All posts in telecommunications
US official warns China could steal state secrets and “intimate” data on UK citizens if Huawei is involved in 5G networks
Huawei’s involvement in 5G mobile networks poses a risk for the UK’s citizens and intelligence agencies, US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien has warned, according to Reuters. Using the Chinese telecom firm’s equipment in 5G infrastructure could create backdoors allowing the theft of “wholesale state secrets” as well as “intimate” data on UK citizens, he told […]
Boris Johnson signals he could favor excluding Huawei from the UK’s 5G networks
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signaled that he shares US security concerns over involving the Chinese firm telecom Huawei in Britain’s 5G network, according to The Guardian. His statement suggests he could move to exclude the company from a role in building the network, in the clearest indication yet of his stance on the issue, […]
Telecel, MEST, and the IFC look to give African startups a leg up
There’s no doubt that Africa’s startup sector has been booming. Last year saw a four-fold increase in funding raised for African startups, with the total number of deals doubling. Startups across the continent raised over $725 million, soaring nearly 40 percent from $528 million the year before. There were also more large funding rounds over $5 million, with the […]
Network crash leaves millions of Three’s UK customers without phone service
A network crash left millions of UK users without phone service on Wednesday, according to The Guardian. UK telecom provider Three said that a “significant majority” of its ten million users had been affected, and many customers were reportedly still without service on Thursday. The outage began late Wednesday night during maintenance on Three’s network infrastructure. UK […]
Three and EE dispute advert claim as 5G competition escalates
UK telecom operator EE has filed a complaint against rival company Three, over its 5G advertising campaign claiming “If it’s not Three, it’s not real 5G,” according to The Guardian. The dispute comes after Three switched on a portion of its 5G network in London, and as more UK telecom companies begin to compete over the next […]
O2 to launch 5G UK network, without Huawei’s help
UK telecom company O2 has announced the launch of its 5G mobile network this October, in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Slough, according to BBC News. The following summer, it will expand the network to a total of 50 cities. The company will first deploy 5G in areas with capacity that is often pushed to […]
Beyond Britain, Huawei makes inroads across Europe
After months of heated debate, Theresa May and her ministers have finally made a decision on how much of Britain’s new 5G network they are willing to entrust to Chinese multinational Huawei. In response to warnings from officials like defence minister Gavin Williamson, May’s National Security Council decided Huawei could participate in “non-core” aspects of […]