Know What's Happening in Telecom
Know What's Happening in Telecom
California launches $3.2B Middle‑Mile Broadband Network, Connecting Tribal and Rural Communities
The state’s Department of Technology has activated the $3.2 billion Middle‑Mile Broadband Initiative, the nation’s largest open‑access middle‑mile network. The first connection was made to the Bishop Paiute Tribe in Inyo County, marking the inaugural tribal customer. Governor Gavin Newsom aims to build 8,000 miles of fiber, with over 5,300 miles slated for completion by the end of 2026.
Pakistan’s telecom regulator, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), concluded a major 5G spectrum auction on March 10, offering 595 MHz and selling 480 MHz for $507 million. Jazz secured the largest share with 190 MHz, while Zong obtained 110 MHz and Ufone 180 MHz. The auction generated one of the largest single‑hand cash inflows for the federal budget and underscored the government’s push for digital infrastructure. The process also demonstrated transparent bidding mechanisms that could serve as a model for future spectrum sales.
Rogers Communications will automatically upgrade the majority of its low‑cost Fido mobile customers from 4G LTE to 5G, with no price increase or plan change. The nationwide rollout promises speeds up to 1 Gbps for users with compatible devices. The upgrade...
Fun fact: The first transatlantic internet cable is being pulled off the ocean floor right now. Almost no one knows it's happening. TAT-8 went live in 1988. First fiber-optic cable to connect Europe and the US. Isaac Asimov called it a "maiden voyage...
Telefónica Germany announced the rollout of its 5G network to three additional locations—Cunnewitz, Kroeppelshagen‑Fahrendorf, and Neuenhasslau. The upgrades bring high‑speed mobile connectivity to these towns, aligning with the operator’s broader plan to launch roughly 8,000 5G projects by 2025. This...
Lightpath has secured a General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, enabling federal agencies to procure its AI‑grade fiber infrastructure through the GSA eBuy platform. The agreement also extends to state, local, and education (SLED) agencies via cooperative purchasing,...
Home Unity announced the launch of retail broadband services over the Freedom Fibre network, adding the provider to its portfolio of alternative networks. Freedom Fibre’s current footprint spans the North West and West Midlands, with plans to extend into Bristol,...
A new botnet named KadNap has infected roughly 14,000 ASUS routers and other edge devices since August 2025, forming a peer‑to‑peer network that communicates via a custom Kademlia Distributed Hash Table protocol. The decentralized architecture makes its command‑and‑control infrastructure harder...
Kenyan parliamentary Public Debt and Privatisation Committees have endorsed the government's plan to sell 15% of its Safaricom stake for KES204 billion ($1.5 billion). Proceeds will be funneled into a National Infrastructure Fund to finance roads, energy and other projects, easing fiscal...
Indosat is rolling out AI‑RAN across Indonesia, moving from lab trials to live network deployment. The operator demonstrated Southeast Asia's first AI‑driven 5G call, showcasing ultra‑low latency by remotely controlling a robot in Surabaya. To support the shift, Indosat opened...
Nokia undertook a brownfield transformation of its global data‑center network, replacing legacy gear with a unified, automated fabric while keeping services live. The migration was staged, using parallel deployment, digital‑twin validation and intent‑based configuration to avoid downtime. At the first...
SSC Space announced that its new Optical Ground Station (OGS) in Santiago, Chile, is now operational and integrated into the NODES network. The Safran‑built facility delivers up to 10 Gbit/s data rates, a tenfold increase over typical RF links, and operates...
Semtech introduced a device‑to‑cloud cellular video platform built around its AirLink AR60 5G router and an AI‑powered compression engine from Digital Barrier. The solution couples multi‑IMSI carrier management via Semtech Smart Connectivity with edge‑level video compression, enabling live, high‑resolution surveillance...
Cisco has embedded Splunk IT Service Intelligence directly into its Nexus Dashboard, the core management platform for Nexus 9000 and 8000 series data‑center switches. The native integration streams high‑fidelity telemetry, enabling faster fault detection, automated root‑cause analysis and remediation without...
MTS has launched a free, nationwide voice transcription service for hearing‑impaired customers, converting incoming calls to real‑time text and turning typed replies into spoken audio. The solution uses MTS VoiceTech’s AI‑driven speech recognition and synthesis, eliminating the need for third‑party...
Kyrgyz telecom operator Mega unveiled the Family Plus plan, priced at KGS 790 per month for three SIM cards with unlimited mobile data and on‑net voice minutes. The package also provides 20 off‑network minutes and the option to add extra SIMs for...
