Mobile networking

Colt picks Cisco to simplify 5G backhaul services

Colt is to deploy Cisco’s segment routing and Ethernet VPN-based architecture on its IQ Network for mobile operators Continue Reading

5G in ASEAN still a way off despite optimism

Spectrum is yet to be assigned in many ASEAN nations, while applications and services are still being tested in pilot projects across the region Continue Reading

Podcast: The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload – Episode 7

In this week’s episode of The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, the team talks cyber attacks against the NHS, the everywoman in Tech Forum, 5G connected cows, and covers off the latest round of revelations about Facebook’s data processing procedures Continue Reading

Malaysia takes broad base approach to 5G security

The country’s telco regulator is taking a industry-wide look at security implications of 5G, preferring not to target any particular supplier Continue Reading

Growing awareness of mobile security risk

There is a growing awareness of mobile security risk among members of the information security community, but most admit accessing corporate data from personal devices or public Wi-Fi Continue Reading

Vodafone defends its use of Huawei as 5G trials go live

As Vodafone begins trials of a live 5G service in Bristol, Cardiff and Liverpool, the operator’s CTO and general counsel have defended their use of Huawei equipment in Vodafone’s network and challenged its detractors to produce evidence of spying Continue Reading

US government ban unconstitutional, says Huawei

Huawei’s lawsuit accuses Washington of violating the US Constitution by banning it from government contracts Continue Reading

US doubles down on Huawei fears as Chinese prepare to sue

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has reinforced his attacks on Huawei as the firm apparently prepares to sue the US government over its federal-level ban Continue Reading

Australia ramps up on 5G – telcos and banks among the first to benefit

Australia has been touted as a leader in 5G, although the promises of the technology supporting the use of autonomous vehicles will not be realised for now Continue Reading

UK among most expensive countries for mobile data

The UK ranks 136th in the world for the average cost of 1GB of mobile data, according to new statistics Continue Reading

MWC 2019: Robots, robots and robots, oh my!

All the world loves robots, and when they are robots holding something a human might hold, doing an activity a human might do, and preferably doing it while looking a bit like a human (two legs, ... Continue Reading

MWC 2019: Our planet is dying - is it time to ditch Mobile World Congress?

This year, my flight from London's Stansted Airport to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress, plus two days of hour-and-a-half commutes through horrendous traffic between my hotel and the conference ... Continue Reading

MWC 2019: Vodafone powers 5G with VMware

Vodafone is using VMware’s telco cloud platform to prepare its mobile networks for 5G in 15 geographies Continue Reading

China Mobile and Singtel team up on IoT

Two major telcos in the APAC region, China Mobile and Singtel, are working together to help enterprises deploy the internet of things across China and Singapore Continue Reading

3 developing 5G trends that differentiate it from 4G LTE

Operators may be more cautious about initial 5G deployments than originally expected. But three key elements differentiate 5G from 4G LTE, which could make it a better investment. Continue Reading

Wearable technology in the workplace and data protection law

Wearable technology is slowly creeping into the workplace to monitor staff performance and health, but do employers understand the legal implications? We assess the data protection implications Continue Reading

MWC 2019: 5G driving telcos into the cloud, says VMware CEO

At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger explained how the requirements of 5G mobile networks are helping to push more telcos into the organisation’s arms Continue Reading

MWC 2019: Foldable phones distract from 5G politics in Barcelona

Mobile World Congress saw the usual plethora of smartphone device launches, but this year’s show is more politicised than ever before Continue Reading

Health Secretary Matt Hancock orders ban on use of pagers by NHS staff before end of 2021

Eradicating use of pagers will save the NHS £6.6m a year, as Health Secretary Matt Hancock outlines the next phase of his plan to modernise communication in the health service Continue Reading

US may cut off countries that use Huawei in 5G networks

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said America may scale back or cut military and diplomatic ties with countries that use Huawei equipment in national 5G networks Continue Reading

Government not doing enough to address mobile not-spots

The National Infrastructure Commission has criticised the government for a lack of progress in addressing mobile network not-spots, particularly along key road and rail links Continue Reading

IT Priorities 2019: Security concerns top agenda for network buyers again

The ability to gain visibility into what is happening on enterprise networks has once again topped the agenda for network managers and buyers, according to the latest Computer Weekly/TechTarget IT Priorities survey Continue Reading

MWC 2019: O2 to launch 5G by Christmas

Ahead of Mobile World Congress, operator O2 has revealed further details of how it is planning for the advent of 5G Continue Reading

MWC 2019: 5G smartphones go live on Vodafone network

Vodafone has connected three 5G-enabled smartphones to a live network during trials in Spain Continue Reading

MWC 2019: Huawei claims massive lead on 5G readiness

At a pre-Mobile World Congress event in London, Huawei’s Ryan Ding shared details of the firm’s rapidly expanding 5G mobile portfolio, and laid into his competitors Continue Reading

UK naïve to think China won’t try to exploit Huawei

A think-tank report has branded the UK government naïve at best, irresponsible at worst, over its use of Chinese networking equipment in critical national infrastructure Continue Reading

MWC 2019: 5G in Europe driven by industrial automation, says Ericsson

As Mobile World Congress 2019 nears, Sweden’s Ericsson has been expanding, and expounding upon, its plans for 5G mobile networks Continue Reading

Huawei’s Ren Zhengfei: US won’t crush us

Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei has taken a more combative stance in the ongoing row over the firm’s alleged links to the Chinese intelligence services Continue Reading

