Today's Telecom Pulse
Ericsson predicts 180 million 6G subscriptions by 2031 as AI‑native networks take shape
Ericsson’s June 2026 Mobility Report forecasts the first commercial 6G services to launch around 2030, with specifications set to be finalized by late 2028. The AI‑native 6G architecture will integrate sensing, terrestrial‑satellite links and advanced AI, and the firm projects 180 million global 6G subscriptions by the end of 2031.
Also developing:
GNM Expands Into North America With New Miami and Ashburn Network Hubs
International backbone provider GNM announced its first North American Points of Presence, launching at Equinix MI1 in Miami and the Equinix DC campus in Ashburn, Virginia. The new PoPs create a protected East Coast ring that directly links the U.S. to GNM’s existing European backbone, integrating with the GNM-IX exchange that serves over 700 networks and handles 10.95 Tbps of peak traffic. This expansion marks GNM’s entry into the U.S. market and brings its global footprint to more than 90 PoPs across Europe, Asia and now North America. The deployment offers carriers, cloud providers and CDNs a single‑provider solution for transatlantic traffic exchange.
Telecom News: Ericsson, Verizon, Eutelsat, Rohde & Schwarz
Ericsson and Verizon have extended their private 5G solution to international markets, enabling multinational enterprises to deploy secure, high‑performance networks outside the United States. In the UK, Greater Manchester Police installed Rohde & Schwarz’s QPS201 millimeter‑wave scanner to replace invasive...
Swoop Subsidiary Moose Mobile Enters MVNO Agreement with TPG
Moose Mobile, the MVNO arm of Swoop, has signed a wholesale partnership with TPG Telecom, granting it access to TPG’s national tier‑one mobile network. The deal is projected to lift Moose Mobile’s gross‑margin percentage by roughly 50% between 2027 and...
International Calling as an ARPU Lever — the Service that Creates Stickiness
The global international calling market, valued at $1.72 billion in 2025, is projected to surpass $2 billion by 2030, with North America commanding roughly 37% of demand due to its large migrant population of 61 million. Mobile app calling has surged, accounting for...
IMEC Built a Chip Platform that Works up to 325GHz, and It Could Make 6G Hardware Cheap Enough to Actually...
IMEC has expanded its 300 mm RF silicon interposer platform, achieving record‑low signal loss up to 325 GHz—a frequency range critical for future 6G and sub‑terahertz links. The new capabilities include high‑density embedded capacitors, a scalable passive‑component modeling framework, and laser‑assisted bonding...
FanConnect and Extreme Networks Announce IPTV Integration for Large Venue Deployments
FanConnect and Extreme Networks have announced an integration that links FanConnect’s IPTV platform with Extreme’s Fabric Attach technology. The solution enables FanConnect media players such as the FC5 and FC6 to automatically identify themselves to Extreme switches running the Extreme...
Delhi Metro Mobile Network Performance 2026: Jio Tops 5G Download Speed, Airtel Excels in Call Quality
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s April 2026 drive test across Delhi‑NCR metro corridors evaluated 5G and 4G performance for Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and MTNL. Jio delivered the fastest average 5G download speed at 141.28 Mbps, while Airtel...
Ericsson Private 5G Now Available via Verizon Internationally
Verizon Business has partnered with Ericsson to launch the Ericsson Private 5G solution for enterprises outside the United States. The offering combines dual‑mode 4G/5G with global spectrum support, letting multinational customers extend their U.S. private networks to overseas campuses. It...
EL AL to Equip Entire Fleet With Starlink Wi-Fi Starting in 2027
Israeli carrier EL AL has signed a deal with SpaceX’s Starlink to equip its entire fleet of roughly 50 aircraft with high‑speed satellite Wi‑Fi, beginning in 2027. The rollout will cover Boeing 787, 777 and 737 jets and deliver speeds up...
Event Networks Are Now Core Enterprise Infrastructure
Most people think the network is background infrastructure at a live sports event. The PGA Championship just proved that thinking is already obsolete. As a T-Mobile for Business Partner, I was on site across 300+ acres where broadcast, operations, fan experience,...
