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
Ligado Case Might Not Upend Spectrum Auction Certainty: Former NTIA Administrator
Former NTIA administrator John Kneuer told a Federalist Society webinar that the Ligado lawsuit is unlikely to destabilize the certainty surrounding FCC spectrum auctions. Ligado is pursuing roughly $40 billion in damages, claiming the Defense Department’s secret use of L‑band spectrum blocked its 5G rollout. While the case raises unresolved questions about whether spectrum licenses constitute property rights against other federal agencies, Kneuer believes existing auction rules and prior rulemakings protect bidders. The dispute is expected to reach the Supreme Court, but the upcoming AWS‑3 auction on June 2 will move forward.
FCC Router Rules Shake U.S. Market: Ookla Data Reveals Top Vendors and Wi-Fi Upgrade Gap
The FCC’s new router rule forces any consumer router built abroad to obtain a waiver before sale, aiming to curb cyber‑attacks linked to foreign hardware. Ookla data shows the U.S. market is led by Eero, TP‑Link, Netgear and others, all...
Vodafone Idea Adds Users After 5 Years
Vodafone Idea posted a net gain of 21,927 subscribers in February, raising its total base to 198.4 million—the first positive addition in nearly five years. The modest growth follows extensive 4G and early 5G network expansion and comes after the Indian...
Tata Communications Unveils IZO™ Self‑Healing Network for AI‑Driven Enterprises
Tata Communications launched IZO™ Data Centre Dynamic Connectivity, a software‑defined, self‑healing network that spans five continents and targets AI‑driven workloads. The platform promises >99.99% service availability and up to 30% operational cost reductions through deterministic multi‑path routing and consumption‑based pricing.
Helios Towers to Expand Mobile Connectivity Across DRC
Helios Towers has secured a $110 million investment agreement with DRC’s ANAPI to expand its mobile tower infrastructure. The deal will fund new sites in urban and rural areas, improve network resilience, and incorporate sustainable energy and local skill programs. Helios,...
Helios Towers to Invest $110m on Telecoms Infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Helios Towers announced a $110 million investment to expand telecom tower infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal, signed with the government’s ANAPI agency, will fund new sites across urban and rural areas and improve energy resilience. Helios already...
Nokia on the Evolving Priorities of Emerging Market Operators
At Mobile World Congress Nokia’s SVP for the Middle East and Africa, Mikko Lavanti, highlighted the dual reality facing emerging‑market operators: conflict‑driven network disruptions and a surge of infrastructure investment. He emphasized AI’s immediate impact, citing a 30% performance boost...
ESN ‘on Track’ for 2030 Completion, UK Official Tells BAPCO
The UK’s Emergency Services Network (ESN) is back on schedule, with data‑only services potentially available to first responders as early as 2024. Full mission‑critical voice capability is slated for the second quarter of 2028, and a mass migration of users,...
North Carolina Directs $26M to Connect Rural Homes by 2026
North Carolina has allocated nearly $26 million in stop‑gap broadband grants to bring high‑speed internet to 5,161 homes, businesses and community institutions across 66 rural counties by the end of 2026. The program, funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act...
From 1G to 5G: The Road to 6G
Let Mallik Tatipamula and Vint Cerf take you on the journey of our mobile devices from 1G to 5G, and see what's coming with 6G in the near future: https://spectrum.ieee.org/telecom-history-1g-to-6g
SuperMobile Powers Secure, High‑performance Work Off‑site
The most effective teams today don’t sit at desks - they operate in the field, on-site, and on the move. SuperMobile supports performance and security where work actually happens, helping enterprises stay responsive even where traditional cell towers don’t reach. Learn more:...
Pioneer Selected for Alaska OTTER Cable Project
Pioneer Consulting has been chosen by Copper Valley Telephone Cooperative to manage the Oceanic Tatitlek Telecommunications Enhancement Route (OTTER) submarine cable project in Alaska. The 50‑kilometer, repeaterless fiber link will connect Valdez to the remote villages of Tatitlek and Ellamar,...
