Key Facts
- 5G’s Global Momentum: Worldwide 5G connections surpassed 2.6 billion in Q2 2025 (up 37% year-on-year) and are on track to reach nearly 9 billion by 2030 (about 60% of all mobile links) [1]. North America leads in adoption with 339 million 5G subscriptions covering 88% of its population and averaging an unprecedented 111 GB of data per user per month [2]. In contrast, only 1.2% of Africa’s 1.24 billion people can access 5G – versus a 20%+ global average – highlighting a sizable next-gen connectivity gap [3]. China’s 5G buildout remains unmatched, with 4.65 million 5G base stations deployed (36% of all Chinese cell sites) and 1.15 billion 5G users (63% of its mobile customers) as of August [4] [5].
- Phase-Out of 2G/3G Legacy Networks: The Philippines moved to shut down legacy GSM and 3G networks in an aggressive anti-fraud measure. The Department of Information and Communications Technology announced 3G service will be fully phased out by September 30, and the 2G shutdown is underway to combat SMS text scams and the misuse of “IMSI catcher” devices [6] [7]. Two of the nation’s operators, DITO Telecommunity and Globe Telecom, have already decommissioned 3G, with Smart Communications to follow by month’s end [8]. “Everybody is cooperating… by Christmas, hopefully you can transact without fear on the internet,” DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said, emphasizing the goal of safer digital transactions after the 2G/3G switch-off [9]. Other countries are on similar paths: Vietnam previously set 2024–26 timelines to end 2G, and European carriers plan complete 2G/3G shutdowns by 2025–2030, reallocating spectrum to 4G/5G.
- Spectrum & Infrastructure Advances: In Vietnam, state-run carrier VNPT won a pivotal 700 MHz spectrum auction on Sept 23, paying VND 1.99 trillion (~$83 million) for a license to bolster nationwide 4G/5G coverage [10]. Regulators noted this low-frequency band (re-farmed from analog TV) will vastly improve rural coverage and indoor signal quality [11]. With recent auctions, Vietnam’s total mobile spectrum has nearly doubled to 660 MHz since 2020, now ranking 4th in ASEAN for available wireless bandwidth [12]. Meanwhile, a consortium of tech giants (Meta, SoftBank, Malaysia’s TM, Indonesia’s XLSmart, and others) unveiled plans for “CANDLE,” a new 8,000 km submarine cable linking Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and Singapore by 2028 [13]. Using a cutting-edge 24-fiber-pair design, CANDLE will add massive data capacity and route redundancy to meet exploding 5G and AI data demand across the Asia-Pacific [14] [15]. “CANDLE represents a pivotal advancement in fortifying the region’s digital infrastructure… delivering greater network diversity and resilience,” said Don Pang, chair of the cable’s management committee [16].
- 5G Rollouts & Innovations: Major operators continued expanding and showcasing 5G. In the UK, Virgin Media O2 quietly hit a milestone earlier this week by extending its Standalone 5G network to 500 towns and cities, now covering over 70% of the population with ultra-low-latency service (at no extra cost to subscribers). Jeanie York, CTO of Virgin Media O2, said the company is investing £2 million per day to future-proof its network and enable new use cases like autonomous transport and remote healthcare. Analysts lauded the achievement: “Expanding 5G standalone coverage to 500 towns and cities is a significant milestone that will improve the mobile experience for millions,” noted Kester Mann of CCS Insight [17]. And in Finland, Nokia and Boldyn Networks converted one of Europe’s deepest mines (the Callio test mine) into a 5G-powered subterranean lab. The new private 5G network allows miners to operate drills and vehicles from the surface, dramatically improving safety and productivity [18] [19]. “In mining, connectivity is critical… With private 5G, we’re solving that – delivering real-time data and ultra-low latency so every person and asset is visible and protected,” explained Henrik Kiviniemi, managing director of the Callio FutureMINE project [20]. Industry vendors say such industrial 5G deployments are game-changers for hazardous environments: “Mining is one of the toughest environments on Earth for connectivity, and private 5G is proving to be a game-changer,” noted Nokia executive Michael Aspinall, highlighting how reliable wireless networks can make underground operations safer and more efficient [21].
