Latest news with #mobile networks
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Phone Arena
AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile race towards 6G, but there's a catch you need to know
If you're on 5G, you're part of the roughly 25% of the world with access to cutting-edge mobile networks, while billions still have to wait for even a taste of it. Yup, many are still on 4G and however, 5G will be yesterday's news, as 6G is approaching quickly. Before the end of 2030, 6G has to have its global technical standards finished, so that equipment makers, carriers, and governments can begin large-scale deployment you may've heard, 6G is the next step after 5G, and it promises huge improvements in speed, reliability, and efficiency. It also aims to deliver ultra-low latency, which means far less delay when data travels between devices. Latency is measured in fractions of a second, and with 6G the goal is to cut it down to almost nothing. This matters for things like real-time monitoring, remote surgery, or advanced virtual reality, where even tiny delays can cause problems. The speeds are expected to be extraordinary. While most people on strong 5G networks today see speeds between 100 and 500 megabits per second (Mbps), 6G could reach up to 1 terabit per second (Tbps). That is about 2,000 times faster. At that rate, massive downloads or streaming ultra-high-quality video would happen instantly. It also makes futuristic applications possible, such as lifelike 3D video calls or advanced artificial intelligence tools that rely on instant network responses. Will your Galaxy be able to keep up with 6G? | Image by PhoneArena Of course, these jaw-dropping claims come from theoretical research into what future networks might achieve under ideal conditions, not what everyday users will actually experience. In theory, this speed is possible for several reasons. First, 6G could use terahertz frequencies (100 GHz to 1 THz), far higher than 5G's sub-6 GHz and mmWave bands, which means much more data can be transmitted at once. Next, 6G could use much wider channels – tens of GHz – while 5G usually uses just 100–400 MHz. This means it can carry a lot more data at once. New ways of coding and sending signals could also fit even more data into each transmission. On top of that, 6G could use hundreds or even thousands of antennas at the same time to send many streams of data together. But to actually hit 1 Tbps, you'd need to be very close to a special hotspot with a clear line of real life, normal users won't get anywhere near that speed; the number just shows what's technically possible, not what people will experience every only question is: which will be the first carrier to offer a nation-wide, stable, affordable 6G service? Will it be AT&T, or perhaps Verizon? Or maybe T-Mobile? The way things are going, one thing is highly likely, though: US users might enjoy 6G before those in Europe.
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Think US carriers are bad? The UK's 5G could collapse – here's the real reason
Is 5G really that important? Yes, it's crucial for me. It's nice to have, but not crucial. 4G is enough. Yes, it's crucial for me. 0% It's nice to have, but not crucial. 0% 4G is enough. 0% – BPF Director of Policy, Ion Fletcher, August 2025 People often complain about poor 5G service, but in the US, carriers and regulators try to expand and enhance it. In contrast, in the UK, it looks like somebody is actively sabotaging 5G I'm not talking about another wave of arsonists, like in 2020 A new research warns that the UK's plan to expand mobile networks is in trouble . A nationwide survey of over 500 landowners found that steep rent cuts and frequent legal pressure are driving many property owners to consider removing mobile network equipment from their result? Well, 5G rollout could be massively slowed landowners, known as site providers, include farmers, schools, charities, local councils, churches, and even NHS trusts. They host the physical infrastructure that makes mobile networks work, such as masts and antennas. Sometimes that's a standalone tower, other times the equipment is mounted on a problem began in 2017, when the UK government changed the rules under the Electronic Communications Code (ECC). Before, landlords could negotiate rent based on market rates. The ECC replaced that system with something similar to compulsory purchase pricing, where payments are based on the land's value for basic use rather than its value to the telecom led to sharp drops in income for site providers. More than 80% of survey respondents reported rent cuts of over 80–90%, making it financially unattractive to host equipment. On top of that, 34% said they now have extra costs from hosting, hitting smaller organizations like schools and charities particularly have escalated further because 68% of landowners with expired leases say they have faced legal threats or pressure from telecom companies, often to accept lower rents or less favorable terms. This has resulted in more than 1,000 legal disputes so far. The government is now proposing to expand the ECC rules to another 15,000 sites across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, a move many landowners say will worsen the not hard to see how this could seriously damage the UK's 5G rollout. Unlike older mobile networks, 5G needs a lot more masts placed closer together. Many of these masts are on private property, but only 23% of the people surveyed said they are very likely to renew their agreements. Nearly half are still unsure, which means the country could lose important sites. Without them, many areas could end up with "mobile blackspots", where phone signal is weak or even completely the way, network analytics company Ookla findings show the UK ranks 24th out of 30 Northern European countries for 5G availability, with just 45% coverage.
The Independent
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Vodafone sales boosted as tie-up with Three UK moves ‘quickly'
Vodafone has enjoyed higher sales in the UK as a result of its long-awaited tie-up with Three, which completed last month after being cleared by the UK's competition watchdog. The company said it had made a 'fast start' in combining its mobile networks following the creation of VodafoneThree. Sales surged by 14.5% in the UK to 1.9 billion euros (£1.65 billion) between April and June, compared with the same period last year, due to it gaining Three's customer base. Revenues from its mobile service soared by a fifth, despite lower price hikes compared with the prior year, dragging on overall income. However, Vodafone revealed that its mobile contract customer base dropped by 46,000 in the quarter, due to Three UK consumer losses and large business contracts disconnecting. VodafoneThree, which is now the biggest mobile phone network in the UK with around 29 million customers, pledged to invest £11 billion over the next 10 years, including on boosting 5G networks. This helped the deal get over the line, having come under heavy scrutiny by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) amid concerns it could reduce options for mobile customers and lead to higher bills. The companies first announced the landmark deal in June 2023, and it completed at the end of May this year. Across Vodafone Group, which includes its international operations in Europe and Africa, revenues increased by 3.9% to 9.4 billion euros (£8.15 billion) over the quarter. In Germany, its biggest market, revenues declined by 3.2% which it said was due to the impact of a change to TV laws in the country and intensifying competition for mobile contracts. Chief executive Margherita Della Valle said: 'In the UK, we have completed the merger with Three and are moving quickly to combine our networks to benefit customers. 'After two years of transformation and change, Vodafone is now well positioned for multi-year growth across both Europe and Africa.'
