Today's Telecom Pulse
Deutsche Telekom mulls full takeover of T‑Mobile US
German telecom giant Deutsche Telekom, valued at roughly $167 billion, is exploring a full acquisition of its U.S. subsidiary T‑Mobile. The proposal would create a new holding company that owns both the German parent and T‑Mobile US and would require approvals from the FCC and German regulators.
Also developing:
Loud, Power Hungry - Opposition Grows to Datacenters as Maine Passes Bit Barn Ban
Maine lawmakers approved the nation’s first statewide moratorium on new datacenters that draw 20 megawatts or more, pausing approvals until November 1, 2027 pending the governor’s signature. The pause gives regulators time to assess the facilities’ impact on power grids, water use, noise, and local communities. The move reflects mounting backlash as AI‑driven workloads push datacenter demand past 5 gigawatts, straining utilities and prompting similar bans in places like Oakley, California and Port Washington, Wisconsin. Industry leaders such as Microsoft have already altered plans after resident opposition.
5G, AI, and IoT Redefine Wireless, Telecom, and Broadband
Wireless Industry Analyst says 5G, AI, FWA, Private 5G and IoT Are Reshaping Wireless, Telecom, Cable TV and Broadband https://t.co/luJx1tuuxa via @ein_news @jeffkagan #jeffkagan #industryanalyst #ictindustryanalyst #ai #aianalyst #aiindustryanalyst #analyst #analystrelations #wirelessanalyst #telecomanalyst #tech #technology #techanalyst #technologyanalyst #pr #publicrelations #pressrelease...
IPv6 Usage Reaches Historic 50% Across Google Services
Google briefly reached 50% IPv6 traffic across its services on March 28, marking the first time half of its global users accessed the platform via the newer protocol. IPv6, introduced in 1998 to solve IPv4’s address shortage, offers an astronomically...
Starlink Outage Hit Drone Tests, Exposing Pentagon’s Growing Reliance on SpaceX
In August 2024 a global Starlink outage crippled two dozen U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessels off California, halting communications for about an hour. Internal Navy documents show the outage exposed a single point of failure for the Pentagon’s autonomous drone...
NAB 2026: DPA Microphones N-Series Firmware Update Adds Duplex Gap and Guard Band Access for North American Users
DPA Microphones has issued a firmware update for its N‑Series digital wireless system, unlocking the 2 MHz Guard Band (614‑616 MHz) and the 6 MHz unlicensed portion of the Duplex Gap (657‑663 MHz) for U.S. and Canadian users. The added spectrum lets licensed operators...
Netgear, EVS Team Up for Certified AV–Over–IP Live Production Workflows
Netgear announced a global partnership with EVS Broadcast Equipment to deliver certified, interoperable AV‑over‑IP solutions for live production. The collaboration validates EVS’s Cerebrum, Neuron and Strada systems on Netgear’s M4350 and M4250 switches, providing pre‑tested configurations that support SMPTE ST 2110, NDI...
Delivering Reliable Connectivity And Cybersecurity On The High Seas: Inside MSP Marlink’s Approach
Marlink, a maritime‑focused managed services provider, delivers satellite connectivity and cybersecurity to oceangoing vessels despite tight budgets that often hover around $100‑$200 per month. The company leverages an "exchange platform" that aggregates Inmarsat, OneWeb, Starlink, SES and Iridium links, providing...
Lawmakers Aiming to Circulate Draft USF Framework This Summer
Lawmakers are preparing a discussion draft to modernize the $8.5 billion‑per‑year Universal Service Fund, with a target release this summer. The FCC has opened a comment period, ending May 15, on potential reforms to the nonprofit that administers the fund, USAC, focusing...
Stealth Satellite Signals Restore Connectivity for Millions in Iran Blackout
NetFreedom Pioneers deployed its Toosheh stealth‑signal platform to broadcast files over ordinary satellite TV, giving limited but vital connectivity to an estimated 90 million people cut off by Iran’s Jan 8, 2026 internet blackout. The workaround bypassed deep‑packet inspection and state‑controlled gateways, illustrating...
How to (Finally) Monetise 5G
5G networks are now widely deployed, with penetration approaching 80 % in leading markets, but operators still wrestle with recouping the massive capex. Traditional mobile plans are proving price‑elastic, prompting carriers to bundle value‑added services, launch 5G Fixed Wireless Access for...
