EchoStar Corporation has landed a substantial contract to supply mobile devices and services to the US Navy, valued at up to $2.7 billion over the next decade. This deal, though not a complete solution to the company’s financial woes, is a significant positive development amid ongoing challenges.
Verizon launches AI-driven apps to improve customer service by streamlining interactions. The European Commission designates Booking.com as a ‘gatekeeper’ and plans antitrust charges against Microsoft for bundling Teams with Office. Telstra establishes a regional network hub in Guam at GNC iX data center. GlobalData underscores US telcos’ struggle to stand out in the B2B channel.
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.
BT Group has reported a slight revenue increase to £20.8 billion, a 1% rise from last year, driven by price hikes for broadband customers, robust sales of fibre products in Openreach, and growth in the consumer division. However, the company’s pre-tax profits dropped sharply by 31%, falling to £1.18 billion, despite a 2% rise in adjusted EBITDA, which reached £8.1 billion.
Virgin Media O2 and Crown Commercial Service have inked a new Memorandum of Understanding aimed at enhancing technological and telecommunications solutions to bolster digitalisation efforts within the UK Government and the wider public sector. CCS, a government body responsible for aiding public sector procurement, has been pivotal in organizing the purchase of common goods and services across various organizations.
Indonesian telecommunications giant Axiata and conglomerate Sinar Mas are in talks to explore merging their respective operations in Indonesia. The potential merger would involve combining XL Axiata, owned by Axiata, with Smartfren, the mobile network subsidiary of Sinar Mas.
In line with its commitment to delivering global connectivity, DIDWW has expanded its SIP trunking services to include local call termination in North Macedonia, Malaysia, and Kenya. As a leading provider of premium quality two-way VoIP and SMS communications, DIDWW strategically enhances its coverage to offer robust telco solutions for businesses around the world.
In a strategic move to bolster its network reach, alternative fibre builder CityFibre has successfully acquired Lit Fibre, marking the first step in its plan to consolidate within the UK’s burgeoning altnet sector. Lit Fibre, known for its vertically integrated model encompassing both network construction and ISP services, currently serves over 220,000 premises across more than 20 towns in several regions.
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.
T-Mobile US and Verizon are reportedly in talks to acquire UScellular, with negotiations underway to divide the telco’s assets between them. According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, both major mobile network operators (MNOs) are strategizing separate deals to secure portions of UScellular’s operations.
