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
Arista Networks (ANET) Targets AI Networking Boom with Expanding Market Opportunity and Strong Growth Outlook
Arista Networks announced at the Morgan Stanley TMT conference that it is accelerating AI‑focused networking solutions, expanding its total addressable market from $60 billion to $105 billion. The company projects revenue to top $10 billion this year, up from $9 billion last year, driven by new customer wins and deeper campus‑market penetration. Strategic partnerships with Meta and Nvidia are slated to open additional AI infrastructure channels. Arista’s roadmap emphasizes integrated wired‑wireless campus offerings built on open standards.
Trump Admin Pushes Premature 6G Phones for 2028 Olympics
Trump administration wants 6G phones even before 6G comes into existence • The US government wants to showcase its 6G capabilities at the 2028 Olympics in LA. • The Trump administration has asked Qualcomm to steer the development of three 6G-ready...
Why Vi Is Adding More Value to Its Entry Plans Right Now
Vodafone Idea (Vi) has revamped its entry‑level Unlimited 5G prepaid plan, keeping the price at roughly Rs 349 (about $4.20) while adding night‑time data, weekend rollover and 2 GB of backup data. The 28‑day offering includes 1.5 GB daily data, unlimited calls, 100...
India Orders WhatsApp to Block Device IDs Amid Surge in Digital Arrest Scams
The Indian government has instructed WhatsApp to block device IDs linked to digital arrest scams and retain user data for 180 days. The move comes as authorities crack down on fraud schemes exploiting the platform, while the telecom sector grapples...
Huawei Crowdfunds World’s First ‘Mesh Crystal Antenna’ Wi-Fi 7 Router — Stunning Glowing Ornament Also Has a ‘Shark Fin’ Heat...
Huawei has launched the WiFi Mesh X3 Pro, the world’s first Wi‑Fi 7 router featuring a metal‑mesh crystal antenna and a glowing ornamental design. The device incorporates a shark‑fin heat‑exhaust system, dual 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, and advanced Wi‑Fi 7 features such as...
Fourth Mobile Network in Germany: 1&1 Denies Sale Rumors and Focuses on Expansion
Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of United Internet and 1&1, dismissed rumors of a sale to Telefónica, confirming the firm’s commitment to its own fourth mobile network in Germany. By the end of 2025 the network reached roughly 27 percent of households, with...
Millions Face Mobile Internet Outages in Moscow. 'Digital Crackdown' Feared
Since early March, Moscow’s 13 million residents have endured unprecedented mobile internet and cellular service outages, while Wi‑Fi remains functional. The Russian government attributes the restrictions to “security” concerns amid sophisticated Ukrainian cyber attacks, echoing similar blackouts in border regions and...
The 6G Podcast - Nvidia's AI Grid, Bell's AI Factory, OPPO Find N6, Spider-Man's Foldable, Fiber Land Rush, and 6G...
In this episode, hosts Anshul Saag and Mike Dano dissect NVIDIA's new AI Grid for telecom, Bell's $1.7 billion AI factory in Saskatchewan, and the latest foldable market moves, notably OPPO's crease‑free Find N6 and Samsung's discontinuation of its high‑end trifold. They...
Conecta Infra Secures $350 Million to Deploy 6,000 Km of Neutral Fiber Across South America
Conecta Infra announced a US$350 million investment to construct nearly 6,000 km of underground neutral fiber connecting major data‑center hubs in Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Backed by MissionCo and led by founder Rafael Pires, the network aims to meet soaring cloud and...
One Plan, Global Coverage, No SIM Swaps
One phone plan. Three continents. Zero SIM swaps. I have been on Google Fi Wireless for a while now, and the experience keeps proving itself in situations where most plans fall apart. A road trip across the United States? Signal held the...
Internet Blackout Keeps Iranians From Reaching Loved Ones During Nowruz Holiday
Iran’s government has imposed a nationwide internet blackout that began three weeks ago, coinciding with the Nowruz holiday. The shutdown blocks social media, messaging apps, VPNs and satellite connections, leaving over 90 million citizens unable to communicate with family. Travel restrictions...
