The week in telecoms: Liberty Global tackles cable vs fibre question, Orange promises dividends and MEA market goes wholesale
GLOBAL 00:28

The week in telecoms: Liberty Global tackles cable vs fibre question, Orange promises dividends and MEA market goes wholesale

It was all about consolidation in Europe last week, with major takeovers in the UK and Netherlands and Orange laying out its new financial targets. India held a major AI summit with Google announcing plans to turn the country into a new global connectivity hub, while Ooredoo and MTN are working on similar plans for the MEA region.

1.5 million phone numbers ported in Romania in 2025
ROMANIA 22 FEB

1.5 million phone numbers ported in Romania in 2025

Romania reached 1.5 million ported phone numbers in 2025. Since the service was first introduced in October 2008, the cumulative total of ported numbers in Romania has surpassed 14.1 million, according to a report from market regulator Ancom. Of the total 1.49 numbers ported last year, around 97 percent were mobile numbers.

Telkomsel, Topgolf launch mobile data and leisure services bundle
INDONESIA 22 FEB

Telkomsel, Topgolf launch mobile data and leisure services bundle

Telkomsel has teamed up with sports entertainment complex Topgolf to launch a services bundle that pairs mobile connectivity with experiential leisure. Dubbed 'Telkomsel x Topgolf Package', the offer provides customers with a 30 GB internet quota alongside a 2-hour session at Topgolf.

Telkomsel intros biometric facial recognition for mobile number registration
INDONESIA 22 FEB

Telkomsel intros biometric facial recognition for mobile number registration

Indonesian operator Telkomsel has introduced biometric facial recognition for mobile number registration, supporting the Indonesian Ministry of Communication's 'Comfortable Smile with Biometrics' (SEMANTIK) programme. This initiative is designed to protect the public against digital threats such as scams and phishing, Telkomsel said.

Samsung India integrates pharmacy, diagnostic services into Health App
INDIA 22 FEB

Samsung India integrates pharmacy, diagnostic services into Health App

Samsung India has announced a partnership deal between its global wellness platform Samsung Health and health-tech providers PharmEasy and Tata 1mg. This collaboration introduces the 'Find Care' integrated healthcare feature, which will be accessible on the app following an update. Starting February 24, the Samsung Health app will allow consumers order medicines, book diagnostic tests and online medical consultations. The app already tracks wellness metrics like activity, heart rate, sleep, and more, with m

Zscaler, Airtel launch joint AI & Cyber Threat Research Centre in India
INDIA 22 FEB

Zscaler, Airtel launch joint AI & Cyber Threat Research Centre in India

Zscaler and Indian operator Bharti Airtel have established a joint AI & Cyber Threat Research Centre in India to enhance the nation's digital defense and support the secure adoption of artificial intelligence. The facility aims to serve as a collaborative hub connecting the private sector, government agencies, and academia to protect critical infrastructure in the telecoms, banking, and energy sectors.

Ericsson Nikola Tesla secures over EUR 22 million in contracts
CROATIA (HRVATSKA) 20 FEB

Ericsson Nikola Tesla secures over EUR 22 million in contracts

Croatian telecom equipment manufacturer Ericsson Nikola Tesla (ENT) has secured new contracts totalling over EUR 22 million. These agreements cover projects in national and public security, as well as telecommunications. Domestically, ENT will work with the Ministry of the Interior of Croatia to monitor the European Union's external borders. In the export market, ENT has partnered with HT Mostar to provide maintenance support for Ericsson's fixed and mobile network solutions. This latter contract aims to st

Turning Sustainability into Commercial Advantage: Closing the Loop at the Netherlands Pavilion during MWC Barcelona 2026
EUROPE 20 FEB

Turning Sustainability into Commercial Advantage: Closing the Loop at the Netherlands Pavilion during MWC Barcelona 2026

Sustainability has become a strategic priority for technology and telecom companies worldwide. Customers, regulators, and investors increasingly expect tangible action on circularity and environmental impact. Yet for many organisations, translating sustainability ambitions into scalable, commercially viable initiatives remains a challenge. At MWC Barcelona 2026, Dutch social enterprise Closing the Loop will demonstrate how circular action can be embedded directly into existing business models at the Netherlands Pavilion.

