WAN performance and optimisation

UK network resilience improves during Covid-19 lockdown

UK’s fixed networks handling increased traffic well since lockdown, but customer experience is somewhat affected, especially when connected via Wi-Fi, on several days starting 20 March 2020 Continue Reading

New Zealand schools to get Wi-Fi 6 in connectivity boost

More than 2,000 schools across New Zealand will be among the first in the country to enjoy the improved coverage and access speeds of Wi-Fi 6 Continue Reading

UK government to investigate water and energy networks to deliver nationwide gigabit broadband

Existing utility pipelines to be examined as way to accelerate national fibre infrastructure roll-out, but critics voice concern about broadband strategy fixating on fibre Continue Reading

CityFibre hires 10,000 people to facilitate UK full-fibre roll-out

UK’s third national digital infrastructure platform provider creates thousands of multi-skilled jobs across network of construction partners to facilitate network deployment Continue Reading

US networks weather unprecedented traffic during lockdown

“The networks were made for this,” says network technology provider as it shows how US networks have coped with added loads since the stay-at-home order Continue Reading

Businesses learn to cope with new normal as only 25% of UK workers crave return to office

Research from enterprise identity firm finds that even with no playbook, UK workers are coping well with mandated home working and have maintained productivity Continue Reading

Progress needed for UK fibre roll-out to catch up to peers

Even with the best efforts of the government in meeting its target and various initiatives to support deployment, meeting UK full-fibre gigabit goals depends on ultimate switch-off of the copper network Continue Reading

Gamgee and QuantWiFi announce managed Wi-Fi strategic partnership

Network technology providers Gamgee and QuantWiFi team up to develop solutions ensuring Wi-Fi for a growing number of consumers whose network experience has become more crucial than ever Continue Reading

Global enterprise WLAN market dips in first quarter of 2020

Consumer market buoyed but Covid-19 lockdowns blow headwind into enterprise sector for worldwide wireless local area network market for the first quarter of 2020 Continue Reading

Enterprises planning future with 5G and Wi-Fi 6

Deloitte study shows advanced wireless technologies increasingly seen as a ‘force multiplier’ for emerging technologies including AI, IoT, cloud and edge computing Continue Reading

GSMA, O-RAN team to open up 5G networks

Collaboration aims to accelerate an ‘industry-wide consensus’ on the adoption of open, interoperable interfaces and radio access network virtualisation Continue Reading

Wireless Broadband Alliance calls for single global Wi-Fi network

Global wireless ecosystem consortium unveils WBA OpenRoaming to offer automatic and secure connection of billions of devices to millions of Wi-Fi networks Continue Reading

Cisco eyes up ThousandEyes purchase

Networking giant says acquisition of internet and cloud intelligence platform provider will enhance its network performance and monitoring capabilities across the enterprise and into the cloud Continue Reading

Constructing the future for engineering – finding the right model where one size does not fit all

Design and engineering has rapidly evolved to be all about interconnected devices. We see how one of the leading manufacturing software suppliers is meeting the challenge Continue Reading

Covid-19: Managing spikes in website traffic now IT leaders’ biggest challenge

AppDynamics research reveals that 95% of companies plot new tech course after Covid-19 outbreak as technologists see opportunity to show their value to the business Continue Reading

Nokia joins the Open RAN Policy Coalition

Finish comms tech provider reinforces its commitment to the development of future secure mobile radio technologies for 5G by joining open and software-defined network technology consortium Continue Reading

Small firms seize digital lifeline to get back to business

Research shows Covid-19 crisis has kick-started a small business digital revolution to power recovery, with over a quarter of firms responding to running their businesses remotely with videoconferencing Continue Reading

Global consortium launches ‘transformative’ subsea cable for African connectivity

2Africa, one of the world’s largest subsea projects, will connect 23 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Europe Continue Reading

Openreach taps Nokia to extend full-fibre network capacity

Deal covers essential equipment to extend Gigabit fibre access network across UK Continue Reading

Nearly two-thirds of US small businesses to continue with remote working post-pandemic

