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. 

PXC offers residential partners access to Trooli fibre network
UNITED KINGDOM 13:18

PXC offers residential partners access to Trooli fibre network

PlatformX Communications (PXC), UK wholesale networking provider, has added Trooli Residential FTTP services to its platform. This further strengthens PXC's altnet portfolio, with residential partners able to access more than 477,000 homes on the Trooli rural and semi-rural network. 

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

Morocco moves ahead with broadband coverage plan
MOROCCO 12:23

Morocco moves ahead with broadband coverage plan

Morocco has covered 10,690 out of 10,740 targeted areas with 2G, 3G and 4G services, according to a parliamentary briefing from Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, delegate minister for digital transition. This means the first phase of the National Broadband Development Plan has been nearly completed, and so the government has officially launched the second phase. This next stage aims to extend and enhance connectivity across an additional 2,000 rural areas by 2026, Moroccoworld News reported.

Syria launches first VoLTE services
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC 12:10

Syria launches first VoLTE services

Syria announced the successful test of its first Voice over LTE (VoLTE) call, marking a significant step in the country's telecommunications modernization, transitioning from legacy circuit-switched calls to a fully IP-based system, Alsourya reported.  The pilot was conducted on MTN Syria's new IMS platform, enabling faster call connection, clearer audio, and simultaneous high-speed data browsing. 

Kuwait begins nationwide telecom exchange maintenance
KUWAIT 12:07

Kuwait begins nationwide telecom exchange maintenance

Kuwait's ministry of communications has launched a nationwide maintenance programme to boost telecom network performance and reliability, Times of Kuwait reported. The ministry announced that maintenance will occur in phases between 20 April and 13 May affecting various regional exchanges. By enhancing these systems, the ministry aims to reduce service disruptions, improve call quality, and support growing data demand. 

Rostelecom tests DWDM equipment from LaserOne on backbone network
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 12:00

Rostelecom tests DWDM equipment from LaserOne on backbone network

Russian national operator Rostelecom has completed testing of the DWDM equipment from Russian company LaserOne on its backbone network. The platform Horizon was tested on a 2,000-km network link. The tests indicated that the platform is able to work stably at 100 Gbps and is compatible with the existing infrastructure, the operator said.

Ewb, Swisscom complete Bern fibre network build
SWITZERLAND 11:05

Ewb, Swisscom complete Bern fibre network build

Swiss utility Energie Wasser Bern (EWB) and Swisscom have almost completed construction of a fibre network in Bern. By end-2026, the network will connect over 15,000 premises with around 100,000 units - including private homes, offices and commercial businesses. This equates to over 90 percent of all premises across the city. The joint project is based on an agreement signed at end-201 - making Ewb responsible for around 70 percent of the network build, and Swisscom for 30 percent. 

Mediacom completes Minnesota fibre projects ahead of schedule
UNITED STATES 10:15

Mediacom completes Minnesota fibre projects ahead of schedule

Mediacom Communications has completed 12 broadband projects in Minnesota ahead of schedule, delivering high-speed connectivity to underserved and unserved communities. Over the last two years, these projects involved building over 400 miles of last-mile fibre infrastructure to deliver FTTH broadband connectivity to over 3,900 homes and businesses. They were delivered with support from the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED). 

Yondr connects power to new Toronto data centre
CANADA 09:40

Yondr connects power to new Toronto data centre

Yondr Group has energised its Toronto data centre, with the 27MW facility set to become operational in mid-2026. The 4.5-acre data centre site is the company's first in Canada, as it continues its expansion across North America. John Madden, Chief Data Centre Officer, said the energisation of the Toronto facility was a major milestone in its commitment to delivering vital digital infrastructure for the region.

Ekinops revenue decline eases to 3% in Q1
GLOBAL 09:13

Ekinops revenue decline eases to 3% in Q1

Ekinops has confirmed the full-year financial guidance issued in mid-March after reporting an improving revenue trend for the first quarter. The group generated EUR 27.6 million in sales, down 3 percent on a reported basis from EUR 28.5 million in Q1 2025, following a 14 percent year-on-year decline in the last quarter of 2025. At constant exchange rates, first-quarter revenue was nearly stable (-0.5%). This performance partly reflected the integration of Olfeo, which Ekinops acquired on 01 June 2025 and co

Freshwave launches new 5G on Omni solution
UNITED KINGDOM 09:09

Freshwave launches new 5G on Omni solution

Freshwave Group, UK-based connectivity-as-a-service provider, has launched the new '5G on Omni' solution to provide UK organisations with guaranteed indoor 5G connectivity from all mobile network operators (MNOs). This expands Freshwave's Omni Network, a 4G indoor small cell solution. The Omni Network solution has gone live in over 6 million sq ft of real state or in-build since launch in June 2024.

