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
Worth Reading: Faster than Dijkstra?
Bruce Davie argues that using algorithms marketed as faster than Dijkstra’s in link‑state routing offers little practical benefit. Historical data shows Dijkstra can compute SPF for a 2,000‑node network in about 100 ms, comfortably meeting modern convergence needs. Most networks operate only a few thousand routers per area, keeping computational demands modest. The hype for new routing protocols often stems from poor implementations or hobbyist experimentation rather than genuine scalability gaps.
Semiconductors, Satellites, and Scale With Spirit Electronics CEO Marti McCurdy
In this episode, Spirit Electronics CEO Marti McCurdy explains how her company provides end‑to‑end semiconductor services—from custom ASIC design and foundry access to wafer processing, packaging, board assembly, and final box builds—for aerospace, defense, and the rapidly growing new‑space sector....
Secure Agility Sets Sights on AI, Security, IoT and Telco-Led Growth in 2026
Secure Agility, a Sydney‑based tech services firm with roughly 100 staff and $70 million in annual revenue, is shifting from a low‑profile engineering focus to aggressive customer acquisition and national expansion. The company now offers production‑ready AI, IoT and cybersecurity platforms,...
The $75 Radio: Why US Special Operations Command Needs to Buy Off the Shelf for the Next War
U.S. Special Operations Command is urged to supplement its high‑signature, expensive military radios with disposable, low‑power commercial‑off‑the‑shelf (COTS) solutions such as LoRa. By operating in the unlicensed sub‑gigahertz ISM band and using chirp spread spectrum, these radios can hide below...
Policy at the Edge: PCF’s AAA+ Vouchers Deliver Predictable Data Spend
MSB Micro Systems’ Policy Control Function (PCF) introduces voucher‑based wallets that enforce authentication, authorization and accounting at the network edge, delivering near‑real‑time usage caps. The SaaS solution automatically suspends service when a voucher is exhausted and reinstates it upon new...
AI-Based Spam Data Must Be Shared in Hours, Trai to Telcos
TRAI has ordered all Indian mobile operators to share AI‑based spam detection data on a blockchain platform within hours, requiring terminating carriers to flag suspected spam CLIs and originating carriers to notify senders and verify KYC. If five or more...
ATA Calls for Reduction of Red Tape Holding Back Digital Infrastructure
The Australian Telecommunications Alliance (ATA) is urging the federal government to slash regulatory red tape that it says is stifling digital infrastructure investment. A Business Council of Australia report placed Australia near the bottom of the Global Investment Competitiveness Index...
AT&T Downplays Competition From Cable Ops
AT&T’s chief operating officer told investors that cable operators are not yet exerting measurable pressure on the telecom giant’s results. He highlighted four consecutive quarters of stable performance despite cable MVNO growth and emphasized the company’s expanding fiber footprint into...
Optimum’s Price-Locked Plans
Optimum has introduced a “25 for 5” campaign that locks internet prices for five years, starting at $25 per month for 300 Mbps service. The offer expands to a 500 Mbps plan at $35/month with six months of ad‑supported HBO Max, and a...
Sparklight Mobile’s New Promo
Sparklight Mobile, the Cable One subsidiary, has rolled out a nationwide promotion offering a free unlimited‑data line for twelve months to both new and existing customers. After the promotional period, the plan reverts to the standard $30 per month rate,...
Ericsson and Intel Collaborate to Accelerate AI-Native 6G; Other AI-Native 6G Advancements at MWC 2026
Ericsson and Intel announced an expanded partnership at MWC 2026 to accelerate AI‑native 6G development, focusing on AI‑driven RAN, cloud‑native core, and next‑gen silicon. The collaboration leverages Intel Xeon AI acceleration and upcoming Ericsson silicon to deliver energy‑efficient, secure compute...
FCC Calls for Reciprocity as EU Barriers Threaten U.S. Satellites
For decades, the U.S. has welcomed foreign satellite operators into our market. But restrictions on U.S. operators in other countries have persisted. And now, new barriers are emerging that constrain U.S. businesses operating abroad, including in the draft E.U. Space...
