IBM and Airspan Networks target increased European adoption of 5G-enabled Open RAN

IBM has partnered with Airspan Networks in a bid to accelerate the adoption of 5G-enabled Open RAN technologies across Europe.

Open RAN delivers hardware and software that are based on interoperable and open standards—delivering greater choice and lower costs for operators while preventing vendor lock-in and enabling innovative new players to break the market hold of the handful of established players.

One of those emerging players is Florida-based Airspan...

21 September 2021 | 5G

ITU and Vodafone launch initiative to connect 3.4B unconnected

United Nations agency International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has partnered with Vodafone to launch an initiative to connect 3.4 billion people.

An internet connection is increasingly vital in the modern world to unlock opportunities. Faster connections can mean even greater opportunity, but any connection is better than none.

According to research (PDF) by the ITU last year, of the 3.7 billion people who are not connected to the internet, 3.4 billion live within the...

20 September 2021 | Africa

Huawei CEO wants global experts to figure out 6G in Shanghai campus

Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei wants to attract global experts to the company’s Shanghai campus to get an early lead in 6G.

Speaking during an internal company meeting, Ren said that its Qingpu, Shanghai campus is “beautiful and suitable for foreigners”. Furthermore, he said: “If there are 700 or 800 foreign scientists working here, they will not feel they are in a foreign country.”

China is already the leader in 6G patents, something that the country’s national...

16 September 2021 | 6G

Ookla posts analysis of UK 5G performance in H1 2021

An Ookla analysis covering H1 2021 has found that 5G networks in the UK are getting faster and boosting consumer sentiment.

Early in the deployment of any new mobile network generation, it’s not clear to the wider public of the benefits. This is especially true as go-to metrics like download speeds aren’t initially as pronounced as often expected. However, those same people now share the sense of dread even when dropping from 4G to 3G.

Out of the gate, 5G speeds were...

14 September 2021 | 5G

Deutsche Telekom and Tele2 sell T-Mobile Netherlands for €5.1B

Deutsche Telekom and Tele2 are selling T-Mobile Netherlands to WP/AP Telecom Holdings, a consortium jointly controlled by Apax and Warburg Pincus.

A strategic review of T-Mobile NL was launched by Deutsche Telekom in May. The deal, worth an enterprise value of €5.1 billion, marks the completion of the review.

Deutsche Telekom believes that it’s leaving T-Mobile NL in safe hands to “a consortium with long-standing experience and differentiated strategic value add in...

7 September 2021 | Europe

Apple’s new iPhones could feature emergency satellite communications

Apple is reportedly developing at least two features that will enable users to communicate using satellites in a rural emergency.

If you’re high up a mountain, or in the middle of the ocean or dense forest, the likelihood is you don’t have a cellular signal. However, there’s a good chance you’ll be in the range of several satellites—especially if 1,000+ launches per year becomes the new norm.

Cupertino has been exploring the use of satellite technology since at...

31 August 2021 | Devices

Nokia aims to counter 5G security risks with new certification program

Nokia is setting out to counter 5G security risks early with a new professional-level course and certification.

5G is set to be used for more critical applications than any previous generation with use-cases including autonomous transport, manufacturing, drones, emergency response, and even remote surgery. Keeping those networks secure can quite literally mean life or death.

Geert Van Wauwe, Chief Security Officer at Nokia, said:

“5G will empower new services...

19 August 2021 | 5G

Vodafone’s latest IoT solution aims to end water industry stagnation

Vodafone has launched a new IoT solution that aims to “accelerate change” in the water industry.

While many industries are embracing digital transformation – enabled by Industry 4.0 technologies – the water industry has largely remained stubbornly stagnant.

Anne Sheehan, Business Director at Vodafone UK, said:

“There is growing demand on the UK water companies to increase efficiency and reduce wastage. We’ve worked closely with the water industry to...

18 August 2021 | Europe

T-Mobile ordered to prove it didn’t lie to get Sprint merger approval

T-Mobile has been ordered to prove it didn’t lie to government regulators about its 3G shutdown plans to win approval for its Sprint merger.

In a ruling by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), T-Mobile is ordered “to show cause why it should not be sanctioned by the Commission for violating Rule 1.1 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure for false, misleading, or omitted statements.”

CPUC accuses T-Mobile of making false statements...

17 August 2021 | Government

The 5G TELUS Lab: the future of creativity

Companies all over the world are gearing up for 5G, the fifth-generation cellular technology that makes wireless networks several times faster and enables the transmission of vast amounts of data. 5G is already used for a range of applications that include self-driving cars, virtual reality, and even remote surgery.  5G’s ultra-fast speeds and lower latency, when combined with augmented or virtual reality also hold a host of new possibilities for the entertainment...

16 August 2021 | 5G