OMAN 08:29

Omantel starts work on BSS/OSS transformation with Cerillion

Cerillion has started delivering a major digital transformation for Omantel, modernizing its business and operations support systems (BSS/OSS). This project is central to Omantel's "Telco to Techco" evolution. By replacing complex legacy systems with Cerillion's pre-integrated, low-code BSS/OSS Suite, Omantel is adopting a product-driven model that simplifies innovation, the vendor said. Built on TM Forum Open APIs and agentic AI, this platform ensures convergence across consumer, enterprise, and digital se

GLOBAL 08:26

Calix meets Q1 growth forecast as memory prices put pressure on margins

Calix reported first-quarter results up in line with its guidance and has announced another USD 100 million for share buybacks ahead of an investors day in New York. Quarterly revenues were up 27 percent year-on-year to USD 280.0 million and rose 3 percent from the previous quarter as the company on-boarded another 14 customers. The gross margin improved 120 basis points year-on-year to 56.9 percent, and the net result was a profit of USD 11.2 million compared to a loss of USD 4.8 million a year ago. 

GLOBAL 07:34

Point2 attracts Maverick Silicon, Nvidia to funding round for data centre interconnect plans

Point2 Technology, a developer of RF-based interconnect products for data centre infrastructure, announced an extension of its Series B round led by Maverick Silicon, with participation from NVentures (Nvidia's venture capital arm) and UMC Capital, bringing total Series B funding to USD 76 million. The funding will support development and deployment of its Active RF Cable (ARC) platform, as well as future e-Tube products for next-generation rack-scale compute systems. The company said it is expanding its en

JAPAN 05:51

SoftBank and Ericsson deploy uplink enhancement for 5G SA networks

SoftBank and Ericsson have begun deploying a new network technology designed to improve uplink performance on 5G standalone (SA) networks, with commercial availability expected from summer 2026. The technology, known as "Uplink Tx Switching", enhances uplink speed and stability by optimising the use of carrier aggregation and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) configurations. It will initially be supported on selected smartphones to be released by SoftBank, with availability expanding across devices and

GLOBAL 05:06

Celona partners OneLayer on security for private 5G and LTE networks

Celona and OneLayer have announced a partnership to deliver a combined platform aimed at improving security, visibility and control in private 5G and LTE deployments. The joint offering integrates Celona's 5G LAN system with OneLayer's device intelligence and Zero Trust security capabilities, targeting enterprise use cases across IT and operational technology environments. 

GLOBAL 05:04

Rakuten Symphony to lead Open RAN trials in seven Global South markets

Rakuten Symphony has been selected for a grant from Japan's ministry of economy, trade and industry to support the deployment and testing of Open RAN and RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) technologies across markets in the Global South. The funding, provided under METI's subsidy programmes for future-oriented co-creation projects, will support a demonstration initiative focused on radio access network control optimisation using AI and machine learning. The project forms part of Japan's broader industrial coo

GLOBAL 05:02

CU Phosco appoints Keith Henry to lead international telecoms strategy

CU Phosco has appointed Keith Henry as head of telecoms as part of its plans to expand its telecommunications and smart pole infrastructure business in the UK and overseas. Henry, who joined the company in February 2023 as general manager of its Australian subsidiary, will take responsibility for the company's international telecommunications strategy alongside his existing role in Australia. His remit includes the development of the company's Connected Urban smart pole range and broader telecoms infrastruc

SOUTH AFRICA 21 APR

South Africa opens consultation on new permit, access rules to speed up telecom network construction

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has published draft regulations aimed at supporting the faster deployment of telecom networks and facilities. These are open for public comment until 25 May. Issued under Section 4 of the Electronic Communications Act, these rules aim to accelerate broadband roll-out by streamlining land access and reducing infrastructure duplication.

FINLAND 21 APR

Finnish operators criticise idea of centralised network equipment location database

The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications (LVM) has published a summary of the 58 submissions received in a hearing on proposals to harmonise the way that network information needed for excavation work and planning is identified, processed and managed. The aim is to reduce excavation damage. Respondents expressed concern that a centralised equipment database would raise information security issues as well as costs.

UNITED KINGDOM 21 APR

O2 UK switches on 5G+ mobile network in Surrey

Virgin Media O2 has activated its 5G+ Standalone network in the English county of Surrey - covering up to 1.2 million residents across 33 large towns, 48 smaller towns and 194 rural villages. The roll-out is part of the group's GBP 700 million Mobile Transformation Plan. Surrey communities covered by the new 5G+ mobile network include Epsom, Dorking, Haslemere, Guildford, Reigate, Redhill, Weybridge and Staines.

MALAYSIA 21 APR

Malaysia's Demanlink deploys telecoms smart pole in Siburan, built-to-suit tower in Bintulu

Demanlink Connexion, a telecoms infrastructure company in the Sarawak state of Malaysia, has deployed two connectivity services for communities in Siburan and Bintulu. Demanlink reports it has deployed Sarawak's first telecommunications smart pole, a multi-function street infrastructure in Siburan, and the company's first built-to-suit (B2S) site in Kampung Jepak, Bintulu. Both deployments comprise 5G equipment and are designed to enhance connectivity coverage in the state's growing urban areas and transpor

GLOBAL 21 APR

Huber+Suhner ramps up hollow core fibre production to meet Microsoft data centre demand

Huber+Suhner announced it's working with Microsoft to expand production of hollow core fibre (HCF) cables for more Azure data centres. Huber+Suhner works already with the Azure team in Romsey, UK (former Lumenisity, acquired by Microsoft in 2022) to develop and manufacture HCF cables and connectors. These products are already deployed in the Azure network, and the partners are now working on higher-capacity variants to support Microsoft's future scaling of its cloud infrastructure.

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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