NBN removes high-speed plan requirement for FTTC fibre upgrades
AUSTRALIA 05:35

NBN removes high-speed plan requirement for FTTC fibre upgrades

Australian government-owned broadband provider NBN Co has removed the requirement for customers on its fibre to the curb (FTTC) network to subscribe to a high-speed broadband plan before becoming eligible for a full fibre upgrade. The change, which takes effect from 1 July, applies to around 860,000 premises served by FTTC. Customers can now request an upgrade from FTTC to fibre to the premises (FTTP) through their retail service provider regardless of the broadband speed tier they choose.

South Korea links public investment fund with manufacturing AI initiative
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 05:34

South Korea links public investment fund with manufacturing AI initiative

South Korea's Financial Services Commission and ministry of trade, industry and energy have launched a joint initiative to support companies developing physical AI technologies through closer coordination between industrial policy and public investment. At a meeting held on 1 July, the two ministries discussed the M.AX Frontier Project, which is designed to support companies developing technologies in areas including AI factories, robotics and software-defined vehicles. 

Japan proposes overhaul of telecom consumer protection rules
JAPAN 05:31

Japan proposes overhaul of telecom consumer protection rules

Japan's Information and Communications Council has published a draft interim report for public consultation on proposed reforms to telecommunications consumer protection rules, with comments invited until 30 July before the report is finalised. The draft, compiled by the council's Telecommunications Business Policy Subcommittee following a referral from the ministry of internal affairs and communications in October 2025, proposes measures aimed at improving transparency around bundled services, digital cont

LG creates robotics business centre to accelerate AI-driven strategy
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 05:29

LG creates robotics business centre to accelerate AI-driven strategy

LG Electronics has established a new Robotics Business Centre reporting directly to the chief executive as part of a reorganisation aimed at accelerating its robotics business. The new organisation, which takes effect from 1 July, will bring together business development, sales and operational functions within a single unit responsible for commercialising the company's robotics activities. Song Si-yong, head of the Robotics Business Centre, will lead the new organisation.

Australia launches SMS Sender ID Register to combat text message scams
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 05:27

Australia launches SMS Sender ID Register to combat text message scams

Australia's SMS Sender ID Register has come into effect, introducing new requirements for operator aimed at reducing SMS impersonation scams. From 1 July, SMS messages sent using registered sender IDs will continue to display the name of the business, government agency or organisation. Messages sent using unregistered sender IDs must instead be labelled "Unverified" by operators and grouped into a single message thread to help consumers identify potentially fraudulent messages.

KDDI and Samsung complete AI-based 5G optimisation trial in Japan
JAPAN 05:26

KDDI and Samsung complete AI-based 5G optimisation trial in Japan

Samsung Electronics and KDDI have completed a trial of an AI-based radio access network (RAN) optimisation system on KDDI's commercial 5G Standalone network in Japan. The trial began in late 2025 and ran for several months across hundreds of cells in and around Tokyo, covering urban, suburban and rural environments. It used 100 MHz of 3.7 GHz TDD spectrum to train and evaluate Samsung's AI-powered RAN Speed Optimizer (RSO) under commercial operating conditions.

NTT Docomo wins Japan's national 26 GHz 5G spectrum auction
JAPAN 05:24

NTT Docomo wins Japan's national 26 GHz 5G spectrum auction

NTT Docomo has secured Japan's nationwide 26 GHz spectrum licence, while JTower and High Tech Inter won regional licences, following the ministry of internal affairs and communications' (MIC) auction for millimetre-wave spectrum to support 5G. The auction covered 400 MHz of nationwide spectrum in the 25.8-26.2 GHz band and regional licences in the 26.8-27 GHz band. Five companies qualified to participate, including NTT Docomo, KDDI/Okinawa Cellular Telephone, SoftBank, JTower and High Tech Inter.

South Korea to introduce facial recognition for mobile activations
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 05:22

South Korea to introduce facial recognition for mobile activations

South Korea's ministry of science and ICT has announced a package of measures to reduce the fraudulent use of mobile phone services, including the phased introduction of facial recognition for new mobile service activations from 6 July. The measures form part of a broader strategy to tackle identity theft, illegally obtained mobile subscriptions and the misuse of corporate mobile accounts, as well as strengthening enforcement against operators and retailers found to have enabled fraudulent activations.

Japan proposes Bill & Keep as default voice interconnection model
JAPAN 05:18

Japan proposes Bill & Keep as default voice interconnection model

Japan's ministry of internal affairs and communications (MIC) has opened a public consultation on draft recommendations that would overhaul the country's telecom interconnection framework, including making Bill & Keep the default approach for voice interconnection and phasing out the long-standing Long Run Incremental Cost (LRIC) model for calculating certain interconnection charges. The draft first report, prepared by the Information and Communications Council's Telecommunications Policy Committee, has bee

SK Telecom and T1 launch esports exhibition at T Factory Seoul
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 05:14

SK Telecom and T1 launch esports exhibition at T Factory Seoul

SK Telecom (SKT) has announced a new interactive exhibition developed with esports organisation T1, which will open at the operator's T Factory brand experience centre in Seoul on 2 July. The exhibition, titled Amhaeng Cheonmun: Counting the Stars, will run until 13 September before moving to other Asian cities, including Hong Kong and Taipei. Visitors will be able to view displays covering T1's history, including championship trophies, player-worn jerseys and memorabilia associated with the team's competit

KDDI launches Ponta Pharmacy with online consultations
JAPAN 05:13

KDDI launches Ponta Pharmacy with online consultations

KDDI has announced the launch of Ponta Pharmacy, a digital pharmacy service operated by Palm Healthcare, a joint venture between KDDI and Mitsubishi Corporation. The service, which opened on 1 July, allows users to access pharmacist consultations, receive online medication guidance and seek advice through the Ponta Pharmacy Line account or its website using a smartphone. Prescription medicines can be delivered to users' homes or collected from participating Lawson convenience stores across Japan.

Japan approves NTT West group restructuring
JAPAN 05:11

Japan approves NTT West group restructuring

Japan's ministry of internal affairs and communications has approved a restructuring plan under which NTT West will absorb parts of the businesses of three of its wholly owned subsidiaries as part of a wider effort to simplify the group's operations. The approval, granted under Japan's NTT Law, covers an absorption-type company split proposed by NTT West on 17 June and is scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2026. As a condition of the approval, the ministry said NTT West must continue to implement measures t

NEW ZEALAND 05:10

One NZ appoints CFO Nick Judd as CEO following Jason Paris's departure

One New Zealand has announced that chief financial officer Nick Judd will succeed Jason Paris as chief executive officer after Paris decided to step down following almost eight years in the role. The leadership transition was announced on 1 July. The company said Judd, who is currently chief financial officer, will take over as CEO as the business enters its next phase. During Paris's tenure, One NZ completed its separation from Vodafone Group ownership and rebranded. The operator also launched a nationwide

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 05:08

KT trials 5G network slicing at World Cup public viewing event

Korea Telecom (KT) has completed a trial of 5G Standalone (SA) network slicing during a World Cup public viewing event in Seoul, using the technology to provide dedicated communications for event staff in a high-traffic environment. The trial took place in the Gwanghwamun area, where large crowds gathered for the event. KT said it allocated separate network resources to event personnel, including staff and officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jongno District Office, creating a communications

JAPAN 05:07

Japan says its mobile prices remain internationally competitive

Japan's ministry of internal affairs and communications (MIC) has published its annual international telecommunications pricing survey, finding that mobile pricing in Tokyo remains broadly competitive with major cities including New York, London, Paris, Dusseldorf and Seoul. The survey compared mobile, FTTH and fixed-line services across the six cities using purchasing power parity rather than exchange rates, based on publicly available pricing as of December 2025.

