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
Best Broadband Deals in Ireland – April 2026
Irish consumers can now compare a slate of April 2026 broadband offers through Switcher.ie, which highlights discounted contracts from eir, Vodafone, Virgin Media and Pure Telecom. The deals range from 100 Mb to 1 Gb speeds, with monthly fees as low as €25 (≈$27) and promotional credits up to €65 (≈$71). Most plans require a 24‑month commitment but include incentives such as €50‑€65 bill credits or gift cards for sign‑ups before 30 April 2026. The roundup underscores a highly competitive market where providers use price cuts and bundled perks to attract price‑sensitive households.
NTT Data Claims Africa-First 400Gbit/S Peering at Jinx
NTT Data has become the first network operator in Africa to activate a 400 Gbit/s peering link at the Johannesburg Internet Exchange (Jinx). The upgrade, built on 400‑gigabit Ethernet ports introduced earlier with Nokia, expands capacity, resilience and low‑latency connectivity for...
5G Towers, Limoges ... And a Question of Principle?
France’s 5G rollout now includes roughly 47,000‑48,000 sites, but the expansion has sparked a wave of sabotage and civil‑disobedience. Since the pandemic, at least 174 attacks on antennas were recorded in 2021, ranging from burned masts to severed fiber cables....
Fire-Safety Group Warns Against Relaxing Telecoms Installation Regulations
The Fire Protection Association (FPA) warned that easing telecom‑installation rules in higher‑risk buildings could heighten fire danger. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is consulting on relaxing Building Safety Act 2022 requirements for fibre‑optic and mobile‑mast work...
FCC Considers Reallocating Nine UHF Channels to 6G
D.C. Memo: @FCC Asked to Adopt Plan Taking Nine UHF TV Channels from Broadcasters for Reassignment to 6G Wireless; Ahead of @nabtweets show in Las Vegas this week, a group called Landover Saturn 5 is targeting ‘underutilized’ UHF spectrum amid...
The End of ReConnect?
The USDA’s FY2025 budget proposal slashes discretionary spending by $4.9 billion, a 19% cut, and proposes eliminating the ReConnect rural broadband grant program. The agency argues that existing BEAD and other federal initiatives make ReConnect redundant, leaving only $230 million for new...
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Telecom Namibia Hit by International Connectivity Failure
Telecom Namibia reported a network slowdown last week after external international routes failed, affecting mobile data and browsing speeds for some customers. The operator quickly redirected traffic, upgraded critical equipment, and increased capacity at key nodes to stabilize service. It...
France to Use OneWeb and SatcomBw-4 Until Iris2 Ready
French @Armees_Gouv: @defis_eu #Iris2 constellation won't be ready by 2030, we'll use @EutelsatGroup #OneWeb until it is; we're looking at @bundeswehrInfo SatcomBw-4 as well for redundancy. @esa https://t.co/X0LJDmrh0y https://t.co/s5zObHgnqk
AI Fuels Wireless Talent Shortage
Enterprise networks are grappling with a severe wireless talent shortage, with 86% of organizations unable to find qualified staff. The shortage is amplified by AI‑driven workloads and IoT expansion, driving operational complexity and higher security incident costs—averaging $21.2 million annually for...
Deutsche Telekom CEO Pitches Sovereign AI, 6G to Industry
Deutsche Telekom chief Tim Hoettges used his Hannover Messe keynote to champion a sovereign AI strategy for German industry and to preview the role of 6G. He argued that Germany’s strong industrial base, engineering expertise and data‑sovereignty ambitions position it to...
Satellite Launch Failure Hits AST SpaceMobile Hard
AST SpaceMobile’s second‑generation satellite BlueBird 7 failed to reach its intended orbit after launch on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, rendering the payload inoperable. The company says the loss will be covered by insurance, but the setback trims its 2026 deployment goal...
Zain Wins Opensignal’s Best 5G Network Award for February 2026
Kuwait’s Zain was named the best 5G network in Opensignal’s February 2026 Mobile Network Experience Report, leading nine performance metrics and posting a 328.8 Mbps 5G download speed. The award highlights Zain’s continued investment in network modernization and its competitive edge...
