Today's Telecom Pulse
EU mobile industry contribution surges 14%
The mobile sector’s share of the EU economy jumped 14%, underscoring its growing importance. The industry is now valued at roughly €1 trillion, highlighting its scale ahead of upcoming regulatory discussions.
Also developing:
By the numbers: BizLink to acquire Interplex Datacom for $850M
Telefonica CEO Calls for Regulatory Leeway in Battle for Digital Sovereignty
Telefónica Chairman Marc Murtra told a Cercle d’Economia panel that Europe must gain regulatory leeway to build its own AI, quantum and autonomous systems, arguing that technological self‑reliance underpins democratic values. He warned that the continent currently depends on US firms for the majority of cloud services, AI models and digital infrastructure. Murtra positioned telecom operators, especially Telefónica, as essential platforms for scaling European tech and accelerating strategic autonomy. The call emphasizes simplifying, not eliminating, regulation to foster innovation while safeguarding Europe’s digital sovereignty.
Jio Leverages Multiple Subsea Cable Systems to Support Global Enterprise Connectivity
Reliance Jio is promoting its International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC) as a dedicated, secure connectivity solution for multinational enterprises. The service draws on a blend of subsea cable systems—including IAX, i2i, BBG, AAE‑1, EIG, SEA‑ME‑WE 4 and IMEWE—and a network of...
Sri Lanka’s Mobile Market Enters the 5G Era After Consolidation
Sri Lanka’s mobile market has stabilized after the 2022 economic crisis, shifting focus from subscriber growth to consolidation and 5G deployment. By late 2025 the country recorded 30.3 million mobile connections—about 130% of the population—while total connections fell 1% as the...
Mining for Proof
Researchers from the University of Oulu and Luleå University of Technology installed a standalone 28 GHz 5G millimetre‑wave network inside an operating underground mine and added a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). The RIS redirected the signal around a tunnel corner, extending...
Telecom News: Telecom Towers in Nigeria, PRAN-RFL Group, BTRC
China Infrastructure Bank pledged $100 million to build 1,000 telecom towers in underserved Nigerian regions, aiming to boost rural connectivity and digital inclusion. In Bangladesh, PRAN‑RFL Group secured preliminary BTRC approval to manufacture routers, vehicle‑tracking devices and other telecom hardware, marking...
FCC Seeks to Streamline Submarine Cable Permitting Process
The FCC is reviewing draft rules that would speed up U.S. submarine cable deployments by waiving the Team Telecom inter‑agency review for operators with clean safety records, provided they meet national‑security standards and accept ongoing monitoring. A second proposal would...
GCT Semiconductor Posts 58% Jump in Q1 5G Chipset Shipments
GCT Semiconductor Holding announced a 58% sequential increase in 5G chipset shipments to 3,000 units in Q1 2026, driving net revenue to $1.9 million. The growth reflects expanding satellite partnerships and a shift toward higher‑margin product sales.
The Path to Autonomous Intelligent Networks
Telecom operators adopting 5G standalone and multivendor RANs now handle billions of events daily, making manual operations untenable. To stay competitive, they must progress toward autonomous intelligent networks, guided by the TM Forum maturity model that defines levels 0‑5, with...
Bell, Telus Reach Agreement on Broadcasting Services over Fibre Network
Bell and Telus have signed a deal that lets Telus distribute its broadcasting services over Bell’s eastern‑Canada fibre network. The agreement resolves a CRTC‑initiated dispute after Bell was accused of blocking Telus’s Part 1 application to carry content on the same...
FCC to Vote on ‘Top-to-Bottom’ E-Rate Review, Local Permitting Shot Clocks at June Meeting
The FCC will vote in June on a comprehensive review of its $2.5 billion‑a‑year E‑Rate broadband subsidy for schools and libraries. The proposal centers on tightening the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) interpretation, adding requirements around screen‑time monitoring and parental controls....
Bend the Beam Like Beckham to Defeat Anti-Jamming Tech
Rice University researchers demonstrated that self‑curving radio beams can mislead direction‑of‑arrival (DoA) anti‑jamming systems, causing severe bit‑error‑rate degradation while appearing to originate from a different direction. The technique, originally devised to bend millimeter‑wave signals around obstacles, enables a stationary jammer...
