Telecom News and Headlines

Why Investment in 5G Standalone (5G SA) Is Becoming a Key Foundation?
NewsMar 9, 2026

Why Investment in 5G Standalone (5G SA) Is Becoming a Key Foundation?

Investment in 5G Standalone (5G SA) is emerging as the backbone of next‑generation telecom networks, delivering roughly 23% lower latency and tighter quality‑of‑service control than non‑standalone deployments. China now commands about 80% of SA samples, while Europe lingers in single‑digit penetration,...

By TelecomLead
Pioneering Global Connectivity Through Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks
NewsMar 9, 2026

Pioneering Global Connectivity Through Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks

Airbus is building an integrated connectivity platform that merges terrestrial mobile infrastructure with low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellations to deliver uninterrupted, gate‑to‑gate broadband for aircraft. The initiative includes a successful 5G non‑terrestrial network trial with Eutelsat’s OneWeb and the launch of the...

By Airbus – Newsroom
Telefonica Puts 5G SA in a Shopping Centre
NewsMar 9, 2026

Telefonica Puts 5G SA in a Shopping Centre

Telefonica has launched Spain's first indoor 5G Standalone network at Madrid's Plaza Norte 2 shopping centre, marking a national first. The deployment, powered by Vantage Towers' Distributed Antenna System, aims to deliver ultra‑low latency connectivity in a high‑density retail environment. While the...

By Telecoms.com
Tesco Mobile Ireland Reaffirms No Annual Price Increases on Its Contracts
NewsMar 9, 2026

Tesco Mobile Ireland Reaffirms No Annual Price Increases on Its Contracts

Tesco Mobile Ireland has reaffirmed its 2021 pledge to keep 24‑month contracts free of annual price hikes, reinforcing its position as Ireland’s largest MVNO with roughly 500,000 customers. New research of over 1,000 Irish consumers shows 94% rate bill predictability...

By Irish Tech News
New Mexico Program to Give Low-Income Assistance for Broadband
NewsMar 9, 2026

New Mexico Program to Give Low-Income Assistance for Broadband

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 152, creating the Low‑Income Telecommunications Assistance Program. The law earmarks $10 million from the State Rural Universal Service Fund to reimburse providers offering reduced‑rate broadband to qualifying households. It targets students at risk,...

By Broadband Communities (BBC Magazine)
Parks: Wi-Fi Gaps Undermine Household Broadband Quality
NewsMar 9, 2026

Parks: Wi-Fi Gaps Undermine Household Broadband Quality

Parks Associates’ new white paper reveals that Wi‑Fi dead spots are eroding the perceived quality of broadband in U.S. homes, even as 80% of households subscribe to fixed internet and 25% enjoy gigabit speeds. Roughly 40% of smart‑device owners report...

By Media Play News
Senegal's Free Internet Plan Could Pose Cybersecurity Risks
NewsMar 9, 2026

Senegal's Free Internet Plan Could Pose Cybersecurity Risks

Senegal announced a Universal Connectivity initiative to deliver free Internet to one million residents, especially in remote areas, by the end of 2026. The plan follows a broader digital strategy that aims to make the digital economy account for 15%...

By Connecting Africa (Informa)
Skylo's Trajectory Toward the 'Standardized Sky' Looks to Include Multiple Orbits
NewsMar 9, 2026

Skylo's Trajectory Toward the 'Standardized Sky' Looks to Include Multiple Orbits

Skylo is pursuing a partner‑centric satellite messaging model, leasing capacity from Viasat and EchoStar rather than building its own constellation. At Mobile World Congress the CEO highlighted a network that now spans 36 countries, supports over 20 carrier interfaces and...

By Light Reading
Brightspeed Launches Whole-Home Wi-Fi
NewsMar 9, 2026

Brightspeed Launches Whole-Home Wi-Fi

Brightspeed, the nation’s third‑largest fiber builder, unveiled its Whole Home Wi‑Fi service for new fiber customers. The offering bundles up to two professionally installed Wi‑Fi 7 extenders, a free router, a month of service and a prepaid Mastercard, delivering up to...

By Light Reading
Blues Integrates Skylo NTN Satellite with Cellular and Wi-Fi in a Single Notecard IoT Module
NewsMar 9, 2026

Blues Integrates Skylo NTN Satellite with Cellular and Wi-Fi in a Single Notecard IoT Module

Blues and Skylo unveiled Notecard for Skylo, a single IoT module that merges NTN satellite, narrowband cellular, and Wi‑Fi connectivity with automatic failover. The device eliminates the need for separate radios and satellite contracts by offering pay‑as‑you‑go satellite usage. It...

By IoT Business News – Smart Buildings
ZTE Earnings Fall by a Third as Costs Soar
NewsMar 9, 2026

ZTE Earnings Fall by a Third as Costs Soar

ZTE reported a 33.3% drop in net profit for 2025, falling to RMB 5.6 billion, even as total revenue rose 10.4% to RMB 133.9 billion driven by strong enterprise demand. The core carrier business continued to shrink, with revenue down 10.6% and operating margin...

By Light Reading
Hutchison Sells Out of Macau as Losses Mount
NewsMar 9, 2026

Hutchison Sells Out of Macau as Losses Mount

Hutchison Telecommunications sold its 3 Macau unit to CTM for HK$110 million, ending two decades of operations in the region. The Macau business posted a full‑year 2025 loss of HK$43 million, nearly double the prior year, contributing to an overall group loss...

By Telecoms.com
Qualcomm Plots Out 6G, Wi-Fi 8 Future with AI as the New User Interface
NewsMar 9, 2026

Qualcomm Plots Out 6G, Wi-Fi 8 Future with AI as the New User Interface

Qualcomm unveiled its AI‑edge roadmap at MWC 2026, emphasizing a shift from cloud‑centric AI to hybrid edge AI across smartphones, wearables, PCs and future 6G networks. The company introduced a Snapdragon 8 Elite platform with a 37% faster neural processing unit, a Snapdragon Wear Elite...

By ComputerWeekly
Introducing America’s Connected Future
NewsMar 9, 2026

Introducing America’s Connected Future

The Federal Communications Commission has aligned with more than two dozen states to overhaul antiquated telecom rules that force carriers to maintain costly copper lines. The new America’s Connected Future initiative highlights that four‑in‑five households are wireless‑only and only 1.4%...

By USTelecom (Industry Association) — News
Open Cosmos Announces ConnectedCosmos
NewsMar 9, 2026

Open Cosmos Announces ConnectedCosmos

Open Cosmos unveiled ConnectedCosmos, a sovereign low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) constellation delivering secure broadband and direct‑to‑device IoT connectivity for enterprises and governments. The network integrates real‑time Earth observation data from the Open Constellation, creating an “active” resiliency service that enables rapid threat...

By Microwave Journal
Middle East Telco Brands Climb Global Rankings
NewsMar 9, 2026

Middle East Telco Brands Climb Global Rankings

Middle East telecom operators have secured eight spots in the Brand Finance Telecoms 150 2026, underscoring the region’s rising brand equity. Saudi Arabia’s stc topped the regional list, ranking ninth worldwide with a 9% brand‑value increase to $17.6 billion and an...

By Telecom Review
Eurobites: UK Pumps £180M Into Timing Network Backup
NewsMar 9, 2026

Eurobites: UK Pumps £180M Into Timing Network Backup

The UK government announced a £180 million programme to build a resilient timing network that will back up the current satellite‑based system used by critical services such as mobile operators and power grids. The new network will broadcast a secure timing...

By Light Reading
Molex Introduces 145 GHz Multi-Port Coaxial Assemblies
NewsMar 9, 2026

Molex Introduces 145 GHz Multi-Port Coaxial Assemblies

Molex has launched the Cardinal Multi-Port High-Frequency Coaxial Assemblies, extending its test‑and‑measurement portfolio to 145 GHz. The new modules deliver phase‑matched connectivity and support data rates up to 448 Gbps, targeting AI back‑haul, 5G/6G, mmWave radar and terahertz imaging. Multi‑port configurations (1×4,...

By Engineering.com
Virgin Media Ireland Launches €15 per Month SIM-Only Plan with “For Life” Pricing
NewsMar 9, 2026

Virgin Media Ireland Launches €15 per Month SIM-Only Plan with “For Life” Pricing

Virgin Media Ireland introduced a €15 per month SIM‑only plan that guarantees permanent "For Life" pricing. The offering provides unlimited calls, texts and data within the Republic of Ireland, plus 37 GB of EU roaming data. Customers benefit from price certainty...

By Irish Tech News
Virgin Media O2 Owner Eyes Broadband Deals to Take on BT Openreach
NewsMar 9, 2026

Virgin Media O2 Owner Eyes Broadband Deals to Take on BT Openreach

Virgin Media O2, the joint venture between Virgin Media and O2, is exploring new broadband packages aimed at challenging BT’s Openreach wholesale arm. The move seeks to capitalize on the company’s combined fiber and 5G networks to offer competitive speeds...

By Financial Times — Companies
BMW Selects NTT Docomo for Smart-Car Connectivity in EVs
NewsMar 9, 2026

BMW Selects NTT Docomo for Smart-Car Connectivity in EVs

BMW will embed NTT Docomo Business’s smart‑car connectivity platform in its next‑generation electric vehicles launching from 2026, beginning with the iX3 model in the Neue Klasse line. The solution relies on an embedded SIM that delivers stable, multi‑country mobile links, enabling real‑time...

By Just Auto
Iranian Authorities Urged by Rights Groups to Lift Restrictions on Internet Access
NewsMar 9, 2026

Iranian Authorities Urged by Rights Groups to Lift Restrictions on Internet Access

Human Rights Watch urged Iran to end its sweeping internet shutdown amid the escalating US‑Iran conflict. Cloudflare Radar reported a 98% drop in traffic on Feb 28, leaving roughly 92 million citizens offline. The regime’s “tiered internet” grants fast access to state...

By JURIST
Report: Telcos Missing Opportunity to Improve Networks Using AI
NewsMar 9, 2026

Report: Telcos Missing Opportunity to Improve Networks Using AI

The WBBA’s State of AI in Telecoms report, based on a survey of 340+ industry professionals, shows AI adoption is accelerating but remains centred on internal efficiency and customer support. While 42% of operators use AI mainly for service and...

By Advanced Television
Engineering the Outcome-Driven, Premium Experience in 2026
NewsMar 9, 2026

Engineering the Outcome-Driven, Premium Experience in 2026

In 2026 telecom premium shifts from raw speed to guaranteed business continuity, latency certainty, and trust‑by‑design. Surveys show roughly 80% of customers now rate experience on par with service quality, and half of enterprises are ready to pay extra for...

By Telecom Review
DoT May Stick to Its 5% Charge for Satcom Spectrum
NewsMar 9, 2026

DoT May Stick to Its 5% Charge for Satcom Spectrum

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is set to retain a 5% adjusted gross revenue (AGR) usage fee for satellite communications (satcom) spectrum, rejecting the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) 4% proposal. DoT will also apply a 1% discount for...

By ET Telecom (Economic Times)
Airtel Lines up $1 Bn Investment for Data Centre Arm Nxtra
NewsMar 9, 2026

Airtel Lines up $1 Bn Investment for Data Centre Arm Nxtra

Bharti Airtel's data‑centre subsidiary Nxtra Data is raising $1 billion to expand capacity to a gigawatt scale. The round includes $300 million each from Airtel and private‑equity firm Carlyle, and a $400 million commitment from Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed’s Alpha Wave Global. Funds will...

By ET Telecom (Economic Times)
Adtran’s CEO Says Carriers Are Taking a Managed Optical Fiber Network (MOFN) Position
NewsMar 9, 2026

Adtran’s CEO Says Carriers Are Taking a Managed Optical Fiber Network (MOFN) Position

Adtran is positioning itself in the emerging Managed Optical Fiber Network (MOFN) market as carriers seek secure, high‑capacity fiber services for enterprises and hyperscalers. The company reported a 33% year‑over‑year rise in optical networking revenue, propelled by cloud and enterprise...

By Lightwave
Malik Khan: The Beginning of a Post-Satellite Era for B2B Media Distribution?
NewsMar 8, 2026

Malik Khan: The Beginning of a Post-Satellite Era for B2B Media Distribution?

The FCC’s ongoing C‑band auctions have stripped B2B media distributors of roughly 60% of their satellite spectrum, and a second auction of Upper C‑band is slated for mid‑2027. Broadcasters now face a shrinking pool of transponder capacity and must redesign...

By Broadband Breakfast
There's a Setting Buried in Every Router that Your ISP Doesn't Want You to Touch
NewsMar 8, 2026

There's a Setting Buried in Every Router that Your ISP Doesn't Want You to Touch

ISPs ship routers pre‑configured to use their own DNS servers, silently logging every lookup. Because most default settings lack DNS over HTTPS or TLS, queries travel unencrypted and can be harvested or intercepted. The article highlights how ISPs monetize this...

By XDA Developers
James Potter of L3Harris Highlights MCX Developments, Adoption
NewsMar 8, 2026

James Potter of L3Harris Highlights MCX Developments, Adoption

James Potter, director of strategic solutions at L3Harris, highlighted the accelerating adoption of 3GPP‑standard mission‑critical (MCX) services across utilities, public‑safety agencies, and mass‑transit operators. He noted that MCX offers higher data rates and native broadband capabilities, positioning it as a...

