Social security numbers exposed in National Public Data breach

Social security numbers exposed in National Public Data breach

National Public Data, a background check service, has fallen victim to hackers. The company's database was sold on the internet, making the crucial data available for anyone.

According to BleepingComputer, the compromised database includes extensive personal data, featuring millions of people's social security numbers, as well as their cell and home phone numbers, among other details.

The company disclosed that the potentially breached information includes names, email...

21 August 2024 | Networks

Huawei eyes Asia-Pacific growth with AI cloud services

Huawei eyes Asia-Pacific growth with AI cloud services

Huawei is eyeing the Asia-Pacific as a prime market for its AI offerings, buoyed by the 20-fold expansion of its public cloud service in the region over the past four years despite US-led sanctions.

Jacqueline Shi, President of Global Marketing and Services at Huawei Cloud, announced at a Bangkok media briefing on August 15th: "For our next step in the region, we will continue to provide comprehensive AI solutions." These include the Ascend Cloud Service, the ModelArts AI...

20 August 2024 | Networks

SK Telecom and Nokia introduce fibre environment sensing

SK Telecom and Nokia are joining forces to implement fibre sensing technology, an innovative approach to detecting environmental changes that could affect optical cables in fixed networks.

This collaboration aims to enhance network safety and prevent potential damage by monitoring earthquakes, climate changes, and construction-related issues near fixed networks.

This partnership will utilise machine learning tools to process and analyse data generated by commercial...

19 August 2024 | Broadband

DDoS attacks surge by 46% in H1 2024

A new report from Gcore reveals a large increase in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks during H1 2024, with the number of incidents rising by 46% compared to the same period last year.

Gcore’s research shows that the number of attacks reached 445,000 in the second quarter of 2024 alone. The surge in attacks represents a 34% increase from the previous six months (Q3-Q4 2023), indicating a worrying trend.

While the volume of attacks has risen dramatically,...

14 August 2024 | Networks

UK Government pledges £800M towards rural broadband upgrade

Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across rural Britain, long plagued by sluggish internet speeds, are set for a major connectivity upgrade as the UK Government pledges up to £800 million to modernise broadband infrastructure.

For the first time, Wales – currently lagging behind with the lowest percentage of gigabit coverage – will benefit from the scheme. Remote areas such as the South Wales Valleys, Exmoor National Park, and the Forest of Bowland will finally...

13 August 2024 | Broadband

China launches first batch of ‘Starlink rival’ satellites

China is a step closer to establishing its own version of Starlink with the successful launch of 18 “Qianfan” satellites aboard a Long March-6 carrier rocket. The launch took place on Tuesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province.

These satellites represent the first instalment of the ambitious Qianfan megaconstellation project, also known as G60. Unveiled in 2023, the project aims to provide comprehensive and high-quality communication services to users...

8 August 2024 | Hot Topics

NATO funds satellite backup for subsea internet cables

A NATO-backed initiative is looking to bolster the internet's resilience against disruption by quite literally taking things to the next level: space.

The ambitious £2 million project – dubbed HEIST (Hybrid Space/Submarine Architecture Ensuring Infosec of Telecommunications) – received the greenlight on 31 July 2024, with partial funding coming from NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) programme.

The goal of the project is to create a space-based safety net...

7 August 2024 | Broadband

France hit by coordinated attacks on telecom infrastructure

France has been targeted by a new wave of sabotage attacks, this time focusing on telecom operators. The incidents occurred on Sunday night and have affected fibre optic networks across six regions of the country.

French authorities have confirmed that installations belonging to major telecom providers SFR and Bouygues Telecom were vandalised. The attacks appear to be well-coordinated, with damage reported in southern France and near the Luxembourg border, as well as in areas...

29 July 2024 | Broadband

T-Mobile and KKR to broaden US fibre network with Metronet acquisition

T-Mobile and KKR announce strategic acquisition of Metronet to broaden U.S. fibre network

T-Mobile has entered into a joint venture (JV) with KKR to acquire Metronet in a move that will significantly expand T-Mobile's fibre footprint. Metronet, it's worth noting, is currently the fastest-growing pure-play fibre company in the US.

"This is a unique opportunity and a smart, capital-efficient deal that enables T-Mobile to profitably build on our success in broadband and provide fast, affordable, and reliable connectivity options to millions more customers nationwide as a...

25 July 2024 | Broadband

Ofcom hits BT with £17.5M fine over emergency call system failure

Ofcom has imposed a £17.5 million fine on BT for its inadequate preparedness in handling a major disruption to its emergency call service last summer. The incident, which occurred on 25 June 2023, left nearly 14,000 emergency call attempts unsuccessful and potentially put lives at risk.

The failure, described as "catastrophic," affected BT's ability to connect calls to emergency services for over 10 hours, from 06:24 to 16:56. During this period, 12,392 different callers were...

22 July 2024 | Legislation & Government