The operator is working with AI-solutions provider Zinkworks to bring in automation to monitor network performance in real time and resolve potential problems before they affect users.

Thise builds on technology already used in Virgin Media O2’s fixed broadband network, where automation is claimed to have educed repair times by more than a third and cut engineer visits by 12 per cent. Similar results are expected from mobile deployment by preventing faults, reducing manual intervention and limiting call-outs.

The system predicts where issues could occur and triggers corrective action. It will be deployed across radio access and core infrastructure.

Jeanie York, chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “Greater automation will help us predict and prevent issues and allow us to better spot and fix problems when they arise, reducing downtime and ensuring customers can trust us to deliver the dependable mobile experience they rely on.”

Paul Madden, CEO of Zinkworks, added: “operators are increasingly looking to deploy AI at scale to strengthen network performance and reduce outages”.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/virgin-media-o2-and-zinkworks-to-plug-more-ai-into-the-network/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/vodafone-business-gets-central-role-in-massive-ai-river-monitoring-network/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/vodafone-business-gets-central-role-in-massive-ai-river-monitoring-network/#respond Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:48:59 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=179736 Vodafone Business has landed a 10-year connectivity agreement to connect thousands of AI-enabled water quality sensors across UK rivers, 

Vodafone Business will provide infrastructure to enable river sensors that analyse water quality to transmit data every 15 minutes.

Undet the terms of the deal with UK-based environmental tech firm Additive Catchments Vodafone Business will keep AC’s sensors operational on a continuous basis, rather than relying on intermittent data collection. The project also involves partners, including Siemens, Google Cloud, AtkinsRéalis, Capgemini and The Rivers Trust.

The system is will provide greater visibility of pollution events, helping to distinguish between contamination caused by rainfall, sewage overflows or agricultural runoff. Traditional water monitoring methods rely on infrequent sampling and delayed laboratory results.

Regulatory changes require water companies in England to continuously monitor water quality around certain wastewater assets. This is expected to increase demand for resilient, always-on connectivity.

The new system will present the data in a more user-friendly format for swimmers, paddle boarders, anglers and other river users, end ensure regulators, water companies and infrastructure operators are working from the same data.

Environmental monitoring is a massive growth area for IoT services, alongside utilities, transport and smart infrastructure.

Rob Passmore, CEO, Additive Catchments, said “This partnership shows what’s possible when telecoms, technology, and environmental intelligence come together to serve the public good.  With Vodafone Business support, we’re extending the reach and resilience of our Catchment Monitoring as a Service (CMaaS) platform, enabling proactive water quality management at a scale never before possible”.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/vodafone-business-gets-central-role-in-massive-ai-river-monitoring-network/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/tmt-first-presented-with-kings-award-for-enterprise-in-innovation/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/tmt-first-presented-with-kings-award-for-enterprise-in-innovation/#respond Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:37:45 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=179716 Staffordshire Samsung-approved repair specialist TMT First has been formally presented with the King’s Award for Enterprise In Innovation it won in March  .

The Mobile Component Repair (MCR) service enables the repair of individual device components rather than full unit replacement.

TMT First was the only Staffordshire business to receive the award last year. The presentation took place at a ceremony attended by more than 100 guests, including Newcastle-under-Lyme MP Adam Jogee, the town’s mayor, executives from Samsung and eBay, and representatives from Keele University, the University of Staffordshire and Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

At a ceremony attended by more than 100 guests founder Adam Whitehouse received the award from the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Professor Elizabeth Barnes CBE, the King’s official representative in the county.

“We live in a world where technology is moving at an incredibly fast pace, but there is a tendency that if it goes wrong people jump to replace it. Our close collaboration with and support from Samsung as part of our 12-year relationship has enabled us to innovate and develop new service and repair solutions such as MCR,” he said.

TMT First was one of just 197 organisations nationwide to receive a King’s Award in 2024.

Whitehouse said the award reflected the company’s long-term focus on repair, refurbishment and sustainability, supported by its 12-year partnership with Samsung. He added that MCR demonstrates how extending device lifecycles can reduce environmental impact while lowering costs for consumers and businesses.