Survey reveals small businesses are having a big rethink on remote working as a fundamental business practice when the coronavirus pandemic has passed Continue Reading

Multiple network outages costing enterprise businesses millions of pounds a year

More than half of IT decision-makers and network managers globally say they have had four or more network outages lasting more than 30 minutes, costing between £250,000 and £5m in downtime Continue Reading

European network traffic volumes stabilising

The updated summary report from body of European regulators for electronic communications on how network operators can cope with increased demand for network capacity finds that, by mid-May 2020, all is well Continue Reading

Huawei: US using technological strengths to ‘crush’ companies outside its own borders

Chinese tech giant hits back at White House decision to extend technology ban and says it will ultimately be self-harming Continue Reading

BT reported to be in talks to sell off Openreach to fund full-fibre roll-out

Report suggests Openreach sale could raise £20bn as BT announces £12bn build programme to extend FTTP network Continue Reading

CW APAC: Trend Watch – business response to coronavirus

With countries the world over reeling from the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, which has meant sweeping changes both economically and socially, Computer Weekly looks at how firms in the Asia-Pacific region have adapted to what has so quickly become the new normal. Continue Reading

Telcos’ enterprise ambitions at risk from private network operators, private spectrum

Research finds a rising number of spectrum initiatives underpinning strong momentum for private cellular networks within enterprises Continue Reading

UK comms market set for shake-up as O2 and Virgin Media confirm merger

Coming-together of leading fixed-mobile provider and cable network provider will create genuine competition to BT/EE Continue Reading

Industry 4.0 transformation reaches communications inflection point

Survey finds huge potential for investment in advance 4G and 5G technology among industrial organisations Continue Reading

T-Mobile US claims ‘significant’ 5G standalone architecture firsts

US operator partners with comms technology leaders to achieve world’s first milestones for standalone architecture 5G Continue Reading

SD-WAN; One Way To Partly Consolidate The Complex Puzzle That Is Contemporary IT

I was recently sent an article by my PR mate Hannah from one of their clients, Versa – a company I’ve met up with and they talk a lot of common sense, far more than their er, so-called president… ... Continue Reading

Unified communications: The key to prospering in the new working reality of Covid-19

Covid-19 lockdowns are causing a collective rethink in the way companies operate, with unified communications transformed from a nice-to-have to a business essential as remote working becomes the new normal Continue Reading

Stark digital divide in US internet speed amid Covid-19 crisis

Over a fifth of connections in lower income brackets in the US do not have ‘acceptable’ internet performance for work and school during the coronavirus lockdown, but ISPs’ expansion of available bandwidth for these communities noticeably improves online speed Continue Reading

Infovista claims SD-WAN implementation game changer with transparent hybrid technology

Application-aware SD-WAN technology provider introduces additional capabilities to ‘dramatically’ simplify migration and hasten transition to software-defined networking Continue Reading

IT Priorities 2020: SD-WAN soars as collaboration and communications no longer on back burner

At the start of the year, networking professionals looked likely to invest in monitoring, converged architectures and WAN technologies, while unified communications was in decline and collaboration of minimal interest Continue Reading

Ericsson scores further 5G RAN win with True Corporation Thailand

Thai comms operator engages the Swedish technology provider to enable smooth, fast and cost-effective 5G network evolution in three regions Continue Reading

Potential near £70bn boost to British economy from gigabit broadband

Research shows that delivering ‘Gigabit Britain’ could provide over £50bn gross value added to the economy in five years, growing to £68.8bn in 2030, but suppliers warn that more must be done to turn broadband ambition into reality Continue Reading

Wireless stakeholders cheer ‘historic’ FCC Wi-Fi 6GHz spectrum allocation decision

US broadcast and telecoms regulator confirms proposal lauded as a milestone moment that will no less than supercharge connectivity Continue Reading

Cisco, Google Cloud plan application-centric multicloud networking fabric

Tech giants unite to address current systems’ perceived lack of capability to signal service level requests dynamically and offer full WAN application integration with cloud workloads Continue Reading