Semtech has begun sampling its FX86E modem, a 5G RedCap solution that also supports LTE Cat‑4. The module offers plug‑and‑play Ethernet connectivity for both public and private 5G networks, aiming to simplify IoT device integration. Measuring just 82 × 60 × 32 mm, it targets...
SpaceX has filed an FCC application for a mega‑constellation of up to one million low‑Earth‑orbit satellites that would host space‑based AI data centers. The system would operate in the 18.8‑19.3 GHz (space‑to‑Earth) and 28.6‑29.1 GHz (Earth‑to‑space) bands, relying on narrow‑beam optical links....
Telefónica, the owner of Virgin Media, says it will consider further broadband takeovers to bolster Virgin Media O2 against Openreach. The joint venture recently agreed a £2 bn acquisition of Netomnia, which will be folded into the Nexfibre platform alongside InfraVia...
Vodacom Business positions connectivity as core infrastructure for African mining, deploying Mobile Private Networks (MPNs) at sites like Sasol’s synthetic fuel facility. Integrated IoT solutions, including edge gateways and drone mapping, shift operations from reactive to predictive maintenance, cutting unplanned...
Würth Elektronik has introduced two new RF modules, Proteus‑IV and Ophelia‑IV, built around Nordic’s nRF54L15 SoC. Proteus‑IV ships as a ready‑to‑use Bluetooth LE 6.0 module with preinstalled firmware, while Ophelia‑IV is a developer‑focused platform that runs Zephyr RTOS and allows custom...
■ @ATT CEO Desroches Sees Strong Growth Ahead for FWA ■ @RepGuthrie, @FrankPallone Write @POTUS Trump Concerned about China’s Telecom Influence ■ @NCTAitv Leader Wants to Avoid 50-State AI Regulatory Regime ■ IBT Official Disputes ACLP’s BEAD Location Count ■ City of Norway,...
Amazon Leo has urged the FCC to deny SpaceX's plan to build orbital data centers comprising up to 1 million satellites, arguing that it's 'wholly unrealistic' and would give SpaceX 'near-total control' of launch insertion orbits. @Light_Reading https://t.co/FjxmufLF9g
Ericsson and Future Technologies Venture have deepened their 13‑year collaboration to accelerate enterprise wireless and private 5G rollouts for AI‑driven industrial operations across North America. The partnership will combine Ericsson’s cellular technology with Future Technologies’ systems‑integration services, targeting sectors such...
This doesn't seem like good news for Equatys either, even though NTIA action is limited to the US, because the handset design implications won't just be limited to the US...
Global digital services rely on infrastructure that remains invisible to most organizations. Space links and subsea cables sustain data flows across continents, and their resilience conditions financial transactions, cloud operations, and supply coordination Microblog @antgrasso https://t.co/FxMtibGIrb
Huawei eKit unveiled a MiniFTTO portfolio at MWC Barcelona 2026, featuring StreamerKit, GS‑PON optical gateway, and a 3‑in‑1 optical AP. The devices deliver symmetric 2.5 Gbit/s PON speeds, AI‑enhanced streaming acceleration, and multi‑service convergence over a single fiber. Cost‑saving design cuts...
"Ericsson scored a massive coup by getting Apple to show up publicly for the first time in the history of MWC. They had a joint demo in their 6G corner demonstrating MRSS ... essentially DSS 2.0" https://t.co/BXsNtjN7Qe via @chetansharma from #MWC26
. @ATT is starting to stand up the org that underpins its recent acquisition of Lumen's fiber assets. The initial aim is to boost marketing spend and accelerate fiber customer acquisitions. https://t.co/c4xUSnajQg
Voice AI is moving from chatbots into telephony, promising to automate appointment scheduling, call triage and delivery coordination. Developers, however, must bridge sophisticated AI pipelines with legacy PSTN, SIP and WebRTC networks, a task complicated by evolving large language models...
D.C. Memo: @DIRECTV Claims Nexstar Needs to Provide @FCC with Economic Data Supporting @TEGNA Deal; The satellite TV operator says Nexstar withheld from FCC certain economic studies it provided the Justice Department. Nexstar had no comment |$NXST $TGNA https://t.co/Z0PKwvWRqH
Bharti Airtel announced the rollout of its mobile network to the remote Marwah region of Jammu and Kashmir, making it the first telecom operator to provide reliable connectivity in the area. The deployment covers a 150‑kilometre stretch that was previously...
Netlab 26.03 has been released, bringing a suite of new multi‑vendor features to the network‑lab platform. Cisco IOS XR now supports SR‑MPLS, MPLS/VPN, EVPN over MPLS, VRRP, advanced BGP session parameters and extensive routing policies. Juniper cRPD, EVPN/VXLAN on vPTX and...
