The business unit will also sell RingCentral’s contact centre service, starting in the UK
Vodafone Business and its partner RingCentral are offering the operator’s cloud-based, unified communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS) platform. It combines voice calling, video conferencing and instant messaging. The services will be offered initially in 20 countries globally with plans to extend to more than 30 in early 2025.
In addition, Vodafone Business is adding Contact Centre-as-a-Service (CCaaS) to its unified communications (UC) portfolio, based on RingCentral’s RingCX contact centre solution.
The advantage to multinational businesses is they can more easily connect new locations and employees using these services, and adopt hybrid working models worldwide according to Vodafone Business, which will be their a single point of contact.
Vodafone Business also says the new offers “provides customers with one of the largest global UCaaS footprints, and Vodafone Business will also work with them to cover additional countries if specified”.
Unified comms
The Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral can replace traditional switchboards, cables, and IT systems with a secure and scaled cloud-based platform, according to the press release.
Customers can combine and customise messaging, video meetings, file sharing and virtual phone systems via a single user interface accessible on any internet-enabled device, mobile or fixed. The package comprises PSTN (voice) calling, numbering, UC devices, meetings and collaboration tools. It allows employees, regardless of location and device, can be set up quickly and given access to the same set of services, regardless of whether they work in an office, at home or in the field.
Marika Auramo, Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone Business, said: “Our expanding portfolio of unified communications services is ideal for customers looking to expand geographically whilst maintaining agile and sustainable hybrid working models.
“By switching to the cloud from rigid fixed systems, customers can add services when required, paying only for what they need. We estimate this will save many of them up to 30% in operating costs by reducing administrative costs and IT operational expenses whilst boosting productivity and collaboration.”
Contact centre too
The CCaaS, Vodafone Business Contact Centre with RingCentral, is designed to make it simpler for companies to establish and operate contact centres by equipping agents with AI. This includes call summaries, transcripts, automated scorecards, conversational insights and coaching.
Vodafone Business Contact Centre with RingCentral offers data insights plus voice and more than 20 digital channels including web, messaging and social media channels. Roll out will start in the UK, followed by Germany later this year, then progressively to other markets.
“With Vodafone Business Contact Centre with RingCentral, we’re empowering businesses with an all-inclusive contact centre solution that is simple to deploy, easy to use and manage, and comes with robust AI capabilities,” said Homayoun Razavi, EVP, Chief Business Development Officer, RingCentral. “Our comprehensive feature set ensures businesses can meet their customers wherever they are in their journey, while also driving operational efficiency to best position their business for success in today’s digital-first world.”
Maybe. A new GSMA report identifies mobile-enabled edge as a key solution to overcoming critical infrastructure challenges
Africa represents 2.5% of today’s global AI market, but emerging applications could boost the continent’s economic growth by $2.9 trillion by 2030 according to AI4D Africa.
A new GSMA report AI for Africa: Use cases delivering impact, developed from existing research and interviews with leaders across civil society, non-government organisations, academia and the private sector, identifies over 90 AI use case applications in frontrunning technology markets (Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa) that can drive socio-economic and climate impact.
Naturally, turning potential into actual AI involves overcoming barriers from the limited availability of data centres to big tech investments. The report reckons that by addressing the digital skills gaps and scarcity of smartphones, mobile-based AI solutions could offer a practical way to circumvent limitations and tap into AI’s potential across the continent.
Today, most African AI use cases are related to agriculture (49%), climate action (26%) and energy (24%).
Agriculturedominates
Agriculture employs 52% of the African working population and contributes 17% on average to GDP. In Sub-Saharan Africa, up to 80% of food is produced by smallholder farmers who often use traditional techniques and lack access to information that would help improve yields.
The GSMA finds that most AI use cases are digital advisory services enabled by machine learning, typically accessed by farmers via mobile devices.
Affordable, reliable energy services
The region faces serious challenges in access to electricity and a reliable supply: half Africa’s population has no access to electricity. AI-enabled solutions in Africa are improving on-grid infrastructure and off-grid systems through applications like predictive maintenance, smart energy management, assessing access to energy and ‘productive use’ financing to monitor and extend services where energy is scarce.
Improving access to energy and greater efficiency in this sector is vital, in the GSMA’s estimation, because it creates a virtuous cycle: greater access to and use of connectivity and data are the fuel needed for AI.
Supporting climate action
Despite contributing less than 3% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, Africans disproportionately suffer from climate change; without intervention, climate-related emergencies could reduce African GDP by 8% by 2050.
The GSMA finds that the increasing availability of remote sensing technologies and satellite imagery has supported the development of uses cases for natural resources management, where AI is being used for biodiversity monitoring and wildlife protection.
Early warning systems that offer predictive analytics and real-time assessment of disasters, including climate emergencies, are also improving through ML models, providing better forecasting in areas where data is scarce.
Most (98%) of AI use cases in Africa are predictive AI applications, reliant on ML, as historical datasets are available, simpler applications and lower computation requirements compared with Generative AI (GenAI) models. The GSMA says more nascent use cases and GenAI are key to driving long-term socio-economic benefits.
Unlocking AI capabilities
Effective training of AI models needs extensive, diverse and representative data that reflect the complexities and nuances of African markets rather than mimic data from the Global North. For instance, there is a dearth of local-language data cross Africa, hindering AI’s development and scale.
AI development also requires robust infrastructure and computing power. As AI applications expand, the energy demands of data centres and the cost of hardware and software will rise. The continent already faces a shortage of data centres and, in countries such as South Africa and Kenya, the cost of a graphics processing unit (GPU) is prohibitively high, representing 22% and 75% of GDP per capita, respectively. This make running AI applications much more expensive than in rich countries.
As local compute ecosystems grow, countries can leverage mobile-first markets to develop distributed or hyperlocal edge computing, running tasks on devices including phones and laptops to reduce reliance on high-powered data centres. After foundational models are trained on large datasets, they can be transferred to smartphones for fine tuning.
Current smartphone penetration is at 51% and expected to reach 88% by 2030, boosting mobile-based edge computing which will be central to expanding the proliferation and capabilities of AI in Africa.
Better skills all round
Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, Head of Mobile for Development at the GSMA, said, “To harness the transformative potential of AI across Africa, there needs to be a strong focus on increasing skills for both AI builders and users, especially among underserved populations. Better training programmes are essential, particularly in the face of a global brain drain on AI talent.
“To ensure Africa doesn’t get left behind, strong partnerships are required across a broad ecosystem of partners including ‘big tech’, NGOs, governments, and mobile operators. Policies must also evolve to address inequality, ethics, and human rights concerns in AI deployment.
“As African countries shape their own unique AI strategies, active engagement in global forums will be pivotal in defining regulatory frameworks that promote ethical AI development and safeguard societal interests, moving toward sustainable solutions that benefit all African communities.”
The board says the offer is too low – the company’s share price has risen by more than a third in the last year
The board of operator group Millicom, which operates in Latin America, has formally reiterated its view that the $4.1 billion takeover bid by Atlas Investissement is too low and rejected it. Atlas already holds a 29% stake in Millicom, the financial vehicle which belongs to the founder and owner of France’s Iliad operator group, Xavier Niel.
The board rejected the offer on the grounds that the bid undervalues the group (at $24 a share) and published a detailed explanation of its conclusion. It is advising shareholders to decline the offer.
It seems likely that Niel will make an improved offer, but he’s chasing a rising star. On Monday, as the news of the rejection broke, Milicom’s share price went up another 1.6% on the Nasdaq.
In the last year, the group’s share price has risen by more than a third, from $16.72 per share to $25.81 at the time of writing.
If the deal goes through, it will be biggest ever acquisition by Google’s parent
it is reported that Alphabet’s negotiations to buy cybersecurity start-up Wiz are progressing although have not reached the point of no return. In addition, anti-trust regulators might take a dim view of a leviathan like Alphabet snapping up a potential new leader in a sector. Alphabet acquired cybersecurity firm Mandiant for $5.4 billion in 2022.
