Magyar Telekom runs mobile device recycling campaign with prize draw
HUNGARY 14:47

Magyar Telekom runs mobile device recycling campaign with prize draw

Magyar Telekom is launching a summer campaign to encourage Hungarians to recycle their unused mobile phones and tablets, of which an estimated 2.7 million are currently gathering dust in homes. These discarded devices contain valuable and nearly 90 percent-recyclable raw materials such as gold, silver and rare earth metals, the extraction of which is environmentally intensive.

Currys promotes Nordics business head to Group CEO
UNITED KINGDOM 14:09

Currys promotes Nordics business head to Group CEO

UK-based tech and electricals retailer Currys has announced the appointment of Fredrik Tonnesen as its new Group CEO with effect from 03 August 2026. Tonnesen has been CEO of the group's Nordics business, which accounts for around 40 percent of group revenue, since March 2023. He will take over as Group CEO from Alex Baldock, who will leave the Board on 03 August and the company on 31 August 2026.

Motorola unveils Edge 2026 compact phone with 6.3-inch display
GLOBAL 11:56

Motorola unveils Edge 2026 compact phone with 6.3-inch display

Motorola has announced the launch of the latest model in its Edge series, a mid-range handset with a 6.3-inch OLED display, compared to 6.6 and 6.7 inches for the 2024 and 2025 versions. The panel has a 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate and 5,200 nits of peak brightness, coupled with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

Virgin Media O2 launches new Digital Wellbeing Manifesto
UNITED KINGDOM 11:02

Virgin Media O2 launches new Digital Wellbeing Manifesto

New research commissioned by Virgin Media O2 shows that Brits will spend an average of 4 years and 8 months of their waking lives using their mobile phones unintentionally (doomscrolling). The 12-month study of more than 6,000 Brits (led by the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at Cambridge University) shows a clear correlation between doomscrolling and poorer sleep, focus and mental wellbeing. More than one third (36%) of all mobile phone use is now happening without clear intent, equal to a

T-Mobile Poland starts selling new Samsung and Xiaomi smartphones
POLAND 2 JUN

T-Mobile Poland starts selling new Samsung and Xiaomi smartphones

T-Mobile Poland has started offering the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G and Xiaomi 17T 5G smartphones in its shops. The Galaxy A57 5G costs PLN 1,299 and the price of the Xiaomi 17T 5G is PLN 2,399. The phones are available at promotional rates for customers signing up to plans from the operator.

Mobilezone closes transaction for Apfelkiste.ch, Marein takeover
SWITZERLAND 2 JUN

Mobilezone closes transaction for Apfelkiste.ch, Marein takeover

Mobilezone has closed the transaction to buy AK Group, which includes the e-commerce platform Apfelkiste.ch and Marein, company specialising in retail branding and sourcing. Through the acquisition, Mobilezone continues to diversify across sectors to strengthen its position on the retail, e-commerce and B2B markets. The companies will continue to focus on recurring revenues to support cash generation and margin development over the coming years.

Telefonica adds 72 new products to Movistar Spain store
SPAIN 2 JUN

Telefonica adds 72 new products to Movistar Spain store

Telefonica announced the addition of 72 new products to its Movistar Spain, the largest expansion of its online catalogue to date. The new consumer technology offering spans multiple categories including smart TVs, monitors, projectors, audio devices, smartphones, electric mobility, gaming and home appliances, alongside new seasonal lines such as garden and pool equipment.

US smartphone shipments down 3% in Q1 to 33.4 million - Omdia
UNITED STATES 1 JUN

US smartphone shipments down 3% in Q1 to 33.4 million - Omdia

US smartphone shipments reached 33.4 million units in Q1 2026, down 3 percent from Q1 2025, according to the latest data from Omdia. The year-earlier quarter was inflated by vendors/carriers building up inventory ahead of potential tariff announcements by the US government. US smartphone shipments in Q1 2026 were also impacted by fewer carrier upgrades, increasing storage/memory costs and delayed handset launches.

