Dutch mobile operators extend antennas deal with local authorities to end-2026
NETHERLANDS 3 MRT

Dutch mobile operators extend antennas deal with local authorities to end-2026

The Dutch mobile operators KPN, Vodafone and Odido have extended an agreement with public authorities on placing mobile antennas by one year, to the end of 2026. The so-called Antenna Covenant is an agreement with the national government and association of municipalities to ease local permitting procedures for placing mobile network equipment. The parties are in talks on a further extension of the agreement beyond 2026, with updated terms. 

TRAI issues guidelines for IMT spectrum auction
INDIA 3 MRT

TRAI issues guidelines for IMT spectrum auction

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its recommendations for the auction of International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum. This move follows a formal request from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in May 2025 for guidance on reserve prices, band plans, and auction conditions across several existing frequency bands, including 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz.

NTRA grants automotive IoT licence to Mercedes-Benz Egypt
EGYPT 2 MRT

NTRA grants automotive IoT licence to Mercedes-Benz Egypt

Egypt's National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has signed new licences enabling Mercedes-Benz Egypt to offer automotive Internet of Things (IoT) services. These can provides drivers with navigation systems, tracking features, and emergency assistance tools in a secure, regulated environment, while ensuring robust protection of user data and privacy. The NTRA has already approved automotive IoT operations for seven smart vehicle manufacturers. The regulator said it continues to open the door for other

Dominican Republic launches new multi-band tender
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2 MRT

Dominican Republic launches new multi-band tender

The Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) has announced a new spectrum tender to support 5G development and expand digital connectivity after the previous frequency auction was declared void due to lack of commitments from the country's operators in 2024. The watchdog said it proposes awarding up to 60 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band, 30 MHz in the 1700/2100 MHz band (AWS), 100 MHz in the 2300–2400 MHz band and 120 MHz in the 3500–3700 MHz band.

EchoStar grows mobile revenues, loses pay-TV income in Q4
UNITED STATES 2 MRT

EchoStar grows mobile revenues, loses pay-TV income in Q4

Echostar reported higher revenues and smaller losses from its mobile business in Q4 2025, despite little growth in customer numbers. It ended the year with 7.51 million mobile subscribers, down by 9,000 compared to September. The pay-TV base at Dish also continued to shrink, with 168,000 subscribers lost in Q4 for a total 7.00 million. The group also took a large writedown of USD 1.2 billion on the value of its HughsNet satellite broadband business following the restructuring of its spectrum holdings in the

Open Cosmos unveils ConnectedCosmos LEO network
EUROPE 2 MRT

Open Cosmos unveils ConnectedCosmos LEO network

European space infrastructure company Open Cosmos announced at Mobile World Congress the launch of ConnectedCosmos, a low Earth orbit satellite constellation designed to deliver secure communications and operational resilience to public and private sectors worldwide. The Ka-band network aims to reduce reliance on non-European mega-constellations and link Open Cosmos' Earth Observation platform with a new sovereign connectivity backbone for real-time data access.

Czech telecom regulator CTU issues draft plan for 26 GHz band
CZECH REPUBLIC 25 FEB

Czech telecom regulator CTU issues draft plan for 26 GHz band

Czech telecommunications regulator CTU has published a draft measure for licensing the 24.25–27.5 GHz band. The draft sets out updated technical conditions and rules for the use of this band by fixed and mobile networks. The aim of the new regulation is to create a transparent and predictable environment for the development of high-speed wireless networks, in particular 5G networks and fixed wireless access (FWA), while supporting the use of this spectrum for Industry 4.0 and campus networks. To facilitate

ATU organises regulatory training on satellite internet services
AFRICA 25 FEB

ATU organises regulatory training on satellite internet services

The Africa Telecommunications Union (ATU), working with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Amazon, has launched an online capacity building programme on low earth orbit satellite internet services for policymakers, regulators and technical experts from its member states. The engagement comes at a moment when LEO satellite constellations are moving from a specialised service layer to a mainstream connectivity proposition, with direc

