Today's Telecom Pulse
Vodacom invests $666M for 30% stake in Maziv fibre group
Vodacom announced a R12.64 billion ($666 million) purchase of a 30% equity stake in fibre infrastructure provider Maziv. The deal includes R6.28 billion ($331 million) of goodwill, R7.93 billion ($418 million) in cash, R4.57 billion ($240 million) of fibre assets and contractual rights, and R143 million in capitalised costs.
Also developing:
By the numbers: BizLink to acquire Blackstone's Interplex Datacom for $850M
Cameroonian Govt Orders MTN and Orange to Block Smuggled Smartphones
Cameroon’s finance ministry issued a June 4 directive ordering MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon to block unregistered, smuggled smartphones, targeting more than 700,000 illegal devices. The two operators, which together hold over 90% of the nation’s telecom market, must disconnect these phones from local networks immediately. The move is part of a broader effort to curb illicit imports and protect government revenue. Enforcement will likely reshape how carriers manage device authentication in the country.
FCC Drops July Deadline for Amazon's Leo Satellite Broadband Rollout
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission eliminated the July 2026 deadline for Amazon's Leo low‑Earth‑orbit broadband constellation, aiming to keep the rollout on track despite launch vehicle setbacks. The move reshapes the competitive dynamics of the satellite internet market as Amazon...
Dutch Regulator Blocks KPN’s Acquisition of Glaspoort’s 200,000 FTTH Connections
The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has prohibited KPN's planned acquisition of Glaspoort’s 200,000 fiber‑to‑the‑home connections from DELTA Fiber. KPN said it regrets the decision and will review next steps, while the regulator cited competition concerns. The ruling...
We 2 Stars Becomes First Operator in Ghana to Launch Travel eSIM Service with BTS and ZIM
We 2 Stars, a Ghana‑licensed operator, has launched AkkaabaSIM, the country’s first travel eSIM service, in partnership with BTS and ZIM Connections. The digital solution lets travelers purchase and activate data plans before departure, eliminating the need for physical SIM...
Dixon, Taiwanese Gemtek to Form JV to Make SFPs, Optical Gear in India
Dixon Technologies and its subsidiary Dixon Electroconnect have signed a binding term sheet with Taiwan‑based Gemtek to create a joint venture that will manufacture optical transceivers, including small form‑factor pluggables (SFPs) and bidirectional optical assemblies (BOSA), in India. The JV...
Supreme Court Upholds FCC Penalties, Hits Verizon and AT&T with $104 Million Fine
The U.S. Supreme Court voted 8‑1 to uphold the Federal Communications Commission’s forfeiture orders against Verizon and AT&T, confirming $57 million and $47 million fines for illegal sharing of real‑time location data. The decision reinforces the FCC’s enforcement toolkit and forces the...
Corning Shares Jump 8% After Amazon Secures Multibillion‑Dollar Fiber Supply Deal
Corning Incorporated’s shares surged 8% to $191.94 after Amazon announced a multibillion‑dollar contract to purchase optical fiber, cable and connectivity solutions for its expanding U.S. AI data‑center network. The deal underscores the growing demand for infrastructure assets that enable artificial‑intelligence...
Best UK Broadband Providers 2026: Full Fibre Growth, Gigabit Speeds and ISP Competition Reshape Market
In 2026 the UK fixed‑broadband market is being reshaped by full‑fibre roll‑out, with coverage now exceeding 83 % of premises and gigabit availability above 90 %. The sector serves roughly 28.96 million connections; FTTP subscriptions have risen to 12.39 million, growing 6.5 % quarter‑on‑quarter, while...
Germany Broadband Market 2026: Best ISPs, Fiber Expansion, Gigabit Speeds Drive Internet Competition
Germany’s fixed broadband market, valued at roughly $27.75 billion annually, is rapidly shifting to fiber as FTTH becomes the main growth driver. Deutsche Telekom stays on top with a 41% share, 15.1 million subscribers and more than 13.37 million fiber lines, aiming to...
Telecom News: Bouygues, Orange, Iliad, SFR, Telefonica, O2 Business, Proximus, MTN
French operators Bouygues, Orange and Iliad are seeking approval for a €20.35 billion ($23.5 billion) purchase of Altice France’s SFR, which would cut France’s mobile market from four to three players. The three buyers will split SFR’s assets, with Bouygues taking the...
