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
Weekly Brief – 10/04/2025
Openreach has rolled out half a million Zyxel‑manufactured optical network terminals (ONTs) built from 95% recycled plastic and shipped in zero‑plastic packaging, marking a major step toward greener broadband infrastructure. In the UK, BT continues to address a fault on the North Isles subsea cable, with the repair vessel Pierre de Fermat now on site, though completion depends on weather. Ofcom has issued a provisional enforcement notice to IX Wireless for breaching visual‑impact regulations, while Openreach secured a gigabit‑speed build contract for the Derbyshire Peak District following a contract reshuffle with FullFibre.
FCC Seeks to Impose Tougher Clampdown on Chinese Telcos in US
The Federal Communications Commission is preparing a vote to prohibit U.S. telecom carriers from interconnecting with China’s three largest mobile operators—China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom—and from using their data centers, points of presence, and equipment. The proposal also...
NSA and FBI Urge Router Reboot After Russian GRU Hijacks Thousands of Devices
The National Security Agency and the FBI are urging U.S. residents to reboot and harden their home internet routers after a Russian military‑intelligence unit hijacked thousands of devices nationwide. The advisory follows a court‑authorized operation that removed malicious DNS settings...
Texas Camps Sue to Block State Fiber Internet Mandate
Nineteen Texas summer camps filed a lawsuit to block a state rule that forces them to install end‑to‑end fiber broadband and maintain a secondary connection. The mandate, enacted under Senate Bill 1 after a deadly 2025 flood, aims to improve...
Electronics Industry Says FCC's Foreign-Made Router Policy Is a Bit of a Mesh
The FCC’s new rule places foreign‑made consumer routers on a Covered List, allowing only those cleared by the DoD or DHS and committed to U.S. manufacturing to receive approval. The Global Electronics Association argues the policy is misguided, noting past...
Electronics Industry Says FCC's Foreign-Made Router Policy Is a Bit of a Mesh
The FCC’s new “Covered List” bans approval of any new consumer‑grade router made abroad unless the vendor commits to U.S. production. The Global Electronics Association says the rule is impractical because most routers are imported and adds a DoD/DHS clearance...
Amphenol RF Releases New Bulkhead Connector
Amphenol RF has added an HD‑BNC bulkhead connector to its coaxial line, offering a high‑density, rear‑mount solution that can accommodate up to four times more connections on a single panel than a standard BNC. The connector features a gold‑plated brass body...
Frequency Matters, Apr 10: Amps/Oscillators Issue, Industry News/Events
The April 10, 2026 "Frequency Matters" episode, hosted by Microwave Journal’s media director Pat Hindle, spotlights the latest technical articles on amplifiers and oscillators, delivers industry news, and is sponsored by Mini‑Circuits. The video is part of the journal’s on‑demand...
Juniper Networks Patches Dozens of Junos OS Vulnerabilities
Juniper Networks released patches for nearly three dozen vulnerabilities affecting its Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved platforms. The most critical flaw, CVE-2026-33784 (CVSS 9.8), involves a default password in the Support Insights Virtual Lightweight Collector that could be exploited...
KDDI and Okinawa Cellular's Au Starlink Direct Now Supports iPhones in US
KDDI and Okinawa Cellular have upgraded their au Starlink Direct service to work with 22 iPhone models, spanning the iPhone 13 through iPhone 17 line‑ups and the iPhone Air. The service delivers direct satellite‑to‑smartphone connectivity for customers roaming in the United States, bypassing traditional cellular...
NAB 2026: MultiDyne to Debut FiberSaver-10G and VF-9100
MultiDyne will unveil two fiber‑optic transport solutions at NAB 2026: the FiberSaver‑10G multiplexer, which consolidates multiple 10 Gbps streams onto a single fiber with up to 94% fiber savings, and the VF‑9100 platform, the next‑gen version of its VF‑9000 with a RESTful...
Weekly Wrap: The Fight over MSS Spectrum Is in Full Swing
Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire Globalstar in a deal valued around $9 billion. Globalstar holds valuable mobile‑satellite service spectrum in the L/S‑band and, more critically, Band 53/n53 (2483.5‑2495 MHz) licensed in 11 countries, which Amazon could integrate into its Leo network...
