Key Facts
- Next-Gen Network Rollouts: Long-delayed 5G plans leapt forward in multiple countries. Pakistan finally approved its first 5G spectrum auction for December 2025, opening 606 MHz of mid-band frequencies to bidders after years of holdups ts2.tech. Meanwhile Turkey set October 16, 2025 for its inaugural 5G tender – aiming to launch commercial service by April 2026 ts2.tech. And in India, Reliance Jio teamed with Meta on a ₹855 crore ($100 million) joint venture to build AI-powered digital services on Jio’s mobile network, leveraging Meta’s LLaMA AI models to serve businesses at scale ts2.tech. “We plan to offer AI solutions for every Indian organization – from ambitious startups to blue-chip corporates,” said Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, highlighting the tie-up’s transformative potential ts2.tech.
- Infrastructure & Spectrum Investments: Major upgrades to mobile internet infrastructure were unveiled. SpaceX launched 24 new Starlink satellites in late August, expanding broadband coverage to high latitudes (e.g. Alaska, Scandinavia) ts2.tech. Rival Amazon Project Kuiper announced beta satellite internet service will begin by late 2025, with another batch of low-Earth-orbit satellites slated for launch on Sept 25 ts2.tech. In Africa, Safaricom (Kenya) and Meta revealed a new 4,100 km undersea fiber cable linking Kenya to Oman – the “Daraja” system – to cut internet costs and boost East African bandwidth ts2.tech. Further north, Djibouti Telecom is extending its DARE1 submarine cable down to Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa by 2028 ts2.tech. And in the U.S., AT&T struck a record $23 billion deal to acquire large swaths of mid-band and low-band 5G spectrum from EchoStar, vastly boosting AT&T’s spectrum holdings (about 50 MHz nationwide) in what analysts called a landmark private spectrum sale bez-kabli.pl.
- Outages & Shutdowns Hit Millions: A nationwide Verizon outage on Aug 30 highlighted network fragility in the U.S., leaving customers from California to New York with “SOS only” emergency service for hours ts2.tech. Over 23,000 outage reports piled up by mid-afternoon before Verizon fixed a software glitch about 9 hours later ts2.tech. It was the carrier’s third major outage of 2025, spurring calls to improve resiliency. Meanwhile, government-ordered blackouts kept entire regions offline elsewhere. Pakistan extended a month-long mobile internet blackout across restive Balochistan province (population ~15 million) beyond its Aug 31 deadline, as authorities cited ongoing insurgent violence ts2.tech. And in Iraq, officials imposed daily nationwide internet shutdowns from 6–8 AM during high school exams – a drastic bid to curb cheating that also knocked out morning connectivity for students, businesses and government offices ts2.tech. Digital rights advocates blasted these blanket shutdowns as “a blunt instrument” that exact steep social and economic costs ts2.tech.
- Regulatory & Geopolitical Shifts: Authorities grappled with how to secure networks – or control them. On Sept 1, Russia enacted sweeping new internet curbs amounting to a digital crackdown. A controversial law now makes it an offense for Russians to even search for banned “extremist” content (from opposition websites to pro-LGBT material), punishable by fines up to 5,000 roubles ts2.tech ts2.tech. The law even targets VPN usage and advertising, aiming to close off circumvention tools ts2.tech. “One of the main tasks is to create fear … to increase self-censorship among the Russian internet audience,” warned Sarkis Darbinyan, founder of digital rights group Roskomsvoboda, of the law’s true intent ts2.tech ts2.tech. Moscow also ordered all new smartphones to pre-install a state-run chat app and hinted at banning WhatsApp (owned by “extremist” Meta) as it pursues “digital sovereignty” ts2.tech ts2.tech. In Europe, officials continued cutting Chinese vendors out of networks – Spain’s government even canceled a contract with Telefónica for using Huawei gear, citing “digital strategy and strategic autonomy” concerns reuters.com reuters.com. And in the U.S., regulators moved to harden telecom infrastructure: the FCC voted to ban Chinese equipment in new undersea internet cables and streamline permits for “trusted” suppliers, amid warnings that adversaries could threaten critical fiber links ts2.tech. “We have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China,” said FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, stressing the need to guard the 400+ undersea cables carrying 99% of global data ts2.tech.
- Business Moves & Mergers: The period saw significant deals and product launches in the mobile sector. In the United States, T-Mobile unveiled a novel “SuperMobile” plan targeting enterprise customers, which bundles priority 5G network slicing, satellite connectivity via SpaceX Starlink, and enhanced security in one package bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. “We’re giving businesses the advanced tools they need to connect seamlessly… virtually anywhere,” T-Mobile’s business chief said of leveraging satellites to reach off-grid sites bez-kabli.pl. U.S. carriers also eyed consolidation – T-Mobile touted new synergies after closing its acquisition of regional operator US Cellular, aiming to accelerate 5G coverage expansion (a deal valued at ~$1.3 billion) t-mobile.com t-mobile.com. And as noted, AT&T’s massive $23 billion spectrum purchase from EchoStar marked an unprecedented private spectrum transfer to bolster 5G capacity bez-kabli.pl. In Latin America, a fresh wave of financing will help build networks: IDB Invest (the Inter-American Development Bank’s private arm) and Nokia launched a $50 million funding program to extend digital connectivity across Latin America and the Caribbean developingtelecoms.com. Starting in Mexico, it will offer flexible financing to telecom operators for secure, high-performance network upgrades, and then expand to other countries in the region developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com.
