Opinion

Opinion

Telecoms networks and broadband communications

• Securing the UK's emerging smart cities

  UK councils have a huge opportunity to improve services through the use of smart city technologies - but they must avoid the cyber security risks, says the government's digital minister  Continue Reading

• Artificial intelligence will maximise efficiency of 5G network operations

  You’ll have heard of developments that would combine 5G networks with artificial intelligence to enable autonomous vehicles, augmented reality glasses, free-roaming robots, delivery drones and more. It’s anyone’s guess when these applications will ...  Continue Reading

• How satellite connectivity can combat the digital divide

  Research shows satellite connectivity is now a credible alternative for demanding customers, and there are various actions that operators can take to help combat the digital divide  Continue Reading

• What we need in the UK’s telecoms diversification strategy

  Removing Huawei from the UK’s 5G networks creates huge problems in the resiliency and deployment of next-generation mobile. The government’s strategy must tackle these challenges  Continue Reading

• What’s next for Wi-Fi?

  New and emerging 802.11 wireless LAN technologies continue to develop. Users who need to replace routers have a decision to make: buy now or wait for the next upgrade cycle in 2021?  Continue Reading

• What if we find we rather like this working from home thing?

  Sometimes it takes a major economic shock to change the accepted wisdom of economics and work – our working life after the coronavirus crisis might be very different  Continue Reading

• Coronavirus: What does the ‘new normal’ mean for how we work?

  Examining the long-term impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic on the world of work, security, privacy and networks  Continue Reading

• Gigabit broadband for new homes is essential to UK’s telecoms ambitions

  Digital minister outlines plans to develop UK’s telecoms infrastructure to make it fit for the future  Continue Reading

• A five-point plan to get the UK out of the Huawei hole

  It's not too late for the UK to develop an alternative to Huawei, says Labour's shadow digital minister  Continue Reading

• Making gigabit broadband a reality for everyone in the UK

  As the new government introduces its first legislation to boost full-fibre broadband, digital minister Matt Warman looks ahead to delivering on the Conservatives’ election promises  Continue Reading

• Conservative Party: Fostering an environment for IT and digital to flourish

  Matt Warman, Conservative MP and minister for digital and broadband, outlines the Tory policies for technology and digital ahead of the General Election  Continue Reading

• Australia's broadband network is a cautionary tale for UK broadband policy

  The UK Labour Party has led calls for a nationalised broadband network, but the lessons of Australia's attempts to introduce a similar policy provide cause for caution  Continue Reading

• Is there substance in Boris Johnson’s full-fibre broadband vision?

  The new prime minister made a bold promise to roll out full-fibre broadband across the country by 2025 – but it’s a challenging task that requires serious investment and planning  Continue Reading

• UK businesses deserve a 5G networked nation

  The tech sector needs to coalesce around a unified, positive vision of 5G to establish a proper business case for ultrafast, low latency mobile  Continue Reading

• Space – the new frontier in cyber security

  50 years after the Moon landings, our growing reliance on satellite communications presents a new target for malicious cyber attacks  Continue Reading

• Boosting the UK’s digital infrastructure so it is fit for the future

  Extending full-fibre broadband and mobile network coverage are critical issues for a healthy UK economy – and a new prime minister must continue progress  Continue Reading

• Britain’s 5G roll-out – What is plan B?

  The government has ambitious aspirations in respect of Britain’s full-fibre and 5G networks. But among all the Brexit fog, has it managed to shoot itself in the foot with the roll-out of 5G mobile?  Continue Reading

• Does NHS Digital’s Internet First policy mean the end of HSCN?

  Last week, NHS Digital issued new policy guidance on internet usage that, at first glance, appeared to herald the end of HSCN – but is that really the case?  Continue Reading

• 5G’s first five years: A look ahead

  With 5G mobile networks edging closer to reality, GSMA Intelligence’s Matthew Iji looks ahead to consider how the technology will be adopted between now and 2024  Continue Reading

• Bright future for OTT video – if the network can support it

  The emergence of over the top video services is having a massive impact on underlying network technology, according to the ITP  Continue Reading

• From Aberdeen to Brighton: Investing in the UK’s digital future

  More investment in the UK’s broadband infrastructure is critical to ensure the UK’s future success in technology in a post-Brexit world  Continue Reading

• Beyond GDPR: ePrivacy could have an even greater impact on mobile

  From how we monitor air pollution and manage our public transport systems, to how we enable connected cars and the next generation of 5G mobile services, the forthcoming ePR could have a lasting impact on European society  Continue Reading

• Is 5G more than just another generation of mobile?

