Analysis: Amazon
Amazon announced an $11.57 billion acquisition of Globalstar, securing valuable L‑band mobile‑satellite spectrum. The deal bolsters Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which plans to launch about 3,200 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites by 2029, with half the constellation operational by July. Globalstar’s Direct‑to‑Device (D2D) technology will enable Amazon Leo to offer low‑bandwidth, high‑reliability connectivity for IoT, emergency services and Apple devices, targeting commercial rollout in 2028. FCC approval and other regulatory steps are expected to push closing to 2025.
T-Mobile US Announces New Nationwide National Parks Initiative
T‑Mobile US and the National Park Foundation have launched a nationwide “Do Not Disturb Season” to encourage Americans to unplug and explore national parks. The program leverages T‑Mobile’s 5G network and its T‑Satellite service, which uses Starlink connectivity, to keep...
Boldyn Installs New Wi-Fi 7 Network for Hollywood Bowl
Boldyn Networks has rolled out a Wi‑Fi 7 infrastructure at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl, replacing the venue's legacy wireless system. The high‑capacity network delivers faster, more reliable connectivity for staff, performers, and patrons throughout the arena. It enables mobile ticket scanning...
Mobiuz Offers Annual Fixed-Wireless Plan with Unlimited Data, 5G Router
Uzbek telecom operator Mobiuz has rolled out a new annual fixed‑wireless service called Mobi Home. For a one‑time connection fee of UZS 1.190 million (about $104), customers receive unlimited data for a full year. The offering bundles a ZTE G5C router that supports...
5G-Advanced Deployment Tracker Added to PolicyTracker Spectrum Research Service
PolicyTracker has launched a 5G‑Advanced deployment tracker as part of its Spectrum Research Service. The tool maps global and regional progress of mobile operators moving from trials to commercial roll‑out of 5G‑Advanced (Release 18) and later releases. It includes an overview...
LMT's Security System Blocks over 2 Mln Spam Calls in First 2 Months
Latvian telecom operator LMT reported that its Call Firewall solution blocked more than 2.3 million spam calls in the first two months since rollout. The system, part of a broader industry initiative to curb fraudulent calls, saw a sharp spike in...
Ooredoo Oman Wins Award for Best 5G Gaming Experience
Ooredoo Oman was awarded Ookla’s Speedtest Award for the Best 5G Gaming Experience in Oman for Q3‑Q4 2025. The accolade is based on analysis of more than 76,000 Speedtest results from over 15,000 local users. Metrics such as latency and jitter...
Lidl Retail MVNO: A 50 Million Subscribers Play?
Schwarz Group, the owner of Lidl, has poured $80 million into a near‑10 % stake in eSIM platform 1Global, aiming to expand its Lidl Connect mobile virtual network operator across 30 European markets. The retailer plans to leverage its 150 million unique store...
Asiacell and Al-Nahrain University Open 5G Lab
Iraqi mobile operator Asiacell has teamed with Al‑Nahrain University to launch Iraq’s first 5G laboratory, located in the university’s College of Information Engineering. The project is funded by the Communications and Media Commission, marking the country’s inaugural real‑world 5G test...
Amazon Reaches Definitive Merger Deal with Globalstar with Support for Apple Devices
Amazon announced a definitive agreement to acquire Globalstar at $90 per share, a roughly 23% premium over the stock’s recent close of $72.89. The deal will integrate Globalstar’s low‑Earth‑orbit satellite network with Amazon Leo, enabling direct‑to‑device (D2D) services. Amazon also secured...
Leftover Copper Customers
T‑Mobile is weighing a purchase of UNITI’s fiber assets, which include former Windstream lines, leaving the legacy copper customers behind. Lumen previously sold its fiber subscriber base to AT&T while retaining its copper‑based services, citing ongoing cash flow. The FCC...
Auckland International Airport Picks Spark as Telecommunications Partner
Spark has secured an exclusive partnership to operate telecommunications stores in the duty‑free precinct of Auckland International Airport, giving it the sole provider status in the arrivals area. The deal places Spark in front of roughly 4.9 million international travelers each...
Openreach Take on North Shropshire and West Herefordshire Project Gigabit Contracts
Building Digital UK (BDUK) announced that Openreach will step in as the replacement provider for two Project Gigabit contracts after the original network builders withdrew. In North Shropshire, Openreach inherits a £24 million (≈$30.7 million) contract to connect 8,500 premises, while in...
