Mobile networking

APAC SMEs still hanging on to older PCs

A majority of small and medium-sized business in Asia-Pacific are still using PCs older than four years out of cost and application compatibility concerns Continue Reading

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

Two autonomous vehicle projects funded in government contest

The National Infrastructure Commission’s Roads for the Future contest has awarded a £50,000 prize fund to two projects exploring how to make the UK’s roads ready for connected and autonomous vehicles Continue Reading

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

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

Finland’s e-retail sector driven by international growth

Finland has a fast-growing e-retail industry as a positive consequence of the huge job cuts at Nokia Continue Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The fintech startups to watch in the UK

Tech Nation’s choice of fintech companies to back reflects the changes expected to hit financial services IT Continue Reading

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

Government confirms West Midlands to become home to UK's first large-scale 5G test bed

The government has confirmed the West Midlands will be used to carry out the UK's first large-scale test of 5G technology, with trials centred on its use in the health, construction and automotive sectors 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

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

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

KT shows off 5G’s potential at Asian Games

The South Korean telecoms bigwig is showcasing a host of 5G applications at the Asian Games in the run up to the commercial launch of its 5G network next year Continue Reading

Tapping into the internet of things

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we hear from IT leaders who are early adopters of internet of things technologies about how to deliver on the potential of IoT. We examine strategies for combining hyper-converged infrastructure and cloud storage to best effect. And we find out how the UK government intends to use data to improve Britain’s railways. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

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

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

CW ANZ: Gearing up for 5G

The potential benefits of 5G are certainly promising in Australia, which is seen as a test bed for 5G services with the country’s dense cities and wide open spaces. Indeed, telcos in Australia have used the recent Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in southeast Queensland to test their coming 5G networks. In this edition of CW ANZ, we look at how Australia is ushering in 5G services and the industries that will get the most out of the technology. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CW ASEAN: Preparing for 5G

As telcos gear up to roll out the first 5G networks, enterprises are keen to see how they can take advantage of faster 5G connectivity to support a broad range of applications, from the internet-of-things to high-fidelity remote applications. In this edition of CW ASEAN, we look at how telcos and enterprises are readying themselves for 5G and the opportunities presented by the new technology. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

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

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

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

EE best for UK mobile performance, study finds

Users of EE’s 4G mobile network receive the best overall experience in the UK, according to RootMetrics’ latest study Continue Reading

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

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

The value of unified endpoint management

Given the diversity of devices people can use for work, IT needs to look at how it can unify device security Continue Reading

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

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

Consumers spend less cash on connectivity, but more time online

The total amount of money consumers are spending on fixed and mobile connectivity services has fallen for the first time in five years Continue Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Full-fibre broadband for all to cost £30bn

The government has released its Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, setting the stage for the national roll-out of a full-fibre broadband network Continue Reading

Confusion reigns over value of 5G, says report

An Analysys Mason report commissioned by the Broadband Stakeholder Group has highlighted some of the challenges facing the deployment of 5G mobile networks in the UK Continue Reading

Cisco and UCL to open AI research unit in $100m digital economy boost

Cisco has extended its ongoing Country Digital Acceleration programme in the UK with a further $100m investment, part of which will go towards a new AI research centre Continue Reading

Orange starts 5G tests in Paris

After successful trials in Romania, Orange begins testing 5G use cases in its home country Continue Reading

Spectrum costs hit the world’s poorest hardest

The inflated cost of radio spectrum to support mobile network roll-out is harming the economic and social welfare of billions of the world’s poorest people, says the GSMA Continue Reading

CW Middle East: Can Saudi Arabia build the Silicon Valley of the Middle East?

In April this year, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman visited Silicon Valley in the US to meet tech giants such as Apple and Amazon in its efforts to fast-forward the kingdom’s technology capabilities. Read about its lofty ambitions. Also in this issue, read how demand for skilled IT professionals is increasing rapidly in the Middle East, which is facing a talent crunch. Meanwhile, Gulf Cooperation Council smart city initiatives are gathering momentum. Continue Reading

UK fintech industry fears Brexit-induced talent squeeze

London’s financial technology community warns of problems ahead as the reality of the UK leaving the EU unfolds Continue Reading

NIC calls for nationwide broadband plan

The National Infrastructure Commission has called for a national broadband plan to support full-fibre roll-out Continue Reading

