Sub-Saharan Africa to lead global 5G growth with over 10-fold subscriber increase by 2031
AFRICA 12:19

Sub-Saharan Africa to lead global 5G growth with over 10-fold subscriber increase by 2031

Sub-Saharan Africa's transition to advanced connectivity is moving at a rapid pace and the region is forecast to lead global 5G subscription growth, surging from roughly 30 million users in 2025 to 370 million by 2031, according to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report. Total mobile subscriptions in sub-Saharan Africa are projected to reach 1.31 billion by 2031, up from 1.05 billion in 2025.

Telefonica Tech installs smart street lighting in Santa Pola
SPAIN 12:18

Telefonica Tech installs smart street lighting in Santa Pola

Telefonica Tech, the digital business unit of Telefonica, announced the deployment of a smart street lighting system in the coastal town of Santa Pola near Valencia as part of a joint venture between Ferrovial Energia and Iberdrola Clientes to remotely manage LED street lights across the municipality based on real-time demand.

Samsung, Huawei lead foldable phone market in Russia
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 11:56

Samsung, Huawei lead foldable phone market in Russia

Russian sales of foldable smartphones totaled 42,000 units in January to May of this year, according to a study from the operator MTS. Sales revenues amounted to RUB 3.9 billion. Sales of such devices increased by more than 50 percent in the past two years, while the average retail price declined by 16 percent to RUB 92,600.

FTTH Council Europe names new board with Adtran's Fogli as president
EUROPE 11:42

FTTH Council Europe names new board with Adtran's Fogli as president

The FTTH Council Europe has elected a new board and restructured its committee framework following its 2026 Spring General Assembly in Brussels, reflecting the organisation's expanding role in the connectivity ecosystem. The newly-appointed president Stefano Fogli, Director Technology and Solutions at Adtran, described the industry body's evolution as part of a strategic shift toward strengthening fibre network resilience and extending fibre applications beyond traditional access networks.

Microamp wins EU funding to advance AI-RAN platform for 6G-era links
EUROPE 11:17

Microamp wins EU funding to advance AI-RAN platform for 6G-era links

Microamp, a Poland-based 5G mmWave vendor, has been awarded EUR 6.5 million from the EU's scale-up platform for deep tech business models. The capital from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator consists of a EUR 4 million equity investment and a EUR 2.5 million grant award. Microamp will use the cash to advance its upcoming Any-G mmWave AI-RAN Wireless platform, tailored to AI-capable mmWave links in the 6G era.

Ciena onboards former HP senior VP as chief supply chain officer
GLOBAL 11:16

Ciena onboards former HP senior VP as chief supply chain officer

Ciena has appointed HP's former senior vice president of operations and solutions to the newly created executive rank of chief supply chain officer. Grant Hoffman's arrival marks the elevation of Ciena's supply chain operation into a dedicated C-suite position.

ACM blocks Delta/Glaspoort deal - what can KPN do?
NETHERLANDS 09:56

ACM blocks Delta/Glaspoort deal - what can KPN do?

Delta Fiber's plan to sell part of its network to KPN joint venture Glaspoort has been blocked on competition grounds. The deal would have eliminated a relative newcomer in those geographic areas, while the ACM is also concerned about KPN boosting its market share through a series of small acquisitions that fall below the threshold for vetting. Ahead of the publication of its full decision on the takeover, the ACM provided some insight to Telecompaper on how it came to the decision. The extensive investigat

Smartphone prices to hit record high as volumes fall 12% in 2026 - Omdia
GLOBAL 09:56

Smartphone prices to hit record high as volumes fall 12% in 2026 - Omdia

Total global smartphone shipments are set to contract by 12.2 percent year-on-year in 2026, according to the latest forecast from Omdia that contrasts with the researcher's earlier prediction of a 7 percent annual contraction. The expected year-end total of 1.093 billion units represents a decline of 152 million units compared with 2025 and shows that rising component costs and geopolitical uncertainty are prompting vendors to move away from low-cost, high-volume models, driving a structural change in the m

Samsung's UFS 5.0 flash chip set for Q4 production
GLOBAL 09:44

Samsung's UFS 5.0 flash chip set for Q4 production

Samsung announced it will commence production of its Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 5.0 chip in Q4, amid speculation it could be incorporated into Galaxy S27 smartphones next year. The vendor plans to supply several variants of its flash storage chip in capacities ranging up to 1 TB. 

