Today's Telecom Pulse
Broadband markets in Australia, NZ, and Canada set for 2026 fiber and gigabit expansion
Australia’s broadband sector is projected to undergo major upgrades by 2026, with ISPs expanding fiber networks, gigabit speeds, and NBN enhancements. Parallel analyses highlight similar fiber and 5G‑driven competition in New Zealand and Canada, reshaping consumer internet experiences across the region.
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 nations with mutual agreements, adding requirements for lab location disclosure and enhanced post‑market surveillance. The move follows a March ban on foreign‑made routers and the removal of 23 facilities deemed “bad labs.” President Donald Trump’s upcoming China visit adds a geopolitical backdrop to the proposal.
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%...
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....
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...
Sateliot, Turkcell Verify 5G NTN Connections
Turkcell partnered with Sateliot to demonstrate non‑terrestrial 5G (NTN) connectivity for IoT devices, conducting live trials in Barcelona and Istanbul. The tests linked Sateliot’s low‑Earth‑orbit satellites with Turkcell’s terrestrial 5G network, achieving seamless integration and continuous device coverage beyond the...
Broadband Growth, Regulation Battles, and Leadership Changes Dominate Telecom News
Policyband Headlines ■ @Amazon-backed Report: LEO Broadband Could Add $863 Billion to Global GDP by 2035 ■ @GCIAK Liberty Calls Off Investment in Liberty Latin America ■ ATVA Accuses @WeAreSinclair of Creating Big Four Loopholes ■ @POTUS Signs @SenCapito USF Reform Bill ■ @NTIAgov...
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...
LPTV Broadcasters Association Urges Carr to Approve 5G for Broadcast
The LPTV Broadcasters Association has written to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr urging the commission to fast‑track a rulemaking that would permit low‑power television stations to use the 3GPP 5G Broadcast standard. The request follows HC2 Broadcasting’s experimental licenses for 5G...
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
FCC Wireless Bureau Drives U.S. Tech Leadership
The FCC's Wireless Bureau is doing great work and advancing U.S. technology leadership. Really enjoyed spending time with this talented team at our town hall meeting. https://t.co/xMDd1GmpxE
AST SpaceMobile Posts $14.7M Q1 Revenue, Reaffirms $150‑200M 2026 Outlook
AST SpaceMobile posted $14.7 million in first‑quarter revenue, driven by U.S. government contracts and gateway hardware sales, and reiterated its 2026 revenue target of $150‑200 million. The company’s $3.5 billion cash pile and a $1.2 billion commercial pipeline underpin optimism, while Alphabet’s stake drops...
Voice Wireless Delivers Affordable Connectivity for Military Families
"Developed by bBIG Communications and powered by Reach Mobile, Voice Wireless aims to provide reliable, affordable connectivity tailored to the mobility and financial realities unique to military families." https://t.co/n6CORG6moU
AST SpaceMobile Aims for November Milestone, 45‑60 Birds Launching
"AST SpaceMobile ... expects to reach this milestone by November, according to a slide in its earnings presentation. It previously projected 45 to 60 of its next generation birds will launch this year." https://t.co/u3hzhbRey8 via @mobileworldlive
AST SpaceMobile Posts $14.7 Million Q1 Revenue, Reaffirms $150‑200 Million 2026 Guidance
AST SpaceMobile announced $14.7 million in first‑quarter revenue, driven largely by U.S. government milestones and gateway hardware sales. The company reaffirmed its 2026 revenue target of $150‑200 million, citing a $1.2 billion commercial pipeline and a $3.5 billion cash position.
Panelist Highlights Data Monetization Amid Insecure Venue Wi‑Fi
I’m in Toronto today for the Canadian Telecom Summit Speaking today on a panel on monetising data & infrastructure Nice venue right by the CN Tower Shame the @MTCC_Events venue WiFi blocks my VPN. Really suitable or secure for business use. https://t.co/J0BbAAkAEC
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Iran's Vice President Criticises Continued Internet Restrictions Her Own Government Put in Place
Iran’s Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Zahra Behrouz‑Azar publicly criticized the government’s ongoing internet blackout, arguing it cripples the country’s digital economy. The restrictions, in place since the February 28 war with the United States and Israel, have left...
