The UK’s popular Lake District, plagued by poor mobile service, is set for an upgrade with EE boosting its masts’ performance. The upgrades, part of the ambitious Shared Rural Network program, will improve coverage across less-accessible communities, attempting to achieve 95 percent UK coverage by 2025. While enhancing connectivity in the countryside, meeting an impending 2G and 3G network phase-out, these improvements respect the natural landscape and cater to rural communities’ unique needs. This project is hailed for supporting local lifestyles, businesses, tourism and potentially enabling fresh opportunities.
Navigating the ‘Right First Time’ operations in FTTP networks, especially in a highly competitive UK landscape, can be challenging. The advent of computed vision presents a transformative solution, using machine learning to detect anomalies and streamline operations. This technology raises the bar for operational standards, while reducing time, cost and errors, driving forward the future of FTTP operations in the UK.
A surprising surge in UK home broadband speeds reveals unexpected players in the game, with cable services outpacing full fibre. Yet, amid the rise of lightning-fast download speeds, the upload band still sees full fibre reigning supreme. Noticeably, cable packages prove their worth even under the gruelling test of peak hours. Nevertheless, experts advise not to overlook service quality when choosing broadband. A glimpse into the changing landscape of broadband services shows an intriguing volatility that leaves room for industry alterations and subscriber adaptation.
Prominent UK telecom companies like BT, VMO2, and Vodafone have been selected beneficiaries of government funding for research into Open RAN technology. Innovative projects, with a focus ranging from energy efficiency to security, will share in the £88 million ($121 million) funding. The main goal is to figure out whether Open RAN can rival traditional RAN, especially in high-traffic areas and rural deployments, in terms of cost, reliability and energy consumption.
OneWeb’s constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites will enhance network coverage for Softbank, particularly in challenging regions. The move aligns with Softbank’s ‘Ubiquitous Network’ strategy, which unifies diverse non-terrestrial network (NTN) solutions to expand digital services. Besides its surprise partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink, Softbank continues to boost its stake in OneWeb, supporting its Japanese launch and integration into the Ubiquitous Network.
Brought forth by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), the exciting implementation of Wi-Fi 7 offers to revolutionize our wireless possibilities. This tech breakthrough, outpacing previous Wi-Fi versions, promises double the bandwidth and triple the speed, enabling impractical or seemingly impossible applications to become reality. The technology, based upon the IEEE 802.11be standard, will enable channel widths up to 320 MHz and support 4k QAM. With the potential for widespread deployment, Wi-Fi 7’s multi-link operation could mark a future with enhanced Wi-Fi experiences and low-latency immersive applications. However, the prerequisites of a solid fiber connection highlight challenges in achieving full-scale benefits.
Elevated expectations surround the fixed wireless customer premises equipment (CPE) market, largely fueled by an upsurge in 5G device development. Recent data indicates over twofold growth in 5G FWA CPE shipments, predicting a robust growth of 86% in 2023. However, the fluctuating sample size in the annual survey calls for a prudent interpretation of these statistics. As the data suggests, 5G devices are set to dominate the market, with a projected rise from 29% to 40%. The swift expansion of battery-powered pocket routers promises a solid growth in the overall FWA CPE shipments, with telcos driving 77% of the market. The United States leads in leveraging the 5G technology, promising extraordinary industry advancement.
Unveiling the hidden importance of fibre optic cables in delivering quality and reliable internet services, we spotlight Prysmian, European industry front-runner. Delving into the connection between prudent cable choice and tangible savings in network installation, while highlighting the formidable costs of cable failures. Prysmian’s commitment to innovation shines in miniaturising cables without compromise, resulting in practical and ecological benefits. Prysmian’s Telecom Business Director is set to reveal more insights at the Connected Britain Conference.
Deutsche Telekom has made a significant stride in mobile telecommunications, achieving 12 gigabits per second in field tests using 6GHz frequencies – quite a leap from the current 5G network speeds. The German telecom giant credits this achievement to merging two data streams from different frequency antennas, a method they suggest may become standard for these bands. However, before this breakthrough can materialize, it’ll go under scrutiny during the upcoming ITU World Radiocommunications Conference.
Explore the ‘Connected Nations’ report showcasing a promising surge in “Full Fibre” reach across the UK, now covering 52%. However, a static picture emerges for “superfast broadband” stuck at 97%, while Gigabit broadband registers a rise, and changes in 3G usage towards obsolescence are also highlighted. Further, discussions on smart devices over-harvesting consumer data and potential changes in the nation’s broadband landscape spark curiosity.