  Although several mobile network operators have announced launch dates for 5G services, many people remain unsure about the aspirations for 5G, what it means for users, its monetisation and its timescales  Continue Reading

• If 5G is the answer, what is the question?

  5G mobile networks are not the be-all and end-all when it comes to delivering consistent nationwide connectivity, says network standards expert William Webb  Continue Reading

• Building on the UK tech sector’s momentum in 2018

  The UK’s digital and tech industry made great progress in 2017, and the government aims to further its support in 2018, says digital minister  Continue Reading

• How artificial intelligence and digitisation is transforming Australia

  Australia is being transformed by artificial intelligence and digitisation, particularly in areas such as education and public safety  Continue Reading

• Is the tide going out for transatlantic data flows?

  Businesses face new uncertainty over their ability to share data with the US, as Europe’s highest court reassesses the legality of the EU’s model data-sharing contracts  Continue Reading

• Passive optical LAN: When network speed, bandwidth and security matter

  Copper-based local area networks are increasingly unfit for purpose in a digital enterprise, but passive optical LANs may be a solution. Tech evangelist Paul Ryan, European chair of the Association of Passive Optical LAN, explains why  Continue Reading

• Roam like at Home will prompt European telco consolidation

  Mobile users are understandably looking forward to an era of low phone costs now they can roam freely around the European Union, but it is very possible that they will be disappointed  Continue Reading

• Investing in networks for the future – regulatory developments

  Regulators are increasingly focused on the policy objective of facilitating investment in new network technologies and high-quality broadband services. Angus Finnegan and Saher Ahmed outline some recent developments in this area in the UK and EU  Continue Reading

• 5G mobile must be transformative, not mission impossible

  The opportunities from 5G are considerable, but the preparations are complex – we need greater collaboration up front  Continue Reading

• £200 million fund can speed up demand for speedy FTTP broadband

  The value of the government’s £200m broadband fund should not be measured in monetary terms, but in terms of demand generation, says Lyndsey Burton, founder of comparison site Choose.co.uk  Continue Reading

• Four reforms to deliver competitive broadband

  The UK will never benefit from ‘gold standard full fibre’ broadband without major reforms to the fabric of government, writes Ed Straw  Continue Reading

• The politics of things: Policymakers must help shape the IoT

  Saverio Romeo, principal analyst at Beecham Research, explores the role of policymakers in the rapidly expanding internet of things  Continue Reading

• Is ‘OK’ OK? Delivering the next government network platform

  As GDS signals its intent to move away from the Public Services Network, the industry and public sector must work together to create a new internet-based network platform for government  Continue Reading

• Telcos need real-time analytics strategies to capitalise on big data

  In order to capitalise on the value from big data and operate as intelligent businesses, telcos must develop real-time analytics strategies, advises Accenture  Continue Reading

• The future of diversification in the mobile sector

  Diversification will take a vital role in the mobile market in 2017, with the realisation that mobile operators can no longer be a ‘dumb pipe’  Continue Reading

• Telecoms: Opportunities and challenges in 2017

  The telecoms sector is undergoing profound change, particularly in terms of consumer demand and technology, says Angus Finnegan of law firm Taylor Wessing  Continue Reading

• Fight against Investigatory Powers Bill may not be over

  Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says that wider society must now debate the controversial Investigatory Powers Bill, despite Parliamentary approval  Continue Reading

• Scotland, the perfect home for digital nomads?

  Scotland needs public and private sector support for entrepreneurs, and ubiquitous superfast broadband if its digital economy is to thrive, says MSP Jamie Greene  Continue Reading

• Obituary: Jonathan Green-Armytage, former Computer Weekly journalist

  Computer Weekly marks the passing of one of the great tech reporters from the 1980s and 1990s  Continue Reading

• ESN: a long-term evolution or a game-changing revolution?

