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.
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News
29 Apr 2024
Nokia hails MENA successes with 5G and cloud
Nokia inks key tech deals in UAE and Qatar to upgrade connectivity and drive 5G enterprise innovation, as well as to offer cloud interconnect service layer to enhance services for hyperscalers Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2024
Digital Catapult welcomes new suppliers to test 5G Open RAN deployability
Advanced digital technology innovation centre that aims to drive early adoption of emerging technologies by UK businesses offers opportunity for Open RAN companies to test products in a real-world outdoor environment Continue Reading
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E-Zine
07 Feb 2019
CW Benelux: Google helps Dutch schools to teach computer skills
A programme in the Netherlands to help primary schools provide computational thinking and programming, developed with financial support from Google, is well on schedule. Also read about four Russians’ attempted hack into the networks of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, and how Dutch delivery company PostNL is making savings by using robotic technology to automate administrative tasks. Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2019
Huawei: We are not spying on the UK
Huawei’s Ryan Ding tells the British government that the company has never, and will never, use its technology to assist the Chinese intelligence services Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2019
Virgin Media tests 8Gbps home broadband service
Fifty residents of Papworth, Cambridgeshire, are trialling an 8Gbps FTTP broadband service using existing fibre infrastructure Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2019
Suffolk County Council awards 20-year WAN contract
MLL Telecom will work with CityFibre to extend Suffolk County Council’s existing WAN to 600 sites and offer them ultrafast connectivity services Continue Reading
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Blog Post
01 Feb 2019
Digital Britain Needs You
BT has announced plans to train another 3,000 apprentices on top of 3,500 engineers, including apprentices, hired last year. The announcement included an update on BT’s plans for new and upgraded ... Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2019
BT stockpiles networking kit for no-deal Brexit as Patterson exits
Outgoing BT boss Gavin Patterson shared some details on the company’s contingency planning for a feared no-deal Brexit as chief executive Philip Jansen formally takes charge of the business Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2019
How digital indoor systems can bolster ASEAN’s 5G networks
Digital indoor systems, already being used at airports and subway systems, will help telcos monetise new digital services on 5G networks Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2019
Openreach to recruit 3,000 apprentices to support UK-wide full-fibre network deployment
New recruits from “all walks of life” will be trained at one of 12 educational facilities Openreach is set to open across the country Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2019
Vodafone suspends use of Huawei hardware
Vodafone’s UK CEO has said the operator will ‘pause’ its use of Huawei hardware for the foreseeable future Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2019
Chinese government grants BT new powers
Enhanced operating licences improve telco’s ability to work with customers in China Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2019
MPs challenge Huawei over spying allegations
The chair of the cross-bench Science and Technology Committee has written to Huawei seeking answers over its activities in the UK Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2019
Vodafone and O2 will ‘share’ 5G networks
Vodafone and O2 have agreed non-binding heads of terms that will extend their 4G network-sharing agreement to 5G when it becomes available Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
XL Axiata teams up with Tibco in data science initiative
The Indonesia telco’s data scientists will be provided with data science tools from Tibco to uncover customer insights and improve network planning, among other goals Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
Scottish Police Authority awards £21m mobile services deal to EE
EE will oversee a three-year deal to transform police mobile capabilities in Scotland, alongside Motorola Solutions, Samsung and BlackBerry Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
Broadband divide persists across the UK, says Which?
