Ericsson’s dual-mode core has gone live at UK mobile operator VodafoneThree, providing what it hopes is a secure underpinning for the operator’s differentiated connectivity services, otherwise known as network slicing. Ericsson was originally contracted by Three UK in January 2025 to bolster the operator’s network in the face of increasing data demand. The core network project is intended to deliver a capacity of 9 Tbit/s, creating what Ericsson claims is one of Europe’s largest mobile packet cores. (See VodafoneThree declares 5G network slicing war on BT.)
Agentic AI on the rise
The news may be full of folk predicting AI armageddon on an almost daily basis, but Ericsson’s latest piece of ConsumerLab research is predicting a rosy future for one particular flavor of AI – the “agentic” one. According to Ericsson, 38% of smartphone users say they expect to be using agentic AI tech on their devices by 2030. Survey respondents expect to save up to an hour a day of browsing time through the use of the technology, giving them more time to read a really good book or, alternatively, stare blank-eyed into the dark abyss of a future run by our AI overlords. (See Google resists ‘doom and gloom’ vision of agentic AI.)
Copper migration in the UK
Ninety percent of copper-based legacy lines across UK’s ten major cities have been upgraded to digital alternatives, data from Openreach has revealed. Liverpool leads the way on the migration front, with just 6% of legacy lines left to upgrade, but London still has 13% of lines stuck on copper. The copper-based network is due to be switched off at the end of January 2027, so with more than 600,000 lines still to migrate, the pressure is on. (See Get off the PSTN! – Openreach set to pull plug on ancient tech and BT’s PSTN shutdown palaver could be a leading cause of PTSD.)
VodafoneThree slams London’s planning regs
VodafoneThree claims London could be losing around £2.7 billion (US$3.6 billion) a year in economic output because of planning rules that force network infrastructure to be taken offline without an appropriate replacement. In a new report, Lost Sites, Lost Signal: The Impact of Notices to Quit on Londoners, the operator argues that Notices to Quit – legal notices issued by landowners requiring the removal of mobile infrastructure when a building is renovated, redeveloped or demolished – are leading to tens of thousands of Londoners living in areas without reliable access to mobile data. Andrea Dona, VodafoneThree’s chief networks officer, said: “We welcome the growing recognition of NTQs as an issue and support efforts to ensure connectivity is considered from the earliest stages of the planning process. With earlier notice and a more joined-up approach across the entire planning system, London can continue to grow and redevelop while ensuring people stay connected.”
EU gets kids off social media
The European Commission is proposing a KIDS (Keeping Internet Digital Spaces Accountable and Trustworthy) Act to prevent children from having their own social media accounts before they reach the age of 15 and to keep those under the age of 13 away from social media completely. For children between the ages of 13 and under 15, the proposal calls for formalized parental controls, enabling guardians to set up “mini accounts” that children can access through the guardian’s account. This would, in theory, allow them to access age-appropriate social media and video-sharing platforms but avoid the inappropriate stuff.
Under the terms of the proposed Act, social media companies would also be obliged to submit a compliance plan to the Commission and to an independent auditor to ensure that they are deemed “safe by design” for children.
Tusk raises €15 million
Belgian chip company Tusk IC has raised €15 million ($17.2 million) in a Series A funding round intended to support the development of its Ka-band satellite communications technology. The company said it is working with a leading satcom manufacturer to integrate its technology into the development of a new electronically steered array antenna.
Tonbridge coverage upgraded
UK converged operator Virgin Media O2 has upgraded mobile coverage in the Kentish town of Tonbridge with five small cells from Freshwave. The deployment forms part of the operator’s wider Mobile Transformation Plan across the UK.
Finland launches emergency alert system
Finland plans to launch a direct-to-phone emergency alert system using cell broadcast technology by end of year, Finnish news website YLE reports. According to the report, the need for such a system has been understandably heightened by an increase in the number of warhead-carrying drones that have strayed into Finnish airspace in recent months.
