Meet Rassvet, Russia’s Answer to Starlink
Russia’s Bureau 1440 launched the first 16 Rassvet broadband satellites on 23 March 2026, marking the start of a planned low‑Earth‑orbit constellation. The government‑backed project aims for 300‑350 satellites by 2030, delivering up to 1 Gbps speeds and 70 ms latency across the nation. Funding combines a $1.34 billion state grant with an additional $4 billion slated from private sources. Rassvet is positioned as a dual‑use system for civilian internet and military communications, directly challenging SpaceX’s Starlink in strategic and commercial arenas.
Inseego Hires Product Chief to Steer Nokia Integration
Inseego has hired Koroush Saraf as chief product officer to drive product strategy and oversee the integration of Nokia’s fixed wireless access (FWA) customer‑premises equipment business. Saraf arrives from senior product roles at Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks and ZPE Systems,...
Bringing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Connectivity to Scotland’s Rail Network
Nomad Digital is installing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite‑based Wi‑Fi on ScotRail’s Class 222 intercity fleet, covering routes such as Glasgow‑Edinburgh‑Aberdeen‑Inverness. The solution reduces reliance on terrestrial mobile networks, delivering more consistent connectivity in rural and regional areas. The rollout is...
GCT Taps Satellite Partner to Speed 5G Rollout
GCT Semiconductor has signed a reference platform agreement with a major satellite communications provider to speed the creation of 5G user equipment that works across satellite and terrestrial networks. The deal builds on an earlier chipset licensing pact and delivers...
Helios Ups Guidance on Back of Strong Tenancy Pipeline
Helios Towers raised its tenancy guidance to 3,000‑3,500 new sites this year, a 1,000‑unit increase over the forecast issued two months earlier. The company now reports 33,350 tenancies, pushing its tenancy ratio to 2.22× and exceeding its 2.2× target ahead...
![Composition of the Board of Regulators Pursuant to Article 7 and 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 [1]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/67297ce93492d325d3cc67776a56e164.webp)
Composition of the Board of Regulators Pursuant to Article 7 and 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 [1]
The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) has published the updated composition of its Board of Regulators (BoR) under Article 7 and 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971. The roster lists 18 national regulatory authorities from EU member states and candidate countries,...
Airtel Africa Revenue Jumps 29.5% as ARPU, Subscribers and AI-Led Digital Strategy Fuel FY26 Growth
Airtel Africa posted a 29.5% revenue jump to $6.42 bn in FY26, driven by higher ARPU, a 10.5% rise in subscribers and strong digital‑service uptake. Data revenue surged 35.2%, while Airtel Money processed over $215 bn, reflecting expanding mobile‑financial usage. EBITDA climbed...
Zimbabwe Starlink Subscriptions Now The Largest In Southern Africa
Starlink’s Zimbabwe subscriber base hit 67,057 in Q4 2025, a 31.6% quarterly jump and 117% growth since early 2025, making the country the Southern African leader in satellite internet. The surge lifted Zimbabwe to over half of the region’s Starlink users,...
Neos Networks, Cornerstone and StonesThro Power UK Sovereign Edge Cloud
Neos Networks has partnered with Cornerstone and microscaler StonesThro to build a sovereign edge‑cloud network across the UK. By leveraging Neos’ national fibre backbone and Cornerstone’s infrastructure footprint, the trio will connect regional edge nodes that keep AI and compute...
Airtel Cheapest AirFiber Plan Offers 22+ OTTs
Bharti Airtel launched a Rs 699 (~$10) per month AirFiber plan delivering 40 Mbps speed and a 1 TB data cap, bundled with access to more than 22 OTT services and over 350 TV channels. The service runs on Airtel's 5G Standalone (SA)...
HPE Drops First Juniper X Aruba Collab – Self-Driving Wi-Fi
HPE has launched its first Juniper‑derived Wi‑Fi 7 access point, the Networking 723H, which can be managed through either Aruba Central or the Mist platform. The device introduces AI‑driven “self‑driving” functions that automatically avoid restricted RF bands, scale capacity for large...
This German Company Is Taking Lessons Learned to US MDUs
Agnoss, a German‑origin network specialist, is adapting its European fiber‑to‑the‑unit (FTTU) playbook for U.S. multi‑dwelling units (MDUs). The company offers a one‑stop‑shop that handles design, permitting, installation, maintenance and managed Wi‑Fi, aiming to streamline rollouts and cut costs. CEO Christian...