Latest statistics from Which? show the UK’s broadband divide persists, with many areas still missing out on high-speed services despite industry tub-thumping Continue Reading
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News
15 Jan 2019
O2 powers customer-centric network with Nokia AI
Mobile operator O2 claims Nokia’s AI-driven Service Operation Center platform will help it anticipate its customers’ problems before they know they have problems Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2019
Mobile and broadband markets fail digitally excluded groups
Financially vulnerable people, disabled and mentally ill people and elderly people all face significant challenges in accessing appropriate communications services, according to a new Ofcom report Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2019
Australia’s Optus dials into 5G
Australia’s second largest telco Optus makes the country’s first 5G data call, paving the way for a fixed wireless service by the first half of 2019 Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Roadside 4G mobile signal availability improves across UK
4G mobile network coverage along the UK’s motorways has seen substantial improvement, with Greater Manchester’s urban M60 having 100% availability and the Birmingham to Carlisle M6 seeing the greatest growth in coverage Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Fife Council upgrades WAN to offer ultrafast broadband services
Public sector sites across Fife in Scotland are to receive a transformational upgrade to their broadband speeds Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
BT faces tussle to keep EU contracts after Brexit
The European Union will likely re-evaluate its telecoms contracts with BT following Brexit, and cancelling them altogether is a real risk in a no-deal scenario, according to leaked documents Continue Reading
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Blog Post
08 Jan 2019
Yes. All homes WILL need gigabit broadband speeds!
As the UK's full-fibre broadband roll-out gathers pace through 2018 and into 2019, many people continue to believe gigabit services are unnecessary overkill. CityFibre's Caroline Hughes reckons ... Continue Reading
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News
08 Jan 2019
First 5G smartphones may have massive price premium
Android smartphone brands are already preparing to launch their first 5G handsets, but new technical requirements means they won’t be cheap to build, according to analysts at TrendForce Continue Reading
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News
07 Jan 2019
Equinix to open fourth Singapore datacentre in 2019
The latest investment by Equinix in Singapore comes as datacentre operators look to fill vacant real estate arising from intense market competition between 2017 and 2018 Continue Reading
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News
02 Jan 2019
SMEs urged to get on board with Network Services 2 framework
Suppliers have until the end of January 2019 to sign up to the new government network services purchasing framework Continue Reading
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News
02 Jan 2019
Huawei aims to be more resilient in 2019 amid challenges
Huawei’s rotating chairman Guo Ping outlines the firm’s priorities to optimise its product portfolio, empower employees and build a more resilient business structure Continue Reading
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Answer
31 Dec 2018
What are the top benefits of CDN services for enterprises?
You might be asking yourself, 'Do I need a CDN?' According to one network analyst, the answer is most likely yes, as CDNs provide faster access to internet content. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
29 Dec 2018
Addressing the shortages of construction skills that threaten Broadband Roll-out
Problems with quality, not just quantity threaten to derail full fibre roll out as they did cable TV roll out 25 years ago. Over the past couple of years broadband roll-out projects (BT, Virgin, ... Continue Reading
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News
28 Dec 2018
Top 10 mobile stories of 2018
As 5G moves from theory to practical reality, we look back at Computer Weekly’s biggest mobile stories from the past 12 months Continue Reading
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News
19 Dec 2018
CMA acts on super-complaint over broadband, mobile charges
The Competition and Markets Authority is to crack down on communications services providers who ‘penalise’ loyal customers over new ones Continue Reading
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News
19 Dec 2018
Top 10 broadband stories of 2018
The networking industry swung firmly behind full-fibre broadband in 2018, with encouraging signs that the gold-standard of broadband service delivery technology is at long last taking off in the UK Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2018
Ancient Britain comes to life at Bath’s 5G testbed
The West of England Combined Authority is running a 5G Smart Tourism project at Bath’s world-famous Roman spa Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2018
Broadband coverage improved through 2018, says Ofcom
Ofcom’s annual Connected Nations report reveals that the number of people who cannot receive a 10Mbps broadband connection has halved Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2018
Ofcom fires starting gun for new mobile spectrum auction
Mobile spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz bands will be put up for auction either late in 2019 or early in 2020 Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2018
Ofcom tells ISPs to be upfront about better broadband deals
Telecoms regulator is rolling out a range of measures to make the broadband market serve the interests of consumers better Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2018
