Infinera announces Facebook as a customer, a surprising acknowledgement further validating its reported success with the web services giants.

Charter plans to buy Bright House for $10.4 billion, assuming that Comcast's deal to acquire Time Warner Cable wins US government approval.

Comcast is committing $4 billion to a new strategic investment company that will be headed up by current Comcast CFO Michael J. Angelakis.

The government-backed operator says an FTTN launch in the third quarter will follow its recent introduction of FTTB technology.

IPO-bound vendor wants to use open-source APIs to make IoT devices talk to each other and the cloud.

Domestic sales of TDD LTE equipment and the performance of its smartphone business fueled earnings growth at Huawei in 2014.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Alcatel-Lucent prepares for submarine unit IPO; EchoStar takes a stake in Kudelski's set-top box arm; Ericsson extends services contract with Telenor Denmark.

The software is designed to run anywhere, on bare metal, as a virtual image in a hypervisor, or in container images in the cloud.

Hints at possibly offering its operating system on white box switches.

The Windy City will be Sprint's starting point for network upgrades as it plans to deploy LTE-Advanced in Chicago, as well as add 115 stores and 540 jobs in the city in 2015.

Alcatel-Lucent adds Wave Router Engine software to existing 100G hardware to achieve new level of wavelength routing and management.

CJ Hallovision, South Korea's largest cable operator, selects Alticast's AltiProject conditional access solution for securing its rollout of Ultra HD programming.

The rapidly changing content and security landscapes are causing issues for the FCC's Downloadable Security Technology Advisory Committee.

T-Mobile is providing potential customers with its own coverage maps, including crowd-sourced subscriber data and third-party data to provide a more dynamic view of its network.

Deadline extension means there are still a few more days to submit those winning entries, but don't delay -- April 10 is the final deadline and then the judging begins.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Vodafone fattens up Wallet offering; Sicily gains Internet exchange; Telecom Italia prepares towers listing.

Vendor will provide FDD LTE technology to China's third largest mobile operator in some of the country's biggest cities.

WSJ says that Intel is in the early stages of talks to buy Altera.

India's three biggest mobile operators spent heavily to renew licenses and amass 3G spectrum.

CEO Chen says that BlackBerry is getting the most retail support from carriers it's seen in years, but it's still struggling to turn around both its hardware and software businesses.

Adobe benchmark report shows TV Everywhere usage strongly on the rise over the past two years, finally reaching beyond the "early adopter" stage.

Whether Juniper truly has its act together remains to be seen, but it undeniably proved it has delicious snacks.

Finnish equipment supplier will look after the Australian mobile operator's networks through a deal valued at $200 million.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Vodafone teams up in Botswana; EE's complaints handing probe; Telekom Austria's Turkish MVNO.

Wi-Fi Alliance members have created Wi-Fi Aware technology to bring local experiences to life -- without requiring access to the Internet or GPS.

Seeking to ease the growing bandwidth demands on their access networks, cable technologists are pursuing ways to virtualize headend equipment and network functions but face a number of big challenges.

New WiFi-small site service lets SMBs set up their own AT&T access points to offer free public WiFi to customers as competition for smaller enterprises heats up in the US.

Comcast now expects the federal regulatory review of its proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable to extend well into the summer.

Huawei sees more transport SDN projects coming before year's end, as the company shows off its first ONOS-based demonstrations.

The Spanish incumbent is avoiding some of the publicity-grabbing 4G moves of its rivals.

Breaks its long silence to discuss changes in its networking business.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Telefónica gets approval for GVT buy; Telecom Italia reconsiders Metroweb bid; Orange spectrum plans in Poland.

Uses custom hardware with SDN, which is kind of a contradiction, like kosher bacon.

Rutberg's Rejeev Chand gets FCC's Clbyburn plus Google Fiber and DISH execs to play the true-false game, with interesting results.

Akamai's latest State of the Internet Report puts the average broadband connection speed in the US at 11.1 Mbit/s.

NTT survey shows despite the lower cost and greater flexibility of cloud-based disaster recovery, enterprises still lag in planning and testing.