- Bridging the Digital Divide: Efforts to make mobile internet more inclusive gained momentum. A new U.N. ITU report highlighted that 2.6 billion people – one-third of humanity – still remain offline in 2025, and called for a staggering $2.6 trillion+ investment to achieve universal connectivity by 2030 ts2.tech ts2.tech. In response, both industry and communities are stepping up. MTN South Africa, for example, is virtually giving away smartphones: it will sell 4G Android handsets for just 99 rand ($5.40) to 1.2 million of its 2G/3G customers to ensure even the poorest users can upgrade before old networks shut down in 2027 reuters.com reuters.com. “We are committed to going the extra mile to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital era. As the country transitions to 4G and 5G, it is vital we take proactive steps to connect as many South Africans as possible,” said Charles Molapisi, MTN South Africa’s CEO reuters.com. Likewise, grassroots projects are bringing connectivity to remote areas – from indigenous communities building mesh networks in the Amazon to solar-powered Wi-Fi hubs in rural Senegal ts2.tech ts2.tech. All 50 U.S. states just received approval to tap the federal $42 billion BEAD fund to extend broadband to unserved areas ts2.tech ts2.tech, and cities like New York rolled out free public Wi-Fi in public housing as “Liberty Link” to help low-income families get online ts2.tech ts2.tech. From ultra-budget smartphones to satellite constellations, the first week of September showcased a global resolve – from policymakers to CEOs – to “connect as many people as possible” and ensure the next era of mobile internet leaves no one behind ts2.tech ts2.tech.
North America (USA & Canada)
Spectrum and Infrastructure Moves: In the United States, telecom operators poured resources into boosting network capacity. AT&T made headlines with a record-breaking spectrum acquisition – agreeing to pay $23 billion for nationwide licenses held by satellite operator EchoStar, including ~30 MHz of 3.45 GHz mid-band and 20 MHz of 600 MHz low-band airwaves bez-kabli.pl. This enormous purchase (announced Sept 2) will significantly expand AT&T’s 5G bandwidth, positioning it to compete in mid-band coverage. Analysts noted it’s one of the largest private spectrum sales ever, reflecting the high stakes carriers see in securing prime 5G real estate. Meanwhile, regulators took steps to secure critical infrastructure: the FCC toughened rules on undersea fiber-optic cables that carry trans-oceanic internet traffic. In a Sept 3 vote, the FCC banned Chinese-made equipment in any new U.S.-linked submarine cables and streamlined permits for vetted “trusted” operators ts2.tech. Officials cited espionage and sabotage risks, given geopolitical tensions. “We have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China,” warned FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, stressing the need to guard these vital data arteries ts2.tech. The move is part of a broader U.S. policy to exclude high-risk vendors (like Huawei and ZTE) from telecom networks for national security reasons.
Carrier Outage and New Services: North American networks experienced both disruption and innovation. Over the Labor Day weekend, a massive Verizon Wireless outage on Aug 30 left millions of U.S. mobile users with no signal for much of the day ts2.tech. From coast to coast, phones switched to “SOS only” mode; Verizon later blamed a software issue in its 4G/5G core. Outage reports peaked above 23,000 as users couldn’t make calls, use data, or even summon rideshares ts2.tech. Service was largely restored by that night, but the incident – Verizon’s third major outage of 2025 – spurred calls for stronger oversight of network reliability ts2.tech. In stark contrast to that turmoil, T-Mobile US rolled out a first-of-its-kind offering for business customers. Branded “SuperMobile,” the new plan (launched Aug 28) combines advanced 5G features with satellite backup to keep enterprise users online anywhere bez-kabli.pl. It uses 5G standalone network slicing to give priority lanes for critical data, and taps SpaceX Starlink satellites to provide coverage in remote areas beyond cell tower reach bez-kabli.pl. “We’re giving businesses the advanced tools they need to connect seamlessly… virtually anywhere they are,” said T-Mobile’s enterprise chief in announcing the service bez-kabli.pl. By integrating satellite links directly into a mobile plan, T-Mobile is positioning itself as an innovator in ubiquitous coverage – a sign of convergence between terrestrial wireless and satellite broadband. On the mergers front, T-Mobile also closed a deal to acquire regional carrier UScellular, a move to expand its footprint in Midwest markets. The company said on Sept 4 that it expects significant cost synergies and an accelerated 5G rollout in acquired areas t-mobile.com. The UScellular transaction (reportedly around $1.3 billion) underscores ongoing consolidation in the U.S. mobile industry, as major players aim to broaden coverage and subscriber bases.
