IT for telecoms and internet organisations
Telecoms is one of the largest business sectors, and communications providers often have large IT budgets and are early adopters of new technologies. Our news and analysis of this important industry looks at how telecommunications firms, ISPs and other internet companies are using IT, and the regulatory issues that affect the services they provide.
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News
20 Dec 2024
Top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024 Continue Reading
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News
19 Dec 2024
LockBit ransomware gang teases February 2025 return
An individual associated with the LockBit ransomware gang has broken cover to tease details of a new phase of the cyber criminal operation's activity, which they claim is set to begin in February 2025 Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2019
Mind the overlap between GDPR and ePD, warns privacy lawyer
Organisations need to be aware of the overlaps between European data protection and privacy rules, and which takes precedence, a privacy lawyer warns Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2019
IT complexity raises concerns of certificate-related outages
Company executives are concerned that increased IT complexity will result in more security certificate-related outages, with nearly two-thirds of organisations affected in the past year Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2019
Europe passes controversial Copyright Directive
The European Parliament has passed a new Copyright Directive, including a number of highly controversial articles Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2019
BT switches on quantum network link at Adastral Park
BT has opened its quantum network link between its Adastral Park research base and the UK Quantum Network node at the University of Cambridge Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2019
Nominet urges SMEs to register .uk domains to thwart squatters
The automatic right of .co.uk domain name holders to register the shorter .uk domains ends in June Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2019
Full-fibre broadband startup toob gets £75m funding round
Broadband startup toob has received a £75m funding injection to begin a full-fibre roll-out Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2019
UK’s largest broadband suppliers failing on customer service
Consumers say they’re unimpressed with BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media, and fast-growing Vodafone has seen its customer satisfaction levels slump Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2019
UK government at odds over Huawei threat
The chair of the Science and Technology Committee has criticised the government’s vague response to concerns about Huawei’s activities in the UK Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2019
Facebook security policy and practices unfit, say infosec pros
Confidence in Facebook’s ability to keep users’ data safe has once again been shaken by revelations of poor password protection practices, prompting calls for a security review Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2019
Towards a full-fibre Britain: the view from inside Openreach
Openreach chairman Mike McTighe discusses progress on the national full-fibre broadband roll-out, the impact of Brexit, how to better engage with the CSP community, and why dark fibre isn’t the cure-all they might want it to be Continue Reading
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Blog Post
21 Mar 2019
Remainers accidentally DDoS the British government
With eight days until the UK's scheduled exit from the European Union, a prime minister who has lost control, a paralysed political system, and Britain reduced to a laughing stock on the world ... Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2019
Openreach calls on CSPs to help formulate full-fibre strategy
Openreach has opened a six-week consultation seeking views from the industry on how best to upgrade consumers to full-fibre broadband Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2019
EC fines Google €1.49bn for abusing ad market dominance
The European Commission has fined Google for abusive practices in online advertising dating back to 2006 Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2019
Colt picks Cisco to simplify 5G backhaul services
Colt is to deploy Cisco’s segment routing and Ethernet VPN-based architecture on its IQ Network for mobile operators Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2019
Network Homes signs Hyperoptic broadband deal
Expansion of Hyperoptic’s ultrafast network targets 20,000 properties in London and the south east Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2019
Bournemouth and Northampton next in line for CityFibre broadband upgrade
A £75m investment will see thousands of residential properties hooked up to full-fibre broadband services Continue Reading
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News
19 Mar 2019
Salisbury to get ‘universal’ full-fibre broadband
Every residential and business property in Salisbury will be able to access full-fibre broadband in 12 months, claims Openreach Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2019
ICO pledges to support innovation
UK data privacy watchdog is increasingly gearing up to support innovation to ensure developers of tech and digital services do not lose society’s trust Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2019
Shetlands get broadband upgrade to support local NHS services
