WAN performance and optimisation

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Lee Doyle, Doyle Research

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

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

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

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

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• Luke O'Neill, Executive Editor

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• John Fruehe

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• John Fruehe

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Luke O'Neill, Executive Editor

Ericsson launches eSIM

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Nokia notches 63 commercial 5G tech equipment deals

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

By

• Tom Nolle, Andover Intel

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

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• Jennifer English, Editorial Director

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

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Top 10 broadband stories of 2019

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

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

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Comms-platform-as-a-service revenues outpace unified-comms-as-a-service

Communications-platform-as-a-service uptake is benefiting from its ability to quickly add new functionality, the ease with which it can be customised and the flexibility of its pay-as-you-go service model Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Cisco bolsters low-latency networking with Exablaze acquisition

Networking giant makes strategic acquisition of Australian provider of ultra-low latency devices and FPGA-based applications Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Ofcom eases broadband switch process and outlaws locked mobiles

Regulator plans to make it easier for UK broadband customers to transition between different networks, or a full-fibre service on the same network Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

SD-WAN vs. DMVPN vs. IPsec tunnels: How do I choose?

Software-defined WAN, DMVPN and IPsec tunnels each have a place among enterprises. Our network expert compares each one and explains where they can be most beneficial. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew Froehlich, West Gate Networks

Nokia inks TIM Brazil IoT contract and supplies Deutsche Bahn 5G automated rail operation

Finnish tech provider gains Wings in the IoT arena with Brazilian telco TIM, as well as providing 5G-based network for automated rail operations in Germany Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Smart speakers gain volume as VoLTE set for 140% growth over next five years

Research shows products such as Amazon Echo and Google Nest will drive voice over LTE market growth Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Cisco unveils plans for internet of the future

Online technology giant Cisco introduces platform for the internet of the future based on $5bn of investment in areas covering silicon, optics and software, bringing the ability to support massively scaled enterprise networks and 5G networks Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Test your knowledge of SD-WAN deployments and testing

As SD-WAN becomes more mainstream, organizations must learn what to expect during all phases of deployment. Try your knowledge of SD-WAN testing, deployments and troubleshooting. Continue Reading

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• Michaela Goss, Senior Site Editor

European Investment Bank offers financial support for Orange fibre network

Orange aims to accelerate French fibre momentum following €700m loan from European Investment Bank to develop non-metro French high-speed broadband Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Wells to become UK’s next gigabit city

Medieval Somerset city hopes to encourage business growth and attract new employers by going gigabit Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Huawei mounts legal challenge to US subsidy programme ban

Chinese tech giant fights back against FCC ban on carriers in the rural US from using the Universal Service Fund to buy its equipment and designation as threat to US national security Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

CERN increases network capacity for cutting edge of research

Aiming to boldly go even further where physics hasn’t gone before, CERN increases capacity of its technical network to support breakthrough research in fundamental physics Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

‘Poor’ comms and collaboration tools cost UK plc over £7,500 per employee per year

Survey reveals workplace productivity is deeply impacted by an organisation’s communications and collaboration practices and technology Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

OPPO joins Ericsson 5G spectrum sharing project

Chinese smartphone manufacturer deploys Ericsson dynamic spectrum-sharing technology in data call on Telstra and Swisscom 5G networks Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Orange taps Ericsson to bring machine learning, AI to networks ops

Telco extends service contract with Ericsson in five European countries to bring artificial intelligence network operations, field support, and maintenance, as well as service management for fixed-line access, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Taking business transformation and disruption to the Extreme

Supporting business transformation and disruption seem to be on every supplier’s lips these days, but not many can say they are where they are today precisely because of their own business transformation and disruption. Extreme Networks can Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Gauge some of the top SD-WAN pros and cons

This video explains some of the major SD-WAN pros and cons, including improved application performance, security and troubleshooting. Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer English, Editorial Director

State backs Norway’s fibre cable capacity building

Norway is increasing investment on communications infrastructure in an effort to reduce reliance on Swedish and Danish networks Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Juniper claims longest 400GbE deployment

