Vodafone UK Unify Core and Radio Network Sharing Over Multi-Vendor 5G Network | ISPreview UK

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Mobile operator Vodafone UK (VodafoneThree) and network supplier Ericsson today claim to have completed a “world-first network upgrade” by becoming the first mobile operator to successfully unify core and radio network sharing over a multi-vendor 4G and 5G network – helping to unlock faster mobile broadband speeds for around 71% of UK people.

The work forms part of VodafoneThree’s post-merger plan to invest £11bn into upgrading the UK’s 5G mobile infrastructure and coverage over the next decade (here, here and here). The combined business has also previously stated that it aspires to reach more than 99.95% of the UK population with their 5G Standalone (5GSA / 5G+) network by 2034 and push fixed wireless access (mobile home broadband) to 82% of households by 2030.

The latest development in this effort essentially completes VodafoneThree’s work to unify core-level sharing through their Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology with its existing Multi-Operator Radio Access Network (MORAN) infrastructure.

As it stands today, up to 28.6 million Vodafone and Three UK customers are now automatically connecting to the best available coverage, at no extra cost – “eliminating 16,500km² of mobile not spots, improving speeds when using 4G and 5G, and boosting network capacity and resilience to provide a better experience for all customers“.

The latest development is covered in a new white paper from Ericsson, which shows how the new network works and its benefits. The result is said to be a “single, intelligently orchestrated platform that delivers measurable improvements in performance, reliability and efficiency“. As part of this, they’ve also unlocked the benefits of shared C-band spectrum (3.4GHz to 3.8GHz) across sites nationwide with up to 50 million people (71% of the UK population) claimed to be seeing faster 5G speeds.

Stated Benefits of the Latest Upgrade

➤ Dynamic access to the best coverage – Vodafone and Three customers are automatically using each other’s network, getting the best available coverage, at no extra cost. This seamless transition improves speeds, enhances reliability and crucially, requires no action from the user.

➤ Eliminating 4G not spots – By providing 4G coverage to areas of the UK where it wasn’t previously available to either brand’s customers, VodafoneThree has removed 16,500km² of not spots, an area ten times the size of London.

➤ Enhanced 5G coverage – Up to 50 million people, around 71% of the UK population, now have access to VodafoneThree’s fastest 5G speeds, thanks to bringing the networks together and an accelerated 5G roll out plan.

➤ Reliability and resilience – Busy times, such as rush hour, put a strain on the network, as sites can be flooded with more customers than they can provide a good quality service to. Thanks to this technology, customers will be moved from a busy site to one that is able to provide the required level of performance. This reduces congestion, improving performance for affected users and providing a better experience for all customers.

➤ Improved coverage for high-footfall venues – Strategic coverage, including tactical deployment on temporary sites, indoor solutions and upgrades at high-footfall venues such as stadiums, airports and event spaces, ensure service levels remain strong during spikes in demand.

The improvements mentioned above form part of VodafoneThree’s “first phase of network integration“, with more to come.

Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer at VodafoneThree, said:

“This world-first network upgrade shows how VodafoneThree is using cutting-edge technology to transform the UK’s digital infrastructure. By unifying core and radio sharing at a national level, while also introducing intelligent orchestration and dynamic capacity management, we’re setting a new benchmark for network performance.

This upgrade means customers are already experiencing improved reliability and coverage and as well as access to our fastest 5G speeds today, but this is just the beginning. As we continue rolling out upgrades through our £11 billion investment, customers can expect even better performance, with even faster speeds.”

Take note that Vodafone and Three UK eventually aim to have a single core network that will do away with the need for the MOCN side of things, but that’s still “many years away” and MOCN itself is currently still being deployed (i.e. the roll-out of MOCN is expected to complete by 2033). The reason why some masts take longer is because many of the initial batches were merely software upgrades, while others will need new hardware, especially in remote rural areas (that takes time).

