News

Smartphone technology

• September 20, 2021 20 Sep'21

  UK’s fastest 5G found outside south-east of England

  Analyst’s update on UK next-generation network shows 5G not just spreading, but flourishing across the country in terms of speeds and availability

• September 20, 2021 20 Sep'21

  Vodafone, ITU aim to bridge global smartphone digital divide

  First multi-stakeholder initiative to address global mobile internet access gap has been launched by operator and global comms body

• September 16, 2021 16 Sep'21

  BT gifts small businesses £7.5m in street advertising as Street Hub 2.0 units go live

  Local businesses in Kensington and Chelsea are given the chance to advertise for free via digital screens in Street Hub 2.0 units while research reveals over 60% of small firms say local advertising will boost awareness of their business

• September 16, 2021 16 Sep'21

  UK on a roll with 5G in second quarter of 2021

  After two years of stagnant speeds, UK next-generation communications network industry gets into gear in terms of download speeds and availability as all stakeholders work to make conditions ripe for opportunity, with Three UK a ‘decisive’ winner in...

• September 16, 2021 16 Sep'21

  Apple unveils iPhone 13 product line

  The money truck is set to roll again as Apple launches new flagship device attributed with pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a smartphone

• September 14, 2021 14 Sep'21

  Mass health tracker data breach has UK impact

  The leak of a database of 61 million users of health-tracking devices includes records on individuals located in the UK

• September 14, 2021 14 Sep'21

  Vodafone: Tech will be driving force for UK achieving net-zero targets

  Study urges UK government to deploy 5G, IoT and other digital and connectivity technologies in its forthcoming energy efficiency and sustainability strategy, claiming this could reduce emissions by up to 4% a year

• September 14, 2021 14 Sep'21

  Apple patches ForcedEntry vulnerability used by spyware firm NSO

  Apple patches ForcedEntry vulnerability that was used to target political activists with spyware

• September 13, 2021 13 Sep'21

  Smishing attacks up sevenfold in six months

  Scam text messages are reaching pandemic proportions, thanks in part to the pandemic

• September 13, 2021 13 Sep'21

  Virgin Media O2 and Fotokite trial 5G connected tethered drone

  Swiss drone company partners with UK telecoms operator to test 5G-enabled, tethered drones in a simulated rescue mission as part of a trial to elevate possibilities for emergency services and first responders

• September 10, 2021 10 Sep'21

  Providers drive into the core network fast lane as 5G race accelerates

  Study finds that in the next-generation network arena, 5G standalone core dominates key service provider activity, with an enduring need for agility and responsiveness

• September 10, 2021 10 Sep'21

  National Broadband takes on UK fibre with 5G business broadband

  New 5G-based broadband complements existing 4G infrastructure and aims to offer towns and cities compelling alternative to fibre broadband

• September 09, 2021 09 Sep'21

  UK government reveals £4m trial to use streetlamps and bus shelters to boost 5G

  Two-year project will begin to ramp up use of street furniture and public buildings to host 5G radio kit, with CCTV poles, traffic signals and other roadside infrastructure potentially used to boost coverage

• September 09, 2021 09 Sep'21

  Ericsson gets smart with 5G network services deployment

  Leading comms tech provider keeps up the pace of launches of technologies supporting next-generation network development with modular suite of tools and services

• September 07, 2021 07 Sep'21

  Banking anti-fraud scheme blocks 65% more fraud

  Scheme designed to protect vulnerable people against banking fraud has been expanded to include online scams

• September 06, 2021 06 Sep'21

  Qualcomm, Google bring premium and intelligent in-vehicle experiences to Renault Mégane

  Electric version of French car range to use third-generation Snapdragon automotive cockpit platforms and Google Technologies to design ‘seamless and cutting-edge’ in-car experiences

• September 06, 2021 06 Sep'21

  Room for improvement in UK right to repair laws

  The UK government introduced right to repair legislation earlier in 2021 to combat the growing issue of electronic waste, but data sanitisation firm Blancco says that while it’s a step in the right direction, there is definitely scope for improvement

