Telecoms networks and broadband communications
Broadband communications and telecoms networks have been key enablers for the internet revolution and for organisations using the web to deliver new online services. Broadband is key to the UK's economic success and competiveness, and the roll out of superfast, fibre-based networks to deliver the next generation of services has become a political and technological issue, especially for rural networks on the wrong side of the digital divide. We analyse the implications and opportunities for IT managers as broadband adoption continues to grow.
-
News
26 Apr 2024
Global 5G non-terrestrial networks show growth but stay in infancy
Mobile industry trade body’s latest report on satellite networks for cellular comms shows that while satellites are rapidly gaining prominence, the full extent of their potential to complement terrestrial networks, phone services and broadband is still unclear Continue Reading
-
News
25 Apr 2024
UK gigabit maintains steady progress
Latest study of UK communications market from national regulator finds access to gigabit broadband and 5G mobile coverage has risen over past 12 months Continue Reading
-
News
21 Dec 2021
Three, EE agree to provide mobile connectivity across whole London Tube network
Mobile operators’ deal gives their customers coverage across London Underground with connectivity to ticket halls, platforms and tunnels Continue Reading
-
News
21 Dec 2021
Nokia wins five-year sole vendor 5G deal with Elisa Estonia
Comms tech provider replaces incumbent supplier in enabling Baltic telco to swap out existing 4G network nationwide with 5G AirScale portfolio and develop O-RAN ecosystem Continue Reading
-
News
21 Dec 2021
UK IT shapes up for hybrid new normal in 2022
The latest Computer Weekly IT Priorities survey shows that secure connectivity and cloud remain at the core of enterprises’ needs for the foreseeable future Continue Reading
-
News
21 Dec 2021
Top 10 telecoms stories of 2021
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 telecoms stories of 2021 Continue Reading
-
News
16 Dec 2021
EE to upgrade 4G in more than 2,000 rural UK areas by 2024
BT-owned UK mobile operator sets out to improve rural connectivity across the UK as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme, with more than 1,500 upgrades to follow as it invests to reduce partial notspots Continue Reading
-
News
16 Dec 2021
5G, fibre flourish in UK in 2021
Full-fibre broadband is now available to more than eight million homes as roll-out accelerates and ‘decent’ broadband is at highest-ever level Continue Reading
-
Feature
16 Dec 2021
How enterprise 5G is playing out in Australia
5G adoption is taking place in the industrial arena and other sectors, but telcos will need to transform themselves and overcome cost challenges to drive wider adoption Continue Reading
-
News
15 Dec 2021
Neos Networks brings high-capacity fibre access to leading UK cities and Oxfordshire
UK business connectivity provider opens first of four metro access networks to offer last-mile services direct to nearly 10,000 regional businesses and those in the City of London while also announcing rural county expansion plan to connect over 200 public service sites in a bid to improve digital and social inclusion Continue Reading
-
News
15 Dec 2021
Avaya enhances educational and logistics environments with UCaaS and cloud
Supply chain leader supports business expansion and supercharges agent retention with cloud comms platform, and enables ‘exceptional’ education experiences for thousands of students with unified comms as a service Continue Reading
-
News
14 Dec 2021
Increased Altice BT shareholding fuels UK government jitters
Significant increase in stakeholdership by potential buyer of UK incumbent telco prompts UK government to warn of potential threat to levelling-up agenda Continue Reading
-
News
13 Dec 2021
F1 accelerates into advanced networking
Networking providers boost UAE circuit’s communications infrastructure and see use in providing leading team with an agile and highly automated network platform across new technology campus Continue Reading
-
News
13 Dec 2021
Volvo Car UK deploys Vodafone IoT stolen vehicle tracking technology
Car manufacturer taps telco to provide 24/7 monitoring of vehicle location using internet-of-things tracking device for all models across the UK and 44 other European countries, working in partnership with local police authorities Continue Reading
-
News
10 Dec 2021
More than 50% of UK workers would quit without hybrid work
Research provides insight into the views of UK workers regarding splitting time between the office and home Continue Reading
-
News
09 Dec 2021
CIOs, senior IT management accelerate private 5G network deployment