EXCLUSIVE April 2026 Update on Openreach Full-Fibre Roll-Out
Openreach reported a record‑breaking rollout in April 2026, adding 608,354 new FTTP premises and averaging 19,634 connections per day. The cumulative footprint reached 22,360,468 premises as of 12 April, positioning the network to achieve roughly 25 million ready‑for‑service locations by October‑November 2026....
Telefónica Germany Pushes IoT Beyond Terrestrial Limits
Telefónica Germany announced the integration of narrowband satellite links into its 5G IoT portfolio, positioning satellite as a natural extension rather than a threat. The hybrid connectivity model lets devices switch between cellular and satellite networks to cover gaps in...
Japan Airlines Taps SES to Expand Multi-Orbit Inflight Connectivity
Japan Airlines has partnered with satellite operator SES to equip its long‑haul fleet with multi‑orbit inflight connectivity. The deal covers 20 Airbus A350‑900s, 10 Boeing 787‑9s in line‑fit and 11 787‑9s as retrofits, with installations slated to begin in 2027‑2028....
MachTen: A Mispriced Rural Fiber Infrastructure Play
MachTen Inc. (OTC:MACT) recently acquired AT&T’s wireline assets in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, expanding its network by thousands of miles. The company is executing a $100 million fiber build‑out in northern Michigan, with roughly 75% of the cost covered by federal subsidies...
Supreme Court Revives Grande ISP Copyright Fight for Fresh Fifth Circuit Review
The U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Fifth Circuit’s ruling that upheld a copyright verdict against Grande Communications and remanded the case for reconsideration under a newly‑narrowed liability framework. The high court’s action follows its recent decision that limits when internet...
TTK Reports Wi-Fi Traffic up 78% at Train Stations in Q1
Russian telecom operator TTK reported that public Wi‑Fi traffic in railway stations surged 78% year‑on‑year in Q1, reaching 1,717 TB of data. The networks, operated in partnership with Russian Railways since 2015, are seeing unprecedented usage as travelers increasingly rely on...
Austria Raises EUR 39 Mln in Auction of 2.3, 2.6 GHz Bands
Austria’s telecom regulator RTR auctioned 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum, raising €39.41 million (about $43 million). A1 bought 50 MHz for €11.01 million, Magenta Telekom secured 100 MHz for €13.18 million, and Hutchison Drei acquired another 100 MHz for €15.21 million. The proceeds bolster the regulator’s fund and signal strong demand...
Beltelecom Offers Business Wi-Fi Packages
Beltelecom, Belarus’s state‑owned telecom operator, has launched a new business‑focused Wi‑Fi tariff line. The offering lets companies create branded Wi‑Fi networks with a custom SSID while Beltelecom handles equipment deployment and technical support. Three plans provide varying authentication and usage...
Spanish Mobile Users Port 523K Lines in February, Led by Digi and Movistar
In February 2026, Spain saw 523,520 mobile numbers switched between carriers, a 2.8% year‑on‑year rise. The surge was driven primarily by Digi and Movistar, which together accounted for the bulk of the activity. Active mobile lines climbed to 62.5 million, adding...
Ofcom Launches Consultation on 6GHz Spectrum Sharing
Ofcom has opened a consultation to expand mobile use of the upper 6 GHz band in 88 high‑density areas while preserving Wi‑Fi priority in the lower 160 MHz. The proposal splits the spectrum, giving Wi‑Fi priority from 6425‑6585 MHz and mobile priority from...
Ooredoo Qatar Launches New Family Mobile Plans
Ooredoo Qatar has rolled out a new family‑oriented mobile offering that consolidates multiple lines under a single account and bill. The plans provide unlimited local calls among family members and allow customers to designate a home region or country for...
10 Cases for 5G Uplink Monetization
The author revisits the long‑standing promise of 5G uplink revenue and argues that, despite a flood of whitepapers, real‑world monetization remains scarce. He outlines ten concrete use‑cases—ranging from edge AI data ingestion to private‑network slicing—that can finally turn uplink capacity...