Vodafone UK Unify Core and Radio Network Sharing Over Multi-Vendor 5G Network | ISPreview UK

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Stated Benefits of the Latest Upgrade

➤ Dynamic access to the best coverage – Vodafone and Three customers are automatically using each other’s network, getting the best available coverage, at no extra cost. This seamless transition improves speeds, enhances reliability and crucially, requires no action from the user.

➤ Eliminating 4G not spots – By providing 4G coverage to areas of the UK where it wasn’t previously available to either brand’s customers, VodafoneThree has removed 16,500km² of not spots, an area ten times the size of London.

➤ Enhanced 5G coverage – Up to 50 million people, around 71% of the UK population, now have access to VodafoneThree’s fastest 5G speeds, thanks to bringing the networks together and an accelerated 5G roll out plan.

➤ Reliability and resilience – Busy times, such as rush hour, put a strain on the network, as sites can be flooded with more customers than they can provide a good quality service to. Thanks to this technology, customers will be moved from a busy site to one that is able to provide the required level of performance. This reduces congestion, improving performance for affected users and providing a better experience for all customers.

➤ Improved coverage for high-footfall venues – Strategic coverage, including tactical deployment on temporary sites, indoor solutions and upgrades at high-footfall venues such as stadiums, airports and event spaces, ensure service levels remain strong during spikes in demand.

The improvements mentioned above form part of VodafoneThree’s “first phase of network integration“, with more to come.

Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer at VodafoneThree, said:

“This world-first network upgrade shows how VodafoneThree is using cutting-edge technology to transform the UK’s digital infrastructure. By unifying core and radio sharing at a national level, while also introducing intelligent orchestration and dynamic capacity management, we’re setting a new benchmark for network performance.

This upgrade means customers are already experiencing improved reliability and coverage and as well as access to our fastest 5G speeds today, but this is just the beginning. As we continue rolling out upgrades through our £11 billion investment, customers can expect even better performance, with even faster speeds.”

Vodafone UK Unify Core and Radio Network Sharing Over Multi-Vendor 5G Network | ISPreview UK

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Stated Benefits of the Latest Upgrade

➤ Dynamic access to the best coverage – Vodafone and Three customers are automatically using each other’s network, getting the best available coverage, at no extra cost. This seamless transition improves speeds, enhances reliability and crucially, requires no action from the user.

➤ Eliminating 4G not spots – By providing 4G coverage to areas of the UK where it wasn’t previously available to either brand’s customers, VodafoneThree has removed 16,500km² of not spots, an area ten times the size of London.

➤ Enhanced 5G coverage – Up to 50 million people, around 71% of the UK population, now have access to VodafoneThree’s fastest 5G speeds, thanks to bringing the networks together and an accelerated 5G roll out plan.

➤ Reliability and resilience – Busy times, such as rush hour, put a strain on the network, as sites can be flooded with more customers than they can provide a good quality service to. Thanks to this technology, customers will be moved from a busy site to one that is able to provide the required level of performance. This reduces congestion, improving performance for affected users and providing a better experience for all customers.

➤ Improved coverage for high-footfall venues – Strategic coverage, including tactical deployment on temporary sites, indoor solutions and upgrades at high-footfall venues such as stadiums, airports and event spaces, ensure service levels remain strong during spikes in demand.

The improvements mentioned above form part of VodafoneThree’s “first phase of network integration“, with more to come.

Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer at VodafoneThree, said:

“This world-first network upgrade shows how VodafoneThree is using cutting-edge technology to transform the UK’s digital infrastructure. By unifying core and radio sharing at a national level, while also introducing intelligent orchestration and dynamic capacity management, we’re setting a new benchmark for network performance.

This upgrade means customers are already experiencing improved reliability and coverage and as well as access to our fastest 5G speeds today, but this is just the beginning. As we continue rolling out upgrades through our £11 billion investment, customers can expect even better performance, with even faster speeds.”