Yoxo launches mobile phone, tablet buy-back programme with Recommerce
ROMANIA 1 JUN

Yoxo launches mobile phone, tablet buy-back programme with Recommerce

Orange Romania's Yoxo brand has launched a buy-back programme for phones and tablets. Customers can visit the buyback.yoxo website to sell their devices and receive cash in exchange. The service is offered by Yoxo in partnership with Recommerce.

KDDI adds foldable feature phone-style smartphone to au Flex Style portfolio
JAPAN 1 JUN

KDDI adds foldable feature phone-style smartphone to au Flex Style portfolio

KDDI has begun offering the Mive Kesuma smartphone through its SIM-free smartphone brand, au Flex Style, expanding the range of devices available to customers seeking alternatives to conventional touchscreen smartphones. The device went on sale through the au Online Shop on 29 May, with availability at KDDI-operated retail stores scheduled to begin progressively from June. The operator said demonstration units will be available in its stores.

Xplora completes Emporia acquisition and expects 30% boost to senior segment annual device volumes
EUROPE 29 MEI

Xplora completes Emporia acquisition and expects 30% boost to senior segment annual device volumes

Xplora Technologies said it has completed its "highly complementary bolt-on acquisition" of DACH region specialist Emporia Group, which should expand its annual connected device volumes in the senior segment by about 30 percent. Emporia's portfolio includes a series of market-ready 5G products, enabling Xplora to avoid previously planned development investments estimated at NOK 30-40 million while accelerating time to market.

Mediatek set for Computex showcase starring Wi-Fi 8, 6G and edge computing
GLOBAL 29 MEI

Mediatek set for Computex showcase starring Wi-Fi 8, 6G and edge computing

Mediatek will spotlight its Wi-Fi 8 silicon technology at Computex 2026. The showcase centres on Mediatek's back-compatible Wi-Fi 8 chipset, the Filogic 8800, designed to unlock next-generation performance while also boosting wireless link stability in older Wi-Fi specifications. At peak output, the chip is expected to increase system throughput by about 200 percent and enables file downloads up to 50 percent faster. Filogic 8800 includes a smart Wi-Fi toolkit with optimisation features such as AI Network D

UNITED KINGDOM 29 MEI

Vodafone, Three UK start summer sale

Vodafone and Three UK announced the start of a summer sale. The offers available from 28 May include big savings on flagship smartphones such as the Samsung S26, Google Pixel 10 and iPhone 17 series, as well as discounts on Sim-only plans. Vodafone also has deals on refurbished smartphones, smartwatches, laptops and tablets.

GLOBAL 29 MEI

Xiaomi debuts 17T series with Leica co-branded cameras

Xiaomi has launched its Xiaomi 17T-series smartphones with two new models – the 17T and the 17T Pro – claiming significant upgrades on last year's 15T series. Both variants feature a 5x Leica co-branded telephoto camera, or 115mm equivalent, compared to a 46mm equivalent (2x) telephoto on the 15T.

SOUTH AFRICA 28 MEI

South African govt steps up use of mobile handsets to identify illegal foreign nationals using biometric readings

The Department of Home Affairs says it will accelerate the use of handheld mobile devices to verify the legal status of foreign nationals in South Africa, MyBroadband reported. According to Leon Schreiber, minister of home affairs, the devices will enable officials to access departmental systems to determine a person's immigration status remotely. Schreiber answered questions in Parliament about the number of foreign nationals in the country without valid documentation and the measures the department is tak

GLOBAL 28 MEI

IQE closes strategic funds to pay off debt as FY sales trend lower

Chip wafer supplier IQE has tied up an GBP 81 million strategic fundraising announced in April to pay off debt obligations. The transaction raised GBP 45 million from equity and non-interest bearing convertible notes, issued to strategic investor Macom Technology Solutions. The remaining funds were sourced through a GBP 23 million redemption and reinvestment of existing convertibles, and through a GBP 13 million placing and retail offer. Net proceeds from the fundraising should reach GBP 27.9 million, follo

