Vi to expand 5G footprint to 18 cities of Maharashtra by May
INDIA 10:36

Vi to expand 5G footprint to 18 cities of Maharashtra by May

Indian operator Vi reports it is accelerating its 5G services expansion across the state of Maharashtra. The operator launched its 5G offer in eight additional cities, namely Kolhapur, Vasai, Nanded, Jalgaon, Satara, Malegaon, Shirdi, and Dhule.

Sisvel launches cellular POS patent pool with Huawei, Nokia, LG as licensors
GLOBAL 10:30

Sisvel launches cellular POS patent pool with Huawei, Nokia, LG as licensors

A new patent pool from Sisvel has launched to streamline access to cellular technologies used in commercial point-of-sale (POS) systems. The Sisvel POS patent pool includes standard essential patents from licensors Nokia, LG Electronics and Huawei that underpin cellular connectivity in connected POS devices. Early participation incentives to encourage further licensor sign-ups are available until mid-May.

Vi expands 5G services to Tirupati city
INDIA 10:27

Vi expands 5G services to Tirupati city

Indian operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) has launched 5G services in the city of Tirupati, extending its network coverage within the state of Andhra Pradesh. This deployment follows the initial 5G rollout in Tirumala during August 2025. The infrastructure is designed to provide connectivity for a resident population of 650,000 and a daily transient population of 70,000 visitors.

Brazil court prohibits Transsion from selling 5G devices in Interdigital licensing dispute
BRAZIL 09:51

Brazil court prohibits Transsion from selling 5G devices in Interdigital licensing dispute

A Brazilian court has issued a preliminary injunction against Transsion, prohibiting the sale of its 5G-enabled devices in Brazil. The ruling sided with InterDigital, the wireless technology and licensing company, affirming that Transsion infringed on two of InterDigital's 5G patents. The court also found InterDigital's licensing terms to be fair and reasonable.

O2 rolls out standalone 5G service in East Sussex
UNITED KINGDOM 07:58

O2 rolls out standalone 5G service in East Sussex

Virgin Media O2 has switched on its 5G Standalone footprint in several urban centres and hundreds of rural villages in East Sussex in southern England. The O2 5G+ rollout covers more than 830,000 urban residents, including East Sussex's biggest coastal city, Brighton and Hove, as well as several key towns in the area, including Peacehaven, Hastings, Lewes, Eastbourne, Seaford and Rye.

NTT Docomo to launch direct-to-smartphone satellite service using Starlink
JAPAN 05:58

NTT Docomo to launch direct-to-smartphone satellite service using Starlink

NTT Docomo will launch a satellite-to-smartphone communication service, branded 'docomo Starlink Direct', on 27 April, enabling connectivity in areas without terrestrial network coverage. The service uses SpaceX's Starlink satellite network to support text messaging and limited data communication via compatible applications. It is designed for use in locations like mountainous regions, remote islands and at sea, as well as during disasters where ground infrastructure is unavailable.

SoftBank to launch satellite-to-smartphone service, no date revealed
JAPAN 05:55

SoftBank to launch satellite-to-smartphone service, no date revealed

SoftBank said it plans to introduce a direct-to-device communication service using SpaceX's Starlink satellite network, enabling smartphones to connect in areas without terrestrial coverage. The operator said the service will support text messaging and limited data communication through compatible applications in locations such as mountainous regions, remote islands and at sea, as well as in disaster scenarios where ground infrastructure is unavailable.

Optus follows Telstra with second price rise within a year
AUSTRALIA 05:43

Optus follows Telstra with second price rise within a year

Optus has begun notifying customers it is will be raising its postpaid mobile plans by AUD 5 from 18 May – the second time within 12 months. The operator has promised higher data allowances for the new tariffs. Its cheapest "Choice Plus" postpaid plan comes with an extra 10 GB of data (now 60 GB) and will rise by AUD 5 to AUD 60 a month. Its medium plan increases to AUD 70 for 240 GB, and the largest plan rises to AUD 90 for 480 GB, which is up 80 GB. 

Spark launches satellite-to-mobile data services with Starlink
NEW ZEALAND 05:35

Spark launches satellite-to-mobile data services with Starlink

Spark New Zealand has launched satellite-to-mobile data and text services in partnership with Starlink, extending connectivity to remote areas across New Zealand. The service enables customers to access data and messaging via satellite when outside the reach of terrestrial mobile networks, provided there is a clear line of sight to the sky. It is available to consumer, SME and enterprise customers on eligible plans, where it is included at no additional cost. Other customers can access the capability as an

Life Belarus lauches 5G network in major cities
BELARUS 1 APR

Life Belarus lauches 5G network in major cities

Life Belarus said that it has launched 5G services in certain locations in the cities of Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Mogilyov and Gomel. The gradual launch of the service is carried out in cooperation with the state-owned infrastructure operator beCloud, using its 5G infrastructure. 5G services from Life are available on more than 1,000 base stations.

Netherlands awards 7 new private 5G permits for 3.5GHz band
NETHERLANDS 1 APR

Netherlands awards 7 new private 5G permits for 3.5GHz band

SES subsidiary New Skies Satellites, wireless network specialist Lumiad and the greenhouse industry's innovation centre Tomatoworld are among the recipients of seven new licences for private 5G networks in the 3.5 GHz band in the Netherlands. According to the latest update from the digital infrastructure agency RDI, there are a total 58 private networks licensed in the band as of March.

Vodafone improves standalone 5G coverage at Manchester airport
UNITED KINGDOM 1 APR

Vodafone improves standalone 5G coverage at Manchester airport

Vodafone said it has improved its 5G standalone and 4G coverage at Manchester airport, thanks to a dedicated indoor coverage system installed across Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 Departure areas. With its faster data speeds and ability to serve greater numbers of customers, dedicated 5G SA means Vodafone customers have a fast and strong connection inside the airport, even when the building is at its busiest, the operator said. Vodafone's 5G SA network is also able to support airport-based businesses with variou

UNITED KINGDOM 1 APR

UK confirms PSTN migration by early 2027, 2G shutdown in 2029-30

The UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has confirmed plans to migrate all users on the BT Openreach public-switched telephone network (PSTN) to digital phone lines by early 2027. Its newly-launched Telecommunications Modernisation Package and Connectivity Timeline puts a firm deadline on digital upgrades of fixed landlines. Once this is delivered, the Connectivity Timeline anticipates all 108 legacy Openreach telephone exchanges will be closed gradually by December 2030. Exchange

BRAZIL 1 APR

TIM Brasil and Embrapa expand Amazon agroforestry research

TIM Brasil and Embrapa are expanding their partnership to bolster a sustainable bioeconomy in the Amazon by 2026. They have signed a MOU for the AgForest Lab, a new laboratory at Embrapa Amazonia Oriental in Belem, which will focus on developing scalable agroforestry systems for the Amazon biome. The 213-hectare experimental lab, set to be physically implemented throughout 2026, will be an open innovation hub, bringing together various companies, institutions, and producers. It aims to translate Embrapa's d

UNITED STATES 1 APR

AT&T to invest USD 1 billion to support FirstNet first responder service following US govt talks

The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has confirmed fresh investment and cost efficiencies at the AT&T-operated US first responder network FirstNet. Under the expanded deal, arranged with the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, AT&T agreed to invest about USD 1 billion in network and coverage enhancements that will support FirstNet users. The additional spending will be tailored to the needs of public safety while integrating feedback from the FirstNet Authority Board, a

SPAIN 1 APR

Orange and Euskaltel bring 5G to 99 small towns in Navarre

MasOrange said its Orange and Euskaltel brands have expanded their 5G coverage to 99 municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants in the northern Navarre region. Some 38 of these municipalities have populations below 500, confirming the group's commitment to reduce the digital divide and bring advanced mobile services to even the smallest rural communities.

UNITED STATES 1 APR

Ericsson to supply 5G SA roll-out at Vermont FWA carrier VTel Wireless

Ericsson has been selected by VTel Wireless, a US FWA carrier active in Vermont, to supply a 5G Standalone rollout targeting rural footprints. The deal sees VTel adopt Ericsson's advanced RAN technology, cloud-native software functions, and its cloud-native 5G/LTE network core. With this deployment, VTel is poised to become the first US rural carrier to fully support 5G Standalone's VoNR roaming capability, which allows the network to interface with national-scale telecoms providers.

