IT for telecoms and internet organisations
Telecoms is one of the largest business sectors, and communications providers often have large IT budgets and are early adopters of new technologies. Our news and analysis of this important industry looks at how telecommunications firms, ISPs and other internet companies are using IT, and the regulatory issues that affect the services they provide.
-
News
30 Oct 2025
US senators seek to prohibit minors from using AI chatbots
Two US senators have proposed legislation that would require AI chatbot companies to verify the ages of people using their chatbots, in attempt to limit their harmful effects on children Continue Reading
-
News
29 Oct 2025
Scope of US state-level privacy laws expands rapidly in 2025
Nine state-level data protection laws have come into force in the US this year, and three more are slated for January 2026. Navigating this complex landscape is becoming a challenge Continue Reading
-
News
25 Oct 2018
ICO issues maximum £500,000 fine to Facebook
The UK privacy watchdog has confirmed that Facebook has escaped a fine of more than $1bn under the GDPR, but will face the maximum under the DPA for failing to protect users’ personal information Continue Reading
-
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
-
News
24 Oct 2018
Yahoo to pay at least $85m for data breach settlement
Yahoo has agreed to a settlement in a class action lawsuit on behalf of 200 million consumers affected by a data breach in 2013 Continue Reading
-
News
22 Oct 2018
Cab firm to map 250,000 miles of London roads for CAVs
Cab operator Addison Lee has teamed up with CAV software specialist Oxbotica to start preparing the streets of London for self-driving cars Continue Reading
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
News
15 Oct 2018
Tech companies should not be under legal duty to remove terrorist material, says watchdog
The internet should not be a safe place for terrorists, but making it compulsory for technology companies to trawl for radical content risks interfering with the rights of innocent people, says Max Hill QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation Continue Reading
-
News
15 Oct 2018
Good data governance is good business
Organisations are failing to understand the importance of getting their data relationship with customers right and seeing the business opportunities that it enables, an industry analyst warns Continue Reading
-
News
15 Oct 2018
IoT firms sign up to UK security code of practice
Internet of things technology firms have begun signing up to a UK code of practice to strengthen the security of internet-connected devices. The code is expected to form the basis of an international standard Continue Reading
-
News
11 Oct 2018
Robots in the workplace supported by 81% of business chiefs
Robotic process automation continues to be taken up by more organisations – but despite proven benefits, those that already use it are struggling to scale it up Continue Reading
-
News
10 Oct 2018
Huawei Connect 2018: Huawei tackles barriers to effective AI
At its annual customer and technology event, Huawei chairman Eric Xu set out 10 key challenges facing AI, and revealed how the networking supplier’s strategy will help to address these Continue Reading
-
News
09 Oct 2018
Tech takes centre stage in CBI’s pre-Budget wish list
Industry calls on government to set the tone for a tech-friendly business environment after the UK leaves the EU Continue Reading
-
Opinion
08 Oct 2018
Customers need to be at the centre of GDPR plans
Responding to a breach is not just about data, it is about taking care of, and protecting, customers Continue Reading
-
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
-
News
05 Oct 2018
Telenor retrains 20,000 staff as it prepares for impact of digital tech
Norway-based mobile phone company Telenor, which provides phone services in Scandinavia and Asia, is challenging its workforce to spend 40 hours a year learning digital skills as it prepares for the impact of digital technology Continue Reading
-
News
05 Oct 2018
GDPR case work swamps Denmark’s data protection agency
