• BT and Verizon new joint venture could target $4 billion in annual revenue
• The companies are targeting 3,000 global enterprises across 180+ countries
• AI and cloud are the two primary selling points for this new joint venture

BT and Verizon have come together to form a 50:50 joint venture looking to serve around 3,000 multinational customers across more than 180 countries.

The official announcement details the creation of a new "scaled international connectivity platform" designed for a cloud-first, AI-first world.

Martijn Blanken has been appointed as CEO of the new joint venture, the name of which currently remains unconfirmed.

BT and Verizon target multinational enterprises in new JV

By combining their respective expertise, the two hope to provide enterprise customers more resilient global networking, more secure connectivity and infrastructure designed specifically for local laws, regulations and data sovereignty demands.

"Customers will benefit from new, secure and resilient connectivity platforms, which are designed for the age of AI and sovereign where it matters," BT CEO Allison Kirkby noted.

"Our international customers require secure, flexible connectivity that works seamlessly across borders and cloud environments," Verizon CEO Dan Schulman added.

The announcement also implies that, by spinning off a new JV for global enterprises, it would allow the two companies to improve focus on their domestic markets.

BT boasted about its "resilient communication and network services," and Verizon said it would bring secure connectivity via its enterprise wireline arm.

Though it's unclear which type of enterprises the JV will be targeting, it will likely bid on contracts for some of the biggest enterprises given the target of around 3,000 customers. Private enterprise networks, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity and cross-border connectivity will form the basis of the company.

According to the firms, the join venture could target around $4 billion in combined annual revenue.

• AI-powered hackers now exploit software flaws faster than companies can patch systems
• Mobile phishing scams now outperform traditional email attacks across corporate environments worldwide
• Unauthorized AI tools are quietly leaking sensitive company information across global workplaces

For the first time in nearly two decades, exploiting software vulnerabilities has overtaken stolen passwords as the primary way hackers breach corporate networks.

Verizon's 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report claims the exploitation of vulnerabilities now accounts for 31% of all confirmed data breaches.

Stolen credentials, once the dominant entry point, have dropped to just 13% of reported incidents this year.

Vulnerability exploitation has become the number one threat

The report analyzed over 31,000 security incidents across 145 countries, revealing how the threat landscape has fundamentally shifted.

Attackers are leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and weaponization of known software flaws, which dramatically shrinks the window available for defenders to patch their systems, reducing response time from months to mere hours.

Despite this growing risk, the report found that only 26% of critical vulnerabilities were fully remediated throughout 2025.

The median time organizations took to apply patches jumped to 43 days, leaving networks exposed for weeks or even months.

"While the velocity of cyber threats driven by AI is increasing, the foundational principles of security remain the most effective defense," said Daniel Lawson, SVP of Global Solutions at Verizon Business.

Ransomware was present in nearly half of all breaches, at 48%, up from 44% the previous year.

However, the report noted that ransom payments have declined, with 69% of victims refusing to pay.

Mobile devices have become a more dangerous attack vector than email, with phishing simulations showing that text messages and voice calls achieve 40% higher click rates than traditional email phishing.

The human element was still involved in 62% of all breaches, as attackers increasingly target mobile-centric communication channels where users are less suspicious.

AI tools create weak points for organizations

Nearly half of all employees, or 45%, now use AI tools at work, representing a significant increase from just 15% the previous year.

But 67% of these workers access artificial intelligence platforms through unauthorized personal accounts rather than approved corporate channels.

Shadow AI has become the third most common cause of non-malicious data leakage, putting company secrets at significant risk of unintended exposure.

Supply chain attacks have also grown substantially, with third-party involvement in breaches increasing by 60% year-over-year.

The DBIR makes it clear that attackers have shifted their tactics, and most organizations have not kept pace with the speed of modern threat actors.

The fundamentals of security and the use of firewalls or malware removal tools still work, but they only work when organizations actually practice them consistently.

Organizations are advised to patch faster, monitor mobile channels, control AI usage, and assume that third parties will eventually be compromised.

The attackers are already acting on that assumption, and the DBIR numbers prove they are right more often than they are wrong.

• AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are working together to offer standardized satellite connectivity
• It would benefit customers not covered by cell towers, like in national parks
• Operators globally are looking to use satellite for more than emergencies, now

In a rare turn of events, three of the biggest mobile carriers in the US have announced they will be working together to tackle 'dead zones' across the country using satellites.

The joint venture, formed by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, should help to improve connectivity in areas where traditional towers can fail, such as national parks and highways.

Satellites could also provide continuity in disaster-struck regions, where land-based infrastructure damages can cause widespread outages.

Satellite technology to eliminate dead zones

Because the joint venture's plan revolves around direct-to-device satellite tech, it would mean that regular smartphone could access signal in rural areas without consumers needing to buy specific satellite phones. While many phones now offer limited services via satellite, it's hoped that the scheme would make roaming between cellular and satellite networks more seamless.

"Having launched the first nationwide, satellite-powered direct-to-device network for text and data, we’ve seen firsthand how critical reliable connectivity can be when America needs it most," T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan commented.

T-Mobile already partners with SpaceX, which has been expanding its footprint across voice and data services on top of earlier emergency texting functionalities. AT&T and Verizon also have partnerships with AST SpaceMobile for their satellite services.

The announcement comes amid a broader global shift, whereby satellite networks are becoming more tightly integrated with regular 5G and 6G cell connections, instead of being a separate emergency-only tool.

As well as improving coverage and performance for customers, the joint venture also anticipates industry benefits, such as industry-wide device compatibility and an easier way for mobile network operators (MNOs) to integrate satellite connectivity for their customers.

The agreement in principle is yet to be confirmed, pending regulatory approval and confirmation of the finer details.

• The FCC is revoking cybersecurity regulations for telecoms companies
• These protections were introduced after network intrusion by Chinese threat actor Salt Typhoon
• The Trump administration is removing regulations across the industry

The Republican-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to remove measures implemented in the wake of the Salt Typhoon attack.

The mandated protections required Telecom firms to adopt basic security controls and network protections - and encouraged collaboration between the large network providers in order to protect consumers and national security.

The Salt Typhoone attacks saw threat actors lurking inside US telecom networks for upwards of a year - exfiltrating data in one of the largest cyber espionage campaigns recorded.

'Neither lawful nor effective'

The FCC voted to revoke the ruling, claiming it was ‘ineffective because it neither responded to the nature of the relevant cybersecurity threats nor was it consistent with the agile and collaborative approach to cybersecurity that has proven successful,’ the Commission documents note.

FCC members argud telecom firms are voluntarily bolstering their cybersecurity and hardening their networks against intrusions, so the regulations are an onerous legal burden for companies that are already doing the work.

Secretary Marlene Dortch said the protection ruling, “applies the same inflexible, across-the-board cybersecurity requirements to all telecommunications carriers without regard to their risk, size, or organizational posture.”

“This vague and amorphous standard risks imposing costly new burdens on many providers that are either not relevant to the potential threats they face, or which are redundant because those providers may already employ sufficient cybersecurity practices to reasonably reduce the risk of successful exploits by the most sophisticated threat actors,” she wrote.

The move follows a predictable pattern in a Trump administration which has repeatedly illustrated its de-prioritization of online protection, having already decimated public cybersecurity services through layoffs and re-assignments within CISA.

The administration has also demonstrated its aims in deregulation, especially within the technology industry - even going so far as to overrule state laws to dismantle existing protections for consumers of AI in order to give AI companies more freedoms.

Via The Record

• Verizon confirms plans to lay off more than 13,000 workers
• New CEO Dan Schulman wants to improve operational efficiency
• The company also has a new Chief Transformation Officer

Shortly after rumors began circulating that Verizon would be announcing major job cuts, the company has indeed confirmed mass layoffs, set to affect around 13,000 workers (or 13% of the firm’s headcount).

Verizon CEO Dan Schulman, who was only appointed to the role in October 2025, confirmed the changes in an open letter to workers, describing it as an opportunity for the company to better meet customer needs and strengthen its position in the market.

Schulman explained Verizon operations must be simplified to remove complexity, adding that outsourced labor would also be significantly cut.

Verizon will cut over 13,000 workers

Although the cost of laying off so many workers was not disclosed, Verizon has committed to a $20 million Reskilling and Career Transition Fund to help those affected with skill development, digital training and job placement support.

“Verizon is the first company to set up a fund to specifically focus on the opportunities and necessary skill sets as we enter the age of AI,” Schulman declared.

Those at risk of losing their jobs will be notified in the coming weeks by their respective leaders.

Despite some positivity last month, with Verizon confirming a 1.5% year-over-year increase in operating revenue to $33.8 billion, there was still a loss of around 7,000 wireless retail postpaid units.

In the company's recent Q3 2025 earnings announcement, Schulman promised to “take bold and fiscally responsible action to redefine Verizon’s trajectory at this critical inflection point.”

He alluded to aggressive changes to Verizon’s culture, cost structure and financial profile.

Confirmation of the job losses comes just days after Alfonso Villanueva was appointed as Chief Transformation Officer – a role that will see him lead the company through a journey of AI and automation.

• 15,000 Verizon workers could be at risk of latest job cuts
• Verizon has a (relatively) new CEO at the helm, driving cost cutting
• ‘Aggressive’ transformations to culture, costs and finances have been promised

Verizon is expected to soon cut around 15,000 jobs, the equivalent of about 15% of its total workforce, reports from the Wall Street Journal have claimed.

The cuts would primarily target non-union management and would also include converting up to 200 corporate retail stores into franchised stores.

The WSJ report claims layoffs could begin as soon as next week, however the company is yet to formally confirm whether this is the case.

Verizon could lay off 15% of its workers

Dan Schulman was appointed the company’s new CEO in October 2025, with a history that includes a nine-year stint at PayPal CEO between 2014 and 2023 and positions at AT&T, Virgin Mobile USA and Sprint Nextel (before it was acquired by T-Mobile).

Schulman has been spearheading further cost-cutting measures at the company in the wake of similar moves by other tech giants.

Besides facing strong competition from rival network providers and cable companies, Verizon has also struggled with slowing subscriber growth. In Q3 2025, it only added 44,000 postpaid subscribers (far less than rivals), and it also lost 7,000 postpaid connections.

Verizon share prices are just two-thirds of what they were five years ago, but prices did rise somewhat following the report breaking.

Speaking about the company’s most recent earnings, Schulman noted: “We are going to take bold and fiscally responsible action to redefine Verizon’s trajectory at this critical inflection point for our company.”

“We will aggressively transform our culture, our cost structure, and the financial profile of Verizon in order to put our customers first, compete effectively, and deliver sustainable returns for our shareholders.”

This wouldn’t be the first time Verizon has let thousands of workers go. Around 20,000 employees left over a three-year period in the runup to 2020, 4,800 in 2024 and 10,400 in 2018 (per Reuters).

TechRadar Pro asked Verizon to confirm whether it has plans to lay off more workers ­– we did not receive an immediate response.

The best smartphone deals come from mobile network carriers, but there’s a big catch you should know about if you’re considering getting an iPhone 16 Pro ‘On Us’ or if you want to score a massive discount on a Galaxy Z Fold 7. If you’re planning on switching phones before the payment plan has ended, there’s a major catch, and the warning was hard to find in the contract agreements I signed.

Here’s my situation: when I wanted a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in early 2023, AT&T offered it for a very low monthly price on two conditions. First, I needed to trade in any Galaxy phone in any condition. No sweat! I had one hanging around. Second, I needed to sign up for a new line of service on a plan with unlimited monthly data. Also, no problem for me; I needed a new line and I use a ton of GBs.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra with 512GB of storage was almost $1,400 when I bought it. That equals $38.34 per month for 36 months, and AT&T was offering to pay more than 70% of that monthly payment as long as I was a customer. I pay $10.56 monthly, and in the end, I’ll have paid only $380 for the best phone I could buy back then.

Yeah, I don't keep any phone for 3 whole years, but this time...

Of course, I wasn’t planning on keeping the Ultra for longer than a year. I signed a three-year agreement, but I planned on trading the Galaxy S23 Ultra for an S24 Ultra a year later. I wouldn’t sign up for a new contract; instead, I would just trade in my phone. Samsung would give me $1,000 for the trade (Samsung’s norm), and I would pay the remaining $400 in cash. Instead, I got hosed.

Before I traded in my Galaxy S23 Ultra, I looked into selling it on Swappa. When I entered my phone’s IMEI number – the unique identifier assigned to all smartphones – Swappa rejected my sale. I was told my phone is ineligible for sale because there is a lien on the phone from AT&T.

I honestly did not know a phone lien was a thing. I knew that information could be attached to an IMEI number. For instance, if you report a phone stolen, the IMEI number can identify the stolen device later if the thief tries to sell it. I had no clue the IMEI could be used by my carrier to claim ownership over a phone I purchased.

Here's how AT&T will stop you from selling your phone before you pay it off

I have spent time poring over every document I signed. I cannot find the word ‘lien’ anywhere. I reached out to AT&T, and they explained what was happening… kind of.

My new smartphone does not technically have a ‘lien,’ but the contract works the same way. AT&T claims a purchase money security interest (PMSI) on my device until it is paid in full. That means they have the right to claim any proceeds if I sell the device.

That sounds awfully like a lien, huh? It’s close, but a lien is more legally enforceable. The real purpose of a purchase money security interest clause is to make sure AT&T gets paid if I go into bankruptcy and I’m forced to sell my smartphone. In practice, it keeps me from selling the phone early, the same way a lien on my car title would prevent me from selling my car.

It's not just an AT&T problem, but carriers still offer a good deal

This isn’t just an AT&T issue. A Verizon rep told me, “We do not place liens on devices. If a customer does not continually meet eligibility requirements to get the device on us, they are responsible for payment of the device.” That sounds definitive, but Verizon’s contract language contains a purchase money security interest clause similar to the language AT&T uses.

T-Mobile did not respond with comment, and I could not find any PMSI clause in T-Mobile contracts. However, if you are planning on ditching your phone early, you may want to read the current contract closely, as terms can change.

I still think carrier deals for free phones are good deals. Even if you only get a discount, it’s a huge discount. If you want a Galaxy Z Fold 7, for instance, that phone costs $1,999.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,899. If you sign up with AT&T, they will pay up to $1,100 of that total if you stick with them for three years.

