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
Bundling Emerges as Key Advantage in Rural Broadband Market
The 2026 Rural Broadband Subscriber Study finds that customers who bundle internet, video and related services report higher satisfaction and stronger loyalty, lifting the overall broadband satisfaction score to 7.7 out of 10. An awareness gap shows 32% of users cannot name their speed, creating churn risk, while 70% would test a free speed upgrade, which can lower price sensitivity. Low‑Earth‑orbit satellite entrants and platform giants like Amazon are intensifying competition, with 43% of respondents open to switching for better speed or pricing. Streaming proliferation drives demand for simplified, bundled experiences in rural markets.
Home Wi‑Fi Gets a Boost: Antenna Tweaks and Backyard Mesh Drive Consumer Upgrades
Experts from Wired and ZDNet detail low‑cost antenna adjustments and mesh placement to improve backyard coverage, as UK households face the steepest broadband and mobile bill hikes in years. The advice comes as consumers seek DIY fixes to avoid costly...
Russia's VPN Blockade Triggers Nationwide Banking Collapse
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said Russia's Friday effort to block VPNs overloaded the country's traffic filters and knocked out banking apps, leaving cash as the only payment method for hours. The incident highlights how aggressive internet controls can destabilize critical...
TRAI Orders Jio to Halt Discriminatory Tariffs by April
make thunail 1:1 ratio The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued a directive on March 24, 2026, ordering Reliance Jio to end certain "discriminatory" and "non-transparent" tariff practices by April 14, 2026.
Internet Eliminates Blind Spots, Connects Everywhere Instantly
One of the greatest achievements of the modern age and hardly a peep... provides no blind spot internet and comms to anywhere on the planet...
TECNO Launches SPARK 50 Series with 5G, 7,000 mAh Battery and AI Features
Global smartphone brand TECNO introduced the SPARK 50 series, rolling out the SPARK 50 5G and the non‑5G SPARK 50. Both phones combine massive batteries—up to 7,000 mAh—with practical AI functions and military‑grade durability, and are now on sale in India...
FCC Proposes Ban on Foreign‑Made Routers, Raising Enterprise Network Security Stakes
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced a proposal to extend its ban on Chinese‑made routers and related telecom gear to include devices already approved for import. The move targets equipment from Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera, compelling large enterprises...
ULA Atlas V Lifts 29 Amazon Leo Satellites, Marking Its Largest Payload Yet
United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V 551 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral on April 4, deploying 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites – the most ever on a single Atlas mission. The launch brings Amazon’s total to 241 satellites, but the...
V2mini Boosts Capacity, Scaling Cuts Starlink Costs
The current V2mini sats have usable capacity for ~2000 customers globally (with a BH provisioning rate of ~2.5Mbps) & the V1 sats had ~1/4 of that capacity. Starlink's business model worked out because costs (of satellites, launch & terminals) fell...
6G Takes Center Stage at MWC, Paving the Way for Robot Connectivity
At Mobile World Congress, Qualcomm, Nvidia and other leaders highlighted 6G as the key enabler for robot fleets, promising ultra‑low latency, sensor‑level networking and new telecom‑AI partnerships. The push signals a strategic shift for carriers and equipment makers toward robot‑centric...
Amazon in Advanced Talks to Buy Globalstar in $9 Billion Deal
Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire low‑Earth‑orbit satellite operator Globalstar for roughly $9 billion. The deal would give Amazon’s Leo network immediate access to an operational satellite fleet, spectrum licenses and a foothold in Apple’s emergency‑SOS service, while Apple’s 20%...
Deadline Set for Comments on FCC’s Lifeline Reform
The FCC has set a May 4 deadline for initial comments on a Lifeline reform proposal aimed at curbing fraud, tightening eligibility, and improving oversight. The move follows an inspector‑general report that uncovered roughly $5 million in benefits paid to about 117,000...
Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Says Iranian Government's Ban Backfired
Telegram co‑founder Pavel Durov says Iran’s ban on the app backfired, as tens of millions of Iranians now use VPNs to access it. He estimates roughly 50 million Iranian users have turned to VPNs, joining a similar number of Russian users....