IEC Telecom Establishes Malaysia Hub to Accelerate Starlink-Powered Digital Inclusion
On March 3 2026 IEC Telecom Group launched its first operations centre in Kuala Lumpur, becoming an authorized Starlink reseller for Malaysia. The hub targets the persistent “last‑mile” connectivity gap in rural Sarawak and Sabah and supports the country’s maritime and energy...
PODCAST: Blue Stream Fiber's Turiano on Driving Its AI Strategy and Innovation Roadmap
Blue Stream Fiber, a former cable operator now serving 385,000 residents in Florida, has accelerated its expansion into Houston’s multi‑family market. The company announced executive promotions, elevating Josh Turiano to Chief Innovation and AI Officer to steer its AI roadmap....
WFN Strategies Marks 25 Years in Subsea Cables
WFN Strategies celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter‑century of independent project management, engineering oversight, and client representation for the global submarine cable industry. The firm’s proprietary PM 2.0® methodology blends technical execution with governance, risk management, financial controls, and ISO‑certified...
Cable One’s MBI Deal to Bolster Its Business Services Capabilities
Cable One will acquire Mega Broadband Investments (MBI) to broaden its rural fiber footprint and diversify its business‑services portfolio. The deal adds roughly 210,000 residential and business customers and expands the company’s network to about 675,000 passings across 24 states....
Pilots Petition Starlink Following Shift to New Speed Tiers
Starlink has restructured its in‑motion service, capping standard Roam and Priority plans at 100 mph ground speed and launching two aviation‑specific tiers. The Aviation 300MPH tier costs $250 per month for 20 GB, while the Aviation 450MPH tier is $1,000 per month...
Supermicro Expands Support for AI-RAN and Sovereign AI Solutions
Supermicro announced expanded AI‑RAN and sovereign AI infrastructure at MWC 2026, unveiling new 1U and 2U server models built on NVIDIA Grace CPUs and Blackwell GPUs. The ARS‑111L‑FR, ARS‑221GL‑NR, and ARS‑111GL‑NHR systems target distributed radio access networks and edge AI...
NTT Unveils Tech to Enhance AI Performance for 6G and Next-Gen Computing
NTT, NTT DOCOMO and NTT DATA will showcase IOWN photonics‑based networking at MWC Barcelona 2026, highlighting its role in powering 6G and next‑generation AI workloads. The group announced a university‑industry project that merges 6G and IOWN to enable autonomous AI...
Vero Networks Scores $500 Million Investment
Vero Networks, a Boulder‑based fiber infrastructure and broadband provider, closed a $500 million non‑control growth equity round on March 2, 2026. The investment was led by Hamilton Lane, Braemont Capital and Delta‑v Capital. The capital will fund accelerated fiber deployment and network upgrades...
Veeco Books Multi-System Lumina and Spector Orders for InP Datacom Laser Manufacturing
Veeco Instruments announced that a leading optical‑communications laser manufacturer placed multi‑system orders for its Lumina metal‑organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) tools and Spector ion‑beam sputtering (IBD) coating systems. The Lumina will serve as the production‑tool‑of‑record for indium phosphide (InP) epitaxy,...
Skyworks and MediaTek Showcase Early 6G FR3 and PC1 RF Front-End Innovations at MWC 2026
Skyworks Solutions announced it will demonstrate an early‑6G FR3 RF front‑end power amplifier at Mobile World Congress 2026, partnering with MediaTek. The SKYR60002 module covers the 6.425‑to‑>7 GHz band and integrates LNA, PA and filters to meet new 3GPP requirements. Skyworks...
AI‑Driven Earnings Surge Shapes Tech Market This Week
The Week Ahead in Technology for March 2, 2026: MWC Barcelona opens with @Qualcomm @Nokia @CiscoSystems @HPE showcasing 5G/6G and AI networking. $AVGO reports with $73B AI backlog in focus. $MRVL and $CRWD also report. @Apple should launch sub-$600...
Apple’s iPhone 17 Series 5G mmWave Antenna Module Revealed to Be Powered by Soitec FD-SOI Substrates
Independent teardowns confirm that Apple’s iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max use Qualcomm’s QTM565 mmWave antenna‑in‑package module, which is fabricated on Soitec’s Fully Depleted Silicon‑On‑Insulator (FD‑SOI) substrate via GlobalFoundries’ 22FDX process. The finding validates FD‑SOI as a high‑volume substrate for FR2 5G...