The world's biggest-ever sale of spectrum raises $17.5B for India's government.

The social media giant loves silicon photonics, but sees too many small companies developing it to achieve scale.

British carrier really wants to sweat that copper plant and sees a real opportunity to use that asset for high-speed backhaul.

Chicago aims to be the epicenter of IoT as both the Illinois Technology Association and Microsoft bring together separate public-private groups that want to play a role.

India's third-largest operator is slowly and steadily closing the gap with its bigger rivals.

'Bite-sized' devices support maximum flexibility at the edge and continue Accedian's history of service assurance.

The UK fixed-line incumbent has marked its entry into mobile with the launch of a cut-price 4G service.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: BT re-enters mobile with SIM-only deals; Hungary reconsiders telecom tax; CommProve lands African gig.

Working with Intel, software vendor designs service orchestration that pulls together specific resources for highly optimized functions and apps.

NTT DoCoMo takes the airborne food cooking 4G LTE-Advanced analogy ad a step further into the absurd.

Now that USTelecom and a Texas-based ISP have filed the first lawsuits against the FCC's new Title II rules, will cable, wireless and other trade groups join in the fun?

Israeli startup bases bold claims of capex savings for telcos on software that unifies management of the optical and IP planes.

If regulators approve the deal, a merger between 3 and O2 will create the UK's biggest mobile operator.

Morgan's Stanley's Ruth Porat will replace Patrick Pichette as CFO, Google revealed Tuesday.

The rumors were true! Cisco joins Ciena in Verizon's next-generation metro transport network, and that spells bad news for Fujitsu and Coriant.

LR CEO and Founder Steve Saunders sits down with the head of Qosmos to talk about the changing state of the art in deep packet inspection technology, including its role in SDN and NFV architectures.

Australian operator Telstra will be among the first to test the company's OTFS technology that it says will help them add capacity for a 5G future.

Networking chip specialist is targeting the high end of the multicore server market with an ARM-based processor that can meet the needs of SDN and NFV deployments.

Order fallout prompts slashing of revenue projections by 33% and trading is halted as Sonus shares tumble.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Telefónica invests in mobile OS startup; Deutsche Telekom opens 5G lab; Amazon Fire TV Sticks it to Europe.

After making its name in the cable market, Icontrol is entering the independent security dealer market with Icontrol One.

India's telecom market is on the cusp of including 1 billion customers thanks to gains by the country's biggest mobile operators.

If you think you can show us some silky soccer skills this June, sign up for the Light Reading five-a-side soccer tournament that's taking place in the middle of the Big Telecom Event show floor in Chicago.

Are you ready for the fourth industrial revolution? It's a big deal for influential operators such as Deutsche Telekom.

The fiber network operator believes a merger between BT and EE will drive the UK's other mobile players into its backhaul embrace.

Network operator, software vendor team up to allow NTT to deliver managed security services on-demand alongside its cloud services.

Google Fiber's 27,000 video subscribers in the Kansas City metro area are about to get their first dose of targeted advertising from their new pay-TV provider.

Data center interconnect is clearly going to be in the limelight this week at OFC 2015, and that's reflected in the pre-show noise.

Infinera offers new PICs with sliceable bandwidth to address emerging metro needs.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Zain deploys small cells; Ethiopian operator uses AlcaLu's CEM; UK telcos push for cheaper mast rental.

Support from major vendors adds reality to the vision of open source data center hardware.

There is progress being made as tech firms begin to make women a priority, but there's still a long road ahead to redress the gender balance.

New open source group provides substantial industry insight at MWC -- here's hoping they keep up the effort to keep non-members informed.

Several cable companies revealed promising early results from their OTT video integration efforts at the Light Reading Cable Next-Gen Technologies and Strategies conference this week.

Bamboozled by the flood of abbreviations and acronyms that SDN and NFV have inspired? Here's a guide to some of the key standards bodies whose initials you will need to know.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Orange monetizes SDN/NFV service; Vodafone agrees to buy Metroweb stake; Sky offloads betting business.

