The jump from the first-generation cellular networks to today’s 4G speeds has been extraordinary. When Japan launched the first 1G mobile network in 1979, mobile communication was primitive by modern standards — basic voice only, limited coverage and very low data capability. Since then, each generation of wireless technology has delivered transformative improvements in speed, … Read more

Finding a genuinely unlimited mobile data plan has become increasingly difficult. AT&T and Verizon no longer offer unlimited plans to new customers. Existing grandfathered unlimited accounts are frequently subjected to dramatic speed reductions once certain monthly thresholds are exceeded, a practice commonly called throttling. T-Mobile still sells unlimited plans, but they also slow customers’ data … Read more

Glance, a Google-backed Indian startup known for its smartphone lockscreen platform, is stepping up efforts to enter the US market after a recent pilot with Verizon and Motorola. Glance delivers tailored content directly on the lock screen—news, local events, sports updates, media, and interactive mini-games—without requiring users to install additional apps. Having already achieved strong … Read more

The European Commissioner Neelie Kroes has proposed a €9.2 billion fund to support the development of a pan‑European, high‑capacity broadband network. Designed to operate during the 2014–2020 period, the funding would be delivered through equity and guarantees to expand broadband coverage across the European Union. Referred to as the “Connecting Europe Facility” in Kroes’s proposal, … Read more

India’s National Broadband Mission, which operates under the Ministry of Communications, has confirmed that the government will announce the launch of 5G services at the India Mobile Congress on October 1. Senior industry leaders, including Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel’s CEO Sunil Mittal, and Vodafone Idea’s CEO Ravinder Takkar, are expected to present … Read more

Microsoft announced that, following a new agreement with one of the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturers, it now licenses more than half of the global Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) that produce Android and ChromeOS smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Through its licensing program, Microsoft controls a portfolio that it says can defend roughly 78,555 patents … Read more

European telecommunications companies are urging the world’s largest internet platforms to contribute financially to the rising costs of maintaining and upgrading network infrastructure. Sixteen CEOs from leading telecom operators, including BT, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom, issued a joint statement this week calling on major tech firms—such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Netflix—to share … Read more

Mobile operators act as the gatekeepers for the UK’s most-used device, yet year after year they report a decline in average customer value. It is time for the mobile industry to unlock the potential of operator-driven mobile payments so merchants can reach customers on their preferred device and offer a truly mobile payment experience. The … Read more

It’s been less than three years since Google acquired Motorola, a move many hoped would produce the kind of tight hardware-and-software integration Apple enjoys in the smartphone market. During that time the only true flagship to emerge was the Moto X. While the phone offered unique features, its sales were disappointing — roughly 500,000 units … Read more

Vodafone has begun a public 5G trial at Manchester Airport to showcase the advantages of the latest mobile network generation. Passengers can connect via a portable 5G router Vodafone calls a “Gigacube,” installed in Terminal One. The Gigacube leverages Massive MIMO technology to support multiple simultaneous transmit and receive streams, boosting capacity and improving connection … Read more