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
Reports of Hyperoptic Outages in Southeast London and Kent Yesterday
Hyperoptic experienced a multi‑hour outage on Monday, April 6, affecting customers in Southeast London and Kent, including Lewisham, Deptford, Greenwich, Woolwich, Dartford and Northfleet. The disruption lasted several hours on the Bank Holiday before services were restored later that evening. Users reported difficulty reaching Hyperoptic support during the incident. The company issued an apology, confirming normal operations have resumed.
Azercosmos and Viasat Sign Partnership Agreement for In-Flight Connectivity
Azercosmos and Viasat have signed a partnership to bring Azerbaijan into the European Aviation Network (EAN), combining S‑band satellite coverage with a complementary ground component. The agreement includes precise frequency coordination of the 1980‑2010 MHz uplink and 2170‑2200 MHz downlink bands to...
The Iran Blackout: 90 Million People Went Dark
The episode examines Iran’s current internet blackout affecting 90 million people, describing it as a powerful weapon that silences internal dissent and obscures atrocities from the world. Host Van Jones explains how such shutdowns enable the regime to commit mass violence,...
Truvista Fiber Marks National Safe Digging Month with 811 Callout
Truvista Fiber is using National Safe Digging Month to remind customers to call 811 before any excavation. The free locate service helps homeowners avoid damaging buried fiber, electric, gas and water lines. Truvista advises submitting requests at least three business...
Inside TM Forum’s Catalyst Project “Living Networks – Phase III”
TM Forum’s Catalyst project “Living Networks – Phase III” brings together more than 800 ecosystem members to pilot autonomous, resilient, and energy‑efficient network operations. The initiative introduces a cloud‑native, Kubernetes‑based architecture with enhanced data governance, enabling AI‑driven failure prediction and resource...
Additional Lengths for Amphenol RF SMA Cable Assembly Configuration
Amphenol RF has added a broader range of standard lengths—6 to 48 inches—for its SMA plug‑to‑SMA jack assemblies built on 0.085‑inch conformable cable. The assemblies feature gold‑plated brass connectors and support high‑frequency operation up to 18 GHz. The flexible cable combines...
Charlemont Residents Push for 1,500‑Foot Setbacks on New Cell Towers and Small Cells
Charlemont town officials will vote on citizen‑driven bylaws that would ban new cell towers within 1,500 feet of residences and impose strict spacing for small‑cell sites. The proposal, led by resident Jonathan Mirin, reflects local concerns over health, property values, and...
McKinsey Analysts Forecast $1.8 Trillion Global Space Economy by 2035
Analysts at McKinsey & Company estimate the global space economy will grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035, driven by satellite transport, broadband connectivity and tourism. The projection fuels optimism for publicly traded launch firms such as Rocket Lab, whose Q4 revenue...
Rooftop Leases: Why Multifamily Owners Hold Unique Wireless Leverage
Rooftop leases have become a strategic asset for multifamily owners as carriers seek elevated, high‑capacity sites in dense urban markets. Buildings that can support antenna arrays without costly structural upgrades give carriers a ready‑made platform, bypassing the lengthy entitlement process...
TRAI Moves to Regulate Free Streaming TV Apps
India’s telecom regulator TRAI has issued a consultation paper to create a formal framework for application‑based linear TV (ALTD) services, commonly known as FAST (free ad‑supported streaming TV). The paper, prompted by a Ministry of Information and Broadcasting request, focuses...
SpaceX Files FCC Complaint Over Amazon Kuiper Altitude Violations
SpaceX has lodged a formal complaint with the FCC accusing Amazon’s Project Kuiper of launching satellites above authorized altitudes, creating unmitigated collision risks for Starlink. The dispute pits the two largest low‑Earth‑orbit broadband operators against each other and could reshape...
FBI Warns AVrecon Malware Infiltrates Network Devices in 163 Countries
The FBI has issued a public alert that the AVrecon malware family is actively targeting roughly 1,200 types of network equipment in 163 countries. The campaign’s modular design lets attackers add new tools as vulnerabilities emerge, raising concerns for critical...