Broadband Users ≠ DTC Users: Different Metrics, ARPU
Why do people deliberately conflate broadband (10M users) with DTC (aiming for 25M monthly users at the end of 2026)? Monthly DTC users (who use DTC on average 1-2 times per month and generate ~$1 ARPU) are not at all...
Local Disasters Spike Demand; Resilient Networks Save Lives
“Disasters always start and end locally.” - CNET I’ve seen firsthand how quickly demand surges in those moments. Resilient infrastructure matters. Prioritized network access supports public safety coordination — from SatCOWs to device support in Maui. https://t.co/LaXKDooUs0 @T_Priority Partner
AT&T Raising Prices for Legacy Unlimited Plans Starting in April 2026
AT&T announced that its legacy unlimited wireless plans will see price increases in April, with a $10 hike for single‑line accounts and up to $20 for multi‑line accounts. To soften the impact, the carrier is adding 20 GB of monthly hotspot...
Motorola Solutions Seeks $200 Million Restitution From Hytera Over Trade‑Secret Theft
Motorola Solutions has filed an appeal demanding more than $200 million in restitution from Chinese telecom equipment maker Hytera Communications, arguing that the judge’s refusal to award compensation undervalues the damage from stolen walkie‑talkie technology. The appeal follows a criminal conviction...
Teledyne to Demonstrate Integrated Satcom Capabilities at SATShow Week 2026
Teledyne Technologies will showcase its end‑to‑end satellite communications portfolio at SATShow Week 2026 in Washington, DC, booth 2729. The exhibit features live demos of the EV10AS940 ADC employing non‑uniform sampling and a 16‑core radiation‑tolerant Arm Cortex‑A72 processor running real‑time AI...
SpaceX Still at Odds on Sharing Rules with SES, Viasat
SpaceX is intensifying its fight with incumbent satellite operators over proposed FCC rule changes that would raise power limits for low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) broadband constellations in the 10.7‑12.7 GHz, 17.3‑18.6 GHz and 19.7‑20.2 GHz bands. The company contends that existing equivalent power flux density...
GoNetspeed Announces Plans to Bring Fiber Internet to Oneonta
GoNetspeed announced a $4.5 million investment to deploy a 100% fiber‑optic network in Oneonta, New York, marking its first project in Otsego County. The rollout will deliver symmetric speeds from 500 Mbps up to six gigabits, promising multigigabit performance and higher reliability...
Dish Wireless Wants to Consolidate Deluge of Tower Lawsuits
Dish Wireless is petitioning a Colorado federal court for a stay and consolidation of more than a dozen lawsuits filed by tower owners over unpaid infrastructure fees. The company has moved to centralize seven federal actions and several state cases...
GFiber Accelerates Multi-Gig Internet with 25G PON and Wi-Fi 7 to Redefine Customer Experience
GFiber is rolling out a 25G PON fiber network that supports symmetric multi‑gigabit plans up to 20 Gbps, paired with Wi‑Fi 7 and Wi‑Fi 6/6E upgrades in homes. Leveraging Ookla Speedtest Intelligence, the company replaces outdated CPE at no charge, ensuring the fiber...
Japan Telecom Market: 5G and Fiber Broadband Set to Drive Revenue to $78 Bn by 2030
Japan’s telecom market is set to reach $78.3 billion by 2030, driven by 5G and fiber broadband growth. Mobile services revenue is forecast to climb to $51.4 billion, while fixed‑line services are expected to hit $26.9 billion as fiber‑to‑the‑home coverage approaches 99.9 % by...
Ubiquiti Defect Poses Account Takeover Risk for UniFi Networking Application Users
Researchers have identified a critical path‑traversal flaw (CVE‑2026‑22557) in Ubiquiti’s UniFi Network Application that enables unauthenticated attackers to manipulate files and take over accounts. The vendor issued patches on Wednesday, also addressing a related privilege‑escalation bug (CVE‑2026‑22558). Censys data shows...
Intelligent Infrastructure: How AI Is Transforming OTNs
Huawei unveiled its AI‑powered fgOTN solution at MWC Barcelona 2026, positioning optical transport networks as intelligent infrastructure rather than passive pipelines. The platform embeds AI across transmission, sensing, and operations, enabling real‑time fibre‑based monitoring, native quantum key distribution, and autonomous...