STC Bahrain Provides Frontline Workers with 100 GB Data
STC Bahrain launched a national initiative that grants frontline personnel a 100 GB data allowance. The program targets the Bahrain Defence Force, Ministry of Interior, National Guard and Ministry of Health, acknowledging their critical work. By expanding data access, STC aims...
Telecoms Consumer Charter — Sky Broadband Change Calls Into Question What Exactly Is the Point?
Sky Broadband has replaced its explicit £3‑per‑month price rise (about $3.80) with a vague "price may change" clause, testing the limits of the government‑backed Telecoms Consumer Charter. The voluntary charter, signed by major operators, promises consumers certainty and bans unexpected...
CESNET, Ribbon Achieve PoC in Quantum-Secured Optical Networking
Ribbon Communications announced the successful completion of a quantum key distribution (QKD) proof‑of‑concept with CESNET, the Czech Republic’s national academic network. The test used Ribbon’s Apollo optical platform to deliver Layer‑1 encryption with virtually zero latency, proving quantum‑secured transmission can...
US Mobile’s New Bundle Combines Its Multi-Network Mobile Service with Starlink Residential Internet
US Mobile announced a partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to bundle its prepaid, multi‑network cellular service with Starlink residential internet. The offering combines unlimited mobile plans that switch automatically among AT&T, Verizon and T‑Mobile with uncapped Starlink broadband, all managed through...
I Read 24 Papers. The Press Releases Were Lying. Why Samsung, NVIDIA, Broadcom, and Meta Were All at the Same...
A deep dive of all 24 papers presented at OFC 2026 reveals that optics, not GPUs, is becoming the next performance bottleneck for AI data centers. The analysis uncovers five technology fronts—silicon‑photonic foundries, co‑packaged optics (CPO), advanced glass packaging, high‑speed...
Is 6G ISAC Dead on Arrival?
The telecom industry is positioning Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) as the flagship use case for 6G, essentially turning cellular base stations into radar sensors. Critics argue that radar technology is already a 120‑year‑old, mature field operating in the 8‑81 GHz...
2026 SHTF COMMS PART 2: HANDHELD SURVIVAL RADIOS – KNOW FIRST, MOVE FIRST
The article reviews the latest handheld survival radios, highlighting hybrid LTE/4G/Wi‑Fi models, Intel‑powered units, traditional GMRS and CB devices, and scanner options. It stresses the importance of backup power solutions such as high‑capacity batteries and solar chargers. The piece is...
SpaceX Will Have Static Fire Testing of All 33 Engines
SpaceX announced that it will conduct static‑fire testing of all 33 Raptor engines slated for its Starship launch system. The tests are a key milestone before the vehicle’s high‑frequency launch schedule, which Musk envisions as 100‑plus times the annual cadence...
Nokia’s AI Applications Study: “Physical AI” May Require RAN Redesign to Support High‑volume, Low‑latency Uplink Traffic
Nokia’s recent study of more than 50 AI applications highlights a surge in uplink‑heavy, low‑latency traffic driven by emerging "Physical AI" use cases such as autonomous vehicles and industrial robots. The report finds that delivering sub‑20 ms latency for high‑definition video...
"Catch Me If You Can": DT Using AI to Kill Deepfakes
Telecom voice networks are being overrun by fraud, with more than half of global calls now deepfakes, scams or extortion attempts, and the rate exceeds 60% in Mexico. This crisis has driven users to ignore unknown calls and rely on...
Fiber Monitoring | ProRail Selects Adtran to Strengthen Nationwide Rail Network
ProRail, the Dutch railway operator, has deployed Adtran’s ALM in‑service fiber monitoring solution across its 4,600 km backbone. The 16‑port system provides real‑time visibility into fiber health, alerting operators to breaks, degradation and abnormal attenuation. Implemented with TrueCom, the solution integrates...
Weekly Brief – 10/04/2025
Openreach has rolled out half a million Zyxel‑manufactured optical network terminals (ONTs) built from 95% recycled plastic and shipped in zero‑plastic packaging, marking a major step toward greener broadband infrastructure. In the UK, BT continues to address a fault on...
KDDI and Okinawa Cellular's Au Starlink Direct Now Supports iPhones in US
KDDI and Okinawa Cellular have upgraded their au Starlink Direct service to work with 22 iPhone models, spanning the iPhone 13 through iPhone 17 line‑ups and the iPhone Air. The service delivers direct satellite‑to‑smartphone connectivity for customers roaming in the United States, bypassing traditional cellular...