SBA Communications Shares Slide 4% as Take‑private Deal Collapses
"SBA Communications (SBAC) dropped 4% on a report that a take-private process for the tower owner and operator is dead." https://t.co/ZFinYgLHSp
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Telecom Namibia, Angola Telecom Integrate Sarssy with Equiano
Telecom Namibia, Angola Telecom and Satélite e Cabo TV (Satcab) have signed a master service agreement to integrate the Southern African Regional Submarine System (Sarssy) with the Equiano cable system. Under the deal, Telecom Namibia will act as the landing...
TTP Satellite Modem Module Targets Smooth Network Transition to 5G NTN
TTP plc is engineering a software‑defined, multi‑band 5G non‑terrestrial network (NTN) modem module that will serve as the core of future Ku‑ and Ka‑Band satellite terminals. The open‑architecture design enables rapid field updates, avoids vendor lock‑in, and retains hardware acceleration...
Fiber Economics Fail in Low‑Density, Low‑ARPU Markets
The fiber build plan only works at high density and decent ARPU. We’re pushing into lower density just as broadband pricing compresses. That combination breaks a lot of IRR models. Craig Moffett from @moffettnathanson and I discuss.🧵 #Telecom #Fiber
Vocus Delivers Fourfold Capacity Boost on Adelaide-Perth Route
Vocus has upgraded its Adelaide‑Perth 2 (AP2) optical route, quadrupling capacity to 400 Gbps using Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme coherent optics. The enhancement leverages the existing 2,700‑km fibre, avoiding new cable construction and adding to the dual‑system platform that includes the 2025 AP1 upgrade....
More than 2,000 Global Organisations Deploy Private Mobile Networks
The Global Mobile Suppliers Association reports that more than 2,000 organisations worldwide have deployed private LTE or 5G mobile networks worth over €100,000 (≈ $108,000) each, marking the first time the milestone has been crossed. Customer references have risen at a...
India Delicenses 5.9 GHz Spectrum for V2V Communications to Boost Road Safety and Connected Mobility
India’s Department of Telecommunications has delicensed 30 MHz of the globally harmonized 5.9 GHz band for vehicle‑to‑vehicle (V2V) communications. The move aligns the country with 3GPP standards and removes a key barrier for automakers deploying on‑board units. Officials cite the nation’s staggering...
FCC Gives Assist to World Cup Nets as Virgin Media O2 Warns of Broadband Surge
The FCC announced a coordinated effort to protect U.S. World Cup communications, deploying a network of advanced spectrum sensors at every venue and issuing ten special temporary authorizations to support broadcasters, public‑safety and 5G services. Its focus is on preventing...
European Union Unveils €8m 6G Smart Networks Security Project
The European Union has allocated €8 million (about $8.7 million) to the Shield‑6G project, a research effort led by University College Dublin to create an AI‑driven cyber‑threat‑intelligence platform for future 6G networks. Funded under Horizon Europe, the consortium of 19 partners will...
Canada Broadband Market 2026: Best ISPs, Fiber Broadband Expansion, and Gigabit Internet Transform Customer Experience
Canada’s fixed broadband market, valued at roughly CAD 14.2 billion (≈ $10.5 billion USD), is entering a competitive phase in 2026 as fiber‑to‑the‑premises (FTTP) expansion and gigabit‑speed offerings accelerate. Bell, Rogers, Telus and Videotron together control about 82% of the 16.5 million‑household market, while independent ISPs...
New Zealand Broadband Market 2026: Best ISPs, Fiber Broadband, 5G Internet, and Gigabit Speeds Shape Competition
New Zealand’s broadband market, valued at roughly $4.21 billion in 2026, is shifting from infrastructure build‑out to service differentiation as ISPs race to monetize fiber and 5G networks. Spark remains the clear leader with about 35% of the fixed broadband market...
Globe Establishes Barangay-Based Centers for Stronger Broadband Push
Globe Telecom is launching barangay‑based service centers across the Visayas to accelerate its fiber broadband rollout and capture more residential customers. The physical outlets will handle product inquiries, walk‑in applications, and on‑site assistance, aiming to close the information gap for...
MTN Switching Off 3G in Parts of South Africa
South African operator MTN announced a phased reduction of 3G capacity in selected regions, citing a gradual migration to 4G and 5G as part of its spectrum‑refarming strategy. The move follows the 2022 Next Generation Radio Frequency Spectrum policy, which...
50. The New Wave of Satellite Communications
In this 50th episode of Wildest Future, Eric Larsson and Emil Björnsson explore the emerging wave of low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellite communications. They contrast traditional geostationary satellites—used for TV broadcasting and requiring only a few large dishes—with the new constellations of...
