The national telecoms and media regulator, Ofcom, has this morning announced that they’ve opened an investigation into the service cancellation practices of UK broadband ISP Virgin Media (VMO2), which follows customer complaints that suggest the “company is making it difficult for them to cancel their services“. Breaking news.. more to follow..

A new YouGov survey of 1,150 adults aged 65+ in England, which was commissioned by older people’s charity Independent Age, has claimed that 48% of respondents on a low income (under £15k a year) have struggled to keep up with their broadband ISP bill in the last 6 months (20% of those found it a […]

The Digital Connectivity Forum (DCF), an industry think-tank, has today announced that the UK’s largest mobile and broadband providers, including BT, Three UK, and Sky Broadband, among many others, have agreed to work together to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the telecoms supply chain. The vast majority of the operators making this commitment already […]

Ookla, which operates the popular Speedtest.net service, has published their latest Q1-Q2 2023 (H1) study into the performance of 5G based mobile broadband networks in the United Kingdom, which once again finds that Three UK continues to deliver the fastest median download speed (265.75 Mbps). Mobile data performance is a difficult thing to pin down […]

Network operator RETN has this week launched a new 550km long low latency network route between London and Paris (including a 149km submarine segment under the English Channel), which leverages the latest CrossChannel subsea cable – the first one to be built in almost 20 years. Just to recap. The new CrossChannel cable, which is […]

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Using a combination of solar power and lithium-ion batteries, the site in Plano, Texas, was powered for almost 24 hours

This week, Swedish telecoms equipment vendor Ericsson has showcased its latest smart connected 5G site, coupling on-site renewable energy with new intelligent energy management technology.  

The site is powered by local solar panels and integrated lithium-ion batteries. When conditions are favourable, the site can be fully operated using only this renewable energy source, theoretically eliminating the need for a connection to the national power grid.  

The solution also emphasises Ericsson’s hybrid energy management capabilities, such as peak shaving, load shifting, and demand response, enabling the site to use battery power when energy rates are high and recharging them when they fall. 

In this way, operators will be able to reduce their reliance on diesel generators, as well as generating significant energy savings.  

“Ericsson’s smart site solutions for hybrid energy sources are designed to help operators control costs and increase profitability – especially in rural or remote areas or private networks, where traffic volumes are lower and power consumption needs to be especially efficient,” said Ed Gubbins, Principal Analyst at Global Data. 

“Using a variety of tools to increase energy efficiency and sustainability – including solar power, lithium-ion batteries, and advanced software features – can be helpful for improving operator profitability,” he added. 

The next step in the project will explore alternative green energy sources like hydrogen-based generators, interoperability with power grid vendors, and Policy-based Battery Saver tech to further reduce energy consumption. 

Find out what’s next on the journey to build sustainable networks at next year’s live Connected America conference 

Also in the news: 

Telenor signs new renewable energy deal with Statkraft
TIM leans on ERG for additional renewable energy
Vodafone installing on-site solar panels in energy efficiency drive 

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According to the government, funding could cover everything from high altitude platform stations (HAPS) to delivery drone management technology

This week, the UK Space Agency has announced £20 million in funding aimed at supporting the development of aerial connectivity projects.

Companies can submit applications for funding under three categories – drones, HAPS, and High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned air vehicles.

Projects could include, but are not limited to, “aerial platforms with hybrid capabilities that can seamlessly switch between satellite and terrestrial networks, or traffic management for innovative vehicles such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft”.

Possible applications include drones delivering medical supplies, the rapid deployment of dedicated emergency services communications, and delivering broadband connectivity to rural customers.

“From using drones to quickly get medicines to hospitals, through to boosting mobile network access in remote areas, the benefits of aerial connectivity cut through many aspects of our lives,” said UK Technology Secretary Chloe Smith. “The Government’s £20 million investment will further strengthen the UK’s fast-growing satellite communications industry, which already contributes more than £10 billion to our economy and supports over 26,000 jobs. It will improve our health and security, too, and support our plan to level up every part of the UK.

The funding comes as part of the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services (ARTES) programme, in which the UK is a major investor. In November 2022, the UK government committed £190 million to the programme, pledging to further develop the country’s growing satellite industry and promote the creation of new aerial connectivity technologies.

The first £50 million of this funding was made available to applicants by the government earlier in the year, targeting related projects in the satellite communications industry.

The UK is not alone in its interest in non-terrestrial connectivity. In related news, today the GSMA announced a new Memorandum with Understanding (MoU) with the ESA, aiming to explore greater collaboration between the satellite and mobile industries to better develop network technologies. The agreements initial focus will be on accelerating the integration of satellite communications with terrestrial 5G and, in the future, 6G networks.

“By collaborating more closely with the European Space Agency, and its satellite network operator ecosystem, we hope to accelerate the immense potential satellite and terrestrial telecommunications networks can create for consumers and businesses when they are more closely connected,” said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer at the GSMA. “By working together, we can help the communications industry bring innovative solutions to market, which in turn will create tremendous benefits to society by connecting even more people, wherever they are in the world.”

How is the UK’s growing satellite communications industry reshaping the nation’s telecoms sector? Join the operators in discussion at this year’s Connected Britain conference

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5G NTN-mobile market revenue to hit $18bn by 2031

As expect, CityFibre has today announced that they’ve officially made a new 2.5Gbps (symmetric) speed consumer UK broadband tier available at wholesale for their retail ISPs to sell on to customers, which harnesses the operator’s new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP / XGS-PON) network. The launch doesn’t come as much of a surprise because we’ve already […]

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The deal is Vodafone’s latest push towards their ambitious net-zero carbon emissions goals

Spanish firm Iberdrola, one of the world’s biggest renewable energy companies, has agreed to supply Vodafone with clean, renewable, photovoltaic solar energy across Spain and Portugal.

Vodafone Portugal’s energy will be supplied from the newly built Velilla solar plant in Palencia, Spain, while Vodafone Spain will receive 280 GWh from Iberdrola’s Cedillo photovoltaic plant in Caceres, also in Spain.

This announcement builds on last week’s agreement that will see all the energy produced from the new Boldekow photovoltaic plant supplied to Vodafone Germany. The plant, currently under construction, will be up and running by 2024 and will have a total capacity of 56MWp. In total, the three agreements will see Iberdrola provide 410 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year to Vodafone across the three countries.

The move will assist Vodafone in reaching its target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

“These agreements across Europe underline Vodafone’s commitment to ensure our customers will continue to benefit from electricity purchased 100% from renewable sources,” said Joakim Reiter, Vodafone Group Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer.

“They also provide Vodafone with improved energy security and long-term price certainty as we work towards achieving net-zero in our operations by 2030.”

Both companies have committed to working together to search for new European sustainable projects and PPA options.

Is the telecoms industry moving fast enough when it comes to renewable energy and sustainability? Join the operators in discussion at this year’s Total Telecom Congress live in Amsterdam

Also in the news:

Telenor signs new renewable energy deal with Statkraft
A more sustainable future: How telcos can improve energy use
Met Office makes climate data more accessible to help telcos respond to climate change

Network operator CityFibre has today announced that they’ve finally entered the construction phase of their £42 million project to deploy a new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP / XGS-PON) broadband network across South Tyneside (Tyne and Wear) in North East England. The operator is already working in neighbouring Gateshead. The first building work – supported by […]