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
HPE Exposes Juniper Routers to Third-Party AI Agents
HPE announced that its newly acquired Juniper routers will be exposed to third‑party AI agents via a Model Context Protocol, enabling AI‑driven configuration and deployment. The company also introduced the PTX12000 series, scaling up to 518.4 Tbps, and the PTX10002 line offering up to 28.8 Tbps in a 2U chassis, alongside ProLiant Gen12 Telco Edge Compute servers in 1U/2U form factors. These products target power‑efficient edge deployments for latency‑sensitive AI workloads. The move aligns with forecasts that AI traffic will grow five‑fold, reaching 15% of total network traffic within three years.
Press Release: Gilat Receives $39 Million in Orders for Sidewinder ESA
Gilat Satellite Networks announced $39 million in orders for its Sidewinder electronically steered antenna (ESA) in‑flight connectivity terminals from a leading satellite operator, with deliveries slated over the next 12 months. The orders cover both line‑fit and retrofit installations, underscoring airlines'...
Smartphone Prices to Increase in South Africa
South African retailers expect a noticeable uptick in smartphone and laptop prices over the coming months. The increase is driven by a depreciating rand, higher import duties, and global supply‑chain constraints that raise component costs. Analysts warn that both consumers...
Ultra-Wideband Low Noise Amplifier, PEC-42-1G40G-20-12-292FF
PMI‑RF introduced the PEC‑42‑1G40G‑20‑12‑292FF, an ultra‑wideband low‑noise amplifier covering 1 to 40 GHz. The device delivers 42 dB of gain with ±2.5 dB flatness and a 5.5 dB noise figure across the band. Its output‑1 dB compression point reaches 19 dBm at lower frequencies and 17 dBm at higher...
Hackers Threaten to Leak 8 Million People’s Stolen Data if Dutch Telecom Odido Won’t Pay Ransom
Dutch telecom operator Odido confirmed a breach by the Shinyhunters cyber‑criminal group, which claims to have exfiltrated data on up to eight million customers. The attackers are demanding more than one million euros in ransom and have issued a final...
Peru Begins Campaign to Block Further 100K 'High-Risk' Handsets
Peruvian telecom regulator Osiptel announced a new phase of its anti‑fraud campaign, blocking an additional 100,000 handsets deemed high‑risk. The devices are not listed in the official Renteseg database and are associated with repeated use of invalid or cloned IMEIs....
8-Channel Switch Filter Bank, 8SFB-2G18G-SFF
Planar Monolithics introduced the 8‑channel switch filter bank 8SFB‑2G18G‑SFF, covering 2 GHz to 18 GHz with eight selectable pass‑bands. The unit delivers 8 dB typical insertion loss, 2:1 VSWR, ±0.5 dB ripple and 82.8 dB out‑of‑band rejection. Switching occurs in 200 ns and the device handles...
Digital Attenuator, DTA-200M18G-100-CD-EXT
Planar Monolithics introduced the DTA‑200M18G‑100‑CD‑EXT, an 8‑bit digitally tuned attenuator covering 0.2 to 18 GHz. It offers a massive 100 dB attenuation range with ±3 dB accuracy and flatness throughout. The device features fast switching (1 µs on, 0.5 µs off), a maximum insertion loss of 12 dB,...
Anritsu, Qualcomm to Present Pre-6G 7 GHz Device Testing at MWC
Qualcomm and Anritsu will showcase a pre‑6G mobile‑device test case operating at 7.125 GHz during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The demonstration uses an upgraded Anritsu MT8000A test station, extending its RF hardware to cover 7‑16 GHz, thereby adding support for lower...
Dhiraagu Invites Applications for Public Shareholders Slot on Board
Maldives telecom operator Dhiraagu has announced that it will accept applications from public shareholders for a vacant public director seat on its board. The public director represents shareholders who do not hold a majority stake and is elected exclusively by...
American Tower Reports 8% Rise in Q4 Revenue
American Tower posted a 7.5% increase in fourth‑quarter 2025 revenue, reaching $2.74 billion, while property revenue rose 7.6% to $2.67 billion. Tenant billings grew organically by $109 million, a 5.9% rise. Adjusted funds from operations per share climbed 8.2%, marking high single‑digit growth....
