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
Auvik Bets Agentic AI Can Fill the Networking Skills Gap
Auvik introduced Aurora, an agentic AI platform that moves network management from passive alerting to automated remediation. The system prioritizes alerts, tracks device lifecycle, monitors CVEs, and generates remediation scripts via natural‑language queries. Aurora draws on Auvik’s 15‑year data set—over 300 million device backups and 2.2 billion CLI commands—to provide context‑aware recommendations. The launch targets the growing skills gap in networking, aiming to let less‑specialized staff manage complex multi‑vendor environments.
DoT Begins Pan India Testing of Real Time Disaster Alerts on Mobile Networks
India’s Department of Telecommunications has launched a pan‑India test of a Cell Broadcast‑based emergency alert system, supplementing the existing SMS‑driven SACHET platform. The trial will send multilingual test messages in English, Hindi and regional languages to mobile devices across all...
The Waiver Was the Policy. Thursday Is the Paperwork.
On April 30, 2026 the FCC will vote to retire the 1990s Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) framework and replace it with a performance‑based coordination regime for non‑geostationary satellite operators. The agency projects a $2 billion economic benefit and up to...
Visible Launches $50 5G Home Internet Intro
"Visible now offers 5G Home Internet for an introductory price of $50, which includes all necessary equipment and two months of service." $VZ https://t.co/VcgKYINKrS via Android Authority
Police Charge Two Men over 5G Telecom Tower Arson Attacks in Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has charged two men for a series of arson attacks on 5G telecom towers in the Belfast area. The 45‑year‑old faces eight counts of arson and conspiracy, while the 46‑year‑old is charged with arson...
Telefónica and Sateliot Join Forces to Bring Satellite 5G Connectivity to Strategic Sectors
Telefónica España and satellite IoT operator Sateliot have signed a collaboration to bring 5G New Radio to low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, creating a hybrid network that merges terrestrial 5G with satellite coverage. The partnership will develop NR‑NTN solutions, pilot critical‑service use cases and...
Comcast Launches Two Xfinity Mobile Plans, Drops Multi‑line Discounts
Comcast rolled out two Xfinity Mobile plans priced at $30 and $45 per line, eliminating the multi‑line discounts that previously lowered per‑line costs. The move comes as the company added 435,000 wireless customers in Q1 2026 and saw wireless revenue...
Louisiana Makes Connectivity Gains in Rural Acadia Parish
Louisiana’s Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) 1.0 program has delivered high‑speed internet to 307 homes and 80 businesses in rural Acadia Parish. A parallel effort with LFT Fiber added reliable service to another 40 locations, accelerating the parish’s broadband...
Lynk Global Seeks FCC Approval for 2026 Spectrum Tests
"Lynk Global filed this application with the FCC seeking permission to use Anterix’s spectrum to conduct tests in seven U.S. markets for 12 months starting May 31, 2026." https://t.co/3XUOg1thDl via @malleven33
Vishay Specialty Thin Film Introduces Thin Film Metallized Submount Platform
Vishay Intertechnology unveiled a thin‑film metallized submount platform aimed at next‑generation optical transceivers, RF modules and advanced packaging that demand high thermal conductivity, precise alignment and low‑loss signal paths. The solution leverages aluminum‑nitride (AlN) ceramic substrates and pre‑deposited AuSn or...
T‑
.@TMobile, @ATT agree: 'Satellite D2D is complementary service, we'll use multiple providers; LEO networks are not future MVNOs for us.' Market size still very much TBD. @Starlink @AST_SpaceMobile @Amazonleo.https://t.co/f9Hvq7vfxX https://t.co/L6ByNshq1Z
Amazon’s Satellite Internet Unit Kuiper Seeks Kenya Licence After Nigeria Approval
Amazon’s satellite internet arm, rebranded as Amazon LEO, has filed for a Network Facilities Provider Tier‑2 licence in Kenya, following a seven‑year licence win in Nigeria. The Kenyan licence costs about $115,000 upfront, runs for 15 years and requires at...
