Samsung claims to have achieved a 5G speed record, achieving a transmission rate of 8.5Gbps across two devices in a lab environment.

The Korean electronics giant achieved the feat by using 800MHz of millimetre Wave (mmWave) spectrum combined with MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) technology to send a signal from its access unit to two test mobile devices.

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5G speed record

The aim of the trial was to demonstrate the possibility of 5G powered by high band frequencies such as mmWave. 5G will use a mixture of low, mid and high-band spectrum, each of which offers a combination of range and capacity. mmWave delivers massive capacity over a short range, making it ideal for high bandwidth applications that require a guaranteed level of throughput.

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband services in the US are powered by mmWave, with other revolutionary applications such as Virtual Reality (VR) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) also set to benefit.

Samsung is the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer but is also keen to extend its influence further along the supply chain with 5G – including chipsets and telecommunications equipment. It already has customers in the US and South Korea, two countries that have already launched mmWave-enabled 5G networks.

“Samsung will continue to be at the forefront in advancing 5G mmWave technology,” said Hyunho Park, Senior Vice President, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “This successful demonstration proves mmWave’s potential to deliver new kinds of business use cases and open up opportunities for mobile operators. We look forward to building on this significant technical breakthrough to fuel our continuous journey towards an innovative and vibrant mmWave ecosystem.”

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Operators have demanded that anti-5G campaigners stop attacking staff and infrastructure, reiterating the scientific fact that next-generation networks cause no harm to human health.

Criminal activity is being fuelled by a baseless conspiracy theory that next-generation-networks can cause a range of health problems despite the fact that the entire body of research available refutes these claims, while World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations are that 5G is safe.

Recent guidance from the International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) took into account more than two decades of research and concluded there was absolutely no risk to public health. 5G networks are no more dangerous than 4G or even sunlight.

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Anti-5G campaign

BT CEO Philip Jansen confirmed that, as of last Sunday, that 39 BT engineers had been physically or verbally assaulted, while 11 mobile masts had been destroyed or damaged. Most of the affected sites did not even have 5G equipment – epitomising the idiocy of conspiracy theorists.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Jansen said the campaigners were harming emergency service efforts, preventing the public from checking on vulnerable family members, and thwarting attempts to provide the country with the communications infrastructure required during this crisis.

“When I first began to assess the potential impact of Covid-19 on our customers, our colleagues and our business, this was a situation that I never imagined: that our engineers and our networks would be under attack from people who truly believe, somehow, that 5G and Covid-19 are linked,” Jansen said.

“Everything about this is senseless. There's no thought for the validity of the theories – many openly contradict themselves; all ignore the very basic principles of science.

“These people are performing a vital service for the country; we should be thanking them, not harming them. This is my team and I will not tolerate them being targeted in this disgraceful way by a few mindless idiots.”

Industry body Mobile UK has said there were 20 more attacks over the Easter weekend, while Vodafone UK CEO Nick Jeffery conformed that one of the masts targeted was providing mobile coverage for the Nightingale hospital in Birmingham.

“It’s heart-rending enough that families cannot be there at the bedside of loved ones who are critically ill,” he said. “It’s even more upsetting that even the small solace of a phone or video call may now be denied them because of the selfish actions of a few deluded conspiracy theorists.

“Burning down masts means damaging important national infrastructure. In practice, this means families not being able to say a final goodbye to their loved ones; hard-working doctors, nurses, and police officers not being able to phone their kids, partners or parents for a comforting chat.

“Arsonists, please think about what you are doing and stop. Imagine if it were your mum or dad, your gran or grandad in hospital. Imagine not being able to see or hear them one last time. All because you’ve swallowed a dangerous lie.”

Ofcom interest

The conspiracy theories have been rubbished by England’s National Medical Director Stephen Powis said: “The 5G story is complete and utter rubbish, it’s nonsense, it’s the worst kind of fake news.”

Nonetheless, several minor celebrities have posted about the claims on social media with This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes adding fuel to the flames earlier this week. After consumer editor Alice Beer rubbished the claims of conspiracy theorists, Homes responded:

“I totally agree with everything you are saying but what I don't accept is mainstream media immediately slapping that down as not true when they don't know it's not true.

"No-one should attack or damage or do anything like that, but it's very easy to say it is not true because it suits the state narrative. That's all I would say, as someone with an inquiring mind."