TURKEY 1 APR

Turkcell, Turk Telekom, Vodafone launch 5G services in Turkiye

Turkcell, Turk Telekom, and Vodafone Turkey have launched 5G services in Turkiye. The service is now available in all 81 provincial centers of the country. The government and operators have established a two-year timeline to achieve full nationwide geographical coverage.

JAPAN 1 APR

NTT Docomo deploys Ruckus Wi-Fi to support public network expansion

NTT Docomo has deployed Wi-Fi access points from Ruckus Networks as part of the network infrastructure for its public Wi-Fi service, d Wi-Fi, to improve connectivity in high-density environments and support rapid network deployment. The operator said the technology is being used to address challenges in stadiums and large-scale event venues, where congestion and radio interference can affect service stability. Ruckus's directional antenna technology is designed to dynamically focus signals towards connected

NEW ZEALAND 1 APR

Spark completes nationwide 3G network shutdown in New Zealand

Spark New Zealand has completed the shutdown of its nationwide 3G network, marking the closure of all 3G services across New Zealand. The operator said the switch-off follows several years of preparation, including upgrading all 3G-only cell sites to 4G or 5G and building more than 120 new towers since announcing the shutdown timeline in mid-2025. It also issued more than four million customer notifications and supported an industry-wide awareness campaign, alongside community outreach efforts delivered in

GERMANY 31 MRT

Telefonica Germany improves mobile coverage with 2,000 expansion measures in Q1

Telefonica Germany said it has implemented 2,000 expansion measures in the first quarter of this year to improve its mobile network coverage. This represents a 25 percent increase in terms of expansion activities year-on-year. Telefonica is focusing on improving coverage in previously under-served regions, along rail lines and roads, and on boosting network performance. The operator also activated more than 600 new 5G sites to reach around 99 perfect of the population in Germany with 5G.

PERU 31 MRT

Peru exceeds 3,800 5G antennas

Peru's Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) announced that the deployment of 5G infrastructure has further accelerated in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 3,889 antennas with the technology, up from just 400 in 2021. The rollout is expected to further intensify this year following the award of 5G-compatible frequencies in the 3.5 GHz band to the operators Claro (America Movil), IntegraTel (Movistar Peru), Entel and Bitel (Viettel) at the end of last year.

VENEZUELA 31 MRT

Digitel Venezuela brings 5G to Greater Caracas, Bolivar and Lara

Venezuelan operator Digitel said it has expanded its 5G network to new areas in Greater Caracas as well as the states of Bolivar and Lara, adding to the previously launched coverage in Barinas, Mérida and Nueva Esparta. Customers can now access the network in La Chirica and Dalla Costa in San Félix (Bolivar), Quíbor and Carora Sur (Lara) plus Cúa, Ocumare del Tuy, La Urbina, La Veguita and the Coche wholesale market in Greater Caracas.

EUROPE 31 MRT

OneLayer to expand European footprint with new EMEA sales director

US-based private cellular asset management specialist OneLayer said it is expanding its European footprint, having recently appointed a new sales director for Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA). Sander Teunissen takes up the role to help scale OneLayer's regional presence, through customer additions and supporting them to integrate private LTE/5G into critical operational technology (OT) and zero-trust security workflows. Teunissen was previously head of sales at Dutch enterprise networking and SASE vendor

Just In

10:40

MTN Uganda runs Digital Literacy Programme training in Western region

10:36

Vi to expand 5G footprint to 18 cities of Maharashtra by May

10:32

Cyan meets FY outlook, forecasts further sales growth in year ahead

10:30

Sisvel launches cellular POS patent pool with Huawei, Nokia, LG as licensors

Commentary

11 FEB 12:29

Odido shareholders face tricky exit after abandoned IPO

2 FEB 13:49

KPN results show little bother from the competition

2 JAN 13:21

Open Dutch Fiber's new management team takes up turnaround challenge

15 DEC 2025 13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

Background

29 MRT 22:46

The week in telecoms: Italy brings back PTT, US bans foreign routers and social media on trial

23 MRT 00:38

The week in telecoms: OFC and Nvidia events drive data centre networking talk, Orange debuts full French office stack

16 MRT 00:25

The week in telecoms: Pakistan ready for 5G, Google exits FTTH market and Canal Plus works on pay-TV turnaround

6 MRT 16:00

The week in telecom: MWC brings 5G advances, AI and satellite integration, plus first robot phone