Mobily Prepares Hajj Connectivity with AI Capabilities and Expanded 5G
Saudi telecom operator Mobily, together with Ericsson, is upgrading its 5G network and adding artificial‑intelligence‑driven optimization to support the Hajj 2026 pilgrimage. The partnership, celebrating 20 years of collaboration, expands capacity and coverage in the Mashaer corridor, a critical route for pilgrims in Makkah. AI tools will monitor performance and automate network adjustments throughout the season, aiming for uninterrupted mobile service. The initiative underscores Saudi Arabia’s push to modernise digital infrastructure for massive, time‑sensitive events.
Helium Mobile Ending Free Plan – Make A Change Or Be Charged $15 Per Month
Helium Mobile announced it will sunset its Zero Plan, the free wireless service that attracted thousands of users, effective June 11, 2026. Existing Zero Plan subscribers who take no action will be automatically moved to the paid Air Plan at $15 per...
Viasat Demos D2D Services in Uzbekistan at GSMA Event
Viasat demonstrated direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite messaging in Uzbekistan for the first time at the GSMA M360 Eurasia event. The trial used standard mobile handsets, proving that Viasat’s satellite can deliver 5G‑grade connectivity without a ground network. Viasat also outlined a...
BT Group Results for Year to End of 31st March 2026
BT Group posted FY26 revenue of £19.7 bn (≈$25 bn), down 3%, while profit after tax rose 2% to £1.08 bn (≈$1.37 bn). The company added 2.2 million full‑fibre connections, pushing Openreach’s footprint to over two‑thirds of UK premises and targeting 25 million by December 2026....
Dual-Stack SR-MPLS
The blog demonstrates a dual‑stack Segment Routing MPLS (SR‑MPLS) lab where node segment identifiers (SIDs) are assigned to both IPv4 and IPv6 loopback prefixes. Using the netlab tool, the three‑router topology configures IPv4 /32 and IPv6 /128 loopbacks, enabling IS‑IS...
Open Fibre Data Standard and the Visibility Gap in Network Resilience
The Open Fibre Data Standard (OFDS) proposes a unified, machine‑readable schema to map terrestrial fibre routes, nodes, and ownership, addressing the chronic visibility gap that hampered resilience assessments after New Zealand’s Cyclone Gabrielle. Discussions at NZNOG 2026 highlighted how fragmented, outdated maps prevent...
Beeline Russia Deploys Private LTE Network for Mining Company in Krasnoyarsk Region
Beeline Russia has rolled out a private LTE network for the Olimpiadinsky mining company in the Krasnoyarsk region. The deployment builds on existing infrastructure installed by Infinet Wireless and was executed together with IT firm Polius. The new network provides...
University of Oulu and NICT Held Third Joint 6G Workshop
Researchers from Finland’s University of Oulu, Japan’s NICT and three Japanese universities convened in Oulu on May 18‑19 for the third joint 6G workshop. The event highlighted progress on local 6G networks, AI‑driven software, quantum security and demonstrated a live...
Alleged Huawei Zero-Day Blamed for the 2025 Luxembourg Telecom Crash
A previously unknown vulnerability in Huawei enterprise routers caused Luxembourg's nationwide telecom outage on July 23, 2025. Attackers sent specially crafted traffic that forced the devices into continuous reboot loops, taking down landline, 4G, 5G and emergency services for over...
Telefonica Germany Migrates First Mobile Customers to Mavenir IMS on AWS
Telefonica Germany has begun moving its first 100,000 mobile subscribers to Mavenir's cloud‑native IMS hosted on Amazon Web Services. The migration marks the initial phase of a plan to shift several million customers to the new platform this year, with...
Megafon Upgrades 4G Network in Moscow Region
Russian telecom operator Megafon has upgraded its 4G LTE network across the Moscow region, installing new base stations and modernizing sites in 12 municipalities. The enhancements deliver broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps in cities such as Orekhovo‑Zuyevo, Sergiyev‑Posad, and...
What Is Wireless Home Internet and Why It Might Save You Money
Major U.S. carriers are rolling out 5G‑based wireless home internet plans priced from about $35 a month, eliminating the need for a technician‑installed modem. The service promises download‑focused speeds that can rival or exceed traditional cable in many markets, though...
