Australia sees 211-day average approval time for new mobile towers
AUSTRALIA 01:17

Australia sees 211-day average approval time for new mobile towers

Delays in planning approvals remain a significant barrier to improving mobile coverage across Australia, according to recent analysis cited by industry representatives. The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) analysed 477 development applications for mobile towers and found that the average approval timeframe for new facilities was 211 days. The analysis also identified council requirements that add compliance burdens without what the industry considers a commensurate public benefit.

Ayar Labs raises USD 500 mln Series E to scale co-packaged optics production
UNITED STATES 01:06

Ayar Labs raises USD 500 mln Series E to scale co-packaged optics production

US-based optical interconnect company Ayar Labs has closed a USD 500 million Series E funding round to expand high-volume production and testing capacity for its co-packaged optics (CPO) technology, bringing total funding to USD 870 million and valuing the company at $3.75 billion. The round was led by Neuberger Berman, with participation from institutional investors including ARK Invest, Insight Partners, Qatar Investment Authority, Sequoia Global Equities and 1789 Capital. 

Arrcus and Fujitsu partner on sovereign AI infrastructure architecture
GLOBAL 00:50

Arrcus and Fujitsu partner on sovereign AI infrastructure architecture

Arrcus has announced a collaboration with Fujitsu and 1Finity to develop an architecture aimed at supporting distributed and sovereign AI infrastructure. The initiative centres on Fujitsu-Monaka, Fujitsu's next-generation Arm-based CPU, and combines it with Arrcus's ArcOS network operating system and 1Finity's optical interconnect technology. The companies said the joint architecture is designed to address requirements linked to distributed AI workloads, including edge inference and large-scale training, wi

Microamp partners High Tech Inter for 5G mmWave deployment in Japan and APAC
JAPAN 00:47

Microamp partners High Tech Inter for 5G mmWave deployment in Japan and APAC

Polish company Microamp and Japanese firm High Tech Inter have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the deployment of 5G millimetre wave networks in Japan and across the Asia-Pacific region. The companies said the agreement combines Microamp's end-to-end 5G mmWave network technology with High Tech Inter's system integration and deployment capabilities, targeting commercial and mission-critical applications requiring high resilience, ultra-high capacity and low latency connectivity.

Anritsu test systems integrated into ETS-Lindgren 5G FR2 OTA platform
UNITED STATES 00:43

Anritsu test systems integrated into ETS-Lindgren 5G FR2 OTA platform

Anritsu has announced that its MT8000A and MT8821C wireless communication test systems have been integrated into a CTIA-certified 5G FR2 over-the-air (OTA) test platform developed by ETS-Lindgren, headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas. The US company specialises in electromagnetic and acoustic measurement and shielding systems. Its FR2 OTA system has obtained certification under the CTIA specification for millimetre wave testing, enabling spatial evaluation of 5G millimetre wave radio performance.

Adtran upgrades broadband network for Jackson County REMC
UNITED STATES 3 MRT

Adtran upgrades broadband network for Jackson County REMC

Jackson County REMC, member-owned rural utility services co-operative, has selected Adtran to upgrade its broadband network to deliver faster connectivity to customers across southern Indiana. Adtran has deployed an integrated solution combining fibre access, the AI-powered Mosaic One SaaS platform and Intellifi managed Wi-Fi. This delivers cost savings of 20-30 percent, as well as reducing the number of truck rolls - helping to deliver an enhanced experienced for more than 13,500 broadband customers across

Ruckus installs Wi-Fi 7 network at LAFC stadium
UNITED STATES 3 MRT

Ruckus installs Wi-Fi 7 network at LAFC stadium

Ruckus Networks, enterprise networks division of Vistance Networks, has deployed a next-generation Wi-Fi 7 network at the BMO Stadium of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). The deployment includes a combination of Ruckus Wi-Fi 1 Access Points - including the T670 for under-seat coverage, and the T670SN with hyper-directional antenna for precise, high-density targeting in club spaces and concourses. 

