Mobile networking

Government given six months to rewrite snoopers’ charter

The government has until 1 November 2018 to rewrite a key section of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, after the high court declared them unlawful in a judicial review brought by human rights group Liberty Continue Reading

O2 reveals plans for new 4G mobile spectrum

O2 has already turned on 100 new mobile sites since winning big in the Ofcom spectrum auction, and hopes to activate 900 more this year Continue Reading

NCSC shows support for common standards for secure communication

The UK cyber security authority is supporting an industry drive towards common standards for secure communication by joining an industry organisation that aims to achieve this goal Continue Reading

Police forces use Motorola mobile apps to digitise frontline ops

The States of Jersey Police force plans to phase out inefficient paper-based activities with mobile applications, while other forces around the UK report improvements to their overall processes Continue Reading

Twilio offers IoT developers programmable mobile connectivity

Developers of internet of things applications and devices will be able to use the Twilio Programmable Wireless mobile communications platform to build mobile connectivity into their services Continue Reading

Huawei invests in 5G mobile networks, but eases back on the hype

Telecoms supplier Huawei has been updating the industry on its 5G vision at its annual Analyst Summit in Shenzhen, China, but shied away from making bold predictions Continue Reading

O2 and Arqiva begin small cell roll-out in London

Mobile operator will use small cells to boost 4G mobile network data capacity in busy areas, such as around stations Continue Reading

The future of 5G mobile networks: support and development

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PayPal is latest tech giant to eye traditional banking

PayPal set to launch launch traditional retail banking services in the first half of this year Continue Reading

Autonomous drones will fly into danger zones for emergency services

Automated drones will use sophisticated visual systems and machine learning techniques to carry out search and rescue missions where humans fear to tread Continue Reading

5G mobile spectrum auction raises £1.3bn

The principal bidding stage in Ofcom’s latest mobile network spectrum auction has concluded, raising more than £1bn for the Treasury Continue Reading

How to find the right mobility strategy for your SME

Small businesses still need a strategy to make the most of mobility, so what should business owners look out for? Continue Reading

Majority of firms fear mobile workers have been hacked

More than half of organisations fear that their mobile workers have been hacked and most are concerned that a growing mobile workforce means increased cyber security risk, a survey reveals Continue Reading

ASEAN’s growing appetite for unified communications

Led by enterprises in Singapore and Malaysia, adoption of unified communications tools is expected to grow with the surge in demand for cloud-based and hosted offerings Continue Reading

Swedish industry contributes to 5G evolution

Swedish industrial companies have played a role in the development of Ericsson’s 5G services in the country Continue Reading

The walking dead: Is there life left in 4G mobile networks?

These days, 5G grabs all the hype and headlines, but 4G still has plenty more to give. It’s a good thing, too, as operators have no choice but to sweat their assets Continue Reading

CityFibre consumer broadband collaboration hits Peterborough

CityFibre is returning to one of its earliest Gigabit City projects with Vodafone in tow to upgrade thousands of homes in Peterborough to gigabit-capable full-fibre broadband Continue Reading

Train leasing firm demos mobile edge computing for smart trains

Rolling stock leasing company Angel Trains is demonstrating edge computing over a wireless mesh network to make life easier for its customers’ on-board staff Continue Reading

Ofcom opens 5G spectrum auction

Ofcom has opened the bidding in the auction of spectrum to support 4G and 5G mobile networks Continue Reading

Gatwick Airport turns to driverless tech to keep staff moving

Gatwick Airport plans to trial driverless technology to move staff around the airfield, in the hope of creating an Uber-like service to cut costs and emissions Continue Reading

Ofcom sets out 5G spectrum auction process

Regulator has given details of the two-stage 5G mobile network spectrum auction process that will begin next week Continue Reading

Three reaches 10 million customer milestone

UK’s smallest “big four” mobile operator reflects on a solid year as it gears up for the imminent spectrum auction Continue Reading

Government setting up local planning group to support 5G roll-out

Digital minister Margot James is building a new initiative to support collaboration on 5G mobile network roll-out at a local level, bringing together councils, landowners and industry to work on planning challenges and policy Continue Reading

Kenyan solar supplier leans on IoT and fintech for new growth

Mastercard packed its stand at Mobile World Congress with new use cases for fintech in the developing world and launched a new partnership with Kenyan solar energy supplier M-KOPA Continue Reading

Government ‘unlawfully delegated’ bulk data powers to GCHQ, court hears

Privacy International urges Britain’s most secret court, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, to rule that the government illegally collected surveillance data from internet and phone companies until at least September 2017 Continue Reading

Digital for rural areas worth up to £26bn to UK economy

A study commissioned by Amazon has posited that greater use of digital tools and services could be worth between £12bn and £26bn per annum to the UK economy Continue Reading

Scottish government to spend £25m to fill 4G coverage gaps

The Scottish government has announced a £25m programme to infill gaps in 4G mobile network coverage across Scotland Continue Reading

Government reveals winners of 5G mobile competition

The government has unveiled the winners of a multimillion-pound competition to create 5G mobile network testbeds around the UK Continue Reading

Will Brexit really bring the return of mobile roaming charges?

As Theresa May commits to quitting the EU’s digital single market alongside Brexit, heralding the potential reintroduction of mobile roaming charges, are business travellers and holidaymakers doomed to a return to the bad old days? Continue Reading

CW Europe: Germany’s Lemoncat takes catering to the cloud

Business catering startup Lemoncat has taken advantage of the affordable cost of living in Berlin and is shaking up the catering sector by harnessing the Amazon and Salesforce clouds. Also in this issue, read how Moscow’s government is taking advantage of high penetration of broadband and mobile internet to expand innovative services under the Russian capital’s smart city programme, and how organisations in the Netherlands still have much to do to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation. Continue Reading

Wi-Fi provider uses big data analytics to drive customer experience

The self-styled “Uber of Wi-Fi”, iPass is using Databricks’ Unified Analytics Platform and machine learning to monitor its worldwide network and help its customers get the best experience Continue Reading

Ofcom probes Three and Vodafone over suspected net neutrality breaches

Telecoms regulator launches investigation into whether or not mobile operators Three and Vodafone are flouting European rules on net neutrality Continue Reading

Government sets out tighter security measures for IoT devices

The government has announced plans to develop a new code of practice to improve the security of connected internet of things devices Continue Reading

Getting up to speed with 5G

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at what needs to be done to make next-generation 5G mobile networks a reality. Fewer EU workers are moving to the UK due to Brexit fears – we examine what that means for the IT skills gap. And we analyse the state of the hyper-converged infrastructure market and the main suppliers. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

MWC 2018: iPhone X device of choice for visitors to Barcelona

Statistics compiled by mobile data crowdsourcing outfit Tutela has revealed in-depth insight into what devices visitors to Mobile World Congress 2018 were using, and how they used them Continue Reading

The great 5G bake-off: where are we and where are we going?

With Mobile World Congress 2018 just gone by, early 5G network standards formalised and tests up and running at the Winter Olympics, we assess the state of 5G, and what's needed to kick-start commercial roll-outs Continue Reading

People at risk of psychological side-effects of screen addiction

Many Brits spend more than 10 hours a day attached to a screen and 60% look at two at once, research shows Continue Reading

Mobile World Congress 2018: The key technologies and issues in mobile

Computer Weekly presents a round-up of the hot technologies and issues being discussed at Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona Continue Reading

MWC 2018: Cisco and Vodafone demonstrate network slicing

At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, network supplier Cisco and mobile operator Vodafone demonstrated network slicing techniques using segment routing Continue Reading

Six bidders set to take part in 5G mobile spectrum auction

Ofcom has confirmed the names of the six companies that have successfully qualified to take part in this year’s mobile spectrum auction Continue Reading

MWC 2018: 5G collaboration dominates agenda at annual mobile fair

At Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona, 5G mobile networks were the talk of the show, and a number of operators announced new collaborations around the emerging network standard with their technology partners Continue Reading