Ecuador merges telecoms and transport into new infrastructure ministry
ECUADOR 09:28

Ecuador merges telecoms and transport into new infrastructure ministry

Ecuador's government has created a new Ministry of Infrastructure and Technology, merging the portfolios of telecommunications and transport as part of President Daniel Noboa's plan to cut public spending and centralise state functions.The new ministry, to be led by current transport minister Roberto Luque, will absorb the responsibilities of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society (Mintel) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

Namibia's Cran rejects Starlink, public appeals over licence denial
NAMIBIA 09:20

Namibia's Cran rejects Starlink, public appeals over licence denial

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has dismissed all 624 public petitions and Starlink's own appeal to reconsider its March decision rejecting the company's telecommunications licence application. Cran received 624 public reconsideration requests. However, 622 of these applications failed to meet basic procedural and jurisdictional requirements, it said in a statement. The requests lacked essential details, such as clearly identifying the challenged decision, stating specific grounds

Cisco buys WideField Security to equip Splunk with SOC-grade agentic AI observability
GLOBAL 09:17

Cisco buys WideField Security to equip Splunk with SOC-grade agentic AI observability

Cisco is acquiring California-based WideField Security to bolster agentic AI-targeted security operations centre (SOC) workloads in its big data observability suite Splunk. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Cisco said WideField's core technology would dovetail with Splunk to inject in-depth context into monitoring of AI agent activity, including signals from the Cisco Identity Intelligence tool.

BELGIUM 09:16

Disney+ signs distribution deal with Orange Belgium

Orange Belgium has added Disney+ to its offering, so mobile, broadband and TV customers can subscribe directly to the streaming service with their telecom subscriptions. This adds to other video services such as Be tv, Netflix and Orange Sport.

BELGIUM 09:10

Flemish proposal to put data centres last in line for new power connections

Data centres and battery parks may fall to the bottom of the list for access to the electricity grid in Flanders, according to a new proposal from the regional government parties. A report in De Tijd said the proposal would give households and businesses willing to adopt flexible energy use priority for new connections to the congested grid, while data centres would have the lowest priority when capacity is limited. 

SPAIN 09:05

Rubin named head of Spanish cinema at Movistar Plus

Telefonica has continued the organisational overhaul at its pay-TV platform Movistar Plus by announcing the appointment of María Rubín as the new head of Spanish cinema, reporting directly to content director Juan Andrés García Ropero. The new departmental chief has decades of experience in the audiovisual and film industries, having developed her professional career at Movistar Plus and previously at Canal+. 

ZIMBABWE 08:58

Potraz and Internet Society train Zimbabweans with disabilities in digital skills

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), in partnership with the Internet Society - Zimbabwe Chapter, completed a basic ICT skills training programme. The joint initiative focuses on empowering persons with disabilities through digital literacy and technology education to drive national digital inclusion. The training took place in Lupane, gathering 35 participants with disabilities from the Lupane, Dete, and Binga districts. 

