Beeline Russia adds favourite numbers option
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 14:23

Beeline Russia adds favourite numbers option

Russian operator Beeline introduced the service Favourite Numbers, offering unlimited calls to up to five telephone numbers. The offer is available for numbers registered on other Russian mobile networks, as well as Beeline lines. New customers are offered a free weekly trial of the service, after which the monthly rate is RUB 290.

Antik, Lepsia.TV add TV channel Ballcasterz to lineup
SLOVAKIA 14:09

Antik, Lepsia.TV add TV channel Ballcasterz to lineup

Slovak operator Antik has added the football channel Ballcasterz to its pay-TV lineup, reports Zive. The channel is available for subscribers using Antik TV and Antik Sat platforms from the operator. The online TV platform Lepsia.TV has also added the channel Ballcasterz to all three of its pay-TV packages.

MTS offers to buy back smartphones for cash
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 14:04

MTS offers to buy back smartphones for cash

Russian operator MTS introduced Smart Cash, an offer for customers to sell back smartphones and other electronic goods purchased in shops of the operator. The maximum repayment is 70 percent of the price of the device. The option is available in all regions where MTS operates. Repayment can reach up to 70 percent after six months from acquisition, and up 50 percent starting from the 182th day after acquisition.

Online suicide forum fined GBP 950,000 by UK regulator
UNITED KINGDOM 13:21

Online suicide forum fined GBP 950,000 by UK regulator

UK regulator Ofcom has announced a GBP 950,000 fine for the provider of an online suicide forum, which has been linked to more than 130 deaths in the UK. The forum became the first service to be investigated by Ofcom under the Online Safety Act in 2025. Despite making changes to block UK users from accessing the site, it is still accessible to UK users without a VPN. The provider now has two weeks to comply with its legal duties to assess and mitigate the risk of UK users seeing illegal content on its platf

Huawei launches new Curve Pay feature with Watch Fit 5
UNITED KINGDOM 13:06

Huawei launches new Curve Pay feature with Watch Fit 5

Huawei is promoting a new contactless pay feature with its new Huawei Watch Fit 5 series. The smartwatch supports phone-free payments at any NFC contactless terminal with Curve Pay. To protect against unauthorised payments, the watch automatically triggers a passcode requirement if the watch is taken off the user's wrist. The passcode must be entered to access sensitive features or payments on the watch.

KPN spells out maximum price hikes in updated contract terms
NETHERLANDS 12:16

KPN spells out maximum price hikes in updated contract terms

KPN has updated its terms and conditions in customer contracts to specify the amount of price increases beyond inflation. The new clause allows for increases per calendar year of up to 5 percent or EUR 3 above the annual inflation rate. The conditions apply for mobile and fixed customers from June. 

Orange Poland opens orders for Oppo Find X9 Ultra
POLAND 10:59

Orange Poland opens orders for Oppo Find X9 Ultra

Orange Poland has started pre-sales of the smartphone Oppo Find X9 Ultra 5G in its shops. Customers connecting to the postpaid Plan L from the operator for 24 months are offered the device for PLN 6,459 (PLN 99 initial payment followed by PLN 265 per month). The device is offered for PLN 7,399 without the subscription contract. 

Smart home devices reach 30% of Dutch households
NETHERLANDS 09:20

Smart home devices reach 30% of Dutch households

Around 30 percent of Dutch households have smart home devices, up from 24 percent in 2022. At the same time almost 1.2 million, or 14 percent of households, have plans to buy a smart device within the next year, according to a report from Multiscope. Robot vacuums in particular have proven popular, owned by 12 percent of households, followed by smart washing machines or dryers (9%) and connected dishwashers (6%).

Budget Thuis launches own TV service
NETHERLANDS 08:39

Budget Thuis launches own TV service

Dutch provider Budget Thuis is launching its own TV service, based on Android TV. Budget Thuis TV costs EUR 15 per month for customers taking fibre broadband from Budget. It's available to start only in the Fiber Crew network area, which covers around 325,000 households.

Bouygues Telecom ups prices of fibre-only 8 Gbps offer to EUR 27/month
FRANCE 06:17

Bouygues Telecom ups prices of fibre-only 8 Gbps offer to EUR 27/month

French operator Bouygues Telecom has raised the monthly rate of its standalone 8 Gbps package to EUR 26.99, up by EUR 1 per month. The offer, based on the XGS‑PON standard, was last updated in early February. At that time, it was renamed 'B&You Pure Fibre Plus' at a new monthly rate of EUR 25.99 to differentiate it from the 'B&You Pure Fibre' option, which remains priced at EUR 24.99 per month with a slower download speed of up to 2 Gbps.