• September 03, 2021 03 Sep'21

  Berlin court reverses ban on use of EncroChat evidence in criminal trials

  Berlin Superior Court allows use of EncroChat evidence in criminal trials but lawyers say the question will ultimately need to be decided by the German Supreme Court

• September 03, 2021 03 Sep'21

  Hybrid work boom sees 170% increase in TalkTalk full-fibre footprint

  Business growth and new ways of working have contributed to increasing investment in UK operator’s FTTP offering and wider business network over the past year as demand for reliable, gigabit broadband soars

• September 03, 2021 03 Sep'21

  Wirepas gains €10m injection to accelerate first non-cellular 5G tech development

  Increased client demand ramps up commercial launch of new enterprise IoT and 5G standard technology, now slated for 2022

• September 03, 2021 03 Sep'21

  Vodafone taps Ericsson to halve 5G energy consumption, reinforces 4G network

  Vodafone announces update to its network strategy, in particular how it is transitioning and refarming 3G spectrum to 4G, and deployment of a new 5G radio that saw energy consumption decrease

• September 02, 2021 02 Sep'21

  Global smartphone sales grow 10.8% in Q2 2021

  Research finds global smartphone arena showing double-digit growth despite supply constraints, production disruption, component shortages, factory shutdowns and closure of retail businesses

• September 02, 2021 02 Sep'21

  The Gulf is counting on its smart cities for a sustainable and profitable future

  The countries in the Gulf region are leading the way in the development of smart cities as part of their economic diversification

• August 31, 2021 31 Aug'21

  Nokia presses pause on O-RAN Alliance

  Citation of leading Chinese technology firms by US government department leads to Finnish comms tech giant halting activities in open comms software body

• August 27, 2021 27 Aug'21

  AT&T teams with Cisco to boost enterprise-based IoT

  Leading US operator and comms and networking tech giant say 5G network stands ready to deliver lower latency and faster speeds for enterprise customer internet-of-things deployments using 5G certified devices

• August 26, 2021 26 Aug'21

  Mobile trade-ins return more than half a billion dollars to US consumers in Q2

  Second-quarter 2021 edition of mobile device tracker shows more than 150% year-on-year growth, with mobile device trade-in programmes back to pre-pandemic levels

• August 26, 2021 26 Aug'21

  Vilicom taps Mavenir for UK’s first offshore Open RAN private network for windfarm connectivity

  Ending a week in which it announced technology for incorporating 2G into Open RAN standards and made a strategic acquisition to enhance its customer engagement platform, cloud-native networks software provider deploys private LTE network for ...

• August 26, 2021 26 Aug'21

  Zoom plots path to hybrid return to the workplace

  Pandemic’s breakout conferencing tool provider plans to support the new normal of hybrid working with systems recognising both remote and in-office work

• August 24, 2021 24 Aug'21

  Optus unveils first Australian demo of 5G NR-DC

  Australian operator and global comms tech firms demonstrate new radio dual connectivity technology in Sydney, boosting 5G coverage area while maintaining superfast 5G speeds

• August 24, 2021 24 Aug'21

  Charge Analytics goes Soracom to connect advanced IoT monitoring and control

  Internet-of-things solutions provider taps IoT connectivity firm to provide reliable cellular comms to simplify sending data to the cloud and support monitoring of environmental factors in highly regulated industries

• August 24, 2021 24 Aug'21

  Ericsson takes core 5G tech to Taiwan, Faroe Islands operators

  Ericsson supports Asia Pacific Telecom to launch first 5G non-standalone multi-operator core network, while Faroese Telecom inks exclusive 5G core and radio access network deal

• August 23, 2021 23 Aug'21

  A1 selects Nokia, Ericsson tech for service roll-outs across middle Europe

  Provider of digital services and communications solutions in Central and Eastern Europe chooses Nordic network technology suppliers for 5G roll-out in key selected markets

• August 23, 2021 23 Aug'21

  Vilicom, Virgin Media O2 boost enterprise comms with commercial Open RAN

  Global network design and management firm teams with recently merged operator to roll out one of the first commercial sites built on its Open RAN technology platform

