Toshiba and Orange demo quantum-secure fibre data transmission

Toshiba and Orange have achieved significant milestones in quantum-secure data transmission. Through a meticulous series of evaluations, the two companies have showcased the practicality of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology in safeguarding data transmitted over fibre optic networks.

The evaluations, which were carried out in laboratory settings, encompassed several key achievements. 

Initially, the tests demonstrated the co-existence of QKD alongside a high...

22 February 2024 | Broadband

BT misses Huawei equipment ban deadline

The deadline set by the UK government for telecoms operators to remove Huawei equipment from their core networks has elapsed, with BT falling a bit short.

In November 2022, the government issued formal legal notices to telecoms operators – including BT – outlining their obligations to eliminate Huawei kit due to security concerns. 

The initial deadline of 28 January 2023 was later extended to 31 December 2023 as several operators expressed difficulties in...

2 January 2024 | 5G

Hackers steal the data of millions of AT&T customers

A vendor hack has resulted in the data of millions of AT&T customers being stolen.

AT&T is sending emails to around nine million customers to alert them of the theft of their data.

The attackers did not breach AT&T directly but compromised the systems of a marketing vendor used by the US telecom giant.

All impacted users had CPNI (Customer Proprietary Network Information) stolen, including phone numbers, full names, and email addresses. A smaller...

13 March 2023 | AT&T

Vodafone UK waives Ukraine call and roaming fees

Vodafone UK is waiving all call fees to Ukraine in addition to providing free data roaming to customers in the country.

Ahmed Essam Shelbaya, CEO of Vodafone UK, tweeted:

https://twitter.com/AhmedShelbaya/status/1497191194887135269

In addition to the decision to help people keep in touch with their loved ones, Vodafone is making a donation to relevant humanitarian efforts.

“We will also donate, through the Vodafone Foundation, up to €500k from its...

25 February 2022 | Operators

Vodafone will begin shuttering 3G in 2023 to improve 4G/5G services

Vodafone has announced plans to begin shuttering its 3G network in 2023 to focus on improving 4G/5G services.

The operator says that less than 4 percent of data traffic across its network is now delivered via 3G—compared to over 30 percent in 2016. By the end of this year, the amount of 3G traffic is likely to have dwindled even further.

With the vast amount of traffic carried over 4G – and increasingly 5G – it makes sense for Vodafone to improve those...

25 January 2022 | 5G

Virgin Media O2 humiliates rivals by not reinstating EU roaming fees

Virgin Media O2 is taking a playbook once written by rival Three and will buck the trend of reinstating EU roaming charges.

Gareth Turpin, Chief Commercial Officer of Mobile at Virgin Media O2, said:

“We’re starting the year by giving our customers some certainty: we will not be reintroducing roaming fees in Europe for customers on O2 or Virgin Mobile.

Unlike all the other major mobile networks who are bringing back roaming fees, we will not be following suit....

10 January 2022 | Networks

Juniper Research: 5G will account for 77% of operator revenue by 2026

Analysts from Juniper Research forecast that 5G will account for 77 percent of global operator revenues by 2026.

The analysts found that 5G service revenue will reach $600 billion by 2026.

Despite the ongoing chip shortage, Juniper claims that 5G adoption has been driven by strong uptake of capable devices and “attractive” subscription pricing models.

Charles Bowman, co-author of the research, commented:

“Device vendors are capitalising on...

30 November 2021 | 5G

Virgin Media O2 expands National Databank to tackle data poverty over Christmas

Following a successful three-month trial, Virgin Media O2 is expanding its National Databank across the UK to tackle data poverty over Christmas.

A shocking 1.5 million homes in the UK are currently without internet access. This “digital divide” limits opportunities all year round, but it’s especially bleak around Christmas.

Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:

“With many millions of people still facing digital exclusion, now...

12 November 2021 | Operators

Enea’s industry-first schema extends 5G Core to manage 4G data

Enea claims to have created the first virtualised data schema to extend 5G Core to manage 4G network data.

The schema enables mobile operators to map 4G and 5G data models into a single customisable view from the 5G Core to the edge.

Roland Steiner, Senior Vice President for Telecoms at Enea, said:

“Data is at the heart of 5G and operators need genuine agility to maximise their potential. But network providers have struggled to manage 4G and 5G data on their...

7 July 2021 | Networks

An open, decentralised route to nationwide connectivity

Widening connectivity through access to high-speed broadband and ongoing fibre deployments is a crucial priority for the telecoms industry, especially given our increased reliance on these services following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with global 5G adoption expected to almost triple in 2021, it’s clear that there is a long way to go if the industry is to expand the reach of telecoms networks in line with this increased demand.

In March 2021, the UK government allocated...

24 May 2021 | Telecoms