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Global number of Internet users increases, but disparities deepen key digital divides
The world's online population grew by more than 240 million people in 2025, according to Facts and Figures 2025 released today by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The new estimates confirm continuing progress in expanding digital connectivity, while pointing to differences in quality that impact how users benefit from Internet... Read more -
Researchers complete first real-world verification of maritime IoT communications network
Korean researchers have successfully verified the world's first real-world maritime Internet of Things (MIoT) communication network, which collects marine data by installing sensors and communication devices on ships, ports, and marine facilities and can be used for safety management and environmental monitoring.... Read more -
Engineered randomness enhances connection speed and precision in next-generation wireless systems
The next generation of wireless communication will move into signal frequencies even higher than those of today's 5G systems, allowing signals to carry vastly more data at much higher speeds. These high-frequency bands, expected to underpin future 6G networks, could support data-hungry technologies such as untethered virtual reality headsets and... Read more -
New holography-inspired reconfigurable surface developed for wireless communication
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) are engineered structures comprised of several elements known as 'meta-atoms,' which can reshape and control electromagnetic waves in real-time. These surfaces could contribute to the further advancement of wireless communications and localization systems, as they could be used to reliably redirect, strengthen and suppress signals.... Read more -
Putting people first: Europe's 6G push for connectivity that serves society
As Europe prepares for the leap to 6G, researchers, policymakers and citizens are working together to make sure that the next digital revolution is not just faster, but also ethical, sustainable and inclusive.... Read more -
Researchers uncover critical security flaws in global mobile networks
In an era when recent cyberattacks on major telecommunications providers have highlighted the fragility of mobile security, researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have identified a class of previously unknown vulnerabilities that could allow remote attackers to compromise cellular networks serving billions of users worldwide.... Read more -
Scalable approach to 6G wireless offers speed and reliability
A team from the University of California San Diego and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has invented a scalable technology that enables faster and more reliable 5G and 6G wireless communication.... Read more -
Researchers report terahertz communication breakthroughs for 6G networks
Researchers at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are helping shape the future of next-generation wireless communication through groundbreaking work in the terahertz (THz) frequency spectrum—a range expected to power 6G and beyond. The team consists of faculty and researchers from the Wireless and Intelligent Next Generation Systems (WINGS) Center, including Dr. Arjun... Read more -
Ground-to-satellite laser communications applies next-generation error correction codes
The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and the Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech), collaborating with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), have achieved the world's first successful demonstration of next-generation error correction codes, mitigating the impact of atmospheric turbulence on ground-to-satellite laser communications.... Read more -
Ultra-compact semiconductor could power next-gen AI and 6G chips
A research team, led by Professor Heein Yoon in the Department of Electrical Engineering at UNIST has unveiled an ultra-small hybrid low-dropout regulator (LDO) that promises to advance power management in advanced semiconductor devices. This innovative chip not only stabilizes voltage more effectively, but also filters out noise—all while taking... Read more -
Researchers develop 3D printed antenna arrays for flexible wireless systems
Washington State University-led researchers have developed a chip-sized processor and 3D printed antenna arrays that could someday lead to flexible and wearable wireless systems and improved electronic communications in a wide variety of auto, aviation, and space industry applications.... Read more -
SpaceX's fleet-leading booster makes 31st launch from Space Coast
SpaceX plowed ahead with a record 31st launch of one of its Falcon 9 boosters with another Starlink mission from the Space Coast on Sunday.... Read more -
Some major Australian towns still have poor phone reception—it's threatening public safety
Australians rely on their phones and the internet for education, business, socializing and in emergencies. And as Optus' recent Triple Zero outage highlights, the consequences of a network outage can be fatal.... Read more -
Smartwatches achieve centimeter-level location accuracy with new tracking algorithms
University of Otago researchers have developed algorithms that improve the precision of location tracking in smartwatches, a world-first development.... Read more -
Training the grid to spot cyberattacks without seeing your data
SUTD researchers test a privacy-preserving approach that blends federated learning with cloud coordination for smart grids in future 6G environments.... Read more -
Low-power MoS₂-based microwave transmitter could advance communications
To further advance wireless communication systems, electronics engineers have been trying to develop new electronic circuits that operate in the microwave frequency range (1–300 GHz), while also losing little energy while transmitting signals. Ideally, these circuits should also be more compact than existing solutions, as this would help to reduce... Read more -