- Industry Leadership & Market Moves: A major leadership shakeup was announced at T-Mobile US, the country’s second-largest carrier. On Sept 22, T-Mobile said veteran executive Srini Gopalan will succeed Mike Sievert as CEO effective Nov 1 [22]. The transition comes as T-Mobile seeks to defend its 5G market lead amid intensifying competition and slowing subscriber growth [23] [24]. Gopalan previously doubled growth at Deutsche Telekom’s Germany unit and is tasked with keeping T-Mobile’s post-merger momentum. “Gopalan brings a wealth of experience… I don’t expect any fall-off at all in T-Mobile’s performance,” commented analyst Craig Moffett, praising the well-orchestrated succession [25]. In Europe, telecom M&A is back on the radar: Spain’s Telefónica is exploring acquisitions in Germany, the UK and Brazil while lobbying regulators to relax merger rules [26] [27]. Telefónica’s CEO Marc Murtra argues that Europe’s fragmented market needs consolidation to foster a “large technology operator” capable of 5G/6G scale [28]. EU officials signaled openness to deals that could strengthen operators’ investment clout, an issue underscored by recent bids (like Orange/MásMóvil in Spain).
- 6G Alliances on the Horizon: Looking beyond 5G, industry heavyweights are already collaborating on 6G. Verizon announced it has convened a “6G Innovation Forum” with partners including Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Qualcomm, and Meta, aiming to shape next-generation wireless from the ground up [29] [30]. By uniting network vendors and device/chipmakers early, Verizon wants to avoid a “chaotic” 6G rollout and ensure the technology arrives with concrete use cases and global standards in place [31] [32]. “We were the first in the world to turn up 5G,” said Joe Russo, Verizon’s Global Networks chief, “[and] we envision 6G enabling new wearable technologies and enhanced AI experiences” [33]. The forum’s initial work includes dedicated 6G test labs in Los Angeles and coordination with standards bodies (3GPP) on AI-native network designs [34] [35]. Partners echoed the excitement – “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Verizon… to unlock innovative user experiences in the 6G era,” said Charlie Zhang, Samsung’s North America R&D senior VP [36]. Verizon’s CTO Yago Tenorio stressed that U.S. leadership is a priority: “The big goal for Verizon – and for the United States – is to be first in 6G,” he told RCR Wireless [37]. Analysts note this preemptive alliance is also a response to similar 6G research initiatives in Europe and Asia, as carriers jockey to define the “AI-powered” wireless future.
- Satellite-Cellular Convergence: In a notable space-meets-telco partnership, Iridium Communications selected U.S. vendor Mavenir to deploy the core network for Iridium’s new satellite IoT and “direct-to-device” services [38]. Announced Sept 23, the deal will see Mavenir’s cloud-native 5G core (running on AWS) integrate with Iridium’s low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation, enabling standard 3GPP NTN (non-terrestrial network) connectivity for IoT devices globally [39]. This means future smartphones and sensors could connect to Iridium’s satellites using ordinary cellular protocols when out of range of cell towers. “This collaboration is a strategic milestone – enabling seamless connectivity across terrestrial and non-terrestrial domains,” said Ashok Khuntia, Mavenir’s president of core networks [40]. Iridium EVP Tim Last added that the “Iridium NTN Direct” service will provide a “truly global, reliable, and future-ready solution” for carriers, chipset makers and consumers needing ubiquitous coverage [41]. The first wave of satellite-to-phone offerings (from providers like Lynk and AST SpaceMobile) is already in testing, and Iridium’s move – alongside partnerships like SpaceX-Starlink with T-Mobile – underscores growing momentum to merge satellite and mobile broadband in the 5G era.
- Security and Outages: Telecommunications security was thrust into the spotlight as U.S. agents disrupted a potential cyberattack on mobile networks during the high-profile U.N. General Assembly in New York. The U.S. Secret Service disclosed on Sept 23 that it dismantled a clandestine network of some 300 SIM-server devices and 100,000 SIM cards across the NYC area [42]. This equipment could have been used to disable cell towers, flood networks (DoS attacks), or enable encrypted criminal communications, officials said [43] [44]. “The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network… cannot be overstated,” warned Secret Service Director Sean Curran, noting the timing during a gathering of 100+ world leaders [45]. An early forensic analysis found links between the SIM network and foreign state actors as well as organized crime groups [46]. Affected wireless providers were notified; MVNO MobileX acknowledged some of its SIMs were seized and said, “we shut down suspicious activity on our network every day”, emphasizing it has safeguards to prevent abuse [47]. Separately, in Australia, Singtel – parent of #2 carrier Optus – issued a public apology after an Optus network outage was blamed for at least four deaths when emergency 000 calls failed [48] [49]. The 13-hour outage last week was triggered by a botched firewall software upgrade, knocking out phone service for around 600 customers including some needing ambulances [50]. “We are deeply sorry… that customers could not connect to emergency services when they most needed them,” said Yuen Kuan Moon, Singtel’s Group CEO [51]. Amid public outrage – the Prime Minister called the incident “completely unacceptable” [52] – Optus announced an independent review led by an outside expert to investigate the technical failures and emergency-call procedures [53]. Initial findings suggest human error and deviation from standard protocols contributed to the breakdown [54]. The review’s recommendations are expected by year-end, as Australian regulators consider stricter reliability and reporting requirements for telecom operators following this high-profile lapse.
