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
Galaxy 1 Partners with Viasat to Deliver Rapid, Scalable and Securecommunications for Uncrewed Aircraft
Galaxy 1 Communications has teamed with Viasat to extend the Velaris satellite service for uncrewed aerial vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) platforms. The partnership leverages Galaxy 1’s Distribution Partner‑as‑a‑Service (DPaaS) model, providing a managed layer that simplifies provisioning, billing, compliance and API integration. This enables rapid, scalable BVLOS connectivity and smooth transition from pilot projects to regulated commercial operations. The joint offering also adds real‑time monitoring, cybersecurity and lifecycle management through Galaxy 1’s IBIS and Remote Terminal Manager platforms.
Autonomy Shifts From Tech Goal to Economic Strategy
For years, telecom has talked about automation as a technical ambition. Closed loops. AI-driven optimization. Zero-touch operations. The language has been consistent, almost ritualistic. But what became clear at MWC26 was not just that automation was advancing, it was that...
KRYTAR Announces New Compact 3 dB, 90-Degree ULTRA+ Hybrid Coupler Covers 2 to 18 GHz
KRYTAR, Inc. introduced the ULTRA1830, a 90‑degree ULTRA+ hybrid coupler that provides 3 dB coupling from 2 GHz to 18 GHz in a compact form factor. The device offers tight amplitude (±0.3 dB) and phase (±4°) balance, >17 dB isolation, and low insertion loss (<1.2 dB)....
Accenture Down to Buy Downdetector as Part of $1.2 Billion Deal
Accenture announced a $1.2 billion acquisition of Ookla, the parent of Downdetector, from Ziff Davis, bringing Speedtest, Ekahau and RootMetrics into its portfolio. The deal expands Accenture’s intelligence and analytics capabilities for telecom operators, hyperscalers and enterprise networks. Ziff Davis will apply the...
3GPP Completes Release 19, While Progress Begins on 6G Work
The 3GPP Technical Specification Group meetings in December 2025 marked the freeze of Release 19, shifting all development effort to Release 20 and the initial study of 6G. The FirstNet Authority participated to ensure public‑safety requirements are embedded, reporting progress on high‑priority...
Western Allies Form 6G Security Coalition Amid Tech Rivalry with China
Western and Indo‑Pacific allies launched the Global Coalition on Telecoms (GCOT) at Mobile World Congress, uniting the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, Sweden and Finland. The coalition released a set of voluntary security and resilience principles designed to...
February Update - Tematica Select Digital Infrastructure Model (DIGI)
On March 3, 2026 Tematica released its February update to the Select Digital Infrastructure (DIGI) model, which tracks firms that build and operate the backbone of the hyper‑connected economy. The revision expands the universe to include edge‑computing, 5G tower, and submarine‑cable operators,...
Cell Tower Valuation Model (Updated March 2026)
The article introduces a new Excel‑based Cell Tower Valuation Model designed for telecom infrastructure underwriting. It highlights how 5G rollouts, rising data usage, and new operators are turning cell towers into high‑demand, inflation‑protected CRE assets. Valuations are driven by cash‑flow...
Brownsville’s Edge AI Experiment Reimagines the Economics of the Connected City
Brownsville, Texas has launched an in‑city edge AI platform that runs on private 5G and fiber, turning low‑cost IoT sensor data into real‑time public‑safety insights. NTT Data’s Shahid Ahmed highlighted that traditional GPU‑heavy AI would break IoT economics, prompting a...
MWC 2026: Tech Mahindra and NVIDIA Launch AI-Powered Telco Network Operations Reasoning Agent to Accelerate L4+ Autonomous Networks
Tech Mahindra and NVIDIA unveiled an AI‑powered Telco Network Operations Reasoning Agent at MWC 2026, aimed at accelerating the shift to Level 4+ autonomous networks. The solution runs on Tech Mahindra’s Orion platform and leverages NVIDIA AI Enterprise, NeMo, and NIM...
Alkira Launches Partner Program to Boost Services Revenue and AI Infrastructure Wins
Alkira announced its Connect Partner Program, a partner‑first platform designed to help global systems integrators, managed service providers, cloud service providers and AI‑focused firms deliver complex networking and AI infrastructure solutions faster and more profitably. The program introduces Connect Services...