The Italian incumbent expects sales to decline less sharply this year than last and hopes its investment plan will stabilize earnings next year.

See OCP Foundation President and Chairman Frank Frankovsky's majestic beard, and CEO Corey Bell's magnificent sweater.

Emoji reflect the culture of Japan, leaving Americans wanting to talk about burritos with nothing to say.

Swiss giant Tag Heuer has teamed up with Google and Intel to take on Apple with a smartwatch of their own as the wearables category starts to heat up.

Cox Communications' transition to all-digital TV has extended to two more markets – Rhode Island and Tulsa, Okla. – with several more on the way.

The deadline for the 2015 Leading Lights awards is March 27, so get your skates on if you think you could be a winner!

NetScout exec tells cable execs the next generation of service assurance must combine physical and virtual probes and not affect performance.

Yet to wrap up, India latest frequency sale has already seen operators bid more than in the 2010 auction. Is the industry heading for another downturn?

China's biggest mobile operator has warned investors that competition in the 4G market will intensify in the months ahead.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: CityFibre completes Peterborough project; Morocco 4G auction raises $200; is it all over for Uber?

The service provider wants to move beyond its current financial-sector customer base and into the general enterprise.

Now T-Mobile takes aim at SMB wireless market in the US.

It's more M&A for the semiconductor space as Microsemi acquires Vitesse to expand its growth in emerging markets.

Eastern Oregon Telecom is deploying a fiber network past 8,000 homes and businesses, many of them rural.

Carsten Rossenhövel, managing director of independent test lab EANTC, tells Light Reading founder and CEO Steve Saunders about the innovative approach his team had to take when validating Cisco's service provider virtualization and cloud solutions.

A new offering from the French service provider will let business customers set up and manage services dynamically using a web portal.

The carrier is joining forces with American Express, ExxonMobil, Macy's, Nationwide, Ride Aid, Direct Energy and Hulu to launch a loyalty program for their customers.

Outgoing Time Warner Cable EVP Mike Hayashi has announced that TWC is the first to deliver QAM video over a CCAP platform.

The optical equipment vendor is expanding its line-up of network interface devices as part of a new NFV strategy.

Service providers have yet to think about the impact SDN and NFV will have on marketing and troubleshooting.

Juniper uses its POC Lab to put its gear through its paces and win customers.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Imagination shares slip on licensing slowdown news; Tele2 upgrades with Huawei in Croatia; Russia's MTS forecasts stormy weather.

Comcast is running its first field tests of the next-gen DOCSIS 3.1 broadband spec, with the aim of deploying D3.1 and the gigabit services it will enable broadly, starting in 2016.

Industry association has 1,300 companies signed up at launch.

Operators are looking to NFV and SDN to support the rollout of more flexible offerings, but what does this mean for their business model?

New project builds on CableLabs' virtual CPE work to create personal cloud environments for customers to simplify home networks/services.

Adding capacity isn't enough to meet long-term demand. Cable must also add Flex-Grid, multi-layer switching, CDC ROADMs and more.

Fastback and Sub10 look to create a high-frequency radio backhaul system for a 5G future.

Cablevision's plans to offer HBO Now with a broadband subscription and rumors that Apple will launch an online video service show that interest in skinnier TV bundles is growing.

Heavy Reading's Alan Breznick advises US MSOs to see the writing on the wall, spelling N-E-T-F-L-I-X as they see pay-TV subs slipping.

Imagine Communications is launching CloudXtream, a new end-to-end video platform for multiscreen video services.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Huawei strengthens German ties; ETNO pushes for net partiality; Sky invests in OTT startup.

Introduces a virtual router, routing software upgrade and new line cards for its edge router.

Seeking to ease bandwidth pressures on their access networks, cable technologists are exploring various ways to virtualize headend equipment and network functions so they can expand capacity and cut costs.

Overlays have been proposed as a way to bring the benefits of virtualization to the telco data center networking domain.

The recent test of Cisco's service provider virtualization and cloud solution by independent test lab EANTC suggests the SMB market might at last be a viable one for telcos.

