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Interesting IT Articles and Tech News: Topic 5 (Telecom 1)

IT Tech News Telecom 1 5
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Topic 5: Telecom 1

The world is getting more globally connected as we speak. Cities, especially small ones like Singapore, have to establish strong connections with larger cities and gain easy access to the global marketplace to meet their full potential. Telecommunications is one of the key ways of increasing connectivity and its services can be categorised into three categories: voice, video and data. For topic 5, articles listed will be covering on types of transmission media & signals, wireless technologies and cellular networks & technologies.

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List of Interesting Telecom 1 Tech News

 

1. The future of wireless communications is terahertz

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180206115340.htm

Scientists, Electrical and optical engineers in Australia have been experimenting with terahertz radiation, which has shorter wavelengths than microwaves and therefore has higher bandwidth capacity for data transmission. This is as opposed to microwave radiation, found optical fibre, that has longer wavelengths, and thus lower frequencies.

 

2. Turn Bluetooth Off When You’re Not Using It

Link: https://www.wired.com/story/turn-off-bluetooth-security/

The article highlights the risks of using Bluetooth. Researchers have found a bug in a widely used Broadcom mobile Wifi chip that put a billion of devices at risk. Also, Apple’s Airdrop file-sharing feature over Bluetooth is also critically flawed. This specific attack using Bluetooth is called the BlueBorne attack that scans for devices that have the Bluetooth on and probes them for information. Once these vulnerabilities are found, the hack will happen within seconds.

 

3. 5G Saves Lives

Link: https://exchange.telstra.com.au/human-impact-5g-drones/

Link (Video): https://exchange.telstra.com.au/human-impact-5g-drones/

This article shows that with the world moving closer towards 5G technology, it enables much more than the world can afford to do. One of it is regarding the health sector. The article and video show how the lifeguards can utilise drones to assist him and swiftly locate him so that the lifeguards can attend to him efficiently and effectively. With greater 5G technology, the advanced capability and scale that it provides will be making surf life-saving operations possible on a greater scale off the coast of Australia.

 

4. AI in telecommunications set to secure the ‘Augmented Human’

Link: https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/ai-in-telecommunications-set-to-secure-the-augmented-human/

The telecommunication sector is already highly digitised. The network is becoming more and more complex and the amount of data it deals with is also unprecedently huge. While such transition into a more mature digital age is observed in many sectors, the digital nature of telecommunication means that the scale and scope of data available provide the best platform for machine learning. Telecommunication devices have widely adopted the voice of personal digital assistants, paving the way for the “Augmented Human”.

 

5. Why AT&T’s 5G Network Won’t be Speeding Up Your Phone Anytime Soon

Link: http://fortune.com/2018/02/21/5g-att-verizon-t-mobile/

All the hype about 5G being introduced to the world, even Singaporeans are excited for the release of 5G, its promised faster download speeds, lower latency levels. However, this reality isn’t going to come anytime soon because no significant phone maker has even started selling a 5G compatible phone yet.

 

6. 2G is fading away, But it might outlive 3G in Europe

Link: https://blog.telegeography.com/2g-is-fading-away-but-it-might-outlive-3g-in-europe

While the disappearance of 2G is visible in Europe, some European operators such as Telenor of Norway and T-mobile Czech Republic have suggested that their 2G networks could outlast their 3G systems. As 3G is replaced by 4G and 5G technologies, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) services is being retained to service legacy machine-to-machine connections, in addition to their extensive voice coverage.

 

7. Verizon plans to offer wireless home internet access starting next year — and it could shake up the broadband market

Link: http://www.businessinsider.sg/verizon-plans-2018-launch-of-5g-wireless-home-internet-service-2017-11/?r=US&IR=T

Verizon plans to offer wireless home broadband service using 5G in 3-5 cities in late 2018. Although the technology is still under development, it promises higher speed and less congestion. Other companies, such as AT&T, have been testing for wireless home internet services. With this introduction of the wireless home internet, it will bring better prices and improved internet performance to customers.