Starlink to launch in Montenegro by end of Q2
MONTENEGRO 25 FEB

Starlink to launch in Montenegro by end of Q2

Starlink is set to launch its satellite internet service in Montenegro by the end of the second quarter of 2026. This follows ongoing discussions since 2023 between Starlink and Montenegro's Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (EKIP) to sort out regulatory and procedural requirements. A meeting on 09 February covered all administrative details for Starlink to register as a public electronic communications operator in Montenegro. To achieve operator status, Starlink is establishing a Mon

T-Mobile, SoftBank, Singtel, Jio call for revenues-led 6G approach in new TM Forum white paper
UNITED STATES 25 FEB

T-Mobile, SoftBank, Singtel, Jio call for revenues-led 6G approach in new TM Forum white paper

TM Forum has issued a 6G white paper backed by T-Mobile US, Softbank, Singtel and Jio Platforms, calling for standardisation efforts to address monetisation as a core design principle. Putting revenues at the heart of the coming transition is necessary, argues the report, if the industry is to avoid pitfalls such as architecture fragmentation and sluggish automation experienced in 5G's rollout. Success will require viewing 6G as a business platform rather than a scientific exercise, adds TM Forum chief tech

Axian obtains license to offer digital loans in Comoros
COMOROS 25 FEB

Axian obtains license to offer digital loans in Comoros

Axian has secured a Decentralized Digital Financial Institution (DFI) license from the Central Bank of Comoros, enabling the creation of a newly established regulated entity for offering digital financial services to its telecom customers. The company said the move represents a significant step in its Digibank & Fintech strategy and forms part of the group's broader African ambition to design and scale secure, interoperable and universally accessible digital financial solutions. 

Anritsu, Qualcomm to present pre-6G 7 GHz device testing at MWC
GLOBAL 24 FEB

Anritsu, Qualcomm to present pre-6G 7 GHz device testing at MWC

Qualcomm and Anritsu will join forces to demonstrate a mobile device test case operating in the 7.125 GHz range, seen as a critical bridge from mid-band 5G to wider 6G bandwidths. The presentation will take place at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It leverages a new RF hardware configuration of Anritsu's existing MT8000A test station that extends product support to lower FR3 bands, incorporating 7 GHz and other frequencies up to 16 GHz. The MT8000A unit is paired with a test device containing a 7 GH

LIBERIA 24 FEB

Liberian telecoms watchdog certifies Orange Money as separate entity

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority has officially certified Orange Money to operate as an independent mobile money service provider. This separation from parent company Orange Liberia is a mandate under the LTA's new Value-Added Service (VAS) Regulations. These rules require Orange Liberia and Lonestar Cell MTN to operate separately from their subsidiaries Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money.

UNITED KINGDOM 24 FEB

Village Networks seeks UK code powers for rural fibre network

UK regulator Ofcom is consulting on proposals to apply electronic communications code powers to Village Networks. The consultation closes on 26 March 2026. Village Networks is a network operator and ISP providing internet connectivity over owned FTTP networks, fixed wireless access (FWA) and FTTP wholesale agreements. It currently delivers connectivity through fibre or Ethernet to a point-to-multipoint or point-to-point fixed network link, using optical fibre from PoPs to reach individual premises.

TURKMENISTAN 23 FEB

Turkmenistan govt plans to expand internet infrastructure, implement 5G

The Turkmenistan Ministry of Telecommunications announced several projects underway in the telecommunications field. The ministry is working on the deployment of a fibre-optic line to Afghanistan, cooperating with Azerbaijan on the construction of the sub-sea cable across the Caspian Sea, and backbone lines connecting Etrek and Incheburun, as well as Bekdash and Temirbaba are also under construction.  As part of the Action Plan for the implementation of the State Program for the Development of the Digital E

SOUTH AFRICA 20 FEB

Icasa set to appoint service providers in March for spectrum auction

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) expects to appoint a service provider, or providers, in March to run the next major radio frequency spectrum auction, Techcentral reported. Icasa CEO Tshiamo Maluleka-Disemelo told parliament's portfolio committee on communications & digital technologies that it has advertised the bid and is currently evaluating responses. The CEO said that the regulator had received ZAR 51 million from the national treasury for the auction but still has not c

UNITED STATES 19 FEB

FCC to permit all-broadband 900 MHz licences supplanting narrowband land radio

The US FCC has adopted new rules designed to unlock higher bandwidth in 900 MHz frequencies allocated to enterprise use cases including utilities and critical infrastructure. The regulatory update allows for the 10 MHz allocation, spread across 896-901 MHz and 935- 940 MHz ranges, to be deployed differently on a county-by-county basis, potentially opening up all of this spectrum in some markets for broadband wireless services, such as private LTE and 5G networks. Since 2020, the US 900 MHz band has been tra

BANGLADESH 18 FEB

Teletalk assigned 700 MHz spectrum via govt directive despite BDT 55 billion in unpaid dues

Bangladesh's Posts and Telecommunications Division has officially directed telecoms regulator BTRC to allocate 10 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band to the state-owned operator Teletalk, according to official documents seen by The Daily Star. This directive comes despite Teletalk currently owing over BDT 55 billion in unpaid spectrum fees and other liabilities. Under the new arrangement, Teletalk will be permitted to pay the spectrum fee (set at a base price of BDT 2.37 million per MHz) on an installment b

SWEDEN 18 FEB

Schibsted newspaper Aftonbladet gains radio broadcasting licence

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet said it has been granted a national radio broadcasting by the Swedish Media Authority, which takes effect on 01 August. Schibsted owns 91 percent of Aftonbladet and the trade union federation LO the other 9 percent. Aftonbladet said it intends is to fill a void in the Swedish radio landscape and reach more people with news journalism in their everyday lives.

GERMANY 18 FEB

German regulator kicks off hearing on 1&1 shared network access

The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has kicked off a hearing on providing 1&1 access to radio frequencies below 1 GHz to support its network expansion. The existing operators Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica (O2) and Vodafone Germany are required to open up their networks to the newcomer under the conditions for extending their licences for the 800, 1,800 and 2,600 MHz bands.

UNITED KINGDOM 17 FEB

Ofcom allows Virgin Media O2 to offer satellite-enabled mobile services

UK regulator Ofcom has approved a request from Telefonica UK (Virgin Media O2) to vary its public wireless network licence to provide satellite connectivity to UK smartphones in the 1800 MHz spectrum band. This is the first licence variation of this kind to be approved by the regulator.

KENYA 17 FEB

Kenya engages GSMA officials on spectrum reforms to close digital gap

Kenyan ICT ministry officials hosted a senior delegation from GSMA's Global Spectrum team, focusing on digital competitiveness, spectrum pricing reforms, satellite regulation, energy constraints in the telecom sector, and strategies to close the country's 60 percent mobile internet usage gap, despite near-universal 4G coverage. 

VIETNAM 17 FEB

Starlink secures LEO services license in Vietnam, to deploy 600,000 terminals

Vietnam has officially granted SpaceX's Starlink its LEO services license on 15 February, clearing the way for a commercial rollout. This makes Vietnam the fifth Southeast Asian country to authorize the service, following the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste.

EUROPE 16 FEB

EU Radio Spectrum Policy Group launches consultation on 6G roadmap

The European Commission's Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) has published its draft opinion regarding 6G spectrum allocations, emphasising that upper 6 GHz frequencies will likely be the flag bearer. A public consultation has been launched, with submissions accepted until 27 March. The RSPG expects its final opinion on 6G bands to be published this coming June.

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Commentary

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Background

1 MRT 13:21

The week in telecoms: Paramount tops bidding for WBD, Samsung S26 kicks off MWC showcase

23 FEB 00:28

The week in telecoms: Liberty Global tackles cable vs fibre question, Orange promises dividends and MEA market goes wholesale

16 FEB 00:17

The week in telecoms: Cisco rides AI investment wave and European telcos invest in South America

9 FEB 01:54

The week in telecoms: hyperscalers vie for capex crown, Telenor and Vodafone profit from smaller footprints