Noble Mobile Acquires Helium Mobile, Expanding Budget Carrier Reach
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang's Noble Mobile announced Tuesday that it has acquired Helium Mobile, a crypto‑backed low‑cost carrier with roughly 600,000 sign‑ups. The deal, terms undisclosed, makes Noble the larger budget player and promises future access to Helium’s decentralized...
AST SpaceMobile Shares Surge 53% as It Gears up to Challenge Starlink
AST SpaceMobile’s shares jumped 53.5% in May, propelling the company to a $46 billion market cap as it prepares a satellite constellation that could deliver broadband directly to phones, positioning it as a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. The rally reflects...
Cable Industry Wants Waiver From FCC Router Ban
The cable trade group NCTA has filed a request with the FCC for a waiver that would let its members’ suppliers swap out components in routers already cleared for U.S. sale. The move follows the agency’s March decision to place...
Dobson Fiber Connects with Reach on Mobile Launch
Dobson Fiber, a regional broadband provider in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas, has launched Dobson Mobile in partnership with MVNE Reach. The new service offers four tiered plans ranging from $15 to $40 per month, with discounts for customers who keep...
Illinois Senate Passes Statewide Ban on Cellphones in Schools, Effective 2027‑28
The Illinois Senate approved legislation that will prohibit personal cellphones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles and smart watches in K‑12 classrooms starting the 2027‑28 school year. Governor JB Pritzker and education advocates say the ban will boost academic focus and reduce bullying,...
Network Slicing Powers Massive 5G Loads Effortlessly
60 AI camera sensors running simultaneously. Tens of thousands of fans streaming, posting, searching on their phones. One network—without one system slowing down another. Most enterprise networks would buckle under that load. T-Mobile's 5G at the PGA Championship didn't. The reason? Network slicing. Here's...
RF Test and Measurement Technology for Precise Measurements Aaronia Presents Innovative Solutions at IMS 2026
At IMS 2026 in Boston (June 7‑12), Aaronia AG will exhibit its latest high‑frequency test and measurement solutions to an expected 8,000+ visitors from more than 55 countries. The showcase includes USB‑based real‑time SPECTRAN® spectrum analyzers, new magnetic RF connectors for N,...
Reliance Jio Rs 349 Recharge vs Bill Plan: Is Postpaid Worth It?
Reliance Jio’s entry‑level Rs 349 plan is offered both as a prepaid recharge and a postpaid bill plan, each priced at roughly $4.20 per month. The prepaid option provides 2 GB of high‑speed data per day (56 GB total) while the postpaid version...
Call for Inputs to Support the Preparation of the 2027 BEREC Opinion on the Roaming Regulation
The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) has launched a Call for Inputs to shape its 2027 Opinion on the EU Roaming Regulation and the accompanying Fair Use Policy and sustainability rules. The consultation builds on BEREC’s 2025...
AT&T Flags Surge in Copper Cable Theft as Prices Double, Threatening Network Reliability
AT&T disclosed a record 10,400 copper cable theft incidents nationwide in 2025, with 7,000 in California alone, as copper prices double. The thefts damage legacy copper lines and often sever fiber, raising repair costs into the tens of thousands per...
CityFibre Hits Magic Million Connections Amid Competitive UK Fibre Market
CityFibre announced it has connected over one million premises—including homes, businesses and 16,000 public sites—on its nationwide full‑fibre network that now passes nearly five million locations. CEO Simon Holden highlighted the role of alternative networks in pushing the UK past...
Ofcom Releases Report on Poor Connectivity on Trains
Ofcom commissioned Streetwave to measure mobile and Wi‑Fi performance on UK trains, testing 50 journeys across 24 lines in early 2026. The study found that mobile connectivity was rated poor on 58‑83% of tests, with EE the only network delivering...
UK Regulator Bemoans Train Mobile Signal Failures
Ofcom’s new study reveals that mobile signal on the UK rail network is far below acceptable levels, with only EE meeting the benchmark on 42% of the 24 line segments examined and Virgin Media O2, Vodafone and 3 UK lagging...
When the Radio Environment Stops Behaving
Three University of Oulu papers presented at the EuCNC & 6G Summit highlighted how 6G forces the radio environment from a passive backdrop to an active design variable. One paper introduced an iterative ray‑tracing algorithm that resolves grazing‑angle and diffraction errors in...
