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

In a recent post, I argued that the telecoms sector needed to respond to rapid increases in consumer data usage by delivering value-added services that are measurable, scalable, and relevant to users. That shift has been driven in large part by sophisticated Business Support Systems (BSS) that give Communications Service Providers (CSPs) the agility to … Read more

The Taliban has imposed a nationwide telecommunications blackout across Afghanistan, a measure human rights organizations say is inflicting serious harm on people’s rights, safety, and livelihoods. Implemented during September, the blackout has crippled access to healthcare, education, commerce, and media, severing key connections both within the country and to the outside world. A Human Rights … Read more

Almost everyone agrees that Christmas is one of the best times of the year. You can enjoy food and drink without guilt, homes and workplaces glow with decorations, and there’s a general feel-good atmosphere — especially because many of us get time off work to relax. But if you run a small business and must … Read more