Bharti Airtel Spends ₹31,000 Crore in Capex in FY25: Sunil Mittal
Bharti Airtel disclosed that it spent roughly ₹31,000 crore (about $3.7 billion) on capital expenditure in FY 25, with an additional ₹7,000 crore ($0.8 billion) coming from its tower arm, Indus Towers. The investment was highlighted at the CII Annual Business Summit by Sunil Mittal, who said the spending reflects confidence in India’s 6‑7% annual growth and a youthful consumer base. Mittal warned that global geopolitical tensions, especially the Middle‑East crisis, are pressuring economies, but urged continued investment to capture domestic demand. The announcement coincides with broader “Make in India” and renewable‑energy initiatives championed by the government.
Vodacom Spending Another R800 Million on Maziv After Herotel Fibre Deal
Vodacom announced it will inject an additional R800 million into Maziv, the parent of Vumatel, contingent on the completion of Vumatel’s acquisition of Herotel. The Competition Tribunal approved the deal conditionally, requiring Vumatel to operate as an open‑access fibre‑to‑the‑home (FTTH) provider....
Vodafone Idea Reallocated Rs 2,258 Crore From Network Expansion to Spectrum Payments: CARE Ratings
Vodafone Idea (VI) has shifted ₹2,258 cr (≈$270 m) from its planned network‑expansion budget to cover deferred spectrum dues and related GST, as disclosed in a CARE Ratings monitoring report for Q4 FY26. The network‑expansion allocation was trimmed to ₹10,492 cr (≈$1.26 b) from...
Airtel Africa Posts Record $813M Profit, Delays IPO
Airtel Africa reported a record profit of $813 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, a 147% increase from the prior year, and revenue of $6.41 billion, driven by data and mobile‑money demand. Its mobile‑money arm, Airtel Money, added 21.3% more users...
Vodacom Paid Nearly Twice Book Value for Its Maziv Stake
Vodacom disclosed that it paid R12.64 billion (≈ $666 million) for a 30% stake in Maziv, the fibre‑optic platform behind Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa. The consideration comprised R7.93 billion in cash, R143 million in capitalised costs and R4.57 billion in fibre assets, valuing Maziv at...
Satellite Communications Backup for Undersea Cable Threats
Undersea cables carry roughly 99% of global data and support about $10 trillion in daily financial transactions, making them a critical yet vulnerable infrastructure. Recent incidents—from accidental faults to suspected gray‑zone sabotage—highlight concentration risks for islands, chokepoints, and regions with limited...
Take Control of Your Connectivity with Telstra’s Adaptive Networks Centre
Telstra has launched the Adaptive Networks Centre (ANC), its first Network‑as‑a‑Product offering, to give enterprise customers a self‑service, API‑driven way to design, order and manage connectivity. The platform replaces manual provisioning with a digital interface that provides real‑time visibility, rapid...
NBTC Requests Longer Suspension of Satellite Orbital Slot
Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has asked the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to extend the suspension of frequency use for the 119.5° East orbital slot until September 30 2027. The extension is needed because satellite operator Thaicom, through its subsidiary...
Reinvest Spectrum Cash in ICT Sector, Industry Urges
South Africa’s telecom operators, led by the Association of Comms & Technology (ACT), are urging that proceeds from the upcoming 2026/27 spectrum auction be reinvested in the ICT sector rather than flowing to the national treasury. The last auction in...
Evan Swarztrauber: Your Phone, Their Rules. It’s Time to Unlock the Mobile Market
The FCC’s deregulatory agenda has driven a 4% drop in mobile plan prices, yet consumers remain hamstrung by carrier‑imposed phone locking. When phones are sold on equipment installment plans, they stay tied to a single network even after they’re paid...
Calcutta HC Restricts Vodafone Idea on Caller Tunes
The Calcutta High Court ruled on May 8 that Vodafone Idea cannot rely solely on sound‑recording agreements to offer caller tunes. The court mandated separate licences from the Indian Performing Right Society for the underlying musical and literary works. It ordered...