 

8. Should telecommunications be a public good?

Link: https://www.salon.com/2017/12/15/the-fcc-sold-us-out-to-big-telecom/

The article describes how Net neutrality should be viewed as a public good since the public funds it. It also explains the potential impact of net neutrality being repealed.

 

9. First Intercontinental 5G Trial Begins at Winter Olympics

Link: https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/telecom/wireless/first-intercontinental-5g-trial-begins-at-winter-olympics

A series of events have been held at the winter Olympics 2018 to showcase what 5G has to offer and its potentials. It was incorporated into the performance at the opening ceremony. This shows that with 5G being integrated into such a vast world event, the world is progressively moving towards 5G.

 

10. Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Telecoms & Media

Link: https://blog.produvia.com/artificial-intelligence-in-telecoms-media-db6d8005ebeb

This article tells us more about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a role in telecommunications, for example, detection of fraudulent calls, predicting customer churn, and predicting customer’s experience. This can help save cost and solves the possible problems arising from the improvement of telecommunication in the 21st century. AI could also enable the creation of networks that can adjust services based on user need, environmental conditions and business goals. The system will learn from experience, configuring networks to meet demand, therefore improving network use and maintenance, reducing costs.

 

11. Telecom Department Mulls Allocating Valuable V-Band Spectrum Without Auctions

Link: https://thewire.in/199035/telecom-department-mulls-allocating-valuable-v-band-spectrum-without-auctions/

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is considering to allot V-band spectrum without conducting auctions, in which violates the Supreme Court judgment on 2G spectrum case in India. With limited frequencies of electromagnetic waves (particularly radio waves) available for telecommunications, a standard procedure of an auction is required to ensure that such scare resource is fully utilised. Hence, if the V-band spectrum were to be de-licensed, telco companies would lose the motivation for spending a huge amount of money to bid for and avoid misusing it.

 

12. Chawla flags concerns about 5G mobile technology write to CM

Link: https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/chawla-flags-concerns-about-5g-mobile-technology-writes-to-cm/63074513

A radiation awareness campaigner flagged concerns about 5G mobile technology, saying that it should not be implemented without analysing potential harmful effects of radio frequency radiation on human health. She wrote that the government is implementing 5G mobile technology for better speed and network but is “blatantly ignoring” the harmful effect of radiation on human health.

 

13. 5G: The future of communications Network

Link: http://theinstitute.ieee.org/technology-topics/communications/5g-the-future-of-communications-networks

5G stands for 5th Generation refers to the next and newest mobile wireless standard based on IEEE 802.11ac standards of broadband technology, although a formal standard is yet to be set. 5G aims to be available by 2020 and its aims to provide improved performances, capacity, speed and a network that operates the world over, no matter where or from which device a user connects.

 

14. 802.11ax and The Legacy of Wi-Fi Standards

Link: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10570-wi-fi-standards-explained.html

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgIJmdzNyIQ

A new wifi standard, 802.11ax is in development and is set to be finalised in early 2019. It’s meant to accommodate to the growing use of internet-connected devices such as AI assistants and cameras. The data transmission speed is predicted to be up to 10.5Gbps.

 

15. The expansion of the Femtocell market and Solutions it provides to existing mobile carriers

Link: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180205005403/en/Global-Picocell-Femtocell-Market—Increasing-Investments

Femtocells are emerging as a technology that lets wireless phone use in homes and offices becomes a viable alternative to landline telephones. The ability to leverage the Internet makes femtocells an economic force in the marketplace; it brings the industry changes in the way voice is delivered. Femtocells support SIP-based broadband applications. Femtocells will most likely work in a telecommunications environment that has multiple co-existing technologies that are deployed by different carriers to address their specific customer bases, business models, and ecosystems.

