The UK’s telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, is advancing plans to facilitate shared access to the highly sought-after upper 6 GHz band, proposing two primary frameworks to balance the needs of both mobile and Wi-Fi providers. The first proposed approach, known as variable spectrum split, would allow both mobile and Wi-Fi services to use portions of the spectrum not occupied by the other.
Spain’s top three mobile operators have struck a deal to share spectrum in the 700 MHz band, aiming to improve rural coverage and secure government funding. This agreement involves Telefonica’s Movistar, the newly formed MasOrange, and Vodafone’s Spanish division.
Telefónica Tech has entered into a collaboration with Microsoft to enhance its cybersecurity services by incorporating Microsoft’s AI tools. This partnership aims to provide customers with proactive, integrated, and automated real-time security management.
AT&T takes a significant leap forward in its plans to offer satellite direct-to-phone services following the finalization of commercial terms with low Earth orbit (LEO) operator AST SpaceMobile. The agreement sets the stage for AT&T to provide non-terrestrial network (NTN) coverage through SpaceMobile’s constellation until 2030. Although a firm launch date for SpaceMobile’s network is yet to be confirmed, AT&T anticipates the delivery of the first commercial satellites to Cape Canaveral this summer.
The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has launched fresh consultations on proposals to prolong spectrum usage rights for major telecom operators, potentially deferring a competitive auction process until the next decade. This move has reignited tensions with market entrant 1&1, which has previously contested similar initiatives.
Cornerstone, a leading passive infrastructure provider managing Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) and Vodafone’s shared mobile network, is set to introduce a cutting-edge neutral host network utilizing smart street light technology in urban environments.The partnership between Cornerstone and Signify, a Netherlands-based company spun off from Philips in 2016, will leverage Signify’s BrightSites Broadband Luminaire products. These innovative LED streetlamps act as network extenders, supporting a mesh network using 60 GHz millimetre-wave (mmWave) spectrum to facilitate 5G connectivity.
Bridging the digital divide in vast and harsh terrains like the Scottish Highlands, VMO2 embarks on a novel approach, utilizing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites from Starlink for critical backhaul services. Bypassing conventional, costly terrestrial infrastructure, VMO2’s tests have proven the potency of satellite technology in improving coverage across the UK.
Vonage, a prominent player in cloud communications and a subsidiary of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), has clinched the prestigious Gold Award for its 5G advancements at the Merit Awards for Telecom. The accolade highlights Vonage’s commitment to fostering digital transformation through its global network platform.
KPN, a leading telecom operator, recently announced its plan to retire 2G network by 2025, opening the frequency gates to bolster the reliability and speed of its 4G & 5G networks.
In a stark warning delivered at a regional investment banking conference in Tallinn, Estonia, Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm highlighted Europe’s precarious position in the global telecom arena. Emphasizing the urgent need for regulatory reform and innovation prioritization, Ekholm cautioned that Europe’s telecom industry is trailing far behind its counterparts in the US, China, and India.
