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
Dutch Govt Looks at Relaxing Rules for Mobile Antenna Sites
The Dutch government is reviewing its regulations to make it easier for mobile operators to install antennas in new locations, especially in densely populated cities. State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts presented the proposal to parliament, citing a Monet industry report that highlighted growing difficulty in securing sites. The initiative seeks to streamline permitting and reduce bureaucratic delays. If adopted, the changes could accelerate the rollout of next‑generation mobile networks across the Netherlands.
Freshwave Makes UK Flight Connection
Freshwave has activated a 4G neutral‑host network across an 85,000‑square‑foot extension at Leeds Bradford Airport, providing consumer Wi‑Fi and push‑to‑talk staff connectivity. The deployment will soon expand by another 44,000 sq ft to include security zones, completing coverage of the new three‑storey terminal....
BH Telecom Boosts Data on Tourist Offers
BH Telecom announced an upgrade to its Tourist and Unlimited start packages, adding a new Tourist 1 offering. The plan costs 20 BAM (about $11) and provides 40 GB of mobile data usable in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans. It also...
Trai Extends Deadline for Comments on Mobile Plan without Data at Lower Price to May 5
India’s telecom regulator TRAI has extended the comment deadline for its draft amendment to May 5, a week beyond the original April 28 cut‑off. The proposal would obligate operators to offer voice‑and‑SMS‑only mobile plans at lower prices than current bundled tariffs that...
FS Launches D5110 16T Solutions for Automated DCI Deployment
FS unveiled two D5110‑based Data Center Interconnect (DCI) solutions that automate deployment and configuration for point‑to‑point optical links up to 120 km. The 100G solution uses a 4/8‑channel 1U platform delivering up to 800 G line capacity, while the 1G‑400G DWDM option...
Altair Semiconductor Spins Off From Sony to Focus on 5G IoT and eRedCap Strategy
Altair Semiconductor has completed a spin‑off from Sony Semiconductor Solutions, backed by $50 million in new funding led by Pitango Group. The independent company will double‑down on low‑power cellular IoT chipsets and a 5G eRedCap roadmap, highlighted by the upcoming ALT1550...
AI Data Bursts Force Rethink of Data Center Networking at Backblaze
Backblaze is swapping its legacy 100‑gigabit links for 400‑gigabit connections to accommodate the bursty, unpredictable traffic generated by AI workloads on neocloud providers such as CoreWeave and Lambda. The upgrade includes higher‑density Arista switches, allowing terabit‑per‑second internal flows and more...
How AI Is Creating New Intersecting Opportunity Points for Fiber
The 2026 FiberConnect trade show highlights fiber’s expanding role beyond consumer broadband, focusing on data‑center needs driven by AI workloads. Industry forecasts indicate roughly 92,000 route miles of new fiber must be built to connect existing and emerging data centers....
T‑Mobile Pairs 5G with Starlink for Enterprise Redundancy
T-Mobile has taken another step into the enterprise market with its launch of SuperBroadband on April 28, a business-focused connectivity service that pairs the carrier's 5G network with SpaceX's Starlink satellite system. The concept is straightforward, yet the execution aims...
Josh's Team Deploys NY's $542M BEAD Broadband Funding
Congrats to @joshdotfm and his team at @EmpireStateDev for starting to implement NY State's $542 M BEAD allotment for locations unserved or underserved by high-speed broadband. The high profile names take credit, but Josh is the engine that gets it...
Eir Business Chooses ServiceNow to Strengthen Ireland’s Next-Generation Digital Infrastructure
eir business, Ireland’s managed‑connectivity provider, has entered a multi‑million‑euro (≈ $5.5 million) partnership with ServiceNow to revamp its managed services platform. The deal will migrate eir’s operations onto ServiceNow’s AI Platform, delivering a unified portal, AI‑driven automation, and real‑time analytics. The...
Cellular IoT Data Surge to 281.6 Exabytes Predicted by 2035 - Omdia
Omdia forecasts cellular IoT data traffic to hit 218.6 exabytes by 2035, with automotive applications accounting for more than half of the volume. Asia and Oceania are expected to generate 50.6% of the global traffic, propelled by early technology adoption and...