Starlink Lets Passengers Call on Flights, Ending Excuse
ts Time To Let Passengers Make Calls On Planes — Starlink Ends The Old Excuse - View from the Wing https://t.co/MU0lR5fhYP
Speedtest Rankings Reveal FCC‑Impacted Top 10 Router Vendors
MY LATEST Speedtest data helps highlight the Wi-Fi router vendors that will be most directly affected by the FCC's new rules. Here is a list of the top 10 Wi-Fi router vendors in the U.S. from January 2025 to March 2026,...
Life Belarus Lauches 5G Network in Major Cities
Life Belarus announced the commercial launch of 5G services across five major Belarusian cities—Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Mogilyov and Gomel. The rollout leverages the state‑owned beCloud’s 5G infrastructure and is already active on more than 1,000 base stations. The deployment follows...
SpaceX Rumored to Acquire Globalstar at SatShow 2026
"Rumors that SpaceX will buy GlobalStar were the buzz at SatShow 2026 last week." https://t.co/YuUnHqkpoE “I think everyone’s convinced that there will be a sale of Globalstar,” @TMFAssociates , founder of the satellite research firm TMF Associates, told @malleven33
TIM CEO Presses for Quicker Regulatory Decisions
TIM chief executive Pietro Labriola warned that European regulators are still too slow, despite becoming “more sensible,” and urged faster decision‑making in the AI‑driven era. He highlighted how technology adoption has accelerated—from 75 years for 100 million phone lines to just two...
T2 Grows Online Sales Thanks to Integration with 2GIS Mapping Service
Russian mobile operator T2, a Rostelecom subsidiary, integrated its online storefront with the 2GIS mapping service. The move drove a 218% surge in sales generated through the platform. T2’s presence on 2GIS now reaches over one million users, highlighting rapid...
Kenyan Parliamentary Committee Evaluates USF-Supported Connectivity in Garissa County
Kenya’s National Assembly ICT committee conducted on‑site visits in Garissa County to evaluate connectivity projects funded by the Universal Service Fund (USF). MPs met directly with residents to gauge how the initiatives are being rolled out. The USF‑backed deployments are...
AgileTV Makes DACH Move with LIWEST IPTV Launch
AgileTV has entered the DACH market through a partnership with Austrian operator LIWEST, launching a next‑generation IPTV platform that merges linear TV, streaming and app‑based entertainment. The service features super‑aggregation, an open content system for third‑party integrations and regionalisation tools...
Yettel Hungary Extends Portable Internet Option for Easter Holiday
Yettel Hungary is extending its OtthonNet Anywhere Mode, allowing home‑internet subscribers to take their router on the road. The carrier will automatically add ten free days of the portable service for OtthonNet and OtthonNet Basic users, with the promotion running...
Plus Cuts Unlimited Package to PLN 60 on 2-Year Contract
Polkomtel, operating under the Plus brand, announced a 24‑month promotion that slashes its unlimited L post‑paid plan to PLN 60 per month (≈ $14.4), down from the regular PLN 100 (≈ $24). The same deal reduces the 60 GB M plan to PLN 50 (≈ $12) and...
Russia Bans Apple ID Payments to Curb VPN Use
Russia's Ministry of Digital Development has ordered mobile operators to disable Apple ID payments in a bid to make accessing VPNs harder. https://t.co/oKO2qFNeHk
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MTN to Invest $1.3B in South Africa by 2028
MTN South Africa announced a R21.8 billion ($1.3 billion) investment plan through 2028 to expand its ICT infrastructure, building on a $404 million network spend in 2025. The rollout targets broadband connectivity, entrepreneurship and digital‑skills development across the country. MTN highlighted its $321 million...
Chinese Captain Sentenced for Taiwan Cable Damage
A Chinese captain was sentenced to three years in prison for deliberately damaging the Taiwan‑Penghu No. 3 submarine communications cable by anchoring in a restricted zone. The court ordered him to pay NT$18.22 million (about US$570,000) in damages to Chunghwa Telecom. The...
