Rural 5G deprivation hinders nearly a million Brits

A recent study commissioned by Vodafone UK and conducted by WPI Economics has shed light on a significant digital divide prevailing in Britain's most deprived communities.

Titled 'Connecting the Countryside', the report revealed a striking contrast in 5G accessibility between rural and urban areas. According to the findings, 46 percent of rural deprived areas are 5G not-spots—in stark contrast to just 2.7 percent in urban deprived communities.

The study pinpointed five...

8 November 2023 | 5G

Global utilities set to invest £2B by 2026 in private cellular networks

A report by SNS Telecom & IT highlights that the utilities sector is gearing up for a digital transformation with substantial investments in private 5G/4G cellular networks.

The networks, also known as Non-Public Networks (NPNs), are witnessing a global surge in popularity across various industries.

The utilities sector has a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15 percent over the next three years. This growth trend translates into nearly £2 billion in...

27 October 2023 | 5G

GSMA: Smartphone ownership surpasses 50% yet digital divide persists

According to the GSMA’s annual State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2023, over half of the world's population – approximately 4.3 billion people – now own smartphones.

This surge in smartphone ownership has significantly influenced the adoption of mobile internet services globally, with nearly 4 billion out of 4.6 billion mobile internet users accessing it via smartphones.

Despite this progress, the report highlights persistent challenges; especially...

12 October 2023 | Research

Ericsson: 20% of 5G users willing to pay extra for enhanced connectivity

In a study conducted by Ericsson ConsumerLab, it has been revealed that one in five 5G smartphone users are seeking differentiated 5G service experiences and are willing to pay a premium for enhanced connectivity.

The research, titled 5G value: Turning performance into value, indicates that these users – especially those engaging in demanding applications – are willing to pay communications service providers (CSPs) up to 11 percent more for value-added...

3 October 2023 | 5G

NETSCOUT unveils surge in global DDoS attacks in 1H2023

netscout ddos attacks threat intelligence report security cyber cybersecurity

NETSCOUT has released its 1H2023 DDoS Threat Intelligence Report, shedding light on the escalating threat landscape.

Cybercriminals launched a staggering 7.9 million distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in the first half of 2023, marking a concerning 31 percent year-over-year increase.

The surge in DDoS attacks has been propelled by a confluence of global events, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict and NATO-related activities serving as key catalysts.

In...

26 September 2023 | Networks

Ofcom: Over half of UK can access full-fibre, mobile coverage steady

In the latest release of Ofcom’s Connected Nations report, the regulator has provided insight into the state of mobile coverage and broadband availability across the UK.

The report, which delves deep into the accessibility of essential services, brings encouraging news regarding full-fibre broadband accessibility and a steady course for mobile coverage.

Full-fibre reaches majority of UK homes

The standout revelation from the report is the availability of full-fibre...

8 September 2023 | 5G

5G Standalone deployments lag in H1 2023

Expectations were high for a surge in 5G Standalone (5G SA) deployments in 2023, yet the first half of the year saw only seven materialise.

30 deployments are listed by STL Partners as "in progress" on their tracker. In a report, the telecoms research firm examined the likelihood of these deployments occurring within 2023 and whether 5G SA remains a critical priority.

Previously, experts predicted a significant uptick in 5G SA core deployments in 2022, but the reality...

11 August 2023 | 5G

Ericsson shareholders sue for millions over withheld report

A group of shareholders is taking legal action against Ericsson over its alleged failure to disclose vital information with regard to an internal investigation into its business practices in Iraq.

The shareholders are seeking damages of $175-$300 million over claims the failure resulted in significant financial losses for the shareholders. As of 4th August 2023, 37 claimants have filed their case against Ericsson and more are expected to follow.

The controversy began in...

7 August 2023 | 5G

Risk Register 2023: Infrastructure cyberattack could harm thousands

In a stark warning, the UK government has alerted the public to the impact of a cyberattack on critical infrastructure.

The findings come from the latest National Risk Register report, which is based on the government’s classified National Security Risk Assessment and considers malicious risks like terrorism and cyberattacks alongside non-malicious risks such as severe weather incidents.

The government estimates there’s a 5-25 percent likelihood of a serious...

4 August 2023 | Security

State of mobile in the UK: A review of H1 2023

In the first half of 2023, RootMetrics conducted extensive testing to assess the end-user mobile experience across major metropolitan markets, nations, and the UK as a whole.

EE, the longstanding leader, continued to shine in the UK-wide testing. It secured the top position in all seven RootScore categories, securing the UK Overall RootScore Award for the tenth consecutive year.

Marc Allera, CEO of EE, said:

"The quality and reliability of mobile networks are...

25 July 2023 | Telecoms