Godshill Residents Left in Lurch as New Forest Gigabit Contract Adjusted
Godshill, a village in the New Forest, has been removed from the UK Government’s Project Gigabit contract, leaving 159 homes without a guaranteed full‑fibre connection. The original timeline promised service by the end of 2026 from Wessex Internet, but the...
ISCO International and Abside Networks Deliver Advanced 5G Anti-Jamming Resiliency
ISCO International and Abside Networks have integrated ISCO’s Interference Management and Cancellation (IMC) software into Abside’s next‑generation 5G and Open RAN platforms. The combined solution automatically detects and cancels RF interference, including intentional jamming, narrowband and wideband sources, and tropospheric...
TMUS Leverages Starlink as 5G Backup, Hinting MVNO
$TMUS is packaging Starlink as backup for businesses using 5G Internet, branding it #SuperBroadband. Good sign for the TMUS-SpaceX relationship. MVNO next?
Nokia Shares Surge 2.9% After Analyst Upgrade Citing Data Center Optical Demand
Nokia’s shares climbed 2.87% to $10.76 after an analyst upgrade highlighted stronger-than-expected earnings and growing demand for optical transport and IP routing in AI‑driven data centers. The upgrade comes as trading volume more than doubled its three‑month average, underscoring heightened...
DigitalBridge Secures $4 Billion SoftBank Partnership After 96% Shareholder Vote
DigitalBridge announced that 96% of its shareholders have approved a $4 billion strategic partnership and investment from Japan’s SoftBank Group, removing the final obstacle to a deal slated for the second half of 2026. The transaction ties the U.S. digital‑infrastructure REIT...
KPN Reports 14% Higher Data Traffic for King's Day with Fifth More Uploads
Dutch telecom operator KPN reported a 14% increase in mobile data traffic on the Netherlands' King's Day holiday compared with the previous year. The surge was led by 5G, which saw traffic rise 37%, while 4G grew 12%. Upload (uplink)...
Shutdowns, Power Outages, and Conflict: A Review of Q1 2026 Internet Disruptions
Q1 2026 saw a sharp rise in internet disruptions, driven by government‑directed shutdowns in Uganda and Iran, power‑grid failures in Cuba and Argentina, and conflict‑related outages in Ukraine and the Middle East. Uganda’s election blackout slashed traffic from 72 Gbps to 1 Gbps,...
Boldyn Bigs up Its Role in UK's Troubled ESN Rollout
Boldyn, formerly BAI Communications, is confirming that its 4G neutral‑host network across the London Underground will also serve the UK Emergency Services Network (ESN). The rollout, covering 137 Tube, DLR and Overground stations, is slated for completion by the end...
Closing the Connectivity Gap in Global Freight
Globalstar is targeting the persistent connectivity gap in freight logistics by offering satellite‑based IoT solutions for rail cars and intermodal containers. Its solar‑powered Integrity 150 tracker uses edge processing and BLE sensors to send only critical events, reducing bandwidth costs while...
Amazon Gets Exemption From Trump FCC Router (Extortion) Ban, Doesn’t Say How
Amazon’s eero consumer routers and its Leo low‑Earth‑orbit routers have been placed on the FCC’s exemption list for the Trump administration’s foreign‑router ban. The FCC’s rule, announced by Chairman Brendan Carr, bars virtually all overseas‑made routers and even personal hotspots...
AI Networking Upstart Eino Adds Network Observability to Its Wireless Design Play
Eino, an AI‑native wireless network design startup, launched Agentic Network Observability, a digital‑twin‑based monitoring solution that promises up to 90% faster design and troubleshooting. The platform creates a 3‑D replica of the physical environment, feeding AI‑driven performance benchmarks and real‑time...
USTelecom Wants Feds to Align on Permitting Reforms
USTelecom is urging the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to adopt the White House’s new CEQ guidance that expands categorical exclusions under NEPA for broadband projects on federal lands. The telecom CEO highlighted specific exclusions from the NTIA and...
EE Hits 5G+ Milestone Ahead of Schedule
EE has surpassed its original goal of delivering 5G SA (5G+) to 41 million people, adding coverage in 15 new locations across the UK and Northern Ireland. The operator is refarming its 2100 MHz spectrum on more than 4,000 sites, with another...
