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
AT&T Reports Record Wireless‑Internet Bundle Growth in Q1 2026
AT&T announced that 42% of its broadband households bundled with wireless services in Q1 2026, driving revenue to $31.5 billion, up 2.9% YoY. The telecom added 584,000 advanced connectivity customers, underscoring its bundling strategy as a catalyst for subscriber growth and entertainment content delivery.
TRAI Calls for New Spectrum Auction to Ease Congestion and Accelerate 6G in India
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended an additional spectrum auction, inter‑band sharing and active infrastructure sharing to alleviate mounting network congestion and support the country’s 6G ambitions. Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti highlighted the need to debottleneck networks...
Australia: Satellite-Enabled Communications Strengthens Disaster Resilience
Australian researchers at Swinburne University, funded by SmartSat CRC, have created a low‑power satellite‑enabled communication terminal designed for disaster zones. The system combines a minimalist beacon, software‑defined radio, and LoRa‑satellite hybrid links to deliver text and voice messages when terrestrial...
CGI Agrees to Acquire Alaska-Based Quintillion
GCI Holdings, a subsidiary of GCI Liberty, announced a $310 million acquisition of Alaska fiber provider Quintillion. The deal merges Quintillion’s 1,800 miles of subsea and terrestrial fiber and roughly 1,500 miles of planned expansion with GCI’s statewide network, enabling a ringed, self‑healing...
Amazon Leo Routers Exempt From FCC Ban
The FCC granted a conditional exemption to Amazon subsidiary Eero, allowing its routers for the Amazon Leo satellite broadband service to bypass the agency’s ban on foreign‑made Wi‑Fi routers. The exemption, the third of its kind after Adtran and Netgear,...
MTP's Issues $386 Million in Cell Tower ABS, Its First Public Deal
MTP ABS Funding launched its inaugural public securitization, issuing $386 million of asset‑backed securities backed by 861 cellular tower sites. The pool, managed by Tower Point Capital, includes fee‑owned, leasehold and easement sites and supports 1,084 leases from 83 tenants, generating...
Some Brands Are Safe From The US' Foreign Router Ban, But No One Seems To Know Why
On March 23 2026 the FCC added foreign‑made consumer routers to its Covered List, effectively banning any new router not manufactured in the United States. Approximately 60 % of U.S. routers are sourced from China, so the rule sent shockwaves through the market....
APTelecom’s Strategic Role In The Next Wave Of Subsea Networks
APTelecom is accelerating its subsea cable portfolio in 2026, highlighted by the Central Pacific Connect project that delivered Tuvalu’s first undersea fiber link and the upcoming SubConnex system targeting high‑capacity data center interconnects across Asia. The company leverages U.S. government...
Starlink Mobile Needs Handset NTN Adaptations, Avoid Transparent Architecture
This is an interesting paper which analyzes the Starlink Mobile system in Japan. It concludes NTN adaptations are needed in the handset for uplink & transparent architectures are a bad idea because they lead to "high signaling delays and signaling...
Air India Selects Hughes IFC for Airbus and Boeing Fleet
Air India Limited has signed an inflight connectivity (IFC) agreement with Hughes to equip its Airbus and Boeing wide‑body fleet with satellite‑based broadband. The partnership will deliver consistent, global Wi‑Fi coverage for passengers and crew, regardless of route. Hughes will...
Smiths Interconnect to Display Ceramic RF Filters, Temperature Variable Attenuators and Spring-Loaded SMP Connectors at IMS2026
Smiths Interconnect, a Molex company, will showcase its latest microwave and RF solutions at IMS2026 booth #17070. Attendees can see ceramic RF filters that operate up to 6 GHz, K2TVA Thermopad temperature‑variable attenuators, and the EZiCoax spring‑loaded SMP connector rated for...
FCC Threatens to Revoke Montana FM’s License
The FCC’s Media Bureau has opened a revocation proceeding against 100.9 KBOQ (FM) in southwest Montana after its owner, Southwest Montana Media, failed to pay approximately $6,750 in delinquent regulatory fees, administrative costs, and penalties. The unpaid balances span fees from 2019...