For most people, that will be the only way to afford today’s most expensive phones, and three years is the right amount of time to own today’s best phones. The required service plan will be a pricier option, but if you use a lot of data like me, a Wi-Fi hotspot amount, you’re probably getting a top plan anyway. You might as well get the best deal on the top phone to go with it.

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• Cybercriminals are increasingly using vulnerable companies to target their partners and peers
• The number of third-party incidents doubled year-on-year, Verizon's new report shows
• The attacks are used to gain access to target organizations

New research has claimed the involvement of third parties in data breaches has doubled, and is now seen in 30% of all cyberattacks.

The 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) from Verizon Business, which is based on more than 22,000 security incidents and 12,195 confirmed data breaches, found supply chain and partner ecosystems are being increasingly abused in cyberattacks.

Cybercriminals are using third parties to gain initial access, it was further explained, as 81% of third-party breaches involved the compromise of victim systems.

Targeting open-source repositories

The findings may not be too surprising, as some of the biggest cyberattacks ever recorded came as a result of third-party compromise.

The SolarWinds hack in December 2020 was one of the most significant cyber-espionage attacks in history. Threat actors compromised SolarWinds’ Orion software updates, inserting malicious code (later named "SUNBURST") that was unknowingly distributed to around 18,000 customers.

This allowed the attackers to deploy backdoors into the networks of companies that installed the tainted update.

The breach allegedly went undetected for months, compromising US government agencies (the Departments of Treasury, State, and Homeland Security), major tech firms (Microsoft), and countless private companies.

The attack was blamed on a Russian state-sponsored threat actor called APT29 (AKA Cozy Bear).

To conduct third-party cyberattacks, threat actors will often target open-source code repositories, such as GitHub. They will try to push malicious updates into code packages, or will try to “typosquat” a piece of malware, in hopes that software developers will install the malicious code themselves.

It works, too, as news often breaks of bad code being discovered on GitHub, or people’s accounts being compromised and abused in the distribution of malware. Security researchers often warn that software developers should always verify, and never trust the code, regardless of who the author is.

Via Infosecurity Magazine

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• Security researcher finds bug in an API used in a Verizon mobile app
• The bug allowed threat actors to view other people's call logs
• It was found in February 2025 and fixed in March, but users should still take care

A bug in a Verizon API allowed malicious actors to view other people’s incoming call logs until it was fixed.

Cybersecurity researcher Evan Connelly found the bug in Call Filter, a free app Verizon ships with all iOS and Android devices sold directly through the telco to help users block spam calls, identify unknown numbers, and avoid robocalls.

Given Verizon’s large subscriber base, the app likely has millions of users, as it offers features like spam detection, caller ID, personal block lists, and automatic blocking of high-risk calls. Call Filter also has a premium version which adds spam lookup, custom controls, and caller ID for unknown numbers.

Targeting journalists

As Connelly explained, the app connects to an API endpoint where it retrieves the logged-in user’s incoming call history, and then displays it in the app. However, due to a misconfiguration in the API, the user’s phone number is not verified, meaning that any user could request the data for anyone else.

Connelly tested the iOS version, but claims the problem is platform-agnostic, since the bug resides in the API, instead of the app itself.

Seeing someone’s call log might not seem like much at first, but Connelly warns that it could be a “powerful surveillance tool”, especially against high-profile targets such as journalists, government opponents, dissidents, and similar.

"Call metadata might seem harmless, but in the wrong hands, it becomes a powerful surveillance tool. With unrestricted access to another user's call history, an attacker could reconstruct daily routines, identify frequent contacts, and infer personal relationships," Connelly said.

Verizon addressed the flaw sometime in March 2025, but we don’t know for how long this information was exposed, so users should still take extra care.

Via BleepingComputer

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Verizon has steadily ramped up its iPhone 16 deals for a while now, but this week's promotions are easily some of the strongest yet - particularly if you've had your eye on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Right now, you can actually get this super high-end device (still valued at $1,199) for free with a new line on an Ultimate unlimited plan. Unlike with previous discounts on the device, no trade-ins are needed to be eligible at all so it's a great all-round choice if you're looking to get a brand-new flagship without handing over an old device.

The glaring caveat with this deal - and the catch - is that you need that new line on the Ultimate plan. As the name suggests, the Ultimate plan is the priciest and most feature-laden of Verizon's MyPlan postpaid plans. It starts at $90/mo for a single line so it's a significant investment over the required 36-month duration.

If you can stomach the serious outlay, though, the Ultimate plan is a great choice if you're looking for a postpaid plan with extremely high data speeds. If you're covered by the Verizon 5G wideband network in your area, then you can expect blazingly quick speeds; perfect for video content and making the most of Verizon's additional streaming perks.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max deal at Verizon

• See more: check out all of this week's phone deals at Verizon

Also available at Verizon this week...

• Verizon and AT&T are taking the hassle out of personal storage
• Upgrades for group storage are a game changer
• Perks like AI photo editing tools could come in handy

Taken one photograph too many and run out of cloud storage? It’s happened to us all at some point, and there’s nothing more frustrating.

Faced with the prospect of upgrading your plan and forking out for more capacity, it’s worth exploring all of the available options.

Luckily, there are a broad variety out there, but millions of Americans are still missing out regardless.

Verizon cloud storage deals

Verizon, for example, has little-known perks for customers in this regard, offering unlimited cloud storage at a relatively low monthly cost.

Verizon Cloud gives customers access to unlimited cloud storage for $13.99 per month. Better still, if you’re willing to pay $19.99 per month, this can be expanded to a group plan for up to five users, bringing friends or family into the fold.

Both the individual and group unlimited plans come with some handy perks, including automatic backup capabilities. This allows you to keep copies of photographs, documents, or videos and access them via your smartphone or computer.

The service also boasts a range of security features, including a PIN-protected private folder to safeguard sensitive content such as driver’s licenses, passports, or just your personal photos and videos.

One very handy aspect of the Verizon Cloud service is that your saved contacts, photographs, and videos can be easily transferred to your new mobile device when you upgrade.

AT&T's competitor service has added perks

Verizon isn’t alone on this front, either, as AT&T also offers unlimited cloud storage services for customers.

Similar to Verizon Cloud, the AT&T Personal Cloud service comes in at a slightly higher cost, but with additional benefits and features.

Users of this service can access unlimited storage for $19.99 per month, but this is for one individual.

AT&T Personal Cloud offers virtually the same services as the aforementioned Verizon Cloud, including automatic backup capabilities and PIN-protected private folders for sensitive materials.

Some features do differ, though, including in-built AI photo editing tools, which could come in handy for those looking to edit on the go.

The service can also be accessed anywhere, including via your phone, tablet, or desktop computer - and it works on iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows.

There are other options available out there for consumers, but it’s worth noting that a significant portion of these are capped, albeit with most offering several terabytes’ worth of capacity.

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• A US Army soldier is facing charges linked to the Snowflake hack
• The accused faces $500,000 in fines and 20 years behind bars
• The soldier intends to plead guilty to all charges

A US army soldier accused of two counts of unlawfully transferring confidential phone records has said he intends to plead guilty.

The soldier attempted to “knowingly and intentionally sell and transfer, and attempt to sell and transfer, confidential phone records,” US prosecutors said [PDF].

Cameron John Wagenius, the accused, informed a federal court in Seattle of his plea on Wednesday following his arrest in January 2025. Prosecutors have also found links between Wagenius’ attacks against AT&T and Verizon, with the 2024 Snowflake hack that saw upwards of 150 accounts compromised.

Up to 10 years in prison

Wagenius faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a maximum prison sentence of 10 years for each of the two counts, according to documents filed by his lawyer. Wagenius’ involvement in the Snowflake hacks, alongside Connor Moucka and John Binns, was confirmed by prosecutors in January, who linked methods used the AT&T and Verizon attacks to the Snowflake account breaches.

U.S. attorney Tessa Gorman said the breaches “arise from the same computer intrusion and extortion and include some of the same stolen victim information.” The attack against Snowflake was among the worst cyberattacks of 2024, with corporate accounts linked to AT&T, Santander, and Ticketmaster compromised, with Moucka and Binns reportedly making upwards of $2 million through extortion.

In the underground world, Wagenius used the pseudonym ‘Kiberphant0m’, the same alias that threatened to leak sensitive US government call logs when one of his co-conspirators in the Snowflake attack was arrested.

Kiberphant0m demanded comms with AT&T, writing on a dark web forum that, “In the event you do not reach out to us, [AT&T], all presidential government call logs will be leaked. You don’t think we don’t have plans in the event of an arrest? Think again.”

Moucka, who was arrested in Canada, and Binns, who was arrested in Turkey, are both awaiting extradition to the US, where they face 20 counts of various crimes, including conspiracy, computer fraud and abuse, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Via TheRegister

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• Verizon has secured a major US Air Force contract, despite recent security issues
• The contract will see Verizon delivering 5G network upgrades to bases across the US
• The win comes despite recent network breach by foreign hacker

Verizon has announced it will be providing the US Air Force with 5G network upgrades at 35 installations across the United States.

Through the agency’s Offer to Lease program, Verizon will provide network enhancements like new macro builds, small cells, and C-band carrier adds, hopefully offering higher speeds, increased bandwidth and lower latency for base personnel and community.

However some may raise eyebrows at the news, which comes little more than a week after Verizon and AT&T confirmed their networks were free of Chinese state-sponsored attackers Salt Typhoon.

Verizon military contratcs

The wide-ranging attack saw nine major firms breached, and over 100,000 routers compromised in one network alone, and the attackers were able to ‘geolocate millions of individuals, to record phone calls at will’, according to Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber and Emerging Technology.

It’s unclear whether the deal was made before the breach was announced, but the intrusion is considered one of the worst of its kind in telecommunications breaches, and the consequences of the breach are still being understood.

Verizon already holds contracts with the Armed Forces in supporting flight line testing equipment, animated simulation and training, full-motion, high-definition video to support telemedicine for its airmen, and ultra-fast artificial intelligence for biometric identification.

“This is Verizon’s 7th OTL win out of 8 attempts, which serves as a testament to the trust the U.S. Air Force has in the strength and speed of our network, as well as the quality of the professional and managed services expertise they gain from our people,” said Maggie Hallbach, senior vice president, Verizon Public Sector.

“We are honored to have Verizon Business serve as one of their most trusted partners.”

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• More victims of Salt Typhoon attack unveiled by WSJ
• The extent of the damage caused by the attack is still unknown
• Some telecoms providers have removed the attackers from their systems

The recent Salt Typhoon cyberattacks may have breached more telecommunications providers than previously thought, with Charter Communications, Consolidated Communications, and Windstream all now believed to also have been affected.

The fresh list of victims comes from a new report by the Wall Street Journal, who cited people familiar with the matter.

The attack also exploited Fortinet network devices that did not have up-to-date security software installed, as well as vulnerable Cisco large network routers.

Attack may have started in 2023

The attack against US telecoms providers was first publicized in a joint statement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on October 25, 2024 - however, the WSJ report states the attack is believed to have started as far back as fall of 2023 - around the same time US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was briefing telecom and tech executives on the depth and breadth of Chinese penetration into US critical infrastructure.

Salt Typhoon is now known to have successfully breached the networks of AT&T and Verizon in the attack, but little is known about what data the China-affiliated group was able to access.

Both Lumen and T-Mobile were also targeted during the attack, but both companies have said that they successfully stopped attackers from accessing sensitive customer information. Verizon confirmed that the data of a limited number of high-profile individuals involved in politics was targeted in attacks.

Salt Typhoon also gained access to a ‘lawful interception’ channel used by law enforcement agencies to perform court-ordered wiretaps for national security purposes, with China repeatedly denying any involvement in the attacks and accusing the US of spreading misinformation. China even went so far as to label Volt Typhoon - a similar group believed to be associated with Beijing - as a CIA asset set up to discredit the US’ rivals across the Pacific.

Both Fortinet and Cisco did not comment on the WSJ report, but both organizations have been in the cross hairs of cyber attacks from a range of cyber criminal groups.

Network routers with outdated firmware have been a favorite target as an initial access point for attackers and botnets for several years. Fortinet has also experienced a spate of attacks on its Windows VPN service and Fortigate VPN systems.

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• A 9th victim has been identified in the Salt Typhoon hack
• No attackers are thought to be lurking on the networks
• The White House wants to go on the 'offensive' against cyber threats

An ongoing assessment of the notorious Salt Typhoon hack has claimed there are no longer any lurking hackers present in the breached networks, and that all networks are now secure. This is the latest development in one of the most far reaching cyber-espionage campaigns in recent memory, which has just claimed its 9th victim, the White House confirmed.

Major telecoms firms like AT&T and Verizon were amongst the victims of the campaign, with over 100,000 routers compromised in just one network, which allowed broad and full access, allowing the attackers to "geolocate millions of individuals, to record phone calls at will."

It’s believed that fewer than 100 individuals were affected personally by the attack, with the group specifically identifying a small number of devices around the Washington DC area, with a goal of identifying and monitoring government targets to collect intelligence.

White House retribution

The attack has sparked response from the White House, as incoming President Trump has vowed to go on the offensive. Officials claim years of cyberdefense has been ineffective, and Mike Waltz, new national security advisor has warned the US will need to ‘start imposing’ on nation state actors who pose a threat.

Whilst the investigation is ongoing, it seems unlikely that the scale of the intrusion will ever be fully understood, with damage limitation and mitigating follow-on risk now a high priority.

“That’s why we’re looking forward and saying ‘let’s lock down this infrastructure,’ and frankly, let’s hold the Chinese accountable for this,” said Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for cyber and emerging technology.

“From what we’re seeing regarding the level of cybersecurity implemented across the telecom sectors, those networks are not as defensible as they need to be to defend against a well-resourced, capable, offensive cyber actor like China.”

Via Reuters

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• US federal agency issues warning against cellphone usage for work calls
• Warning comes in the aftermath of the breach of several US telecoms providers
• Attack has been attributed to Salt Typhoon, who also breached a number of ISPs

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued a warning to its workers that personal mobile devices should not be used for sensitive work calls due to the recent Chinese probing of US telecommunications networks.

The email sent by the CFPB acknowledges that “While there is no evidence that CFPB has been targeted by this unauthorized access, I ask for your compliance with these directives so we reduce the risk that we will be compromised.”

The warning also extends to contractors working for the CFB, and highlights the scale of the attack against US telecoms by the China-related group tracked as Salt Typhoon.