Broadband Policy Shifts Accelerate Amid Satellite Expansion
■ @GovWaste analyst Alec Mena: Abolish @USDA RuralUtilitiesService (RUS) ■ @CWAUnion Rallies Members to Support Title II for VoIP ■ @NCTAitv Says as Mobile Prices Drop, Users Buy More ■ @Amazonleo Adds 29 Satellites to LEO Constellation ■ Shocker: House Democrats Actually...
Worth Reading 040626
Stanford researchers warn that AI chatbots are unreliable for personal advice, especially in complex, real‑world conflicts. At APRICOT 2026, APNIC and LACNIC revealed a BGP hijack that blended technical exploits with social‑engineering tactics, underscoring routing vulnerabilities. A RIPE Labs analysis challenges...
Supreme Court Rules on ISPs and Copyrights
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Cox Communications, holding that internet service providers are only liable for copyright infringement if they intend their service to be used for that purpose. The decision overturns earlier rulings that found...
From Telegraph to Waterworth: The Cable War the UK Already Lost
The article links today’s undersea data infrastructure to the British Empire’s All Red Line, a 1902 telegraph network funded by slave‑derived capital. It argues that the physical routes of modern fiber‑optic cables still follow those Victorian chokepoints, allowing European regulators...
New Whitepaper Outlines Strategic Role of HAPS in Enabling 6G Use Cases
The HAPS Alliance released a March 2026 whitepaper mapping how high‑altitude platform stations (HAPS) will anchor a three‑layer 6G architecture that blends terrestrial, stratospheric and satellite networks. It details HAPS operating around 20 km altitude, covering 50‑100 km radii, and highlights their programmable...
House Democrats Praise Tech-Neutral BEAD, Overlook Biden Credit
19 House Democrats sent a March 27 letter to @ArielleRothNTIA highly critical of BEAD contract changes sought by @SpaceX & @Starlink with state subgrantees. Still, here’s one nugget that deserved better coverage. The House Dems said, “The current administration appropriately...
Rugged Acer Connect M6E Delivers All-Day 5G Wi‑Fi
Acer Connect M6E 5G provides rugged, all-day mobile Wi-Fi with 5G, NFC, Wi-Fi 6E, and global network support. https://t.co/Mi0A8Bwa4u
Consultants Urge BEAD ‘Rainy Day’ Fund To Cover Gaps
Broadband consultants from the Vernonburg Group are urging the NTIA to set aside a $7.6 billion “rainy‑day” reserve from the $21 billion of unspent BEAD funds. The reserve would address cost overruns, inflation, new rural housing needs and unexpected deployment challenges. Their...
AT&T's OneConnect Shakes Up Telecom Pricing Landscape
.@ATT just fired a convergence missile at cable AND @TMobile simultaneously. The OneConnect plan is the most significant AT&T pricing move in 3-4 years and most analysts are sleeping on what it actually means. #Telecom #Wireless
Operators Hesitant to Fund 6G Hardware Amid Tight Budgets
"There is a general sense that operators are somewhat reluctant to make a heavy financial investment into 6G hardware, due to their current financial situation," Dano said. Thanks @robpegoraro ! https://t.co/WQhXwuzTQ7
India Telecom Outlook Brightens as ARPU Rises and Tariff Hikes Loom
Centrum’s latest report predicts steady Q4‑FY26 growth for India’s telecom sector, driven by a roughly 1% quarter‑on‑quarter ARPU increase and an anticipated 12‑15% tariff hike by July 2026. Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio are set to add 6.5 million and 5 million...
