Telecommunications News 14 January 2026 - 30 January 2026

Singapore lifts lid on UNC3886 telecom hack hitting Singtel, StarHub, M1 and Simba
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Singapore lifts lid on UNC3886 telecom hack hitting Singtel, StarHub, M1 and Simba

Hackers linked to UNC3886 breached parts of all four major Singapore telcos’ networks in 2025, authorities said Tuesday. No service disruptions or evidence of stolen customer data were found. A multi-agency response, Operation CYBER GUARDIAN, lasted over 11 months. Officials said attackers used a zero-day exploit and exfiltrated some technical network data.
February 10, 2026
Verizon’s best subscriber surge in six years comes with upbeat 2026 forecast and a $25 billion buyback
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Verizon’s best subscriber surge in six years comes with upbeat 2026 forecast and a $25 billion buyback

Verizon raised its 2026 adjusted profit and free cash flow forecasts after adding 616,000 postpaid phone subscribers in the fourth quarter, its best result since 2019. The company approved a share buyback plan of up to $25 billion over three years, with at least $3 billion set for 2026. Fourth-quarter revenue reached $36.4 billion, with adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share.
January 30, 2026
FCC loosens 6 GHz Wi‑Fi rules — new higher‑power outdoor devices get green light
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FCC loosens 6 GHz Wi‑Fi rules — new higher‑power outdoor devices get green light

The FCC has approved geofenced variable power devices for unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band, allowing higher power operation indoors and outdoors under new rules. The order sets power limits, creates exclusion zones, and seeks comment on expanding 6 GHz access, including for cruise ships. Industry groups welcomed the move, citing potential for increased Wi-Fi capacity and new device types.
January 30, 2026
Comcast’s broadband losses deepen again — and the company is freezing prices in 2026
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Comcast’s broadband losses deepen again — and the company is freezing prices in 2026

Comcast lost 181,000 broadband subscribers in Q4, a steeper decline than analysts expected. The company will freeze broadband prices through 2026 and offer new bundles with free mobile lines. Theme parks and Peacock drove profits above forecasts, despite widening streaming losses. Revenue reached $32.31 billion; adjusted earnings were 84 cents per share.
January 29, 2026
T-Mobile service suddenly dies overnight — why phones flipped to SOS and what we know now
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T-Mobile service suddenly dies overnight — why phones flipped to SOS and what we know now

T-Mobile users across several U.S. regions lost service overnight, with many phones switching to “SOS” mode around 12:20 a.m. Eastern, according to outage trackers. Metro by T-Mobile and Google Fi customers also reported disruptions. Service was restored quickly, but T-Mobile has not disclosed the cause. Complaints dropped off within about an hour.
January 29, 2026
Rocket Lab’s first 2026 launch puts Open Cosmos telecom satellites in orbit — and the Europe angle is getting louder
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Rocket Lab’s first 2026 launch puts Open Cosmos telecom satellites in orbit — and the Europe angle is getting louder

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket launched two Open Cosmos satellites into a 1,050-km orbit Thursday, marking the start of Open Cosmos’ low-Earth-orbit telecom constellation. The mission, named “The Cosmos Will See You Now,” lifted off from New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula at 11:52 p.m. local time. Open Cosmos said the launch follows its recent acquisition of high-priority Ka-band spectrum for broadband services.
January 22, 2026
Bezos’ Blue Origin takes on Starlink with TeraWave plan for 5,408 satellites
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Bezos’ Blue Origin takes on Starlink with TeraWave plan for 5,408 satellites

Blue Origin announced plans to begin deploying its TeraWave satellite constellation in late 2027, targeting enterprise, data center, and government clients. The network will use 5,408 satellites in low and medium Earth orbit, offering symmetrical speeds up to 6 terabits per second. TeraWave will not serve individual consumers. Pricing and revenue targets have not been disclosed.
January 22, 2026
Verizon outage fallout: Visible customers get $5 credits as carrier stays quiet on what broke
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Verizon outage fallout: Visible customers get $5 credits as carrier stays quiet on what broke

