Original article Total Telecom:Read More

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.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

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.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

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.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

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.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

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 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 good experience for customers.

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.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

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.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

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.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Customers of the Sky Mobile service, which is an O2 (Virgin Media) powered Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) with nearly 4 million UK subscribers, has today announced that they’re making it even easier to stay connected while travelling by doubling its global roaming destinations from 55 to 120 across the EU/EEA, USA, Australia and more.

Sky’s Roaming Passport Plus essentially lets customers use their UK data, calls and text allowances as if they were still in the UK while in one of the supported 120 destinations for just £2 a day. Some of the other destinations included are India, Egypt, Singapore, Barbados, Jamaica, Bahamas, Morocco, Peru, Mauritius and China.

The £2 roaming activates when customers use data (over 10MB in a day) or make a call or text to a UK number while in one of the destinations. For added ease, customers will get a text to confirm when their 24‑hour roaming period starts, and another when it’s coming to an end.

However, it should be noted that roaming data (mobile broadband) is subject to a 25GB (GigaBytes) fair usage policy per billing cycle, which means you’ll be hit by additional data charges (on a pro‑rated per GB basis) once this limit gets exceeded. But that’s fairly normal for UK mobile operators.

Sky claims their mobile customers will thus pay just £10 for five days data roaming in destinations like the USA, Thailand, and India. “That’s £20 cheaper than EE customers using EE’s Zone 1 Pass or up to £30 cheaper than Vodafone customers using Vodafone’s monthly plan Global Roam or Zone D Passes“, said the announcement. But some consumers might find it cheaper to take a travel eSIM, depending upon your destination and needs (see our article – Summary of Mobile Travel eSIMs).

Sky Mobile’s Roaming Passport Plus destinations list:

A – D:

Albania, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba (Netherlands Antilles), Australia (including Cocos Islands, Christmas Islands), Austria, Azores, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), Cyprus (excl. Northern Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic,

E – L:

Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Guiana (French West Indies), Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe (French West Indies), Guatemala, Hong Kong, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Korea (South), Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,

M – R:

Madeira, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique (French West Indies), Mauritius, Mayotte (French Territories in the Indian Ocean), Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion (French Territories in the Indian Ocean), Romania,

S – Z:

Saba (Netherlands Antilles), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Saint Eustatius (Netherlands Antilles), Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles), Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Barthelemy (French West Indies), St Martin (French West Indies), Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey (incl. Northern Cyprus), Turks and Caicos Islands, UAE, USA, Vatican City, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British).

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Customers of the Sky Mobile service, which is an O2 (Virgin Media) powered Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) with nearly 4 million UK subscribers, has today announced that they’re making it even easier to stay connected while travelling by doubling its global roaming destinations from 55 to 120 across the EU/EEA, USA, Australia and more.

Sky’s Roaming Passport Plus essentially lets customers use their UK data, calls and text allowances as if they were still in the UK while in one of the supported 120 destinations for just £2 a day. Some of the other destinations included are India, Egypt, Singapore, Barbados, Jamaica, Bahamas, Morocco, Peru, Mauritius and China.

The £2 roaming activates when customers use data (over 10MB in a day) or make a call or text to a UK number while in one of the destinations. For added ease, customers will get a text to confirm when their 24‑hour roaming period starts, and another when it’s coming to an end.

However, it should be noted that roaming data (mobile broadband) is subject to a 25GB (GigaBytes) fair usage policy per billing cycle, which means you’ll be hit by additional data charges (on a pro‑rated per GB basis) once this limit gets exceeded. But that’s fairly normal for UK mobile operators.

Sky claims their mobile customers will thus pay just £10 for five days data roaming in destinations like the USA, Thailand, and India. “That’s £20 cheaper than EE customers using EE’s Zone 1 Pass or up to £30 cheaper than Vodafone customers using Vodafone’s monthly plan Global Roam or Zone D Passes“, said the announcement. But some consumers might find it cheaper to take a travel eSIM, depending upon your destination and needs (see our article – Summary of Mobile Travel eSIMs).

Sky Mobile’s Roaming Passport Plus destinations list:

A – D:

Albania, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba (Netherlands Antilles), Australia (including Cocos Islands, Christmas Islands), Austria, Azores, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), Cyprus (excl. Northern Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic,

E – L:

Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Guiana (French West Indies), Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe (French West Indies), Guatemala, Hong Kong, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Korea (South), Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,

M – R:

Madeira, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique (French West Indies), Mauritius, Mayotte (French Territories in the Indian Ocean), Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion (French Territories in the Indian Ocean), Romania,

S – Z:

Saba (Netherlands Antilles), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Saint Eustatius (Netherlands Antilles), Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles), Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Barthelemy (French West Indies), St Martin (French West Indies), Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey (incl. Northern Cyprus), Turks and Caicos Islands, UAE, USA, Vatican City, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British).

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has today announced that their new Direct-to-Device (D2D) based O2 Satellite service (here), which for just £3 extra per month enables normal Smartphones to connect to their mobile network via Starlink’s satellites, will be extended to work on Apple iPhones from tomorrow.

The service harnesses SpaceX’s global Starlink network in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to support a satellite based 4G mobile data (broadband) connection via part of the 1800MHz (B3) band, which enables connectivity in even some of the remotest parts of the UK. In addition, users also benefit from greater general resilience, at least when outside a building.

The new service, once applied, effectively boosted O2’s UK landmass mobile coverage from 89% to 95%, delivering a coverage uplift equivalent to an area around two thirds the size of Wales. The service is designed to complement O2’s existing mobile network, and customers will connect automatically when traditional cellular coverage is unavailable.

However, at launch in February 2026 it only supported a limited number of handsets, all of which were based off the Android operating system (mostly recent Samsung models). The service also had some other limitations, such as initially only being able to support text messaging and limited data connectivity across specific apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Maps and more.

The good news today is that O2 will switch on its satellite mobile service for iPhone users tomorrow (Thursday 28th May 2026). But you’ll need at least an iPhone 13 to benefit.

Chris Bournes, Commercial Director at VMO2, said:

“Earlier this year, we made history with the switch on of O2 Satellite. Expanding the service to iPhone users is a major step forward in making this new, groundbreaking technology accessible to more customers. Whether you’re hiking, travelling or in a remote part of the UK, O2 Satellite helps ensure you can stay connected when you need it most.”

Compatible Apple devices:

iPhone 17 Pro Max, 17 Pro, 17, 17e,
iPhone Air
iPhone 16 Pro Max, 16 Pro, 16 Plus, 16, 16e
iPhone 15 Pro Max, 15 Pro, 15 Plus, 15
iPhone 14 Pro Max, 14 Pro, 14 Plus, 14
iPhone 13 Pro Max, 13 Pro, 13, 13 mini

Compatible apps:

AccuWeather
AllTrails
Apple Compass
Apple Fitness
Apple Maps
Apple Messages
Apple Music
Apple Weather
BBC Weather
Google Maps
Messenger
WhatsApp
X
Yahoo Mail