Blue Origin New Glenn 3 Has a Good Static Fire
Blue Origin successfully completed a static‑fire test of New Glenn 3 and is eyeing a Saturday or Sunday launch of the second commercial AST SpaceMobile direct‑to‑cellphone (DTC) satellite. AST SpaceMobile needs 40‑60 operational satellites to begin intermittent service and aims to have roughly 240...
Ofcom Clears VodafoneThree for Direct-to-Device Satellite Mobile Service
Ofcom has approved VodafoneThree’s request to amend its spectrum licence, allowing the merged carrier to deliver direct‑to‑device satellite connectivity for voice, SMS and data on ordinary smartphones. The move follows similar approvals for O2 and a pending handset‑rule update, signaling...
Despite the Government’s Ban, Netgear Just Got an Exemption to Keep Selling New WiFi Routers in the U.S.
The Federal Communications Commission granted Netgear an exemption that lets the company sell new foreign‑made Wi‑Fi routers in the United States through October 1, 2027, despite a recent ban on all new overseas router models. The exemption still requires each new Netgear...
Iran Has Something America Can only Dream Of: Cheap Broadband
A new Global Broadband Price League 2026 study finds Iran offering the world’s cheapest broadband at just $2.61 a month, while North America pays an average of $98.40. The United States ranks 167th out of 214 nations, with a typical...
Cinia Taps Nokia for DDoS Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Cinia announced a new managed security service that leverages Nokia’s Deepfield Defender to provide 24/7 DDoS protection for its critical infrastructure networks. The AI‑based solution embeds detection and mitigation directly into the transport layer, giving Finnish customers real‑time threat awareness....
WFN Strategies, APTelecom Expand SubConnex Environmental Work
WFN Strategies is expanding its partnership with APTelecom by delivering a focused Preliminary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (PESIA) for the SubConnex submarine cable system across seven landing sites in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. The assessment blends desktop...
Poland's UKE Hosts International Conference on FWA Spectrum
Poland’s telecommunications regulator UKE hosted an international conference in Warsaw on April 15‑16 for the ITU‑mandated Sub‑Working Group Fixed Service. Delegates examined the 29.7 GHz to 43.5 GHz spectrum earmarked for fixed wireless access (FWA) and explored coordination mechanisms under the Harmonised...
Brazil Prepares for 6G with CPQD's ERA 6G Project
Brazil’s research institute CPQD, backed by Funttel and the Ministry of Communications, has launched the "Evolution in Open Networks towards 6G" (ERA 6G) project. The 36‑month initiative will develop a 6G mobile infrastructure based on open, disaggregated technologies. It targets advanced use...
OQ Technology Awarded ESA Contract to Adapt 5G Beamforming for Space
OQ Technology has been awarded a €1 million (≈$1.08 million) contract by the European Space Agency to adapt 5G beamforming for satellite‑to‑phone connectivity under the BEAMSAT‑5G project, which began on February 3, 2026. The initiative will develop phased‑array hardware, optimize link budgets for LEO‑to‑smartphone...
Vodafone Ukraine Expands 5G Coverage in Lviv
Vodafone Ukraine announced that its pilot 5G network now covers Lviv’s Central Station, expanding the service footprint in the western city. The rollout uses Nokia equipment operating on the 3,500 MHz band, which the operator first deployed in January. 5G service...
Orange Poland Deploys 42 Base Stations in Q1, Expands 5G Coverage
Orange Poland added 42 new base stations in the first quarter, raising its nationwide count to 12,713. The carrier also upgraded 113 sites to C‑band 5G, expanding the technology to 4,600 locations by the end of March. Orange aims to...
HT Eronet Unveils Fleet Lite and Home.TV To Go Services
Bosnia’s leading telecom operator HT Eronet announced two new offerings: Fleet Lite and Home.TV To Go. Fleet Lite provides small and medium-sized enterprises with a lightweight telematics solution that monitors up to five vehicles, delivering real‑time location, speed, mileage and...
Ambassador Pitches China Telecoms Credentials
China’s 2023‑2030 five‑year plan calls for opening its telecoms sector through expanded value‑added service trials, increased imports, and two‑way investment cooperation. Ambassador Xie Feng told a roundtable in Indiana that foreign‑funded enterprises will receive national treatment, while IP and trademark...