String of Dnsmasq Vulnerabilities Threatens UK Broadband Routers | ISPreview UK

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A sizeable group of Linux-powered broadband ISP routers, widely used both around the world and across the United Kingdom, will need firmware updates after a string of six new security vulnerabilities were recently discovered in the open-source networking tool Dnsmasq. But most of them would require local network access to fully exploit.

The chances are fairly good that, unless you’re of the computer networking ilk, then you probably won’t have heard of Dnsmasq before. But suffice to say, a lot of consumer broadband routers make use of it because the tool contains an often-vital set of useful functions, such as Domain Name System (DNS) management, DHCP controls, local hostname resolution and other things.

NOTE: Dnsmasq can also be found in lots of general IoT devices, Linux systems, containers, and network appliances. Some of which may be less likely to benefit from regular firmware updates, thus potentially creating weak points in a wider network.

As a result, Dnsmasq can be found in everything from OpenWrt and DD-WRT to Linksys-based devices and lots of other router vendors. The catch is not that all consumer routers make use of it (there are various alternatives), so it can be a little tricky to know precisely which devices are vulnerable to the latest set of vulnerabilities. For example, FRITZ!Box routers seem to use their own propriety system and NOT Dnsmasq.

Just to further confuse matters, some vendors may have vulnerable base-level kit, but an ISP could then re-brand that around their own custom firmware, which might not harness Dnsmasq. In any case, the latest batch of security headaches to worry about can be found listed below (credits to Simon for the nudge):

The New Dnsmasq Vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-5172
A buffer overflow in dnsmasq’s extract_addresses() function allows an attacker to trigger a heap out-of-bounds read and crash by exploiting a malformed DNS response, enabling extract_name() to advance the pointer past the record’s end.

CVE-2026-4893
An information disclosure vulnerability in dnsmasq allows remote attackers to bypass source checks via a crafted DNS packet with RFC 7871 client subnet information.

CVE-2026-4892
A heap-based out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the DHCPv6 implementation of dnsmasq allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges via a crafted DHCPv6 packet.

CVE-2026-4891
A heap-based out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the DNSSEC validation of dnsmasq allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted DNS packet.

CVE-2026-4890
A Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability in the DNSSEC validation of dnsmasq allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted DNS packet.

CVE-2026-2291
Dnsmasqs extract_name() function can be abused to cause a heap buffer overflow, allowing an attacker to inject false DNS cache entries, which could result in DNS lookups to redirect to an attacker-controlled IP address, or to cause a DoS.

In terms of severity, some of the CVEs appear to be particularly nasty, with the last one on our list (CVE-2026-2291) receiving a high to critical score of 9.2 out of 10 on SUSE (CVSS v4.0) for its potential to be remotely exploited in order to conduct DNS cache poisoning, denial of service and possible remote code execution in some environments (it scores 8.1 on SUSE – CVSS v3.1). But many, if NOT all, of these CVEs require an attacker to have already gained access to your local network, which limits their severity.

However, the degree to which a device may be exposed to any of these does also vary a bit depending upon the configuration of the router (e.g. what features are enabled or disabled), although we’d expect router vendors to be actively releasing patches for these vulnerabilities regardless. The latest stable release of Dnsmasq, which fixes these issues, is v2.92 (release 2) and was published on 11th May 2026.

One notable example is GL.iNet, which bases their kit off a modified variant of OpenWrt. The company was one of the first out of the gate to release firmware that mentioned fixes for security flaws with Dnsmasq. As for the major UK broadband ISPs, we queried last week if any of them used Dnsmasq and whether they had issued patches for the latest CVEs.

At the time of writing, TalkTalk informed ISPreview that they were aware of the newly-discovered Dnsmasq vulnerabilities and continuously review the security of their equipment in collaboration with their suppliers, although they didn’t say if any patches were needed or had been issued.