Global Invacom Group Launches Rapid Deploy XY Antenna Range for Mission‑Critical, Multi‑Orbit Connectivity
Global Invacom Group has introduced a rapid‑deploy XY antenna family spanning four sizes—from 0.98 m to 2.4 m—to provide fast, multi‑orbit, multi‑band connectivity for government, defence, and commercial users. The modular terminals require no tools and can be calibrated and operational in...
Rohde & Schwarz Advances AI-RAN Testing Using Digital Twins with NVIDIA
Rohde & Schwarz, together with NVIDIA, unveiled an AI‑driven testbed at MWC Barcelona 2026 that combines the NVIDIA Sionna Research Kit with a DGX Spark server for hardware‑in‑the‑loop, site‑specific channel emulation. The platform runs a software‑defined 5G NR stack via...
AntennaWare and SynchronicIT Collaborate to Offer Significant Improvements in UWB Applications
AntennaWare has partnered with Dutch module vendor SynchronicIT to integrate its BodyWave™ antenna into UWB‑based real‑time location systems. The patented antenna boosts link margins by 6‑12 dB in non‑line‑of‑sight scenarios, effectively doubling range or halving power consumption for on‑body and on‑metal...
Policyband Roundup: Tech, Regulation, Media Headlines
Policyband Headlines ■ @elonmusk: @Starlink Price Cuts Have Nothing to Do with @Amazonleo ■ @gigibsohn: @StephenAtHome Colbert ‘Got Some Things Very Wrong’ ■ U.S. Chamber Opposed to Jamming Cell Phones in State Prisons ■ Fire Fighters Want @FCC Progress on Location Monitoring Inside...
Sustainable Spectrum Policy Dossier Updated for 2026
The Sustainable Spectrum Policy dossier has been refreshed for 2026, adding a new research note on space sustainability. It highlights the ESA Zero Debris Charter’s net‑zero target for 2030, the APRSAF “Nagoya Vision” on responsible space use, and IADC’s global...
Cellular Backup for Broadband
Amazon introduced the eero Signal, an add‑on for its eero Wi‑Fi mesh that automatically switches to cellular broadband when the primary internet fails. The 4G‑only device retails for $99.99 and includes six months of service, after which a $99.99 annual...
KPN Refreshes Postpaid Plans to Underline Premium Unlimited Plans
Dutch telecom operator KPN has overhauled its post‑paid mobile portfolio, introducing higher‑priced plans that are simpler to understand. The new offerings feature larger data allowances on fixed‑quota tiers, albeit with reduced speeds compared with the premium unlimited option. Existing customers...
TRAI Unveils IMT Spectrum Auction 2026 Plan: 600 MHz Incentives, 6 GHz Reserve, Lower Net-Worth Norms
TRAI released recommendations for the 2026 IMT spectrum auction, encompassing bands from 600 MHz to 26 GHz and using a simultaneous multiple‑round format. The regulator cut the net‑worth eligibility to ₹50 crore per LSA (₹25 crore for Jammu & Kashmir and Northeast circles) to...
Delhi Drive Report January 2026: Airtel, Jio Lead in 5G Speeds, MTNL Records Higher Drop Call Rate
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s January 2026 drive test in Delhi shows Airtel and Jio (Reliance Jio Infocomm) dominating 5G data performance, with Jio achieving the highest average download speed of 267 Mbps and Airtel leading upload speeds at 31 Mbps....
Fire at Cape Town International Airport Hits IT Services
A fire broke out on the landside of Cape Town International Airport on 24 Feb 2026, prompting ACSA to extinguish the blaze and confirm that all passengers and staff are safe. The incident disrupted the airport’s network and Wi‑Fi services, leading to...
Xiaomi Pad 8 5G Launch Date for India
Xiaomi announced that its Pad 8 5G tablet will launch in India on February 28, 2026 at 6:30 PM. The device is expected to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, an 11.2‑inch 3.2K display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, and a 9200 mAh battery supporting 45 W...
HFCL, IIT Delhi Come Together on Development of Hollow-Core Fiber Tech
HFCL Limited has joined a Department of Telecommunications‑funded consortium led by IIT Delhi to develop hollow‑core fiber (HCF) technology for future 6G and quantum communication networks. The partnership leverages HFCL’s manufacturing expertise and IIT Delhi’s research capabilities to accelerate the...
Nokia and AWS Launch Agentic AI-Powered 5G-Advanced Network Slicing in Live 5G Networks
Nokia and Amazon Web Services have launched the first agentic AI‑powered 5G‑Advanced network slicing solution in a live network, combining Nokia’s slicing platform with AWS Bedrock AI. The system continuously ingests data such as traffic, weather and event schedules to...