Telecoms attack worries federal agencies

There is no indication on exactly what data may have been exfiltrated from the telecoms providers, but initial reports suggest that call logs, unencrypted texts and some phone audio was exfiltrated by the attackers, including audio from a number of high-profile individuals related to the Harris and Trump campaigns alongside potentially hundreds of thousands of US citizens.

US officials are also cutting down on their phone use in response to the hack, with a former US official who spoke to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) stating, “There is a general reticence to use their cellphones.”

Salt Typhoon also managed to breach several internet service providers (ISP) in early October, including Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen, with the attackers also gaining access to a lawful wiretap used for surveillance by US authorities.

As the WSJ notes, a federal agency issuing a specific warning against the use of personal mobile phones indicates the depth and breadth of the attacks.

“Do NOT conduct CFPB work using mobile voice calls or text messages,” the CFPB email recommended. The email also stated that staff should only use authorized online collaboration platforms such as Cisco WebEx and Microsoft Teams to make calls and send messages that contain non-public data.

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Some of Frontier Communications’ largest shareholders have voiced concerns over the company’s planned takeover by Verizon Communications – a deal worth an estimated $9.6 billion, reports have claimed.

Glendon Capital Management, the company’s second-largest investor, allegedly plans to vote against the deal according to unnamed sources familiar with the matter cited by Reuters.

Accounting for nearly 10% of all Frontier shares, Glendon believes Verizon’s offer of $38.50 per share undervalues the company, thus it will reject the offer during a vote planned for November 13.

Verizon-Frontier acquisition risk

The deal will require a majority vote in favor for approval, and Glendon’s significant role combined with its potential influence on other shareholders could sway the vote in favor of pushing for a higher valuation.

Cerberus Capital Management, another investor accounting for 7.3% of Frontier, has also expressed concerns about the deal, says Reuters, however how the firm will vote remains unconfirmed.

The deal, announced last month, already offered a 44% premium to Frontier’s 90-day volume-weighted average share price. Subject to a vote in favor, and subsequent regulatory approval processes, the acquisition could take up to 18 months.

Despite the healthy premium, investors and analysts are suggesting that the valuation is still too low, with New Street Research analyst Jonathan Chaplin indicating that the company could push for a $67-per-share deal “comfortably.”

It’s unclear how Ares Management, Frontier’s leading investor with a 15.6% stake, will cast its vote.

When the deal was first revealed, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg described the merger as a “strategic fit” that would help both telecomms companies become more competitive across the US.

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Editor's note, Thursday October 10, 2024: We're again seeing reports of Verizon customers struggling to access the service. We've got all the latest details in our new Verizon outage live blog. 

If you’re on Verizon in the United States and encountered dropped calls or slower service on September 30, 2024, you’re not alone. Dozens of reports on Down Detector and customers posting to Threads and X (formerly known as Twitter) at around 10 AM ET. 

All of this indicated that Verizon was having network problems, and the carrier confirmed this, noting that its engineers were looking into it and it took over nine hours to fully fix it (see the full statement below).

Impacted Verizon customers could not make calls, send text messages, or use data. Some customers with an iPhone began seeing SOS or SOS only in place of cellular status bars, which signifies that the device can’t connect to a network. AT&T and T-Mobile both issued statements that their networks were normal. Folks on those carriers trying to reach Verizon customers couldn’t get through and were worried their network was having an outage.

While at 5PM ET, Verizon did note it had begun to restore its impacted network, the carrier didn’t declare a full restoration of services until 7:18PM ET. In full, Verizon said, “Verizon engineers have fully restored today's network disruption that impacted some customers. Service has returned to normal levels.  If you are still having issues, we recommend restarting your device. We know how much people rely on Verizon and apologize for any inconvenience.  We appreciate your patience.”

That network restoration came almost nine and half hours after the issues were first reported, which puts it slightly less in length compared to AT&T’s equally massive outage from earlier in 2024. Since Verizon’s latest statements reported outages on Down Detector as well as customers posting on social media have begun to decrease.

Ahead, you can read the live blog – which is still being updated as of 7:40PM ET – for the latest updates and to read back to when we first started reporting on Verizon’s massive outage on September 30, 2024. And as Verizon wrote, if you’re still having network issues they say to restart it and then we’d add to try resetting Network settings as that can sometimes clear some issues.

Wecome, we're here to report on this ongoing Verizon outage. According to Down Detector, there has been a spike of outage reports since 10AM ET. 

Verizon customers have been taking to social platform Threads to ask if it's just them experiencing network issues and expressing frustration. Down Detector's outage map shows New York, Washington, DC, Atlanta, and Kansas as the areas with the most reported issues, with Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Fransisco following behind. 

Some users note that cellular service reception indicators – aka the bars at the top of a smartphone screen – have disappeared in favor of SOS and a satellite symbol.

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Since reports of the outage first began appearing in the 9AM ET hour, there have been over 105,000 reports of an outage on Down Detector for Verizon, and that appears to be increasing as well. 

Folks note that they cannot dial out or have no network, which results in the SOS icon appearing to replace network bars on a newer iPhone. With this feature, the iPhone can connect to a satellite to help send messages or make calls. It was originally used for Emergency SOS via Satellite but now also functions for Messages via Satellite. 

Like the massive AT&T network outage earlier in 2024, while the reports first started with Verizon, Down Detector is now showing an increase in reports for AT&T and T-Mobile. It's important to remember that these might not be issues with these carriers specifically but rather that you're dialing a number connected to Verizon's network. Even so, we've reached out to both AT&T and T-Mobile to ask about any network disruptions this morning.

Verizon responds to the network outage

Verizon has just responded to us, saying, "We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue."

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the issue can be found and fixed quickly, as it's been ongoing for several hours in a few regions. Verizon has also shared the same statement on its social channels. 

Verizon customers impacted by the outage are still posting about the experience on Threads and X but are now using the tags "VerizonDown" or "VerizonOutage." Some even include the phrase, "Can you hear me now?" as a nod to the carrier's old advertisements. 

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If you have an iPhone and Verizon but are currently seeing SOS or SOS Only in the top status bar on your device, your phone cannot connect to your carrier's cellular network. That lines up with the Verizon outage today if you're a customer, but your iPhone within the United States, Australia, and Canada can still make emergency calls.

Apple has a support document all about SOS or SOS Only appearing on your iPhone, but there isn't much to do aside from waiting for Verizon to fix the issue. You can try restarting your iPhone, or turning on Airplane mode for about 15 seconds to see if it resolves the issue.

If you're just joining us, here's a quick TLDR on what's going on with Verizon this AM. The United States based wireless carrier is currently experiencing a nationwide outage impacting folks all over the country. It's reported that impacted customers cannot make or receive calls and have zero access to data. Some with iPhone's are seeing SOS or SOS Only appear in the top status bar in place of network reception bars, meaning that phone cannot connect to the cellular network.

While outage reports began hours again in the 9AM ET hour, Verizon issued a response shortly after 11:50AM ET, noting that its aware of a service issue and is working fast to "identify and solve" it. 

"VerizonDown" and "VerizonOutage" are trending on Threads and X, as impacted users share there frustrations and expereinces. 

While reported outages on Down Detector for Verizon spiked to over 105,000 at 11:37AM ET, it appears that nearly an hour later, outage reports are dwindling on the site. It currently shows over 70,000 outage reports and a similar heat map for impacted areas across the United States. 

Many affected customers are still posting to Threads and X, though. Some note that due to the outage, 2FA – or two–factor authentication – is failing as codes cannot be received. Similarly, others note they can't make calls and haven't been receiving calls.

AT&T says its network is just fine

AT&T just posted on X (formerly Twitter) that its network is operating just fine, noting that the spike we posted about on Down Detector of reported outages is "likely reflecting challenges our customers are having attempting to connect to users on another network." This means the issue is on Verizon's end, not AT&T's. You can see the full statement above.

T-Mobile has yet to release a comment, but Down Detector still shows a spike in reported outages for them as well.

Considering the largest spark in reported outages on Verizon via Down Detector occurred at 10AM ET, we're now about three hours into this outage. Reports peaked at over 105,000 but have since slowed down to a still sizable 62,001 as of 12:41PM ET on the site. Plenty of users across the United States are still reporting issues on Verizon's network, including not being able to make calls or send texts and even seeing SOS in the top bar if they have an iPhone.

Verizon has not commented further since its first statement at 11:53AM ET, noting that it's aware of the issue and working to solve it. 

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Like AT&T, T-Mobile has responded to us and is quick to note its network is running normally aside from restoration efforts related to Hurricane Helene, which are ongoing. 

The full statement reads, "Based on increased reports on Down Detector related to other providers, we believe our customers may be having challenges connecting with other networks. Outside of some areas where restoration is continuing from Hurricane Helene, our network is operating normally." 

Down Detector reports for T-Mobile are dwindling, currently at 840 as of 12:56PM ET.

Verizon's network is still having issues

While we're still waiting for an update from Verizon on the ongoing network outage, impacted customers are still sharing what's happening. Several have even taken to X and Threads, noting that they've visited a local Verizon store to try and get answers. 

The carrier has updated its "MyVerizon" app with a similar statement at the top noting the network issues, and it is working to identify and resolve them. On Down Detector, reported Verizon outages have slowed down but are currently sitting at over 50,000.

Some folks are trying out Messages via Satellite

Verizon is now displaying the same statement about it's outage near the top of it's websites homepage. It reads, "We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue."

Separately, given that iPhones on Verizon are displaying SOS when the phone can't connect to the network, some users are trying out Messages via Satellite. @sullyj on Threads is dealing with the Verizon outage in Chicago, IL, and wrote, "At least I got to try sending a message via satellite 🛰️." Countless other impacted customers sharing that SOS is display instead of reception bars as well.

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It's now been five hours since a surge of reported outages hit Down Detector, Threads, and X, noting that Verizon was experiencing some major issues. The carrier confirmed the network disruption with the statement below, which was about an hour and a half after that. Since then, we haven't received any formal updates from Verizon, but customers impacted by the outage have been vocal on both Threads and X.

If you're on Verizon and experiencing issues, there is a good chance you can make calls or send texts and have a hard time using the internet. If you have an iPhone, you may even see SOS in place of network status bars, as the phone does this when it can't connect to a network. The good news is Verizon is working on the issue to identify and solve it, but the bad news is we don't have a time frame.

While reported outages have started to slow down on Down Detector – it peaked at over 105,000 this AM – it's now beginning to rise at over 49,000 after it slowed to about 48,000. 

Down Detector is still holding steady since our last update with 47,752 reported Verizon outages as of 3:29PM ET. The comments still mentions in California, North Carolina, and Chicago among other locations, with others nothing that even Wi-Fi calling isn't working. 

Verizon has not released any further update since the initial comment, noting that it is working to identify the issue and respond to it. Judging from previous outages, including AT&T's similarly massive one earlier in 2024, it might be a while before Verizon provides an update or explains what went wrong here. Still, it's not stopping impacted customers from asking for more information or expressing frustration on Threads and X. 

Verizon's still having issues, but reports are slightly dwindling

It's clear that Verizon is still having issues – both from the carrier's original statement and frustrated customers posting all over social – but reported outages on Down Detector are starting to slow down a bit.

As of 4:22PM ET, there are 42,453, a drop from 48,000 about an hour ago and quite a drop from 105,000 at 11AM ET. According to the map, New York, Washington, DC, Atlanta, North Carolina, Kansas, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix are all prominent on the corresponding outage map.

Could the Verizon network be rebounding back to normal operations? One would hope, though we haven't received any update from the carrier since its first statement over eight hours ago. According to Down Detector, reported outages from Verizon customers are again slowing down – now sitting at 28,842 as of 5:02PM ET. 

More so, some people are commenting on Down Detector saying that some service is restored, but that's not a widespread notion as of yet.

Verizon says that "service has started to be restored"

Finally, over 8 hours after reports of an outage began to appear, we've just heard from Verizon that its network is now starting to be restored. We don't have exact details on what went wrong, and it might take a bit to get those, but Verizon says its engineers "are making progress on our network issue." You can read the complete statement here:

"Verizon engineers are making progress on our network issue and service has started to be restored. We know how much people rely on Verizon and apologize for any inconvenience some of our customers experienced today. We continue to work around the clock to fully resolve this issue."

There is still no exact timeline for the restoration, but Verizon promises to work around the clock to resolve it. Further, the carrier apologizes, but we have a feeling customers will want to see credits.

Is your service returning if you've been impacted today on Verizon?

Considering the length and extent of Verizon's outage today, it makes sense that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is aware of it and looking into it. The FCC posted the statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), and many responded, hoping for bill credits. 

While Verizon "has only started" to restore its network, some customers are taking to Threads and X to share that connectivity has returned. This is also in line with a drop to 15,382 reported outages on Down Detector as of 5:29PM ET.

Some users are sharing that Verizon must have turned something back on with text messages arriving in bulk or being able to make calls after a long outage that lasted for most of the day.

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Still, though, it's not a complete network restoration yet, with other users still noting that the service is not back. Given that this was a nationwide outage across the United States, Verizon could take a bit to get all parts of its network back up to normal operations.

Verizon customers are saying service has returned

Outage reports on Down Detector drop below 5,000

Ever since Verizon issued its latest statement confirming that it has begun restoring impacted parts of its network, we've been keeping an eye on Down Detector. As of 6:40PM ET, the number of reported Verizon outages has dropped below 5,000.

As of 6:29PM ET, Down Detector is showing 4,383 reports and countless comments from folks sharing that service has resumed. Of course, it's not a complete return to service, something Verizon didn't give a time frame for but stated its team would be working around the clock to complete. 

Additionally, Down Detector shared a graph of reported outages for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile for September 30, 2024, confirming that the site received over 1.6 million reports from users. That's quite a bit, but of course, it's important to note AT&T and T-Mobile did not have outages today, just Verizon.

Verizon says its network is fully restored

After a long day for Verizon customers impacted by a nationwide outage, the carrier has finally issued a new update noting its teams "have fully restored today's network disruption." This news come over nine hours since first being reported and an especially frustrating day for impacted customers, who were left with only three updates – including this last one. Here's the full statement:

"Verizon engineers have fully restored today's network disruption that impacted some customers. Service has returned to normal levels.  If you are still having issues, we recommend restarting your device. We know how much people rely on Verizon and apologize for any inconvenience.  We appreciate your patience."