Professor Barnes said TMT First’s approach aligned closely with the King’s sustainability priorities, particularly around sustainable consumption and reuse, and encouraged other Staffordshire businesses to follow its example.

The idea is to combine Vodafone’s mobile network with satellite technolog to keep IoT connected even in remote locations. A full commercial service will follow if the trial is successful,

Skylo offers satellite connectivity for connected devices. Its network works with standard IoT hardware and uses existing mobile standards, making it easier for mobile operators to add satellite coverage without major changes to devices.

Skylo was founded by a group of engineers and scientists from MIT and Stanford in the US, and a  deployment team in Finland and India.

Skylo’s satellite network covers 36 countries and around 70 million square kilometres to extend connectivity beyond mobile masts.

Vodafone IoT chief executive Erik Brenneis said the partnership was another step towards global IoT connectivity, improving reliability and new types of connected services. Skylo CEO and co-founder Parthsarathi Trivedi said the trial shows that “anywhere connectivity” is something that is now ready to be used at scale.

Under the trial, IoT devices wtih Vodafone SIM will switch automatically between the mobile network and satellite network when mobile coverage is unavailable.

The technology is aimed at sectors such as asset tracking, energy services, environmental monitoring and fleet management, where devices are deployed in rural or remote locations.

Connected devices can be managedthrough Vodafone IoT’s existing managed connectivity platform, whether the devices are using mobile or satellite connectivity.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/vodafone-iot-and-skylo-to-test-satellite-connectivity-for-iot-devices/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/surge-in-esim-awareness-as-sim-only-plans-take-up-half-of-the-market/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/surge-in-esim-awareness-as-sim-only-plans-take-up-half-of-the-market/#respond Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:35:14 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=179698 Most UK consumers are now aware of eSIM technology, according to new research from CCS Insight. 

The analyst firm’s eighth annual UK consumer survey shows that 74 per cent of people have heard of eSIM, up from 27 per cent in 2022. A third of those surveyed have already used eSIM to sign up with a UK mobile provider.

The survey was conducted in December 2025 among 1,006 UK mobile users aged 16 and over.

iPhone users are the biggest adopters, reflecting Apple’s aggressive push towards eSIM-only devices. The introduction of the eSIM-only iPhone Air suggests that operator and device support is translating into real consumer behaviour, not just awareness.

Travel eSIM is a fast-growing opportunity. Almost one in four respondents said they have already used a travel eSIM, rising to 32 per cent among consumers who have travelled abroad in the past three years. Around 73 per cent said they would consider using a travel eSIM on their next trip, with convenience and cost savings cited as the main drivers.

CCS Insight believes this combination of awareness, usage experience and strong intent signals that eSIM is approaching a tipping point in the UK market.

Alongside eSIM’s rise, SIM-only plans continue to gain ground. The survey found that close to 45 per cent of UK consumers now take a SIM-only tariff. This is up by around 10 percentage points compared with five years ago. Longer handset replacement cycles and increasingly competitive airtime pricing were cited as key factors accelerating the shift away from bundled contracts.

Timpson offersproducts and services such as key cutting and locksmith services, watch repairs  phone and tablet repairs, engraving, dry cleaning and laundry services, passport and ID photos and photo printing.

Customers can take a used smartphone into any participating Timpson store, have the device assessed and receive payment directly into their bank account.. The move brings trade-ins onto the high street at scale, combining Timpson’s national retail footprint with musicMagpie’s pricing and device assessment tech.

Research commissioned by musicMagpie highlights strong demand for in-person trade-ins. A survey of 2,000 UK adults found that 73 per cent of people surveyed have at least one unused phone at home. More than two thirds said they would prefer to trade in their old tech in person rather than sending it by post.

One in four respondents said that receiving money “straight away” is important when deciding how to trade in a device.

musicMagpie’s estimates that unused smartphones and other tech sitting in UK homes are worth around £10bn when scaled across the population. Apathy remains a barrier, with around one in three people admitting they rarely think about trading in old devices.

