Meanwhile, Three UK reports on progress of its £2+ billion transformation of the network and IT.
Ericsson has launched Startup 5G, a programme designed to help CSPs capture the consumer potential of 5G – and Three Ireland is the first to join this global initiative.
Startup 5G is designed to introduce operators to suitable partners for the consumer sector and help them develop go-to-market strategies to grab their share of the estimated global $3.7 trillion (€3.03 trillion) opportunity.
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Three Ireland will be able to tap Ericsson’s ConsumerLab research and analytical data, as well as gaining exclusive access to a worldwide network of 5G startups.
They will work together on 5G consumer offers like augmented and virtual realities, digital education, e-sports and other immersive media experiences.
Elaine Carey, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Three Ireland and UK, says: “The collaboration and partnership with Ericsson in our 5G consumer offerings has been established, grown and developed over the last two years, and has now reached a new level as we join their Startup 5G program.
“Three Ireland will now be in a fantastic position to introduce exciting new partners and offerings to customers in the Irish market, demonstrating our commitment to 5G innovation, and our customers.”
Read the Ericsson ConsumerLab: Five Ways to a Better 5G report here.
Meanwhile, over in the UK…
Three UK is spending more than £2 billion (€2.33 billion) on its network and IT infrastructure, increasing 4G speeds by up to 150% as well as delivering what it claims is the UK’s fastest 5G network with 1300 5G sites live.
Some 3,500 4G/5G sites have been upgraded to 10Gbps capable transmission, and is enhancing 4G by adding 1400MHz to over 1900 sites, which will increase download speeds by up to three times, but for the moment, the speed is doubled.
Three UK also reiterates that the two 10MHz blocks of low frequency spectrum it won at the spectrum auction triples its holding of low frequency spectrum which “will have a transformative effect on its customers’ experience indoors and in rural areas”.
Also, Hrvoje Jerkovic recently joined Three UK as its Core Network Director. Previously he has worked for A1 Telekom Austria and T-Mobile where he was responsible for the core network and quality assurance domains.
New anti-spam filter
To address the growing number of smishing issues faced by customers, Three UK introduced a new anti-spam filter at the end of last year to protect customers by blocking spam and fraudulent SMS.
It has reduced reports attempted fraud to Three’s Spam Reporting Service by 90% in the last few months. Three UK is continuing to build, test and implement its own filtering rules to keep up with the latest fraud trends.