Superbike team adds managed UC to support racers

Crescent Racing, Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team has enhanced its existing relationship with MSP GCI to include new unified comms and Skype for Business elements Continue Reading

Three chooses SSE for 5G fibre backhaul

SSE Enterprise Telecoms will connect Three’s mobile network into BT’s local telephone exchanges as the mobile operator ramps up its preparation for 5G Continue Reading

Ofcom lays out plan for UK fixed wireless networks

Telecoms regulator has set out a wide-ranging plan covering the roll-out of fixed wireless access networks in the UK to support national connectivity and other uses Continue Reading

Slow broadband fuels a post-Brexit storm for rural communities

Lack of access to reliable broadband and mobile networks threatens rural livelihoods after Brexit, according to a Local Government Association report Continue Reading

Industry bets on fixed wireless access for first 5G deployments

Separate tests in Romania and the UK have been demonstrating the potential of fixed wireless access as a component of 5G Continue Reading

How APAC enterprises and telcos are preparing for 5G

From Singapore to Tokyo, enterprises and mobile operators across Asia have been readying themselves for the next big leap in mobile connectivity that promises to speed up business operations and improve lives Continue Reading

Home Office criticised over ESN review progress

In an appearance before the Public Accounts Committee, Home Office permanent secretary Philip Rutnam defended the progress of the ESN project review Continue Reading

Government must challenge popular smart city misconceptions

A report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smart Cities says many people feel alienated by the concept, and calls on the government to challenge some popular misconceptions Continue Reading

SSE Enterprise Telecoms bids to solve UK’s backhaul problem

By layering Infinera technology over its existing network, SSE Enterprise Telecoms plans to deliver what it refers to as a ‘dark fibre-like’ access product for communications services providers Continue Reading

Mobile spectrum sharing is vital for UK 5G roll-out, says report

A report commissioned by independent network builders’ body Inca has warned that current approaches to how spectrum is apportioned are leaving vast amounts unused, and this needs to change Continue Reading

How Australia is gearing up for 5G

From trialling 5G networks at the recent Commonwealth Games to flying drones in surf sport lifesaving, Australia is becoming a test bed for 5G services with its dense cities and wide-open spaces Continue Reading

Nokia outsources IT infrastructure and application services to HCL

Five-year deal will bring together the services delivered by four different IT companies. Continue Reading

M1, Huawei to transmit VR content in 5G live trial

Mobile operator M1 and Huawei will be streaming virtual reality content in Singapore’s first 5G live trial in June Continue Reading

Vodafone to start 5G trials this autumn

MNO announces 5G trials in seven UK cities, with new mobile network infrastructure to be rolled out from October Continue Reading

Mobile operators appeal for dark fibre access to back 5G

O2, Three and Vodafone unite in calling for more to be done to open up dark fibre networks to supply desperately needed capacity for their future 5G networks Continue Reading

Technology can help solve some of society’s pressing social and environmental problems

A recent initiative on using technology to tackle the illegal wildlife trade shows how much the tech sector can contribute to solving some of society's biggest challenges Continue Reading

Take-up of Transport for London’s BYOD scheme leapt last year

TfL staff are increasingly using their own mobile devices in the workplace, figures reveal Continue Reading

Mayor Khan bids to make London the world’s smartest city

At London Tech Week, mayor Sadiq Khan launched a city-wide initiative to harness the capital’s technology talent to address London’s most pressing problems Continue Reading

Investigators close Nokia extortion probe without finding a motive or making an arrest

New details of €2m blackmail of Nokia in 2007 emerge as Finland’s NBI calls a halt to its investigation 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

Singapore government to regulate eSIM technology

The government is gathering feedback on key proposals such as forbidding telcos to lock embedded SIM-enabled devices to their networks Continue Reading

BYOD for mobile ‘a year away’ for Williams F1

Companies in the Williams Group – the Formula One racing operation Williams Grand Prix Engineering and its high-growth sister operation Williams Advanced Engineering – are investing with mobile security front-of-mind to enable more agile working practices within 12 months Continue Reading

BT’s Gavin Patterson quits under shareholder pressure

Patterson’s resignation comes just weeks after he announced 13,000 redundancies across BT Continue Reading

IT spending reaches 10-year high as CIOs struggle with digital technology strategy

IT leaders have seen their budgets and headcounts rise for the first time in 10 years, but face challenges implementing their digital strategies Continue Reading