AUSTRALIA 05:04

Australian commercial radio code introduces AI disclosure requirements

Australia's revised Commercial Radio Code of Practice 2026 has come into effect, introducing new requirements for broadcasters to disclose when a synthetic voice is used to present a regularly scheduled programme or news bulletin. The new code marks the first time provisions covering transparency in the use of AI have been included in an Australian broadcasting code of practice. Under the rules, commercial radio stations must inform listeners when AI-generated voices are being used to host regular programmi

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 05:02

SK Telecom publishes first information security white paper

SK Telecom (SKT) has published its first Information Security White Paper 2025, outlining the operator's information security and privacy activities as part of its efforts to strengthen governance and improve transparency. Released on 1 July, the report describes measures the operator has taken since last year to review its information security framework across the organisation, with a focus on preventing future incidents and rebuilding trust.

JAPAN 04:59

BBIX expands OCX cloud connectivity to regional cable operator

SoftBank-owned internet exchange operator BBIX has partnered with Japanese cable provider Yamanashi CATV to deploy its Open Connectivity eXchange (OCX) cloud networking service, adding a new connection point at the operator's Yamanashi City Centre from 1 July. The partnership will see Yamanashi CATV integrate OCX into its backbone network to provide on-demand, low-latency connectivity to cloud platforms and data centres, while improving network resilience and supporting future service expansion.

INDIA 04:49

Tata Communications to boost subsea cable network between India and Singapore

Tata Communications has announced plans to upgrade its subsea cable network between India and Singapore. This initiative aims to meet the increasing demand for AI, cloud computing services, and hyperscaler data traffic across Asia. Tata Communications will enhance its Tata Global Network (TGN) capabilities by integrating a new subsea cable system between Mumbai & Singapore; as well as invest as a consortium member in a new subsea cable system, connecting Chennai to Singapore with expected Ready for Service

BANGLADESH 02:58

Veon launches USD 1 billion 'Invest in Bangladesh Now' initiative with USD 250 million anchor capital

Veon has announced plans to invest USD 250 million in Bangladesh over the coming years as part of a newly proposed public-private partnership dubbed 'Invest in Bangladesh Now'. This initial funding acts as a catalyst to mobilize global capital and attract a total of USD 1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) to accelerate the nation's digital economy.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 30 JUN

Russia sees spike in smartphone viruses after app restrictions

​The number of smartphones in Russia affected by viruses has grown by 70 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year, reports Kommersant citing data from the operator Megafon. An estimated 1.5 million Android devices are affected in the country, equal to around 1.5 percent of all Android-based devices in Russia. The rise in infections is thought to be the result of restrictions on downloading popular apps in the country. Consumers turn to third-party distributors that are more often targeted by hack

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 30 JUN

Yandex launches agent development platform for Alice AI

Russian internet company Yandex has introduced a platform for developers to make their own AI agents for Alice AI, its universal AI assistant and large language model. The platform is being tested on services from Yandex and will open up for external users in future. The services Yandex Taxi and Yandex Shop have developed the first AI agents using the new platform, and other services from Yandex plan to launch their own agents soon.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 30 JUN

MTS adds money transfers to Serbia on app

Russian operator MTS has launched money transfers to Serbia for consumer customers. Instant transfers can be received in cash. The option is available on the mobile application My MTS, and the money can be collected at currency exchange offices indicated in the application. The maximum transfer is RUB 800,000, and the transfer time is up to 10 minutes.

KYRGYZSTAN 30 JUN

Mega expands mobile coverage at popular tourist destinations

Kyrgyzstan operator Mega announced it has expanded the coverage of its mobile network in popular tourist destinations. New base stations were launched at Son-Kul Lake in the Naryn region, along the route to Kel-Suu Lake in South Kyrgyzstan, on the route around Issyk-Kul Lake, at Kyrchin Gorge in the Issyk-Kul region, as well as in numerous other sites in preparation for the holiday season.

Just In

05:35

NBN removes high-speed plan requirement for FTTC fibre upgrades

05:34

South Korea links public investment fund with manufacturing AI initiative

05:31

Japan proposes overhaul of telecom consumer protection rules

05:29

LG creates robotics business centre to accelerate AI-driven strategy

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