The 2012 edition of ITU’s flagship regulatory report ‘Trends in Telecommunication Reform’, released today, highlights the vital importance of a solid national regulatory framework in accelerating broadband roll-out and stimulating the development of new digital goods and services. … more

Critics of Verizon Wireless’ proposed acquisition of spectrum from a group of cable companies are launching a new coalition to try to block the deal or at least get the Federal Communications Commission to impose conditions to make it more palatable. … more

China is positioning the home-grown telecoms giant ZTE to take on global market leaders such as Apple, Samsung and Nokia. … more

[news release] From 1 July 2012, the European Union’s mobile roaming regulation will be extended to include price caps for data downloads which will mean significant savings for those using maps, email and social networks when travelling. For a typical businessperson travelling in the EU this will mean savings of over €1000 per year. A family taking an annual holiday in another EU country can expect to save at least €200. (Full details of these data roaming case studies are in Annex II). … more

LTE is an amazing technology — but spreading it across the world and letting smartphone owners use it to their hearts’ content will be a major challenge on both technical and political fronts, a wireless technology researcher said at Interop Las Vegas. … more

A year ago, the former Dutch telecoms monopolist KPN unveiled a plan to make mobile users pay extra for data used by certain third-party apps, such as WhatsApp and Skype, that replaced KPN services like text messaging and voice calls. In response, the Dutch parliament quickly added net neutrality provisions to its telecommunications law. Tuesday, the Dutch senate at last approved the law, making the Netherlands the second country in the world (after Chile) with net neutrality written into statute. … more

A jury on Monday turned in the first big verdict in the high-stakes dispute over intellectual property between Google and Oracle. Unfortunately it didn’t do much to resolve the conflict, failing to rule on a key point that would give either party a clear victory. … more

The FBI today warned travelers there has been an uptick in malicious software infecting laptops and other devices linked to hotel internet connections. … more

The coalition has pushed ahead with its plans to introduce monitoring of who is talking to whom over the internet, known as the “header” information of emails, web pages and text messages - although Nick Clegg is insistent that it will not be rammed through parliament and that it will get plenty of scrutiny. … more

Soaring demand for mobile phone services could deliver a surprise boost to next year’s federal budget as Labor leaves room to reap more than the official estimate for an auction of wireless spectrum later this year. … more