Policy and Market Trends: U.S. policymakers signaled other shifts affecting mobile internet. In a notable recommendation to consumers, a congressional committee urged Americans to replace Chinese-made Wi-Fi routers (like popular TP-Link models) due to spying concerns ts2.tech ts2.tech – echoing the broader “clean networks” effort that also led to the FCC’s bans on Huawei equipment in 5G networks. And while federal net neutrality rules remain in limbo after a 2025 court decision, the debate over internet access equity continues. All 50 states are now cleared to tap into the $42 billion BEAD broadband fund, unleashing a wave of projects to extend high-speed internet to rural and underserved communities ts2.tech. For example, on Sept 3 Vermont and North Carolina each announced hundreds of millions in grants to build out fiber and wireless networks aiming for >99% statewide coverage ts2.tech ts2.tech. These investments complement mobile carriers’ own digital divide initiatives. Notably, New York City kicked off its “Liberty Link” pilot, wiring up 35 public housing developments in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan with free gigabit Wi-Fi for ~2,200 low-income households ts2.tech. Mayor Eric Adams, announcing the plan in late August, said providing connectivity to public housing residents will help “unlock digital equity” by enabling access to jobs, telehealth and education online ts2.tech. The first week of September thus saw North America balancing cutting-edge 5G advances with attention to security and inclusion – a dual narrative of pushing the mobile internet frontier while trying not to leave vulnerable users behind.
Latin America
5G on the Horizon: Across Latin America, the first days of September underscored the region’s accelerating transition toward 5G and better mobile internet. Several countries advanced plans to allocate new spectrum for next-gen networks. In Venezuela, the telecom regulator CONATEL announced it had pre-qualified four companies for a 5G spectrum auction set for mid-September, offering blocks in the 3.5 GHz band. Final bidding is scheduled for Sept 10 as Venezuela seeks to jump-start 5G after years of economic turmoil bnamericas.com. Similarly, Peru and Paraguay moved forward with preparations for 5G spectrum tenders, aiming to roll out service by 2026 bnamericas.com. And in Bolivia, state-run operator Entel began trial deployments of 5G in parts of La Paz, treating it as a test run before wider commercial launch bez-kabli.pl. These trials – launched in late August – mark Bolivia’s first foray into 5G and will inform the nationwide rollout strategy. The flurry of activity shows Latin America’s eagerness to catch up in the 5G race; many of its markets lag behind Asia, North America and Europe in launching 5G, so regulators are now moving quickly to license spectrum and encourage investment in new infrastructure.
Investments & Infrastructure: Accompanying the spectrum moves, new financing initiatives promise to bolster Latin America’s telecom infrastructure. On Sept 4, IDB Invest (the Inter-American Development Bank’s private-sector arm) and Nokia announced a $50 million partnership to expand digital connectivity across the region developingtelecoms.com. The program will initially launch in Mexico – Latin America’s second-largest mobile market – and then extend to other countries developingtelecoms.com developingtelecoms.com. By providing Nokia with a credit facility to offer more flexible payment terms to local operators, the initiative aims to spur greater investment in secure, high-performance networks in underserved areas. The financing can help carriers upgrade to 5G, fiber, and advanced wireless systems faster than they could on their own balance sheets. This public-private approach addresses a key hurdle in Latin America: funding costly network builds in lower-income or remote markets. Also in the investment vein, Liberty Latin America – a major regional telecom group – inked a six-year contract with Ericsson to deploy 5G Standalone (SA) core networks for its mobile operations (including markets like Costa Rica and Panama) developingtelecoms.com. Ericsson will supply next-gen core and radio equipment to enable Liberty’s transition from non-standalone 5G to full 5G SA, which supports advanced features like network slicing. This deal, disclosed in mid-July and carrying into September planning, underscores global vendors’ growing focus on Latin America as 5G uptake grows. Additionally, several countries are pursuing infrastructure sharing and fiber expansion to improve coverage. For instance, Argentina’s regulator in late August outlined plans to allocate spectrum for private 5G networks (for enterprises and industries) developingtelecoms.com, and Costa Rica’s ICE is deploying a new TAM-1 subsea cable system in 2025 to boost the nation’s international bandwidth developingtelecoms.com. These projects, while not grabbing big headlines, form the backbone for a more connected Latin America.
Digital Inclusion and Pricing: Latin American operators also used the week to introduce services aimed at affordability and coverage. In Chile, the telecom regulator launched an online portal aggregating mobile and broadband offers, to help consumers compare plans and stimulate competition developingtelecoms.com. The portal is meant to improve transparency and get more people connected by making it easier to find low-cost internet options. In Colombia, upstart mobile carrier WOM completed a major financial reorganization in late August that freed up $800 million in capital, which it pledged to use for expanding 4G/5G coverage into rural areas developingtelecoms.com. And in Brazil, market leader TIM Brasil announced a partnership with IoT firm BWS to extend its Internet of Things network for agriculture and logistics, part of a trend to leverage mobile networks beyond consumer phones developingtelecoms.com. One striking example of bridging the digital divide comes from Peru: the government placed a new order with Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks to deploy additional rural connectivity hubs via satellite, reaching remote mountain and jungle communities developingtelecoms.com. Announced in July but getting underway in September, the project uses VSAT (very-small-aperture terminal) tech to bring internet to villages far from any fiber or cell towers, backed by Peru’s telecom investment fund. These efforts illustrate Latin America’s two-pronged strategy – push cutting-edge upgrades in urban centers (5G, fiber) while also ensuring rural and low-income populations aren’t left offline. The balancing act is crucial: the ITU estimates Latin America still has over 150 million people unconnected, and average mobile data prices, though falling, remain high relative to income in some countries. By the end of this news cycle, it’s clear Latin American policymakers and companies are treating mobile internet access as a development priority – with spectrum auctions, public-private financing, and community programs all part of the toolkit.
Europe
5G and 6G Developments: Europe’s mobile industry saw incremental but notable developments during the period. Several European countries firmed up their 5G rollout timelines or made policy decisions on infrastructure. In Turkey – a transcontinental country often included in European telecom statistics – authorities officially confirmed the date for the country’s first 5G spectrum auction as October 16, 2025, with plans to allocate 11 frequency blocks across the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands ts2.tech. All three major Turkish mobile operators (Turkcell, Türk Telekom, and Vodafone TR) are expected to bid, and the government expects initial 5G services to go live by April 2026 ts2.tech. This decision, taken in late August and reiterated in early September, finally gives Turkey a clear 5G launch roadmap – years after many other nations, due in part to earlier political and economic hurdles. Turkcell has been vocal about extending its licenses and even discussed potential 2045 license extensions to support long-term 5G and fiber investments reuters.com reuters.com. Elsewhere in Europe, regulators remained focused on 6G research and cross-border coordination. A notable technical milestone came at a 3GPP meeting in late August (held in India, but with strong European participation) where global telecom engineers agreed that 6G will likely re-use 5G’s core waveforms (CP-OFDM) – a design choice to ensure future 6G networks remain compatible and cost-efficient bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. This decision, which was backed by European companies like Ericsson and Nokia, indicates that 6G (expected in the 2030s) will evolve from 5G rather than start from scratch. It reflects Europe’s influence in telecom standards and its interest in keeping 6G development on a practical, interoperable path. European vendors are also driving innovation: Nokia, for example, unveiled a new 5G-based railway communications system on Aug 29 to replace the aging GSM-R standard used in train networks bez-kabli.pl. This system – including the first 5G radio designed for the 1900 MHz rail band and an optimized 5G core for mission-critical train operations – will be piloted in Europe under the international FRMCS initiative bez-kabli.pl. Nokia’s Mobile Networks president warned that legacy GSM-R “simply can’t provide” the high-speed data modern railways need, underscoring why Europe is adopting 5G for safer, smarter rail transport bez-kabli.pl. Such innovations show Europe leveraging its technological expertise to modernize infrastructure both for consumer and industrial use.
Security and Policy: On the regulatory side, European governments continued tightening security around telecom networks – particularly regarding Chinese suppliers. Spain made waves by terminating a €10 million contract with incumbent operator Telefónica on Aug 29 because the project relied on Huawei equipment reuters.com reuters.com. The contract was for fiber-optic connectivity to government agencies (including Spain’s Defense Ministry), and Madrid’s Digital Transformation Ministry said it canceled the deal “for reasons of digital strategy and strategic autonomy” reuters.com. Telefónica had already been phasing out Huawei from parts of its network following EU recommendations reuters.com, but Spain had not outright banned Huawei as some EU peers have. This move – effectively penalizing use of Huawei gear – signals a hardening stance even in countries that haven’t legislated bans, and aligns with broader European concerns that Chinese telecom vendors could pose security risks or create dependence. Germany and Italy likewise spent early September deliberating limits on Huawei/ZTE in 5G buildouts, after internal reviews. These debates across Europe echo the pressure from U.S. allies: Washington has urged Europe to exclude “high-risk” Chinese vendors to protect NATO-aligned networks reuters.com reuters.com. In the UK, carriers are already ripping out Huawei 5G kit under government orders, and France has imposed de facto phase-outs – trends noted in EU policy discussions this week.
European institutions also advanced pro-competition and digital rights policies. The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) enforcement ramped up in early September (just outside the Sept 4–5 window) – major tech platforms were mandated to comply with new content moderation and transparency rules, illustrating Europe’s push to regulate online ecosystems that run over telecom networks. And the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) designated several “gatekeeper” firms around this time, aiming to ensure fair access to digital services which indirectly benefits mobile users (e.g. by preventing app store dominance from hurting consumer choice on smartphones). While these are broader tech regulations, they influence mobile internet usage patterns and platform availability across European markets.
Stable Networks and Fiber Expansion: Notably, Europe saw no major mobile outages or network crises during this period – in contrast to the U.S. and parts of Asia. European telecom networks remained generally stable through early September ts2.tech. This reliability is partly credited to Europe’s extensive fiber backbones and redundancy. For instance, when storms hit, multiple fiber routes often prevent widespread blackouts. However, the week did see some infrastructure jitters: a series of undersea cable cuts in the Baltic Sea (reported a few days prior) underscored Europe’s vulnerability to sabotage or accidents in undersea links ts2.tech. And ongoing war in Ukraine raised concerns about cyberattacks on networks. In positive news, European operators progressed with network upgrades. Liberty Global’s VodafoneZiggo unit in the Netherlands announced on Sept 4 it had finished rolling out nationwide 1 Gbps cable broadband, complementing 5G coverage. In Scandinavia, Telia and Telenor continued shutting down 3G networks to refarm spectrum for 5G, with customer migrations on track, as noted in company updates. Also, European telcos collaborated with Big Tech on R&D: Telefónica Germany (O2) said on Sept 5 it is working with Tech Mahindra and NVIDIA to develop a generative AI system for optimizing its mobile network operations rcrwireless.com. This reflects a trend of using AI to manage complex 5G/6G networks efficiently. Overall, Europe’s early September mobile news was about steady progress – closing out 4G era projects, laying groundwork for 5G’s full potential, and ensuring the continent’s networks remain secure and resilient amid new geopolitical challenges.
Africa
Expanding Coverage and Capacity: The first week of September brought significant announcements in Africa focused on expanding both mobile network coverage and backbone capacity. A headline development came from Kenya, where leading operator Safaricom (in partnership with Meta) unveiled a new undersea fiber-optic cable dubbed “Daraja.” This 4,100 km submarine cable will directly connect Kenya’s port city of Mombasa to Muscat, Oman across the Indian Ocean ts2.tech. It marks Safaricom’s first investment in an international subsea cable – a strategic shift from relying solely on third-party cables. At a cost of ~$23 million, Daraja is expected to lower internet bandwidth costs in East Africa and improve reliability by providing an alternative route to Europe and Asia ts2.tech. “Until now Safaricom has relied on third-party undersea systems… by co-owning a cable, it secures greater independence and can expand capacity on demand,” the company noted, underscoring how critical control of such infrastructure is ts2.tech. Further north on the continent, Djibouti Telecom announced an extension of its existing DARE1 cable system. The new project will lay 3,200+ km of additional fiber down the East African coast, adding landing stations in Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and South Africa by 2028 ts2.tech. This will effectively link the Horn of Africa all the way to South Africa’s Cape, creating much-needed route diversity. Recent cuts on other cables (like those in the Red Sea) have highlighted the risk of Africa’s connectivity being dependent on just a few routes ts2.tech. By building more redundancy, African carriers hope to avert blackouts when one cable is damaged. These infrastructure projects align with the continent’s booming bandwidth demand – as 4G and 5G networks expand, international backhaul must grow too.
Within countries, mobile operators are extending coverage to underserved areas. For example, Namibia just saw the launch of its first private mobile network by Pan-African telecom firm Paratus (announced Sept 3) reuters.com. This network will operate alongside Namibia’s state-run MTC, targeting enterprise and remote deployments like mines, agriculture and private LTE/5G use cases. In Nigeria, MTN and Airtel continued aggressive 5G rollout in major cities, with regulators reporting over 5,000 5G sites live as of early September (especially in Lagos and Abuja). Safaricom Ethiopia, a new entrant, announced on Sept 4 that it had crossed 5 million subscribers within a year of launching – reflecting pent-up demand as Ethiopia liberalizes its mobile market. And MTN Ghana activated additional rural cell sites under a Universal Access initiative. While these individual developments are granular, together they show African operators pushing connectivity outward, beyond just capitals.
Affordable Access Initiatives: Perhaps the most impactful news for consumers was MTN South Africa’s ultra-budget smartphone program. As noted in Key Facts, MTN is offering 1.2 million of its lower-income subscribers the chance to buy a new 4G Android smartphone for just R 99 (about $5) reuters.com reuters.com. This digital inclusion drive, announced in May and ramping up now, addresses a critical challenge: millions of Africans still use basic 2G/3G phones that cannot access modern internet services. With South Africa planning to shut down 2G and 3G networks by end-2027, MTN wants to proactively migrate these users to 4G so they aren’t stranded without service reuters.com reuters.com. The rollout is being done in phases: an initial pilot of 5,000 devices (already distributed in Gauteng province in Q3) to test uptake and network impact reuters.com, followed by 130,000 units nationwide in phase 2 during 2024 ts2.tech. The remaining ~1.1 million phones will go out through 2025–26 ts2.tech. The devices are heavily subsidized – retail models that normally cost ~R 740 ($40) are being sold for a tiny fraction of that ts2.tech reuters.com. MTN absorbs costs for distribution, marketing and a small portion of the device cost (around R 150–190 per phone) reuters.com. In announcing the program, MTN’s CEO Charles Molapisi said, “As the country transitions to technologies like 4G and 5G, it is vital that we take proactive steps to connect as many South Africans as possible… we’re committed to ensuring no one is left behind in the digital era.” reuters.com. The move drew praise from digital inclusion advocates, who note that smartphone access is now “the prerequisite for participating in the modern internet economy” ts2.tech. Indeed, without an affordable device, cheap data alone can’t get people online. Other African telcos are taking note: Airtel Uganda and Orange Mali are reportedly evaluating similar device subsidy models using partnership with handset makers. Additionally, governments are working to cut data prices – Nigeria’s regulator said on Sept 1 that average cost per GB has fallen by 50% since 2020 due to spectrum releases and competition, and pledged further cuts to make internet “as vital as water and electricity” for citizens.
Financial and Policy Highlights: African telecom was also abuzz with business and policy news. Mergers & acquisitions chatter continued: South African giant Telkom SA disclosed on Sept 5 that it had received buyout interest from multiple consortia after the MTN takeover talks fell through earlier in the year. In Egypt, Vodafone Egypt’s planned takeover of fixed ISP WE (Telecom Egypt’s internet arm) got preliminary regulatory approval on Sept 4, potentially consolidating that market. On the regulatory front, Morocco’s telecom regulator launched a public consultation on Sept 4 about accelerating 5G rollout – aiming to have 5G cover 25% of the population by 2026 reuters.com reuters.com. Morocco had issued an invite for 5G license bids back in July reuters.com, and by September it is reviewing operator feedback to award licenses likely by year-end. Kenya made progress on its delayed 5G spectrum auction as well, with the telecom authority saying it will set reserve prices by October. Meanwhile, South Africa’s government used early September to discuss mobile network resilience after severe rolling blackouts (from Eskom’s power cuts) have intermittently knocked out cell towers – operators there are investing in backup batteries and generators to keep signals up during grid outages. The topic of power backup for base stations was front and center at a Sept 5 industry forum in Johannesburg, highlighting that reliable electricity is essential for reliable mobile internet.
Finally, Africa saw geopolitical tremors in telecom: China’s StarTimes (a pay-TV and broadband provider in many African countries) was sanctioned by the U.S. on Aug 31 for alleged links to human rights abuses, creating uncertainty for its African operations. And Zimbabwe endured an internet slowdown around Sept 4–5 as the undersea cable cuts in the Middle East forced traffic onto backup routes – a reminder of the continent’s dependency on global connectivity routes. In summary, Africa’s mobile internet narrative for Sept 4–5, 2025 is one of growth and inclusion: building the physical cables and cell sites to connect the continent, while also tackling the affordability and policy issues that determine who can access the digital world.
Middle East
5G Launches and Spectrum: The Middle East region saw key steps toward next-generation mobile services in early September. In Turkey (often grouped with the Middle East in telecom contexts), the government’s confirmation of an October 16, 2025 5G auction date was a pivotal move ts2.tech. Turkish operators have been operating on “4.5G” (enhanced LTE) for years, and setting the 5G tender in stone ends a long wait. The auction will release licenses in high-value bands like 3.5 GHz, with a minimum expected revenue of $2.1 billion per the official gazette ts2.tech. This will finally put Turkey on the 5G map alongside Gulf countries that launched earlier. Elsewhere, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are already expanding their existing 5G networks – Qatar’s Ooredoo boasted on Sept 4 that it achieved nationwide 5G coverage, and STC Saudi announced a partnership with Ericsson to trial 5.5G (advanced 5G) features. Morocco (North Africa but part of the MENA sphere) also ties into Middle East developments: as noted, it’s inviting bids to roll out 5G with targets of 25% population coverage by 2026 and 70% by 2030 reuters.com reuters.com. Given Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the government there is keen to demonstrate advanced networks by that year.
