Russian router sales up 10% in Q1
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 14:31

Russian router sales up 10% in Q1

Sales of routers in Russia reached 2.4 million units in the first quarter of this year, according to data from the mobile and electronics retail chain M.Video. The unit sales grew by 10 percent year-on-year, but revenues fell to RUB 7.6 billion from RUB 7.8 billion. TP-Link, Keenetic and Huawei lead among brands. 

GSA survey finds less than quarter of live 5G networks using standalone technology
GLOBAL 14:10

GSA survey finds less than quarter of live 5G networks using standalone technology

Less than a quarter of 5G operators have launched standalone 5G networks, underlining the significant room for expansion still in the 5G market, a survey from the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) shows. As of the end of March, there were 95 operators with 5G standalone networks live, up 42 percent from a year earlier, while the total number of 5G networks worldwide rose 14 percent in the same period, to 392. 

Hyperscaler investment drives upgrade in Gartner forecast for ICT spending in 2026
GLOBAL 12:33

Hyperscaler investment drives upgrade in Gartner forecast for ICT spending in 2026

Gartner has updated its forecast for worldwide IT spending this year, projecting slightly faster growth of 13.5 percent to around USD 6.32 trillion. That compares to an outlook of 10.8 percent growth issued in early February. The upgrade comes from greater investment in AI infrastructure and advanced computing memory, with data centre systems expected to show the strongest growth in 2026, with 56 percent higher investment. The slowest growth is predicted for communication services, at an increase of 4.8 per

Oppo debuts premium Find X9 Ultra phone, Watch X3 and Enco Clip 2 earbuds
GLOBAL 12:28

Oppo debuts premium Find X9 Ultra phone, Watch X3 and Enco Clip 2 earbuds

Oppo has announced the global launch of three premium devices, including its flagship Find X9 Ultra smartphone alongside its latest Watch X3 smartwatch and a new pair of TWS earbuds. The camera-focused Find X9 Ultra features a 144Hz 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display, a 7,050 mAh battery with proprietary 100W wired and 50W wireless charging plus Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC.

T2 starts smartphone sales at Russian Post outlets
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 12:15

T2 starts smartphone sales at Russian Post outlets

Russian mobile operator T2, a subsidiary of the national operator Rostelecom, has expanded its partnership with Russian Post, reports Kommersant. The operator has started selling smartphones with SIMs in Russian Post offices. The operator also tests sales of smartwatches with SIMs in post offices in certain regions. The cooperation covers more than 2,200 post offices in 60 regions. 

Adtran integrates Wi-Fi CPE management with GLDS billing system
GLOBAL 09:18

Adtran integrates Wi-Fi CPE management with GLDS billing system

Adtran announced a new phase in its partnership with GLDS to support improved automation of subscriber lifecycle management for telecom providers. The new joint solution integrates Adtran's Intellifi managed Wi-Fi platform with the GLDS BroadHub system to enable billing-initiated automation across subscriber, service and device lifecycles. Subscriber creation, service activation, configuration updates and device changes are triggered directly from BroadHub and applied automatically across access and in-home

Toob launches three new speed plans and Wi-Fi 7 router
UNITED KINGDOM 21 APR

Toob launches three new speed plans and Wi-Fi 7 router

UK fibre broadband provider Toob has announced the launch of three new speed options for home broadband customers. These are home300, offering speeds of 300 Mbps on the Toob network for everyday life; home600 with speeds of 600 Mbps on the Toob network for busier households; and home2300 with speeds of 2.3 Gbps on the Toob and CityFibre networks for high-demand homes, gamers and content creators.

Dhiraagu offers free 5G router for FDC flat residents
MALDIVES 21 APR

Dhiraagu offers free 5G router for FDC flat residents

Maldivian operator Dhiraagu has launched a limited-time offer for Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC) flat residents. Customers who subscribe to 5G Turbo plans priced at MVR 749 or higher will receive a complimentary 5G Turbo router for the internet service. A Dhiraagu team will be present near the FDC towers throughout the week to provide on-site assistance and support.

