Ofcom recommends photo ID needed for social media age checks
UNITED KINGDOM 17:12

Ofcom recommends photo ID needed for social media age checks

UK regulator Ofcom has published its assessment of how social media platforms can implement age checks. It has identified four highly-effective age assurance methods to determine if users are aged 16 and over - facial age estimation, banking checks, digital ID and photo ID. The ban on social media for under 16s was announced in June. Woth photo ID required as part of these recommended methods, Ofcom said it was likely that 16-17 year olds currently without a valid photo ID will need to take action to get on

VMO2 CEO calls for in-depth investigation of BT, TalkTalk deal
UNITED KINGDOM 16:58

VMO2 CEO calls for in-depth investigation of BT, TalkTalk deal

Virgin Media O2 CEO Lutz Schueler has called for a full investigation into BT's acquisition of TalkTalk, warning that the credibility of UK competition rules are at risk. He expressed dismay that the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) had submitted a report on the potential competition impact of the deal to the Secretary of State Lisa Nandy after having just two weeks to conduct the review, a process Schueler said usually takes several months.

O2 offers SIM-free handset financing; upgrades Haven park connectivity
UNITED KINGDOM 16:24

O2 offers SIM-free handset financing; upgrades Haven park connectivity

Virgin Media O2 has announced the launch of SIM-free financing for new and existing O2 customers, allowing them to buy a new or refurbished phone without an airtime plan, and spread the cost of device from three to 24 months. The payment plans will be managed by Affirm, with no late payment fees or hidden charges. They are available with selected SIM-free phones, subject to credit status - including the iPhone 16 128GB (new), Samsung Galaxy A57 (new), Google Pixel 10a (news), iPhone 17 256GB (Like New), Sam

Lumen Technologies tackles energy dilemma in AI routing workloads
UNITED STATES 16:08

Lumen Technologies tackles energy dilemma in AI routing workloads

Lumen Technologies is announcing initiatives to address emerging security threats, quantum-era connectivity, and AI's energy challenge. First, Lumen's new Emerald AI platform provides an energy-aware routing option for customers accessing Lumen's global data infrastructure. AI workloads enrolled in the grid will be automatically changed to an alternative route depending on available power resources, as well as cost profiles and other factors.

One Albania rolls out new mobile plans for younger and older users
ALBANIA 15:59

One Albania rolls out new mobile plans for younger and older users

One Albania has introduced a new individual contract plan for young people aged 18–23, as well as a package dedicated to people aged 62 and over. Young people can choose a One 5Gen+ plan with 35 GB of internet, unlimited national minutes and unlimited national SMS. The offer is available with a 12-month or 24-month contract.

M:tel BH sees 50% higher annual profits in year to date
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 15:56

M:tel BH sees 50% higher annual profits in year to date

Bosnia and Herzegovina operator M:tel reported preliminary results for the first nine months of 2026, showing profits nearly 50 percent higher than the same period last year. Total service users are projected to reach 2.5 million by year-end, driven by popular offerings like Siguran Net, which added over 100,000 users in 2026. According to CEO Jelena Trivan, m:tel is technically and financially equipped to launch 5G immediately once regulatory conditions permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that the ope

KPN prepares customers ahead of 2G shutdown in December 2027
NETHERLANDS 15:55

KPN prepares customers ahead of 2G shutdown in December 2027

Dutch operator KPN started a campaign to make people aware of the upcoming shutdown of its 2G network in December 2027. This gives customers plenty of time to upgrade their equipment so they can use the newer 4G and 5G networks. 

Polkowice municipality picks Flashnet to run fibre network
POLAND 15:47

Polkowice municipality picks Flashnet to run fibre network

Polish company Flashnet has won a tender to operate the municipal telecommunications network in Polkowice, in Zaglebie Miedziowe county. The municipality built the fibre-optic network, and a few months ago launched a tender process to lease out the operational component. Two bids were submitted by local operators: Flashnet, based in Legnica, and Kamnet, from the village of Obora in the Lower Silesian region.