Telecom Operators Accelerate AI Monetisation with New Revenue Models, Says GSMA Intelligence
Telecom operators are moving AI initiatives from internal cost‑saving projects to revenue‑generating services, according to a GSMA Intelligence report unveiled at MWC 2026. The study identifies three emerging monetisation models—AI Connectivity Provider, AI Compute Provider, and AI Solutions Partner—backed by...
GSMA Forecast: 5G to Reach 57% of Global Mobile Connections by 2030, Driving $11.3 Trillion Economic Impact
The GSMA’s 2026 Mobile Economy report forecasts that 57% of global mobile connections will operate on 5G by 2030, marking a decisive shift from legacy networks. The Gulf Cooperation Council states are projected to lead with 95% penetration, followed by...
Starlink’s German Alignment
At Mobile World Congress, Starlink announced a partnership with Deutsche Telekom to deliver satellite broadband to more than 140 million subscribers across ten European markets, using Starlink’s Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum. The deal effectively treats the pending renewal of EchoStar’s...
Chittenden County CUD Continues Affordable Fiber Expansion In Vermont
Chittenden County Communication Union District (CCCUD) completed a fiber‑optic expansion into six rural towns—Essex Town, Essex Junction, Jericho, Shelburne, Westford, and Williston—bringing high‑speed internet to more than 1,900 homes and businesses. The project, executed with Fidium Fiber, was financed by...
International Telecommunication Union Secures $82 Bn in Partner2Connect Pledges to Accelerate Global Internet Connectivity
At Mobile World Congress 2026, the International Telecommunication Union announced that its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition has secured over $82 billion in pledges, moving toward its $100 billion goal for 2026. The coalition, launched in 2021, aggregates commitments from governments, operators and civil...
Wi-Fi Signal Strength Is a Terrible Indicator of Real Performance
The familiar Wi‑Fi bar icon only measures signal strength, not actual throughput, leading many users to misjudge network performance. Real‑world speed depends on hidden factors such as interference, channel congestion, and device hardware, which the bars cannot reveal. Experiments show...
Mycom and Mavenir Announce Strategic Collaboration for Delivering Agentic AI Benefits to CSPs to Support Autonomous Networks L4/5
Mycom and Mavenir announced a strategic partnership at Mobile World Congress to develop Agentic AI use cases for 4G and 5G networks. The collaboration links Mycom’s GenAie NOC Copilot with Mavenir’s Core Domain Intent and NF AI agents, creating an...
Carr’s FCC Hands Historic Regulatory Victory to African-American TV Station Owner
The FCC granted a waiver allowing DuJuan McCoy’s Circle City Broadcasting to purchase Indianapolis ABC affiliate WRTV from Scripps for $83 million, exceeding the agency’s two‑stations‑per‑market rule. Media Bureau Chief Erin Boone ruled the exception would not harm competition and would protect local...
Sivers Semiconductors to Showcase Cutting-Edge Satcom and Fixed Wireless Innovations at MWC Barcelona
Swedish chipmaker Sivers Semiconductors announced its participation at MWC Barcelona, where it will demonstrate its latest satellite communications (satcom) beamforming ICs and flat‑panel antenna arrays. The centerpiece is Maverick, a 576‑element Ka‑Band transmit/receive array that incorporates the newly released Cloudchaser...
The High Cost of the "Digital Existence Tax"
The author details a personal "digital existence tax" of roughly £7,600 annually, equivalent to £633 per month, covering storage, communications, web hosting, security, AI tools, legacy services, and Stripe fees. AI‑related expenses have surged from £8 per month in 2021...
Spain’s King Declares Connectivity a Global Economic Priority
MWC26 opens with a powerful signal: connectivity is no longer just an industry conversation, it’s a national and global priority. When the King of Spain, Felipe VI, government, and @GSMA stand together, it reinforces that intelligent networks, AI, and digital infrastructure...
ASTS Delays Satellite Timeline, Offers No Clarity
What a debacle. They can't even promise to complete the "40 satellites equivalent of microns" until "first half of 2026" compared to "early 2026" previously. With no clarity on when any completed satellites will be ready to ship. Also dropped...