Newcastle Wi-Fi Moves From Launch to Everyday City Service
Newcastle City Council has expanded its city‑wide public Wi‑Fi, launched in September 2025, to become a core municipal service. The network now covers council buildings, libraries, leisure centres and more than 1,000 local businesses, allowing seamless sign‑on across the city....
Telephone and Data Systems Inc (TDS) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) closed a $1.018 billion spectrum sale to AT&T and used the proceeds to retire its remaining $150 million term loan, strengthening its balance sheet. The company accelerated its fiber build, adding 58,000 marketable addresses in Q4 and...
Spectrum Expanded Its Internet Service To Over 262,000 New Homes & Businesses In The First Quarter of 2026
Spectrum added 262,000 new passings in Q1 2026, raising its total footprint to 58.6 million locations—a 1.5 million increase over the past year. The growth is driven by a multi‑year rural fiber initiative funded with over $7 billion in private investment and subsidies....
The Rapid Rise of Cell Towers in Space
Satellite firms are racing to deliver direct‑to‑device (D2D) broadband, with SpaceX planning 15,000 new satellites and spending $17 billion on spectrum, while Amazon bought Globalstar for $11.6 billion to launch its own constellation. Market analysts forecast cumulative D2D revenue of $100 billion by...
Wireless, Cable Industries at Odds over Spectrum Needs for AI
Wireless carriers, represented by CTIA, are urging the U.S. to allocate additional licensed mid‑band spectrum—specifically 4 GHz and the 6‑7 GHz range—to support the surge in AI‑driven traffic. The CTIA report warns that failing to meet this demand could cost the U.S....
Texas Lawmakers Back Effort To Lift Camp Fiber Requirement
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced support for removing the state‑mandated end‑to‑end fiber optic requirement that youth camps must meet to operate this summer. The rule, enacted after a July 2025 flood that killed 25...
Arkansas Tackles Large-Scale Permitting Challenges
Arkansas' State Broadband Office unveiled a 75‑page permitting toolkit to streamline the complex approval process for projects funded under the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The guide centralizes federal, state and local requirements, covering everything from environmental...
ISP Hopes to Disrupt Marketplaces in Dallas, Los Angeles
Sonic Fiber Internet announced a major expansion of its fiber‑optic network into Los Angeles and Dallas, offering residential plans with speeds up to 10 Gbps for as low as $40 per month. The rollout features a no‑contract, flat‑rate pricing model and...
Arista Rides AI Scale Out Networks, Moves Into Scale Across, And Awaits Scale Up
Arista Networks lifted its 2026 revenue outlook to $11.5 billion, with AI‑related networking now projected at $3.5 billion. The company posted a record $2.71 billion total revenue in Q1, driven by a 36.6% year‑over‑year jump in product sales and a 27.3% rise in...
USAC Reports Little Change in Q3 Funding Projections
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) released its Q3 2026 funding projection, showing a consolidated budget of $65.82 million—virtually unchanged from the $65.67 million forecast in Q2. The filing details $18.33 million for rural broadband, $20.28 million for low‑income subsidies, $20 million for schools and...
Air Force Plans to Ditch BACN Jets for Satellite Communications
The U.S. Air Force will retire its seven E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft by fiscal year 2028, shifting the mission to satellite‑based communications. The transition will be driven by the Hybrid SATCOM Terminal program, which aims to field...
AST SpaceMobile Pivots to SpaceX for Mid-June Launch of Three BlueBird Satellites
AST SpaceMobile announced that its next three BlueBird Block 2 satellites will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 in mid‑June 2026, after the April New Glenn failure left BlueBird 7 unrecoverable. The shift to SpaceX restores deployment momentum for the company’s low‑Earth‑orbit cellular broadband constellation....
Safaricom’s Mobile Data Business Is Now Bigger than Voice Calls
Safaricom reported that mobile data now accounts for 42.1% of its connectivity revenue, overtaking voice services at 41.3% for the year ended March 2026. Data revenue jumped 14.4% to KES 83.4 billion ($646 million), while voice grew only 1.3% to $634 million. Messaging revenue...
T-Mobile Quietly Revamps Internet Plans Amid Rising Pressure
T‑Mobile announced a quiet overhaul of its fiber internet plans, dropping the 500 Mbps tier to a 300 Mbps offering at $45/month and reducing the 1 Gbps price to $60 while keeping the 2 Gbps tier at $70. The changes, effective April 30, remove voice‑line...