Shetland Islands Council is to receive £1.91m of funding to expand full-fibre broadband expansion to NHS sites on remote islands through the government’s Local Full-Fibre Networks initiative Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2019
Openreach exploring options for copper network shutdown
Openreach has begun to assess how and when it might be able to shut down its copper broadband network Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2019
House of Lords committee calls for creation of a digital authority to oversee regulation
The proposed regulatory framework would coordinate regulators, assess rules and make recommendations to respond to developments in digital services Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2019
Machine identities for sale on dark web, business warned
Academics and security professionals are warning businesses that certificates used to establish trust and privacy on the internet are being weaponised and sold to cyber criminals bundled with other services Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2019
US government ban unconstitutional, says Huawei
Huawei’s lawsuit accuses Washington of violating the US Constitution by banning it from government contracts Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2019
Zuckerberg commits to Facebook becoming privacy-focused
After a storm of controversy and criticism over the way Facebook fails to protect users’ privacy, the company’s chief says he plans to transform it into a privacy-focused platform Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Mar 2019
How Europe’s largest datacentre is helping to expand broadband access
NGD, the operator of the largest datacentre in Europe, is playing an unlikely role in helping expand access to full-fibre broadband in south Wales. We find out how, and why Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2019
US doubles down on Huawei fears as Chinese prepare to sue
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has reinforced his attacks on Huawei as the firm apparently prepares to sue the US government over its federal-level ban Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2019
UK among most expensive countries for mobile data
The UK ranks 136th in the world for the average cost of 1GB of mobile data, according to new statistics Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2019
Clearer North Korean link to global infrastructure malware campaign
Researchers have uncovered clearer links between a North Korean hacking group and a cyber espionage campaign targeting government, defence, nuclear, energy and financial organisations around the world Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2019
Fresh data analytics tool slashes Openreach’s Ethernet delivery times
Openreach discusses its work with analytics partner Qlik, which is giving its teams new insights into Ethernet and enterprise fibre network service delivery data, and says it has seen significant service improvements in doing so Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2019
Facebook asked George Osborne to influence EU data protection law
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg invited one of the chancellor’s children to Facebook’s office as part of a intensive lobbying programme to influence European data protection legislation Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2019
Facebook facing 10 GDPR investigations in Ireland
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has revealed it has 10 active probes into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as Apple, LinkedIn and Twitter, on its books Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Mar 2019
What are the CDN options for enterprises?
We look at how content delivery networks can give your organisation’s web presence a literal edge Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2019
Teen becomes first millionaire through HackerOne bug bounties
A self-taught teen hacker from Argentina has become the first bug bounty hacker to become a millionaire by hacking to create a safer internet Continue Reading
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News
27 Feb 2019
MWC 2019: Vodafone powers 5G with VMware
Vodafone is using VMware’s telco cloud platform to prepare its mobile networks for 5G in 15 geographies Continue Reading
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News
27 Feb 2019
Dutch companies lack knowledge of IoT’s benefits
Many organisations in the Netherlands are missing out on the benefits of the internet of things because they lack awareness of its potential Continue Reading
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News
27 Feb 2019
Most UK consumers say Facebook should be regulated
Nearly three-quarters of UK consumers feel the social platform is damaging people’s mental health, survey shows Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2019
MWC 2019: 5G driving telcos into the cloud, says VMware CEO
At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger explained how the requirements of 5G mobile networks are helping to push more telcos into the organisation’s arms Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2019
Nordic tech is increasing diversity but more needs to be done
The shortage of women in the boardroom is a problem in the Nordics, like other regions, but work in its tech sector means the future could be more promising Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2019
Cyber power needs wider discussion, says GCHQ director
The topic of cyber power needs wider discussion, says GCHQ head in a speech about the opportunities of digital innovation such as 5G, as well as the accompanying complexity and risk, with particular mention of China and Huawei Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2019
