Anthony Behan

The launch of Ireland’s SMS Registry, Phase 2, has been paused by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The regulator was supposed to launch the blocking phase on the 3rd of October, allowing for only registered traffic to reach the users. This is due to delays in getting the full value chain ready for this plan. There is no new date for the launch yet. This is an important reminder of just how complex these initiatives are to bring into reality. Ireland is not alone in facing delays. The Australian SMS registry also experienced setbacks, and Singapore’s second regulator-backed registry came with its own challenges. These examples highlight both the ambition of such projects and the operational hurdles in balancing technology, regulation, and industry coordination. That said, the value these registries bring is enormous. They are critical tools for protecting the SMS channel, safeguarding consumers, and supporting trust in mobile communications. However, to truly deliver on that promise, they need to be built carefully, collaboratively, and with a long-term view of stability and scalability. If you would like to know more about this, read Stefano Nicoletti's piece on it: https://lnkd.in/eMDDk3bS

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We’ve just announced a major new chapter in Ericsson’s innovation journey in Ireland: a €200 million investment in our Athlone site to drive the next generation of open, programmable networks - all with the support of the Irish Government through @IDA Ireland. Over the next three years, our engineers and researchers here will lead groundbreaking work in open, programmable network technologies, developing new automation capabilities to power the future of 5G and beyond. From enhancing the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform to rApps that help mobile operators around the world manage their networks more efficiently, the work happening in Athlone will continue to shape how we all stay connected. This investment isn’t just about R&D or technology, it's about people, place, and potential. It’s about continuing a legacy built over five decades, and backing the incredible Irish talent that’s driving innovation on a global scale, empowering it to make an even greater mark on the world. Thank you to Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Peter Burke, @IDA Ireland’s Michael Lohan, and our exceptional Athlone team. Together, we’re turning vision into reality, and showing that global impact can be driven from the heart of Ireland. Börje Ekholm Jenny Lindqvist Per Narvinger, Charlotte Levert, Katherine Ainley, Denis Dullea, Robert Condon, John Griffin, Sinéad Pillion, Brian Keegan, Ph.D., Donal Travers, Anne-marie Tierney-Le Roux, Maebh Ryan, Alison Nulty #ImaginePossible #Athlone #Ireland #5G #Innovation

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From Strategy to Delivery: Building on Ireland’s Digital Foundations The publication of Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future marks an important step in Ireland’s digital journey. The ambition is clear: AI-enabled public services, secure digital infrastructure, trusted data mobility and national resilience. It is the right direction — and importantly, it builds on significant progress already made across Government over the past number of years. Investments in the National Low Latency Network, the continued evolution of secure Government connectivity, early private 5G adoption and the growing role of satellite capability in strengthening national resilience have laid strong foundations. Many public-sector technology leaders have been steadily modernising the State’s digital backbone long before this strategy was formally published. Section 4 rightly elevates digital infrastructure to a position of strategic national importance. The next phase is about scaling that foundation in line with Ireland’s AI and digital ambition. In conversations across the public sector, one consistent theme comes through: digital and AI ambition must be matched by infrastructure that is secure, resilient and designed for integration from the outset. That leads to some practical questions for all of us: • Are our networks ready for AI-enabled services at scale? • Can data move securely across organisations while maintaining public trust? • Are we architected for mobility, integration and real-time decision making? • Do we have the right long-term partnerships to deliver at national scale? Significant progress has already been made. The focus now shifts to ensuring infrastructure is AI-ready by design — capable of supporting secure data movement, real-time analytics and mission-critical services across the public sector. The Government strategy has set strong foundation stones. The responsibility now sits with industry to demonstrate clear value and to support delivery models that are sustainable, collaborative and aligned with national ambition. Ireland has a solid base to build from. The opportunity now is disciplined, coordinated execution. If we get that right, Ireland will not only deliver on its digital and AI ambitions but will do so on a secure and resilient foundation capable of supporting citizens, public services and the wider economy for the decade ahead. https://lnkd.in/dvFZhguA

