Don’t get too used to 4G, 5G is on the way

 

By 2020 it's estimated that there will be around 30 times as much mobile internet traffic as there was in 2010. However, the nature of that traffic will be different thanks to the internet of things bringing a whole host of new devices online.
 
This of course will create demand for faster networks and the European Commission and South Korea have signed an agreement to pave the way for 5G technology.
 
Both sides signed a Joint Declaration on Strategic Cooperation in Information Communications Technology (ICT) and 5G, agreeing to deepen discussions on networking and communications.
 
5G won't just be faster, it will bring new functionality and applications that have high social and economic value. As a result of the agreement both sides will set up a Korea-EU ICT working group. This will prepare for ICT R&D cooperation as well as coordinating relevant policy discussions in the areas of 5G, cloud and internet of things, and eventually to launch jointly funded R&D programs in 2016-2017.
 
Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission for the Digital Agenda says, "5G will become the new lifeblood of the digital economy and digital society once it is established. Both Europe and South Korea recognize this. This is the first time ever that public authorities have joined together in this way, with the support of private industry, to push forward the process of standardization. Today's declaration signals our commitment to being global digital leaders".
 
The EU is set to invest 700 million euros over the next seven years in a 5G public/private partnership program called Horizon 2020, with industry set to invest a further 3 billion.
 
For a look at how mobile technology has developed from 1G and what 5G might hold for the future take a look at the infographic below.

~ Ian Barker

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Exclusive: Linux users file EU complaint against Microsoft

(Reuters) - A Spanish association representing open-source software users has filed a complaint against Microsoft Corp to the European Commission, in a new challenge to the Windows developer following a hefty fine earlier this month.

The 8,000-member Hispalinux, which represents users and developers of the Linux operating system in Spain, said Microsoft had made it difficult for users of computers sold with its Windows 8 platform to switch to Linux and other operating systems.

Lawyer and Hispalinux head Jose Maria Lancho said he delivered the complaint to the Madrid office of the European Commission at 0900 GMT (4 a.m. EST) on Tuesday.

In its 14-page complaint, Hispalinux said Windows 8 contained an "obstruction mechanism" called UEFI Secure Boot that controls the start-up of the computer and means users must seek keys from Microsoft to install another operating system.

The group said it was "a de facto technological jail for computer booting systems ... making Microsoft's Windows platform less neutral than ever".

"This is absolutely anti-competitive," Lancho told Reuters. "It's really bad for the user and for the European software industry."

Microsoft said UEFI was an industry standard aimed at improving computer security and the approach had been public for some time.

"We are happy to answer any additional questions but we are confident our approach complies with the law and helps keep customers safe," Microsoft spokesman Robin Koch said in a statement.

A spokesman for EU Competition Chief Joaquin Almunia declined to comment.

But in written comments dated March 4 to a query from an European Parliamentary lawmaker, Almunia said his administration was aware of the Microsoft Windows 8 security requirements.

"The Commission is monitoring the implementation of the Microsoft Windows 8 security requirements. The Commission is however currently not in possession of evidence suggesting that the Windows 8 security requirements would result in practices in violation of EU competition rules," he said in the letter posted on the website of the European Parliament.

The European Commission has fined Microsoft, the global leader in PC operating systems, 2.2 billion euros ($2.83 billion) over the past decade, making it the world's biggest offender of European Union business rules.

Microsoft's relations with the EU executive have been tense since 2004, when the EU found that the company had abused its market leader position by tying Windows Media Player to the Windows software package.

The company took a more conciliatory approach in recent years, settling another antitrust investigation in 2009 related to the choice of a browser in its Windows operating system.

It also lodged its own complaints to the Commission about the business activities of rival Google.

But Microsoft broke its 2009 pledge and was fined 561 million euros by the EU Commission on March 6 for failing to offer users a choice of web browser.

~ Sarah Morris
 

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