Reference Platform Targets Robust 10BASE-T1S Ethernet Design
A collaborative reference design, REF_SPE_T1S, aims to speed Single‑Pair Ethernet (SPE) adoption in industrial and building‑automation sectors. The platform combines Microchip’s LAN8670 10BASE‑T1S PHY, an Amphenol IEC 63171‑6 connector, and Bourns’ integrated transformer‑plus‑common‑mode‑choke magnetics. It demonstrates that transformer‑based isolation markedly improves...
Optimum Connects 3,000 Locations in Louisiana's Sabine Parish
Optimum, in partnership with ConnectLA, completed a fiber broadband expansion that now provides reliable high‑speed internet to over 3,000 homes and businesses in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. The project is funded by the state’s GUMBO 1.0 program, which channels federal broadband dollars...
Italian Tower Operator Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane Posts FY25 Earnings Rise, Sets FY26 Outlook
Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane (INW.MI) posted higher FY25 results, with net income climbing to €360.8 million (≈$389 million) and revenue reaching €1.08 billion (≈$1.17 billion). The board proposed a 7.5% dividend hike to €0.5543 per share and hinted at a positive FY26 outlook.
How to Prepare for the Telecom Drought?
The telecom industry is entering a post‑5G capital‑expenditure drought, a predictable 5‑to‑7‑year slump that follows the massive $1 trillion spend on network build‑out. Capex is expected to compress by up to 40% as vendors slash headcount and protect margins while awaiting...
California Launches Largest Broadband Network, Serving Bishop Paiute Tribe
Governor Gavin Newsom turned on California’s $3.2 billion Middle‑Mile Broadband Network, the nation’s largest publicly owned fiber system. The Bishop Paiute Tribe is the first customer, giving the tribal community direct control of its own ISP and a high‑capacity internet backbone.
Unified Broadband via Fixed-Mobile Coherent Optical Networks
Researchers Wu, Wei, Zhang and colleagues have demonstrated a unified broadband architecture that merges fixed and mobile access networks using coherent optical transceivers. By deploying edge‑level coherent optics and AI‑driven resource orchestration, the system delivers over 100 Gbps throughput with sub‑millisecond...
Telkom Kenya Is Now Kenya’s Smallest Mobile Operator After Two-Year Slide
Telkom Kenya has slipped to the fifth‑largest mobile operator in the country, with its subscriber base dropping from 1.34 million in December 2023 to about 744,500 by December 2025. The decline occurred despite overall market growth, as Safaricom and Airtel added millions of...
WhatsApp Is Eating South African Operators’ Revenue
South Africa’s mobile operators saw a 21.5% rise in voice traffic in 2025 yet lost roughly $547 million in mobile services revenue, which fell 7.9% to about $6.4 billion. The decline was driven by a 38% plunge in SMS and multimedia messaging...
Kenya Adds 9 Million Mobile Money Users but the Easy Growth Is Over
Kenya added 9 million mobile‑money subscriptions in the year to December 2025, pushing total users to 51.36 million and driving penetration to 98%. The market’s growth is now limited by saturation, shifting competition from acquiring new users to increasing transaction frequency and wallet...
How Rogers Satellite Is Driving Connectivity for Great Canadian Outdoors
Rogers Satellite has added support for Messenger and onX, turning smartphones into reliable communication and navigation tools for hikers, fishers, hunters and travellers in remote Canadian regions. The service now delivers voice, video and text messaging, offline maps, land‑ownership data...
Blue Origin New Glenn Targets April Launch of AST Space Mobile Satellite
AST SpaceMobile is set to launch its Block 2 “BlueBird” satellite on Blue Origin’s New Glenn NG‑3 mission between April 10‑14, 2026. The next‑generation satellite promises up to 120 Mbps peak data rates and 24/7 nationwide cellular broadband coverage across more than 5,600 cells. Block 2...
VIAVI, Ground Control Partner to Enable Assured Maritime Vessel Tracking and Navigation
VIAVI Solutions has teamed with satellite‑communications specialist Ground Control to embed its Secure µPNT STL‑1000 receiver into the RockFLEET Assured maritime tracking platform. The compact, software‑defined device works with VIAVI’s SecureTime altGNSS LEO service to deliver precise timing and positioning even when...