Meanwhile, BT didn’t comment, but did inform us that they were aware of the vulnerabilities, were taking them seriously and have established processes in place to assess, prioritise and remediate issues in a hopefully timely and proportionate way. Oddly BT also indicated that none of the identified issues were classified as critical, which depends on what database you’re using (as above, several CVE databases categorise CVE-2026-2291 as being of High to Critical severity).

BT also informed that some of the vulnerabilities relate to functionality that is not supported on their hubs, while in other cases exploitation would depend on highly specific conditions, including interaction with deliberately malicious domains. BT thus believes there is a limited real-world risk for the vast majority of their customers, especially as their routers / hubs have safeguards in place to minimise exposure to malformed or malicious responses. BT plan to continue monitoring the situation while waiting for software updates from their vendors and will review their response or take more action if the risk profile changes.

Sadly, Sky Broadband, Vodafone, Virgin Media / O2 and a few others all failed to respond. We expect those broadband provider’s to be more on the ball with such issues, particularly in light of the UK’s strict new telecoms security laws (example). In the age of AI – vendors and ISPs alike will have to move faster to keep pace with the changing threat environment.

BT outlines mobile video pilots with Meta | Total Telecom

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Press Release

When we watch videos on our phones, we expect them to load instantly and play smoothly – even in the busiest places or at peak times. But as demand for video continues to grow, mobile networks can sometimes come under pressure, leading to buffering or drops in quality.

Keeping videos smooth on the UK’s best mobile network

That’s why we’ve introduced a range of tools across our industry-leading EE network to ensure seamless performance for customers – from capacity-boosting small cell mini-masts to our world-first implementation of Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) technology. This helps improve everyday experiences like streaming video, scrolling social media and watching live content on the go. As part of BT, EE benefits from the scale, investment and innovation that enable us to keep the UK at the forefront of connectivity.

Working together with Meta

But it’s also important that we work with content providers to tackle this shared challenge, and so we’re delighted to announce the success of a recent pilot with Meta which makes watching videos on Facebook and Instagram more reliable for EE mobile customers, even during periods of high network demand.

The pilot saw the two teams test a smarter approach to video delivery using new congestion awareness technology that adapts automatically during busy periods, easing potential pressure on the network while maintaining a highquality experience for customers. In simple terms, it helps reduce those frustrating moments where videos buffer or stall when networks are busy.

The ambition is simple: to help more people enjoy a smooth viewing experience, while at the same time reducing impact on the network.

Smarter video delivery during busy moments

Rather than delivering video in the same way regardless of conditions, Meta’s congestion awareness technology intelligently responds when parts of the network are under pressure. By making small, real–time adjustments when detecting high cell load during peak moments, it reduces the amount of data needed without noticeably affecting video quality. This helps ease potential congestion so more people can keep watching without interruptions, while making better use of available network capacity. It also supports a more consistent experience when using video apps in busy areas like city centres, transport hubs or large events.

Proven results for EE customers

The pilot delivered strong results, including a 6–8% bitrate reduction when congestion was identified and around a 4% reduction in traffic to congested cells – all while maintaining a high–quality experience for EE customers using Facebook and Instagram. That means fewer slowdowns and a more reliable video streaming experience on mobile data. With this success, the congestion awareness technology has now been rolled out across the EE network, and Meta will expand the solution to other markets and partners throughout 2026.

This latest work builds on BT and Meta’s earlier collaboration to improve video performance for EE customers, further demonstrating how closer coordination between networks and platforms can support growing demand. As video continues to play a central role in everyday life, initiatives like this show how incremental innovation behind the scenes can deliver meaningful benefits for customers – while helping networks remain efficient into the future.

The post BT outlines mobile video pilots with Meta appeared first on Total Telecom.

UK Government Hints it Would Block Bharti Boss Taking Control of BT | ISPreview UK

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Officials within the UK Government have reportedly sent their strongest signal yet that they’d oppose any move by the boss of the India-based Bharti group, Sunil Bharti Mittal, to take control of UK broadband and telecoms giant BT by increasing his stake above the current level of 24.95%.