GTT EnvisionDX Accelerates Quoting for Secure Networking with Real-Time Pricing Available for 11 Million Global Locations
GTT Communications launched EnvisionDX, the next‑generation version of its Envision platform, adding real‑time quoting and ordering for networking and security services across more than 11 million validated business locations. The upgrade leverages GenAI‑driven address validation and an API‑first architecture to generate...
Teleste and Vecima Partner on Open DAA Solution
Teleste and Vecima Networks announced a partnership to deliver an open, interoperable Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) solution for European cable operators. The offering combines Vecima’s Entra vCMTS cloud‑native virtualized cable access core with Teleste’s Remote PHY node portfolio, backed by...
Restart on Digital Discrimination Rules
On May 6, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated the FCC’s 2023 digital discrimination rules mandated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The court held the agency exceeded its authority by imposing a disparate‑impact test...
Ericsson Joins Nordic Alliance Aiming to Improve Regional Competitiveness
Ericsson has joined the newly formed Nordic Compass alliance, which brings together the largest Nordic companies and foundations to drive initiatives in capital markets, deep‑tech, defence and energy. The alliance, also joined by Nokia, is positioned as a faster‑moving alternative...
Hormuz Data Chokepoints and Iranian Threats Against Undersea Internet Cables
Iranian news agencies aligned with the IRGC have floated proposals to charge global tech firms for operating undersea fiber‑optic cables that cross the Strait of Hormuz. The plan leans on a selective reading of UNCLOS, arguing that the cables sit...
Apple Launches Beta End‑to‑end Encrypted RCS on iOS 26.5, Targeting Carriers Worldwide
Apple began rolling out a beta version of end‑to‑end encrypted RCS messaging with iOS 26.5, extending iMessage‑level security to Android users on supported carriers. The feature appears as a lock icon in chats and depends on carrier adoption, marking a...
A Networking Revolution at AWS
Amazon Web Services unveiled a unified, custom networking stack that replaces heterogeneous vendor hardware with a single ASIC‑based switch architecture and its own Linux‑derived NetOS. The current platform delivers 51.2 Tbps across 64 × 800 Gbps ports, and a next‑generation version will double capacity...
EU Set to Launch 2GHz Satellite Spectrum Allocation
Politico reporting that the European Commission could kick off the process to allocate the 2GHz satellite spectrum in the coming days, including likely extension of current licenses and potentially earmarking some frequencies for European companies
Nokia Enters Cognitive Broadband Era with Agentic AI Capabilities
Nokia has introduced agentic AI capabilities across its fixed‑network portfolio, embedding AI agents and natural‑language interfaces into Altiplano, Corteca and Broadband Easy platforms. The company says the telecom sector will invest about $6.2 bn in agentic AI by 2030, and its...
Will Airtel Deliver Strong Results in Q4FY26?
Bharti Airtel is forecast to post a modest 1.5‑1.6% quarter‑on‑quarter revenue rise in Q4 FY26, even with two fewer operating days. Analysts expect the carrier to add roughly 5 million mobile broadband users and 4 million total wireless subscribers, while home broadband will gain...
Herotel Becomes South Africa’s Largest Retail Fibre ISP
Herotel, owned by Vumatel, has become South Africa’s largest retail fibre‑to‑the‑home (FTTH) provider by the number of connected homes, reaching 284,850 FTTH residences. The figure excludes its 52,094 fixed‑wireless customers, bringing total active users to over 350,000 across more than...
US Communications Regulator Targets Chinese Tech for Security Risks
The Federal Communications Commission announced a series of measures aimed at curbing security risks posed by Chinese‑origin communications equipment. The rules require carriers to identify, assess, and, where necessary, replace hardware and software from firms such as Huawei and ZTE...
NBN Price Hikes Are Coming on July 1, but You Can Delay Them by a Year if You Act Fast
Australia’s NBN Corp announced wholesale price adjustments effective July 1, 2026, ranging from $0 to AU$2.34 (≈$1.55 USD) per month depending on speed tier. For the common NBN 500 plan the increase averages AU$2.32 (≈$1.53 USD), while NBN 1000 sees about AU$1.95 (≈$1.29 USD). Providers are...
