News

Telecoms networks and broadband communications

July 03, 2019 03 Jul'19
Vodafone switches on 5G mobile network

The UK’s longest-standing mobile operator, Vodafone, has officially turned on its 5G mobile network at an event in London, and reintroduced unlimited data packages for users as it looks to shake up the market
July 03, 2019 03 Jul'19
BT and Openreach told to be more transparent over split

Ofcom’s latest monitoring report on the changing relationship between BT and Openreach finds room for improvement, but is mostly positive
July 01, 2019 01 Jul'19
Ofcom to make switching mobile operators easier

The often fraught process of switching mobile network operators will become easier for end-users as new Ofcom regulations come into force
June 28, 2019 28 Jun'19
Ofcom gets go-ahead for new Openreach access model

Following referral to the European Commission, Ofcom is pressing ahead with a new regulatory model governing more open access to Openreach’s ducts, poles and dark fibre

June 27, 2019 27 Jun'19
Isles of Scilly among first UK locations to get 5G

The Isles of Scilly are to be included in Vodafone’s 5G network roll-out from day one, with the aim of supporting local community organisations
June 27, 2019 27 Jun'19
Singapore aims to be global node for 5G innovation

The government will spend S$40m to develop 5G technology use cases in key sectors such as maritime and manufacturing with an eye on exporting Singapore's expertise to global markets
June 25, 2019 25 Jun'19
Sky invests £125,000 in female-led business ideas

Five women have been awarded their share of £125,000 from Sky to pursue technology-led business ideas
June 24, 2019 24 Jun'19
New security challenges await 5G planners, say APAC experts

With 5G technology expected to move more data and processing to the network edge, some experts have called for the need to address the security risks when planning 5G networks
June 24, 2019 24 Jun'19
European and UK space agencies start CAV connectivity project

Academia and telecoms operators partner to investigate 5G and satellite systems for connected and autonomous vehicles, with proofs of concept expected for 2020
June 20, 2019 20 Jun'19
How APAC CIOs are driving AI projects

IT leaders at a Computer Weekly roundtable say they are grappling with compute bottlenecks and explainable artificial intelligence even as chatbots and other AI projects are being rolled out in full swing

June 19, 2019 19 Jun'19
Telcos hail progress improvements in meeting UK full-fibre broadband deployment targets

Senior management from Openreach, TalkTalk and Three use Connected Britain keynote to share insights on how full-fibre broadband deployment is progressing across the country
June 18, 2019 18 Jun'19
Openreach trials will speed up broadband upgrade

Tests to focus on process of migrating households and businesses to fibre to the premise and voice over IP
June 18, 2019 18 Jun'19
5G will be a public utility, says IMDA

Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority is looking beyond access speeds in charting the deployment of 5G networks, which it has likened to a public utility
June 16, 2019 16 Jun'19
5G to drive hybrid cloud adoption in ANZ

5G networks will move computing to the edge, driving adoption of hybrid cloud and hyper-converged infrastructure, says Nutanix’s ANZ chief
June 14, 2019 14 Jun'19
How digital transformation underpins Three’s 5G ambitions

At Three, the smallest of the UK’s four mobile network operators, a transformative attitude to underlying IT is helping the firm mount a serious challenge to its rivals when it comes to 5G roll-out
June 12, 2019 12 Jun'19
DCMS adds cash to 5G testbed fund and moves to ease planning laws

The government is to invest £40m in new projects under its 5G Testbeds and Trials scheme, and will explore new ways to liberalise planning laws to support quicker 5G deployment
June 11, 2019 11 Jun'19
MP brands Huawei exec a ‘moral vacuum’ as operators demand 5G clarity

Huawei chief security officer John Suffolk faces tough questions from parliament’s Science and Technology Select Committee over the firm’s links to the Chinese government
June 09, 2019 09 Jun'19
Three to launch 5G in August

Operator claims its contiguous block of 5G-ready mobile spectrum will put it streets ahead of its rivals
June 07, 2019 07 Jun'19
Ofcom confirms broadband USO to be introduced in March 2020

BT and Kcom will begin to provide broadband services under the government’s USO scheme from 20 March 2020
June 07, 2019 07 Jun'19
Industrial sector increasingly tempted by idea of private 5G

Industrial companies and manufacturers plan to implement 5G mobile networks swiftly once they become widely available, and many are keen on the idea of investing in private licences
June 06, 2019 06 Jun'19
APAC to lead global IoT spending

Asia-Pacific is slated to become the top market for the internet of things as the region scales up the use of connected devices in key sectors such as manufacturing
June 06, 2019 06 Jun'19
Ofcom’s Sharon White to step down at Christmas

Chief executive will leave her role at the telecoms regulator at the end of 2019
June 03, 2019 03 Jun'19
Consumer comms providers sign Ofcom’s new fairness pledge

The UK’s biggest communications service providers have signed up to a series of new commitments pledging to put fairness to customers at the heart of their business
May 31, 2019 31 May'19
New-build homes to get broadband quality certification

Broadband connectivity rating firm WiredScore is offering its full-fibre certifications to residential property developers and landlords for the first time
May 31, 2019 31 May'19
Slowing smart meter roll-out puts 2020 deadline at risk

The smart meter installation rate is slowing, and with 18 months until the December 2020 deadline, achieving the Smart Meter Programme’s aims now looks very unlikely
May 30, 2019 30 May'19
EE launches consumer 5G, but experts say no rush to upgrade

