Orange says it has ended discussions with rival Free over a potential network-sharing agreement. In a short statement, the operator said: "Given a divergence in deployment strategy, Orange has decided to end these discussions. For Orange, the quality of its networks is a priority."

A new report from BREKO, a German broadband trade association, produced in concert with the FTTH Council Europe and Europacable, seeks to underline the green credentials of fiber networks, claiming that copper-based networks consume up to 17 times more electricity than their fiber equivalents. The report, "Towards & Greener Europe with Full Fibre," concludes that full-fiber networks "are the only ones that can cope with future data rate requirements without a need to adapt or upgrade their primary passive infrastructure."

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has signed an agreement with Huawei and Saudi Aramco to launch a joint innovation program focusing on the use of 5G in the oil and gas industry. It is envisaged that technologies such as network slicing, multi-access edge computing and massive IoT will all play a part in a private 5G network controlling Aramco's upstream, middle and downstream production services.

Telefónica Germany has chosen Seattle-based Opanga Networks as its RAN optimization partner. Opanga's software draws on machine-learning techniques to help improve the user experience and help the network run faster.

UK altnet Hyperoptic is to roll out full-fiber broadband to 8,000 homes in Poplar, east London, in a project with the HARCA housing association. The homes predominantly belong to low-income families: Hyperoptic is currently working with the housing association to identify families without a reliable broadband connection who might be eligible for its free broadband offer. Those qualifying for the offer can order a free 50Mbit/s service from Hyperoptic, which run until the end of the current academic year.

BT's consumer division boss, Marc Allera, has been reflecting on how the "reshoring" of call center workers – which was completed a year ago – has helped the company keep up with customers' demands during the pandemic. Says Allera: "With 100% of our frontline people based across many sites in the UK and Ireland, we have been able to maintain resilience in the face of the Coronavirus crisis where others have not."

— Paul Rainford, Assistant Editor, Europe, Light Reading