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Articles for Category Tag - Science

Fibre sense Lightsonic water leak detection mobile app

Southern Water harness Openreach’s UK fibre broadband network to detect leaks

23rd September, 2026 (5 Comments)

Utility company Southern Water, which supplies drinking water to millions of customers across the South of England, has announced that they’ve deployed Lightsonic’s technology that works by harnessing Openreach’s (BT) existing fibre optic broadband network to help detect underground water leaks in pipes.

Scientists Overcome Atmospheric Turbulence in Open Air Laser Data Links

27th August, 2026 (0 Comments)

One of the biggest problems with using direct optical (laser) links in free space (i.e. out in the open air) between sites is that atmospheric distortion (turbulence) over distance can create interference, which causes the data speeds to slow and stability to weaken. But a solution may have been found by a joint team at Wits University (South Africa) and the University of Bordeaux (France).

concept of wireless radio Internet. 5G mobile technologies by 123rf

UK Team Finds Tiny Atomic Changes Can Create Smarter Wireless Antennas

26th August, 2026 (1 Comment)

A team of researchers from the Queen Mary University of London have discovered a new way to make wireless communication devices, such as antennas, more adaptable by making tiny atomic changes to the structure of a material that can “dramatically improve its ability to respond to electrical signals“. The work could have applications in everything from home Wi-Fi to satellites and mobile broadband networks etc.

Simulated satellite trails in telescope picture by Copilot or MJackson 20260715_120612

The End of Ground-based Astronomy – UK Gov Responds to Broadband Satellite Fears

20th July, 2026 (3 Comments)

The UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has confirmed to ISPreview that they’re “actively engaged in international efforts to find solutions” to the problem raised by a recent study, which warned that ground-based telescopes might soon become useless if the number of satellites in Earth’s orbit exceeds 100,000 (i.e. those with below naked eye visibility).

satellite_broadband_LEO_MEO_constellation_uk_space by 123rf

LEO Broadband Satellites in Serious Danger of Making Telescopes Useless

3rd July, 2026 (8 Comments)

Astronomy is under threat like never before. A significant new study, which was conducted by astronomers from the European Southern Observatory (ESO), has warned that if the number of satellites in Earth’s orbit exceeds 100,000 (i.e. those with below naked eye visibility) then the human race may lose its ability observe the night sky with modern telescopes.

Fibre optical network cable close-up by 123rf ID245596935

Fibre Broadband Set for Boost as UK Scientists Uncover Hidden Property of Light

6th May, 2026 (4 Comments)

A team of researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, England, has “uncovered a hidden property of light” that allows it to controllably twist, spin and behave differently – without mirrors, materials or special lenses. In theory this could allow future optical (fibre optic) based broadband connections, among other things, to carry significantly more data.

Glasgow Scientists Build 25,000 Times Faster Way of Testing Computer Networks

5th May, 2026 (0 Comments)

A team of researchers at the University of Glasgow (UG) in Scotland have developed a new Machine Learning tool that they say could “transform network testing” by harnessing digital twins (i.e. digital replicas of physical systems or processes), making the process 25,000 times faster than traditional approaches.

Britten Norman BN2T-4S Islander Aircraft with 5G Kit

Airborne UK 5G Mobile Broadband Network Enters Install Phase with BT

27th April, 2026 (1 Comment)

Aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman has announced that their efforts with World Mobile Stratospheric to develop advanced airborne 5G mobile connectivity system, which could be used to help extend mobile broadband coverage into remote rural areas or to provide coverage during disasters, has progressed beyond R&D and to the installation phase.

AST Space Mobile Satellites Over UK and Europe with Vodafone

Ofcom Approve VodafoneThree to Launch Satellite Based UK Mobile Service

15th April, 2026 (7 Comments)

The telecoms regulator Ofcom has today approved a second licence variation to enable mobile operator VodafoneThree (Vodafone and Three UK) to provide Direct-to-Device (D2D) services using its licensed spectrum in the 900MHz band (i.e. using satellites to connect with regular 4G and 5G Smartphones – bringing mobile broadband, calls and text connectivity to the remotest areas).

Bundle of optical fibers with lights in the ends lay on keyboard.

Security Researchers Turn Fibre Optic Broadband Lines into Spying Microphones

9th April, 2026 (5 Comments)

A team of security researchers from Hong Kong have demonstrated a covert way of turning standard fibre optic broadband cables, such as those used to connect homes (FTTP), into passive and undetectable microphones, which can be used to eavesdrop on conversations people may be having inside a property (house, office etc.).

Government Publish Results from 19 UK 5G Open Network Projects

3rd April, 2026 (1 Comment)

The UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has published the results from their £80.5m programme to support the development of open network solutions, such as 5G based OpenRAN on mobile broadband networks and other technologies, which began in 2023 (here).

Openreach Fibre Sense Trial Diagram for Detecting UK Water Leaks

Openreach Trial Uses UK Broadband Network to Detect 100+ Water Leaks

12th March, 2026 (6 Comments)

Network access provider Openreach (BT) has today revealed some of the first results from their ongoing trial of a new technology (here), which harnesses the operator’s existing fibre optic broadband network to detect mains water leaks. In just three months, it’s already pinpointed 100+ leaks and is estimated to be saving 2 million litres of water a day.

Next Generation 200Gbps PON Full Fibre Broadband Standard Inches Closer

5th March, 2026 (14 Comments)

At present most fixed broadband networks in the UK are focused on deploying 10Gbps capable XGS-PON based full fibre (FTTP) technology for retail ISPs, while less than a handful are playing with 50Gbps (50G-PON) technology (here, here and here) and CityFibre has talked about 100Gbps for the mid-2030s (here). But the next gen 200G PON technology is also making progress, and it’s a major shift.

AST-Spacemoble-Satellite-Vodafone-PR-290125

VodafoneThree to Start UK Trials of Satellite Mobile Service in Summer 2026

3rd March, 2026 (4 Comments)

Mobile operator VodafoneThree (Vodafone and Three UK) has issued an update on their Joint Venture (SatCo) with satellite operator AST SpaceMobile, which reveals that they’ll kick off their first customer trials of a space-based 4G and 5G mobile (mobile broadband) service – that can connect with regular Smartphones – this Summer 2026.

Mobile-mast-on-smartphone-by-CoPilot-for-MJ-on-190624

Vodafone Trial 5G and 6G Mobile Tech that Turns Smartphones into Radars

26th February, 2026 (3 Comments)

Mobile operator Vodafone has announced that they’ve begun working with Tiami Networks to test a new technology for current 5G and future 6G mobile broadband networks called Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). This essentially turns modern Smartphones and mobile networks into something akin to a Radar, with many potential applications.

Research Claims 5G Enhancements May Save UK 25 Million Metric Tons of CO2

16th February, 2026 (3 Comments)

New research from the University of Surrey has claimed that an “optimal combination of energy-efficient” 5G (mobile broadband) network features, such as AI systems that let mobile mast and antenna base stations go into sleep mode when usage is low and phones that avoid unnecessary background network checks, could cut “indirect carbon emissions” across the UK by c.25 million metric tons.

fibre optic cables on pcb circuit board 123rf

UK Government Project to Test ZBLAN Optical Fibre Cables Made in Spaaace

9th February, 2026 (0 Comments)

The UK Space Agency has today awarded contracts to three companies to investigate the possibility of producing advanced materials in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which includes one project (SkyYield) that aims to design a payload to process ZBLAN fluoride glass in microgravity (i.e. a specialist optical fibre that can transmit light with up to 100 times less signal loss than traditional silica fibre).