AT&T will display brand logos on calls from verified numbers

AT&T has partnered with TransUnion to display brand names and logos for outgoing business calls, providing an extra layer of authentication and trust for customers.

The companies are offering two industry-first features: allowing brand logos to appear without a special app installed on the receiver's phone, and verifying the calls through STIR/SHAKEN standards to confirm the number has not been illegally spoofed.

This new ‘TruContact Branded Call Display’ service...

31 January 2024 | AT&T

Verizon will maintain controversial surcharge despite lawsuit

Verizon customers may soon receive payments up to $100 each as part of a $100 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over its monthly "Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge." However, Verizon plans to continue charging the fee and may raise it further.

The settlement comes after a lawsuit alleged Verizon failed to properly disclose the nature and basis of the administrative surcharge, which helps fund regulatory compliance, taxes, and network operation costs. The fee...

16 January 2024 | Operators

Global operators to lose $3B to OTT channels

A study by Juniper Research has revealed a substantial surge in Over-the-Top (OTT) business messaging.

The report forecasts a staggering increase from 100 billion messages in 2023 to a projected 375 billion messages in 2028. The driving force behind this shift is the diminishing quality of SMS networks, prompting enterprises to explore alternative channels.

The study suggests that the decline in SMS network quality is attributed to the growing prevalence of fraud,...

13 November 2023 | Operators

Groundbreaking trial aims to bring 5G to the Baltic Sea

LMT, in conjunction with technical port services provider LVR Fleet, has successfully completed a trial that aims to bring 5G to the Baltic Sea.

The trial – conducted on the Daugava River in Riga, Latvia – showcased seamless 5G communication from shore-to-ship and ship-to-ship. The maritime concept shows how 5G connectivity can be achieved over open waters.

The concept operates on the multi-hop principle, where the 5G network signal is relayed from one ship to...

9 November 2023 | 5G

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

Vodafone Spain is being sold to Zegona for €5B

Vodafone has confirmed the sale of its Spanish operations to Zegona Communications, in what it says is a bid to reshape its portfolio for future growth.

The deal, valued at €5 billion, comprises a cash consideration of €4.1 billion and up to €0.9 billion in Redeemable Preference Shares (RPS).

Upon completion, Vodafone will continue to provide services to Vodafone Spain under a pre-agreed annual service charge of approximately €110 million to ensure a seamless...

31 October 2023 | 5G

Nigeria to gain 25 operators in just a few months

Nigeria's Communications Commission has recently awarded 25 Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) licences.

This development marks a crucial turning point, transitioning Nigeria from having only four major mobile operators – MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9Mobile – to welcoming nearly 30 new players.

This milestone is not merely an expansion but a strategic endeavour to foster competition, bridge the digital divide, and enhance connectivity—especially in rural and...

18 October 2023 | 5G

Dish achieves simultaneous 5G CA for FDD spectrum

Dish, in partnership with Samsung and Qualcomm, has achieved simultaneous 5G 2x uplink and 4x downlink carrier aggregation (CA) for FDD spectrum.

The partners attained a 200 Mbps uplink peak speed with a mere 35 MHz of 5G spectrum. Additionally, the Dish 5G network demonstrated extraordinary downlink peak speeds of 1.3 Gbps – utilising only 75 MHz of 5G spectrum – across FDD bands n71, n70, and n66.

These achievements, which signify world-firsts, were made possible...

17 October 2023 | 5G

AST SpaceMobile achieves space-to-smartphone 5G connection

AST SpaceMobile has successfully established the first-ever 5G connection for both voice and data between a standard smartphone and a satellite in space.

The achievement was demonstrated by AST SpaceMobile's engineers who orchestrated a call from the serene shores of Maui, Hawaii to a Vodafone engineer located in bustling Madrid, Spain.

What makes this achievement truly remarkable is that it was accomplished using an unmodified Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone, with the...

20 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