Musicmagpie founder and MD Steve Oliver said the Timpsons’ deal is major step forward for the company’s omnichannel strategy.

“Rolling this scheme out to 1,300 stores in the Timpson network is a huge milestone Mostf Brits want to trade in their unused tech in person. This partnership will now allow people to do that and receive cash iwithin minutes,” he said”

Sid Hubbard, group director at Timpson,said: “Customers across the UK can now add smartphone trade-in to the list of services available at their local Timpson shop”.

The Mastering Mobile & Telecoms Accreditation starts next month and has been designed to support individuals and organisations operating in complex and fast-moving telecoms and technology.

The programme is for professionals across all roles in the sector The GSMA’s view tis hat a strong grasp of industry foundations is essential to driving innovation, compliance and long-term growth.

Core subjects

The accreditation covers core subjects including 5G, mobile privacy, and network evolution. Participants get a structured pathway to build knowledge. Content is delivered through self-paced learning modules, supported by tutorials and practical assessments, allowing learners to progress alongside their day jobs.

The programme has been developed to help organisations strengthen internal capability while supporting individual career development.

“By building a solid understanding of how connectivity is evolving, how regulation and compliance fit into the ecosystem, and why mobile security standards matter, participants are better positioned to make informed decisions and contribute meaningfully within their teams”, it sats

On successful completion participants will receive a GSMA Advance Accreditation, recognising expertise and commitment to continuous professional development in the mobile and telecoms sector.

The GSMA says the accreditation is intended not only as a learning programme and an opportunity for the industry to shape the future of global connectivity by ensuring skills and knowledge keep pace with technological change.

 Enquiries can also be directed to Helen Robinson, GSMA Advance Partnerships Director

Williams will lead Reebelo’s UK operation, with responsibility for market entry, partner onboarding and day-to-day management.

Reebelo was founded in 2019 and operates a third-party marketplace model, connecting consumers with professional sellers of refurbished and pre-owned technology. The company does not hold inventory.

Product categories include smartphones, laptops, tablets, wearables, gaming consoles and selected household electronics. Devices listed on the platform are tested and graded by sellers before resale.

Reebelo operates in the same segment as Back Market and competes with it in several markets. The company has established operations in Australia, New Zealand and the US.

The business is headquartered in San Mateo and was founded by Philip Franta, who is chief executive, and Fabien Rastouil, chief product officer.

The appointment comes as competition continues to increase in the UK refurbished devices market, with multiple online platforms targeting growth through resale and recommerce.

The move comes as Phonecheck prepares to launch an AI-powered diagnostics and grading system that it claims will outperform anything currently available in the circular economy sector.

Garchay brings nearly 20 years’ experience scaling technology businesses across Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. His role will be to help transition Phonecheck from an established industry standard into a fully AI-led technology innovator.

The company is preparing to launch what it says will be the industry’s first fully automated vision AI product, capable of identifying cosmetic damage, screen defects and overall device condition without human intervention. Phonecheck believes the technology could mark a significant shift in how devices are inspected and graded at scale.

“I don’t change roles often,” Garchay said. “When I do, it’s because I see something exceptional. What Phonecheck is doing now is different. This isn’t a services company bolting AI onto an existing offer – it’s a technology company with a dominant market position, using that position to build something genuinely new. That combination is rare.

“I’m invested in Phonecheck’s success not just as a leader, but as a stakeholder. I’m incredibly optimistic about what we can build.”

Phonecheck CEO Chris Sabeti said Garchay’s appointment comes at a critical moment for the business.

“Harby is exactly the leader we need,” Sabeti said. “He knows how to scale, he knows how to execute, and he believes in the direction we’re heading. When the opportunity to work together came up, I didn’t hesitate.”

Sabeti said Phonecheck’s advantage lies in the sheer volume of data flowing through its platform.

“We’ve processed more device inspections than anyone else in the world,” he said. “That experience has given us data at scale, which has now become an AI advantage.”