PROFEN and Azercosmos Expand Satellite Services Across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
PROFEN, a Turkish satellite communications provider, and Azerbaijan’s Azercosmos have signed a cooperation agreement at SAHA Expo 2026 to use capacity on the Azerspace‑1 and Azerspace‑2 GEO satellites across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The deal leverages PROFEN’s ground...
.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Safaricom Group Service Revenue Tops $3.2B
Safaricom Group posted an 11.5% rise in service revenue to KES 414.1 billion ($3.2 billion) for the year ended 31 March 2026, boosted by a 86.6% jump in Ethiopian revenue. Kenyan service revenue grew 10% to $3.1 billion, while operating profit climbed 40% to $1.14 billion. The...
BT Preps 5G Network Slicing Services This Summer
BT announced it will roll out 5G network slicing services across the UK by the end of summer 2026, aligning the launch with its role as the official telecommunications partner for UEFA Euro 2028. The carrier’s 5G+ (standalone) network already reaches...
Combating Fraud in Telecom: BEREC to Host a Workshop on 21 May 2026
On 21 May 2026, BEREC will host an online workshop dedicated to combating telecom fraud, bringing together regulators, national authorities, telecom operators, equipment vendors, and European institutions such as the European Commission and Europol. The agenda features two panel sessions:...
Rohde & Schwarz and Greenerwave Achieve Precise and Fast ESA Antenna Characterization Using Near-Field Technology
Rohde & Schwarz and Greenerwave demonstrated a near‑field measurement that captured a full Ku‑band radiation pattern of a 50 cm electronically steerable array in just 32 minutes. The results matched simulation and CATR data within 1 dB, proving the method’s accuracy. By using the...
The Market Has Evolved and the Technology Has Evolved Sheila Kavanagh, Engineer and Network Director Vodafone Ireland
Vodafone Ireland achieved a milestone by completing the country’s first mobile video call via satellite using a standard smartphone. The service relies on AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellite, allowing data to be beamed directly between the phone and orbiting hardware. Sheila...
Tower Companies Bullish on Spectrum, AI and the Edge
Despite Dish Wireless defaulting on tower payments, U.S. tower operators remain optimistic, citing AI‑driven edge computing, upcoming 6G spectrum, and rising fixed‑wireless demand as growth engines. American Tower unveiled its first edge data center in Raleigh and plans further expansion....
The Divide: How Permitting Problems Delay Broadband Builds
The $42 billion BEAD program will pour roughly $21 billion into U.S. broadband builds over four years, but providers warn permitting bottlenecks threaten timely deployment. Executives from Brightspeed, Ziply Fiber, and CentraCom describe costly, inconsistent permit fees—up to $30,000 for a 200‑home...
16x9.jpg?disable=upscale&width=1200&height=630&fit=crop){kind=logo}
Eurobites: Vodafone Entrusts 'Sovereign' Cloud to AWS
Vodafone has signed a multi‑year agreement with Amazon Web Services to deliver a sovereign, Europe‑only cloud using Skaylink’s expertise, ensuring all data stays within the EU. Telecom Italia reported a 1.7% drop in Q1 EBITDA to €1 bn, with domestic earnings...
BT Scores UEFA Deal; Reintroduces BT Mobile in Brand Revamp
BT Group secured the official telecom partnership for the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament in the UK and Ireland, pledging to power broadcasts, stadium connectivity and public screenings. The network will serve nine stadiums, 24 team base camps and support eSIM...
Consumer Complaints: TRAI Proposes to Remove Advisory Committee, Moots Stricter Penalties
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has drafted the Telecom Consumers Complaint Redressal (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, proposing to eliminate the two‑member advisory committee and replace it with a senior‑management appellate authority. The amendment mandates 24/7 complaint centres equipped with...
Poste Italiane Aims to Close TIM Takeover in Q3
Poste Italiane announced it aims to close its €10.8 billion ($11.8 billion) voluntary offer for TIM in the third quarter, alongside a stronger‑than‑expected Q1 earnings report. The postal group says its solid balance sheet and cash flow position it to fund digital...
Vodafone Idea, PhysicsWallah Partner to Launch EdTech-Enabled Prepaid Plans for Students
Indian telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) has launched two prepaid “Vi Edu+” plans in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh East, priced at Rs 375 (~$4.5) and Rs 409 (~$4.9) per 28‑day cycle. Each plan bundles unlimited 4G/5G data, unlimited voice, 100 SMS daily,...