One Starlink MVNO to Conquer All
US Mobile has become the first mobile‑virtual network operator to bundle residential Starlink satellite internet with a cellular plan. The offering gives subscribers a single subscription that provides broadband via Starlink and phone service that automatically switches among Verizon, AT&T...
North Lanarkshire Council Seeking Provider for Full-Fibre Rollout to Social Housing
North Lanarkshire Council has launched an expression of interest for a broadband partner to deliver a full‑fibre rollout across its social‑housing portfolio. The programme, valued at £40 million (approximately $51 million), aims to provide 1 Gbps‑capable service to roughly 36,000 properties. The council...
Russian Telecom Tower and Antenna Count Rises 9% in 2025
Russia’s telecom infrastructure expanded by 9% in 2025, with towers and antennas rising from 114,400 to 125,200 units, according to TelecomDaily. The growth was led by Pilar, which added 22% to its portfolio and now operates 35,500 towers. New Towers...
Global Cellular IoT Antenna Shipments to Record 8% CAGR Through End-2030 - Berg Insight
Berg Insight forecasts global cellular IoT antenna shipments to reach 1.1 billion units by 2030, reflecting a 7.9% compound annual growth rate. Shipments already climbed to 757 million units in fiscal year 2025, up 23% from the prior year. The research spans...
Hydrogen Generators
Hydrogen fuel‑cell generators are beginning to replace diesel backup units at telecom sites, offering silent, heat‑free, zero‑emission power. Diesel generators, common at data centers and remote cabinets, generate loud noise—up to 110 decibels—and oily smoke, especially in cold weather. Early...
FCC Eyes Tougher Rules on Chinese Telcos
The FCC announced it will consider banning China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile from operating data centers in the United States. The agency says it has tentatively found national‑security risks from these firms and is seeking public comment before...
UK Considers Ban on Owning Signal Jamming Devices Used by Car Thieves and Shoplifters
The UK government has launched a call for evidence on banning the possession of radio‑frequency jammers, which criminals use to disrupt security systems, GPS tracking, and emergency communications. Misuse ranges from disguising jammers as watches to block video doorbells, to...
Navy’s Free Barracks Wi-Fi Program Reaches Installations in Italy and Greece
The Navy’s free, high‑speed Wi‑Fi initiative for unaccompanied housing is now 86% complete, with service active in 827 of 952 buildings. Expansion reached three overseas sites—Naval Support Activity Naples, Naval Air Station Sigonella and NSA Souda Bay—on April 1. Adoption is...
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Gitex Africa 2026: Companies Ink Deals to Transform Morocco
Gitex Africa 2026 in Marrakech showcased a wave of telecom and tech partnerships aimed at modernising Morocco’s digital infrastructure. Inwi teamed with China Mobile International to deploy the country’s first private 5G network on a 52‑hectare industrial site in Nador,...
Telia Norway Stops over 8 Mln Scam Calls to Mobile Lines in Q1
Telia Norway reported that it blocked 8.4 million fraudulent calls from reaching mobile users in Q1 2026, potentially preventing roughly NOK 250 million (about $27.5 million) in losses. The telecom operator highlighted a surge in targeted SMS‑based attacks known as spearfishing, which aim at extracting...
OpenMind Eases 5G Standalone Messaging Upgrades with Launch of 5G SMS Module
OpenMind Networks announced the general availability of its 5G SMS Function (SMSF) module, a software component that streamlines upgrades to 5G Standalone (SA) signaling protocols. The SMSF integrates directly with OpenMind’s OpenCore Short Message Service Centre (SMSC), which runs on...
Telefonica Launches 5G Drone Service in Spain
Telefonica Spain has launched an end‑to‑end 5G drone service that combines remote piloting, a “drone‑in‑a‑box” hardware platform, and edge‑enabled software for industrial and public‑sector clients. The offering is managed from the T_Space facility in Madrid and leverages 5G network slicing,...