Q&A: Kepler’s CEO on Canada’s Space Ambitions and the Best Toronto Tech Week Eats
Kepler Communications CEO Mina Mitry announced the company’s breakthrough launch of the world’s first optical‑relay low‑Earth‑orbit satellite network, delivering real‑time data links that cut latency from hours to minutes. He highlighted Canada’s need for sovereign launch capability to monitor its...
Mobile Communication Restrictions in Moscow
Russia will impose "more severe" mobile communication restrictions in Moscow on May 5, 7 and 9 ahead of the Victory Day parade, limiting SMS, mobile internet and government‑regulated sites. The capital has already endured a three‑week internet blackout that crippled navigation apps and...
Veon, Kyivstar Top $1B Ukraine Investment Target
Veon and its Ukrainian unit Kyivstar have invested $1.3 billion in connectivity, digital services and infrastructure in Ukraine through April 2026, exceeding the original $1 billion target. The programme, originally slated at $600 million over three years, was accelerated in 2024 to address...
China Threatens the EU with Broad Retaliation if Huawei and ZTE Are Banned From European Networks
China’s Ministry of Commerce submitted a 30‑page warning to the European Commission, saying the EU’s draft Cybersecurity Act – which would make the removal of high‑risk vendors like Huawei and ZTE mandatory – could trigger reciprocal trade restrictions on European...
National Parks Lead Usage, Overall Demand Lower Than Expected
"Most of the usage we're seeing is in national parks … we're seeing a lot less usage than we were originally thinking, https://t.co/CKW5kmzQz2
Light‑Touch FCC Policy Drives Communications Price Deflation
Communications sector price deflation is a real thing. This is a direct result of light-touch regulation backed by @BrendanCarrFCC and his Build America agenda at the @POTUS Trump @FCC.
Starlink D2D Use Is Less than Expected, Says T-Mobile
T‑Mobile disclosed that its T‑Satellite direct‑to‑device service, built on Starlink Mobile’s 650‑satellite LEO constellation, is seeing far lower usage than anticipated, with most activity limited to national parks. The carrier ruled out an MVNO partnership with Starlink, saying it would...
Postpaid Unlimited Plans Drop 10% YoY, 35% in Five Years
CTIA: "Postpaid unlimited plans are down 10 percent over the last year and nearly 35 percent over the last five years, adjusted for inflation." https://t.co/4DTWAm2juI
Quantum Dots Now Emit Secure Photons at 1260 Nm Wavelength
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute have engineered quantum dots that emit single, coherent photons at the 1300 nm telecom wavelength, directly compatible with existing fiber‑optic networks. The nanostructures, 5.2 nm tall and 20 nm wide and composed of roughly 30,000 atoms, overcome...
T‑Mobile Q1 2026 Earnings Show 15% Postpaid Revenue Rise and Record Broadband Adds
T‑Mobile posted a 15% year‑over‑year increase in postpaid service revenue and added 217,000 postpaid accounts and over 500,000 broadband customers in Q1 2026. The carrier lifted full‑year guidance on net additions and EBITDA while returning $6 billion to shareholders, highlighting its...
Testing Visible Home Internet Against Three Other 5G Services
Excited to try out Visible Home Internet and see how it compares to the other three 5G home internet services I'm currently testing. https://t.co/m77LoUBEOR
Visible's $30 5G Home Internet Redefines Value
Visible has launched a new $30/month internet plan. This one is a little different from the other 5G home internet services I've tested. I break it all down here: https://t.co/xnLrdYxIeL
Starlink Is a Long-Term Risk to Telcos
SpaceX is pouring roughly $20 billion into its Starlink low‑Earth‑orbit constellation, positioning it as more than a backup for the world’s remaining unconnected pockets. Telecom operators worldwide are racing to embed Starlink into their service portfolios, hoping to offer truly ubiquitous...
