Today's Telecom Pulse
EE fast‑tracks UK 5G+ rollout, leveraging $51 bn BT network upgrade
EE, owned by BT, is accelerating its 5G+ deployment across the UK, using Advanced RAN Coordination to boost download speeds by up to 20% without adding new masts. The rollout will activate 5G+ at more than 25 major events and 30 tourist destinations, extending coverage to 75% of the population, and is part of BT’s roughly $51 bn network‑upgrade programme.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Optimum raises $300M in preferred equity
Aquiss Launches New Higher Contention 1Gbps Package on Full Fibre (and Other Offers)
Aquiss, a UK broadband reseller, has added two new Full Fibre products on the Full Fibre Ltd network: a 2.5 Gbps symmetric plan priced at £65 /month (≈$83) with the first three months at half price, and a “Flex” 1 Gbps burstable tier at £36 /month (≈$46) that is more heavily contended. The Flex offering delivers an average of 750 Mbps, undercutting the standard 1 Gbps plan that costs £44 /month (≈$56). Both packages include a free static IPv4 address and a /56 IPv6 allocation, expanding Aquiss’s tiered pricing across multiple wholesale fibre operators.
The Divide: How Permitting Problems Delay Broadband Builds
The $42 billion BEAD program will pour roughly $21 billion into U.S. broadband builds over four years, but providers warn permitting bottlenecks threaten timely deployment. Executives from Brightspeed, Ziply Fiber, and CentraCom describe costly, inconsistent permit fees—up to $30,000 for a 200‑home...
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Eurobites: Vodafone Entrusts 'Sovereign' Cloud to AWS
Vodafone has signed a multi‑year agreement with Amazon Web Services to deliver a sovereign, Europe‑only cloud using Skaylink’s expertise, ensuring all data stays within the EU. Telecom Italia reported a 1.7% drop in Q1 EBITDA to €1 bn, with domestic earnings...
Thaicom Partners with Amazonleo for Thailand LEO Broadband
.@THAICOMPLC selcts @Amazonleo as its LEO broadband partner in Thailand. Thaicom will be authorized distributor and landing-rights holder for consumer and corporate services. https://t.co/d06DeNKdGX
BT Scores UEFA Deal; Reintroduces BT Mobile in Brand Revamp
BT Group secured the official telecom partnership for the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament in the UK and Ireland, pledging to power broadcasts, stadium connectivity and public screenings. The network will serve nine stadiums, 24 team base camps and support eSIM...
EU Becomes First Strategic Partner of Global Telecom Coalition, Escalating 6G Competition with China
The European Union has been named the first strategic partner of the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT), expanding a Western‑led policy framework for next‑generation networks. The move intensifies the emerging 6G rivalry with China and signals a coordinated European effort...
Consumer Complaints: TRAI Proposes to Remove Advisory Committee, Moots Stricter Penalties
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has drafted the Telecom Consumers Complaint Redressal (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, proposing to eliminate the two‑member advisory committee and replace it with a senior‑management appellate authority. The amendment mandates 24/7 complaint centres equipped with...
Nvidia Commits $300 Million to Corning for Three U.S. AI Fiber Plants
Nvidia is investing $300 million in Corning to construct three new optical‑fiber manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas. The plants will lift U.S. fiber output by more than 50% and create roughly 3,000 high‑paying jobs, securing a domestic supply chain...
Poste Italiane Aims to Close TIM Takeover in Q3
Poste Italiane announced it aims to close its €10.8 billion ($11.8 billion) voluntary offer for TIM in the third quarter, alongside a stronger‑than‑expected Q1 earnings report. The postal group says its solid balance sheet and cash flow position it to fund digital...
EXCLUSIVE: April 2026 Update on Broadband Availability Across the UK, Nations and Regions
The May 2026 Thinkbroadband update shows UK gigabit broadband availability reaching 90.62% nationwide, with Wales climbing to 88.14% and overtaking the South East’s 87.89%. Full‑or‑part fibre coverage now exceeds 99% in every region, while premises with two or more FTTP options have...
Vodafone Idea, PhysicsWallah Partner to Launch EdTech-Enabled Prepaid Plans for Students
Indian telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) has launched two prepaid “Vi Edu+” plans in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh East, priced at Rs 375 (~$4.5) and Rs 409 (~$4.9) per 28‑day cycle. Each plan bundles unlimited 4G/5G data, unlimited voice, 100 SMS daily,...