MWC 2018: Project Flame launches 5G testbed in Barcelona

The European H2020 Project Flame has launched the first urban-scaled 5G testbed for open media internet trials, using an InterDigital platform Continue Reading

Government must rewrite illegal sections of Snoopers’ Charter, court told

A court has been asked to give ministers until July 2018 to rewrite powers to require phone and internet companies to retain data on the population. The government acknowledges parts of surveillance regime are unlawful Continue Reading

MWC 2018: Data, not connectivity, now core to IoT, says Cisco Jasper

At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Cisco Jasper has been exploring the growing criticality of data management to the internet of things, and unveiled new NB-IoT customers in Asia Continue Reading

MWC 2018: Telefónica aims to connect 100 million in Latin America

At Mobile World Congress, telecoms operator Telefónica launches a new initiative to bring 100 million people in Latin America online by using mobile networking technology for the first time Continue Reading

Surveillance watchdog investigates security risks of GCHQ IT contractors

The investigatory powers commissioner is reviewing the security arrangements for IT contractors that have access to live computer systems at GCHQ holding highly sensitive records on the UK population Continue Reading

MWC 2018: 5G 'open for business', says Ericsson CEO

At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm has been expanding on early commercial opportunities for 5G mobile networks Continue Reading

MWC 2018: Samsung Galaxy S9 launch kicks off annual mobile festival

Samsung has raised the curtain on Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona with the launch of a new flagship Galaxy S9 smartphone device Continue Reading

Emergency Services Network progress ‘deeply unsatisfactory’, says PAC

A Home Office review of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme will not be finished before the end of July, the Public Accounts Committee has been told Continue Reading

5G mobile network rocks up in Brighton

Digital Catapult and the Coast to Capital LEP will switch on a 5G mobile network test bed in Brighton in April 2018 Continue Reading

O2 uses The O2 to run 5G mobile network trials

Mobile network operator O2 is to trial a 5G ‘experience’ at the eponymous London music venue later in 2018 Continue Reading

4G IoT network may ease aviation sector fears over drone safety

Vodafone is testing mobile and internet of things network technology to protect commercial aircraft from badly flown drones Continue Reading

The future of 5G mobile networks: support and development

In the second part of our exploration of the 5G market, we find out how UK plc is innovating around 5G mobile networks, and ask what lies in store at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Continue Reading

UK finance regulator collaborates with US counterpart on fintech

The FCA is working with a US finance regulator to support financial technology companies on both sides of the Atlantic Continue Reading

Church spires to become mobile coverage hotspots

Following successful trials in East Anglia, DCMS and Defra plan to encourage rural vicars to host broadband connectivity hotspots in their churches Continue Reading

The great 5G bake-off: where are we and where are we going?

With Mobile World Congress 2018 a week away, early 5G network standards formalised and tests up and running at the Winter Olympics, we assess the state of 5G, and what's needed to kick-start commercial roll-outs Continue Reading

Consumers wasting millions of gigabytes of inclusive mobile data

Over 140 million gigabytes of mobile broadband data included in UK consumer mobile contracts is going unused every month, according to uSwitch Continue Reading

Vodafone introduces 4G mini-masts in Cornwall

Vodafone has installed and trialled a pint-sized 4G ‘mini mobile’ mast, designed to be less obtrusive, in Cornwall Continue Reading

EE launches home broadband over 4G LTE

EE has been conducting tests of a powerful 4G antenna that it claims can provide isolated rural homes with broadband speeds equivalent to full-fibre Continue Reading

Orange announces European 5G testing

Mobile operator Orange will run 5G mobile network pilots in France and Romania later this year Continue Reading

Dubai transport authority maps city to support autonomous cars

Dubai’s RTA has enlisted Here Technologies to build a high-definition map of the city to support its goals around self-driving cars Continue Reading

Global Services still problem child for BT

Challenging market conditions and lost customers at its IT services unit weigh heavily on BT’s results in the third quarter Continue Reading

