Know What's Happening in Telecom
Know What's Happening in Telecom
California launches $3.2B Middle‑Mile Broadband Network, Connecting Tribal and Rural Communities
The state’s Department of Technology has activated the $3.2 billion Middle‑Mile Broadband Initiative, the nation’s largest open‑access middle‑mile network. The first connection was made to the Bishop Paiute Tribe in Inyo County, marking the inaugural tribal customer. Governor Gavin Newsom aims to build 8,000 miles of fiber, with over 5,300 miles slated for completion by the end of 2026.
Satellite operator Eutelsat announced that its OneWeb low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) connectivity service is expanding across the global rail market. The company now offers broadband to rail operators in Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America through distribution partners and direct contracts. New ruggedized, rail‑certified terminals are being developed and tested by partners Kymeta and Hughes Network Systems to optimise the OneWeb network. Eutelsat also positions its LEO service to support operational‑technology systems and the industry shift from GSM‑R to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS).
SAS has launched Starlink‑powered high‑speed Wi‑Fi across its Airbus A320 fleet, delivering speeds of over 500 Mbps and low‑latency connectivity even at northern latitudes. EuroBonus members receive free access starting 24 March, thanks to a partnership with mobile operator 3. The airline...
MTN Ghana announced an intensified campaign to educate subscribers on efficient and safe mobile data usage. The telecom operator is rolling out a comprehensive data‑usage sensitisation programme that combines workshops, digital guides, and real‑time alerts. Coordinator Dzudzorfe Hadzor highlighted the...
.@SES: We've ordered 28 20-kW sats from @K2Space for 8,000-km MEO orbit (same as as SES's O3b mPower), four orbital planes, pole to pole. SES builds the payloads. Up to 100Gbps optical data relay, interoperable w/ other constellations. Will @defis_eu...
QNAP Systems has launched QuWAN Express, a lightweight VPN solution that extends its QuWAN SD‑WAN architecture to enable encrypted point‑to‑point NAS‑to‑NAS connections without additional routers. The service leverages QNAP’s cloud‑based Super Node relay, allowing NAS devices behind firewalls or without...
MTN Group announced the phased retirement of its Ayoba super‑app, giving users a 30‑day window to download and retrieve data before the app disappears from stores after March 20, 2026. Launched in 2019, Ayoba once reached tens of millions of users but...
The Federal Communications Commission has added foreign‑manufactured consumer routers to its Covered List, effectively banning new authorizations for such devices. The decision follows an inter‑agency security assessment linking overseas routers to past cyber‑attacks like Volt, Flax and Salt Typhoon. Existing routers...
Tata Communications has introduced IZO datacentre Dynamic Connectivity, a self‑healing network platform that automatically reroutes traffic to prevent downtime. The solution uses deterministic multi‑path routing and AI‑driven analytics to deliver >99.99% availability across global data‑center links. Enterprises can monitor performance via...
Global Invacom Group and Satwave Arrays have signed an MoU to co‑develop a motorised, pan‑and‑tilt flat‑panel antenna capable of operating across Ka/Ku‑band LEO, MEO and GEO satellites. The antenna will be compact, lightweight and ruggedised for defense and commercial use,...
Airtel Africa successfully tested Starlink Mobile, allowing standard 4G phones to connect directly to SpaceX’s satellite constellation in areas without terrestrial signal. The trial demonstrated messaging, WhatsApp calls, and financial transactions over satellite links. Airtel plans to roll out the...
State legislatures are launching new low‑income broadband subsidies as the federal Affordable Connectivity Program winds down. New Mexico’s LITAP offers up to $30 monthly, funded by a $1.50 telecom surcharge, while Oregon increased its subsidy to $15 and added a...
Planar Monolithics (PMI) has introduced the PEAFS3‑14‑0R2535R0‑6R5‑23‑12‑292MF, an 8‑to‑18 GHz low‑noise amplifier. It provides over 13 dB gain with ±1 dB flatness, a 4 dB noise figure, and an OP1dB of at least 24 dB. The device features a 2.0:1 VSWR, SMA connectors, and a...
Infobip has partnered with T‑Mobile to embed the carrier’s network APIs into its AI‑first cloud communications platform, creating a unified solution for enterprise fraud protection. The integration leverages CAMARA Open Gateway standards, allowing developers to verify device possession and authenticate...
Turkcell secured a $1 billion syndicated loan from 14 banks to fund its 5G and next‑generation network rollout, ahead of Turkey’s April 1 launch. The facility, initially offered at $500 million under a Murabaha structure, was oversubscribed and doubled in size. HSBC acted...