 

16. The endangered SIM card

Link: https://www.economist.com/news/business/21633870-moves-reinvent-or-even-abolish-sim-card-could-have-big-consequences-endangered-sim?zid=292&ah=165a5788fdb0726c01b1374d8e1ea285

Re-programmable SIMs are making their way into smartphones which allows them to switch service provider seamlessly. Currently, Apple is trying it on some of its latest iPads. This can be seen as an act of causing the potential demise of operators’ grip on the markets where currently, mobile operators were allowed to issue SIMs and were given much leeway over publishing expensive payment terms. However, most mobile devices that can connect through Wifi, SIM cards are no longer imperative as communication means now. Soon, we can expect a piece of software code to replace the job of a SIM card.

 

17. Li-Fi replacing Wi-Fi

Link: https://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/2017/11/li-fi-replacing-wi-fi-multipoint-to-multipoint-capable-optical-data-transmission-for-automation.html

This article describes the disadvantages of Wi-fi networks where wifi is susceptible to interference from other wireless networks and the fact that it is vulnerable to abuse by skilled hackers. It also introduces Li-fi network and how it would be able to overcome such problems.

 

18. Analogue broadcasting (TV) to end by Jan 1, 2019

Link: http://www.straitstimes.com/tech/analogue-broadcasting-to-end-by-jan-1-2019-deadline-extended-as-needy-households-not-on-board

Analogue broadcasting of television programs will soon be a thing of the past, in favour of digital broadcasting. These freed-up TV frequencies may then be used for mobile broadband. Similarly, Singapore’s closest neighbour countries which are Malaysia and Indonesia will be similarly ending analogue broadcasting for TV programs in early 2019.

 

19. Google’s parent company has made internet balloons available in Puerto Rico, the first time it’s offered Project Loon in the US

Link: http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-google-parent-turns-on-internet-balloons-in-puerto-rico-2017-10?IR=T

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiEZfRh-h-s (Video about Project Loon)

After Hurricane Maria knocked out cell phone towers in some regions of Puerto Rico, Alphabet Inc. managed to use its stratospheric balloons to deliver Internet to the people. The limited Internet connectivity allows AT&T customers to send text messages and access some online information from the balloons.

 

20.  Robots delivering pizza and house viewing by VR: is 5G really the future?

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/11/is-5g-the-future-robots-delivering-pizza-house-viewing-vr

5G, which is set to be rolled out in the UK next decade, also has its critics. They argue consumers don’t need the superfast speeds the upgrade from current 4G technology promises, and many in the industry believe that logistical issues mean that 5G may not be adequately rolled out in the UK for decades. In the meantime, there are still fundamental infrastructure issues – including rural areas with little or no broadband coverage at all – that need sorting out. Also, 5G could be used to enable driverless cars to communicate with each other and other road users, as well as develop “smart manufacturing” – connecting all the various machines involved in a production chain – and the drone delivery networks that companies such as Amazon would like to develop.

 

21. Over-reliance on telecommunication and broadband usage?

Link: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singtel-fined-500000-for-massive-24-hour-fibre-broadband-disruption-in-dec-2016

Link 2: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singtel-probes-cause-of-nearly-24-hour-outage

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sTe92xZftM 

In Dec 2016, there was a nationwide problem whereby Singtel’s network broadband was down and unavailable for 24 hours, disrupting up to 490,000 individuals in Singapore and attracting about 17,000 comments on its official Facebook page. Not only were individuals affected, businesses that relied on Singtel’s network was also adversely affected, causing many to lose out business opportunities. In 2017, the case was ruled by the Court, and SingTel was fined $500,000 for this issue where it failed as a TeleComm provider to provide Internet access to its enormous amount of users, hence proving the seriousness and extent of this issue.

 

22. Onward to 5G, 6G, and Beyond

Link: https://www.designnews.com/electronics-test/onward-5g-6g-and-beyond/211102982658032

5G, 6G or 7G with space roaming.  All might be possible in the next 10 to 50 years. 5GB not only will increase the browsing speed but also will improve in the latency, providing a wider pipeline with faster lanes. 5G bandwidth, for instance, is said to be around 1,000x bandwidth per unit area.

