Can Iran Control Internet Cables in the Gulf?
Iran has announced plans to assert control over subsea data cables in the Persian Gulf and to levy fees on any traffic that transits the region. The move mirrors Tehran’s broader push to dominate the Strait of Hormuz and threatens the existing undersea infrastructure that connects Gulf states to global networks. Because most Arab Gulf nations rely on a single cable corridor that passes through Iranian waters, they face heightened risk of disruption or blackmail. Analysts warn that the pressure could accelerate a shift toward satellite providers such as Starlink.
Weekly Wrap Special: Experts Question Digital Networks Act’s Perpetual License Proposal
The European Commission’s Digital Networks Act (DNA) proposes default unlimited radio‑spectrum licences, subject only to periodic reviews. Telecom policy experts at a PolicyTracker webinar criticised the perpetual‑licence model, arguing it could entrench oligopolies and hinder market entry. They suggested tying...
Sunsetting the High Cost Fund
SpaceX has filed comments with the FCC urging the agency to sunset the Universal Service Fund’s High‑Cost component, a program that spends roughly $4.5 billion annually on rural broadband and voice subsidies. The fund supports six Connect America mechanisms, the Rural Digital...
Aviat Intros Upgraded IP Transport and Long-Haul Backhaul Products with Pasolink
Telecom equipment maker Aviat Networks unveiled an upgraded IP transport solution called Pasolink VR, extending capacity on its IRU600 indoor and ODU600 outdoor microwave radios. The new platform incorporates technology from Aviat’s acquisition of NEC’s Pasolink brand and adds long‑haul indoor...
Turkmentelecom Expands Public Wi-Fi Network
Turkmentelecom, Turkmenistan’s state telecom operator, is extending its public Wi‑Fi service, TelecomWi‑Fi, to cover the entire country. The network already operates in Ashgabat, Arkadag and now reaches airports, railway and bus stations, parks, hotels, and commercial centers nationwide. By deploying...
Beeline Russia Expands 5G Testing to More Regions
Russian telecom operator Beeline has broadened its 5G testing footprint, launching services in the Vladimir, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Samara, Ryazan, Tambov, Tula, Stavropol regions, the Republic of Ingushetia and the city of Tolyatti. This follows earlier May trials in Moscow, St Petersburg,...
VodafoneThree Completes Core and Radio Access Network Integration
VodafoneThree has completed the integration of Vodafone and Three's 4G and 5G networks, delivering a world‑first upgrade that merges core‑level and radio‑access sharing across multiple vendors. The combined Multi‑Operator Core Network (MOCN) and Multi‑Operator Radio Access Network (MORAN) architecture lets...
Welsh Based Mobile Firm Applies for Code Powers for 5G FWA Network
Clear Mobitel, a Welsh MVNO, has filed an Ofcom request for code powers to launch a 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network across Wales. The plan relies on shared 1800 MHz and 3.8‑4.2 GHz spectrum granted in 2021, combined with a cloud‑native...
6G Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and Weather Data Supporting Autonomous Traffic
The University of Oulu and the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s 6G Visible project merged 6G networking, artificial intelligence and high‑resolution weather data to create services for autonomous traffic. Researchers built a hybrid intelligent autonomous driving system (HI‑ADS) that fuses vehicle sensors...
SpaceX Starlink Gets Its Latest Airline Adoptee, Grabbing Three of the ‘Big Four’
SpaceX’s Starlink will be installed on more than 500 American Airlines narrow‑body jets, starting in the first quarter of 2027. The rollout brings Starlink’s satellite internet to three of the U.S. "Big Four" carriers—American, United and Southwest—solidifying its dominance in...
Beeline Upgrades Network at New Leningrad Station in Moscow
Russian mobile operator Beeline has upgraded the indoor network at Moscow’s Leningrad train station, installing infrastructure that is ready for 5G services. The upgrade aims to improve mobile connectivity for the station’s high foot‑traffic environment. Beeline also announced plans to...
Wingo Introduces New Tariffs with Roaming as Part of Brand Refresh
Wingo, Swisscom’s low‑cost flanker brand, has launched a new suite of mobile subscriptions that now include data roaming. The refreshed portfolio positions Wingo as a full‑service provider of mobile, broadband and TV, expanding beyond its traditional prepaid focus. Visually, the...
Telefonica Germany to Provide 5G to over 100 Events This Year
Telefonica Germany announced it will extend enhanced 5G coverage to more than 100 festivals, fairs, sports events and large gatherings in 2024, marking a 25% year‑on‑year increase. The rollout begins with the Rock am Ring festival on June 5‑7, where the carrier will...
CityFibre Contracts for Project Gigabit Rescoped Due to Increased Commercial Rollouts
CityFibre’s Project Gigabit contracts have been rescoped, leaving the firm responsible for delivering full‑fibre to 226,000 premises under subsidy, including 70,000 already completed. The company reports having built infrastructure for 150,000 hard‑to‑reach premises – 80,000 commercial and 70,000 subsidised –...
Researchers From the University of Oulu and the University of Tokyo Demonstrate Drone-Mounted 5G Base Station for Emergency Communications
Researchers from the University of Oulu and the University of Tokyo have successfully demonstrated a drone equipped with a compact 5G base station and satellite backhaul, delivering stable mobile coverage in a controlled test environment. The proof‑of‑concept was carried out...