Holmes has since sought to provide clarity to his words but Ofcom is now investigating the matter. The regulator has already imposed sanctions on Sussex-based community radio station Uckfield FM broadcast unfounded views without challenging them on-air. Ofcom has ordered the station to broadcast a summary of this breach on a data and form to be decided by the watchdog.

• Here are the best mobile phone deals for April 2020 

New research from Nokia suggests that dramatic increases in Internet traffic caused by the coronavirus outbreak might be plateauing as the world’s communications infrastructure copes well with the additional demands placed on it.

Many countries have placed restrictions on the movement and activities of citizens in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19, meaning many people are confined to their homes.

The situation has increased the reliance on home broadband and mobile connections for entertainment, online shopping and doing work and had led to concerns that infrastructure would struggle.

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Network traffic increase

However despite some changing behavioural patterns, any predicted meltdown has failed to appear. This is because most networks are built to cope with peak evening demands and streaming services such as Netflix have reduced transmission quality at the request of the EU.

Nokia says lockdown caused an immediate rise in weekday peak traffic of more than 45 per cent as people started to work from home. Meanwhile, weekend evening traffic has risen by between 20 and 40 per cent as entertainment services grow in popularity.

Most weekend peak traffic volumes are at least 20 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels but many countries are showing modest or no growth. This is in part because peak video consumption has been reached.

Mobile and broadband operators have made significant efforts to boost the capacity of their networks, while several streaming services have voluntarily reduced bitrates to ease the strain.

One of the biggest trends has been a 30 per cent increase in upstream traffic, brought about by the increased use of videoconferencing and collaboration tools. However there has also been a renaissance in web browsing, which is now the largest use case after video.

However the increased reliance on communications networks has been accompanied by a rise in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) traffic. Nokia notes that any disruption to service would be even more disastrous given the current situation.

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Samsung is experiencing mixed fortunes from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, with demand for data centre components offsetting a slump in sales of consumer electronics.

The Korean technology giant has endured a number of difficult quarters as relatively sluggish smartphone sales have been compounded by a crash in the memory chip market.

Samsung is the world’s leading manufacturer in the field, with memory chips traditionally responsible for two thirds of its profits.

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Samsung profits

However with government restrictions in many countries requiring many people to work from home, there has been increased demand for data centre chips. Cloud service providers are looking to add capacity to cope with the additional demands being placed on their platforms.

Samsung has told investors it expects sales to have reached 55tn won (£36.8bn) during Q1, with operating profits of 6.4 trillion won (£4.3bn). Both figures are improvements from last year and on analyst expectations.

However it remains to be seen if an ongoing slump in the smartphone market will affect Samsung, which is both the world’s largest manufacturer and a major supplier for other companies.

Global smartphone sales have been hit by government restrictions on people’s movement while the supply chain has been affected by factory closures. Just 61.8 million devices were sold in February 2020, down from 99.2 million last year. This 38 per cent decline is the biggest fall off in smartphone market history.

However it is thought that delayed purchases and the spread of 5G networks will allow the market to rebound in 2021.

• Here are the best Samsung smartphone deals for April 2020

The UK government and mobile industry have reiterated that there is no scientific evidence of a link between 5G networks and the spread of coronavirus.

A baseless conspiracy theory has been spreading on social media with a number of minor celebrities also sharing dubious links over the weekend. In a sinister twist, communications workers have been threatened while 5G masts have been the subject of arson attacks.

This comes at a time when the UK’s communications infrastructure is more important than ever, with mobile and broadband networks allowing people to work from home, speak to loved ones, and aiding the emergency services putting their lives at risk to protect the public.

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Meanwhile, anonymised location data is helping governments understand more about the spread of the virus so it can be contained, while mobile applications are helping people to track symptoms and seek assistance.

5G is safe

Anti-5G campaigners have argued next-generation-networks can cause a range of health problems despite the fact that the entire body of research available refutes these claims, while World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations are that 5G is safe.

Recent guidance from the International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) took into account more than two decades of research and concluded there was absolutely no risk to public health.

The UK government has ordered social networks to do more to prevent the spread of misinformation, while England’s National Medical Director Stephen Powis said: ““The 5G story is complete and utter rubbish, it’s nonsense, it’s the worst kind of fake news.”

Mobile UK, which represents EE, O2, Three and Vodafone, reiterated the vital role that communications are playing during the current crisis and called for conspiracy theorists to cease their hostilities.

“We are 100 per cent focused on making sure the UK's mobile and broadband networks are resilient, ensuring you, your families and businesses, can keep connected when you need it most,” read a statement.