NEC Constructs 2,250 Km EMCS Submarine Cable Linking Pacific Island Nations
NEC Corporation completed construction of the 2,250‑km East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS), linking Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia. The cable connects Tarawa, Nauru, Kosrae and Pohnpei, providing the first optical fiber link for Kosrae and Nauru, which...
This SoCal City Wants to Give Residents Free or Cheap Internet
Bellflower, a Southern California city, is teaming with BEC Technologies and local internet service providers to launch a city‑wide wireless network that will deliver a free basic tier and low‑cost premium options to residents. The initiative is financed through municipal...
Edotco Deploys BWA with Mobile-to-WiFi Connectivity in Malaysian Remote Community
Edotco has rolled out a broadband wireless access (BWA) solution with mobile‑to‑WiFi capability in the remote village of Uma Lesong, Sarawak, Malaysia. The deployment was executed alongside local partner Kejuruteraan Rasshin and technology providers VSD Communications and Aminia. The service converts...
Beeline Russia Upgrades Mobile Network in Moscow Region
Beeline announced a network expansion in the Moscow region, adding new base stations in Ramenskoye, Odintsovo and Dimitrov while upgrading existing sites in Elektrostal, Balashikha and Ramenskoye. The upgrades focus on enhancing 4G LTE capacity and modernising antenna infrastructure. Construction...
CBRS Comes of Age as a Shared Spectrum Success Story
CBRS has transitioned from a policy experiment to a mature shared‑spectrum ecosystem in the United States. Over 437,000 devices, more than 1,800 private networks, and 1,000 operators now use the 3.5 GHz band, backed by roughly $14 billion in investment. The recent...
FCC Approves Echostar ATT and SpaceX Deals
The FCC has approved two landmark spectrum transactions: EchoStar will sell roughly $24 billion of mid‑band spectrum to AT&T, and a $20 billion cash‑and‑stock deal will transfer a comparable block to SpaceX. Both approvals clear a major regulatory hurdle, enabling faster data...
EuNetworks Strengthens Super Highway Network with New Frankfurt-Strasbourg Route
euNetworks has launched a new 247‑km Super Highway fibre route linking Frankfurt and Strasbourg, expanding its long‑haul network across the FLAP‑D region. The line connects over 76 data centres in Frankfurt and integrates with more than 600 sites across Europe,...
Broadcom BCM67142, BCM67192, and BCM68565 Chips Target Low-Cost WiFi 8 10 Gbps Fiber Access Points
Broadcom unveiled three new chips aimed at low‑cost residential broadband: the BCM67142 and BCM67192 Wi‑Fi 8 (802.11bn) radio solutions and the BCM68565 system‑on‑chip that adds 10 Gbps fiber PON capability. The Wi‑Fi 8 chips support dual‑radio 3×3+4×4 and 4×4+4×4 spatial streams, 4096‑QAM, multi‑link...
Restart on Digital Discrimination Rules
On May 6, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated the FCC’s 2023 digital discrimination rules mandated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The court held the agency exceeded its authority by imposing a disparate‑impact test...
Hormuz Data Chokepoints and Iranian Threats Against Undersea Internet Cables
Iranian news agencies aligned with the IRGC have floated proposals to charge global tech firms for operating undersea fiber‑optic cables that cross the Strait of Hormuz. The plan leans on a selective reading of UNCLOS, arguing that the cables sit...
Canada’s Bill C-22 Is a Repackaged Version of Last Year’s Surveillance Nightmare
Canada’s Bill C-22, dubbed the Lawful Access Act, revives the failed Bill C‑2 by forcing digital services to retain a full year of metadata and expanding data‑sharing with foreign governments. The legislation authorises the Minister of Public Safety to demand...
Supreme Court Signals New Limits on FCC Administrative Fines
The U.S. Supreme Court signaled a willingness to limit the FCC’s ability to levy civil penalties through its own adjudicative process, suggesting that such fines may require a jury trial under the Seventh Amendment. The case, brought by telecom giants...
