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

ETSI releases a global standard for securing smartphones

ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) has released a new global standard for securing smartphones.

The standard – TS 103 732, or, more catchingly, “Consumer Mobile Device Protection Profile” – claims to identify key security and privacy risks for user data and provides appropriate protection.

Alex Leadbeater, Cybersecurity Chair at ETSI, said:

“Following the excellent improvement in security achieved with ETSI EN 303 645 for consumer...

25 November 2021 | Security

Qualcomm will reportedly continue helping Huawei to skirt US sanctions with 5G-less chips

A tipster claims that Qualcomm will offer more 5G-less versions of its chips that enable Huawei to skirt US sanctions.

Huawei is among the Chinese companies sanctioned by the US. The sanctions predominately stop Huawei from accessing American products relating to 5G and limit the company’s ability to make its own Kirin silicon.

Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chips feature 5G, leaving Huawei – typically a key Qualcomm customer – out in the...

6 September 2021 | 5G

Apple’s new iPhones could feature emergency satellite communications

Apple is reportedly developing at least two features that will enable users to communicate using satellites in a rural emergency.

If you’re high up a mountain, or in the middle of the ocean or dense forest, the likelihood is you don’t have a cellular signal. However, there’s a good chance you’ll be in the range of several satellites—especially if 1,000+ launches per year becomes the new norm.

Cupertino has been exploring the use of satellite technology since at...

31 August 2021 | Networks

5G smartphone sales revenue will grow 210% over the next four years

Revenue from 5G smartphone sales is expected to increase by 210 percent over the next four years.

A study from Juniper Research suggests that 5G smartphones will account for over 50 percent of sales revenue by 2025.

5G smartphone sales revenue for 2021 is expected to reach $108 billion and increase to $337 billion in 2025.

Newly-introduced 'right-to-repair' laws – designed to help tackle environmental waste and make it cheaper for customers to keep their...

16 August 2021 | 5G

Huawei’s revenues plummet following global pressures

Huawei has reported its biggest-ever revenue drop as sanctions and other global pressures continue to weigh heavy on its business.

The Chinese giant has faced international sanctions over national security concerns in addition to the problems faced by its rivals, including the pandemic and global chip shortage.

As a result, Huawei’s revenues dropped 30 percent in H1 2021 compared to the same period last year. The company’s H1 2021 revenue was 320.4B yuan (£36B) so...

9 August 2021 | Legislation & Government

CCS Insight: 5G is becoming mainstream in some markets despite rollout slowdown

Analysts from CCS Insight report that 5G is on the verge of becoming mainstream in some advanced markets, despite a slowdown in the rollout.

The analysts believe that global 5G connections will triple to 670 million this year and will still reach 3.6 billion by 2025. However, 5G fixed wireless access is likely to remain a niche technology.

Marina Koytcheva, VP of Forecasting at CCS Insight, said:

"Although our near-term expectations have been dented, we remain...

10 May 2021 | Legislation & Government

EE uses iPhone 12 Pro’s AR to show off 5G’s early capabilities

BT-owned operator EE is using the iPhone 12 Pro’s AR to help make an early case for 5G as part of a new marketing campaign.

5G devices have been available for well over a year now, but it’s often said that new smartphone technologies aren’t truly adopted until that little old firm called Apple gets onboard.

With 5G iPhones now available, operators are expected to ramp up their 5G deployments and marketing significantly. More people than ever will have devices in...

13 November 2020 | Networks

British mobile operators will be banned from selling locked phones

Telecoms regulator Ofcom has banned mobile operators from selling locked phones after December 2021.

Locking mobiles to specific networks often causes confusion for consumers and prevents them from switching at the end of their contracts.

Selina Chadha, Connectivity Director at Ofcom, said:

“We know that lots of people can be put off from switching because their handset is locked.

So we’re banning mobile companies from selling locked phones, which...

27 October 2020 | Legislation & Government

SK Telecom uses blockchain to help people store national documents

SK Telecom is launching a blockchain-powered wallet for storing national documents in a government-led digitalisation push.

The largest wireless carrier in South Korea has been granted approval by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security to issue its first digital wallet for documentation.

Documents which can be stored in SK Telecom’s blockchain-powered wallet include resident registration cards, health insurance qualification certificates, immigration...

22 October 2020 | Legislation & Government