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
AST SpaceMobile Wins $30 Million Contract for Military Broadband Demo
The Space Development Agency awarded AST SpaceMobile a $30 million firm‑fixed‑price contract to demonstrate its BlueBird satellite constellation can deliver resilient, low‑latency broadband directly to military radios. The "Europa" phase of the HALO program requires AST to complete a series of tests by December 2027, proving seamless integration with existing tactical communications gear. Success could see the commercial‑grade space‑based cellular network folded into the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture’s future tranches. The effort underscores the Pentagon’s push to leverage commercial satellite capabilities for defense missions.
New Pepwave 5G Dongle Brings Ethernet-Over-USB 5G to Peplink Routers and Laptops
Peplink is launching the Pepwave 5G Dongle, a compact USB‑C modem that delivers Ethernet‑over‑USB 5G connectivity for its routers and laptops. Built on a Qualcomm X62 chipset, the device supports dual physical nano‑SIM slots, dual eSIMs and a wide range of sub‑6 GHz 5G/LTE...
Skynopy and Safran Space Win the SkyConnect Kenya Project to Digitize and Accelerate the Commercialization of an Antenna in Kenya
Skynopy, backed by French Ministry funding, secured the SkyConnect Kenya project to digitize the Kenya Space Agency's 4.5‑meter S/X‑Band antenna. Partnering with Safran Space, the duo will install Skynopy’s Ground Station Stack and Safran’s virtualized Nuron equipment, linking the antenna...
Mobile Networks Face New Cellular UAV Exploitation Risks
Operation Spiderweb in June 2025 demonstrated how Ukrainian forces hijacked Russian mobile networks to control and stream data from drones, disabling about 20 aircraft. The incident exposed a growing vulnerability as 4G/5G standards now embed native drone support, allowing off‑the‑shelf...
Taara Unveils Taara Photonics and Taara Beam
Taara, a spin‑out from Google’s X lab, unveiled Taara Photonics—the world’s first wireless communication platform built on an optical phased‑array integrated circuit—and its inaugural product, Taara Beam. The beam‑sized device delivers up to 25 Gbps at low latency across distances of...
AT&T Crowned America’s Best and Fastest Internet
Congratulations to AT&T ! AT&T Named America's Best and Fastest Internet https://t.co/NXz01krvnP @jeffkagan #jeffkagan @att @attnews @attbusiness @verizon @verizonbusiness @verizonnews @tmobile @tmobilebusiness @tmobilenews #broadband #internet #industryanalyst #ictindustryanalyst #ai #aianalyst #aiindustryanalyst #analyst #analysts #wirelessanalyst #telecomanalyst #wirelessindustryanalyst #telecomindustryanalyst #tech #technology #techanalyst #technologyanalyst...
47. Everyone Talks About Integrated Sensing and Communications
In this episode of Wireless Future, Erik Larsson and Emil Björnsson explore Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) as a key pillar of 6G. They define ISAC as the fusion of radar‑type environmental sensing with traditional cellular communication, outlining four integration...
How to Switch From Cable to Fibre Internet
Cable internet’s coaxial architecture limits speed, upload rates, and reliability, prompting many households to consider fibre upgrades. Fibre‑to‑the‑home (FTTH) delivers symmetric gigabit speeds, lower latency, and a dedicated connection that isn’t throttled by neighborhood traffic. Providers such as i3 Broadband,...
Compound Semiconductors Enter a New Growth Phrase Powered by AI & Electrification
Yole Group released its 2026 status report on compound semiconductors, projecting the combined substrate and open‑epiwafer market to surpass $5 billion by 2031 with a ~14 % CAGR. The analysis highlights strong demand from electrification, AI infrastructure, and next‑generation connectivity, with SiC...
Socionext and Innatera Introduce Integrated 60 GHz FMCW Radar and Neuromorphic Edge AI for Human Presence Detection
Socionext and Innatera unveiled a joint human‑presence detection solution that merges Socionext’s compact 60 GHz FMCW radar with Innatera’s ultra‑low‑power spiking neural processor. The system delivers over 99 % detection accuracy, even for stationary individuals, while consuming sub‑milliwatt power, extending battery life...