The agency investigating alleged breaches of GDPR in Denmark is recruiting additional resources to cope with the increase in work Continue Reading
-
News
04 Oct 2018
UK and allies accuse Russia of cyber attack campaign
The UK National Cyber Security Centre has identified a campaign by the Russian military intelligence service of “indiscriminate and reckless” cyber attacks Continue Reading
-
News
02 Oct 2018
Industry backs Norway’s AI powerhouse project
Industry and academia in Norway are working together to boost the country’s artificial intelligence capabilities Continue Reading
-
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
-
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
-
News
01 Oct 2018
UK will unilaterally tax web giants, says Hammond
Chancellor threatens to go it alone on tax reform for digital services businesses if an international agreement cannot be reached Continue Reading
-
News
01 Oct 2018
Facebook could face up to $1.6bn fine for data breach
Facebook is under increased pressure to demonstrate that users’ personal data is protected as it faces a potential fine of more than a billion dollars for a data breach affecting millions of users Continue Reading
-
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
-
News
30 Sep 2018
UKtech50 2018 – help us find the most influential people in UK IT
Computer Weekly’s annual search for the 50 most influential people in UK IT is on – let us know who you would like to nominate for this year's list Continue Reading
-
News
28 Sep 2018
EU sees eIDAS regulation come into full force
A regulation aimed at cutting red tape to enable a digital single market in Europe will soon be in full force, but it could present some challenges to the UK after Brexit Continue Reading
-
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
-
News
27 Sep 2018
Explosion in fake data-stealing shopping sites
Cyber attackers are ramping up efforts to steal personal data by setting up look-alike domains that pose a phishing risk to online shoppers, researchers warn Continue Reading
-
News
27 Sep 2018
Uber fined $148m for data breach cover-up
US court hits Uber with heavy fine which security industry commentators hope will encourage firms to take cyber security more seriously and resist the urge to cover up data breaches Continue Reading
-
News
26 Sep 2018
At the new Cisco, culture is as important as innovation
Cisco’s newly appointed SVP of Emear, Wendy Mars, shares her thoughts on the state of network innovation within the industry, and explains why cultural change is just as important an element of a digital strategy Continue Reading
-
News
26 Sep 2018
Indian IT giant TCS sees IBM and Accenture as nearest rivals
Rapidly-growing Tata Consultancy Services has its eyes on the US IT giants, with customer service key if it is to overtake them Continue Reading
-
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
-
Opinion
26 Sep 2018
Why the government should rethink the UK’s surveillance laws
The European Court of Human Rights has made clear that the Snoopers’ Charter is an unlawful violation of people’s rights and freedoms Continue Reading
-
Feature
26 Sep 2018
Intelligent automation and the WAN: Is SD-WAN moving mainstream?
Take-up of software-defined networking in corporates is slower than expected. Where have we reached on the journey to software-controlled networks – and SD-WAN in particular – becoming the norm? Continue Reading
-
News
24 Sep 2018
InfoWatch opens training centre to help address Middle East skills shortage
Security supplier offers Middle East customers cyber security and digital training facility as organisations in the region struggle to equip staff with latest skills Continue Reading
-
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
-
News
21 Sep 2018
Businesses that take humans with them on robotics journeys gain the most
Businesses that put human development at the centre of their automation strategies will profit the most Continue Reading
-
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
-
Feature
19 Sep 2018
What are the current SD-WAN options for enterprises?
