News

Smartphone technology

• February 06, 2026 06 Feb'26

  Private LTE/5G networks reached 6,500 deployments in 2025

  Analysis of private 5G market finds steadily growing market that is increasingly driven by organic demand from end users, with WAN and enterprise segments of near equal worth

• February 06, 2026 06 Feb'26

  Virgin Media O2 accelerates automation across mobile network

  UK telco teams with cloud-first tech modernisation firm to deploy AI-driven automation technology to minimise downtime across mobile network, resolve issues faster and anticipating faults before escalation

• February 03, 2026 03 Feb'26

  5G and Wi-Fi battle for dominance in APAC

  Analysis from Opensignal reveals that the Asia-Pacific region is no longer converging on a single connectivity model, with some markets pivoting to Wi-Fi while others double down on mobile

• February 03, 2026 03 Feb'26

  EE, Three claim UK’s best mobile internet performance in 2025

  Analysis of mobile internet connection data in the UK shows traditional market dominance by BT-owned mobile company challenged by new rival set for infrastructure boost after recent merger

• February 02, 2026 02 Feb'26

  Vodafone IoT, Skylo bring NTN NB-IoT connectivity to global users

  In a ‘notable’ step in enabling the next wave of internet of things solutions, the IoT division of telco teams with non-terrestrial network provider to deliver satellite-based narrowband connectivity

• January 28, 2026 28 Jan'26

  Platforms must adapt to IoT demand to support eSim growth

  Research on embedded subscriber identity module markets reveal rapid growth and shifting consumer attitudes, with sustained growth especially in internet of things use cases

• January 27, 2026 27 Jan'26

  Saudi Arabia ordered to pay £3m to UK dissident targeted with Pegasus spyware

  A court has found that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia subjected a London-based human rights activist to abuse and physical violence after infecting his phone with Pegasus spyware

• January 27, 2026 27 Jan'26

  Public safety broadband spending to exceed $6bn by 2028

  Positive outlook of safety connectivity coincides with ‘meaningful’ progress in addressing challenge of direct mode/device-to-device comms, bridging last major hurdle in the transition from LMR systems to 3GPP

• January 26, 2026 26 Jan'26

  Spanish court acquits suspects denied access to ‘raw’ Sky ECC intercepts in landmark decision

  Prosecutors have been told they cannot rely on intercept evidence from the Sky ECC encrypted phone network in the absence of other evidence, unless they disclose the raw intercept data to defendants in decision that could have a significant impact ...

• January 22, 2026 22 Jan'26

  Vodafone, Netcompany aim to deliver global travel eSIM at scale

  Telco teams with IT systems provider to launch embedded subscriber identity module platform offering borderless connectivity for global travellers

• January 22, 2026 22 Jan'26

  ESA invests in Swissto12 to accelerate European spacecom sovereignty

  European Space Agency member states commit funding towards advanced satellite systems and RF products provider in partnership project supporting development and industrialisation of spacecraft

• January 22, 2026 22 Jan'26

  Wireless Broadband Alliance looks to boost enterprise private 5G security

  Global wireless communications association report outlines unified security framework and guidelines to help enterprises integrate private 5G into existing IT

• January 20, 2026 20 Jan'26

  Swedish government software developer counters poor health apps claim

  As national election season approaches, political opponents of Sweden’s lead coalition party make hay of survey that claims unsatisfactory health apps deter doctor visits

• January 13, 2026 13 Jan'26

  UK open banking is eight years old and ready to grow into the wider economy

  The next phase of open banking will have a greater impact as it morphs into cross-sector open finance

• January 13, 2026 13 Jan'26

  Samsung, Keysight validate satellite-to-satellite, direct-to-cell 5G mobility

  Technology design, emulation and test services firm collaborates with CE and comms tech giant to validate 3GPP Release 19 non-terrestrial networks band as industry moves towards direct-to-cell satellite services

• January 12, 2026 12 Jan'26

  Eutelsat extends Airbus contract for further low Earth orbit OneWeb satellites

  Satcoms constellation provider orders further 340 craft from space technology manufacturer to offer global connectivity services from LEO locations

• January 12, 2026 12 Jan'26

  UK regains second spot in global fintech investment ranking

  Global fintech investment was up 21% and the UK retook second spot in the market ranking for the full year 2025