KAIST Microcomb Chip Generates 22 GHz Low‑Noise Signals for Future 6G Networks
A joint KAIST team led by Prof. Kim Jungwon and Prof. Lee Han Suk unveiled a microcomb photonic chip that generates ultra‑low‑noise 22 GHz millimeter‑wave signals. The breakthrough promises to overcome noise and stability limits of electronic sources, paving the way...
Amazon to Acquire Globalstar for $11.57 B, Adding Satellite‑Cellular Assets to Leo
Amazon announced a binding agreement to buy Globalstar for $11.57 billion, a deal that will give the e‑commerce giant direct‑to‑cellular capabilities for its Leo satellite network. The transaction, slated to close in 2027, includes cash and stock options for Globalstar shareholders...
Issue Lies in Unauthorized Spectrum, Not FPGA/ASIC
Yes that's correct. Its not dependent on the FPGA or ASIC, its dependent on using spectrum that they don't have the rights to use... (and only lighting up a tiny number of cells, which is where the FPGA and ASIC...
No Country Has 40 MHz Downlink; Testing Moves Offshore
Of course they don't have anything close to 40MHz of downlink available in any country, which is why this test is being done in international waters...
CRTC Confirms MVNO Start Date Contingent on Separate Access Agreement
The Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) affirmed that a separate MVNO access agreement must be signed before Quebecor can offer mandated wireless service on Bell’s network. The regulator rejected Quebecor’s request to treat its existing roaming arrangement as sufficient...
Tennessee’s New Solicitation Oversight Law
Tennessee’s General Assembly unanimously passed HB 2408/SB 2659, adding a statutory requirement for the Public Utility Commission to issue an annual compliance report on telemarketing and text‑message solicitations. The law, effective July 1 2026 if signed, does not alter existing solicitation rules but creates...
Price Locks Shift Inflation Burden to Carriers, Not Consumers
Carrier price locks exist because providers raised prices and consumers rejected the unpredictability. Four of the five major carriers now offer locks. The structural differences in what actually receives protection dictate who pays for inflation. 🧵
Taiwan Unveils 6G R&D Initiative Targeting Networks, NTN and All‑Photonics
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs announced on May 11, 2026 a new 6G research program under its A+ Industrial Innovative R&D scheme. The initiative directs corporate R&D toward three priority areas—6G networks, non‑terrestrial networks and all‑photonics—signaling a coordinated push to...
Canada’s Bill C-22 Is a Repackaged Version of Last Year’s Surveillance Nightmare
Canada’s Bill C-22, dubbed the Lawful Access Act, revives the failed Bill C‑2 by forcing digital services to retain a full year of metadata and expanding data‑sharing with foreign governments. The legislation authorises the Minister of Public Safety to demand...
IPhone-Android RCS Conversations Are End-To-End Encrypted In iOS 26.5
Apple announced that iOS 26.5 now supports end‑to‑end encryption for RCS messages exchanged with Android devices, bringing cross‑platform chats to the same security level as iMessage. The feature is released as a beta and requires carrier support on both the iPhone...
UK Spent More than $22 Million for Starlink Supplies, Report Shows
The British Ministry of Defence has spent more than $22.6 million on SpaceX’s Starlink satellites and terminals over the past four years, funding both Ukrainian resistance and British forces abroad. Over 50,000 terminals have been shipped to Ukraine since the 2022...
Okanogan County Public Utility District Lights Up Fiber In Rural WA
The Okanogan County Electric Cooperative and the Okanogan County Public Utility District are rolling out 186 miles of new fiber to serve up to 1,366 premises in Washington's upper Methow Valley. Construction began in March and is slated for completion...
The FCC Announces Plans to Crack Down on Robo Calls & Improve Broadband Data
The FCC released the tentative agenda for its May 20, 2026 Open Commission Meeting, highlighting four priority rulemaking initiatives. The agency will seek to tighten the STIR/SHAKEN framework with stricter upstream‑provider verification to curb illegal robocalls. It also proposes streamlined audits and...