UK launches ‘Tyche’ satellite to bolster military intelligence 

The UK Ministry of Defence has successfully launched its first wholly-owned satellite, 'Tyche', designed to provide crucial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The satellite will be the bedrock of a planned constellation of similar spacecraft, bolstering the UK's space-based defence capabilities by 2031.

Tyche, roughly the size of a washing machine, was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of...

19 August 2024 | Legislation & Government

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

Bharti Enterprises to acquire majority stake in BT

Bharti Enterprises has announced plans to acquire a majority stake in BT, the UK’s largest broadband and mobile provider.

Bharti will purchase approximately 24.5% of BT Group from its current top shareholder, Altice. The acquisition will be executed through Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, commented on the historical significance of this move: "Bharti and BT have an...

12 August 2024 | 5G

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

Ericsson scoops Red Dot Award for RAN automation UI

Ericsson has been recognised for its RAN automation UI, winning the prestigious Red Dot Award for Design Concept 2024 in the ‘Interaction, UI, and User Experience’ category. The award celebrates Ericsson’s work on the user experience for its rApps portfolio, a suite of RAN automation applications built on O-RAN Alliance standards.

Ericsson’s winning design centres around the UI of its AI-powered rApps, developed by the company’s Cognitive Network Solutions division....

5 August 2024 | 5G

Ofcom tightens rules to combat foreign scam calls

Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has introduced new measures to protect consumers from scam calls originating overseas. The strengthened industry guidance, announced today, requires phone companies to block calls from abroad that falsely display UK landline numbers.

This move aims to tackle a common tactic used by fraudsters who 'spoof' trusted phone numbers to deceive victims. By imitating numbers from reputable organisations or government departments, scammers increase...

30 July 2024 | 5G

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

The dawn of OpenRAN: Revolutionising mobile networks

Born from the need for greater flexibility and cost-efficiency in mobile networks, OpenRAN (Open Radio Access Networks) emerged in the mid-2010s as a radical reimagining of cellular infrastructure. The concept gained momentum in 2016 when the xRAN Forum was established, later merging with the C-RAN Alliance to form the O-RAN Alliance in 2018. This collaborative effort aimed to break the stranglehold of proprietary, integrated systems that had long dominated the...

25 July 2024 | 5G