Liberia streamlines telecom licensing with online system
LIBERIA 13:26

Liberia streamlines telecom licensing with online system

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) is automating its licensing and renewal process to cut processing times, lower costs, and eliminate unnecessary paperwork for applicants nationwide. LTA said in a statement that citizens and business owners across Liberia will no longer need to travel to the capital to apply for or renew telecommunications licenses, as it prepares to roll out a nationwide digital licensing platform. The automated system is designed to modernize operations, allowing individuals,

El Salvador regulator allocates Tigo additional mobile spectrum for 60 days
EL SALVADOR 10:26

El Salvador regulator allocates Tigo additional mobile spectrum for 60 days

El Salvador's telecommunications regulator Siget announced that it allocated Tigo 30 Mhz of mobile spectrum for a temporary period. The company will have use of the additional capacity for a period of 60 days effective 31 July. Siget said the spectrum award consists of 15 MHz each of download and upload capacity in the 700 MHz band.

Communications Authority of Kenya trials digital licensing management system
KENYA 07:47

Communications Authority of Kenya trials digital licensing management system

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has launched a pilot for its new digital Licensing Management System (LMS), which enables real-time tracking of applications, enquiries and compliance status. The rollout began last week with an internal pilot involving key user departments, including a hands-on simulation to test the client portal and back-office workflows. A second pilot phase, engaging selected licensees, starts next week and will run until late September to validate system performance and refin

T-Mobile US completes sale of 800 MHz spectrum to Grain
UNITED STATES 11 AUG

T-Mobile US completes sale of 800 MHz spectrum to Grain

T-Mobile US has completed the sale of its 800 MHz spectrum assets to Grain Management. In return, T-Mobile got USD 2.9 billion cash and Grain's 600 MHz spectrum licences. The deal was announced in March 2025 and received FCC approval at start-July 2026. TAP Advisors acted as financial advisor for T-Mobile, with DLP Piper and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton acting as legal advisors.

Xona navigation project moves ahead thanks to FCC clearance
GLOBAL 11 AUG

Xona navigation project moves ahead thanks to FCC clearance

Navigation satellite developer Xona said it was given the go ahead by the US Federal Communications Commission for its planned low Earth orbit constellation and Pulsar navigation service. The company plans to bring over 250 satellites into orbit, with the first batch, consisting of six production-grade spacecraft, set to launch in October.

Tigo and Personal secure 5G spectrum in Paraguay tender
PARAGUAY 7 AUG

Tigo and Personal secure 5G spectrum in Paraguay tender

Paraguayan operators Tigo (Millicom) and Personal (Telecom Argentina) have been awarded licences in the second tender for 5G-compatible spectrum run by the country's communications regulator Conatel. The watchdog said Tigo and Personal were the only bidders in the auction for spectrum in the 2.3 GHz and 3.5 GHz frequency bands. Rivals Claro and Nubicom previously secured 5G spectrum in last year's 3.5 GHz band tender.

Portuguese operators oppose shorter licences in spectrum renewal plan
PORTUGAL 6 AUG

Portuguese operators oppose shorter licences in spectrum renewal plan

Apritel, Portugal's association of telecom operators, has voiced strong opposition to the regulator's proposed terms for spectrum license renewals. Speaking on behalf of the association, President Antonio Coimbra argued that the decision by the National Communications Authority (Anacom) to offer renewal periods of just six and 14 years, rather than the 20 years requested by the industry, will severely hamper necessary investments, reported Jornal de Negocios. Coimbra confirmed that Apritel plans to formally

NCSC CISO Schouten moves to RDI as equipment director
NETHERLANDS 6 AUG

NCSC CISO Schouten moves to RDI as equipment director

Cynthia Schouten is the new head of the hardware unit at the Dutch digital infrastructure agency RDI from October. She is currently CISO at the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC) and worked previously at the defense ministry, Cybersprint and KPN Consulting. In her new role Schouten will focus on issues including AI oversight and the implementation of the Cyber Resilience Act. 

UK Culture Secretary will not intervene as CMA approves Paramount, WBD merger
UNITED KINGDOM 6 AUG

UK Culture Secretary will not intervene as CMA approves Paramount, WBD merger

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery by Paramount Skydance. This follows a Phase 1 investigation, with the CMA concluding that the deal will not result in a substantial lessening of competition (SLC) in the UK. As a result, the deal will not be referred for an in-depth Phase 2 investigation.

Optus and Nokia complete pre-6G massive MIMO transmission using upper 6 GHz frequencies
AUSTRALIA 5 AUG

Optus and Nokia complete pre-6G massive MIMO transmission using upper 6 GHz frequencies

Australia's Optus has completed an advanced 6G research trial that deployed Nokia's massive MIMO antenna to transmit an upper-6GHz signal. According to Optus, the link successfully achieved record peak download speeds of around 3.5 Gbps, underscoring the critical role that the upper 6 GHz band could play in unlocking 6G-era capacity for end subscribers. Optus's study was conducted at a mobile transmitter in Sydney currently equipped with live 5G infrastructure. Nokia's advanced 6 GHz massive MIMO radio was

Salam obtains Tier 2 managed security operations centre service licence from National Cybersecurity Authority
SAUDI ARABIA 4 AUG

Salam obtains Tier 2 managed security operations centre service licence from National Cybersecurity Authority

Saudi operator, Etihad Salam Telecom Company (Salam) has announced that it received a five-year license from the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA), authorising the company to provide Tier 2 Managed Security Operations Center (MSOC) services.