Research of more than 200 CIOs and senior executives reveals the acceleration of private 5G networks as organisations look to improve security, reliability and speed Continue Reading
-
News
09 Dec 2021
NEXTDC opens edge datacentre on the Sunshine Coast
NEXTDC’s SC1 facility is the first in a series of edge datacentre sites that will provide low-latency services to regional businesses and global linkages Continue Reading
-
News
08 Dec 2021
UK 2G and 3G mobile networks to be switched off by 2033, Open RAN to carry 35% of traffic by 2030
Latest part of UK government’s £50m package to boost innovation in mobile technology and increase diversity in supply, will see acceleration in Open RAN, with 2G and 3G to be phased out by 2033 Continue Reading
-
News
07 Dec 2021
Virgin Media O2 completes full gigabit access over entire footprint
Gigabit speeds now available across UK cableco’s entire network, offering average download speeds of 1.130GMbps supporting hyperfast services Continue Reading
-
News
07 Dec 2021
Volkswagen begins 5G private wireless network pilot project
Private 5G wireless network to support industrial connectivity at the production development centre and pilot hall at car giant’s headquarters plant in Wolfsburg Continue Reading
-
News
06 Dec 2021
Network technologies shaping post-Covid global recovery
Latest round-up ranking world’s most ‘network ready’ markets revealing how countries around the world are using information technologies to emerge from the Covid pandemic and become network ready. Continue Reading
-
News
06 Dec 2021
Streaming surges see BT chief call for new net neutrality regulations
Marc Allera demands action on fairness in internet carriage as Amazon-hosted Premier League football drives new peak in traffic, 12% above previous high Continue Reading
-
News
03 Dec 2021
Virgin Money adapts offices to fit flexible and collaborative working
Virgin Money is repurposing its offices to fit a future where staff will work from home and visit offices to collaborate Continue Reading
-
News
02 Dec 2021
AWS throws down the gauntlet in private 5G sector
Many analysts forecast that 2021 would be the year of private 5G. Now such predictions have received an almost royal seal of approval with the launch of AWS Private 5G Continue Reading
-
News
02 Dec 2021
Chipset shortages to put brake on 5G roll-out in 2022
Research firm reveals telecoms, media and tech trends to watch in 2022, highlighting developments in Metaverse, 5G, gaming and connectivity Continue Reading
-
News
02 Dec 2021
Orange Business Services, Wirepas team for IoT smart tracking
Internet-of-things collaboration will focus on the ability to bring concrete results to businesses, such as saving time, and securing and traceability of assets Continue Reading
-
News
01 Dec 2021
Neos Networks completes latest leg in infrastructure expansion
UK business connectivity provider hits target of 550 unbundled BT exchanges and confirms plans to continue expansion and boost local access networks Continue Reading
-
News
01 Dec 2021
Global satellite broadband addressable market to grow to 330 million premises by 2026
Research warns that even with the proliferation of mobile and fixed broadband access globally, there is still a significant portion of the population that suffers from poor coverage, offering a huge opportunity for satellite comms Continue Reading
-
News
01 Dec 2021
Rakuten Mobile and University of Tokyo investigate LEO satellite-based IoT
Japanese operator and local university begin research and development programme as part of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology’s Beyond 5G R&D Promotion Project Continue Reading
-
News
30 Nov 2021
Satellite and 4G/5G-driven autonomous shuttle hits the road in Oxfordshire
Darwin Innovation Group is running an autonomous shuttle to transport passengers around Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in a one-year trial funded by UK and European space agencies to demonstrate how self-driving vehicles operate in a real-world setting, with data transmitted via O2’s mobile networks and Hispasat’s satellites Continue Reading
-
News
30 Nov 2021
5G becomes the fastest-deployed mobile generation to date
Tenth anniversary edition of in-depth study of mobile market reveals 5.5 billion additional smartphone users since 2011 and 4.4 billion 5G subscriptions forecast by the end of 2027 Continue Reading
-
News
30 Nov 2021
Rapidly changing hybrid workforce sees IT departments struggle to keep up
Research finds faulty technology is leaving businesses ill-equipped to support the future of working, warning that tech-savvy workers will expect more from their employers Continue Reading
-
News
29 Nov 2021
5G to the fore in five-year Ooredoo-Nokia strategic agreement