Super-thin semiconductor overcomes trade-off between speed and thermal stability
A team led by academician Huang Ru and Professor Wu Yanqing from the School of Integrated Circuits at Peking University has developed a super-thin, high-performance semiconductor with enhanced heat conductivity, enabled by a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate. The research, published in Nature Electronics under the title "Amorphous indium tin oxide... Read more -
The spy who came in from the Wi-Fi: Beware of radio network surveillance
If you pass by a café that operates a Wi-Fi network, you can be identified—even if you do not carry a smartphone with you. Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have found out that it is possible to identify people solely through Wi-Fi signals. They point out that this... Read more -
Verizon teams with AST SpaceMobile on space-based cellular service
Verizon has signed a deal to provide cellular service from space through AST SpaceMobile beginning next year.... Read more -
Cyber defense innovation could significantly boost 5G network security
A framework for building tighter security into 5G wireless communications has been created by a Ph.D. student working with the University of Portsmouth's Artificial Intelligence and Data Center.... Read more -
Making regular GPS ultra-precise
Self-driving cars need to know exactly where on the road they are located at all times. A new invention could revolutionize the development of driverless vehicles—and give us more accurate GPS on our mobile phones and fitness watches too.... Read more -
From the telegraph to AI, our communications systems have always had hidden environmental costs
When we post to a group chat or talk to an AI chatbot, we don't think about how these technologies came to be. We take it for granted we can instantly communicate. We only notice the importance and reach of these systems when they're not accessible.... Read more -
Polymers with ultralow dielectric loss show potential for 6G telecommunications
With the rollout of fifth-generation (5G) telecommunications networks and 6G looming on the horizon, the demand for advanced materials that can handle high-frequency signals is rising rapidly. These systems use electromagnetic waves ranging from tens to hundreds of gigahertz (GHz), where signals are highly sensitive to transmission loss, interference, and... Read more -
AOL's dial up internet takes its last bow, marking the end of an era
It's official: AOL's dial-up internet has taken its last bow.... Read more -
FCC moves to end discounts for Wi-Fi hotspot lending and school bus connectivity
The Federal Communications Commission voted to end discounts for library Wi-Fi hotspot lending and school bus connectivity programs on Tuesday, drawing criticism from lawmakers and librarians who say the moves will make it more difficult for people who are low-income or live in rural areas to access the internet.... Read more -
5G is deployed, but it doesn't always deliver faster connections than 4G
5G has been part of our lives and the market for several years, while the industry is already looking ahead to its successor, 6G. But can we say it is fully implemented?... Read more -
Room-temperature terahertz device opens door to 6G networks
In a world first, researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have successfully developed a resonant tunnel diode (RTD) that operates at room temperature made entirely from Group IV semiconductor materials.... Read more -
Advanced broadband optical signal filtering developed with chirped and tilted fiber Bragg grating
Optical signal transmission can be significantly improved by limiting the wavelength of transmitted signals. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is a technique widely used in optical communication, sensing, and laser technologies for selectively blocking certain wavelengths of light. In optical fibers, FBG functions as a band-rejection filter that reflects specific light... Read more -
Satellite connectivity on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Google Pixel Watch 4 is 'a feat of engineering,' says expert
Apple's unveiling of the latest batch of iPhones yesterday may have grabbed much of the attention, but the satellite messaging added to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is an engineering marvel, says a Northeastern University expert.... Read more -
Smartphones in cars offer new way to monitor city road conditions
Potholes could be a thing of the past, after a team of Monash engineers found a way to use smartphones to monitor roads—a cheaper, quicker alternative to Australia's current road survey methods.... Read more -
Commercial shipping likely cut Red Sea cables that disrupted internet access, experts say
A ship likely cut cables in the Red Sea that disrupted internet access in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, experts said Tuesday, showing the lines' vulnerability over a year after another incident severed them.... Read more -
Musk's SpaceX spends $17 billion to acquire spectrum licenses from EchoStar
Elon Musk's SpaceX has reached a deal worth about $17 billion with EchoStar for spectrum licenses that it will use to beef up its Starlink satellite network.... Read more -
Undersea cables cut in the Red Sea, disrupting internet access in Asia and the Mideast
Undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea disrupted internet access in parts of Asia and the Middle East, experts said Sunday, though it wasn't immediately clear what caused the incident.... Read more -
A code for the future: Scientists develop a faster and more reliable solution for 6G networks
Researchers at Skoltech have presented new generalized LDPC codes (Generalized Low-Density Parity-Check Codes, GLDPC)—a practical solution that operates faster than modern solutions from the 5G standard while maintaining the original reliability of data transmission. Such codes are particularly important for designing next-generation wireless systems, where minimizing latency and ensuring reliable... Read more -
Russia's GPS interference: Do I need to worry when flying?
