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
Molex Introduces 145 GHz Multi-Port Coaxial Assemblies
Molex has launched the Cardinal Multi-Port High-Frequency Coaxial Assemblies, extending its test‑and‑measurement portfolio to 145 GHz. The new modules deliver phase‑matched connectivity and support data rates up to 448 Gbps, targeting AI back‑haul, 5G/6G, mmWave radar and terahertz imaging. Multi‑port configurations (1×4, 1×8, 2×8) provide high‑density testing in a compact form factor while maintaining 500‑cycle connector repeatability. The product is now in production alongside the existing 67 GHz and 110 GHz offerings.
Shared Rural Network Hits 50 Mobile Mast Milestone in Wales
Shared Rural Network (SRN) has upgraded 50 mobile masts in Wales, bringing the total UK upgrades to 119. The upgrades enable all four major operators—EE, Three, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone—to provide 4G coverage from each site, boosting national coverage...
Eurofiber, Colt Announce Cross-Carrier Quantum-Secured Fiber Corridor
Eurofiber and Colt Technology Services announced a cross‑carrier Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) corridor linking the financial hubs of Amsterdam, London and Brussels. The partnership leverages Eurofiber’s dense fiber infrastructure and Colt’s ultra‑low‑latency carrier‑grade services to deliver quantum‑secured, high‑performance connectivity. The...
TIME dotCom Taps Ciena to Offer 1 Tb/S Data Transmission Across the Pacific
TIME dotCom Berhad has integrated Ciena’s latest coherent optical technology into the 9,000‑km FASTER submarine cable, enabling a single‑carrier wavelength capacity of 1 Tb/s and an industry‑first 1.6 Tb/s solution. The upgrade comes as global bandwidth demand has more than tripled since...
Virgin Media Ireland Launches €15 per Month SIM-Only Plan with “For Life” Pricing
Virgin Media Ireland introduced a €15 per month SIM‑only plan that guarantees permanent "For Life" pricing. The offering provides unlimited calls, texts and data within the Republic of Ireland, plus 37 GB of EU roaming data. Customers benefit from price certainty...
Virgin Media O2 Owner Eyes Broadband Deals to Take on BT Openreach
Virgin Media O2, the joint venture between Virgin Media and O2, is exploring new broadband packages aimed at challenging BT’s Openreach wholesale arm. The move seeks to capitalize on the company’s combined fiber and 5G networks to offer competitive speeds...
BMW Selects NTT Docomo for Smart-Car Connectivity in EVs
BMW will embed NTT Docomo Business’s smart‑car connectivity platform in its next‑generation electric vehicles launching from 2026, beginning with the iX3 model in the Neue Klasse line. The solution relies on an embedded SIM that delivers stable, multi‑country mobile links, enabling real‑time...
Iranian Authorities Urged by Rights Groups to Lift Restrictions on Internet Access
Human Rights Watch urged Iran to end its sweeping internet shutdown amid the escalating US‑Iran conflict. Cloudflare Radar reported a 98% drop in traffic on Feb 28, leaving roughly 92 million citizens offline. The regime’s “tiered internet” grants fast access to state...
O2 Telefónica, Ekinops Partner to Drive 5G Connectivity for Enterprise
O2 Telefónica and Ekinops have co‑developed the MRU‑5G Managed Remote Unit, a mobile‑fixed solution that extends gigabit‑class 5G connectivity into enterprise buildings where fiber is impractical. The outdoor unit can be installed up to 100 m from a data room with zero...
Automating Netlab-Based Cisco SD-WAN Deployment
Netlab, an open‑source lab generator, does not include native support for Cisco SD‑WAN. Sebastien d’Argoeuves created a GitHub repository that automates Cisco SD‑WAN deployment once a netlab lab is launched. The solution reads netlab’s JSON/YAML topology, maps device roles, and...
Report: Telcos Missing Opportunity to Improve Networks Using AI
The WBBA’s State of AI in Telecoms report, based on a survey of 340+ industry professionals, shows AI adoption is accelerating but remains centred on internal efficiency and customer support. While 42% of operators use AI mainly for service and...
