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
Polish Tech Industry Group Calls for Greater Flexibility in 5G Private Network Rules
Polish ICT association Cyfrowa Polska warned that the regulator UKE’s draft plan for allocating the 3,800‑4,200 MHz band could stifle private 5G network growth. While the group backs the overall direction and EU‑aligned regulatory framework, it says the proposal imposes unnecessary technical restrictions. Cyfrowa Polska argues that international analyses show a more permissive approach is needed to unlock the sector’s potential. The industry body is calling for specific rule adjustments before the spectrum auction proceeds.
Comcast's New Unlimited Plans Boost Simplicity and ARPU
. @comcast has launched two new unlimited plans – Mobile Plus and Mobile Select – that aim to put more focus on premium features and simplicity. Their flat rate per line structure could improve ARPU compared to Comcast's legacy mobile...
Australia Emerges as Ideal Market for Satellite Systems
“Australia is our fourth-largest market. We’ve seen a lot of demand in Australia. In some ways, if you were designing the perfect market for a satellite system, it’s exactly Australia,” via The Australian Financial Review. https://t.co/nt5BfUmaLx
The Third Tier: Scale-Across Like Kriss Kross
NVIDIA introduced the "scale‑across" tier at Hot Chips 2025, defining a new networking layer that connects AI training clusters across buildings, campuses, and even continents. The approach relies on coherent optics and disaggregated WDM to treat distant racks as a...
GSA Survey Finds Less than Quarter of Live 5G Networks Using Standalone Technology
A Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) survey shows fewer than 25% of live 5G networks are standalone (SA). By the end of March, only 95 operators had SA networks, a 42% year‑over‑year increase, while total 5G deployments rose 14% to...
Low Current Usage Means
In other words, hardly anyone uses it right now. But the consequence is that capacity if usage eventually picks up will be much lower than the 3bps/Hz that many have assumed https://t.co/bHpNSHfCA9 https://t.co/nyCcHY1ALR
Consumers Already Won the 5G Speed War
.@TMobile and @Verizon are fighting a war over speed that consumers already won. The only 5G killer app is the speed test app itself. Everything else runs fine on 4G. 🧵📉 #Telecom #5G
SoftBank and Ericsson Boost 5G Performance with Uplink Switching
SoftBank and Ericsson are rolling out an "Uplink Tx Switching" feature on SoftBank’s standalone 5G network, dynamically reallocating radio resources between TDD and FDD bands to boost upload capacity. Tests across the n1 and n77 bands show potential throughput gains...
Lawmakers Weigh Satellite Licensing Overhaul Amid Growing Demand
The House Communications and Technology Subcommittee reviewed the SAT Streamlining Act, legislation designed to modernize U.S. satellite licensing by giving the FCC clearer authority over geosynchronous and non‑geostationary systems and related ground infrastructure. The bill imposes a one‑year deadline for...
Xfinity Launches New Cheaper Mobile Plans and Included Device Protection
Xfinity Mobile is overhauling its lineup with two lower‑priced plans: Mobile Select at $30 per line offering 50 GB of high‑speed data, and Mobile Plus at $45 per line providing unlimited high‑speed data and 4K streaming. Both plans include unlimited talk,...
Orange, Bouygues and Iliad Launch $24 Bn Bid for SFR, Reshaping France’s Telecom Market
Orange, Bouygues Telecom and Iliad have submitted a joint €20.35 bn ($24 bn) offer for SFR, which serves about 26 million mobile customers. The deal would reduce France’s mobile operators from four to three and trigger a regulatory review of pricing and investment...
Tele2 Estonia Service Revenues up 3% in Q1
Tele2 Estonia posted Q1 service revenue of €16.7 million (≈$18.2 million), a 3% year‑on‑year increase. Underlying EBITDAaL rose 25% organically to €6.8 million (≈$7.4 million), reflecting strong cost‑efficiency measures. Capital expenditure jumped 78% due to lease investments after the Baltic tower transaction, yet the...
Iran Network Backdoors Claim Hits Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet
Iran’s Ministry of ICT alleges that hidden U.S. access mechanisms caused Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet and MikroTik equipment to reboot and go offline during strikes on Isfahan Province. Tehran has not released forensic evidence, and ordinary power or hardware issues could...
