HGC gains approval to operate as ISP in Mainland China
CHINA 03:33

HGC gains approval to operate as ISP in Mainland China

Hong Kong operator HGC Global Communications has received official approval from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to operate as an internet service provider under a new pilot programme. HGC has maintained a presence in mainland China and the Greater Bay Area since 2002, where it provides digital transformation services for corporate, wholesale, and media clients.

Vi deploys 890 sites in Assam and North East regions, data consumption jumps 65%
INDIA 03:22

Vi deploys 890 sites in Assam and North East regions, data consumption jumps 65%

Indian operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) has announced that its data consumption in Assam and North East circles has increased by 65 percent. The operator also reports that, in 2025, it deployed more than 890 new sites in these areas, expanding network coverage to 19 more towns across the circle.

PLDT, Smart deploy Air Laser links with Google Taara
PHILIPPINES 02:54

PLDT, Smart deploy Air Laser links with Google Taara

Philippines operator PLDT and its mobile unit Smart Communications have announced they are testing a mix of non-traditional technologies to extend connectivity to geographically isolated and underserved communities, including approaches that reduce reliance on conventional telco infrastructure. One of these uses light instead of fibre. In partnership with Google Taara, PLDT and Smart are deploying 'Air Laser' links designed to transmit data across islands and mountainous terrain.

Hong Kong loses nearly 1,500 fixed-line subscribers in January
HONG KONG 02:39

Hong Kong loses nearly 1,500 fixed-line subscribers in January

Hong Kong lost 1,494 fixed-line subscribers in January 2026, ending the year with 1.69 million users. The total includes 669,842 residential fixed-lines and 1.029 million business lines. The number of non-exchange lines (which includes IP telephone and fixed wireless services) declined to 1.354 million in January 2026 from 1.360 million in the previous month, according to figures from the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA). The number of leased lines increased to 136,874 in January 2026 from 136,

Hong Kong passes 10 million 5G subscribers milestone in January
HONG KONG 02:30

Hong Kong passes 10 million 5G subscribers milestone in January

Hong Kong lost 46,453 mobile lines in January 2026, ending the month with a total of 34.28 million mobile lines, according to the latest figures from the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA). The prepay base stood at 23.45 million in January, down from 23.54 million in December, while the number of postpaid lines increased to 10.82 million from 10.78 million.

Irish govt publishes second Gigabit Infrastructure Act consultation
IRELAND 12 MEI

Irish govt publishes second Gigabit Infrastructure Act consultation

The Irish government has opened a second consultation on the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA). The consultation runs from 11 May-22 June 2026. The GIA requires EU member states to develop standards/specifications for telecoms infrastructure in new buildings, and buildings being renovated. The proposals in the consultation will provide the telecoms and construction industries with clearer technical specifications for implementing Article 10 of the GIA relating to in-building physical infrastructure and fibre

Circet appoints new CEO of US subsidiary
UNITED STATES 12 MEI

Circet appoints new CEO of US subsidiary

Circet, global network services provider, has strengthened its executive leadership in the US with the appointment of Bill Hogg as CEO of Circet USA. The appointment is effective from 11 May 2026, with Hogg leading the group's US operations in North America and helping customers build high-speed broadband, mobile, data centre and cloud networks. 

Maxis introduces Outright Purchase option for Home Solar system users
PAKISTAN 12 MEI

Maxis introduces Outright Purchase option for Home Solar system users

Malaysian operator Maxis has expanded its Home Solar offerings with a new Outright Purchase option. The offer aims to make renewable energy more accessible to Malaysian households. The new option is designed to enable homeowners to control of their energy usage with Maxis Home Solar, complementing the subscription plan launched in 2025.

Irish govt appoints new Commissioner to ComReg
IRELAND 12 MEI

Irish govt appoints new Commissioner to ComReg

The Irish government has announced the appointment of Niamh Hodnett as a Commissioner to telecoms regulator ComReg following an open competition. She has been an Online Safety Commissioner at broadcasting regulator Coimisiun na Mean (Cnam) since 2023, and is currently chair of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN). 

Lumen plans new fibre route between Seattle and Minneapolis
UNITED STATES 12 MEI

Lumen plans new fibre route between Seattle and Minneapolis

Lumen Technologies plans to expand its US network with a new Northern fibre route called NorthLine, developed for AI data connectivity. This new low latency fibre route will directly connect Seattle to Minneapolis, and extend connectivity across an important northern US corridor between markets in the Pacific Northwest and central US. It will deliver 100G and 400G wavelength services. 

Zong enables 5G on iPhones in Pakistan
PAKISTAN 12 MEI

Zong enables 5G on iPhones in Pakistan

Pakistani mobile operator Zong has launched 5G support for iPhones following the release of the iOS 26.5 update. This update allows iPhone users on the Zong network to access 5G speeds for the first time.

Telehouse Canada deploys direct liquid cooling technology
CANADA 12 MEI

Telehouse Canada deploys direct liquid cooling technology

Telehouse Canada has completed a major infrastructure upgrade project by deploying direct liquid cooling technology. This system removes up to 80 percent of heat directly from high-power servers, helping to reduce energy consumption and deliver a more efficient and sustainable cooling process. This is the first-of-its-kind deployment of direct liquid cooling technology at a Canadian interconnection hub. 

UNITED KINGDOM 12 MEI

Netmore IoT supports Green Frog smart gas metering solution

Netmore Group, global IoT network operator, has partnered with Green Frog Asset Management, industrial and commercial utility services provider, and IoT consultancy Sensational Systems to provide end-to-end smart gas metering solutions for utility customers in the UK. These solutions will provide customers with real-time data for increased operational efficiency and improved asset management.