Delta to Equip 500 Planes with Amazon’s Leo Satellite Internet by 2028
Delta Air Lines announced it will install Amazon’s Leo low‑Earth‑orbit satellite broadband on 500 aircraft beginning in 2028. The rollout targets domestic narrow‑body jets, promising faster streaming, larger entertainment libraries and new onboard commerce options.
Comcast Is Vistance Networks' Top Customer… by a Lot
Vistance Networks, now owned by Amphenol, disclosed that Comcast accounted for about 35% of its 2025 revenue, up from 21% in 2024, making it the company’s dominant customer. Aurora Networks, Vistance’s cable‑access arm, saw revenue climb 47% to $1.2 billion, driven...
AT&T One Step Closer to Ambient Connectivity
AT&T introduced a new consumer plan that bundles 5G mobile, fixed‑wireless access, Wi‑Fi, and satellite services into a single subscription, branding it as “ambient connectivity.” The offering automatically switches devices between networks to keep laptops, phones, TVs and emerging IoT...
(PR) NVIDIA Invests $2 Billion in Marvell and Expanded NVLink Fusion Partnership
NVIDIA announced a $2 billion investment in Marvell Technology and an expanded NVLink Fusion partnership. The deal links Marvell’s silicon to NVIDIA’s AI factory and AI‑RAN ecosystem, giving customers broader options for next‑generation infrastructure. Both companies will also co‑develop silicon‑photonic solutions....
FCC Competition Cuts Prices with AT&T 1Gb Converged Plans
Conclusion: @FCC competition policy is driving communications service prices down -- make that way down -- as shown by @ATT new converged mobile-1 Gig home Internet plans. These OneConnect offers are flexible, save a ton of money each month, and...
A New Kind of Geosynchronous Orbit
The article introduces On‑Earth Orbit (OEO), a proposed satellite architecture that operates at ground level while remaining geosynchronous, promising near‑zero latency for internet services. By staying close to users, OEO eliminates the 300 ms lag typical of GEO and avoids the...
AT&T Makes $1 Billion Worth of Cost Cuts for US Government
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced a new agreement between the NTIA and AT&T that will reduce FirstNet’s costs by roughly $1 billion while securing an additional $1 billion in network investments. The deal, valued at about $2 billion in total, aims to...
Mouser Adds PolyPhaser RF Surge Protection Products
Mouser Electronics has signed a global distribution agreement with PolyPhaser, an Infinite Electronics subsidiary, to sell its RF surge protection portfolio. The lineup includes coaxial protectors covering frequencies from 400 MHz to 2.5 GHz, with power handling up to 3 kW and surge...
A Rural Cellular Story
A review of FCC cellular maps for a fringe neighborhood in Buncombe County, North Carolina, reveals only marginal 4G coverage from AT&T and Verizon, with no viable 5G service. EchoStar’s Project Genesis was the sole provider promising usable 5G speeds,...
Growing Up and Growing Old Online: A Regional Connectivity Reckoning
Middle Eastern governments have poured billions into fiber, 5G and smart‑city projects, but the region now faces a digital‑wellbeing dilemma across generations. Youth remain the most connected, with 82% online, while older adults lag in digital‑payment adoption and are vulnerable...
AT&T, DigitalBridge and Verizon Leaders to Headline Connect (X) 2026 Digital Infrastructure Event
The Wireless Infrastructure Association announced the keynote lineup for Connect (X) 2026, featuring senior executives from AT&T, Verizon and DigitalBridge. The three‑day event will be held May 4‑6 at the Broward County Convention Centre in Fort Lauderdale, gathering tower operators, investors and...
WRC27 Revisits GEO‑LEO Power Limits After 30 Years
At @ITU #WRC27, prepare for Round 2 of GEO v LEO fight over power limits (EPFDs) on LEOs 30 yrs ago to protect GEOs. WRC23 agreed to studies to assess of tech advances allow relaxing them. @Viasat @telesat @SES_Satellites...
Deutsche Telekom CEO Hits Out at European Microregulation
Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges used the shareholder meeting to criticize the EU’s upcoming Digital Networks Act, calling it a form of micro‑regulation that would limit scale and undermine European digital sovereignty. He highlighted the group’s strong 2023 results –...