D2D Measurements Match T‑Mobile’s LA Cellular Performance
Here is how Ookla’s D2D network measurements in the U.S. compare against typical terrestrial, cellular network measurements. These terrestrial measurements were taken on T-Mobile’s network in Los Angeles, a city with generally excellent cellular coverage. https://t.co/PajgLycesP https://t.co/LerjEY7TWs
Router Security Hardening Steps for 2026: From Default Credential Audits to Automated Firmware Risk Monitoring
Network edge devices, especially routers, have overtaken PCs as the primary cyber‑attack vector, a trend accelerated by hybrid work in the Netherlands. Threat actors exploit default credentials, unpatched firmware, and exposed management interfaces, making routers the weakest link in many...
Trooli Full Fibre Network Now Available to PXC Residential Partners
PXC, the former TalkTalk Wholesale spin‑off, has added the Trooli full‑fibre network to its portfolio of alternative networks. Trooli covers roughly 450,000 premises across the South East, East England and parts of Scotland, complementing the 300,000 premises already served by...
Poverty Advocacy Group Raises BEAD Funding Concerns
Children’s Defense Fund warned that Mississippi’s $700 million BEAD allocation could be diverted from the state’s poorest and minority communities as Starlink competes for the funds. The NTIA rejected Starlink’s request for a waiver, keeping the state’s broadband eligibility rules in...
Jio Leads Mobile Speeds While ACT Fibernet Tops Broadband in India: SpeedGeo Report Q1 2026
SpeedGeo’s Q1 2026 report, based on 545,000 fixed‑line and 61,000 mobile tests, shows Reliance Jio retaining the top spot in mobile internet with 115.3 Mbps average download, while ACT Fibernet leads fixed broadband at 118.1 Mbps. Broadband latency averaged 40 ms versus 69 ms for mobile,...
U Business, Qualcomm and City-Link Express Achieve Faster Shipment Location Verification
U Business, the enterprise arm of U Mobile, completed a proof‑of‑concept with Qualcomm and City‑Link Express to track high‑value air cargo using 5G‑IoT and Qualcomm’s Terrestrial Positioning Service. Qualcomm trackers attached to shipments delivered real‑time location, shock, tilt, temperature and...
Streamline Multi-Country Travel with Holafly: One eSIM for Several Places
Holafly’s eSIM platform lets travelers stay online across more than 200 destinations with a single digital SIM, eliminating the need for physical cards or frequent roaming switches. The service offers regional prepaid bundles for fixed itineraries and subscription plans—Unlimited or...
Calls for Tech Regulators to Keep Pace with Rapid Tech Changes
Industry leaders gathered in Sandton to debate South Africa’s evolving ICT regulatory landscape, highlighting the complexity of competition law, merger approvals and the draft National AI Policy. The panel examined recent high‑profile deals such as Vodacom’s 30% stake in Maziv...
AT&T Q1 2026 Results: Revenue, Subscribers, Fiber and 5G Drive Growth Across All Business Segments
AT&T reported Q1 2026 revenue of $31.5 billion, a 2.9% year‑over‑year increase, driven by growth in its Advanced Connectivity segment. The company added 584,000 internet subscribers—including 292,000 fiber and 292,000 fixed‑wireless users—and 294,000 postpaid phone customers, underscoring momentum in its 5G...
Freshwave Promises All-Operator 4G/5G Signal Indoors
Freshwave has launched 5G on Omni, an evolution of its Omni Network that delivers multi‑operator 4G/5G indoor coverage using Ericsson’s Radio Dot small‑cell system. The solution claims up to 50% lower energy use than traditional DAS, faster deployment and reduced cabling,...
Qualcomm Warns U.S. Must Allocate 600 MHz of 6G Spectrum by 2029
Qualcomm’s senior vice‑president of spectrum policy, John Kuzin, told RCR Wireless that the United States must secure at least 600 MHz of mid‑band spectrum by 2029 to meet the industry’s 6G launch timeline. He warned that postponing allocation could undermine U.S. leadership...
AT&T Adds More Wireless Subscribers than Expected as Bundling Pays Off
AT&T reported a net gain of 294,000 wireless subscribers in Q1 2026, outpacing the 272,000 analysts had expected. The growth was driven by bundled offers that combine wireless service with high‑speed fiber, a strategy embraced by about 42% of the...
AT&T Results Seen Mixed as Wireless Service Revenue Disappoints
AT&T posted a mixed first‑quarter 2026 earnings report. Wireless service revenue rose 1.7% to $16.9 billion, falling short of the $17 billion consensus estimate, while average revenue per user stayed flat. Home‑internet sign‑ups also missed market expectations, but the company’s overall sales...