  There is little doubt that the Home Office’s plan to update the Emergency Services Network is transformational, but how does it compare internationally?  Continue Reading

• Ofcom seems to have forgotten its remit, and actually that’s no surprise

  Ofcom made the wrong choice by putting economists in charge, and is in danger of forgetting its remit, says Simon Rockman  Continue Reading

• It’s not too late to turn the tide on Investigatory Powers Bill

  The government has set David Anderson QC an almost impossible task in his review of the sweeping bulk powers proposed in the Investigatory Powers Bill – but it is not too late to make a difference  Continue Reading

• How can telcos respond to the strategic questions they face?

  Traditional telcos are under tremendous pressure to reinvent themselves to remain competitive and relevant. BDO’s Christian Goetz looks at the options  Continue Reading

• New Zealand reaps fibre benefits as copper-choked UK risks digital exclusion

  Telecoms and technology consultant, futurist and ex-BT CTO Peter Cochrane highlights the urgency for the UK to consider FTTP if it wants to maintain its place in the world economy  Continue Reading

• Fear, uncertainty and data doubt hold back public Wi-Fi

  Venue owners’ uncertainty and befuddlement over what they can actually do with their Wi-Fi infrastructure and the data carried over it is hindering their ability to realise the full potential of public Wi-Fi  Continue Reading

• A legal perspective on Ofcom’s BT Openreach review

  Frances Murphy, partner, and Joanna Christoforou, of counsel, from the London office of global law firm Morgan Lewis examine Ofcom’s review of BT’s Openreach  Continue Reading

• New 5G spectrum rules urgently needed for European innovators

  Europe risks falling behind if it does not move to establish 5G spectrum standards soon  Continue Reading

• Sparks of creativity as energy and digital futures collide

  Digital technologies consume way too much energy and present an environmental and sustainability issue that demands a fresh design approach  Continue Reading

• Floods reveal weaknesses in the resilience of UK broadband

  December’s floods exposed a major flaw in the UK’s fibre to the cabinet networks, which are almost impossible to waterproof  Continue Reading

• Why quality of experience matters more than quality of service

  David Brunnen writes about why regulators should start thinking about quality of experience when it comes to broadband and not simply the quality of service  Continue Reading

• The problem of smart cities and connectivity in the UK

  Only once leaders develop a framework for local economic and societal development can the “smart city” buzz can evolve into “intelligent communities”  Continue Reading

• The UK needs pace and scale to be a global leader

  The World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report 2015 saw the UK ranked eighth, up one place from 2014  Continue Reading

• Super-connected cities plan hailed a success, says digital minister Ed Vaizey

  Government minister Ed Vaizey writes about the roll-out of the super-connected cities initiative  Continue Reading

• Turkey’s internet restrictions – a hindrance to the country’s IT ambitions?

  Legal experts examine recent changes to Turkish Internet Law and the potential impact on the country’s IT business environment  Continue Reading

• A digital Magna Carta – is Tim Berners-Lee on the right track?

  Sir Tim Berners-Lee argues that we need a “digital Magna Carta” to establish fundamental rights online – but what would it mean?  Continue Reading

• Making the case for network modernisation

  It's time to break out of reactive investment mode, says Dale Vile, research director at analyst group Freeform Dynamics  Continue Reading

• Laying the iOS 6 Foundation

  The main purpose of Apple's purchase of NeXT in the 1990s was to obtain the operating system that was to become today's OS X and iOS  Continue Reading

• Is the smart meter programme really doomed? Don’t panic...

  The UK's £11bn smart meter roll-out has been heavily criticised - but is it really the disaster in the making that it has been portrayed?  Continue Reading

• Near field communication (NFC): Latest shockwave of the technological invasion

  By Vedak Coskun, co-author of "Professional NFC Application Development for Android"  Continue Reading

• 4G auction is an opportunity to invest in innovation

  The UK will soon begin to auction the 4G mobile spectrum, raising as much as £4bn. How that money is spent will be a test of what the UK really values  Continue Reading

• Mobile devices: balancing security and morale

  In today's ever-evolving world of new gadgets, devices and connected technologies, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep a cap on the new risks that arise on a daily basis, writes Clint Merritt, CISSP, senior information security analyst for...  Continue Reading

• Better broadband

  Poor service blights growth in broadband penetration, says Lucy Woods.  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: Wi-Fi is no longer sci-fi

  Falling wireless networking costs can bring broadband home, says Andrew James.  Continue Reading