UK operators could soon be facilitating payments for physical goods bought by subscribers via carrier billing services. Direct operator billing firm, Mach, has now signed Vodafone, Everything Everywhere, O2 and 3UK up to its Direct Operator Billing platform for digital goods, and said that the use of such a solution to purchase physical goods is on the horizon.

In a major coup for the Korean firm, Samsung has secured its first significant European network contract by signing a deal to supply 3UK with LTE Radio Access Network (RAN) and 3G/LTE core infrastructure equipment.

UK fixed and mobile operators are divided over whether to sign up to a voluntary code of practice in support of net neutrality. While ten service providers have signed up, Vodafone, Everything Everywhere and Virgin Media have so far refused.

An MVNO that offers free mobile data in return for viewing adverts has launched in the UK. Samba Mobile is available for tablet and laptop owners and offers users a range of interactive adverts to drive engagement.

The UK’s mobile operators have hit out at Ofcom’s latest proposals to allow Everything Everywhere to use its existing 1800MHz spectrum to offer LTE services ahead of its competitors. Earlier this month, Ofcom accepted an application from Everything Everywhere, allowing it to use its existing spectrum, which would see the firm offering 4G mobile services in the UK by the end of 2012.

3UK has signed an agreement with Macheen, a cloud service provider for connected devices. The deal provides the operator with access to a platform for the management of a variety of processes that are required to create, manage and bill M2M-related services.