Today's Telecom Pulse
Australia's $5.25B spectrum fee sparks industry backlash
The Australian Communications and Media Authority announced a A$7.32 billion (≈US$5.25 billion) fee for renewing mobile spectrum licences held by the three major operators and NBN Co. Industry bodies AMTA and ATA denounced the charge as a "short‑sighted spectrum stealth tax" and warned it could force operators to curb investment.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Optimum raises $300M in preferred equity
Telecom News: DoT, SEBI, SK Telecom, Orange, ZEBOX
India’s Department of Telecommunications has teamed up with SEBI to create a real‑time data‑sharing platform that flags telecom‑linked investment scams, marking a shift toward proactive fraud prevention. SK Telecom announced a long‑term AI partnership with Ericsson to automate 5G radio access, improve spectrum efficiency and lay groundwork for 6G networks through 2031. Orange and ZEBOX entered a joint venture that leverages Orange’s global infrastructure to accelerate startup‑driven innovations in AI, cybersecurity and digital services.
Telecom News: Ceragon Networks, EdgeBeam Wireless, Soracom, AT&T
Ceragon Networks announced $10 million in private network contracts spanning utilities, mining, defense and public‑sector customers, with about $7.4 million expected as near‑term revenue by 2026. EdgeBeam Wireless partnered with Soracom to launch a hybrid connectivity platform that blends 4G/5G cellular with...
Fibre: The Backbone of South Africa’s Digital Health Ecosystem
Mweb’s survey of over 40,000 digitally active South Africans shows that the internet, especially fibre, is now central to health‑seeking behaviour. Seventy‑three percent of respondents research symptoms online, while roughly half of those using the web for medical queries have...
Viasat, Vueling Mark Milestone with One Million Free Inflight Wi-Fi Sessions Across A320 Fleet
Viasat Inc. announced that its partnership with Spanish low‑cost carrier Vueling has generated more than one million free inflight Wi‑Fi sessions across the airline’s A320 fleet. The service, launched in October 2025, is now available on over 80 aircraft and...
FTTH Conference 2026 Panel and Global Alliance Summit Accelerate Fiber Rollout
Stephan Rettenberger will speak at a FTTH Conference 2026 panel on fiber innovations for scalable data centers, while the FTTH Council launches its Global Alliance Summit to coordinate international FTTH deployment. Both events aim to remove bottlenecks and speed up...
Cintegral Deploys Taara Lightbridge for 20 Gbps Real‑Time Media Production
Cintegral has integrated Taara’s Lightbridge optical wireless connectivity into its ST 2110 Fiber over‑Air platform, delivering up to 20 Gbps bi‑directional links over 20 km. The move lets directors and crews collaborate in real time on remote shoots where traditional cabling is...
Cisco Goes to the Races with New Churchill Downs Multiyear Partnership
Cisco Systems announced a multiyear partnership with Churchill Downs to modernize network infrastructure across its racing venues and casinos, beginning in late 2026. The deal will replace more than 7,000 switches and create a unified routing fabric for 12 regional...
Equinix Launches Fabric Intelligence to Automate Network Ops for AI Workloads
Equinix unveiled Fabric Intelligence, an AI-powered control layer that automates network design, deployment and management across multi‑cloud and edge environments. The move targets the growing bottleneck where manual, ticket‑driven network operations struggle to keep pace with dynamic AI workloads.
DoT, SEBI Sign Pact to Curb Misuse of Telecom Resources in Financial Frauds
India’s Department of Telecommunications and the Securities and Exchange Board of India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly combat the misuse of telecom resources in securities‑market frauds. The pact creates a structured data‑sharing framework that will feed the...
Cloud‑Native Telecom Runs Live, Yet Still Needs Human Oversight
Most “autonomous networks” still rely on manual override. That’s the reality. At #MWC26, @ribboncomm showed what execution actually looks like, with @awscloud, cloud-native is already live in telecom environments. Not a roadmap. Not a demo. Now the real question: who...