“Sadly, we have experienced cases of vandals setting fire to mobile masts, disrupting critical infrastructure and spreading false information suggesting a connection between 5G and the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no scientific evidence of any link between 5G and coronavirus. Fact.

“Not only are these claims baseless, they are harmful for the people and businesses that rely on the continuity of our services. They have also led to the abuse of our engineers and, in some cases, prevented essential network maintenance taking place.

“Please help us to make this stop. If you witness abuse of our key workers please report it. If you see misinformation, please call it out. Your help will make a real difference.”

These calls have been echoed by worldwide industry body the GSMA.

“It is deplorable that critical communications infrastructure is being attacked based on outright mistruths,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA. “We urge everyone to trust health authorities and rest assured communications technology is safe. There is no link between 5G and COVID-19.”

• Here are the best mobile phone deals for April 2020 

Nokia says its new cloud-based AI monitoring platform will make it easier for operators to manage more complex network requirements and the larger volumes of traffic that will be generated by 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) deployments.

The Finnish telecoms equipment manufacturer says traditional approaches to network and service management are no longer suitable as cellular infrastructure is used to manage ever growing numbers of devices and mission critical applications.

Billed as ‘AI-as-a-Service’, the Nokia AVA 5G Cognitive Operations platform uses algorithms to automate and manage network functions and predict faults before they happen. It is powered by insights gathered from data science, machine learning and real use cases from telecoms and cloud environments.

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Nokia AI-as-a-Service

The platform helps operators optimise new use cases, service requirements, virtualisation and network slicing. It can intelligently provision network resources helping operators and determine what SLAs they can offer customers – something that will be crucial for mission critical use cases.

On top of this, it is also possible to predict service and network failures up to seven days in advance -enabling a proactive approach to maintenance. The platform delivers intelligent fault diagnosis, failure localisation and dynamic impact analysis, helping operators to mitigate the issue and solve it much more rapidly.  

Nokia says customers who have trialled the service have seen a 20 per cent reduction in complaints and have managed to reduce site visits by 10 per cent, resulting in cost savings alongside greater efficiency.

“Operators face a perfect storm of rising traffic and consumer expectations, so it is crucial to be able to predict and prevent service degradations at an earlier stage, while solving issues that arise significantly faster,” said Dennis Lorenzin, head of Nokia’s network cognitive service unit.

“Nokia AVA 5G Cognitive Operations enables CSPs to operate and assure latency for 5G use cases through AI, ultimately delivering an enhanced customer experience for consumers and enterprises.”

Several operators around the world already use Self-Optimising Network (SON) technology that automatically allocates additional resources to sites where demand is higher than usual or to identify faults before they happen.

SON is usually deployed in the radio layer of networks but with 5G requiring mobile operators to rearchitect their entire infrastructure with cloud and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) technologies, the potential for intelligent networks is significantly greater.

• Here are the best 5G phone deals of 2020

The BBC has suggested a levy on broadband subscriptions could replace the licence fee as a long-term funding model.

Ministers are currently holding a consultation on whether the non-payment of the TV licence should be decriminalised. It has been suggested that the offence should become a civil matter instead.

The BBC has said the current method of funding, enforced by magistrates courts, is its preferred option for the medium term. It warns that the creation of a civil-based system would cost an initial £300 million, would double evasion rates to 10 per cent.

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Broadband levy

This would see the total cost to the corporation reach £1 billion between 2022 and 2027 and would necessitate cuts to services.

On top of that, the BBC argued that fixed penalties enforced by civil courts would lack the discretion that magistrates can apply, meaning extenuating circumstances could not be taken into account. This means the poorest would be affected disproportionately through fines and negative impacts to credit scores.

“The important principle of universality, and that of fairness, only holds up if everyone pays for the range of services that everyone enjoys and relies upon,” said the BBC. “The funding system has to be underpinned with an effective deterrent that is fair for those who pay as well as for those who don’t.

“We understand why people have reservations about the criminal system and can see attractions with the civil system. No one wants to see people sent to prison for failure to hold a TV licence, nor a system that is unfair.

“However as part of the BBC’s response we set out clearly that there are a number of myths about the current system and that some of the potential attractions of a civil system are not borne out by the evidence.”

The BBC said it noted that in other countries, the TV licence equivalent is connected to an existing household bill such as electricity or council tax. It has suggested that broadband bills in the UK could be levied to fund the BBC.