Multi-country strategic deal sees Nokia supply telco with technologies including 5G, RAN, Core, Optics, IP and microwave across Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia Continue Reading
-
News
29 Nov 2021
Porsche revs up for private 5G in production
Leading sports car manufacturer enters into research partnership with Ericsson to take advantage of 5G networks to accelerate production capabilities at manufacturing production complex Continue Reading
-
News
29 Nov 2021
Singapore telcos get more 5G spectrum
Singtel, M1-StarHub and TPG will be getting 2.1GHz spectrum to support the growth of 5G services in the city-state Continue Reading
-
News
26 Nov 2021
Nokia strikes gold in Lapland with 5G private wireless network
Comms tech provider implements private network at gold mine, reaching depths of up to 1km to connect people, equipment, sensors, devices and vehicles Continue Reading
-
News
26 Nov 2021
Ericsson, Telstra claim 5G industry first deployment with spectrum sharing
Comms tech provider teams with Australian operator for first successful deployment of spectrum sharing to simplify the management and evolution of multiple generations of technology on base station sites, enabling expanded 5G coverage Continue Reading
-
News
26 Nov 2021
VMware, Mitacs set sights on discovering sustainable path for 6G
Partnership will drive applied research with Canadian universities in the areas of sustainable grid, digital equity and clean tech involving 6G Continue Reading
-
News
26 Nov 2021
Vodafone announces trial of self-powered mobile masts
Operator says self-powered masts could enable new sites to be built in the most remote parts of the UK without the major challenge and cost of connecting to the electricity grid Continue Reading
-
News
25 Nov 2021
CityFibre launches first 800Gbps infrastructure backbone ring
UK’s largest independent network provider announces 800Gbps ring, launched in collaboration with Ciena, to serve 23 cities and six ‘super core’ sites as part of a multi-terabit, national backbone project Continue Reading
-
News
24 Nov 2021
Connectivity issues disrupting most businesses’ IoT roll-outs
Research commissioned by mobile satellite communications provider finds that in the face of significant momentum in uptake of IoT since the pandemic outbreak, poor or unreliable connectivity is a seen as a typical gating factor in deployment projects Continue Reading
-
News
24 Nov 2021
Global IoT roaming data traffic to reach 650PB in 2026
Study from Kaleido Intelligence finds that likely supply chain concerns are considered as no deterrent to a surge in global mobile and internet of things roaming activity over the next five years Continue Reading
-
News
24 Nov 2021
Zoom boom rolls on over to Q3 2021
Partial return to the office fails to stop momentum of breakout collaboration technology giant in the third quarter of 2021 Continue Reading
-
News
23 Nov 2021
Hyperscalers top telcos in private network stakes
Research identifies cloud providers as first port of call for enterprises looking to deploy and gain benefits from private mobile networks, with Microsoft named top innovator ahead of AT&T and Deutsche Telekom Continue Reading
-
News
23 Nov 2021
Mid-band dominates 5G in emerging markets
Research highlights importance of mobile operators taking advantage of globally harmonised spectrum bands and economies of scale for 5G Continue Reading
-
News
23 Nov 2021
Ericsson boosts business play with $6.2bn Vonage acquisition
Acquisition of IP communications provider expands Ericsson’s presence in wireless enterprise and broadens its global offerings, creating a global network and communication platform for open innovation Continue Reading
-
News
23 Nov 2021
Four-day week introduced for staff at digital bank
UK’s Atom Bank brings in four-day working week for employees with no salary reduction Continue Reading
-
News
23 Nov 2021
FTTH Council Europe calls on policymakers for measures to reap full-fibre rewards
Industry organisation with a mission to advance ubiquitous full-fibre connectivity across Europe welcomes publication of the European Commission’s latest ‘Digital economy and society index’ and calls for demand-side measures to boost take-up of fibre networks Continue Reading
-
News
22 Nov 2021
Mobile trade-in programmes are key driver in stimulating 5G smartphone upgrades
Mobile device tracker for third quarter of 2021 shows continued year-on-year market growth, with new 5G smartphone launches and trade-in promotions contributing to growth of mobile trade-in and upgrade programmes Continue Reading
-
News
22 Nov 2021
Global broadband speed clipping rockets over past 18 months
Research shows broadband speed clipping is rising sharply, with many subscribers hitting upper speed limits Continue Reading
-
News
19 Nov 2021
Nokia’s private LTE chosen by Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority
Nokia strikes further deal for private network infrastructure, helping leading MENA utilities company modernise its grids Continue Reading
-
Feature
19 Nov 2021
Ensuring hybrid work works in the new normal
The hybrid business is becoming a reality, but how can firms ensure a positive employee experience and learn how to identify and manage risks? Continue Reading
-
News
18 Nov 2021
Leading telcos urge Europe to act now to build Open RAN ecosystem
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telecom Italia, Telefónica and Vodafone issue five-point clarion call for building an Open RAN ecosystem for Europe to ensure that the continent continues to play a leading role in 5G and, eventually, 6G Continue Reading
-
News
18 Nov 2021
UK government enshrines law to strip out ‘high-risk’ suppliers’ tech from networks
UK Telecommunications (Security) Act receives Royal Assent, mandating stronger legal duties on telecoms firms to protect the UK’s networks and giving the government new powers to control use of high-risk suppliers Continue Reading
-
News
18 Nov 2021
Openreach hits six million homes with full-fibre reach
BT broadband provision division says full-fibre broadband roll-out programme is on track to reach 25 million premises by December 2026 Continue Reading
-
Feature
18 Nov 2021
How SASE is set to determine the future
We take a look at the SASE environment and what challenges and benefits lie ahead in the adoption of secure access service edge Continue Reading
-
News
17 Nov 2021
Qualcomm extends collaboration with BMW on automated driving systems
Tech giant drives into huge deal with automotive group to develop next generation of autonomous driving and driver-assistance systems Continue Reading
-
News
17 Nov 2021
WBA, TIP team to bring open AFC for Wi-Fi in 6GHz unlicensed band
Infrastructure solutions community driving global connectivity joins forces with Wi-Fi alliance to spur adoption of 6GHz Wi-Fi and enable better user experience Continue Reading
-
News
17 Nov 2021
Increased 5G availability sees working from home mean working from phone for 24 million
Research finds that more than eight million workers who have bought a 5G-capable smartphone since the start of the pandemic are a key driver of the switch to mobile data Continue Reading
-
News
17 Nov 2021
Ericsson launches Intelligent Automation Platform for smarter networks
Comms tech provider looks to bring scalability, performance and operations simplicity to mobile networks, including purpose-built and Open RAN Continue Reading
-
News
17 Nov 2021
Orange Business Services powers Safran with smart-tracking IoT
Telco deploys more than 15,000 trackers and 250 antennas at two aircraft engine production sites in France to remotely locate and manage tools and equipment in real time Continue Reading
-
News
16 Nov 2021
National Infrastructure Commission pinpoints strategic gaps in UK infrastructure planning
UK infrastructure assessment stresses it remains critical for health of country that gigabit broadband is effectively rolled out to rural areas and towns to ensure genuinely universal provision Continue Reading
-
News
16 Nov 2021
Vodafone claims solid half-year
Hot on the heels of signing a contract with City Fibre to gain UK fibre leadership, leading European comms operator’s results for the first six months of 2021 shows sustainable growth in both Europe and Africa Continue Reading
-
News
16 Nov 2021
Blueprint for future high street shows tech’s role in creating thriving communities
Technology will play an important role in creating thriving communities after Covid-19 lockdowns renew interest in local high streets Continue Reading
-
News
16 Nov 2021
Broadband beats bedrooms for UK homebuyers
Research from global communications provider finds that fast internet access is now a top-two must-have for UK homebuyers Continue Reading
-
Definition
15 Nov 2021
satellite
A satellite is any object that orbits something else, as, for example, the Earth orbits the sun. Continue Reading
-
News
15 Nov 2021
WM5G, Intercity Technology unveil 5G support session for West Midlands manufacturers
5G innovation centre teams with enterprise mobility and collaboration provider to offer free sessions Continue Reading
-
News
15 Nov 2021
Openreach in consultation over next stage in transition to fibre
BT-owned UK broadband provision firm accelerates plan to stop selling copper-based broadband and traditional voice services, aiming to use five pilot areas to develop and test approaches for mass-migrating end-users to new digital offers Continue Reading
-
News
12 Nov 2021
GSMA announces 5G mmWave accelerator initiative
Mobile industry trade association announces new accelerator, with an aim to drive education efforts and showcase innovation Continue Reading
-
News
12 Nov 2021
