3 UK launches last-minute Christmas sale
UNITED KINGDOM 19 DEC

3 UK launches last-minute Christmas sale

3 UK has launched a last-minute Christmas sales, with offers on the latest phones, SIM plans and Home Broadband available from 18 December 2025 to 07 January 2026. For example, customers can save up to GBP 144 on the iPhone 17 Pro with unlimited data, calls and texts from GBP 40 upfront and GBP 58 per month (GBP 26 airtime and GBP 32 per month device plan).

Advania wins IT equipment contract from Norwegian police
NORWAY 19 DEC

Advania wins IT equipment contract from Norwegian police

Advania has announced a contract from the Norwegian police force for the supply of personal computers including Macs, as well as mobile phones and tablets, and other related equipment. The company said it was chosen because its bid provided the best quality. Advania director for public service business Trym Merg welcomed the police's policy of applying pricing mechanisms that take climate and environmental considerations into account when purchasing, using and disposing of IT equipment.

Realme 16 Pro handset set for India launch on 06 January
INDIA 19 DEC

Realme 16 Pro handset set for India launch on 06 January

Realme's 16 Pro series handset will commence sales to Indian consumers on 06 January. The full list of specifications will be published at a launch event in January. At this stage, Realme has not confirmed the size of the battery, but says it should be sufficient for 9.3 hours of usage in gaming-oriented sessions, or up to 125 hours of audio streams on Spotify. The handset contains an "industry-leading" Snapdragon chipset which will also be specified closer to launch. Realme is a leading contender in the In

Vodafone UK launches Winter Sale
UNITED KINGDOM 19 DEC

Vodafone UK launches Winter Sale

Vodafone UK has launched a winter sale, with savings across pay-monthly handsets, SIM-only plans, Voxi, refurbished smartphones and home broadband. The offers are available online from 18 December 2025 to 06 January 2026. For example, customers can save GBP 1,008 on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, GBP 882 on the Samsung Galaxy S25, GBP 360 on the iPhone 16 Plus, and GBP 180 on the latest iPhone Air.

Google ordered to eliminate restrictions on use of Android in Mexico
MEXICO 19 DEC

Google ordered to eliminate restrictions on use of Android in Mexico

Mexico's antitrust commission said it has successfully resolved a case relating to compatibility contracts that Google signed with smartphone manufacturers that limited the possibility of producing and distributing devices with systems other than Android, the OS used by 75.8 percent of the country's 94 million connected devices. The commission has accepted commitments from Google to remove such restrictions, in line with similar resolutions adopted by antitrust authorities in other countries in relation to

MTN Zambia offers Alola 4G and Alola Max smartphones with Huawei Cloud-powered 'smart connectivity'
ZAMBIA 18 DEC

MTN Zambia offers Alola 4G and Alola Max smartphones with Huawei Cloud-powered 'smart connectivity'

MTN Zambia has launched what it describes as the world's first 4G Cloud Smartphone service, which aims to address digital problems. It integrates MTN's affordable Alola-branded smartphone, 4G network service and the AppJoy cloud ecosystem to make "smart connectivity" accessible to everyone. The Alola is available in 5-inch and 6-inch models with dual SIM slots, dual cameras, 32 GB storage and 2500mAh/3000mAh batteries. Alola 4G costs ZMK 649 and Alola Max costs ZMK 699 from any MTN Service Centre

E& launches Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold exclusively in UAE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 18 DEC

E& launches Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold exclusively in UAE

E& UAE has announced the exclusive launch of Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone. It becomes available only at e& UAE and Samsung stores across the country starting 19 December at the price of AED 3,670.

Smartphones match PC share of online shopping in Netherlands
NETHERLANDS 18 DEC

Smartphones match PC share of online shopping in Netherlands

Smartphones are used as much as computers for online shopping in the Netherlands, with a 43 percent share of e-commerce in Q3 2025, the latest figures from industry group Thuiswinkel.org show. The quarterly monitor compiled by NielsenIQ puts the total value of e-commerce during the quarter at EUR 7.7 billion, down 2 percent year-on-year, while the number of transactions rose 3 percent over the same period to 86 million. 

MTS offers seasonal promo on Tecno smartphones
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 18 DEC

MTS offers seasonal promo on Tecno smartphones

Russian operator MTS started a seasonal promotion of smartphones from Tecno in its shops. Up to RUB 5,000 discount is available when buying the devices before 31 January 2026. The Tecno Camon 40 is offered for RUB 16,990 under the promotion, down from RUB 21,990. The Tecno Camon 40 Pro costs RUB 19,990, down from RUB 24,990. Additional discounts of RUB 2,000 to RUB 4,000 discounts are available when buying other devices from the promotional list.

Swedes hold 60,000 phones unable to reach emergency services since 2G and 3G shutdowns
SWEDEN 18 DEC

Swedes hold 60,000 phones unable to reach emergency services since 2G and 3G shutdowns

There are still around 60,000 telephones that will be unable to reach the 112 emergency service number on their provider's own network following the 2G and 3G shutdowns at the beginning of December, PTS said. It urges anyone affected to replace their handset urgently.

Currys interim group revenue jumps 8 percent to GBP 4.23 billion
UNITED KINGDOM 18 DEC

Currys interim group revenue jumps 8 percent to GBP 4.23 billion

UK tech and electricals retailer Currys has reported group revenue of GBP 4.23 billion for the half-year ending 01 November 2025, up 8 percent year-on-year, driven by a 4 percent jump in LFL revenue. Group adjusted EBIT was up GBP 13 million year-on-year to GBP 54 million, with reported EBIT up GBP 14 million to GBP 43 million. Group adjusted profit before was was GBP 22 million, up 144 percent year-on-year; with group free cash flow up 68 percent to GBP 84 million. 

Samsung grows smartphone revenue share to 20% in Russia
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 18 DEC

Samsung grows smartphone revenue share to 20% in Russia

Samsung increased its revenue share in the Russian smartphone market to 20 percent in January to November of this year, according to mobile and electronics retail chain M.Video. That's up from 16.6 percent in the same period of 2024. Total revenues from smartphone sales were around RUB 460 billion in January to November.

EUROPE 18 DEC

OnePlus adds 15R model with 7,400 mAh battery

OnePlus has unveiled a new, more affordable model in its flagship OnePlus 15 series. A month after the original release, the OnePlus 15R is available starting at EUR 699/USD 700. The phone's top feature is a 7,400 mAh battery for up to three days on a single charge, with 80W fast charging. 

NEW ZEALAND 18 DEC

New Zealanders back operator handset recycling scheme

New Zealanders diverted 71,627 unwanted mobile phones from landfill in the past year through RE:MOBILE, the telecommunications industry's not-for-profit product stewardship scheme, according to the scheme's newly released FY25 Annual Report. Managed by the New Zealand Telecommunications Forum (TCF), RE:MOBILE enables mobile phones and accessories to be reused, refurbished or responsibly recycled.

SWITZERLAND 17 DEC

Swiss sovereign smartphone OS startup Soverli banks USD 2.6 million

Soverli, a Swiss company commercialising a sovereign smartphone OS layer compatible with Android and iOS, announced an equity investment worth USD 2.6 million. The pre-seed round of funding is backed by ETH Zurich Foundation, Venture Kick, and Founderful, which led the transaction, along with unnamed individual investors specialised in cybersecurity. Soverli aims to deliver a technology enabling a fully sovereign, customisable, and auditable OS to run in parallel with Android or iOS from a single smartphone

UNITED STATES 17 DEC

Motorola prepares launch of refreshed Moto G Power in US, Canada in January

Motorola Mobility announced the upcoming North American release of its 2026 Moto G Power handset. Available in two colour options, Pantone Pure Cashmere or Pantone Evening Blue, the updated Power Moto G will launch in the US and Canada on 08 January. It is available universally unlocked at launch from US operator Verizon as well as retailers Best Buy, Amazon.com and Motorola.com.

GLOBAL 17 DEC

Xplora announces XploraOne entry-level phone for children with HMD

Children's smartwatch vendor Xplora Technologies announced the forthcoming arrival of a new telephone called XploraOne, intended as a child's first handset. Its website shows a touchscreen phone with HMD branding, but it gave no technical specifications or pricing information. Children can use the XploraOne for voice calls, messaging and to share content safely but without any access to social med or "internet rabbit holes", the company says. Potential customers are invited to leave their contact details in

CHILE 17 DEC

Entel extends Starlink-backed satellite connectivity service to iPhones

Entel Chile has announced the activation on iPhones of satellite connectivity services via Starlink's network. The company said iPhone users can now access a mobile signal to send SMS in areas where it has never been possible to deploy terrestrial infrastructure, even in seas up to 12 nautical miles from the coast.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 17 DEC

M.Video expands device repairs chain M.Master

Russian mobile and electronics retail chain M.Video continues expanding its chain of service centres M.Master, focused on device repairs. The company plans to open 20 of the service centres in 13 cities by the end of this year, taking the total chain to 52 outlets. New M.Master centres will open in the city and region of Moscow and in the cities St Petersburg, Kazan, Astrakhan, Kaliningrad, Krasnoyarsk, Tver and Tyumen.

JAPAN 17 DEC

NTT Docomo security plans exceed one million cumulative subscriptions

NTT Docomo said the cumulative number of contracts for its Anshin Security Standard Plan and Anshin Security Total Plan exceeded one million on 5 November 2025, around 11 months after the service was renewed. The Anshin Security service was restructured on 11 December 2024, expanding the portfolio to four options: Anshin Security, the Standard Plan, the Total Plan and a free plan. Since the relaunch, uptake of the two paid plans has driven total subscriptions past the one-million mark, according to the oper

UNITED KINGDOM 16 DEC

Apple, Amazon face new GBP 900 million UK collective action claim

A new collection action claim has been filed against Apple and Amazon with the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) accusing them of collusion. The action is seeking compensation of more than GBP 900 million for UK consumers, claiming that a secret deal between the two companies resulted in higher prices for Apple products. The claim alleges that Amazon restricted sales of Apple products by independent retailers on the Amazon marketplace; with Apple offering the online retailer preferential wholesale prices

POLAND 16 DEC

Orange Poland sells new Vivo X300 Pro smartphone

Orange Poland has started sales of the smartphone Vivo X300 Pro 5G in its shops. The device costs PLN 5,999.04 without a subscription contract. Customers buying the smartphone during a promotional period are offered a free set of accessories worth PLN 1,700.

GLOBAL 16 DEC

Snom brings out HD340 and HD341 telephones for hospitality sector

Snom has announced its introduction of the HD340 and HD341 telephones for the hospitality sector. They cater for the needs of hotels, guesthouses and serviced apartments and combine a functional, slim design with ease of use. Both models are available in versions that function with analogue wiring, under the names HD340A and HD341A.

UGANDA 16 DEC

MTN Uganda offers festive deals including discounts on 'Market by MoMo' e-commerce site

MTN Uganda's MoMo has launched festive deals including discounts on its WakaNet 5G routers, special Enkuuka bundles for cultural events, and chances to win cash by using MoMo services or by buying bundles. It is also continuing offers on the 'Market by MoMo' e-commerce platform with up to 60 percent off.

Just In

19 DEC 16:42

SLT-Mobitel launches 5G network in Sri Lanka

19 DEC 16:19

Dialog Axiata launches 5G network, connects 1.5 million subscribers

19 DEC 15:56

UK govt to ban AI-enabled nudification apps to protect women, girls

19 DEC 15:42

3 UK launches last-minute Christmas sale

Commentary

13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

15:26

Stock markets breaking records but what happened to Odido's IPO plans?

Background

01:04

The week in telecom: Wi-Fi bolt-ons take off to boost broadband growth, video market works on consolidation

01:39

The week in telecom: Netflix wins bidding for Warner Bros, Apple poaches new execs, Samsung debuts trifold

13:51

Proximus vs. Telenet: Proximus performs better in Q3 while Telenet uses up cash

14:16

Proximus Domestic still struggling with low margins