News

Unified communications

• September 22, 2021 22 Sep'21

  UK pivot to hybrid tech could add £76bn to GDP

  Study shows rise in hybrid working could boost GDP by £48bn annually as part-time workers increase hours and investment in hybrid technologies could add nearly £80bn over next four years

• September 22, 2021 22 Sep'21

  Employers worry about remote work productivity, but fail to invest in tech solutions

  Research warns employers to continue valuing in-person collaboration and to balance between safeguarding culture and a sense of team experienced though office-based working, with the virtues of hybrid working that is now essential in the new normal

• 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 15, 2021 15 Sep'21

  Zoom aims to ignite the next era of communications

  Breakout conferencing and collaboration company shows range of innovations will enable businesses in the post-Covid era to embrace change, enable hybrid workforces and grow their businesses

• September 10, 2021 10 Sep'21

  Poor home connectivity risks jeopardising switch to hybrid working

  CityFibre, Chartered Management Institute survey warns once-in-a-generation opportunity to change working practices for the better could be put at risk because of network issues

• August 31, 2021 31 Aug'21

  Zoom posts first billion-dollar revenue quarter

  Pandemic conferencing breakout star sees revenues and subs maintain robust growth track in second quarter.

• 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 26, 2021 26 Aug'21

  Gartner survey shows 44% rise in workers’ use of collaboration tools since 2019

  As the onset of a hybrid workforce becomes a reality for more firms, research shows massive spike in virtual meeting and collaboration tools since 2019, and stresses that digital workplace technologies will be essential for enabling innovation in ...

• August 25, 2021 25 Aug'21

  How to reconfigure for hybrid work

  While many businesses are reopening offices, staff are reluctant to come to the office every work day. We look at how to support hybrid work patterns

• 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 06, 2021 06 Aug'21

  Half of Gen-Z would leave job if not given a hybrid work option

  Even though two-thirds of workers surveyed by workspace technology company say hybrid work benefits mental health and productivity, over half believe that their employers are not prepared to implement it

• 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

  Profits, revenues fall but BT expands 5G, fibre in first quarter

  UK incumbent telco sees profits and revenues fall, but increases capital investments in next-generation wireless and extends Microsoft strategic partnership

• July 27, 2021 27 Jul'21

  Some 15 million UK consumers suffered major broadband outage in past year

  Study covering first full year of lockdown reveals how millions of home-workers and home-schoolers experienced internet outages when they would usually have been at their workplaces or in school

• 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 19, 2021 19 Jul'21

  Zoom expands into contact centre market

  Zoom is steadily expanding its enterprise offering and has now spent $14.5bn on an acquisition to fill a gap in its product portfolio

• 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 07, 2021 07 Jul'21

  Hybrid working model significantly affects helpdesk and support

  SASE provider’s survey finds that the IT challenge with deployed remote access technology is failing to meet enterprise requirements, forcing support and helpdesk to compensate

• 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

• June 30, 2021 30 Jun'21

  Incoherent technology investment saps motivation at mid-size businesses

  Research suggests that mid-size businesses are falling into the trap of investing in technology for technology’s sake, rather than identifying what the business actually needs, with stress especially acute supporting remote working

• June 29, 2021 29 Jun'21

  Productivity apps here to stay as quarterly mobile app spending hits all-time high

  Research from leading mobile data and analytics company App Annie finds $7bn jump in app spending year on year, suggesting the start of a global economic rebound

• June 24, 2021 24 Jun'21

  UK workers demand economic recovery to be built on better internet access

  Cisco announces index of broadband services in the UK and reveals lead role in government’s levelling-up initiative designed to help close the digital divide

• June 23, 2021 23 Jun'21

  Majority of global knowledge workers will be remote by the end of 2021

  Leading research firm predicts remote work will drive PC and tablet shipments to over 500 million units for the first time ever by the end of 2021

• June 22, 2021 22 Jun'21

  Users’ network expectations change in new normal

  Ciena study reveals how sustainability, connected industries and always-on connectivity are shaping the UK’s digital post-Covid landscape

• June 18, 2021 18 Jun'21

  Vodafone taps Ericsson to strengthen UK 5G core

  Partners to deploy cloud-native dual-mode 5G core to bring the full promise of 5G services to business users

• June 18, 2021 18 Jun'21

  Telenor, Telia tap Nokia for 5G joint network roll-out in Denmark

  Nokia to work with leading Danish mobile operators via their joint network to accelerate the delivery of 5G services across Denmark following the availability of 3.5GHz spectrum