• January 09, 2026 09 Jan'26

  Ofcom sets out plans for mobile, Wi-Fi to share upper 6 GHz spectrum band

  In an aim to provide a boost for the country’s economy, UK comms regulator Ofcom reveals proposals for mobile and Wi-Fi to share some of the same airwaves

• January 08, 2026 08 Jan'26

  CES 2026: NXP looks to unlock potential of AI-powered vehicles

  Semiconductor firm launches chip to transform vehicles into intelligent edge devices by centralising software and data across all vehicle domains, solving complexity and unlocking AI-powered vehicle capabilities

• January 07, 2026 07 Jan'26

  CES 2026: Rubber hits the road for Qualcomm automotive

  Mobile tech leader uses CES to outline advances in automotive through key collaborations with Chinese startup technology company, IT behemoth and manufacturing group to boost, ADAS, IVI and AI compute

• December 29, 2025 29 Dec'25

  Top 10 NHS IT stories of 2025

  A new digital strategy, funding boosts and struggles to keep the lights on: here are Computer Weekly’s top NHS IT stories in 2025

• December 23, 2025 23 Dec'25

  Top 10 telecoms stories of 2025

  The telecoms market has delivered a wave of innovation over the course of the past 12 months, but in 2025 the sector shifted focus with eyes very much on the skies. Find out more in Computer Weekly’s top 10 telecoms stories of 2025

• December 12, 2025 12 Dec'25

  Consumers trade up smartphones for AI

  Quarterly study of US mobile trade-in arena finds 46% growth year-on-year driven by accelerated adoption of AI-enabled devices and expansion of the secondary market, with the third consecutive record-breaking quarter for revenues

• November 24, 2025 24 Nov'25

  UK digital bank Revolut sees value jump £23bn in a year

  UK-headquartered fintech firm sees its valuation increase dramatically with its latest share sale

• November 20, 2025 20 Nov'25

  Orange claims Euro first with satellite direct-to-device SMS service

  Telco’s customers in France, England and 35 other countries will be able to use core mobile network to send messages even if they have no mobile or Wi-Fi coverage using direct-to-device satellite technology

• November 18, 2025 18 Nov'25

  Global on-device AI market tops $10bn in 2024

  Research displays the strength of the on-device artificial intelligence device arena as industrial, and embedded AI – as well as micro-power Wi-Fi silicon on chip platforms – enable intelligent computing everywhere

• November 18, 2025 18 Nov'25

  NTT Docomo claims successful outdoor 6G AI-driven interface trial

  Japanese operator NTT Docomo accelerates trial of next-generation mobile technologies, resulting in throughput improving by ‘up to 100%’ under real-world outdoor conditions

• November 14, 2025 14 Nov'25

  MI5 made multiple applications for phone data to identify BBC journalist’s sources

  MI5 discloses it made and authorised unlawful ‘sequential applications’ for Vincent Kearney’s phone data during his time at the BBC, but will neither confirm nor deny whether it undertook further ‘lawful’ surveillance of BBC journalists

• November 14, 2025 14 Nov'25

  Ericsson opens Bengaluru R&D unit to drive 5G software development

  Research facility enhances comms tech provider’s presence in India, including the growth of application-specific integrated circuit development announced in June 2025

• November 14, 2025 14 Nov'25

  Singapore Sports Hub to get Wi-Fi 7 network

  The upgrade will provide faster, more reliable connections for visitors during concerts and sporting events, and will help manage crowds and improve services

• November 14, 2025 14 Nov'25

  Lenovo to power FIFA World Cup 2026

  Lenovo will provide its consumer and enterprise technology capabilities to power the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which has been deemed the most technologically advanced tournament in the game’s history

• October 30, 2025 30 Oct'25

  Nvidia, Nokia ‘pioneer’ AI platform for 6G comms

  Global comms tech provider and AI leader establish a strategic partnership to enable accelerated development and deployment of next generation AI native mobile networks and AI networking infrastructure

• October 22, 2025 22 Oct'25

  More openness on the cards for Apple and Google’s mobile platforms

  Competition and Markets Authority will look closely at the openness of Google and Apple’s mobile platforms after designating both with strategic market status

• October 21, 2025 21 Oct'25

  US healthcare providers tap Verizon for neutral host, private 5G combo nets

  Leading comms provider shows continued momentum in the healthcare space for neutral host network and private 5G network products