Mexican Regulators Allow Temporary Spectrum Access for World Cup
"The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) formally announced that Mexican operators will be able to temporarily access radio spectrum during the World Cup." via DPL https://t.co/baVM6PyJZc
AT&T Reports $82M Loss From 10,400 Copper Thefts
. @ATT said it logged more than 10,400 copper theft incidents in 2025 that resulted in losses of about $82 million. The majority of that theft occurred in California. @Light_Reading https://t.co/hzXfWtpeIK
Russia's VPN Blockade Cripples Banking Payments, Triggers Cash Surge
Russia’s latest effort to curb VPN usage overloaded the state’s traffic‑filtering systems, knocking out major banking apps and leaving cash as the only payment method for hours. Telegram founder Pavel Durov said the move “just triggered a massive banking failure,”...
FCC Proposes Ban on Pre‑2024 Chinese Tech
ICYMI: @FCC on Friday proposed barring Chinese tech on the Covered List added in 2024 or earlier https://t.co/SObMOT0jXm
Du and Ericsson Launch the UAE’s First Implementation of mmWave Extended Range Technology
du and Ericsson have completed a proof‑of‑concept deploying 5G Standalone with millimeter‑wave extended‑range technology across residential areas in the United Arab Emirates. Using Ericsson’s AIR 5343 radio, the trial delivered gigabit‑class speeds and demonstrated macro‑cell architecture can extend coverage for fixed...
Airtel Deploys 4300+ 5G Sites in UP East, Expands Coverage Across 48 Districts
Bharti Airtel has installed more than 4,300 new 5G sites in Uttar Pradesh East over the past year, extending coverage to 48 districts and reaching roughly 34 million residents. The rollout averages 12 sites per day, emphasizing network densification rather than...
Why Voice Fraud Is CX’s Most Underestimated Problem
AI‑generated voice fraud is exploding, with deep‑fake scams rising 456% year‑over‑year and projected losses of $40 billion by 2027. Europe sees 13 spam calls per subscriber each month and a 15% fraud call rate in the UK, where victims lose an...
AT&T’s $2 Billion FirstNet Expansion Signals a New Era for Infrastructure Investing:
AT&T announced a $2 billion expansion of the FirstNet public‑safety network in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce. The investment will upgrade 5G coverage, add edge computing and AI‑driven management, and extend service to underserved rural areas. By positioning FirstNet...
This Week: AT&T’s OneConnect Plan
In this episode Roger Antner and Don Kellogg dissect AT&T’s new OneConnect bundles, which combine mobile lines, device allowances, and up to 1 Gbps fiber for a flat monthly fee ranging from $90 for a single line to $225 for a...
An Open-Source 240-Antenna Array to Bounce Signals Off the Moon
QuadRF has released an open‑source, software‑defined radio tile priced between $49 and $99, designed for modular phased‑array construction. The company bundles the tiles into two larger kits: a Mini array with 72 antennas for under $1,500 and a Moon array...
APAC Mobile Services Revenue to Reach $347 Billion by 2030, Driven by 5G Growth
Mobile communication services revenue in the Asia‑Pacific region is forecast to climb from $310.6 billion in 2025 to $347.3 billion by 2030, a 2.3% CAGR, according to GlobalData. The surge is driven by expanding 5G coverage, rising subscriber numbers and higher‑ARPU 5G...
Apple's iOS 27 to Boost 5G, Satellite and Siri Connectivity for Millions
Apple is preparing to launch iOS 27 with a suite of upgrades aimed at improving cellular performance, satellite messaging and AI‑driven Siri. The update, expected at WWDC on June 8, could affect every iPhone in the market, especially the forthcoming...
Ed Goes Extra-Terrestrial
Amazon and Tesla are planning massive low‑earth‑orbit (LEO) data‑centre satellite constellations, each targeting up to a million satellites. The UK boasts over a hundred firms capable of building satellite components, with expertise in radiation‑hard ICs, laser communications and thermal control....
Strengthening IPv6 Collaboration: Xiong’an New Area Delegates Visit APNIC
APNIC awarded Xiong’an New Area its first city‑level IPv6 plaque, recognizing the district’s rapid rollout of IPv6 infrastructure. Delegates from Xiong’an and APNIC discussed a joint roadmap that includes IPv6 deployment training and an RPKI roadshow hosted by the city....