Engineering the Outcome-Driven, Premium Experience in 2026
In 2026 telecom premium shifts from raw speed to guaranteed business continuity, latency certainty, and trust‑by‑design. Surveys show roughly 80% of customers now rate experience on par with service quality, and half of enterprises are ready to pay extra for...
Stc Pilots AI-Powered Arabic–English Translation for Voice Calls
Saudi Arabia’s stc Group has launched phase two of its “New Calling” initiative, piloting AI‑driven real‑time Arabic‑English translation for voice calls. The service is currently live for a limited set of Riyadh customers and relies on low‑latency network processing combined...
MTN Zambia Partners with Starlink to Offer D2C Services
MTN Zambia has partnered with SpaceX’s Starlink to pilot Direct‑to‑Cell (D2C) service, completing the first data session and fintech transaction over the satellite network. The test proves that 4G handsets can connect directly to Starlink’s LEO constellation, delivering voice, video...
DNB Heads to Private Status After CelcomDigi and Maxis Buy MOF Shares
Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), Malaysia's 5G wholesale operator, is set to become a fully private company after CelcomDigi and Maxis each exercised a put option to buy the 41.67% stake held by Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc). The transaction,...
Stronger Caller ID Protections Needed, Preserve Telecom Competition
Pasquale and Unified Office clearly believe the answer involves stronger protections for authenticated caller identity information and a regulatory framework that preserves competition across the telecom ecosystem. https://t.co/AVkFEfSTjn
DoT May Stick to Its 5% Charge for Satcom Spectrum
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is set to retain a 5% adjusted gross revenue (AGR) usage fee for satellite communications (satcom) spectrum, rejecting the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) 4% proposal. DoT will also apply a 1% discount for...
Airtel Lines up $1 Bn Investment for Data Centre Arm Nxtra
Bharti Airtel's data‑centre subsidiary Nxtra Data is raising $1 billion to expand capacity to a gigawatt scale. The round includes $300 million each from Airtel and private‑equity firm Carlyle, and a $400 million commitment from Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed’s Alpha Wave Global. Funds will...
Adtran’s CEO Says Carriers Are Taking a Managed Optical Fiber Network (MOFN) Position
Adtran is positioning itself in the emerging Managed Optical Fiber Network (MOFN) market as carriers seek secure, high‑capacity fiber services for enterprises and hyperscalers. The company reported a 33% year‑over‑year rise in optical networking revenue, propelled by cloud and enterprise...
DSG-22.6 GHz Is a $1,590 Open-Source RF Signal Generator Based on Atek Midas’s Custom ICs (Crowdfunding)
Atek Midas has introduced the DSG‑22.6 GHz, an open‑source RF signal generator that spans 150 MHz to 22.6 GHz. Priced at $1,590, it offers professional‑grade performance—1 Hz tuning resolution, <100 µs tuning speed, and ≥40 dBc spurious suppression—at a fraction of traditional benchtop costs. The unit...
Malik Khan: The Beginning of a Post-Satellite Era for B2B Media Distribution?
The FCC’s ongoing C‑band auctions have stripped B2B media distributors of roughly 60% of their satellite spectrum, and a second auction of Upper C‑band is slated for mid‑2027. Broadcasters now face a shrinking pool of transponder capacity and must redesign...
There's a Setting Buried in Every Router that Your ISP Doesn't Want You to Touch
ISPs ship routers pre‑configured to use their own DNS servers, silently logging every lookup. Because most default settings lack DNS over HTTPS or TLS, queries travel unencrypted and can be harvested or intercepted. The article highlights how ISPs monetize this...
James Potter of L3Harris Highlights MCX Developments, Adoption
James Potter, director of strategic solutions at L3Harris, highlighted the accelerating adoption of 3GPP‑standard mission‑critical (MCX) services across utilities, public‑safety agencies, and mass‑transit operators. He noted that MCX offers higher data rates and native broadband capabilities, positioning it as a...
Assessment of Norwegian Mobile and Fixed Broadband Revenues in a Nordic Context 2025
The Norwegian Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Governance released a comprehensive analysis on 6 March 2026, commissioned from Tefficient, that benchmarks mobile and fixed‑broadband subscriber revenues across Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland up to June 2025. The report expands on four prior yearly...