The VoIP equipment arm of Windstream simplifies the way smaller firms can access advanced features, such as mobile convergence, with new servers.

Germany's network operators are preparing to add VoLTE to their respective arsenals as they battle over mobile customers.

Carrier's enterprise managed services bundle includes connectivity, unified communications via Lync, MDM and tech support.

Semiconductor firm MACOM has been an acquirer in recent years, but will that continue as sector consolidation persists?

Vendor will take on 1,000 of Sunrise's IT employees to strengthen its OSS/BSS play in China.

We know all the expected places that small cells are being placed these days, but where should they really go? In this slideshow, we go beyond the lamppost and explore ten of the most unusual places where we think small cells should be hanging out.

New commercials boast that AT&T has the 'strongest 4G LTE signal strength,' as the big four US carriers shake up their marketing messages and marketing execs.

As operators prepare to roll out their 4G networks, device costs are finally coming down.

The FCC has again stopped its review of merger transactions involving Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Charter, AT&T and DirecTV pending a court ruling.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: BT/EE merger under scrutiny; Rostelecom's fixed-line loss; small is beautiful for UK's ISPs.

Networks of the future will rely on "white box" switches and servers rather than proprietary hardware and that's going to alter the shape of the communications industry. Who says so? John Chambers.

Networks of the future will rely on "white box" switches and servers rather than proprietary hardware and that's going to alter the shape of the communications industry. Who says so? John Chambers.

Although neither large US MSO will confirm press reports that a Charter buyout of Bright House may be in the works, such a deal would offer strong benefits to both cable companies.

Asia is now the global leader in LTE connections, but North America still wins on penetration, and its speeds are increasing too, according to several reports out this week.

With three network operators plotting VoLTE launches, the UK's mobile market could soon be a hive of VoLTE activity.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: VimpelCom hires former SFR man; Netflix splashes out on content; T-Mobile Poland wants your Bitcoin.

VP James Feger says the ability to deliver new services through APIs and a quiet but well-documented track record won the day.

NBN Co., Australia's government-backed broadband operator, plans to join Comcast, Liberty Global and Cox in rolling out DOCSIS 3.1 over HFC lines, starting early next year.

At Mobile World Congress 2015, JDSU had a tool that showed how well Spain's four mobile operators were performing in near real-time in terms of signal strength and service availability on the MWC show floor.

Vendor inserts metro edge box in platform family covering metro needs from core to access.

Marcus Weldon says 10Gbit/s XG-FAST technology is not the end game for copper.

The latest vendor ecosystem, the Open Edge Alliance, tries to bring services and applications together at the edge of the network.

Text of FCC Open Internet order spells out rules against blocking, throttling and paid prioritization but says agency isn't yet ready to regulate interconnection.

As NFV moves out of the lab and into networks, a major and important battle is set to take place to win key systems integration deals.

Alarm.com is breaking into the cable market with a customer win for its smart home solution at US MSO Suddenlink Communications.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: AlcaLu partners with startup hub; Ericsson goes to the Opera; euro-cablers buoyant; Nokia mapping on iOS.

The French telecom upstart is eyeing up a much bigger share of the country's mobile market than it currently serves.

Third-largest US carrier chooses Cyan's Blue Planet NFV Orchestrator for key role in delivering services over its converged network and cloud.

In the wake of major breaches, enterprises are working harder to get compliance, but not hard enough to stay that way.

In an effort to put a grim year behind it, Juniper has introduced a router based on new chips, new switches and security and management services.

Alcatel-Lucent's Steve Vogelsang talked to Light Reading's Steve Saunders at The New IP event about the key components of the New IP and how service providers can rethink their networks for business growth.

Wi-Fi Alliance CEO Edgar Figueroa talks about voice-over-WiFi and the upcoming introduction of Wi-Fi Aware, or Smart WiFi.

Verizon has signed new content deals for its upcoming online video service while Sony is planning to launch its PlayStation Vue OTT offering in select cities later this month.

The packet optical vendor tries again to invest in its future without giving up on its past.