KDDI to launch HTC VIVE Eagle AI glasses through au retail channels
JAPAN 21 APR

KDDI to launch HTC VIVE Eagle AI glasses through au retail channels

KDDI and Okinawa Cellular will launch the HTC "Vive Eagle" lightweight AI glasses in Japan on 24 April through their au +1 collection retail channels. The device will be available via selected au stores, the au Online Shop and Yamada Denki, with pre-orders opening on 21 April. Demonstration units will also be displayed at selected retail locations.

Line Yahoo launches 'Agent i' AI agent service across its platforms
JAPAN 21 APR

Line Yahoo launches 'Agent i' AI agent service across its platforms

Line Yahoo has introduced a new AI agent brand, "Agent i", integrating its existing AI assistant services across Line and Yahoo Japan into a single platform accessible from both applications. The web-based service is available via one-tap access within Line and the Yahoo Japan interface, allowing users to interact with AI agents directly from commonly used consumer services. The company said the platform is designed to support everyday decision-making through conversational interaction and is expected to ex

Samsung partners Ikea to expand smart home interoperability
GLOBAL 21 APR

Samsung partners Ikea to expand smart home interoperability

Samsung Electronics has expanded its SmartThings platform to support a range of Ikea smart home devices using the Matter standard, enabling direct integration without the need for additional proprietary hubs. The update allows 25 Ikea devices, including lighting, sensors and plugs, to connect to SmartThings via Matter-over-Thread, a protocol designed to support low-power, interoperable smart home networks. Previously, users were required to operate both an Ikea hub and a SmartThings hub to enable connectivi

Apple names hardware SVP Ternus as new CEO
GLOBAL 21 APR

Apple names hardware SVP Ternus as new CEO

Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO of Apple after 15 years and will become executive chairman from September, Apple announced. John Ternus, an Apple veteran and senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will take over as CEO from the same date. 

FIJI 21 APR

Vodafone Fiji launches digital card issuance in M-Paisa app

Vodafone Fiji has deployed Entrust's digital card solution to enable in-app digital debit card issuance and contactless payments through its M-Paisa mobile money platform. The solution, delivered via a software development kit, integrates with the Mastercard Digital Enablement Service through Entrust's Issuer TSP Hub. This allows customers to generate digital cards directly within the M-Paisa application and use them for online transactions.

MALAYSIA 21 APR

CelcomDigi launches Endless Aisle digital retail service with Samsung

CelcomDigi has launched the 'Endless Aisle' service across its retail network in collaboration with Samsung Malaysia. This digital platform is now operational at over 300 CelcomDigi Store and CelcomDigi Express locations nationwide. The Endless Aisle service enables customers to browse, purchase, and set up Samsung smartphones, smart TVs, and home appliances at CelcomDigi stores.

JAPAN 20 APR

SoftBank to launch 5G 'Natural AI Phone' with integrated AI assistant

SoftBank will launch the "Natural AI Phone", a 5G-enabled smartphone developed by US-based Brain Technologies, on 24 April, with pre-orders opening ahead of release. The operator will hold exclusive domestic sales rights for the device for at least one year from launch. The device incorporates a proprietary "Natural AI" system designed to support users by interpreting intent and generating suggestions based on accumulated user data. An associated "Understanding System" stores inputs, conversations and instr

POLAND 17 APR

Play sells Huawei Wi-Fi 7 mesh router

Polish operator Play, controlled by Iliad, has started offering the Huawei Wi-Fi Mesh X3 Pro Suite. The device supports the Wi-Fi 7 standard for speeds up to 3.6 Gbps with Mesh+ technology for covering up to 150 m2. Customers can buy the router for PLN 1,199 without a subscription contract or PLN 999 with an internet contract.