Jio vs Airtel vs Vi: Cheapest 5G Plan
Reliance Jio now leads India’s 5G price war with a Rs 198 prepaid plan (≈ $2.40) that delivers 2 GB of daily data and truly unlimited 5G usage for 14 days. Vodafone Idea follows with a Rs 349 offering (≈ $4.20) that provides 1.5 GB daily and a...
AI Is Making Telecom More Expensive, Warn Ericsson and Nokia
Ericsson and Nokia warn that soaring AI‑driven demand for semiconductors is inflating the cost of ASICs and memory chips used in 5G radio and baseband equipment. The surge has lifted memory‑chip makers’ profits – Samsung reported a $37.7 billion operating profit,...
ICASA Embraces 6 GHz Wi‑Fi, Spectrum Sharing, Private 5G
Really good to see South African regulator ICASA embracing #6GHz #WiFi, #spectrumsharing & #private5G. I spoke at the WAPA Wireless Access Providers Association conf in JoBurg last year (thanks to Paul Colmer) and took part in a panel on...
FCC Opens AWS-3 Spectrum Auction
The FCC launched the AWS‑3 auction, its first spectrum auction in four years, with two rounds on June 2. The auction offers 200 5G‑grade licenses covering over 100 million consumers in 48 states, two territories and the Gulf of America, representing 1.4 billion...
Permitting Also on June FCC Agenda
The FCC will vote on June 25 on a notice aimed at curbing excessive permitting delays for broadband infrastructure. It would require state and local governments to act on wireline service authorizations within 120 days, after which a stalled project could...
Turkmenistan Doesn’t Like Elon Musk
Turkmenistan’s government intensified its digital repression by raiding homes and offices in April 2026 to confiscate Starlink satellite terminals. The crackdown extends to VPNs, slow internet speeds, and punitive expectations that parents police their children’s online behavior. While officials tout...
How Louisiana Is Turning Broadband Funding Into Rural Results
Louisiana broke ground on the White Castle Training and Multipurpose Center in Iberville Parish, a facility that will combine vocational training, tutoring, and health‑monitoring services under a high‑speed broadband connection. The project is financed by the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects...
What’s the Outlook for Starlink’s Consumer Business?
TMF Associates released a 65‑page report that maps Starlink’s consumer subscriber base by country and projects revenue growth through 2028. The analysis uses weekly terminal activity to identify the top ten markets—U.S., Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Mexico, U.K., Chile, France...
![[OP-ED] Canada’s Connectivity Future Depends on Sustaining Investment](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/e9e504ae3df9c92f07f230feff4486eb.webp)
[OP-ED] Canada’s Connectivity Future Depends on Sustaining Investment
The Canadian Telecommunications Association and GSMA hosted the Connecting Canada conference in Ottawa, unveiling a PwC‑commissioned report on telecom investment. The study shows Canada’s wireless prices fell over 45% since 2020 while data usage and digital reliance surged. Analysts from...
FCC Kicks Off First Spectrum Auction in Four Years
The Federal Communications Commission launched Auction 113, its first spectrum auction in four years, offering 200 AWS‑3 licenses across the 1,695‑1,710 MHz, 1,755‑1,780 MHz and 2,155‑2,180 MHz bands. The auction provides more than 1.4 billion MHz‑POPs, reaching roughly 100 million consumers in 48 states, two territories...
White Paper: How HAPS, LEO, and Terrestrial Networks Could Reshape Global Connectivity
The HAPS Alliance’s new white paper outlines a three‑layer connectivity model that combines terrestrial base stations, high‑altitude platform stations (HAPS), and low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellites. It introduces the “3Cs” framework—Cooperation, Complementarity, Competition—to guide operators on when each layer is optimal. The...
Best ISPs in Algeria 2026: FTTH Expansion Drives Algeria Toward Africa’s First Gigabit Society
Algeria’s fixed‑broadband market, valued at $2.73 billion, is being reshaped by a rapid FTTH rollout that lifted FTTH subscribers to 3.1 million by February 2026—doubling in two years. State‑owned Algerie Telecom now commands roughly 95% of the market and offers residential speeds up...
Best ISPs in Italy 2026: TIM, Fastweb-Vodafone, WindTre and Iliad Lead Fiber Broadband Revolution
Italy’s fixed broadband market, valued at $19.27 billion, is undergoing a fiber‑driven transformation in 2026. TIM remains the leader with 38% market share and 7.5 million lines, while the €8 billion ($8.8 billion) Fastweb‑Vodafone merger gives the new entity 31% share and a proprietary...