As pressure grows to support bandwidth demands from advanced high-performance computing uses cases, Juniper Networks announces success in 1,300-mile 400GbE network test Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Tata, Fortinet to offer managed services for Microsoft Azure virtual WAN

Firms launch one of the first industry offerings of native hybrid SD-WAN coupled with traffic steering and security protection for the Azure cloud Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Vodafone calls up Google Cloud for digital transformation platform

Vodafone is using Google Cloud to create products and services based on deeper customer insight to engage customers with better, more personalised support Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Ryanair checks in Vodafone for business-class infrastructure

Budget airline gets upgrade in Vodafone Business communication technology infrastructure to support 300 sites and 153 million passengers across 40 countries Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Trade associations dial down anger on Labour’s broadband plans

Anger at the Labour Party’s proposals on full-fibre broadband have persisted, but more nuanced views have emerged from fibre associations Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Aryaka aims to disrupt traditional SD-WAN and legacy service provider models

SD-WAN provider Aryaka claims to have unyoked enterprises from what it calls carriers’ burdens and ‘rigid, limited’ offerings with new regional WAN models Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

APAC has one of highest variations in cloud performance

The network performance of public cloud services in the Asia-Pacific region has greater variability than elsewhere, new study finds Continue Reading

By

• Beverley Head

Investec Bank cashes in on WAN acceleration

Investec Bank turns to WAN acceleration to cut down distributed database response times and ensure that more traders can go online and earn more money Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Nextgenaccess gains 20-year rights to run full fibre alongside HS1 track

Broadband infrastructure provider will deploy high-capacity 432 Fibre System between Stratford in London and Eurotunnel in Folkestone Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

SD-WAN explained in 15 key terms and phrases

This SD-WAN glossary delves into the various capabilities, technologies and components that encompass SD-WAN, explained with 15 concise definitions. Continue Reading

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• Michaela Goss, Senior Site Editor

Google Cloud introduces holistic cloud network monitoring

Spotting a gap in holistic network management in today’s multicloud business environments, Google Cloud introduces its Network Intelligence Centre Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Cord-cutting driving global broadband usage to surpass 500GB of data per month

Exodus from traditional video services to online spurs surge in average broadband data usage, presenting untapped opportunities for service providers Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Synchronoss joins US big four operators in cross-carrier messaging initiative

Joint venture aims to deliver advanced mobile messaging experience across suppliers’ mobile networks Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Mist gets into gear with first self-driving network for the enterprise

Mist Systems has launched what it claims as the world’s first AI-driven self-driving network for the enterprise, allowing business users to streamline IT operations, simplify troubleshooting across wired/wireless domains and deliver optimised experiences Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

How realistic are compact SD-WAN appliances compared to VPNs?

The battle between VPN vs. SD-WAN returns. In this clash, see how realistic SD-WAN appliances are for remote and mobile workers compared to VPN connections. Continue Reading

By

• John Fruehe

Vodafone inks network deal with Openreach to expand FTTP in UK

First phase of network expansion aims to give users download speeds of up to 900Mbps in 15 UK towns and cities Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Executive interview: Towards the internet and beyond

Fifty years ago, a computer at UCLA communicated with another at SRI International, laying the first stepping stone towards the global internet Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Nokia and Microsoft announce tech partnership

IT behemoth Microsoft and comms technology provider Nokia forge first joint solutions, to enable communications service providers and enterprises to accelerate digital transformation Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Virgin disconnects BT for Vodafone for future mobile services

From 2021, Virgin Media will have full access to all of Vodafone’s current services and future technologies, such as its 5G network, after ending supply deal with BT Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

EU digital sovereignty at risk if global tech giants can’t respect IP rights

MEP warns that digital sovereignty will remain a mirage if European digital champions do not have the same rights to enter foreign markets as those attempting to enter the EU Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Enterprise WLAN industry makes tracks

IDC research finds wireless connectivity remains a top priority for global business as bandwidth demands continue to increase and near real-time business applications require lower latencies Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

UK government demands Ofcom boosts broadband development

In a UK legal and regulatory first, UK government constructs priorities for telecoms regulator Ofcom, principally regarding the roll-out nationwide of gigabit-speed broadband Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Arpanet: 50 years of internetworking