According to Reuters, Wiz started life in Israel and now has headquarters in New York. It is one of the fastest-growing software startups globally, providing cloud-based cybersecurity solutions with real-time threat detection and responses powered by artificial intelligence. Wiz works with 40% of Fortune 100 companies, its website says.
Since Wiz was founded in 2020, it has raised about $2 billion in funding since from the likes of Sequoia Capital. It was recently valued at $12 billion and is led by former Microsoft exec Assaf Rappaport.
Cassava Group’s cloud business is expanding its Middle East channel partner ecosystem
Liquid C2, a subsidiary of Cassava-owned Liquid Intelligent Technologies (LIT), has announced the expansion of its Cloudmania business into the Egyptian channel partner ecosystem. Cloudmania is Liquid C2’s distribution business unit for cloud and cyber security solutions with operations in 35 countries across the Middle East and Africa.
Cloudmania’s strategic partnership with Microsoft has allowed it to equip numerous partners with cloud and cyber security services and solutions, including Microsoft 365 and Azure solutions, within a fully supported ecosystem. Services supported include Microsoft 365 Enterprise, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the AI companion Microsoft Copilot. In addition – although not across its entire footprint – Liquid C2 supports OneVoice for Operator Connect
“Extending Cloudmania’s reach to Egypt reflects our confidence in the Egyptian economy following the launch of Liquid C2 in Egypt a year ago, said Liquid C2 VP operations Sherif Shaltout. “We see Egypt as the anchor country of our expansion into the Middle East and North Africa and we look forward to playing our role in realizing the government’s Egypt Vision 2030 strategy, supported by its ‘Digital Egypt’ initiative.”
“Partnering with local businesses will help in developing digital infrastructure, promoting digital skills development, creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and economic growth, all while tapping into Egypt’s wealth of local tech talent,” he added.
“Cloudmania’s growth over the last year from 100 partners to over 750 demonstrates how our value proposition resonates with channel partners across these regions. Being named the Microsoft Partner of the Year in Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire in 2022 and 2023 respectively, reflects our commitment to delivering solutions that propel cloud adoption and partner growth, accelerating digital transformation for businesses in Africa,” said Liquid C2 chief commercial officer Vinay Hiralall.
What’s the deal?
Resellers that partner with Cloudmania receive access to a suite of solutions tailored, unsurprisingly, to suit their customers’ needs. Cloudmania said it aims to help channel partners better manage their business by creating a single-pane view via an always-on platform that assists with billing and subscription management services. In addition to providing partners with programmes that drive sales enablement, they also have access to Cloudmania’s marketing and technical support. Cloudmania is happy to run the backend operations, enabling partners to focus on their core business.
While Cloudmania’s website is awash with all-things-Microsoft, in June Liquid C2 took a big step to addressing hybrid clouds – which is the currently preferred flavour of cloud enterprises are opting for.
That strategic partnership with Google Cloud added significant capacity to the cloud solutions that Liquid C2 already offers its customers across Africa through its Cloud Connect portfolio. The two companies signed their first MoU in November 2023 around cybersecurity and cloud offerings and in March Liquid C2 announced collaborations with Google Cloud and Anthropic to deliver advanced cloud and generative AI capabilities to African businesses across the continent.
That’s a 51% increase from this year, driven by a move towards higher margin merchant payments and international remittances
A new study from Juniper Research found mobile money spend in emerging markets will reach $2.37 trillion by 2029 (€2.17 trillion) in 2029, up from $1.58 trillion in 2024.
It predicts this 51% growth will be driven by operators expanding their portfolios to include higher-margin, more advanced services, such as enabling merchant payments in-store or via eCommerce, and providing international remittances.
This will allow providers of mobile financial services (MFS) to lessen their reliance on revenue from person-to-person transactions but they will also have to build new capabilities.