Tariff Hike 2026: Jio Quietly Cuts Rs 195 Pack Validity From 90 Days to 30 Days
Reliance Jio has trimmed the validity of its Rs 195 (≈ $2.34) Cricket Data Pack from 90 days to 30 days while keeping the 15 GB high‑speed data quota and a 90‑day JioHotstar subscription. The change raises the effective monthly cost for prepaid...
AST SpaceMobile Shares Jump 17.7% as Low‑Orbit Satellite Array Gains Investor Backing
AST SpaceMobile’s low‑orbit satellite array propelled its stock 17.7% higher this week, adding to a 27.5% year‑to‑date gain and a four‑fold increase over the past year. The surge reflects growing investor confidence in the company’s smartphone‑direct broadband model as the...
FCC Moves to Ban Foreign‑Made Routers, Citing Enterprise Security and National‑Security Risks
The Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on foreign‑manufactured Wi‑Fi routers, citing risks to enterprise networks and national security. The move targets equipment from China and other adversarial nations, urging businesses to replace vulnerable devices to protect data and critical...
Viasat Positions IFC as Strategic Platform for Brand Loyalty
Viasat is positioning inflight connectivity (IFC) as a strategic brand‑building platform for airlines, citing its 2024 Passenger Experience Survey where 75% of travelers say quality Wi‑Fi makes them more likely to rebook. The company’s Amara solution delivers a scalable, multi‑orbit...
California Activates Nation’s Largest Middle-Mile Network, Connecting Tribal, Rural Areas
California’s Department of Technology activated the $3.2 billion Middle‑Mile Broadband Initiative, the nation’s largest open‑access middle‑mile network. The first connection was made to the Bishop Paiute Tribe in Inyo County, marking the inaugural tribal customer. Governor Gavin Newsom aims to build...
Cisco Warns AI-Driven Wi‑Fi Security Risks and Talent Gaps
. @Cisco report flags #AI wireless security risks, talent shortages #wifi #spectrum 🖇️https://t.co/9tt8i7caO5 🖇️ https://t.co/bqI75Tbe4s
Airline Wi‑Fi Sucks; Demand Starlink on Every Flight
I hate airplane WiFi. We need Starlink included on every plane ASAP. Spotty internet really messes up the email follow up, Claude creation flow and is extremely frustrating.
ULA’s Atlas 5 Rocket Launches Its Heaviest Payload Ever with Fifth Amazon Leo Mission
United Launch Alliance successfully launched an Atlas 5 rocket carrying 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites, marking the heaviest payload the vehicle has ever delivered. Liftoff occurred on April 4 at 1:46 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral’s SLC‑41 after a brief weather‑related delay. The...
Amazon in $9 B Talks to Acquire Globalstar, Boosting Its Low‑Earth‑Orbit Satellite Fleet
Amazon is in advanced discussions to buy Globalstar for roughly $9 billion, a deal that would add the LEO operator’s 24‑32 satellites to Amazon’s Leo constellation. The transaction would also involve Apple, which holds a 20% stake in Globalstar, and could...
Tech Giants Oppose Colorado Bill to Carve Out Critical Infrastructure From Right‑to‑Repair
Tech manufacturers including Cisco and IBM backed SB26-090, a Colorado bill that would exempt critical‑infrastructure information‑technology equipment from the state's 2024 right‑to‑repair law. Lawmakers moved the measure out of committee, prompting fierce opposition from repair advocates who warn the language...
FCC Hits Telecom Firm that Enabled Bank Impersonation Calls
The FCC has issued a notice seeking a $4.5 million penalty against Voxbeam Telecommunications for allegedly routing tens of thousands of bank‑impersonation robocalls. The agency says Voxbeam transmitted about 61,000 spoofed calls between March 31 and April 3, 2025, with roughly 80% displaying...
AT&T Enhances Wireless Coverage Along NYC MTA Subway Line via Boldyn Partnership
AT&T has expanded its 5G cellular coverage in New York City subway tunnels by partnering with neutral‑host provider Boldyn. The rollout adds service on the MTA’s 4/5 lines between Bowling Green and Fulton Street and on the G line from Bedford‑Nostrand to Hoyt‑Schermerhorn....
Sodola SL510S-4T2XS Review A Cheap Half-Width 6-Port 10G Web Managed Switch
Sodola introduced the SL510S-4T2XS, a six‑port 10 GbE web‑managed switch priced at $169, positioning it as a budget‑friendly upgrade over typical 2.5 GbE solutions. The unit offers four 10GBASE‑T copper ports and two SFP+ fiber ports, all within a half‑width chassis that...