Speed Is Passé, 6G’s Killer App Is “Sensing”
At Mobile World Congress 2026, the telecom sector signaled that 6G’s defining feature will be Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC), turning base stations into real‑time radar sensors. This shift moves networks from pure data pipes to platforms that map physical...
BT Reports over 3 Million Households Switched to Digital Landlines
BT announced that more than three million UK households have transitioned from the legacy Public Switched Telephone Network to digital landline services, marking a critical milestone in the nationwide PSTN phase‑out. The company plans to complete the switchover by the...
Slovak Operators Prepare to Make 5G SA Available to All Customers Eventually
Orange Slovakia and Slovak Telekom already provide 5G Standalone (SA) services to B2B customers. O2 Slovakia aims to launch its 5G SA network within the year, while 4ka targets a 2027 rollout. All four carriers plan to extend SA connectivity...
TIM Brasil Teams up with Huawei to Upgrade 5G Network
TIM Brasil announced a partnership with Huawei to upgrade its 5G network using AI‑driven smart antennas. The rollout will initially span eight major Brazilian metropolitan areas, covering roughly 30% of TIM’s 5G base stations. These sites handle about 27% of...
Amazon Leo Vs. SpaceX Starlink: The Race to Own Low Earth Orbit
SpaceX’s Starlink crossed the 10,000‑satellite threshold in March 2026 and now serves over 10 million customers across roughly 160 countries. Amazon’s rebranded Leo constellation, launched in 2025, has about 250 satellites in orbit and began a limited commercial rollout in early...
Net Neutrality Isn’t a Partisan
… and no one was supposed to get upset when @gigibsohn helped mastermind net neutrality at the @FCC without the slightest concern for ISPs first amendment rights that then judge Brett Kavanaugh identified in a dissent that has effectively become...
Weekly Wrap: Signature Spectrum Course Updated to Reflect Today’s Policy Priorities
PolicyTracker’s flagship course, Understanding Modern Spectrum Management, will run as a hybrid event from 14‑18 September 2026, offering three‑hour live sessions both online and at a central London venue. The curriculum has been refreshed to address current policy priorities, including...
T-Mobile Magenta Status: Get Benefits With Hilton, Car Rental Agencies, Streaming Services, and More With Your Phone Plan
T‑Mobile’s Magenta Status program, available to most smartphone subscribers, unlocks a suite of travel and entertainment perks at no extra charge. Members receive a 15% discount on Hilton hotel stays, up to 40% off bookings through T‑Mobile Travel, and a...
The Buildout: Spectrum, Altafiber Make Moves in Ohio
Spectrum announced a $100 million fiber build in western Ohio, aiming to connect over 20,000 homes and businesses across 11 counties by the end of 2026. The rollout is funded by private capital, the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant, and the...
European Court Gives Preliminary Green Light to National 5G Vendor Bans
The EU’s top court issued an Advocate General opinion that member states may ban telecom hardware and software deemed a national‑security risk, provided each ban is backed by a specific risk assessment. The opinion, stemming from an Estonian case against...
Broadband Shorts March 2026
Broadband providers are reshaping the market through a series of high‑value acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Verizon closed its $20 billion purchase of Frontier, adding 2.2 million fiber subscribers, while AT&T acquired over one million Lumen customers and secured Starry’s millimeter‑wave technology. The...
MTN and Vodacom Dwarf South Africa’s Listed Tech Sector
MTN and Vodacom, South Africa’s telecom behemoths, each generate more than R1 billion in revenue within two to three days, dwarfing the daily earnings of all JSE‑listed technology companies. MTN’s daily run rate sits at roughly R621 million and Vodacom’s at R417 million,...
Jazz, Zong and Ufone Deploy Commercial 5G Across Pakistan’s Major Cities
Three Pakistani operators—Jazz, Zong and Ufone—have launched commercial 5G services in Islamabad and the country’s provincial capitals after winning spectrum in a government auction. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the rollout as a milestone for industry, agriculture and technology, and...