While the statement doesn't say what caused the multi-hour outage that impacted customers nationwide – though we did reach out to Verizon asking for more information – it does apologize for any inconvenience. We imagine customers will look for more than words and likely compensation or bill credits for the extended outage. 

Lastly, it notes that if you're still experiencing issues, restart your device. This is simply tried-and-true tech advice.

Verizon has revealed that it's expanding its fiber network by preparing to buy Frontier Communications in a cash deal worth $20 billion. The acquisition aims to help Verizon recapture fiber lines that were sold in 2016 as part of a TV and Internet deal in California, Texas, and Florida.

Verizon offered $38.50 per share, a premium of 36.3% to Frontier’s closing price on the 3rd September. The deal is set to close in 18 months, and is expected to help Verizon compete against premium broadband services such as AT&T.

Frontier reported a debt of $11.25 billion as of June 30th 2024, and under the current terms of the deal, Verizon will pay Frontier a fee of $590 million. The company brings 2.2 million subscribers to combine with Verizon's 7.4 million FiOS connections.

Mutually beneficial

The deal is predicted to generate at least $500 million in annual run-rate cost savings by its third year of operation. Frontier’s coverage primarily serves the Midwest, Texas, and California, whilst Verizon focuses on the North East and Mid-Atlantic. Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg comments, “The acquisition of Frontier is a strategic fit. It will build on Verizon's two decades of leadership...and is an opportunity to become more competitive in more markets throughout the U.S.”

Verizon has reaffirmed its commitment to building a best in class network and delivering high-speed broadband. This comes just months after Frontier Communications launched its ‘Good to Go’ campaign, which aimed to deliver fiber technology that will span a customer’s lifetime.

This Verizon deal is set to expand the company’s coverage and offer faster service to a wider range of customers. Broadband companies are each looking for ways to gain an edge over their competitors, with AT&T looking to space to provide supplementary coverage, using satellites to provide service to areas with unreliable connections.

Via CNBC

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Hacking an IT network via zero-day vulnerabilities may grab all the headlines, but the vast majority of cybersecurity-related incidents come as a consequence of employee error. 

The latest Verizon Business Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) found half (49%) of the incidents across the EMEA region are initiated internally. 

Across the EMEA region, the top reasons for cybersecurity incidents include “miscellaneous errors, system intrusion, and social engineering” (87% of all breaches). 

Zero-days still a major threat

When hackers make their way into an IT network, they mostly steal personal information (64%), followed by internal data (33%), and login credentials (20%). 

But even when data breaches aren’t accidental and include a malicious third party, they are still initiated with a non-malicious human action, Verizon further explains. That means that an employee will either make a mistake, or fall prey to a social engineering attack.

“The persistence of the human element in breaches shows that organizations in EMEA must continue to combat this trend by prioritizing training and raising awareness of cybersecurity best practices,” said Sanjiv Gossain, EMEA Vice President, Verizon Business.

However, the increase in self-reporting is promising and indicates a cultural shift in the importance of cybersecurity awareness among the general workforce.” 

This doesn’t mean that attacks via zero-days are negligible. In fact, globally, the exploitation of vulnerabilities as an initial point of entry increased since last year, accounting for 14% of all breaches, Verizon’s report further stated. This spike was driven mostly by the MOVEit cyberattack, which saw the ransomware actors known as Cl0p abusing a zero-day in the managed file transfer solution to compromise thousands of organizations worldwide, and steal enormous amounts of sensitive information.

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Write this down, because I’m going to tell you my secret to understanding the US mobile industry for the last 20 years. The answer to everything is 'The Carriers.' Every question, every conundrum. If you want to know why we DO have this, or DON’T have that? The answer is the US carriers: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. How has Apple managed to achieve monopoly power in the US and draw the ire of the Justice Department? The answer is the US carriers.

One of the strongest points that Apple makes in its rebuttal to the government’s lawsuit is that the government is considering only the US market, but Apple competes on a global scale. In the global market, Apple’s market share is much lower than in the US alone. It owns closer to 20% of the global market, as opposed to more than 60% of the US market.

Why is there such a huge difference? Is it because Samsung is incredibly popular everywhere else in the world? Are Google Pixel phones and Motorola Razr phones catching on like wildfire? Of course not. It’s because there are lots of phones in the rest of the world that you simply cannot buy here in the US.

Half of the Top 10 phone makers don't sell phones here

The top ten phone makers in the world include Apple, Samsung, OnePlus and Motorola. It also includes Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, and Realme. While Oppo’s subsidiary brand OnePlus sells phones in the US, none of those latter brands are available here. Why not? Check your notes, you wrote down the answer.

It’s because of the US carriers. Okay, we can’t blame the US carriers for the US government’s ban on Huawei products (though the government hasn’t offered specific evidence to support that ban). The rest of the phones, though, are not available in the US because the carriers don’t sell them. You can find them through grey market import channels, but they won’t have a local warranty, and they may not support local networks properly.

It’s unclear why the US carriers don’t sell half of the top phone brands here in the US, and we can only add blind speculation. Is there a political motive, as all of these brands are Chinese? I’ve personally heard from a mobile industry analyst that the US government has in some way influenced the carrier decision to forego selling most new Chinese phones. That analyst wouldn’t go on the record, so I take that possibility with a huge grain of salt.

The other possibility is that it is simply cost-prohibitive for a foreign manufacturer to sell phones here. If you want to sell phones in a US carrier store, you need to work with the carriers. That means sending hundreds of devices to labs for testing, and adjusting everything on the device that fails those stringent tests.

It means a lot more localization work for each phone. The US carriers will also want a marketing commitment, or else the phones will end up on the shelves in the back, behind all the iPhones and Galaxy phones and no-name budget phones with Verizon or AT&T branding.

It is easier for US carriers to sell you an iPhone

The same motivation that keeps the US carriers from selling these competing phone brands is also what keeps the iPhone at the top of the pile. It is very easy for US carriers to sell the iPhone. Apple spends a lot of its own money on marketing, alongside whatever the carriers are spending. There are rewards and incentives for selling more iPhones, especially with AppleCare attached.

Best of all, when you have a problem with your iPhone, you don’t need to call Verizon. You can call Apple. In fact, Apple would probably prefer you call them directly.

Most companies hate customer service calls because they cost a lot of money and don’t result in more sales. Carriers will refuse to stock phones if those phones are going to cause a lot of customer service calls. That’s another reason we don’t see Chinese phones, which tend to have poor localization and language issues, in US carrier stores.

The US carriers buy more iPhones than anybody else

Apple isn’t to blame for its overwhelming market share. Instead, blame its largest customers, the ones that buy so many iPhones that Apple’s dominance is inevitable. Apple’s top customer isn’t you or me. It’s the US carriers. Apple sells millions of phones directly to US carriers, and they sell them to us.

Most people in the US still buy their phone directly from their mobile carrier. While Apple and Samsung both sell directly, and Apple even has a store in your local mall, most iPhone owners in the US bought their phone from AT&T or Verizon or T-Mobile, or one of the smaller (often wholly-owned) networks that buy bandwidth from those three. After all, the carriers give you the best deal on a new phone if you sign up for a long-term contract, and who can afford to pay hundreds upfront these days?

If there is a reason that the Apple iPhone is the dominant phone on the market, the reason is the US carriers. They sell more iPhones than Apple directly, along with the Apple Watches that keep you locked into Apple’s platform. Verizon often gives away a free watch and a free tablet if you connect all of your devices to their network; we see this deal every time a new model is launched.

Not only is Apple not solely responsible for its US market dominance, but it’s also fair to say that the US cellular market could use some scrutiny. After T-Mobile swallowed up Sprint, US customers were left with a much less competitive market.

Instead of going after Apple for dominating the market, the Justice Department should encourage the US mobile networks to offer more options in stores. The rest of the world has far more options, and the global market is more competitive. If the US carriers are the reason we don’t have the same choice as the rest of the world, maybe it’s the US carriers that are the problem, and not Apple.

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Verizon has notified the Office of the Maine Attorney General of an incident with sensitive data belonging to its employees, but it doesn’t seem to be a full-blown data breach, or leak.

As reported by BleepingComputer, the company shared a breach notification with the US Government agency in which it stated that an employee gained unauthorized access to a file containing sensitive employee information on September 21, 2023. 

The unnamed employee apparently accessed a database with sensitive information on 63,206 employees, including people’s full names, physical addresses, Social Security Numbers (SSN), national IDs, genders, union affiliations, birth dates, and compensation information. No customer information seems to have been exposed.

Not involving the police

Verizon realized what had happened almost three months later, on December 12, 2023. 

While unauthorized access is always a risk, and proper authorities must be notified, this doesn’t seem to be a full-blown data breach, as there was no malicious intent, Verizon said. 

"At this time, we have no evidence that this information has been misused or shared outside of Verizon as a result of this issue," the breach notification reads. "We are working to ensure our technical controls are enhanced to help prevent this type of situation from reoccurring and are notifying applicable regulators about the matter."

Still, the company isn’t taking any chances and shared instructions on enrolling in a two-year identity theft protection and credit monitoring service with the breach notification email. 

In a statement shared with BleepingComputer, Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said the company did not notify the police as there was no indication of malicious intent. “We don’t believe the information was shared externally,” Young said. 

Verizon is an American telecommunications and mass media company, offering its services to more than 150 million people in the United States. As of 2022, Verizon had more than 110,000 employees, and an annual revenue of $136.8 billion.

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BlueJeans will be given the axe this month as parent company Verizon looks to optimize costs.

The news comes just three years after the telecoms giant acquired the video conferencing after a year-long decision-making process that was based on the hope that BlueJeans could take on the likes of Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

In an email to customers on August 8 seen by 9to5Google, the company said: “We want to share that we have made the difficult decision to sunset our suite of BlueJeans products.”

BlueJeans video conferencing app no longer available

The email describes the app as an “award-winning product” which was clearly more geared towards businesses and enterprises than individuals, with customers including Facebook, Adobe, and Dolby.

The company only recently added in the free tier, which it calls Basic, in order to support small teams with calls capable of handling up to 25 participants. Otherwise, customers had the choice of opting for Pro ($17.49 monthly or $13.99 when paid annually) or Enterprise ($19.99 monthly or $16.66 when paid annually).

In the email, BlueJeans explains: “In light of this, BlueJeans Basic and free trial offerings will be discontinued effective August 31, 2023, and your access to the services will be removed. However, you can continue to use these services until that time.”

The communication also advises customers to download any saved recordings before August 31 before it gets deleted for good.

A distinct lack of information regarding the two paid plans leaves the majority of customers clueless about their service, however it’s possible that those customers will have slightly more time. The company did not immediately respond to TechRadar Pro’s request for further information.

Either way, all BlueJeans customers are being urged to find a suitable alternative before time runs out.

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If you were planning to buy an iPhone 14, where would you shop? Depending on where you are in the world your answer might vary, but in the US at least, the answer is increasingly not through Apple’s own stores.

That’s according to a report from CIRP (Consumer Intelligence Research Partners LLC), via The Verge, which found that only around 24% of US iPhone buyers are shopping directly with Apple.

67% meanwhile are buying their iPhones through carriers – so primarily AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. That’s the vast majority of sales, and in much of the world that stat might not be overly surprising, but given the long lines US Apple stores used to get on iPhone launch days, it seems this might mark a shift in the US.

What might actually be the most surprising stat is that other retailers, such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, only make up the remaining 9%.

Still, there are good reasons to choose carriers. For one thing, there are only actually 272 Apple Stores in the US, while carrier stores are far more prevalent, making them a lot more convenient.

Of course, a lot of shopping happens online nowadays, but whether in store or on the web, carriers tend to offer the best iPhone deals, as you’ll often be able to get a new iPhone for ‘free’ through a carrier, as part of your monthly plan; making it at least appear a lot more affordable.

The overall costs aren’t always lower, but at least they’re spread out more, and often carriers genuinely are a lot cheaper – or throw in extras to sweeten the deal. So their success in iPhone sales is no real surprise.

Analysis: how carriers compare to Apple

Carrier deals vary of course, but sometimes they’re genuinely great, such as Verizon’s Cyber Monday deal, which remarkably is still running and gives customers a free Apple Watch SE 2, iPad 10.2 (2021), and pair of Beats Fit Pro, when they purchase an iPhone 14 Pro on an unlimited data plan.

On top of that, customers can also get up to $1,000 off if they trade in an old handset, and a $200 gift card if switching from another carrier.

If you bought an iPhone 14 Pro through Apple now or even during the Black Friday period you’d basically have to pay the full price of the phone, with no discounts, gift cards or freebies.

There are caveats here, in that you can choose to spread the cost, and Apple does offer trade-ins and some deals with carrier activation (but usually no better than the deals you’d get by going direct to the carrier).

But it didn’t offer any specific Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals of its own on the iPhone 14 line, and even if you bought an older model during that period the best you could hope for was a $50 gift card.

And that’s typical of Apple. Other retailers – such as Walmart and Best Buy – sometimes offer greater discounts, which is why their tiny slice of the pie is a bit surprising, but they’re still rarely a match for the best carrier deals.

So if you’re looking to buy an iPhone, you should definitely look beyond Apple itself, because there are often much better deals elsewhere – and that’s true outside the US as well.

To help you out, we have a guide to the best iPhone deals, and you’ll find the current best prices for many models in your region below.

Verizon has notified an unknown number of its prepaid customers of a cyberattack that partially exposed their credit card information, as well as a wide variety of other personally identifiable information that could lead to identity theft. 

In a letter sent to its customers, Verizon said it recently spotted unusual activity on its network, and upon further investigation, discovered a breach that occurred between October 6 and October 10, 2022. 

The company did not say who was behind the attack, or how the threat actors managed to get through Verizon’s endpoints. 

SIM swapping attacks

It's unclear whether the breach resulted from malware, ransomware, or social engineering. It did say that the attackers obtained the last four digits of prepaid customers’ credit cards used to pay for the service.

The attackers used this information to access user accounts, engage in SIM swapping attacks, and steal sensitive data:

“Using the last four digits of that credit card, the third party was able to gain access to your Verizon account and may have processed an unauthorized SIM card change on the prepaid line that received the SMS linking to this notice,” the company said. “If a SIM card change occurred, Verizon has reversed it.”

Among the sensitive data stolen were names, phone numbers, postal addresses, price plans, and other service-related information. 

