Today's Telecom Pulse
EU mobile industry contribution surges 14%
The mobile sector’s share of the EU economy jumped 14%, underscoring its growing importance. The industry is now valued at roughly €1 trillion, highlighting its scale ahead of upcoming regulatory discussions.
Also developing:
By the numbers: BizLink to acquire Interplex Datacom for $850M
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Join Forces to Eliminate Mobile Coverage Dead Zones
AT&T, T‑Mobile and Verizon announced a joint venture aimed at eradicating mobile dead zones across the United States, with a focus on rural and underserved areas. The carriers will pool limited spectrum and partner with satellite providers to deliver direct‑to‑device service, creating a unified platform for broader coverage. The move also serves as a strategic hedge against potential competition from SpaceX’s planned mobile network. The JV is pending final agreements and customary closing conditions.
Vodafone Ireland Named Best Fixed Broadband in Independent Real World Testing
Vodafone Ireland has been crowned Ireland’s Best Fixed Broadband by independent benchmarker umlaut, achieving a 962‑point score out of 1,000. The award follows a decade of Best‑in‑Test mobile accolades, underscoring consistent performance across both fixed and mobile networks. Fibre now...
Analysis: Verizon Digital Twin Changes How Operator Sees Itself
Verizon has completed a nation‑wide digital twin of its tens of thousands of cell sites, combining 3D models, drone‑captured imagery, and AI analytics. The system reduces storm‑damage assessments from several hours of manual climbs to roughly 15 minutes of automated...
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Pool Spectrum in JV to Eliminate U.S. Wireless Dead Zones
AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon have agreed in principle to form a joint venture that pools their limited spectrum to eradicate wireless dead zones, especially in rural and underserved U.S. areas. The collaboration will blend terrestrial networks with satellite direct‑to‑device (D2D)...
FCC Proposes Ban on Chinese Cellular Modules, Threatening IoT and Automotive Supply Chains
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced a proposal to bar Chinese-made cellular modules—components that enable 4G and 5G connectivity—in a move that could upend IoT, industrial control and automotive markets. With Chinese firms controlling roughly 70% of the global module...
Rakuten Mobile's Q1 EBITDA Improves on Subs Growth
Rakuten Mobile posted a modest EBITDA of just over ¥1 billion ($6.6 million) in Q1, marking a steady improvement from the ¥102 million it recorded a year earlier. The operator’s subscriber base grew to 10.4 million, driving a 23.9% revenue surge to ¥108 billion (about...
FCC Extends Firmware Update Deadline for Foreign‑Made Wi‑Fi Routers to 2029
The Federal Communications Commission announced on May 8 that foreign‑made Wi‑Fi routers will continue receiving firmware updates until Jan. 1 2029, two years beyond the original March 1 2027 cutoff. The move provides relief for consumers, grants exemptions to Netgear and Eero, and underscores ongoing...
CBRS Comes of Age as a Shared Spectrum Success Story
CBRS has transitioned from a policy experiment to a mature shared‑spectrum ecosystem in the United States. Over 437,000 devices, more than 1,800 private networks, and 1,000 operators now use the 3.5 GHz band, backed by roughly $14 billion in investment. The recent...
Telecom News: VEON, Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile, Kyivstar
VEON lifted its 2026 revenue growth outlook to 11‑14% after a 17% first‑quarter revenue jump to $1.1 billion, driven by a 57.7% surge in digital services. Deutsche Telekom raised its 2026 EBITDA forecast to roughly $52.3 billion, buoyed by strong premium‑plan demand...
AI Turns Fiber‑Optic Cables Into Spy Microphones, Study Warns Telecoms
University of Edinburgh researchers demonstrated that artificial intelligence can convert ordinary fiber‑optic cables into vibration sensors capable of reconstructing nearby conversations. The proof‑of‑concept, built on Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) hardware, highlights a novel espionage vector that could force telecom operators...
Wireless’ D2D Combo Move
AT&T, T‑Mobile and Verizon announced a joint venture to launch a satellite‑based direct‑to‑device (D2D) network aimed at eradicating wireless dead zones in rural and underserved markets. The JV will act as a wholesale intermediary, purchasing satellite capacity from providers such...
Sidus Space Inc (SIDU) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Telesat Corporation reported 2025 revenue of $418 million and adjusted EBITDA of $213 million, while ending the year with $510 million in cash and $1.7 billion of debt maturing in December 2026. Management announced a three‑month delay of full global Lightspeed service to Q1 2028,...
