Vodafone, Nokia, Cisco, Benu Networks, and Casa Systems have completed the first multi-vendor trial of a new broadband standard, demonstrating interoperability and the potential to reshape fixed broadband networks. The test validated a new open architecture for the Broadband Network Gateway (BNG). BNGs are essential network elements that authenticate and connect multiple subscribers to the … Read more

Sprint ran a full-page advertisement in the New York Times accusing rival AT&T of promoting “fake 5G” through its 5G Evolution marketing. AT&T’s “5G-E” branding has drawn criticism from competitors because the network is built on 4G LTE technology. The company argues that these enhancements are stepping stones that will be integrated into its true … Read more

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/franckreporter) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has asked AT&T, Comcast and T-Mobile US to explain how they offer customers free data for watching online video—practices that raise net neutrality concerns. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler emphasized that this request is not an investigation, but rather an effort to keep the agency informed about these … Read more

Despite rising concerns about cybersecurity tied to China, the country continues to push technological boundaries and lead several global markets, most notably in machine-to-machine (M2M) connections and IPTV subscribers. During the second half of 2012 alone, cellular M2M connections in China grew by nearly 5.5 million. To put that into perspective, that increase is roughly … Read more

(Image Credit: New World Payphones) The original ‘K2’ red phone boxes are iconic, but many have fallen into disrepair and feel like relics from before the smartphone era. New World Payphones is reinventing the classic red booth with features designed for modern urban life. New World Payphones operates one of the largest payphone fleets in … Read more

LexisNexis has coordinated an industry-wide effort among major telecommunications companies to improve the standardisation, cleaning, and verification of patent data. Called “Cellular Verified,” the initiative brings together more than 30 leading firms that collectively hold a significant share of global 5G patents. Its goal is to tackle long-standing problems of inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and bias in … Read more

Two independent studies from Nielsen and Canalys indicate that the BRIC markets — Brazil, Russia, India and China — are poised for rapid expansion in smartphone adoption and related industry activity. Canalys’s analysis highlights China as the dominant force: the country’s smartphone market is expanding so quickly that it is expected to be nearly twice … Read more

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, have set a new wireless transmission record, achieving speeds that are truly “flash” fast. Installing cable-based telecommunications infrastructure is expensive and often impractical, particularly for remote and rural locations. Those areas frequently remain underserved or unconnected because extending fiber or copper networks can be … Read more

Earlier this week we spoke with Simon Watson from Spectralink about why BYOD (bring your own device) isn’t always suitable in certain workplaces. While personal devices offer convenience, industries such as healthcare require purpose-built hardware that can withstand heavy use and strict sanitation. Watson noted that consumer phones are not designed to tolerate the knocks … Read more

Phones4U, a long-standing UK mobile phone retailer facing financial and contractual difficulties, has entered administration, leading to the closure of approximately 550 stores across the country. The collapse follows a series of mobile network operators withdrawing support after being unable to finalize new distribution agreements with the company. In a statement, Vodafone said: “Phones4U was … Read more