Juniper thinks the providers will face major challenges in offering these more advanced services at scale. For example, the complexity of shifting from basic Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services to offering app-based experiences.
Also, the research house suggests partnerships with digital wallet platform providers will be critical in helping mobile money service providers increase their reach across different access channels.
The report’s co-author, Mélissa Amouny, explained, “As banks struggle with the distribution of financial services in emerging markets and mobile money services have excellent reach via their agent networks, partnerships between banks and mobile money services are a strong fit.
“MFS providers must strike partnerships with banks to offer the capabilities needed, and with platform providers to improve their technical infrastructures, to best address the advanced services opportunity.”
Mobile Europe’s live, in-person event in central London was bursting with insights and inspiration; watch videos of all the sessions now
The telecoms industry can become preoccupied by new technologies, forgetting that, like money, they only matter because of what we can achieve with them. This event was designed to look at how technology fuels telcos’ businesses – or not.
Last week the state-owned Saudi operator walked away from talks to acquire Altice Portugal; Vodafone Portugal was blocked from acquiring smaller rival
Last week could prove to be a turning point in Portugal’s telecoms market. It saw operator group stc walk away from negotiations to acquire incumbent Altice Portugal as the two parties were unable to agree terms. It seems that the Saudi titan has not abandoned its Iberian ambitions – it owns just under a 10% stake in Spain’s incumbent, Telefonica. Now stc is reported by the local news site Eco to be considering making a bid for Vodafone Portugal.
Last week Vodafone Portugal too had a setback when the country’s competition authority blocked its attempt to acquire Nowo Communications, after a protracted review. Vodafone had proposed the acquisition in 2022 and wanted to expand its presence in the country better to compete with its two larger rivals, MEO (Altice Portugal’s operating brand) and NOS.
Back in the room
It has also been reported that the consortium led by private equity firm Warburg Pincus which had been interested in acquiring Altice Portugal but pulled out, has returned to the negotiating table.
Altice Portugal is mired in an accounting scandal. Also, billionaire Patrick Drahi, who controls the Altice group, is looking to sell off assets to reduced the €60 billion debt he ran up building his empire when interest rates and inflation were at rock bottom.
He has had several unsuccessful attempts at selling off Portuguese assets but interested parties have reportedly been put off by too high a price tag: Drahi is said to want more than €7 billion for Altice Portugal.
The state-controlled incumbent is the only operator to receive a 5G licence so far and although it is the country’s smallest mobile operator, it is also the fastest growing
Nokia announced a new partnership with Telecom Egypt to bring 5G technology to country. It will start with to cities including Alexandria, Aswan, Cairo, Giza, and Luxor. The Finnish vendor and the state-controlled incumbent have a long established relationship.
Under the terms of the new contract, the vendor will deploy its AirScale portfolio later this year in the RAN, comprising baseband units and Massive MIMO radios which run on Nokia’s ReefShark System-on-Chip tech.
Nokia will also offer professional services, from deployment to integration and network optimisation.
Earlier this year, Telecom Egypt’s CEO and MD, Nasr Eldin, told local media that 5G will boost its data revenues over the next five years and that 5G will be rolled out based on economic feasibility. The company started the trial operation phase of the service in five locations,
He also said about 50% of Egypt Telecom’s network is 5G-ready, needing only software updates. Eldin added that around 8% of smartphones in the Egyptian market are 5G-compatible
Telecom Egypt (which operates under the the we brand) secured the country’s first 5G licence from the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA,) in January. It is valid for 15 years and will not be renewed automatically.
As of Q3 2023, Telecom Egypt had the smallest number of mobile subscribers at 12.5 million but is also the fastest-growing mobile operator, having only entered the country’s mobile market in Q3 2017.
Partner content: When duct tape Isn’t the answer to everything
The world has gone mad with this new era of Generative AI (GenAI). Picture a world where duct tape is the answer to every dilemma. Broken glasses? Duct tape. Car won’t start? Duct tape. Heartbreak? You guessed it – duct tape. The current enthusiasm for GenAI is much the same. The buzz is deafening, and the innovations are groundbreaking. But, as with our duct tape scenario, it’s crucial to understand that GenAI, while transformative, isn’t the fix for every issue under the sun.