• June 17, 2021 17 Jun'21

  Garden Court Chambers makes the case for communications transformation with UCaaS

  Rapid transition from limited on-premise systems to cloud-based video conferencing and workstream collaboration sees leading London legal firm gain ‘frictionless’ digital workplace for a team-centric experience

• June 15, 2021 15 Jun'21

  Cisco unveils catalyst for 5G at industrial IoT edge

  Communications and services giant enhances portfolio of internet of things routers to unite edge networks and scale IoT deployments in factory and production environments

• June 14, 2021 14 Jun'21

  Collaboration challenges loom but UK adults demand hybrid working

  Analysis of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on attitudes to future working practices in the UK reveals that population wants more remote working despite technical hurdles

• June 11, 2021 11 Jun'21

  Evidence emerges of new digital divide in UK connectivity

  Study shows extent to which online connectivity impacts quality of life but reveals that renters are nearly twice as likely to describe their connection as only average or unreliable, compared with home owners

• June 10, 2021 10 Jun'21

  Zoom aims to empower hybrid workforce with phone appliances

  Video conferencing provider introduces devices that offer an all-in-one desk phone solution for calls and meetings, with hardware solutions from Poly and Yealink

• June 10, 2021 10 Jun'21

  Boom in hybrid working, high-speed connectivity drive influx into UK market towns

  Network data from TalkTalk shows many UK employees are moving house as hybrid working transforms working habits and becomes very much here to stay

• June 09, 2021 09 Jun'21

  Cisco reveals new Webex to power ‘inclusive’ future of work

  Collaboration suite has new look and feel, and supports hybrid work collaboration at what is claimed to be 40% lower cost than à-la-carte systems

• June 04, 2021 04 Jun'21

  Inclusivity and participation top issues for employees in new normal

  Canva study reveals pressing need to bridge the hybrid workforce divide and for companies to adopt new technologies and processes to sustain employee happiness and productivity

• June 03, 2021 03 Jun'21

  Connectivity and flexibility deemed vital for the future of small businesses

  Research from mobile operator Three UK uncovers post-Covid work job opportunities as hybrid working set to become the default for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises

• June 03, 2021 03 Jun'21

  Zoom boom carries over into 2021

  Breakout video conferencing firm’s current fiscal quarter revenues almost treble those posted at the end of April 2020

• June 01, 2021 01 Jun'21

  Small business workers fear missing out on hybrid opportunity

  Research finds three in five small business workers expect to be predominantly office-based after Covid-19 restrictions ease, due to high levels of admin and paper-based processes

• June 01, 2021 01 Jun'21

  Businesses hail new Openreach rural full-fibre focus

  BT broadband provision division announces next step in gigabit broadband deployment programme to offer levelled-up connectivity for premises in hardest-to-reach parts of the UK

• May 25, 2021 25 May'21

  Edge computing drives business innovation

  Intel research identifies edge computing as a critical factor that businesses must harness to navigate and understand data now and into the future

• May 25, 2021 25 May'21

  BSO draws on Arc to deliver on-demand connectivity in Middle East

  Joint venture will interconnect companies’ network footprints in the Middle East, connecting digital hubs and providing inter-regional connectivity

• May 21, 2021 21 May'21

  Zoom launches Events platform for virtual experiences

  Breakout conferencing platform makes next evolutionary step with platform for producing and monetising interactive virtual events and conferences

• May 20, 2021 20 May'21

  Virgin Media, O2 merger gains final UK regulatory approval

  Competition watchdog CMA removes last stumbling block and gives green light for what is being described as a watershed moment for the UK comms market

• May 20, 2021 20 May'21

  5G-enabled sales to surpass €400bn and offer huge green gains by 2030

  Commissioned by global telco, study in five European geographies finds hugely positive socio-economic impact from 5G roll-out in terms of enabled sales, employment and reduced greenhouse gas emissions

• May 18, 2021 18 May'21

  Covid lockdowns dent Vodafone fiscal year

  Revenues fall for fixed and wireless operator as mobile users obey stay-at-home orders but overall yearly service takings are described as stable, returning to growth in the second half

• May 17, 2021 17 May'21

  AT&T to focus on fibre, 5G after WarnerMedia merger with Discovery

  Media mega-deal presents leading US operator with opportunity to unlock value and be one of the best capitalised broadband companies