This would be a role reversal from government policy in the early 2010s when the BBC licence fee was ‘top-sliced’ to pay for the rollout of superfast broadband rollout in rural areas. This was scrapped in 2015 after the government forced the corporation to take responsibility for providing over-75s with free TV licences.

The BBC cited evidence that, in any case, there is no overwhelming support to change the system. The consultation was launched in the aftermath of the 2019 General Election when anti-BBC sentiment within the Conservative party was at its peak.

Some even called for the licence fee to abolished entirely and replaced with a subscription fee like Netflix. However others noted that Netflix only provides a narrow selection of content when compared with the vast output of the BBC, which must serve a wider audience that often cannot be supported by commercial services.

The value of the public service broadcaster has also been recognised during the coronavirus crisis, with the BBC altering its output and providing additional services to support changes in everyday life. The licence fee has also ensured that services can continue whereas media organisations supported by advertising, subscriptions or cover prices have had to reduce output and furlough staff.

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Sales of mobile phones are set to slump to their lowest level for a decade due to the impact of coronavirus, new research has suggested.

Analysts at CCS Insight predict the market will slow by 13 per cent as the crisis impacts normal economic activity, the supply chain, and consumer demand.

The effects of government restrictions will be particularly acute in Q2, when a 29 per cent drop in sales is forecasted.

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Smartphone sales slump

Signs of recovery in China have been noted. But observers say that any return to normal sale rates and production levels will by offset by issues in other markets and manufacturing centres. In total, nearly a quarter of a billion fewer devices will be sold in 2020 compared to 2019, with the total figure reaching 1.57 billion.

"Data from China gives us a good indication of the effect that lockdowns and consumer uncertainty have on demand for phones,” said Marina Koytcheva, vice president of forecasting at CCS Insight. “In  January and February 2020, sales volume fell 44 per cent from the same period in 2019. Early data from other countries that have introduced strict measures to fight the pandemic suggests similar declines.

“Some companies are now having to deal with being unable to meet demand for certain products. This is particularly painful because they have only a short window of opportunity before people and businesses switch strictly into money-saving mode. In the aftermath of the current situation, we expect the biggest detrimental impact on sales will come from weak demand.”

However it is thought that delayed purchases and the spread of 5G will see a significant upturn from 2021 onwards. CCS says sales will increase by 12 per cent in 2021, outpacing 2019 by four per cent, while in 2022 there will be a growth rate of 13 per cent. This will lead to sales surpassing 2 billion.

By then, 5G coverage will have increased significantly and vendors will have released more affordable handsets. Sales of 5G-enabled phones will reach 210 million units and by 2024 will account for 58 per cent of all devices sold that year.

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Any government plan to use anonymised mobile phone location data to help tackle the spread of coronavirus would be legal, the UK privacy regulator has ruled.

Many countries are using location and satellite data to monitor citizen movements and tailor measures designed to control the outbreak. However this practice has raised security and privacy concerns, with some fearing governments could use the data to enable state surveillance.

Last week, several major European telecoms groups agreed to shared data with the EU, with the data deleted once the crisis is over, and reports have suggested the UK government is eager to follow suit.

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UK location tracking

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said that the practice would be legal in the UK so long as data is not identifiable.

“Generalised location data trend analysis is helping to tackle the coronavirus crisis. Where this data is properly anonymised and aggregated, it does not fall under data protection law because no individual is identified,” said ICO Deputy Commissioner Steve Wood.

“In these circumstances, privacy laws are not breached as long as the appropriate safeguards are in place.

“The ICO has provided advice about how data protection law can continue to apply flexibly to protect lives and data. The safety and security of the public remains our primary concern. We will continue to work alongside Government to provide advice about the application of data protection law during these unprecedented times.”

Last week, the government took the unprecedented step of asking all four operators to send a text message to every mobile phone in the country. The message contained information about the new measures designed to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

The government lacks the capability to do this itself. Despite trials of an emergency warning system earlier in the decade, the system has never been implemented.

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The UK’s leading mobile and broadband operators have promised to enact measures that will keep vulnerable customers connected during the coronavirus crisis.

Communications networks have assumed greater importance in recent weeks as restrictions on movement and school closures have led to an increase in remote working and education as well as heightened demand for entertainment services.

The evidence suggests that infrastructure is coping well despite the additional demand, while many operators have made offers of additional data and pledged not to leave anyone disconnected. Such assurances have now been formalised following talks between industry, the government and Ofcom.