EXCLUSIVE: February 2026 Update on Broadband Availability Across the UK, Nations and Regions
The latest UK broadband audit shows gigabit availability climbing to 90.17% nationwide, while full‑fibre (FTTP) coverage now stands at 82.99%, just 0.01 points shy of the 83% milestone. Northern Ireland tops the chart with 97.18% gigabit penetration, whereas London records...
Singtel Picks Ericsson to Drive Industry Transformation with 5G Advanced
Singapore’s telecom leader Singtel has entered a strategic partnership with Ericsson to fast‑track the rollout of 5G Advanced as an AI‑powered, programmable platform for enterprises. The collaboration will introduce AI‑in‑RAN, end‑to‑end network slicing with enforceable SLAs, and commercial APIs to...
Safaricom Powers the 2026 WRC Safari Rally with Advanced Connectivity, IoT Solutions
Safaricom has been named the official technology and connectivity partner for the 2026 World Rally Championship Safari Rally in Kenya. The telco will deploy multiple Connectivity on Wheels units and optimise its 5G network to support high‑speed livestreaming, media centres,...
T‑Mobile Leads in Network Quality, Speed, Availability
#MWC26 was about the future. Performance is still the foundation. Recognized by @opensignal for network quality, speed, availability and overall experience. @TMobile continues to lead🌟 https://t.co/RUrBS6rdHV
Telecom News: MWC 2026, Huawei, QuSecure, Turk Telekom, Ericsson
At Mobile World Congress 2026, Huawei introduced its AI‑driven Next‑Generation Fiber Access Network (FAN) that leverages OptiXstar EG ONTs to deliver Wi‑Fi 7 speeds exceeding 2 Gbps and full‑home coverage for data‑intensive services. QuSecure showcased a hybrid post‑quantum TLS 1.3 solution that...
‘Unmet Needs’ Persist in Tribal Broadband Despite Progress, Report Finds
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has pushed forward reforms and awarded $6.5 million to nine Tribal applicants as part of the $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) funded by the 2021 infrastructure law. A new Urban Institute report, however,...
Press Release: LOT Begins Fitting Viasat Inflight Wi-Fi to Long-Haul Fleet
LOT Polish Airlines has begun installing Viasat’s Amara inflight Wi‑Fi on its long‑haul fleet, starting with Boeing 787 Dreamliner SP‑LSA. Two additional Dreamliners will be equipped by the end of April, offering paid chat ($7) and streaming ($29) bundles while...
The Iran Question…
Elon Musk announced on X that Starlink weapon systems are shut down when identified, and the next day SpaceX limited the maximum in‑motion speed for its Roam and Priority plans to 100 mph. The company simultaneously launched higher‑priced Aviation 300 and Aviation 450...
Hedge 298: The 6G Hype Begins
In this episode, Doug Dawson, a veteran telco engineer and blogger, deconstructs the hype surrounding 5G and warns that the same pattern is now repeating with 6G. He explains how the 5G rollout was driven by a manufactured "race" with...
A New Voice Feature
T‑Mobile is beta testing a real‑time translation service that supports fifty languages and is marketed as the first agentic AI platform on a wireless network. Unlike existing translator apps, the feature is embedded in cellular plans and runs from the...
10 Questions to Ask a Telecoms Provider Before Signing Up
The article outlines ten essential questions businesses should pose before committing to a telecom provider, covering network coverage, pricing transparency, service level agreements, data limits, and future technology roadmaps. It emphasizes scrutinizing hidden fees, contract flexibility, and the provider’s capacity...
Capitec Taking on Vodacom and MTN in South Africa
Capitec Bank announced it will enter South Africa's telecommunications sector, launching its own mobile and broadband services. Leveraging its extensive retail branch network, the bank plans to distribute low‑cost data and voice packages directly to consumers. The move pits Capitec...
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Botswana's BoFiNet Appoints New CEO
Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet) has named Dr. Gaone Seleka as its new chief executive, succeeding Keabetswe Segole. Seleka brings a blend of telecom, fintech and academic experience, highlighted by a PhD in Business Administration. His mandate includes scaling the recently...
Ofcom Investigates Two Imageboard Sites over CSAM and Non-Consensual Images
Ofcom has opened an investigation into the provider of two anonymous image‑board services to assess compliance with the UK Online Safety Act. The probe focuses on whether the platforms have conducted required illegal‑content risk assessments and implemented safeguards against non‑consensual...