Ultra Mobile’s Spring Sale: 33% Off Plans & $20/Mo. Option
Ultra Mobile is launching a spring promotion that slashes 33% off select three‑month prepaid plans when paid upfront, with prices ranging from $32 for a 4 GB plan to $106 for Unlimited+. Simultaneously, the carrier offers a 25 GB plan for $20...
I Had No Idea 5G Was Actually Slowing My Phone Down
The article explains why many users experience slower speeds and higher battery drain on 5G compared to LTE. It highlights that 5G comprises low‑band, mid‑band, and high‑band (mmWave) spectra, each with distinct performance characteristics. Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) lets 5G...
Bill C‑22 Allows Warrantless Confirmation of Service Demands
The first of a series on what's in Bill C-22, Canada's new #LawfulAccess bill. A close look at the warrantless "Confirmation of Service Demand" in Part 1 of the bill, new on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/gMno2l6QfOY
Broadcom Shares Climb 0.3% as Analysts Set $472.50 Price Target, Deem Chipmaker Undervalued
Broadcom shares edged up 0.29% after analysts lifted the median price target to $472.50, roughly 50% above the current $314 price. The upgrade reflects confidence in Broadcom’s dominant data‑center networking chips and its 60% share of custom AI accelerators, positioning...
Verizon Users Face Repeated Drops in Savannah
What is wrong with @Verizon in Savannah, GA? I am constantly getting kicked off the mobile network here. I have tried different devices. I hope the right person looks into this and fixes it because it’s really annoying. I did...
FCC Fines Alleged Florida Pirate $60,000
The Federal Communications Commission has imposed a $60,000 fine on Aaron Streeter for operating an unauthorized pirate radio station in Miami Gardens, Florida. The station, branded “Da Pound FM” on 89.1 MHz, was traced to a residential antenna during a 2024...
Regional SIM/eSIM ID Rules: Quick Guide
SIM / eSIM Norms by Region High-level expectations for ID requirements and the easiest approach by region. 👉 https://t.co/O1V6kEwoXa #solotravel #solotraveler #solotraveling #travelingsolo #travelingalone #travel
Opinion | Cable’s Critical Role in Wireless Competition
Cable operators like Charter and Comcast have become major wireless players by bundling cellular service with their extensive Wi‑Fi networks, which carry about 90 % of mobile data. This structural advantage let them capture one‑third of new wireless customers in Q4 2025...
Home Wi‑Fi Boost: Antenna Angles and Outdoor Nodes Extend Backyard Coverage
Homeowners are fine‑tuning router antennas and deploying outdoor mesh nodes to stretch Wi‑Fi into backyards, a trend highlighted in recent Wired and ZDNET guides. Adjusting antenna angles by 30‑45° and using Wi‑Fi 7 outdoor routers can add hundreds of megabits per...
Telco Chief Champions AI-Enabled Customer Innovation, Organizational Transformation
Globe, one of the Philippines' largest telcos, announced a sweeping AI‑driven transformation at Mobile World Congress 2026. It became the first Philippine operator to create a Chief AI Officer role and launched an AI Innovation Hub aligned with the GSMA...
Ericsson Partners for Energy‑efficient AI and Neuromorphic 6G
Fascinating annoucement from @ericsson about a collaboration with Forschungszentrum Jülich for more energy-efficient #AI and #neuromorphic techniques for #6G. https://t.co/9zhkAqaa5d
The G Model Is Obsolete
Telecom executives are questioning the relevance of the traditional “G” model that ties network evolution to ten‑year generational cycles. In a recent interview, AT&T CTO Yigal Elbaz urged the industry to decouple these cycles from innovation, emphasizing continuous, software‑driven progress....
Tom Brady Claims He Had Starlink Before Starlink
“What is my quarterback internet speed? Fast as shit. I was Starlink before @Starlink.” — @TomBrady | @elonmusk https://t.co/bMJRr2tprj