In response to reports detailing serious device failures during the transition from analogue to digital telephony, the UK’s Technology Secretary, Michelle Donellan, convened a meeting with telecom companies and regulator Ofcom. Following the discussions, phone providers, previously urged to pause any forceful transitions, have committed to a charter aimed at protecting vulnerable households, particularly those relying on personal alarms or telecare for remote support.
As Germany’s “Gigabit funding 2.0” program faces potential budget reductions, there’s concern it may throttle the rollout process with overcrowded construction capacity, causing a potential lag in projects. Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs declares a €3.6 billion allocation for the ourishing fibre-optic network industry.
OpenAI is fortifying its internal safety protocols in response to growing concerns about the potential risks of artificial intelligence. The company has introduced a “safety advisory group” that will operate above its technical teams, offering recommendations to leadership, with the board wielding veto power—though the likelihood of its exercise remains uncertain.
In a significant development, Google has confirmed a $700 million settlement, allocating $630 million to U.S. consumers and $70 million to a fund for U.S. states. The settlement, initially reached in September and related to a class-action lawsuit filed in 2021, addresses concerns about Google’s monopoly on app distribution through the Play Store.
Nokia, in collaboration with the HellasQCI consortium, has achieved a significant milestone in the realm of quantum-safe connectivity infrastructure. The joint initiative aimed to assess the viability of quantum-safe solutions across diverse sectors, including government, research, education, defense, law enforcement, and private sector critical infrastructure owners.
In a recent security breach, Comcast has alerted millions of Xfinity customers about potential compromises to their passwords and portions of social security numbers. The breach, linked to a known vulnerability affecting major companies, including Boeing and Toyota, has been dubbed “CitrixBleed.”
In a groundbreaking development, Project Kuiper has revealed the successful testing of advanced optical communications payloads on its prototype satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2. The optical inter-satellite link (OISL) capabilities, previously kept confidential, demonstrated the ability to maintain 100 Gbps links over a distance of nearly 621 miles during testing in October.
Viasat, Inc., a global front-runner in satellite communications, has launched its innovative Business Choice internet service plans, ushering in a new era of high-speed and reliable connectivity for small-to-medium businesses nationwide. These plans cater to businesses in the most remote areas, where traditional internet services fall short, enabling them to leverage essential digital tools for optimal operations.
In the third quarter of 2023, Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data reveals a robust global uptrend in fixed network speeds. The median download speed for fixed networks worldwide reached an impressive 83.95 Mbps, marking a substantial 19% increase from 70.3 Mbps in the same quarter of 2022.
A surge in data roaming is poised to take center stage, driven by the escalating adoption of 5G services among consumers, according to research conducted by Kaleido. The study foresees a substantial 36% annual increase in both consumer and IoT roaming data usage, projecting a remarkable climb to nearly 5,000 Petabytes by the year 2024.