FCC to Vote April 30 on Easing LEO Satellite Power Limits, Boosting Starlink
The Federal Communications Commission will vote on April 30 to relax power restrictions for low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellites, a move that could dramatically increase the speed and reliability of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband. The proposal pits the growing LEO industry against incumbent...
Claro Peru 5G Network Reaches 110 Districts
Claro Peru, part of América Móvil, announced its 5G network now covers 110 districts nationwide after a year‑long activation. The rollout brings ultra‑fast mobile connectivity to major hubs such as Lima, Callao, Arequipa and secondary markets like Puno and Abancay. By...
RINA Wireless Taps Mavenir to Bring Crystal-Clear Voice to Rural America
RINA Wireless has selected Mavenir to replace its legacy voice core with a cloud‑native, containerized solution that supports IMS, VoLTE, VoWiFi and voicemail. The new multi‑vendor deployment runs on Mavenir’s 4G/5G non‑standalone packet core, extending a relationship that began with...
Plustelka Migrates Second Multiplex to DVB-T2
Slovak pay‑TV platform Plustelka will migrate its second multiplex to the DVB‑T2 standard on April 14, 2026. The upgrade is part of a broader DTT modernization aimed at improving picture quality and freeing spectrum for new services. Viewers must retune...
IC Logistix Introduces Fujikura 99S Fusion Splicer
IC Logistix has launched the Fujikura 99S Fusion Splicer, a next‑generation fiber‑optic splicing tool that combines advanced core alignment, high‑speed splicing, intelligent automation, rugged construction, and extended battery life. The device is engineered for Africa’s rapidly expanding fiber networks, promising...
5G Expected to Reshape South Africa’s Wireless Broadband Market
South Africa’s broadband access market is projected to hit roughly US$4.4 billion in revenue by 2029, adding 3.7 million new residential subscriptions. A compound annual growth rate of 8.6% is driven mainly by fibre‑to‑the‑home and fixed‑mobile broadband, with 5G expected to capture...
Bidders Line up for €8 Billion XpFibre Deal
Altice’s Patrick Drahi has opened a sale process for his 50.01% stake in XpFibre, inviting a shortlist that includes DigitalBridge, KKR, Brookfield Asset Management and Vauban Infrastructure Partners. Initial offers value the fibre network at roughly €8 billion (about $8.7 billion) including...
Warning that South Africa’s Digital Competitiveness Is in Retreat
The Development Bank of Southern Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Investment Study 2025 reveals South Africa’s digital competitiveness slipped to 54th out of 67 countries, only a modest gain from 2020. The report highlights severe weaknesses in training, education and regulatory frameworks,...
FCC Proposes Tougher KYC Rules to Crack Down on Illegal Robocalls
The FCC has issued a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to tighten Know‑Your‑Customer (KYC) requirements for voice service providers that originate robocalls. The agency wants carriers to collect full names, addresses, government IDs and usage details, retain records for up...
Nigerian Telcos Lost ₦2.3 Billion Worth of Generators to Theft in 2025
Nigerian telecom operators reported the theft of 656 generators and battery systems in 2025, amounting to roughly ₦2.3 billion (about $5 million). Each 15 kVA generator is valued at around ₦3.5 million ($7,600), and the loss forces base stations to go offline, degrading voice...
SA’s R142bn Connectivity Plan: The Real Question Isn’t Funding; It’s Execution
South Africa unveiled a costed roadmap investing roughly R142 billion (about $7.7 billion) to deliver 100 Mbps broadband to every household by 2035. The plan spreads the spending over ten years, aligning public and private capital rather than creating new funding. Analysts argue...
SpaceX Revenue Will Be Close to Around $27-30 Billion in 2026
SpaceX’s Starlink service is slated to generate roughly $20 billion in 2025, nearly doubling its 2024 earnings of $11.8 billion. Subscriber acquisition is accelerating from 750,000 to 1.5 million new users each month, reshaping the company’s revenue mix. The airline and maritime segments...
