Today's Telecom Pulse
Broadband markets in Australia, NZ, and Canada set for 2026 fiber and gigabit expansion
Australia’s broadband sector is projected to undergo major upgrades by 2026, with ISPs expanding fiber networks, gigabit speeds, and NBN enhancements. Parallel analyses highlight similar fiber and 5G‑driven competition in New Zealand and Canada, reshaping consumer internet experiences across the region.
Telecom Egypt Denies Move to Turn Data Center Complex Into ‘Cash-Generating Asset’
State‑owned Telecom Egypt has refuted media reports that it plans to turn its regional data centre complex into a cash‑generating asset. The company said there are no new developments and will announce any changes in line with its transparency commitments. Telecom Egypt currently operates 11 data centres across Egypt, including a 4.6 MW hub in Cairo’s Smart Village. The denial comes as the Egyptian government intensifies efforts to attract data‑centre investment through incentives and a green‑data‑centre strategy.
DC Lawyers Claim FCC Can Still Change 39% Cap
There are lawyers in DC making $1600 an hour who argue before the @FCC and the DC Circuit that this language was structured in a way to preserve the FCC’s ability to alter the 39% cap. The current FCC Chairman...
Realtek RTL8159 10GbE to USB 3.2 Adapters Sell for About $55 and Up
Realtek's RTL8159 10 GbE‑to‑USB 3.2 adapters have entered the market at prices ranging from roughly $45 to $80, making multi‑gigabit Ethernet accessible for laptops and small‑form‑factor PCs. The WisdPi WP‑UT9 retails for $79 (about $87 shipped to the US), while the XikeStor...
MTS Plans to Deploy 2,600 More Irteya Base Stations by Beginning of 2027
MTS, Russia’s leading mobile operator, will add 2,600 LTE base stations built by Irteya by early 2027, raising the total to 3,800 across 76 regions. The expansion supports both GSM and LTE technologies, enhancing network density in urban and remote...
Telecom News: Bharti Airtel, AT&T, Bangladesh Telecoms Face Fuel Shortages
Bharti Airtel announced it has crossed 650 million subscribers, making it the world’s second‑largest telecom operator, driven by strong growth in India and Africa. AT&T pledged up to $2 billion to modernize the FirstNet public‑safety network, enhancing 5G coverage and cutting rates...
CME Group Extends Deadline for Network Equipment Upgrades
CME Group has pushed back the deadline for its network equipment upgrades to June 27, 2026, after hearing client concerns. The exchange will replace end‑of‑life hardware that currently supports listed‑derivatives connectivity on Globex hubs, where market‑data traffic now regularly exceeds 1 Gbps....
Telecom News: Tata Communications, Cisco, CallTower
Tata Communications has been named a Leader in Gartner’s 2026 Magic Quadrant for Global WAN Services for the 13th consecutive year, highlighting its AI‑driven networking and 800G infrastructure investments. Cisco’s new report shows that roughly 80% of enterprises are increasing...
Think Robots Are Impressive Now? Just Wait Until They Have 6G
At Mobile World Congress, robot makers such as Boston Dynamics and Honor showcased humanoids that hint at a future powered by 6G connectivity. Industry experts argue that 6G will transform robots from isolated machines into networked fleets by providing pervasive...
Senegal's Regulator Issues Formal Warning on Illegal Wi-Fi Services
Senegal’s telecom regulator, the Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes (ARTP), issued a formal warning to operators of illegal “community Wi‑Fi” services. The warning targets networks that frequently rely on Starlink satellite antennas to provide unauthorised broadband. ARTP...
Telenet Delivers 5G Network Slice for Colruyt Trial of Unmanned Delivery Vehicle
Telenet Business is providing a dedicated 5G network slice to support Colruyt’s trial of an unmanned delivery vehicle in Leuven, Belgium. The pilot runs from mid‑May through August, with the vehicle transporting groceries from the supermarket chain to customers. Connectivity...
Lab: Summarizing IS-IS Level-1 Routes
IS‑IS was originally built for NSAP addressing, separating node and area prefixes, but its IP implementation mirrors OSPF by defaulting to no automatic prefix summarization. Network operators must manually configure summarization to aggregate Level‑1 routes into the Level‑2 backbone. The...