5G Drives Enterprise Transformation, Says Cyient VP
In this episode of Conversations With Dez. wer'e talking with Aashu Virmani, Vice President & Client Partner of Communications at Cyient, exploration of the impact of 5G on enterprise transformation.. https://t.co/CKThAvWEpM
All‑Bands‑5G‑A Standard Gains Momentum as AI Traffic Set to Triple by 2030
Telecom operators worldwide are moving to Huawei's All‑Bands‑5G‑A architecture to cope with AI‑driven traffic that could triple by 2030. The shift expands low, mid and high‑frequency spectrum use, promises energy‑efficient performance and opens fresh monetisation paths beyond basic connectivity.
TGT Technology Group Shines at Japan IT Week Spring 2026, Empowering Japanese Enterprises with Global Smart Connectivity Through vSIM and...
TGT Technology Group used Japan IT Week Spring 2026 to launch its AI‑powered vSIM/eSIM portfolio for Japanese enterprises, highlighting card‑less global connectivity across devices such as MiFi, CPE, and in‑vehicle units. The suite, built on the company’s proprietary cloud communications...
Customer Service Key to Counter Pain Points
Broadband operators are turning to artificial intelligence to overhaul customer service amid mounting operational pressures such as supply‑chain disruptions, labor shortages, and the rollout of the BEAD program. Fidium’s CEO Gaurav Juneja says AI will power proactive network maintenance and replace...
Manhattan Bridge Capital Inc (LOAN) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Ciena Corp reported a record Q1 2026 revenue of $1.43 billion, up 33% year‑over‑year, driven by explosive demand from service providers, hyperscalers and neoscalers. Adjusted gross margin rose to 44.7% and adjusted EPS more than doubled to $1.35, while the order...
WBA Guidelines Target Rogue Access Points and Credential Theft
The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) released a Wi‑Fi Security Guidelines framework to standardize protection across public, enterprise, IoT, and roaming networks. The document mandates mutual certificate‑based authentication, WPA3‑Enterprise with Protected Management Frames, and encrypted RADIUS traffic to thwart rogue access...
Superloop Puts Functional Separation Bid to ACCC
Superloop has applied to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for approval of a joint functional separation undertaking following its $165 million (≈ $109 million USD) acquisition of Lynham Networks. The proposal would split Lynham into a wholesale‑only network provider while keeping...
NASA Seeks Proposals for Commercial TDRSS Replacement
NASA issued a draft solicitation on April 10 for Project NEXUS, a commercial Ka‑band data‑relay service intended to replace the aging Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). The agency cites a continuity risk for legacy assets such as the Hubble Space...
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly Wants to See Nokia Invest More in Canada
Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly urged Nokia to deepen its Canadian footprint during a fireside chat with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb at Nokia’s Ottawa site. She highlighted the need for more investment to help Canada meet its NATO‑aligned defence target...
Fibocom Showcased 5G/4G Communication Solutions at the 52nd China Electrical Instruments and Meters Industry Conference
At the 52nd China Electrical Instruments and Meters Industry Conference in Zhuhai, Fibocom presented its 5G/4G cellular modules and PCBA communication units aimed at the power‑IoT market. The showcase highlighted the RU311 RedCap module, a lightweight, low‑power solution designed for...
Lumen Technologies' High-Stakes Fiber Bet Nearly Bankrupted It. Now, It's Powering Its AI Future
Lumen Technologies, after narrowly avoiding bankruptcy, has slashed debt and sold its consumer business, now focusing on AI networking and cloud services built on its extensive fiber infrastructure. A new AWS Interconnect partnership sparked a >10% share rally, highlighting the...
Senate Committee Recommends Harsher Penalties for Copper Theft
The Senate transport and communications committee is urging the federal government to amend the Criminal Code with harsher penalties for copper theft, aligning with telecom industry demands. The committee’s report, Stolen Signal, also calls for a national metal‑theft task force...