CFO John Stephens says that AT&T will be a business services provider first with its combined wireline and wireless assets and recent acquisitions under its belt.

The Qatari incumbent's earnings have been hit by various setbacks across its emerging-market operations.

A private community in Florida takes broadband matters into its own hands and builds out a gigabit-speed network.

Broadcom's silicon is powering the first Ultra HD Android set-top box offered by French service provider Free.

AT&T and Verizon's CFOs reiterate their disdain for the FCC's new net neutrality regulation, noting that they need to see the documents, but warning litigation is bound to result.

The Swedish equipment maker is laying off about 13% of its Swedish workforce as part of cost-cutting efforts.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Telecom Italia revs up its fiber; Megafon upgrades network with Nokia; 'ice age' coming for Swiss watch industry.

The vendors are joining forces to create the Cloud Architecture for the Microsoft Cloud Platform that combines IaaS, PaaS and SaaS in one.

First software release from the Open Platform for NFV Project addresses foundational issues such as the initial build and creating automated test scripts.

With bid levels heading towards the $15 billion mark, rising debts among Indian operators are becoming a big concern.

The hypercloud operator is releasing the specs of its Wedge switch, a new server called Yosemite and management software.

Transport vendor has evolved its SDN 'middleware' and is believed to be on course to unveil its next metro 100G product in the second half of the year.

Self-service Pacnet Enabled Network (PEN) now goes to 100 Gbit/s.

After six months of formal meetings, the group is solidifying the NFV infrastructure hardware and providing a timeline and its first software.

Startup creates small footprint data center plus new monitoring system to enable automated movement of workloads.

The international cheerleader for TDD LTE has reportedly applied for a license to operate FDD LTE technology.

Without cable or other pay-TV partners on board, HBO has signed up Apple as its exclusive distribution partner (for three months) for the new online HBO Now service.

Cisco's Kelly Ahuja talked to Light Reading's Steve Saunders at The New IP event about how businesses can leverage New IP technology to solve challenges.

Verizon reiterates plans to use small cells in markets where it didn't acquire AWS spectrum, while AT&T has reportedly scaled back plans to deploy 40,000 small cells this year.

There are a number of key questions to consider before any SDN migration plans are put into action.

Apple's latest gadget cuts operators out of the picture, but it may force service providers to consider their broader wearables strategies.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: major train WiFi project in Moscow; Zayo provides London link to Amazon Web Services; TIC targets fraud.

Comments on the FCC's proposal to update the definition of a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) are streaming in, and opinions vary greatly.

Service provider IT specialist Comptel was raising money for charity at Mobile World Congress by showing people just how unfit they are...

After acquiring Netsocket's NFV assets, iPhotonix is launching an integrated optical access and virtualization solution.

More than 1,720 of you voted in our poll on MWC's biggest trends, letting us know that while SDN/NFV were originally expected to be the hottest topics, 5G dominated the show floor.

The French operator operates a Silicon Valley lab with the goal of prompting more gigabit network application creation.

Bright House Networks will boost its maximum download speeds to 300 Mbit/s in its Florida regions, while Time Warner Cable plans to do the same in Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.

India's latest spectrum auction could widen the gulf between the biggest and smallest operators.

One opponent of the new media regulations warned of 'Hitlerization.'

The story behind Light Reading and EANTC's validation of Cisco's service provider virtualization and cloud solution.

The Nordic operator is looking to virtualization technologies to support the speedy launch of services across multiple markets.

At MWC 2015, Selina Lo, CEO of carrier WiFi systems specialist Ruckus Wireless, talks about voice-over-WiFi and the growing use of WiFi by cable operators.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Tele2 Austria goes mobile; M-Pesa mobile money transfer connects Tanzania and Kenya; UK smart meters plan faltering.

Restrictions on the 'big three' operators worked to new entrants' advantage during Canada's AWS-3 sale.

Political satire Chinese-style.

"The tele-phone is a curious device that might fairly find place in the magic of Arabian Tales."

Still showing no signs of slowing down, broadband subscriber growth surged again last year for US cable operators, even as their video customer totals kept plunging.