Android now Fido2 certified
Mobile operating system’s certification accelerates global migration beyond passwords, says Fido Alliance, which seeks to eliminate the world’s dependence on password-based security Continue Reading
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Blog Post
23 Feb 2019
Will Advertisers and Insurers hold Social Media Platforms to Account after Governments fail
The Shareholder Backlash Most digerati appear to be in a state of denial over the scale and nature of the damage being done by the abuse of social media. It is fuelling family breakdown, mental ... Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2019
Facebook planned to spy on Android phone users, internal emails reveal
Facebook planned to use its Android app to track the location of its customers and to allow advertisers to send political advertising and invites to dating sites to ‘single’ people, confidential documents show Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2019
Government not doing enough to address mobile not-spots
The National Infrastructure Commission has criticised the government for a lack of progress in addressing mobile network not-spots, particularly along key road and rail links Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2019
MWC 2019: O2 to launch 5G by Christmas
Ahead of Mobile World Congress, operator O2 has revealed further details of how it is planning for the advent of 5G Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2019
UK committed to working with EU cyber security partners
NCSC CEO uses cyber security conference in Brussels to set out his agency’s position on Brexit, 5G security, Huawei, market incentives and international cooperation on active cyber defence Continue Reading
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E-Zine
21 Feb 2019
CW Nordics: Sweden to test e-krona and plans cashless society
Sweden’s vision of a cashless society has gained traction after the Riksbank (central bank) rolled out plans to test a digital currency, the e-krona. Also read how the Nordic region’s longer-established companies are playing a forceful role to advance digital transformation, and how Finland’s IT sector has rebounded strongly after Microsoft’s takeover of Nokia’s mobile phones and smart devices business units in 2014. Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2019
MWC 2019: 5G smartphones go live on Vodafone network
Vodafone has connected three 5G-enabled smartphones to a live network during trials in Spain Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2019
MWC 2019: Huawei claims massive lead on 5G readiness
At a pre-Mobile World Congress event in London, Huawei’s Ryan Ding shared details of the firm’s rapidly expanding 5G mobile portfolio, and laid into his competitors Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2019
UK naïve to think China won’t try to exploit Huawei
A think-tank report has branded the UK government naïve at best, irresponsible at worst, over its use of Chinese networking equipment in critical national infrastructure Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2019
MWC 2019: 5G in Europe driven by industrial automation, says Ericsson
As Mobile World Congress 2019 nears, Sweden’s Ericsson has been expanding, and expounding upon, its plans for 5G mobile networks Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2019
NCSC signals UK may take softer line on Huawei
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre suggests Huawei will be allowed to form core elements of the country’s 5G mobile network infrastructure after all Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Feb 2019
Making the move to cloud work for you
Getting the best out of a move to the cloud means getting the size right, turning off what you don’t need, smart purchasing and continuously decluttering your new environment Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2019
Central Saint Martins hosts Three’s 5G trial for London Fashion Week
Three’s trial 5G network will enable the world’s first augmented reality fashion show at Central Saint Martins, while consumers can test out a prototype network at its flagship store Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2019
Satellite broadband secures Cornish observatory a brighter future
The Tolcarn Observatory near St Austell in Cornwall is putting its money where its mouth is and using satellite broadband to enhance its research work and educational outreach Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2019
Dutch developer offers businesses nuclear security option for communications
Startup that created the secure platform for communication between world leaders at the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands seeks to revolutionise business mail Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2019
Vodafone announces winners of Techstarter accelerator
Vodafone has announced the winners of its startup accelerator programme, aimed at helping young companies developing technology for social good Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2019
Brexit is killing full-fibre broadband and 5G roll-outs, says CBI
A CBI report has warned that Brexit is “sucking the oxygen” out of digital priorities such as full-fibre broadband roll-out and 5G mobile network deployment Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2019
Nordic region primed to pioneer 5G
The Nordic region could pioneer the commercial use of 5G, with Finland and Sweden hotbeds for the technology Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2019