Qualcomm's Rack‑Level AI
I am incredibly excited to see the first shipment of @Qualcomm’s rack‑level AI hardware and software solutions arrive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for deployment at @HUMAIN data centers. This marks a major milestone for our data center business,...
Starlink Monopoly Will Dominate Residential Broadband Future
Enjoyed my panel today during the opening session at #RTIME2026 here in Orlando. My message: Elon Musk doesn't care about your economics. And in 5 years time, your biggest issue will be what to do about Starlink's monopoly in residential...
Rohde & Schwarz and Broadcom Showcase First Wi-Fi 8 RF Signaling Tests, Paving Way for Next-Gen Connectivity
Rohde & Schwarz and Broadcom are unveiling the first public Wi‑Fi 8 RF signaling tests at MWC Barcelona 2026 using the CMX500 multi‑technology tester. The demo validates a Broadcom prototype and showcases Wi‑Fi 8’s new PHY/MAC features such as distributed resource units, unequal modulation and...
My Prediction of Ergen's Bid Stunned AT&T Insiders
Fun chat today with someone who was in the AT&T bidding room for Auction 97 (AWS-3) and told me how astonished they were that I'd figured out Ergen's bidding strategy and blogged about it. Apparently AT&T's CEO didn't believe it......
Kinetic Tokens: Key to Future 6G Networks
Exclusive: T-Mobile’s John Saw explains kinetic tokens and why they matter in #6G @TMobile 🖇️ https://t.co/mGCxser6lP 🖇️ https://t.co/HPULmUhbqx
Broadband Usage in 4Q 2025
OpenVault’s Q4 2025 Broadband Insights Report shows U.S. households downloaded an average 59 GB more and uploaded 10 GB more per month than a year earlier. Upload growth outpaced downloads, driven by video calls, cloud backup and IoT traffic. Fiber subscribers uploaded 93 GB...
Billing Clarity Matters More than Critics Assume
Billing clarity matters more than the critics think (and less than we said): https://t.co/GcbgKY1dNW @Light_Reading https://t.co/GcbgKY1dNW
30 Years Later: Telecomm Act's Enduring Impact
Join @publicknowledge & @HowardUCOMM tomorrow (2/24)to celebrate 30th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996! @RepMcClellan, policy advocates & academics explore the lasting legacy of this cornerstone of communication policy. RSVP https://t.co/to98DpEh9L
GSMA Launches Innovation Fund to Accelerate Green Transition Through Mobile Technology
The GSMA has launched a global Innovation Fund offering £100,000‑£200,000 grants to small and growing enterprises that use mobile and digital technologies to accelerate the green transition in low‑ and middle‑income countries. The fund targets solutions that expand clean‑energy access,...
Data Centers Anchor Community Fiber Deployments
The idea of data centers as anchor tenants for fiber in communities is a good one.
Communities Should Require Data Centers to Provide Affordable Internet
More communities should be demanding benefits from companies in return for permitting data centers to be built. For example - connect every resident with affordable Internet access?
Marvell Aims to Localise Global Semiconductor Solutions for India: Navin Bishnoi
Marvell Technology is localising its global semiconductor portfolio for the Indian market, establishing R&D centres in Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad. The company is collaborating with Indian academia—IITs, NITs and IIITs—to build a talent pipeline and shape semiconductor curricula. Marvell’s data‑centre...
Telecom Transparency Declines as Carriers Conceal Key Data
Telecom disclosure is going backwards. One carrier finally showed the real numbers, another is hiding the ones that matter. 🧵📊
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Leaked Ahead of Launch
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra 5G design was leaked ahead of the company’s Unpacked event scheduled for February 25, 2026. The leak, posted by YouTuber Sahi Karoul, shows a high‑end device priced at AED 12,000 (approximately Rs 296,000) before official release. The...
Du and Federal Youth Authority Power Next-Gen Talent for Digital Economy Success
du concluded its Youth Council Retreat 2026, bringing together the telecom’s youth representatives, senior executives and the Federal Youth Authority. A fireside chat between CEO Fahad Al Hassawi and Chief People & Impact Officer Fatema Al Afeefi gave emerging talent...