The software player's experiences suggest operators in emerging markets are warming to the 'freemium' Internet model.

Ciena's CEO is feeling confident about Ciena's chance to win part of Verizon's upcoming metro 100G contract.

Sprint's new technical COO, SoftBank's Junichi Miyakawa, says the carrier will soon start using automated detection and self-learning tools to improve its LTE network.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: France gets taste for fiber; Telekom Austria poaches Ericsson exec; EE on recruitment drive.

Use cases and industry collaborations dominated 5G discussions during Mobile World Congress 2015. For what the road to 5G means for operators and their partners, head to the Building America's 5G Ecosystem event in New York on April 14.

Bruno Jacobfeuerborn, chairman of the NGMN Alliance and Deutsche Telekom CTO, shares his thoughts on the challenges, opportunities and costs of 5G.

The FCC's Gigi Sohn says rate regulation of ISPs under Title II won't happen. But the American Cable Association isn't reassured.

Partners develop data center system targeted at telcos in a bid to replace commercial off-the-shelf storage and computing platforms.

In its latest report, Leichtman Research Group finds that US pay-TV providers shed 125,000 video subscribers in 2014, making it the industry's second straight down year.

Ciena posted revenue that missed expectations, but the vendor remains focused on the coming metro 100G market opportunity.

Light Reading CEO Steve Saunders sits down with Telecom Italia's Simone Battiferri at Mobile World Congress to discuss virtualization, agility and the economic advantages of the cloud.

Synacor teams up with Comcast-owned online video publishing unit to assemble a comprehensive multiscreen video solution for pay-TV service and content providers.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Telekom Austria introduces LTE-based smart meters; former Virgin Media execs take AIM at turnarounds; Ericsson's small cells go Dutch.

SoftBank Commerce & Services will serve as distribution channel for Pertino into Japanese market targeting integrators, MSPs and ISPs.

The big guns of the pay-TV legal world split over whether Comcast would, and should, win federal regulatory approval to acquire Time Warner Cable at the ACA Summit.

Opening its first international data center in Silicon Valley as it tests the waters for US cloud services.

The Belgian international carrier is preparing to meet an expected surge in demand for international VoLTE products.

Dish is adding AMC and IFC to its Sling TV channel line-up today and introducing a new 'Hollywood Extra' add-on package with content from EPIX networks and Sundance TV.

To transform a legacy telco into an 'agile' IT services organization, Hussain is demolishing silos and creating a horizontal company structure.

Smart home services based on Deutsche Telekom's Qivicon platform will launch in new markets this year.

Light Reading CEO Steve Saunders talks virtualization, cloudification and standards with Deutsche Telekom's Axel Clauberg at Mobile World Congress.

2015 will be a big year as Mavenir says all four US operators will launch RCS, backing up statements a T-Mobile VP made about its plans.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Ericsson and Telefónica's NFV coziness to continue; MTN profits rise on data growth; Deutsche Telekom to push Microsoft's Lumia.

At Mobile World Congress, Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg discusses telco data center technology, business models, small cells and more.

Brocade got into the mobile business six months ago. With the acquisition of Connectem, announced this week, Brocade aims to dominate.

Latest deal makes Japanese telecom giant third largest data center operator in Europe and extends reach of its one-stop global ICT strategy.

After signing a major European outsourcing deal with Ericsson, Orange is now considering its options in Africa.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler didn't add too much clarity to how Title II would be enforced during his MWC keynote, noting only that it'd be on a case-by-case basis.

In its latest report, Infonetics Research predicts that DOCSIS channel shipments will slip 7% in the first quarter, largely because of Comcast's pending takeover of Time Warner Cable, after a stellar 2014.

Everyone wants to have a say in how 5G will develop, with many different groups outlining their visions of 5G and vowing to play nice with the other groups.

5G promises to improve your life, not just speed your mobile Internet connection.

Pace has filed documents with the FCC showing a new gateway device designed for Comcast's next-generation X1 IP video platform.