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Coronavirus connections

Major telcos have promised to remove data caps on residential broadband services and offer new, generous landline and mobile packages to ensure the most vulnerable in society are supported. All have said they will ensure customers can receive alternative methods of communication if repairs to their existing connection cannot be repaired.

Finally, BT-EE, Openreach, Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk, O2, Vodafone, Three, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear, and KCOM have all agreed to with customers who have difficulty paying their bills and ensure no one vulnerable is left without Internet access.

"It is essential that people stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. This package helps people to stay connected whilst they stay home."

“We recognise providers are dealing with unprecedented challenges at the moment. So we welcome them stepping up to protect vulnerable customers, at a time when keeping in touch with our friends and families has never been more important,” said Melanie Dawes, Ofcom CEO. “We’ll continue to work with Government and industry to help make sure people stay connected.”

“It's fantastic to see mobile and broadband providers pulling together to do their bit for the national effort by helping customers, particularly the most vulnerable, who may be struggling with bills at this difficult time,” added Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.

“It is essential that people stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. This package helps people to stay connected whilst they stay home.”

• Here are the best mobile phone deals for March 2020 

Several major European telecoms groups have agreed to share mobile location data with the EU in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The UK’s Vodafone, which has networks across the continent, along with A1 Telekom Austria, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Telenor and Telia met with the EU earlier this week to discuss how the data sharing would work in principle.

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European data share

While several countries are using location and satellite data to monitor citizen movements and tailor measures designed to control the outbreak. However this practice has raised security and privacy concerns, with some fearing governments could use the data to enable state surveillance.

Vodafone, for example, has expressed its willingness to share location data depending on the legality of the practice in certain jurisdictions.

According to Reuters, the data provided by the telcos would be anonymised and would be deleted once the crisis is over.

The European Data Protection Supervisor has also said the initiative does not breach EU privacy rules so long as there are safeguards in place and that the EU clearly defines what data it wants to collect. It has also been recommended that only authorised experts should be able to access the information.

“The EDPS often stresses that such developments usually do not contain the possibility to step back when the emergency is gone. I would like to stress that such solution should be still recognised as extraordinary,” European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) head Wiewiorowski is quoted as saying in a letter seen by the news agency.

•  Here are the best mobile phone deals for March 2020 

Via Reuters

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a Three advertising campaign that implied that only it could offer customers ‘real 5G’ network services.

Last year, the mobile operator published a tweet and a newspaper wraparound stating “if it’s not Three, it’s not real 5G.”

Three’s claim centres on the fact that it has more spectrum than its rivals, including a 100MHz contiguous block. This block includes 3.4GHz airwaves won at auction and through the acquisition of UK Broadband, which operated the Relish FWA services.

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Three 'real 5G'

The 100MHz block was created through a spectrum licence variation awarded by regulator Ofcom late last year – a controversial move which rivals said gave Three an unfair advantage. Having adjacent spectrum is desirable because it can improve capacity and cost-efficiencies.

However, EE, Vodafone, an independent consultant and three members of the public challenged the claim. They argued it implied other networks weren’t offering real 5G services.

In its defence, Three argued its spectrum holdings and cloud-based core infrastructure meant it would offer a superior service. In an interview with TechRadar Pro last year, outgoing Three CEO Dave Dyson said the claims were a combination of tongue-in-cheek bravado and fact.

“If you look at International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards, they say to get a genuine 5G experience you need a minimum of 100MHz spectrum,” he said. “That’s part of the fact.

“Of course EE and Vodafone have launched [5G services] but the reality is that, whether 100MHz is the standard or not, our 5G service uses double the spectrum and in practice that means double the capacity.”

The ASA acknowledged the spectrum argument but ruled that the limited rollout of 5G at the time the advert was published, coupled with limited availability of devices, meant there was unlikely to be any capacity issues that would impact end user experience.

 “Given that, we considered Three's 5G service was not, at that time, likely to be so significantly better than other 5G services as to render them not "real" 5G, or such that there was little value in obtaining those services.”

One thing the ruling did not mention was that at the time, Three’s 5G network was limited to Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband . The operator has since launched 5G mobile data services.

The advert must not appear in its current form. Three has been contacted for comment.

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Ofcom has suspended work on proposed new regulations for the communications industry during the coronavirus outbreak and has issued advice for consumers who are more reliant on their broadband service during the current restrictions on movement.