Google Q4 results show businesses are buying into its public cloud

The Google Cloud Platform is earning the search engine giant $1bn per quarter. Expect more cloud investment this year Continue Reading

Europe’s shameful role in spy-tech exports that led to torture and jail

Governments in Europe actively assisted in government oppression in Iran, Bahrain and Russia by providing states with sophisticated surveillance equipment. The European Parliament is pressing for changes in the law to restrict exports of spy-technology to countries with poor human rights records Continue Reading

Select Committee highlights Brexit effect on roaming and data protection

House of Commons Select Committee report sets out Brexit challenges such as uncertainty around regulations, data protection, mobile roaming charges and skills Continue Reading

Department for International Development launches digital strategy

Strategy highlights potential of technology to reduce poverty as department aims to become a global leader in digital Continue Reading

Mastercard sets biometric ID deadline for banks

Mastercard has committed to guaranteeing that every one of its customers will have access to biometric authentication services by April 2019 Continue Reading

When it comes to mobile spectrum, it's time for Three to get over itself

I was hugely pleased today to see that despite the possibility of another legal roadblock in the Court of Appeal, telecoms regulator Ofcom is going to move ahead and lay the groundwork for the ... Continue Reading

Ofcom pushes ahead with spectrum auction despite legal hold-up

Regulator starts preparation work for the long-delayed auction of radio spectrum to support enhanced 4G and future 5G mobile network roll-out Continue Reading

Telstra adds narrowband capability to its IoT network

Australian telco claims to be one of the first in the world to support both narrowband internet of things and Cat M1 technologies Continue Reading

Consumers demand better treatment from mobile operators

Mobile operators need to work to win back consumer trust ahead of widespread 5G deployment, according to a report from Ericsson Continue Reading

CES 2018: Hyundai and Cisco bring SDN to the automobile

Hyundai will debut a new generation of hyperconnected software-defined car in 2019, incorporating a Cisco-designed network platform Continue Reading

Health sector digitisation vital to combat mental health crisis

Collaboration and digitisation within the health industry is critical to deal with the growing mental health crisis, but more support is needed from policymakers Continue Reading

Margot James takes over as digital minister after government reshuffle

Former minister for business succeeds Matt Hancock after his promotion to secretary of state Continue Reading

UAE tech growth prompts firms to review internal IT security

As IT becomes more prominent in the UAE economy, more and more internal connections between people and systems are created, all of which need to be secured Continue Reading

Dutch bank tests wearable technology payments

ABN Amro is testing out wearable payment devices with 500 customers as part of a four-month pilot Continue Reading

Spanish authorities ready roads for autonomous vehicles

Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic has selected Mobileye technology to develop vision and data analysis for driver assistance and autonomous vehicles Continue Reading

CES 2018: Pizza Hut to test autonomous delivery vehicle

At CES 2018, underway in Las Vegas, Pizza Hut and Toyota announce a partnership to develop an autonomous pizza delivery service Continue Reading

CES 2018: Jaguar Land Rover picks Qualcomm to power in-car connectivity

British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover will incorporate Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820Am automotive platform to power in-vehicle connectivity Continue Reading

China to open $2.1bn AI tech park in Beijing

An area in the western part of Chinese capital Beijing has been designated as the launchpad for China to hone its capabilities in artificial intelligence Continue Reading

Scottish Ambulance Service tests satellite to improve critical care process

The Scottish Ambulance Service is testing satellite broadband to help paramedics gather vital information on their patients’ conditions whilst in transit Continue Reading

Intel, Nokia prepping APAC telcos for 5G wave

The two tech firms are among others that have been working with telcos across the Asia-Pacific region to test 5G technologies and applications Continue Reading

Smartphone production to plateau in 2018, says report

After a bumper year, driven chiefly by growth in the Chinese market, smartphone production will begin to slow in 2018, according to analysts at TrendForce Continue Reading

Building on the UK tech sector’s momentum in 2018

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

Trackside network to bring 5G to UK rail travellers by 2025

The government has launched a consultation on improving mobile connectivity for rail passengers Continue Reading