5G Growth Surges Worldwide, but Adoption Gaps Remain
Next-generation mobile broadband continues its rapid global expansion, with fresh data underscoring both extraordinary progress and persistent divides. 5G networks added hundreds of millions of users over the past year, bringing the worldwide total to about 2.6 billion connections as of Q2 2025 [55]. That figure represents a 37% annual jump, according to industry group 5G Americas, which projects nearly 9 billion 5G subscriptions by 2030 – roughly 60% of all mobile connections [56]. “These latest numbers show 5G’s extraordinary momentum worldwide,” said Viet Nguyen, President of 5G Americas [57]. Global wireless data traffic is likewise climbing fast – up 15% year-on-year to 384 million terabytes in Q2 – reflecting surging demand for streaming, IoT, and cloud services riding on 5G’s higher speeds [58].
Regional disparities are apparent. North America remains the pacesetter in 5G adoption and usage. With 339 million 5G subscriptions – covering 88% of the population – the U.S./Canada region is on track to achieve essentially full 5G population coverage by year-end [59]. North American mobile users also consume by far the most data: an average of 111 GB per user per month, nearly double the next-highest region (East Asia’s ~67 GB) [60]. This heavy usage reflects unlimited data plans and bandwidth-intensive habits (e.g. video streaming, AR/VR trials) in the mature U.S. market. Kristin Paulin, an Omdia principal analyst, noted that as 5G penetration climbs and networks expand, “5G is entering a new phase as the backbone for IoT and digital transformation”, supporting not just consumer entertainment but also smart factories, telemedicine, and more [61].
At the same time, other regions are still early in the 5G journey. Across Africa, only about 1.2% of people have 5G coverage today, per a new “State of Broadband in Africa 2025” report by the ITU and UNESCO [62]. This is a dramatic lag behind the 20%+ global average coverage – meaning Africa is largely stuck on older 3G/4G networks for now [63]. Even 4G LTE covers just 44% of Africans (and 3G about 77%) [64]. However, the report projects 5G availability will grow to 17% of Africa’s population by 2030 as investments ramp up [65]. It credits Africa’s mobile operators (such as MTN and Vodacom) with driving strong expansion of 3G/4G over the past decade [66]. But a huge usage gap persists: over 710 million Africans live under a mobile broadband signal yet aren’t online, due to barriers like high device costs and lack of digital skills [67]. To address affordability, African carriers often rely on lower-cost equipment from Chinese vendors – Huawei and peers have leveraged competitively priced gear to establish a strong presence on the continent [68]. The new report urges continued investment (some $62 billion is planned in Africa’s networks from 2023–2030) and supportive policy to ensure 5G doesn’t leave Africa even further behind [69]. There are bright spots: countries like Rwanda have innovated with public-private wholesale networks, and satellite broadband (e.g. Starlink now active in 14 African nations) is emerging to fill coverage gaps [70].
In the Asia-Pacific, 5G adoption is booming in advanced markets – none more so than China. Official data as of August shows China has deployed a staggering 4.65 million 5G base stations, which now make up over one-third of all its cell sites [71]. The big three Chinese mobile operators plus new entrant China Broadnet together serve 1.15 billion 5G subscribers, representing 63.4% of the country’s 1.82 billion total mobile subscriptions [72]. That means China alone accounts for roughly 45% of all 5G users worldwide. Just since January, China added 140 million new 5G users [73]. This scale results from aggressive network buildouts (often government-subsidized) and affordable 5G handset options in the market. By comparison, India – the world’s second-largest mobile base – is only beginning its 5G rollout (started in late 2022) and aims to cover most cities by 2025. Other Asian nations like South Korea, Japan, and Gulf states already report 25–40% of mobile users on 5G, while Southeast Asia is ramping up deployments this year following spectrum auctions.
2G and 3G Sunset: Philippines Pulls Plug to Fight Scams
A growing number of countries are retiring their 2G and 3G networks – some to reallocate spectrum to 4G/5G, others to eliminate security loopholes. In a bold example of the latter, the Philippine government announced that by the end of this month it will completely shut down 3G services nationwide, and is moving swiftly to switch off all 2G (GSM) networks soon after [74]. The decision, unveiled by DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy and Undersecretary Henry Aguda on Sept 22, is driven primarily by law enforcement concerns. Philippine authorities have found that scammers and cybercriminals often exploit older networks – for instance, using fake cell sites or “IMSI catcher” devices on 2G signals to intercept one-time passwords and perpetrate fraud [75]. By forcing both industry and consumers onto more secure 4G/5G networks (which support stronger encryption and caller ID authentication), officials aim to curb SMS phishing and other phone-based scams plaguing the country.