Cogent revenues fall 6% in 2025 on contraction in legacy services
UNITED STATES 20 FEB

Cogent revenues fall 6% in 2025 on contraction in legacy services

Cogent Communications reported annual service revenues of USD 975.8 million for 2025, down 5.8 percent from a year earlier due mainly to lower revenues from former Sprint contracts and other legacy services. EBITDA declined to USD 122.8 million from USD 192.8 million in 2024, and the US operator had a net loss of USD 182.1 million, slightly smaller than the loss of USD 204.1 million the previous year. 

Megafon plans training programme with Volga telecom university
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 20 FEB

Megafon plans training programme with Volga telecom university

Russian operator Megafon has signed a cooperation agreement with the Volga State University of Telecommunications and Informatics based in Samara. The cooperation is expected to lead to the start of a new training programme in the university, adapted to technological standards used at Megafon. The operator will support the training programme, including a bachelor's study focused on 5G, V2X, IoT and satellite technologies.

Life offers device financing with 12-month contracts
BELARUS 20 FEB

Life offers device financing with 12-month contracts

Belarusian operator Life has introduced to customers its own installment plan for devices, without banks. Subscribers of the operator can purchase mobile devices under 12-month contracts with no increase in prices.

TDS FY revenues fall 2% as fibre expansion offset by customer losses
UNITED STATES 20 FEB

TDS FY revenues fall 2% as fibre expansion offset by customer losses

US operator TDS Telecom announced that it added 44,900 new fibre subscribers in 2025, while expanding its network to 140,000 new addresses ready for fibre services. The total number of active connections at the operator was still slightly lower year-on-year, at 1.08 million compared to 1.13 million in 2024, due to fewer residential voice and TV subscribers and losses on the B2B market.

AZERBAIJAN 20 FEB

Bakcell and Peerstack Academy launch Tech Builders training project

Azerbaijan operator Bakcell and Peerstack Academy have launched he 'Tech Builders' project aimed at supporting young people in developing innovation and digital skills. Through Bakcell's partnership with Peerstack Academy, participants will be equipped with real industry knowledge and hands-on experience, supporting their career paths in IT. 

UNITED STATES 20 FEB

Helexon consortium to implement Calix One in BEAD-funded fibre builds

Helexon, a consortium of rural broadband providers in the US Midwest, has picked the evolved Calix One platform to support fibre buildouts, potentially subsidised through the federal BEAD digital divide initiative. The multi-year deployment sees Calix One rolled out to bring subscriber experiences, operational intelligence and team workflows into a single, AI-native platform, incorporating Calix's new Agent Workforce Cloud for agentic AI-orchestrated visibility into service quality. Calix will also source X

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 20 FEB

Rostelecom's X.Technologies launches services portal for start-ups

Russian national operator Rostelecom said that its digital ventures unit X.Technologies has launched a website for start-ups and innovation companies. The platform offers a broad spectrum of cooperation opportunities, starting from help with attracting investments and ending with integration of ready-to-use digital products. The website includes solutions focused on automation of the banking sector, software development, anti-fraud, targeted advertising and other business services. All technological assets

NAMIBIA 20 FEB

Telecom Namibia to provide internet for schools in Kavango West

Telecom Namibia has partnered with the ministry of education to provide internet connectivity to 21 schools in the Kavango West region. Each school will receive a minimum of 25 Mbps broadband service for a period of five years. Telecom Namibia said it is reinforcing its commitment to bridging the digital divide and supporting quality education across the country.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 20 FEB

Beeline Russia upgrades indoor network at Sokolniki ice arena

Russian operator Beeline has renewed the digital infrastructure in the ice arena Sokolniki in Moscow. The operator said it modernised the indoor antenna system, improving the quality of mobile services in all areas of the arena. The upgraded infrastructure is able to serve more customers simultaneously, after additional LTE spectrum was added to boost capacity.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 20 FEB

T2 launches gaming subscription Mixx Play Pro

Russian mobile operator T2, a subsidiary of the national operator Rostelecom, has launched its new gaming subscription Mixx Play Pro. The subscription includes popular game tokens, top-ups for Steam without commission fees, as well as unlimited data traffic when using mobile gaming. Customers also get access to limited competitions with CyberHero.