 

23. There’s a small drone startup helping Facebook build its new internet-beaming helicopter drone

Link: https://www.recode.net/2017/5/4/15364938/facebook-drone-startup-internet-beaming-helicopter-everfly

Facebook has come up with an unusual plan which involves an autonomous robot helicopter that is tethered to the ground with intentions to bring reliable wireless to people during times of crisis or natural disasters. During situations where severe weather takes down cell phone towers and other infrastructures, this drone can be shot into the air enabling people back online faster than it takes to repair the tower.

 

24. How Does Airplane Wifi Works?

Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/how-does-inflight-wi-fi-work/

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8xUzF__hcg

There are mainly two different methods in which we can get Wifi onboard planes. The first method is through ground-based mobile broadband towers which send signals up to the aircraft’s antennas. Similar to how we connect to different cell towers through our phones when we travel to different locations on land, the aircraft connects to the nearest ground-based cell towers throughout the flight allowing for a seamless wifi connection onboard. However, when the aircraft is across vast oceans or remote areas where there are no cell towers in the vicinity, the second method is employed for a wifi connection. This second method relies on satellites where planes send the information to geostationary satellites and these satellites act as a middleman between the plane and the ground-based systems by sending and receiving information through its transmitter and receiver.

 

25. Microsoft and Facebook just laid a 160-terabits-per-second cable 4,100 miles across the Atlantic

Link: https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/25/16359966/microsoft-facebook-transatlantic-cable-160-terabits-a-second

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve810FHZ1CQ

Microsoft, Facebook, and telecoms infrastructure company – Telxius have announced the completion of the highest capacity subsea cable to ever cross the Atlantic Ocean. The cable, termed as “Marea”, is capable of transmitting 160 terabits of data per second. Tech companies are increasingly moving into the infrastructure space, funding new cables themselves, rather than joining telecom consortiums which operate undersea cables already.

 

26. Burger King just became the first brand fail on Google Home

Link: https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/burger-king-just-became-first-brand-fail-google-home/1430559

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InOmTxmq1Ik

Burger King (US) ran a 15-second advertisement that ended with the question: “OK Google, What is the Whopper Burger?”. This was a very new novel form of marketing advertisement that leveraged on the growing dependence on IOT items in households in America. Majority of these IOT items are controlled centrally by Google Home or Amazon’s Echo products. However, as they are often triggered by words like “Ok Google” etc, the ad took advantage of this function to give it a more realistic publicity by triggering their IOT products.

 

27. Singapore’s fourth telco TPG Telecom to begin operations in 2018

Link: http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/singapores-fourth-telco-tpg-telecom-begin-operations-2018

Australia telco TPG has won the bid to become Singapore’s 4th telco, with operations set to commence in mid-2018. TGP’s winning bid will grant it the use of 60 MHz of spectrum. On top of that, TGP will be required to provide nationwide (i) street level 4G coverage, (ii) road tunnels & in buildings, and (iii) underground MRT stations within 18, 30 and 54 months of start date respectively.

 

28. 5G is on its way! Getting ready for the next stage in wireless networks

Link: https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/tele-talk/5g-is-on-its-way-getting-ready-for-the-next-stage-in-wireless-networks/2913

The article talks about three keys essentials for the seamless rollout of the upcoming 5G services. First, networks support different technologies under a single system, second, data has to become independent from location, and third, services need to be affordable. The article also explains the aspects further by talking about the specific tasks that service providers need to deal with, such as RAN Densification, automation and analytics, affordable networks and efficiency, etc.

 

29. NTU partners M1 to use faster 4.5G networks to fly drones

Link: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ntu-partners-m1-to-use-faster-45g-networks-to-fly-drones

NTU and telco M1 have partnered up, forming a research project to find a new and safer way to fly drones by using a more reliable network. Drones will use M1’s 4.5G heterogeneous network (HetNet) to fly instead of the usual wireless networks. The two parties signed a research agreement, which is expected to last three years, to use such networks to develop a traffic management system for drones.