Biden Era Digital Discrimination FCC Rule Inevitably Overturned
A U.S. appeals court has invalidated the FCC's 2023 digital discrimination rule, finding it exceeds the agency's statutory authority by policing disparate impact rather than disparate treatment. The decision was praised by FCC Chair Brendan Carr and the U.S. Chamber...
Optus, Ericsson Claim SA 5G Aggregation First
Optus and Ericsson have demonstrated a world‑first 180 MHz standalone (SA) 5G carrier‑aggregation trial on a live commercial network at Optus’s Sydney campus, combining 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands. The test, run on Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra devices, recorded peak downlink speeds...
Airties Launches Lite Platform for Retail Wi-Fi Gateways
Airties has introduced Airties Lite, an AI‑driven platform that lets internet service providers manage retail‑purchased Wi‑Fi gateways using the TR‑369 (USP) standard. The solution provides real‑time connectivity scoring, AI‑based root‑cause diagnostics and proactive campaign tools without requiring custom firmware on...
GSMA M360 Eurasia 2026 to Spotlight AI, Satellite Connectivity and Digital Growth in Uzbekistan
The GSMA M360 Eurasia 2026 summit will convene in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on May 20‑21, gathering policymakers, telecom leaders and technology innovators. Organized with the Uzbek Ministry of Digital Technologies, Beeline Uzbekistan and VEON, the event will spotlight AI‑ready governments, sovereign...
Eutelsat, Station Satcom Expand OneWeb LEO to Over 1,000 Ships
French satellite operator Eutelsat and Indian maritime service provider Station Satcom have sealed a multi‑year agreement to extend OneWeb low‑Earth‑orbit connectivity to over 1,000 ships. The rollout begins in 2026 and leverages Eutelsat’s recent procurement of 440 replacement satellites to...
How Does AI-Driven Communications Software Support the Transformation of Digital Communications?
Telecommunications operators are increasingly adopting AI‑driven communications software to modernize digital platforms. These solutions analyze massive data streams, predict network failures, and automate service delivery, boosting operational efficiency. Integrated connectivity ecosystems centralize device, client, and service management, reducing downtime and...
Chief Telecom Taps Radware to Drive DDoS Protection in Taiwan
Radware has teamed up with Chief Telecom to launch Godshield Pro, a DDoS protection service tailored for Taiwanese enterprises. The solution combines Radware’s AI‑driven mitigation with Chief Telecom’s local backbone, delivering in‑network scrubbing that cuts latency versus traditional cloud‑only defenses. It...
Verizon Uses Network Digital Twin to Weather Storms
Verizon unveiled a network‑wide digital twin that leverages drone‑captured 3D imagery and AI to instantly locate storm damage on its 4G, 5G and core infrastructure. The system compares post‑storm scans with baseline models, allowing engineers to prioritize repairs and dramatically...
Chunghwa Telecom Q1 2026 Revenue Rises on 5G, Broadband and ICT Growth as AI and 6G Strategy Gains Momentum
Chunghwa Telecom posted first‑quarter 2026 revenue of NT$59.99 billion (≈$1.9 billion), a 7.5% year‑over‑year increase, driven by stronger 5G uptake, broadband growth and expanding ICT services. Operating income rose 4.6% to NT$13.10 billion and EBITDA to NT$23.30 billion as the carrier accelerated its AI‑focused...
Swisscom Q1 2026 Revenue Falls as 5G, Broadband and Italy Synergies Support Cash Flow Growth
Swisscom’s Q1 2026 revenue fell 4.1% to CHF 3.61 billion (≈$3.97 billion) while EBITDAaL rose 0.8% to CHF 1.29 billion (≈$1.42 billion). Operating free cash flow jumped 22.6% to CHF 594 million (≈$653 million) thanks to cost cuts and synergies from the Vodafone Italia‑Fastweb merger. In Switzerland, 5G+ coverage hit 89%...
GSMA Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Connectivity Resilience Across Africa
The GSMA warns that rising fuel costs are jeopardizing mobile network reliability across Africa, where connectivity underpins emergency services, finance, health and education. It calls for immediate fuel prioritisation for telecom sites, medium‑term classification of telecoms as critical infrastructure, and...
Deutsche Telekom Made Cloud Jump From Ericsson to Mavenir in 5G
Deutsche Telekom is replacing Ericsson’s 5G packet core with Mavenir’s solution as part of its Horizontal TelCo Cloud (HTC) initiative. The HTC platform consolidates more than 50 core‑network applications onto a common bare‑metal and Kubernetes‑based container‑as‑a‑service (T‑CaaS) layer. By standardising...
