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 to improve real‑time communication and operational efficiency across these agencies. The move underscores the telecom’s commitment to supporting public‑sector resilience in Bahrain.
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...
Egypt Plans SIM Cards with Child Protection by June
Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority announced that child‑protection SIM cards will be launched within 60 days. The new SIMs, offered by Vodafone, Orange, WE and Etisalat, will let parents block adult or violent content and disable bypass tools. NTRA chairman...
Melon Digital Agrees eSIM Deal with Airalo in South Africa
Melon Digital, a mobile‑virtual network operator platform, has struck a partnership with global eSIM provider Airalo to serve international visitors in South Africa. The deal enables travelers to download a local data, voice and messaging profile instantly upon arrival, bypassing...
Kore Group to Launch Kigen eSIM-Powered Connectivity Suite for Enterprise IoT
Kore Group has teamed with eSIM specialist Kigen to launch an enterprise IoT connectivity suite that complies with the GSMA’s SGP.32 standard. The product, slated for release later this year, will enable businesses to remotely provision eSIMs, manage device lifecycles,...
Asus Expands ProArt Creators' Brand Into Networking with First Wi-Fi 7 Router, Ethernet Switch
Asus has launched its first networking devices under the ProArt brand, unveiling the PRT‑BE5000 Wi‑Fi 7 router and the PQG‑U1080 Ethernet switch. The move mirrors the company’s earlier strategy with the Republic of Gamers line, extending a creator‑focused portfolio that already...
The Regulatory Death Knell for Copper?
In March, the FCC issued an order aimed at accelerating the shift from copper‑based telephone networks to all‑IP fiber and other modern technologies. The order consolidates rules, grants carriers blanket authority to discontinue copper services, and preempts state regulations that...
O2 UK Activates 5G+ Network Across the West Midlands
Virgin Media O2 has switched on its 5G+ mobile network across the West Midlands, delivering standalone 5G service to roughly 5 million people. The rollout covers 47 cities, 79 towns and 597 rural villages, marking a significant expansion of high‑speed mobile...
[OFC 2026] Part 5 of 5: Hollow-Core Fiber and Next-Gen Transmission: Beyond the Loss Record
Hollow‑core fiber (HCF) is transitioning from laboratory demos to commercial roll‑outs. Microsoft now operates over 1,280 km of Azure HCF with sub‑0.1 dB/km loss and zero field failures, while AWS has introduced HCF in roughly ten data‑center sites. YOFC’s 0.04 dB/km laboratory record...
SIMPL Unveils Compass Dashboard to Enable Real-Time IoT Network Visibility
SIMPL Wireless introduced the Compass Dashboard, a SaaS‑based eUICC orchestration platform that consolidates IoT connectivity, carrier contracts, and device profiles into a single interface. The solution enables instant activation and real‑time visibility, shrinking deployment cycles from months to as little...
Namibia Plans NAD 78 Mln Telecom Investment Tackle Digital Divide as Part of 2026-27 Budget
Namibia will allocate NAD 78 million (approximately $5.2 million) from its 2026‑27 budget to expand telecom infrastructure in underserved regions. The funding is part of a broader NAD 682 million (about $45.7 million) ICT ministry budget aimed at deploying new towers and free public Wi‑Fi. ICT...
Gigaclear Lenders Take Control of Indebted Altnet
Gigaclear, the UK’s largest rural fibre altnet serving about 160,000 customers across 26 counties, has been taken over by its lenders after its debt neared £1 billion (≈$1.25 billion). The National Wealth Fund now holds the biggest share, alongside NatWest and Lloyds,...
3GPP Release 19 Description and Summary of Work Items
3GPP has published technical report TR 21.919, offering a high‑level snapshot of Release 19 work items that define the emerging 5G‑Advanced era. The report, now about 50 % complete, already contains more than 60 concise summaries covering energy efficiency, non‑terrestrial networks, AI/ML, IoT,...
Ethio Telecom Picks Ericsson to Drive Network Expansion
Ericsson and Ethiopia’s state‑owned operator Ethio telecom signed a deal at Mobile World Congress 2026 to modernise and expand the country’s mobile network. The agreement covers deployment of remote and Massive MIMO radios, microwave links and RAN transport across 1,500 sites,...