• August 23, 2021 23 Aug'21

  Telekom Romania taps Mavenir to deliver cloud-native IMS, VoLTE and VoWi-Fi nets

  Move to virtualised IMS with tech from open communications software provider will facilitate operator’s network transition to 4G/LTE and 5G

• August 19, 2021 19 Aug'21

  NEC, Fujitsu begin 5G base station Open RAN tech interoperability testing

  Japanese tech giants team up to accelerate the global reach of base station equipment conforming to O-RAN specifications and aim to stimulate growth and innovation in the open 5G market

• August 19, 2021 19 Aug'21

  Vodafone aims for accelerated transformation in UK water industry with ‘unique’ IoT offering

  UK operator’s new internet of things offering enables water companies to integrate a range of devices and sensors into a single platform to reduce wastage and improve efficiency

• August 19, 2021 19 Aug'21

  Challenger banks make reputational gains in business banking

  The business banking sector is a big target for digital challengers and some are already building good reputations in the market

• August 18, 2021 18 Aug'21

  Qualcomm claims new era with 5G, AI-enabled autonomous drones

  Global mobile chip leader says platform will accelerate and scale development for manufacturers to deliver ‘powerful’ purpose-built craft that will see use cases in enterprise and industrial 5G

• August 17, 2021 17 Aug'21

  What will be the bank branch balance in the digital age?

  Will the traditional banks be permanently disadvantaged by the need to retain bank branches or could they turn it to their advantage?

• August 16, 2021 16 Aug'21

  5G smartphone penetration to reach tipping point in 2025

  As consumers adopt 5G smartphones to take advantage of high speeds and reduced latency of next-gen networks, hardware suppliers will need to build out new device capabilities to encourage consumers to upgrade regularly and avoid churn

• August 13, 2021 13 Aug'21

  Tbaytel wraps new voice communications network with Ribbon

  Independently owned telecommunications provider aims to offer its customers premium-quality voice services while reducing power costs and accelerating time to market

• August 13, 2021 13 Aug'21

  5G fixed wireless access broadband to rack up 60 million subscribers by 2026

  Demand for efficient home broadband access expected to drive deployments and migration of FWA

• August 12, 2021 12 Aug'21

  Project Endeavour concludes with autonomous vehicle passenger rides in London

  Multi-city demonstration of autonomous vehicle services ends with public showcase in London using co-ordinated fleet of six vehicles to host passenger rides for first time

• August 12, 2021 12 Aug'21

  United Group contract sees Nokia hail core 3G/4G/5G tech success

  Southeast Europe alternative telecom enhances wireless network so that it can transfer large volumes of data fast, securely and with very low latency to cope with surge in connected devices and other demands from mobile users

• August 11, 2021 11 Aug'21

  NTT claims first globally available private 5G network-as-a-service platform

  Next-generation mobile comms infrastructure to provide a suite of services to help chief information officers and chief digital officers drive business outcomes and unlock ‘innovative’ business models

• August 10, 2021 10 Aug'21

  Global 5G market set for 3.2 billion connections by 2026

  Study suggests that as network orchestration tools maximise monetisation, next-generation infrastructures will grow at a staggering rate of 940% over the next five years

• August 09, 2021 09 Aug'21

  Need for strong internet connection keeps Brits indoors

  Study from leading UK communications provider highlights that although a new normal is coming for a significant number of UK workers, so are new problems and the need to create a better work-life balance

• August 09, 2021 09 Aug'21

  Healthcare providers to deliver 765 million teleconsultations globally by 2025

  Research reveals patients will use remote consultation services 3.6 times per year on average, but need for mobile devices and connectivity will limit uptake of telehealth services to developed regions

• August 06, 2021 06 Aug'21

  Vodafone claims UK first with voice-integrated Wi-Fi booster with Alexa built-in

  UK operator expands capability of in-home broadband infrastructure with Wi-Fi booster with built-in voice control, hybrid 4G broadband backup and dedicated Wi-Fi support

• August 06, 2021 06 Aug'21

  Apple unveils plans to scan US iPhones for child sex abuse images

  Apple will introduce child sexual abuse material detection for US users later this year, but some experts are worried that the technology could be repurposed to scan phones for other kinds of content

