication services. OneWeb’s LEO satellite-based services will provide fast communication services with low latency, as LEO satellites are located close to the earth. By integrating with SoftBank’s closed […]

September 12, 2023

SoftBank happy with HAPS

HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station), sometimes in the shape of a giant balloon or – as in this case – a high-flying unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has caught the eye of Japan’s SoftBank. The objective is to use a HAPS vehicle or balloon to serve broadband to a very wide region below. On October 1st […]

August 14, 2023By Chris Forrester

Alibaba reveals breakup plan

Chinese tech conglomerate Alibaba Group is to split into six separate units. Each of the new divisions will have its own executive team, CEO and board of directors. The Holding company reported revenues of $134 billion (€123.4bn) in 2022. SoftBank Group is a 23.9 per cent shareholder. The entertainment division will contain its film studio, […]

March 29, 2023By Chris Forrester

WebTVAsia signs APAC deal with Jellysmack

Jellysmack has announced a strategic partnership with Asia’s top creator economy company, WebTVAsia, earmarking over $30 million to accelerate the growth of top video creators in the Asia Pacific region. WebTVAsia is one of YouTube’s largest partners in Asia with a roster of top creators that reach 880 million subscribers. The partnership marks Jellysmack’s most […]

October 25, 2022

SoftBank-DSL has biggest rise on Netflix ISP Speed Index

Japanese ISP SoftBank-DSL improved its speed more than any other ISP for the month of September on the Netflix ISP Speed Index, a monthly update on which ISPs provide the best prime time Netflix streaming experience. SoftBank-DSL in Japan saw an increase of 0.4 Mbps (megabits per second) to 3.2 Mbps, an improvement over its […]

October 11, 2022

SoftBank cancels Nvidia, Arm agreement

The planned purchase by Nvidia of software giant Arm Holdings from Japan’s SoftBank has been scrubbed. The financial community had for some time been doubtful that the deal would go ahead given that any combined semiconductor company was certain to face regulatory scrutiny. The cancellation also brings into question as to what SoftBank’s next move […]

February 8, 2022By Chris Forrester

OneWeb readies for Australia launch

OneWeb has linked with two Australian telecommunications organisations to offer its satellite broadband service. The deals will see Vocus and Field Solutions Group (FSG), resell OneWeb’s wholesale and retail Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity services to consumers, governments and enterprises in Australia. Vocus was announced as OneWeb’s first distribution partner in Australia in December […]

January 24, 2022By Chris Forrester

Ericsson launches Time-Critical Communication for 5G

Ericsson is enhancing its 5G capabilities with the launch of an end-to-end solution that it says will guarantee the consistent low latency and high reliability demanded by time-critical applications and services for consumers, enterprises, and public sector. Ericsson is enabling Time-Critical Communication through its new Critical IoT product – easily deployable as a software upgrade […]

October 25, 2021