EE starts offering 'Advanced Full Fibre' broadband at up to 8 Gbps
UNITED KINGDOM 31 JUL

EE starts offering 'Advanced Full Fibre' broadband at up to 8 Gbps

BT Group-owned EE has started offering what it calls 'Advanced Full Fibre' broadband, provides download speeds of 2.3 Gbps and 8 Gbps on XGS-PON equipment. The new FTTH service has launched in Guildford, Woking and surrounding areas following a successful customer trial earlier this year. The 2.3 Gbps plan is available from GBP 54.99 per month and the 8 Gbps tier costs from GBP 74.99 per month.

T2 expands 'roam like home' calls to 70 countries
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 31 JUL

T2 expands 'roam like home' calls to 70 countries

Russian mobile operator T2, a subsidiary of the national operator Rostelecom, has expanded the list of countries where roaming calls are charged at home network rates, reports Forbes.ru. The option has become available in Egypt, Japan, the US, India and Saudi Arabia. The list currently includes more than 70 countries. Outgoing calls to Russian networks are offered without roaming surcharges in those countries. 

South Sudanese regulator approves second mobile tariff hike
SOUTH SUDAN 31 JUL

South Sudanese regulator approves second mobile tariff hike

Major South Sudanese mobile network operators Digitel, MTN and Zain have announced National Communication Authority (NCA) approval for the second phase of the Telecommunications Tariff Exchange Rate Adjustment. The new tariffs took effect at midnight on 26 July. The operators said the decision was finalised after consultations with government institutions, mobile network operators, civil society organisations and industry stakeholders.

Crnogorski Telekom updates WebMax email service
MONTENEGRO 30 JUL

Crnogorski Telekom updates WebMax email service

Montenegrin operator Crnogorski Telekom has upgraded WebMax, its secure, domestic email platform built to provide users complete control over their personal data. Unlike "free" email services that profit from user profiling and targeted ads, WebMax guarantees an ad-free environment where user information is never sold or used for marketing, Telekom said. All data is stored locally in Crnogorski Telekom's Data Centre, protected by two-factor authentication, antivirus defences, and dedicated local support (15

Manx Telecom raises fibre broadband speeds, confirms 3% price increase
ISLE OF MAN 30 JUL

Manx Telecom raises fibre broadband speeds, confirms 3% price increase

Isle of Man-based Manx Telecom has announced changes to its fibre broadband speeds from 01 September 2026; along with an annual inflationary price increase of 3 percent to all fixed, broadband, mobile and SIP tariffs. The Fibre 1000 plan will remain unchanged; with the Fiber 500 increasing by 40 percent to Fibre 700; the Fibre 200 increasing by 100 percent to Fibre 400; the Fibre 100 speed doubling to Fibre 200; and the Fibre 30 speed increasing by 233 percent to Fibre 100. The Fibre 40 and Fibre 20 plans a

Swisscom starts selling Xplora X6Play eSIM smart watch
SWITZERLAND 30 JUL

Swisscom starts selling Xplora X6Play eSIM smart watch

Swisscom has begun offering Xplora smart watches aimed particularly at children. The Xplora X6Play eSIM watch in black was available from CHF 209, or from CHF 5.80 on top of subscription costs, but is currently labelled as sold out. Swisscom's Blue Kids Watch subscription costs CHF 19.90 monthly for unlimited calls and texts within Switzerland and 1 GB of top speed domestic data, after which unrestricted use is possible at reduced speed. Blue Kids Watch also allows 30 mins of calls, 30 SMS and 300 MB of dat

UK CMA investigates Microsoft over subscription plan marketing
UNITED KINGDOM 30 JUL

UK CMA investigates Microsoft over subscription plan marketing

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Microsoft over marketing of subscription plans. It will investigate if customers were misled about subscription options, and whether they were given clear information upfront when changes were made to Microsoft 365 Family and Personal Plans, including when new features such as Copilot were added.

Kijk tries pay-per-view football streaming with Ajax pre-season friendly
NETHERLANDS 29 JUL

Kijk tries pay-per-view football streaming with Ajax pre-season friendly

Kijk, the streaming service from Dutch broadcaster Talpa Media, is planning its first pay-per-view football match on Sunday, 02 August. The friendly between FC Volendam and Ajax will cost EUR 3.99, with no other subscription needed. The live stream begins at 14.30 hours and is available also outside the Netherlands. 