Centre Approves ₹2,432 Crore to Implement Amended BharatNet Programme in Andhra Pradesh
The Indian government has approved ₹2,432 crore to fund the Amended BharatNet programme in Andhra Pradesh. The scheme, managed by the newly formed Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (APBIL), will upgrade 13,426 gram panchayats to a ring‑topology optical fiber network and...
Telecom Review Gears Up for a Strategic Presence at MWC 2026
Telecom Review announced a strategic presence at Mobile World Congress 2026, exhibiting in Hall 3, Stand 3O52MR, and delivering daily digital coverage of the event’s technology rollouts. The editorial team will produce on‑site reporting, executive interviews, and exclusive insights from keynotes and...
Telefónica, Mavenir Partner to Drive AI Innovation in Telecom
Telefónica and Mavenir have signed an MOU to launch an AI Innovation Hub that will serve as a live testbed for autonomous core network technologies. The hub will enable development and validation of AI‑driven orchestration, intent‑based services, and monetization frameworks...
Netlab: The Caveats of Using Startup Configurations
Petr Ankudinov warns against relying on containerlab's startup‑config option for netlab deployments. While containerlab can apply partial startup configurations to most devices, it only supports complete startup files for Arista cEOS, forcing netlab to duplicate initial device setup. Errors in...
Tata Communications, RailTel Join Hands to Develop AI-Ready Digital Infrastructure
Tata Communications has teamed up with state‑run RailTel to build AI‑ready digital infrastructure for India and global markets. The partnership will modernise RailTel’s 63,000 km optical‑fiber network, add AI‑enabled platforms, and strengthen cyber protection and sovereign cloud capabilities for sensitive workloads....
Finland Leverages 6G Prowess as National Defence Network Goes Nationwide
The episode explores Finland’s rollout of the DEFINE Network, a nationwide defense innovation framework that links civilian 6G research with military applications. Central to this effort is the University of Oulu’s 6G Test Center, which provides rare radio‑frequency testing facilities...
This Week: It’s Not Complicated More Transparency Is Better. AT&T vs T-Mobile
Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner dissect recent reporting changes at AT&T and T‑Mobile, highlighting AT&T's more granular churn disclosures and T‑Mobile's move to account‑level churn reporting. They argue that while the optics of these metrics have shifted, the underlying...
Reflections on a Transforming Interconnection Ecosystem
Flavio Luciani and John Souter’s new analysis shows the global peering market is not contracting but evolving. While mature regions exhibit modest dips in ASN counts, overall IXP capacity continues to rise, driven by traffic consolidation and the growth of...
DoT Asks Noida International Airport to Allow Telcos to Set up Infrastructure
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has formally instructed the upcoming Noida International Airport to treat telecom operators as entitled to in‑building network installations under the Telecommunications Act, mirroring a similar dispute at Navi Mumbai airport. The clarification follows a request from...
SKT 6G ATHENA White Paper: A Mid-to-Long Term Network Evolution Strategy for the AI Era
SK Telecom released the ATHENA white paper outlining its mid‑to‑long‑term strategy for a 6G network that is AI‑native, Zero‑Trust, and open. The framework, encapsulated by the ATHENA acronym, maps out how AI will be embedded across radio, core, transport and...
Jeff Kagan Identifies Next Major AI Growth Opportunity
Industry Analyst Jeff Kagan Advises CEOs and CMOs on Next Major AI Growth Opportunity Jeff Kagan has been described as the most widely quoted analyst in telecom industry https://t.co/lTKt7DdLSt via @ein_news @jeffkagan #jeffkagan #industryanalyst #ictindustryanalyst #ai #aianalyst #aiindustryanalyst #analyst #analysts #wirelessanalyst...
G2 on 5G Relaunched as The 6G Podcast
We have rebooted the G2 on 5G as The 6G Podcast with the help of Ookla's Mike Dano. Our first episode may be one of the longest (45 minutes) I have ever recorded in the 5 years of doing these...