GenAI has indeed revolutionised the tech landscape, offering new ways to generate content, simulate scenarios, and even shift mindsets about what Artificial Intelligence (AI) can achieve. Its capabilities can bring immense value, yet it’s not the panacea for every technological challenge we face today. For instance, while GenAI can craft eloquent prose or realistic images, it’s not going to fix your database issues or optimise your network performance on its own.
In a world enamoured with GenAI, technologies like deep learning and neural networks, which once seemed cutting-edge, are now being dubbed as “traditional” or “classic” AI. It’s akin to calling a smartphone from five years ago a “vintage” device. This shift in terminology reflects how fast the AI landscape is evolving, but also highlights the need for a balanced perspective on AI tools.
GenAI has undeniably raised the overall interest and willingness to use AI across various industries. However, its true potential often shines brightest when it’s part of a broader, integrated solution. Specialised AI capabilities such as anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and recommendation systems can significantly enhance the functionality of larger systems. By focusing GenAI on specific areas within a wider framework, businesses can achieve far more comprehensive and valuable outcomes.
Innovation to essential business value
Transitioning from viewing AI as a mere source of innovation to recognising it as a critical driver of business value remains a significant challenge for many companies. Unlike traditional software implementation projects, which are often linear and predictable, AI projects require a different mindset. This transition demands agility, openness to experimentation, and the ability to pivot quickly when an idea doesn’t pan out. Embracing this new way of working is crucial for businesses aiming to harness the full potential of AI.
One of the primary hurdles is that the unfamiliar terrain of AI often tempts businesses to revert to their well-worn habits, leading to unnecessary reinvention. Leveraging existing solutions and customising them to fit specific organizational needs can expedite the process of demonstrating AI’s value. This strategic alignment ensures that AI projects are not just technologically sound but also commercially viable.
Companies must accelerate this transformation process or risk falling behind in a rapidly evolving landscape. As AI continues to evolve and mature, the gap between early adopters and laggards will widen. Those who fail to integrate AI effectively into their business models may find themselves outpaced by competitors who have successfully made AI an integral part of their strategic arsenal. Therefore, embracing AI, not just as a tool for innovation, but as a cornerstone of business value, is imperative for long-term success.
Building value-driven AI solutions
At Celfocus, we understand that creating AI solutions that deliver real business value is a complex but rewarding endeavour. Our approach, honed through years of experience, spans from building a solid business case to deployment and continuous improvement. Here’s how we do it:
Figure 1 – Building value-driven solutions from business case to deployment and continuous improvement.
Use Cases Won’t Take You Far, But Business Cases Will
Creating value-driven AI solutions, rather than just data-driven ones, requires starting with a discussion of initial ideas to validate if AI, including GenAI, is suitable for specific needs and to determine the potential return on investment. This approach ensures that AI initiatives are aligned with business goals and deliver tangible value.
We use a proprietary Celfocus tool to guide AI strategy from use cases to business cases, maximising the value of AI and prioritising development roadmaps. This tool includes relevant indicators from our extensive experience and can be further customised with client-specific metrics to more precisely determine the value of each use case for a particular client.
The business cases developed using this approach have yielded significant benefits, including a 20% improvement in Net Promoter Score (NPS) for customer retention, a 28% improvement in first-time resolution with a 2-5% reduction in field service costs, and a 15% increase in revenue for marketing and sales initiatives.
2. Data Alone Won’t Make You AI-Ready
Having data alone doesn’t make an organization AI-ready. True AI readiness requires more than just data; it involves preparing the necessary infrastructure, ensuring data quality, and implementing robust data governance. Many companies are not AI-ready because they lack some of these essential components. Effective AI readiness also entails integrating AI technologies into business processes and fostering an environment that supports continuous learning and innovation.
