The week in telecom: tough times for Microsoft and Nvidia, Cisco shines and smart glasses come to Android market
It was not the release of GTA VI that broke the internet last week, but a major IT fail for Microsoft 365 apps. There was a spectacular executive fail at Nvidia as well, plus another record IPO, at Anthropic. In telco-land, Orange is the latest to try a super-app with AI subscriptions, and Japanese operators are teaming up on their own satellite ventures.
The week in telecom: tough times for Microsoft and Nvidia, Cisco shines and smart glasses come to Android market
It was not the release of GTA VI that broke the internet last week, but a major IT fail for Microsoft 365 apps. There was a spectacular executive fail at Nvidia as well, plus another record IPO, at Anthropic. In telco-land, Orange is the latest to try a super-app with AI subscriptions, and Japanese operators are teaming up on their own satellite ventures.
Dutch Weekly - Week 46
The Dutch government plans an auction in 2029 for the 800, 900, 1,800 and 2,600 MHz mobile bands, and the cabinet approved its artificial intelligence (AI) vision. VodafoneZiggo reported third-quarter revenue growth that came from non-services revenue, while services revenue fell 0.9 percent. Databricks announced USD 500 million of investment in the Netherlands over the next three years. Telecompaper research found that two-thirds of Odido's Klik&Klaar customers rate its quality as good or very good. Mark B
Dutch Weekly - Week 46
The Dutch government plans an auction in 2029 for the 800, 900, 1,800 and 2,600 MHz mobile bands, and the cabinet approved its artificial intelligence (AI) vision. VodafoneZiggo reported third-quarter revenue growth that came from non-services revenue, while services revenue fell 0.9 percent. Databricks announced USD 500 million of investment in the Netherlands over the next three years. Telecompaper research found that two-thirds of Odido's Klik&Klaar customers rate its quality as good or very good. Mark B
German Weekly - Week 46
Vodafone Germany announced it will cut around 2,300 jobs over the next two years as it integrates customer service into its private and business client divisions and automates more processes. Vodafone Germany also reported first-half revenue growth of 1 percent, while Telefonica Germany posted a revenue decline of 2.9 percent in the third quarter. Telefonica Germany also extended its partnership with Freenet by ten years, and Deutsche Glasfaser opened its fibre network to the O2 brand, with offers starting
German Weekly - Week 46
UK Weekly - Week 46
UK fibre news centred on the proposed takeover of Netomnia by Virgin Media O2, which the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said it is minded to block. Northleaf is reconsidering its Kcom takeover amid the regulatory uncertainty, and CityFibre has reiterated its opposition to the deal. Point Topic data showed fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) coverage at 85.5 percent of premises in the third quarter. Vodafone UK lost 62,000 contract mobile customers in the first half, and Virgin Media O2 recorded record
UK Weekly - Week 46
UK ISPs, charities seek targeted broadband support for lowest-income homes
Leading charities and broadband providers in the UK have joined forces to call for a new approach to connectivity affordability. Coming together through The Connection Project, they have issued a joint statement calling for the government to provide deeper, targeted support for the lowest-income homes. They cite new research from the University of Liverpool's Professor Simeon Yates showing that around 400,000 offline households cannot afford the cheapest social broadband tariffs.
UK ISPs, charities seek targeted broadband support for lowest-income homes
Nebius revenue jumps 571 percent to USD 981 million in Q3
Amsterdam-based Nebius, global AI cloud company, has reported group revenue of USD 981 million for the third quarter of 2026, up 571 percent year-on-year; with positive adjusted EBITDA of USD 465.8 million, up from a year-earlier loss of USD 5.2 million. Revenue for the nine months was USD 1.96 billion, up 549 percent from USD 302.1 million a year earlier; with adjusted EBITDA of USD 831.5 million, up from a loss of USD 79.9 million a year earlier.
Nebius revenue jumps 571 percent to USD 981 million in Q3
CityFibre CEO reiterates opposition to Netomnia/nexfibre deal
The CEO of UK wholesale fibre altnet CityFibre, Simon Holden, has defended the company, insisting that it is a "fundamentally strong business delivering real value, with strong underlying performance". Supported by a new GBP 900 million equity commitment, Holden said that talks were ongoing with lenders about a recapitalisation of CityFibre's balance sheet, adding that it continued to deliver profitable, strong growth across its network - with over one million connected customers; and 260,000 new consumer c
CityFibre CEO reiterates opposition to Netomnia/nexfibre deal
FCC confirms final timetable for Upper-C band spectrum auction
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted the final timetable and formal procedures for the planned auction of 160 MHz of spectrum in the Upper-C band (3.9804.14 GHz) in April 2027. The auction will start on 27 April, with the FCC aiming for completion by the legislative deadline of 04 July 2027. The auction will unify a large amount of C-band spectrum, including 280 MHz of Lower C-band spectrum auctioned in 2020, to create a harmonised 5G Super Band covering 440 MHz (3.70-4.14 GHz).
FCC confirms final timetable for Upper-C band spectrum auction
Orange Poland deploys video camera system with edge analytics in Piastow
Orange Poland has designed, deployed and commissioned a video-surveillance system based on a fibre-optic network in the town of Piastow at Warsaw. This system transmits data from cameras to the video-surveillance centre at the Police Station in Piastow. This marks the first phase of the investment.
Orange Poland deploys video camera system with edge analytics in Piastow
T-Mobile Poland covers 66% of population with 5G in C band
T-Mobile Poland announced that it has reached the milestone of 66 percent of the country's population covered with its 5G network working in the C band. 95 percent of the population is covered by its wider 5G network. In October, the company deployed 30 new base stations. On another 51 stations, the operator launched the 5G signal in the C band. In the 700 MHz band, T-Mobile Poland enabled 5G technology on 246 additional base stations.
T-Mobile Poland covers 66% of population with 5G in C band
Czech broadcaster Nova blocks ad skipping for on-demand TV archive
The Czech television group Nova announced a change regarding the viewing of on-demand content. Starting 18 November, Czech viewers will no longer be able to freely fast-forward through advertising blocks. This measure will apply to all television operators that carry the affected channels, as well as the Oneplay service. In doing so, Nova is following the lead of competing commercial groups that have already implemented similar restrictions.