Government legislates to bring back roaming charges in no-deal Brexit
All four UK operators have said they have no plans to reintroduce roaming charges, but EE, O2 and Vodafone have not committed themselves not to do so Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2019
Self-driving cars get updated guidelines for trial safety and transparency
The Department for Transport has issued guidance on trial safety and transparency for self-driving cars, and is sticking by its pledge to have self-driving cars on Britain’s roads in the next two years Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2019
Huawei: We are not spying on the UK
Huawei’s Ryan Ding tells the British government that the company has never, and will never, use its technology to assist the Chinese intelligence services Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2019
Virgin Media tests 8Gbps home broadband service
Fifty residents of Papworth, Cambridgeshire, are trialling an 8Gbps FTTP broadband service using existing fibre infrastructure Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2019
Suffolk County Council awards 20-year WAN contract
MLL Telecom will work with CityFibre to extend Suffolk County Council’s existing WAN to 600 sites and offer them ultrafast connectivity services Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2019
UK’s IT and BPO spend plummets because of Brexit uncertainty
UK businesses cut their investment in IT and business process outsourcing last year because of confusion over Brexit, but there was a 68% rise in public sector spending Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Feb 2019
The nightmare driving test: How to make sure self-driving cars are safe
Simulating realistic environments using deep learning to enable self-driving cars to learn the rules of the road will prove more useful than any amount of real-world practice. We find out why, and meet the people doing something about it Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2019
Cambridge launches urban data IoT project
The city of Cambridge will use Telensa IoT sensors and a Microsoft Azure platform to better manage its urban data assets Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2019
Orange acquires UK’s SecureData
The Orange telecommunications group is to acquire UK cyber security firm SecureData to strengthen its leadership position in Europe in this sector Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2019
Innocent people arrested following surveillance blunders, IPCO reveals
Interception of communications commissioner Adrian Fulford warns of “grave” repercussions for people wrongly identified as suspects due to errors made when government bodies access email, phone and telephone data Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2019
New stolen credentials cache puts spotlight on authentication
The discovery of billions more stolen usernames and passwords in Collections #2 to #5 have prompted fresh calls for the implementation of better authentication methods across industry Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2019
BT stockpiles networking kit for no-deal Brexit as Patterson exits
Outgoing BT boss Gavin Patterson shared some details on the company’s contingency planning for a feared no-deal Brexit as chief executive Philip Jansen formally takes charge of the business Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2019
Cisco Live Europe: Intent-based networking meets the IoT head-on
Networking and communications technology supplier Cisco plans to bring intent-based networking techniques to bear on the internet of things Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2019
Facebook profit up despite privacy failings
Social media giant reports profit gains for the last quarter and the past year, despite a string of privacy blunders that came to light in 2018 Continue Reading
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News
30 Jan 2019
YouTuber impersonation scam not new, say researchers
Scam that tricked users into clicking on phishing links has affected tens of thousands of victims and has been active for several years, say security researchers Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2019
IT leaders grapple with workforce skills gap as they deploy AI and digital technology
Organisations will have to find new ways of reskilling their workforce as they get to grips with artificial intelligence and other digital technologies. CIOs also need to keep their skills updated if they are to succeed Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2019
UK police target hundreds of DDoS attackers
National Crime Agency is investigating hundreds of suspected users of a distributed denial of service-for-hire site that was taken down by an international law enforcement operation Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2019
UK IT spending worth £27bn held back due to Brexit uncertainty
UK businesses are putting billions of pounds of IT investments on hold until they know the terms that the UK will leave the EU Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2019
Openreach to recruit 3,000 apprentices to support UK-wide full-fibre network deployment
New recruits from “all walks of life” will be trained at one of 12 educational facilities Openreach is set to open across the country Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2019
Vodafone suspends use of Huawei hardware
Vodafone’s UK CEO has said the operator will ‘pause’ its use of Huawei hardware for the foreseeable future Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2019
Chinese government grants BT new powers