Espressif ESP32-E22 WiFi 6E Module Gets Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Certificate, Open-Source WiFi and Bluetooth Linux Drivers
Espressif's ESP32‑E22 tri‑band Wi‑Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 module has received the Wi‑Fi CERTIFIED badge from the Wi‑Fi Alliance, confirming compliance across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. The company also released open‑source Linux drivers that currently support station‑mode Wi‑Fi over PCIe and Bluetooth...
Google Exiting CBRS Spectrum Management
Google announced it will cease operating its Spectrum Access System (SAS) for the Citizens Broadband Radio Service, halting new customers on June 12, 2026 and fully shutting down the service by June 10, 2027. The move ends Google’s participation as...
Fiber Projects Capture Most of $18.2 Million California Broadband Investment
California’s Public Utilities Commission approved more than $18.2 million in broadband funding, directing nearly $14.7 million to fiber‑to‑the‑home projects in rural Northern California. Four Plumas‑Sierra Telecommunications initiatives will extend symmetrical gigabit‑capable fiber to 460 homes and businesses at roughly $31,900 per location....
Vodacom Lifts Lid on R12.6-billion Fibre Deal
Vodacom disclosed that its R12.64 billion ($666 million) purchase of a 30% stake in fibre group Maziv was driven by R6.28 billion ($331 million) of goodwill, reflecting expected synergies. The transaction was funded with R7.93 billion ($418 million) in cash, R4.57 billion ($240 million) of fibre assets and...
U.S. Media: Preparing For C-Band Reallocation
The FCC is preparing a 2027 auction that could free up as much as 180 MHz of Upper C‑band spectrum for terrestrial wireless services. Broadcasters fear losing satellite‑delivered capacity, prompting a rush to adopt IP‑native, cloud‑based distribution solutions showcased at the...
Brazil's 4G Expansion Connects over 2 Mln Rural Residents in 3 Years
Brazil's Ministry of Communications has connected over 2 million rural residents to 4G mobile internet in the past three years. The rollout covered 2,902 locations nationwide, delivering broadband, telephony and digital services to previously unserved areas. The Northeast contributed the most...
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Angola Cables, Uniti Partnership to Benefit African Enterprises
Angola Cables has signed a strategic agreement with Uniti Wholesale to link its West Africa, South Atlantic and MONET submarine systems directly to Uniti's 386,000‑km U.S. terrestrial fiber network. The partnership will deliver multi‑gigabyte international capacity, high‑bandwidth wave services, IP...
BEREC Position Papers on the Digital Networks Act Proposal
The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) has published 16 position papers on the European Commission’s Digital Networks Act (DNA) proposal, with three more slated for release by the end of June 2026. The papers examine key themes...
Verizon Sent Man a Refurbished Phone with MDM, Then Deleted His Data Remotely
Verizon mistakenly sent a customer a refurbished Samsung Galaxy Z Flip that still carried a Mobile Device Management (MDM) profile, allowing the carrier to remotely reset the device and erase all personal data. The customer, Tom Collery, received a $400 credit and...
VMO2 Says Outdated Planning Rules Causing Coverage Gaps
Virgin Media O2 warns that outdated UK planning rules force mobile operators to strip equipment from buildings within 18 months, while site replacement typically exceeds two years. The lag creates coverage gaps in high‑density areas like the City and West...
Lantronix and Cherry & White Launch 5G Platform for Critical Infrastructure
Lantronix and UK networking specialist Cherry & White have introduced a rapid‑deployment connectivity platform for utilities, emergency services, defense and remote industrial sites. The solution pairs Lantronix’s rugged NTC‑552 industrial 5G gateway with Cherry & White’s Rapid Wi‑Fi technology, delivering...
Telecom News: IEC Telecom, STC Group, Huawei, O2, Mavenir
IEC Telecom Group launched PT IEC Telecom Indonesia, a Jakarta‑based unit delivering multi‑orbit LEO, GEO and LTE satellite services to bridge connectivity gaps across the archipelago’s 17,000 islands. STC Group and Huawei unveiled a Green Telco Cloud that integrates compute,...
Jio Rs 195 vs Rs 200 Data Pack: Why You Should Spend More
Reliance Jio offers two prepaid data vouchers, Rs 195 (≈$2.34) with 15 GB and a JioHotstar subscription, and Rs 200 (≈$2.40) with 30 GB and access to fifteen OTT services. The higher‑priced pack adds only Rs 5 but doubles data and expands OTT content, helping...