Namibia, Angola Telcos Boost Connectivity Deal
Telecom Namibia and Angola Telecom signed an MOU and commercial terms agreement in Swakopmund, enabling Angola Telecom to tap international capacity through Namibia’s Equiano subsea cable. The partnership also sets the stage for future interconnection with Angola’s planned SARSSy cable...
ReConnect Funding Restored in FY2027 USDA Bill
The House Appropriations Committee inserted $40 million for the USDA’s ReConnect program into the FY 2027 spending bill, reversing the agency’s proposal to cut the rural broadband initiative. ReConnect, which provides loans and grants to underserved areas, now receives dedicated funding despite...
FCC's Router Ban Expands to Portable Hotspots - 4 Things This Means for You
The FCC has broadened its ban on foreign‑made networking gear to cover portable or mobile MiFi hotspots intended for residential use. The move follows a recent prohibition on new routers from brands such as TP‑Link, Linksys and Asus, and it...
New Submarine Cable Planned Between Iceland and Scotland
Farice announced plans for a new submarine fiber‑optic cable, AUÐUR, linking southern Iceland to a landing point in either Glasgow or Edinburgh, with a target completion date of 2030. The cable will replace the aging FARICE‑1 system and provide direct...
HDD Locator Performs High-Wire Act over the Yellowstone River
Tru Directional Drilling in Billings, Montana, used a Ditch Witch AT120 all‑terrain directional drill and a Subsite Marksman+ locator to install over 1,500 feet of fiber beneath the Yellowstone River during peak spring runoff. The team suspended the locator 60 feet above...
Charter CEO Eyes Cable Acquisitions as Shares Tumble
'We'd like to acquire more cable assets if can be done at an appropriate price [and] conditions,' said Charter CEO Chris Winfrey. Meanwhile, Charter shares are slumping amid disappointing Q1 results. @Light_Reading https://t.co/Yr519C4o2H
DXN to Deliver Cable Landing Station Module to South America
Australian modular data center specialist DXN has won a AU$5.3 million (≈US$3.8 million) contract to supply a prefabricated cable landing station for a global internet company in South America. The CLS will be manufactured at DXN’s Perth facility, with construction starting immediately...
A Licensee, Also An Ex-Licensee, Ordered By FCC To Pay Up
Southwest Montana Media, which holds an AM station in Lima, Montana, has been ordered by the Federal Communications Commission to pay outstanding regulatory fees. The company also previously owned a deleted FM translator in Butte and a former station in...
GCI to Acquire Alaska Fiber Provider Quintillion for $310 Million
GCI announced a $310 million acquisition of Quintillion, an Alaska‑based fiber infrastructure firm. The deal adds over 1,800 miles of subsea and terrestrial fiber to GCI’s planned 1,500‑mile expansion, promising a more resilient network for remote communities. The transaction marks the...
MaxLinear Q1 Revenue Jumps 43% as Enterprise Data Center Chip Demand Surges
MaxLinear reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $137.2 million, up 43% year‑over‑year, as infrastructure chip sales for enterprise networking surged 136%. The company lifted its 2026 optical data‑center revenue outlook by $30‑$40 million, citing strong visibility into hyperscaler program ramps.
US Clarifies Mobile Hotspots Part of Foreign Router Ban Despite Rarity of American Made Consumer Kit
The FCC has clarified that its ban on foreign‑made consumer routers now also includes portable Wi‑Fi hotspots and LTE/5G customer premises equipment (CPE) used in homes. The restriction applies only to new models; existing devices already authorized can continue to...
Cerberus Closes $2.3 Billion Continuation Vehicle for SubCom
Cerberus Capital Management closed a $2.3 billion single‑asset continuation vehicle for SubCom, the U.S.‑based leader in subsea fiber‑optic cable systems. The vehicle, led by CVC Secondary Partners, secures additional capital while Cerberus retains a controlling stake. SubCom, carved out from TE...