Dave Wechsler: The Case Against Defunding Terrestrial Broadband
SpaceX is lobbying the FCC to terminate $4.5 billion in rural broadband subsidies, arguing that Starlink’s expanding low‑Earth‑orbit coverage makes fixed‑line buildout redundant. The opinion piece counters that satellite coverage alone does not meet modern household demands for low latency, high‑throughput,...
Telenor Secures NOK 6 Bn Regulator Approval to Acquire GlobalConnect Consumer Fibre Business
Telenor ASA received clearance from the Norwegian Competition Authority to buy GlobalConnect's consumer fibre business for roughly $660 million. The deal, slated to close in autumn 2026, adds about 125,000 fibre customers but requires divestiture of overlapping infrastructure and the transfer...
Muni Hits Snag in Point Broadband RDOF Takeover
The City of Colquitt, Georgia, received FCC approval to assume Point Broadband’s $4.2 million Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) obligations covering roughly 2,000 locations in Miller County. The municipality has 90 days to provide an irrevocable letter of credit from a...
Oppenheimer Warns Starlink Could Upend $1.6 Trillion U.S. Telecom Market
Oppenheimer analysts cautioned that SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband service could disrupt the $1.6 trillion U.S. communications industry, putting pressure on incumbents AT&T and Verizon. With 10.3 million subscribers in Q1 and a 2030 forecast of 15 million U.S. users, the analyst note flags...
What Utilities Need to Know About the 900-MHz ‘NextNav’ FCC Proceeding
NextNav has petitioned the FCC to repurpose the lower 900 MHz band (902‑928 MHz) for high‑power broadband and GPS‑backup services. The band currently underpins communications for more than 160 million smart meters and critical grid functions such as SCADA, DER monitoring and distribution...
Globe to Expand Lucena Network with Campus Cell Site
Globe Telecom announced a partnership with Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation to install an on‑campus cell site in Lucena City, expanding mobile coverage for the university and surrounding communities. The project builds on Globe’s earlier school‑based network efforts, such as...
Orange Acquires Full Ownership of MasOrange in €4.25 Bn Deal to Strengthen Spain Telecom Leadership
Orange completed the purchase of the remaining 50% stake in MasOrange for €4.25 billion (about $4.7 billion), giving it full ownership of Spain’s largest telecom operator by customer base. The deal, first agreed in December 2025, cleared EU Commission approval and will...
Nvidia Partners with SK Hynix to Supply Memory for Vera AI Chips, Boosting Telecom AI Infrastructure
Nvidia announced a multiyear partnership with South Korean memory maker SK Hynix to co‑develop AI‑optimized DRAM for its new Vera AI processors. The deal, revealed on June 8, coincided with a 7.7% drop in SK Hynix shares and a modest 1.4%...
Verizon Taps Ex‑Telekom Exec to Drive Open RAN, AI
.@Verizon naming Abdu Mudasir to lead its network operations marks the latest move in a growing talent pipeline from @Telekom to the US carriers. Mudasir replaces Joe Russo and brings a global perspective on Open RAN and AI automation that...
How Telecom Can Help Power Economies in Tribal Communities
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) is partnering with tribal nations, notably the Cherokee Nation, to train residents in telecom infrastructure skills such as pole climbing, fiber‑optic aerial construction, trenching and splicing. The initiative aims to create a homegrown...
LMT to Invest EUR 38 Mln in Network Infrastructure This Year
Latvian telecom operator LMT announced a €38 million (approximately $41 million) investment in its network infrastructure for 2026. The plan follows the deployment of ten new base stations and upgrades to more than 200 sites already completed this year, bringing the total...
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Telecom Namibia Tackles Copper Theft with Fiber Rollout
Telecom Namibia has signed an agreement with Demshi Investment Holdings to accelerate its fiber‑optic rollout, replacing copper lines in areas prone to theft and vandalism. The partnership leverages Demshi’s open‑access fiber network, with Demshi handling deployment, maintenance and passive infrastructure...
German Operators Commit EUR 8.5 Bln to Expanding FTTB/H Networks in 2026
German telecom operators including Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefonica Germany, 1&1, Deutsche Glasfaser and EWE Tel have pledged to invest €8.5 billion (≈$9.3 billion) in 2026 to expand fiber‑to‑the‑home and fiber‑to‑the‑building networks. The funding is part of a memorandum of understanding with the...
Telefonica Germany Teams up with OQ Technology to Test D2D Satellite Connectivity
Telefonica Germany has partnered with satellite operator OQ Technology to trial direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity from low‑earth orbit satellites to smartphones. The demonstration will use OQ’s LEO constellation at 500‑600 km altitude and Telefonica’s spectrum, targeting unserved areas in Mecklenburg‑Western Pomerania later...
