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

Huawei’s upcoming chip may break China’s 7nm barrier

Chinese tech giant Huawei continues to defy expectations, steadily reclaiming its position in the global smartphone market despite weathering over five years of stringent US sanctions. Showcasing remarkable resilience and innovation, the company's recent chip development and smartphone sales advances paint a picture that transcends mere corporate resilience.

Huawei's journey through the sanctions storm began in 2019 when the Trump administration, citing national security concerns,...

7 August 2024 | China Mobile

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

SoftBank reports strong Q1 results amid 5G and AI expansions

SoftBank has announced its consolidated financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year, showcasing robust performance and strategic initiatives aimed at long-term growth. The report highlights significant year-on-year improvements across key financial metrics.

For the three months ended June 30, 2024, SoftBank reported:

Revenue: ¥1,535,722 million, a 7.4% increase from the previous year. Operating income: ¥303,927 million, up 23.4%. Profit before income...

6 August 2024 | 5G

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

Net neutrality rules suspended by federal appeals court

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has dealt a significant blow to net neutrality advocates by blocking the recently reinstated rules from taking effect. This decision extends an earlier temporary pause, effectively putting net neutrality on hold until further notice.

The court granted a stay after reviewing petitions from broadband providers who opposed the rule. In their ruling, the panel of judges stated that the internet service providers (ISPs) had "successfully showed they...

2 August 2024 | Broadband

Top 8 benefits of cloud-native telecom development for service providers

Technologies in the IT field do not stand still. The pace of improvement in tools that enable developers to create better products is constantly accelerating. At the same time, standards and approaches to work are changing — the time frame for bringing a finished product to market is decreasing, and the quality bar is steadily increasing. 

Fortunately, telecom software development companies have found a simple and effective way to speed up processes without sacrificing quality....

1 August 2024 | Operators

Gen Z abandons broadcast TV as streaming dominates

A recent study by Ofcom has revealed a significant shift in media consumption habits among younger generations, with less than half of 16-24-year-olds now watching broadcast TV in an average week. This marks a historic low and signals a dramatic change in how younger audiences consume content.

According to Ofcom's annual study on the nation's media habits, only 48% of young audiences tuned in to broadcast TV in an average week last year, a sharp decline from 76% in 2018. The trend...

31 July 2024 | Research

5 tools you’ll still need when working from home 5 years from now

How and where we work has changed over the years. As technology has advanced and shifted in more recent times, it has allowed some workers to stay home while earning a living. 

These remote workers don’t travel to a physical office to do their jobs, so they need specific tools that they can use at home to ensure their work flows smoothly. While some work trends come and go, certain tools are here to stay.

Let’s take a look at the top tools remote workers will...

31 July 2024 | Future Workplace

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