Live in the Booth: Matt Desch Talks Iridium NTN Direct and Alt PNT Advances
Iridium is launching Iridium NTN Direct, positioning itself as the first standardized, global narrow‑band satellite IoT service. The offering runs on Iridium’s existing constellation, eliminating the need for new hardware. CEO Matt Desch highlighted automotive use cases such as airbag...
African Market for Satellite Services Offers Pent Up Demand
Africa’s satellite market is accelerating, with 21 nations operating space programs and 65 satellites already launched, and another 120 slated by 2030. Broadband penetration remains under 50% for over 1 billion people, prompting a surge in satellite terminals from 100,000 to...
India's Telecom Base Hits 1.32 Billion, Broadband Adds 7.3 M Subscribers in February
India's total telephone subscriber base rose to 1.321 billion at the end of February, driven by a 7.31 million net gain in broadband users. The surge lifts wireless tele‑density to 89.30% and cements the dominance of Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel in...
Panelists Share the Innovations That Have Helped Reduce Telecom and Texting Scams
Over 50% of people worldwide report receiving scam calls, texts or emails, prompting the Global Anti‑Scam Alliance to convene a panel hosted by the Stimson Center. Panelists highlighted public‑private innovations that are adding friction to scam delivery, especially a Singapore‑Google...
Italian Telecom Infra Wireless Posts FY2025 Profit Rise, Announces Higher Dividend
Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane S.p.A. posted a 2% jump in FY2025 net income to €360.8 million and lifted its dividend by 7.5% to €0.5543 per share. The telecom tower operator also saw revenue climb to €1.08 billion and maintained a 91.4% EBITDA margin,...
Colombo Dockyard Begins Orange Marine Cable Vessel
Colombo Dockyard PLC laid the keel for Yard No. 0263, a new cable‑laying and repair vessel commissioned by France’s Orange Marine. The 100‑metre, 1,800‑DWT ship, designed by Norway’s VARD Design, will feature advanced station‑keeping and low‑fuel consumption systems. Construction began...
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) Advances AI and Satellite Expansion Plans
Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire satellite telecom group Globalstar, a move intended to accelerate its Project Kuiper broadband constellation. Kuiper currently operates 180 satellites and targets a 3,200‑satellite network to challenge SpaceX’s Starlink, which runs over 9,500 satellites....
Researcher: About 12.7 Million Seniors Lack Broadband Subscription, 7.2 Million Lack Computer or Tablet
A new analysis shows 12.7 million U.S. seniors are without broadband and 7.2 million lack a computer or tablet. The gaps are independent, meaning many older adults miss either service or device, and programs targeting only one will leave many unserved. Massachusetts...
6G Could Introduce New Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities, Report Finds
The FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council warned that 6G networks could bring unprecedented cybersecurity and reliability risks. The report highlights that 6G’s reliance on virtualization, artificial intelligence, and cloud‑native infrastructure expands attack surfaces and complicates threat detection. It...
India's 60 Mn SMBs May Present Next Big Revenue Opportunity for Telcos: Experts
India’s telecom operators face stagnant ARPU around ₹180‑200 ($2‑$2.5) per month as subscriber growth stalls at 1.17 billion. Analysts estimate that targeting the country’s 60 million small and medium enterprises could unlock up to ₹50,000 crore ($6 billion) in annual revenue through commissions, cloud...
The RAN Semiconductor War: Ericsson vs Intel vs NVIDIA vs The Rest
The radio access network (RAN) market, worth roughly $35 billion, underpins a $1.3 trillion telecom ecosystem. A shift from traditional silicon to AI‑enabled chips is turning base stations into micro‑AI factories, influencing power consumption and national network strategy. NVIDIA, Intel, and incumbent...
T‑Mobile, TPG Weigh Bid for Uniti Group’s Fiber Assets
Wireless carrier T‑Mobile and private‑equity firm TPG are reportedly evaluating a joint acquisition of Uniti Group’s fiber‑to‑the‑home business and its enterprise fiber assets. The prospect has lifted Uniti’s shares 6.7% to $10.01, underscoring market interest in consolidating broadband infrastructure.