Brazil mandates biometric verification for mobile phone users
BRAZIL 15:46

Brazil mandates biometric verification for mobile phone users

Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) approved the use of biometric verification of mobile phone users to register or keep lines active. Designed by the Subgroup for Combating Fraud and Scams to make unauthorised or fraudulent activations more difficult, the regulation obliges mobile service providers to implement facial recognition with liveness detection, compared against public or private biometric databases.

Ericsson urges modernisation of Portugal's emergency network
PORTUGAL 15:42

Ericsson urges modernisation of Portugal's emergency network

Juan Olivera, CEO of Ericsson Portugal, has called for a critical upgrade to Siresp, Portugal's dedicated emergency communications network, stating that the company would eagerly participate in its modernisation, Jornal Economico reported. Olivera noted that recent blackouts and severe storms highlight the urgent need to replace the network's 25-year-old Tetra infrastructure with newer technology.

SFR ordered to present support measures for shop staff ahead of takeover
FRANCE 15:38

SFR ordered to present support measures for shop staff ahead of takeover

SFR has been ordered by a French court to present support measures for employees at its SFR Distribution division in relation to the risks associated with the proposed sale of the operator. According to news agency Agence France-Presse, which had access to the court ruling, SFR Distribution has been given 25 days to comply or face a fine of EUR 1 million for each week of delay in the full implementation of the decision.

Polsat Plus Group signs partner agreement with Vodafone
POLAND 15:36

Polsat Plus Group signs partner agreement with Vodafone

Polsat Plus Group and Vodafone Group have signed a partnership agreement that will provide Polkomtel, operator of the Plus network in Poland, with access to Vodafone's international expertise, know-how and operational experience. The official signing ceremony took place at the British Embassy in Warsaw. The three-year agreement will be delivered through Vodafone Partners, Vodafone's global network of operator partnerships.

BELGIUM 15:33

Telenet introduces business mobile plans with automatic data bundle upgrades

Telenet is launching a "dynamic" business mobile plan, that adjusts automatically when employees use more data. Business Mobile Dynamic starts at EUR 18 per month for 15 GB and when customers use more data, they upgrade automatically to 50 GB for EUR 22 or 300 GB for 32 per month. The customer does not have to intervene to change the subscription if their needs evolve. 

NETHERLANDS 15:20

Most telecom consumers use provider app as much as possible for service queries

A majority of telecom customers with their provider's app (59%) say they try to do as much as possible via the app, research by Telecompaper shows. Around two-thirds have their provider app installed. Customers aged 68 and older are less likely to want to use the app (37%). Those who don't want to use the app tend to find talking to an employee more effective (50%) or consider personal contact important (42%).

UNITED STATES 15:07

FCC proposes opening up more mid-band spectrum to mobile, satellite services

The US Federal Communications Commission has proposed opening key mid-band spectrum to satellite services, in order to support new direct-to-device (D2D) mobile satellite services. The Commission approved a draft decision to re-allocate the 1,675-1,695 MHz and 2,020-2,025 MHz bands and put the frequencies up for auction. The proposal remains subject to public comment and a review by the NTIA over the change in allocation for the blocks. 

GERMANY 15:05

Emtelle inks partnership with ECAD to expand FTTH networks in Germany

Emtelle has signed a partnership agreement with ECAD Electronic Components and Devices to provide its its Network Level 4 (NE4) technologies. These support the final part of an FTTH network by connecting fibre-optic cables from the building entry point to individual residential units. Obernzell-based EDAC provides its know-how in the development, manufacturing and integration of NE3 and NE4 system products, to accelerate the deployment of fibre-optic connections directly into residential units. The aim of t

MACAU 14:50

Macau reaches 1.49 million mobile lines in September

Mobile connections in Macau rose to 1.49 million in September from 1.47 million in August, with 5G maintaining its dominance across both postpaid and prepaid segments. Broadband subscriptions also expanded from 219,949 to 220,270, boosted by ongoing fibre-optic network deployments, according to data from Macau regulator CTT. In contrast, fixed-line connections fell further to 73,185, including 33,418 residential subscriptions. Public wireless infrastructure remained unchanged, at 2,166 commercial Wi-Fi hots

POLAND 14:49

Poland to collect over PLN 1 bln from extension of 1,800 MHz spectrum licenses in 2027

Krzysztof Dyl, the vice president of Polish telecommunications regulator UKE, presented the watchdog's financial plan for 2027 during a meeting of the parliamentary committee on Digitisation, Innovation and Modern Technologies, reports Telko.in. The plan includes projected revenue of PLN 1.692 billion from spectrum fees paid by various operators, including both recurring and one-off acquisition fees. This includes over PLN 1 billion for the planned extension of licences for the 1,800 MHz band.