CenturyLink Cloud is bringing a new open source estimator and other functionalities to its channel partners, which account for "a big chunk" of cloud sales.

Light Reading CEO Steve Saunders talks transformation and virtualization -- including Light Reading's independent testing of the vendor's virtualization solutions -- with Cisco CEO John Chambers at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Hybrid to address digital divide while German incumbent looks to 'super-vectoring' and G.fast for big bandwidth boost.

Siva Ananmalay, Ericsson, and Steve Saunders, Light Reading, discuss the importance of monetization, personalization and customer loyalty at The New IP event in San Jose, Calif.

Cisco CEO predicts the digitization of everything will change, like, everything!

With its use cases wrapped up, the Forum is tackling LTE-U, virtualization, 5G and other technology trends affecting the mini-RANs.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Deutsche Telekom begins move to New IP; CityFibre plans Edinburgh network; deadline set for Danish merger decision.

The results from tests undertaken by EANTC of Cisco service provider virtualization software show that the New IP world is very much here.

Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei are squaring up to each other – in a polite way – with rival 5G radio access technologies.

The GSMA estimates 90,000 attendees for this year's packed show, and that makes for one big cab line!

All three service providers are looking to NFV to increase agility and penetrate the SMB market, Cisco says.

The service provider is looking to HP to provide hardware, software and services, combining the vendor's strengths in carrier and IT networks. Or at least that's what HP says.

VoIP pioneers Jeff Pulver, Bryan Martin and Daniel Berninger, and Telecosm author George Gilder say the FCC's move is bad for Internet innovation.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg plays down concern that Internet.org is benefiting consumers but not operators.

Brocade plans to broaden its software-based mobile networking portfolio with the acquisition of the privately held provider of virtual EPC technology.

NXP's $11.8 billion acquisition of Freescale is the latest of many moves taming the wild semiconductor sector.

Google SVP Sundar Pichai said at MWC that the software giant won't be a carrier at scale, but will work with its wireless partners to offer its service to innovate on communications.

Even the best specialized routers can't keep pace with the 100,000-plus % increase in mobile data traffic, Donovan tells MWC.

As predicted in news reports last week, HP will shell out up to $3 billion for WiFi networking specialist Aruba Networks to advance its enterprise networking ambitions.

The FCC wants to know from programmers if Comcast and Time Warner Cable have used cash incentives in negotiations to lock online video rivals out of content licensing deals.

Germany's incumbent carrier has burnished its reputation as an IP leader with the simultaneous launch of cloud-based services in three European countries.

GSMA's Mobile Connect digital identity service gets some love as operators call for better privacy and security rules.

AT&T isn't afraid of getting its hands dirty when it comes to the Internet of Things.

VP says the carrier wants to take advantage of its spectrum with LTE-U, but doesn't have a real need for small cells outside of niche, congested urban areas.

Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: VimpelCom sells controlling stake in towers firm; Ericsson directs the traffic; Bouygues CEO not dead.

JDSU's latest location report shows that 1% of LTE users are consuming 56% of mobile data, and it's happening in less than 1% of the area a mobile network covers.

The Finnish vendor claims to have secured a bigger LTE FDD contract with China Telecom than any other non-Chinese player.

My visit to this year's Mobile World Congress is going to dominated by three Cs – cloud, cells and coffee.

Light Reading has arrived in Barcelona in time for some sightseeing and cocktails with 100 of our closest friends ahead of the big show.

VMware vCloud for NFV lets carriers run clouds on OpenStack side-by-side with VMware's own vCloud.

UC company will use the VoLTE and RCS enabler to expand its business with mobile operators, plus more M&A at MWC.

In a significant coup for the specialist startup, SpiderCloud's entire small cell portfolio will be rebadged and resold by Cisco.

Spanish incumbent looks to carrier aggregation for performance improvements ahead of 5G deployment.

Outlines how its programmable network allows enterprises, network, and cloud providers to connect to each other rapidly.

According to Light Reading's poll of 900 readers, NFV and SDN, followed by 5G and the IoT, will dominate headlines at this year's mobile extravaganza in Barcelona.