Setting up Akvorado: A NetFlow Analyser for Your IPv6-First Network
Terry Sweetser details how to deploy Akvorado, an open‑source NetFlow/IPFIX collector, on a modest SOHO server using Docker Compose. The guide walks through enabling SNMP on a router, configuring NetFlow v9 export, and launching the Akvorado stack with ClickHouse and...
Community Fibre — Double the Speed Promotion Returns
Community Fibre has relaunched its Double the Speed promotion, doubling advertised download rates for its standard broadband packages while keeping monthly fees fixed through April 2026. Customers can lock in 200 Mbps for £19/month (~$24), 600 Mbps for £21/month (~$26), up to 2 Gbps...
AI on Edge: Are You Believer?
The telecom sector, long chasing the elusive promise of the edge, is now confronting a shift as real‑time Physical AI and stateful AI agents demand ultra‑low latency. Hyperscalers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure have dominated centralized cloud...
Banning New Foreign Routers Mistargets Products to Fix Real Problem
On March 23 the FCC updated its Covered List to ban all new consumer routers made abroad unless granted a Department of Defense or Homeland Security exception. The agency says foreign‑made routers create supply‑chain vulnerabilities that could threaten the U.S....
[OFC 2026] Part 4 of 5: 400G/Lane and 1.6T Coherent: Two Fronts, One Power Wall
The OFC 2026 session highlighted two parallel scaling tracks in datacenter optics: 400 Gb/s per lane IM‑DD and 1.6 Tb/s coherent pluggables. Six papers mapped the current technical state, concluding both paths are brushing against fundamental physical limits without any live link...
A Direct Line From LEO: Problem or Opportunity?
Regulators are lagging behind the rapid expansion of low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellite services, creating uncertainty for operators seeking global coverage. Industry leaders from the GSOA and GSMA warn that fragmented spectrum rules, legal‑intercept mandates, and cross‑border interference standards could add costly...
Automatic Compensation Payments for Telecoms Faults Rise with Inflation
Effective 1 April 2026, the Ofcom‑backed automatic compensation scheme for major UK telecoms raised its payouts to reflect inflation. Customers now receive £10.34 (≈$13) per day after two days of reported service loss, £32.31 (≈$41) for missed appointments, and £6.46 (≈$8) for...
Openreach Has Installed 500,000 Zyxel ONT to Reduce Plastic Waste
Openreach has installed more than 500,000 Zyxel optical network terminals (ONTs) across the United Kingdom, each built with 95% recycled polycarbonate plastic. The devices support the GPON rollout, delivering up to 1.8 Gbps per connection while reducing the amount of virgin...
Telefonica Germany Expands 5G to Braderup, Juetrichau, Lindenau
Telefonica Germany has rolled out 5G service to three new locations – Braderup in Schleswig‑Holstein, Juetrichau in Saxony‑Anhalt, and the Lindenau district of Leipzig. The expansion adds three active sites and is part of roughly 8,000 network projects slated for...
Train Wi-Fi Is Just Awful — Our Journey From Cardiff to London
A recent test of Great Western Railway’s onboard Wi‑Fi on the Cardiff‑London route revealed severe performance issues. Latency jitter regularly spiked above 400 ms, with occasional spikes nearing 800 ms, and packet loss disrupted connections. Average throughput hovered around 1 Mbps, roughly 1 %...
Soracom Extends IoT Professional Services Offering to North America
Global IoT platform provider Soracom announced the launch of its Professional Services offering across North America, covering the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The new service delivers end‑to‑end solutions‑architecture support, including software and middleware development, connectivity design, billing‑platform integration, and...
HAPS Alliance Outlines Role of Stratospheric Platforms in Future 6G
The HAPS Alliance released a whitepaper describing how high‑altitude platform stations (HAPS) and non‑terrestrial networks (NTNs) will be woven into emerging 6G architectures. It proposes a multi‑layered model that combines terrestrial base stations, stratospheric platforms at roughly 20 km, and satellite...
SKT Deploys AI-Driven Network Management at Seoul Spring Festivals
SK Telecom used an AI‑driven integrated network monitoring platform to keep its mobile network stable during Seoul’s cherry‑blossom festivals, handling a total of 44.9 TB of data traffic. This represented a 1.5‑fold increase over the previous weekend, with a peak of...