Innovation and R&D
All the latest news, insight and analysis regarding the latest innovations and research and development initiatives by BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone.
Orange tests Africa-focused LLMs to the Max
Orange’s super-app is integrating languages such as Wolof for AI‑based voice interactions.
‘Not invented here’: overcoming the obstacles to telco digital twin deployments
Is the ‘not invented here’ mindset holding back digital twin adoption in telco? Major satco and long-time practitioner SES joined SI partner Celfocus to argue that strategic collaboration is key to unlocking transformative potential and accelerate journey towards network autonomy.
SES pencils in early-2030s for enterprise quantum comms rollout
Capacity Europe 2025: Satco preparing “fully fledged constellation” for QKD services, with launch of EAGLE-1 satellite quickly approaching. However, SES’ Emin Allagui notes the industry must address capacity and security concerns to bring the technology to maturity…
30 years down, 5+ to go before BT’s quantum vision comes to life
Capacity Europe 2025: Senior Research Manager Andrew Lord remains optimistic about quantum secure communications, but sought-after commercial use cases still five-to-ten years away. QKD a valid ‘stepping stone’, and satellite may boost momentum, but supply chain ‘fragility’ remains a stumbling block…
Orange plots more open RAN trials as tech gains in maturity
Network X: Atoosa Hatefi says Orange is confident that open RAN is closing the performance gap with traditional RAN.
Telefónicawatch Analyst Briefing: Group eyes German reboot; VM O2 aims high on mmWave
M&A speculation continues to dominate the discourse around Telefónica, ahead of early-November’s strategy update, with the focus in recent days on Germany’s mobile market and UK’s fibre scene. Meanwhile, quantum encryption and handset financing players boost their capital resource within the partner ecosystem. Read more…
Telefónicawatch Analyst Briefing: Group vs Gloop as strategy unveil nears
With less than a month to go before Telefónica’s big strategy reveal, the Group continues to appear set for a battle to push through the new agenda, whether with unions and government on cost-cutting plans in Spain, or European decision-makers on consolidation. Exec Chair Marc Murtra has been in Brazil, meanwhile, to raise support for the new plan. Read more…
BT drones investment Altitude Angel becomes latest Etc. venture to fall
Industry reacts as Altitude Angel appoints administrators, raises questions about airspace security, two years after BT’s £5m investment…
Telefónica said to mull Spain job cuts ahead of Murtra’s strategy reset
Telefónica reportedly preparing an incentivised early-retirement plan to cut at least 6,000 jobs across Spanish subsidiaries. The operator is said to be aiming to present plans to unions following upcoming strategy reset…
DT picks out Poland tech chief to fill key German CTO vacancy
T-Mobile Poland’s Alexander Jenbar selected to take on pivotal home-market technology job at DT, overseeing mega-initiatives around AI, 5G, and fibre.
Openreach taps VR startup for 3D fibre planning
Openreach adds another weapon to its fibre building arsenal through Glasgow startup, using VR mapping to accelerate the cable routing process.