Virgin Media O2 Announces 5GSA Coverage Across Surrey
Virgin Media O2 has launched 5G Standalone (5G+) across Surrey, delivering coverage to 33 large towns, 48 smaller towns and 194 rural villages – roughly 1.2 million residents – at no extra charge for compatible devices. The rollout is part of...
NAB 2026: Eastern Kentucky University Deploys Campus-Wide ST 2110 Network with Riedel and Bridge Digital
Eastern Kentucky University has upgraded its campus‑wide video infrastructure from legacy SDI to a hybrid SMPTE ST 2110 workflow, using Riedel MediorNet and Bridge Digital’s integration. The 100‑gigabit fiber backbone now links the Alumni Coliseum, Perkins Building and Center for the...
Raspberry Pi RP2350 Board Offers NB-IoT Cellular Connectivity, GNSS, and Wi-Fi Indoor Location
Challenger+ has released a Feather‑compatible RP2350 board that adds certified NB‑IoT and GNSS connectivity via the ST87M01 modem. The dual‑core RP2350 MCU runs at 150 MHz and includes 8 MB PSRAM, 8 MB flash, and a USB‑C power interface. Cellular performance reaches up...
Omantel Drafts Cerillion for ‘Major’ BSS/OSS Upgrades
Omantel has selected Cerillion to deliver a major upgrade of its BSS/OSS systems as part of its shift from a traditional telco to a technology‑focused operator. The partnership will implement Cerillion’s pre‑integrated suite—including product catalogue, CRM Plus, convergent charging, service manager,...
A&K Travel Journeys with Colt for Global Quantum-Safe Network
Travel operator A&K Travel Group has partnered with Colt Technology Services to build a global, quantum‑safe network for its portfolio of luxury travel brands. The solution incorporates Arqit’s quantum‑resistant encryption, enabling secure, low‑latency connectivity across more than 100 countries, including...
TELUS PureFibre Brings 5 Gbps Internet Speeds to Calgary-Bonavista
TELUS, together with Fibre Connect and Ledcor, will roll out its PureFibre FTTP service to Calgary‑Bonavista, adding the community to the 1.2 million Alberta homes and businesses already covered. The deployment involves more than 250,000 metres of underground fibre and will deliver...
AI Agents Backed as Long-Term Network Play
Telecom executives at FutureNet World in London agreed AI agents are essential for future network operations but warned that trust, governance, and fault risk limit current closed‑loop use. BT Group’s Reza Rahnama said agents can simplify tool fragmentation and enable...
GTT Targets AI Networking Growth with 2026 Strategy
GTT Communications unveiled its 2026 strategy centered on AI‑driven networking, expanding its Envision platform and bolstering hybrid‑cloud and security services. The plan builds on 2025’s milestone of over 700 Tbps capacity and reach in more than 170 countries, positioning GTT as...
A Eutelsat Apoia a Co-Op Cable No Lançamento De Oferta Expandida De DTH No Caribe
Eutelsat has teamed with Co‑op Cable to launch an expanded direct‑to‑home (DTH) television and satellite‑based broadband offering across the Caribbean, using the EUTELSAT 65 West A satellite. The service blends high‑definition TV with geolocation‑enabled internet connectivity, targeting residential homes and hospitality venues in...
Algeria 5G Performance: Mobilis, Djezzy, Ooredoo Compete on Speed, Reliability and Market Share
Algeria’s three major operators—Mobilis, Djezzy and Ooredoo—launched commercial 5G services in late 2025, leveraging 3.5 GHz mid‑band spectrum. The rollout lifted the national average download speed from 23.6 Mbps to 40.9 Mbps by December 2025, with city‑level peaks exceeding 100 Mbps in Algiers. Market...
After Mobile, Capitec Connect Eyes Home Broadband Push
Capitec Bank’s MVNO, Capitec Connect, more than doubled its net income contribution to R442 million (≈ $23 million) in the year to 28 Feb 2026, driven by a surge to 1.5 million active subscribers. Data traffic jumped three‑fold to 40.5 petabytes and voice minutes more than doubled...
TRAI Urges Users to Check Internet Performance with MySpeed App Amid Connectivity Concerns
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched an updated MySpeed app for Android and iOS to let consumers measure real‑time internet performance. The tool tests mobile (3G, 4G, 5G) and fixed‑line Wi‑Fi connections, reporting download/upload speeds, latency and...