Verizon Adds Slicing on SA 5G Devices for First Responders
Verizon has expanded its Frontline Network Slice to any 5G standalone (SA) laptop, tablet or smartphone used by first responders, guaranteeing dedicated bandwidth and low latency even in crowded environments. Access requires devices that support SA‑5G, prompting agencies to upgrade...
Ovzon Posts Record EBITDA, Profit, Wins Dept of War
Fixed & mobile satcom provider @OvzonAB reports record EBITDA, swing to profit and return of @DeptofWar as customer. Compact T-8 on-the-move terminal to be released this year.https://t.co/KCEgWGNMlj https://t.co/y5pCk21go1
Amazon Secures Cork Landing Station Approval For Fastnet Cable
Amazon has secured planning approval from Cork County Council to build a dedicated landing station for its Fastnet subsea cable in West Cork. The facility, slated for construction later this year, will connect Ireland to Maryland, USA, with an expected...
Vodafone Ireland Announces Further €360 Million Investment as It Moves to New Dublin City Centre HQ
Vodafone Ireland announced an additional €360 million ($390 million) investment, adding €200 million ($218 million) for its mobile network and €160 million ($174 million) for digital and IT upgrades through 2030. The spend builds on a €500 million ($545 million) five‑year network programme and targets a smarter 5G‑ready...
Weekly Brief – 24th April 2026
BT repaired the subsea fiber linking Evie and Westray in the Orkney Islands, restoring broadband service after an abrasion‑induced break. The fix involved replacing 8 km of cable and rerouting the line to a less rocky seabed to mitigate future damage....
Expert Insights Highlight Real-World Telecom Sovereignty Challenges
Yesterday's Unthinkable Lab event on #Telecoms #Sovereignty was hugely valuable, in large part thanks to Colin Bannon (@bt_uk & Hesham Fahmy's (@TELUS) wisdom and insight into real-world infrastructure deployment and service creation. https://t.co/BZrBshHo6c https://t.co/F932xH8MR3
Charter Set to Eclipse Comcast as Top ISP
Charter, after finalizing the Cox acquisition later this year, will become the largest Internet Service Provider in the U.S., overtaking @Comcast. But Charter CEO Chris Winfrey is denied access to the @Cablefax 100 VIP skybox? Comcast, meanwhile, gets not one...
Jio ARPU Rises to Rs 214 as Data Usage Crosses 42GB Per User: Monetisation Still Catching Up
Reliance Jio reported a modest ARPU increase to Rs 214 (≈$2.6) in the March quarter, while average monthly data consumption surged to about 42 GB per user, a 35% year‑on‑year rise. The company’s subscriber base topped 524 million, with 268 million on 5G, and...
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Network Consistency, Reliability Key for African Mobile Users, Says Opensignal
Opensignal executives highlighted that African mobile operators must move beyond coverage maps and focus on consistent, reliable user experience. Their September 2025 Africa digital divide report shows South Africa topping the Global Network Excellence Index while 25% of rural populations remain...
Vodafone Idea CEO on Tariffs: Will Opt for Minor Corrections, Not Structural Hike: Report
Vodafone Idea’s chief executive Abhijit Kishore told the COAI Digicom Summit that the company will only make minor adjustments to its prepaid tariffs and has no plans for a broad, structural price increase. The comment follows Bharti Airtel’s recent 4‑5%...
Cable Giants Lose 1.8M, Wireless Adds 15M FWA
Over the past four years, Comcast and Charter collectively lost ~1.8 million broadband customers Over the same period, the wireless companies collectively added ~15 million net FWA customers https://t.co/VwHtubMSA0
Toronto Police Arrest Three in Canada’s First Mobile SMS Blaster Case
Toronto police have arrested three men in Canada’s first known case involving a mobile SMS blaster, a device that impersonates cellular towers to send mass phishing texts. The investigation, which began in November, uncovered tens of thousands of phones connecting...
