Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) has marked a historic milestone by utilizing cutting-edge 100G PON technology to achieve speeds of 83 Gbps on its live full fibre access network. This breakthrough, claimed as a world first, signifies a significant leap in broadband capabilities for Australian consumers.
Bridging the digital divide in vast and harsh terrains like the Scottish Highlands, VMO2 embarks on a novel approach, utilizing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites from Starlink for critical backhaul services. Bypassing conventional, costly terrestrial infrastructure, VMO2’s tests have proven the potency of satellite technology in improving coverage across the UK.
In a significant step toward enhancing the capabilities of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), Nokia has successfully concluded an optical transmission trial in collaboration with SURF, a key player in Dutch education and research IT infrastructure. The trial achieved a breakthrough single carrier 800Gb/s optical transmission over SURF’s extensive cross-border network, which forms part of the vital research and education connectivity in Europe.
Rumors of a impending merger swirl around two of UK’s pivotal alternative network providers. Such union could massively boost FTTP coverage across the UK. Amid speculations of rapid network consolidation and shared investment, this collaboration signifies a vital shift in UK’s fibre market. However, the union also begets challenges in terms of subscriber transition and meeting regulatory deadlines.
Project Gigabit, an ambitious initiative from the UK government, is rapidly enhancing the nation’s digital connectivity across rural locales. Recent updates from this £5 billion venture depict encouraging progress, with a significant leap in gigabit broadband coverage from 6% in 2019 to 81%. The project aims to extend this coverage to virtually every UK premises by 2030.
Openreach, UK’s primary broadband provider, is proposing legislations that’ll speed up fibre broadband installations in Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs). This initiative is due to the lengthy authorizations processes, known as wayleaves, resulting in significant cost. However, critics argue this could infringe on property rights.
Virgin Media O2, a leading British broadband and mobile operator, in collaboration with its shareholder Liberty Global, has embarked on a pioneering venture with the introduction of its Smart Pole Trial. This innovative project sees the deployment of 4G and 5G-capable smart poles across the UK, aimed at enhancing mobile network coverage and capacity significantly.
Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez MP addresses the need for shared infrastructure to tackle excessive fibre network duplication. She spotlights rural areas, where public perception of full fibre deployment is significantly affected by perceived uncontrolled infrastructural rollout. This prompts a change in guidelines to involve communities in the roll-out process, helping operators extend their networks without hindering local approval.
Telecom leaders discussed the challenge of monetizing 5G. Vodafone’s ‘The Great British Telecoms Switch’ campaign offers BT customers savings and compensations to switch providers. A Pew Research Center survey found U.S. teens have a complex relationship with smartphones. Verizon’s report shows a 129% rise in mobile network traffic over 5 years. Iliad aims to become the fifth-largest mobile operator in Europe by 2024.
In a significant move to ensure the smooth transition of landline services to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), the UK government has announced an expansion in the roster of telecommunications companies committed to safeguarding vulnerable customers. The initiative, led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), now includes Openreach, CityFibre, and several others, alongside initial participants like BT and Virgin Media O2.