50 years ago, researchers at Darpa, connected a group of computers together over a packet-switching network called Arpanet Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Cisco connects Canary Wharf for Wi-Fi 6 ‘seamless’ roaming

OpenRoaming will allow devices to connect automatically to Wi-Fi and seamlessly roam from one hotspot to another Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

3 SD-WAN best practices before deployment

When planning an SD-WAN deployment, some best practices include evaluating your business model, testing the product and establishing vendor support guidelines. Continue Reading

By

• Jennifer English, Editorial Director

More From The Gherkin

More Gherkin And IT As A Business Strategy - Back at the Gherkin event, two of the primary vendors who were present for the discussions actually substantiated the previous blog comments about ... Continue Reading

By

• Steve Broadhead, Broadband Testing

Nordic governments open to Huawei’s ‘no spy’ offer

Chinese tech giant seeks to reassure Nordic governments over security concerns in 5G contracts Continue Reading

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• Gerard O'Dwyer

Huawei: Fresh mindset needed to speed up 5G development

It may already enjoy pricing and technological advantages, but Huawei is calling on 5G industry to collaborate more, especially with regard to regulatory policy Continue Reading

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• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

UK and Middle East PR firm ditches NetApp for Nutanix and Talon Fast

Four Communications needed better connectivity for collaboration between the UK and its gulf sites, so dumped server/storage for hyper-converged and a distributed file system Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Looking in little places for the value in the internet of things

Delivering business value from the promise of highly networked sensor devices is harder than it first appears – and lessons can be learned in unexpected places Continue Reading

By

• Rob Bamforth, Timefort

The pros and cons of SD-WAN vs. MPLS

This video discusses the differences between SD-WAN and MPLS and explains why a hybrid WAN architecture -- that uses both technologies -- might be the best fit. Continue Reading

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• Robert Sturt, Netify

Universities tempting targets for cyber criminals, warns NCSC

As hundreds of thousands of students prepare for the new academic year, universities have been warned that they are at high risk of cyber attack Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Getting A Foot In The Door In Europe

Had some very interesting conversations in the past few weeks with a number of US-based vendors across primarily the security and optimisation sectors, with one commonality - established in the ... Continue Reading

By

• Steve Broadhead, Broadband Testing

Buyers think SD-WAN is too expensive and complicated

Building and maintaining an SD-WAN is perceived as a complicated endeavour, and the industry’s messages are not getting through, says a new report Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

What to expect with SD-WAN management, intent and usability

Users can expect advancements in SD-WAN intent, usability and management, as vendors seek to improve their developer ecosystems, integration and multi-tenancy capabilities. Continue Reading

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• Lee Doyle, Doyle Research

SD-WAN market sees continued growth, room for mobile support

The SD-WAN market is growing, thanks to financial firms with distributed deployments. VMware and Cisco continue to lead the vendor pack, with Aryaka and Silver Peak close behind. Continue Reading

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• Jennifer English, Editorial Director

SD-WAN in play: How software-defined solves core business challenges

For foodservice business HMSHost International and chemical products firm Element Solutions, both customers of networking supplier Aryaka, software-defined wide area networking technology is proving its mettle when it comes to solving core business challenges. Find out how. Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

There’s no free lunch in SD-WAN, says Tata Communications

Software-defined wide-area networks may help to lower connectivity costs and prioritise network traffic, but enterprises must still invest in bandwidth to reap the benefits of the technology Continue Reading

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• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Implementing IoT – overcoming barriers to commercial adoption

Tim Wright from the Institute of Telecoms Professionals reports from a recent seminar exploring questions around the barriers to commercial, at-scale adoption of the internet of things, and how to overcome them Continue Reading

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• Tim Wright, Institute of Telecommunications Professionals

European and UK space agencies start CAV connectivity project

Academia and telecoms operators partner to investigate 5G and satellite systems for connected and autonomous vehicles, with proofs of concept expected for 2020 Continue Reading

By

• Angelica Mari