Jio, Airtel, Vi, Oppose Permitting Internet Providers to Offer DLCs, Seek Forbearance
Indian telecom giants Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and state‑run BSNL have formally opposed a draft regulatory change that would allow Internet Service Providers to offer dedicated leased circuits (DLCs) to enterprises. The operators argue that permitting ISPs to...
EE 8Gbps Trial Available to Sign up in Guildford/Woking
EE is rolling out a free XGS‑PON trial in Guildford, Woking and surrounding Surrey villages, offering up to 8 Gbps download and 800 Mbps upload speeds. Interested residents must register via the BT TrialCentre and will receive new fibre, an ONT and...
Wi-Fi 8 and the IoT Enterprise: What Next-Gen Wi-Fi Means for Connected Devices
Wi‑Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) is being positioned as an ultra‑high‑reliability upgrade rather than a pure speed boost. It adds coordinated multi‑AP scheduling, tighter roaming control and lower tail‑latency to address the worst‑case performance that enterprise IoT teams chase. The standard keeps Wi‑Fi 7’s...
Rakuten Symphony, Lightstorm to Deliver Sovereign Network-as-a-Service Platform
Rakuten Symphony and Lightstorm have formed a strategic partnership to deliver a sovereign Network‑as‑a‑Service platform that merges Lightstorm’s Polarin NaaS fabric with Rakuten’s cloud‑native platform and orchestrator. The combined solution provides a self‑service portal for provisioning, billing, and performance monitoring...
Xiaomi BE19000 Pro Combines Wi-Fi 7 Speed With Integrated NAS Features
Xiaomi has unveiled the BE19000 Pro, a tri‑band Wi‑Fi 7 router that promises a combined wireless throughput of up to 18,656 Mbps. The device adds an M.2 2280 slot and a USB 3.0 port for built‑in NAS functionality, while offering dual 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports for...
Jio IPO Timeline Nears as $4 Billion Listing Looms
Reliance Industries is preparing Jio Platforms' mega‑IPO, slated for early 2026, targeting a $4‑4.5 billion raise by selling a minimum 2.5% free float. Analysts argue the tiny public float could force the shares to trade at a premium, potentially neutralising the...
Ericsson, Optus Partner on AI Model for Accurate 5G SA Coverage Prediction
Ericsson and Australian carrier Optus have launched a joint trial of an artificial‑intelligence model that predicts whether a device on one 5G Standalone frequency layer is also covered by another. The model, trained on months of live Optus data, can...
Why CPE Security Is Now a Strategic Imperative for Telcos
Telecom operators moving to all‑IP, software‑defined networks have pushed the security perimeter to the customer premises, turning CPE devices into exposed, internet‑facing nodes. Legacy firmware, slow patch cycles and overlooked set‑top boxes create easy entry points for attackers, exposing core...
Her Voice. Her Vision. Her Impact: Women Leadership in Telecom in 2026
Telecom Review’s International Women’s Day 2026 feature spotlights senior female leaders from Mobily, du, Huawei and Ericsson, illustrating how the industry’s "Give to Gain" theme translates into concrete actions such as sponsorship, mentorship and strategic project access. The executives argue...
CFX Download Catches Up with CableLabs
CFX Download hosted CableLabs EVP/CTO Mark Bridges to discuss the company’s new Quality‑by‑Design (QbD) partnership with Zoom, upcoming Tech Summit highlights, and future broadband innovation initiatives. The QbD collaboration aims to accelerate service design and deployment across cable networks using...
Mediacom in D.C.
Mediacom, representing ACA Connects members, petitioned the FCC to revise legacy rules that obligate cable operators to keep detailed signal‑leakage logs and make subscriber records available for inspection. The company argues that in today’s all‑digital networks, signal leakage incidents have...
Chinese State Hackers Target Telcos with New Malware Toolkit
Chinese state‑linked APT group UAT‑9244 has been compromising telecom service providers across South America since 2024. The campaign deploys three previously undocumented malware families—TernDoor, a Windows backdoor using DLL side‑loading; PeerTime, a multi‑architecture Linux ELF backdoor that leverages BitTorrent for...