Finland’s IT sector recovers after break-up of Nokia
Finnish government plays vital role in helping IT sector recover from the shock of Microsoft taking over the country’s biggest company Continue Reading
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News
11 Dec 2018
Slow action on broadband and 5G risks UK’s economic future, CBI warns
A report from the CBI has called for the government to fast-track legislation to guarantee access to ultrafast network services Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2018
Vodafone’s 4G network goes underground
Operator will roll out small 4G and 5G-ready antenna to boost network coverage over short distances in areas of dense usage, using manhole covers, among other things Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2018
BT upgrades InLink street kiosks for deaf, speech-impaired people
BT has added a next-generation text service to its InLink street kiosks to make the service more accessible to people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2018
O2 expected to pursue Ericsson for compensation over 24-hour stoppage
Mobile network operator could seek up to £100m in damages from its supplier, which failed to update expired software certificates, causing a day-long outage Continue Reading
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Blog Post
10 Dec 2018
Airwave goodbye, hello ESN
The government recently announced plans that – despite facing delays and setbacks – a new Emergency Services Network (ESN) will be phased in from the beginning of 2019. It will replace the legacy ... Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2018
Port of Rotterdam uses floating lab to learn about automation in harbour
A ship will soon be converted to a floating laboratory to test automation technologies at the Netherlands port Continue Reading
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News
07 Dec 2018
O2 outage highlights importance of software certificate audits
A major outage on the O2 4G mobile network was caused by an expired certificate and could easily have been avoided, it has emerged Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2018
BT and KCOM named broadband USO suppliers
Ofcom has named BT, and in East Yorkshire, KCOM, as the designated providers for the incoming broadband universal service obligation Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2018
China demands release of arrested Huawei CFO
The Chinese government has called for the release of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who was detained in Canada at the weekend Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2018
Software failure paralyses O2’s 4G network
O2 is racing to fix a major outage on its 4G network that has left millions of mobile subscribers without access to data services Continue Reading
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News
05 Dec 2018
BT moves to strip Huawei kit from EE’s network
Telco will remove Huawei’s networking equipment from the core of EE’s 4G mobile network Continue Reading
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News
04 Dec 2018
As commercial 5G nears, small cells generate interest
Interest in small cells as an element of commercial 5G mobile networks is growing, particularly in countries with supportive regulatory environments. Meanwhile, a UK trial of wholesale small cell infrastructure has kicked off in London Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Nov 2018
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
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News
27 Nov 2018
Billions missing out on digital society as internet use soars
As global internet usage continues to soar, billions of people around the world are missing out on the potential benefits of getting online, according to Cisco Continue Reading
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News
27 Nov 2018
Poor Wi-Fi connectivity damaging to home life, say UK consumers
A study for BT has revealed a substantial proportion of UK families feel they are being let down by poor in-home Wi-Fi networks Continue Reading
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News
27 Nov 2018
Openreach extends Gfast roll-out to a million more homes
Copper-based ultrafast broadband roll-out continues at pace Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2018
O2 and Nokia partner up on 5G-focused Massive MIMO trial in London
Mobile network operator O2 is carrying out an investigative trial involving Massive MIMO technology in Kings Cross and Marble Arch, London to ascertain how best to ready its network for an uptick in 5G-induced data usage Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2018
EE and Virgin Media fined for breaking consumer protection rules
Ofcom has imposed fines totalling £13.3m on EE and Virgin Media, saying both providers levied excessive charges on customers who ended their contracts early Continue Reading
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News
13 Nov 2018
Broadband voucher scheme to end early thanks to high demand
The government has urged small business owners to consider signing up for its ultrafast broadband connection voucher scheme before the available funding runs out Continue Reading
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News
13 Nov 2018
5G will unleash digital transformation for UK enterprises
Mobile operator EE is working hand-in-hand with its largest enterprise customers to realise the potential of its future 5G mobile network Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2018
Government considering dedicated internet regulator, says digital minister
An upcoming white paper is likely to set out proposals for an internet regulator, a House of Lords committee has been told Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2018
Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital has capacity to spare after HSCN upgrade
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is unleashing the potential of digital for health after fixing up its internet connectivity with an upgrade to the new Health and Social Care Network Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2018
Openreach increasing use of drones to help build fibre networks
Openreach plans to make greater use of drones to help it bring broadband to remote rural properties it could not previously touch Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2018
5G mobile masts bring installation challenges, EE finds
EE has switched on a fixed wireless access network in central London to test elements of its future 5G mobile service, but faced some challenges setting it up Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2018
Investment fund buys into broadband supplier Hyperoptic
Mubadala Investment Company, the VC arm of the government of Abu Dhabi, is to acquire a minority stake in full-fibre broadband supplier Hyperoptic as the firm brings forward its roll-out Continue Reading
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News
06 Nov 2018
Smart Dubai platform is the backbone of the city's transformation
Aisha bin Bishr, director general at Smart Dubai Office, talks about the Smart Data platform and soon-to-be-unveiled UAE Pass, a digital ID and signature which is being touted as one of the foundations a city needs to transform Continue Reading
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News
06 Nov 2018
GSMA urges fresh action on 5G mobile spectrum
Mobile industry body says time is running out to ready enough radio frequency spectrum in the appropriate bands to account for the demands of 5G mobile networks Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2018
Openreach launches Fibre First programme in Belfast and Nottingham
Openreach has named Belfast and Nottingham as the latest cities to benefit from a full-fibre broadband roll-out Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2018
TalkTalk makes ‘fair broadband’ promises
TalkTalk has launched its own Fairer Broadband Charter as research reveals widespread dissatisfaction with some common industry practices Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2018
Ofcom has another go at liberalising duct and pole access
Telecoms regulator is making a new attempt to establish better access to BT’s duct and pole infrastructure for communication services providers Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2018
BT makes progress with Global Services restructuring
Telco sets out plan to get its troubled Global Services business unit fighting fit Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2018
Three introduces 4G+ at 2,700 sites
Mobile operator Three hopes to boost average mobile data speeds by up to 33% through carrier aggregation Continue Reading
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News
31 Oct 2018
Hyperoptic full-fibre network hits public housing milestone
More than 150,000 publicly owned homes have now been connected to Hyperoptic’s ultrafast fibre broadband network Continue Reading
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News
31 Oct 2018
Ofcom releases BT from 2005 Openreach undertakings
Following the legal split of the two organisations, telecoms regulator Ofcom has formally ‘released’ BT from the 2005 undertakings set up to manage the Openreach infrastructure business Continue Reading
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News
30 Oct 2018
Budget 2018: No great leap forward for broadband, but no need to panic
The chancellor set aside £1.6bn for digital technology in the Budget, but broadband services did not draw much attention. Is this a surprise, or a reflection of growing commercial investment in full-fibre, and what should the role of government be? Continue Reading
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News
30 Oct 2018
Government consults on full-fibre for tenants, new-build homes
Proposed legislation would compel landlords and property developers to offer full-fibre broadband to tenants and customers Continue Reading
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News
29 Oct 2018
O2 extends rural 4G network to 339 communities
O2 has extended its rural network roll-out, targeting over 300 small communities all over the UK Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2018
NGA secures £22m for Bristol-Newport fibre link
Ultrafast wholesale network builder Nextgenaccess has been awarded funding from the National Digital Infrastructure Fund to improve connectivity in South Wales Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2018
Openreach slashes cost of full-fibre to new-build homes
Property developers will receive a 75% discount on the cost of full-fibre installation Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2018
Vodafone claims UK 5G first
Mobile network operator Vodafone claims the activation of a trial site in Manchester marks the first time mobile data traffic has been streamed to and from the internet exclusively over 5G technology Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2018
BT picks fintech leader to succeed Gavin Patterson
BT has named Philip Jansen, current co-chief executive of global payments services group Worldpay, as the successor to outgoing chief executive Gavin Patterson Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2018
CityFibre backers pump £2.5bn into full-fibre broadband
Network expansion will add 27 towns and cities to CityFibre’s current roll-out to 10 locations in support of a consumer full-fibre service delivered by Vodafone Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2018
Competition, not consumer demand, is driving full-fibre roll-out
Market competition among telecoms operators, not consumer demand, appears to be driving the trend towards ultrafast full-fibre broadband roll-out in Europe Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2018
