IBM boosts international cloud computing investment

Computing giant IBM is to spend more than $1.2 billion to expand its cloud computing business internationally.

During the next 12 months, it aims to roll out a further 15 new storage centres to bring its global total to 40. It has earmarked locations in London, Canada, Hong Kong, China, India and Mexico for the new centres.

Further boosts for English and Scottish broadband projects

The man who headed the organisation of the London 2012 Olympics has been appointed to spearhead the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme.

UK firms 'more confident' about cloud than Europeans

Despite widespread concerns about the security of cloud computing, it appears that UK companies are more comfortable about this aspect of the technology than their counterparts on the Continent.

Superfast broadband roll-out in 'fifth slowest county'

Superfast broadband services are to be rolled out in the UK county which is currently rated as having the fifth slowest speeds in the country.

Cloud computing 'had biggest IT impact in 2013'

Cloud computing had the biggest impact of any technology during 2013 on IT professionals quizzed by tech site V3.

IT staff concerned about cloud roll out

There are concerns among IT staff that the roll out of cloud computing could affect job numbers in technology departments, according to an executive at a global energy management business.

Public believe superfast broadband better for economy than airport expansion

People would much rather have superfast broadband installed across the UK than see more capacity created at airports, according to a new study.

MEPs pass new cloud computing resolution

MEPs have supported a new resolution in the European Parliament on the development of cloud computing regulations for the EU.

The resolution covers issues surrounding the transfer of data between cloud computing providers and sets out a number of demands that MEPs want to be included in the strategy that is currently being drawn up.

'Super Switch on Day' connects more rural properties

An estimated 5,000 more homes and businesses in rural England have been connected to superfast broadband on what the Government has dubbed Super Switch On Day.

Concerns over power demands of future giant data centres

The vast amount of power that will be needed to keep data centres storing information in the cloud is predicted to cause future 'brownouts' – or drops in voltage as a result of the demand for electricity.

Broadband connection forecast downgraded

The UK is expected to have fewer broadband connections by the end of 2016 than initially forecast.

Cloud and big data spending 'to exceed £1.2 trillion in 2014'

IT spending on cloud computing and handling big data is predicted to exceed the £1.2 trillion market in 2014, according to researchers.

Rural broadband fund to be wound down

The Government’s £20 million Rural Community Broadband Fund is to be wound down next year with only a small part of its available funding allocated to projects.

The scheme was launched two years ago for community projects aiming to bring faster broadband to isolated areas and was considered a method of halting economic decline in villages.

Broadband providers 'must offer more support'

Almost a third of British broadband users want their network providers to offer better customer support when things go wrong, according to a poll.

SMEs 'not providing staff with tools they need for cloud'

Small businesses across Europe are failing to supply staff with the tools they need to use cloud computing properly in their jobs, according to a survey.

UK is 25th in global broadband speeds survey

The UK’s average broadband speed has been ranked 25th in an international survey to find out where the quickest downloads are available across the world.

Software firms race to develop cloud solutions

European software firms are joining their rivals in the US in the race to provide more cloud computing products.

Demand from businesses for software that allows information to be held by the cloud host’s servers and lets users access information simultaneously and in real time is soaring, Reuters reported.

Two councils pull out of rural broadband schemes

Two initiatives to roll out fibre broadband to isolated areas have lost crucial funding from their local authorities.

Cloud for European project officially launched

The European Commission has launched its Cloud for Europe research project, which aims to increase trust in the concept of cloud computing across the EU.

The initiative was officially launched in Berlin at an event attended by EC vice president and Digital Agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes.

Report claims £1.2bn broadband subsidy 'will be repaid 20 times over'

A Government report claims that the economy will benefit 20-fold from the controversial £1.2 billion broadband improvement subsidy awarded to BT.

UK firms 'slow to spend on cloud computing'

UK companies are currently just spending around a fifth of their IT budgets on cloud computing technology, according to a new report.

Rural firms concerned over poor connectivity and competitiveness

Businesses in Wales and Buckinghamshire have raised concerns that slow broadband speeds are making them less competitive against their rivals.

Expert group begins work on cloud regulations

An expert group has been set up by the European Commission to develop contract terms for cloud computing across the EU.

No rush to subscribe to superfast broadband, Ofcom finds

Just over two in 10 businesses and homes are using superfast broadband, despite its wider availability, industry watchdog Ofcom’s annual infrastructure report has revealed.