Cyprus Delays DVB-T2 Switchover to July 1
Cyprus has postponed its digital terrestrial television upgrade to the DVB‑T2 standard, setting a new switchover date of July 1, two months later than originally planned. The Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy cited minor technical glitches and a...
Why the Grain Management Spectrum Swap with T-Mobile Deserves a Closer Look
The FCC is reviewing Grain Management’s swap of its 800 MHz low‑band licenses for T‑Mobile’s 600 MHz spectrum. Grain, a private‑equity‑backed buyer, has no wireless build‑out history and proposes using the 800 MHz band for satellite‑to‑device service, a use that does not meet...
EchoStar versus Tower Owners
EchoStar is walking away from roughly $9 billion of long‑term cell‑tower leases after abandoning its facility‑based cellular rollout, prompting a coalition of tower owners to demand FCC intervention. The dispute stems from EchoStar’s sale of spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX for...
T‑Mobile Teams with Starlink to Launch SuperBroadband Enterprise Service
On April 28, T‑Mobile announced a partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to roll out SuperBroadband, a hybrid enterprise internet service that blends the carrier’s 5G network with low‑earth‑orbit satellite coverage across the United States, aiming to keep business customers online through...
What's New About Cisco's Sovereign Infrastructure Push?
Cisco has launched a suite of networking solutions specifically engineered for sovereign critical infrastructure across the entire EMEA region. The offering, branded as "sovereign‑ready," bundles hardware, software and security services that comply with local data‑sovereignty regulations. Cisco positions the portfolio...
IBM CEO Arvind Krishna on His First Job and the Lessons He Learned From It
Arvind Krishna recounts his early IBM Research role, where graduate work on cyclic codes unexpectedly became the technical basis for Wi‑Fi. The breakthrough illustrated that curiosity can yield future‑critical patents, but the technology alone stalled until IBM’s product team recognized...
VMO2, Daisy Take Aim at B2B Complexity with O2 Business
O2 Daisy will rebrand as O2 Business, uniting VMO2’s network infrastructure with Daisy Group’s IT and communications expertise. The move aims to eliminate fragmentation and simplify technology choices for UK enterprises, a need highlighted by research showing 66% of business...
Reliance Jio’s Cricket Packs Are Cheaper Per Day, But There Is a Catch
Reliance Jio has rolled out a suite of cricket‑focused data packs that cost as little as Rs 49 (≈$0.60) for 25 GB usable for a single day, with per‑day rates dropping to roughly Rs 2.6 (≈$0.03). Each pack bundles JioHotstar access, turning a...
Ofcom Launches Investigation Into BT
Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into BT’s EE and Plusnet units to determine whether they fully complied with statutory information requests made in December 2023. The regulator is scrutinising data that fed into its 2025 Comparing Customer Service Report,...
Synamedia and Telxius Enable Content Providers to Switch Between CDNs in Real Time
Synamedia and Telxius have integrated Telxius’s carrier‑grade CDN into the Quortex Switch multi‑CDN management platform. The partnership allows content providers to switch viewers between CDNs in real time based on quality of experience and cost, expanding coverage and improving reliability....
Satellite Connected Cattle Collars Expand Remote Ranching
Halter, a Colorado ag‑tech firm, has launched satellite‑connected cattle collars that link directly to Starlink, removing the need for cellular or on‑site radio infrastructure. The solar‑powered, GPS‑enabled devices enable virtual fencing across remote terrain, expanding the addressable U.S. beef cattle...
Jio IPO May Slip to H2 FY27 on Geopolitical Risks: CreditSights
Reliance Industries’ plan to list its digital arm Jio Platforms faces a timing setback, with CreditSights warning that the Middle East conflict could push the IPO into the second half of fiscal 2027. Earlier speculation of a May debut and...
Spam Menace: Telcos, Internet Cos Clash over Views to Regulate OTTs
India’s major telecom operators have asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to bring third‑party IP apps and over‑the‑top (OTT) communication platforms under the same anti‑spam rules that govern SMS and voice. They argue that stricter SMS regulations are...