In case anybody has forgotten. Back in 2024 Bharti Global (via Bharti Televentures UK Ltd), the Indian multinational conglomerate, agreed to acquire French billionaire Patrick Drahi’s (Altice UK) stake of 24.5% (issued share capital) – worth around £3.6bn at the time – in the BT Group (here). But BT’s market cap has risen significantly since then (it’s now about £21.75bn) and Mittal’s stake has risen slightly to 24.95%, thus this stake is now worth more than £5bn.

However, such developments often have a habit of triggering talk about takeovers. On that front, BT itself could be said to have overcome some of the obstacles and uncertainties that often-discouraged potential bidders in the past, although there are still plenty of hurdles for a suitor to consider (e.g. the competitive UK full fibre market, high levels of debt, high interest rates, political opposition and so forth).

Doing anything serious on this front would also require a green light from the UK Government, which would conduct a review under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 when or if Bharti’s stake goes beyond the 25% mark. The government can launch such a probe before the 25% mark is reached, as they did with Altice UK in 2022, but is unlikely to create any new obstacles (here).

The Relationship Agreement that Bharti has with BT also contains a customary standstill restriction, together with customary exceptions, which limits Mittal’s ability to make a hostile takeover, as the board would presumably need to agree it first. Nevertheless, a new report in the FT (paywall) highlights how officials in the government have confirmed that they’d also be likely to reject any attempt by Mittal to take control of BT.

The current Government see the BT Group as being part of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and thus an area where they’d seek to maintain sovereign control, which is similar to the stance taken by the previous administration.

A Government source said (unofficially):

“It’s not to do with Bharti or India specifically, it’s a matter of keeping critical national infrastructure in sovereign UK control for obvious reasons. It’s important the market knows this isn’t personal, but resilience and sovereign capability have a different threshold in today’s world than for generations.”

The government thus appears to be making their position clearer to valued overseas investors, to avoid those investors suffering any possible embarrassment by making a move that would clearly not be supported. Both BT and Mittal declined to comment.

Broadcom and TP-Link Unveil First Wi-Fi 8 Chipsets and Broadband Routers | ISPreview UK

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Networking kit manufacturer TP-Link, which develops a lot of broadband routers, WiFi extenders and smart home devices, has today preview their forthcoming Archer 8 router platform – one of the first in the world to support the next Wi-Fi 8 standard (this hasn’t yet been ratified). The move comes a day after Broadcom unveiled their first Wi-Fi 8 chipsets.

Just to recap. The next gen Wi-Fi 8 standard (802.11bn – “Ultra High Reliability“) will focus more on improving network reliability than boosting raw throughput speed (Wi-Fi 8 technology summary and here). The final standard for this isn’t expected to be fully completed until May 2028, but that hasn’t stopped manufacturers developing their own first-generation hardware based on the latest draft specifications.

Scheduled to launch in October 2026, Archer 8 from TP-Link is said to represent the “next step toward delivering more stable, lower-latency connectivity designed for increasingly dense and demanding home environments. It’s the first step in a broader Wi-Fi 8 portfolio, set to roll out throughout 2026 and 2027, which will include a WiFi 8 Mesh System, Travel Router and more“.

The official announcement doesn’t tell us much about the new router and only includes a few teaser images, although the design language looks to be following their current approach. Archer 8 is broadly said to combine advanced thermal engineering, antenna architecture, RF optimisation, and AI-assisted network intelligence into a platform engineered for more stable real-world performance across increasingly congested home environments.