FCC Taking a Look at State Pole Attachment Laws
The FCC has opened a public comment period to examine state pole‑attachment regulations as the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program rolls out. It is concerned that a patchwork of state rules and outdated certifications—many predating 1996—create inconsistencies...
Ireland-UK Fibreoptic Cable Project Planned for Pembrokeshire
Vodafone’s subsidiary Apollo Submarine Cable Systems has applied for planning permission to land the Beaufort subsea fibre‑optic cable on a Pembrokeshire beach in Newgale. The on‑shore works involve four underground telecom chambers, a 120‑metre duct and horizontal directional drilling under...
Eastlink Expands Internet to Parts of Atlantic Canada Using Wholesale Regime
Eastlink announced Thursday that it will extend internet service to several communities in New Brunswick and Newfoundland & Labrador by using the wholesale fibre regime. The rollout covers Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Miramichi, Tracadie, Bathurst and St. John’s, and will be bundled...
Analysis and Implications of Deutsche Telekom’s Potential Full Acquisition of T-Mobile
Deutsche Telekom, Europe’s largest carrier with 273 million customers, is reportedly weighing a move to acquire the remaining 46% of T‑Mobile US, taking its stake from roughly 54% to full ownership. The deal would fold the second‑largest U.S. wireless operator into...
Spain Opposes EU Huawei Ban Proposal
The Spanish government has publicly rejected the European Commission’s draft Cybersecurity Act that would obligate member states to ban Chinese telecom gear, including Huawei and ZTE, from mobile, fixed, satellite and submarine cable networks. Spain argues that decisions on high‑risk...
Inside the Race to Rewrite the USF Before Phone Bills Explode
Analyst Billy Jack Gregg projects the Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution factor will climb to a record 42.3% in Q3 2026, up from the 37% rate in Q2. The surge would raise the mandatory surcharge that telecom carriers pass on to...
Indonesian Cable Operators Upgrade Capacity with Ciena
Indonesian subsea cable operators Matrix Networks and NAP Info Lintas Nusa have activated Ciena’s GeoMesh Extreme solution on the 1,055‑km Batam‑Jakarta segment of the Matrix Cable System, delivering 1 terabit per second per wavelength. The upgrade, implemented with Ciena’s channel...
Spain Will Deploy NATO's First 5G Tactical Network in a Real-World Operational Setting
Spain’s Ministry of Defense will install NATO’s first operational tactical 5G network at the Lešť base in Slovakia, where Spain heads a multinational battlegroup. The deployment, part of NATO’s Pilot Project 5, will test low‑latency, high‑density connectivity in a live military...
3GPP Plenaries in Singapore
The 112th 3GPP plenary convened in Singapore from June 8‑12, 2026, hosted by Keysight Technologies with support from IMDA and SECB. Over 590 delegates from around the world gathered to advance work on 5G Advanced (Release 20) and to accelerate 6G studies, including...
Nokia Adds Agentic AI to Its Network Services Platform
Nokia announced the integration of agentic AI into its Network Services Platform (NSP), allowing operators to deploy AI agents that reason over live network data and act within defined policies. The approach embeds AI directly in the platform that already...
Square Peg Communications and VIAVI Solutions Join Forces to Advance 5G NTN Testing
Square Peg Communications and VIAVI Solutions announced a strategic partnership to deliver a combined test platform for the emerging 5G non‑terrestrial network (NTN) market. The joint solution pairs Square Peg’s RLS‑2100 satellite channel emulator with VIAVI’s TM500 network tester, enabling...
South Africa’s Cheapest Fibre Internet — From R99 to R500 per Month
South Africa’s fibre market now includes ultra‑low‑cost plans, with Vumatel’s Vuma Key delivering uncapped 10 Mbps service for roughly $5 a month in townships. Competing low‑income offerings such as Fibertime charge up to $16 per month for speeds up to 100 Mbps. For...
London Tube on Track for Network-Wide Mobile Coverage by End-2026
Transport for London (TfL) announced that the entire London Underground will achieve mobile coverage by the end of 2026. Around 60% of stations already have signal, and 4G/5G service is live on sections of the Circle, Metropolitan and Bakerloo lines,...