 

30. In a world saturated in Wi-Fi, there’s still room for Bluetooth Mesh

Link: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/bluetooth-mesh-networks/

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EKoEcSnXP0

The article talks about how there is a growing place for Bluetooth technology in a world that is saturated with Wi-Fi. Especially in areas of home automation, Bluetooth leverages on the technology of one-to-one pairing and improves further by allowing meshing technology to relay data from device to device. This will not congest the network with numerous IP addresses generated for each device connected to the Wi-Fi network.

 

31. What Is Spectrum, and Why Is It Being Auctioned?

Link: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/telecom/features/tech-101-what-is-spectrum-and-why-is-it-being-auctioned-824721

This article covers what we mean when we mention “spectrum”, how countries are managing their spectrum using telecommunication circles which resulted in the auctioning of different ranges of frequencies and how frequencies play a huge role when we are seeing dual-band routers offering 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band being rolled out by the Telcos in Singapore. It mentioned that fewer devices operate on 5GHz, so there is very little interference in your Wi-Fi network at this frequency, but on the other hand, the range for a 2.4GHz network would be better, and it would be less affected by having to pass through walls.

 

32. Public Safety Cell Network Aims to improve Emergency Communication

Link: https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/public-safety-cell-network-aims-to-improve-emergency-communication

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWP-kMHynhM

During events such as music carnival or soccer matches, the cellular network can be congested and this will hinder the ability of first responders to get in contact especially during emergencies. In the US, a public cellular network known as FirstNet was launched and this network allows emergency personnel to get priority over public users.

 

33. What is Li-Fi? | The ultimate definition of Li-Fi Li-Fi claims to be 100 times faster than standard Wi-Fi. But what exactly is it and how does it work?

Link: https://www.techworld.com/data/what-is-li-fi-everything-you-need-know-3632764/

This article shares how Li-fi works and also compares Li-fi with Wifi. Li-Fi, also known as Light Fidelity, is an innovative light-based communication technology that operates in the visible light spectrum between 400 and 800THz. With this technology operating at the higher range of the electromagnetic spectrum, it allows Li-Fi to deliver higher capacity throughput of up to 1Gbps while alleviating spectrum congestion issues.

 

34. Why is South Korea’s internet so fast?

Link: http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Column/view?articleId=146837

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe6JqV9Oe3Q

The article talks about how ahead was South Korea’s average connection speed as compared to other countries like Singapore and Hong Kong. It also states the various reasons that resulted in South Korea’s rapid internet speed, such as the country’s is densely populated, requirements for being an Internet Service Provider(ISP) in South Korea are lower and the government’s effort to boost Internet speed.

 

35. AT&T Names First 5G US Cities

Link: http://www.businessinsider.com/att-names-first-5g-us-cities-2018-2/?IR=T

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtceXqgks1M

AT&T, an American carrier, has been testing the use of 5G in their labs in Austin, their service expecting to offer speeds of up to 1 gigabit/second. They plan to be the first to roll out 5G in 12 cities in America this year. Their goal for 5G is to enable more application real-time usage, enhance VR/AR experiences, to promote the massive IoT (Internet of Things) culture (data from other physical items being able to send and receive data), and most importantly, to enable faster HD video streaming (downloading a HD video in under a second)

 

36. Free Cable TV! Is it too good to be true?

Link: http://www.wirelesshack.org/what-is-a-android-tv-box-and-how-does-it-work.html

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csH9LrvuHE0

With our internet speeds becoming faster and more accessible to all of us, has the era of paid cable TV subscription by companies such as Starhub Cable TV and Mio TV come to an end? In the past coaxial cables were used to transmit signals for our TV but today paid subscription uses the internet to do such services more effectively, offering us HD quality content. Ironically the very same method is robbing the paid subscription industry since new ‘Android Boxes’ can offer such services with extra capabilities for a cheaper price.

