After weeks of drip-feeding information, the US has finally offered a more comprehensive account of the China-led hack of its telecoms networks, as well as measures aimed to prevent its repeat.

In keeping with the theme of the top tips offered to telcos by US security agencies earlier this week Jessica Rosenworcel, the Chair of US comms regulator FCC, has suggested ‘telecom carriers’ raise their network security game.

Passengers and businesses are set to benefit from enhanced broadband connectivity along the soon to be reopened passenger railway line between Bicester Village and Bletchley.

Ericsson has inked a multi-billion-dollar deal to roll out 4G and 5G RAN equipment for Bharti Airtel, mirroring a similar announcement from arch-rival Nokia a fortnight ago.

That's actually something of an understatement: Ericsson's press release is even worded in a very similar way to the one published by Nokia in November, which has now been updated to include currency details, incidentally. More on that in a moment.

• Telcos around the world are looking to exploit the potential of network APIs and encourage new application development
• The GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative is helping to coordinate efforts

UKTIN hosted the International and Horizon Engagement Conference at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London on Wednesday the 4th of December. Attendees heard from senior government officials about the strategic importance of the international innovation programme, and industry professionals and association bodies discussed the potential for opportunities, including what the UK offers, and provided food for thought on how we drive inward investment into the UK. 

The latest IDC forecasts say the global smartphone market will grow 6.2% in 2024, driven largely by ‘robust’ Android growth in emerging markets and China.

That will bring total shipments up to 1.24 billion units, according IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, following two years of ‘steep declines.’

Pent-up demand for device upgrades is given as one driver for the forecasted growth, alongside ‘pivotal’ Android growth of an expected 7.6% YoY focused in APeJC, Latin America, Middle East and Africa and China, primarily in low end devices.

Respondents to Telecoms.com’s Annual Industry Survey 2024 indicate a shift taking place from an AI curiosity position towards integration, while many pick AI, automation, and machine learning as their priority investment area.

The survey report, with data collected from a host of participants including Communication Service Providers (CSPs), vendors, and system integrators, investigates the telecom business performance in 2024 and the outlook of 2025 to uncover what's hot and what's not in the industry.

UK tech incubator Digital Catapult has added Vodafone to the growing ranks of companies hoping to derive some practical benefits from quantum computing.

The telco has joined Digital Catapult's Quantum Technology Access Programme (QTAP), which is part of government-backed Innovate UK's Quantum Data Centre of the Future project.

Over the course of the 20-week programme, participants receive expert advice and hands-on experience with quantum technology to see how it can be wielded to their advantage.

Google is expanding its Australia Connect initiative with two new subsea cables connecting Australia with Christmas Island.

The Bosun subsea cable, named after Christmas Island’s White-tailed “Bosun” tropicbird, will connect Darwin, Australia to the island which has onward connectivity to Singapore.

According to a new report from the US think tank Jack Kemp Foundation, consumers and small businesses could see energy bills surge by up to 70% within five years, driven by rising power demands from AI data centres.
The report, Impact of Data Centres on Energy Demand and Market Prices, warned that without investment in new power transmission and generation capabilities, regulators may have to hike rates to meet growing demands.