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How are managed 5G services transforming business connectivity in Ireland? 🌐 Three Ireland and Ericsson have introduced 3Business Broadband Pro, a managed 5G solution designed to enhance enterprise network performance, reliability, and security. Key benefits include: 🔹 Scalable usage 🔹 High-speed data transfer 🔹 Optional battery backup 🔹 Robust encryption All that supported by Three’s dedicated customer care in Limerick. This collaboration aims to empower businesses with agile, secure connectivity solutions that support digital transformation and growth. What are your thoughts on how such managed 5G services might influence business operations and innovation? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🗨️👇 #Managed5G #Connectivity #5G #Tech #NetworkSecurity #Innovation #TechSolutions

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Ireland and Europe stand at a digital crossroads. The networks we build today will shape our competitiveness, resilience, and progress for decades to come. Digital infrastructure and services are vital to tackling Europe’s biggest challenges - from economic inclusion to green transition - and are increasingly critical for national security and resilience. 5G Standalone (5G SA) is a foundational technology for next-generation services. Europe must accelerate its deployment to stay globally competitive. This matters for Ireland too. Our ability to deliver future innovations in connected healthcare, smart manufacturing, and improved public services, depends on it. In our new paper, The Connectivity Dividend, Vodafone outlines why 5G SA matters, the opportunity it presents, and the policy actions needed to unlock its full potential - including through the upcoming Digital Networks Act. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dVHFfHWU

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In European policy debates about #telecoms and #cloud / content, the phrase "Level Playing Field" is a completely flawed analogy. Yet I keep hearing the same cliché from some policymakers, telco executives and industry associations. They try to pretend that there are so many overlaps between telecom operators and cloud, content and tech sectors, that the same rules should apply. It's like trying to demand that a triathlon should have the same rules for cycling, running and swimming. They all go together, but wearing a cycling helmet in the pool to "level the playing field" would be absurd. Looking at the current efforts in European policy, it's obvious that there are far more overlaps between cloud and AI domains, and even data and semiconductors, than there are with telecoms. If Europe is serious about creating a secure, sovereign cloud sector, it needs to stop entertaining fantasies of "convergence" with telecoms, and instead focus on what matters, what's urgent, and what's accurate. And that's not a metaphorical playing field, level or otherwise. 🎥 I recently met with with CCIA Europe to discuss the upcoming EU DNA #DigitalNetworksAct and recorded a series of videos on some of the issues around it. This is the second of these. [Disclosure: the video project was a commercial engagement, based on my own opinions - which I have long discussed here on LinkedIn, on Twitter/X and in person at numerous conferences, client workshops and other events] #DigitalDecade #NetNeutrality #OpenInternet #InternetGovernance #Telecoms #Cloud #DigitalSovereignty

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The UK is now reporting 5G SA statistics with a level of granularity that is unique internationally. Ofcom's latest annual report details 5G SA site numbers, coverage footprints, traffic share and device support. The closest international comparator is Germany, where BNetzA reports on 5G SA deployment transparently via landmass coverage projections and interactive maps. Ofcom’s latest data confirms the acceleration in 5G SA deployment in the UK over the past year (>3x increase in SA sites), with operators moving from limited urban pockets toward a broad national overlay. This now places the UK alongside European leaders such as Spain (which has used fiscal subsidies from Brussels to stimulate SA rollout) observed in Speedtest Intelligence data. Ofcom reports that 5G SA from at least one MNO now covers 83% of areas outside premises in the UK at its “High Confidence” threshold, based on operator predictions indicating an ~80% probability of signal strength ≥ –110 dBm. Based on Ofcom’s overall 5G (NSA+SA) coverage at this confidence level, with 5G reaching 97% of areas outside premises, a crude extrapolation implies that SA now spans just over 80% of the total 5G coverage footprint. Notwithstanding this high level of coverage, Ofcom also reports that SA accounts for only 31% of 5G traffic (with the caveat there may be some under-reporting from one MNO). Taken together, a back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that, per unit of covered area, SA is currently carrying roughly one third of the 5G traffic that would otherwise be expected if usage matched its coverage footprint (assuming usage intensity is similar across SA and NSA). This highlights the substantial under-utilisation still evident in many European SA deployments and aligns with our own observation that the share of 5G-based Speedtests originating on SA remains far below what headline SA coverage would suggest. Ofcom reports that 66% of all handsets in the UK are 5G capable, and that 63% of these 5G devices are also SA capable, implying that roughly 42% of all handsets could in theory use SA. If those SA-capable devices were spending most of their time on SA, one would expect the SA traffic share to sit much closer to the 63% device share rather than the 31% traffic share. This suggests that factors beyond raw handset capability are acting as a brake on SA utilisation. Tariff and configuration constraints, such as SA access being limited to select premium plans on some MNOs or carrier files not being correctly applied, are likely contributors. Our own geospatial data in the attached highlights how factors beyond headline coverage shape real-world network usage. The map shows where #5G (NSA & SA) is the most commonly used mobile technology by tile, considering the entire device pool in circulation (both 5G & non-5G capable). This reveals that the actual level of 5G usage in the UK remains relatively low when compared with other Western European countries (including even Ireland).