Verizon restored service after a 10-hour outage last week that affected hundreds of thousands of users. The company is issuing $20 credits to affected customers, while Visible users report an additional $5 credit. Verizon blamed a software issue but has not disclosed the cause or number of impacted accounts. AT&T and T-Mobile reported no disruptions during the incident.
January 19, 2026
Optimum Mobile shakes up international roaming with $35 weekly Travel Pass and new calling plans
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Optimum Mobile shakes up international roaming with $35 weekly Travel Pass and new calling plans

Optimum Mobile launched a $35-per-week Travel Pass for international data and introduced monthly calling plans starting at $5 for Mexico and Canada, and $15 for 181 countries. The new add-ons target both new and existing customers. Unlimited Max plan users now get expanded roaming and calling benefits in Mexico, Canada, and the Dominican Republic. Cable-backed mobile providers captured 39% of U.S. smartphone net additions in Q3 2025.
January 19, 2026
Jio beats China Unicom in 5G users as India’s AirFibre broadband bet grows
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Jio beats China Unicom in 5G users as India’s AirFibre broadband bet grows

Reliance Jio overtook China Unicom to become the world’s third-largest 5G operator, reaching 253 million users by end-2025, GSMA Intelligence said. Reliance’s 5G traffic made up 53% of usage last quarter, while its AirFibre broadband subscribers more than doubled to 11.5 million. Reliance Industries shares fell up to 2.7% after quarterly profit missed estimates. India’s 5G base stations rose to 518,854 by year-end.
January 19, 2026
Anritsu’s MWC 2026 plan: AI-powered 6G testing, virtual labs, and a bigger push into satellite-style networks
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Anritsu’s MWC 2026 plan: AI-powered 6G testing, virtual labs, and a bigger push into satellite-style networks

Anritsu will debut AI-driven, cloud-based, and virtual 6G testing tools at MWC 2026 in Barcelona. The company’s MT8000A platform now supports spectrum up to 16 GHz and adds non-terrestrial network testing. Demos include lab-based digital twin replays, cloud automotive validation, and IoT power measurement. New software enables real-time satellite and aerial link emulation.
January 15, 2026
WindTre and Ericsson activate Italy’s first 5G Standalone network — and bring network slicing to smaller businesses
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WindTre and Ericsson activate Italy’s first 5G Standalone network — and bring network slicing to smaller businesses

WindTre and Ericsson have launched Italy’s first 5G Standalone network, powered by Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core. The network includes a slicing service aimed at small and mid-sized businesses. WindTre deployed a dedicated 5G slice for live sports video production at a venue with over 90,000 spectators. The launch was announced January 14, 2026.
January 15, 2026
Samsung claims an “industry-first” single-server vRAN call on a live US network — here’s why carriers care
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Samsung claims an “industry-first” single-server vRAN call on a live US network — here’s why carriers care

Samsung says it completed the first commercial call using its virtualized RAN software on a live Tier 1 U.S. carrier network, running on Intel Xeon 6700P-B processors and Wind River cloud. The setup used a single off-the-shelf server. Samsung aims to consolidate more network functions onto fewer servers to cut power use and costs. The carrier involved was not named.
January 15, 2026
Airbus’ SpaceRAN bet: a 5G “base station in space” is coming, with a 2027 in‑orbit demo
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Airbus’ SpaceRAN bet: a 5G “base station in space” is coming, with a 2027 in‑orbit demo

Airbus UpNext has launched the SpaceRAN demonstrator to test standardized 5G Non-Terrestrial Network connectivity from orbit, with a satellite payload planned for launch in 2027 and in-orbit testing in 2028. Aalyria is providing real-time optimization software for the project. The initiative is backed by the French government’s France 2030 plan.
January 15, 2026
FCC Lets Verizon End the 60-Day Phone Unlocking Rule: What Changes for iPhone and Android Users Starting Jan. 13, 2026
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FCC Lets Verizon End the 60-Day Phone Unlocking Rule: What Changes for iPhone and Android Users Starting Jan. 13, 2026

Verizon received an FCC waiver ending its 60-day automatic phone unlocking rule, effective January 13, 2026, for new device activations. Phones activated before that date remain under the old rule. Verizon will now follow the CTIA Consumer Code, unlocking devices upon request after conditions are met, rather than automatically.
January 15, 2026
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