Orange and Deutsche Telekom participate in HappyRobot's funding round
GLOBAL 14:02

Orange and Deutsche Telekom participate in HappyRobot's funding round

Orange and T.Capital, the investment arm of Deutsche Telekom, have participated in a USD 150 million funding round for US-based start-up HappyRobot, a software developer founded in 2023. The company enables clients to build AI agents capable of handling high-volume operational tasks across voice, email, messaging, and digital workflows. The Series C funding round was led by Prysm Capital and values HappyRobot at USD 1.2 billion.

FCC takes forward proposal to permit D2D satellite access in licence-exempt devices
UNITED STATES 13:40

FCC takes forward proposal to permit D2D satellite access in licence-exempt devices

The US Federal Communications Commission has voted to explore measures that could allow Wi-Fi devices and other license-exempt wireless equipment to connect with D2D satellite fleets. It comes after the FCC chairman, Brendan Carr,  initially submitted the proposal in July with the goal of unlocking roughly 200 MHz in unlicensed bandwidth for D2D satellite communications.

LMT joins European 6G implementation advisory group
LATVIA 13:39

LMT joins European 6G implementation advisory group

Latvian operator LMT confirmed it has become one of 16 entities that will join the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking's (SNS JU) Advisory Group to work on 6G implementation. LMT said will play a leading role in two major SNS JU initiatives. The Shield 6G project aims to develop secure mechanisms for resilience and protection against cyber threats in next-generation 6G mobile networks. IoT Zero, on the other hand, is a research initiative focused on the development of zero-power or ultra-low-power

Mozambique invites bids to restore five mobile network stations
MOZAMBIQUE 13:37

Mozambique invites bids to restore five mobile network stations

The Mozambique Communications Regulatory Authority (INCM), supported by the Universal Access Service Fund (FSAU), has announced a call for tender to reactivate five inactive mobile base stations. The project focuses on bringing these stations back online, as well as ensuring their long-term operation and maintenance to reinstate telecommunications services in the affected regions. INCM is calling on licensed telecommunications operators and eligible consortia to submit expressions of interest for the restor

Beeline Kyrgyzstan launches 5G roaming
KYRGYZSTAN 13:36

Beeline Kyrgyzstan launches 5G roaming

Beeline Kyrgyzstan has introduced 5G roaming services, available in more than 20 countries to start. The list includes Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Egypt, France, the UK and others. The coverage is planned to expand to more than 100 countries soon. The operator offers 1 GB, 5 GB and 10 GB 14-day bundles for roaming, costing KGS 499, KGS 4,999 and KGS 2,999, respectively. The packages are valid in 75 countries.

Vecima hands president brief to existing COO and names first chief product officer
GLOBAL 13:35

Vecima hands president brief to existing COO and names first chief product officer

Vecima Networks' chief operating officer Clay McCreery has taken on the role of president alongside his existing operations remit as part of a leadership realignment. Sumit Kamar will continue to head the business as CEO but will cede the title of president to McCreery, and Vecima has also named Ryan Nicometo as its first chief product officer.

Apple Pay launches in Kyrgyzstan
KYRGYZSTAN 13:34

Apple Pay launches in Kyrgyzstan

Apple Pay has become available for iPhone customers in Kyrgyzstan. The local operator Nur Telecom, trading under the O! brand, said that its customers are able to pay worldwide using the service. Customers paying with Apple Pay are offered 2 percent cashback.

EU ISPs call for legal right to block websites with child sexual abuse material
EUROPE 13:32

EU ISPs call for legal right to block websites with child sexual abuse material

European ISPs have called for the legal right to block websites with child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In a joint letter to EU leaders, the CEOs of BT, Vodafone, Orange and Telenor called for the creation of a coordinated list at EU level of sites with identified CSAM, based on trusted flaggers like national hotlines, law enforcement authorities and expert groups. This would allow ISPs to act with legal authority to block access, rather than waiting for the CSAM websites to be taken down or illegal materi

OpenAI upgrades ChatGPT models as weekly users pass 1 billion
GLOBAL 13:05

OpenAI upgrades ChatGPT models as weekly users pass 1 billion

OpenAI announced it has over 1 billion weekly users of ChatGPT. The milestone was included in an announcement on new features to improve the AI service's 'thinking' mode and to add unlimited text queries with the latest model for users of the free version of ChatGPT.

