They say our friends shape our tastes and personalities—or maybe we simply choose friends who are like us. Either way, real humans often give far better recommendations than any algorithm can. Netflix, the leading streaming service for TV shows and movies, is exploring deep learning to develop an artificial intelligence capable of providing the kind … Read more

BT has announced an updated timetable for retiring its 2G network, a technology first introduced in the early 1990s. The company’s remaining 2G traffic, managed through its EE brand, now represents just 0.1% of the total data flowing through its infrastructure. With 4G, 5G and IoT services increasingly dominant, BT’s decision to phase out 2G … Read more

Google shares plunged yesterday after the company reported Q4 2011 results that fell short of market expectations. Although Google posted a 27% year-over-year increase in revenue, its stock dropped about 10% on the news. For the final quarter of 2011, revenue reached $10.6 billion, while net profit rose 6.4% to $2.7 billion. In contrast, Microsoft … Read more

Nokia and Tencent have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly conduct research and development into 5G technologies that could benefit hundreds of millions of internet users in China. Under the agreement, the two companies will build an end-to-end 5G test environment in Shenzhen. They will explore how 5G’s AI and automation management capabilities can … Read more

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/mel-nik) Researchers at Ericsson are developing technologies that will shape the next generation of mobile networks, and one of the most promising innovations is “Multipoint Connectivity with Distributed MIMO,” which the company showcased recently. This approach enables devices to connect simultaneously to multiple base stations, maintaining multiple data streams for improved throughput and … Read more

Australian telecommunications company Optus reports it has completed what it describes as the world’s first 5G data call using the 2300 MHz spectrum band. The trial took place in Sydney using Ericsson equipment. Optus says it is the only Australian carrier holding spectrum in both the 2300 MHz and 3500 MHz bands, positioning it to … Read more

In his most recent budget, UK Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a £250 million investment to bring superfast broadband to rural areas. Poor connectivity in the countryside has left many communities and businesses lagging behind urban areas. The new funding is intended to close that gap by prioritising hard-to-reach locations. The money will be used to … Read more

SpaceX is preparing to send another shipment of Starlink terminals to Ukraine, a move that could help restore connectivity but also raises concerns about potential targeting. As Ukraine continues to defend itself against the Russian invasion, the country has experienced intermittent internet access. Some outages result from direct damage to telecommunications infrastructure, while others stem … Read more

Juniper Research predicts that 5G connections will surpass one billion by 2025 as wireless networks increasingly compete with fiber broadband. If you follow telecom developments, you already know 5G progress is accelerating and some industry leaders have suggested deployments could begin before the 2020 baseline. Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri has said 5G will start to … Read more

Last week, European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes promised that charges for using your mobile phone while abroad (roaming) would become significantly cheaper. That promise has now been fulfilled, with substantial price cuts across member states taking effect today. This is welcome news for anyone who has faced steep bills while traveling for work, on holiday, … Read more