The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally identified competition concerns over the proposed Vodafone–Three merger in the UK. An independent inquiry group leading the investigation has tentatively concluded that the merger could result in higher prices for tens of millions of mobile customers or reduced service levels, such as smaller data allowances in consumer … Read more

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/Courtney Keating) Microsoft and Facebook have joined forces to build a major new high-speed transatlantic subsea cable designed to deliver unprecedented capacity and greater resilience for cloud and online services. The collaboration aims to strengthen transatlantic connectivity to support services such as Bing, Office 365, Skype, Xbox Live, and Microsoft Azure. As global … Read more

O2 has teamed up with NEC to run a trial of OpenRAN technology using hardware from multiple vendors. OpenRAN promotes open, standards-based and interoperable software and hardware for radio access networks. By decoupling software and hardware and enabling multi-vendor interoperability, OpenRAN offers operators greater deployment flexibility, potential cost savings and improved network resilience. The joint … Read more

AT&T has abandoned its controversial attempt to acquire T‑Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom (DT). Announced in March as a £39 billion acquisition, the deal immediately drew strong criticism from consumer groups and quickly faced intense scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The termination triggers a substantial settlement: AT&T … Read more

Ukraine is successfully using SpaceX’s satellite broadband system Starlink to preserve international connectivity while defending itself against the Russian invasion. After Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov requested assistance from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a shipment of Starlink terminals arrived in the country, providing a critical communications lifeline: Starlink — here. Thanks, @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/dZbaYqWYCf — … Read more

Researchers are developing a floating antenna design to relieve congestion in the electromagnetic frequency spectrum and strengthen wireless signals. At the ElectroScience Laboratory (ESL) at Ohio State University, the team is creating suspended high-gain millimeter-wave antenna arrays using a combination of 3D printing and MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technologies. Their approach isolates the radiating elements from … Read more

Samsung has announced that it is powering the world’s first nationwide public safety network that complies with 3GPP standards. The PS-LTE network, launched initially in South Korea, operates on the 700 MHz spectrum and delivers fast, reliable connectivity for emergency responders across more than 330 organisations, including police, firefighters, emergency medical teams, and the military. … Read more

In its largest acquisition to date, Google announced that it will purchase Motorola Mobility, the former handset division of Motorola, for $12.5 billion. The move marks a dramatic and immediate push by the search giant into the global mobile device market and is certain to reshape the Android ecosystem. The transaction still requires regulatory approval, … Read more

(c)iStock.com/Aslan Alphan The global telecom API market is experiencing rapid expansion. According to a Market Research Engine analysis, the industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 19% between 2015 and 2022, reaching a valuation exceeding $5 billion by 2022. Strong growth in the mobile applications market has … Read more

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/deimagine) We rely on constant internet access more than ever—on trains, phones and tablets have become essential tools for work, entertainment and staying connected. Yet as many commuters know, coverage often drops when trains enter tunnels or travel through rural stretches, interrupting calls, video streams and online games. Chiltern Railways has responded to … Read more