Serbia Enters the 5G Era as Operators Accelerate Nationwide Upgrades
Serbia’s three nationwide operators—Telekom Srbija, Yettel and A1—activated commercial 5G networks in December 2025 after a €300 million ($327 million) spectrum auction. Telekom remains the market leader with a 42.7% share, while Yettel holds roughly 33% and A1 about 24.3%. Yettel topped...
On ARP and MAC Aging Timers
Arista’s default network timers—four‑hour ARP timeout and five‑minute MAC aging—trace back to the early days of Ethernet when memory and CPU were scarce. ARP’s long timeout minimized broadcast traffic, while MAC aging kept bridge tables clean to avoid misdirected frames....
Somewear Labs Introduces Horizon Radio to Advance Long-Range Drone Communications
Somewear Labs unveiled Horizon, a software‑defined radio that blends line‑of‑sight and satellite links to keep unmanned systems connected beyond visual range. The device automatically switches networks when link quality degrades, preserving real‑time command, waypoint updates, and flight‑mode changes. Built for...
D2M Signals Found to Be Non Interfering with Mobile Networks: Report
Direct‑to‑Mobile (D2M) technology promises to deliver video content to smartphones without requiring an internet data connection, shifting the payment model from data‑centric to a direct content fee. A trial by Tejas Networks using a MarkOne handset on the ATSC 3.0 standard...
Ceragon Books $86 Million in Indian Orders for IP‑50EXA Millimeter‑wave Platform
Ceragon Networks announced $86 million of orders from two Indian telecom operators for its IP‑50EXA millimeter‑wave platform, a boost to its 2026 revenue outlook. The deal highlights accelerating demand for high‑capacity, fiber‑alternative backhaul as India expands 5G and fixed wireless access...
Community Fibre — 25% Off Promotion for May 2026 (but 2027 Increase up From £2 to £3/Month)
Community Fibre, the London‑focused ISP owned by Altnet, rolled out a 25% discount promotion from May 7 to June 3, 2026, with free installation and mandatory 24‑month contracts. The deal reduces the 2.5 Gbps standard plan to £32.25 (~$41) per month and the...
AI Models Raise Telecom Cyber Threat Concerns in India
India’s telecom sector faces heightened cyber‑risk as Anthropic’s Claude Mythos AI model could autonomously locate and exploit network vulnerabilities. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia convened emergency talks with carriers and academia, demanding action plans to harden infrastructure. Operators lack direct access to Mythos,...
AIS Launches Southeast Asia’s First 5G‑Advanced Network, Boosting Speeds Up to 2×
Thailand’s largest mobile operator, AIS, unveiled Southeast Asia’s first 5G‑Advanced network on Wednesday, employing carrier aggregation and AI‑driven automation. The new service promises download speeds up to 1.5 times and upload speeds up to twice those of standard 5G, without...
Arista Networks Beats Q1 Forecast, Projects $11.5B Revenue on AI Surge
Arista Networks reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $2.71 billion, a 35.1% year‑over‑year increase that topped its $2.6 billion guidance. The company now expects full‑year revenue of $11.5 billion, driven by AI‑related sales, while warning that wafer and chip shortages could pressure margins.
Quantum Art Unveils Algorithm to Model 10¹⁸‑Point Electromagnetic Waves on 60 Qubits
Quantum Art, an Israeli trapped‑ion quantum computing firm, announced a new algorithm that can simulate electromagnetic wave propagation over volumes of tens of cubic kilometres at centimeter‑level resolution using roughly 60 qubits. The press release cites a 100‑fold performance gain...
Optimum Searching for Optimism
Optimum’s first‑quarter 2026 results show a widening broadband subscriber loss of 56,000 after adjustments, while residential broadband ARPU slipped 1.2% to $132.32. The company is deliberately sacrificing short‑term metrics, mirroring Comcast’s convergence play but with a tighter balance sheet. Fixed‑wireless...
Gogo Inc (GOGO) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Gogo reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $226.3 million, a modest 2% decline year‑over‑year, while equipment revenue surged 22% on strong 5G and Galileo shipments. Adjusted EBITDA fell 14% YoY to $53.3 million but rose 41% sequentially, and net income jumped to $13.1 million...
Fiber Frenzy
Shentel wrapped up a $32 million fiber build in Franklin County, Virginia, delivering gigabit speeds to more than 6,700 previously unserved homes. Comcast finished construction across four Indiana counties, linking over 2,100 addresses to its residential and business services, and announced...