By Urgent Communications
Telecom News: MWC 2026, Huawei, QuSecure, Turk Telekom, Ericsson
NewsMar 7, 2026

Telecom News: MWC 2026, Huawei, QuSecure, Turk Telekom, Ericsson

At Mobile World Congress 2026, Huawei introduced its AI‑driven Next‑Generation Fiber Access Network (FAN) that leverages OptiXstar EG ONTs to deliver Wi‑Fi 7 speeds exceeding 2 Gbps and full‑home coverage for data‑intensive services. QuSecure showcased a hybrid post‑quantum TLS 1.3 solution that...

By TelecomLead
‘Unmet Needs’ Persist in Tribal Broadband Despite Progress, Report Finds
NewsMar 6, 2026

‘Unmet Needs’ Persist in Tribal Broadband Despite Progress, Report Finds

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has pushed forward reforms and awarded $6.5 million to nine Tribal applicants as part of the $3 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) funded by the 2021 infrastructure law. A new Urban Institute report, however,...

By Route Fifty — Finance
10 Questions to Ask a Telecoms Provider Before Signing Up
NewsMar 6, 2026

10 Questions to Ask a Telecoms Provider Before Signing Up

The article outlines ten essential questions businesses should pose before committing to a telecom provider, covering network coverage, pricing transparency, service level agreements, data limits, and future technology roadmaps. It emphasizes scrutinizing hidden fees, contract flexibility, and the provider’s capacity...

By IT News Africa
Capitec Taking on Vodacom and MTN in South Africa
NewsMar 6, 2026

Capitec Taking on Vodacom and MTN in South Africa

Capitec Bank announced it will enter South Africa's telecommunications sector, launching its own mobile and broadband services. Leveraging its extensive retail branch network, the bank plans to distribute low‑cost data and voice packages directly to consumers. The move pits Capitec...

By MyBroadband (South Africa)
Botswana's BoFiNet Appoints New CEO
NewsMar 6, 2026

Botswana's BoFiNet Appoints New CEO

Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet) has named Dr. Gaone Seleka as its new chief executive, succeeding Keabetswe Segole. Seleka brings a blend of telecom, fintech and academic experience, highlighted by a PhD in Business Administration. His mandate includes scaling the recently...

By Connecting Africa (Informa)
Jio, Airtel, Vi, Oppose Permitting Internet Providers to Offer DLCs, Seek Forbearance
NewsMar 6, 2026

Jio, Airtel, Vi, Oppose Permitting Internet Providers to Offer DLCs, Seek Forbearance

Indian telecom giants Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and state‑run BSNL have formally opposed a draft regulatory change that would allow Internet Service Providers to offer dedicated leased circuits (DLCs) to enterprises. The operators argue that permitting ISPs to...

By ET Telecom (Economic Times)
Wi-Fi 8 and the IoT Enterprise: What Next-Gen Wi-Fi Means for Connected Devices
NewsMar 6, 2026

Wi-Fi 8 and the IoT Enterprise: What Next-Gen Wi-Fi Means for Connected Devices

Wi‑Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) is being positioned as an ultra‑high‑reliability upgrade rather than a pure speed boost. It adds coordinated multi‑AP scheduling, tighter roaming control and lower tail‑latency to address the worst‑case performance that enterprise IoT teams chase. The standard keeps Wi‑Fi 7’s...

By IoT Business News – Smart Buildings
Xiaomi BE19000 Pro Combines Wi-Fi 7 Speed With Integrated NAS Features
NewsMar 6, 2026

Xiaomi BE19000 Pro Combines Wi-Fi 7 Speed With Integrated NAS Features

Xiaomi has unveiled the BE19000 Pro, a tri‑band Wi‑Fi 7 router that promises a combined wireless throughput of up to 18,656 Mbps. The device adds an M.2 2280 slot and a USB 3.0 port for built‑in NAS functionality, while offering dual 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports for...

By Guru3D
Jio IPO Timeline Nears as $4 Billion Listing Looms
NewsMar 6, 2026

Jio IPO Timeline Nears as $4 Billion Listing Looms

Reliance Industries is preparing Jio Platforms' mega‑IPO, slated for early 2026, targeting a $4‑4.5 billion raise by selling a minimum 2.5% free float. Analysts argue the tiny public float could force the shares to trade at a premium, potentially neutralising the...

By ET Telecom (Economic Times)
Why CPE Security Is Now a Strategic Imperative for Telcos
NewsMar 6, 2026

Why CPE Security Is Now a Strategic Imperative for Telcos

Telecom operators moving to all‑IP, software‑defined networks have pushed the security perimeter to the customer premises, turning CPE devices into exposed, internet‑facing nodes. Legacy firmware, slow patch cycles and overlooked set‑top boxes create easy entry points for attackers, exposing core...

By Telecom Review
Her Voice. Her Vision. Her Impact: Women Leadership in Telecom in 2026
NewsMar 6, 2026

Her Voice. Her Vision. Her Impact: Women Leadership in Telecom in 2026

Telecom Review’s International Women’s Day 2026 feature spotlights senior female leaders from Mobily, du, Huawei and Ericsson, illustrating how the industry’s "Give to Gain" theme translates into concrete actions such as sponsorship, mentorship and strategic project access. The executives argue...

By Telecom Review
CFX Download Catches Up with CableLabs
NewsMar 6, 2026

CFX Download Catches Up with CableLabs

CFX Download hosted CableLabs EVP/CTO Mark Bridges to discuss the company’s new Quality‑by‑Design (QbD) partnership with Zoom, upcoming Tech Summit highlights, and future broadband innovation initiatives. The QbD collaboration aims to accelerate service design and deployment across cable networks using...

By Cablefax
Mediacom in D.C.
NewsMar 6, 2026

Mediacom in D.C.

Mediacom, representing ACA Connects members, petitioned the FCC to revise legacy rules that obligate cable operators to keep detailed signal‑leakage logs and make subscriber records available for inspection. The company argues that in today’s all‑digital networks, signal leakage incidents have...

By Cablefax
Chinese State Hackers Target Telcos with New Malware Toolkit
NewsMar 5, 2026

Chinese State Hackers Target Telcos with New Malware Toolkit

Chinese state‑linked APT group UAT‑9244 has been compromising telecom service providers across South America since 2024. The campaign deploys three previously undocumented malware families—TernDoor, a Windows backdoor using DLL side‑loading; PeerTime, a multi‑architecture Linux ELF backdoor that leverages BitTorrent for...

By BleepingComputer
Back to Books? Key Takeaways From NTIA Listening Sessions
NewsMar 5, 2026

Back to Books? Key Takeaways From NTIA Listening Sessions

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) held public listening sessions on Feb. 11 and Feb. 18 to discuss how to use unspent funds from the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Analysts at Kaptivate compiled the comments, highlighting strong...

By Broadband Communities (BBC Magazine)
LinkWorx & Bivocom: A Parternership for Robust Industrial IoT
NewsMar 5, 2026

LinkWorx & Bivocom: A Parternership for Robust Industrial IoT

LinkWorx announced a strategic partnership with Bivocom, integrating its Multi‑SIM (MSIM) technology into Bivocom’s industrial wireless portfolio. The combined solution delivers automatic carrier selection and failover, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for IoT and M2M devices in harsh environments. Targeted sectors include...

By Manufacturing Tomorrow
Q&A: ATSC’s Luiz Fausto on Ensuring 5G Broadcast Delivery Via 3.0
NewsMar 5, 2026

Q&A: ATSC’s Luiz Fausto on Ensuring 5G Broadcast Delivery Via 3.0

ATSC is finalizing an amendment to its Recommended Practice A/327 that details how ATSC 3.0 broadcasters can interleave 5G Broadcast waveforms within the same RF channel. The proposal leverages ATSC 3.0’s built‑in time‑domain sharing mechanisms, requiring no changes to the core standard, and...

By TV Tech (TVTechnology)
High Power Dual-Directional Coupler
NewsMar 5, 2026

High Power Dual-Directional Coupler

The new high‑power dual‑directional coupler from MIcable operates from 1 to 8 GHz with 30/40 dB coupling and can handle 600 W continuous‑wave power. It delivers VSWR ≤1.4:1, insertion loss ≤0.4 dB, coupling accuracy ±0.8 dB and flatness ±1.1 dB, and a minimum directivity of 14 dB. The device...

By Microwave Journal
Co-Packaged Optics and the AI Data Center: From Skepticism to Strategic Adoption
NewsMar 5, 2026

Co-Packaged Optics and the AI Data Center: From Skepticism to Strategic Adoption

Co‑Packaged Optics (CPO) is being touted as a solution to AI data‑center bandwidth, latency, and power challenges. While hyperscalers such as Microsoft, Google, Meta and Amazon are already testing CPO to slash interconnect power by up to 40 % and enable...

By Lightwave