• August 06, 2021 06 Aug'21

  Verizon, AWS take mobile edge computing to 13 of top 20 US metro areas

  Developers and businesses in three new locations now able to build and deploy applications at the edge of communication provider’s wireless network through AWS Wavelength

• August 05, 2021 05 Aug'21

  Vodafone Spain modernises customer relationship management platform with Amdocs

  Modernisation programme aims to enable Vodafone Spain to reduce the total cost of ownership and improve operational efficiency, automation and performance of its CRM system

• August 04, 2021 04 Aug'21

  Nokia, Taiwan Mobile claim first 5G carrier aggregation call in standalone architecture

  Trial declared successful in aggregating spectrum in the 700MHz and 3500MHz bands for the first time to deliver enhanced connectivity and increased coverage and support Taiwanese operator’s vision to deliver 5G services.

• July 30, 2021 30 Jul'21

  IDC: Double-digit global smartphone growth in second quarter

  Analyst finds global consumers around the world continue to show the need for mobile devices, and a particular increasing willingness to buy 5G devices as price points go down

• July 29, 2021 29 Jul'21

  Virgin Media O2 unveils UK fibre upgrade plan

  Newly merged operator announces FTTP upgrade of fixed network starting this year with completion in 2028, taking advantage of what it says is efficient fibre deployment with ‘value accretive roll-out economics’

• July 29, 2021 29 Jul'21

  Investigatory Powers Tribunal finds UK spy agencies unlawfully collected personal data

  Campaign groups Privacy International and Liberty are gearing up to bring further legal action after a court found that UK spy agencies unlawfully collected phone and internet records

• July 29, 2021 29 Jul'21

  Verizon, Samsung complete fully virtualised C-band 5G data session

  Tech giant and US operator announce C-band trial that they say paves the way for a more programmable, efficient and scalable 5G network

• July 28, 2021 28 Jul'21

  5G adoption ‘purposely delayed’ by European network strategy decision-makers

  Aiming to gain a deeper understanding of user perspectives on 5G, including adoption plans and implementation obstacles, research from IoT and wireless solutions provider claims to have found alarming lack of purpose to explore next-gen networks

• July 28, 2021 28 Jul'21

  Apple posts all-time high for Q3 revenues

  Global tech giant continues storming the consumer electronics industry, reporting record revenues for its June quarter featuring double-digit growth in each of its product categories and significant improvements in its services segment

• July 28, 2021 28 Jul'21

  5G offers potential £6.3bn boost to UK manufacturing by 2030

  In addition to outlining the potential of adding multi billions to the value of the UK manufacturing industry by the end of the decade, the UK operator recommends support for manufacturers to invest in 5G mobile private networks, and the creation of...

• July 27, 2021 27 Jul'21

  5G roamers to surpass 200 million by 2026

  With travel restrictions around the world being slowly phased out, analyst predicts 4,500% growth in 5G roaming subscribers over the next five years

• July 27, 2021 27 Jul'21

  Virgin Media O2 goes with Ericsson for 5G standalone core

  Leading 5G infrastructure technology provider selected by newly merged UK operator to deploy its cloud-native, container-based, dual-mode 5G standalone core to pave the way to deliver connectivity to enable what are claimed to be the ‘most advanced’...

• July 27, 2021 27 Jul'21

  US lawmakers call for probe into ‘arrogant’ spyware firm

  US members of Congress have called for an investigation into NSO Group, the spyware supplier at the centre of a massive surveillance scandal

• July 27, 2021 27 Jul'21

  Three UK calls for policy reform to supercharge rural gigabit broadband

  Operator says 5G-based wireless internet could deliver gigabit broadband access to rural areas more quickly and cheaply than with standard fixed-line technology

• July 26, 2021 26 Jul'21

  Qualcomm claims world first for 5G mmWave data connection

  Showcasing what it believes will be features required in anticipated 5G mmWave roll-outs in China, mobile comms tech provider unveils mmWave capabilities for global expansion with support for 200MHz carrier bandwidth

• July 23, 2021 23 Jul'21

  Plume surpasses a billion connected devices on software-defined network

  Research from SaaS experience platform provider finds consumers have accelerated investment in smart home devices during the pandemic

• July 23, 2021 23 Jul'21

  Vodafone widens reach with UK narrowband IoT coverage

  UK mobile network operator announces NB-IoT infrastructure expansion to support ongoing investments in platforms and services that will support the growing number of businesses implementing such technology to increase operational efficiency and grow...