Enhanced operating licences improve telco’s ability to work with customers in China Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2019
Facebook’s objections to court concerns over privacy more about ‘optics’ than facts
Facebook’s challenge to a High Court ruling that raises serious concerns about data transfers between Europe and the US is more about appearance than facts, lawyers for the Irish Data Protection Commission told Dublin's Supreme Court Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2019
MPs challenge Huawei over spying allegations
The chair of the cross-bench Science and Technology Committee has written to Huawei seeking answers over its activities in the UK Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2019
Time to deploy strong authentication, says Fido
The time has come for organisations to deploy cryptographically backed strong authentication, according to the Fido Alliance, which seeks to eliminate the world’s dependence on password-based security Continue Reading
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News
23 Jan 2019
Vodafone and O2 will ‘share’ 5G networks
Vodafone and O2 have agreed non-binding heads of terms that will extend their 4G network-sharing agreement to 5G when it becomes available Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
XL Axiata teams up with Tibco in data science initiative
The Indonesia telco’s data scientists will be provided with data science tools from Tibco to uncover customer insights and improve network planning, among other goals Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
Young Dutch cyber criminals get re-education rather than jail time
Young hackers in the Netherlands are being rehabilitated through punishments that educate rather than incarcerate Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
Digital Catapult explores LPWAN and IoT for industry
A Connected Factory Demonstrator managed by the Digital Catapult is seeking input from LPWAN and internet of things specialists Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
Broadband divide persists across the UK, says Which?
Latest statistics from Which? show the UK’s broadband divide persists, with many areas still missing out on high-speed services despite industry tub-thumping Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
€50m GDPR fine for Google is a wake-up call for tech giants
The French data protection authority has fined Google €50m for contravening EU data protection laws, which has been hailed as a warning for tech giants and other data handling firms Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2019
Prepare for no-deal Brexit, says ICO
The UK data protection authority is urging businesses to prepare for a no-deal Brexit to ensure there is no interruption in data flows from Europe Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2019
Vodafone and IBM prep user clouds for future network tech
Companies expand existing collaboration to enable enterprise customers to prepare for the impact of advanced networking technologies Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2019
UK tech firms favour second referendum as next move in Brexit stalemate
UK tech firms want to remain as close to the EU as possible and believe a second referendum on membership of the trading bloc would be the best way out of the current political stalemate Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2019
Researchers discover new Magecart group
Security researchers have uncovered a sub-group of the Magecart hacking group, highlighting the wider risks of web-based supply chain attacks Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2019
Mobile and broadband markets fail digitally excluded groups
Financially vulnerable people, disabled and mentally ill people and elderly people all face significant challenges in accessing appropriate communications services, according to a new Ofcom report Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2019
Top UK hacker-for-hire jailed
Notorious British hacker-for-hire jailed for cyber attacks on a Liberian telco after an international criminal justice operation Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2019
Microsoft takes community approach to artificial intelligence in Sweden
Microsoft is making increasing use of artificial intelligence in Sweden as it shares experiences with the development community Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Right to be forgotten is not global, says EU court adviser
The right to be forgotten should apply only in the European Union, according to the chief adviser to the European Court of Justice Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Roadside 4G mobile signal availability improves across UK
4G mobile network coverage along the UK’s motorways has seen substantial improvement, with Greater Manchester’s urban M60 having 100% availability and the Birmingham to Carlisle M6 seeing the greatest growth in coverage Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Enterprises are increasing the human workforce while deploying AI
Artificial intelligence is creating more jobs than it replaces, according to a study of businesses using the technology Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Fife Council upgrades WAN to offer ultrafast broadband services
Public sector sites across Fife in Scotland are to receive a transformational upgrade to their broadband speeds Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
BT faces tussle to keep EU contracts after Brexit
The European Union will likely re-evaluate its telecoms contracts with BT following Brexit, and cancelling them altogether is a real risk in a no-deal scenario, according to leaked documents Continue Reading