Deutsche Telekom Achieves Climate Neutrality in Operations, Cuts Emissions by 94% Since 2017
Deutsche Telekom announced it has achieved climate neutrality for its own operations, cutting Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by more than 94 percent since 2017. The milestone makes it the first DAX 40 company to reach this target, driven by long‑term renewable PPAs,...
When ToR Instability Collapses Cross-Rack Redundancy Without Breaching SLA
The article describes a two‑rack deployment where each rack relied on a single top‑of‑rack switch, making each rack a lone failure domain. When the ToR in rack 2 became unstable, database replica loss and ARP failures occurred, yet latency and error‑rate...
OTT Messaging Apps to Exceed 5.2 Bn Users by 2028 as Smartphone Adoption and Enterprise Messaging Surge
Juniper Research projects global OTT messaging users will climb from 4.4 billion in 2025 to over 5.2 billion by 2028, a 16% increase. The surge is fueled by rising smartphone penetration—forecast to reach 91% of connections by 2030—and expanding mobile broadband. Enterprises...
From Glass Maker to AI Kingmaker: Corning’s Pivot
Corning has transformed from a traditional glass maker into a key supplier of optical fiber for AI data centers, highlighted by a multi‑year, up‑to‑$6 billion agreement with Meta. The company’s Optical Communications segment posted a 24% year‑over‑year sales increase to $1.7 billion...
TDRA Reinforces Efforts for Integrated Digital Payment Ecosystem
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) convened a workshop to accelerate a unified digital payment ecosystem across UAE federal entities. Participants outlined a vision that blends digital identity, multiple payment channels, and secure settlement to simplify government transactions....
BEREC Workshop on Copper Switch-Off in Light of the Digital Networks Act
European regulators are accelerating the phase‑out of copper broadband in line with the European Commission’s Digital Networks Act (DNA) proposal. BEREC, the EU’s body for electronic communications, announced a public workshop on 17 March 2026 to discuss migration rules, competition safeguards and...
GSMA Foundry and NUHS Singapore to Drive 5G and AI Innovations in Healthcare Through New Strategic Partnership
GSMA Foundry has signed a strategic partnership with Singapore’s National University Health System (NUHS) to accelerate 5G‑enabled, AI‑driven healthcare solutions. The collaboration will leverage private 5G networks, digital twins, XR, IoT and ambient AI to enable remote surgical assistance, immersive...
5G Security: Everything You Should Know for a Secure Network
5G introduces a service‑based, cloud‑native architecture that replaces 4G's hardware‑centric design, bringing modular network functions and edge computing. The standard embeds stronger 256‑bit encryption, privacy‑preserving identifiers, and a new authentication protocol to protect user data and device identities. Additional features...
Why Going Cloud-Native Is the Most Important Upgrade a Mobile Network Operator Can Make Right Now
Tune Talk announced it has completed a full cloud‑native transformation, partnering with US‑based Mavenir to migrate both its OSS and BSS to software‑defined platforms. This makes Tune Talk the first mobile network operator in ASEAN to run an end‑to‑end cloud‑native...
Telefonica Reports Revenue Growth, 326 Million Accesses and Strong Free Cash Flow in Q4 2025
Telefonica posted a modest revenue rise of 1.3% in Q4 2025, reaching €9.174 billion, and delivered €2.069 billion in full‑year free cash flow. The group expanded its access base to 326.1 million, driven by fibre and 5G uptake, while adjusted EBITDA grew 2.8%...
Tune Talk Picks Mavenir to Build AI‑driven Mobile Infra
Tune Talk has completed its transition to a fully independent, cloud‑native mobile network operator by partnering with Mavenir, which supplied AI‑driven OSS and BSS platforms. The new architecture gives Tune Talk end‑to‑end control, zero‑touch automation and self‑healing capabilities, accelerating digital...
RAD Debuts 400G Ethernet Platform for DCI, Enterprise Connectivity
RAD announced the ETX‑2i‑400G, a 400 Gbps Ethernet demarcation and aggregation platform designed for data‑center interconnect and high‑capacity enterprise links. The device targets communications service providers seeking low‑latency, SLA‑driven services that can handle AI‑intensive workloads. It incorporates multiple 400 G QSP‑DD interfaces...
