Today's Telecom Pulse
SpaceX’s Starlink generates $3.3B in Q1 2026, 69% of quarterly revenue
SpaceX reported Starlink revenue of $3.3 billion in Q1 2026, representing 69% of its total quarterly revenue of $4.7 billion. In fiscal 2025, Starlink contributed $11.4 billion of the company's $18.7 billion revenue, while the launch segment generated $619 million in Q1 and $4.1 billion for the year. The AI division posted a $6.4 billion loss despite $12.7 billion in capital expenditures.
Also developing:
By the numbers: BizLink acquires Interplex Datacom for $850M
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 developed Asia‑Pacific, North America and Europe, while emerging markets grow more slowly. Operator revenues are expected to rise to $1.36 trillion and capex to $1.2 trillion, underpinning the rollout. Mobile’s contribution to the global economy could reach $11.3 trillion, supporting 50 million jobs worldwide.
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...
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...
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,...
Key FCC and Broadband Policy Moves Unveiled
Policyband Headlines ■ @FCC Merger Approval a Breeze for Charter-Cox ■ How Far Can @BrendanCarrFCC Go to Keep @NFL on Free TV? ■ @FSFthinktank's Long Calls for New Cable Rules if 39% Cap Goes ■ Malone Seeks @FCC Approval to Take Control of...
New Mexico’s New Broadband Affordability Plan
New Mexico’s legislature approved the Low‑Income Telecommunications Assistance Program (LITAP), a state‑run broadband subsidy mirroring the expired federal Affordable Connectivity Plan. Eligible households receive a $30 monthly discount, rising to $75 for tribal residents, with funding drawn from the State...
Huawei and E& Unveil Next-Gen, 10-Gbps Access Network and AI-Driven Smart Home Use Cases
Huawei and e& UAE have launched the Optical Innovation Center to accelerate AI‑ready connectivity in the UAE, unveiling five high‑value use cases across a 10 Gbps intelligent access network and AI‑driven smart home solutions. The network upgrades include a 50G PON...
MWC 2026 Officially Opens, Paving the Way to ‘The IQ Era’
Mobile World Congress 2026 kicked off in Barcelona on March 2, under the GSMA‑driven theme “The IQ Era.” The three‑day launch gathered thousands of telecom executives, AI innovators, and policy makers to showcase next‑generation wireless, intelligent connectivity, and IoT solutions....
Ericsson Maps Out the Road to Fully Commercial 6G Networks at MWC 2026
Ericsson announced that commercial 6G networks are slated for rollout toward the end of this decade, positioning the technology as "intelligence" rather than merely a carrier for AI. Marie Hogan highlighted the surge in AI agents, autonomous devices, and data‑intensive...
O2 Confirms £700m Network Investment in 2026
O2 announced a £700 million network investment for 2026, reaffirming its Mobile Transformation Plan and matching the spend level of 2025. The funding targets upgrades to 4G and 5G, new mast installations and small‑cell deployments to boost reliability, capacity and coverage....
Nokia Expands 5G Modernization Deal with TIM Brasil to Deliver AI-Driven Connectivity Across Brazil
Nokia announced an expanded partnership with TIM Brasil to modernize the carrier’s 5G network across 14 additional states, covering roughly 42% of Brazil’s population. The deal introduces Nokia’s AI‑RAN‑ready AirScale portfolio, including Massive MIMO radios and small‑cell solutions, alongside the...
PureLiFi Unveils LiFi Architecture to Extend Gigabit Capacity Indoors
pureLiFi introduced a high‑bandwidth LiFi architecture capable of 10 Gbps indoor data rates, targeting the fixed wireless access (FWA) market. The company unveiled the Bridge XC Flex, a plug‑and‑play bridge that delivers gigabit broadband through windows without drilling, and announced partnerships with 5G...
Jio and Airtel Step Into Early 6G Ecosystem as Qualcomm Targets 2029 Rollout
Qualcomm announced a global coalition at MWC Barcelona 2026 to accelerate AI‑native 6G development, targeting commercial deployments from 2029. The roadmap emphasizes networks that learn, adapt, and optimise in real time, promising dynamic spectrum use and energy efficiency. Indian operators...
Netlab: Using L3VPN (MPLS/VPN) with SR-MPLS Core
The article demonstrates how netlab can orchestrate a full‑scale MPLS/VPN lab using an SR‑MPLS core, combining Arista cEOS PE routers with FRRouting P routers in Docker containers. LDP is disabled, forcing IS‑IS‑based segment routing to handle label distribution, while two...
Telefonica Unveils ‘Quantum Telco’ at MWC 2026 to Drive Real-World Quantum Security and Innovation
Telefonica unveiled its Quantum Telco portfolio at Mobile World Congress 2026, positioning itself as the first telco to launch commercial quantum‑safe communication services. The offering spans post‑quantum cryptography for data‑center interconnects, office communications, and quantum key distribution, built with partners...
Samsung Showcases Galaxy AI, Intelligent Networks and Next-Gen Devices at MWC 2026
Samsung used Mobile World Congress 2026 to unveil its Galaxy AI strategy, centering on the new Galaxy S26 series powered by a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and an industry‑first Privacy Display. The rollout extends AI‑driven features across wearables,...
Borje Ekholm Inaugurated Ericsson’s MWC 2026 Program in Barcelona
Ericsson CEO Borje Ekholm launched the company’s MWC 2026 program in Barcelona, outlining a strategy themed “Enter New Horizons.” He identified three forces reshaping telecom—hyperconnectivity, AI expansion, and national security—guiding Ericsson’s demos and partner collaborations. Ekholm emphasized the shift to...