Internet Blackouts and Security: Unfortunately, the Middle East continues to experience internet disruptions driven by political and security events. In Iraq, authorities imposed a strict regimen of internet shutdowns during the national baccalaureate exams (late August through mid-September) – cutting off internet access nationwide for two hours each morning (6–8 AM) on exam days ts2.tech. This heavy-handed measure is intended to prevent exam question leaks and cheating, a practice Iraq has employed repeatedly in recent years. Both the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan regional government participated in the shutdowns ts2.tech. While officials defend it as necessary to protect the integrity of education, the collateral damage is immense: every day, businesses, banks, media, and ordinary users across Iraq have to endure an internet blackout, costing economic activity and fraying nerves. Digital rights groups have decried the policy, arguing there are more targeted ways to prevent cheating (like jamming signals at exam centers) without depriving an entire nation of connectivity. “Cutting off the internet is a blunt instrument that hurts the broader economy and access to information for millions,” one advocate told local press ts2.tech ts2.tech. The Middle East also witnessed unintentional outages. In Syria, which is still embroiled in conflict, parts of the country experienced telecom blackouts over the past week due to electricity grid failures and damage from fighting ts2.tech. Syria’s network is fragile, and when power stations go down (or fuel runs out for generators), internet and mobile service often drop, especially in war-torn areas like Idlib and rural Aleppo. Similarly, in Gaza, ongoing instability and chronic power cuts led to intermittent internet outages in early September ts2.tech. These cases highlight how conflict and infrastructure weakness intersect to disrupt connectivity in the region.
On a more positive note, Israel reported that its major operators successfully handled the surge in network traffic during the large-scale Jewish holiday gatherings in early September, thanks to 5G capacity upgrades in cities like Jerusalem – a sign of network robustness. And in Iran, despite a history of state-imposed internet curbs, there were no significant outages during this period; however, authorities did continue to throttle certain VPN protocols and overseas services as part of ongoing information controls.
Geopolitics and Tech: Geopolitical currents in the Middle East also touched the telecom sphere. Notably, Oman’s inclusion in the Safaricom “Daraja” cable project ties the Middle East and Africa closer in terms of internet infrastructure ts2.tech. The cable will land in Muscat, Oman, giving Oman a new high-capacity link to East Africa and potentially onward to Asia. This aligns with Oman’s strategy to become a regional internet hub (leveraging its neutrality and location). The deal between an African operator and Oman’s government indicates growing South-South cooperation in tech. Meanwhile, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) telecom ministers met on Sept 5 to discuss regional coordination on 6G research and harmonizing future spectrum, aiming to keep the Gulf at the cutting edge (the GCC states were among the first globally with commercial 5G). And Egypt navigated a delicate situation as it hosts key submarine cables that were damaged by unusual disturbances in the Mediterranean in late August – Egyptian authorities worked with international consortia to reroute traffic and repair the cables, given that Egypt’s Red Sea–Med corridor carries a huge portion of Europe-Asia internet traffic.
In summary, the Middle East’s early September mobile news was a study in contrasts: ambitious upgrades (5G rollouts, new cables) on one hand, and restrictive shutdowns and conflict-related outages on the other. It underscores the region’s challenges in balancing security and progress. As Iraq’s exam blackouts show, connectivity is often one of the first casualties of government urgency – even as countries also recognize that robust, open networks are keys to economic growth and innovation.
Asia-Pacific
Major Partnerships and 5G Rollouts: In Asia, the telecom sector saw landmark partnerships and long-awaited 5G launch plans coming to fruition. The biggest headline was in India, where Reliance Industries’ Jio division – the country’s largest mobile operator – announced a deep alliance with Meta (Facebook’s parent) to develop new AI-driven digital services on Jio’s mobile and fiber networks ts2.tech. The two giants are forming a joint venture worth about $100 million, with 70% funding from Jio and 30% from Meta ts2.tech. The venture will build applications leveraging Meta’s advanced Llama 2 AI models, aiming to offer everything from AI chatbots for small businesses to generative AI tools for education and healthcare across India ts2.tech ts2.tech. “By combining Meta’s AI expertise with Jio’s massive network reach, we can bring AI to every Indian, from ambitious startups to the largest corporates,” Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani said ts2.tech. Mark Zuckerberg echoed that the partnership will put Meta’s AI into real-world use at unmatched scale in India’s market of 1.4 billion people ts2.tech. This collaboration builds on Meta’s prior investments in Jio Platforms and exemplifies a trend of Asian carriers teaming with Big Tech to drive new services on 5G – effectively blurring the line between telecom and internet companies.
On the network rollout front, Pakistan took a decisive step toward 5G. After multiple postponements, Pakistan’s government confirmed it will auction 5G spectrum by December 2025 ts2.tech. Officials outlined that 606 MHz of spectrum across 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz and other bands will be up for bidding, with a goal to launch Pakistan’s first commercial 5G services shortly after ts2.tech. The Prime Minister set a year-end deadline for the auction’s completion despite some legal disputes over certain bands, emphasizing that Pakistan lags regional peers in 5G availability ts2.tech. Indeed, countries like India, China, and Gulf states already have extensive 5G, so Pakistan is trying to catch up to avoid missing out on the economic benefits of next-gen connectivity. In Bangladesh, similarly, the regulator announced on Sept 5 a roadmap to allocate 5G spectrum in mid-2026, and began consultations with mobile operators on investment incentives. And in Bolivia (South America but often considered in APT events), state carrier Entel’s 5G trial kickoff mentioned earlier shows how Asia-Pacific equipment vendors (like Huawei and Nokia) are also supporting Latin American 5G expansion – indicating global south tech collaboration.