Allot Q1 Revenue Jumps 14% on Surge in SECaaS Demand
Allot posted $26.4 million in first‑quarter revenue, up 14% year over year, as its Security‑as‑a‑Service (SECaaS) line surged 71%. The networking‑software firm highlighted a record $10.6 million operating cash flow, a multimillion‑dollar Tera III win and reaffirmed confidence in reaching the upper end...
Labor to Consult with Telcos on Key Telco Legislation Reforms
The Australian Labor government announced it will consult telcos on reforms to the Telecommunications Act 1997 and the National Broadband Network Companies Act 2011, aiming to accelerate fibre rollouts and upgrades in multi‑dwelling units. The changes, driven by industry lobbying,...
Utah Broadband Awarded $23 Million From USDA’s ReConnect
Utah Broadband secured almost $23 million from the USDA’s ReConnect program, split evenly between a grant and a loan, to build a 315‑mile fiber‑to‑the‑premises network in northern Utah. The project will deliver up to 10 Gbps symmetrical speeds to more than 3,000...
Feds Announce $73M in UBF Money for Rogers and Xplore Fibre Projects in New Brunswick
The Canadian government has allocated more than $73 million from the Universal Broadband Fund to support two fibre‑optic projects in New Brunswick. Rogers will receive $40.7 million to connect 15,254 households across 288 rural communities, while Xplore will get $32.4 million for 12,393...
Ripple Fiber to Invest $80 Million in Arizona Expansion Effort
Ripple Fiber announced an $80 million investment to launch its first fiber‑optic network in Arizona, its 11th state of operation. The rollout will initially serve Oro Valley and Sahuarita, with construction slated to begin this month and early June respectively, and...
Wi-Fi 8 Is Closer than You Think. Here’s What You Need to Know
Wi‑Fi 8 (802.11bn) is expected to hit enterprise deployments in 2027‑2028, shifting the narrative from raw speed to ultra‑high reliability. The standard promises roughly 25% gains in throughput, latency stability, and packet‑loss reduction, while adding spectrum‑efficiency tricks like non‑primary channel access...
1&1 Q1 Profit Jumps 66% as EBITDA Holds, Outlook to FY28 Remains Intact
German telecom operator 1&1 AG posted a 66.7% jump in earnings per share to €0.10 in Q1 2026, with EBIT up 27% to €57.8 million. Despite a modest 1.1% revenue increase, the company kept its FY28 EBITDA guidance, underscoring confidence in...
Reliance Jio Shifts to Fresh‑Issue IPO to Boost India's Billion‑Dollar Listings
Reliance Industries is preparing a fresh‑issue public offering for Jio Platforms, earmarking roughly Rs 25,000 crore ($3 bn) to slash debt and fund network and AI investments. The strategy departs from the offer‑for‑sale model used in recent Indian mega‑IPOs, aiming to restore investor...
Vodafone Rolls Out Monthly 5G Home Broadband to 26 Million UK Homes
Vodafone has launched a monthly 5G home broadband service that promises full‑fibre‑like speeds to over 26 million UK households. The offering, priced at £21 ($27) on a 24‑month contract or £30 ($38) on a rolling plan, leverages the integrated Vodafone‑Three network...
49. Insights From the NYU Wireless Workshop
In episode 49, Eric Larsson recounts his experience at NYU's 6G workshop, which celebrated 20 years of massive MIMO and explored its future. The discussion highlighted why massive MIMO often underperforms in real networks—operators’ abundant spectrum leads to frequency‑division scheduling...
FCC Approves Echostar ATT and SpaceX Deals
The FCC has approved two landmark spectrum transactions: EchoStar will sell roughly $24 billion of mid‑band spectrum to AT&T, and a $20 billion cash‑and‑stock deal will transfer a comparable block to SpaceX. Both approvals clear a major regulatory hurdle, enabling faster data...
EuNetworks Strengthens Super Highway Network with New Frankfurt-Strasbourg Route
euNetworks has launched a new 247‑km Super Highway fibre route linking Frankfurt and Strasbourg, expanding its long‑haul network across the FLAP‑D region. The line connects over 76 data centres in Frankfurt and integrates with more than 600 sites across Europe,...
Malatsi Touts LEOs for SA’s Digital Future
South Africa’s communications minister Solly Malatsi urged the fast‑track deployment of low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellite services to close persistent broadband gaps, emphasizing that international operators can serve now while respecting national interests. He highlighted that Starlink remains barred for not meeting...