Telenet Launches More Personalised Telecom and Entertainment Offer
Telenet, Belgium’s leading telecom operator, unveiled a revamped product line‑up that lets customers assemble internet, mobile, fixed‑line, TV and entertainment services à la carte. Each component and option is priced separately, and premium streams such as Disney+, Netflix and YouTube...
EE Beats Target to Cross 50M Mark with 5G+
EE, the mobile arm of BT Group, has expanded its 5G+ network to cover more than 50 million people—surpassing its 41 million target for spring 2026. The rollout is part of BT’s £40 billion (≈$51 billion) investment in UK network infrastructure through 2030 and now...
Vodafone Rides on Time to Boost 5G-A
Vodafone Group announced a breakthrough in network time‑keeping, achieving 40 nanosecond accuracy through a fibre‑based system developed with the UK’s National Physical Laboratory. The solution is positioned as a solid substitute for satellite‑based timing, helping meet the stringent frequency guidelines of...
Verizon Beats Q1 2026 Estimates, Raises FY EPS Guidance and Dividend
Verizon Communications reported $34.4 billion in first‑quarter revenue and $1.28 adjusted earnings per share, its strongest EPS growth in over four years. The carrier lifted its fiscal‑2026 adjusted EPS guidance to 5‑6% growth and raised its annualized dividend by 2.5%, prompting...
Ericsson and Swisscom Roll Out New Energy Platform for Networks
Ericsson and Swisscom have launched an Energy & Enclosure platform that integrates into Swisscom’s radio access network in Switzerland. The solution combines high‑efficiency power hardware, AI‑driven battery management, lithium storage and a Site Controller 6610 to deliver automated load‑shifting, peak shaving...
Can the New Wave of Hybrid IoT Modules Finally Eliminate Supply Chain Blind Spots?
Hybrid Internet of Things (IoT) modules that fuse satellite, cellular and Wi‑Fi on a single chip are finally reaching price points suitable for mass deployment. In Q1 2026 SKYWAVE introduced the ST‑4000 and Iridium launched the 9604, proving the concept with...
Zain Launches ‘Regulatory Academy’ with GSMA Advance
Zain Group has teamed with GSMA Advance to launch the Zain Regulatory Academy, an industry‑first training hub under its Inclusion, Diversity & Equity University (IDEU). The academy delivers GSMA‑accredited public‑policy and regulatory‑impact certification through self‑paced modules, expert seminars and regional...
Askey Picks pureLiFi to Bring LiFi to the Mass Market
Askey announced a partnership with pureLiFi to embed the company’s proprietary LiFi bridge directly into its 5G fixed‑wireless access (FWA) customer premises equipment. The all‑in‑one solution combines a high‑performance 5G modem with through‑window wireless power, delivering gigabit‑class indoor broadband without...
Yaqoot by Zain KSA and Huawei Strengthen BSS and Enhance Digital Service Competitiveness
Zain KSA’s digital platform Yaqoot has partnered with Huawei to overhaul its Business Support Systems (BSS). The upgrade leverages Huawei’s AI‑ready, cloud‑native BSS suite, which already supports over 2.5 billion subscribers worldwide. The new infrastructure promises faster time‑to‑market for digital services,...
Outdated Prison Infrastructure Presents Unique Opportunity for BEAD Non-Deployment Funds
NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth’s “Benefit of the Bargain” reforms stripped unnecessary conditions from the BEAD broadband grant program, generating roughly $22 billion in saved deployment costs. The statute allows unspent BEAD funds to be redirected toward related goals, and pending guidance...
US Mobile Jumps Into Prepaid Convergence with Starlink Partnership
US Mobile launched a prepaid convergence bundle in April 2026 that pairs its multi‑network MVNO service with a six‑month discounted Starlink residential broadband plan. The offer lets customers switch among AT&T, T‑Mobile and Verizon networks while adding a fixed‑line anchor...
Explainer: The War in Iran Now Threatens the Global Internet
Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz’s submarine cables are a vulnerable chokepoint for the region’s digital economy, underscoring the strategic importance of the undersea network that carries roughly 99% of global internet traffic. The waterway links Southeast Asia,...