• May 13, 2021 13 May'21

  Employers rethinking office space, collaboration and technology in new hybrid workplace

  As the pandemic eases, many business leaders are engaged with effectively offering remote working flexibility and are creating and communicating plans to their employees, setting expectations and guidelines moving forward

• May 13, 2021 13 May'21

  BT raises fibre broadband roll-out target despite challenging year

  Impact of Covid-19 on consumer business combined with reduction in enterprise activity dents revenues and profits in a tough financial year, but UK telco promises significant growth in gigabit broadband roll-out

• May 12, 2021 12 May'21

  Cisco indicates intent to buy Socio Labs, Sedona Systems

  Network giant aims to purchase developer of technology to deliver automation for routed optical networking, and modern event technology platform provider

• May 11, 2021 11 May'21

  UK digital leaders expect long-term changes to future working patterns

  Research from digital infrastructure company reveals changing working patterns brought about by Covid-19, including a surge in digital infrastructure investment

• May 11, 2021 11 May'21

  New normal of remote, hybrid working sees two-thirds of European businesses increase IT spend

  Remote IT support, cloud-based systems and cyber security infrastructure are among top IT investment priorities across all sectors as firms reassess priorities and practices in post-Covid working environment

• May 07, 2021 07 May'21

  Mildenhall claims digital communications upgrade first for East of England

  Openreach focuses on Suffolk market town for the next step towards upgrading to digital services, with properties now unable to buy copper broadband if they are upgrading, regrading or switching provider

• May 07, 2021 07 May'21

  Brunel goes SD-WAN with Orange Business Services

  Global specialist recruitment consultancy aims to accelerate time to market for new global offices with software-defined networking architecture

• May 07, 2021 07 May'21

  Ericsson, Telarus team to take 5G-ready virtual workspace to small businesses

  5G-ready virtual desktop subscription service will cover business applications, compute, storage and security needs for small and medium-sized businesses

• May 05, 2021 05 May'21

  Deloitte: Widespread broadband infrastructure critical to the US economy

  Deloitte study finds that increased broadband coverage, adoption and speed is needed to create more US jobs and GDP, but warns of diminishing returns due to lack of widespread, high-quality broadband access

• May 04, 2021 04 May'21

  Aryaka acquires cloud-based SASE platform Secucloud

  SD-WAN provider makes its first-ever acquisition with purchase of German security company

• April 26, 2021 26 Apr'21

  JLL assures better office experience for hybrid workforce

  Real estate and investment management professional services firm introduces collaboration suite designed to enhance employee connectivity, solidifying its suite of hybrid workplace offerings

• April 21, 2021 21 Apr'21

  Neos Networks launches business-grade Ethernet FTTx service across UK

  Former SSE Enterprise Telecoms aims to provide a cost-effective, sub-1Gbps solution to support growing demand for full-fibre connectivity

• April 21, 2021 21 Apr'21

  Virgin Media innovation trials deliver 2.2Gbps broadband speeds

  Latest stage in cableco’s trials of multi-gigabit broadband speeds in Southampton and Manchester deliver speeds around 40 times faster than the local average connection

• April 21, 2021 21 Apr'21

  EMEA business leaders out of touch with employees’ needs in new hybrid workplace

  Research finds more alignment with staff is needed for firms to address the new hybrid world of work but nearly half of businesses plan tech investments to further improve the workplace experience

• April 20, 2021 20 Apr'21

  Zoom unveils $100m apps fund

  After a blazing year fuelled by the pandemic, breakout conferencing solutions provider announces venture fund to stimulate innovation in the apps ecosystem

• April 16, 2021 16 Apr'21

  CityFibre switches on Milton Keynes to gigabit and names Edinburgh infrastructure lead

  Gigabit provider City Fibre says it is enabling thousands more residents in Milton Keynes to access its full-fibre network and high-speed broadband services, and names Paul Wakefield as lead of infrastructure build in Edinburgh

• April 15, 2021 15 Apr'21

  Openreach selects STL as a strategic partner for full-fibre build-out

  BT-owned broadband provision division teams with digital network integrator to hasten full-fibre network build and provide skills and innovation to extend reach and scope

• April 14, 2021 14 Apr'21

  UK employees’ adaptation to Covid workplace creates digital transformation dilemma

  Research finds nearly two-fifths of UK employees fear the ‘old way’ of doing things will return after the pandemic

