Broadband ISP BT Business has today announced the launch of their new Wi-Fi 6 capable Smart Hub 3 (SH3.1) router and WiFi mesh extender system (Complete Wi-Fi Plus) for small business customers, which follows last month’s soft launch of similar kit for customers of their EE consumer division (here). The official announcement is very vague […]

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today proposed an alternative way of solving the debate over whether WiFi or mobile broadband (5G) should benefit from the extra capacity (i.e. faster speeds) available in the Upper 6GHz radio spectrum band (6425 to 7125MHz) – “hybrid sharing“. Just to recap. Ofcom has already made the Lower part […]

One of the biggest challenges for cheaper, and often faster, alternative broadband networks is the issue of consumer awareness. A new Opinium survey of 2,000 UK adults (conducted during May 2023), which was commissioned by Uswitch, has found that only 15% of respondents have heard of altnets before. The results are interesting, not least because […]

Fibre optic network builder Netomnia, which is supported by UK ISP YouFibre, has today announced a significant milestone after their rollout of a new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP / XGS-PON) broadband network passed the 500,000 premises mark (up from 410k in March) and topped 40,000 customers. The operator, which is currently present in parts of […]

The latest research from Ookla, which operates the popular broadband connection testing service Speedtest.net, has revealed that Smartphone users using 5G based mobile broadband networks suffer between 6% to 11% higher battery drain than for those using 4G. The study was actually focused on identifying the difference between modern chipsets (SoC) on Android based Smartphones, […]

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Swedish telecommunications company Tele2 has been fined SEK 12 million (€1.01m) by the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY) for breaching GDPR regulations with its use of Google Analytics

Following 101 complaints from non-profit organisation None of Your Business (NOYB) of unlawful data transfers from the EU to the US, the IMY found that Tele2 and three other Swedish companies (CDON, Coop and Dagens Industri) had unlawfully transferred data between the EU and USA.

The illegal data transfers reportedly took place as a result of the company’s use of Google Analytics following a ruling by the European Courts of Justice (CJEU) in August 2020 that prohibited the transfer of personal data to the US.

The European data security code GDPR stipulates that the transfer of personal data to third party countries – those outside of the EU/EEA – may only take place if the European Commission decides that they have an “adequate level of protection for personal data”. In the Schrens II ruling in 2020, the CJEU deemed that the US does not meet these criteria, and therefore the actions of Tele2 were unlawful.

In its investigation, IMY noted that the data shared to the US through Google Analytics is considered personal because the data can be linked with other unique data that is transferred.

Audits by the IMY also showed that additional security measures taken by Tele2 to mitigate this security risk when transferring data to the US were insufficient by EU standards. The security measures used by Tele2 and CDON were not as extensive as those implemented by Coop and Dagens Industri, hence the former companies were fined while the latter companies were not.

Tele2 has recently halted its use of Google Analytics independently, and the other three companies have been ordered to stop by IMY.

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Ericsson to consolidate Estonian operations with new €155m tech hub
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The new facility will house test labs, warehouses, production lines, and offices, providing customers and partners the ideal location for the co-creation of new mobile solutions

This week, Ericsson has announced plans to create of a new manufacturing and research facility in the Estonian capital, Tallinn.

Situated in the Ulemiste City business park, alongside the company’s existing supply factory, the €155 million investment will see the creation of a new 50,000 square metre tech hub, featuring various offices, laboratories, and testing grounds.

Ericsson says that the site will provide their partners and customers with a dedicated space for co-developing new technologies and production techniques, helping to deliver a global impact on industrialisation for volume production.

According to Ericsson, the move will create a “symbiotic relationship” between the company’s R&D efforts in their home market of Sweden and its manufacturing assets in Estonia.

“This move is in line with Ericsson’s long-term strategy for a more resilient and sustainable supply chain, significantly reducing our carbon footprint and harnessing the power of 5G for smart manufacturing,” explained Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson.

The new site will consolidate all of the company’s existing Estonian operations, providing a focal point for the company’s roughly 2,200 staff in the country.

Beyond improving R&D efforts and intercompany collaboration, the new hub will also be more sustainable than the company’s existing Estonian operations, with Ericsson suggesting it will produce 70% less carbon emissions than the company’s four current sites in Tallinn.

“This smart hub will be powered 100 percent by renewable electricity and built with optimal efficiency through AI, machine learning, robotics, and other advanced Industry 4.0 technologies,” added Jejdling.

The new site is expected to be operational in early 2026.

Ericsson’s focus on Estonia has been increasing in recent months, with the vendor having announced back in May that it was working with local mobile operator Telia to deploy a private 5G network at its existing supply site. The site is currently responsible for nearly half of Ericsson’s new product introductions – i.e., the process of turning R&D projects into viable, scalable commercial products – and plays a significant strategic role in expanding the company’s 5G portfolio.