• October 21, 2025 21 Oct'25

  Viasat unveils smartphone connectivity via satellite first in Mexico

  Satellite operator demonstrates the potential of D2D networks to bridge the connectivity gap in areas where traditional wireless comms services are unreliable or non-existent

• October 16, 2025 16 Oct'25

  Backhaul shows near-equal split between fibre, wireless

  Study finds that comms market is heading towards a near-even split between microwave and fibre backhaul, with advanced economies showing signs of decreasing use of fibre, and renewed interest in microwave for high-capacity and resilient networks

• October 13, 2025 13 Oct'25

  Court dismisses Apple’s appeal against Home Office backdoor

  Investigatory Powers Tribunal rules that Apple’s appeal against a Home Office order to access encrypted data of Apple users world wide will no longer proceed.

• October 09, 2025 09 Oct'25

  Chat Control encryption plans delayed after EU states fail to agree

  Plans to require technology companies across Europe to monitor the contents of encrypted messages and emails have been delayed after European Union member states were unable to reach agreement following German objections

• October 06, 2025 06 Oct'25

  Police ordered to give reasons in closed court for seizing phone of UK Hamas lawyer

  London court orders police to disclose reasons for seizing and copying the contents of a phone belonging to a UK lawyer who represented Hamas, but refuses an injunction to prevent police from reviewing the phone until after judicial review

• October 03, 2025 03 Oct'25

  BT reveals plan for 99% 5G standalone coverage by 2030

  UK’s leading comms provider rebrands 5G standalone into 5G+ while revealing ambition to deliver almost universal population coverage over mobile standard by 2030, taking huge leap compared with rival UK MNOs

• October 02, 2025 02 Oct'25

  PSNI appoints legal counsel to report on police conduct after McCullough surveillance review

  The Police Service of Northern Ireland has commissioned a senior lawyer to report back on whether there was any misconduct by police officers following the McCullough Review into the surveillance of journalists, lawyers and NGOs

• October 01, 2025 01 Oct'25

  Home Office issues new ‘backdoor’ order over Apple encryption

  A second Home Office technical capability notice requires Apple to provide access to encrypted data and messages of British users stored on its iCloud service

• October 01, 2025 01 Oct'25

  Over half of UK adults use mobile wallets

  Cash accounted for less than 10% of payments in the UK in 2024, according to UK Finance figures

• September 30, 2025 30 Sep'25

  Apple’s first iOS 26 security update fixes memory corruption flaw

  Apple issues an update for its brand new iOS 26 mobile operating system, fixing a potentially dangerous vulnerability affecting iPhones, iPads and other Mac devices

• September 24, 2025 24 Sep'25

  McCullough Review finds PSNI failures but no ‘systemic’ surveillance of journalists

  A review by Angus McCullough KC reveals that Northern Ireland police failed to comply with the law but that there was no ‘widespread and systemic’ surveillance of journalists, lawyers and NGOs

• September 17, 2025 17 Sep'25

  Hamas lawyer challenges police after they seized legal files from phone in Schedule 7 stop

  A UK solicitor hired by Hamas to challenge its proscription in the UK as a terrorist organisation argues police acted unlawfully by seizing a phone containing confidential legally privileged material about his clients

• September 17, 2025 17 Sep'25

  GSA: NTN operator–satellite partnerships now in 80 territories

  Study shows Starlink leading the satellite landscape with 44 partnerships, followed by AST SpaceMobile and Lynk, while in spectrum Ka-band remains most widely used frequency range, supporting both feeder and service links

• September 11, 2025 11 Sep'25

  Chat Control: EU to decide on requirement for tech firms to scan encrypted messages

  Law enforcement and police experts meet on Friday to decide on proposals to require technology companies to scan encrypted messages for possible child abuse images amid growing opposition from security experts

• September 11, 2025 11 Sep'25

  EE claims 5G world-first with advanced RAN coordination

  UK’s leading operator becomes first company to launch Advanced RAN Coordination technology in distributed network to deliver more reliable 5G connectivity and 20% faster download speeds, with standalone network offering biggest boost

• September 10, 2025 10 Sep'25

  UK contactless card payment limits could be unlimited

  The UK Financial Conduct Authority says contactless payment technology and fraud protections have advanced enough for firms to adjust the limit