However, Verizon have confirmed that banking data, financial data, passwords, Social Security numbers and tax IDs were not accessed.

While the company did reset the PIN codes for all affected customers, it also suggested that users review sensitive login information for themselves.

“Set a new Verizon PIN code. Do not reuse a previous PIN, and be sure to pick a unique PIN that is not used to secure other non-Verizon accounts. Set a new password and new secret question and answer for users with access to your My Verizon online account.”

• These are the best encryption software right now

Via: BleepingComputer

Good news! Verizon is handing out free mobile phones… if you currently have a 3G-only handset. The operator plans to switch off its 3G CDMA network at the end of the year as it seeks to reallocate all available resources to its 4G and 5G services.

While 5G and 4G are complementary technologies that will exist for many years to come – indeed many of the underlying technological upgrades that make 5G possible will improve 4G too – mobile operators around the world are eager to switch off legacy 2G and 3G.

At the end of 2021, there were just four million devices that relied on a 2G or 3G connection and many of these will be IoT devices such as smart metres that rely on 2G. It is for this reason that 2G will likely survive into the 2030s and why, for now, UK operators have only confirmed their plans to ‘sunset’ 3G.

Free 4G phones on Verizon

5G networks require a greater volume and variety of spectrum than previous generations of mobile technology and operators want to re-use finite and valuable frequencies currently allocated to 3G. 

Older networks also consume more power, carry less traffic, and require maintenance, all of which adds to operator’s running costs. And, on top of this, aging 3G equipment is using up precious physical space on a mast.

Switching off 3G seems a logical step. The last phone I owned that couldn’t connect to a 4G network was my iPhone 4. I loved the beautiful handset but by the end of 2013, it was becoming a chore to use. I struggled to get the speeds I needed for the applications I wanted to use, and, in some cases, I simply couldn’t get a signal at all in crowded central London.

I switched to a 4G-compatible iPhone 5S and never looked back and upgraded as soon as possible when 5G arrived in my area nearly a decade later. I appreciate that as a technology journalist who specialises in telecoms, I am not a typical smartphone user, but the overwhelming majority of mobile phone owners in the UK now have access to at least a 4G device.

Many consumers will automatically be upgraded to 5G via natural upgrade cycles but there are many people in the UK who are on a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) tariff who are either perfectly happy with their current phone or are unaware that time is ticking on their connection.

It is this group of people that might be the crucial obstacle to switching off 3G and find out who they are might be challenging. The offer of a free phone is the obvious step – the cost of the handsets must surely outweigh the running costs of aging infrastructure – but finding out who needs one could be more challenging.

As mobile connectivity becomes more important to everyday life, it’s crucial that no one is left behind. The mobile industry must be ready to provide technology, drive awareness, and offer education as it continues to push forward into 5G and beyond. 

• Here are the best 5G phone deals

Verizon's 3G CDMA network will shut down on December 31, 2022, but the carrier revealed it's handing out free phones to the users who stayed on the old connection standard.

These new phones work on the current 4G LTE network and aren't anything fancy, just basic flip phones. There are three phones available: the Orbic Journey V (retail value $99.99), the TCL FLIP Pro (retail value $79.99), and the Nokia 2720 V Flip (retail value $79.99). With phones this basic, don’t expect a whole lot out of them. Although the Nokia phone does have Google Assistant and YouTube apps, so that’s at least something.

Unfortunately, 3G holdouts don't get to choose their giveaway phones. A Verizon representative confirmed that the device they'll receive will be chosen by the company. It also said to keep an eye out for any notifications from Verizon about the 4G phones. No word on how long it'll take for the new devices to ship.

Verizon noted that the old 3G cell-service contract will carry over to the new phone at no extra cost. There’s also the option of declining the phone. All you have to do is call customer service and tell them that you don’t want it. 

Once people get their new 4G phone, there’s a little bit of setup that they’ll have to perform to get it going. The old 3G phone must be turned off first before activating the new phone. If the 4G device isn't activated within 30 days, Verizon will do it for you automatically. The company recommends people backup their contacts to Verizon Cloud so they can download them to their new phone. You can find a set of instructions on their website on how to do this. Verizon also recommends taking the old phone to a Verizon store so it can be recycled. 

Some people may be hesitant to make the jump because they have accessibility features enabled on their old phones. If that’s the case, Verizon recommends contacting the carrier to find a better solution for their needs.

Out with the old

Verizon was originally going to pull the plug on their 3G network back in 2019 but kept delaying it. According to company Vice President Mike Haberman, the company wanted to give people ample time to switch and to “minimize disruptions.”

As to why they’re shutting down their network, it’s to better support the faster connections and develop new ones. The way it works is that a cellular connection has to share space with other connections on the network. But in turn, that holds back the potential of 4G and 5G speeds. With 3G shutting down, they can put more resources into improving the other standards. Plus Verizon can repurpose the tech and put them toward developing a 6G network.

Verizon follows T-Mobile, which recently shut down its old 3G network, and AT&T, which did the same back in February. T-Mobile and AT&T also gave out free phones, although the former was more generous as it included offers for a 5G device. 

It’s entirely possible that one day we’ll see the same thing happen to the 4G network, but that probably won’t be any time soon. For those shopping for a new phone, TechRadar recently published a list of the best deals for July 2022.

Want to know what's low-key the best deal on the entire Verizon site right now? In our humble opinion it's not on the newest iPhone 13 but on the slightly older (but still good) iPhone 12.

Right now, the carrier is giving away this device (which is still valued $699) away for free with a new line on an unlimited data plan - an absolutely awesome deal that benefits from a low barrier of entry. 

Why do we say this? Well, most of the best Verizon deals at any one point in the year generally revolve around trading in an old device. Right now, for example, you can get a $800 saving on the iPhone 13, Galaxy S22, and even the Google Pixel 6 Pro, but only by handing over that old device. It's great to recycle, of course, but some people just don't have an old device that can fetch that value in a trade.

That's where this 'free' iPhone 12 deal comes in at Verizon - you'll skip out on device payments without the need for a pesky trade in as long as you're picking one up on an eligible unlimited plan. These can be pretty pricey in themselves (around $45 to $90 per month over 36 months), but you'll save $699 on the device payments. 

Note, it's likely this Verizon deal on the iPhone 12 will stick around over the weekend but it's looking like one of the more popular choices at the carrier currently. The device itself is on backorder until late June at the moment, so we'd recommend ordering sooner rather than later if you want a speedier delivery.

Outside the US? Check out the best iPhone deals in your region just below.

Free Apple iPhone 12 deal at Verizon

• See more: check out all of this week's best cell phone deals at Verizon

Want to see this week's best promotions on the latest device? We've laid everything out over at our main iPhone 13 deals page.

A nasty bug has been going around affecting iPhone users that can cause the iMessage and FaceTime apps to randomly deactivate with no way to turn them back on.

The news comes from various Twitter users including prominent Apple leaker and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, all of whom detailed their experience with this bug. So far, this problem is limited to users on the T-Mobile and Verizon networks. That may seem like good news at first if the problem is limited to just two networks.

However, Verizon and T-Mobile have the widest service networks in the United States, and with over 113 million iPhone users in the U.S., this could be a major problem.

Problem with eSIM

The problem is specifically affecting the eSIM chip, according to 9 To 5 Mac. The eSIM chip allows people to set up and activate their phones on a network via software without having to use a physical SIM card or visit a carrier store. And if you don’t recall, a SIM card is what allows your smartphone to make calls, send texts, and connect to the internet over a cellular network.

The purpose of the eSIM chip is to make setting iPhone easier to do. Unfortunately, no one knows exactly what is occurring inside the eSIM chip that’s causing the problem. According to Gurman, this bug has existed for a while. It affects phones running iOS 15.4, 15.5, and 15.6 beta 1.

Both Verizon and T-Mobile appear to be aware of the bug as several people in that Twitter thread, including Gurman, contacted their carriers for help. So far, Apple has yet to acknowledge the bug, let alone roll out a patch fix.

Solutions

Gurman states that the only solution is to insert a brand physical SIM card into an iPhone to get around the bug. 

It’s also possible to remove your eSIM account and get a new one reissued to your iPhone. But Gurman advises against this because the process is too “complex for most people and shouldn’t need to ever to be done."

One person describes his experience with reissuing an eSIM via T-Mobile. According to the user, T-Mobile had to reissue the eSIM three separate times and it took 30 minutes for the last one to activate. But then that caused further problems with the line and required calling the carrier again.

It’s unknown if or when Apple will fix this problem. TechRadar has contacted Apple and Verizon and will update this story with their replies.

Verizon is working with Oracle to see how ‘ultra wideband’ 5G can be used to support industrial applications and use cases.

The operator has switched on private and public 5G networks at the Oracle Industry Lab in Chicago, allowing the company’s customers and partners to identify ways next-generation networks can be applied in a variety of sectors.

Although 5G networks will allow operators to offer enhanced communications to consumers and reduce operating costs, the real value is believed to be in enterprise services.

Private 4G and 5G

The market is currently served by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other LPWAN standards, but 5G promises to address many shortcomings.

Unlike previous generations of mobile connectivity, the ultrafast speeds, superior capacity and ultra-low latency of 5G means mission-critical applications can be powered by cellular technology for the first time. 5G will improve reliability, availability and reduce delays.

Visitors to the Industry Lab will be able to see how 5G-supported technologies such as drones, augmented reality, robotics and artificial intelligence can be used to solve challenges, drive efficiency, and enhance productivity.

Verizon’s ultra wideband network uses frequencies located between 3.7GHz and 3.98GHz to offer a compromise between range and capacity, and plans to roll out coverage to more than 1,700 cities across the US.

“In 5G Innovation Hubs across the nation, Verizon Business has been working alongside startups, universities, and large enterprises, like Oracle, to help our partners develop and test solutions that can transform various industries — all powered by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business.

“The state-of-the-art Oracle Industry Lab is the perfect testing ground for this kind of next-level innovation. By uniting Oracle’s deep suite of vertical and horizontal technology with partner solutions and Verizon 5G, we will be able to help our joint customers reimagine the future of their enterprises.”

“Our mission at the lab is to bring partners and customers together to forge new paths and solve really complex problems in a hands-on testing environment,” added Mike Sicilia, EVP of Oracle’s vertical industries.

“As we tackle issues such as sustainability, smarter manufacturing, and creating more resilient energy and water systems, it will take an ecosystem worth of experience and ideas to bring viable solutions to life. Without question, 5G will be fundamental to these developments and we are honoured to be working with Verizon to help power the future of industries.”

• Help your staff remain productive on the go with the best mobile plans for business

The new OnePlus 10 Pro 5G smartphone recently went on sale in the United States and now has official certification to work on Verizon’s 5G network. Up until now, the device was exclusive to T-Mobile in the US.

Under Verizon’s 5G network, you can expect fast speeds for uploading pictures and videos, even in places with low bandwidth. It can also mean, depending on 5G coverage in your area, a more stable connection and fewer random drops in quality

However, it appears that the phone will not be able to take full advantage of Verizon’s two 5G standards. A Verizon representative told TechRadar that the smartphone does not support the mmWave spectrum, only the C-Band.

Lightning-fast speeds

According to Verizon, the C-Band is their mid-tier spectrum with speeds up to a gigabit and it’s available across a wider geographical area. The frequency can even penetrate buildings so you never lose those impressive speeds inside a building or tunnel.

The mmWave (millimeter wave) spectrum is even faster as it has frequencies between 28 and 39GHz with almost no lag. But the signal doesn’t go very far and it can’t enter buildings like lower frequencies.

Think of the C-Band as the Goldilocks standard in that it’s just right. It has fast enough speeds with a much wider range. Plus, this loss won’t really affect a lot of people as a report from 2021 by Opensignal revealed that only 0.5 percent of Verizon customers utilize mmWave.

Why mmWave isn’t supported could be because of hardware limitations. The 10 Pro runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and up to 12GB of RAM. You’d expect the 10 Pro to have high-performance benchmarks, but it really doesn’t.

It’s actually slower than its predecessor, the OnePlus 9. In exchange, the 10 Pro is better optimized for AI and battery so the power needed for the mmWave was possibly throttled for other usage.

Supporting programs

Alongside the 5G certification, the OnePlus 10 Pro is also a part of Verizon’s Bring Your Own Device program. If you bought the phone from a different retailer or T-Mobile, you use this program to switch carriers. There, you select which phone plan you’d like.

And if you sign up for the unlimited plan, you’ll get a $500 gift card.

With more people working from home, a speedy internet connection is quickly becoming a necessity and new data from HighSpeedInternet.com has revealed that internet speeds in the US have gotten a lot faster in recent years.

To compile its new report, the site used data from its internal internet speed testing tool to find the fastest as well as the fastest-growing internet providers.

Based on HighSpeedInternet.com’s analysis of millions of internet speed test results, Google Fiber was the fastest internet provider in the US last year with higher average upload and download speeds than any other internet service provider (ISP). The service has a maximum advertised speed of up to 2,000 Mbps and 12-month average download speeds of 161.6 Mbps.

Verizon Fios was the second-fastest internet provider with max advertised speeds of up to 940 Mbps followed by Metronet, Xfinity and Astound Broadband. Still though, between 2018 and 2021, major internet providers in the US saw their speeds trend upwards year over year with big improvements in average speed performance.

Rural internet speeds still lag behind

While internet speeds in US cities and other more congested areas increased, the shift from DSL to fiber internet has made it more difficult for internet speeds in rural areas to improve. 

Although fiber internet speeds often top out at 1,000 Mbps, fiber availability is far more limited nationwide while DSL is widely available. However, ISPs have stopped expanding DSL in favor of fiber internet to provide their customers with faster internet.

For this reason, rural internet users have turned to satellite internet since they don’t have to rely on ISPs to run cable for their homes to be connected. Satellite internet comes with its own limitations though as each satellite provider has a limited number of satellites and expanding satellite infrastructure for increased bandwidth requires a great deal of investment.

According to HighSpeedInternet.com’s data, rising customer needs during the pandemic may have put extra strain on satellite providers as both HughesNet and Viasat saw their download speeds experience stark decreases between July of 2019 and July of 2020.

Rural internet customers still have options though as the rollout of Starlink and 4G LTE internet from mobile carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile have made it easier for them to get significantly faster internet compared to other satellite providers. Starlink had an average download speed of 55 Mbps last year while 4G internet speeds ranged from 25 to 100 Mbps.