Connecting the Pacific: Infrastructure, Operations, and Regional Cooperation
The Pacific region is witnessing incremental but meaningful upgrades to its Internet ecosystem, highlighted by new submarine‑cable projects such as Google’s Bulikula system, the VAKA cable to Tuvalu, and upcoming Hawaiki Nui 1 and Adamasia cables. Local Internet Exchange Points are slowly...
Making Waves
On April 10, 2026, Microwave Journal posted a brief entry titled “Making Waves” that primarily serves as a gateway to a downloadable PDF of the same name. The web page contains navigation links, related‑article references to 2010 MTT‑S events, and...
Fabs & Labs: Filtronic
Filtronic has inaugurated a new state‑of‑the‑art headquarters, design centre and manufacturing facility at NetPark in Sedgefield, County Durham. The complex includes advanced cleanroom environments tailored for high‑frequency components used in space, defence and communications applications. By consolidating R&D and production...
Forecast: 5G to Drive India’s Mobile Services Market
India’s mobile services market is projected to grow from $33.3 billion in 2025 to $43.7 billion by 2030, a 5.6% CAGR, fueled by expanding 5G coverage and rising data consumption. Voice revenues will keep falling at a 2.4% CAGR as OTT apps...
Faulty Adapter Causes Netgear Hotspot Power Drain
There seems to be something wrong with power adapter, cable, or software related to that on Netgear hotspots. Same thing happened on newer and older device. They started running out of power to the point they were unusable. Switching to...
SoftBank Adds Free Starlink Mobile to Japan Carriers
Starlink Mobile goes in-country-multicarrier Today SoftBank joined KDDI and Docomo in offering Starlink Mobile for free to mobile customers in Japan. https://t.co/qXooo8MHM2
Equity Group Wants More Charter-Cox Commitments
The Digital Equity Los Angeles Coalition (DELAC) has been granted party status in the California Public Utilities Commission’s review of the proposed $34.5 billion merger between Charter Communications and Cox Communications. DELAC argues the merger lacks enforceable commitments to low‑income broadband,...
FCC Reviews C‑band Rules to Protect Airline Altimeters
The FCC is now asking "whether the proposed Upper C-band technical rules, including power levels and OOBE limits, should be adjusted to promote coexistence with radio altimeters in the 4.2–4.4 GHz band." https://t.co/VOIDm4IsLt Expect more 5G v airlines...
US Mobile's Starlink Bundles Start $47, Rise After Six Months
"US Mobile has revealed pricing on a set of Starlink bundles that start at $47 per month for new customers. The discount on the Starlink tiers convert to regular pricing after six months, which is $20 higher for each tier."...
The Politics of a Subsea Data Cable Link to Antarctica
Researchers note Antarctica remains the only continent without a fiber‑optic link, despite mature subsea cable technology. The U.S. National Science Foundation is studying a cable from New Zealand or Australia to McMurdo, while a Chile‑backed effort eyes a route to King George...
The End of the VSAT Parts Bin
Tactical VSAT systems are moving from a modular “parts‑bin” approach to fully integrated terminal‑modem‑interface platforms. The shift consolidates antennas, ruggedized outdoor modems and a single browser‑based control GUI, slashing deployment time and reducing field failures. Parabolic dishes still dominate high‑throughput...
FCC To Vote on Changes to Audible Crawl Rule
The FCC will vote on April 20 to amend the Audible Crawl rule, which mandates an audio description of visual emergency graphics for the blind and visually impaired. After six postponements since its 2013 adoption, the agency delayed enforcement again until...
Optical Networks Must Evolve for AI-Driven Smart Homes
AI is moving into our homes — and networks must evolve with it. At #MWC2026, Huawei highlighted how optical networks are enabling AI-driven services, from smart homes to distributed computing. It’s no longer just about connectivity. It’s about intelligent experiences. Read more 👉...
TP-Link’s Archer BE3600 Router Is a Fast, Affordable Entry Into Wi-Fi 7
TP‑Link’s Archer BE3600 brings Wi‑Fi 7 to the mass market at roughly $87, delivering up to 3.6 Gbps combined speed across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Reviewers praise its fast, reliable performance for small households, noting strong 2.4 GHz penetration through thick walls and ample...