POTRAZ data protection officer licence fees attract criticism
ZIMBABWE 4 AUG

POTRAZ data protection officer licence fees attract criticism

A government policy requiring every organisation that handles personal data to secure annual licences from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has sparked a widespread backlash from analysts and industry leaders, Bulawayo24 reported. Critics warn that the mandatory compliance fees could place severe financial strain on a wide range of institutions including businesses, churches, schools and non-profit organisations, with the ultimate cost passed down to consumers thro

LATVIA 4 AUG

LMT gets licence to expand consumer credit services

Latvia's LMT Group said that its subsidiary LMT Finance has received a licence from the Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) to provide credit services to customers. The licence enables the company to start providing non-bank financing services.

SPAIN 3 AUG

Spain to begin UHD DTT switch on 05 November

Spain will finally begin migrating its digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels to Ultra HD (UHD) from 05 November, the Ministry for Digital Transformation confirmed in the Official State Gazette. The move will require viewers to retune their televisions on the same date to access the upgraded broadcasts.

CAPE VERDE 3 AUG

Cape Verde launches consultation on satellite communications framework

Cabo Verde's Multisectoral Regulatory Agency for the Economy (ARME) has opened a public consultation on a proposed regulatory framework for satellite communication networks and services. The initiative aims to create a modern, transparent and technology-neutral environment to guide the growth of the country's satellite sector. The consultation period runs until 31 August 2026.

GHANA 3 AUG

Ghanaian NCA postpones 5G licence deadline as it publishes amendments

The Ghanaian National Communications Authority (NCA) has extended the deadline for 5G spectrum licence applications, alongside releasing a comprehensive set of clarifications and amendments to guide prospective bidders. The NCA announced the publication of a Consolidated Response addressing enquiries from prospective applicants regarding the Request for Applications (RFA) for mid-band frequencies in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz spectrums. The document provides uniform answers to issues raised during the P

UNITED STATES 3 AUG

US NTIA begins study of federally held 4.4 GHz band for 6G reallocation

The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is progressing with a study of the 4.4 GHz band with the intent of transitioning incumbent federal users to unlock capacity for national 6G auctions. It follows an earlier directive by US president Donald Trump in December 2025 instructing the NTIA to complete its assessment of the 7.215 - 7.4 GHz band within twelve months. Separate studies have also been approved for the 1.6 GHz and 2.7 GHz bands. As such, the NTIA has approved study

BRAZIL 3 AUG

Anatel grants secondary spectrum authorizations to TIM and Brisanet

Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has awarded TIM and Brisanet secondary-basis spectrum licenses through 2031, as published in the Official Gazette of the Union. These non-exclusive, temporary authorisations allow both operators to expand their mobile network capacity in key markets.

HONDURAS 30 JUL

Honduras opens USD 24 mln tender in AWS band

Honduran telecommunications watchdog Conatel has announced the launch of a spectrum tender to expand 4G and 5G mobile services nationwide. The regulator published terms for auctioning three 20 MHz blocks in the 1.7 GHz AWS (1,700-2,100 MHz) band, a frequency range already widely allocated across Latin America for advanced mobile networks.

OMAN 30 JUL

Omani TRA opens public consultation on new telecom licensing regulations

Oman's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is seeking comments by 27 August in a public consultation on a new draft regulation governing the licensing of telecommunications service providers. Under the draft rules, official permits will be required in core categories, namely manufacturing, systems integration and development, passive infrastructure services, and professional support services. The permit requirements will apply to equipment installation and maintenance, civil excavation for network

GHANA 30 JUL

Ghanaian NCA hosts briefing on 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz spectrum licences

Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA) has held a briefing for prospective applicants as part of its Request for Applications (RFA) for spectrum licences in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz mid-bands. Led by NCA director general Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, the session was a platform for stakeholders to engage with the authority and clarify application guidelines. Discussions centred on critical elements of the RFA, including award procedures, eligibility criteria, spectrum availability, coverage obligati

ITALY 30 JUL

Italy proposes free spectrum renewal to 2037 for 5G SA investment

Italy's communications regulator Agcom has opened a third and final public consultation on renewing mobile spectrum rights due to expire on 31 December 2029, proposing a free extension to 31 December 2037 in exchange for binding investment and wholesale access commitments. The measure covers the 800, 900, 1500, 1800, 2100, 2600 and 3400-3600 MHz bands, as well as fixed-wireless spectrum at 28 GHz. Consultation responses from operators, public institutions and other stakeholders are due by 05 October, after

UNITED STATES 29 JUL

AT&T completes spectrum buy from Echostar for USD 23 billion

AT&T has completed the acquisition of spectrum rights from Echostar to help strengthen its 5G mobile network coverage. As announced in August last year, AT&T paid USD 23 billion for the 30 MHz of nationwide spectrum in the 3.45 GHz band and 20 MHz of nationwide 600 MHz spectrum.

SOUTH AFRICA 28 JUL

South Africa publishes draft mobile spectrum roadmap

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has published its draft International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Roadmap 2026 and implementation plans for public comment. The roadmap outlines a five- to ten-year framework for managing and assigning radio frequency spectrum for current and next-generation mobile broadband, including IMT-2030 technologies. Aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 and the SA Connect Broadband Policy, the initiative aims to bridge the digital

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Background

9 AUG 23:44

The week in telecom: Starlink's mobile ambitions and LEO challengers, plus Hollywood studios try streaming shorts and sports

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