JAPAN 28 MEI

SoftBank to launch senior-focused 'Kantan Sumaho 5' on Y!mobile

SoftBank will launch the 5G-enabled "Kantan Sumaho 5" smartphone on its Y!mobile brand on 4 June, with pre-orders opening on 28 May. The device, manufactured by ZTE, is targeted at senior users and includes features focused on remote family support, fraud prevention and health management. SoftBank said the smartphone includes a new "Family Support" function that allows family members to remotely assist users by viewing and operating the device screen during voice calls. The feature requires prior registrati

BELARUS 27 MEI

MTS, Life Belarus offer 5G on Samsung Galaxy S26 smartphones

MTS and Life Belarus have expanded the list of devices supporting 5G services to Samsung's Galaxy S26 series of smartphones, namely the standard Galaxy S26, the S26+ and the S26 Ultra. The operators provide 5G services using more than 1,100 base stations located in Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel and Mogilyov, using passive infrastructure of the state-owned infrastructure operator beCloud.

MIDDLE EAST 27 MEI

Samsung Wallet adds support for qlub restaurant payments

Samsung Wallet is integrated with qlub, a contactless payment platform for hospitality venues. This partnership allows Galaxy users in the Gulf region to settle restaurant bills directly at their table securely. Samsung Wallet on Qlub streamlines restaurant payments by allowing diners to scan a table QR code, view their bill, and pay in taps. This feature also simplifies group dining with bill splitting, while protecting personal data through tokenization and Samsung Knox encryption.

AFRICA 27 MEI

Africa's smartphone shipments grow 3% in Q1

Africa's smartphone market grew 3 percent year-on-year to 19.9 million units in Q1, driven by new product launches and vendor inventory frontloading, according to a new study by Omdia. However, rising component prices, currency volatility, and affordability pressures are weakening conditions in the vital under-USD 150 segment and are expected to contribute to a sharp contraction in shipments over the full year 2026.

POLAND 27 MEI

Plus offers promo of Honor, Realme smartphones

Polish operator Polkomtel, trading under the Plus brand, has a promotion on smartphones from Honor and Realme in its shops. The devices are offered with discounts up to PLN 700. The Honor 600 Lite 5G 8/256GB is offered for PLN 1,199, down from a standard PLN 1,899 rate, and the Honor Magic8 Lite 5G 8/512 GB sells for PLN 1,499, down from PLN 1,699. The Realme 16 Pro+ 5G costs PLN 1,799, down from PLN 2,299, and the Realme 16 Pro 5G 8/256GB is reduced to PLN 1,299 from PLN 1,699.

EUROPE 27 MEI

European smartphone shipments rise 2% in Q1 with Honor sales up 60%, bottleneck risks climb - Omdia

The European smartphone market excluding Russia grew by 2 percent to 33.0 million units in the first quarter of 2026, according to research by Omdia. Supply-side costs are rising and risks of availability bottlenecks are increasing, but healthy end-user demand and channel frontloading provided a boost. Samsung was Europe's largest Q1 vendor but sixth-place Honor was the fastest growing major vendor, with shipments up more than 60 percent year on year. The average selling price (ASP) of smartphones in Europe

BRAZIL 27 MEI

Motorola brings Moto G47 for Business to Brazil

Motorola is launching the new Moto G47 for Business in Brazil, expanding its corporate offerings. This smartphone is designed for professional use, featuring the same hardware as the standard Moto G47, including a 50MP Sony Lytia 600 main camera and a 32MP front camera. Key features for businesses include an in-box kit with a protective cover, pre-applied screen protector, and neck strap. It also boasts an extended two-year warranty. The device is built for durability with military-grade resistance, Corning

GLOBAL 26 MEI

Xiaomi Q1 smartphone shipments fall 19%

Xiaomi has reported a 19.2 percent year-on-year fall in smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2026, mainly blaming the optimisation of its product portfolio and lower shipments of mid-range and low-end smartphones. The average selling price increased by 8.2 percent to a record high of CNY 1,310.1 per handset from CNY 1,210.6 in Q1 2025. Smartphone shipments reached 33.8 million units in the first quarter, down from 41.8 million units in Q1 2025. Smartphone revenue shrank by 12.5 percent to CNY 44.3 b

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Background

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The week in telecom: EU telcos push sovereign services as governments question foreign tech investors

23 MEI 23:42

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