5G Surpasses 3 Billion Connections
Omdia reports the global connectivity market generated $333 billion in Q4 2025 and $1.3 trillion for the full year, marking modest double‑digit growth. 5G connections surpassed the 3 billion mark, a 34% year‑on‑year increase, with Asia accounting for 69% of those users. India overtook...
Amazon to Acquire Globalstar for $11.6 B, Expanding Satellite IoT Services
Amazon announced a $11.6 billion deal to buy Globalstar, securing 24 operational satellites, spectrum licenses and direct‑to‑device capability for its Leo network. The acquisition dovetails with an Apple partnership and positions AWS to offer satellite‑backed IoT solutions to remote enterprises.
DID Telecom, Cataleya Partner to Bring Flagship Infrastructure in Amsterdam
DID Telecom and Cataleya announced a strategic partnership to launch a flagship telecom infrastructure hub in Amsterdam. The new facility will serve as a high‑capacity, secure platform for voice and number services, reinforcing Amsterdam’s role as a key EU interconnection...
Multi-Cloud Trust Integrity-Based Security Management Architecture for Blockchain- Enhanced Secure Network Slicing Using CKBNA and SFDA
A new multi‑cloud security framework introduces a Crystals‑Kyber Bickley‑Naylor (CKBNA) key‑establishment protocol and a Struve Function‑based Dilithium (SFDA) signature scheme to protect Secure Network Slicing (SNS). The architecture leverages an IpLUEN‑LSTM model for slice prediction, Hyperbolic Growth Gazelle Optimization for...
Boeing Develops Medium-Sized Satellite Amid Growing Demand
Boeing and its subsidiary Millennium Space Systems have unveiled the Resolute, a medium‑sized “micro‑GEO” satellite platform designed to bridge the gap between small‑sat and large, custom GEO satellites. The platform combines Millennium’s rapid production methods with Boeing’s advanced payload technology,...
Poland Completes Installation of GSM-R on the Central Railway Line
Poland’s railway manager PKP PLK has finished installing the GSM‑R digital radio system on the Central Railway Line (CMK), erecting the last tower in Secemin and completing 35 communication sites. The network, built by a Nokia‑led consortium, will be commissioned and...
Towards Understanding City-Level Routing Using BGP Location Communities
Researchers have demonstrated a scalable method to infer the city‑level meaning of undocumented BGP location communities using only passive routing observations. By correlating prefix origins with the routers that attach location tags, they correctly identified 1,482 of 1,595 communities, achieving...
5 Things You Must Check Before Buying a Data Plan for Your Next Trip
Travelers need more than cheap roaming; the article outlines five critical factors when selecting a data plan for overseas trips. It emphasizes checking coverage and network strength, comparing data limits and pricing, and ensuring plan flexibility. Additional services such as...
Specialists Leave Mobile Operators Behind on Home Internet
Vox captured every fixed‑broadband award in Opensignal’s Q1 2026 South African benchmark, outpacing the country’s largest mobile operators on home internet performance. The specialist ISP posted a 24.9 Mbps download speed, 17.5 Mbps upload speed and a reliability score of 363, beating Vodacom,...
Es’hailSat and Media City Qatar Partner to Advance Satellite Capabilities
Es’hailSat has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Media City Qatar to broaden satellite broadcasting and digital media services for more than 500 licensed companies in the Qatari media hub. The partnership leverages Es’hailSat’s satellite capacity, playout solutions, and...
Nigeria’s Airtime Lifeline Just Got Disrupted
On April 12, MTN Nigeria abruptly discontinued its Xtratime and XtraByte airtime‑credit services, and Airtel followed suit days later. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) clarified that the stoppage stems from operators’ failure to meet lending‑regulation deadlines introduced...
SR-MPLS Workshop Materials
The Segment Routing MPLS (SR‑MPLS) workshop kicked off on April 20, 2026 at ITNOG 10 in Bologna. Organizers provided a comprehensive slide deck, lab topologies, and detailed usage guidelines for attendees. All materials are hosted online via IPspace and a public GitHub repository,...
