Vietnam has increased its use of 5G equipment from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE this year, signaling a shift in how Hanoi collaborates with Beijing. Seven people familiar with the matter told Reuters that these new contracts have already prompted concern among Western officials. Historically, Vietnam was cautious about using Chinese technology in sensitive networks. … Read more

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), working with leading telecom operators such as Telefónica and AT&T, has announced a series of trials for next-generation hotspots (NGH) designed to expand public Wi‑Fi availability worldwide. The WBA’s stated goal is “to secure an outstanding user experience through the global deployment of next-generation Wi‑Fi,” and the initiative has attracted … Read more

Virgin Media O2 has started rolling out a new “smart support” service designed to proactively detect and resolve broadband problems for customers at no additional cost. Company research suggests that over a third (34%) of UK broadband users lack confidence to troubleshoot WiFi problems on their own, even though 98% depend on the internet in … Read more

The European Union has imposed additional sanctions on three Russian nationals for their alleged roles in cyberattacks that compromised classified and sensitive information. According to the Council of the European Union, the individuals are officers attached to Unit 29155 of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). The Council statement … Read more

Telecoms Tech’s coverage at Mobile World Congress earlier this week ranged from Mark Zuckerberg to operator strategies and discussions about the future of voice. Yet the most-read piece from Barcelona centred on a 5G panel featuring European Commission VP Neelie Kroes. Here, Tech Portfolio editor James Bourne takes a different perspective: what will become of … Read more

SpaceX is preparing a beta test for its Starlink satellite broadband service, and Reddit users have revealed additional details and images tied to the program. Some people who signed up to receive updates about Starlink testing received an email this week inviting them to participate in the beta and requesting address information to begin recruiting … Read more

The UK Court of Appeal has sharply criticized Apple for the tone and content of a statement the company was ordered to publish after the court confirmed that Samsung did not infringe Apple’s registered iPad design in the United Kingdom. This episode is the latest chapter in a long-running legal dispute between the two technology … Read more

(c)iStock.com/DrAfter123 The communications landscape is changing rapidly. As over-the-top providers intensify competition, traditional telecom operators face shrinking revenues, compressed margins and rising subscriber churn in consumer markets. To remain relevant and sustainable, telcos must evolve beyond basic connectivity and security services. They need new business models, diversified revenue streams and better monetization of existing assets. … Read more

Concerns about foreign state influence on critical telecommunications equipment are intensifying, and in response Poland and the United States have signed a joint declaration calling for rigorous security checks of such infrastructure. The declaration was formalized during a state visit to Poland by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. “Protecting these next-generation communications networks from disruption … Read more

Everyone is clamouring to have a piece of the LTE pie, but in a bid to share slices equally, are we just confusing processes and, more importantly, consumers? It’s an exciting moment for mobile operators. With many carriers still rolling out LTE, the potential rewards of entering the market continue to outweigh the risks. Yet … Read more