Application performance for remote workers becomes primary network issue for businesses

When it comes to WAN, cost diminishes in importance, while dealing with complexity increases, as more firms spread reach to more locations Continue Reading

Coronavirus: German networks take the extra strain from social distancing

Network performance and customer experience monitoring firm finds German networks coping with masses of online home users despite some degradations since the start of social distancing and stay-at-home policies Continue Reading

Covid-19 outbreak sees first-quarter revenues flatten for Huawei

Chinese networking mega-firm endures tough first quarter, but pledges that it will ride out the coronavirus storm Continue Reading

Collaboration and communications get richer as Covid-19 ushers in new working reality

Covid-19 lockdowns bring about collective rethink in the way we work, with remote video becoming normalised and a potential change in the way effectiveness is measured Continue Reading

Nuage Networks declares SD-WAN first for desktop, mobile and IoT devices

Nokia subsidiary integrates Asavie SD Edge to allow enterprise IT managers to extend security policies beyond branch to mobile users and connected devices Continue Reading

Orange expands mesh Wi-Fi into Belgium, reinforces marine service capabilities

SoftAtHome’s mesh Wi-Fi now available for Orange Belgium customers while Orange ship begins undersea cabling survey work off coast of Sicily Continue Reading

Coronavirus: European network traffic curves flatten but security issues increase

Nokia research finds networks are taking the strain despite a huge increase in upstream traffic during the day from videoconferencing and downstream during weekends from video-on-demand Continue Reading

Omdia: New norm for working set to have ‘dramatic’ implications for collaboration industry

Analyst recalibrates expectations for collaboration and conferencing tools, forecasting transformational upsurge in use that could change the world of work, with home broadband being a business lifeblood Continue Reading

Cato Networks seals significant investment to take SASE forward

More validation for secure access service edge solutions as SD-WAN provider scoops cash injection Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Ofcom relaxes ISPs’ broadband obligations

UK comms regulator loosens operating guidelines on broadband operators to prevent driving additional traffic to call centres and not punish inability to meet repair targets Continue Reading

Huawei extols 2019 as ‘extraordinary’ year

Despite political challenges across the world restricting use of its technology, Chinese comms tech giant posts strong yearly increase in sales and profit Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Teleworking drives new application usage growth for Comcast

Largest network operator in US issues assurance that huge shift in usage patterns and extra demands on home networks are well within infrastructure’s capability Continue Reading

Can the internet take the strain?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, as millions of people work from home, we examine the measures in place to make sure the internet stays up and running. Our latest buyer’s guide looks at the best practice in application modernisation. And we find out how IT leaders are tackling the skills shortage to recruit the best tech talent. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Smartphone production to plummet 20%, over $25bn lost in roaming revenue

Two studies reveal the huge hit on the mobile device and service industry that is likely to be caused by the Covid-19 outbreak Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Virgin finds new data trends as it creates 500 contact centre jobs

Cable network provider issues assurance on the resilience of its infrastructure, which is under unprecedented strain from domestic users, and beefs up service staffing Continue Reading

Viavi upgrades platform tools to manage remote network performance

Redesigned Observer platform achieves 60Gbps packet capture rate and has beefed up security to deal with increased challenges Continue Reading

Amdocs launches HoMeOS and becomes Veego strategic partner and investor

Leading provider of communications and media software launches home broadband management and makes strategic investment in Israeli AI startup Continue Reading

ETSI unveils augmented reality framework

Industry specification group on augmented reality develops new specification to enable multi-supplier ecosystem for industry and consumers Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Global VPN deployments rocket since 11 March

Business virtual private network uptake has taken off over the past 10 days as global workforces become vastly more distributed Continue Reading

Benefits of branching out into SD-WAN

There is much more to SD-WAN than just cheaper branch office connectivity, so IT buyers have a lot to consider Continue Reading

Coronavirus: BT reassures UK of network’s resilience

Just a week after issuing assurances that its network was capable of dealing with the added load from vastly increased numbers of people working from home, BT issues further details on infrastructure resiliency Continue Reading