Home Telecom Selects Teleste and Mega Hertz to Drive High-Split HFC Modernization
Home Telecom announced the completion of a high‑split HFC modernization using Teleste’s ICON Series intelligent amplifiers and Argus Network Management System, delivered and integrated by Mega Hertz. The solution supports 1.8 GHz forward‑path capacity and is ready for DOCSIS 4.0 deployments, while...
New Features — Broadband Quality Monitor (BQM)
ThinkBroadband has upgraded its Broadband Quality Monitor (BQM) with two data‑export features. Users can now download a single CSV containing twelve months of ping‑latency data, replacing the previous one‑day limit. A separate daily CSV for the prior day becomes available...
Lab: Anycast Gateways on VXLAN Segments
Anycast gateways, traditionally limited to VLAN segments, are now officially supported on VXLAN segments, extending a decade‑old Arista capability. The new lab exercise demonstrates how to configure dual anycast gateways across VXLAN underlay and overlay networks. It can be run...
Telenor IoT Expands Global Connectivity with Launch of Global APN
Telenor IoT has launched a Global APN service that lets enterprises use a single access point name across Europe, Asia‑Pacific and the Americas. The offering automatically routes devices to the nearest Telenor point of presence—Stockholm, Amsterdam, Singapore, Ashburn and Los Angeles—reducing...
#ET5GCongress: AI-Led Automation Redefining Telco Operations, Energy Efficiency, Says Airtel CTO Randeep Sekhon
At the ET Telecom 5G Congress, Airtel CTO Randeep Sekhon said AI is becoming a core layer for telecom operations, shifting the industry from reactive fixes to predictive, real‑time problem solving. He highlighted AI’s ability to unify data across network,...
Netflix Reveals Highest-Performing ISPs of 2025
Netflix’s ISP Speed Index for 2025 identified the top‑performing internet providers across four key markets. Telus Fiber (Canada), LG U+ (South Korea), Virgin (UK) and Optimum Fiber (US) each delivered a monthly average streaming speed of 3.37 Mbps, the highest recorded. Nine additional ISPs,...
U Mobile Deal: Strategic Win or Debt Risk?
U Mobile Ownership Shift: A Strategic Masterstroke or a Debt-Fueled Gamble? Some asked: Local Triumph or Sovereign Risk? Corporate finance perspective, let me explain the A, B, & C: A. Positives B. Negatives C. Neutral ↓↓↓
Starlink 2025 Revenue Forecast Vastly Overstated
This is way too high, but that's unsurprising since the starting point used for Starlink in 2025 ($14B+) is completely out of line with the known revenue for the year (<$12B)
Report: 5G Core Spending Rose 83% in Q4 2025
Omdia’s Core Market Tracker shows communications service providers boosted 5G packet‑core spending by 83 % year‑over‑year in Q4 2025, the sharpest rise on record. The surge reflects accelerated 5G Standalone deployments and a push toward AI‑enabled, enterprise‑grade services. North America, Europe and...
Hughes Pivots to Corporate B2B Services Focus
"From now on, Hughes will shift its focus away from the B2C segment and concentrate on the corporate market, with a proposition centered on B2B services and technology provision." via DPL https://t.co/5URnm4DA6K
AT&T Unveils Lower Rates Amid U.S. Affordability Crisis
AT&T rolls out new pricing: "AT&T has heard loud and clear that Americans have an affordability crisis." https://t.co/km3IOuTacU @FierceNetwork_ @malleven33 https://t.co/km3IOuTacU
T‑Mobile Engineers Power Network Progress Daily
The strength of @TMobile’s network starts with our engineers and technicians. 💪 Appreciated the time with the Frisco Tech Team—driving progress and keeping us improving every day. https://t.co/BTL5MkHcRP
Automatic Satellite Switching Will Worsen Mobile Connectivity Issues
This will only become more of an issue when automatic switching to satellite D2D is included in their mobile plans...
SpaceX Begins 1 Million‑Satellite Orbiting Data Center Initiative
SpaceX To Start “Small” With 1 Million Satellite Plan for Orbiting Data Centers https://t.co/HCh6cfWm1c #SpaceEconomy https://t.co/PNf86RkEJs