In discussions about mobile payments and a move toward a cashless society, the technology to support such systems has long existed; the main obstacles have been regulation and practical implementation. Recently, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Finance took a significant step by recognising Bitcoin as a “unit of account.” This classification means Bitcoin can be used … Read more

Meta (formerly Facebook) launched a program to provide free internet access to people in developing countries who might not otherwise afford connectivity. While the initiative aimed to expand access, documents obtained by whistleblower Francis Haugen and published by The Wall Street Journal reveal that the service sometimes ended up costing users money. Meta benefits when … Read more

(c)iStock.com/JasonDoiy If you’ve spent any time on major social networks recently, you’ve likely seen a popular quote—originally from a TechCrunch article—pointing out how some of the world’s biggest companies operate without owning traditional assets: “In 2015, Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles; Facebook, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content; … Read more

Telecommunications has been a lucrative revenue source for governments worldwide over the past decade. For example, the Canadian government recently raised more than $5.3 billion by auctioning spectrum licenses to telecom companies. Beyond one-time spectrum sales, many jurisdictions also collect ongoing taxes on voice and data services supplied by local providers. The potential revenue from … Read more

South Korea’s largest mobile carrier has been hit with a record fine after a major data breach exposed the personal information of nearly half the country’s population. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced on Thursday that it fined SK Telecom 134.8 billion won (about US$97 million) for weak security measures and failing to report … Read more

With an unlimited subscription plan, mobile users can use data services—downloading and uploading—without limits for a stated period (typically one month). By contrast, a limited subscription plan grants a fixed amount of data for a fixed period (also usually one month). If users do not manage their consumption carefully, they may exceed that allowance before … Read more

The latest UK Mobile Performance Review from RootMetrics finds that EE remains the operator to beat. EE secured first place across all seven of RootMetrics’ performance categories: Overall Performance, Reliability, Accessibility, Speed, Data, Call, and Text. The operator claimed 109 of 112 RootScore Awards across major metropolitan areas. Patrick Linder, Senior Director of Marketing and … Read more

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio announced on Sunday that the government is exploring the creation of a single national broadband provider to manage the country’s internet infrastructure. Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement, revealed the proposal during an interview with La7 television. He said the government is “working to set the … Read more

Google has joined a four-way partnership investing $100 million in a wholesale broadband infrastructure initiative designed to deliver fast, reliable internet to cities across Africa. This effort builds on Google’s existing Project Link programme, first introduced in Kampala, Uganda in 2013 to give local internet service providers (ISPs) and mobile networks access to more efficient, … Read more

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/Ursula Alter) The UK government has set a national broadband speed target of 10 Mbps by 2020, a goal it expects to meet. While that figure is easily attainable, a new report from the Institute of Directors (IoD) criticizes the government for what it calls a “poverty of ambition” on broadband policy. Dan … Read more