American Tower Delivers 5G Connectivity at Pittsburgh International Airport
American Tower has completed a neutral‑host 5G Distributed Antenna System at Pittsburgh International Airport, covering the newly opened terminal and existing concourses. The deployment was selected through a competitive RFP and was built while the terminal was still under construction,...
Amazon Satellite Deal Takes the Battle of the Billionaires Into Orbit
Amazon secured a multi‑year, roughly $1.5 billion launch contract with SpaceX to deploy its Project Kuiper broadband satellites, marking a decisive step toward commercial service. The agreement covers up to 1,000 launches over the next decade, enabling Kuiper’s planned constellation of...
What Can Space Lasers Do for Business Broadband?
NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) achieved a 1.2 Gbps laser link from the International Space Station, showcasing speeds ten times faster than typical broadband. The same laser technology later enabled the Artemis II mission to transmit 4K video at 260 Mbps from...
United's Starlink Shift Leaves Flights Wi‑Fi Dead
A bunch of anecdotes making me think that as @united moves the fleet over to Starlink their ground station partner has cut them off. I know of 5 people on 5 EWR-SFO flights who haven't had wifi in the last...
SpaceX Launches Two Starlink Missions 19 Hours Apart
SpaceX conducted two Starlink missions on April 14, launching Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg within a 19‑hour window. Both flights were successful, deploying dozens of broadband satellites into low‑Earth orbit. The back‑to‑back launches underscore SpaceX’s ability to...
Why Amazon Is Buying Globalstar—And What It Means for Your iPhone
Amazon announced a $11.57 billion acquisition of Globalstar, securing low‑Earth‑orbit spectrum and satellite assets for its Project Leo network. The deal gives Amazon direct‑to‑device connectivity capabilities and a partnership with Apple to power emergency SOS features on iPhones and Apple Watches. Globalstar’s...
This Name Keeps Data Centers Buzzing. Shares Set Up In A Base.
Dycom Industries beat Q4 earnings, driven by surging demand for fiber‑optic infrastructure in data centers. The company reported a 74% profit jump to $2.03 per share, sales up 34% to $1.458 billion, and a 23% increase in its backlog, now $9.542 billion....
Corning and EXFO Leveraging New Technologies
At OFC 2026, Corning and EXFO executives highlighted how AI‑driven data traffic is forcing unprecedented density in optical networks. They outlined advances in multicore fiber and co‑packaged optics that promise higher capacity with lower power consumption. The companies emphasized the...
DoT, SEBI Sign MoU to Tackle Telecom-Linked Financial Frauds
India’s Department of Telecommunications and securities regulator SEBI signed a Memorandum of Understanding to combat telecom‑linked financial frauds. The deal creates a data‑sharing framework that will feed the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator and Mobile Number Revocation List into market‑surveillance systems....
How to Buy, Install, and Use a Travel eSIM Without Mistakes?
Travelers often assume data works instantly after landing, but missteps with eSIM activation can cause costly delays. The guide stresses checking coverage, region locks, and device compatibility before purchase, then installing the profile on a reliable Wi‑Fi connection and activating...
Proptivity Switches on World-First Ericsson Feature for Fully Digital Indoor 5G in Oslo
Proptivity has completed the world’s first commercial deployment of Ericsson’s Host Management Control feature at a commercial property in Oslo. The solution uses the Ericsson Radio Dot System to replace legacy analog distribution, allowing operators to connect their own baseband...
Siemens Expands 5G to US and 7 Additional Countries
Siemens announced that its industrial‑grade private 5G infrastructure is expanding to the United States and seven additional countries, bringing the solution to a total of 15 markets across Europe and the Americas. The rollout is powered by two new radio...
Comcast Is Suing DISH’s Parent Company
Comcast has filed a lawsuit in Colorado federal court seeking more than $54 million from DISH Wireless and its parent EchoStar, alleging a breach of a master service agreement. Comcast contends that EchoStar misused a force‑majeure clause after an FCC investigation,...