Celfocus has over 20 years of experience delivering a wide range of data platforms, including data warehouses, data lakes, lakehouses, and more, all with real-time processing capabilities. Our expertise covers crucial aspects such as data quality, data governance, and multi-cloud environments, ensuring that our clients are fully prepared to implement and scale AI solutions effectively.
We have deployed several high-volume data solutions. Some of our projects include building a consolidated data platform from five data warehouses resulting from mergers and acquisitions, integrated with over 70 data sources. We’ve also developed near real-time analytics platforms, processing more than 4TB of events daily and managed a system that processes 2.5 billion lines daily, with over 5,000 pipelines.
3. Don’t Waste Time Reinventing the Wheel
Having established frameworks is crucial for accelerating delivery times in AI solutions. These frameworks provide a proven foundation, reducing the need for unnecessary reinvention and allowing teams to focus on innovation and customisation. By leveraging these pre-built structures, organisations can ensure efficiency, reliability, and consistency in their AI solutions, leading to faster deployment and quicker realisation of benefits. Frameworks also help in maintaining high standards of quality, as they incorporate best practices and lessons learned from previous projects.
At Celfocus, an extensive library of frameworks is available, enabling the delivery of robust solutions that effectively meet clients’ needs. This library includes both generic frameworks, applicable to a multitude of use cases, and domain-specific ones tailored to particular industries or business challenges. By using these well-established assets, Celfocus ensures that each solution is not only technically sound but also aligned with the specific requirements and goals of our clients. This approach maximises efficiency, reduces time to market, and ensures the successful implementation of AI initiatives.
Figure 2 – AI frameworks to accelerating delivery time
4. Don’t Let Your Data and Models Control You
MLOps (Machine Learning Operations) and DataOps (Data Operations) are essential for building effective AI solutions. They ensure the efficiency, scalability, and reliability of machine learning models and data pipelines, facilitating continuous delivery and automation. These practices streamline workflows and enhance collaboration between teams, preventing issues like data inconsistencies and model degradation, ultimately leading to robust and adaptable artificial intelligence systems.
MLOps and DataOps are integral to our AI strategy. Our Cloud Centre of Enablement aligns multicloud practices with hyperscalers and covers analytics and cognitive services to ensure effective operations. By applying best practices from DevOps to AI and data workflows, we achieve continuous integration, delivery, and monitoring of AI models. This approach guarantees that our AI solutions remain cutting-edge and perform optimally in dynamic environments.
5. Watch your budget to avoid unpleasant surprises
FinOps (Financial Operations) is a critical aspect of managing the costs associated with setting up and maintaining AI solutions in the cloud. Effective FinOps practices bring transparency to cloud expenses and enable immediate reactions to unexpected cost changes. By focusing on cost predictability, resource optimisation, and cost control, FinOps ensures that AI initiatives remain financially sustainable and do not lead to unpleasant budget surprises.
Celfocus Cloud Centre of Enablement also extends to FinOps strategies. Our approach has proven to deliver significant benefits, such as cost reductions of around 35-40%. This comprehensive strategy ensures that our AI solutions are not only innovative but also cost-effective, helping our clients achieve their financial and operational goals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the GenAI frenzy is fun and filled with potential, it’s important to remember that it’s one tool among many. Embracing a more holistic approach to AI—leveraging both the new and the classic—will ultimately lead to more innovative and effective solutions. So, let’s enjoy the ride, but keep our toolkit diverse and our expectations grounded in reality.
Carla Penedo is the Director of Offer Development & Innovation at Celfocus, a European high-tech system integrator company dedicated to creating business value through analytics and cognitive. Carla specializes in providing data-driven technological solutions to accelerate digital network transformation, enhance and monetise business services, and deliver highly personalised customer experiences.
With over 20 years’ experience delivering high-value transformative data solutions, Carla has a track record in telecommunications, financial services, energy, and utilities sectors. She has in-depth knowledge and expertise in Analytics, Big Data, and AI & Machine Learning technologies. Carla holds an MBA and a degree in Computer Science with a focus on Artificial Intelligence.
