Ofcom has announced plans to reallocate spectrum in the 700MHz frequency band — currently used by Freeview television services — to support the continued expansion of 4G mobile networks. Most viewers are unlikely to experience major disruption; in many cases they will simply need to retune their equipment to receive broadcasts in the adjacent 600MHz … Read more

Ofcom has opened an investigation into BT following a nationwide failure that disrupted access to emergency services on 25 June. On that day, many people across the UK were unable to reach emergency responders by dialling 999. Police, fire and ambulance services advised callers to use alternative numbers such as the non-emergency 101 line. Under … Read more

Three major Chinese telecommunications companies are shifting their financial strategy, moving away from heavy capital spending and toward higher dividend payouts for shareholders. According to reporting by Nikkei Asia, this change follows increased government attention on stock market performance and directives for state-owned enterprises to prioritize shareholder returns. The drive reflects broader policy guidance encouraging … Read more

Microsoft has reinforced the case for online social networking as a practical business tool by acquiring enterprise collaboration company Yammer for an estimated $1.2 billion. Often described as the “Facebook of business,” Yammer positions itself as a platform that brings the familiar benefits of social networking into the workplace. It enables employees to communicate and … Read more

The United Nations agency International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has partnered with Vodafone to launch a major initiative aimed at connecting 3.4 billion people to the internet. Access to the internet is increasingly essential for participation in modern life. While faster connections multiply opportunities, even basic connectivity can unlock education, jobs, financial services and access to … Read more

Huawei has overtaken Ericsson to become the world’s largest telecommunications equipment vendor, even as it faces scrutiny and restrictions from several governments. The Chinese technology company has encountered resistance in certain markets, notably the United States and Australia, where officials and policymakers have cited security concerns related to the founder’s previous association with the Chinese … Read more

Net neutrality is under threat — a concern we’ve addressed many times at TelecomsTech. Most people agree the internet should remain fair and open, providing equal opportunities to innovators and users alike. However, some internet service providers (ISPs) want to create “fast lanes” that prioritize certain services for quicker delivery, typically for companies that can … Read more

After years of speculation, T-Mobile and Sprint are reportedly close to a merger-in-principle that JPMorgan values at about $88 billion. Sources say the agreement could be announced in mid-September, although any deal would still require regulatory approval before it can be completed. Sprint chairman Masayoshi Son has considered acquiring T-Mobile for more than five years … Read more

The European Parliament has expressed serious concerns about Chinese 5G equipment, while German intelligence officials have labeled Huawei’s hardware as untrustworthy. Historically, many European countries have been relatively open to Chinese telecommunications vendors, which led companies like Huawei to hope Europe would not follow the United States and Australia in imposing bans on their equipment. … Read more

Cybersecurity firm Symantec has revealed a Chinese-linked hacking campaign that targeted satellite communications and telecommunications networks in the United States and Southeast Asia. Researchers using Symantec’s AI-driven Targeted Attack Analytics (TAA) system uncovered activity attributed to a group tracked by the company as “Thrip.” What appeared at first glance to be routine system behavior was … Read more