Australia’s telecommunications company Optus has been fined AU$100 million (about US$66 million) by the Federal Court of Australia after the court found the company systematically exploited vulnerable customers. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) brought the case, documenting a sustained pattern of predatory sales practices spanning January 2019 to September 2023. The court found … Read more

For the first time in more than a decade, consumers may soon see a BT-branded mobile service offering modern 4G capabilities. Meanwhile, a major South Korean company is already testing the next generation of mobile technology. To understand this move, it helps to look back at BT’s mobile history. The company’s cellular journey began in … Read more

(c)iStock.com/Courtney Keating The Small Cell Forum (SCF) has urged telecommunications regulators to establish consistent and supportive regulatory environments to enable the deployment of heterogeneous networks (HetNets) alongside the rollout of 5G technologies. The organisation argues that dense HetNets will form the backbone of pervasive, resilient connectivity, improving the efficient use of spectrum and network resources. … Read more

Communications service providers (CSPs) are under unprecedented pressure as businesses and consumers rely more heavily on telecommunications, a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift stresses bandwidth and telephone network capacity as users conduct virtual meetings, stream media, and share files worldwide, making CSP capabilities highly visible and tested. At the same time, the … Read more

The UK government is urging internet service providers (ISPs) to do more to promote social tariffs as households struggle with rising living costs. Social tariffs are discounted broadband plans for households receiving certain benefits. They aim to reduce the digital divide and ensure people can access employment, education and social services that depend on reliable … Read more

Fixed wireless trade body WISPA (Wireless Internet Service Providers Association) has called on Ofcom to modernise its spectrum auction process. WISPA argues that Ofcom must update the way it allocates radio spectrum because the current system is outdated and no longer fit for purpose. Allocation of spectrum has become increasingly contentious as the UK prepares … Read more

A ruling known as the “Data Retention Directive” was introduced after the 2004 and 2005 terrorist bombings in Madrid and London. The directive required telecom companies across the European Union to retain customers’ telecommunications metadata—records of calls, text messages, and internet access—for up to two years, making that information accessible to competent national authorities. The … Read more

Nokia appears to be benefiting from Huawei’s recent challenges, securing a notable share of new 5G equipment orders in recent weeks. The Finnish vendor has won 42 commercial 5G contracts, placing it ahead of rivals Huawei and Ericsson in the current tally. Huawei remains close behind with roughly 40 commercial 5G agreements. Ericsson trails with … Read more

The latest Ericsson Mobility Report highlights the growing importance of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) as a leading 5G use case for communications service providers (CSPs) around the world. The report, which includes Ericsson’s newest mobile industry forecasts, regional analysis, and customer case studies, shows a notable rise in the number of CSPs providing FWA services … Read more

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/scisettialfio) It might sound like an April Fools’ story, but two of the UK’s largest telecom rivals have teamed up to oppose Ofcom’s proposal to separate Openreach from BT. In a joint letter to the regulator, the companies argue that forcing Openreach out of BT would harm consumers rather than help them. At … Read more