Ofcom introduces rules to ease rural broadband development
UK comms regulator aims to address key issue preventing proliferation of gigabit broadband to hard-to-reach places Continue Reading
-
Opinion
12 Nov 2021
Flexible working hours the key for increased productivity
With flexible working shifting from being a privilege to a necessity, company leaders must ensure their workers have a high-quality network service, efficient resources, hardware and cloud services, says Whit Andrews, distinguished research vice-president at Gartner Continue Reading
-
News
12 Nov 2021
Klaxoon enters US and launches next-gen meetings workshop platform for hybrid work
French teamwork and smart work technology provider unveils its next-generation workshop platform and expands in the US with CEO and key executives Continue Reading
-
News
11 Nov 2021
Vodafone anchors CityFibre nationwide network for UK full-fibre leadership
Strategic partnership expanded to anchor nationwide roll-out of full-fibre gigabit broadband to up to eight million homes, with long-term volume commitments Continue Reading
-
News
11 Nov 2021
Mavenir accelerates AI for enterprises with intelligent video analytics on 5G
Network software provider announces video analytics powered by NVIDIA Metropolis artificial intelligence-on-5G technology designed to transform business processes for faster decision-making Continue Reading
-
E-Zine
11 Nov 2021
CW Benelux: Dutch IT company rips up the HR rule book for better work-life balance
One Dutch tech firm has used learnings from the pandemic to rip up its HR rule book and implement an official work-from-home policy. In fact, Infolearn has gone further than hybrid working, with a personal mobility budget for staff and a four-day working week, all with retention of full-time salary. Also in this issue, read how Dutch education administrators appear to be underestimating the threat of cyber crime. Continue Reading
-
News
10 Nov 2021
Post-Covid tech world to see 89% of UK tech operations hosted off-premise
Leading UK ISP releases research showing that emergence of the hybrid era means dependence on on-premise infrastructure to support a full capacity office is no longer required Continue Reading
-
News
10 Nov 2021
Cisco aims to conquer complexity in hybrid world of work
Network tech and services giant Cisco unveils solutions designed to simplify complex environments as the world embraces flexible ways of working, giving global view of SaaS application health and outages map Continue Reading
-
News
09 Nov 2021
No device upgrade for most UK workers during pandemic
Research finds that most workers are still using equipment issued before lockdowns, raising fears of a productivity gap as staff work from home Continue Reading
-
News
09 Nov 2021
More than 90% of Virgin Media O2’s network now gigabit-ready
After switching on gigabit-capable services for 1.6 million more homes, UK cable provider claims to be within touching distance of enabling its entire network to access broadband download speeds of up to 1.13Gbps Continue Reading
-
News
09 Nov 2021
BT unveils robotics test lab to speed infrastructure roll-out
Telco opens UK’s first dedicated telecoms civil engineering robotics test facility designed to help fibre network development and roll-out in challenging environments Continue Reading
-
News
08 Nov 2021
More than four-fifths of firms expect to keep hybrid work environment
While business leaders are comfortable with and believe there are many benefits to hybrid work, most organisations are unprepared to deliver a seamless experience in a hybrid workplace, where the need for end-to-end data visibility and actionable insights intensifies Continue Reading
-
News
08 Nov 2021
Qualcomm collaborates with NEC to develop open and virtualised 5G
Mobile chip giant partners with IT and network technologies provider to fast-track commercialisation and accelerate adoption of 5G open and virtualised infrastructure at scale Continue Reading
-
News
05 Nov 2021
5G set for 2.6 billion subs by 2026
Increasing use of mobile networks to access video content, digital payments, online retail and video conferencing all contribute to 5G traffic growth, with ongoing roll-outs driving the adoption of higher data packages Continue Reading
-
News
05 Nov 2021
Fibre lights up BT half-yearly results
BT has revealed a tough first six months of the financial year, but also claimed Fibre First build programme roll-out continues to accelerate, reaching record levels in second quarter Continue Reading
-
Definition
05 Nov 2021
IDSL
IDSL is a hybrid of a digital subscriber line (DSL) and integrated services digital network (ISDN) technology that transmits data slightly faster than ISDN but much slower than most DSL services. Continue Reading
-
Answer
04 Nov 2021
What are the 6 components of structured cabling?