In a televised address earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the public to stay at home other than to shop for “essentials” or for exercise “once a day”. Groups of more than two participants, other than those who live together or families, will be dispersed by the police and offenders fined.

This means most of the country is working from home, while children and students are using the Internet for education purposes. Inevitably, this is placing more strain on the UK’s communications infrastructure.

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Ofcom coronavirus

Ofcom said it welcomed measures taken by companies in the sectors it regulates during an “unprecedented” time for the country, nothing the efforts to make networks more resilient and the additional allowances given to customers. It added that it would continue to work with industries to ensure consumers, key workers and emergency services receive a good service.

A more pragmatic approach to regulation, one that takes into account the difficulties of the situation, will be adopted by Ofcom. But it warned that tit would continue to maintain its guiding principle of ensuring fairness for customers.

Meanwhile, the timetable for regulation will be rescheduled and a revised version published at the end of April. In the meantime, Ofcom has confirmed that all consultation deadlines are suspended and obligation requirements delayed.

The watchdog is also launching a national campaign to give consumers communications advice during the crisis. Among the guidance is a recommendation to use Wi-Fi calls whenever possible, move the router away from other devices and plug it directly into the main phone socket. It also suggests people don’t use microwaves while others are engaged in important activities.

“Families across the country are going online together this week, often juggling work and keeping children busy at the same time,” said Melanie Dawes, Ofcom CEO. “So we’re encouraging people to read our advice on getting the most from their broadband, home phones and mobiles – and to share it with friends, families and colleagues, to help them stay connected too.”

“Right now we need people to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. Reliable internet speeds will be crucial so we can work from home where possible, stay connected with our families and keep up to date with the latest health information, “ added Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden.

“I urge everyone to read Ofcom’s helpful tips and advice to ensure they get the most out of their broadband and mobile internet connections during these unprecedented times."

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The UK’s four major mobile operators have all closed their retail stores and urged customers to contact their online services should they need support.

Last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the public to stay at home other than to shop for “essentials” or for exercise “once a day”. Groups of more than two participants, other than those who live together or families, will be dispersed by the police and offenders fined.

What constitutes an “essential” retailer is ambiguous and although some sporting goods outlets seem to believe this includes them, operators have closed their outlets in order to protect staff and customers.

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Store closures

“We have taken the decision to close our high street stores ... in order to protect our colleagues and customers,” said O2, which had outlined its closure plan before Johnson’s televised address and urged customers to use its online channels. “We will continue to monitor the situation in the UK before taking any decision to reopen our stores.”

“Our stores have played an important role in keeping customers connected during this difficult time, and we’d like to thank those colleagues for all their hard work in helping to keep our customers in touch with their friends and loved ones,” said EE, which added that all staff would remain on full pay.

“Following guidance from UK Government, we have taken the decision to close all of our retail stores,” added Three. “We thank our people for working over the last few weeks to support our customers in these difficult times.”

Vodafone told TechRadar Pro that its stores were also closed and the company was investigating ways to service customers that would usually visit its outlets.

• Here are the best mobile phone deals for March 2020 

Global smartphone sales have dropped significantly as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus has a major impact on consumer demand.

Just 61.8 million devices were sold in February 2020, down from 99.2 million last year. This 38 per cent decline is the biggest fall off in smartphone market history.

Covid-19 has had a major impact on the industry, with manufacturing and supply chains disrupted as countries place restrictions on businesses and individuals. February’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) was cancelled as a result of the crisis.

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Coronavirus impact

“Smartphone demand collapsed in Asia last month, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and this dragged down shipments across the world,” said Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics. “Some Asian factories were unable to manufacture smartphones, while many consumers were unable or unwilling to visit retail stores and buy new devices.”

Although the situation is improving in China and other parts of Asia – factories are returning to maximum output levels and retailers are reopening – the spread of the virus to Europe and North America has resulted in lockdowns and business closures.

This will mean the market is unlikely to rebound in the near future.

“Despite tentative signs of recovery in China, we expect global smartphone shipments overall to remain weak throughout March 2020,” added Yiwen Wu, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics.

“The coronavirus scare has spread to Europe, North America and elsewhere, and hundreds of millions of affluent consumers are in lockdown, unable or unwilling to shop for new devices. The smartphone industry will have to work harder than ever to lift sales in the coming weeks, such as online flash sales or generous discounts on bundling with hot products like smartwatches.”

• Here are the best mobile phone deals for March 2020