Software-defined wide area networking is well on its way to being a multi-billion dollar market. We assess the current state of the market and look at some of the options for enterprise CIOs and network managers Continue Reading
-
News
19 Sep 2018
Out-of-contract users paying millions for phones they already own
Despite calls for MNOs to change their ways, users are still being overcharged for their devices, says Citizens Advice Continue Reading
-
News
19 Sep 2018
Medical firm debuts internet-connected prosthetic limbs
Orthotic and prosthetic services business Hanger is trialling five connected prosthetic limbs with support from AT&T’s Foundry innovation lab Continue Reading
-
Feature
19 Sep 2018
Employers turn to wearable technology to help staff manage work-life balance
Companies are realising that there are sound business reasons for ensuring their employees get enough sleep and exercise, so they are turning to wearable technology to help their staff stay healthy, despite the pressures of work Continue Reading
-
News
17 Sep 2018
Middle East hungry for digitisation, says GE’s Bill Ruh
The Middle East is among the most enthusiastic regions in terms of applying digital business models to traditional industries Continue Reading
-
News
13 Sep 2018
GCHQ mass surveillance regime was in breach of human rights law, European court rules
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has ruled that the UK’s collection of bulk interception of communications data lacked adequate oversight and safeguards and was in breach of human rights law Continue Reading
-
News
13 Sep 2018
EU mobile roaming charges will not return post-Brexit, says Dominic Raab
Amid fears that a no-deal Brexit could lead to the reintroduction of EU mobile roaming charges, the government has pledged to set a legislative limit on how much operators can charge Continue Reading
-
News
05 Sep 2018
Nordic states collaborate in Arctic IT projects
Nordic countries are working together to introduce advanced communications networks in the most isolated Northerly regions Continue Reading
-
Opinion
03 Sep 2018
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
-
News
30 Aug 2018
Machine identity management crisis looming
Managing machine identities is looming as the next big security challenge, a study reveals, with few organisations capable of protecting them as they increasingly form the basis of online communications Continue Reading
-
News
29 Aug 2018
DCMS has £95m for full-fibre in final round of LFFN scheme
The government has announced the third and final round of the Local Full Fibre Network Challenge Fund, with £95m remaining to invest in local ultrafast broadband projects Continue Reading
-
News
29 Aug 2018
IT leaders at a crossroads as they grapple with digital technology
CIOs have the opportunity to influence their company strategy as digital technology reshapes business. A survey of CIOs across 70 countries charts a path for IT leaders through emerging technologies Continue Reading
-
News
28 Aug 2018
Brussels loans Nokia €500m to fund European 5G research
European Investment Bank is loaning Nokia half a billion euros to accelerate 5G mobile network R&D Continue Reading
-
News
23 Aug 2018
No Deal Brexit papers warn of stark future for UK tech
The government has published the first of its No Deal Brexit contingency planning notices, containing sobering messages for the UK technology industry Continue Reading
-
News
22 Aug 2018
Language barrier won’t hold back chatbots in the Netherlands
The use of chatbots by Dutch organisations is on the up, with KLM's chatbot a pioneering example Continue Reading
-
News
21 Aug 2018
Windfarm benefit fund helps pay for full-fibre broadband
A number of communities in the Highlands are using benefit funds established by a local windfarm provider to pay for full-fibre broadband services Continue Reading
-
News
20 Aug 2018
Job losses caused by artificial intelligence will dwarf those of Victorian revolution
The disruption to the jobs market caused by artificial intelligence will be far greater than that caused by industrialisation in Victorian times Continue Reading
-
News
20 Aug 2018
Fibre cable break takes Gatwick flight information screens offline
A broken fibre-optic cable has taken Gatwick Airport’s flight information screens offline, with airport staff forced to use whiteboards to provide information to passengers Continue Reading
-
News
20 Aug 2018
Superfast broadband brings £9bn extra turnover for UK SMEs
Local businesses in areas covered by the government’s superfast broadband roll-out are making more money than ever before, according to a report Continue Reading
-
News
16 Aug 2018
New broadband network builder British Fibre Networks starts roll-out
Recently established full-fibre broadband network builder BFN has ambitions to connect new-build homes to ultrafast services Continue Reading
-
News
16 Aug 2018
