The Telecom: UK Telecom's News
 
Daily Telecoms News
Monday 12th of May 2008
June 28, 2007

Eurotariff set to cut roaming charges

by Jan Harris
The new EU Roaming Regulation will come into force on 30 June, cutting roaming charges across all 27 EU member states. The regulation, which will run for three years, requires mobile phone operators to offer a eurotariff of a maximum €0.49 per minute for making calls within the EU and €0.24 per minute for receiving them. Operators will have ...



June 27, 2007

UPA pushes on powerline applications

by Brian Turner
The Universal Powerline Association (UPA), an international organisation focused on global standards for high-speed Powerline applications, has announced its fourth Plug Test event on July 6th 2007 for new multimedia Powerline products. Fifteen products from 10 different manufacturers have already received the official UPA Plug Tested label, which is driving worldwide Powerline compatibility and enhancing consumer confidence in Powerline technology. The UPA ...



PlusNet tailors broadband for Polish community

by Jan Harris
ISP PlusNet, which is based in Sheffield, has created a broadband service designed especially for the 750,000 Polish people currently living in the UK. The company has a significant number of Polish people working within its organisation and this has helped the ISP launch a service tailored to the Polish community's needs. PlusNet now offers a Polish language portal ...



June 26, 2007

Jupiter Research predicts two-tiered net

by Jan Harris
In a new report, Jupiter Research predicts that Internet Service Providers could start charging some websites for faster access to customers. Although this would generate increased revenues for ISPs, Jupiter warns that it could also create a "two-tiered internet" which might alienate consumers and increase the complexity of broadband service provision. As the moment ISPs operate on tight margins so that ...



GSMA calls for spectrum ‘refarm’

by Jan Harris
The GSM Association (GSMA), a global trade association for GSM operators, has renewed calls for GSM radio frequencies to be opened up for the delivery of 3G data. According to a report from analyst Ovum, which was commissioned by the GSMA, 'refarming' the spectrum to allow 3G to be used over the 900MHz GSM band, would open up 3G ...



June 25, 2007

Zen Internet named best ISP

by Jan Harris
Broadband provider, Zen Internet, secured three prizes at the recent PC Advisor Awards for its reliability and high standard of service provision. The Internet Service Provider was recognised as both the most reliable ISP and the best small ISP. The company also received a Customer Service award for its broadband service. Earlier in 2007 the company was named in the ...



June 22, 2007

Avanti provides cheaper calls with LCR technology

by Jan Harris
UK-based Avantimobile has developed an innovative business model that provides cheaper calls via Wi-Fi as an alternative to VoIP calls. The system, called Least Cost Routing (LCR), uses technologies from mobile networks such as Vodafone and Orange, together with automated access to calls that cost around 2p per minute to the USA. Users download an application that is then programmed over ...



June 21, 2007

UK heading for rapid mobile broadband growth

by Jan Harris
According to new research from YouGov and Point Topic, mobile broadband services are set to grow rapidly in the UK. Point Topic found that around 90 percent of people who have broadband access at home already own a mobile phone. Half of these also use a laptop and access the Internet while on the move. Of those surveyed, 38 percent ...



June 20, 2007

Wi-Fi Alliance defends certification of 802.11n equipment

by Jan Harris
In an interview with ZDNet.co.uk Mr Frank Haznlik, the managing director of the Wi-Fi Alliance defended the organisation's decision to certify 802.11n equipment before the wi-fi standard is finalised. The alliance is a global, non-profit organization which certifies wireless devices that implement the universal IEEE 802.11 specifications. Although the latest standard, 802.11n, will not be finalised by the Institute of ...



June 19, 2007

London leads the way with wi-fi

by Jan Harris
A new security report by the RSA, a US research organisation, identifies London as a leader in providing wi-fi access. The report was the RSA's 6th annual survey. The RSA looked at the growth of wi-fi in London, Paris and New York and found that wireless access points in London have increased 160 per cent - from 2,747 in 2006 to 7,130 ...



June 18, 2007

OFCOM could allow UK Broadband to offer WiMax

by Jan Harris
Ofcom - the UK Office of Communications - is proposing to amend the Wireless Telegraphy Act licence held by UK Broadband Ltd in order to allow the company to provide mobile WiMax services across the UK. WiMax, which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a technology used to provide wireless data communications over long distances. The company's current licence ...



June 15, 2007

WiFiMobile connects Nokia phones via PBX

by Jan Harris
VoIP provider WiFiMobile has announced its innovative Enterprise Solution which enables a Nokia mobile phone to be used as an extension to any SIP compliant corporate PBX system. The product is an easy, scalable solution for businesses whatever their size. The software enables mobile workers to use their mobile phones as a PBX extension to the corporate private branch exchange ...



UK telco beats Apple to launch music service

by Jan Harris
UK-based mobile music company, Omnifone, has launched its MusicStation music download service two weeks before Apple's iPhone comes to the global marketplace. Omnifones' service is currently available to Swedish mobile customers of Norwegian group Telenor, and will be rolled out across Europe, Asia and Africa shortly. Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, EMI Music, and Warner Music International, the world's leading ...



June 14, 2007

Broadband subscribers approach 300 million

by Jan Harris
According to research by Point Topic, there were 298 million broadband subscribers around the globe in March 2007 and the number could have now passed the 300 million mark. France was the fastest growing broadband user in the first quarter of 2007, with a 9.6% increase in the number of subscribers to 15.3 million. The US kept its position as ...



June 13, 2007

Wibree to be developed by Bluetooth group

by Jan Harris
Wibree, a technology for ultra-low-power (ULP) wireless personal area networking (WPAN) communications, which was created by Nokia Corp., is to be taken under the wing of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Nokia has been developing Wibree since 2001. The technology provides a short-range radio link of up to 30 feet between electronic devices. It uses significantly less power than ...



June 12, 2007

New UK ISP launched - Jungle247

by Jan Harris
A new ISP, Jungle247, has been launched in the UK, with services aimed at small businesses and consumers. The company, which is headed by Hugh Logan, the former MD of Your Communications, provides small businesses with access to both broadband services and software that will help them to grow. Jungle247 resells Tiscali’s unbundled broadband, offering an unlimited 8Mbps broadband package at a ...



June 10, 2007

Broadband unavailable for business in rural Wales

by Brian Turner
Ofcom's 'Communications Market Report for Wales' highlights major strides in providing broadband connectivity to people in Wales, but a Welsh MP has warned that many business in rural Wales are still having to work without broadband access. Ofcom recorded a 68% increase in broadband penetration in Wales in 2006, with take-up levels, between those living in rural Wales and urban centres, ...



Ofcom extends rural wireless broadband

by Brian Turner
Ofcom has introduced new regulations which could extend wireless broadband access to more of the UK, including rural areas. The regulations cover the 5.8 GHz band, which is currently used by a number of operators to provide fixed wireless broadband services in the UK. The new regulations allow operators to increase power levels. Following a period of consultation, Ofcom has decided to ...



RIM plans dual-mode BlackBerry

by Brian Turner
At the JPMorgan Technology Conference in Boston RIM's co-CEO, Jim Balsillie, announced plans to develop the first 'dual-mode' BlackBerry - featuring both wi-fi and cellular wireless capabilities. Dual-mode technology is necessary for fixed-mobile convergence (FMC), which allows a desk phone and a mobile phone to be contacted through a single number, with the two phones sharing PBX functionality. At the conference Balsillie ...