UKRAINE 20 FEB

Vodafone Ukraine launches 5G services in Kharkiv

Vodafone Ukraine announced that it launched its pilot 5G services in the city of Kharkiv, in the downtown area. Operators Kyivstar and Lifecell had earlier announced the launch of 5G there, too. In January, all three operators launched pilot 5G networks in the city of Lviv and in the town of Borodyanka in the Bucha municipality in the Kiev region.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 20 FEB

Russian audit chamber flags network duplication in public subsidy programme

The Russian Audit Chamber has found problems with how the Ministry of Digitisation carried out the federal programme on elimination of the digital divide in 2025, reports Vedomosti. The ministry spent almost RUB 3 billion on the deployment of LTE networks in 500 villages. However, other operators had already provided mobile services for those villages before the deployment of publicly funded networks. Russian national operator Rostelecom carries out the federal programme funded by the federal budget.

POLAND 20 FEB

Netia offers 12 months free broadband with new double-play promo

Polish operator Netia has introduced a promotion of its double-play packages, offering customers connecting to its fixed broadband plans with higher speeds and the 4K TV service under the L package free broadband for 12 months. The package also includes the service Safe Internet Ultra. The promotion is valid with a 24-month contract when choosing  the 1 Gbps or 2 Gbps download speeds. The L TV package includes 186 channels. After the promotional period, the monthly price with 1 Gbps is PLN 140, and the tari

POLAND 20 FEB

Orange Poland raises default top-up options on app

Orange Poland has updated the default top-up amounts available to customers on the mobile application My Orange. The minimum option increases from PLN 5 to PLN 7, and the PLN 10 top-up option is replaced by PLN 15. Customers still can enter another amount, from PLN 5 to PLN 400, on their own on the application.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 20 FEB

TTK develops new AI call centre assistant for Russian Railways

Russian operator TTK has developed a voice assistant for the call centre of the state-owned railway carrier Russian Railways. The voice assistant Aurora is based on AI and replaces the previous bot Maxim. The new tool supports customers when using services from the carrier.

BRAZIL 20 FEB

Oi initiates lawsuit against former shareholders

Brazilian telecom operator Oi, undergoing judicial reorganisation, announced to its shareholders and the market that it has initiated a confidential liability lawsuit against its former significant shareholders. This lawsuit was filed with the 7th Corporate Court of the District of Rio de Janeiro, which is handling the company's debt restructuring plan. ​The court accepted the case and ordered the seizure of all debts Oi owes to these shareholders, including related collateral. This legal move is a precauti

Just In

00:28

The week in telecoms: Liberty Global tackles cable vs fibre question, Orange promises dividends and MEA market goes wholesale

22 FEB 21:36

1.5 million phone numbers ported in Romania in 2025

22 FEB 21:20

Telkomsel, Topgolf launch mobile data and leisure services bundle

22 FEB 20:39

Telkomsel intros biometric facial recognition for mobile number registration

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Background

00:28

The week in telecoms: Liberty Global tackles cable vs fibre question, Orange promises dividends and MEA market goes wholesale

16 FEB 00:17

The week in telecoms: Cisco rides AI investment wave and European telcos invest in South America

9 FEB 01:54

The week in telecoms: hyperscalers vie for capex crown, Telenor and Vodafone profit from smaller footprints

2 FEB 00:45

The week in telecoms: Verizon sparks fears of US price war, Apple beats Samsung in Q4, Telekom ramps up fibre marketing