Airtel Select Prepaid Plans Now Come With Free Data Pack Coupon With OTT Benefit
Bharti Airtel has begun bundling free data‑pack coupons with three of its prepaid plans – the Rs 349 unlimited 5G plan, the Rs 979 84‑day plan and the Rs 3599 plan – in select circles. The coupons, valued at Rs 100 or Rs 195 (approximately...
Ericsson India Revenue Grows 29% to ₹4,228 Crore in March Quarter
Ericsson reported a 29% jump in India revenue to ₹4,228 crore (about $507 million) in the March‑quarter, raising its contribution to the group’s top line to 8%. The growth follows a surge in 5G equipment deliveries and network‑modernisation projects across the country....
AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 Launch Falters, Highlighting New Glenn’s Commercial Push
AST SpaceMobile launched its BlueBird 7 communications satellite aboard United Launch Alliance’s New Glenn rocket, but the upper stage placed the payload in a lower-than-planned orbit, forcing an inevitable de‑orbit. The company says insurance will cover the satellite’s cost while it continues...
Strengthening Your Network Security with APNIC’s Products and Tools
APNIC held a webinar in late March 2026 on strengthening network security, drawing 211 participants. The session highlighted the evolution from traditional IRR to cryptographic solutions like RPKI ROAs and the upcoming ASPA for path validation. It also showcased APNIC’s...
Iran's Cheap Broadband Masks Severe Internet Blackout
"Iran has something the US can only dream of: cheap broadband" [This story failed to mention that terrorist state Iran has been enforcing an Internet blackout for nearly two months and arresting @Starlink users. Otherwise, great reporting. | https://t.co/fhcyUHQCvH
New Study Exposes the Hidden Cost of “Big Wireless” As Most Older Americans Don’t Use the Data They’re Paying For
A Harris Poll study commissioned by Consumer Cellular reveals that nearly eight in ten Americans aged 50 and older are on unlimited wireless plans yet use just over 5 GB of data per month. More than half of this group cannot...
Monash Researchers Unveil ‘Swiss‑Army‑Knife’ Optical Chip with 11 Functions
Scientists at Monash University have demonstrated a compact metasurface optical chip that combines 11 broadband functions on a single surface. The device operates across 1200‑1400 nm and could replace bulky components in data‑center and telecom optics, marking a shift toward multifunctional...
Eero Seamlessly Switches to LTE When Wi‑Fi Fails
We tried Eero Signal: when your main internet connection drops, your Eero system automatically switches to the LTE connection that Signal provides. https://t.co/YHgc0FeO3S
The New Space Race for Connectivity: Satellite Internet and Critical Infrastructure
Satellite internet is moving from a niche backup solution to a core component of the global connectivity architecture. Low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) and medium‑Earth‑orbit constellations, together with 5G‑compatible non‑terrestrial networks (NTN), are delivering fiber‑like latency and throughput. Direct‑to‑device services now let ordinary...
ESIM Was Supposed to Replace SIM Cards, but Carriers Turned It Into a Trap
eSIM technology promised a frictionless, digital alternative to physical SIM cards, enabling easy carrier switching and eliminating the need for physical swaps. In practice, carriers have retained control, imposing activation hurdles and locking eSIMs to specific devices. Users face added...
T-Mobile’s Internet Deal Sweetens the Switch — Up to $750 to Leave, a Free Month to Try + Bonus Cash
T‑Mobile is rolling out a limited‑time Home Internet promotion that gives new customers a free first month, a rebate of up to $300 on a prepaid Mastercard, and coverage of up to $750 in cancellation fees from their current ISP....
T‑Mobile Gives Away iPhone 17e With New Experience More Plan, Covering $599 Cost
T‑Mobile announced that new customers who enroll in its Experience More plan will receive a free iPhone 17e, with the carrier covering the $599 retail price through 24 monthly bill credits. The promotion requires no trade‑in but locks users into a...
Mirai Botnet Exploits End‑of‑Life TP‑Link Routers via CVE‑2023‑33538
Unit 42 of Palo Alto Networks reported that the Mirai‑derived Condi botnet is actively exploiting CVE‑2023‑33538 in end‑of‑life TP‑Link consumer routers. The flaw lets attackers inject malicious code through an unvalidated HTTP parameter, and TP‑Link says the affected models will...
