Today's Telecom Pulse
Australia's $5.25B spectrum fee sparks industry backlash
The Australian Communications and Media Authority announced a A$7.32 billion (≈US$5.25 billion) fee for renewing mobile spectrum licences held by the three major operators and NBN Co. Industry bodies AMTA and ATA denounced the charge as a "short‑sighted spectrum stealth tax" and warned it could force operators to curb investment.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Optimum raises $300M in preferred equity
FCC Overhauls Satellite Spectrum Rules, Boosting Starlink Capacity Up to Sevenfold
The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to replace a decades‑old satellite‑sharing rule, a change that could raise low‑Earth‑orbit broadband capacity by as much as sevenfold. At the same time, the agency dismissed SpaceX’s petition to use Globalstar‑licensed 1.6/2.4 GHz bands, underscoring a split between regulatory modernization and spectrum protection for incumbents.
US Bans Foreign‑made Routers over Security Concerns
What You Need to Know About the Foreign-Made Router Ban in the US https://t.co/6hCZLPWOgi https://t.co/a16QQa1vNK
Telcos Resurrect Outdated Anti‑net Neutrality Rhetoric
In recent weeks I’ve noticed some #telcos revert to diatribes against #netneutrality at conferences and in regulatory settings like the UK’s DSIT Mobile Market Review. It’s Zombie Dinosaur rhetoric https://t.co/0h5fX9KatJ
Atlas Tower Kenya Invests $52.5M in Solar Towers as Africa Shifts Telecom Power to Renewables
Atlas Tower Kenya announced a $52.5 million investment to build 300 solar‑powered cell towers, part of a continent‑wide push to replace diesel generators amid soaring fuel prices. The shift promises to slash operating costs, cut emissions and improve network resilience across...
Bharti Airtel Rs 49 vs Rs 99 Packs Reveal a Clear Strategy Around Short-Term Data Usage
Bharti Airtel introduced two short‑term unlimited data packs—Rs 49 (~$0.60) for 1 day and Rs 99 (~$1.20) for 2 days—both delivering up to 20 GB of high‑speed data per day before throttling. The plans differ only in validity, signalling a shift from volume‑based pricing to...
Los Angeles Convention Center Taps Boldyn Networks to Deploy Wi‑Fi 7
The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) has completed its first year of a Boldyn Networks‑designed Wi‑Fi 7 deployment, delivering next‑generation connectivity to more than 2.5 million annual visitors. The upgrade raised backbone capacity to 25 Gbps, doubled device connections and quadrupled bandwidth by adding...
Jio Rs 198 vs New Rs 199 Prepaid Plans: What a Re 1 Difference Really Gets You
Reliance Jio has introduced a new Rs 199 prepaid “Affordable Pack” alongside its existing Rs 198 “True 5G Unlimited” plan. Both cost roughly $2.40 and $2.38 respectively, but the Rs 198 option delivers unlimited 5G data for 14 days, while the Rs 199 option caps...
Nigeria’s Internet Market Rebounds as Broadband Subscriptions Hit 109.7 Million
Nigeria’s broadband penetration rose to 50.58% in November 2025, pushing total subscriptions to 109.7 million, up from 96.3 million a year earlier. Data traffic climbed to 1.24 million TB, indicating higher usage per subscriber despite the 2024 NIN‑SIM cleanup that cut active connections. The rebound...
‘There Is Real Danger’: Landline Phone Users Voice Fears over Digital Switchover
The UK will shut down the public switched telephone network (PSTN) by January 2027, moving all landlines to a digital voice service that runs over broadband. Vulnerable households in remote areas fear losing emergency contact during power cuts, as the new...
Verizon Bundles iPhone 17, Tablet, and Apple Watch Together
Apple fan? Don't skip over Verizon's latest iPhone 17 deal — including a phone, tablet, and Apple Watch all under one plan. https://t.co/8Kvwl1r5V9
T‑Mobile Adds Free Hulu and Netflix to Select 5G Plans, Boosting Value Proposition
T‑Mobile is rolling out complimentary Hulu and Netflix subscriptions for customers on its Experience Beyond, Go5G Next, Better Value phone, and All‑In Home Internet plans. The move, priced at $170‑$260 per month for three‑to‑five‑line bundles, is designed to differentiate the...