On Sunday, a plane carrying European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen was reportedly forced to land in Bulgaria using paper maps after its GPS navigation systems were jammed. Bulgarian authorities claim the jamming was deliberate Russian interference, though a Kremlin spokesperson told the Financial Times this was "incorrect."... Read more -
Integrated terrestrial/satellite 6G hyper-space communication successful in real-time flight tests
For the first time, Korean researchers have successfully demonstrated a 6G hyper-space communication technology that integrates terrestrial and satellite networks. As a core infrastructure for the future 6G era, it is being evaluated as a green light for securing the lead in 6G international standardization.... Read more -
'Over-the-horizon' vision technology tested using high-altitude balloons and drones
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in conjunction with the Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office (E2O); the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment; Aerostar; and Lockheed Martin conducted a technical demonstration held at Outlying Landing Field Seagle in... Read more -
Novel signal detector could significantly cut energy consumption in next-generation wireless communication networks
Cell-free (CF) MIMO networks are emerging as a key B5G/6G technology for improved connectivity, spectral efficiency, and service quality. A recent study proposes a novel CF-MIMO signal detector that can reduce energy consumption by up to 58%.... Read more -
Next-generation wireless systems can benefit from robust, low-overhead semantic communication framework
In recent decades, communication technology has advanced at unprecedented speed. A key breakthrough is semantic communications—a shift from transmitting raw data to conveying semantic meaning. For example, in image transmission, meaning takes priority over pixel-level accuracy. By integrating user tasks into the communication process, semantic communications improve both efficiency and... Read more -
AT&T snatches up wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar for $23 billion
AT&T will spend $23 billion to acquire certain wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar, a significant expansion of AT&T's low- and mid-band coverage networks.... Read more -
Predicting sudden traffic congestion in real time using optical fiber cables
NEC Corporation has developed an optical fiber sensing technology to monitor road conditions and accurately predict sudden traffic congestion in real time. By collecting data from existing optical fiber communications cables and analyzing real-time traffic flow data using a proprietary AI model, the researchers have reduced prediction errors by 80%... Read more -
Digital to analog in one smooth step: Device could replace signal modulators in fiber-optic networks
Addressing a major roadblock in next-generation photonic computing and signal processing systems, researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have created a device that can bridge digital electronic signals and analog light signals in one fluid step.... Read more -
200 Gbps 6G wireless link successfully demonstrated
Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has successfully demonstrated a 200 Gbps 6G wireless link using a proof-of-concept (PoC) system developed late last year. The 6G system developed by ETRI uses an ultra-wide bandwidth of 10 GHz around 160 GHz in the sub-terahertz (sub-THz) band.... Read more -
Scientists use new mathematical approach to protect aircraft from 5G interference
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have provided a new mathematical approach to protect aircraft from interference caused by mobile communications. The solution, published in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, describes the shape of the ideal exclusion zone that protects aircraft while maximizing 5G performance. This... Read more -
Korea develops core radar components for stealth technology
The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science has successfully localized core radar stealth technologies through indigenous development, without reliance on foreign technologies. This achievement is a significant milestone, laying the foundation for the establishment of stealth weapon systems in Korea, which have long been difficult to import due to... Read more -
Global telecommunications at risk: New paper urges urgent rethink of submarine cable dependence
A newly published paper by Dr. Asaf Tzachor, Dean of Reichman University's School of Sustainability, warns that the backbone of our global internet infrastructure—submarine communication cables—is dangerously vulnerable to both natural disasters and deliberate sabotage, posing systemic risks to international communication, commerce, and security.... Read more -
Shape-changing antenna enables more versatile sensing and wide-range communication
MIT researchers have developed a reconfigurable antenna that dynamically adjusts its frequency range by changing its physical shape, making it more versatile for communications and sensing than static antennas.... Read more -
Engineers send a wireless curveball to deliver massive amounts of data
High frequency radio waves can wirelessly carry the vast amount of data demanded by emerging technology like virtual reality, but as engineers push into the upper reaches of the radio spectrum, they are hitting walls. Literally.... Read more -
Quantum alternative to GPS navigation will be tested on US military spaceplane
A US military spaceplane, the X-37B orbital test vehicle, is due to embark on its eighth flight into space on August 21, 2025. Much of what the X-37B does in space is secret. But it serves partly as a platform for cutting-edge experiments.... Read more -
AOL is finally shutting down its dial-up internet service
AOL's dial-up internet is finally taking its last bow.... Read more