The telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced a ban on mobile operators selling network-locked phones after December 2021. Locking handsets to specific networks often confuses consumers and creates barriers to switching providers when contracts end. Consumers can face delays, non-working unlock codes, or even loss of service if they only discover a phone is locked while … Read more

Ukrainian civilians endured a second day of widespread mobile phone and internet outages after a major cyberattack struck on Tuesday. The assault, attributed to Kremlin-backed hacking groups, targeted Kyivstar, the country’s largest mobile and internet provider, disrupting services for 24.3 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.1 million home internet users. Two groups, Killnet and … Read more

South Korea’s largest mobile operator, SK Telecom, has chosen not to include Huawei among its preferred suppliers for 5G equipment. Instead, SK Telecom announced it will invite bids from Samsung, Ericsson, and Nokia to supply equipment for its 5G network rollout. Industry observers had expected Huawei to be considered, but the vendor has faced controversy … Read more

South Korean telecommunications company KT has signed roaming agreements with three European operators — Italy’s TIM, Switzerland’s Sunrise, and Finland’s Elisa — enabling KT’s 5G subscribers to access those operators’ 5G networks while traveling in Europe. KT already maintains roaming arrangements for 3G and LTE with carriers in 185 countries and is preparing to extend … Read more

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has designated China Mobile, China Telecom, and cybersecurity company Kaspersky as threats to national security. These three organizations have been added to the FCC’s list of communications equipment and service providers judged to pose an unacceptable risk to national security. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel commented on the update: “Last year, … Read more

Whenever you open the news these days, most headlines focus on cyber threats, online bullying, indecent images, fraud, and a long list of other negative issues tied to the web. It’s important, though, to step back and consider the positive ways the internet connects people and drives meaningful action. Lauren Hammersley’s two-year-old daughter, Hazel, was … Read more

China’s strict internet censorship is spreading to Hong Kong following the passage of a controversial national security law. The so-called Great Firewall of China limits which internet services and websites citizens can access. Major global services such as Google are effectively blocked in mainland China because authorities cannot easily control the information those platforms provide, … Read more

(c)iStock.com/zyxeos30 Smart cities aim to improve quality of life, boost sustainability and generate economic value through digital technologies. With an estimated seven billion people living in urban areas by 2050, it is crucial to deploy green, resilient resources and leverage technology to make urban environments more efficient, healthy and livable. Connectivity Connectivity is the foundation … Read more

Huawei appears to have reduced its publicly reported research spending in Australia amid ongoing national security concerns and increased scrutiny from government bodies. Australian financial disclosures from the company show a decline in locally reported research expenditure from $81,000 in 2016 to zero last year. That contrasts with significantly larger figures in earlier years—$8.3 million … Read more

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/AWSeebaran) As the Internet of Things expands, the number of connected devices in homes is placing increasing demands on local networks. Consumers expect every device to maintain a stable connection and consistent speed so they can access services remotely without interruption. Federico Guillén, president of Alcatel‑Lucent’s Fixed Access Business Line, observed that connected … Read more