NPR Distribution Highlights New Adaptable Receiver
NPR Distribution’s vice president Badri Munipalla announced at the Public Radio Engineering Conference a next‑generation ContentDepot Edge receiver, a low‑latency terrestrial solution for live broadcast distribution. The Edge platform, currently in pilot, adds station‑to‑station sharing, geo‑targeted delivery, richer metadata and...
Vodafone Pushes EU over Comms Market Unity
Vodafone’s chief external and corporate affairs officer Joakim Reiter warned EU regulators that fragmented telecom rules undermine the bloc’s single‑market ambitions. He argued that inconsistent regulations, unlike those in energy and capital markets, threaten investment in advanced networks such as...
DSIT Seeks Figurehead ‘to Lay the Digital Foundations for the Country’
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is hiring a new Director General for Digital Foundations, a senior civil‑service role paying £174,000 (about $221,000) per year. The post will lead government cybersecurity policy, the Government Cyber Unit, and...
US, AT&T Agree $2B Public Safety Deal
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a renegotiated FirstNet contract in which AT&T will invest $1 billion and simultaneously cut $1 billion in project costs, creating a $2 billion value proposition for public‑safety communications. The deal accelerates deployment of a dedicated 5G Core...
AI-Driven Operating Model Key to Cloud-Native, Autonomous Networks
The Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) released a briefing titled "Cloud native next chapter – agentic AI‑based operating models" that maps cloud‑native maturity to AI readiness for telecom operators. The document defines five progressive AI adoption levels aligned with...
Novel Graphene-Based Sub-Terahertz Receivers Could Enable Ultra-Compact, Zero-Power 6G Links
Researchers from ICFO, ETH Zurich and partners have unveiled the first graphene‑based sub‑terahertz direct receivers that deliver multi‑gigabit‑per‑second data rates over a 3‑metre link at room temperature. The devices occupy a tiny 0.018 mm² footprint, are compatible with standard CMOS back‑end...
PolicyTracker Spectrum Database Updated with Latest Auction Results and Awards
PolicyTracker’s Spectrum Database has been refreshed with new assignments across Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, North Macedonia and Canada, and now reflects Telefonica’s exit from six South American markets. Millicom’s Tigo brand has taken over many of Movistar’s licences, reshaping the region’s...
Paratus Launches Starlink-Powered Connectivity for Africa’s Essential Services
Paratus Group has unveiled Paratus Essential Access, a Starlink‑powered satellite service that delivers high‑speed, low‑latency connectivity to essential‑service organisations across Africa. The offering targets law enforcement, hospitals, schools, emergency responders, and agricultural initiatives, providing preferential pricing and priority support. It...
Maziv Commits R9bn to Expand Fibre, Create 10K Jobs
Maziv, the open‑access fibre network owner of Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa, announced a R9 billion (approximately $486 million) investment pledge over the next five years to accelerate South Africa’s high‑speed broadband rollout. The plan includes a dedicated commitment to generate 10,000...
Virgin Media O2 Switches on 5G+ in Brighton and East Sussex
Virgin Media O2 has activated its 5G+ standalone mobile service across Brighton and the wider East Sussex region. The rollout covers 14 major towns, 16 smaller towns and 252 villages, expanding O2’s high‑speed network footprint. The expansion is part of...
Aehr Gains Initial Order From New Silicon Photonics Transceiver Customer
Semiconductor test equipment maker Aehr Test Systems announced an initial order from a major, unnamed networking supplier developing silicon‑photonic transceivers for hyperscale AI and cloud data centers. The order includes several FOX‑XP wafer‑level burn‑in systems capable of testing nine wafers...
NIE Networks Selects BT to Drive Enhanced Connectivity and Security
BT announced a contract worth up to £200 million (approximately $250 million) with Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) to provide enhanced connectivity, cybersecurity and IT services. The five‑year agreement, with an option to extend another ten years, will modernise the 2,300 km transmission...