WEBINAR: Two-Part Series on RF Power Amplifier Design
The RF power‑amplifier landscape has shifted from simple scalar load‑pull to sophisticated vector and simulated techniques as mmWave and sub‑THz designs demand tighter margins and wider bandwidths. Keysight’s two‑part masterclass introduces a VNA‑inspired load‑pull method that uses a‑ and b‑waves...
Huawei Launches Xinghe Solution for Cost-Effective, Quantum-Secure WANs
Huawei unveiled the Xinghe Intelligent Traffic‑Encryption Integration Solution at MWC Barcelona 2026, embedding a built‑in Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) board into its NetEngine 8000E router series. The technology uses a high‑precision noise‑reduction algorithm to allow quantum, negotiation and data channels to...
Amphenol RF Introduces Additional Non-Magnetic SMPM Connector Configurations
Amphenol RF has expanded its non‑magnetic RF connector portfolio by adding new SMPM configurations. The connectors are offered in smooth‑bore and full‑detent styles that mate with existing non‑magnetic bullet adapters for board‑to‑board applications. Their gold‑plated beryllium‑copper contacts and PTFE insulators...
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Accumold announced its participation at OFC 2026, the leading optical networking exhibition, where it will showcase micro‑molded plastic components for fiber‑optic and photonics hardware. The company will demonstrate how its precision‑molded parts support tight‑tolerance requirements in connectors, transceivers, and optical modules...
Forefront RF to Unveil Industry’s First Commercial Low-Band Tunable Duplexer at Mobile World Congress 2026
Forefront RF announced the FFM51010, the industry’s first commercially available low‑band tunable duplexer, at Mobile World Congress 2026. The module leverages the company’s proprietary Foretune adaptive passive cancellation to replace multiple fixed filters with a single configurable component, covering 612‑960 MHz...
Marlink Rolls Out Fleet-Wide Multi-LEO Hybrid Connectivity Service
Marlink launched Sealink Multi-LEO, a hybrid connectivity service that unifies Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb low‑Earth‑orbit satellite networks under a single managed data allowance. The offering provides 500 GB to 10 TB of monthly data, with carrier‑agnostic orchestration that dynamically selects the best...
Rising Costs of Broadband Construction
The Fiber Broadband Association’s 2025 annual report shows median fiber construction costs climbing to $18 per foot for buried lines and $8 per foot for aerial routes, marking 3% and 14% increases respectively. Labor remains the dominant expense, representing roughly...
A+ Connectivity: Why Smart Campuses Need the Right Foundation
Universities are shifting to data‑intensive research, AI, and immersive learning, demanding campus‑wide, high‑performance connectivity. Legacy copper LANs struggle with bandwidth, latency, and scalability, forcing costly, disruptive upgrades. Optical LAN (OLAN) leverages fiber to deliver 10‑25 Gbps today and a clear path...
Nvidia-Backed Cassava Wants to Fix Africa’s Network Downtime with AI
Cassava Technologies, backed by Nvidia, has launched the Cassava Autonomous Network, an AI‑driven system that monitors and optimises Radio Access Networks across Africa. The platform replaces manual RAN adjustments with autonomous optimisation, claiming up to 75% efficiency gains and reducing...
GSMA Calls for Regulatory Readiness for Direct-to-User LEO Satellite Services
The GSMA released a position paper urging governments to modernise regulatory frameworks for direct‑to‑user Low‑Earth‑Orbit (LEO) satellite services. It highlights that existing rules are fragmented and often unsuitable for new satellite‑only offerings, creating uncertainty for operators and investors. The paper...
Spectrum Showdown
Satellite communications constellations are crowding the microwave bands used for weather monitoring, raising concerns about radio‑frequency interference (RFI). NOAA scientists warn that emissions from broadband satellites could corrupt data from instruments like the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) on JPSS...
Rivian Partners with Giesecke+Devrient and AT&T for R2 Connectivity
Rivian will equip its upcoming R2 SUV with GSMA SGP.32‑enabled eSIM technology and 5G connectivity through a partnership with German security firm Giesecke+Devrient and telecom operator AT&T. The SGP.32 specification allows remote SIM provisioning, letting Rivian use a single hardware...