Telefonica Germany moves 5G core functions to AWS Outposts
GERMANY 3 MRT

Telefonica Germany moves 5G core functions to AWS Outposts

Telefonica Germany has moved the operation of its 5G core network to cloud-based architecture from Amazon Web Services, using its own data centre based on the AWS Outposts service. The cloud-based architecture operates in parallel with Telefonica's existing 5G core network, using AWS machine learning services, including large language models (LLMs) from Amazon Bedrock, to automate complex 5G maintenance workflows. Telefonica uses equipment provided by Nokia to run its 5G core network on AWS infrastructure u

Infovista launches AI insights platform VistaOne
GLOBAL 3 MRT

Infovista launches AI insights platform VistaOne

Infovista has announced VistaOne, a network intelligence and experience platform with AI features. VistaOne is built on Infovisa's agentic AI framework, VistAI, which launched in January. The platform includes three functional profiles: VistAI Ask permits queries of customer journey and network data, VistAI Automate supports automated workflows such as incident management and optimisation, and VistAI Monetise uncovers revenue opportunities such as service quality-based promotions.

AirHop brings AI-RAN automations to Nokia SMO platform
GLOBAL 3 MRT

AirHop brings AI-RAN automations to Nokia SMO platform

AirHop is bringing its Auptim portfolio of RAN automations and optimisations to Nokia's Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) platform. The partnership combines Airhop's specialised RAN algorithms with Nokia's autonomous networking platform.

AT&T, Ericsson successfully test AI-native Link Adaptation on Cloud RAN
UNITED STATES 3 MRT

AT&T, Ericsson successfully test AI-native Link Adaptation on Cloud RAN

AT&T and Ericsson have successfully tested Ericsson's AI-native Link Adaptation on a Cloud RAN stack powered by the Intel Xeon 6 SoC chipset. The demo included the Xeon 6 SoC in AT&T's target Cloud RAN environment, showing how Ericsson's AI solution can enhance network efficiency. 

Vodafone, Samsung complete call using vRAN solution and new Intel chipset
EUROPE 3 MRT

Vodafone, Samsung complete call using vRAN solution and new Intel chipset

Vodafone and Samsung have completed the first call in Europe using Samsung's virtualised RAN (vRAN) solution and the Intel Xeon 6 SoC. This successful validation of the new Intel chipset builds on an existing Open RAN deployment in Germany. The milestone was achieved with partners Wind River (cloud platform) and Dell Technologies (server), with the solution set for commercial deployment in 2026. This will allow Vodafone to manage fewer systems and less hardware, while also lowering costs and energy use.

AFRICA 3 MRT

Cassava Technologies launches autonomous network platform powered by Nvidia

Cassava Technologies announced the launch of Cassava Autonomous Network, the African group's own autonomous network platform designed to self-optimise mobile RAN. The company said the system was built specifically for the unique complexities of Africa's connectivity landscape, using Nvidia AI infrastructure, Nvidia NIM microservices and Nvidia Network Configuration Blueprint.

GLOBAL 3 MRT

Skyworks presents pre-6G FR3 front-end power amplifier

Signal components vendor Skyworks Solutions is presenting an early reference design for 6G RF front-end (RFFE) low noise and power amplifiers at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona. Its live demo showcases an integrated low noise and power amplifier module with integrated filters tailored to upper 6 GHz spectrum in the 6.425 - 7 GHz range, considered a viable option to deliver large channel bandwidths up to 400 MHz. The reference design, supported by Skyworks' mobile silicon partner MediaTek, is based o

GLOBAL 3 MRT

Broadcom updates VMWare Telco Cloud

Broadcom announced the next iteration of its VMWare Telco Cloud Platform. VMWare Telco Cloud Platform 9 brings additional telecoms-grade functionality for better AI monetisation, operating efficiencies, and sovereign data workflows in cloud-hosted telecoms infrastructures. AI-targeted features include GPU virtualisation used to partition physical GPUs among multiple virtual machines, and a multi-tenant GPU-as-a-service architecture that helps operators scale AI capability while providing on-demand access to