• Ensure your business has the highest internet speeds possible with the best business broadband plans

474.51 Mbps. I had never seen a mobile download speed like it before. 5G Ultra Wideband - yes, the controversial 5G C-Band you've been reading about for months - is here.

And it's insane.

Let's back up a bit. I know you've heard of 5G - who hasn't? It's the fifth generation of mobile broadband that follows 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE before it. Unlike those early mobile broadband speeds, 5G was marketed as life-changing. It would permeate society and light up communications not just between phones and towers, but between cars and traffic lights, and cars and other cars. 

It would put stationary broadband speeds virtually everywhere. An invisible thread of high-speed connection that would change how almost all technology communicates and how people use it.

When 5G finally launched, it was nothing like that. What people failed to mention was that 5G has tremendous limitations. Its variety of bands offer an equal number of speed expectations. It may be more powerful, but 5G is like a big fist with almost zero punching power - it can barely penetrate most walls. Outside, you might find some decent 5G, but as soon as you went indoors, it pretty much disappeared.

I rarely saw pure, high-speed 5G, but I had noticed that, in recent months, the infrastructure grew and my iPhone 13 Pro was on 5G more than it was not.

Still, it wasn't a life-altering experience.

To put the new 5G Ultra Wideband speed in context. The theoretical top speed for 4G LTE is as high as 150 MBPS. I never saw that. 45MBPS was the norm.

5G was supposed to be up to 10 Gbps. Again, never saw anything like that. Shortly after I started using Apple's first 5G iPhone, the iPhone 12 Pro, I stumbled on my first 5G signal (I was outdoors in a parking lot). I got 139 Mbps downloads and 27 Mbps uploads. That was faster than anything I'd experienced before, but it was illusory. Most of my 5G experience was far slower or inconsistent.

Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband (AT&T's 5G C-Band is also live now) is an order of magnitude faster and closing in on the realization of that 5G ideal we were promised years before.

As for how I found the 5G Ultrawideband, it was an accident. I was on my morning commute train, literally pulling out of my home station when I unlocked my phone and noticed the "5GUW" symbol at the top of my phone. I remembered that after months of delays, Verizon and AT&T has both finally launched their 5G C-Bands just days before. They did so, by the way after some serious drama.

Ever since the two companies bought the mid-band 5G spectrum for roughly $70B, they've been engaged in a rough and tumble back-and-forth with the US FAA, DOT, and most of the major airlines.

Apparently, this signal was strong enough (look at the speed, they weren't lying) to potentially interfere with airplane operations. The FAA and airlines claimed 5G C-Band messed with their altimeters, which could be a big problem, especially around airports during inclement weather when knowing where the ground is becomes kind of important. After months of negotiations, delays, and recriminations, AT&T and Verizon agreed in November 2021 to lower 5G C-Band towers' power and, this month, delay powering up the towers near airports.

Now it's different

It's funny because up until the moment I experienced 5G C-Band, I only thought about it in the context of this ongoing controversy. Now, however, I see it as something different and potentially life-altering.

At nearly half a gigabit, this is enough bandwidth to do...what? I mean, I think I could support a half dozen laptops and/or at least a pair of 4K streams to screens in one car (maybe more).

My experience was all-too-brief because I was on a moving train. It was happening so fast that I only had time to test download speeds through the Ookla Speedtest's website.

As soon as I hit the giant "Go" on the page, the dial slammed to the right, straining to keep up with the blistering pace of data shooting out of the 5G Ultra Wideband data pipe. It was instantly over 400Mbps and then pushed into 474Mpbs territory. The dial danced to its own kinetic, Salsa rhythm. I briefly wondered if it might crest 500Mbps and if Speedtest was even designed to read that high.

Then it was over.

I needed the app to see uploads and, by the time I installed it, I was back to just 5G, where downloads were reduced to 94Mbps and my uploads were 21.7 Mbps.

Aside from the mind-blowing speed, what's exciting about 5G Ultra Wideband is that it appears that the infrastructure is already largely in place. Verizon simply had to flip the switch.

Look, I'm no Verizon booster. It like almost every other company in the service provider industry, charges too much for mobile broadband, but I can't help but be excited about the potential of 5G Ultra Wideband. It's super-fast, it's here, and it's probably about to change everything.

• These are the very best 5G phones

US mobile carrier T-Mobile has revealed that a bug in iOS 15.2 prevented some of its customers from using iCloud Private Relay on their iPhones when using cellular data.

First introduced by Apple with the release of iOS 15, iCloud Private Relay provides users with an additional layer of privacy by preventing others from viewing the websites they visit just like with a VPN. The new feature works by first sending the web traffic of iPhone and Mac users through a server maintained by Apple and then through a second server operated by a third-party.

According to a new report from The Verge, in addition to T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T have also confirmed that they aren't blocking their customers from using Apple's latest privacy feature. A Verizon spokesperson confirmed to the news outlet that iCloud Private Relay works on both cellular and Fios internet connections while a spokesperson from AT&T said that the carrier's policy is not to block Private Relay.

Still though, in an open letter to the European Commission, Vodafone, Telefonica, Orange and T-Mobile voiced their concerns about the impact iCloud Private Relay could have on their businesses explaining that the feature cuts off networks and servers from accessing “vital network data and metadata” and could impact “operator's ability to efficiently manage telecommunication networks”.

iOS 15.2 issue

Some T-Mobile users were unable to use iCloud Private Relay recently but in a statement to 9To5Mac, the mobile carrier explained that a bug in iOS 15.2 was actually to blame.

The company's team identified that a bug in iOS 15.2 led to iCloud Private Relay and other device settings to be toggled off by default. It's worth noting that this issue isn't specific to T-Mobile users which is why some Verizon and AT&T customers also had trouble using iCloud Private Relay on their devices.

Fortunately, there is a workaround for the issue. To get iCloud Private Relay working on mobile data, users first need to turn off their Wi-Fi and then head to the Settings menu on their iPhone. From here, you'll need to choose Cellular, then choose your plan and check that “Limit IP Address Tracking” is enabled. Afterwards, you can turn Wi-Fi back on and iCloud Private Relay should now work on both cellular and wireless networks.

Some T-Mobile customers on plans that feature content filtering (e.g. parent controls) will still be unable to use iCloud Private Relay though as Apple's privacy feature would make it impossible to block their children from accessing certain sites. If you're a T-Mobile customer with this kind of plan, you can always pick up one of the best iPhone VPNs to keep your web traffic private while still being able to control what your kids see online using T-Mobile's parental control software.

We've also featured the best VPN and best proxy

Via The Verge and 9To5Mac

Businesses will soon be able to communicate with and even see what their front line workers are doing out in the field as Verizon Business has announced that BlueJeans Meetings will now come preloaded on Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2 AR headsets.

Business customers will be able to purchase Glass Enterprise Edition 2 preloaded with the company's video conferencing software for $1,139. However, for a limited time, they can also get up to $700 off Glass Enterprise Edition 2 when purchased with a Pixel 6.

Organizations are increasingly seeing the need for an innovative, hands-free solution for front line workers to maintain safety and efficiency while out in the field according to a new study by Quadrant Strategies. By preloading BlueJeans Meetings on Glass Enterprise Edition 2 with a 5G mobile hotspot on the Pixel 6, Verizon Business is giving them just that.

At the same time though, this combination of AR, video conferencing and 5G will help boost productivity and facilitate collaboration between front line workers and staff back at the office.

BlueJeans on Glass Enterprise Edition 2

By giving a supervisor the ability to see a remote employee's vantage point, BlueJeans on Glass Enterprise Edition 2 can help field workers get expert support without having to leave the job site. However, the hands-free capabilities of Google's AR headset can also help enable remote field workers such as warehouse workers, technicians and engineers to fulfill customer orders more efficiently or build complex machines.

Pairing Google Glass with a Pixel 6 and Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband connectivity leveraging C-band spectrum when using BlueJeans can maximize productivity and minimize error rates by utilizing visual guidance over hand-held solutions.

CEO of Verizon Business, Tami Erwin provided further insight on the company's collaboration with Google in a press release and explained how together the two are powering the future of work, saying:

“5G is the platform powering the future of work, enabling teams to leverage technology and reimagine what it means to get work done in a hybrid environment. Our collaboration between BlueJeans by Verizon, Google Pixel and Glass will deliver customers a high-quality, augmented reality experience that can help ease operational challenges and improve business outcomes. Together, Verizon Business and Google are making the future of work a reality, today.”

We've also highlighted the best video conferencing software and best business VR headsets

Verizon and AT&T agreed late Monday to delay the 5G C-Band rollout. 

In a statement obtained by The New York Times, Verizon and AT&T both agreed to the additional delay of C-Band 5G services. 

[Our original story, where both companies said, "Nah," is below]

Verizon and AT&T are moving forward with their $70 billion dollar investment in the 5G C-band spectrum and their plans to launch the service on January 5. 

In a strongly-worded letter from AT&T CEO John T. Stankey and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson (obtained by The New York Times), the pair of carrier CEOs rejected the DOT and FAA's request to pause the rollout by another two weeks.

The DOT and FAA made a last-minute request on December 31, citing concerns over the 5G C-Band spectrum's potential to interfere with U.S. flight operations, specifically airplane altimeters.

Vestberg and Stankey contest those concerns in their letter, noting that "radio altimeters do not operate on, or anywhere near, the C - Band frequencies. Rather, they operate in a frequency band (4.2-4.4 GHz) that is separated by at least 400 megahertz from the C -Band frequencies (3.7-3.8 MHz) that AT& T and Verizon will begin using in 2022..."

5G vs. the airlines: a brief timeline

Jan. 28:  FAA greenlights 5G at the airport The FAA's ongoing battle with Verizon and AT&T over ultra-fast 5G C-band deployment around airports is finally ending: On Friday, the FAA announced an agreement on new steps that allow yet more 5G towers to operate safely around key airports.

Jan. 13:  FAA reveals exactly what 5G will do to airplanes The FAA is providing the airline industry with ‘Notice to Air’ missions that detail how 5G networks could potentially affect aircraft equipment, notably altimeters that rely on frequencies located between 4.2 and 4.4GHz.

Jan. 10:  50 airports get 5G "buffer zones" Airports in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, and more are covered by the new restrictions, with some airports excluded because they do not permit low-visibility landings or because 5G towers are not close enough to cause concern.

Jan. 04:  So much for 5G at the airport Verizon and AT&T agreed late Monday to delay the 5G C-Band rollout, after earlier in the day announcing plans to move forward with their $70 billion dollar investment in the 5G C-band spectrum and their plans to launch the service on January 5.

Jan. 03, 2022:  The DoT treads into the battle A letter by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson to AT&T and Verizon acknowledges the investment in 5G-C made by both companies but cautions that "the economic stakes for the aviation industry and the disruptions the traveling public would face ... are significant."

Dec. 08:  FAA sets new 5G flight restrictions The FAA has issued a warning that interference from C-band 5G could result in flight diversions as the planned use of this new 5G wireless spectrum by mobile carriers poses an air safety risk.

Nov. 5:  Pilots warned about 5G interference -- and carries caved Verizon and AT&T agreed to temporarily postpone their rollout of C-band 5G in order to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address concerns surrounding potential interference with key cockpit safety devices.

"Unprecedented and unwarranted"

The executives sound frustrated at the late notice and the alleged inaction by the FAA to press airlines on upgrading their altimeters to avoid spectrums "far removed from the 4.2-4.4 GHz altimeter band."

At its core, though, the letter is a rejection of the DOT and FAA's proposal:

"Agreeing to your proposal would not only be an unprecedented and unwarranted circumvention of the due process and checks and balances carefully crafted in the structure of our democracy, but an irresponsible abdication of the operating control required to deploy world-class and globally competitive communications networks that are every bit as essential to our country's economic vitality, public safety and national interests as the airline."

Verizon and AT&T are not, however, backing away from the mitigation measures it agreed to last November, which includes 5G C-Band exclusion zones, including those around airport runways.

We suspect that the DOT's Buttigieg and FAA's Dickson are crafting a response letter as you read this.

It's unlikely that a response will arrive in time to get in front of AT&T and Verizon's rollout efforts. While the concerns about 5G C-Band flight operations interference will likely persist into the launch, there's no concrete proof that any 5G bands are impacting airplane and airport operations technology.

For consumers, the benefits of 5G feel more like unrealized promises. We now carry 5G phones but only rarely experience the life-altering speeds that were promised in the early days of the next-gen mobile band's introduction.

5G C-Band, though, offers a fresh opportunity to deliver on some of these promises. Using a mid-range band once set aside for satellites, GPS and Wi-Fi, it works with fewer towers and a more direct connection to 5G devices. This might mean better reliability and, more importantly, higher speeds (more like the ones we were promised).

Of course, you still need 5G C-Band coverage in your area to experience this level of connectivity.

• Find the best 5G phones around right now

Airlines and aviation officials are warning that the resumed rollout of AT&T and Verizon’s new 5G wireless service in January could lead to widespread flight delays across the US especially in snowstorms and other low visibility conditions.

As reported by Bloomberg, the officials say that C-band 5G threatens to interfere with altimeters and other equipment on planes and helicopters that track aircraft altitude. If this happens, it could prohibit planes from landing in poor visibility, leading to delays, diversions and even the cancellations of flights.

While the wireless industry believes these claims are unfounded, the aviation industry is very concerned about how interference from C-band 5G could threaten its business which is already struggling as a result of the pandemic. At the same time, airlines are also dealing with staff shortages and unruly passengers.

During a recent Senate hearing, CEO of Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly said that the deployment of 5G is the company’s number one concern in the near term. According to the trade group Airlines for America, flight disruptions from the rollout of AT&T and Verizon’s new 5G wireless service could cost airlines as much as $2.1bn.

Airlines vs the wireless industry

C-band 5G uses signals that operate in airwaves close to those used by radio altimeters which airplanes use to determine altitude by bouncing radio waves off the ground.

While the aviation industry says that tests show 5G can interfere with an aircraft’s altimeter, the wireless industry continues to dispute this claim arguing that 5G signals are far away enough from the frequencies used by altimeters and are set to operate at safe levels.

Based on some worst-case assumptions, Airlines for America told the US senate that AT&T and Verizon’s new 5G service has the potential to disrupt as many as 350k flights a year. However, the FCC, which gave the approval for mobile carriers to use these new airwaves, has yet to impose any additional restrictions. The government agency is working with the FAA to resolve this ongoing dispute between the aviation and wireless industries.