TRAI Drive Test in Sundarbans: Airtel and Jio Lead 5G Performance, BSNL Lags in Coastal Route
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released results of a 41‑km drive test in the Sundarbans’ coastal river routes, evaluating 2G‑5G performance across Airtel, Jio, BSNL and Vodafone Idea. Airtel and Jio achieved 100 % call‑setup success and the highest...
TalkTalk to Get £115m Funding Injection From Ares Management
TalkTalk secured a £115 million cash injection from Ares Management, comprising £65 million of senior debt and a £50 million short‑term facility to replace a £47 million debt due in March. The funding follows earlier capital raises of £235 million in December 2024 and £120 million...
MoMe Deploys Synamedia to Power First Spanish-Built CDN Service for Streaming
Spanish systems integrator MoMe has launched the country’s first streaming‑optimised content delivery network, using Synamedia’s Fluid EdgeCDN platform. The service spans eight data centres, placing edge nodes close to viewers to minimise latency and improve reliability. Integrated ingest, encoding and...
'Jio, Airtel Deliver Digital Access to 1.4 Billion Indians Uniquely at $2 per Month'
Cisco President Jeetu Patel highlighted the unprecedented scale of low‑cost broadband in India, where Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are providing internet to 1.4 billion people at roughly $2 per month. He emphasized Cisco’s role in powering this rollout through networking,...
Wireless Mobile International Search Joins the TCCA
Wireless Mobile International Search (WMIS) announced its membership in the Telecom Critical Communications Alliance (TCCA), a global, member‑led body serving the critical communications ecosystem. Founded in 2005, WMIS specializes in recruiting senior talent for wireless, mobile and IoT networks across...
IDEMIA Secure Transactions, Tele2 IoT and Cisco Launch SGP.32 IoT Solution
At Mobile World Congress, IDEMIA Secure Transactions, Tele2 IoT and Cisco unveiled the first commercially available end‑to‑end IoT solution built on the GSMA SGP.32 eSIM standard. The offering combines IDEMIA’s certified eSIM ecosystem, Cisco’s Mobility Services Platform, and Tele2 IoT’s global connectivity...
Soitec and NTU Singapore Reporting Results of Research Program Into 6G Connectivity
At Mobile World Congress 2026, Soitec and Nanyang Technological University unveiled the results of a four‑year research program targeting 6G connectivity. The collaboration produced three technical papers showing that gallium‑nitride (GaN) devices on Soitec’s epitaxial wafers deliver record power‑added efficiency...
From Masks to Monetization: 5G’s Enterprise Evolution
There’s something powerful about looking back at moments that quietly shaped where we are today. Throwback to #MWC22 in Barcelona, when the world was just emerging from lockdowns. Masks were still mandatory, even during interviews, and yet the conversations were anything...
UniFi U7 Mesh Arrives: Compact Wi-Fi 7, IPX6, 2.5GbE Uplink
Ubiquiti has introduced the UniFi U7 Mesh, a compact Wi‑Fi 7 access point that supports dual‑band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz operation. Designed for flexible placement, it offers wall, pole and tabletop mounting with an IPX6 weather‑resistance rating for semi‑outdoor use. The device...
AI Now Embedded in Telecom Networks, Driving Revenue
AI in telecom has crossed the pilot phase. 66% are actively using AI. 90% report revenue lift + cost reduction. Network automation now leads ROI. The real story? AI is moving into the network fabric — edge inference, agentic AI, AI-native RAN ahead of...
DT Shows Impressive AI Progress at MWC26, Future Growth Expected
This is from DT today. Pretty incredible. Expect this to rise in the future. #AI at #mwc26 https://t.co/ItNU3LPHqT
Strengthening Critical Infrastructure Security with OSINT
The article spotlights a free, 10‑hour YouTube course titled "OSINT for ICS and OT" created by Mike Holcomb, aimed at closing the training gap in industrial control system security. It underscores how operational technology—power plants, water treatment, railways and factories—has become a...