Every device inspected feeds back into Phonecheck’s machine learning models, continuously improving accuracy and performance. The company believes it now holds the largest proprietary dataset in the device diagnostics sector, generated from millions of inspections and diagnostics carried out each year.

IDC has warned that the semiconductor industry is undergoing a structural shift, with memory manufacturing capacity being redirected away from smartphones towards AI data centres.

The resulting squeeze on DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and NAND flash memory supply is expected to persist well into 2027, pushing up component prices and altering OEM pricing strategies.

For the UK telecoms channel, the impact is expected to be felt most acutely in contract pricing, promotional mechanics and upgrade behaviour, rather than in dramatic headline price rises.

IDC say, the memory shortage is not a short-term disruption but a structural change in the global supply chain. For UK operators and retailers planning their 2026 handset strategies, margin discipline rather than volume growth may become the defining challenge.

Wholesale costs

UK handset margins are already under strain following several years of inflation, higher energy and logistics costs, and a slowdown in consumer upgrades. IDC believes rising memory prices will push up OEM wholesale prices in 2026, particularly in the £200–£400 Android segment that underpins much of the UK contract market.

Memory accounts for up to 20 per cent of the bill of materials in a mid-range smartphone. As costs rise, OEMs are expected to prioritise margin protection, passing more of that pressure down the supply chain.

For UK operators, this raises fresh challenges around handset subsidies. Absorbing higher device costs without increasing monthly contract prices will become increasingly difficult, especially on entry-level and mid-tier tariffs where margins are already tight. Any increase in device pricing risks pushing customers into higher monthly payments at a time when affordability is under greater scrutiny.

Retailers face similar constraints. With less room to discount devices upfront, particularly outside major launch windows, profitability on contract and PAYG handsets could come under further pressure.

Upgrade incentives

The UK market has become increasingly dependent on perceived value to drive upgrades, with memory upgrades and storage boosts often used as a simple marketing hook. IDC expects this lever to weaken in 2026, as OEMs rein in specification increases to manage costs.

Consumers upgrading from older handsets may see fewer tangible improvements at familiar price points, particularly in RAM and storage. This risks further lengthening already extended upgrade cycles, which in the UK are now commonly stretching beyond 36 months for many customers.

Operators may struggle to justify higher monthly contract prices without clear device differentiation, increasing reliance on airtime discounts, loyalty incentives or longer contract terms to retain customers.

SIM-only

One of the clearest risks highlighted by IDC is an acceleration in SIM-only migration. As contract prices rise and handset promotions become less compelling, more UK consumers may choose to hold onto existing devices and switch to SIM-only plans.

This trend is already well established in the UK, with SIM-only accounting for a growing share of net additions across all major networks. Higher handset costs and flatter specification gains could reinforce this behaviour, reducing device attach rates and lowering the overall value of contract acquisitions.

For retailers, particularly those reliant on device-led footfall and commission, a further shift towards SIM-only could weaken sales volumes and increase competition on airtime pricing alone.

Android device

IDC expects the impact of the memory shortage to be most severe in the mid-range Android segment, which plays a critical role in UK operator portfolios. Vendors such as Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, TCL and Honor, which compete aggressively in the £200–£400 range, operate on thin margins and rely heavily on rapid spec progression to stand out.

If these vendors are forced to raise prices or hold specifications flat, operators and retailers may see reduced differentiation between models and fewer compelling upgrade propositions at key price points.

Apple and Samsung are better insulated due to long-term supply agreements and scale, but even here IDC expects caution. Flagship devices launched in 2026 are unlikely to see major memory upgrades, while price erosion on older models may slow, limiting opportunities for UK retailers to drive volume through late-cycle discounting.

A tougher handset environment f

IDC has not yet revised its official UK smartphone forecasts, but it has outlined downside risks if memory supply constraints worsen. For the UK telecoms channel, the direction of travel is already clear.

Higher wholesale costs, weaker upgrade incentives and a continued shift towards SIM-only threaten to squeeze margins across the value chain. Operators and retailers may need to place greater emphasis on trade-in, financing, insurance and value-added services to maintain profitability, rather than relying on handset-led growth.