technologyreseller.co.uk 39 TECHDIGEST Panasonic is set to change how organisations manage mobile IT with the introduction of TOUGHBOOK Mobile-IT As-A-Service (MaaS). Enabling customers to enjoy the most up-to-date mobile equipment and service delivery without the burden of management, the customisable, end-to-end package includes TOUGHBOOK devices and accessories, essential software solutions and dedicated support, including monitoring, maintenance and integration services – with no upfront costs and a highly flexible monthly subscription fee. At the end of the subscription period, customers can seamlessly transition to new Panasonic TOUGHBOOK solutions and extend or tweak existing software and support services, based on their requirements. Siemens Mobility UK&I is using TOUGHBOOK MaaS to give engineers at its UK Bogie and Wheelset Service Centre Panasonic devices for component management, condition assessment recording, digital twin inspections, maintenance, work instructions, employee communication and health and safety compliance. Rick Evans, Head of Site IT at Siemens Mobility UK&I, said: “With technology and business requirements changing at a faster pace than ever, TOUGHBOOK MaaS ensures our engineers always have access to the latest hardware, applications and support to deliver the very best transport solutions for Britain.” https://eu.connect.panasonic.com/gb/en/ toughbook/Mobile-IT-As-A-Service … NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and IT services, has introduced a managed security service powered by Palo Alto Networks that gives enterprises a Private 5G network with the visibility and security needed in today’s OT environments. Combining Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), OT/ IOT subscriptions and NTT DATA’s Private 5G architecture, the new offering empowers clients with improved network visibility, access control and automated threat detection and response capabilities. With Palo Alto Networks NGFW, organisations can apply a Zero Trust security posture, incorporating machine learning (ML), to safely enable only the relevant connections, applications and protocols needed for their network. According to the 2024 State of OT Security report from Palo Alto Networks and ABI Research, 70% of industrial organisations experienced a cyberattack on their OT environment last year; almost 25% of these experienced attacks that led to operational shutdowns and disrupted business continuity. nttdata.com Vodafone offering other telcos white-label battery backup for digital lines Vodafone, BT, KCOM and Zen Internet are addressing one of the drawbacks of moving all customers from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital lines with the launch of a small Broadband Battery Backup device that will keep users connected to WiFi for up to 7 hours in the event of a power cut. One reason for the 13-month postponement of the PSTN switch-off to January 31 2027 was to give the industry more time to ensure landline-dependent users are not cut off from essential resources in an emergency. This includes 1.8 million users of telecare for remote support and vulnerable customers who are dependent on a phone line to contact emergency services. While PSTN lines remain operational without mains power, modern all-digital alternatives offer no such safeguard. The Broadband Battery Backup device developed by Vodafone and Wire Technologies, a UK-based manufacturer of data transmission products and components for data centres and other critical IT networks, overcomes this problem by automatically switching from mains to battery power during a mains power outage. A 2023 report by UKPower found that almost 66% of Brits have experienced a power outage in their local area, with 23% saying they occur on an almost annual basis. Compact UPS Vodafone says the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for compatible routers, modems, Optical Network Terminals (ONT) and VoIP systems is smaller and easier to install than traditional battery backup for WiFi devices, which can be bulky, loud and complex to set up. By offering up to 4 to 7 hours of back‑up connectivity (dependent on router), it exceeds Ofcom regulations requiring telcos to offer a solution to keep landline-dependent customers connected to essential services for up to one hour during a power cut. It also supports the Government’s PSTN non‑voluntary migration checklist jointly agreed with leading telcos in November last year. A unique emergency mode, which automatically reserves 25% of the battery’s runtime, is useful for those who experience a power cut overnight and require reliable connectivity first thing in the morning. Rob Winterschladen, Consumer Director of Vodafone UK, said: “At Vodafone, we are committed to ensuring our customers stay connected no matter the circumstance. Our innovative Broadband Battery Backup device for WiFi, offering an industry-leading 4 to 7 hours of connectivity, is a testament to that promise.” Vodafone, which serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK, is providing the devices free of charge to new and existing landline-dependent customers. Others who might want to stay connected can purchase it for £150 from https://getgofone.co.uk/. Vodafone, will also be white labelling the devices and offering them wholesale to other telcos, including BT, KCOM and Zen Internet. David Barber, Strategy Director at Zen Internet, said: “How digital voice products will continue to work during a power outage has been a real concern for many. It is so pleasing to see that positive steps have been taken [by the industry] to work together to protect the vulnerable. This new device is a vast improvement on anything that was available in the market to further support vulnerable consumers through the withdrawal of the traditional landline.” www.vodafone.co.uk
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