The 6G Podcast - Microsoft-Ericsson Windows Integration, Kinetic Tokens Explained, 5G SA Battery Improvements, T-Mobile's Nvidia Partnership, Samsung's 6G Trials,...
In this episode, Anshal Saad and new co‑host Mike Dano discuss the winding down of the 5G Americas trade group as a signal that the industry is moving beyond the 5G lull toward 6G. They highlight Samsung and Korea Telecom's...
Orange Marine Orders Two Cable Laying Vessels
Norwegian shipbuilder VARD has received an order from France’s Orange Marine for two additional cable‑laying and repair vessels based on the VARD 9‑03 design. The ships will be constructed at Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka and follow the same specifications as...
Ericsson Goes with Custom Silicon (Rather than Nvidia GPUs) for AI RAN
Ahead of MWC Barcelona 2026 Ericsson unveiled its AI‑RAN portfolio, opting for purpose‑built ASIC silicon instead of Nvidia GPUs and confirming Intel as its only commercial silicon partner. The company highlighted a software‑defined approach that uses hardware abstraction layers to...
Hedge 296: AS-SETs
AS-SETs were created to simplify eBGP route filtering by aggregating multiple AS numbers into a single identifier. In practice, manual maintenance and nested definitions have led to misconfigurations, routing leaks, and security concerns. Experts Job Snijders and Doug Madory discuss...
Lightpath’s Revenue Rises 35 Percent on Strong Hyperscaler, Enterprise Customer Wins
Lightpath, the wholesale arm of Optimum, posted $468 million in 2025 revenue, a 13% year‑over‑year increase driven by strong hyperscaler and enterprise demand. AI‑driven contract value jumped 40% to $362 million, while hyperscaler total contract value surged 240% to $252 million. The company’s...
Canalink Plans El Hierro Submarine Cable
Canalink, the public telecom operator of Tenerife, has applied for permits to land a submarine fibre‑optic cable on El Hierro, extending its Base 6 network that will link Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma over roughly 328 km. The cable is designed to deliver...
Unintended Consequences
EchoStar exited the facility‑based cellular market after FCC pressure to monetize its spectrum, selling valuable bands to Starlink and AT&T while walking away from thousands of tower lease payments. The lease abandonment has prompted tower owners to seek FCC intervention,...
Weekly Wrap: Why I Think Indefinite Spectrum Licences Are a Bad Idea
The European Commission’s Digital Networks Act proposes spectrum licences of up to 40 years, or even indefinite duration, a sharp increase from the current 15‑25‑year norm. Mobile operators back the change, arguing it offers long‑term certainty for investment. Critics contend...
Public Videos: EVPN in MPLS-Based Environments
The article announces that Krzysztof Szarkowicz’s presentation on EVPN in MPLS‑based environments is now publicly available as part of the EVPN Technical Deep Dive webinar series. While EVPN is often discussed alongside VXLAN, its original purpose was to serve as...
T‑Mobile CTO Unveils 6G Vision with Physical AI
Enjoyed the conversation with T-Mobile CTO John Saw about 6G and AI in the network, including kinetic tokens a new and interesting term for physical AI. https://moorinsightsstrategy.com/research-notes/t-mobile-cto-touts-physical-ai-explains-6g-ai-ran-efforts-with-nvidia/
Voice Is Nothing But an App
The author filed FCC comments urging the agency to drop Title II regulation for voice services and reclassify them as Title I information services. He argues that traditional copper‑based POTS is obsolete and that today’s voice is delivered by a myriad of...
The Big Fat WLPC 2026 Post-Event Blog
The Wireless LAN Professionals Conference (WLPC) in Phoenix served as the year’s focal point for WLAN engineers, vendors, and thought leaders. The author’s session “Go Open or Go Home” earned the Golden Yagi Award, highlighting community enthusiasm for open‑source advocacy....
NMSurf Launches 1 Gbps Symmetrical Fixed Wireless in Budaghers
NMSurf has introduced a 1 Gbps symmetrical fixed‑wireless broadband service in Budaghers, New Mexico, targeting up to 50 locations. The gigabit download and upload speeds aim to support remote work, online education, telehealth, and high‑definition streaming without laying fiber. By using...