T-Mobile Expands Fiber Broadband with $2.7 Bn Joint Ventures to Reach over 1 Mn New Homes
T‑Mobile announced two 50:50 fiber joint ventures worth roughly $2.7 billion, partnering with Oak Hill Capital and Wren House to acquire GoNetspeed, Greenlight Networks, and i3 Broadband. The Oak Hill deal will add a platform covering over 1.3 million homes in the...
Cornerstone Plans 65-Foot 5G Mast In York
Cornerstone Telecoms has submitted a planning application to erect a 65‑foot 5G mast on Hospital Fields Road in York, replacing a previously rejected 57‑foot proposal. The monopole will carry nine antennas, three equipment cabinets, and six remote radio units to...
Telcos Ignore Court Order as Airtime Credit Stays Suspended
Nigeria’s three largest telcos have defied a Federal High Court order, keeping digital airtime credit services offline amid a regulatory tug‑of‑war between the FCCPC and the NCC. The suspension affects a market that generates roughly $500 million a year, with MT Nigeria’s...
Scaling AI Data Centers Through Optical Networking>
AI data centers are hitting a wiring bottleneck as copper interconnects cannot sustain the massive, high‑speed traffic between thousands of AI chips. Optical networking, which transmits data as light through fiber, offers far lower latency, power consumption, and distance limitations....
On Generating EVPN MAC/IP Routes
Arista EOS now advertises both MAC‑only and MAC+IP routes in EVPN, effectively doubling the size of the EVPN BGP table. The behavior was clarified by network engineer Naveen Kumar Devaraj, who linked it to the distinct triggers of MAC table...
Subsea Attack Could Rival COVID Damage, Babcock Warns
Babcock warned that a coordinated attack on the United Kingdom’s subsea infrastructure could cause economic disruption on a scale comparable to the COVID‑19 pandemic, potentially costing hundreds of billions of pounds (roughly $300 billion). It noted that about 95% of UK...
AST Delays Prolong Denial, Echoing Gilder’s Misguided Optimism
AST's delays will allow the #cluelesscult to continue living in denial for at least another year. But this is reminiscent of George Gilder in 2000 claiming that Iridium's failure was positive for Globalstar because it removed the competition and CDMA...
Nokia Reports AI Boost Following Nvidia Partnership: The Former Mobile Phone Giant Is Profiting Again From the Networks of the...
Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia posted Q1 2026 revenue of €4.5 billion (≈$4.9 billion) and comparable operating profit of €281 million, driven by a 49 percent surge in its AI & Cloud segment, which now represents 8 percent of sales and generated €1 billion (≈$1.1 billion) of new orders. The...
Pacific Routing Security Sets a Deadline
At the APNIC Sub‑Regional Forum during PITA 30 in Rarotonga, routing‑security chair Terry Sweetser asked Pacific telco leaders whether they filter forged BGP announcements. The discussion revealed widespread uncertainty, with only 49 of 116 regional ASNs showing any protection and many...
Eutelsat “US Demand Is Resiliant”
Eutelsat CEO Jean‑François Fallacher pushed back against SpaceX’s call for the FCC to limit non‑U.S. satellite capacity, asserting that demand from U.S. customers remains resilient. SpaceX’s April 16 letter warned that European operators like SES benefit from U.S. market access and...
Data: Starlink’s Airline Connection Speeds Rise
SpaceX’s Starlink now commands 47.8% of commercial inflight connectivity traffic in Q4 2025, according to Ookla measurements, outpacing Viasat (25.1%) and Panasonic Avionics (12.8%). The LEO‑based service delivers over‑90% speed consistency for airlines such as airBaltic, WestJet and Hawaiian, while its...
Report: UK the World’s Third-Largest D2D Market in March
Virgin Media O2’s February launch of O2 Satellite propelled the United Kingdom into the global spotlight, making it the world’s third‑largest direct‑to‑device (D2D) market by unique‑user count as of March 2026. The UK trails only the United States and Australia in...