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The digital infrastructure we build today will define our competitiveness, resilience, and unity for generations. Connectivity is no longer optional — it’s essential. From economic growth to national security, digital networks are the backbone of Europe, and indeed Ireland’s future. 5G Standalone (5G SA) is a foundational technology for next-generation services—and Europe must accelerate its deployment to stay globally competitive. Europe must prioritise innovation, treat connectivity as critical infrastructure, and modernise its regulatory framework. In our new paper, The Connectivity Dividend, Vodafone outlines why 5G SA matters, the opportunity it presents, and the policy actions needed to unlock its full potential—including through the upcoming Digital Networks Act. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eWnpz5aw

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Tis the season of prognostication and what better way to start than Omdia's 2026 Trends to Watch: Telco Software? In it we explore the 3 key themes driving the BSS/OSS industry at the moment: 1️⃣ Consolidation - NEC Corporation/Netcracker Technology➡️CSG; Qvantel➡️Optiva Inc.; Hansen Technologies➡️Digitalk; etc. 2️⃣ Telcos using GenAI tools to build more of their own BSS/OSS in-house. Have you tried Google Antigravity? 3️⃣ Agentic AI becoming a key component in BSS/OSS architecture (with the requisite data governance and guardrails). Lucky subscribers to Omdia's Telco Software & AI service can access the report via the link in the first comment.

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The UK has joined the EU-backed 6G-Leader consortium via Digital Catapult, signaling renewed research collaboration. The project, supported by the SNS JU, includes Nokia, Samsung, and Telefónica, aiming to develop AI-driven and sustainable 6G solutions. Emphasis is placed on telecom decarbonization and Open RAN, reflecting EU and UK strategic priorities. Despite the bold vision, few technical details on 6G advancements were disclosed. The move highlights intent but lacks concrete innovation outcomes so far. https://lnkd.in/dE9Udeba

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💡 Weekend Reflection: From Cloud to AI - Inside the New Architecture of Communications Last week’s BT Group #Exchange Roadshow kickoff in Dublin was a great reminder of how fast our industry is changing — and how collaboration across the ecosystem is now the only way forward. Hearing from Joris van Oers, José Gastey, Colm Sunderland and others about BT International’s next chapter — built around #GlobalFabric, AI-ready networks, and partnerships with companies like Infobip, Fortinet and Five9 — really captured this shift. It inspired me to update one of my deeper reflections on The Next Cloud: how communications is being re-architected — from cloud to AI, from central to sovereign, from connectivity to intelligence. 3 Takeaways: 1️⃣ AI-ready networks are about flexibility, sovereignty, and compliance — not just speed. 2️⃣ Inference moves local: regional telcos and data centers have a key role to play. 3️⃣ The ecosystem is everything — no single company can do this alone. If you’re interested in where telco, CPaaS, and AI truly converge, check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eGHB_hgP CPaaS Acceleration Alliance #AI #IntelligentEngagement #CPaaS #SovereignAI #EdgeAI #Compliance #Innovation

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