Spain’s Telefónica Soluciones de Informática y Comunicaciones de España has secured a five‑year contract to upgrade and manage Madrid’s central emergency communications system. The deal involves modernising the city’s digital TETRA network with new hardware, software and a unified dispatch...
Globe has transferred IMSI catcher detectors to the Philippines’ National Telecommunications Commission, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to strengthen the fight against mobile scams. The detectors enable real‑time identification and location of...
AT&T announced a new flagship app built around a generative‑AI assistant, creating a one‑stop shop for wireless and internet customers. The move is designed to stem subscriber churn and directly challenge T‑Mobile’s AI‑enabled digital tools.
Nigeria’s BRIDGE Project will spend $6.1 million on seven consulting firms and five individual consultants to kick‑start its $2 billion national fibre‑optic expansion. The contracts cover transaction advisory, legal compliance, technical planning and capacity building, with the two largest deals worth $1.5 million...
Pulsar International has named Enzo Brizzi as Director of Enterprise Market Expansion & Partnerships to spearhead the company’s growth in Africa. Brizzi, a veteran with more than 25 years in satellite and telecom, will drive strategic alliances and scalable operating...
Telecom Review Asia’s March 17 webinar highlighted how AI is reshaping APAC telcos, delivering measurable gains in network reliability and customer experience. Operators such as Telekom Malaysia and Globe Telecom showcased proactive monitoring, computer‑vision‑driven field work, and low‑code platforms that...
BT Group has signed a 10‑year agreement worth up to £200 million (about $255 million) with Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) to provide upgraded connectivity, cybersecurity and IT services. The contract will support NIE’s digital transformation across its 966,000‑customer base and...
Grameenphone, Telenor’s 55.8%-owned Bangladeshi subsidiary, warned that Q1 2026 momentum is softer than expected due to a confluence of energy‑price shocks and seasonal storms. The company projects revenue roughly 2% lower and EBITDA about 3% down versus the same quarter...
Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha has launched a multi‑front campaign targeting India’s telecom consumer policies, artificial‑intelligence strategy, and virtual‑digital‑asset regulation. He urged the government to mandate data‑rollover, allow transfer of unused data, and stop the practice of ending incoming calls...
Ericsson has partnered with Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) to embed its Ericsson Educate program into depa’s Digital Skills Roadmap, offering free AI and 5G courses to all Thai learners. The initiative supports depa’s ambition to produce at least...
State‑owned BSNL is testing integration of its Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) service with private operators Jio, Airtel and Vi, aiming for a pan‑India rollout within three to four months. The Centre for Development of Telematics (C‑DoT) has built the solution,...
Senators Ron Wyden, Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley sent an open letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding a review of the Ray‑Ban Meta smart‑glass program, citing its ability to capture video and feed AI models. The request comes as...
Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) swiftly investigated recent mobile network disruptions affecting the nation’s largest telecom operator, Singtel. The outages, traced to mechanical faults and software challenges, were not cyber‑attacks and are being addressed through coordinated regulator‑provider actions. IMDA’s...
Modern consumer routers bundle convenience features like band steering, automatic channel selection, UPnP, QoS, and router‑level VPNs, but these can degrade performance on low‑end devices. The article explains how each feature consumes CPU cycles, causes interference, or introduces security risks,...
Rural broadband provider Xplore has asked Canada’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development department (ISED) to pause approval of SpaceX’s request to use the 71‑76 GHz and 81‑86 GHz E‑band for satellite backhaul. Xplore argues that the World Radiocommunication Conference has not yet...
Latvian carrier airBaltic has teamed with InterLnkd to embed the AirMall digital marketplace into its Starlink‑powered Skynet Wi‑Fi portal, creating the first global, dynamic inflight shopping experience. The platform gives passengers access to more than 20,000 brands on their personal...
The FCC is considering repurposing the upper C‑band, currently used for broadcast distribution, in a move similar to the 2020 lower‑C‑band auction that generated roughly $81 billion. If reallocated, the agency could provide government funding to help broadcasters replace aging satellite...
The Port Authority of the Southern Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas secured roughly €2 million (about $2.2 million) from Italy’s Fund for Technological Innovation and Digitalization to build a private 5G network at the Port of Gioia Tauro. The project, which earned a top‑score...