EU telecoms operators granted permission for ‘fair’ management of online traffic

EC and BEREC allow telcos unprecedented network traffic control to mitigate the effects of network congestion due to the massive increase in home working caused by the coronavirus Continue Reading

Netflix downscales content resolution to ease strain on EU networks

European Commission asks premier subscription video-on-demand service provider Netflix to lower quality of films to take strain from loaded EU networks Continue Reading

WBA assumes control of OpenRoaming standard

Association set up to enable collaboration between service providers, technology companies and organisations in wireless industry to manage Cisco-produced technology for seamless Wi-Fi onboarding Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Can the networks take the strain?

It was predicted that the mass roll-out of computer networks would mean at some point that there was no difference between work and home as a working location. These assumptions are about to be tested to the full Continue Reading

How is SD-WAN as a service different from managed SD-WAN?

SD-WAN technology is available in a variety of business models, including SD-WAN as a service and managed SD-WAN. But how do the different consumption models compare? Continue Reading

Operators plan to cope with increased overheads

There are conflicting views from Spain and the UK over how ready home networks are to cope with extra overheads, as populations are told to work from home Continue Reading

Ofcom reveals UK 5G mobile airwaves auction rules

UK comms regulator announces plans to auction two bands of spectrum to boost mobile broadband and 5G, but is criticised for missing opportunity Continue Reading

Modest Q4 growth for worldwide enterprise WLAN Market

Wi-Fi 6 gives current and potential boost to enterprise sector in overall disappointing WLAN market in the fourth quarter of 2019 Continue Reading

IT Priorities 2020: Benelux organisations and budgets focused on digital transformation

IT leaders in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg expect bigger budgets this year, with spending on digital transformation projects and related technologies being prioritised Continue Reading

Elisa to pull plug on 3G network in 2023

Final countdown starts for third-generation mobile communications in Finland, with capacity to be used for 5G services Continue Reading

APAC remains hotbed for digital transformation

Nearly half of organisations in the Asia-Pacific region see digital transformation as their top priority, followed by cloud infrastructure deployment and artificial intelligence, survey finds Continue Reading

US Pacific Northwest National Laboratory taps Verizon to explore 5G potential

Comms giant links up with science and technology research body to explore opportunities for 5G to impact national security, energy efficiency and advance science in the US Continue Reading

IT Priorities 2020: IP network investments top priority for Middle East IT leaders

IT leaders in the Middle East expect to see increased spending on IP networks as digital transformation continues across the region Continue Reading

WAN transformation sparked by 5G, cloud and SD-WAN technologies

In a modern world, legacy WAN architecture is rife with shortcomings. But 5G features and use cases could help jump-start a WAN transformation for many organizations. Continue Reading

Coronavirus, global economic slowdown to cap 5G smartphone sales in 2020

First half of 2020 will likely be much weaker than expected for the 5G smartphone market, but a strong bounce-back is possible in second half of the year if the coronavirus spread is brought under control Continue Reading

Cloud and 5G to drive SD-WAN adoption in APAC, says Silver Peak

Cloud migration and 5G services will boost the uptake of SD-WAN in a region where some markets are still in the early adopter phase Continue Reading

Qualcomm makes major moves in 5G essential equipment

Chip giant Qualcomm introduces third-generation 5G modem-RF system to enhance 5G performance and 5G/4G mobile filter technology Continue Reading

Commsworld claims dark fibre first in Scottish Borders

Broadband provider says lighting Openreach’s Dark Fibre X with its own optical equipment will enable it to provide flexible connectivity speeds of up to 10Gbps Continue Reading

UK consumers demand greater reliability, not more speed, from mobile networks

UK mobile users’ demands evolve as operators hit sweet sport for speed and consumers calling loud and clear for greater emphasis on network reliability Continue Reading

Nokia to launch cloud-native 5G network operations software

Aiming to address operators’ challenges as 5G networks add new layers of technical complexity, Nokia announces automated and scalable management suite Continue Reading