TIM gifts unlimited 5G data for 6 months in Telepass promo
ITALY 13:02

TIM gifts unlimited 5G data for 6 months in Telepass promo

Telecom Italia (TIM) has launched a new promotion for customers signed up to the TIM Star loyalty programme with six months of free unlimited data, plus 200 Star Points, in connection with its Telepass Edition plans. The perk is available via the TIM Advantages section of TIM Star, allowing subscribers to access the unlimited Telepass Edition option for free when signing up at a TIM store, with automatic renewal at EUR 1 a month after the six months are up.

NetLink NBN Q1 results fall on increased costs, lower revenues
SINGAPORE 12:49

NetLink NBN Q1 results fall on increased costs, lower revenues

Singapore's wholesale network operator NetLink NBN reported revenues for its fiscal first quarter to June down 1.4 percent on an annual basis to SGD 101.3 million, with the decline coming mainly from non-regulated revenue such as installations. EBITDA decreased 4.0 percent to SGD 69.1 million on higher labour costs and IT-related expenses, and the net profit was down 22.4 percent to SGD 18.1 million in increased depreciation following network additions.

M:tel Montenegro teams up with startup MyTurn on digital hygiene campaign
MONTENEGRO 12:40

M:tel Montenegro teams up with startup MyTurn on digital hygiene campaign

Montenegrin operator M:tel has entered into a strategic partnership with MyTurn, a family-focused Montenegrin app. This collaboration is designed to help parents guide their children through today's digital landscape. By offering educational initiatives, interactive family challenges, special rewards, and practical tools, the organisations aim to encourage safer internet practices, healthier screen time limits, and stronger family connections. The partnership kicks off on 10 August with the launch of the Fa

KYRGYZSTAN 12:39

Nur Telecom launches automatic payment service

Kyrgyzstan operator Nur Telecom, trading under the O! brand, has introduced its new 'Smart Automatic Payment' service, which is available on the self-serice mobile application. The service transfers an exact sum, based on the price of the customer's tariff plan, from the account on the application to the mobile balance. If the customer changes the tariff, the service adapts to the new price automatically.

SPAIN 12:38

Telefonica halves prices of Movistar Plus TV service

Telefonica has launched a promotion to encourage new users to sign up to its Movistar Plus IPTV offering ahead of the start of the football season. Under the promo, the full version of Movistar Plus is available for EUR 4.99 a month for three months, compared to the usual price of EUR 9.99.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 12:37

T2 expands group discount programme to other operators

Russian mobile operator T2, a subsidiary of the national operator Rostelecom, has refreshed its programme 'Useful Together', expanding options for managing subscriber groups and adding discounts for tariffs up to 25 percent. An opportunity to add subscribers of other operators to groups of subscribers also is included, and different access levels are possible for each subscriber. The head of the group will be able to manage services of the whole group, as well as to pay for services from a single bank card.

GLOBAL 12:36

Netgear beats Q2 sales target as focus shifts to high-margin enterprise lines

Netgear posted better-than-expected sales totalling USD 168.6 million in the second quarter to end-June. Sales were down 1.2 percent from a year earlier, but the scale of the decline slowed from 2 percent in January to March and exceeded Netgear's USD 150-165 million projection issued in Q1.

CANADA 12:29

Cogeco announces CAD 200 million senior notes offering

Cogeco Communications has announced a CAD 200 million reopening of senior secured notes due 2033. The notes will have the same terms and form a single series with the CAD 300 million of notes issued by the company in February 2023. The offering will close on or around 10 August 2026, with the net proceeds used to repay existing debt and for general corporate purposes.