With the holidays coming up and AT&T and Verizon planning to resume their rollout of C-band 5G on January 5, time is running out for the matter to be resolved once and for all. If the FCC and FAA are unable to come to an agreement, we could see flights either delayed or outright cancelled next year during snowstorms and other times when there is low visibility.

We've also featured the best 5G smartphones,  best business smartphones and best mobile plans for business

Via Bloomberg

Four US operators have agreed to pay a combined $6 million to settle investigations into their respective compliance with emergency call reliability rules during network outages in September 2020.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said AT&T, Intrado, Lumen (known as CenturyLink during the outage), and Verizon violated its rules regarding the delivery of calls to 911 while some also failed to follow the appropriate process for notifying call centres affected by the outage.

The FCC requires operators to notify officials of any outage lasting more than half an hour.  

FCC 911 fines

Lumen will pay more than half of the total sum, forking out $3.8 million, while Intrado will pay $1.75 million, AT&T $460,000, and Verizon $274,000. The FCC added that will all introduce new compliance plans alongside their respective penalties.

“The most important phone call you ever make may be a call to 911,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. "Sunny day outages can be especially troubling because they occur when the public and 911 call centres least expect it. It’s vital that phone companies prevent these outages wherever possible and provide prompt and sufficient notification to 911 call centres when they do occur.”

The FCC fined another US carrier, T-Mobile, $19.5 million in November for a 911 outage that lasted more than 12 hours, affecting more than 20,000 calls in the summer of 2020.

Earlier this month it emerged that some Android smartphones were being prevented from calling 911 due to a bug with Microsoft Teams, an issue which has since been resolved.

• If you're looking for a new phone, check our our best 5G mobile phone deals

Verizon is collaborating with Google Cloud to deliver 5G mobile edge computing (MEC) capabilities to enterprise customers, allowing them to take advantage of some of the most revolutionary use cases promised by next generation networks that rely on guaranteed performance.

5G networks promise faster speeds and greater capacity that will allow for more reliable connectivity. However, it is the promise of lower latency that will enable entirely new use cases such as smart city applications, telemedicine, and mixed reality.

But in order to deliver this lower latency, operators are decentralising their infrastructure and virtualising network functions so they can be moved closer to the customer. Edge computing allows data to processed nearer to the point of collection, even at a base station level, which lowers the time of transmission significantly.

Verizon 5G edge

By bringing Google Cloud’s compute and storage capabilities to the edge of its network, Verizon can deliver the bandwidth and low latency required to power applications that require real time data processing, such as mobile robotics, intelligent logistics and factory automation.

The partnership will initially combine Verizon’s private on-site 5G and its private 5G edge services with Google Distributed Cloud Edge, but the two companies have said they plan to develop capabilities for public networks that will allow enterprises to deploy applications across the US.

Verizon is now the first US operator to offer edge services from all three of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.

“By working with partners like Google Cloud and Ericsson, we’re building the 5G edge compute ecosystem that will enable enterprises in many industries to benefit from having a completely dedicated private network and edge compute infrastructure on premise,” said Rima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer at Verizon.

“5G Edge with Google Distributed Cloud Edge will give our customers the ability to connect and manage a broad range of devices at scale and speed while also providing highly secure, near real-time connectivity. This will allow companies to unlock greater value from data and enable innovative applications involving computer vision, augmented and virtual reality, and machine learning.”

“Through our planet-scale infrastructure and expertise in data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, Google Cloud is enabling the rapid development and deployment of new services and applications,” said Thomas Kurian, Google Cloud CEO.

“By bringing intelligence from data centres to the network edge, Verizon 5G Edge with Google Distributed Cloud Edge will allow customers to build new cross-industry edge solutions, unlock new revenue models, and transform the next generation of customer experiences – from AI-driven in-store operations to live inventory management on the factory floor, the possibilities span multiple industries.”

The first product of the partnership is a pilot at Ericsson’s 5G factory in the US that will see autonomous robots use sensors and computer vision to maintain inventory and monitor the location of materials in the warehouse, providing the telecoms equipment vendor with a real-time view for its assets.

• If you're looking for a new phone, check our our best 5G mobile phone deals

Two minute review

If there was a beauty contest for rugged smartphones, the Kyocera DuraSport 5G would probably win it but looks are not everything and while the device has a lot going for it, there’s also one sore point that makes us wince. Let’s start with the good; it is the most compact rugged smartphone we’ve tested to date; at 155 x 71 x 10mm, it is about the size of the iPhone XR, only a tad thicker.

As for the not-so-good, there’s only 64GB of onboard storage, which is simply unacceptable on a mainstream handset, especially in this price range and given the number of preloaded, non Google apps we’ve encountered (24 in all). Apart from this, the DuraSport 5G is a very likable device and we can’t wait to see what a rugged slate version of this would look like. A successor to the Sony Xperia Z4 tablet maybe?

Pricing and availability

The Kyocera DuraSport 5G smartphone is currently available on Verizon Wireless 5G Ultra Wideband and can be purchased from Amazon for $579.99 (about £435, AU$810) plus a small activation fee. You can also get it on a two-year contract for $24.16 per month (about £18, AU$33) direct from Verizon.

Design

Let’s start by the obvious. This is one of the most attractive, best designed rugged smartphones on the market and is especially well suited for those looking for a diminutive, more portable outdoor handset that can withstand the challenges of outdoor adventures (hence the name DuraSport).

At the front is an 8-megapixel selfie camera near the top of the 6.1-inch IPS FHD+ display (one covered by a layer of Corning Gorilla 6) and next to an indicator light. A 48-megapixel and a 16-megapixel camera sensors are located at the rear, not far from the fingerprint sensor.

On the left is the SIM tray which takes only one SIM and a microSD card; there’s no option for a second SIM, which is a bit of a disappointment. Just below it is a customizable button with a wide border that makes it more visible. It’s particularly great when using gloves as pressing on it produces a clear audible click. 

On the opposite side are the volume rocker buttons and the power button. A Type-C connector can be found on the bottom edge of the phone and is not protected by a rubber flap as is usually the case. So make sure it is dry when plugging it in for charging.

As expected, the DuraSport 5G is MIL-STD-810G/IP68 tested and certified, which means that you will be able to rinse it without issues. Its rubbery finish (Elastomer Grip says the marketing literature) adds to the impression of durability without making it feel tacky.

Noteworthy point, Kyocera also sent a protective case for the DuraSport 5G despite the fact that it is a rugged smartphone. A sign perhaps that it needs a bit more protection than expected. At just 185g, it is by far the lightest rugged smartphone we’ve tested to date. The next lightest is the Motorola Defy which is a full 50g (or almost 25%) heavier.

Hardware

The DuraSport 5G is powered by a Snapdragon 480, the processor that is inside the Nokia XR20 and comes with only 4GB of onboard storage 64GB of onboard storage (which can be increased with a microSD card). This is on par with the amount of storage/memory we’d expect from an entry level Android smartphone costing one-tenth of the price. 

One bright spot though is that it has a Type-C USB 3.1 connector, a rare feature worth mentioning. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 LE, NFC as well as Qi wireless charging. The fact that it is so light explains why there’s a 4.5Ah battery (with support for Quick Charge 4.0 charging), the smallest we’ve ever seen on a normal smartphone. The phone is covered by a two-year warranty as well with the added benefit of being able to receive your replacement before returning the old device

In use and performance

The presence of a slightly modified version of Android 11 is not a surprise, neither is the inclusion of Verizon apps. You will get Android 12 in 2022 and quarterly security updates throughout 2023. You can take videos and photos using both front and rear cameras at the same time in the multi-camera mode.

Although geared towards a more laid-back audience, the Kyocera DuraSport 5G is also an excellent choice for enterprise/business users thanks to its support for PTT (Push to Talk), dual band (L1/L5) GPS (great for asset tracking), Enterprise Grade Wi-Fi, 802.11mc for precise indoor location positioning, a FIPS 140-2 compliant cryptographic module and Zero-touch deployment to deploy devices in bulk.

Given the processor that powers it, we had no big expectations with regards to performance which is roughly on par with the XR20. It will deliver below average gaming performance, but if this is a business purchase, then that matters.

While we can live with a heavily customized Android user interface, the amount of apps already installed on the smartphone was simply too much for our liking. Including the Verizon apps, there were 24 other apps including the likes of Apple Music, IMDB and Disney+.

Should I buy the Kyocera DuraSport 5G?

Buy it if:

You want a stylish rugged smartphone with full business credentials. The DuraSport 5G may not be the fastest device in town but its two-year warranty and the commitment to providing security updates for a foreseeable future will make it a firm favourite for small businesses and enterprises equally.

Don’t buy it if:

You want something a bit more solid. The fact that it is the thinnest rugged smartphone we’ve tested to date Kyocera sells a souped up, reinforced version of the DuraSport 5G called the DuraForce 5G. It does carry a rather steep price tag at just under $900.

We've also rounded up the best rugged smartphones and best rugged tablets

US airlines have warned that plans from Verizon and AT&T to deploy C-band 5G could lead to the disruption of thousands of flights and cost air travelers $1.6bn in delays.

At a recent US Senate Commerce Committee hearing, chief executive executive at United Airlines, Scott Kirby explained that the rollout of 5G services using the C-band spectrum could delay, divert or cancel around four percent of daily flights, according to a new report from Reuters.

Kirby also noted that once the Verizon and AT&T resume their rollouts of C-band 5G on January 5, the airline's pilots “will not be able to use radio altimeters at 40-something of the largest airports in the country”. This means that in the event of bad weather, cloud cover or even heavy smog, pilots would only be able to do visual approaches as their altimeters could be affected by potential interference.

The trade group Airlines of America (A4A) also said that if the FAA 5G directive had been in effect in 2019, “approximately 345,000 passenger flights, 32 million passengers and 5,400 cargo flights would have been impacted in the form of delayed flights, diversions or cancellations”.

FAA 5G directive

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently issued a set of airworthiness directives that ordered the revision of airplane and helicopter flight manuals to prohibit some operations that require the use of radio altimeter data when in the presence of C-band 5G signals.

The government agency also plans to issue notices if necessary to “state the specific areas where the data from a radio altimeter may be unreliable due to the presences of 5G C-band wireless broadband signals”.

Although airlines are taking issue with the rollout of C-band 5G, the wireless industry has defended the technology as 5G operates safely and without causing harmful interference to aviation operations in almost 40 countries around the world. In addition to delaying the commercial launch of their respective C-band wireless services, AT&T and Verizon have both adopted precautionary measures for six months in an effort limit interference.

As it stands now, we'll just have to wait and see as to whether or not C-band 5G leads to the disruptions to flights US airlines are worried about.

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Via Reuters

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning that interference from C-band 5G could result in flight diversions as the planned use of this new 5G wireless spectrum by mobile carriers poses an air safety risk.

As reported by Reuters, concerns have been raised by both the aviation industry and the FAA that sensitive aircraft electronics such as radio altimeters could be affected by potential interference from C-band 5G which falls between 4 GHz and 8Hz.

Just last month, AT&T and Verizon agreed that they would delay their respective rollouts of C-band 5G until January of next year in order to work with the FAA  to address concerns surrounding potential interference with key cockpit safety devices.

Now though, the FAA has taken things a step further by issuing a set of airworthiness directives in which the government agency has ordered the revision of airplane and helicopter flight manuals to prohibit some operations that require the use of radio altimeter data when in the presences of C-band 5G signals.

5G vs. the airlines: a brief timeline

Jan. 28: FAA greenlights 5G at the airport The FAA's ongoing battle with Verizon and AT&T over ultra-fast 5G C-band deployment around airports is finally ending: On Friday, the FAA announced an agreement on new steps that allow yet more 5G towers to operate safely around key airports.

Jan. 13: FAA reveals exactly what 5G will do to airplanes The FAA is providing the airline industry with ‘Notice to Air’ missions that detail how 5G networks could potentially affect aircraft equipment, notably altimeters that rely on frequencies located between 4.2 and 4.4GHz.

Jan. 10: 50 airports get 5G "buffer zones" Airports in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, and more are covered by the new restrictions, with some airports excluded because they do not permit low-visibility landings or because 5G towers are not close enough to cause concern.

Jan. 04: So much for 5G at the airport Verizon and AT&T agreed late Monday to delay the 5G C-Band rollout, after earlier in the day announcing plans to move forward with their $70 billion dollar investment in the 5G C-band spectrum and their plans to launch the service on January 5.

Jan. 03, 2022: The DoT treads into the battle A letter by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson to AT&T and Verizon acknowledges the investment in 5G-C made by both companies but cautions that "the economic stakes for the aviation industry and the disruptions the traveling public would face ... are significant."

Dec. 08: FAA sets new 5G flight restrictions The FAA has issued a warning that interference from C-band 5G could result in flight diversions as the planned use of this new 5G wireless spectrum by mobile carriers poses an air safety risk.

Nov. 5: Pilots warned about 5G interference -- and carries caved Verizon and AT&T agreed to temporarily postpone their rollout of C-band 5G in order to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address concerns surrounding potential interference with key cockpit safety devices.

C-band 5G interference

In one of its airworthiness directives, the FAA warned that since radio altimeter anomalies are often undetected by aircraft automation or pilots when close to the ground, they “could lead to loss of continued safe flight and landing”.

At this time, it still remains unclear as to what airports or airplanes may be impacted but the FAA said that it would issue notices if necessary to “state the specific areas where the data from a radio altimeter may be unreliable due to the presences of 5G C-band wireless broadband signals”.

Although C-band 5G interference is a potential problem for airports, airplanes and pilots, the FAA explained in a statement that it is working together with the FCC and wireless carriers on the issue, saying:

“The FAA believes the expansion of 5G and aviation will safely co-exist. Today, we took an important step toward that goal by issuing two airworthiness directives to provide a framework and to gather more information to avoid potential effects on aviation safety equipment. The FAA is working closely with the Federal Communications Commission and wireless companies, and has made progress toward safely implementing the 5G expansion. We are confident with ongoing collaboration we will reach this shared goal.”

Hopefully the FAA is able to resolve these issues soon so that AT&T and Verizon can continue their planned rollouts of C-band 5G early next year.