CEO Robbins puts multi-cloud at the heart of Cisco’s business
Placing the supplier at the heart of the enterprise transition to multi-cloud environments seems to be paying off for Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins Continue Reading
-
Feature
16 Aug 2018
Inside DevOps, containers and enterprise security
Global corporates are waking up to containers and orchestrated containerisation for software development that is fast and safe. Computer Weekly looks at the best approach to ensure security is not compromised along the way Continue Reading
-
News
15 Aug 2018
O2 tests Li-Fi transmission technology to enhance home networks
Mobile operator O2 is testing the application of Li-Fi technology, using LED light bulbs to transmit data packets, to enhance consumer wireless networks Continue Reading
-
News
15 Aug 2018
Intel releases fix for latest chip security flaws
Businesses and consumers are advised to download security updates from Intel for new security flaws that could allow attackers to access protected data, but some cloud providers could see a performance impact Continue Reading
-
Feature
14 Aug 2018
Sustainability and the smartphone: How to give your old device a second life
Find out what happens to your smartphone after you’re finished with it and why you should commit to the circular economy Continue Reading
-
News
14 Aug 2018
Phishing remains top fraud enabler, RSA reports
Phishing is the most popular way of enabling fraud for cyber criminals, who are also increasingly using rogue mobile apps, mobile browsers and social media, a report reveals Continue Reading
-
News
14 Aug 2018
Scottish property developer picks Hyperoptic full-fibre broadband
New-build developments in Glasgow set to receive gigabit full-fibre broadband connections Continue Reading
-
News
14 Aug 2018
Driverless cars heading for Bromley and Croydon
A 10-month data-gathering exercise will pave the way for an autonomous vehicle ride-sharing service to start operation in 2019 Continue Reading
-
Blog Post
13 Aug 2018
How churn is breaking the telecoms market – and what service providers can do about it
This is a guest blog post by Brendan O’Rourke, head of design at BriteBill, an Amdocs company. It’s no secret that today’s customers are more demanding than previous generations. They share their ... Continue Reading
-
News
13 Aug 2018
Banks lead in digital era fraud detection
All e-commerce businesses should follow the banks’ lead in how to detect fraud in the digital era, says RSA fraud and risk expert Continue Reading
-
News
09 Aug 2018
ICO fines Emma’s Diary £140,000
The UK’s privacy watchdog has fined a marketing company for illegally collecting and selling personal information for political campaigning Continue Reading
-
News
08 Aug 2018
Check Point warns of WhatsApp vulnerabilities
Researchers are warning of vulnerabilities in WhatsApp that allow threat actors to intercept and manipulate messages sent in a group chat Continue Reading
-
News
07 Aug 2018
In-flight Wi-Fi availability drives passenger loyalty
A report published by Inmarsat appears to suggest that airlines which make on-board Wi-Fi more easily available are seeing more loyal customers as a result Continue Reading
-
News
07 Aug 2018
Lack of Dmarc email validation puts brands and customers at risk
There is a worldwide lack of Dmarc email validation to defend against fraud and phishing attacks, putting organisations and customers at risk, a study shows Continue Reading
-
News
06 Aug 2018
Highlands and Islands broadband roll-out extended
The Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband roll-out is targeting 25,000 additional homes and businesses in the Highlands and Islands region Continue Reading
-
News
06 Aug 2018
Half of UK consumers to exercise GDPR rights within a year
More than half of UK consumers will exercise their General Data Protection Regulation rights within a year and almost two-thirds will retract or review data use because of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal, a study shows Continue Reading
-
News
06 Aug 2018
Virus outbreak at iPhone chip plant could delay shipments
A computer virus at an iPhone chip manufacturing plant could delay shipments of Apple’s latest smartphones, but the impact will be limited, say analysts Continue Reading
-
News
03 Aug 2018
Advertised broadband speeds dropping across UK
Since new advertising standards around broadband were introduced in May 2018, most providers have cut the speeds they advertise, or stopped making speed claims altogether Continue Reading
-
News
03 Aug 2018
Hyperoptic raises £250m funding to roll out full-fibre broadband
Broadband supplier Hyperoptic claims its latest round of funding is the largest ever single investment in the UK’s burgeoning full-fibre market Continue Reading
-
News
02 Aug 2018
Audi to test 5G use cases in car production