AZERBAIJAN 12:28

AzerTelecom, Kazakhtelecom deploy 380-km sea-bed line from Sumgayit to Aktau

Azerbaijan operator AzerTelecom and Kazakhstan operator Kazakhtelecom have deployed a 380-km sub-sea fibre-optic line connecting the city of Sumgayit in Azerbaijan to the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, reports Trend. Work on integration of the sub-sea line with the terrestrial infrastructure is currently underway, and services on the 400 Tbps line are planned to start by the end of this year.   

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 12:27

Over 20,000 teachers complete AI training courses from Yandex

Russian internet company Yandex said that more than 20,000 teachers have completed its AI training courses since 2025. The programme included materials for self-study, webinars and ready-made lesson scenarios that are easy to adapt to a class. The participants first got acquainted with basic concepts from the field of AI, and then they learned to apply AI in their work. A separate block was devoted to the responsible use of AI in the school. 

UNITED STATES 12:25

AOI reports record sales in Q2 amid buoyant data centre, CATV demand

Applied Optoelectronics (AOI) reported a record second-quarter turnover of USD 191.9 million, an increase of 86.3 percent year-on-year. According to CEO Thompson Lin, this sales performance reflects soaring demand for its optical transceivers in the data centre market and strong adoption of its cable broadband equipment targeting 1.8 GHz plants, including its Quantum18 Docsis amplifiers. 

UNITED STATES 12:22

AT&T procures Ericsson radios to access newly-acquired 600 MHz spectrum

AT&T announced an expanded partnership with Ericsson to procure 600 MHz-configured radios for its 5G cellular network, following its acquisition of additional spectrum holdings from EchoStar on 28 July. The 600 MHz frequencies are seen as particularly lucrative to enhance long-distance links, with better coverage inside buildings compared to higher-frequency 5G holdings. Ericsson will supply dual-band radios configured to transmit 600 MHz signals. The radios also host eight receive antennas, supporting AT&T

POLAND 12:22

Play deploys 43 new base stations in July

Polish operator Play, controlled by Iliad, announced that it deployed 43 new base stations in July. In total 284 base stations were launched from January to July 2026. The operator owned 13,459 base stations across the country at the end of July.

CANADA 12:21

Tech Mahindra opens new Innovation Hub in Toronto

Tech Mahindra, global technology consulting and digital solutions provider, has officially opened its new Toronto Innovation Hub, strengthening its long-term commitment to Canada. The new facility will support faster collaboration between Tech Mahindra, customers, academic institutions and industry partners. It will support the group's 2,200-strong workforce in Canada, putting AI and continuous learning at the heart of skills and service development.

UNITED STATES 12:13

Comcast deploys private wireless network at Smartlink HQ

Comcast Business has deployed a private wireless network at the corporate headquarters of digital infrastructure services group Smartlink, located in downtown Annapolis in Maryland. The network combines Neutral Host cellular coverage with a dedicated CBRS private network, delivered as a single managed platform. It replaces legacy DAS infrastructure, helping to eliminate in-building coverage gaps and provide a secure private network for enterprise and smart-building applications. 

Just In

14:02

Orange and Deutsche Telekom participate in HappyRobot's funding round

13:40

FCC takes forward proposal to permit D2D satellite access in licence-exempt devices

13:39

LMT joins European 6G implementation advisory group

13:37

Mozambique invites bids to restore five mobile network stations

Commentary

2 JUL 11:26

Canal Plus misses chance to strengthen Dutch business, time for exit?

23 JUN 09:56

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

5 MAY 10:55

KPN: the art of making one-offs structural

4 MAY 14:25

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

Background

2 AUG 23:37

The week in telecom: Telcos resist economic slowdown in Q2 while big tech gears up for more AI investment

26 JUL 23:19

The week in telecom: Samsung works on foldable challenge, US telcos try FMC

19 JUL 23:41

The week in telecom: OnePlus exits tough smartphone market and Apple takes on OpenAI

12 JUL 23:30

The week in telecom: European telcos take shape as Xavier Niel buys more of Vodafone, Telenor expands in Sweden