Kenya’s Communications Authority has opened a review of Airtel’s partnership with SpaceX to launch Starlink Direct‑to‑Cell, assessing potential interference with 3G, 4G and 5G networks. The regulator’s decision could set precedent for satellite‑to‑phone services across Africa, where the technology promises...
Jackson County REMC has partnered with Adtran to overhaul its rural broadband network, deploying fiber access, AI‑driven Mosaic One SaaS, and Intellifi® managed Wi‑Fi. The integrated solution aims to close the digital divide across a ten‑county area, serving more than...
Researchers propose a hybrid beamforming scheme that lets a single high‑frequency transmission carry both data and environmental sensing information, addressing the dual‑purpose demand of emerging 6G networks. Traditional beamformers become computationally prohibitive when scaling to massive antenna arrays, making real‑time...
GAIL and RailTel signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 5, 2026 to explore telecom and digital‑infrastructure opportunities. The partnership will merge GAIL’s extensive natural‑gas pipeline corridors with RailTel’s high‑capacity fibre network to expand reliable broadband across India. Both companies plan to...
Pakistan's telecom regulator PTA will auction 11 5G spectrum bands across Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta, inviting major operators Ufone, Zong and Jazz. The auction aims to boost internet speeds without raising consumer costs, addressing network strain despite 130 million...
MTN Group has launched a commercial 5G network in Lagos, positioning it among the first operators to offer next‑generation mobile broadband in Nigeria. The service promises multi‑gigabit speeds, low latency, and new enterprise use cases such as smart‑city applications. In...
Brightspeed introduced a Wi‑Fi 7 powered whole‑home mesh system for new fiber customers, promising seamless coverage even in basements and backyards. Telit Cinterion expanded its GNSS portfolio with dual‑band SE873K5‑D and SE869eK5‑DRK modules, delivering L1/L5 accuracy and RTK capabilities for high‑precision...
Comcast has broken ground on a $5.9 million fiber build‑out extending its high‑speed network into Greater Hartford and Middletown, Connecticut. The project, slated for completion later this year, targets the region’s business community with Ethernet and dedicated internet services up to...
KVH Industries reported a 27% jump in Q4 service revenue to $28.3 million, driven by rapid subscriber growth and a massive expansion of its Starlink LEO data pool. The company added roughly 2,000 vessels, pushing the total contract fleet above 9,000,...
AT&T announced a commitment to spend more than $250 billion to boost U.S. connectivity, targeting fiber expansion, 5G home internet, a satellite partnership with AST SpaceMobile, and FirstNet enhancements. CEO John Stankey praised the current federal telecom policy as the strongest...
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that Washington, D.C. will receive no federal broadband grant after a $4 million request was rejected. The district’s original plan called for spending roughly $70,000 per site to connect 55 locations, many of...
Uniti Group reported a 24% year‑over‑year increase in Kinetic consumer‑fiber revenue and added 28,000 net subscribers, pushing total fiber customers to 535,000. The company expanded fiber passings to 1.9 million homes, adding 80,000 in the quarter, and set a 2026 revenue...
Congressional Democrats are pressing the NTIA for guidance on how the $21 billion in BEAD non‑deployment funds will be allocated, especially regarding states that enact AI regulations. The NTIA delayed its expected guidance to gather more feedback at its State Broadband...
Vitalis Smart Communities completed a competitive procurement that will bring full‑fiber internet and bundled TV to the 248‑home Sandalwood HOA in Palm Beach Gardens. The new network replaces the legacy copper coax with 2 Gbps multi‑gig speeds delivered via Wi‑Fi 7, and...
Converge ICT Solutions posted a 9.6% rise in net profit to P11.9 billion for 2025, driven by strong residential fiber growth and a 20.3% surge in enterprise revenue. Consolidated revenue climbed 10.2% to P44.8 billion, while the subscriber base expanded to 2.98 million...
The federal government has moved to dismiss the National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s lawsuit challenging the termination of the Digital Equity Act’s funding. The motion argues the program’s race‑based grant criteria violate the Fifth Amendment’s equal‑protection clause and that the district...
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit remanded Ligado Communications' claim that the Department of Defense’s use of spectrum interferes with its FCC‑granted license, citing insufficient factual detail to decide whether such licenses constitute property rights. The panel...
Scale Computing is an Austin-based edge computing and managed network solutions provider backed by Oaktree Capital Management, and has now acquired Adaptiv Networks, a cloud-native SD-WAN and SASE vendor headquartered in Canada. The deal brings together two channel-driven businesses with...