Drivers have dangerous misconceptions about self-driving cars
People seem to be confused about the difference between autonomous and assisted driving technology, with worrying implications for road safety, says Thatcham Research Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2018
Middle East gears up for 5G
The race for 5G is well and truly under way, and the UAE and Saudi Arabia are well positioned to be among the first countries in the world to deliver the benefits of this new telecoms protocol Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2018
Home Office ‘seriously’ considered ESN shutdown
New disclosures from those responsible for the troubled Emergency Services Network project have revealed that, contrary to previous denials, the Home Office came close to pulling the plug earlier this year Continue Reading
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News
17 Oct 2018
UCaaS supports British Medical Journal’s cloud-first ambitions
With a growing global business and a CIO intent on doing everything in the cloud, the British Medical Journal turned to unified communications-as-a-service provider RingCentral to make its comms infrastructure fit for the cloud era Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2018
Commuter trains may need over 3Gbps of mobile data capacity by 2025
Ofcom has set out its vision of what will need to be done to meet the government’s goals around data connectivity on the UK’s rail network Continue Reading
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News
09 Oct 2018
Access to full-fibre broadband continues to expand under Vodafone-CityFibre partnership
Customers in three more towns and cities will soon be able to access ultrafast fibre-to-the-premises broadband service Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2018
EE switches on 5G test network at Canary Wharf
MNO explores high-capacity zone testing for its 5G network roll-out, with the first phase expected to target hotspots such as London’s Canary Wharf Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2018
Technology shouldn’t leave anyone behind, says Jeremy Wright
DCMS secretary of state highlights investment in 5G and superfast broadband, and says no one should be left behind by technology Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2018
Openreach extends full-fibre broadband roll-out to Coventry
Openreach is forging ahead with its Fibre First full-fibre broadband programme and has started to roll out ultrafast services in Coventry Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2018
Full-fibre broadband penetration reaches 5%
The number of UK properties able to access a full-fibre broadband connection has hit a small but significant milestone, according to Ofcom Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2018
Openreach completes largest Tupe transfer in history
More than 30,000 BT employees have transferred across to the quasi-independent Openreach, completing what is thought to be the largest one-off Tupe transfer in history Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2018
Citizens Advice makes super-complaint over rip-off phone charges
Citizens Advice is calling for a fair deal for consumers that it claims are being ripped off by out-of-contract charges by communications services providers and the financial services industry Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2018
Brighton’s 5G experiment enters new test phase with focus on virtual reality
The latest phase of the Digital Catapult’s 5G mobile network testbed in Brighton has begun, with digital businesses from across Sussex taking part in trials of augmented, mixed and virtual reality technology Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2018
Network growth brings management challenges
As enterprise networks grow, so do the challenges of managing them effectively, says a report compiled by Oracle’s communications unit Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2018
Rural business bodies seal new broadband agreement
The Country Land and Business Association and the National Farmers’ Union have reached an agreement with Openreach to put new wayleave arrangements in place for broadband network builds Continue Reading
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News
25 Sep 2018
Indigo subsea cable lands in Perth
Cable system will utilise new spectrum sharing technology, so each consortium member can take advantage of technology advancements to support growing demand for bandwidth Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2018
Phased roll-out of ESN to start in early 2019
The government will adopt a phased approach to the roll-out of the new emergency services 4G communications network Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2018
Rural areas will be among the first to get Vodafone 5G
Parts of Cornwall and Cumbria will be among the first locations to get access to Vodafone’s 5G mobile network when it launches in 2019 Continue Reading
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News
18 Sep 2018
EU needs clear 5G regulation to guarantee mobile success
The mobile ecosystem could be worth more than 4% of European GDP by 2022, if the right regulatory actions are taken by the European Union government Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2018
ESN delays are leaching vital funds from UK police forces
Ongoing delays to the Emergency Services Network roll-out are costing the UK taxpayer £330m a year, according to the National Audit Office Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2018
No Deal Brexit could mean changes for telecoms industry and mobile roaming
No Deal Brexit planning guidance documents say there could be changes to the UK electronic communications regulatory framework, and sets EU mobile roaming cap at £45 per month Continue Reading