Amazon Leo Constellation Tops 300 Satellites After Atlas and Ariane Launches
Amazon announced that its Leo low‑Earth‑orbit broadband network now comprises 302 satellites after a pair of launches on Atlas 5 and Ariane 64. The milestone, less than 10% of the 3,232‑satellite plan, comes as the company races toward a July 30 FCC...
Vocus Rolls Out Pure Partner Programme After $3.5 Bn TPG Acquisition
Vocus announced the Pure partner programme, giving technology solution providers access to the combined Vocus‑TPG network after its AUD 5.25 bn (≈US$3.5 bn) acquisition. The initiative bundles 51,000 km of fibre, 15,000 km of subsea cable and new commission rules aimed at rewarding growth and...
T-Mobile’s SuperBroadband Shows What Airtel and Jio Could Build Next in India
T‑Mobile has launched SuperBroadband, a managed service that fuses its 5G network with Starlink low‑Earth‑orbit satellite to create an always‑on business internet connection. The dual‑network architecture provides automatic failover, a single contract and bill, and a financially backed uptime guarantee....
Mobile SMS Blasters Hijack Toronto Networks, Disrupt Millions
Hackers used vehicle-mounted SMS blasters to impersonate networks, disrupt millions of connections, and infiltrate thousands of devices across Toronto streets. https://t.co/z5FSt0Afig
FCC Grants 26 Rip and Replace Extensions
The Federal Communications Commission approved deadline extensions for 26 smaller telecom operators participating in its Rip and Replace program, which reimburses the removal of Huawei and ZTE gear. Extensions, ranging up to six months, were granted to address supply‑chain shortages,...
Supersonic Flights Demand Superior Wi‑Fi for Awake Travelers
Contrary to popular belief, great wifi is even more important on supersonic flights. People (try to) sleep through today's long subsonic redeyes. When these flights shift to faster daytime flights, passengers will want to be awake and connected.
FCC Proposes to Streamline Broadband Data Collection
The FCC is set to vote on May 20 on a draft order that would overhaul the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) system used to build the National Broadband Map. The proposal trims redundant reporting, aligns definitions with Form 477, and introduces...
Miami's Busiest Cell Site Revealed by New Analysis
"A new analysis by Mike Dano, lead industry analyst at Ookla, drills down to a level rarely seen in public reporting: identifying the single cell site in Miami carrying the heaviest traffic load." https://t.co/HzMVEj3xKQ Thanks @WirelessEst !
Carr: FCC Open to Ideas on Tentative Rural Subsidy Inquiry
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the agency will hold a vote in May on a tentative inquiry to modernize three rural broadband subsidies slated to sunset between 2026 and 2028. The inquiry targets roughly $1.6 billion of the High Cost program’s...
FCC Unanimously Votes to Bar Chinese Labs and Data Centers, Tightening U.S. Telecom Security
The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to prohibit all Chinese laboratories from testing electronic devices destined for the United States and, in a separate 3‑0 vote, moved to bar China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from operating data centers...
Optus CEO Defends Silence After 12‑Hour Outage During Senate Inquiry
Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin told a Senate inquiry why she delayed public comments after a 12‑hour network outage that affected 10 million Australians. She said she waited until cyber specialists ruled out malicious activity, while senators and the communications minister...
India Threatens VPN Safe‑Harbor Over Betting Site Access
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an advisory on April 25, 2026 ordering VPN providers to block access to illegal betting and prediction‑market sites such as Polymarket. Non‑compliance could strip providers of safe‑harbor protection under Section 79...