AT&T Scales Cloud RAN as Open RAN Swap Passes 50%
AT&T has finished the controlled introduction phase of its cloud RAN, with about 25 sites now running live traffic on Intel’s Sapphire Rapids processors handling TDD layers. The next‑generation Granite platform, already in AT&T labs, will support a full‑stack RAN...
SiFi Networks Files Chapter 11, Highlighting Strain on Open‑Access Fiber Sector
SiFi Networks America, a developer of open‑access municipal fiber, entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 5, reporting assets of $1‑10 million against $10‑50 million in liabilities. The filing spotlights mounting financial stress for alternative broadband builders amid a market dominated by incumbents.
The US Wants NATO Allies to Spend Their New Defence Budgets Ripping Out Huawei
The U.S. State Department is urging NATO members to treat the removal of Huawei equipment as a defence‑related expense, allowing it to be funded under the alliance’s new 1.5% of GDP defence‑related budget slice. The suggestion, made by China coordinator...
Four Suspects Identified in Finland Undersea Cable Damage Investigation — Criminal Case Referred to Prosecutors for Consideration of Charges
Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation has closed its probe into damage to two undersea telecom cables after identifying four suspects linked to the St. Vincent‑flagged cargo ship Fitburg. The vessel’s anchor dragged across the seabed in the Gulf of Finland, severing...
Eutelsat and Voimatel Partner on LEO Connectivity in Finland
Eutelsat has signed a partner agreement with Finnish infrastructure provider Voimatel to deliver OneWeb low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) connectivity across Finland. Voimatel will embed the satellite service into its fixed and wireless solutions, creating hybrid networks for enterprise and public‑sector clients. The...
Hidden Texting Vulnerability Across Major Carriers, Including Verizon and Apple, Finally Patched
Researchers at UC San Diego identified a hidden vulnerability that let attackers spoof text messages by exploiting the email‑to‑SMS translation used by carriers. The flaw affected both Android and iOS devices and was present across all major U.S. wireless providers, including Verizon...
Altice Agrees SFR Sale to Orange, Bouygues and Free
Altice has agreed to sell France's SFR to Bouygues, Iliad and Orange, splitting the operator into 42%, 31% and 27% stakes respectively. The enterprise value remains the same as the April proposal, with potential adjustments via a €650 million earn‑out and...
Norway Approves Telenor's $660M Purchase of GlobalConnect Consumer Fibre Business
Telenor ASA received approval from the Norwegian Competition Authority to acquire GlobalConnect's consumer fibre business for NOK 6 billion (about $660 million). The deal, slated to close in autumn 2026, comes with remedies that require GlobalConnect to divest overlapping infrastructure and transfer...
Orange to Acquire SFR for €20.35 Billion ($22 B) in French Telecom Consolidation
Orange signed a joint agreement to buy SFR for €20.35 billion (about $22 billion), expanding its French subscriber base by 18% and securing a dominant 5G spectrum position. The transaction, slated for completion in the second half of 2027, is the largest...
Algorithmic Optimization of Passive Phase-Shifts in RIS-Assisted mmWave Networks
Researchers unveiled a hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) platform that optimizes passive reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) for 28 GHz millimeter‑wave links. The system uses an 8×8 element RIS with 2‑bit phase shifters and a microcontroller‑driven coordinate‑descent algorithm that adapts to real‑world pin‑diode losses via...
Indian Telcos Should Stop Providing Free Unlimited 5G-Backed Offerings: Analysts
Analysts at Motilal Oswal say Indian telcos should stop offering free unlimited 5G on prepaid packs priced around ₹198‑199 ($2.4) and begin monetising higher data usage. Data traffic across Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea grew 29% year‑on‑year in FY26, pushing average monthly...
Telcos Redefining Their Role in Private 5G Future
Telcos are re‑positioning themselves in the nascent private 5G market, where adoption remains modest despite optimism at the Mobile Europe event. The Global mobile Suppliers Association counted 2,003 private network references worldwide by March 2026, with only about one‑third involving a...
Report: Wi-Fi 7 Remains Nascent in Most Markets
Ookla’s Speedtest data shows Wi‑Fi 7 is still in early adoption, representing just under 2% of global samples in Q1 2026. The 6 GHz band, essential for Wi‑Fi 7 performance, has risen to 13.8% usage in North America but remains under 2% worldwide. Singapore...