Extreme Networks Deploys Wi‑Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) at University of Florida’s “Swamp”
Extreme Networks has rolled out the first Wi‑Fi 7 network in a U.S. college stadium, deploying the technology at the University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (“The Swamp”). The system is engineered for up to 90,000 concurrent users, leveraging Multi‑Link...
5G Advanced Fuels AI, US Leads 6G Future
Awesome time with @CTIA sharing how 5G Advanced is already enabling new AI-powered experiences and why continued US leadership in spectrum and AI-native infrastructure will shape the future of 6G and intelligent connectivity. https://t.co/nBex3bIVcA
CBRS Proponents Reiterate Opposition to Higher Power
Proponents of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) reiterated their opposition to any increase in power levels during a New America webinar on May 6, 2026. They argue that higher power would overwhelm the spectrum access systems, cause adjacent‑channel interference,...
Wireless Prices Fall, Speeds Rise Under Trump Plan
Prices are down. 📉 Speeds are up. ⚡️ President Trump’s plan to restore U.S. leadership in wireless is working. Great to join former FCC Chairman @AjitPai to discuss the difference a year makes. https://t.co/WLbo8boMap
Oklahoma Wins a Key Approval for Their BEAD Plan
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration gave final approval to Oklahoma’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) plan, unlocking $428 million in federal grants matched by $146 million from local providers. The funding will support last‑mile projects that connect 40,509 homes, businesses...
Koho Close to Securing Banking Licence, Hopes to Launch Telco Product, CEO Says
Koho Financial, the Toronto‑based fintech with over 2.5 million users, is on the brink of securing a Schedule 1 banking licence after raising CAD 190 million (≈US 140 million) in equity and debt. The company reports more than CAD 200 million in revenue and has turned down two...
FCC Approves New E‑Rate Bidding Portal, Schools Warn of Burdens
The Federal Communications Commission voted on April 30 to launch a competitive bidding portal for the E‑Rate program, which funds school and library broadband. Advocates for more than 80 education groups called the change unnecessary and overly burdensome, arguing it...
Starlink MVNO, but Why?
SpaceX plans to launch 10,000 Starlink satellites by May 2026 and has filed for a million more, positioning the constellation for a mobile‑virtual‑network‑operator (MVNO) model. The article argues that pure satellite‑to‑phone service cannot replace 5G small cells because signals cannot penetrate...
Verizon Details ‘Satellite-Everywhere’ for Disaster Response, Expands Satellite Fleet
Verizon announced a major expansion of its disaster‑response satellite fleet, now totaling 2,600 assets. The rollout includes a new multi‑orbit off‑road trailer that can switch between GEO and LEO satellites to deliver mobile 5G hotspots in hard‑to‑reach areas. The company...
Power Drives the AI Data Center Boom, but Connectivity Cannot Be Overlooked
AI’s super‑cycle is reshaping data‑center strategy as power demand skyrockets, with Omdia forecasting global IT‑load capacity to reach 314 GW by 2030 – a 2.9‑fold rise. To sustain gigawatt‑scale training clusters, operators must adopt “scale across,” a new DCI model that...
HPE Bolsters Autonomous Network Operations for Mist, Aruba Central
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has integrated autonomous networking capabilities into its Mist AI platform and Aruba Central management suite, enabling real‑time detection, diagnosis, and remediation of network issues without human input. The enhancements include dynamic frequency selection, client roaming insights,...
Priority Network Keeps First Responders Connected During Congestion
Congestion doesn’t pause for emergencies. Having served as a public safety director, I know emergency responders depend on reliable communications. T-Priority dedicates priority access to first responder traffic so dispatch stays in control. @T_Priority Partner https://t.co/HB8vF8jR14
Will Canada’s Telesat Really Complete Its Lightspeed Constellation by 2028?
Telesat says its Lightspeed low‑Earth‑orbit satellite network will be fully operational by the first quarter of 2028, after investing $171 million in Q1 and bringing total spend to roughly $2.7 billion. The company reported progress on design reviews, user terminals, software and...
Cisco: AI Growth Is Turning Wi-Fi Into Enterprise Infrastructure
Cisco's 2026 State of Wireless Report shows AI is turning Wi‑Fi into a core enterprise infrastructure. While Wi‑Fi 5 still powers 43% of networks, organizations deploying AI are far more likely (62%) to treat wireless as strategic. The survey finds 78%...