Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Monday, February 22, 2016

Only 16 masts installed via UK Mobile Infrastructure Project

The UK Government’s £150 million Mobile Infrastructure Project has only seen 16 masts installed since it launched – despite its original ambition to cover around 600 sites. Most of the budget remains unspent.

Weaverthorpe in North Yorkshire was the first village to benefit from this project to reduce areas of non-existent mobile coverage, often described as ‘not spots’.

Ed Vaisey MP, the Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy, admitted “I do not think the programme has been a success”.

He explained that planning regulations and local opposition had caused problems, as had the issue of running costs for the sites. “One difficulty of the programme is that the companies do not want to participate in it - I do not say that pejoratively - because they are landed with the operating costs of the masts. We, the Government, pay the installation costs, but the companies are landed with the operating costs for masts that are, by definition, uneconomic.”

Mr Vaisey added “we have erected 16 of the masts and are hoping to get 60 up and running”.

However, he also pointed out that the 2014 changes to the UK operators’ licence agreements means that geographic coverage will be improved. Combined with the additional sites, this means the percentage of ‘not spots’ (no mobile coverage) across the UK is expected to fall to 2% by the end of 2017.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

From improved performance to personalized recommendations, AI is enhancing the functionality and usability of smartphones for users

By incorporating advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities, AI can help to optimize a smartphone's performance, providing users with a faster, more efficient and user-friendly experience.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Whatever happened to all my tech?

Whatever happened to all my tech?

Mark Bridge revisits his mobile technology reviews

Mark Bridge writes:

I've been taking a look back at the devices I've written about during the past few years. Some are still faithful companions, others... well, let's just say my faith was misplaced.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Predictions for 2016: Network Function Virtualisation, 4G throttling and video calling

Mark Windle, head of marketing at OpenCloud, predicts that this year’s reduction in the number of traditional telecoms operators in some countries will provide an opportunity for other operators to innovate and capture market share in 2016.

He says next year will be a year of rapid change for telecoms… whether it’s MVNO disruption, competitive tariff pricing or simply defence from the ‘dark art’ of hacking.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

A 'recording watch' that links to your smartphone

Mark Bridge writes:

The most memorable moments in life often go unrecorded. You don't have your camera in your hands. Your finger is still hovering over the 'pause' button on your audio recorder. Or you were simply too busy experiencing whatever was happening. It's all about the one that got away.

That's where Kapture can help.

Author: The Fonecast
4 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
Making mobile websites work better

Making mobile websites work better

Device detection and responsive design explained

Mark Bridge writes:

James Rosewell shows me a colourful roll of paper that's the width of an iPhone but well over three metres long. When I look closer, I can see it's a printed copy of the Wall Street Journal's mobile website. That's a lot of scrolling to do... and a pretty unfriendly user experience for anyone reading the news online. Why does it work so badly?

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
RSS
12345678910Last

Recent Podcasts

BlackBerry contemplates its future, Vodafone reveals its 4G plans and ZTE puts its phones on eBay

Podcast - 14th August 2013

This week we're talking about BlackBerry's options for the future, Vodafone's 4G launch, Apple's patent victory and LG's new smartphone.

We also discuss ZTE selling its Firefox phones on eBay, Nokia's acquisition of NSN, the cost of phone calls in Europe, the controversy about recycling bins that monitor footfall and the new face promoting HTC.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Motorola reveals the Moto X, O2 readies its 4G and the UK government cures black spots

Podcast - 7th August 2013

The Motorola Moto X smartphone opens this week's show, despite not having a European release... but there's plenty of other UK news.

We talk about O2's plans to launch 4G mobile services later this month, we look at the ASA's ruling against EE, we contemplate the government's plans to eliminate some mobile 'black spots', we wonder when Android's market share will start to shrink - and we discuss many other mobile telecom stories as well.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Ruth Barnett of SwiftKey

Podcast - 2nd August 2013

James Rosewell interviews Ruth Barnett, head of communications at British-based technology company SwiftKey.

As well as talking about the SwiftKey keyboard app they also discuss competition in the mobile application space, working with manufacturers and the opportunities presented by 'Bring Your Own Device' schemes.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Google's new gadgets, freedom for 4G frequencies and many mid-year mobile results

Podcast - 31st July 2013

In this week's show we look at Google's new product announcements, O2's closure of its mobile telecare service and the clearance of radio frequencies for 4G services.

We also talk about the latest collection of quarterly results from Apple, Samsung, Amazon, LG and Facebook. Who's doing well - and should anyone be worried?

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Challenging results, crowd-sourced smartphones and cracked SIM security

Podcast - 24th July 2013

We start this week's show by discussing the recent quarterly results from Google, Nokia, Vodafone and Microsoft.

There's also time to talk about SIM security, Ubuntu's crowd-funded smartphone, the HTC One mini, smart watches and an unusual process for recharging your phone battery.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First1415161719212223Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement