Malatsi Still Awaiting ICASA Feedback on EEIPs
South Africa’s communications minister Solly Malatsi said the Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) is still reviewing his policy directive that would allow equity‑equivalent investment programmes (EEIPs) to satisfy the 30% historically‑disadvantaged ownership rule for telecom licences. The directive, issued in December, aims to align ICASA’s regulations with broader empowerment laws, potentially clearing a path for satellite operators such as Elon Musk’s Starlink. While Malatsi stresses the policy is not Starlink‑specific, the move is widely seen as facilitating the entry of foreign LEO providers. ICASA has not set a deadline, leaving the timeline for any regulatory change uncertain.
Eseye Boosts Global IoT Resilience with SGP.32 eSIM Orchestration
Eseye has integrated the GSMA‑defined SGP.32 remote SIM provisioning standard into its AnyNet+ eSIM and Infinity Connectivity Management platforms. The upgrade enables hands‑off, large‑scale management of eSIM profiles for IoT devices lacking user interfaces, adding multi‑IMSI support, intelligent network fallback...
Centre Aims to Maximise Spectrum Use, Says India’s Wireless Advisor NK Bhola
India’s Department of Telecommunications appointed Naresh Kumar Bhola as its new wireless advisor on April 1 2026, pledging to maximize spectrum availability for all operators. He emphasized that efficient spectrum planning is critical to scaling connectivity and supporting the rollout of 5G, 5G‑Advanced...
TRAI Recommendations on 600MHz Band to Ease Device Ecosystem Challenges: AK Lahoti
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended extending the validity of the 600 MHz spectrum to 24 years and delaying rollout obligations for four years to ease early‑stage device‑ecosystem development. The move is part of a broader spectrum strategy...
Amazon Leo Enters Live Sport as DP World Tour Rolls Out Satellite Internet Across Events
The DP World Tour has partnered with Amazon to roll out its low‑Earth‑orbit satellite network, Amazon Leo, across more than 40 tournaments starting in 2026. This makes the golf circuit the first professional sport to deploy LEO satellite internet at...
Next-Level Sport Experiences with 5G
Private 5G networks are reshaping live‑sports production by delivering bidirectional, low‑latency video feeds and supporting thousands of on‑site devices. Neutral Wireless showcased the technology at the Paris 2024 Olympics, deploying multi‑cell networks on riverboats, stadiums and even catamarans to capture...
Satellite Startup Univity Raises €27m to Throw Its Hat Into the Ring
French satellite startup Univity announced a €27 million ($29 M) Series A round to develop its VLEO‑based 5G constellation, uniSky. The funding, led by Blast and backed by Expansion Capital and Bpifrance’s Deeptech 2030, will finance the uniShape demonstrator – two low‑orbit satellites that...
Malatsi Runs Out of Patience with Icasa on BEE Reform
Communications minister Solly Malatsi has publicly pressed the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to act on his BEE policy direction, which calls for the regulator to recognise equity‑equivalent investment programmes (EEIPs) as an alternative to the 30% black‑ownership...
UK Telcos Deny Plans to Throttle Mobile Networks over Energy Costs
UK mobile operators, led by BT and Virgin Media O2, publicly denied any plans to throttle network speeds or introduce surge pricing despite rising energy costs. The Telegraph had suggested operators might ration access to curb power expenses, but the...
Quectel Expands IoT Reach in Brazil with Vermont Partnership
Quectel Wireless Solutions has signed a partnership with Vermont Brasil to serve as its regional representative for the full range of wireless and antenna products in Brazil. The deal leverages Vermont's nationwide footprint and technical know‑how to provide design‑in assistance...
Telecom News: TDIP Scheme for 6G, TRAI, SoftBank, Ericsson, Freshwave
India’s telecom market added 9.28 million new subscribers in March, taking the total to roughly 1.33 billion users and pushing broadband connections past 1.06 billion. The government unveiled a revamped ₹203 crore (≈$24.5 million) TDIP scheme to accelerate indigenous 6G and 5G‑Advanced research, targeting startups,...
Telecom News: Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile US, TE Connectivity, MTN Nigeria, Airtel
Deutsche Telekom’s shares fell after reports it is weighing a full merger with its U.S. unit, T‑Mobile, which could create a $300 billion telecom giant serving over 200 million customers. TE Connectivity beat profit forecasts but missed revenue, citing higher input costs...
Telecom News: AST SpaceMobile, Xfinity, AT&T
AST SpaceMobile received FCC commercial authorization to launch a 248‑satellite low‑Earth‑orbit network that will deliver direct‑to‑device cellular broadband across the United States. Xfinity Mobile introduced two new plans—Mobile Plus at $45 per line with lifetime device protection and Mobile Select...
Telecom News: Truvista Fiber, GCI, Quintillion, Vodafone
Truvista Fiber announced the acquisition of the City of Commerce municipal telecommunications network, extending its fiber footprint into underserved areas. GCI agreed to purchase Alaska‑based fiber operator Quintillion for roughly $310 million, adding over 1,800 miles of subsea and terrestrial fiber...
Virgin Media O2 Warns of AI-Driven Scam Surge as Fake Customer Service Numbers Target Millions
Virgin Media O2 warns that AI‑powered fraud is driving a surge in fake customer‑service phone numbers, with 13 percent of Britons and 27 percent of 25‑34‑year‑olds encountering deceptive listings. Scammers exploit trust in top search results and AI‑generated contacts, leading many consumers...
Telecom News: Univity, Starlink, Eutelsat, MTN, Eutelsat
French space‑tech startup Univity secured a €27 million (≈$29 million) Series A round to launch a wholesale‑focused VLEO satellite network that will give European telecom operators an alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink. The company plans a large‑scale deployment starting in 2028, targeting low‑latency, high‑speed...
Telecom News: Orange, Bouygues, Iliad, SFR, Claro, TRAI, Bharti Airtel
Orange, Bouygues and Iliad have entered early regulatory talks for a joint €20.35 billion (≈ $22 billion) bid to acquire France’s SFR, a move that would shrink the French mobile market from four players to three. The consortium is preparing separate filings and...
Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani Urges Telcos to Enhance R&D Spending to Shape 6G, AI-RAN
India’s telecom sector generated roughly $45 billion in FY25, yet operators invest less than 1% of revenue in R&D, far below the 15‑25% benchmark of global equipment leaders. Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani urged the industry to boost research...
Nearly 47% of Indians Continue to Remain Offline: GSMA’s Julian Gorman
GSMA’s Asia‑Pacific head Julian Gorman warned that almost half of India’s 1.4 billion people—47 %—remain offline from mobile broadband, with women disproportionately excluded. He highlighted that the country’s digital economy is projected to hit $1 trillion by 2030, yet 5G adoption is still...
The Auction that Changed Everything: How Nigeria’s 2001 GSM Licence Sale Built the Foundation of a Tech Economy
In January 2001 Nigeria held a groundbreaking ascending‑clock spectrum auction that sold five GSM licences for $285 million each, raising $855 million and ending NITEL’s monopoly. The auction’s transparent design, overseen by the NCC, produced three private winners—MTN, Econet and Communications Investment Limited—while...
FCC: D2C Is Set for Ubiquitous Connectivity
The FCC announced that direct‑to‑device (D2C) connectivity will be a pillar of U.S. communications leadership. It granted AST SpaceMobile full commercial authorization for a 248‑satellite constellation and supplemental coverage in two frequency bands, while dismissing its request for the Echostar...
FCC Throws Out Satellite Spectrum Challenges as D2D Dealmaking Heats Up
The FCC issued a sweeping order on April 23 that preserves incumbent rights to Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum and dismisses petitions from SpaceX, Iridium, Kepler and others seeking access to the coveted Big LEO and 2 GHz bands. The move comes...
‘Beneficiary Pays’ Model Gains Traction With Lawmakers
Lawmakers at Data Center World urged Congress to adopt a “beneficiary pays” model, requiring companies that drive demand for new transmission lines—such as data centers—to foot the bill. Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R‑ND) and Rep. Scott Peters (D‑CA) highlighted cost allocation...
The FCC Announces 2 Big Rule Changes to Make Sure Your Cellphone Always Has A Signal
The FCC announced two pivotal actions to accelerate direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite services. It granted AST SpaceMobile a permanent license for a 248‑satellite constellation that will operate with AT&T, Verizon and FirstNet, and it upheld existing exclusive spectrum rights to keep...
Little Talk of BEAD at Lutnick’s House Hearing
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House appropriations subcommittee on the FY2027 budget, where the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program received limited discussion. Lutnick indicated that guidance for states on using the program’s non‑deployment funds is...