Fragmented Regulation Complicates Telco Sovereignty Agenda – Omdia
A new Omdia report highlights that more than 100 countries now enforce data‑sovereignty or localization laws, creating a patchwork of regulations for telecom operators. The fragmented landscape forces telcos to incur higher compliance costs, redesign networks, and train staff to...
EnGenius Announces Availability of ECW515 Wi-Fi 7 Wall-Plate Access Point
EnGenius Technologies has launched the ECW515, a Wi‑Fi 7 wall‑plate access point tailored for multi‑dwelling unit (MDU) deployments. The device delivers ultra‑fast, low‑latency connectivity directly inside individual apartments, moving away from traditional hallway‑mounted solutions. It also integrates WPA3 security combined with...
SpaceX Files Confidential S‑1, Eyes $1.75 Trillion Valuation in Historic Satellite‑broadband IPO
SpaceX submitted a confidential S‑1 filing that seeks a $1.75 trillion valuation and could raise as much as $75 billion, making it the largest IPO ever. The filing, disclosed on April 1, 2026, puts the company’s Starlink broadband service and its newly acquired...
Does Amazon Leo Have Any Chance Against Starlink?
Amazon’s Leo constellation, still in its pre‑commercial phase, consists of 253 satellites after the $11.57 billion Globalstar acquisition. By contrast, SpaceX’s Starlink operates more than 10,200 satellites, giving it a massive orbital density advantage. Analysts argue that Leo’s limited fleet will...
Gemtek DOCSIS 4.0 Device Nets CableLabs Interoperability Stamp
Gemtek became the first CPE maker to receive CableLabs’ “verified for interoperability” stamp for its CAVD‑100 DOCSIS 4.0 eMTA modem, confirming it can operate on existing DOCSIS 3.1 networks. The device, powered by MaxLinear’s Puma 8 chip, includes two VoIP ports and is...
Belden Unveils World's First 5G Industrial Switch Powered by Qualcomm at Hannover Messe
Belden Inc. unveiled the BRS‑5G, the world’s first industrial switch that runs native 5G, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X72 modem. The concept will be demonstrated at Hannover Messe from April 20‑24, 2026, showcasing a live conveyor‑belt system that communicates over a private 5G...
The Wall Street Journal Wonders Why There Are Suddenly So Many Sleazy Fees
The Wall Street Journal recently ran a piece on the proliferation of “sleazy” surcharges such as a 3% credit‑card fee, a 5% wellness contribution and a $25‑a‑month trash‑service charge. The article attributes the surge to inflation‑driven cost‑shifting but omits that...
NextNav's PNT Service Offers 100k× GPS Power
Get your hands on the NextNav $NN Oppenheimer piece if you can "NN's Spectrum and GPS Backup (PNT) are Critical for Drones/Physical AI" It goes above the upgrade Cherry Pick "We see several strategic acquirers across wireless/satellite, with T the most logical fit,...
Russia Caps Bandwidth, Forcing VPN Filters or Price Hikes
Russia’s fight against digital privacy escalates as internet providers agree to freeze the expansion of cross-border channels into Europe. By capping international bandwidth, authorities aim to force telecom operators to either filter VPN traffic or hike prices, making it harder...
EuNetworks Named as Connectivity Partner for the AWS European Sovereign Cloud
euNetworks has been named a connectivity partner for the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, a new EU‑based cloud service built to meet strict data‑residency and regulatory requirements. The partnership allows euNetworks to deliver private, direct connections that keep customer data within...
Starlink Fixed Internet Now Rivals Cable Services
"I think increasingly Starlink’s fixed internet service is capable enough that it can provide a comparable service to some cable internet options and could become a direct competitor to some cable, DSL or copper ... services,” thanks @rcrwirelessnews ! https://t.co/vgp8DLQuCp
Rogers Gains North America’s Largest Satellite Coverage
"By combining the reach of Rogers Satellite, a first of its kind service in Canada, and T-Satellite, the first and only satellite-to-mobile network in the U.S. offered by T-Mobile, Rogers now has the most coverage in Canada and the U.S." https://t.co/CV30Bj93Uh
Motorola Solutions Unveils R&D and Customer Experience Center in Florida
Motorola Solutions opened a modern R&D and Customer Experience Center in Plantation, Florida, dedicated to designing, developing, and testing its land mobile radio (LMR) portfolio. The facility expands the company's five‑decade presence in Broward County and includes design, engineering and...
