(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/urbanbuzz) Vodafone has teamed up with Huawei to trial the emerging Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) standard, a technology designed to deliver greater coverage and much lower power consumption than current 2G, 3G and 4G systems. Trials took place in April at several live sites across central and suburban Melbourne to evaluate … Read more

The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched two new Galileo navigation satellites over the weekend, further strengthening Europe’s satellite navigation capability. The pair, the 27th and 28th satellites in the Galileo constellation, lifted off from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana while many were enjoying a Sunday evening. The mission used a Soyuz four-stage launcher, one … Read more

Three of the United Kingdom’s four major mobile network operators have announced plans to build 222 new masts to tackle poor rural mobile coverage. Vodafone, O2 and Three UK will jointly construct and share the new sites to improve 4G connectivity across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Nick Jeffery, CEO of Vodafone UK, said: … Read more

HD Voice technology has become largely standard for calls between compatible devices on the same network. Vodafone was late to adopt the feature, but as of Thursday it has rolled out HD Voice across the UK, bringing noticeably improved call clarity that some users have likened to “a voice inside your head.” While that description … Read more

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the agency will take a different approach to regulating the 42 GHz band. Historically, the FCC has relied on auctions to allocate spectrum licenses. Rosenworcel said the agency previously overemphasized millimetre wave (mmWave) auctions while under-prioritizing mid-band spectrum. To address that imbalance, the FCC recently moved forward with auctions in … Read more

(c)iStock.com/mediaphotos Digital disruption is no longer just a boardroom buzzword — it is reshaping industries and transforming business ecosystems, including the communications services sector. Understanding what digital disruption means for telecom operators is essential to staying competitive in a rapidly evolving market. The nature of the telecom industry has shifted. Connectivity and communications are now … Read more

India has reportedly excluded Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE from its initial 5G trials, instead inviting suppliers such as Ericsson, Cisco, Samsung, and Nokia to participate. This development mirrors a wider trend: several major markets have recently moved away from Huawei equipment. For example, South Korea’s largest operator declined to work with Huawei, and other … Read more

Dutch operator KPN has chosen Ericsson’s standalone 5G core technology to replace Huawei equipment in its network core. Under a five-year agreement, Ericsson will supply dual-mode 5G core software along with comprehensive support services. The contract includes systems integration and third-line support to ensure smooth deployment and ongoing operations. Babak Fouladi, Chief Technology and Digital … Read more

Nearly a decade ago, BT sold O2 to Telefónica for £17.7 billion. Now reports suggest the two companies may reunite: BT is reportedly in talks with Telefónica to buy O2 back as it pursues a return to the mobile market and aims to deliver a true quad-play offering. BT could now find itself with access … Read more

Viasat and Microsoft have announced a strategic partnership to expand internet access for underserved communities worldwide. The International Telecommunication Union estimates that roughly one-third of the global population—about 2.7 billion people—have never used the internet. Lack of reliable connectivity limits access to education, employment, health services, and civic participation, and can constrain other basic rights … Read more