Digital Divide Archives - Total Telecom

Starlink gets FCC clearance for 7,500 Gen2 satellites

by Harry Baldock | Jan 13, 2026

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the launch and operation of 7,500 next-generation (Gen2) Starlink satellites by SpaceX.

Iran jams Starlink, enters fourth day of internet blackout

by Harry Baldock | Jan 12, 2026

News ‘Military grade’ signal jamming is reportedly being used to cripple the satellite...

Starlink offers free internet in Venezuela as regime stays put

by Bradford Randall | Jan 7, 2026

News Starlink has offered free internet access across Venezuela through February 3, the company...

Investigation launched after Baltic subsea cable damaged

by Harry Baldock | Jan 5, 2026

This weekend, Swedish telecoms giant Arelion has confirmed that its BCS East submarine cable, connecting Latvia and Lithuania, was damaged on Friday.

UK plans to curb freeholder obstruction of fibre to flats rollout

by Rob Chambers | Dec 15, 2025

Proposed legislation grants UK flat leaseholders the right to request a gigabit connection, imposing a duty on freeholders not to unreasonably refuse, accelerating deployment where current frameworks fall short.

Ofcom clears the way for satellite-to-smartphone services

by Harry Baldock | Dec 10, 2025

Ofcom has given the green light for mobile network operators to deliver ‘direct-to-device’ (D2D) satellite services to ordinary smartphones, clearing the regulatory pathway for calls, texts and data to be delivered from space across the UK.

Ofcom fines Virgin Media £23.8m over digital landline migration

by Total Telecom Staff | Dec 1, 2025

Ofcom has imposed a £23.8 million fine on Virgin Media, marking the largest financial penalty the regulator has issued this year, due to the telecoms giant’s mishandling of vulnerable customers during its planned migration from analogue to digital landline services.

Copper thieves see Optus stung by yet another network outage

by Harry Baldock | Nov 27, 2025

Optus has suffered yet another network outage, this time impacting around 14,000 customers in southeast Melbourne.

Openreach closes first exchange in PSTN switchoff milestone

by Total Telecom Staff | Nov 26, 2025

Press Release Openreach plans to shut down 80% of its UK exchanges, saying it will only need 1,000...

World Communication Awards 2025 shortlist announced

by Harry Baldock | Nov 25, 2025

The World Communication Awards has announced its 2025 shortlist, highlighting the telecom industry’s leading innovators.

VMO2 upgrades motorway 5G across the UK

by Total Telecom Staff | Nov 24, 2025

The mobile operator says the upgrades will help facilitate the rollout of electric vehicles across the country

Microsoft launches Project Gecko to produce AI systems in low-resourced languages

by Harry Baldock | Nov 19, 2025

Microsoft has unveiled Project Gecko, a research-driven initiative aimed at producing cheaper, localised generative AI systems for populations under‑represented in current models , starting with smallholder farmers in Kenya and India.

Vodacom taps Starlink for mobile backhaul across Africa

by Harry Baldock | Nov 12, 2025

Today, African mobile operator Vodacom has announced a new deal with SpaceX’s Starlink, aiming to use the latter’s satellite constellation to improve connectivity in rural Africa.

Cellnex delivers first consolidated site for VodafoneThree

by Harry Baldock | Nov 12, 2025

Cellnex, Europe’s leading operator of telecommunications infrastructure, today announced it has delivered its first VodafoneThree consolidated mast, five months ahead of schedule.

Consolidation doomsday has failed to arrive for UK altnets

by Bradford Randall | Nov 12, 2025

Altnets are buoyant in the UK, Proactive International PR’s CEO says, despite predictions from some that a consolidation doomsday would arrive

UK telecom industry unites to combat scam calls with new fraud charter

by Total Telecom Staff | Nov 5, 2025

UK telcos have taken a significant step towards tackling the persistent issue of scam calls by committing to a new Telecommunications Fraud Charter.

Are you lagging on the PSTN switch-off?

by Harry Baldock | Oct 20, 2025

The Public Switched Telephone Network will be switched off on 31st January 2027 in favour of internet-based (All-IP) networks. Even though this deadline is fast approaching, many businesses are still resistant to the move.