TP-Link’s Planned Wi-Fi 8 Product Line-up

Archer 8 (Wi-Fi 8 Router) — October 2026

Deco 8 (Wi-Fi 8 Mesh System) — Q1 2027

Roam 8 (Wi-Fi 8 Travel Router) — Q2 2027

Wi-Fi 8 Range Extenders and Adapters — Q2 2027

TP-Link claims to have conducted controlled internal lab testing comparing early Wi-Fi 8 implementations against Wi-Fi 7 under simulated real-world home conditions. Initial testing was said to have shown “measurable protocol-level improvements at comparable distances and signal conditions“, including:

Up to 33% higher throughput through enhanced modulation and coding improvements, helping maintain faster and more stable speeds at longer range
Up to 24% higher throughput through unequal modulation technologies designed to improve consistency when signal quality varies across spatial streams
Up to 15% throughput improvement between multiple access points operating under interference-heavy conditions through enhanced spatial reuse coordination
Up to 30% signal-performance improvement in multi-floor environments for single-device connections, and 10–20% improvement in multi-device environments through TP-Link’s advanced antenna architecture and AI-assisted optimisation
A 1–3 dB improvement in receive sensitivity on 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands through advanced RF optimisation, supporting stronger and more reliable coverage throughout the home

Sadly we don’t get any raw figures for wireless networking speeds, although it’s always wise to take manufacturer-sourced figures with a big pinch of salt. Accurately testing WiFi performance on modern routers is a laboriously complex task and should always be done by a totally independent group or organisation to get the fairest results.

Otherwise, regional availability and final product specifications will vary by market and will be announced closer to launch. Lest we forget the first run of new Wi-Fi 8 kit tends to be power hungry, often buggy (especially when based on a draft specification) and extremely expensive. Suffice to say that most people will be better off waiting, particularly since the majority of consumers haven’t yet adopted Wi-Fi 7 kit, let alone 8.

Ben Walsh, Marketing Director UK & Ireland at TP-Link, said:

“As the way we live, stream and game at home changes, our networks must adapt and evolve. Archer 8 has been engineered to cater to the reality of home life: multiple devices on the network, walls and floors between the router and user, and interference from wireless devices. The resulting product represents a major step forward in delivering a faster, more reliable connected experience for the entire home and businesses alike.”

At the same time as this news, Broadcom, which helps to develop the semiconductors (processors) / chipsets used by modern routers and other devices, has announced a trio of highly integrated system-on-chip (SoC) devices that support Wi-Fi 8: BCM6772, BCM6774, and BCM6776.

Designed specifically for the high-performance Ethernet routers and mesh network markets, these solutions are said to integrate multi-gigabit performance into a “compact, power-efficient form factor, enabling the next generation of residential connectivity“. The new SoCs are said to consolidate the application processor, network processor, 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi 8 radios, and multi-gigabit Ethernet PHY onto a single die.

BCM6772 – The core foundation for mass-market Ethernet routers, extenders, and repeaters

Integrated 2×2 2.4 GHz and 2×2 5 GHz radios

Versatile memory controller (DDR4 and DDR5)

Ultra-compact 15×15 mm FCBGA package

BCM6774 – Optimized for high-volume Ethernet routers and extenders

Integrated 2×2 2.4 GHz and 4×4 5 GHz radios

Versatile memory controller (DDR4 and DDR5)

Ultra-compact 15×15 mm FCBGA package

BCM6776 – Premium Ethernet tri-band routers and extenders (when paired with BCM6718)

Integrated 2×2 2.4 GHz and 4×4 5 GHz radios

Dual PCIe Gen3 controllers

Versatile memory controller (DDR4, DDR5 LPDDR4, and LPDDR5)

Compact 19×19 mm FCBGA package

Each chip includes a high-performance quad-core CPU complex and a dedicated Network Processing Engine, offloading intensive networking tasks for smooth operation in the most demanding home environments. The BCM677x family also features on-chip 2.4GHz power amplifiers (iPAs) and 3rd generation digital pre-distortion (DPD) technology, which reduces the total bill of materials (BOM) and enables lower power consumption in the 5GHz band. But oddly there’s no mention of the 6GHz band.

Mark Gonikberg, Senior VP and GM of Broadcom’s Wireless and Broadband Division, said:

“Broadcom isn’t just shipping silicon; we are providing the blueprint for the next generation of the connected home. By condensing a complex, multi-chip architecture into a single, power-efficient SoC, we’re enabling our partners to deliver multi-gigabit Wi-Fi 8 mesh systems that are more affordable, more reliable, and easier to deploy than ever before.”

