GlobalData: US carriers are falling behind in eSim adoption

GlobalData believes US mobile operators are falling behind their international counterparts in embedded SIM (eSIM) adoption.

Lynnette Luna, Principal Analyst at GlobalData, comments:

“European operators significantly ramped up support for eSIM amid the pandemic as consumers stayed out of retail stores and appreciated the convenience of signing up for service directly on a smartphone.

In contrast, while major US carriers have enabled customers to add new service...

22 April 2021 | Connectivity

KT hits one million 5G subs as it launches roaming in three European countries

South Korean telecom firm KT has entered into roaming agreements with Italy’s TIM, Switzerland’s Sunrise, and Finland’s Elisa, which would allow the company’s 5G subscribers to use the 5G networks provided by the three European operators.

KT, which has standing agreements with operators in 185 countries for 3G and LTE roaming, is now planning to extend those contracts to 5G as soon as 5G services go live in those countries. Before signing the agreements...

25 September 2019 | 5G

Vodafone 5G gets UK launch date, first to offer European roaming

Vodafone UK has set a date for its 5G network launch in addition to being the first operator to offer roaming in four European countries.

The operator will switch on its 5G network for consumers and businesses on the 3rd July 2019. Initially, it will be available in seven major cities.

Here are the first cities to go live:

Bristol

Birmingham

Cardiff

London

Glasgow

Manchester

Liverpool

A further 12 cities...

14 May 2019 | 5G

Opinion: ‘Project Fear’ turns its gaze to UK telecoms consumers

Ludicrous claims have been made from both sides of the Brexit debate, but now the so-called ‘Project Fear’ is aiming to scare UK telecoms consumers.

The latest claim is a return to the dark old days of mobile roaming charges.

Ending roaming charges around Europe is touted as one of the EU’s proudest achievements for citizens. It’s been welcomed by consumers who shudder at the ‘bill shock’ they once had after even a quick trip around the...

13 September 2018 | Connectivity

LTE now represents most of the world’s roaming traffic

While most people have been talking about the next generation of mobile network technology, LTE has reached an important new milestone.

According to data from Syniverse, inter-regional LTE data roaming traffic has surpassed non-LTE data roaming traffic for the first time.

In the past year alone, LTE traffic rose to 54 percent of global outbound roaming traffic in 2017 – up from 42 percent in 2016.

John Wick, Senior Vice President at Syniverse, comments:

26 February 2018 | Connectivity

Roaming fees within the EU will be abolished by mid-June

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/tbradford)

It’s been a long time coming, but the abolition of roaming fees across the EU is due to come into effect by mid-June. 

First proposed in 2013, the hold-up is attributed to a lack of agreement over wholesale charges between networks. Representatives from the EU’s 28 member states have now agreed on the...

1 February 2017 | Consumers

EUs abolishment of roaming fees isnt without T&Cs

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/petrenkod)

Anyone who's been stung with an extortionate bill after using their mobile device abroad will have welcomed the EU's pledge last year to abolish roaming fees across the continent, but those who regularly travel for extended periods should hold off the celebrations. 

The fair use policy of the free roaming initiative due to launch in June 2017 has...

6 September 2016 | Consumers

Anywhere SIM tackles not spots with multiple networks

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/Spiderstock)

Anywhere SIM plans on tackling "not spots" through switching between all the major networks, preventing those occasions when our friends and family on rival networks are continuing to use their devices whilst our carrier lets us down. 

We've all experienced rubbish coverage at some point, but it's hard to determine which network will have the best coverage in the areas we'll be travelling. Anywhere SIM removes the need for prior...

11 November 2015 | Connectivity

European roaming fees to be scrapped in 2017

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/BettinaSampl)

We finally have a date for when roaming fees will be scrapped in Europe - June 15th, 2017. The EU Commission wanted the rules to be implemented earlier, but the date was pushed-back in order to win support from the European Parliament and Council. 

The rules will prevent mobile operators from charging huge premiums for use of their services when travelling to other European countries; which has...

30 June 2015 | Consumers

National roaming? Well provide coverage instead, says UK carriers

UK operators were given an ultimatum, either agree to a national roaming plan, or increase basic coverage to cover at least 90% of geographic areas by 2017. EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone all agreed to the latter and will invest a guaranteed £5 billion in infrastructure to achieve this demand as part of the plan announced today.

Along with 90% of "basic" coverage, which includes voice and text, the networks will have to provide at least 85% of the UK with "full" coverage...

18 December 2014 | Government