Qualcomm Q2 FY26 Earnings Analyzed with Industry Experts
I unpacked @Qualcomm’s Q2 FY26 earnings with @EdLudlow and @CarolineHydeTV on @technology. Check out our conversation. https://t.co/qHtAJfYbMV
Jodi Shelton Discusses Qualcomm's Future on A Bit Personal
A pleasure sitting down with Jodi Shelton, head of @GlobalSemi and now podcast host, for an episode of the @ABitPersonalPod podcast. Check out our discussion on all things @Qualcomm. YouTube: https://t.co/5b76LPpx1y Spotify: https://t.co/S3IHTql0bN Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/45lSl4Teda
Knowing Isn’t Enough: The Supreme Court Redefines ISP Liability for Piracy
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reversed a $1 billion jury verdict against Cox Communications, ruling that an ISP’s mere knowledge of subscriber piracy does not create liability. The majority opinion limits secondary liability to situations where the provider intentionally encourages infringement...
US Senator Pushes Action on Cable Sabotage
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jim Risch announced a hearing to spur new actions against undersea cable sabotage, citing at least eight suspected incidents since 2022, primarily in the Baltic Sea. He urged public attribution of attacks and a coordinated...
AWS-3 Auction Draws only 17 Bidders, Participation Low
Only 17 bidders in the AWS-3 auction. I know it's a scraps auction, but that is still fairly low.
Reimagining 2.7 GHz Unlocks Tangible, Boundless Commercial Gains
"The benefits of reimagining 2.7 GHz for commercial use are both tangible and immeasurable." https://t.co/NkPT9SNeGB via @MPORielly
4iG Group, Grid Telecom Eye Adriatic Subsea Cable
Hungarian 4iG Group’s International Digital Infrastructure unit and Greece’s Grid Telecom have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a high‑capacity terrestrial fiber link between Albania and Greece and to explore a high‑fiber‑count subsea cable across the Adriatic and Mediterranean....
Short-Term AM License Renewal Results From Continued ‘OPIF’ Rule Flub
The FCC announced that the owner of the "Awesome" Class B AM station in Greenwood, Mississippi will undergo a short‑term license renewal. Chairman Brendan Carr cited a continued misapplication of the OPIF (Other Public Interest Factors) rule as the cause. The...
Scientists Overcome Telecom Wavelength Barrier for Long-Distance Quantum Communication
Scientists break the telecom wavelength barrier that previously blocked long distance quantum communication over existing optical fiber infrastructure. https://t.co/DIgMJ5QtJB
FCC Releases Tentative Agenda for May Open Meeting
The FCC announced a tentative agenda for its May 20 open meeting, highlighting four major initiatives. A third Report and Order will modernize the Disaster Information Reporting System to cut redundant paperwork for broadcasters during emergencies. The commission will also...
Taiwan Dongyin Cable Break Triggers Backup Links
Taiwan activated a microwave backup system for Dongyin after a ship’s wreckage broke the undersea cable linking the island to Beigan. The backup restored mobile voice, data and internet services, though cable TV remains offline and some latency persists. Chunghwa...
Costa Rica's ICE Awards Ericsson $220m 5G Network Contract
Costa Rica’s state‑run Electricity Institute (ICE) has awarded Swedish telecom giant Ericsson a $220 million contract to build a nationwide 5G network. The deal includes a Stand‑Alone Open RAN architecture and a multi‑vendor approach, with Coasin‑Nokia providing base‑station equipment. ICE plans...
Fiber Broadband Association Report Positions Fiber as the ‘Fourth Pillar’ of AI
The Fiber Broadband Association unveiled a report titled “The Fourth Pillar of the AI Era,” arguing that fiber optics are now a core component of hyperscale AI systems rather than just a connectivity layer. The paper highlights that modern AI...
House Passes Farm Bill Extending USDA Rural Broadband Funding to 2031
The U.S. House approved a farm bill on April 30, 2026 that extends USDA rural broadband programs through 2031, authorizing up to $350 million per year for the ReConnect initiative. The measure passed 224‑200 after a brief delay caused by intra‑party...
Ubiquiti Introduces UniFi Dream Machine Beast with 25G Networking and NVR Support
Ubiquiti unveiled the UniFi Dream Machine Beast, a rack‑mount gateway that combines routing, security and storage for enterprise‑grade networks. Powered by an 8‑core Arm Neoverse N2 CPU, 16 GB RAM and a 128 GB SSD, the Beast delivers up to 25 Gbps of...