FCC's Weak Merger Enforcement Meets NATE's Build America Push
The @FCC enforcement of merger conditions is not exactly stellar. But @BrendanCarrFCC has courted NATE as a major constituency in the "Build America" agenda, so we'll see what happens.
Verizon Failing to Meet Commitments Is Problematic
If Verizon is not living up to their commitments, then that would be a problem.
Spectrum Relocation Costs
The FCC has been tasked by Congress to clear 800 MHz of mid‑range spectrum for a new auction, requiring existing federal, military and commercial users to relocate. The Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act created the Spectrum Relocation Fund, which must raise at...
TCI Aircraft Interiors to Become New HBCplus Provider Following Collaboration with Airbus
Airbus and Turkish cabin specialist TCI Aircraft Interiors signed an MOU to add TCI as a Managed Service Provider for Airbus' HBCplus satellite connectivity platform. The agreement will initially deliver a proposal for Turkish Airlines' Airbus fleet, integrating TCI into...
Uswitch Says Broadband Switching Jumped 24% in March
Uswitch reports broadband switching rose 24% in March, with three million households moving before price hikes. The surge follows a £6.9 bn ($8.8 bn) increase in household bills, including an average £39.60 ($50) rise in broadband costs. Regional providers offering “no‑rise” deals...
EdgeBeam Wireless and Soracom Partner to Extend Last-Mile Connectivity over Hybrid Cellular and Broadcast Networks
EdgeBeam Wireless announced a partnership with Soracom, making the Japanese IoT platform the first cellular partner on EdgeBeam’s hybrid network operator platform. The collaboration blends EdgeBeam’s ATSC 3.0 broadcast capability with Soracom’s 4G/5G connectivity, creating a dual‑path solution that can broadcast...
Esport Firm Veloce Wants to Put 5G in Pole Position
Veloce, a racing‑simulation esports firm, has teamed with the GSMA to define a set of Quality‑on‑Demand (QoD) API requirements that would let telcos deliver ultra‑low‑latency, high‑throughput connectivity for competitive gaming. The "statement of requirements" calls for standardized, programmable 5G network...
Webinar: Perspectives on the Digital Networks Act
PolicyTracker will host a 90‑minute webinar on 27 May 2026 to examine the EU’s proposed Digital Networks Act (DNA). The DNA seeks to revamp spectrum governance by enhancing EU‑level coordination, revisiting assignment models, and rebalancing authority between the European Commission and...
Amazon's $11.57 B Globalstar Deal Escalates Battle with Musk's Expanding Starlink Constellation
Amazon announced an $11.57 billion purchase of Globalstar, aiming to build a 3,200‑satellite LEO network by 2029 and directly challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink, which now fields about 10,000 satellites and has filed to launch up to a million AI data‑center satellites....
Vodafone Touts Commercial 5G Slicing for Enterprises
Vodafone Business has rolled out a commercial 5G+ Local Slicing service that delivers a dedicated slice of its standalone 5G network to enterprise customers across areas up to 5 km². The offering promises guaranteed mobile performance for high‑density venues such as...
Mercy Ships Selects Wilson Connectivity to Enable Seamless Cellular Connectivity
Wilson Connectivity has partnered with Mercy Ships to outfit the Africa Mercy II hospital ship with its Zinwave wideband distributed antenna system (DAS). The DAS delivers native cellular, private mobile radio and private 5G connectivity without satellite‑based fees or logins, automatically linking to...
Zen Internet Partners with Eero to Enhance Business Connectivity Offering
Zen Internet has teamed up with eero, an Amazon‑owned mesh Wi‑Fi provider, to bundle eero Business across its full‑fibre broadband portfolio. The move targets UK small and medium‑sized enterprises that struggle with indoor Wi‑Fi coverage despite having fiber connections. Zen’s...
Esports Specialist, GSMA Target SA 5G Gaming Opportunity
Veloce Media Group and GSMA Fusion released a network‑requirements guide showing how standalone (SA) 5G can power low‑latency esports, cloud gaming, and live creator streaming. A demo at MWC Doha 2025 used SA 5G for racing simulators, proving events can...
BSNL and Airtel Top nPerf's India Broadband Rankings
India’s state‑run BSNL has overtaken Reliance Jio and Airtel to become the top fixed‑line broadband provider in nPerf’s FY 2026 rankings, scoring 89,174 nPoints. The leap follows a 21% boost in download speed to 78.53 Mbps and a surge in FTTH performance to...