Mediacom’s Network Construction Ahead of Schedule in Minnesota
Mediacom Communications announced it completed twelve fiber broadband projects across Minnesota ahead of schedule, adding more than 400 miles of last‑mile fiber and connecting roughly 3,900 homes and businesses. The two‑year effort was a public‑private partnership with the Minnesota Department...
Iridium Continues IoT Subscriber Growth in Q1, Desch Talks NTN Direct Launch and Spectrum
Iridium reported a modest 2% year‑over‑year revenue rise in Q1 2026, reaching $219.1 million, while adding 18,000 new subscribers to total 2.434 million commercial users. IoT data revenue grew 5% to $46 million, now accounting for 83% of its subscriber base, even as...
CISA: US Agency Breached Through Cisco Vulnerability, FIRESTARTER Backdoor Allowed Access Through March
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) disclosed that a U.S. federal agency was compromised through a Cisco firewall vulnerability and later accessed via a persistent backdoor named FIRESTARTER. The malware allowed threat actors to regain control of the device...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Giovanni Pandolfi Bortoletto, Leaf Space
Leaf Space, an Italian ground‑segment‑as‑a‑service provider, now operates over 40 stations in 19 locations, handling more than 22,000 satellite passes each month. Its proprietary Leaf Line hardware and Leaf Key software platform support 170 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, with 18 new stations...
MTN Nigeria to Compensate Subscribers as NCC Enforces Service Quality Standards
MTN Nigeria announced it will compensate subscribers affected by network outages recorded between November 2025 and January 2026, following a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The operator framed the payout as part of its commitment to customer satisfaction...
Comcast Beats on Broadband Losses and Wireless Adds
Comcast reported its first year‑over‑year improvement in residential broadband churn since Q4 2020, shedding only 65,000 subscribers versus a 117,000 loss a year earlier. The company also posted a record quarterly gain of 435,000 wireless lines, pushing its mobile base above...
Surfing on the Tube
Transport for London awarded neutral‑host Boldyn Networks a 20‑year, $1.35 bn contract to roll out 5G across the London Underground. The project installs fiber, leaky‑feeder cables and base‑station hotels, allowing EE, O2 and Vodafone to share a single DAS infrastructure. To...
Eutelsat, MTN Add Satellite to Ivory Coast Coverage
MTN Côte d’Ivoire has signed a multi‑year agreement with satellite operator Eutelsat to use its Konnect high‑throughput GEO satellite positioned at 7° East. The satellite will complement MTN’s terrestrial broadband, enabling community Wi‑Fi hotspots in rural and underserved areas of...
Starlink Wi-Fi Makes In-Flight Calls And Video Now Possible On British Airways Flights
British Airways launched its first flight equipped with complimentary Starlink Wi‑Fi on March 19, enabling passengers to make phone and video calls at 38,000 feet. The service, initially rolled out on a London‑Houston route, allows multiple devices per seat and is...
Interview: Boldyn Tech Expert Tips AI-RAN to Boost Private 5G
Boldyn Networks CTO Andy Conway says AI‑RAN is moving from hype to deployment, especially in its neutral‑host private 5G portfolio. The company has installed more than 130 mission‑critical private 5G sites across the US and Europe, ranging from nuclear plants...
Vodafone Idea Rolls Out 5G in Panipat, Ambala; Haryana Expansion to Cover Seven Cities by May
Vodafone Idea (Vi) began rolling out 5G service in the industrial cities of Panipat and Ambala, extending its network beyond the recent launch in Sonipat. The operator announced that seven additional Haryana cities—Hisar, Bhiwani, Karnal, Bahadurgarh, Rohtak, plus the earlier...
The Man Who Helped Build Five Generations of Wireless Retires From Ericsson’s Ottawa Lab
Marcos Cavaletti, a veteran engineer who helped develop five generations of wireless technology, retired from leading Ericsson’s Ottawa research lab after a six‑year tenure as site head. The Ottawa facility, Ericsson’s largest North American R&D hub, has expanded to roughly...
1.5 Million Irish Homes and Businesses Gain Access to Full Fibre
Open eir, Ireland’s largest wholesale telecoms provider, announced that its fibre‑to‑the‑home (FTTH) network now reaches 1.5 million homes and businesses, covering more than 4 million people. The rollout has installed over 54,000 km of fibre and is backed by a €2 billion (≈$2.2 billion) multiyear...