MSI Launches HERALD BE9400 WiFi 7 PCIe Card with Tri-Band Speeds
MSI has launched the HERALD BE9400, a PCIe x1 Wi‑Fi 7 card that brings tri‑band 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz connectivity to desktop PCs. The card claims peak speeds of 5.76 Gbps on 6 GHz, 2.88 Gbps on 5 GHz and 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz, and includes a detachable...
TCCA White Paper Gives Direction on Building Cybersecurity Into Critical Communications
The Telecoms Critical Communications Association (TCCA) has published its first white paper on cybersecurity for mission‑critical broadband networks, marking a key step toward securing 4G and 5G‑enabled communications. The document outlines international standards, frameworks and deployment models, and stresses the...
1973: Marty Cooper Makes First Ever Mobile Call
#ThisDayInTechHistory. April 3, 1973. Dr Marty Cooper from Motorola made the first mobile phone call to his competitor at AT and T. (Bloomberg Business) #Mobile #Technology https://t.co/cZjwZUT6Q6
How Nigeria’s CDMA Operators Built a Market, Then Lost It
Nigeria’s early CDMA operators—Multilinks, Starcomms, Visafone and others—pioneered private mobile services in the late 1990s, reaching up to three million subscribers at peak. Their growth was stunted by regional licences that barred nationwide expansion, while GSM rivals received national licences...
Recover Outstanding Damages, Non-Performance Penalty of Rs 8.49 Cr From Airtel: CAG
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has urged Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) to recover ₹8.49 crore (≈ $1 million) in liquidated damages and non‑performance penalties from Bharti Airtel. The penalties arise from Airtel’s failure to meet its 2017‑2019 agreement to commission 756 rural...
Sheikh Nahyan Inaugurates SAMENA Telecom Leaders' Summit 2026 in Dubai
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan inaugurated the SAMENA Telecommunications Council Leaders' Summit 2026 at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, under the theme “Intelligent Networks for Sovereign and Sustainable Futures.” The event, co‑hosted with Huawei and backed by the UAE’s TDRA, gathered...
Vietnam: Accelerating 5G Rollout, Preparing for a 6G Future
Vietnam is fast‑tracking a nationwide 5G rollout, with nearly 40,000 base stations covering about 90% of the population and 23 million subscribers by February 2026. Viettel leads the effort, having installed 23,500 stations in 2025 and targeting 98% coverage by 2026, while...
Debate Over 39% Cap: Statute or FCC Rule?
But that's a highly controversial issue -- with some insisting the 39% cap is statutory and only Congress can change it. Meanwhile, @NXSTMediaGroup and many more say the 39% cap is an @FCC rule that the agency is free to...
Why in 2026 Business Broadband Is Needed in Construction Enterprise
Construction firms are increasingly dependent on digital tools such as BIM, cloud project management, and IoT sensors, making reliable business broadband essential. High‑speed connectivity across sprawling job sites enables real‑time blueprint access, instant communication, and rapid data exchange, reducing delays...
“Alexa, Let’s Go to Outer Space”
In this episode of Motley Fool Money, hosts Tyler Crowe, Matt Frankel, and John Klost discuss the rapid evolution of the space industry, focusing on the potential Amazon acquisition of Globalstar and its strategic value for Amazon’s satellite ambitions, as...
HP Go 5G's “Unlimited” Data Comes With Hidden Limits
HP Go 5G provides “unlimited” data under restrictive terms, with prepaid plans, throttling, and limited international access. https://t.co/IS12m0RpxH
Life After Affirmed: What Operators Should Prioritize as 5G Core Strategies Evolve
Microsoft’s decision to retire the Affirmed Networks portfolio has forced operators worldwide to reassess their 4G/5G core infrastructure. The shift accelerates a move toward cloud‑native, micro‑service‑based cores that can run across hybrid and multi‑cloud environments. Vendors that offer modular, low‑cost...
'Unlimited 5G Data': HP's Latest AI PC Ultraslim Laptop Promises Superfast WiFi-Killer Broadband and Built-In Antivirus — Just Make Sure...
HP announced the EliteBook 6 G2q, an ultraslim laptop powered by Snapdragon X2 processors that delivers up to 85 TOPS of AI performance. The device includes HP Go 5G, marketed as unlimited data, but the service requires a built‑in eSIM, works only on Windows 11 commercial PCs,...