First 1,563 Premises in Northern Ireland Get Full Fibre From Project Gigabit Contract
Fibrus has secured a UK‑government‑backed Project Gigabit contract to deliver full‑fibre broadband to 9,333 rural and hard‑to‑reach premises in Northern Ireland. The first phase has connected 1,563 homes, allowing residents to upgrade from legacy 5 Mbps lines to speeds of 500 Mbps...
Zong Announces Partnership with Mashreq Bank Pakistan
Pakistani telecom provider Zong has entered a partnership with Mashreq Bank Pakistan to embed its telecom services within the bank’s digital platform. The integration will allow Mashreq’s mobile‑app users to purchase mobile recharges, subscribe to bundles and settle other telecom...
OneLayer Unveils Certified Integrations to Strengthen Private Cellular Security Perimeter
OneLayer announced the Technology Alliance Program (TAP), a certified ecosystem that links its orchestration layer with third‑party private cellular routers, firewalls and other network components. Certified partners will appear in OneLayer’s affiliate directory and gain access to co‑marketing, workshop resources,...
Georgia's MagtiCom Selects Mavenir for Small Cell 4G/5G Rollout
Georgia’s mobile operator MagtiCom has signed a deal with US‑based Mavenir to introduce cloud‑native small‑cell infrastructure for both 4G and 5G. The partnership will start with a beta rollout in Q2 2026 targeting residential, small‑office and enterprise sites. Full deployment...
Orange Poland Passes Half Million Subscribers for Digital Service Flex
Orange Poland announced that its fully digital mobile offering, Orange Flex, has reached 500,000 subscribers, with half using eSIM technology. Launched seven years ago as an app‑only service, Flex grew from 430,000 users reported in May 2025. To celebrate, Orange is...
APFN Agrees to Sell Off Customer Base in Switch to Pure Wholesale Provider
AllPoints Fibre Network (APFN) has entered a strategic agreement with Onestream to transfer the Cuckoo retail customer base, brand and domain while keeping the physical connections on APFN’s Aquila wholesale platform. The move lets APFN concentrate on expanding its wholesale...
Openreach Stop Sell — 238 New Exchanges Added
Openreach announced that 238 additional exchanges have entered its stop‑sell programme, covering roughly 1.69 million premises and pushing the total announced exchanges to 1,432 – about 14.2 million sites under active stop‑sell. The added exchanges reach an average of 75% full‑fibre availability,...
Vodafone Launches New 5G Home Broadband Option
Vodafone has launched a new 5G fixed‑wireless access broadband service aimed at renters and customers lacking reliable fixed‑line connections. The offering includes a Wi‑Fi 6 router and two speed tiers—50 Mbps and 150 Mbps—priced at £30/month (~$38) or £32/month (~$41) on a rolling...
Rogers Expands 5G Connectivity Along Highway 97 in British Columbia
Rogers has extended its 5G network along British Columbia’s Highway 97, covering the stretch from Pine Pass to Chetwynd. The upgrade fills a long‑standing coverage gap that left drivers, residents and workers with limited wireless access in remote terrain. The project...
Kalaam Telecom Unveils ‘Klik for Businesses’ Digital Platform in Saudi Arabia
Kalaam Telecom launched Klik, a B2B self‑service digital platform for Saudi enterprises, accessible via mobile app and web portal. The solution automates onboarding, provisioning, and ticketing while delivering real‑time usage analytics and SLA monitoring. Klik aims to streamline customer interactions,...
Defeating the Orbital Kill Switch: Mastering the Swarm Network and Bitcoin Mesh Radio.
The post warns that Starlink’s new Geopolitical Integrity Update now geofences terminals, cutting off Bitcoin nodes in regions deemed unstable. This last‑mile kill switch threatens the off‑grid Bitcoin community’s ability to broadcast transactions. In response, the author proposes the Swarm...
Ericsson, KDDI Succeed in AI Uplink Optimization Field Trial
Ericsson and Japan's KDDI completed a large‑scale field trial of Ericsson’s AI‑driven Uplink Interference Optimizer (UIO) rApp on the Ericsson Intelligent Automation platform. The trial spanned roughly 1,500 5G and 1,300 4G cells, delivering average uplink throughput gains of 9.6%...
Project Gigabit Expansion in Essex
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology announced that an additional 9,500 premises in Essex will receive gigabit‑capable broadband under Project Gigabit. The rollout, funded by £8.3 million (about $10.6 million) of government support, expands Openreach’s full‑fibre network into urban neighbourhoods such...