EE launched the UK’s first official 5G network this week, but with limited availability and 4G networks improving all the time, industry watchers say there is no big impetus for users to upgrade yet
May 30, 2019 30 May'19
Red flags missed during ESN planning process, Home Office admits

The PAC’s latest evidence-gathering session for its inquiry into the delayed and over-budget Emergency Services Network has laid bare a number of crucial errors made over the past few years, and found the Home Office missed a number of warning signs
May 30, 2019 30 May'19
4G networks reach near ubiquity in APAC

Although coverage of 4G services in Asia-Pacific, particularly in India, is almost ubiquitous, telcos in the region still have some catching-up to do
May 28, 2019 28 May'19
NHS Digital sets out Internet First policy

NHS Digital is soliciting input to its Internet First policy, a set of standards and guidelines to help health and social care organisations make digital services accessible over the internet
May 27, 2019 27 May'19
StarHub taps OpenStack to run telco network

The Singapore telco has deployed OpenStack and signed up for Red Hat’s training programme to equip its network engineers with technical expertise
May 24, 2019 24 May'19
Ofcom makes new proposals to liberalise access Openreach’s ducts and poles

The telecoms regulator is proposing new regulations on accessing Openreach’s infrastructure that it hopes will incentives others to roll out ultrafast networks quicker
May 23, 2019 23 May'19
Arm China seeks solutions to US export controls with Huawei

Chip design firm in communication with Huawei-owned semiconductor firm HiSilicon following US move to halt exports of US technology to Chinese tech giant
May 22, 2019 22 May'19
EE confirms 30 May 2019 go-live date for UK 5G network

Mobile operator is on course to become the first to go live with 5G in the UK, but Huawei phones will not be among its launch-day devices
May 21, 2019 21 May'19
Sheffield’s network-of-networks goes beyond free Wi-Fi

For the city of Sheffield, rolling out a free-to-use city Wi-Fi network has become about much more than just letting shoppers browse the internet. We find out more
May 21, 2019 21 May'19
US grants Huawei stay of execution

US Commerce Department temporarily restores Huawei’s ability to maintain its existing networks and smartphone user base
May 21, 2019 21 May'19
UC Expo 2019: Experts talk up future tech in unified communications

Automation and AI are increasingly prevalent in unified comms, but do enterprises really need it?
May 21, 2019 21 May'19
Keeping commuters connected on the world’s longest sea crossing

CommScope’s antennas remained unscathed during a gruelling storm in 2018 and continue to provide reliable mobile connectivity on China’s 55km Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge
May 20, 2019 20 May'19
DCMS shakes up BDUK with new rural full-fibre scheme

The Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme will run for two years, trialling a new model for full-fibre broadband delivery – meanwhile, BDUK is getting a new name
May 20, 2019 20 May'19
Google cuts off Huawei from Android ecosystem

Google decision follows an executive order signed by President Trump, but Huawei insists US businesses and consumers will be the real losers
May 16, 2019 16 May'19
ISPs get nine months prep time for Ofcom shake-up of broadband contract renewal rules

Regulator Ofcom is giving broadband, phone and pay-TV service providers nine months to ready their systems and processes for the emergence of new rules, designed to make it easier for consumers to switch providers
May 14, 2019 14 May'19
Vodafone confirms 5G network to go live in seven UK cities on 3 July 2019

Mobile network operator claims pricing will be on a par with existing 4G network connectivity, as new research suggests business users are already prepping for the UK launch of 5G.
May 13, 2019 13 May'19
Singapore telco regulator proposes standalone 5G networks

Standalone networks will deliver the full suite of enterprise 5G capabilities, including network slicing and low latency connections for internet of things applications
May 10, 2019 10 May'19
O2 boosts indoor network capacity to prep for 5G

O2 has been working with the Wireless Infrastructure Group to enhance mobile connectivity indoors and in public spaces
May 09, 2019 09 May'19
Home Office failing on Emergency Services Network, says NAO

The delayed Emergency Services Network is slipping further behind schedule and is getting more expensive all the time – and the Home Office’s management of the project is to blame, says the National Audit Office
May 09, 2019 09 May'19
Confident BT Group calls on Openreach to build full-fibre faster

Openreach will ramp up the pace of its full-fibre network build over the next six years, with ambitious targets to bring ultrafast broadband within reach of 15 million homes by the middle of the 2020s
May 08, 2019 08 May'19
Average UK broadband speeds up a fifth in 12 months

Research from telecoms regulator Ofcom suggests efforts to encourage consumers to switch to faster broadband services are paying off
May 07, 2019 07 May'19
Early adopters expect to pay 32% premium for 5G

Potential early adopters of 5G say they expect, on average, to pay more for their devices and services, but they expect measurable improvements on 4G from the get-go
May 07, 2019 07 May'19
Greater Manchester invites bidders for public sector broadband

£32m tender request will enable ultrafast full-fibre connectivity to more than 1,300 public sector sites in Greater Manchester
May 02, 2019 02 May'19
Ultrafast broadband within reach of ‘most’ homes

More than half of homes in the UK can now receive a broadband service capable of delivering speeds of more than 300Mbps, Ofcom claims
May 02, 2019 02 May'19
Defence secretary sacked over Huawei leak

Defence secretary Gavin Williamson has been sacked after leaking confidential discussions over the use of Huawei networking equipment