BSNL Has Successfully Transitioned From a 3G Provider to a Competitive 4G Player: Scindia
BSNL has moved from a legacy 3G platform to a competitive 4G operator, a shift highlighted by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia at the Strategic Review and Planning Meet. The telecom‑state’s average revenue per user (ARPU) jumped 42% to Rs 101 (≈$1.22)...
Rethinking Wi-Fi in Multi Dwelling Units: From Shared Networks to Secure In Room Connectivity
Property owners are shifting MDU Wi‑Fi from shared hallway networks to in‑room access points, leveraging Wi‑Fi 7 wall‑plate APs with wired backhaul. This architecture delivers stronger signal, lower latency, and higher throughput for residents’ devices. Security moves from shared passwords to...
SpinLaunch Selects Equinix to Deploy Global Ground Infrastructure for Meridian Space Constellation
SpinLaunch announced a partnership with Equinix to build a global ground‑segment for its Meridian Space LEO broadband constellation. The deal leverages Equinix’s Platform Equinix and over 280 data centers to deliver a cloud‑integrated ground‑station‑as‑a‑service (GSaaS) model. Meridian’s first phase includes...
Nigeria Risks Falling Behind as IPv6 Adoption Stalls at 5%, as Stakeholders Target 30% Nationwide Adoption by 2030
Nigeria’s IPv6 adoption remains at roughly five percent, far below the global average of over 40 percent, prompting warnings that the country could fall behind in the digital economy. Industry leaders cite weak demand, limited awareness, and the continued availability...
Telecom Industry Bets on Automation to Tackle AI Squeeze
Telecom equipment makers and operators are feeling the squeeze of soaring AI‑driven chip prices while customer budgets tighten, prompting a projected 2% drop in global capex for 2026. Verizon’s spending is being trimmed to $16‑$16.5 billion and Ericsson’s first‑quarter net income...
How the SpaceX-EchoStar Relationship Extends Beyond Spectrum and D2D
EchoStar is transferring roughly $20 billion of spectrum to SpaceX, enabling Starlink’s next‑generation direct‑to‑device (D2D) service with 5G‑like performance. The deal includes a fee‑based referral program that lets EchoStar steer HughesNet and new Starlink customers toward SpaceX offerings. Boost Mobile has...
5G Standalone Growing Market Share
The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) reports that 95 operators – a 42% year‑over‑year rise – have launched 5G standalone (SA) networks, though they represent just under a quarter of the 392 operators with any 5G service. SA is now...
British Airways Lets Passengers Make the World’s First In-Flight Phone Calls
British Airways launched Starlink Wi‑Fi on March 19, 2026, becoming the first airline to enable in‑flight phone calls over satellite broadband. The partnership delivers gigabit‑class speeds, allowing passengers to stream video, join Zoom meetings, and place voice calls using headphones...
CMA Opens Initial Review of Nexfibre’s Netomnia Deal
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened the first stage of its review into nexfibre’s proposed £2 billion (≈ $2.5 billion) acquisition of Netomnia. nexfibre says the deal will unlock about $4.4 billion of capital and create a financially robust wholesale challenger...
Surveillance Vendors Caught Abusing Access to Telcos to Track People’s Phone Locations, Researchers Say
Security researchers at the Citizen Lab disclosed two distinct spying campaigns that exploited long‑standing weaknesses in global telecom signaling protocols to locate individuals’ phones. The attackers masqueraded as legitimate carriers—using 019Mobile, Tango Networks U.K., and Airtel Jersey—to piggyback on SS7...
STL Launches Neuralis Data Center Connectivity Suite
STL Optical Connectivity NA, the U.S. arm of Sterlite Technologies, unveiled its Neuralis data‑center connectivity suite at Data Center World 2026 in Washington, D.C. Neuralis combines ultra‑high‑density MMC and MPO cabling with the Celesta IBR series, which can house up...
KKR to Invest $1.5bn in Communications Infrastructure Owner/Operator Vertical Bridge
Private equity giant KKR is investing $1.5 billion in Vertical Bridge, a U.S.-based owner and operator of communications infrastructure. The capital injection will support Vertical Bridge’s rollout of fiber, small cell and other telecom assets. Existing shareholders DigitalBridge and La Caisse...