GLOBAL 12 MEI

DE-CIX global revenues up 3.3% to EUR 70.9 million in 2025

Global internet exchange operator DE-CIX saw global revenues reach EUR 70.9 million in the 2025 financial year, growing by 3.3 percent or EUR 2.3 million over the year. It is now ranked No 1 across Europe, the Middle East and India; and taking a Top 3 position in North America. DE-CIX saw network growth of 25 percent and a 40 percent increase in connected capacity to 220 terabits. 

UNITED KINGDOM 12 MEI

UK cyber security sector revenue grows 11% in 2025 to GBP 14.7 bln

The UK's cyber security sector grew by 11 percent in 2025 to generate revenue of GBP 14.7 billion, according to newly-released government data. The number of cyber security companies grew by 20 percent or 438 to a total of 2,603, with the sector creating 2,300 jobs last year to reach a total of 69,600 workers (full time equivalents). The total gross value added (GVA) of the cyber security sector has reached around GBP 9.1 billion, up 17 percent year-on-year. GVA per employee has risen 13 percent from GBP 11

CANADA 12 MEI

Telus, Canadian govt work to expand sovereign AI infrastructure

Telus is working with the Canadian government to advance work on the country's Sovereign AI Factory infrastructure under the federal 'Enabling Large-Scale Sovereign AI Data Centres' programme. Telus, the government and Westbank are working on the details of this initiative as Telus expands its Sovereign AI Factory network across three sites in British Columbia. This AI data centre cluster will expand to over 60,000 GPUs and 150 MW by 2032. 

UNITED KINGDOM 12 MEI

Community Fibre launches promotion for new business customers

Community Fibre, London-based fibre broadband provider, has launched a new promotion for business customers offering three months of full-fibre broadband for free. The offer is available until 23.59 hours on 15 June, with business customers able to save up to GBP 1,380 on their broadband bills. 

GLOBAL 12 MEI

LEO satellite broadband could boost global GDP by USD 863 bln by 2035

An expansion of LEO satellite broadband services could boost global GDP by USD 32-863 billion by 2035, according to new research from Oxford Economics for Amazon. The report shows that LEO satellite broadband connectivity could support between 800,000 and 21 million jobs worldwide by 2035. It models three scenarios - incremental, intermediate and transformative - to reflect different LEO adoption levels.  

POLAND 12 MEI

Gaia AI factory launches in Krakow

The AI Factory project Gaia AI has officially launched in the Krakow-based Academic Computing Centre Cyfronet AGH. The project is carried out under the framework of the EU programme EuroHPC JU. The AI factory will rely on the new supercomputer Gaia.

BELGIUM 12 MEI

Audible launches in Belgium, Netherlands

Amazon's audiobooks service Audible has confirmed its launch in the Netherlands and Belgium. The international catalogue as well as many local-language titles are available with the subscriptions priced from EUR 6.99 for one book a month or EUR 9.99 for unlimited access. A free trial period is offered to all new users. 

UNITED STATES 12 MEI

Uniti Wholesale counts early success with FastWaves service

Uniti Wholesale announced early success with its FastWaves service launched earlier this year. Two weeks after the official launch the US operator signed a new customer for eight 400G circuits and delivered eligible circuits in 14 days. 

UNITED KINGDOM 12 MEI

Ofcom consults on changes to telco security reporting requirements

UK regulator Ofcom is consulting on planned changes to security reporting requirements telecoms network operators. These changes include establishing new, clearer reporting thresholds for mobile operators based on the number of mobile masts and customers that could be impacted by a security/cyber incident. It is also proposing to implement new criteria for reporting security incidents impacting mobile sites in rural areas. The consultation closes on 04 August 2026.

SLOVENIA 12 MEI

Ericsson confirms 5G SA launch with Telekom Slovenije

Telekom Slovenije has launched Slovenia's first 5G Standalone (5G SA) mobile network, powered by Ericsson. The vendor confirmed that the advanced network uses Ericsson's 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and a full-stack core network, including the dual-mode 5G Core solution and Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution. 

UNITED STATES 12 MEI

Texas Attorney General files lawsuit against Netflix

The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, has filed a lawsuit against Netflix for illegally spying on Texan consumers, including children, and collecting/sharing their data without consent. He is looking to hold the company accountable under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), with the lawsuit looking to stop it from unlawfully collecting and sharing user data. The lawsuit is also seeking to force Netflix to disable autoplay on children's profiles by default, along with other civil penalties.

Just In

03:33

HGC gains approval to operate as ISP in Mainland China

03:22

Vi deploys 890 sites in Assam and North East regions, data consumption jumps 65%

02:54

PLDT, Smart deploy Air Laser links with Google Taara

02:39

Hong Kong loses nearly 1,500 fixed-line subscribers in January

Commentary

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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

11 FEB 12:29

Odido shareholders face tricky exit after abandoned IPO

Background

11 MEI 00:53

The week in telecom: Lumen, NTT turn to data centre market to revive growth, Hutchison exits UK

3 MEI 23:05

The week in telecoms: big tech faces costs of AI boom and Wi-Fi market consolidates

27 APR 14:33

Virgin Media O2: from coax to fibre and 80% coverage in 2028

26 APR 23:04

The week in telecoms: sovereign hopes take hold in Europe and Apple confirms new CEO