Telecommunications 21 March 2026 - 20 May 2026

Telstra Shares Trade Higher as $1.25 Billion Buyback Wraps Up, Investors Focus on Week Ahead
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Australia’s A$7.32 Billion Spectrum Sale Raises Questions for Phone Bills

Australia’s communications regulator set a preferred A$7.32 billion price for renewing key mobile and fixed-wireless spectrum licences, rejecting calls from Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom for lower fees. The first renewal application period opens June 18 for the 850 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. Telstra and TPG warned of higher costs for consumers, while the regulator said the price reflects market rates.
May 20, 2026
Telstra Faces $7.32 Billion Hurdle After Rally
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Telstra Faces $7.32 Billion Hurdle After Rally

Telstra shares closed at A$5.55, up 2.6% and near a 12-month high, after Australia’s regulator set the market value for renewing key spectrum licences at A$7.32 billion. The licences, held by Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom and NBN Co, face renewal applications from June 18. Telstra traded 29.44 million shares Tuesday, above its average volume. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.17% to 8,604.7.
May 19, 2026
BT Group Stock Watch: UC Edge Launch Raises Stakes Before May 21 Results
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BT Group Stock Watch: UC Edge Launch Raises Stakes Before May 21 Results

BT International launched UC Edge, a managed voice service for multinationals using multiple workplace platforms, now live with initial deployments in regulated industries. The launch comes eight days before BT’s full-year results on May 21, which investors are watching closely. The service lets companies run calls across Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex without overhauling phone systems.
May 13, 2026
Vodafone Stock’s Big Test: Germany Spoils the Turnaround Story After FY26 Results
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Vodafone Stock’s Big Test: Germany Spoils the Turnaround Story After FY26 Results

Vodafone shares rose 1% in London after a steep drop, as annual revenue climbed 8% to €40.5 billion but earnings missed consensus. The company lost 77,000 mobile and 90,000 broadband customers in Germany, which accounts for 37% of core profit. Vodafone guided for €11.9–12.2 billion in adjusted EBITDAaL for the new year. Full control of VodafoneThree in the UK is expected in late 2026.
May 13, 2026
Telstra Stock Slips as Buyback Support Meets Spectrum, Rate and Competition Risk
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Telstra Stock Slips as Buyback Support Meets Spectrum, Rate and Competition Risk

Telstra closed at A$5.26 on Tuesday, down 0.57%, with 27.23 million shares traded—well above average volume—as its on-market buyback continued. The company bought 1.66 million shares for A$8.75 million on May 12 at roughly the same price. The ASX 200 also fell, hitting a 20-day low. Investors showed little reaction to the ongoing buyback, seeking clearer upside beyond capital returns.
May 13, 2026
Openreach Adds 238 UK Areas to Copper Switch-Off List as Landline Deadline Nears
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Openreach Adds 238 UK Areas to Copper Switch-Off List as Landline Deadline Nears

Openreach has added 238 UK telephone exchanges to its full-fibre “stop sell” programme, bringing the total to 2,116, according to a May 8 update. The new tranche affects about 1.69 million premises, with order restrictions for older copper-based products set to begin June 3, 2027. The move comes ahead of the planned retirement of the UK’s analogue phone network by January 2027.
May 11, 2026
Vodafone Group PLC’s India Turnaround Plan Takes a New Turn With Vodafone Idea Stake Move
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Vodafone Group PLC’s India Turnaround Plan Takes a New Turn With Vodafone Idea Stake Move

Vodafone Group is considering transferring part of its 19% stake in Vodafone Idea to the Indian carrier’s treasury, Bloomberg reported, as Vodafone Idea seeks funding after a telecom dues relief. Vodafone Idea is also in talks to borrow about 350 billion rupees, mostly via term loans, with State Bank of India likely to lead. Vodafone’s shares rose 2.28% in London Friday; Vodafone Idea’s shares ended flat in Mumbai.
May 9, 2026
Poste Italiane-TIM Takeover Faces Q1 Results Test as Debt and Agcom Move Into Focus
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Poste Italiane-TIM Takeover Faces Q1 Results Test as Debt and Agcom Move Into Focus