Super Bowl wireless networking touch down for Extreme Networks

Weeks after first revealing its Wi-Fi 6-enabled networks for sports stadia in leading American sports leagues, networking technology and services company takes on wireless and analytics for biggest game in US sport Continue Reading

3 ways to improve WAN performance with SD-WAN

SD-WAN can improve WAN performance in three ways: It adds a secondary transport for network traffic, while also taking advantage of broadband Ethernet and application acceleration. Continue Reading

Digital transformation shaking confidence in SD-WAN

Cato Networks survey highlights importance of considering not only SD-WAN as an MPLS replacement but also its applicability to the broader needs of the digital business, such as cloud migration, network agility and global reach Continue Reading

What's the difference between thin and thick SD-WAN branch offices?

When rolling out software-defined WAN, you'll need to consider the current makeup of your branch offices. For instance, are applications on-site or in the cloud? Continue Reading

CenturyLink lands $1.6bn network services contract from US Dept of Interior

US operator engaged to help US agency achieve its mission to conserve and manage natural resources and cultural heritage Continue Reading

Gartner WAN edge Magic Quadrant offers buying advice

How should businesses buy WAN edge technology? You probably shouldn't rely on vendor name recognition alone. Instead, consider some niche players in the SD-WAN market. Continue Reading

Ericsson launches eSIM

Swedish comms tech giant aims to drive communication service providers’ top line and improve consumer experience Continue Reading

UK ranks 13th in Cisco digital readiness index

Networking giant reveals benchmark holistically assessing countries’ digital readiness across seven key criteria, including technology adoption and technology infrastructure, and finds UK somewhat wanting Continue Reading

Spry cancels out P&J Arena dead zones with multi-operator 4G coverage

Tech supplier installs smart mobile signal booster in Aberdeen to ensure high-speed data connectivity for live video streaming and social media activities Continue Reading

MLL Telecom appoints new CEO

Shaun Ledgerwood succeeds Gary Marven as chief executive as network services provider seeks to maintain momentum as a technology supplier to public and private sector organisations Continue Reading

SK Telecom gets close to the edge with global MEC task force

As operators’ remits expand beyond providing mobile connectivity to offering new value based on infrastructure, leading Korean operator announces mobile edge computing association Continue Reading

Nokia notches 63 commercial 5G tech equipment deals

Finnish comms giant reveals huge strides in 5G essential technology deployment around the world Continue Reading

Extreme Networks simplifies retail cloud networks

New turnkey network solutions give retail chains and franchises ability to automate set-up and management of network connectivity with large scale Continue Reading

Telco revs set to increase, but suppliers face critical challenges in 2020

Potential good times set to roll for telecoms industry in 2020, with SD-WAN first deployments of 5G, but NB-IoT needs to gain traction to stay relevant, says research Continue Reading

SD-WAN drives managed network services trends for 2020

As network operators offer more SD-WAN managed services in 2020, the managed services market will see some major changes regarding price, feature sets and management. Continue Reading

Aaron's deploys CloudGenix SD-WAN after issues with Meraki

Before Aaron's could improve its real-time network visibility and VoIP performance with CloudGenix SD-WAN, the retailer had to transition from Cisco Meraki. Continue Reading

Top 10 telecoms stories of 2019

2019 has been the year of 5G through the major economies of the world, with major markets launching next-generation networks that are set to flourish in 2020 Continue Reading

Just 10% of UK homes and businesses have access to full-fibre broadband

Ofcom research reveals that for the highest-speed broadband connections, the UK is still in the slow lane, with only three million homes and businesses having access to fibre Continue Reading

2020 set to usher in age of 5G always-on portable computing

Analyst identifies key 5G trends that will bear fruit in new year and pours cold water on one hyped technology that it thinks won’t make it Continue Reading

Top 10 broadband stories of 2019

Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 broadband stories of 2019 Continue Reading

New UK government pledges to accelerate gigabit broadband delivery

New Conservative government’s Queen’s Speech reaffirms commitment to providing gigabit broadband access across the UK, but provides no specific timetable to meet commitments and targets Continue Reading