Telecom Revenue Growth May Slip to Single Digits without Tariff Hike
India's telecom sector saw revenue growth slow to about 10% in FY26, down from 13% the prior year, reaching roughly $32.5 bn. Operators have postponed major tariff hikes amid inflation and the Iran war, leaving only a modest ₹50 ($0.60) increase...
Amazon, Corning Ink Data Center Deal
Amazon signed a multibillion‑dollar agreement with Corning to supply optical fiber, cable and connectivity solutions for its expanding U.S. data center portfolio. The partnership will generate roughly 1,000 new jobs at Corning facilities in North Carolina and spur hundreds of...
Openreach Teams with EMR to Fight £500m‑Year Cable Theft in UK
Openreach has struck a partnership with European Metal Recycling (EMR) and charity Crimestoppers to combat a £500 million‑a‑year cable‑theft crisis that has disrupted service for over 100,000 customers since April 2024. The initiative adds DNA‑tagged cables, grid‑alarm sensors and a zero‑tolerance...
EXCLUSIVE: May 2026 Update on Broadband Availability Across the UK, Nations and Regions
Full‑fibre broadband now reaches over 99% of UK premises, and gigabit‑capable service covers roughly 91% nationally. However, the rollout pace has slowed dramatically compared with previous years, with most networks focusing on converting already‑served homes rather than expanding coverage. London...
Bouygues, Orange and Free‑iliad Team up in $22 Bn Bid for Altice’s SFR
Bouygues Telecom, Orange and Free‑iliad have signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire Altice France’s SFR for €20.35 billion (≈$22 billion). The consortium will split SFR’s assets – 42% to Bouygues, 31% to Iliad and 27% to Orange – and includes a...
AT&T Adds 584,000 Internet Customers, Launches Four New Fiber Plans to Curb Churn
AT&T announced it gained 584,000 new internet subscribers in Q1 2026 and rolled out four new fiber internet plans priced from $50 to $125 per month. The moves are designed to counter rising churn and intensifying competition from Verizon, T‑Mobile...
Bouygues Telecom, Orange, and Free Sign €20.35 Bn SFR Acquisition Deal
Bouygues Telecom, Orange and Free‑iliad have signed a memorandum of understanding with Altice France to acquire SFR for €20.35 billion (about $22.2 billion), one of Europe’s largest telecom deals. The consortium will split SFR’s assets, giving Bouygues 52% of revenue, Free‑iliad 27%...
Residents Fight 165‑Foot Verizon Tower in Southampton Over Health and Property Concerns
Atlantic Tower LLC, an affiliate of Vertex Towers, applied for a special permit to erect a 165‑foot Verizon cell tower at 1 Cook Road in Southampton. Residents and Easthampton officials rallied against the project, warning of health hazards and a...
Supreme Court Preserves FCC’s Telecom Privacy Penalty Authority
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that the Federal Communications Commission can keep imposing data‑privacy fines on telecom carriers through its own enforcement process, rejecting AT&T and Verizon’s constitutional challenge. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the agency’s in‑house penalty...
AT&T Secures 5G Deal with Rivian R2, Expanding Into Connected‑Car Market
AT&T announced it will supply 5G connectivity for Rivian's upcoming R2 electric‑vehicle platform across the United States and Canada, deepening a partnership that began in 2023. The move gives the telecom giant a foothold in the fast‑growing connected‑car market as...
Airtel and Jio Continue to Pull Ahead as 5G Adoption Crosses 434 Million: Ind-Ra
India’s telecom sector added 6.6 million wireless subscribers in April 2026, with Reliance Jio gaining 3.4 million and Bharti Airtel 3.2 million. Active users climbed to 1.194 billion, a 7.9 million month‑on‑month rise, while 5G penetration hit 40.3%, equating to roughly 434 million subscribers. Broadband penetration...
US Supreme Court Clarifies Agency Powers in Pair of New Rulings
The U.S. Supreme Court issued two rulings that favor federal regulators, clarifying agency enforcement mechanisms. In FCC v. AT&T, the Court held 8-1 that FCC forfeiture orders are not final and must be followed by a Department of Justice lawsuit,...
Elisa Tests Technology That Could Detect Undersea Cable Threats Before Damage Occurs
Elisa, together with the Finnish Border Guard and Navy, successfully tested a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system that converts existing submarine fibre‑optic cables into real‑time seabed sensors. The trials simulated threats such as ships dragging anchors and demonstrated the ability...