Financial firms increase spending on cloud computing

Spending on cloud computing systems is increasing as the effects of the financial downturn are replaced by a more positive economic outlook, according to report.

Networks of the future under the spotlight at global broadband event

Future network designs must be adapted to meet changing technology and different user needs, delegates at the Broadband World Forum heard.

EU must not adopt 'Fortress Europe' approach to the cloud

The European Commission says the EU nations must not turn their backs on cloud computing and warned that a ‘Fortress Europe’ approach to the technology would not work.

UK to examine 'white space radio' connectivity potential

Wireless technology known as ‘white space radio’ is being tested to find out whether it can improve broadband networks.

Microsoft aims to persuade more firms into the cloud

Microsoft is aiming to persuade more customers to adopt cloud computing by introducing cloud services to its own system.

'Digital refugees' phenomenon spotted in rural Scotland

‘Digital refugees’ are leaving areas in rural Scotland because they cannot access fast broadband speeds, according to Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead.

Mobile operators to join broadband roll out efforts

The UK’s mobile operators are meeting with broadband network providers to discuss the roll-out of superfast services across the UK by 2018.

UK falls behind in cloud computing adoption

British business are lagging behind their overseas counterparts when it comes to adopting cloud computing technology, according to a global study.

Train broadband network upgrade announced

A new scheme to improve broadband signals on board the UK’s rail network aims to improve connectivity for seven out of ten travellers by 2019.

Report highlights UK's fastest and slowest broadband speeds

UK broadband speeds are fastest in the North East and North West, the South East and Northern Ireland, but users in Scotland, Wales and the East of England are struggling with the slowest network speeds, according to a study.

1.5m rural properties to receive fast broadband within a year, Govt pledges

The Government has claimed that 1.5 million more rural properties will be linked up to superfast broadband within the coming year.

New Gartner report highlights Big Data trends

According to a new report from consulting firm Gartner, businesses are extremely keen to invest money into big data, but few have detailed plans in place about what they wish to do with the technology.

New study predicts cloud computing growth

A new research study has shown that the majority of companies who have set aside separate budgets for cloud computing predict that they will be spending more on the medium in the future.

Broadband providers must make switching easier, Govt says

Communications regulator Ofcom has confirmed that it still believes it is too difficult to switch broadband providers, despite new measures recently introduced aimed at assisting customers.

Superfast West Yorkshire project improves broadband availability

Broadband speeds across the vast majority of West Yorkshire are set to be transformed by the end of autumn 2015, thanks to the Superfast West Yorkshire project.

Churches making use of cloud computing

Four out of five large churches are making use of cloud-based technology, new research has revealed.

Remote Scottish islands explore 'DIY' superfast broadband

Scottish islanders are considering community efforts to bring faster broadband to the Northern Islands of the Shetlands, amid fears they will be left behind by the official programme to boost internet speeds.

SPDZ set to make the cloud more secure

Joint research by British and Danish universities could soon be used to ensure working via the cloud will be both more secure and private for multiple users of the same system, potentially encouraging a greater take-up.

Broadband providers urged to stamp out illegal downloads

Broadband providers are coming under pressure from record labels to help stamp out illegal downloading of pirated online material.

Big data worth £30bn by 2018, report reveals

A new report has predicted that the value of the big data product market will soar by 26 per cent each year until 2018, taking its total worth to an astonishing £29.74 billion by that point.

Cloud computing: changing the face of aerospace and defense

Cloud computing is increasingly becoming a viable option for the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry, thanks to the cost-effectiveness of the concept and its ability to merge product development, supply chain, production and maintenance strategies.

Big Data in Manufacturing event to debut in September

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Forum for Supply Chain Innovation’s event, 'Big Data in Manufacturing', is to debut next month, and will focus on how big data is changing the way that the corporate world makes decisions and runs organisations.

Home working in Worcester just got easier

Those working from home in Worcester will be pleased to learn that their working day just got that bit easier – with the announcement of a multi-million pound investment in high speed broadband for the area.

Faster broadband for Ross-on-Wye

People working from home in the Ross-on-Wye area will be pleased to learn that work to bring fibre optic broadband is well underway, following the initial signing of the contract between local councils and BT in December of last year.

Technology and the charity sector

The cloud is beneficial for all sorts of sectors, ranging from financial to technological, and now a new report has shown it has huge positives for the charity sector too.