Akasa Rolls Out Realtek-Based 10GbE PCIe Card for Multi-Gig Upgrades
Akasa has launched the AK-PCCE10-01, a PCIe 3.0 ×2 network card using Realtek RTL8127AT to deliver 10 GbE over a standard RJ45. The card auto‑negotiates speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps, supports IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet, Wake‑on‑LAN and jumbo frames up to 16 KB....
Centracom’s Pindrop Takes the Pain Out of Wholesale Fibre
South Africa’s Centracom has launched Pindrop, a platform that consolidates wholesale connectivity options—including fibre, microwave, satellite and 5G—into a single address‑based view. The service not only shows availability and pricing but also handles ordering, project management and ongoing support, giving...
Analyst: Blue Origin Failure Risks Industry Timelines, D2D Competition
AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7, launched on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, failed to reach its intended low‑Earth orbit and is being decommissioned. The setback slows the planned cadence of six‑ton BlueBird antenna launches, jeopardizing the company’s goal of deploying 45 units this...
Thailand Fixed Broadband Growth to Drive 2.6% Telecom Revenue CAGR Through 2030
Thailand’s fixed communication services market is projected to expand at a 2.6% compound annual growth rate through 2030, led by a 3% CAGR in fixed broadband. Growth is anchored in accelerating fiber‑to‑the‑home deployments and expanding fixed wireless access, while fixed‑voice...
Telecom News: Wire 3, Comcast, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio
Wire 3 announced a full‑fiber rollout in Albany, with construction slated for summer 2026 and first connections expected by fall, promising symmetrical high‑speed service. Comcast is extending its Xfinity multi‑gigabit fiber footprint to three Missouri cities, covering more than 4,200...
Telecom News: GTT Communications, Eutelsat, Co-Op Cable, FBR Solutions
GTT Communications unveiled a 2026 AI‑driven roadmap that upgrades its Envision platform, adds a real‑time cybersecurity framework, and expands SASE, hybrid cloud, and satellite connectivity services. Eutelsat partnered with Co‑op Cable to launch a bundled direct‑to‑home TV and broadband offering...
Comcast Eyes Mixed Q1 Outlook as Broadband Losses Meet Sports‑Driven Ad Surge
Comcast is set to report first‑quarter 2026 results with consensus estimates of $30.84 billion in revenue and 73 cents per share earnings, down 33% YoY for EPS but up 3% YoY for revenue. Analysts flag broadband subscriber losses and ARPU pressure, while...
Why Roaming Friction Is Not a Technical Problem
Despite near‑universal 5G coverage and robust inter‑carrier agreements, roaming still feels cumbersome. The article argues that the friction stems from legacy commercial models designed to protect domestic revenue, not from technical limitations. With international travel rebounding to 1.4‑1.5 billion arrivals, user...
Airbus, Thales Alenia Space and RADMOR Ink Deal for Poland’s First Sovereign GEO Satellite
Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space and Polish firm RADMOR have signed an industrial cooperation agreement to develop Poland’s first sovereign geostationary defence telecommunications satellite. The pact, announced in the presence of Poland’s defence minister and France’s armed forces...
Telcos vs OTT Apps: Trai's Spam Rules Spark Row with Airtel, Jio, Vi
India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) has drafted amendments that would bar call‑management apps such as Truecaller from tagging commercial 140 and 160‑series numbers as spam and would force them to feed user‑generated spam reports into the regulator’s Do‑Not‑Disturb registry. Leading...
SBI Moves SC Seeking Review of Spectrum Ruling, Flags Impact on Telecom Insolvencies
State Bank of India, representing lenders to the bankrupt Aircel group, has filed a petition with India’s Supreme Court to review the February 13 judgment that bars telecom spectrum from being treated as an asset in insolvency proceedings. The bank argues...
China Tests 11,400‑ft Deep‑Sea Cable‑Cutting ROV, Raising Stakes for Global Telecom Infrastructure
China announced that its Haiyang Dizhi 2 research vessel has successfully trialed a remotely operated vehicle capable of slicing undersea fiber‑optic cables at 11,483 feet (3,500 m). The device, which also repairs cables, uses aerospace‑grade electro‑hydrostatic actuators and a diamond‑coated cutter, giving Beijing...