ITALY 14:43

Italy business morale returns to growth in October, consumer confidence dips

Italy's overall business confidence returned to growth in October following last month's fall but consumer morale fell to a three-year low, according to the latest report from national statistics office Istat. Composite business confidence across the manufacturing, retail, construction and services sectors rose from 95.9 to 96.6, led by market services and construction, offsetting a decline in the retail index from 104.3 to 100.7.

SLOVAKIA 14:41

Slovak Telekom to block access to GSM network for new SIMs

Slovak Telekom plans to block access to its GSM network for new SIMs, reports Zive. The operator is preparing for the gradual phasing out of the GSM network and wants to anticipate potential issues and manage the shutdown in successive waves. In the middle of September, the operator updated its general terms and conditions for mobile services. These terms stipulate that access to the 2G network will be progressively blocked for new clients and for existing customers who renew their service contracts.

GLOBAL 14:40

NuRAN Wireless announces USD 10 mln non-convertible revolving credit facility to fund operations

NuRAN Wireless said it has agreed a definitive USD 10 million non-convertible revolving credit facility with a lender representing a supporting shareholder group. This is intended to fund working capital and more telecom tower construction. NuRAN said no common shares have been sold under the at-the-market (ATM) equity programme announced on 15 September with an aggregate offering price of up to US 50 million, and it has decided not to use the programme at current market prices.

PORTUGAL 14:40

Vodafone Portugal and Prosegur Alarms launch home security package

Vodafone Portugal has partnered with Prosegur Alarms to offer a home security package starting at EUR 45.50 per month. The service comes with connected security cameras and sensors, 24/7 professional monitoring and incident response, and mobile management via the Prosegur Smart app. The mobile app supports live feeds and alerts from the cameras and remote activation of the alarms.

BRAZIL 14:35

Intelbras reports BRL 177 mln net profit in Q3

Brazilian telecom equipment manufacturer Intelbras recorded a net profit of BRL 176.6 million for the third quarter of 2026, a 19.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Revenues rose by 4.6 percent year-over-year to BRL 1.17 billion, while EBITDA reached BRL 170.1 million, up 18.1 percent. Net cash expanded to BRL 680.3 million by the end of September, up from BRL 585.1 million at the end of June.

NETHERLANDS 14:28

KPN acquires UC provider Xelion

KPN is acquiring the unified communications provider Xelion for an undisclosed amount. Active since 1988, Xelion serves small and medium-sized businesses across the Netherlands with communications software and services. It will continue as an independent unit within KPN. 

Just In

17:12

Ofcom recommends photo ID needed for social media age checks

16:58

VMO2 CEO calls for in-depth investigation of BT, TalkTalk deal

16:24

O2 offers SIM-free handset financing; upgrades Haven park connectivity

16:08

Lumen Technologies tackles energy dilemma in AI routing workloads

Commentary

19 OKT 13:02

SpaceX wants to join the mobile market, but why?

24 SEP 13:37

What is KPN's response to the brand expansion at Odido and VodafoneZiggo?

8 SEP 10:16

Odido matches KPN and VodafoneZiggo on cash flow margin, but growth remains limited

11 AUG 10:49

Can Ziggo Group creation improve visibility for the Dutch market?

Background

15:20

Most telecom consumers use provider app as much as possible for service queries

27 OKT 11:51

Danish AI sector focuses on business market

26 OKT 00:15

The week in telecom: European telcos take on satellite market, Nvidia rekindles AI RAN hopes

24 OKT 08:49

Dutch Weekly - Week 43