Biden Era Digital Discrimination FCC Rule Inevitably Overturned
A U.S. appeals court has invalidated the FCC's 2023 digital discrimination rule, finding it exceeds the agency's statutory authority by policing disparate impact rather than disparate treatment. The decision was praised by FCC Chair Brendan Carr and the U.S. Chamber...
Optus, Ericsson Claim SA 5G Aggregation First
Optus and Ericsson have demonstrated a world‑first 180 MHz standalone (SA) 5G carrier‑aggregation trial on a live commercial network at Optus’s Sydney campus, combining 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands. The test, run on Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra devices, recorded peak downlink speeds...
Airties Launches Lite Platform for Retail Wi-Fi Gateways
Airties has introduced Airties Lite, an AI‑driven platform that lets internet service providers manage retail‑purchased Wi‑Fi gateways using the TR‑369 (USP) standard. The solution provides real‑time connectivity scoring, AI‑based root‑cause diagnostics and proactive campaign tools without requiring custom firmware on...
GSMA M360 Eurasia 2026 to Spotlight AI, Satellite Connectivity and Digital Growth in Uzbekistan
The GSMA M360 Eurasia 2026 summit will convene in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on May 20‑21, gathering policymakers, telecom leaders and technology innovators. Organized with the Uzbek Ministry of Digital Technologies, Beeline Uzbekistan and VEON, the event will spotlight AI‑ready governments, sovereign...
How Does AI-Driven Communications Software Support the Transformation of Digital Communications?
Telecommunications operators are increasingly adopting AI‑driven communications software to modernize digital platforms. These solutions analyze massive data streams, predict network failures, and automate service delivery, boosting operational efficiency. Integrated connectivity ecosystems centralize device, client, and service management, reducing downtime and...
Verizon Uses Network Digital Twin to Weather Storms
Verizon unveiled a network‑wide digital twin that leverages drone‑captured 3D imagery and AI to instantly locate storm damage on its 4G, 5G and core infrastructure. The system compares post‑storm scans with baseline models, allowing engineers to prioritize repairs and dramatically...
Chunghwa Telecom Q1 2026 Revenue Rises on 5G, Broadband and ICT Growth as AI and 6G Strategy Gains Momentum
Chunghwa Telecom posted first‑quarter 2026 revenue of NT$59.99 billion (≈$1.9 billion), a 7.5% year‑over‑year increase, driven by stronger 5G uptake, broadband growth and expanding ICT services. Operating income rose 4.6% to NT$13.10 billion and EBITDA to NT$23.30 billion as the carrier accelerated its AI‑focused...
Swisscom Q1 2026 Revenue Falls as 5G, Broadband and Italy Synergies Support Cash Flow Growth
Swisscom’s Q1 2026 revenue fell 4.1% to CHF 3.61 billion (≈$3.97 billion) while EBITDAaL rose 0.8% to CHF 1.29 billion (≈$1.42 billion). Operating free cash flow jumped 22.6% to CHF 594 million (≈$653 million) thanks to cost cuts and synergies from the Vodafone Italia‑Fastweb merger. In Switzerland, 5G+ coverage hit 89%...
GSMA Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Connectivity Resilience Across Africa
The GSMA warns that rising fuel costs are jeopardizing mobile network reliability across Africa, where connectivity underpins emergency services, finance, health and education. It calls for immediate fuel prioritisation for telecom sites, medium‑term classification of telecoms as critical infrastructure, and...
Deutsche Telekom Made Cloud Jump From Ericsson to Mavenir in 5G
Deutsche Telekom is replacing Ericsson’s 5G packet core with Mavenir’s solution as part of its Horizontal TelCo Cloud (HTC) initiative. The HTC platform consolidates more than 50 core‑network applications onto a common bare‑metal and Kubernetes‑based container‑as‑a‑service (T‑CaaS) layer. By standardising...
Somewear Labs Introduces Horizon Radio to Advance Long-Range Drone Communications
Somewear Labs unveiled Horizon, a software‑defined radio that blends line‑of‑sight and satellite links to keep unmanned systems connected beyond visual range. The device automatically switches networks when link quality degrades, preserving real‑time command, waypoint updates, and flight‑mode changes. Built for...