Verizon Rejects Starlink MVNO Partnership over Market Value
“The partner must provide us with meaningful access to an untapped market segment, expand our customer base, or improve our customer experience. We don't believe an MVNO with Starlink meets those criteria," $VZ https://t.co/FBDcP4SSn0 Awesome stuff from @malleven33 as usual
Bangladesh Private Subsea Cable Faces Delay
Bangladesh’s first private subsea cable, the Bangladesh Private Cable System (BPCS), has hit a regulatory impasse despite $53 million already invested. The consortium—Summit Communications, CdNet Communications, and Metacore Subcom—needs no‑objection clearances from the foreign affairs, home affairs, and national security ministries...
Bill Introduced to Expand Enrollment of Lifeline Program
Legislation introduced as H.R.8576 and S.4438 would require the FCC to launch a competitive grant program that helps states increase enrollment in the Lifeline broadband subsidy. The bill targets the persistent gap where only about 22% of eligible low‑income households...
Altnet Platforms Drive Partner Demand at Zen
Zen Internet announced a 52% year‑over‑year demand surge through The Fibre Hub, its wholesale platform that bundles Openreach services with multiple altnet partners. The hub now offers connectivity from CityFibre, Freedom Fibre, Trooli, ITS and MS3, giving smaller partners a...
VodafoneThree Upgrades Eliminate 16,500 Sq Km of Mobile Notspots
VodafoneThree has completed a series of network upgrades that eradicate 16,500 square kilometres of mobile dead zones across the United Kingdom. The enhancements are expected to bring reliable coverage to roughly 1,400 car parks, averaging 16 per county, just before...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Jorge Ciccorossi, ITU Radiocommunications Bureau
The upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 27 (WRC‑27) will set the spectrum allocation framework for next‑generation satellite constellations, a decision that could make or break European mega‑constellation plans. Jorge Ciccorossi, head of the ITU Radiocommunications Bureau’s Space Strategy and Sustainability Division, outlined...
Indus Towers Flags Delays, Cost Pressures as LPG Supply Tightens Amid West Asia Conflict
Indus Towers, the Bharti Airtel‑owned tower platform, warned that the West Asia conflict is tightening LPG supplies, a critical input for steel‑coating processes, which could slow tower construction and lift costs. Fuel and power expenses, about ₹11,996 crore (~$1.44 billion), represent 37%...
Yas Tanzania Launches Nationwide Campaign to Promote Network Quality and Coverage
Yas Tanzania has launched a nationwide campaign called “Zingatia Mtandao wa Viwango” (Experience a quality network) to boost network quality, reliability and speed. The initiative pivots from pure infrastructure construction to delivering tangible customer benefits. It includes accelerated 4G expansion...
T-Mobile Czechia Withdraws Old Plans, Migrates Customers to Next Tariffs
T‑Mobile Czech Republic announced it will phase out legacy rate plans, moving all existing subscribers onto its Next tariff suite launched in 2024. The carrier says the shift will simplify the product portfolio and provide clearer pricing. While most customers...
Cable One Seeing Inconsistent Competition From Starlink
Cable One lost 13,500 broadband customers in Q1, exceeding expectations, while facing uneven competition from SpaceX's Starlink, whose pricing and offers vary by market. Starlink is expanding beyond rural areas and has partnered with Comcast, GCI and T‑Mobile on business...
Vodafone Idea Adds a New Layer to Prepaid Plans with Unlimited Data Add-Ons
Vodafone Idea (Vi) has introduced two unlimited‑data add‑on packs for prepaid customers – a Rs 55 (~$0.66) option and a Rs 105 (~$1.26) option – each providing 28 days of extra data without service validity. The packs can only be activated on existing...
Fiber Ownership Trumps Brand, Price, Quality for Wireless Share
Across nearly 1.4 million survey responses, one variable predicts wireless market share better than brand, price or network quality: whether the carrier owns the fiber under the street. https://t.co/ybf3rm6h5z @Light_Reading https://t.co/ybf3rm6h5z