Undersea Cables: The Hidden Backbone of the Digital Economy
NEW ODD LOTS: A massively underdiscussed element of the modern economy @tracyalloway and I talk to @samanth_s about the extraordinary complex of undersea cables that keep the internet alive https://t.co/sgTEqIyPUM
Deutsche Telekom Q1 Profit Drops 28% as Telekom Srbija Raises $2.1 Bn Eurobond
Deutsche Telekom announced a 28.2% fall in Q1 net profit to €2.04 bn ($2.23 bn) but kept its FY26 adjusted EPS outlook and lifted its adjusted EBITDA target. At the same time, Serbia’s Telekom Srbija completed a €1.95 bn ($2.12 bn) eurobond, attracting $13.87 bn...
How to Make Sure End-to-End Encrypted RCS Messaging Is Enabled on Your iPhone
Apple released iOS 26.5, adding end‑to‑end encryption to Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging on iPhone. RCS, introduced with iOS 18, now offers secure typing indicators, delivery receipts, and high‑quality media when texting Android users. Encryption is enabled by default for carriers that...
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Orange Plans Subsea Cable Linking Europe to South Africa
Orange Group and a consortium of African telcos have signed an MoU to build the Via Africa submarine cable, a new subsea link connecting Europe to South Africa. The system will land in the UK, France, Portugal and several West...
Broadcom BCM67142, BCM67192, and BCM68565 Chips Target Low-Cost WiFi 8 10 Gbps Fiber Access Points
Broadcom unveiled three new chips aimed at low‑cost residential broadband: the BCM67142 and BCM67192 Wi‑Fi 8 (802.11bn) radio solutions and the BCM68565 system‑on‑chip that adds 10 Gbps fiber PON capability. The Wi‑Fi 8 chips support dual‑radio 3×3+4×4 and 4×4+4×4 spatial streams, 4096‑QAM, multi‑link...
Nokia Appoints Emma Falck to Lead Mobile Infrastructure Business Amid AI-Native 5G and 6G Push
Emma Falck, formerly Siemens’ EVP of Smart Infrastructure Buildings, will become President of Nokia’s Mobile Infrastructure business on September 1, 2026. Her appointment coincides with Nokia’s acceleration of AI‑native 5G Advanced and the development of future 6G networks. Nokia’s strategy emphasizes a...
True Redundancy Achieved with 5G, Starlink, Smart WAN
Redundant connections often share the same infrastructure: one cut, both fail. I’ve seen this take down clients. T-Mobile SuperBroadband fixes that: 5G + Starlink + Smart WAN Selection. Watch to learn more👇 @TMobileBusiness Partner | @Ericsson | @Acuative https://t.co/GhDg9cO1v9
Proximus Q1 2026 Revenue Impacted by Global Weakness as Fiber, Mobile Subscribers and Cost Efficiency Drive Domestic Growth
Proximus Group posted Q1 2026 revenue of €1.524 bn ($1.66 bn), a 6.2% decline driven primarily by weakness in its Global division. Domestic operations offset the dip, adding 17,000 mobile postpaid lines, 10,000 broadband customers and expanding its fiber footprint to 2.665 m...
Ofcom: Gigabit Broadband Available to 89% of UK Homes
Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring Update shows gigabit‑capable broadband is now available to 89 percent of UK homes, covering 27.1 million premises as of January 2026. Full‑fibre access has risen to 82 percent, adding over a million households in the past six months. Unserved homes...
Telecom News: Mavenir, MagtiCom, Ericsson, Telekom Slovenije
Mavenir has secured a contract with Georgian operator MagtiCom to roll out advanced 4G and 5G small‑cell infrastructure, with beta deployments slated for Q2 2026 targeting residential, office and enterprise sites. The deal follows a successful trial and promises to improve...
Telecom News: Ripple Fiber, Telekom Srbija, MTFComm
Ripple Fiber announced an $80 million fiber rollout in Arizona, targeting over 50,000 homes and businesses in Pima County with multi‑gigabit plans starting at $40. Telekom Srbija completed a record €1.95 billion (≈$2.1 billion) Eurobond, drawing $13.9 billion of investor demand to refinance debt...
FCC Moves Closer to Banning some Foreign-Made Phones
The Federal Communications Commission is poised to prohibit the recognition of device‑testing labs in countries that lack reciprocal trade agreements, phasing out non‑compliant labs within two years. At the same time, the agency will streamline certification for U.S. labs and...