Telecom Italia is expected to report Q1 revenue of 3.32 billion euros and adjusted net debt of 7.31 billion euros, as Poste Italiane pursues a cash-and-share takeover. Both boards meet May 6 ahead of Poste’s results presentation. Poste shares fell 2.26% and TIM dropped 2.32% Monday in Milan trading. Italy’s regulator said the offer poses no significant consequences for now.
May 4, 2026
Telstra Group Limited Shares Face a Big Week as Mobile Price Hikes Hit and Buyback Nears A$1.25 Billion
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Telstra Group Limited Shares Face a Big Week as Mobile Price Hikes Hit and Buyback Nears A$1.25 Billion

Telstra will raise most postpaid mobile plan prices by A$4 a month from May 5, with the Basic plan moving to A$74 and Essential to A$84. The company has bought back 204.4 million shares for about A$1.03 billion, nearing its A$1.25 billion ceiling. Telstra serves 22.5 million retail mobile services and reported a first-half profit of A$1.12 billion in February.
May 3, 2026
BT Group News: Ofcom Probe Puts EE and Plusnet Data Under the Microscope Before Results
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BT Group News: Ofcom Probe Puts EE and Plusnet Data Under the Microscope Before Results

Ofcom has launched an investigation into BT Group over possible failures to provide complete customer-service data from its EE and Plusnet units, citing evidence of incomplete or inaccurate responses. BT has not been found in breach and says it takes compliance seriously. The probe comes as BT prepares to report full-year results on May 21. BT shares closed at 216.20p, valuing the company at £21.11 billion.
May 1, 2026
Verizon’s Subscriber Surprise Puts Its Turnaround on the Line as Profit Forecast Rises
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Verizon’s Subscriber Surprise Puts Its Turnaround on the Line as Profit Forecast Rises

Verizon raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook after posting its first positive first-quarter postpaid phone net additions since 2013, adding 55,000 customers. First-quarter revenue rose 2.9% to $34.4 billion, with adjusted EPS up 7.6% to $1.28. CEO Dan Schulman cited lower churn and improved customer economics as signs of progress. Wall Street had expected a subscriber loss.
April 28, 2026
Vodafone Group PLC Accelerates Share Buyback With 5.4 Million Shares Ahead of Year-End
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Vodafone Group PLC Accelerates Share Buyback With 5.4 Million Shares Ahead of Year-End

Vodafone bought 5.4 million shares for treasury on Tuesday, more than doubling its buyback pace as the financial year closed. The company paid an average 111.74 pence per share. Vodafone now holds over 1.2 billion treasury shares, with 23.1 billion shares outstanding. The buyback follows the cancellation of 549.6 million treasury shares and the sale of its VodafoneZiggo stake.
March 31, 2026
Telstra Group Limited Faces 1 Million-Sq-Km Coverage Map Threat as Optus, TPG Back Tougher Rules
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Telstra Group Limited Faces 1 Million-Sq-Km Coverage Map Threat as Optus, TPG Back Tougher Rules

Optus and TPG have backed tougher mobile coverage-map rules that could force Telstra to remove about 1 million square kilometres from its claimed coverage, ahead of an ACMA decision due March 31. Telstra says 1.5 million customers a month use service below the proposed signal threshold and warns the change would cut a third of its mapped reach. The ACCC supports the stricter rules, citing misleading maps.
March 29, 2026
Vodafone Group PLC Share Price Rises as Berenberg Lifts Target and Buyback Continues
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Vodafone Group PLC Share Price Rises as Berenberg Lifts Target and Buyback Continues

Vodafone shares rose 0.28% to 107.95 pence Friday after the company bought back 2 million shares and Berenberg raised its target price to 123 pence. The buyback is part of a €500 million tranche launched in February, with €3.5 billion already completed since May 2024. Vodafone reported 5.4% third-quarter service revenue growth and maintained full-year profit guidance. Germany remains a competitive challenge.
March 21, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • 3 ASX Dividend Shares Yielding Up to 9% With Monthly Payouts
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