Stratospheric Airship Promises Faster, Higher‑Capacity Internet
Sceye wants to put internet access in the stratosphere, using an airship floating 20 km up in the sky. The goal is connections with less latency and more capacity than satellites in orbit. https://spectrum.ieee.org/sceye-high-altitude-platform-station
MCP Unifies Siloed Network AI Systems, Not New
Slightly late to the game, @7signal is talking about MCP Makes the point that multiple silo’d AI systems for networks / WiFi / IT helpdesk can use it to work better together Speaker wrongly claims it was created “in the...
SIRO’s Full Fibre Broadband Network Passes 700,000 Premises
Broadband operator SIRO announced its full‑fibre network now reaches 700,000 premises, covering towns and cities in every Irish county. The rollout pushes Ireland past the 85% coverage mark, aligning with the national goal of a fully‑fibre country by 2028. Despite...
Choosing WiFi and Small Cell Placement in Complex Airport Ceilings
Good question from Oberon Wireless: lots of airports and other locations have cool architectural features for ceilings So where do you put WiFi APs and small cells? https://t.co/7bacLm54Ui
Mesh/Tree Industrial WiFi Challenges Private 5G
Interesting mesh/tree industrial WiFi solution from @PicoCELA Indirectly competes with private 5G, I think https://t.co/5PlFbmucrm
Carrier Launches Voice‑cloning AI for Autonomous Calls
"REALLY, the wireless carrier that operates on T-Mobile's network, today announced a first-of-its-kind technology that allows subscribers to clone their voices and have their phone make and answer calls and take autonomous action on their behalf" https://t.co/FAF7lQNVQx ...really
AI and Sovereign WiFi Take Center Stage at WGC
My write-up of the first main day of @wifinowevents #WGC #wifi8 AI for WiFi WiFi for AI #Sovereign #WiFi https://t.co/nTBSVUyCUN
China Trials Deep-Sea Submarine Cable Cutter at 3,500 M
China tests submarine cable cutter at 3,500-metre depth Maybe "salvage" and "maintenance" vice "cutter", the cutting is not the primarily capability.... https://t.co/i2Wo4yNkyq
Nokia, Orange Team up for AI‑RAN, 6G‑ready Platform
Nokia and Orange to work together on AI‑RAN including: -GPU-based radio processor -NVIDIA AI infrastructure -the upper 6 GHz band -6G-ready platform https://t.co/ELP6q2vGh8
Starlink Drives 75%‑80% of SpaceX’s $1.75T Value
Here's what most people miss about SpaceX: 75–80% of its value isn't rockets. It's Starlink. The satellite internet business that nobody believed in is now the backbone of a $1.75 trillion company.
Cisco CTO Highlights Blurry Line Between Wi‑Fi and Mobile
Day 2 at @wifinowevents Congress @Cisco Wireless CTO Matt McPherson up now with an update on wireless enterprise trends I’m curious whether the survey distinguished wireless/WiFi vs mobile - it’s an area with lots of semantic blurriness https://t.co/ZwtqbCYvGB
Huge 5G Spend, Zero Loyalty: Network Wars Falter
.@Verizon and @ATT spent $150 billion on 5G network upgrades and it bought them zero customer loyalty. The era of competing on network seems to struggle to say it politely. 📉📵
FCC Exempts Netgear, Permitting Foreign-Made Router Sales
"The FCC says it will exempt Netgear, allowing it to sell new Wi-Fi routers and mesh models to consumers, even though they’re manufactured outside the US." via @Michael_Kan Netgear has about 9.6% of the US market, according to @Speedtest https://t.co/UBgJUHkCIu
Comcast Ends By‑The‑Gig Plans, Applies Premium Data Policy
. @comcast is bringing a premium-level data policy to all its unlimited plans and confirms it is no longer selling by-the-Gig plans to new Xfinity Mobile customers. @Light_Reading https://t.co/qdcFDBjihC
23 States Use Reverse Preemption for One‑
My street cred really got a jolt today when the @Verizon crew heard me say one touch make ready (OTMR) and that 23 states and the District of Columbia have exercised reverse preemption under section 224 the Communications Act. @FCC...