Top ICT Tenders: Sentech Looks to IOT Opportunities
Senteic has issued a three‑year tender to build a comprehensive IoT ecosystem, inviting providers to deliver hardware, connectivity and platform solutions across nine categories, including smart metering, asset tracking, smart cities, e‑health, fleet management, smart grid, agriculture, and a generic...
Spectrum's Trouble Signals Warning for Telecom Rivals
.@GetSpectrum just admitted it has issues. The architect of the @FrontierCorp turnaround as COO. The other players should read this as a warning flare, not a simple org chart change. 🧵🔥 #Telecom #Broadband
Use BEAD Savings to Bridge Rural Mobile Gaps
BEAD is delivering real broadband progress. But the digital divide doesn’t end at the front door. With savings on the table, we have a rare chance to close rural mobile gaps and maximize impact — not expand the program. 👇https://t.co/bAYIvu3m5Z
GRF Targets UAS and C-UAS Growth with High Performance RFIC Portfolio
Guerrilla RF announced an expanded focus on the fast‑growing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter‑UAS (C‑UAS) markets, offering a portfolio of more than 90 RF integrated circuits. The portfolio covers low‑noise small‑signal devices through high‑power GaN amplifiers, targeting mission‑critical communications,...
EchoStar 10‑K Reveals Limited Non‑European Satellite Assets
Lots of useful detail in EchoStar 10-K on foreign assets transferred (see pp415-418). Outside Europe there's just SIRION-1 Australian filing plus licenses in Brazil, Chile & Mexico (but Brazil is specific to Lyra, Chile is non-exclusive, Mexico is GEO) https://t.co/mHJqFgkMzd
Charter Wins Mobile, Loses Ground in Home Broadband
.@charter knows the problem. Charter is winning in mobile but losing in home broadband. The data shows the gap is not closing. 📉🔥
Rooftop Talk: OTFS, Spectrum Multiplier, O‑RAN, AI, Rowing
Thanks to @Cohere_MultiG for my first rooftop bar visit of the year Good to chat about OTFS, “spectrum multiplier”, O-RAN, sensing, AI and, er… rowing https://t.co/ADAEpySXnB
Qualcomm Launches AI‑powered X105 5G Modem for 6G Future
MWC: @Qualcomm unveils X105 5G Modem with AI – all in prep for #6G @MWC2026 🖇️https://t.co/yIejQNww2a🖇️ https://t.co/OWw6kIOneS
Dish Sued by Major Tower Owners over Unpaid Rentals
SBA has joined American Tower and Crown Castle in filing suits against Dish Wireless over tower rental payments. EchoStar's 10-K shows that Dish faces similar suits from Comcast Business, Harmoni Towers, Diamond Towers & Zayo https://t.co/XNYmKyy2yp
Starlink's German Pivot: Why Lufthansa and DT Switched Fast
My new blog post on Starlink's German alignment: why have both Lufthansa and DT changed their minds in short order? https://t.co/KFmPPokCry
MWC26 Highlights Global Telecom Regulation Over Spectrum
Very interesting to listen into the #MWC26 session on global regulation and policy Featured @GSMAPolicy regulatory chief John Giusti with @ITU and @OECD directors Again, discussion was general telecoms (& AI), not mobile specific No banging on about more 5G / 6G...
T‑Mobile, Qualcomm Accelerate AI‑native 6G for 2029
.@TMobile and @Qualcomm are expanding our strategic collaboration to accelerate the path from 5G Advanced to AI-native 6G — targeting commercialization in 2029. Advanced connectivity. Integrated sensing. We’re leading the next era of wireless. https://t.co/uliuBDzUfm
Charter's Mobile Surge Contrasts Home Internet Decline
.@charter is crushing it in mobile and bleeding in home internet. So Charter just hired the operator who made Frontier acquisition-ready. 🧵📉
Starlink Hints at Extended Viasat/EchoStar 2GHz Licenses
Starlink is effectively confirming (or at least treating as a fait accompli) what I've been told previously, that the incumbent Viasat and EchoStar 2GHz licenses will be extended for a period of time beyond 2027