UNITED KINGDOM 08:57

Quickline funds digital skills sessions in rural Lincolnshire

Quickline Communications, UK rural broadband provider, is working with Lincs Digital to provide IT skills courses for people in rural Lincolnshire communities. The community-based courses, funded by Quickline and delivered by Lincs Digital, will help local people learn the digital skills needed to get online and access vital digital services - such as using the NHS app to book appointments and order prescriptions; applying for passports, driving licences and Blue Badges online; accessing/managing bus applic

NIGERIA 08:57

Nigerian govt rejects IMF recommendations on telecom and fuel taxes

The Nigerian government has rejected International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommendations to introduce new taxes on telecom services and petroleum products. The ministry of finance emphasized that IMF suggestions are strictly advisory and do not automatically become national policy. The government confirmed that the VAT waiver on fuel remains active and has not been withdrawn, and the telecommunications excise duty introduced prior to 2023 has been completely repealed under newer tax laws and is no longer vali

NIGERIA 08:54

Lebara Nigeria launches LebaraPlay entertainment platform

Lebara Nigeria has introduced LebaraPlay, a mobile-first digital entertainment platform aimed at delivering premium content to the MVNO's customers. The platform differentiates Lebara by offering services beyond standard voice and data. Accessible to both Lebara subscribers and non-subscribers, LebaraPlay offers a diverse catalogue of entertainment tailored for today's mobile audiences, such as micro-drama series, music, and lifestyle programming.

UNITED KINGDOM 08:47

Currys says 1 in 3 Brits holding onto their first mobile phone

New research from UK tech retailer Currys shows that 1 in 3 Brits are still holding onto their first phone phone, of which 25 percent are old Nokia phones. The average home has 30 unused devices, with UK households hoarding more than 880 million unused devices nationwide. Mobile phones are the most commonly hoarded device, with 4 in 5 Brits keeping old mobile phones. 

MADAGASCAR 08:44

Airtel Madagascar introduces 035 prefix to support customer growth

Airtel Madagascar has introduced the new 035 mobile prefix, a key milestone in its ongoing network expansion and customer growth. According to the operator, the new prefix is a direct response to a surging subscriber base, which is now nearing 5 million monthly active users. This rollout is designed to accommodate future growth.

ARMENIA 08:40

Firebird AI factory in Armenia nears completion of first phase

Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the Firebird AI data centre, currently under construction in Armenia, is a strategically important initiative, reports Arka.am. The current activities and upcoming programs of the AI Factory were discussed at a meeting chaired by the prime minister, the government press service reported. 

PORTUGAL 08:37

DStelecom extends fibre reach in Reguengos de Monsaraz

Portuguese network operator DStelecom has expanded its fibre-optic network in Reguengos de Monsaraz, a municipality where it has been operating since 2015. This expansion now provides high-speed, stable internet access to over 4,700 homes in the areas of Corval and Reguengos de Monsaraz. Utilizing a multi-operator network model, residents can choose from various national telecommunications providers on the network.

UNITED KINGDOM 08:33

EE promotes Safer SIMs offering with new Toy Story 5-inspired campaign

BT Group's mobile network EE is launching a cinema activation inspired by the new Disney/Pixar film 'Toy Story 5'. Developed in partnership with Digital Cinema Media (DCM) and WPP Media, the campaign launches nationwide on 19 June to help families discuss online safety. It includes a co-created 30-second film with the Toy Story characters helping a family about tech, safety and growing up in a connected world.

Just In

12:19

Sub-Saharan Africa to lead global 5G growth with over 10-fold subscriber increase by 2031

12:18

Telefonica Tech installs smart street lighting in Santa Pola

11:56

Samsung, Huawei lead foldable phone market in Russia

11:42

FTTH Council Europe names new board with Adtran's Fogli as president

Commentary

09:56

ACM blocks Delta/Glaspoort deal - what can KPN do?

5 MEI 10:55

KPN: the art of making one-offs structural

4 MEI 14:25

Open Dutch Fiber outlook: time to restart roll-out?

20 APR 10:36

Netflix back to organic growth and doing just fine

Background

21 JUN 22:52

The week in telecom: sovereignty debate comes to VivaTech, Ericsson succession and Fox buys Roku

1 JUN 00:13

The week in telecom: EU telcos push sovereign services as governments question foreign tech investors

23 MEI 23:42

The week in telecom: Starlink ready to go public, Singapore telco M&A and Google courts AI subscribers at I/O

18 MEI 00:31

The week in telecom: US operators mount rural satellite challenge, Cisco cashes in on AI boom