The Former Tennis Professional Who Ended Telkom’s Monopoly and Opened up the South African Telecommunications Market
Former Altech chief executive Craig Venter, a former junior Wimbledon player, spearheaded South Africa's most consequential telecom lawsuit. In 2008 a Pretoria High Court ruled that VANS licence holders could build their own networks, forcing regulator ICASA to re‑classify licences...
Bell-Northern Research, Nortel, and Canada’s Space Satellite Programs
Bell‑Northern Research (BNR) and its successor Nortel were pivotal telecom innovators, not satellite builders, in Canada’s space communications era. Their work linked satellite links to telephone networks through digital switching, traffic simulation, and network architecture studies. Northern Telecom also served...
FCC Reverses Course, Allows Software Updates for Foreign-Made Drones and Routers Until 2029 — Agency Says Blocking Security Patches Could...
The Federal Communications Commission has extended temporary waivers that let foreign‑made drones, drone components, and consumer routers continue receiving software and firmware updates through January 1 2029. The original “Covered List” added in late 2025 barred post‑approval changes, risking security gaps for millions...
T-Mobile Teams Up With Starlink to Improve Its Internet Service
T‑Mobile has launched SuperBroadband, a business internet service that fuses its nationwide 5G network with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband. The hybrid solution provides automatic failover between terrestrial and satellite links, delivering continuous connectivity even in remote ZIP codes or during...
Fiber Optic Cables Can Eavesdrop On Nearby Conversations
Researchers at the European Geosciences Union demonstrated that distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) on fiber‑optic cables can capture nearby speech and be transcribed in real time using AI. By firing laser pulses and analyzing reflected light, the system detected tones, music...
Internet Apocalypse: Can a Solar Storm Actually Disconnect the World?
Scientists warn that the 2025‑2026 solar maximum could trigger geomagnetically induced currents that damage submarine fiber‑optic cables, fragmenting the global internet. Research originating from a 2021 SIGCOMM paper shows that repeaters’ power conductors act as massive antennas for solar storms....
Debt Deal Could Push Connoisseur Past Foreign Ownership Cap
Connoisseur Media has filed an FCC petition to permit up to 100% indirect foreign ownership of its broadcast radio licenses, shifting majority equity to Cayman Islands‑registered entities while CEO Jeff Warshaw keeps full voting control. Two pending transactions—a debt‑to‑equity conversion...
Ben Sperry: The FCC’s Digital-Discrimination Detour Hits a Dead End
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the FCC’s sweeping digital‑discrimination rule, ruling that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act does not grant the agency authority to impose disparate‑impact liability beyond broadband providers. The court limited the FCC’s...
AIS, True Report Healthy Profits Based on 5G Growth
Advanced Info Service (AIS) posted Q1 revenue of about $1.63 billion, a 3.4% rise, and net profit of $378 million, up 28% year‑on‑year, driven by its expanding 5G network and AI‑enhanced services. True Corporation reported a 303% jump in net profit to...
This Major Airline Is Finally Letting You Make Calls at 30,000 Feet
British Airways has partnered with SpaceX’s Starlink to install satellite‑based broadband on its fleet, enabling free voice and video calls at cruising altitude. The rollout, involving structural modifications and software integration, will span two years and deliver speeds up to...
What Does the FCC Have to Do with Cyber Security?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is intensifying its role in cybersecurity by hosting two workshops on May 14‑15 aimed at small and medium‑sized telecom and broadcast providers. Chief Zenji Nakazawa highlighted the growing threat from nation‑state actors and ransomware, which can...
Riedel Named Official Connectivity Provider of 2026 Commonwealth Games
Riedel Communications has been appointed the Official Connectivity Integration Provider and Official Partner for Team Scotland for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The company will design, install and manage an end‑to‑end connectivity ecosystem, including its DIVA+‑based Glasgow 2026 Games...
Vermont Provider Launches Discounted Gigabit Program
Maple Broadband, a community‑owned provider in Vermont, launched the “Nonprofit Connect” program offering gigabit fiber at $69.95 per month—a $50 discount from its standard rate. The initiative targets the more than 700 registered nonprofits operating in Addison County, delivering 1 Gbps...