Korea moves to tighten telecom fraud controls and ownership oversight
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 06:14

Korea moves to tighten telecom fraud controls and ownership oversight

South Korea's ministry of science and ICT has approved amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act aimed at strengthening controls on telecom fraud and reinforcing oversight of major communications operators. The amendments, approved by the Cabinet, would prohibit the manufacture, import, distribution, sale and rental of caller ID manipulation devices, including SIM boxes, which are commonly associated with voice phishing schemes. Violations would be punishable by up to three years in prison or fines

NTT Docomo to launch RCS messaging service in summer 2026
JAPAN 05:58

NTT Docomo to launch RCS messaging service in summer 2026

NTT Docomo said it will begin offering Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging to customers from summer 2026, with business messaging capabilities scheduled to follow later in the year. The operator said the new RCS service will support the exchange of text messages, photos, videos and stickers using mobile phone numbers, alongside features including group chat functionality. NTT Docomo also plans to launch "RCS Official Accounts" in winter 2026, enabling two-way messaging between enterprises and indivi

JAPAN 05:56

KDDI outlines financial, Web3 and mobility initiatives alongside strategy update

KDDI announced a series of initiatives spanning digital finance, corporate structure and mobility services as part of its broader strategy to expand beyond its core telecoms business. The operator said it has entered into a capital and business alliance with Dutch firm Coincheck Group and its subsidiary Coincheck Inc. to develop blockchain-based financial services. The operator plans to acquire a 14.9 percent stake in Coincheck Group and establish a joint venture, au Coincheck Digital Assets, with Coincheck

INDIA 03:22

Vi deploys 890 sites in Assam and North East regions, data consumption jumps 65%

Indian operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) has announced that its data consumption in Assam and North East circles has increased by 65 percent. The operator also reports that, in 2025, it deployed more than 890 new sites in these areas, expanding network coverage to 19 more towns across the circle.

PAKISTAN 12 MEI

Maxis introduces Outright Purchase option for Home Solar system users

Malaysian operator Maxis has expanded its Home Solar offerings with a new Outright Purchase option. The offer aims to make renewable energy more accessible to Malaysian households. The new option is designed to enable homeowners to control of their energy usage with Maxis Home Solar, complementing the subscription plan launched in 2025.

UNITED STATES 12 MEI

Texas Attorney General files lawsuit against Netflix

The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, has filed a lawsuit against Netflix for illegally spying on Texan consumers, including children, and collecting/sharing their data without consent. He is looking to hold the company accountable under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), with the lawsuit looking to stop it from unlawfully collecting and sharing user data. The lawsuit is also seeking to force Netflix to disable autoplay on children's profiles by default, along with other civil penalties.

LITHUANIA 12 MEI

Telia Lithuania adds Disney+

Telia Lithuania announced an agreement to start offering access to Disney+ for subscribers of its Telia Play and 5G internet services. Disney+ will be available for subscribers of the Telia Play service from mid-summer, including content from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic, Hulu, FX and ESPN.

SLOVAKIA 12 MEI

Orange Slovakia offers promo of fixed broadband, double-play

Orange Slovakia has a promotion on its fixed broadband and double-play packages. Customers signing subscription contracts for 24 months are offered discounts up to EUR 276. The maximum rebate is available when connecting to the package TV XL + Internet XL.

CZECH REPUBLIC 12 MEI

O2 Czechia launches Neo+ plan with discount in first year

O2 Czech Republic introduced the new tariff plan Neo+, with 10 GB, 150 minutes and 150 SMS to all local networks. The monthly subscription costs CZK 349 during the first 12 months and then CZK 499.

POLAND 12 MEI

Netia starts cooperation with Prime Video, Apple TV

Polish operator Netia has started working with the streaming services Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, bundling the services with its fixed broadband plans at up to 1 Gbps or 2 Gbps. Amazon Prime, Apple TV and SkyShowtime are offered free for six months to new subscribers.

NETHERLANDS 12 MEI

Odido organises campaign to restore image after data breach

Dutch operator Odido has launched a public relations campaign in an effort to restore its image following a data breach earlier this year. In interviews with major media and a series of video interviews and FAQs posted on its website, the company explained how the attack happened and how it dealt with the situation, including why it did not pay the ransom demanded by the hacker group Shinyhunters for its customer data or pay customers compensation. A mailing was also sent out to customers with more informat

CZECH REPUBLIC 12 MEI

T-Mobile Czechia launches special channel to mark 10th anniversary of TV service

T-Mobile Czech Republic has launched a special VOD channel called Birthday Cinema to mark the 10th anniversary of its service Magenta TV. The subscriber base of the OTT service totaled 325,000 at the end of 2025.

KYRGYZSTAN 12 MEI

Mega offers low-speed roaming plan for messaging

Kyrgyzstan operator Mega introduced its new service 'Messaging when Roaming', offering unlimited access to the messengers WhatsApp and Telegram when using roaming services. Internet at up to 64 kbps is available under the service, at a cost of KGS 190.

UNITED STATES 12 MEI

Xbox Game Pass joins Discord premium package

Microsoft has expanded its partnership with gaming-focused chat platform Discord to bundle access to its Xbox Games Pass catalogue in the newly introduced Nitro Rewards scheme. Nitro Rewards enhances customer benefits on offer for paid Discord subscribers using the premium Discord Nitro service, offering perks and discounts on gaming accessories including headsets, keyboards and mice.

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Commentary

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20 APR 10:36

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Background

11 MEI 00:53

The week in telecom: Lumen, NTT turn to data centre market to revive growth, Hutchison exits UK

3 MEI 23:05

The week in telecoms: big tech faces costs of AI boom and Wi-Fi market consolidates

27 APR 14:33

Virgin Media O2: from coax to fibre and 80% coverage in 2028

26 APR 23:04

The week in telecoms: sovereign hopes take hold in Europe and Apple confirms new CEO