FCC Begins AWS-3 Spectrum Auction After Four-Year Hiatus to Boost 5G Expansion
The FCC has opened Auction 113, its first spectrum sale in four years, offering 200 AWS‑3 licenses that serve over 100 million consumers across 48 states and two territories. The band covers 1695‑1710 MHz, 1755‑1780 MHz and 2155‑2180 MHz, delivering more than 1.4 billion MHz‑POPs....
Nvidia Pours $1 Billion Into Nokia to Fast‑track AI‑RAN and 6G Roadmap
Nvidia has committed a $1 billion strategic investment in Nokia, earmarked for AI‑enabled radio access network (AI‑RAN) development and the transition toward AI‑native 6G. The deal follows a surge in Nokia’s AI‑related revenue, which grew 49% in Q1, and has sparked...
Avatel Goes National with MasOrange Deal
Avatel announced a partnership with MasOrange that extends its fibre broadband footprint to cover 95% of Spain’s landmass, bolstering its claim as a national operator. The deal follows Avatel’s sale of 49.99% of its InfraCo subsidiary for roughly $90 million, providing...
Vodafone Extends Vehicle Tech Collaboration with Geely
Vodafone Business has expanded its vehicle‑tech partnership with Geely Technology Europe, adding Internet in the Car, private‑network and Cloud Connect services. The new suite lets Geely push over‑the‑air updates, run diagnostics and securely transfer data between vehicles and cloud platforms....
The Potential Apple-SpaceX DTC Partnership in iPhone 18 Pro
In January 2026, reports indicated Apple is in talks with SpaceX to embed Starlink’s direct‑to‑cell (DTC) connectivity into the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro without extra hardware. DTC lets phones link directly to satellites, extending coverage to areas lacking traditional cellular service. Apple’s...
ICN Establishes 100G Chicago Route to Peer with Cloud Providers
Iowa Communications Network (ICN) launched a dedicated 100‑Gigabit route from Iowa to an Equinix Internet Exchange Point in Chicago, enabling direct peering with cloud giants Google, AWS and Microsoft. The link replaces legacy 40G circuits, delivering three‑fold higher capacity, lower...
Airtel Priority Postpaid Does Not Guarantee Buffer Free Streaming
Bharti Airtel has introduced Priority Postpaid, a 5G SA network‑slicing service that promises faster download and upload speeds for eligible postpaid users. The company clarifies it cannot guarantee a buffering‑free experience because performance depends on device, coverage and network load....
Viasat Shares Tumble 12% Despite Lockheed Martin Contract and Analyst Upgrade
Viasat's stock slid 11.9% on Monday even after Lockheed Martin announced a subcontract for high‑bandwidth SATCOM on NOAA hurricane‑hunter aircraft and Needham analyst Ryan Koontz lifted the price target to $90. Investors appear uneasy about the company's ongoing losses and...
Cisco Brings Agentic Ops Platform and Security Overhaul to Cisco Live
At Cisco Live, Cisco unveiled a suite of AI‑driven infrastructure solutions aimed at moving enterprises from chat‑based bots to autonomous agents. The centerpiece, Cisco Cloud Control, consolidates management of Meraki, Nexus, Intersight, Splunk and collaboration services into a single interface,...
BTL Laboratory Becomes Taiwan’s First Test House with a CTIA Certification Compliant OTA Test System by Rohde & Schwarz
Rohde & Schwarz has delivered a turnkey R&S TS8991 over‑the‑air test system to Taiwan’s BTL Laboratory, enabling the first CTIA‑certified OTA test house in the region. The solution includes measurement software, a third‑party test chamber, and on‑site audit support from R&S experts. BTL...
Multicloud Gets Sweeter with a 500 Mbps Free Private Link, at Least Between AWS and Oracle
AWS introduced a free tier for its Interconnect‑Multicloud service, offering a 500 Mbps private, managed link between AWS and another cloud provider within the same region. The link is limited to one per customer and provides the same resiliency as paid...
Bharti Airtel’s 5G Slicing-Enabled Priority Postpaid Service Faces Availability Issues
Bharti Airtel launched its Priority Postpaid service on May 19, leveraging 5G network slicing to offer premium postpaid benefits. The service is currently unavailable to most Indian users because it only works on 5G standalone (SA) smartphones, while the majority...