 

37. 5G well on its way towards reality in Singapore

Link: http://www.straitstimes.com/tech/5g-well-on-its-way-towards-reality-here

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEx_d0SjvS0

The launch of 5G as the newest cellular wireless network is upon us. Three main advantages that 5G will provide as compared to the existing 4G are faster download speeds, lower latency and higher capacity. 5G networks will have download speeds exceeding 1Gbps and ultra-low latency of less than 1ms – there is little or no delay in transmission of information. The new network is also expected to have a capacity of up to a factor of 22 or more.

 

38. Myth: Shark Bites Cable? When and How Cables Go Down

Link: https://blog.telegeography.com/what-happens-when-submarine-cables-break

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMxkRh7sx84

Cable faults are common. On average, there are over 100 each year. The majority of damage to submarine cables comes from human activity, primarily fishing and anchoring, not sharks. Cables are engineered with a minimum design life of 25 years, but there is nothing magical about this time span. Cables may remain operational longer than 25 years, but they’re often retired earlier because they’re economically obsolete. They just can’t provide as much capacity as newer cables at a comparable cost and are thus too expensive to keep in service.

 

39. SpaceX wants to beam Internet down to Earth. Here’s how it will start.

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2018/02/16/spacex-wants-to-beam-internet-down-to-earth-heres-how-itll-start/?utm_term=.0d1f9f4421e6

Link (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcnaB7nJe14

Companies have sought for years to make satellite Internet a reality, due to the growing demand — and commercial opportunities — linked to broadband. SpaceX is preparing to hit another orbital milestone with the launch of a pair of experimental satellites on Sunday that is designed to beam an ultrafast, lag-free Internet connection down to Earth. Satellite broadband is already available. But it is slow, expensive and not really accessible to the masses. The goal of SpaceX and almost a dozen other companies is to deliver fast, reliable Internet access to virtually everyone. SpaceX ultimately intends to put about 12,000 broadband satellites in low Earth orbit.

 

40. New use for telecommunications networks: Helping scientists peer into deep space

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180201104549.htm

For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that a stable frequency reference can be reliably transmitted more than 300 kilometres over a standard fibre optic telecommunications network and used to synchronize two radio telescopes.

 

41. Evolution of 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G & 5G

Link: https://support.chinavasion.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/284/42/1g-2g-3g-4g—the-evolution-of-wireless-generations

The whole article talks about the history of wireless technology that back all the way from the 1970s when the first 1G came about and how as the years go, what was added in and removed to what it is now of 5G.

 

42. What would really happen if Russia attacked undersea Internet cables?

Link: https://www.wired.com/story/russia-undersea-internet-cables/

With the knowledge of the many undersea cables carrying vital connection across the world, one will wonder then: what if someone tries to cut them off? Especially when the coordinates of all these cables are known to everyone, some nefarious state or individuals can just go on ahead to cripple a nation or continent if they want to. Would it mean a global catastrophe?

 

43. Singtel plans to deploy IoT-driven smart meters in Singapore

Link: https://www.telecomstechnews.com/news/2017/dec/22/singtel-plans-deploy-iot-driven-smart-meters-singapore/

Singtel and EDMI, global smart metering solutions provider, are combining efforts to deploy a smart electric metering infrastructure in Singapore to facilitate wireless transmission of real-time meter readings to the power grid.

 

44. Seeing through walls of unknown materials

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171206162321.htm

Researchers have devised a way to see through walls without any advance knowledge of what the walls are made out of. Besides having obvious applications in the realm of security, the approach could lead to inexpensive devices to help construction workers easily locate conduits, pipes and wire.

 

45. The future of communication through Quantum Key Distribution

Link: https://room.eu.com/news/quantum-enabled-satellite-passes-key-tests

With the exponential boom in data consumption, we need a more secure platform to store and encrypt all that data. While public key cryptography is normally the way we do so: through the use of a public key and a private key. However, another more secured and advanced technology might be available shortly: using a quantum-enabled satellite.