Infovista Launches an AI-Enabled Platform Unifying Network & CX Intelligence
Infovista introduced VistaOne™, an open AI‑enabled platform that merges network intelligence with customer‑experience (CX) intelligence for communication service providers and enterprises. The solution uses the VistAI framework, embedding three decades of telecom expertise to deliver persona‑based, intent‑driven insights across both...
MWC 2026: SK Telecom Lays Out Plan to Rebuild Its Core Around AI
At MWC 2026, SK Telecom unveiled its “AI Native” strategy, aiming to rebuild its core operations around artificial intelligence. The plan includes redesigning billing, sales and network management systems, deploying AI-driven autonomous network operations, and implementing a Zero Trust security...
AI Is Evolving From Answering to Actually Executing Tasks
What if AI didn’t just suggest what to do… …but actually completed the work while you stepped away? Most teams are still using AI as a smarter search bar. But as I saw with @claudeai Cowork from @AnthropicAI, a new class of AI...
Telcos Power Networks, Yet Miss OTT Value—Spinouts Proposed
We power the system but we barely get any value from it, says Christel Heydemann, CEO of @Orange during kickoff keynote at #MWC26 in. Barcelona. This has been a complain of telcos for several years as OTT vendors can innovate...
Bharti Airtel 15% Away From Achieving ARPU of ₹300: Analysts
Bharti Airtel’s average revenue per user (ARPU) stands at ₹259, putting it about 15% short of its ₹300 target, according to BoFA Securities analysts. The shortfall is attributed to the need for higher tariffs in the mid‑to‑upper segment and a...
Qualcomm Expands Stack Control with 6G, Wear Elite
$QCOM opened MWC26 with five connectivity announcements that matter: X105 Modem-RF adds NR-NTN satellite (voice, video, data), FastConnect 8800 is Qualcomm’s first mobile Wi-Fi 8 push, Dragonwing broadens Wi-Fi 8 across the portfolio, Snapdragon Wear Elite moves to 3nm, and...
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
Open Cosmos Unveils Vision for Imagery-Linked Sovereign Satellite Connectivity
Open Cosmos announced ConnectedCosmos, a Ka‑band LEO network that merges broadband, IoT and Earth‑observation services. The constellation will use optical inter‑satellite links to deliver near‑real‑time data without relying on ground stations. The company faces ITU‑mandated milestones for a 576‑satellite filing,...
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
Ericsson Wins Deals to Modernise Vi's Postpaid Billing, Expand 4G, 5G Networks
Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson has secured new contracts with India’s Vodafone Idea (Vi) to modernize its postpaid billing and extend 4G and 5G coverage nationwide. The agreement adds Ericsson Charging and AI‑driven Telco IT applications, enabling real‑time charging for voice,...
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
Google’s Newest AI Agents Bring Telcos a Step Closer to Autonomous Network Operations
Google unveiled new AI agents at MWC Barcelona aimed at autonomous network operations for telcos. The agents work with dynamic digital twins—temporal graphs of live physical and logical network states—to predict behavior and test upgrades. Google also open‑sourced its telco...
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
E& Selects BroadForward to Reinforce Secure 5G Roaming
e& UAE announced at MWC that it will deploy BroadForward’s Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) to harden its 5G and international roaming interconnects. The software‑based, vendor‑agnostic SEPP will be rolled out with systems integrator Emircom, enabling secure 4G‑5G interworking. This...
IBM Shifts From Tech Milestones to Business KPIs
Early start at #MWC26 with Rahul Kumar at the @IBM booth. We talked Autonomous Networks, AI-driven operations, and the shift from technical milestones to real business KPIs. Barcelona is where strategy meets execution, and #IBM is leaning into both. #Quantum @IBM @MWCHub...
Starlink Mobile Unveils
Starlink Mobile @ #MWC26 -showed a video call on D2D -10M monthly active D2D users today. -Mexican operator coming shortly -V2 constellation to provide 5G experience - 150 Mbps -V2 coming mid 2027 -NR NTN standard -1,200 satellites initially -“complementary” to terrestrial https://t.co/cxxT3XpFev
Ericsson Joins the OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation
Ericsson has joined the OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation as a founding premier member and secured a seat on its Board of Directors. The move positions Ericsson to influence the open‑source CU/DU software stack that underpins next‑generation 5G and emerging 6G networks....
Fibre Gains Equal Footing with 5G/6G at MWC26
I’ve been complaining for a while that the mobile industry keeps claiming that it is “telecoms” Based on this morning’s #MWC26 keynote, I’d say there’s now some humility & recognition that actually fibre is at least as central as 5G /...
Starlink Mobile V2 Cuts Ground Costs, Delivers 5G Anywhere
“With Starlink Mobile V2 connectivity, mobile network operators can invest less in terrestrial networks while unlocking seamless service in remote areas”
Qualcomm's Wi-Fi 8 Chips Are Here, and They Actually Fix the Stuff that Annoys You
Qualcomm unveiled its AI‑ready Wi‑Fi 8 portfolio at MWC 2026, featuring the FastConnect 8800 mobile chipset and Dragonwing router platforms. The FastConnect 8800 introduces a 4×4 Wi‑Fi radio delivering up to 11.6 Gbps, while integrating Bluetooth 7, UWB and Thread on a 6 nm die. Dragonwing’s NPro A8 Elite...
From Possibility to Live Execution: AI Networks Now
MWC energy with @EvanKirstel and @JimHarris ! From AI-native networks to enterprise automation, the conversation this year is less about “what’s possible” and more about “what’s live.” Execution era. #MWC26 https://t.co/NfDsiLq8wv
TWC Highlights Fibre, Satellite Over 6G Future
I thought it was #MWC26, but actually it's TWC, #Telecom World Congress. The main session had more mentions of #fibre, #satellite and subsea cables, than it did of #6G. I think @GSMA now realises the real action is elsewhere, beyond mobile...