New Glenn’s Third Launch Expands Mobile Satellite Access
The third New Glenn launch has been a success, and it's going to mean wider access to mobile satellite communications. https://t.co/ktqDiJAn6B
Hollyland Unveils Pyro Ultra 4K60 Wireless System with 20 Ms Latency and 1.5 Km Range
Hollyland launched the Pyro Ultra, a flagship 4K60 wireless video transmitter priced at $1,199. The system delivers 20 ms ultra‑low latency, a 1.5 km (4,900 ft) range and unlimited one‑to‑many receivers, targeting live‑event, broadcast and digital‑cinema productions.
SES Shares Rebound to €6.44 as Valuation Model Shows 20% Upside
SES, the Paris‑listed satellite operator, surged 6.8% over the past month to €6.44 per share, while a discounted cash‑flow model points to roughly 20% upside. The rebound follows a three‑month dip and puts the stock back in focus for telecom...
Airtel 84-Day Prepaid Recharge Plans: Here’s What You Get in April 2026
Bharti Airtel’s April 2026 prepaid portfolio introduces ten recharge options with 84‑day (and one 90‑day) validity, priced from Rs 469 (~$5.6) to Rs 1798 (~$21.6) per recharge. All plans include unlimited voice, SMS allowances and a suite of digital perks such as...
Unlocking New Space Broadband Capacity, and the Consequences of ‘On Hold’
The episode examines three major developments reshaping space broadband: the FCC’s draft order to replace the outdated EPFD framework with performance‑based spectrum sharing rules, a move that could unlock over $2 billion and boost capacity up to sevenfold; Amazon’s pending acquisition...
Verizon CEO: The Network Is Not Enough
Verizon CEO Dan Schulman warned that a superior network alone won’t guarantee market dominance. In the United States, top carriers achieve roughly 300 Mbps on 5G, while most competitors linger around 200‑220 Mbps, according to the latest Ookla report. Although the speed...
MaxLinear Shares Tumble as Analysts Doubt AI‑driven Data‑center Strategy
MaxLinear Inc. saw its shares swing more than 12% lower as Wall Street analysts questioned the company’s AI‑centric data‑center connectivity plan. Despite a 30% revenue jump in 2025 and new 1.6 Tbps products, analysts cite execution risk and a $102 million operating...
Bharti Airtel CFO Soumen Ray Details $1.4 B Capex and Cost‑control Drive in Q3 Earnings Call
Bharti Airtel’s chief financial officer Soumen Ray told investors that third‑quarter capex was about 11,800 crore rupees ($1.4 bn) while operating free cash flow reached 15,900 crore rupees ($1.9 bn). He emphasized a "war on waste" cost‑control program and disciplined investment in network and...
6G Embeds AI at Core for Self‑Optimizing Networks
What is 6G Technology? “AI-Native Architecture: AI isn't just an ‘add-on’; it is built into the core of the network for self-optimization and self-healing” https://t.co/lZSajx7Bs6 #telecom https://t.co/RBAqnUfvN4
Amazon‑Globalstar Deal Shows Policy Misses Market Shifts
JUST IN: Amazon's partnership with Globalstar demonstrates that government industrial policies often fail to predict evolving markets and technologies.
FCC Approves 10 MHz 900 MHz Spectrum Expansion and Proposes Major Telecom Reforms
The Federal Communications Commission acted on four items at its Open Commission Monthly Meeting, including a Report and Order that opens the full 10 MHz of the 900 MHz band for broadband, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to tighten Lifeline program integrity,...
Clear-Com Unveils FreeSpeak Cell
Clear-Com introduced FreeSpeak Cell, a cellular‑based wireless intercom system that runs on LTE and 5G networks. Debuting at the 2026 NAB Show, the solution targets large‑scale productions by leveraging public and private cellular infrastructure instead of traditional RF spectrum. It supports...
6G Podcast - Amazon's $11B Acquisition, Verizon & FIFA, AST SpaceMobile Launch, Ericsson's Struggles
In this episode the hosts discuss Amazon’s $11 billion acquisition of Globalstar, exploring how the deal will expand Amazon’s Leo satellite service and its implications for Apple’s emergency‑text offering and future D2D mobile connectivity. They then examine Ericsson’s weak Q1 earnings,...