Summary of international coronavirus-related telecoms and media news - week 19

Nieuws Algemeen Wereld 11 MAY 2020

Summary of international coronavirus-related telecoms and media news - week 19

The trends in the telecoms, media and internet business are slowly evolving as the world starts to move towards a relaxation of the lockdown measures. Below, an overview of the Covid-19 related news in telecoms (mainly Europe) and media and internet (globally) in week 19.

Traffic levels are up due to the lockdowns in most countries. As a result, speeds come down. Verizon reports a leveling off, even a drop, week-on-week. Of note is the Sandvine report.

Operators, in response to the higher traffic levels, adjust their offerings.

Retail stores and offices were closed, but are now starting to reopen.

The events business, including cinemas, theme parks and football competitions, is about to restart.

The crisis demands more job and salary cuts.

Some telecoms companies are receiving state aid, but others are creating relief funds or free services for others.

Funds are created in the media sector to support its own workers as well as the healthcare sector.

There is no shortage of tracing apps in development to track the spread of the virus.

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Nieuwsoverzicht week 19: kwartaalrapporten tonen impact corona, nieuwe JV's in VK en Scandinavie, koersverliezen lopen terug

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INDIA 11 MAY 2020

India adds 5 mln mobile subscribers in January

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ALGERIJE 8 MAY 2020

Algerie Telecom reopens all retail stores, undertakes not to disconnect customers during lockdown

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SLOVENIË 8 MAY 2020

Slovenian operators see up to 50% increase in data traffic during epidemic

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CYPRUS 8 MAY 2020

Epic data traffic up over 30% in April vs March

Cypriot operator Epic recorded a more than 30 percent increase in data traffic in April compared to March. In the first days of the restriction related to the corona crisis, the increase in voice chats reached up to 10 percent. The company says its timely investments in its network with a program of EUR million essentially increased its capacity tenfold and thus covered the rapid increase in coverage and speeds.

ARMENIË 8 MAY 2020

Ucom re-opens all its shops

Armenian operator Ucom has re-opened all its shops across the country, reports Arka.am. The shops operate as normal after the removal of restrictions by the government.

BELGIË 8 MAY 2020

Belgian internet traffic up 40 percent since lockdown

Fixed internet use in Belgium is up around 40 percent compared to early March, according to figures from telecom regulator BIPT, reported by Datanews. Traffic started rising 13 March when schools and restaurants were closed to halt the spread of the coronavirus and continued to grow after the full lockdown was implemented 18 March.

VERENIGDE STATEN 8 MAY 2020

Verizon donates USD 1 mln to New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund

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SPANJE 8 MAY 2020

Telefonica to pay EUR 650 bonus to critical workers in May

Telefonica has agreed to pay a EUR 650 one-off bonus to around 2,500 workers in Spain who have been most exposed to Covid-19 contagion over the past few weeks. The workers are employees of subsidiaries including Acens, Movistar+, Telefonica Espaaa, Telefonica Moviles, Telefonica Business Solutions, Telefonica Soluciones Outsourcing, Telyco and Zeleris, and the bonus will be included in their salary for the month of May.

GRIEKENLAND 8 MAY 2020

Wind Hellas provides free communication, equipment to 500 mobile health units

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WERELD 7 MAY 2020

Sandvine finds global internet traffic increased 38% in 2.5 months

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VERENIGDE STATEN 7 MAY 2020

Verizon reports weekly drop in network traffic, plans to reopen more stores

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EUROPA 7 MAY 2020

Enea says Disney+ already uses 1-2% of mobile traffic in North America and Europe vs 7-15% for Netflix

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VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 7 MAY 2020

UK considers changing Covid-19 app to Apple/Google model as privacy concerns mount

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NEDERLANDSE ANTILLEN 7 MAY 2020

AMS-IX: piek dataverkeer in Caraibisch gebied

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