KDDI launches Starlink Direct international roaming in the US
UNITED STATES 02:52

KDDI launches Starlink Direct international roaming in the US

KDDI and Okinawa Cellular have begun international roaming support for their au Starlink Direct satellite-to-smartphone service in the United States from 4 March 2026. The operators said the launch represents the first cross-border roaming connection for direct satellite communications between smartphones and Starlink satellites. Initially, the service is supported on selected Google Pixel devices, with additional models expected to be added later.

Taiwan Mobile, AST SpaceMobile partner on LEO satellite communication services
TAIWAN 3 MRT

Taiwan Mobile, AST SpaceMobile partner on LEO satellite communication services

Taiwan Mobile has signed a cooperation deal for low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication services with AST SpaceMobile, the company building a space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones. Taiwan Mobile expects this collaboration to promote the synergistic operation of 'space base station' technology and existing mobile networks in Taiwan, accelerate the implementation of an integrated satellite-terrestrial communication architecture, and strengthen ubiquitous conn

Vodafone Ukraine signs MoU for mobile satellite services with AST SpaceMobile
UKRAINE 3 MRT

Vodafone Ukraine signs MoU for mobile satellite services with AST SpaceMobile

Vodafone Ukraine said that it has signed a memorandum on understanding with the company AST SpaceMobile to work on the launch of mobile satellite services across the country. The agreement was signed during MWC Barcelona. While no launch date was given, Vodafone Ukraine said it plans to offer a full satellite broadband service over the low-orbit satellites from AST SpaceMobile, supporting its strategy for resilient services throughout the country. It will work with AST SpaceMobile on the commercial launch,

Sunrise partners Satellite Connect Europe to try D2D services
SWITZERLAND 3 MRT

Sunrise partners Satellite Connect Europe to try D2D services

Swiss operator Sunrise is partnering with Satellite Connect Europe to assess the latter's direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity service, and how it could improve 4G and 5G coverage in Switzerland. The partners will test whether smartphones seamlessly transition from mobile to satellite signals in areas with limited or no coverage. Satellite Connect Europe is the joint venture set up by Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile for D2D services which is partnering also with other European mobile network operators

Mexico's TV Azteca files for bankruptcy protection
MEXICO 3 MRT

Mexico's TV Azteca files for bankruptcy protection

Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca (Grupo Salinas) announced that it will initiate a financial, corporate and operational restructuring via voluntary bankruptcy protection, following approval by shareholders. In a statement, CEO Rafael Rodriguez described the move as "a last resort tool aimed at preserving the value of the company, ensuring the continuity of operations and facilitating the orderly fulfilment of obligations without interrupting its functioning."

Elisa could discontinue MTV free-to-air channels from mid-May
FINLAND 3 MRT

Elisa could discontinue MTV free-to-air channels from mid-May

Finnish operator Elisa said that Schibsted Media company MTV has terminated the distribution agreement for MTV's free-to-air channels. Unless a new deal is reached, the channels MTV3, MTV Sub and MTV Ava will no longer be available to watch live on Elisa Viihte and Elisa's cable television service from 13 May. For the time being, it will still be possible to record channels and watching recordings on Elisa Viihte, as well as the pay-TV and MTV Katsomo services, even after 12 May.

Digi Spain adds six BBC channels to TV service
SPAIN 3 MRT

Digi Spain adds six BBC channels to TV service

Digi Spain has announced the addition of six international BBC channels to its Digi TV service. They include BBC Series (formerly BBC Drama), with a selection of the UK broadcaster's most popular original drama and comedy series, the BBC Earth documentary channel, BBC Lifestyle, BBC History, BBC Food and Top Gear, specialising in motoring content.

MoMe picks Synamedia for Spanish CDN service
SPAIN 3 MRT

MoMe picks Synamedia for Spanish CDN service

Video software provider Synamedia and Spanish systems integrator MoMe have announced the launch of what they describe as Spain's first content delivery network (CDN) service designed specifically for video streaming. The new platform, powered by Synamedia's Fluid EdgeCDN technology, delivers high-quality, low-latency video while giving broadcasters and media providers full control across their delivery networks, said the partners.

IEC Telecom launches operations in Malaysia as authorized Starlink reseller
MALAYSIA 3 MRT

IEC Telecom launches operations in Malaysia as authorized Starlink reseller

IEC Telecom has officially launched its office in Malaysia, marking the expansion of its enterprise connectivity services across Southeast Asia. IEC Telecom Malaysia introduces enterprise-grade Starlink-powered services designed to boost last-mile connectivity. The company will deliver integrated customised satellite communication services for sectors such as energy, maritime, government, logistics, and remote enterprise operations.

Deutsche Telekom to offer new Starlink D2D service in Europe from 2028
EUROPE 3 MRT

Deutsche Telekom to offer new Starlink D2D service in Europe from 2028

Deutsche Telekom is partnering with Starlink to expand mobile coverage with the latter's direct-to-device satellite services. Telekom, which already works with Starlink on the services in the US, said it expects to have the D2D services available in ten European countries by 2028. The company will cover particularly challenging areas, for example due to nature conservation requirements or demanding topography, with Starlink's V2 next-generation mobile technology, to enable compatible smartphones to connect

VodafoneThree to start satellite service trials in summer 2026
UNITED KINGDOM 3 MRT

VodafoneThree to start satellite service trials in summer 2026

VodafoneThree will start customer trials of a new direct-to-device satellite connectivity service in summer 2026. This follows the milestone of completing its first video call over satellite in January 2025, connecting directly to a LEO Bluebird satellite operated by AST SpaceMobile from a rural Wales locations with no mobile phone signal.