7 MHz Brings Much Needed Flexibility to 5G NR
3GPP Release 19 introduces a native 7 MHz channel bandwidth for 5G NR in FR1, addressing the long‑standing mismatch between standardized 5 MHz steps and operators’ fragmented spectrum holdings. The new bandwidth targets low‑band carriers such as n5 and n26 and retains a...
Nokia Strengthens Middle East and Africa Strategy via Egypt
During the Finnish president’s visit, Nokia’s Middle East and Africa President Mikko Lavanti met Egypt’s ICT minister to announce a new end‑to‑end regional hub in Cairo. The hub will provide technical support and managed services for Nokia’s 5G, cloud and...
Telenor Q1 2026 Results: Revenue Falls to NOK 18,197 Mn, ARPU Growth in Nordics, Capex Drops 7.4% Amid 5G Maturity
Telenor posted a 1.4% revenue dip to NOK 18.2 bn (≈$2 bn) in Q1 2026, with service revenue falling 1.3%. Despite the decline, average revenue per user (ARPU) rose across the Nordics, notably a 4% increase in Norway, while operating expenses fell 2.4% thanks...
SpaceX Hits 50 Launches in 2026, Adds 25 Starlink Satellites
SpaceX launched its 50th Falcon 9 mission of 2026 on April 26, sending 25 Starlink broadband satellites into low‑Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The launch marks the 15th flight of booster 1088 and pushes the company toward a projected 160...
RIL to Set up India’s Largest Data Centre Cluster in Andhra Pradesh
Reliance Industries announced a ₹1.6 lakh crore (~$17 billion) investment to build India’s largest data‑centre cluster in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The giga‑scale AI facility will total 1.5 GW of capacity across three phases, with a 500 MW first phase slated for commercial operation by October 2028 and...
Nvidia Takes $1 B Stake in Nokia to Power AI‑Driven 6G Networks
Nvidia has bought a $1 billion, 8% equity position in Nokia at $6.01 per share, tying the deal to joint development of AI‑native radio access network (RAN) hardware. The partnership targets the emerging $200 billion AI‑RAN market as carriers move toward 6G.
T‑Mobile Gives Away iPhone 17 Pro with $1,100 Credit on Premium Plans
T‑Mobile announced that customers who trade in any eligible device and sign up for an Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plan will receive the iPhone 17 Pro for free, via $1,100 in 24‑month bill credits. The promotion expands the carrier’s previous...
D2D: Niche or Mainstream Opportunity?
The post explores the emerging D2D standard that lets smartphones communicate directly with satellites, questioning whether it will stay a niche technology or become mainstream. While current adoption is limited to extreme‑environment IoT and adventure use cases, the author argues...
Consumer Cellular Appoints Kannan Alagappan as CIO to Drive Tech Modernization
Consumer Cellular announced Kannan Alagappan as its chief information officer, effective April 27, 2026. The veteran technologist brings more than three decades of telecom experience to help the senior‑focused carrier upgrade its network and digital services.
ULA Atlas V Lifts 29 Amazon Kuiper Satellites, Sets Record 23‑day Turnaround
United Launch Alliance successfully launched 29 Amazon Kuiper broadband satellites on an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, marking its fastest pad turnaround at 23 days and raising the Kuiper constellation to 270 operational satellites. The launch underscores Amazon’s push toward...
Cox Pole Attachment Complaints Lives On
Cox Communications has kept its FCC pole‑attachment complaint against Oklahoma Gas & Electric alive after the agency’s Enforcement Bureau rejected OG&E’s motion to dismiss. The complaint, filed in December, alleges that OG&E’s annual pole‑rental rates are unreasonable and that the...
Fiber Frenzy
Comcast has begun connecting the first residents of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, to its multi‑gigabit symmetrical fiber network. The rollout will eventually serve more than 6,000 addresses across Bloomsburg, Hemlock Township and Scott Township, with full deployment targeted for 2027. Meanwhile, Archtop...
Google Hits 50% IPv6
Google announced that half of its global traffic now arrives over IPv6, marking a symbolic milestone for the next‑generation Internet protocol. The 50 % figure reflects rapid growth but does not instantly resolve lingering technical and operational gaps. Industry observers note...