The six components of structured cabling are Entrance Facilities, Equipment Room, Backbone Cabling, Telecommunications Room, Horizontal Cabling and Work Area. Continue Reading
-
News
04 Nov 2021
NASCAR revs up with Wi-Fi 6 to accelerate fan experience
NASCAR is to use cloud-driven Wi-Fi 6 net to offer high-efficiency, high-capacity networking to power experiences such as mobile ticketing, mobile concessions and mobile sports betting Continue Reading
-
News
03 Nov 2021
CityFibre breaks million milestone in full-fibre roll-out
Pace of transformation of third-largest fibre network provider shown as former altnet racks up milestone figure for homes ready to tap into gigabit-capable infrastructure Continue Reading
-
News
03 Nov 2021
Totem begins standing for Orange network sharing strategy
Leading comms operator switches on European TowerCo subsidiary, which will aim to derive value from passive mobile infrastructure and open up these assets to other operators Continue Reading
-
News
02 Nov 2021
Digital connectivity investment could unlock 500,000 jobs, £70bn of GDP growth by 2026
First Digital Connectivity Index from recently merged fixed and mobile operator shows that UK is currently ranked eighth among developed countries for digital connectivity Continue Reading
-
News
02 Nov 2021
BT secures industry-first global partnership with OneWeb
Just weeks after increased investment from French operator Eutelsat, growing satellite firm inks distribution partner agreement with UK telco for low Earth orbit communications services Continue Reading
-
News
02 Nov 2021
Mavenir shows path to monetise network as a service
Network software provider looks to address use case-driven future with agile charging and monetisation platform and composable architecture designed to make the transition to future platforms easier Continue Reading
-
News
02 Nov 2021
Inmarsat launches IoT platform to enable flexible connectivity for businesses
Leading satellite provider unveils platform of internet of things connectivity services, solutions and ecosystems designed to help businesses with their IoT roll-outs and to support new innovations built on the connectivity backbone of ELERA network Continue Reading
-
News
01 Nov 2021
Scotland 5G Centre opens for business
The Dumfries-based Innovation Hub has gone live, and is set to make 5G testing accessible for a wide range of firms across the region Continue Reading
-
Definition
01 Nov 2021
ARPANET
The U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was the first public packet-switched computer network. Continue Reading
-
News
01 Nov 2021
5G fundamental to Europe achieving climate targets
Europe-wide analysis from leading comms tech firm reveals next-generation network-enabled solutions could reduce EU CO2 emissions by 15% by 2030 Continue Reading
-
News
29 Oct 2021
UK government to drive gigabit broadband to half a million more rural UK homes
Project Gigabit quarterly update Autumn 2021 reveals the estimated sequencing, scope and dates for the English Phase 3 rural projects which will see 570,000 more rural premises in line for full-fibre broadband. Continue Reading
-
News
29 Oct 2021
Fibre to the fore for fixed broadband in Q2
Though varied across different markets, overall quarterly global fixed broadband growth returns to normal at the end of the second quarter of 2021 Continue Reading
-
News
28 Oct 2021
Nokia launches first shared 5G network in Taiwan, takes private LTE across Argentina
Nokia lands deal building on existing relationship with Taiwanese operator to power first 5G service across the island using a multi-operator core network, while private LTE selected by Argentinian operator to connect rural regions and boost Industry 4.0 Continue Reading
-
News
28 Oct 2021
City of Edinburgh Council signs up CGI to implement smart city plans
Five-year contract to support Scottish capital’s transformation into a smart city includes data insights, processes and tools to achieve transformational change and deliver high-quality services to citizens Continue Reading
-
News
28 Oct 2021
Cisco supports hybrid workforce augmented reality meeting solutions
IT giant evolves collaboration suite to combine Webex meeting functionality with real-time, photorealistic holographic experience Continue Reading
-
News
27 Oct 2021
UK Competition and Markets Authority opens investigation into Motorola’s Airwave
Three months after considering whether to launch a probe, UK competition watchdog opens market investigation of role played by tech firm in mobile radio network used by emergency services Continue Reading