Tarana Says Starlink’s BEAD Antics “Pulled the Rug Out” From NTIA
Tarana Wireless has accused Starlink of undermining the BEAD program by demanding upfront payments, installation fees, and relief from its minimum 100/20 Mbps service commitment for awarded projects. Tarana says the move "pulled the rug" from under the NTIA and state...
FCC Cracks Down on Foreign Bank Impersonation Scams
FCC Acts to Protect U.S. Consumers from Bank Impersonation Scams Linked to Suspicious Foreign Call Traffic https://t.co/4LNmknNXR0
Cogeco, Eastlink Say They Will Not Stop Decommissioning Despite CRTC Request
Canadian regulator CRTC asked cable operators Cogeco and Eastlink to keep legacy copper infrastructure accessible to wholesale ISPs TekSavvy and Fibernetics. Both incumbents replied they will proceed with scheduled decommissioning, citing economic infeasibility and lack of binding authority from CRTC...
ArkEdge Space to Work With ABIT For IoT Service Rollout
ArkEdge Space and Japan’s ABIT Corporation have signed an MOU to co‑develop wide‑area IoT solutions and satellite communication equipment. The collaboration merges ArkEdge’s low‑power, long‑range satellite network—validated on 18 in‑orbit satellites—with ABIT’s ground‑side device design, mass‑production and protocol expertise. ArkEdge...
Macnica: Two Speeds On One Card
Macnica will unveil an upgraded MEP100 SmartNIC at the NAB Show, adding simultaneous 100 GbE and 25 GbE support on a single card. The new version also expands GPU‑accelerated processing via GPUDirect, adds Windows DirectShow filter compatibility, and incorporates SMPTE ST 2110‑41 fast metadata...
Tower Operator SBA Communications Is Exploring a Potential Sale
SBA Communications, a leading tower operator with over 46,000 sites, is weighing strategic alternatives after receiving preliminary takeover interest from large infrastructure funds. The company’s enterprise value stands at roughly $37 billion, including debt, while its market cap is about $21.6 billion...
PM-WANI Crosses 4 Lakh Hotspots as Public Wi-Fi Use Surges Across India
The Prime Minister Wi‑Fi Access Network Interface (PM‑WANI) scheme now operates 409,403 public Wi‑Fi hotspots across India, marking a significant expansion of shared broadband infrastructure. User adoption has surged, with over 24.4 million individuals accessing the network and generating approximately 58.6 petabytes...
Northwestel Secures Multi-Year Telesat Lightspeed Deal for Rural Broadband
Canada's @northwestel signs multi-year contract for @Telesat Lightspeed capacity, part of Telesat's CAD 600M ($432M) capacity pool agreement w/ Canada government to reduce costs for rural broadband access. Northwestel coverage map: https://t.co/ITYDkWqUS1
Using AI, DeepSig Advances Open, Intelligent Baseband RAN Architectures
DeepSig has leveraged deep‑learning models to eliminate the pilot signal in mobile networks, cutting signaling overhead without hurting performance. The startup is now a principal contributor to OCUDU, an open‑source carrier‑grade baseband stack launched by the Linux Foundation and the...
Starlink's $35 Fee Challenges Broadband Affordability Goals
Question for @elonmusk: How do you expect state broadband affordability laws and the federal $42.45 billion BEAD program to succeed if you keep charging $35 for a monthly a @Starlink plan? https://t.co/NqXTOLBbYQ
Airtel’s Rs 399 Plan Offers Unlimited Data: Here’s What You Get
In February 2026 Airtel launched a Rs 399 (≈ $4.80) prepaid plan that offers fully unlimited 4G and 5G data, unlimited local and STD calls, and 100 SMS per day for 28 days. The plan is available in 15 Indian circles, including Maharashtra,...
ISED Extends Telesat’s Use of Ku-Band for Broadcasting Services
Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) has approved an extension of Telesat’s use of the extended Ku (xKu) band for direct‑to‑home (DTH) broadcasting until November 2039. The decision keeps Shaw Direct’s service, operated by Rogers, on air for another decade, reversing...