GLOBAL 3 MRT

Ericsson and Nokia to participate in each others' rApp marketplaces

Ericsson and Nokia have announced a collaboration that sees each partner become a member of its peer's rApp software ecosystem for Open RAN optimisations. Nokia only recently introduced its rApp ecosystem and Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) marketplace, while Ericsson's rApp catalogue has operated for a while longer as part of its SMO-focused Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP). This agreement is intended to support multi-vendor SMO ecosystems, providing enhanced supplier flexibility

GLOBAL 3 MRT

MaxLinear to supply Sierra SoC to Samji Electronics' O-RU project

South Korea-based mobile site equipment vendor Samji Electronics has selected MaxLinear's Sierra RF system-on-chip to underpin its upcoming radio unit targeting macro base stations. A live demo of Samji Electronics' upcoming SNOO2-44N28 Macro Radio is planned for MWC 2026 in Barcelona. Samji's Open RAN-compliant radio unit (O-RU) is designed to provide next-generation functionality aligned with modern cellular networks.

GERMANY 3 MRT

O2 Telefonica, Ekinops offer B2B 5G mobile fixed line extension solution

O2 Telefonica and Ekinops, enterprise secured connectivity specialist, have partnered to launch a joint 5G mobile fixed line extension solution for enterprise customers in Germany. This will provide customers with high-speed 5G connectivity, even in difficult coverage areas. 

EUROPE 3 MRT

SNS-JU awards EUR 116 mln funding to 20 6G research projects

The EU's Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS-JU) has allocated EUR 116 million in public funds to 20 R&D projects aligned with European 6G research and innovation. Announced at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, this additional cohort of 6G and beyond-5G projects takes the total number supported by the SNS-JU to 100. The joint undertaking will invest another EUR 270 million this year and into 2027. Since 2021, SNS-JU has supplied EUR 630 million in public funds, provided through the EU'

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. 

EUROPE 3 MRT

EU backs telco digital sovereignty project with EUR 75 mln for edge infrastructure

Telefonica and the European Commission announced the launch of EURO-3C, a EUR 75 million project to build a pan-European sovereign infrastructure combining telecommunications, edge computing, cloud and artificial intelligence capabilities. Unveiled at Mobile World Congress, the initiative aims to accelerate Europe's digital and industrial transformation through a federated, open and secure model. 

EGYPT 3 MRT

E& Egypt provides laboratories for Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport

E& Egypt had signed an agreement with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT) to establish wired and wireless telecommunication laboratories covering every mobile network standard (2G, 4G, and 5G), to support academic studies with labour market needs in the ICT sector. The company will provide AASTMT's four branches in Cairo, Alexandria and South Valley with the required equipment for establishing and operating the laboratories. This will ensure access to educational and train

JAPAN 3 MRT

Rakuten Mobile selects Samsung as nationwide 5G Open RAN radio supplier

Rakuten Mobile has selected Samsung Electronics as its nationwide supplier of Open RAN-compliant 5G radios in Japan, with commercial deployment expected to begin later this year following testing and validation. The operator said Samsung's radios will support the continued expansion of its fully virtualised, cloud-native Open RAN network. The portfolio includes low-band 700 MHz and mid-band 1.7 GHz radios, as well as Massive MIMO units for the 3.8 GHz band.

GLOBAL 3 MRT

Huawei presents AI WAN portfolio with quantum protection

Huawei is releasing new products for managing encrypted communication networks. At Mobile World Congress, the company unveiled the company's NG WAN architecture, designed to upgrade IP bearer networks for greater security and resilience, multi dimensional awareness, and network autonomy. The platform includes an encrypted traffic identification engine and intelligent routing solutions to set up protected traffic links. 

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Australia sees 211-day average approval time for new mobile towers

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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