Airtel Maximum Limit for Mobile, DTH and Broadband Connections in One Airtel
Bharti Airtel has rebranded its Airtel Black offering as One Airtel, keeping the service unchanged but updating the name. The bundle allows up to 20 primary postpaid mobile, DTH and broadband connections, with each mobile line supporting nine add‑on lines...
TX Fiber Deploys 10‑Gbps XGS‑PON Network Across South Texas
TX Fiber, an independent broadband provider, has launched a next‑generation 10‑gigabit XGS‑PON network in South Texas’s Rio Grande Valley. Powered by Vecima’s Entra XGS‑PON solution, the rollout offers symmetrical multi‑gigabit speeds to residential and business customers, aiming to close the...
FCC Extends Security Update Deadline for Banned Foreign Routers to 2029
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has moved the deadline for manufacturers of banned foreign‑made consumer routers to provide security updates for U.S. customers from March 2027 to at least Jan 1 2029. The extension, announced in a May 8 public notice, aims to keep...
Neo Space Group Selects ThinKom ThinAir Antenna for Multiple Airlines
Neo Space Group (NSG) has selected ThinKom’s ThinAir Ka2517 phased‑array antenna for installation on Saudia’s A320s and Riyadh Air’s upcoming A321neo fleet. Integrated by RAVE Aerospace, the kit will deliver multi‑orbit inflight connectivity through SES’s Open Orbits platform, offering up...
IEEE Program Aims to Connect the Billions Who Are Still Offline
Nearly 30% of the world—over 2 billion people—remain offline, prompting IEEE Future Networks’ Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) program to accelerate 5G/6G‑based connectivity solutions. In 2025 the CTU challenge attracted 245 submissions from 52 countries, selecting 20 winners, of which 14 earned...
T-Mobile 5G Advanced Network Achieves World First with Ericsson AI RAN Innovation
Ericsson and T‑Mobile have launched large‑scale commercial trials of an AI‑native Scheduler with Link Adaptation on T‑Mobile’s live 5G Advanced network. The neural‑network‑driven software runs on Ericsson’s TCO‑optimized hardware, predicting radio conditions in real time. Trials showed roughly a 10%...
Seventeen Years of VOIP Classification Lessons
So the first time I wrote about VOIP classification was back in 2009, when I said Google reserving the right not to terminate calls with traffic pumpers wasn't a net neutrality issue but a VOIP classification issue. I have been working...
FCC Walks Back Router Update Ban Before It Bricks America's Network Security
The FCC reversed its earlier ban that would have stopped firmware and software updates for foreign‑made consumer routers, extending waivers until at least Jan. 1, 2029. The original policy, announced in March, placed all non‑U.S. routers on a Covered List, prohibiting...
When Giant ISPs Get Bigger, State Commissions Fight Back - Episode 8 of Unbuffered
In this episode, Christopher Mitchell talks with Ernesto Falcone, program manager for the Communications and Broadband Policy Branch of California's Public Advocates Office, about how the state is pushing back against the consolidation of large ISPs like Charter and Cox....
Rising AI Inference Fuels Demand for Edge Infrastructure
How is #AI being applied to the #edge? The need for efficient AI inference is growing, driving demand for edge infrastructure. #techprimer sponsored by @ZededaEdge https://t.co/MhK9OKLxUM
Telefônica Brasil Posts 19% Net‑Income Rise in Q1, Boosts Shareholder Returns
Telefônica Brasil announced a 19.2% year‑over‑year increase in net income to R$1.26 billion for Q1 2026, powered by strong mobile postpaid and FTTH growth. The operator also unveiled a R$1 billion share‑buyback program and raised total shareholder remuneration to R$6.99 billion.
Peraso's Q1 Revenue Plummets to $1M as Asian Supplier Delays Hit Shipments
Peraso Inc. reported first‑quarter 2026 net revenue of $1 million, a 66% decline from the prior quarter, after an Asia‑based supplier disrupted shipments of its millimeter‑wave and legacy memory chips. The company said it has now secured alternative sources and expects...
New Law Prompts ABC Minnesota/North Dakota to Design New Telecommunications Safety Training Program
A new Minnesota law effective Jan. 1, 2026 requires underground telecom installers to complete a 40‑hour safety certification when working within ten feet of existing utilities or using directional drilling. ABC Minnesota/North Dakota, in partnership with NCCER and the Minnesota Cable...