• April 13, 2021 13 Apr'21

  UK workforce finds happiness in ability to work from anywhere

  Study finds 44% of UK workers consider the ability to work remotely as a driver of happiness and 61% would support government policies aimed at the widespread adoption of ‘hybrid’ working practices

• April 12, 2021 12 Apr'21

  Software République consortium to cash in on intelligent, sustainable mobility opportunities

  With new value propositions at stake, five IT, industrial, automotive and comms leaders have laid the foundations for an open innovation ecosystem in the mobility market

• April 12, 2021 12 Apr'21

  Almost half of UK office workers fear return to offices

  Research shows 83% of UK office workers agree that flexible working is here to stay, but fears persist of catching Covid-19 from colleagues if they return to the office

• April 12, 2021 12 Apr'21

  5PRING, Ferrovial challenge UK 5G innovators to lead UK construction ‘revolution’

  Leading UK 5G testbed provider announces partnership with global infrastructure operator to understand and assist in the development of the potential 5G has to take construction to a new level

• April 07, 2021 07 Apr'21

  More than two-thirds of staff want flexible working to stay

  Microsoft research finds 71% of UK workers want flexible work options to remain after the Covid crisis has passed and one-third are likely to move to a new location in the next year because they can work remotely

• April 07, 2021 07 Apr'21

  Businesses need to heed employee bounce in hybrid workplace

  Workplace tech firm releases study showing how firms are grappling with the depth and breadth of the return-to-office process and unveils new platform to help enable an effective hybrid workplace

• April 07, 2021 07 Apr'21

  Over a quarter of C-suites say their hybrid work model won’t be ready until 2022

  Survey reveals few companies have got in place, or even established, norms and policies to address the new world of hybrid working

• April 07, 2021 07 Apr'21

  5G Future Forum calls for members

  Hoping to provide “a beacon of opportunities previously untapped”, 5G Future Forum is seeking new members to bolster ecosystem of expanded 5G partnerships and establish global edge market that drives innovation, collaboration and competition

• April 06, 2021 06 Apr'21

  Firms balance new tech deployment, security and skills as IT moves past pandemic

  Sunburst cyber attack rubs salt into the wounds of firms struggling to cope with the new demands on networks in the post-Covid working environment, says survey

• April 01, 2021 01 Apr'21

  2020 network upstream growth rate nearly 4x pre-pandemic levels

  OpenVault study shows the impact of business hours increases and individual subscriber behaviour on upstream capacity is putting unprecedented strain on network operators

• April 01, 2021 01 Apr'21

  Plume introduces WorkPass for small businesses

  Smart home tech provider offers secure hyper connectivity and personalised smart home solutions as the home becomes the office

• March 31, 2021 31 Mar'21

  Cisco launches next-gen networking suite to address post-pandemic ‘new normal’

  Networking technology and services giant makes significant expansion of network line as it recognises that as workforces become increasingly hybrid, traditional network and security frameworks can no longer keep pace

• March 30, 2021 30 Mar'21

  Employees express high expectations of IT in world of ‘work from anywhere’

  Research from network performance monitoring solution provider AppNeta finds pandemic pushing organisations to transform workplace models to accommodate ‘new normal’ of work

• March 26, 2021 26 Mar'21

  Three-quarters of employees feel worse from remote working

  Survey by security technology specialist reveals that the thrill of home working has gone, and there is a generational divide in working conditions

• March 26, 2021 26 Mar'21

  Remote working burn-out a factor in security risk

  After a year of working from the kitchen table, stress and burn-out are increasing, giving rise to more security risks – and Millennials seem to be particularly affected

• March 24, 2021 24 Mar'21

  Sky enters business broadband arena with Sky Connect

  Broadband provider launches scheme to give UK’s small businesses a better broadband experience, creating 1,000 jobs in the process

• March 24, 2021 24 Mar'21

  Google Cloud claims revolution with Network Connectivity Centre

  Cloud giant introduces platform designed to allow enterprises to simplify complex heterogeneous networks for on-prem and cloud connectivity needs and connect with Cisco SD-WAN as a single network

• March 24, 2021 24 Mar'21

  PCCW Global expands SD-WAN services with uCPE, NFV

  Hong Kong-based international communications service provider brings new level of user experience, enhanced security, automation and simplified management to global infrastructure

• March 23, 2021 23 Mar'21

  SD-WAN, SASE see spike as firms experience ‘network nightmare’ in 2020

  Networking tech firm’s annual survey shows Covid-driven home networking sees network complexity skyrocket

• March 23, 2021 23 Mar'21

  Why collaboration is the next driver in enterprise software

  Use of enterprise collaboration tools has exploded during the pandemic. Now they are expanding their remit into the realm of enterprise systems

• March 22, 2021 22 Mar'21

  Big four make small impression in Which? UK broadband survey

  As remote working became the default during the UK lockdown, the importance of dependable and enterprise-acceptable home broadband was never more crucial, but Which? shows that the country’s largest providers have proved a let-down regarding ...

