PJT Partners sets out to scrutinize UK telecom operator, KCOM’s business strategy, a move that could trigger significant changes like a sale or merger. This arises from previous disclosures regarding the potential interest of CityFibre and Virgin Media O2 in purchasing the uniquely positioned company that operates independently of BT’s Openreach network.
The UK Government’s newly established Critical Imports Council aims to lessen the disturbance of essential goods flow from unpredictable global supply chain disruptions. Business and Trade Minister, Alan Mak, highlights strengthening critical goods supply against real-world crises through collaborative efforts with industry experts. With representation from diverse sectors including telecommunications, the council will focus on assessing risks and creating robust mitigation strategies.
Rumors of a impending merger swirl around two of UK’s pivotal alternative network providers. Such union could massively boost FTTP coverage across the UK. Amid speculations of rapid network consolidation and shared investment, this collaboration signifies a vital shift in UK’s fibre market. However, the union also begets challenges in terms of subscriber transition and meeting regulatory deadlines.
President Yoon Suk Yeol recently detailed South Korea’s aggressive moves to establish its supremacy in the global semiconductor sector, including a staggering $6.94 billion commitment to AI by 2027. Amid fierce competition, South Korea’s largest telecom firm, SK Telecom, is paralleling governmental efforts with its own investment in AI firms.
Vodafone Idea is initiating one of India’s largest follow-on public offerings, seeking to amass roughly $2.16 billion. Placing the firm under pressure is its struggle against a decreasing market share and encumbering debt, the result of fierce competition within India’s telecommunications industry. Despite currently being hindered by its financial situation to invest in network enhancements, expectations linger for the telecom’s debut of 5G services by year’s end.
Boldly setting a new trend, British mobile network operator EE introduces a direct ‘pounds and pence’ pricing structure allowing easy-to-understand mid-contract price alterations. Putting an end to the perplexing use of complex indices like CPI or RPI, this simplified approach, commencing from 31 March 2025, has announced certain monthly hikes that resonate with essential consumer electronics and services.
Axiata Group, a Malaysian telecommunications conglomerate, has announced the sale of its towers operations in Myanmar in a deal worth US$150 million with an undisclosed buyer. This decision reflects a growing trend among international telecom giants to exit Myanmar due to the country’s challenging economic and operational environment amidst ongoing civil conflict.
In a significant move, AT&T has pledged an additional $3 billion investment by the end of the decade to address the digital divide in the United States, bringing its total commitment to this cause to $5 billion. This announcement comes as part of the telco’s ongoing efforts to ensure more Americans have access to affordable high-speed internet.
With the looming switch-off of ISDN and PSTN circuits, businesses in the UK will have no choice but to update their phone systems to the cloud before December 2025. This is when the old networks will be turned off. These older networks are being replaced with newer technology, such as VoIP as well as the discontinuation of ISDN and PSTN; broadband lines with a dial tone such as ADSL and FTTC are also being discontinued and replaced with new products such as SOGEA and FTTP (Fiber to the Premise).
Openreach, UK’s primary broadband provider, is proposing legislations that’ll speed up fibre broadband installations in Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs). This initiative is due to the lengthy authorizations processes, known as wayleaves, resulting in significant cost. However, critics argue this could infringe on property rights.