 

46. Revealed: how Vodafone allowed elites to reap profits of Africa’s mobile boom

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/12/vodafone-wealthy-elites-mobile-phones-africa

This article speaks of how inequity and monopoly can arise from telecommunication.

 

47. Why Your Next Wi-Fi Setup Should Be a Mesh Network

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/technology/personaltech/mesh-network-vs-router.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FWireless%20Communications

A mesh network consists of a system of Wi-Fi stations that work together to blanket every corner of our home with a strong wireless data connection. Mesh stations piggyback on one another to create a continuous wireless link throughout our home, hence minimizing the possibility of dead zones.

 

48. Six top US intelligence chiefs caution against buying Huawei phones

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/13/chinas-hauwei-top-us-intelligence-chiefs-caution-americans-away.html

This article talks about how US intelligence chiefs are worried that with HuaWei entering the American market, it can be dangerous for the US. As China does not have the same values as the US, they are afraid that by entering the US market, China will gain power inside their telecommunication networks, exert pressure and control over their telecommunication infrastructure, as well as steal information.

 

49. A flaw in Hotspot Shield can expose VPN users, locations

Link: http://www.zdnet.com/article/privacy-flaw-in-hotspot-shield-can-identify-users-locations/

A security researcher has found a way to identify users of Hotspot Shield, a popular free virtual private network service that promises its users anonymity and privacy. However, an information disclosure bug in the privacy service results in a leak of user data, such as which country the user is located, and the user’s Wi-Fi network name, if connected. That information leak can be used to narrow down users and their location by correlating Wi-Fi network name with public and readily available data. This could put Hotspot Shield users in an authoritarian state at risk.

 

50. Wi-Fi or 3G: Which is better for mobile users?

Link: https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/data-center/wi-fi-or-3g-which-is-better-for-mobile-users/

While most now make use of much hyped-up data connections including 3G and 4G instead of the traditional wi-fi networks, observations have shown that wi-fi connections are still much more effective, when they are available. Wi-fi networks provide a faster and more consistent internet experience despite certain hiccups from time to time.

 

51. Will we ever… face a wireless ‘spectrum crunch’?

Link: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20131014-are-we-headed-for-wireless-chaos

With the advancement of wireless technology, we are transmitting data almost everywhere we go. The need and demand for data and spectrum is rising, especially so in the recent years. This is causing a significant risk of a spectrum crunch by 2020. If this problem is not attended to, it will eventually cause everything to slow down. Currently, there is a need to create an extra spectrum. However, it is not as easy as it sounds as it involves a lot of costs and effort to do so. Another way to alleviate this problem would be to shrink the electromagnetic footprint of our digital communication.

 

52. Everything you need to know about 5G

Link: https://spectrum.ieee.org/video/telecom/wireless/everything-you-need-to-know-about-5g

The 5th generation or 5G for short is the new and coming technology advancement that was founded in 2016. The 5th generation mobile networks or 5th generation wireless systems, are the proposed next telecommunications standards beyond the current 4G standards. 5G planning aims at a higher capacity than current 4G, allowing a higher density of mobile broadband users, and supporting device-to-device, more reliable, and massive machine communications. 5G research and development also aim at lower latency than 4G equipment and lower battery consumption, for better implementation of the Internet of things There is currently no standard for 5G deployments.

 

53. Sound waves used to enhance optical communication

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180122150806.htm

Sound waves could be used to ultraminiature optical diodes that fits a computer chip. The devices known as optical isolators could solve computing and communications – data capacity and system sizes for photonic integrated circuits.

 

54. Spy agencies around the world use radio signals to tap data from targeted systems

Link: https://www.computerworld.com/article/2487729/cyberwarfare/spy-agencies-around-the-world-use-radio-signals-to-tap-data-from-targeted-systems.html

The article talks about how National Security Agency (NSA) has used a secret channel of radio waves transmitted from covertly installed computer hardware to monitor about 100,000 computers around the world, allowing the spy agency access to the computers even if they aren’t connected to the internet. It talks about relying on a covert channel of radio waves that can be transmitted from tiny circuit boards and USB cards inserted surreptitiously into the computers.

