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.

Airtel hits 650 million customers milestone, ranks second globally
INDIA 10:18

Airtel hits 650 million customers milestone, ranks second globally

Indian operator Bharti Airtel reports it has topped 650 million customers. According to GSMA Intelligence, Bharti Airtel is ranked second globally by mobile customer base, following China Mobile. Airtel's operations span India and Africa.

Vodafone Greece launches Vodafone All+ services bundles for household users
GREECE 10:05

Vodafone Greece launches Vodafone All+ services bundles for household users

Vodafone Greece has launched the 'Vodafone All+' services portfolio, as a new set of bundled telecommunications plans that combine multiple services into a single subscription. The portfolio integrates mobile services, fixed broadband connections such as fibre internet, and in some cases TV or digital content, replacing the earlier structure in which these services were typically purchased separately. The plans are structured to provide a unified billing model and are designed to be used at the household le

Iliad Italia launches entry-level Top 170 plan
ITALY 09:53

Iliad Italia launches entry-level Top 170 plan

Iliad Italia has announced the launch of a new entry-level plan with 170 GB of data for under EUR 8 a month. The offer, dubbed Top 170 Plus, replaces the Iliad Giga 150 plan and is initially available until 19 May. It joins the operator's Giga 200 and Giga 250 plans, with 200 GB and 250 GB of 5G data for EUR 9.99 and EUR 11.99 a month respectively.

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.

France closes 2025 with 2.4 mln SIMs in 2G devices
FRANCE 09:49

France closes 2025 with 2.4 mln SIMs in 2G devices

The number of SIM cards in 2G devices decreased to 2.4 million in Q4 2025, down from 2.8 million in Q2 2025, according to telecom regulator Arcep. This represented 1.8 percent of all active SIMs across devices dedicated to voice/text/data services, and 3.9 percent of the M2M installed base. Over the same period, SIMs in 2G-only and 3G/2G-only devices fell from 5.9 to 5.2 million.

Wilson Connectivity joins Autonomous Systems to introduce lifecycle capability for in-building coverage
UNITED STATES 09:17

Wilson Connectivity joins Autonomous Systems to introduce lifecycle capability for in-building coverage

Wilson Connectivity has introduced a network lifecycle management product for in-building cellular coverage systems deployed in partnership with enterprise transformation specialist Autonomous Systems. Launching globally in Q2, the collaboration brings automated, digitised lifecycle monitoring and testing services to Wilson Connectivity's coverage products, leveraging its partner's cloud-based platform to produce visibility insights into private cellular modes such as 5G and CBRS and across active, passive

NCA hosts Ghana's final preparatory meeting ahead of WRC-27
GHANA 09:08

NCA hosts Ghana's final preparatory meeting ahead of WRC-27

Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA) has convened the second and final national preparatory meeting as part of the country's build-up to the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) from 18 October to 17 November 2027 in Shanghai. The three-day NCA meeting from 31 March to 02 April provides a platform for stakeholders to review the preliminary positions adopted at the First National Preparatory Meeting in April 2025. It also consolidates Ghana's positions ahead of the third Economic Commu

Quectel expands localised manufacturing deal with India's Syrma SGS
INDIA 08:44

Quectel expands localised manufacturing deal with India's Syrma SGS

Quectel has expanded its Indian manufacturing partnership with Syrma SGS Technology to cover IoT antennas on top of its existing regional supply of IoT connectivity modules. The expanded agreement is in response to India's emergence as a major hub for electronics manufacturing and IoT innovation, driven by strong demand, a skilled workforce, and a maturing ecosystem. Sanjeev Pandey, vice president for business development at Syrma SGS, noted the deal would support domestic demand and the Make in India initi

Vodafone Oman overhauls Red, Black and Black for Business portfolios to reflect usage patterns
OMAN 08:40

Vodafone Oman overhauls Red, Black and Black for Business portfolios to reflect usage patterns

Vodafone Oman has overhauled the structure of its Red, Black and Black for Business mobile plans to reduce fragmentation, simplify customer choice and reflect actual usage behaviour. It says mobile usage in Oman has become continuous, spanning communication, work, payments and entertainment, often in different countries. Customers have long had to rely on add-ons, switch between plans, or use more than one SIM to meet different needs. In the business segment, this has turned into layered configurations and

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.

BELGIUM 07:37

Proximus adds kids mobile plan option to FMC range

Belgian operator Proximus is introducing a mobile plan for kids, available for customers taking its Flex fixed-mobile packages. The plan costs EUR 7 per month for 2 GB, 120 minutes and unlimited SMS, and any additional spending is blocked automatically. A 'Kids Protection Pack' is included, with parental controls via Norton Family software and educational tips from Child Focus. In addition, Proximus provides a free ticket to the educational museums Technopolis or Sparkoh!.

NAMIBIA 07:22

Telecom Namibia reports temporary degradation of fixed and mobile data services

Telecom Namibia says fixed and mobile data services in some parts of its network are temporarily degraded, with intermittent connectivity or reduced speeds. It seeks to assure customers that technical staff are working around the clock to resolve problem and restore services to normal performance levels as quickly as possible. It apologises for any inconvenience caused. Anyone seeking assistance or further information is advised to contact its customer support centre via the designated hotline or WhatsApp c

KENYA 07:17

Kenyan parliament approves sale of 15% Safaricom stake to Vodacom

The Kenyan parliament has approved the sale of a 15 percent stake in Safaricom to Vodacom. The approval means that the state's 6 billion shares would be sold at KES 34 per share, raising about KES 204.3 billion. The government said it will allocate the proceeds to the National Infrastructure Fund, which supports the country's economic recovery strategy.

CONGO, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE 07:11

Helios Towers invests USD 100 mln to expand infrastructure in DRC

Helios Towers announced a USD 100 million investment to expand its telecommunications infrastructure across 23 provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ecofin reported. Supported by the National Investment Promotion Agency (ANAPI), the project targets improved network coverage and digital access in underserved areas to support the country's digital transformation.

ITALY 06:56

Kena prolongs 200GB rate for under EUR 6

Telecom Italia's low-cost brand Kena has extended the validity of a time-limited plan launched to mark its ninth anniversary. The Kena Promo 200GB offer includes 200GB of 5G data plus unlimited calls and 200 SMS for EUR 5.99 a month, with the operator also gifting the first month's top-up to clients who port their number from Iliad and several MVNOs.

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.

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.

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. 

JAPAN 05:40

NTT Docomo completes full virtualisation of mobile core network

NTT Docomo said it has completed the full virtualisation of its mobile core network, following infrastructure migration and the shutdown of its 3G services at the end of March 2026. The move transitions the operator's core network from dedicated hardware-based systems to a software-based architecture running on general-purpose servers. The core network supports mobile voice and data services for more than 90 million users.

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

JAPAN 05:31

NTT Docomo completes shutdown of 3G FOMA and i-mode services

NTT Docomo has terminated its third-generation (3G) "FOMA" mobile network and "i-mode" internet service as of 31 March, marking the end of two long-standing platforms in Japan's mobile market. FOMA, launched in October 2001, and i-mode, introduced in February 1999, had been widely adopted services enabling mobile voice, internet and email access. The operator said usage had declined in recent years as customers migrated to 4G and 5G networks.

Just In

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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

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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