Satellite direct-to-device market to be worth USD 12 billion in 2030 - Omdia
GLOBAL 3 MRT

Satellite direct-to-device market to be worth USD 12 billion in 2030 - Omdia

The global satellite direct-to-device (D&D) services market is projected to reach 411 million monthly active users and generate USD 11.99 billion in revenue by 2030, Omdia forecasts. This represents mean annual growth rates of 80.1 percent for users and 49.4 percent for revenue from 2026 to 2030.

SOUTH AFRICA 3 MRT

SES and Advannotech take part in agricultural IoT project

SES, IoT technology provider Advannotech and other organisations are taking part in a scheme under Enterprising Africa Regional Network (EARN) for young farmers. It applies technology to tackle food insecurity and economic growth through a climate-smart training farm in Centurion, South Africa. Using IoT over satellite and LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) sensors, it monitors soil moisture and temperature, water levels, and environmental factors such as light, carbon dioxide, humidity and air temperat

ROMANIA 3 MRT

Vodafone, Satellite Connect Europe to test D2D satellite connectivity services in Romania

Vodafone Romania has announced its collaboration with Satellite Connect Europe to test direct to device (D2D) satellite connectivity services in Romania in the summer of 2026. Vodafone Romania and Satellite Connect Europe are collaborating for the future implementation of the new satellite technology, with trial exercises of the services to start in Romania in the coming months.

GLOBAL 3 MRT

Ceva launches 5G Advanced NTN modem IP for LEO and MEO user terminals

Ceva has introduced PentaG-NTN, a 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks modem IP subsystem designed for satellite user terminals operating on low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellations. Announced at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, the subsystem is based on Ceva's third-generation PentaG 5G Advanced modem platform.

KAZAKHSTAN 2 MRT

Freedom Holding transfers satellite unit to another subsidiary

Kazakh telecommunications holding company Freedom Holding Corporation has transferred its unit Freedom Satellite to its subsidiary Freedom Cloud Holding. It previously operated within the telecom division as part of Freedom Telecom Holding Ltd. As part of the transformation, Freedom Satellite will focus on developing hybrid satellite telecom products including IoT platforms, acting as a system integrator for infrastructure projects for corporate and government clients. The separation aims to enhance operati

SLOVAKIA 2 MRT

Flexi TV to double price of basic package

Slovak pay-television service Flexi TV, owned by the company DSI Data, plans to double the monthly subscription rate of its basic package from April, reports Zive. The package supplies almost 30 Slovak and Czech TV channels and the price will go up to EUR 5.20 monthly from EUR 2.60.  The operator said that the hike is related to the expansion of the line-up and based on its contracts with broadcasters.

SLOVAKIA 2 MRT

Digi Slovakia adds TV Paprika to line-up

Digi Slovakia said that it has returned the cookery channel TV Paprika to its pay-television line-up. The channel has become available to subscribers of the operator's IPTV, satellite TV and cable TV services. A Hungarian language version of TV Paprika has been added to the thematic package HU+.

GLOBAL 2 MRT

SES expects stable FY revenue and EBITDA after negative organic growth in 2025

Satellite operator SES is guiding for stable organic performance in both revenue and EBITDA for the whole of 2026. In 2025, combined like-for-like revenues across SES and Intelsat decreased by 1.6 percent year-on-year to EUR 3.51 billion, while adjusted EBITDA fell by 12.1 percent to EUR 1.53 billion. Capex amounted to EUR 700 million annually and should now remain broadly unchanged in 2026 including spend on the meoSphere programme and Europe's Iris2 project, compared with the previous forecast of approxim

ITALY 2 MRT

CK Hutchison to partner with Satellite Connect Europe on D2D rollout

Satellite Connect Europe, the Luxembourg-based "SatCo" joint venture between AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone, has confirmed a deal with CK Hutchison to explore the rollout of direct-to-device (D2D) satellite mobile broadband in its European markets. In a statement, Satellite Connect Europe said CK Hutchison has committed to deploy D2D services in five markets - Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and Sweden – with testing due to begin in Austria (under the Drei brand) and Italy (WindTre) this coming summer.

URUGUAY 2 MRT

Antel debuts Uruguayan football OTT service

Uruguayan state-owned operator Antel has announced the launch of a streaming platform dubbed Antel Internacional to air games from the Uruguayan football championship throughout the world. The streaming service was rolled out after the operator reached a deal with the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) and local rights holder Tenfield.

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

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.

GLOBAL 2 MRT

Cubic3, Skylo unveil automotive connectivity solution at MWC

Cubic3 and Skylo Technologies have announced the first automotive-focused connectivity solution in the world which combines cellular and satellite communications in a single SIM, delivering global coverage and validated for commercial deployments. The solution was unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, and will help vehicles stay connected where there is no traditional mobile network coverage. 

Just In

02:52

KDDI launches Starlink Direct international roaming in the US

01:25

SKT advances modular and CXL-based AI data centre strategy

01:23

LG Uplus CEO Hong Beom-sik outlines AI voice strategy at MWC26 keynote

01:17

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

Commentary

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

15 DEC 2025 13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

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