Newcastle Council to show off smartest street in Britain

The Great Exhibition of the North will see Mosley Street in Newcastle upon Tyne transformed into Britain’s smartest street as part of a demonstration of IoT technology Continue Reading

5G transformative for UK plc, but potential impacts still vague

5G mobile technology looks set to transform the UK economy for the better, but the immaturity of the technology and lack of standards makes its true impact harder to judge, according to a report by Deloitte Continue Reading

Mobile, IoT and cloud biggest drivers for Wi-Fi growth

The intersection of mobility, the IoT and cloud will be the driving forces behind wireless network deployments over the next few years Continue Reading

Huge rise in TSB-themed mobile phishing attacks after IT meltdown

Scammers have used bank’s IT problems as an opportunity to target its customers with mobile phishing attacks Continue Reading

Tech's role in tackling humanitarian crises

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we learn about how mobile connectivity is a lifeline for Syrian refugees in Turkey, thanks to the mobile network operators in that country. Our latest buyer’s guide examines how modern network security enables digital transformation at a range of companies. And we find out about the technology strategy of logistics firm Hermes from its CIO, and about British Airways’ use of Salesforce to globalise its B2B sales. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CW Nordics: Finland delays e-voting plan

Security concerns have re-emerged to further frustrate the Finnish government’s plans to launch a national e-voting system. Also read about a study by the Stockholm School of Economics that looks at the likely impact of AI, machine learning and robotics on people’s lives. And find out why Norway has accelerated plans to scale up its national cyber security infrastructure. Continue Reading

Qualcomm and Facebook working on FWA broadband

Qualcomm is to integrate a number of its chipsets with Facebook’s Terragraph technology to build fixed wireless access broadband solutions for urban areas Continue Reading

Sweden’s Telenor makes GDPR consent personal

Telenor Sweden says it has seen market-leading results for General Data Protection Regulation consent after enlisting a customer experience firm to manage the process Continue Reading

GDPR is here – are you ready?

The EU’s new data protection regulation, GDPR, comes into force this week. In this edition of Computer Weekly, we ask if companies are ready for it and look at what happens if you’re not yet compliant. Our latest buyer’s guide examines digital transformation and the role of the CIO. And we find out how technology is changing the traditional sport of cricket. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Three ditches 3G mobile phones

Three has become the first of the big four UK mobile operators to stop selling 3G mobile devices Continue Reading

BT's network convergence strategy is a win: nobody's talking about full-fibre broadband today

After yet another set of lacklustre earnings and with over 10,000 staff facing the axe, embattled BT CEO Gavin Patterson needed a quick win. Today's launch of new consumer offerings from both BT ... Continue Reading

BT and EE to converge fibre broadband, 4G networks

BT’s consumer unit has launched a network convergence strategy designed to make the most of its national fibre and 4G network assets Continue Reading

Vodafone CEO Colao steps down

Long-serving Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao will step down in October after just over a decade in charge Continue Reading

MPs demand 4G mobile network coverage obligation for rural areas

The Rural Business All-Party Parliamentary Group has written to Matt Hancock calling for the government to put legally binding targets in place for 4G mobile network coverage Continue Reading

Hacking the internet of things just got easier – it’s time to look at your security

Are you taking security for internet-connected devices seriously enough? 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

Virtual tripwire to keep elephant poachers out of Zambian national park

Cisco and Dimension Data are working to protect Zambia’s at-risk elephant population after a successful pilot project in South Africa Continue Reading

TalkTalk worst for broadband customer satisfaction

Ofcom has released statistics on communications service provider customer service metrics, and TalkTalk does not come out of it well Continue Reading

Three starts to prepare core network for 5G

Mobile operator Three has enlisted SSE Enterprise Telecoms to bring 20 core datacentres on-net as it prepares to start rolling out 5G Continue Reading

Imperial College taps volunteer smartphones for cancer research

Imperial College London is working with the Vodafone Foundation to co-opt smartphone processing power for use in cancer research Continue Reading

Starship’s autonomous delivery robots get commercial roll-out

Having successfully trialled its autonomous delivery robots in the UK and US, Estonian startup Starship Technologies is embarking on a full commercial roll-out Continue Reading

Over a million homes can now access FTTP, says Ofcom

Access to viable broadband services continues to improve across the UK, according to Ofcom Continue Reading