CW ASEAN: A taste for mobility

Although enterprise mobility is increasingly strategic and transformative for companies such as Foodpanda Singapore, its adoption is still nascent in Southeast Asia. In this month’s CW ASEAN, we take a look at how organizations in the region are realizing the value of mobility, even as the definition of mobility is going beyond mobile apps toward the internet of things, augmented reality and virtual reality. Plus, find out how the Singapore government is using AWS, as well as 5G developments across the Asia-Pacific region. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CW ANZ: Riding the wave of enterprise mobility

Australia is one of the most advanced markets in the world in adopting mobility initiatives to improve employee productivity, customer service and the bottom line. In this month’s edition of CW ANZ, we take a look at how Australian organisations are faring in driving mobility initiatives, the challenges they have been facing and what lies ahead. Also, read more about Australia’s space ambitions and 5G developments across the Asia-Pacific region. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CW Europe: Eurosport pumps up digital technology for cycling fans

Read how Eurosport is using a novel combination of technology and information to develop immersive viewing experiences for sports fans across a range of platforms. Also find out how Russian state bank Vneshekonombank expects to become a vehicle for a blockchain revolution in the country’s public sector, and what the European Parliament's approval of a new electronic system to store biometric information might mean for UK citizens after Brexit. Continue Reading

Bumps in the road ahead for Nordic cashless societies

Sweden and Norway are global leaders when it comes to reducing the use of cash in the economy – but what about the Nordic region as a whole? Continue Reading

Vodafone picks Huawei to underpin NFV and SDN roll-out

Mobile operator Vodafone will use Huawei’s FusionSphere Openstack platform to support its NFV and SDN ambitions Continue Reading

What lessons can be learned from Britain’s smartest city?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we visit Bristol, ranked as the UK’s top smart city, to find out what it’s learned and what’s coming next in the city’s technology plans. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the emerging area of software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN). And we trace the evolution of open source as more organisations contribute code to the community. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

UK sale of surveillance equipment to Macedonia raises questions over export licence policy

The UK approved an export licence for the sale of surveillance equipment to Macedonia – while the country was engaged in an illegal surveillance programme against its citizens. A senior minister was consulted on the decision Continue Reading

Budget 2017 to promise huge UK technology boost

Wednesday’s Budget will include funding for artificial intelligence, driverless cars, 5G, digital skills and more computer science teachers Continue Reading

Emergency Services Network delay to cost hundreds of millions

The Emergency Services Network roll-out has hit further delays and is likely to become very costly indeed, the Public Accounts Committee has heard Continue Reading

Waltham Forest Council gives 5G network plans a boost

Waltham Forest Council in London is to allow Arqiva to deploy small cell technology on 16,000 lampposts across the borough Continue Reading

The ethics of software development

In this week’s Computer Weekly, with big names such as Uber and Volkswagen being called out for using software to cheat the system, we look at professionalism and ethics in software development. We assess the digital progress of the UK’s manufacturing sector and the challenges it faces in keeping up with global rivals. And we examine the latest trends in mobile device management. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Oversight of intelligence agencies’ data sharing has ‘failed’, court hears

UK’s intelligence services lack adequate oversight and written guidelines when sharing databases of sensitive information, Privacy International argues in secret court Continue Reading

Government cuts cost of network infrastructure roll-out

Parts of the Electronic Communications Code have been updated to help communications providers deploy new infrastructure more quickly Continue Reading

How technology is transforming healthcare delivery in Gulf region

IT will transform the healthcare sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries over the coming years Continue Reading

CW Middle East: Internet of things can help Gulf countries to diversify

The Middle East’s push towards economic diversification is driving innovation in internet of things (IoT) applications for emerging services sectors, such as transport and logistics, telecommunications, financial services and tourism. Also read how the Dubai Health Authority is rolling out Salama, a unified electronic medical record (EMR) system, and a survey shows organisations in the Middle East are not offering IT staff enough training and don’t employ enough women in IT. Continue Reading