We've also featured the best 5G smartphones,  best business smartphones and best mobile plans for business

Via Reuters

US mobile operator Verizon Wireless has signalled its intention to expand into the “value” segment of the market with the $6.9 billion acquisition of US low-cost carrier TracFone from America Movil.

Founded in 1996, TracFone operates Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) services under several different brands, including Simple Mobile, Page Plus Mobile and Total Wireless, powered by wholesale agreements with several major US operators.

TracFone’s 21 million customers and 90,000 retail locations provide a platform for Verizon to grow, while the fact that the latter’s network already powers services for 13 million Total Wireless subscribers mean there are obvious synergies associated with the deal.

Verizon TracFone

Verizon also believes it can grow the business by using its network innovations to add value to subscriptions. For example, it plans to offer Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband services, 5G, and international calling and roaming packages on low-cost price plans.

“We are excited about the opportunity to bring Tracfone and its brands into the Verizon family where we can put the full support of Verizon behind this business and provide exciting and compelling products into this attractive segment of the market,” said Hans Verstberg, Verizon CEO.

However, approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is conditional on ensuring that low-income customers are protected and that TracFone continues to participate in a subsidy programme for low-income households. Both commitments will be monitored.

“This transaction firmly establishes Verizon, through the Tracfone brands, as the provider of choice in the value segment, which complements our clear leadership in the premium segment,” added Ronan Dunne, CEO of the Verizon Consumer Group.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming all of Tracfone’s customers and each of Tracfone’s nearly 850 valuable employees. We are excited to expand our relationship with Tracfone’s distribution partners, and when Tracfone’s customers become part of our family, they will get the best of both worlds – more choices, better services, and new features thanks to Verizon’s investment–but with the flexibility and control that they have come to value with its prepaid plans. Being connected is now more important than ever, and Tracfone customers will benefit from Verizon’s innovations–both now and in the future.”

If you're looking for a new contract, here are the best Verizon Wireless mobile phone deals

Verizon and Amazon have announced a new strategic collaboration which will see the US telecom leverage the ecommerce giant's Project Kuiper to deliver improved connectivity to rural and remote communities in the US.

Just like Space X's Starlink, Project Kuiper is an initiative to increase broadband access on a global scale by using a constellation of 3,326 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) around the planet. Once complete, the system will service individual households, schools, hospitals, businesses and other organizations that operate in places where internet access is either limited or unavailable.

Amazon has already committed an initial $10bn to fund Project Kuiper which will deliver fast, affordable broadband to customers and communities around the world.

Chairman and CEO of Verizon, Hans Vestberg explained how this new strategic collaboration will build on the company's existing partnership with Amazon in a press release, saying:

“Project Kuiper offers flexibility and unique capabilities for a LEO satellite system, and we’re excited about the prospect of adding a complementary connectivity layer to our existing partnership with Amazon. We know the future will be built on our leading 5G network, designed for mobility, fixed wireless access and real-time cloud compute. More importantly, we believe that the power of this technology must be accessible for all. Today’s announcement will help us explore ways to bridge that divide and accelerate the benefits and innovation of wireless connectivity, helping benefit our customers on both a global and local scale.”

Boosting rural broadband

As part of their new strategic collaboration, Project Kuiper and Verizon have already begun to develop technical specifications and define preliminary commercial models for a range of connectivity services aimed at consumers in the US and global enterprise customers operating in rural and remote locations around the world.

The two companies will begin by focusing on expanding Verizon data networks using cellular backhaul solutions from Project Kuiper. This integration will use antenna development which is already in progress from the Project Kuiper team and engineering teams from both Verizon and Amazon are now working together to define technical requirements to help extend fixed wireless coverage to rural and remote communities across the US.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy explained that boosting rural broadband will require multiple companies to work together if they want to close the digital divide, saying:

“There are billions of people without reliable broadband access, and no single company will close the digital divide on its own. Verizon is a leader in wireless technology and infrastructure, and we’re proud to be working together to explore bringing fast, reliable broadband to the customers and communities who need it most. We look forward to partnering with companies and organizations around the world who share this commitment.”

Businesses interested in partnering with Amazon and the Project Kuiper team can send an email to kuiper-partners@amazon.com to learn more about its upcoming low Earth orbit satellite system.

After customers of the Verizon-owned budget mobile carrier Visible took to social media to complain about hacking and fraud attempts, the company has now confirmed that security breaches were carried out on its users by hackers who obtained their credentials from “outside sources”.

As reported by The Verge, the mobile carrier said that it is in the process of working to “mitigate the issue” though it did not provide any details on the steps it has employed to do so. Visible customers recently began reporting that unauthorized charges from the company had appeared on their PayPal and credit card statements while others received emails saying the password or address of their accounts had been changed.

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Customers were also frustrated that the company hadn't sent out any emails or texts notifying them regarding the situation. Visible did eventually go on Twitter where it explained what had happened in a post, saying:

“Our investigation indicates that threat actors were able to access username/passwords from outside sources, and exploit that information to login to Visible accounts.”

Compromised accounts

After confirming that some of its customer accounts had been compromised, Visible recommended in a statement and on Twitter that its users should reset their passwords if they've reused them across multiple accounts.

While this advice is fairly standard after a security breach, the mobile carrier's password reset system has been unavailable and users that did try to reset their passwords received an error message.

Visible also recommended that users create unique passwords for each of their online accounts which can be done using a password generator though most password managers now offer this functionality as well. Although enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) is also recommended, Visible doesn't support 2FA for authentication which could leave its customers open to similar attacks in the future.

If you're a Visible customer that has reused passwords across multiple accounts, the only precaution you can take at the moment is to change these passwords to prevent having your other accounts hacked by the cybercriminals behind this breach.

• We've also highlighted the best antivirus

Via The Verge

Hackers managed to break into Syniverse, a relatively unknown company that provides backbone services to major wireless carriers around the world, in a campaign that could have impacted millions of cellphone users, reports suggest.

According to Motherboard, Syniverse forms a critical part of the global telecommunications infrastructure, and counts the likes of AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, T-Mobile, among its customers.

In a filing with the US Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company disclosed that threat actors managed to gain “unauthorized access to databases within its network on several occasions, and that login information allowing access to or from its Electronic Data Transfer (EDT) environment was compromised for approximately 235 of its customers.”

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The incident, which was detected in May 2021, but dates back to May 2016, is discussed in the section where it talks about the risks associated with the company owing to the nature of its business. 

Global privacy disaster?

Syniverse hasn’t discussed the incident outside of the SEC filing, and didn’t respond to Motherboard’s questions about the scope and scale of the breach. 

However a former Syniverse employee disclosed that EDT systems have information on all types of call records. Another anonymous individual familiar with telephone carriers suggests that the Syniverse hackers could have had access to metadata such as length and cost, caller and receiver's numbers, the location of the parties in the call, as well as the content of SMS text messages.

"Syniverse has access to the communication of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of people around the world. A five-year breach of one of Syniverse's main systems is a global privacy disaster," security researcher Karsten Nohl told Motherboard.

However, the former Syniverse employee suggests the breach is probably more embarrassing than devastating since nothing untoward seems to have come out of it in over five years.

“Not saying nothing bad happened but it sounds like nothing did happen,” opines the former employees.

• Protect your devices with these best antivirus software

Via Motherboard

As more businesses adopt hybrid work models, Verizon Business has announced a number of updates to BlueJeans designed to maximize engagement when using its video conferencing software and virtual events platform.

In an effort to make hybrid work more natural and engaging, BlueJeans has announced the next generation of its platform that provides an integrated collaboration experience that builds on BlueJeans Meetings to deliver new modes of virtual collaboration that include BlueJeans Spaces, Messaging and Collaboration Board. 

Now, the company's customers will be able to create 2D or 3D virtual spaces where distributed teams can come together to work with all of the necessary tools in one place.

• We've put together a list of the best online collaboration tools around
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VP and General Manager of BlueJeans by Verizon, Eric Spadafora provided further insight on the company's latest announcements in a press release, saying:

“Always-on connectivity has transformed how we work, when we work, and where we work. Now it’s time to make work fun again. With today’s announcements, BlueJeans is breaking down barriers when it comes to providing customers with the ultimate in capacity, engagement and collaboration to ensure organizations of all sizes are set up for success in the experiential workplace.”

BlueJeans Events and BlueJeans Rooms

BlueJeans Events meanwhile has hit a new milestone with support for up to 150,000 interactive virtual event participants. This means that organizations can hold super-sized virtual events with full interactivity including Q&As and polling, chat and participants can even raise their hand to be promoted onto the virtual stage.

BlueJeans' virtual events platform has also been upgrade with a slew of new features including closed caption translation in over 70 languages, simultaneous interpretation that supports up to five concurrent audio channels, background blur and embeddable event recordings.

At the same time, BlueJeans is launching a brand-new, Android-based version of BlueJeans Rooms to power the next generation of room-based video conferencing. The company has also partnered with Poly to bring the Poly Studio X series to BlueJeans Rooms which can now natively run on the Poly Studio X30, Poly Studio X50 and Poly Studio X70. However, customers interested in deploying a modular system for video conferencing can also use the Poly G7500 with BlueJeans Rooms.

Finally, BlueJeans has announced a new native experience for Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2. With the BlueJeans Meetings app on Glass Enterprise Edition 2, front-line workers now have access to hands-free video conferencing.

• We've also featured the best headsets for conference calls

Through a new collaboration with Google, Verizon has announced that it will expand advanced messaging services to Android users in the US beginning next year using the Messages by Google app.

Messages by Google is based on the Rich Communications Service (RCS) standard which provides a more interactive and modern messaging experience for users with Android smartphones.

As a result of Verizon and Google's collaboration, Messages will work with the US telecom's network and RCS messaging service. However, the two companies will also work together to provide a robust business-to-consumer messaging ecosystem using RCS.

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EVP and CEO of the Verizon Consumer Group, Ronan Dunne provided further insight in a press release on why the company decided to work with Google to bring RCS to its users, saying:

“Our customers depend on us to provide a reliable, advanced and simple messaging platform to stay in touch with the people that matter the most in their lives. By working with Google, Verizon will offer our Android users a robust messaging experience that allows them to engage with loved ones, brands and businesses in new and innovative ways.”

Messages by Google

Beginning next year, Messages by Google will be preloaded on all Verizon Android devices so that consumers can take advantage of rich messaging features available with RCS.

These include being able to send and receive higher-quality photos and videos, chatting over Wi-Fi or data, knowing when a message has been read, enjoying more dynamic and engaging group chats and securely chatting with other Messages users in one-on-one conversations with end-to-end encryption (E2EE). 

Businesses will also be able to leverage RCS to better reach their customers who will be able to easily connect with them to purchase products, make reservations, ask questions and more.

The RCS standard has been gaining momentum worldwide and there are currently over 444m active monthly users in 60 countries using it according to GSMA.

We'll likely hear more from both Verizon and Google once the telecom's rollout of RCS is complete next year.

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Ericsson and Verizon are expanding their long-standing partnership with the announcement of a new landmark $8.5bn multi-year agreement in which the Swedish network equipment vendor will provide the US telecom with its 5G solutions.

Through the deal, Verizon plans to accelerate the deployment of its 5G network throughout the US after first beginning its rollout of the next generation of mobile internet connectivity back in 2019.

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President and head of Ericsson North America Niklas Heuveldop provided further insight on both companies' strategic partnership in a press release, saying:

“This is a significant strategic partnership for both companies and what we’re most excited about is bringing the benefits of 5G to U.S. consumers, enterprises and the public sector. We’re looking forward to working with Verizon to leverage solutions like Cloud RAN and our Street Macro, adding depth and versatility to 5G network rollouts across the U.S.”

Landmark deal

As part of the new $8.3bn agreement, Verizon will deploy Ericsson's 5G MIMO C-band, low-band and millimeter wave (mmWave) solutions to boost and expand its 5G Ultra Wideband coverage, network performance and user experience.

Ericsson's technology solutions, which include Massive MIMO, Ericsson Spectrum Sharing and Ericsson Cloud RAN, complement its Ericsson Radio System portfolio to support 5G services.

Verizon and Ericsson have worked together in the past and last year, Verizon was the first telecom to receive a commercial 5G mmWave Street Marco base station from Ericsson's US smart factory in Lewisville, Texas.

Verizon customers will soon see a performance boost as well as better coverage when using a 5G smartphone on its network and we'll likely hear more regarding the deal once the telecom begins rolling out Ericsson's equipment.

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Mastercard is collaborating with Verizon in a move that will see 5G contactless payments become more widely available for both consumers and small and medium-sized businesses.

The plan is to harness Verizon’s 5G connectivity with the power of the Mastercard payments network to give consumers more freedom, and business owners the opportunity to boost their point-of-sale experience.

By tapping into the potential of Internet of Things (IoT) sensor connectivity the arrangement could, in time, deliver a much more potent payments infrastructure. Mastercard aims to use Verizon’s 5G service to turn connected devices into e-commerce-enabled units – cash registers in other words. The development could produce better options for consumers who want to pay in other way - using smartwatches for example and enjoy touchless retail environments, like those already seen at Amazon Go stores.

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Businesses could stand to benefit considerably, with the likes of Mastercard’s Tap on Phone service that lets companies deliver contactless consumer payment options. 

The announcement will see Verizon’s 5G and Mobile Edge Computing technology integrated with Mastercard’s already powerful retail technology. Along with offering consumers easier ways to spend their cash, business look set to reap dividends from the services, including a beefed up edition of Mastercard’s Digital Doors, allowing them to build a more rounded e-commerce experience.

Contactless payments

However, the announcement today underlines that this is very much a work in progress, with future innovations not expected to see the light of day until 2023. 

In the meantime, Verizon plans to tap into Mastercard’s Bill Pay Exchange, the real-time messaging network that offers instant communication between consumers and billers. 

Bill Pay Exchange could eventually allow Verizon to offer a mobile-friendly means of combining conventional paper billing into an all-digital experience, thereby saving money and improving overall efficiency.

“Emerging technology such as 5G and Mobile Edge Computing will undoubtedly reshape how we interact with each other, making it all the more critical for these exchanges – particularly payments – to be trusted and anticipate further changes,” said Linda Kirkpatrick, president, North America at Mastercard. 

“Through this collaboration, Mastercard and Verizon’s platforms, which connect billions of consumers, businesses, banks and governments around the world, will be a force in driving transformational change.” 

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