How is the telecoms ecosystem evolving in 2023? Join the experts in discussion at this year’s Total Telecom Congress live in Amsterdam 

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Battersea power station is now benefitting from fast 4G speeds provided by Vodafone, recently named London’s most reliable network.

Vodafone customers visiting, working or residing in the newly opened Battersea Power station can now benefit from fast 4G connections and more reliable calls, following the launch of a new in-building cellular network.

The improvements have been introduced by in-building connectivity specialist Exchange Communications, ensuring that those visiting and working in the Grade II listed building’s bars, restaurants, shops and office spaces have access to a dependable Vodafone 4G signal. The coverage also extends to the Power Station’s Lift 109, a state-of-the-art glass elevator that offers 360-degree panoramic views of London, therefore allowing visitors to share their visit on social media quickly and easily.

“The vision for Battersea Power Station was to create a highly integrated and interactive space where people can live, work, and socialise, all within this new riverside neighbourhood for London,” said Tom Sime, CEO of Exchange Communications. “As a UK business, it has been a real honour and we are proud to be delivering something of this scale and significance for the UK.

“Battersea Power Station, as a result, has become one of the most connected sites in the country and is an exemplar of how connectivity, can bring spaces to life and into the future for the people who use it.”

“Battersea Power Station is an iconic London landmark, so to have played a part in its regeneration is fantastic,” added Andrea Dona, Vodafone’s UK Chief Network Officer. “Our connectivity will support the Battersea Power Station development by supplying the connectivity it needs to support its residents, businesses, and visitors. This will also ensure the Power Station fulfils its ambition of being a leading London landmark, subsequently boosting the local and wider UK economy.”

Vodafone claims its 4G network already covers 99% of the UK population, hence the company’s primary focus is now on expanding the reach and quality of its 5G network. But despite 4G being nearly ubiquitous in the UK, there are still numerous rural locations lacking in this basic connectivity.

Many of these areas are being targeted by the £1.3 billion Shared Rural Network programme – a joint effort from the UK’s four national mobile network operators to tackle hard-to-reach ‘not-spots’ – with Vodafone itself announcing that it has deployed 4G infrastructure for 57 such communities earlier this year.

Want to hear all of the latest updates from Vodafone on UK 5G rollout? Join the operators in discussion at the UK’s largest digital economy event Connected Britain

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In a not unsurprising move, BT has confirmed that their legacy Line Rental Saver (LRS) discount is to finally be “withdrawn from sale” on 21st July 2023. The service gave a special discount to home broadband customers who separately pre-paid for their phone line rental a year in advance. The LRS product is a legacy […]

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The altnet aims to expand its fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to over 3,750 hard-to-reach premises in the region using funding from the UK government

Last year, Scottish altnet Borderlink (trading as GoFibre) was awarded a £7.3 million contract to deploy FTTP in North Northumberland as part of the UK government’s Project Gigabit scheme. Now, following roughly six months of surveying and planning, the company has announced that it is ready to begin deployment, aiming to cover 3,750 premises.

The initial deployments will cover parts of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Seahouses, Wooler, Belford and neighbouring communities, with customers able to access commercial services from as early as autumn this year.

The full build process, however, will not be completed until 2025.

GoFibre says the fibre deployments will provide a major lift to the local economy in these rural areas, allowing businesses to digitalise and creating employment opportunities.

“These communities are at real risk of being left behind and so we are thrilled to be addressing the rural digital divide head-on with our North Northumberland build officially underway,” said Neil Conaghan, CEO of GoFibre. “By way of our partnership with the UK government and Northumberland County Council, we are implementing a future-proof network which will equip these locations with the tools required to drive innovation and success.”

This is the second rollout project GoFibre is undertaking as part of Project Gigabit, having already won the £6.6 million contract to deploy fibre in Teesdale in September last year. This deployment project entered the build phase in April this year and is aiming to cover roughly 4,000 premises with fibre by 2025.

Event excluding these government-supported rollout projects, GoFibre has been accelerating its fibre deployments significantly over the past year, having received a investment of £164 million from the Gresham House Investment Fund at the start of 2022. This has allowed the company to significantly increase its FTTP rollout target to 500,000 premises by the end of 2025.

Just last month, GoFibre confirmed plans to expand its rollout to a further 32 towns and villages in Scotland and the North of England, aiming to cover 82,000 premises by the start of 2024.

In related news, yesterday the UK government announced its latest batch of Project Gigabit contracts, all three of which went to CityFibre and totalled £318 million.

Is the UK deploying fibre fast enough to reach the government’s ambitious gigabit rollout targets? Join the ecosystem in discussion at the UK’s largest digital economy event, Connected Britain

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