A number of Broadcom’s partners, such as Asus, Sagemcom, NETGEAR, TP-Link and others, have all welcomed the development. Broadcom said they’re “currently sampling the BCM677x family” to these early access partners and customers. So, there you have it, before Wi-Fi 7 is even given a chance to gain some commercial adoption, and we’re already moving on to cannibalise that by shifting the focus to Wi-Fi 8. Mind you, Nokia are already talking about Wi-Fi 9! (here).

We’re all for a fast pace of technological development, but we’re not sure if moving quite this fast is the wisest approach, commercially speaking.

Monzo Launch O2 Powered UK eSIM 5G Mobile Plans with Prices that Fall, Not Rise | ISPreview UK

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Digital banking company Monzo has today followed rival Revolut by soft launching their own set of eSIM based mobile plans that are “simple, flexible and rewards staying, not switching“, which will be powered by O2’s (Virgin Media) national 4G and 5G mobile data (broadband) network. The service will also offer “seamless international roaming capabilities” through 1GLOBAL.

The UK market currently seems to have no shortage of virtual mobile providers, which would normally make it difficult for new entrants to establish themselves. But Monzo, not unlike Revolut, benefits from being able to promote this service to an already well-established customer base (14 million of them) – alongside some unique incentives.

At present the Monzo Mobile page is still only showing a Wait-list option for joining, albeit alongside a summary of three mobile plans: £8 a month for 10GB (GigaBytes) of data, £12 for 30GB and £20 for unlimited data. Each plan also includes unlimited calls and texts, Hotspot support, Wi-Fi Calling and the ability to switch plans or cancel anytime.

The £12 tier also adds 10GB of EU roaming (plus in 11 other countries) and 60 international minutes (monthly), with the 10GB of EU roaming being ramped up to 25GB on their £20 plan. But in terms of that claim to “reward” loyalty, the service promises to reduce the price that customers pay for their monthly rental by “5% off each year with up to 30% off over time. No hidden fees, no surprise charges“.

Duygu Yenidogan-Schmidt, GM of Core Banking at Monzo, said:

“Monzo Mobile is a natural extension of our mission to make money work for everyone. By bringing mobile connectivity into the Monzo app through a simple eSIM experience, we’re giving customers more visibility and control over another essential part of their everyday spending. Partnering with 1GLOBAL and Virgin Media O2 allows us to deliver a reliable, flexible and high-quality service, while continuing to build products that are simple, transparent and designed around our customers’ needs.”

Paul O’Sullivan, Director of Wholesale Mobile at VMO2, said:

“This partnership underlines the strength of the O2 network and our position as the UK’s trusted host of choice for MVNOs. Our unrivalled record helping partners launch and scale, alongside continued investment to upgrade and expand our mobile network, will enable us to support Monzo Mobile with ever-improving services.”

A quick look at the small print indicates that the service will go fully live this “Summer 2026“, which technically starts next week if we’re talking about meteorological summer, but they haven’t given a precise date yet.

BT and Meta Deploy Congestion Awareness Tech to Improve EE UK Mobile Streaming | ISPreview UK

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Broadband and telecoms giant BT (EE) have teamed-up with social media giant Meta to develop and deploy a new technology that aims to make watching online videos via Facebook and Instagram more reliable for EE mobile customers, even during periods of high network demand.

Sadly, even modern mobile broadband networks can sometimes come under pressure from wider network congestion during peak times of usage, which can result in periods of buffering or drops in video quality. In response, BT and Meta recently piloted a new technology to improve this for users of Meta’s social media platforms.

The details are limited, but BT states that, rather than the usual approach of delivering video in the same way regardless of conditions, this tech from Meta intelligently responds when parts of the network are under pressure. “By making small, real-time adjustments when detecting high cell load during peak moments, it reduces the amount of data needed without noticeably affecting video quality,” said the announcement.