Innovations and New Services: Several Asia-Pacific operators introduced innovative services to capitalize on their 4G/5G networks. In the Philippines, Smart Communications (PLDT’s mobile arm) rolled out new 5G Home WiFi kits on Sept 4 ts2.tech. These are essentially plug-and-play wireless broadband routers that use Smart’s 5G network to deliver high-speed home internet without any wired fiber line ts2.tech. Aimed at areas where laying fiber is difficult or slow – such as peri-urban communities and smaller towns – the kits come with prepaid “unli data” plans and top-up options ts2.tech. By offering a no-contract, fixed-wireless access solution, Smart is trying to connect households that have been waiting for broadband, using 5G as an alternative last-mile technology. This reflects a broader trend in Southeast Asia and Oceania of using 4G/5G for home internet (FWA – Fixed Wireless Access) to leapfrog the lack of fixed infrastructure. Early demand in the Philippines was reportedly strong among students and remote workers. In Japan, NTT DoCoMo announced tests of an AI-based network slicing solution in collaboration with NEC on Sept 4, hinting at future on-demand network segments for enterprise clients in Japan’s 5G SA network. And Malaysia formally switched on its second 5G network on Sept 3 – after moving away from a single wholesale network model – aiming to broaden coverage and competition.
Data Security and Fines: Asia also witnessed a significant regulatory penalty in telecom privacy. South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission hit wireless carrier SK Telecom with a record ₩134.8 billion fine (about $97 million) for a major data breach bez-kabli.pl. In April 2025, hackers infiltrated SKT’s customer database, compromising sensitive data of 23.2 million subscribers bez-kabli.pl. The unprecedented fine, announced Aug 31, is the largest ever imposed on a telecom operator for a privacy lapse in South Korea bez-kabli.pl. Regulators stated that SKT failed to invest adequately in security measures that could have prevented the breach bez-kabli.pl. They also penalized the company for not notifying affected users within 72 hours, as required by law bez-kabli.pl. The commission’s stern action sends a clear signal throughout Asia’s telecom industry about the importance of cybersecurity, especially as networks become more critical. It also reflects South Korea’s broader push to strengthen privacy protections (coming in the wake of several large breaches in various sectors). In response, SK Telecom apologized and pledged to double its security budget; the episode is prompting other Asian carriers to review their data safeguards.
Oceania & Regional Collaboration: In the Oceania sub-region, Australia and New Zealand continued to expand 5G coverage and explore network sharing. Australia’s #2 carrier Optus has been implementing a network-sharing agreement with #3 operator TPG Telecom to jointly use infrastructure in regional areas. As part of this, Optus is licensing access to some of TPG’s spectrum and, in exchange, TPG can use over 2,400 Optus towers in rural Australia rcrwireless.com. By early September, this deal effectively doubled TPG’s coverage footprint (to reach ~98.5% of the population) while allowing Optus to more efficiently roll out 5G in sparsely populated zones rcrwireless.com. Additionally, Optus announced it is deploying advanced 5G antennas from Ericsson to enhance its network’s capacity and energy efficiency rcrwireless.com rcrwireless.com. These new antenna systems, customized for Optus, promise stronger indoor signals and lower power consumption – critical for a country like Australia with vast urban sprawls and high energy costs. “The performance improvements… confirm that Ericsson’s antennas will provide Optus greater network efficiency, improved spectral utilization and long-term energy savings,” said Kent Wu, Optus’s VP of Networks, noting the importance of sustainable network growth rcrwireless.com rcrwireless.com. New Zealand, for its part, saw Spark and One NZ (Vodafone) continue their 5G rollout to smaller towns, and the government there auctioned some 3.5 GHz spectrum to Māori community-owned firms as part of a digital inclusivity effort (ensuring indigenous participation in 5G services).
Asia-Pacific also fostered regional cooperation: The Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association met on Sept 4 to discuss a proposed satellite hub that would serve multiple island nations with internet (in partnership with Australia’s NBN Co). And at the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) planning meeting (Sept 5), organizers announced a lineup of 140+ Asian telco leaders for the January 2026 conference, with a focus on 5G rollout progress and the 6G evolution ptc.org. These collaborative efforts highlight that Asia-Pac’s operators and governments are sharing strategies on everything from technical standards to business models in order to accelerate connectivity across the diverse region.
Overall, the first week of September painted a dynamic picture for Asia-Pacific’s mobile internet: massive innovation (India’s AI partnership, Smart’s 5G broadband kits), critical foundational work (Pakistan’s 5G auction plans, Bangladesh’s roadmap), and necessary reckonings (South Korea’s huge fine underscoring cybersecurity). With Asia leading in subscriber numbers and soon in 5G adoption, the developments from Sept 4–5 show the region preparing for an even more connected, yet security-conscious, future.
Sources: Connected global news reports and official statements, September 1–5, 2025. ts2.tech ts2.tech reuters.com ts2.tech