CZECH REPUBLIC 17 APR

O2 Czechia sells new Hisense TVs, offers HBO Max trial to Oneplay subscribers

O2 Czech Republic is offering customers the opportunity to purchase new models of Hisense TV set. Televisions with 50-inch and 55-inch screens have become available have gone on sale and a CZK 1,000 discount is available for customers buying one using the mobile application My O2 until 03 May.

GLOBAL 17 APR

Meta increases prices for Quest VR headsets

Meta has raised the prices of its VR headsets, citing a "global surge" in the cost of components and especially memory chips. The Meta Quest 3 increases by USD 100 to USD 600, and the Meta Quest 3S rises by USD 50 to USD 350 for 128 GB or USD 450 for 256 GB. Updated pricing will also apply to Meta Quest refurbished units, while all Meta Quest accessories will stay at their current prices.

NETHERLANDS 17 APR

Odido cuts carbon emissions 13% in 2025

Dutch operator Odido said it reduced its CO2 emissions by 13.1 percent in 2025 to 1,293 kilotons. Compared to 2019, emissions are 51 percent lower, and the company aims for a 95 percent reduction by 2030. The lower emissions in 2025 were supported by moving to more electric lease cars for staff, and switching shops and network sites from gas to electric heating, according to Odido's annual report.

JAPAN 17 APR

Japan imposes new safety restrictions on power bank charging in planes

Japan has set a limit of two power banks per person on flights, following incidents involving the batteries catching fire or emitting smoke, Kyodo news reported. Transport minister Yasushi Kaneko told a press conference that the new regulations would be enforced from 24 April. In addition, passengers will not be allowed to charge power banks from outlets in the plane.

JAPAN 17 APR

Rakuten Mobile gets exclusive on Nothing Phone 4a Pro

Rakuten Mobile has another exclusive on a Nothing phone in Japan. It will be the only carrier there to offer the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro. Pre-orders have started online and at the Rakuten Ichiba store, and the official launch date is set for 22 April. The new phone is priced at JPY 78,900 including tax.

UNITED STATES 16 APR

TCL launches new Tab A1 Plus tablet through Amazon

TCL has launched the TCL TAB A1 Plus tablet in the US, available through the company's Amazon store. The Android tablet offers a large 12.2-in, 2.4K resolution display, 120Hz refresh rate and quad speakers for an enhanced user experience. It also has intelligent AI-enabled tools such as the Google Gemini personal AI assistant, Circle to Search, Writing Assist and Text Assist. It is available on Amazon for USD 299.99. 

EUROPE 16 APR

Hisense's V set to overtake LG on European smart TV OS market

Hisense's expanding distribution in Europe is helping the company's smart TV platform V (formerly Vidaa) gain market share. Omdia estimates that V may overtake LG Electronics' webOS already this year in terms of European shipments. While Samsung's Tizen remains the leader of the smart TV market in Europe, the market research shows Hisense, TCL and other Chinese brands using the Android TV OS are gaining share. 

JAPAN 16 APR

KDDI starts au Flex Style range with Oppo foldable, Nothing devices

Japanese operator KDDI is expanding its smartphone sales under the new range 'au Flex Style'. The new offering of phones and accessories is sold without Sims to give customers a greater choice of devices. The first models in the new line are Oppo's latest folding smartphone the Find N6, the Nothing Phone 4a and new headphones from Nothing.

Just In

14:46

TTK adds corporate messenger to PBX service

14:42

Oi's IT arm valued at over BRL 1.2 billion

14:31

Russian router sales up 10% in Q1

14:30

Polish tech industry group calls for greater flexibility in 5G private network rules

Commentary

20 APR 10:36

Netflix back to organic growth and doing just fine

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

Background

19 APR 23:04

The week in telecoms: SFR takover moves ahead, Amazon bags Globalstar and Netgear in favour in US

12 APR 23:28

The week in telecoms: Samsung profits soar, Netflix targets kids and telcos build defence vertical

9 APR 15:58

Ziggo Group creation at 2026 low point sets stage for growth ahead

7 APR 11:48

Netherlands TV-video market revenues up just 0.5% in Q4