Fidium announced an expanded on‑net presence at Flexential’s data centers in Dallas, Plano and Minneapolis‑St. Paul, adding high‑capacity fiber connectivity to its portfolio. The deal unlocks 100 G and 800 G wavelength services, Ethernet, dark fiber, and Construction‑as‑a‑Service offerings for enterprise and hyperscaler...
Italian tower owner INWIT slashed its 2026 revenue outlook after TIM, Fastweb and Vodafone announced a 50:50 joint venture to build 6,000 new 5G towers, a move that conflicts with existing master services agreements. The announcement sent INWIT shares down...
SpaceX launched 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg, taking the constellation past 10,000 active units. The company’s filing for up to one million orbital data‑center satellites has ignited a fresh wave of opposition from astronomers worried about light pollution and atmospheric...
Japan’s five major mobile carriers—NTT Docomo, KDDI, SoftBank, Rakuten and Okinawa Cellular—are launching a nationwide emergency roaming service called “Japan Roaming” on April 1, 2026. The service lets subscribers temporarily use another carrier’s 4G LTE network if their primary network is disrupted...
At the 2026 Satellite Show in Washington, D.C., ThinKom Solutions unveiled a modular, high‑mobility ground architecture designed to replace static satellite command centers. The system, built around the Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VICTS) phased‑array antenna, can connect to GEO,...
Legend Internet Plc, Nigeria’s first listed ISP, announced a merger with market‑leader Spectranet, targeting completion in Q2 2026 pending FCCPC and NCC approval. The deal combines Legend’s listed status and fibre footprint with Spectranet’s strong wireless brand, aiming to boost network...
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting cancelled the registrations of 114 multi‑system operators, bringing the total number of active cable operators in India down to 756 after 1,159 exits since early 2025. The move is part of a year‑long crackdown...
Apple’s budget iPhone 17e is now available through a Visible promotion that effectively makes the device free. New customers who sign up for the Visible+ Pro plan at $45 per month receive a $25 monthly service credit for 24 months, which reimburses...
The National Telecommunications Authority of the Marshall Islands signed an agreement to join the Pacific Connect initiative, adding the Iokwe subsea fiber‑optic cable that will connect Majuro directly to Google’s Halaihai system. Backed by U.S. Trade and Development Agency funding,...
Universities are recognizing in‑building wireless systems as a critical facility priority to eliminate communication dead zones that jeopardize safety and daily operations. Facility managers now oversee Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) that boost both public‑safety radio and cellular signals across diverse...
As 5G, IoT, and Agentic AI converge, telecom networks are no longer passive infrastructure, they’re becoming adaptive, self-optimizing systems that sense, decide, and act in real time. How connectivity is evolving from moving data to orchestrating intelligence ⬇️ Read: ➡️ https://t.co/uwh6kF4fVy #AI...
Airlines have an opportunity to rethink who controls the cabin connectivity layer, putting themselves in the driver’s seat. We sit down with Quvia to learn how it's 'Grid' and 'Sync' solutions can help airlines follow the cruise industry and take...
Parrot Mobile, a new MVNO, launched with fully customizable, prepaid plans starting at $6 per month. The service offers instant eSIM activation, no‑contract flexibility, and an AI voicemail assistant named Polly. Plans range from basic talk‑only options to a $25...
Kymeta Corporation announced the KuKa 8 Series, a single‑aperture antenna that operates on both Ku and Ka bands and across GEO, MEO, LEO and HEO constellations. The flat‑panel terminal delivers roughly 44 percent less footprint and a low‑SWaP profile of 41 lb (18.6 kg)....
Honored to host Japan’s Vice Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Dr. Imagawa Takuo, at the FCC. Enjoyed collaborating on the work our countries are doing to promote the build out of secure, next-gen networks. https://t.co/Scbq2TNAm3
Poste Italiane has submitted a €10.8 billion offer to acquire Telecom Italia, Italy’s largest fixed‑line operator. The postal group already controls 27.3% of TIM after buying shares from former major shareholder Vivendi. TIM’s fixed‑line network has already been sold to a...
The Federal Communications Commission announced on March 24 that seven criminally convicted individuals who siphoned more than $14 million from the E‑Rate program will be barred from all Universal Service Fund (USF) initiatives for three years. The fraud, spanning 2010‑2016, involved...
Romanian telecoms operator Digi Communications, through its UK subsidiary Fiber One, has acquired a 51% stake in the non‑operational fibre builder Whyfibre. The purchase gives Digi control of a nascent fibre network spanning Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, with pilot broadband services...