• July 22, 2021 22 Jul'21

  Dynamic UK mobile landscape continues to evolve and improve

  BT-owned network, EE, comes to the fore as competition drives 5G roll-outs, and leading operators show marked performance improvements across first half of 2021

• July 22, 2021 22 Jul'21

  Satellite and 5G firms announce ubiquitous UK communications trial

  Space agencies and leading technology businesses test ubiquitous UK communications coverage for transportation market in region of south-west England notorious for poor communications

• July 21, 2021 21 Jul'21

  Ericsson, MediaTek claim 5G mmWave milestone

  Swedish comms tech giant and Taiwanese fabless semiconductor company team up to double current millimetre wave uplink speed ceiling to almost 500Mbps

• July 20, 2021 20 Jul'21

  Uber drivers face real-terms pay cut after service fee hike

  Unionised Uber drivers have condemned the ride-hailing firm for ‘cynically’ framing its UK service fee rise as a way of improving equality among drivers, rather than a pay cut

• July 20, 2021 20 Jul'21

  Nordic banks join forces to compete with fintechs

  Collaboration will be key for traditional Nordic banks to retain business amid intense competition from tech companies

• July 19, 2021 19 Jul'21

  Pegasus mobile RAT abused to monitor journalists and activists

  Israel-based surveillance specialist NSO Group is facing renewed pressure after it emerged its Pegasus mobile surveillance tool may be being widely abused by repressive regimes

• July 16, 2021 16 Jul'21

  Ericsson lands landmark Verizon 5G deal as it reports strong Q2

  Just as it was announcing a robust end to its first half, global comms tech provider reveals massive contract with US communications giant to deliver 5G solutions

• July 15, 2021 15 Jul'21

  Lawyers take EncroChat hacking operation to French supreme court

  Lawyers head to French supreme court after appeals court finds EnroChat inception legal under French law

• July 15, 2021 15 Jul'21

  Fintech sector continues to attract investment as Revolut hits $33bn valuation

  Revolut has become the most valuable financial technology firm in the UK after its latest round of investment, with plans for a ‘superapp’

• July 15, 2021 15 Jul'21

  ODA reaches milestone as TM Forum calls on telcos to grab cloud opportunity

  Industry association set up for driving digital transformation through collaboration calls on comms providers to take advantage of industry-defining cloud native standards

• July 15, 2021 15 Jul'21

  3G net to be retired in 2023 as BT promises 5G across entire UK by 2028

  UK’s incumbent telco unveils new mobile and convergence ambitions with almost universal next-generation wireless over next seven years

• July 14, 2021 14 Jul'21

  Mastercard, Verizon Business team to bring 5G to global payments industry

  Global payments company harnesses comms provider’s 5G network to innovate in payments and commerce sector, delivering solutions to support immersive retail technology and point-of-sale

• July 14, 2021 14 Jul'21

  O2 Business improves in-store customer experiences with advanced connectivity-based AI technology

  Technology uses artificial intelligence and video analytics to help retail businesses improve the in-store experience, with processes boosted by 5G

• July 14, 2021 14 Jul'21

  Vodafone Spain deploys Ericsson 5G Core Standalone for pre-commercial operation

  Spanish subsidiary of Vodafone follows UK and German counterparts in selecting Ericsson for core standalone solution to unlock the full potential of next-generation networks

• July 13, 2021 13 Jul'21

  More women in South Asia using mobile internet

  A GSMA study found that the gender gap is closing for mobile internet usage in South Asia, along with higher smartphone ownership fuelled by the falling cost of handsets and data

• July 13, 2021 13 Jul'21

  Buoyant Nokia expects to raise 2021 guidance

  Comms tech provider says positive news likely in forthcoming Q2 results and despite some headwinds in the second half, it has good foundation for the full year