India Seeks to Create Conducive Environment for Submarine Cable Investments, Says TRAI’s AK Lahoti
India is positioning itself as a hub for submarine cable investment, with TRAI chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti announcing a 60% year‑on‑year increase in total lit capacity to 309 Tbps and an 81% rise in activated capacity to 268 Tbps as of December 2025....
KAPP Secures Approval for Fixed-Line Telecom Project
Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) received State Audit Bureau approval for a KWD 19.928 million contract to revamp the country's fixed‑line telecommunications infrastructure. The public‑private partnership with the Ministry of Communications will design, fund, build, operate and maintain active and...
Telkom Launches Plug’d, a Youth‑first Platform Connecting Data, Deals and Real Opportunities
Telkom has launched Plug’d by Telkom, a mobile‑first platform aimed at South Africans aged 18‑24. The service bundles affordable data, curated digital content and access to real‑world opportunities such as jobs and internships within a single always‑on ecosystem. Plug’d is...
Interesting: Open Space Events
Martin Fowler highlighted Open Space events as a self‑organizing format where participants set the agenda on the fly. The approach offers a structured yet flexible alternative to informal gatherings like Net::Beer, making it attractive for small tech meetups such as...
MWC 2026 | Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, TIM and Vodafone Demo Federated Edge Continuum
At Mobile World Congress 2026 the five largest European telcos—Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, TIM and Vodafone—demonstrated the first live European Edge Continuum, a federated edge infrastructure spanning their networks. The federation, built on EU‑funded IPCEI‑CIS components, is now operational in...
Ericsson, University of Toronto Partner to Drive AI Powered Mobile Tech
Ericsson and the University of Toronto have signed a three‑year partnership, committing $1 million to accelerate AI‑powered mobile communications research. The agreement focuses on advancing 5G technologies while laying groundwork for future 6G networks. It also creates industry‑linked projects to develop...
Balancing Growth and Efficiency — APNIC 61 Policy SIG Deliberations on IPv6 and IPv4 Allocation
At APNIC 61’s Policy SIG in Jakarta, members debated two pivotal proposals: prop‑164, which would lower the minimum IPv6 allocation from a /32 to a /36, and prop‑168, which seeks to raise the maximum IPv4 delegation for account holders to a...
India's Tech Infra as Public Good Can Be Emulated for AI Across Global South, Says ITU Official
India’s digital public infrastructure—most notably Aadhaar and UPI—has been highlighted by ITU strategic‑engagement chief Fred Werner as a replicable model for AI diffusion across the Global South. Werner argues that the country’s ability to scale technology for over a billion...
Airtel New Rs 1099 Plan Comes with Unlimited 4G and 5G
Bharti Airtel launched a Rs 1099 prepaid plan that includes unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS per day and a combined 300 GB of 4G/5G data every 28 days. The offering is valid for 84 days, extending beyond the typical monthly cycle. While...
Telecom News: Airtel Africa, Starlink, Telus
Airtel Africa is preparing to roll out SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service across its 14 African markets, pending regulator sign‑off, to extend mobile broadband into underserved rural zones. Telus secured new 3.8 GHz mid‑band spectrum in British Columbia and Alberta, boosting its...
Telecom News: Tune Talk, Mavenir, Sistema Shyam Teleservices
The Andhra Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Indian Union to accelerate the Amended BharatNet programme, allocating ₹2,432 crore to extend fiber broadband to over 500,000 rural homes and thousands of Gram Panchayats. In Malaysia, Tune Talk completed a...
Telecom News: 1623 Farnam, Bridged Broadband, KYOCERA AVX, Airgain
1623 Farnam and Bridged Broadband announced a partnership to deploy an 800‑gigabit fiber backbone linking Omaha, Kansas City and underserved Missouri towns. The network leverages a dense carrier ecosystem at the Omaha interconnection hub, delivering low‑latency, high‑capacity routes for enterprises...
Spammers Spoof UPS Number to Threaten Customers
Hey @UPS I think spammers are spoofing your number. Got a call from 800-742-5877, which is UPS but came up "SPAM" on iPhone. "Ronathan" claiming to be from UPS support wanted me to apologize for tweeting my package arrived late,...
AT&T Uses Transparency as Competitive Edge
.@ATT is becoming even more transparent. After opaque reporting under previous leadership, the Q4 disclosure of 40+ new metrics proves transparency is the new competitive weapon in wireless. 📊🔥