NCSC signals UK may take softer line on Huawei

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre suggests Huawei will be allowed to form core elements of the country’s 5G mobile network infrastructure after all Continue Reading

Central Saint Martins hosts Three’s 5G trial for London Fashion Week

Three’s trial 5G network will enable the world’s first augmented reality fashion show at Central Saint Martins, while consumers can test out a prototype network at its flagship store Continue Reading

Satellite broadband secures Cornish observatory a brighter future

The Tolcarn Observatory near St Austell in Cornwall is putting its money where its mouth is and using satellite broadband to enhance its research work and educational outreach Continue Reading

Apple Business Chat powers Npower’s smart meter switch

Energy supplier is using Apple Business Chat to help users through the process of switching onto new smart gas and electricity meters Continue Reading

Brexit is killing full-fibre broadband and 5G roll-outs, says CBI

A CBI report has warned that Brexit is “sucking the oxygen” out of digital priorities such as full-fibre broadband roll-out and 5G mobile network deployment Continue Reading

Nordic region primed to pioneer 5G

The Nordic region could pioneer the commercial use of 5G, with Finland and Sweden hotbeds for the technology Continue Reading

Government legislates to bring back roaming charges in no-deal Brexit

All four UK operators have said they have no plans to reintroduce roaming charges, but EE, O2 and Vodafone have not committed themselves not to do so Continue Reading

Self-driving cars get updated guidelines for trial safety and transparency

The Department for Transport has issued guidance on trial safety and transparency for self-driving cars, and is sticking by its pledge to have self-driving cars on Britain’s roads in the next two years Continue Reading

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

The nightmare driving test: How to make sure self-driving cars are safe

Simulating realistic environments using deep learning to enable self-driving cars to learn the rules of the road will prove more useful than any amount of real-world practice. We find out why, and meet the people doing something about it Continue Reading

Innocent people arrested following surveillance blunders, IPCO reveals

Interception of communications commissioner Adrian Fulford warns of “grave” repercussions for people wrongly identified as suspects due to errors made when government bodies access email, phone and telephone data Continue Reading

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

Malaysia mulls over Huawei’s role in 5G networks

Malaysia has become the latest country to look into the security concerns surrounding Huawei, which has been accused by mostly western powers of conducting corporate espionage and potentially ... Continue Reading

Cisco Live Europe: Intent-based networking meets the IoT head-on

Networking and communications technology supplier Cisco plans to bring intent-based networking techniques to bear on the internet of things Continue Reading

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

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

Chinese government grants BT new powers

Enhanced operating licences improve telco’s ability to work with customers in China Continue Reading

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

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

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

Siemens connects to world’s largest UCC deployment

German technology powerhouse Siemens AG reveals how it unified communications and collaboration for hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide Continue Reading

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

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

Security without borders

Perimeterless security offers a way to secure each point of connectivity and every device, rather than relying on perimeter protection Continue Reading

RSC and Science Museum to lead future audience AR/VR demos

Organisations including the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum will take part in a series of government-backed demonstrators creating immersive experiences for audiences of the future Continue Reading

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

CW Middle East: Bahrain aims to be fintech hub

Bahrain’s government wants to make the country the go-to place in the Middle East for financial technology companies. It hopes to capitalise on its banking know-how to establish an ambitious fintech “ecosystem”. Also read about Dubai’s plans for the Smart Data platform and the UAE Pass, a digital ID and signature, and how Shell is using AI to amplify the human impact of its workforce. Continue Reading

Intel readies 10nm chips for AI, 5G and a new PC platform

During CES, Intel revealed how it would address the market opportunity in 5G and support AI inference Continue Reading

CES 2019: Here plugs Alexa into in-car navigation service

Here, the former Nokia mapping unit now owned by a consortium of German carmakers, is to integrate Amazon Alexa with its navigation and location services Continue Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vodafone spreads Christmas cheer with a 4G drone

Vodafone has conducted a test flight of the UK’s first drone delivery controlled over its 4G network Continue Reading

Mobile security needs a rethink for the 5G era

A report released through the government’s 5G Testbeds and Trials programme has recommended the UK rethink its mobile security strategy Continue Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does the 802.11ax wireless standard mean for your network?

The publication of the 802.11ax standard will pave the way for the next generation of wireless technology, but what does it mean for enterprise networks? Continue Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interview: Comms sector ripe for disruption as climate change takes hold

Humanity has just 12 years left to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5⁰C and prevent climate meltdown. Paul Dickinson from the Carbon Disclosure Project discusses how CIOs can help take steps to avert disaster by changing their attitude to business communications Continue Reading

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

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

Self-driving cars may have to break law, says Law Commission

Self-driving cars may have to break the rules of the road to operate safely, and the Law Commissions of England, Wales and Scotland are embarking on a consultation to seek input on how to manage this Continue Reading

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

Lloyds Banking Group shaking up its workforce to reflect digital times

Lloyds Banking Group is revamping the roles of thousands of staff as it becomes digital Continue Reading

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

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

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

BT makes progress with Global Services restructuring

Telco sets out plan to get its troubled Global Services business unit fighting fit Continue Reading

Robotic delivery service hits the streets of Milton Keynes

Following extensive testing and a limited commercial roll-out in campus enterprise environments, Estonian robotics firm Starship Technologies is launching a direct-to-consumer robot delivery service in Milton Keynes Continue Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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