BE Transmitter Brings a Seattle AM Back to Full Power
Seattle‑Tacoma’s historic KKMO 1360 AM returned to its licensed 5 kW day‑and‑night power after installing a Broadcast Electronics AM‑6A transmitter. The new transmitter, paired with a BE AM‑1A backup, went live on April 27, ending a six‑month period of reduced 2 kW operation...
Ana Inês Inácio Designs the Future of Wireless
Ana Inês Inácio, a senior IEEE member and scientist at the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), designs integrated RF front‑end circuits that power next‑generation wireless systems, including 6G, satellite links, and IoT sensor networks. Her work focuses on...
Philippines Expands Digital Connectivity in Zamboanga Del Sur Ahead of ASEAN 2026
The Philippine Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is rolling out a new digital infrastructure program in Zamboanga del Sur ahead of the country’s ASEAN 2026 chairmanship. The GovNet project links the first 50 government agencies in Pagadian City...
10 AI-Driven Network Management Tasks
Artificial intelligence has moved from experimental tools to core components of network operations, enabling AIOps platforms to automate ten key management tasks such as anomaly detection, event correlation, and telemetry analysis. Vendors now leverage machine‑learning models that continuously learn normal...
One Year After Cancellation, Digital Equity Act Tied Up in Legal Challenges
One year after President Trump cancelled the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and a coalition of 21 states plus the District of Columbia continue to fight the decision in federal court. The lawsuit alleges violations...
Vodafone Group Weighs Stake Transfer to Support Vodafone Idea’s Fundraising: Report
Vodafone Group is exploring a transfer of part of its 19% stake in Vodafone Idea (Vi) to the Indian carrier’s treasury holdings, a move designed to shore up Vi’s capital base after the government cut its spectrum‑related adjusted‑gross‑revenue (AGR) dues...
Du Named as Landing Partner for Ooredoo's FIG Subsea Cable
Qatari telecom Ooredoo has appointed UAE carrier du as the landing partner for its Fiber in Gulf (FIG) subsea cable, a 720‑Tbps system spanning 1,931 km. The cable will land in Qatar, Oman, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq,...
East African Countries Plan Regional Satellite Launch
Ministers from Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda have agreed to move forward with the Northern Corridor Regional Communication and Broadcasting Satellite Initiative (NCRCBSI), a joint effort to launch a satellite that will broaden communication and broadcasting services across East...
Guinea Signs Deal for Second Submarine Cable
Guinea’s government announced a contract to build and maintain a second submarine fiber‑optic cable, the first such system having been installed 13 years ago and now nearing capacity limits. Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah framed the project as a cornerstone...
Here's the Latest on US Efforts to Find Spectrum for 6G
The NTIA reported steady progress in reallocating four key spectrum bands for future 6G use, with the 7 GHz band closest to completion. A White House memo mandates identifying at least 600 MHz of exclusive licensed spectrum between 1.3 GHz and 10 GHz, and...
Telesur Joins EllaLink Caribbean Gateway Project
Suriname’s state‑owned telecom Telesur has signed a letter of intent to connect to EllaLink’s Caribbean subsea cable system. The new gateway will provide direct access to Tier‑1 data centres in Europe and create redundant routes to Brazil and the United...
Closing the Connectivity Gap Between Urban and Regional Businesses: Why Infrastructure Alone Won’t Be Enough
Ireland’s National Broadband Plan will connect over 451,000 rural homes, farms and businesses by the end of 2026, giving regional firms high‑speed internet comparable to urban peers. While the rollout removes a physical barrier, the article argues that infrastructure alone...
Automotive Connectivity and Efficiency: Seizing the Wi-Fi 7 Opportunity—Download the Guide
Murata’s new whitepaper highlights Wi‑Fi 7 as a transformative technology for automotive connectivity, offering up to 16 spatial streams and 320 MHz channel widths. The high‑bandwidth, low‑latency link is positioned to meet the massive data demands of advanced driver‑assistance systems (ADAS) and...
A New Race to the Moon Puts Earth-to-Moon Connectivity in the Spotlight
The renewed race to the Moon is spotlighting Earth‑to‑Moon communications as a critical enabler for upcoming Artemis missions and commercial lunar ventures. NASA’s Ignition Initiative will invest $20 billion over seven years to build sustainable habitats, rovers and nuclear power on...