Urgent Call for Aggressive Wireless Strategy at Comcast
"I find this lack of urgency puzzling... much more aggressive tactics in wireless are required; the lackadaisical approach taken over the past 2-3 years must come to an end." https://t.co/MHcQDYCtkc
Midco Rolls Out Unlimited and Per‑Gig Plans Nationwide
In the wake of market trials, Midco has introduced unlimited and by-the-Gig mobile plans in all markets. Midco Mobile, which rides the @ATT network, was developed with MVNE partner @telgoo5. https://t.co/hJilgxv4f2
Cybersecurity Meets Geopolitics at Top EU Court
Advocate General Tamara Ćapeta issued a non‑binding advisory opinion in the Elisa Eesti v Estonia case, concluding that EU law permits member states to exclude hardware and software from telecom networks when the supplier is deemed a national‑security risk. The opinion validates...
Nigerian Telecoms Identity Risk Management System Launches
On April 24, the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria unveiled a joint Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) portal. The platform gives banks and other financial institutions real‑time visibility to monitor and flag suspicious telephone numbers...
SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites, Pushing Constellation Toward 9,000 Units
SpaceX lifted off a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on April 22, deploying 24 new Starlink satellites and bringing the total fleet close to 9,000. The launch underscores SpaceX’s rapid reuse cadence and comes as investors clash over...
Midco Reveals Mobile Pricing and Packaging
Midco has officially launched its Midco Mobile service, offering two plans—a $30 unlimited option and a $15 flex plan—across its 1.2 million‑home footprint in the Upper Midwest. The mobile lines must be bundled with Midco broadband, with a $15 monthly surcharge...
Reliance Jio Mega Content Plan Rs 500 and New Add-On Pack Rs 200 Benefits Detailed
Reliance Jio has rebranded its Rs 500 Entertainment Plan as the Mega Content Plan and launched a new Rs 200 Mega Content add‑on pack for prepaid customers. The Rs 500 plan delivers 56 GB of data, unlimited voice, 100 SMS daily, and subscriptions to YouTube...
MTN Nigeria to Begin Compensating Subscribers for Poor Service Between November and January
MTN Nigeria announced it will begin compensating subscribers for poor network quality experienced in November, December and January, following a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The compensation will be delivered as airtime credit, with the rollout starting on...
Charter-Cox Merger Near Summer Close, California Pending Approval
Charter's Chris Winfrey: Charter-Cox deal has received fed and state approvals save for California. Working with CPUC toward a summer close.
AMD Ryzen™ Embedded V3000 Processor Powers Cisco’s Latest N9300 Switches and 8000 Series Routers for AI Workloads
Cisco has integrated AMD’s Ryzen Embedded V3000 processor into its new N9300 series switches and 8000 series service‑provider routers. The V3000 provides 4‑8 server‑class x86 cores, up to 96 GB DDR5 memory, and high performance‑per‑watt for control‑plane tasks such as routing, telemetry,...
Telia Q2-2026 Revenue Steady at SEK 20 Bn as Service Growth and AI-Driven Demand Support 2026 Outlook
Telia held Q2 2026 revenue steady at SEK 20 bn (≈ $2.2 bn), unchanged YoY, while service revenue rose 2.1% on AI‑driven connectivity demand. Operating income slipped to SEK 3.1 bn (≈ $341 m) but net profit surged to SEK 1.8 bn (≈ $198 m) thanks to higher margins. The company reaffirmed...
Fastweb Partners with Luna Rossa on 5G for America's Cup
Fastweb, operating under the Fastweb + Vodafone brand, has become the official sponsor and technical partner of Italy’s Luna Rossa sailing team. The telecom will deploy a dedicated 5G network slice in the Gulf of Cagliari and extend coverage to Naples, the...
The Buildout: Wire 3 Grows Its Georgia Footprint
Wire 3 is expanding its Georgia footprint with a $37 million investment to bring fiber service to more than 37,000 homes and businesses in Albany, with construction slated to begin this summer and first customers online as early as fall 2026. The...
Weekly Wrap: Starlink–Amazon Leo Clash Highlights Shortcomings of Satellite Filing Rules
Amazon’s Gen‑1 low‑Earth‑orbit constellation, approved for 3,232 satellites, has placed only 241 in orbit, far short of the FCC‑mandated 50 percent (1,616) operational by 30 July 2026. The company asked the FCC for a 24‑month extension, but Starlink filed a formal objection, urging...