Discussed Network Security with TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti
Always a pleasure to visit with Hon. Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Enjoyed the discussion on network and national security issues. https://t.co/30NnC7YCMG
Europe's Tech Regulators Push for Fair, Reciprocal Rules
Meeting today with the tech and telecom regulators from across Europe. Important to ensure fair and reciprocal regulatory environments. https://t.co/9sNvWBfEfD
MediaTek Puts Spotlight on AI and Connectivity at MWC 2026
MediaTek used Mobile World Congress 2026 to unveil its "AI For Life: From Edge to Cloud" showcase, highlighting breakthroughs from 6G radio interoperability to AI‑driven connectivity. The company demonstrated the world’s first 5G‑Advanced CPE with Wi‑Fi 8, delivering up to 40%...
T‑Mobile Eyes AI Tokens, GPUs, and Slicing for 6G
T-Mobile network chief Ankur Kapoor here at #mwc26 : -talks kinetic tokens for #AI echoing @JohnSaw -there is a place in the network for GPUs on the way to #6G -network slicing is a part of the monetization story https://t.co/qrqlPDrHHm
AI Breakthroughs Ignore Essential Network Connectivity
I just watched one of my favourite futurists @azeem speaking at #MWC26, on the topic of AI and “manufactured intelligence”. But I think a big problem is that very little of this AI intelligence uses any sort of access network, fixed...
Ericsson, Sony and Vodafone Highlight 5G Photography Innovation at MWC
At Mobile World Congress, Ericsson, Sony and Vodafone showcased a 5G‑enabled photography proof‑of‑concept that leverages CAMARA‑compliant network slicing and API‑driven on‑demand reservation. The system pairs Sony cameras and portable data transmitters with Ericsson’s programmable network and Vonage APIs to guarantee...
Starlink’s MWC Push Aims EU 2 GHz Spectrum, yet AST
Wondering if the big @SpaceX #Starlink presence at #MWC26 is basically an attempt to persuade European policymakers to allow it access to 2GHz MSS spectrum - despite all the #sovereignty concerns in Brussels Seems that AST/VF is likely a more...
Qualcomm FastConnect 8800 Triples Wi‑Fi Gigabit Range
Next topic here at #MWC26 - we rely so much on Wi-Fi every day. @Qualcomm's new FastConnect 8800 can up to TRIPLE the gigabit range of Wi-Fi connections, bringing real speeds to where you really need it. Very excited to...
Jio Platforms Appoints Dan Bailey as President to Lead International Business
Jio Platforms has appointed Dan Bailey as president to head its international business. Bailey, a veteran with 35 years in consulting and investment banking, will join the executive committee and report to Akash Ambani from London. His hiring coincides with...
CEO Previews 6G Future in Ten‑minute Live Talk
Our CEO @cristianoamon is speaking in TEN MINUTES about what 6G will bring us! Watch him live here: https://t.co/S7gH1EjXJJ
AI Shifts to Edge, Demands Open 5G and Future 6G
#AI is leaving the data center for robots, sensors, drones, and #XR. 🥽 It needs open, programmable #5G now and AI-native #6G next. 5G SA brings slicing, automation, and open APIs. 🔗 Read more on Börje Ekholm’s blog: https://t.co/0AP5Zz84dm via...
Nordic Semi nRF93M1 IoT Modules Offer LTE Cat 1bis Cellular Connectivity, Wi-Fi Location Capabilities
Nordic Semiconductors unveiled the nRF93M1 LTE Cat 1bis IoT module at Mobile World Congress 2026, offering up to 10 Mbps downlink and 5 Mbps uplink speeds. The family includes two variants—LABA for Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa, and LACA for global deployments—both supporting a...
NGMN AI‑6G Report Turns Bearish, Omits GPUs
My review of @NGMN_Alliance report on AI & 6G Surprisingly bearish / realist And no mention of the word “GPU” https://t.co/cLwuiA0xCN
Designing 6G Networks for the AI Era
Be sure to tune in to my #MWC26 Keynote "Architecting 6G for the AI Era" today, Tuesday March 3 at 9:30 AM CET. https://t.co/Ods5sCOn8j
Qualcomm Unveils First Release‑19 Modem, Paving 5G
The @Qualcomm X105 is the world’s first Release 19-ready modem—advancing 5G Advanced and laying groundwork for 6G with new RF, GNSS, and satellite breakthroughs. Read the announcement. https://t.co/9dddRDdkID https://t.co/TXU4PTxD2H