Delta launches 2 Gbps at EUR 65 per month, lowers other cable broadband prices
NETHERLANDS 29 JUL

Delta launches 2 Gbps at EUR 65 per month, lowers other cable broadband prices

Dutch operator Delta has launched a new 2 Gbps broadband plan on its cable network, for EUR 65 per month. The company also lowered prices for other broadband subscriptions over cable.

Mega launches 5G roaming
KYRGYZSTAN 29 JUL

Mega launches 5G roaming

Kyrgyzstan operator Mega has introduced access to 5G roaming services. Activation of the service is free, assuming a minimum KGS 1 prepaid balance. The operator offers special data traffic packages valid in more than 75 countries. A 1 GB bundle costs KGS 900, a 2 GB package totals KGS 1,500, and a 5 GB bundle is available for KGS 2,500.

Telenet updates sports pay-TV packs with Dazn channels
BELGIUM 29 JUL

Telenet updates sports pay-TV packs with Dazn channels

Telenet has presented its new subscriptions for Play Sports, its pay-TV offering. Following the new licensing deal with Dazn, the operator offers a bundle of Play Sports + Dazn Total for EUR 34.99 per month, giving viewers access to top Belgian and international football (Pro League, Champions League, Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga), as well as Formula 1, tennis, golf, NBA, NFL and other sports. Customers who sign up by 03 August will pay a reduced price of EUR 24.99 per month for the first

Vivo launches T5e smartphone in India
INDIA 28 JUL

Vivo launches T5e smartphone in India

Vivo has launched the T5e smartphone in India. The device is equipped with a 5500mAh battery and supports 15W fast charging. It features a 6.74-inch HD+ display and is powered by the Unisoc T7225 octa-core processor.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 28 JUL

MTS Russia sells Huawei MatePad ProMax, opens orders for Pura90s phones

Russian operator MTS said that it has started sales of the tablet Huawei MatePad ProMax in its shops. The Huawei MatePad Pro Max (12/256 GB) PaperMatte Wi-Fi costs RUB 99,990, or RUB 114,990 with the attachable keyboard.

UNITED STATES 28 JUL

Apple confirms new device leasing offer with Klarna in US

Apple has confirmed the launch of a new device leasing offer in the US. People buying hardware directly from Apple can now get an iPhone for as little as USD 17.99 per month and an Apple Watch or iPad from USD 11.99 per month. They must go through a credit check with Klarna to qualify for a lease contract, which can run for 12 or 24 months for the iPhone and Watch and 24 or 36 months for an iPad or Mac. At the end of the contract, they can choose to buy the device for a one-off payment, return it to Apple o

ALBANIA 28 JUL

Albanian competition watchdog places new obligations on Vodafone and One

Following an investigation into anti-competitive behaviour such as parallel price hikes and identical packages, the Albanian Competition Authority has imposed strict new requirements on Vodafone Albania and One Albania. To protect consumers and improve market transparency, the regulator is giving both operators 90 days to comply with mandatory changes. Key measures include launching discounted plans for pensioners and students aged 18 to 23, making budget packages available in physical stores, and giving su

ITALY 28 JUL

TIM to hike cost of more prepay plans by up to EUR 3 a month from September

Telecom Italia (TIM) has announced on its website that a new set of existing prepay customers will be subject to a price increase of up to EUR 2.99 a month applied to their plans starting in September. The move follows unilateral price hikes announced for other mobile plans earlier this year, all of which the operator attributed to "economic needs connected to changes in market conditions."

MONTENEGRO 28 JUL

Crnogorski Telekom launches large 5G bundles for summer holidays

Montenegrin operator Crnogorski Telekom has launched a series of data-rich prepaid and eSIM packages on its 5G network, featuring dedicated regional data allowances for the Western Balkans and Croatia. The plans include 500 GB for 15 days (EUR 15) with 9 GB of regional roaming data; 500 GB for 10 days (EUR 15) with local calls and SMS within Montenegro; 1 TB for 30 days (EUR 20) with 11 GB of regional roaming data; unlimited internet for 30 days (EUR 25) with 15 GB of regional roaming data; and Online Exclu

UNITED KINGDOM 28 JUL

Ofcom to block new Openreach volume discounts over competition concerns

UK regulator Ofcom has made a provisional decision to block Openreach's new 'Incremental New to Openreach Offer' to help protect fair competition and keep prices low in the long-term. Ofcom believes that limiting aggressively discounted pricing to specific customers is "nor fair and reasonable", and could damage competition. Ofcom is now proposing to intervene in other offers notified by Openreach. A consultation is open until 27 August, with Ofcom expecting to announce a final decision by end-September. 

PORTUGAL 28 JUL

Portuguese telecom prices drop in June

Consumer prices for telecommunications in Portugal continued their downward trend in June, dropping 0.3 percent month-on-month and 2.6 percent compared to the previous year, according to regulator Anacom. Over a 12-month average, Portuguese telecom rates fell by 1.9 percent. That's 3.3 percentage points below the EU average of 1.4 percent growth in prices, ranking Portugal as the country with the third-largest price drop across all 27 EU member states. 

NIGERIA 28 JUL

Samsung offers up to NGN 1 mln in gifts with Galaxy Z Fold8 reservations via Konga

Samsung is accepting advance orders for its Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8 smartphones in Nigeria on the Konga e-commerce site until 20 August, with the chance to receive exclusive gift packages worth up to NGN 1 million. Shopping through Samsung's official store on Konga guarantees 100 percent authentic devices and reliable local warranty support. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra starts at NGN 2.59 million for the 256 GB/12 GB variant and the standard Fold8 starts at NGN 2.34 milli

SOUTH AFRICA 28 JUL

MTN, Vodacom South Africa file court challenge over new rules on data rollover

MTN and Vodacom South Africa have launched separate legal challenges against the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) over new consumer protection rules set to take effect in January 2027, News24 reported. MTN served court papers on 22 July requesting that the End-User and Subscriber Service Charter Amendment Regulations be reviewed, set aside, and declared invalid, naming Icasa as the primary respondent. Vodacom subsequently confirmed it has filed its own application seeking a judic

POLAND 27 JUL

Plus changes prepaid offer to 10 GB for PLN 1 per day

Polish operator Polkomtel, trading under the Plus brand, is updating its prepaid offer. Rather than the previous multiple packages, it will offer a single, simple offer going forward: 10 GB with unlimited local calls and SMS/MMS costs PLN 1 daily. A top-up at PLN 2 means 20 GB and unlimited calls and messages for two days. The maximum PLN 30 top-up provides the services for 30 days, with up to 300GB traffic.

BELGIUM 27 JUL

Bipt consults operators on impact of proposed invoice changes

Belgian regulator Bipt has started a new public consultation on proposed changes to the Law on electronic communications. These are expected to provide greater transparency for consumers on telecom costs and make it easier for them to compare offers and switch providers. The inquiry targets specifically telecom providers, with Bipt looking for feedback on how the changes could impact investments, operating costs, network quality, competitiveness or services provision. 

SWEDEN 27 JUL

Tele2 Sweden runs 'spot the phone' competition with Samsung and Frank the sheep

Tele2 Sweden is running a "spot the phone" competition at Hoetorget square in central Stockholm. It has hoisted a 125 square metre banner depicting 50,000 iterations of Frank, the black sheep featured in its advertising campaigns. One of the giant flock is holding the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and finders stand a chance to win one of the smartphones. The campaign was developed by Forsman & Bodenfors.

Just In

1 AUG 17:55

Turkcell launches rewards programme for prepay customers

1 AUG 17:32

Vodafone Turkiye tops 1 million ChatGPT package users in one month

31 JUL 15:25

Datagrid inks supply and installation deal with ASN, OMS for Tasman Ring Network project

31 JUL 14:16

Vantiva eyes H2 recovery after 15% sales decline in January-June

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

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

5 JUL 23:03

The week in telecom: Comcast gives up on vertical integration, BT and Verizon agree global alliance