German carmaker Audi is working with Sweden’s Ericsson to run field tests of 5G mobile networking technology exploring its applications on the factory floor Continue Reading
-
News
02 Aug 2018
Reddit breach exposes 2FA flaws
Reddit has reported a password breach despite using 2FA, exposing the weaknesses of two-factor authentication based on mobile text messages Continue Reading
-
News
02 Aug 2018
Three ploughs £276m into 5G preparation
Hutchison-backed mobile operator Three is spending lavishly as it bids to be first to market with a commercial 5G network Continue Reading
-
News
02 Aug 2018
GDPR harmonised with local laws in Nordic EU states
Sweden provides an interesting challenge for the European Union’s data protection regulation due to its laws around freedom of press and free speech Continue Reading
-
News
31 Jul 2018
Intelligent automation spending to hit $232bn by 2025
Technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotic process automation and machine learning could help traditional enterprises gain ground on digital-first giants Continue Reading
-
News
31 Jul 2018
UK business overestimating level of consumer trust, study shows
UK consumer trust is low, with the majority of UK businesses admitting to selling customer data, a report reveals Continue Reading
-
News
31 Jul 2018
Comms providers may be forced to notify out-of-contract users
Providers of landline, broadband, TV and mobile services will have to notify their customers when they approach the end of their minimum contract period under proposed new rules Continue Reading
-
News
31 Jul 2018
3 Hong Kong gears up for 5G with “epic” transformation
The Hong Kong telco is putting in an advanced technical architecture that will streamline and automate internal processes and IT as it prepares for the 5G era Continue Reading
-
News
30 Jul 2018
Government to fund six connected vehicle simulation projects
The government has announced the winners of an R&D contest for connected vehicle simulation and modelling capabilities Continue Reading
-
News
27 Jul 2018
Openreach doubles down on full-fibre broadband roll-out
In its first annual review since splitting from BT, Openreach has recommitted to its targets for full-fibre broadband Continue Reading
-
News
27 Jul 2018
BT bounces back in strong first quarter
After a run of bad news, there were some bright spots in BT’s first quarter financial results Continue Reading
-
News
26 Jul 2018
Software development remains insecure
The prevalence of common and well-known web-based vulnerabilities underlines the need for better education around secure software development Continue Reading
-
News
26 Jul 2018
O2 canvasses support from UK Plc to build case for 5G
O2 CEO Mark Evans is writing to every FTSE 100 boss in the UK seeking to build consensus around 5G use cases, and drum up support for investment Continue Reading
-
News
26 Jul 2018
Facebook stock price falls on slowing growth forecast
Facebook’s stock price has fallen dramatically in response to a forecast of slower revenue growth in 2018 and lower-than-expected user growth for the second quarter Continue Reading
-
News
26 Jul 2018
Cyber security vulnerability concerns skyrocket
Security professionals are more worried about data breaches and cyber attacks than they were a year ago, with most fearing that Meltdown-Spectre attacks are becoming the norm Continue Reading
-
Opinion
25 Jul 2018
Smart cities face challenges and opportunities
IHS Markit analysts Noman Akhtar and Kevin Hasley assess the way forward for smart city technology projects around the world Continue Reading
-
News
25 Jul 2018
Vodafone sales tick down on new reporting rules
Quarterly sales at mobile operator Vodafone dipped thanks to the impact of new reporting standards and foreign exchange headwinds Continue Reading
-
Opinion
25 Jul 2018
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
-
News
24 Jul 2018
Ofcom proposes regulatory changes to support broadband investment
Following the recommendations of the government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, regulator Ofcom has proposed a package of measures to better support investment in full-fibre broadband Continue Reading
-
News
24 Jul 2018
Openreach to cut wholesale broadband costs for CSP customers
Openreach plans to introduce wide-ranging cuts to FTTC and FTTP wholesale prices to get other providers to upgrade their users to faster broadband Continue Reading
-
Opinion
24 Jul 2018
What the ICO's Facebook fine teaches us
Legal expert Alexander Egerton considers whether the ICO’s planned £500,000 fine for Facebook is the precursor of a spate of increased fines across the board, or if it shows the ICO’s stance has not changed and will continue to target certain activities Continue Reading
-
News
24 Jul 2018
MPs call for inquiry into smart meter roll-out
Government urged to conduct a review of the roll-out of smart meters for electricity and gas, and to intervene to tackle a number of failures Continue Reading