Weekly Wrap: The Fight over MSS Spectrum Is in Full Swing
Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire Globalstar in a deal valued around $9 billion. Globalstar holds valuable mobile‑satellite service spectrum in the L/S‑band and, more critically, Band 53/n53 (2483.5‑2495 MHz) licensed in 11 countries, which Amazon could integrate into its Leo network...
One Starlink MVNO to Conquer All
US Mobile has become the first mobile‑virtual network operator to bundle residential Starlink satellite internet with a cellular plan. The offering gives subscribers a single subscription that provides broadband via Starlink and phone service that automatically switches among Verizon, AT&T...
North Lanarkshire Council Seeking Provider for Full-Fibre Rollout to Social Housing
North Lanarkshire Council has launched an expression of interest for a broadband partner to deliver a full‑fibre rollout across its social‑housing portfolio. The programme, valued at £40 million (approximately $51 million), aims to provide 1 Gbps‑capable service to roughly 36,000 properties. The council...
Russian Telecom Tower and Antenna Count Rises 9% in 2025
Russia’s telecom infrastructure expanded by 9% in 2025, with towers and antennas rising from 114,400 to 125,200 units, according to TelecomDaily. The growth was led by Pilar, which added 22% to its portfolio and now operates 35,500 towers. New Towers...
Global Cellular IoT Antenna Shipments to Record 8% CAGR Through End-2030 - Berg Insight
Berg Insight forecasts global cellular IoT antenna shipments to reach 1.1 billion units by 2030, reflecting a 7.9% compound annual growth rate. Shipments already climbed to 757 million units in fiscal year 2025, up 23% from the prior year. The research spans...
Hydrogen Generators
Hydrogen fuel‑cell generators are beginning to replace diesel backup units at telecom sites, offering silent, heat‑free, zero‑emission power. Diesel generators, common at data centers and remote cabinets, generate loud noise—up to 110 decibels—and oily smoke, especially in cold weather. Early...
Telia Norway Stops over 8 Mln Scam Calls to Mobile Lines in Q1
Telia Norway reported that it blocked 8.4 million fraudulent calls from reaching mobile users in Q1 2026, potentially preventing roughly NOK 250 million (about $27.5 million) in losses. The telecom operator highlighted a surge in targeted SMS‑based attacks known as spearfishing, which aim at extracting...
OpenMind Eases 5G Standalone Messaging Upgrades with Launch of 5G SMS Module
OpenMind Networks announced the general availability of its 5G SMS Function (SMSF) module, a software component that streamlines upgrades to 5G Standalone (SA) signaling protocols. The SMSF integrates directly with OpenMind’s OpenCore Short Message Service Centre (SMSC), which runs on...
Claro Peru 5G Network Reaches 110 Districts
Claro Peru, part of América Móvil, announced its 5G network now covers 110 districts nationwide after a year‑long activation. The rollout brings ultra‑fast mobile connectivity to major hubs such as Lima, Callao, Arequipa and secondary markets like Puno and Abancay. By...
RINA Wireless Taps Mavenir to Bring Crystal-Clear Voice to Rural America
RINA Wireless has selected Mavenir to replace its legacy voice core with a cloud‑native, containerized solution that supports IMS, VoLTE, VoWiFi and voicemail. The new multi‑vendor deployment runs on Mavenir’s 4G/5G non‑standalone packet core, extending a relationship that began with...
SpaceX Revenue Will Be Close to Around $27-30 Billion in 2026
SpaceX’s Starlink service is slated to generate roughly $20 billion in 2025, nearly doubling its 2024 earnings of $11.8 billion. Subscriber acquisition is accelerating from 750,000 to 1.5 million new users each month, reshaping the company’s revenue mix. The airline and maritime segments...
Connecting the Pacific: Infrastructure, Operations, and Regional Cooperation
The Pacific region is witnessing incremental but meaningful upgrades to its Internet ecosystem, highlighted by new submarine‑cable projects such as Google’s Bulikula system, the VAKA cable to Tuvalu, and upcoming Hawaiki Nui 1 and Adamasia cables. Local Internet Exchange Points are slowly...
