WhatsApp, the leading OTT messaging service with more than 1.5 billion active users, has confirmed that an “advanced cyber actor” exploited a critical vulnerability to install spyware on some users’ devices. Because of its massive global user base, WhatsApp is a frequent target for both independent and state-sponsored attackers. In this incident, the attackers executed … Read more

Two of the commercial satellite industry’s largest operators are combining forces to strengthen their position against the rapid expansion of low-Earth orbit (LEO) broadband constellations led by SpaceX’s Starlink. In a $3.1 billion transaction announced Tuesday, Luxembourg-based SES will acquire rival Intelsat, forming a combined fleet of roughly 100 satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO). The … Read more

A new report from Pyramid Research forecasts that China will surpass the United States to become the world’s largest cellular machine-to-machine (M2M) market in the coming years. Entitled “Cellular M2M Connections: An Analysis of Growth Drivers, Market Segments and Operator Approaches,” the study estimates that China’s M2M device count was about 45 million in 2013 … Read more

Swedish technology provider Ericsson has announced plans to acquire media services company Red Bee Media for an undisclosed sum. Ericsson has long been a leading vendor of telecommunications and networking equipment, but media services have not traditionally been a core part of its business. Previously, media and consumer electronics activities were partly handled through the … Read more

Although its share is slowly increasing, Microsoft’s Windows Phone has not achieved the level of success the company likely expected by now. That’s unfortunate, because while Android — the market leader — can be seen as an extension of ideas popularized by iOS, and iOS itself is often criticized as being conservative in terms of … Read more

BT has begun replacing Huawei equipment in its networks with technology from Ericsson for its 4G and 5G core infrastructure. After a multi-year security review, the UK government decided in January to permit limited use of Huawei equipment, but imposed strict conditions on that decision. Key restrictions include a ban on Huawei equipment in any … Read more

At a time when unemployment is at record highs, Ericsson’s announcement that it expects to create new jobs in the UK is welcome news. The Swedish telecommunications vendor predicts that its 5G rollout will support the creation of around 800 additional jobs across the UK over the next couple of years. Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt … Read more

Verizon has announced it will acquire Straight Path Communications for $3.1 billion. The purchase price far exceeds the offer AT&T had made when it first expressed interest in acquiring the spectrum holder the previous month. Straight Path became the center of a competitive bidding process after AT&T revealed its intention to acquire the company on … Read more

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/jhorrocks) The UK communications regulator Ofcom has announced that ‘white space’ spectrum in the television frequency band will be made available for industry use. This move follows a series of successful trials reported last year and marks a significant step toward broader practical deployment of the technology. Trials have already explored several promising … Read more

T-Mobile has reached a new 5G milestone, recording the fastest uplink speed to date on a 5G standalone network in North America. In recent testing, T-Mobile achieved an upload speed of 345 Mbps using sub-6 GHz spectrum, surpassing its previous record of 275 Mbps. This breakthrough was enabled by a technique called UL Tx switching, … Read more