• March 22, 2021 22 Mar'21

  Altnet association warns of threat to UK full-fibre roll-out

  Independent Networks Co-operative Association warns that recent momentum in gigabit broadband implementation could be delayed if independent providers and their investors believe UK comms regulator is not willing to listen to their concerns

• March 19, 2021 19 Mar'21

  Avaya adds AI, advanced meeting capabilities to Spaces collaboration platform

  IP comms firm announces new capabilities for workstream collaboration platform, offering evolved unified communications capabilities via a user’s preferred device

• March 19, 2021 19 Mar'21

  UK online traffic soars during year in lockdown

  Research from leading UK ISP reveals online usage in the UK has increased by 78% year-on-year since the first lockdown

• March 19, 2021 19 Mar'21

  Employers face delicate balancing act as hybrid workforce emerges from lockdown

  Study from UK telco advises firms to prepare for the divided demands of the post-lockdown workforce

• March 18, 2021 18 Mar'21

  Ofcom revamps wholesale broadband rules to ramp up full-fibre roll-out

  UK comms regulator announces new guidelines for the UK wholesale telecoms market, with the principal aim to drive investment in fibre gigabit services and support the closure of the UK’s copper network

• March 12, 2021 12 Mar'21

  Eseye looks to Verizon to enable IoT localisation

  Partnership aims to enable customers with global IoT deployments to localise devices over-the-air to operator’s network, avoiding permanent roaming issues and delivering global IoT connectivity

• March 11, 2021 11 Mar'21

  Community Fibre scales up gigabit offerings for London businesses

  ISP pivots from home to business to provide new features tailored to SMEs’ needs and hires new head of business and wholesale to assist post-lockdown working environment

• March 11, 2021 11 Mar'21

  O2 Business aims to boost flexible working with digital workplace

  Operator strengthens digital workplace portfolio with two new propositions to help business owners get the latest devices and integrate voice services for Microsoft Teams

• March 10, 2021 10 Mar'21

  LogMeIn refreshes GoToConnect to support permanent shift to flexible work

  Collaboration technology provider enhances core suite to empower customers to connect from anywhere and integrate with leading collaboration systems

• March 10, 2021 10 Mar'21

  AT&T adds managed SASE to portfolio

  Comms and IT provider AT&T teams with security specialist Fortinet to offer network solution based on SASE principles to support distributed workforces and solve associated challenges

• March 05, 2021 05 Mar'21

  T-Mobile targets post-pandemic workplace with remote working suite

  Aiming to address a world of work in which Covid-19 brought a decade’s worth of progress in a year’s time,T-Mobile launches a collaborative solutions suite that it says will meet the challenges of remote working head on

• March 05, 2021 05 Mar'21

  Connectivity the ‘unsung hero’ of the future of work

  Research finds that by stripping away bureaucracy, flattening hierarchies and streamlining processes, the response to Covid-19 has given an indication as to how work could and should change for the better, but there will be losers along with the ...

• March 05, 2021 05 Mar'21

  Vodafone promises ‘unbreakable’ broadband without breaking the bank

  New hybrid Pro Broadband product aims to deliver Wi-Fi in every room through hybrid router that is claimed to deliver uninterrupted wireless connectivity

• March 04, 2021 04 Mar'21

  UK network users burn through unprecedented data in lockdown 3

  Coinciding with the launch of Call of Duty: Warzone update, Virgin Media records its busiest day on record, with the average user downloading more than 20GB of data

• February 26, 2021 26 Feb'21

  Three UK broadens 4G, 5G reach

  UK operator reveals the pace at which its 5G network is expanding according to an expansion plan announced at end of 2020 and gives visibility into its 4G net build

• February 25, 2021 25 Feb'21

  Community Fibre claims progress in London gigabit roll-out

  ISP doubles the number of London homes enabled with its full-fibre broadband to more than 200,000 and increases its customer base by 130% in a year