NTT’s IOWN Is (Finally) Evolving to an All Photonics Network (APN); Physics Based AI for Enterprise OT
NTT has re‑oriented its mid‑term strategy toward AI infrastructure, global data centers and higher‑margin "value domains" as its traditional telecom cash flow slows. Central to this pivot is the IOWN All‑Photonics Network (APN), a laser‑based architecture that eliminates electronic‑optical conversions...
Worth Reading 050926
The latest Worth Reading roundup highlights five pivotal tech developments. RPKI has matured into a core security layer, now protecting the majority of global IP routes. Amazon’s marketplace of third‑party sellers generated $117.7 billion in 2022, underscoring its economic weight. Additional...
"We Need to Think About the Network as a Product“
Telstra’s Product & Technology Group executive Kim Krogh Andersen warned that telcos are still treating their core infrastructure as a mere "pipe" rather than a marketable product. He argued that the network’s 99.999% reliability should be packaged as a programmable...
HFR, ETRI Partner to Drive Development of GPU-Based AI-RAN
HFR, Inc. has entered the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) led AI‑RAN Global Leading Project to develop full‑scale GPU‑based AI‑RAN software. The platform will combine AI‑RAN software, a virtual network, and a real‑world testbed, enabling simultaneous processing of radio...
NHG Health, Singtel to Bring 5G Connectivity to Enhanced Community Health Posts
NHG Health and Singtel have teamed up to equip 40 enhanced Community Health Posts in Singapore’s Central and North regions with 5G+ Priority connectivity. The rollout begins in Toa Payoh’s Age Well Neighbourhood and will extend to Woodlands, Sembawang and...
Scale Across, Confirmed
Scale across is the emerging coherent‑optics interconnect that links AI data centers separated by tens to hundreds of kilometers, enabling workloads to spill beyond a single building. Ciena estimates more than 300 new AI‑focused data centers were commissioned in 2025...
Weekly Brief – 8th May 2026
Virgin Media O2 reported its biggest broadband traffic spike ever during the Champions League semi‑final on 5 May, with downstream usage 17 % above the typical Tuesday evening and 4.2 % higher than the previous record set in November 2025. Point Topic’s Q1 2026 analysis...
Telefonica Germany Starts Operating 5G Site in Pouch Ahead of Sputnik Spring Break Festival
Telefonica Germany has activated a new 50‑metre mast on the Pouch peninsula, boosting 5G and 4G coverage around the Mulde Reservoir recreation area. The site is timed to support the Sputnik Spring Break festival, which runs from 22 to 25 May...
TIM's Kena Brand Gives Away 70GB in Mother's Day Promo
Telecom Italia’s budget brand Kena is launching a Mother’s Day promotion on May 10, offering a free 70 GB 5G data bundle at speeds up to 250 Mbps. Customers must activate the offer by April 11 through the My Kena app, after which the data...
Swedish Regulator Finds Telia Compliant with Emergency Call Relay Rules
Swedish telecom regulator PTS announced that Telia Company complies with emergency call relay rules after a year‑long review. The investigation was sparked by concerns that shutting down 2G and 3G networks could block 112 calls from older phones even on...
Elisa Takes Part in Finnish Border Guard Drone Detection Trial
Elisa is joining a pilot with the Finnish Border Guard and Sensofusion to test a drone‑detection system in southeast Finland. Sensofusion supplies the sensor and AI hardware while Elisa provides the digital infrastructure, including edge computing and secure data links....
Weekly Wrap: GSM-R Meltdown Shows Need for Upgrade
A GSM‑R fault in southern England forced service reductions, highlighting the railway’s dependence on aging 2G‑based radio. The outage underscored the urgency of replacing GSM‑R with the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), a 5G‑derived platform slated for rollout by...
Amper Buys Critical Comms Firm Teltronic for up to EUR 225 Mln
Spain’s Grupo Amper has signed a binding agreement to acquire critical communications specialist Teltronic for up to €225 million (approximately $245 million). The transaction consists of a €155 million fixed payment, a potential €45 million earn‑out tied to performance targets, and Amper will assume...