Page 44 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

and was a Senior Advisor to Alantra Credit happy to welcome Martin into ADL’s Global sector verticals. Sharing of know how
Advisory. Martin has also been Partner at Financial Services team, where I’m sure within the international FS community
consultant Oliver Wyman, and Co-Founder he will make a tremendous contribution. at ADL will be vital to bring the most
& CEO of financial markets advisor Ithuba It is rare to come across someone with innovative solutions to our cients. As the
Capital AG. He spent the first 10 years of such broad expertise in the financial financial services market continues to
his career at banking institution UniCredit, services industry, from helping to fund evolve throughout the DACH region, there
holding a series of senior positions there. innovative fintech start-ups to advising are many opportunities available to help
In his career, Martin has advised over major banking institutions on their digital the industry become more responsive and
150 clients, from private sector firms to strategy. And as both a self-starter and adaptive to the needs of both the modern
regulators and industry bodies, and has team player, Martin is sure to be a great fit consumer and 21st century businesses.”
in-depth, hands-on experience in helping with ADL’s entrepreneurial culture.” Martin Martin has an MBA, with a specialization
to build and transform companies, from Rauchenwald, Partner at ADL, adds: “One in Banking & Insurance, from the University
pre-seed start-ups to multibillion financial of the key factors that attracted me to of Graz, Austria and a degree from the
institutions. Philippe De Backer, Managing working at ADL is the high-level of internal University of Santander, Spain.
Partner at ADL, comments: “We’re very cooperation between practices and other

AT&T Drives Connected Car Service with HAAS

Alert

AT&T continued to evolve its connected car platform, signing of mobile connectivity with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) software
a letter of intent to work with specialist HAAS Alert to deliver available for vehicle manufacturers. The operator stated the
warnings of hazards to drivers in what it claimed is the first bundle collaboration will remove barriers to cellular V2X capabilities by
offering direct integration and activation of a connected software
service. AT&T cited benefits in terms of minimizing data costs
associated with providing alerts, in addition to the broader boost
to safety by helping to protect staff in the emergency services and
road building sectors. Digital alert data could also be used to enable
advanced driver-assistance systems, and improve navigation by
monitoring traffic patterns and road conditions. Cameron Coursey,
VP for connected solutions at AT&T, stated the combination of
mobile connectivity with V2X software will “permanently improve
transportation safety nationwide”. The operator shifted its IoT and
connected car products and functions into a new organization
earlier this year, part of a move to accelerate momentum in the
fields.

AST Leases AT&T Spectrum to Boost Sat-to-Phone Play

US operator AT&T took the next steps in a plan to bolster to permit” AST SpaceMobile’s proposed operations. AT&T argued
coverage using satellite connectivity, by formalizing a plan to the arrangement with AST SpaceMobile is in the public interest,
lease spectrum to AST SpaceMobile to enable communication enabling it to provide services on unmodified handsets. In addition
with standard mobile phones. In a filing with the US Federal to bolstering its everyday coverage, the operator cited benefits
Communications Commission (FCC), AT&T noted it agreed to lease in disaster zones. It also asserted no “harmful interference” will
AST SpaceMobile spectrum in the 850MHz and lower 700MHz result from AST SpaceMobile using the spectrum, explaining
frequencies, access the operator stated is required to provide the satellite company’s constellation is being “designed to have
supplementary coverage from space. AT&T offered assurances precise control and management over downlink transmissions”.
AST SpaceMobile will not begin using the spectrum until separate AT&T’s leasing announcement comes a matter of weeks after the
applications by the satellite company are approved, though their companies completed a two-way satellite voice call to a standard
deal provides access to the frequencies 21 days after the filing, mobile device in conjunction with Rakuten Group. AST has trial
which it made on 10 May. The companies sought relevant waivers agreements in place with a number of big name operators but a
to add satellite connectivity to AT&T’s mix of mobile access commercial launch with AT&T would be by far its biggest success
technologies, along with any FCC rules which “may be necessary story to date.

44 MAY-JUNE 2023