Just 19% Use Modern Wi‑Fi; Legacy Hinders AI Scaling
"Our research shows that only 19% of organizations are running the latest Wi-Fi generations, and those stuck on legacy systems struggle to scale AI workloads and meet the performance, capacity, and reliability demands of modern, device-dense environments." https://t.co/wlCL1AVkVR
Amazon Weighs a Deal to Boost Its Satellite Internet Ambitions. Why It's Worthy Pursuit
Amazon is in talks to acquire satellite operator Globalstar, a move that would expand its fledgling Leo internet‑from‑space service. Leo currently runs about 200 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, far fewer than SpaceX’s Starlink network of over 10,000 satellites and 10 million users. The...
Amazon in $9‑11 B Talks to Acquire Globalstar, Escalating Satellite Broadband Race
Amazon is negotiating a purchase of Globalstar valued between $9 billion and $11 billion, a move that would bolster its Leo low‑Earth‑orbit constellation and directly challenge SpaceX’s Starlink. The deal faces a hurdle: Apple’s 20% stake in Globalstar, which will require separate...
AT&T, FirstNet Support Comms for NASA's Artemis II Mission Around the Moon
AT&T is supplying connectivity and on‑site support for NASA’s Artemis II mission, enabling near‑Earth and deep‑space communications as the Orion crew circles the Moon. The carrier has upgraded its network and positioned teams at key NASA facilities, while its FirstNet public‑safety...
Oak Hill Capital Completes Acquisition of Hunter Communications
Oak Hill Capital has completed its acquisition of Oregon‑based fiber provider Hunter Communications, a deal first announced in December. Hunter operates a 3,000‑plus‑mile network serving roughly 35,000 customers across the Pacific Northwest. The new capital backing will accelerate fiber expansion...
US Home Internet Splits Into Four Converging Terrains
Fiber castles, cable forts, FWA camps and satellite warbands: The US home Internet competitive landscape is fragmenting into four distinct territorial formations, and these formations are reshaping wireless competition through convergence. @Light_Reading https://t.co/HqShaYMenU
ETSI Announces OpenCAPIF Release 4 Aligned with 3GPP
ETSI’s OpenCAPIF Software Development Group has launched Release 4.0.0, fully aligned with 3GPP Release 19. The update introduces a Visibility Control API that lets providers dictate who can discover and use their APIs, alongside a scalable certificate architecture that isolates keys per...
Wireless Capital Intensity to Fall to 11% by 2029
"Wireless capital intensity is projected to approach 11 percent in 2029, down seven percentage points from the 5G peak." via @StefanPongratz https://t.co/Jc4QCoS7R7
Docomo Completes Mobile Core Virtualisation
NTT Docomo has finished virtualising its entire mobile core network, including the 5G standalone core, evolved packet core (EPC) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), by running them as software on general‑purpose servers. The transition was executed with Cisco, Dell Technologies...
T‑Mobile Absorbs Netflix Price Hike for Customers
Thank you, @TMobile .. The Un-carrier does a solid for consumers by eating @Netflix new price hike $TMUS https://t.co/xZ2y5ROZRl
Global Telecom Capex Trends: 10 Key Facts Shaping Industry Investment Strategy Through 2030
Dell’Oro Group reports that global telecom capital expenditure held steady in 2025, marking the first year of flat spending among the 50 largest operators, which account for roughly 80% of industry outlays. Despite the pause in capex, equipment manufacturers saw...
India's Telecom Base Tops 1.32 Billion as Broadband Gains Momentum
India's telecom regulator TRAI announced that the country's total telephone subscriber base climbed to 1.321 billion at the end of February 2026, driven by a 7.31 million net addition largely from broadband. The surge underscores the rapid expansion of both mobile and...
IDTechEx Reports on Optimizing Signal for Communication and Radar with Low Loss Materials
IDTechEx’s new report highlights the rising importance of low‑loss materials for 5G/6G, data‑center, and automotive radar applications through 2036. As high‑frequency signals become more sensitive, dielectric losses threaten bandwidth and reliability, prompting adoption of substrates such as PTFE, LCP, and...
Melon Digital Secures Global eSIM Deal
Melon Digital, an MVNO platform‑as‑a‑service provider, has teamed up with global eSIM specialist Airalo to deliver instant digital connectivity for international visitors in South Africa. The partnership launches an eSIM offering through Melon Mobile, allowing travelers to access data, voice...