UN Launches New Advisory Body to Protect Submarine Cables
The International Telecommunication Union, under the UN, announced a new global advisory body to bolster the resilience of submarine fiber‑optic cables amid escalating geopolitical risks. Recent incidents—including a Houthi‑targeted vessel in the Red Sea and suspected sabotage in the Baltic—have...
.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Airtel Africa Subscribers Surge, Data Usage Boosts Revenue
Airtel Africa reported 183.5 million subscribers at the end of FY2026, a 10.5% increase and its strongest net addition year to date. Data users rose 14.8% to 84.2 million, pushing data revenue up 35.2% to $2.53 billion and making it the group’s top...
Ocilion to Host Innovation Breakfast at ANGA COM 2026
Ocilion will host its annual Innovation Breakfast at the ANGA COM 2026 congress in Cologne on 20 May, assembling senior executives from IPTV service providers, network operators, and content platforms. The half‑hour session, titled “Growth engine IPTV,” will feature a panel discussion on...
Appeals Court Kills FCC Effort To Acknowledge Racism In Broadband Deployment
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously struck down the FCC's 2023 rule that would have allowed consumers to file complaints over broadband services that cause disparate impact on low‑income and minority neighborhoods. The court held the agency exceeded...
NVIDIA and Corning Expand U.S. Optical Manufacturing
NVIDIA and Corning announced a multiyear partnership to expand U.S. optical connectivity manufacturing for AI data centers. Corning will boost domestic capacity tenfold and increase fiber output by more than 50%, adding three new plants in North Carolina and Texas...
Curaçao Advances New CELIA Subsea Cable Project
Curaçao’s Qonèkt Telecom, a subsidiary of Integrated Utility Holding, has launched the permit process for a new undersea cable landing at Parasasa Beach, linking the island directly to the CELIA Submarine Cable System. The connection is expected to boost internet...
Telecom News: Jazz, Ericsson, Optus, Safaricom, Vodacom
Jazz, Pakistan’s largest operator, plans to deploy 1,000 5G sites by mid‑August, scaling from 180 test locations and focusing on underserved areas with 700 MHz spectrum. In Australia, Ericsson and Optus demonstrated a world‑first 180 MHz carrier‑aggregation trial that delivered peak 3.4 Gbps...
Telecom News: Swisscom, INWIT, Fastweb, Vodafone Italia, Vodafone Idea, ZTE, MediaTek
Swisscom’s dispute with Italian tower owner INWIT may drag on for up to five years as Fastweb seeks to exit a sharing agreement and partner with TIM, while the Fastweb‑Vodafone Italia integration has already delivered €77 million (≈$83 million) in first‑quarter savings...
Telecom News: T-Mobile, TIM, FiberCop, Open Fiber
T‑Mobile Prepaid introduced short‑term eSIM passes for international visitors, offering 7‑ to 30‑day plans with 50 GB of 5G data priced between $25 and $50. The service activates instantly, covering the U.S., Mexico and Canada, and includes hotspot access and T‑Mobile...
TELUS Q1 2026 Revenue Stable as Broadband, Subscriber Growth and AI Strategy Drive Free Cash Flow
TELUS posted Q1 2026 operating revenue of $5.0 billion CAD (≈$3.7 billion USD), essentially flat year‑over‑year, as service revenue rose 1% while mobile equipment sales slipped. Broadband subscriber base reached 17.7 million, up 6%, and total customer additions hit 262,000, driven by strong...
Vodafone Idea Launches 5G Services in Puducherry
Vodafone Idea (Vi) has begun commercial 5G services in the Union Territory of Puducherry, following its recent launch in Chennai. The operator highlighted the region’s growing tourism, education and commerce sectors as drivers of high‑data demand. Vi’s rollout targets densely...
The Friday File: VodafoneThree; Anthropic; Europe 5G
Vodafone agreed to a £4.3 billion ($5.5 billion) buyout of CK Hutchison’s 49% stake in VodafoneThree, giving it full control of the UK operator. Anthropic signed a massive compute agreement with SpaceX, securing over 300 MW of power and 220,000 Nvidia GPUs at...