The result is that more people can keep watching without interruptions, while also saving network capacity. In addition, the tech supports a more consistent experience when using video apps in busy areas like city centres, transport hubs or large events.

BT Statement

The pilot delivered strong results, including a 6–8% bitrate reduction when congestion was identified and around a 4% reduction in traffic to congested cells – all while maintaining a high-quality experience for EE customers using Facebook and Instagram. That means fewer slowdowns and a more reliable video streaming experience on mobile data.

This latest work builds on BT and Meta’s earlier collaboration to improve video performance for EE customers, further demonstrating how closer coordination between networks and platforms can support growing demand. As video continues to play a central role in everyday life, initiatives like this show how incremental innovation behind the scenes can deliver meaningful benefits for customers – while helping networks remain efficient into the future.

The new congestion awareness technology has now been rolled out across the EE network, and Meta will expand the solution to other markets and partners throughout 2026.

Broadcom and TP-Link Unveil First Wi-Fi 8 Chipsets and Broadband Routers | ISPreview UK

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TP-Link’s Planned Wi-Fi 8 Product Line-up

Archer 8 (Wi-Fi 8 Router) — October 2026

Deco 8 (Wi-Fi 8 Mesh System) — Q1 2027

Roam 8 (Wi-Fi 8 Travel Router) — Q2 2027

Wi-Fi 8 Range Extenders and Adapters — Q2 2027

Up to 33% higher throughput through enhanced modulation and coding improvements, helping maintain faster and more stable speeds at longer range
Up to 24% higher throughput through unequal modulation technologies designed to improve consistency when signal quality varies across spatial streams
Up to 15% throughput improvement between multiple access points operating under interference-heavy conditions through enhanced spatial reuse coordination
Up to 30% signal-performance improvement in multi-floor environments for single-device connections, and 10–20% improvement in multi-device environments through TP-Link’s advanced antenna architecture and AI-assisted optimisation
A 1–3 dB improvement in receive sensitivity on 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands through advanced RF optimisation, supporting stronger and more reliable coverage throughout the home

Ben Walsh, Marketing Director UK & Ireland at TP-Link, said:

“As the way we live, stream and game at home changes, our networks must adapt and evolve. Archer 8 has been engineered to cater to the reality of home life: multiple devices on the network, walls and floors between the router and user, and interference from wireless devices. The resulting product represents a major step forward in delivering a faster, more reliable connected experience for the entire home and businesses alike.”

BCM6772 – The core foundation for mass-market Ethernet routers, extenders, and repeaters

Integrated 2×2 2.4 GHz and 2×2 5 GHz radios

Versatile memory controller (DDR4 and DDR5)

Ultra-compact 15×15 mm FCBGA package

BCM6774 – Optimized for high-volume Ethernet routers and extenders

Integrated 2×2 2.4 GHz and 4×4 5 GHz radios

Versatile memory controller (DDR4 and DDR5)

Ultra-compact 15×15 mm FCBGA package

BCM6776 – Premium Ethernet tri-band routers and extenders (when paired with BCM6718)

Integrated 2×2 2.4 GHz and 4×4 5 GHz radios

Dual PCIe Gen3 controllers

Versatile memory controller (DDR4, DDR5 LPDDR4, and LPDDR5)

Compact 19×19 mm FCBGA package

Mark Gonikberg, Senior VP and GM of Broadcom’s Wireless and Broadband Division, said:

“Broadcom isn’t just shipping silicon; we are providing the blueprint for the next generation of the connected home. By condensing a complex, multi-chip architecture into a single, power-efficient SoC, we’re enabling our partners to deliver multi-gigabit Wi-Fi 8 mesh systems that are more affordable, more reliable, and easier to deploy than ever before.”

We’re all for a fast pace of technological development, but we’re not sure if moving quite this fast is the wisest approach, commercially speaking.