• July 13, 2021 13 Jul'21

  SNCF on track for industrial 5G in France

  French train operator and technical partners unveil 5G Living Lab devoted to industrial practices, designed to extend 5G tests in local station and support modernisation of the group’s industrial entities

• July 13, 2021 13 Jul'21

  UK fintech investments recovering from lost year

  Fintech investments have bounced back in the first half of this year after a Covid-19-hit 2020

• July 13, 2021 13 Jul'21

  GSMA calls for 2GHz of mid-band spectrum to meet UN targets

  Starting from the position that meeting mid-band spectrum needs is vital to the future of 5G and requires forward-planning from policy-makers, mobile industry trade association warns that without additional spectrum, it will be impossible to realise...

• July 12, 2021 12 Jul'21

  KUKA taps Nokia to facilitate industrial 5G SA private wireless network

  German industrial robot manufacturer turns to comms technology provider for 5G private wireless for reliable connectivity in the development of intelligent automation

• July 12, 2021 12 Jul'21

  Liverpool 5G Create, Blu Wireless develop industry-boosting IP

  5G mmWave networking equipment provider teams with Liverpool-based part of 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme to develop new multi-sector intellectual property

• July 12, 2021 12 Jul'21

  CMA consults on market investigation into emergency services’ mobile radio network

  Competition watchdog considers whether to launch market investigation into role played by Motorola’s mobile radio network used by all emergency services in UK

• July 12, 2021 12 Jul'21

  Enterprise 5G, cloud and IoT disrupting the comms service provider market

  Research predicts major uptick in enterprise IT spending, spurred by edge, 5G and private network investments, representing significant opportunity for communications service providers in 2022 and beyond

• July 12, 2021 12 Jul'21

  IoT at tipping point but multi-region connectivity, device deployment hinder UK adoption

  Research from connectivity specialist finds three-quarters of UK respondents say their internet-of-things project is at best only somewhat successful in meeting expectations and realising benefits, but 91% still plan increased investment

• July 09, 2021 09 Jul'21

  Enterprise private LTE, 5G networks projected to realise more than $7bn in annual spend by 2026

  Study finds mission-critical use cases in manufacturing and energy/utilities driving demand for dedicated comms networks, but ecosystem remains challenging

• July 08, 2021 08 Jul'21

  Vodafone creating indoor OpenRAN solution for business customers

  UK operator Vodafone continues its momentum in developing OpenRAN solutions by partnering with Mavenir to create an indoor small cell solution for business customers

• July 08, 2021 08 Jul'21

  Virgin Media O2 unveils ‘significant’ 4G and 5G boost

  Ahead of the summer holidays, newly merged communications company announces what it says is a significant 4G and 5G boost to holiday hotspots

• July 08, 2021 08 Jul'21

  CSP share of enterprise 5G deals falls 5% in 2021

  Study shows that while the number of enterprise 5G projects doubled over the past year, competition from alternative service providers has significantly impacted CSPs’ share of the market

• July 07, 2021 07 Jul'21

  UK 5G availability and speeds progressing at steady clip

  Analyst’s latest monthly snapshot of next-generation mobile network development shows steady progress of 5G in Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle

• July 07, 2021 07 Jul'21

  Remote workers feel disconnected from company IT departments

  As hybrid working becomes the norm, study advises that now is the time to invest in more robust technology to support remote workforces for the long term, and to fend off lingering feeling of resentment over lack of support

• July 06, 2021 06 Jul'21

  Pharrowtech claims first viable fibre alternative with wireless

  Launch of 60GHz high-speed board designed to allow manufacturers and service providers to test broadband capabilities and support high-speed internet roll-out

• July 06, 2021 06 Jul'21

  TPG Telecom taps Nokia to launch world’s first live 5G standalone 700MHz service

  Leading Australian telco unveils low-band 5G standalone service to cover wide outdoor areas, as well as deep indoor urban environments using Nokia’s triple-band remote radio unit

• July 05, 2021 05 Jul'21

  Quarter of UK financial services staff want to continue working from home

  Working from home looks set to stay in the finance sector after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, as staff express their preferences for remote working