 

55. Creating antennas that hijack in the air radio signals

Link: https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/these-antennas-turn-anything-radio-station

2 graduates from the University of Washington in Seattle had a project to turn anything into a radio station using these antennas. The scientists tested their device with a poster – advertising a Seattle concert by Simply Three, a string trio. People standing almost 4m away from the poster could use FM receivers on smartphones to listen to snippets of the band’s music. Those in cars as far as 18m away could use car radios to pick up the songs. The device only needs enough power to change the waves, not generate them.

 

56. China to launch world’s first quantum communication network

Link: https://phys.org/news/2017-08-china-world-quantum-network.html

As malicious hackers find ever more sophisticated ways to launch attacks, China is about to launch the Jinan Project, the world’s first unhackable computer network, and a significant milestone in the development of quantum technology. The network, known as a quantum key distribution (QKD) network, is more secure than widely used electronic communication equivalents.

 

57. Ditch all your other messenging app, here’s why you should use SIGNAL

Link: https://www.wired.com/story/ditch-all-those-other-messaging-apps-heres-why-you-should-use-signal/

The article talks about the messenging apps that are currently being used by people. It mentioned that messaging apps like Whatsapp and Facebook messaging are not properly secured and they have weak encryption for it. It states that Facebook owns Whatsapp and that data is being extracted from our conversations.

 

58. Why 5G may be both Faster and Slower…

Link: https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2018/02/economist-explains-8

The article discusses the up and coming 5G technology, as well as the potentials it holds. On the flip side, it also looks at the issues plaguing the rolling-out of the technology.

 

59. SpaceX to launch its satellite internet prototypes this weekend

Link: https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/13/spacex-launch-satellite-internet-starlink/

SpaceX is slated to launch 2 of their planned 4425 low-orbiting internet satellites into space this weekend (17 Feb) which will begin Elon Musk’s plan to provide reliable high-speed internet services where centralised internet infrastructure is not viable.

 

60. New use for telecommunications networks: Helping scientists peer into deep space

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180201104549.htm

This article talks about a new method for transmitting scientific reference signal that could bring significant benefit to astronomy. Researchers have demonstrated that a stable frequency reference can be reliably transmitted more than 300 kilometres over a standard fibre optic telecommunications network and used to synchronize two radio telescopes.

 

61. Wi-Fi on rays of light: 100 times faster, and never overloaded

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170317102428.htm

Slow Wi-Fi is a source of irritation that nearly everyone experiences. Researchers have come up with a surprising solution: a wireless network based on harmless infrared rays. The capacity is not only huge (more than 40Gbit/s per ray), but also there is no need to share since every device gets its own ray of light. Each wireless device is assigned to different wavelengths by the same antenna, and there is no longer interference with neighbouring wifi network.

 

62. Computer Algorithm can spot a drunken tweeter

Link: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2016/03/17/algorithm-drunken-tweeter/#.WoWzIZP1XBI

With the help of a machine-learning algorithm, researchers from the University of Rochester cross-referenced tweets mentioning alcohol consumption with geotagging information to broadly analyse human drinking behaviour. They were able to estimate where and when people imbibed, and, to a limited extent, how they behaved under the influence. The experiment is more than a social critique — the algorithm helps researchers spot drinking patterns that could inform public health decisions and could be applied to a range of other human behaviours.

 

63. Australia’s internet speeds limiting productivity

Link: http://www.computerweekly.com/news/252434271/Australias-internet-speeds-limiting-productivity

Australia’s broadband networks, already among the world’s slowest, could be further strained by the emergence of virtual and augmented reality. The emergence of virtual and augmented reality which will be tested by Intel and Ooyala during the upcoming Winter Olympics broadcast could further strain Australia’s underlying communications networks.

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