European telecoms firms call for web giants to contribute to soaring network costs

European telecoms companies have called on the world's web giants to contribute financially to the increasing costs of maintaining internet networks.

16 chief executives of telecoms firms, including BT, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom, released a joint statement this week, in which they said the likes of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Netflix should be made to pay some of the soaring costs for the huge amount of global internet traffic they carry on their telecoms...

28 September 2022 | Networks

India plans nationwide 5G coverage within two years

The Taj Mahal at the sunrise.

India's National Broadband Mission, which operates under the Ministry of Communications, has revealed that the country's Government will announce the launch of 5G services in the country at India Mobile Congress on October 1.

Mukesh Ambani, India's Reliance Industries’ chairman, Bharti Airtel’s CEO, Sunil Mittal, and Vodafone Idea India’s CEO, Ravinder Takkar, are expected to unveil the plan during a joint presentation at the event.

According to reports, the...

28 September 2022 | 5G

Vodafone working on satellite tech that can locate IoT devices within centimetres

Planet Earth as seen from Space.

Vodafone and Topcon Positioning Group are developing a new mass-market precise positioning system that will locate Internet of Things (IoT) devices, machinery, and vehicles with a greater degree of accuracy than using only individual global navigation satellites systems (GNSS).

Vehicles, scooters, and even robot lawn mowers can be securely monitored in real-time to within a few centimetres when connected to Vodafone’s global IoT network and using technology from Topcon which...

12 September 2022 | IoT

Third of IT decision-makers rely on ‘gut feel’ when choosing network operator

Someone grabbing flab on their stomach.

A third (32%) of business leaders admit that over 50% of their decision-making process is based on emotional response or ‘gut feel’ when choosing a network provider. 

This is according to a new report from Arelion (formerly Telia Carrier), a provider of telecommunication services.

Decision-makers in the US are particularly driven by emotion, with 46% attributing over half of their decision-making processes to it. The survey was conducted in the US,...

11 September 2022 | Networks

Ericsson, Qualcomm and Thales to take 5G into space

The Andromeda Galaxy.

Ericsson, Thales and Qualcomm Technologies plan to take 5G out of this world and across a network of Earth-orbiting satellites.

After having each conducted detailed research which included multiple studies and simulations, the parties plan to enter smartphone-use-case-focused testing and validation of 5G non-terrestrial networks (5G NTN).

The result could effectively mean that a future 5G smartphone could use 5G connectivity anywhere on Earth and provide complete global...

15 July 2022 | 5G

Jurassic Fibre unveils fibre network growth plans as Rishi Sunak visits headquarters

Rushi Sunak being given a tour of Jurassic Fibre's HQ.

Jurassic Fibre, a broadband internet network developer, has announced ambitious plans to increase the rollout of its ultrafast fibre network to cover 500,000 homes and businesses across 30 towns and villages in the South West by 2026.

The announcement coincided with a visit from The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP to Jurassic Fibre’s Devon headquarters in Honiton.

During the Chancellor’s visit, Michael Maltby, CEO of Jurassic Fibre, outlined the...

21 June 2022 | Broadband

Lumine Group snaps up connectivity monetisation firm TOMIA

Someone counting a fan of US dollars.

Lumine Group, a division of Volaris Group focused on the communications and media vertical, has acquired TOMIA, an innovator in global connectivity monetisation solutions.

TOMIA’s software optimises and orchestrates critical inter-carrier business processes including data and financial clearing, network roaming, real-time campaign management and interconnect solutions.

Many of the industry’s leading service providers are said to rely on TOMIA’s technology to...

20 June 2022 | Networks

Spain’s data protection agency hits Vodafone and Google with fines

Steps painted like the Spanish flag.

The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) has fined Vodafone España 3.94 million and Google 10 million euros for failing to follow European data protection rules with their users and customers.

Vodafone España has been fined over sections of the data protection law that relate to the confidentiality and integrity of personal data.

The fine for Google was for what the agency described as two very serious infringements of data protection rules in which the firm for...

20 May 2022 | Legislation & Government

Virgin Media O2 teams up with VMware to finalise EU and UK 5G roll-out

Virgin Media O2 UK has selected VMware to help modernise its network and enable the continued success of its 5G rollout.

The company will leverage VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure to rapidly design, build, test and implement virtualised network functions, boosting innovation across its network and the delivery of new services. The collaboration has underpinned the deployment of Virgin Media O2’s 5G network over the past 16 months.

VMware’s Telco Cloud Infrastructure...

1 April 2022 | 5G

EE’s small cells deployments boosts coverage in cities and major towns

Ariel view of Clyde and Glasgow Science Centre.

EE has deployed 200 new small cells across its UK network to boost capacity in high demand areas, providing customers with download speeds up to 300Mbps.

Small cells are mobile radio cells that help to provide better coverage for customers at street level, where it’s often impractical to build larger sites. Located on a variety of existing street assets, including BT’s iconic red telephone boxes, the units offer discreet boosters for coverage and are part of EE’s investment...

7 March 2022 | Small Cells