All three major Filipino mobile operators are on board. Newcomer DITO Telecommunity never deployed 2G/3G at all (it launched in 2021 with purely 4G/5G infrastructure) [76]. Globe Telecom shut down its legacy 3G earlier this year, and Smart Communications (the wireless arm of PLDT) will decommission its remaining 3G by September 30 [77]. That milestone will mark the end of the 3G era in the Philippines – one of the first Asian nations to fully turn off 3G. As for 2G, which in the Philippines dates back to the mid-1990s, both Globe and Smart are coordinating with regulators on a timeline for a complete shutdown [78]. Aguda suggested it will happen soon, noting “everybody is cooperating”. He added that the goal is to eliminate scammers’ favorite channels before the holiday season: “By Christmas, you can transact without fear on the internet,” Aguda said, expressing hope that the efforts will make online commerce and banking safer in the coming months [79].
Beyond security, there is a practical network benefit: freeing up spectrum. The 2G and 3G bands (such as 900 MHz and 2100 MHz) can be refarmed for 4G LTE and 5G, which deliver far more capacity. In fact, a number of countries have already sunset 3G or scheduled its shutdown. Japan and South Korea turned off 2G over a decade ago. Australia and Singapore have completely shut 2G. The United States’ big three carriers phased out 3G in 2022 (2G is largely gone too, with T-Mobile US ending GSM service in 2021). In Europe, most operators plan to keep either 2G or 3G until at least 2025 to support legacy devices (like e-call in cars or older M2M modules) – but not both. For example, Vodafone UK will maintain 2G until 2030 for low-power IoT, even as it switches off 3G this year. France set 2026 as a 2G sunset (Bouygues Telecom) and will follow with 3G by 2029 [80]. The Philippines’ approach of a near-simultaneous 2G/3G shutdown is ambitious, but its market is primed: 4G covers over 95% of the population, cheap 4G smartphones are ubiquitous, and the government even offers digital literacy programs and device subsidies to help 2G users upgrade. The message is clear – in 2025’s mobile landscape, there is diminishing room for 30-year-old technology, especially when it becomes a security weak link.
New Spectrum Auctions Fuel 5G Expansion
While some frequencies go dark, others are lighting up. Mid-band spectrum – the sweet spot for broad 5G coverage and capacity – saw important allocations in the past week, particularly in emerging markets aiming to catch up on 5G rollout.
In Vietnam, the government completed a closely watched auction of the 700 MHz band, a valuable frequency formerly used for analog TV broadcasts. On September 23, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) was awarded the 703–713 MHz / 758–768 MHz block (often called the “B1” 700 MHz band) for approximately ₫1.99 trillion (US$83 million) [81]. This low-frequency band is prized for its long reach and strong indoor penetration – ideal for extending mobile broadband to Vietnam’s rural villages, mountains, and inside concrete buildings. Officials noted that in combination with an adjacent 700 MHz block won by Viettel earlier this year, Vietnam has now nearly doubled its total IMT spectrum (international mobile telecom spectrum) to 660 MHz, up 94% from 2020 [82]. That leap propels Vietnam to 4th place among ASEAN nations in spectrum per capita, behind only Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines [83]. Le Van Tuan, head of the radio frequency regulator, said this spectrum surge will “expand rural and mountainous coverage and improve indoor connectivity in urban areas” as 5G matures [84]. The 700 MHz licenses last 15 years and can be used for both 4G LTE and 5G NR. Vietnam’s largest operator Viettel (which secured the other half of the 700 MHz band in May) plans an aggressive build: it aims to deploy 20,000+ 5G base stations in 2025 and reach 99% population coverage by 2030 [85]. The auction’s successful close – after some earlier delays – marks a major step in Vietnam’s roadmap to provide wide-area 5G. It also aligns with a regional trend: many Asian countries (India, Thailand, Malaysia, etc.) have recently allocated 700 MHz or are about to, seeing it as critical for bridging the urban-rural digital divide in the 5G era.
Meanwhile, infrastructure investments continue to underpin mobile network growth. One of the biggest announcements came from a coalition of global tech and telecom firms that are teaming up to build CANDLE, a new high-capacity subsea fiber-optic cable system across East and Southeast Asia. This project, revealed on Sept 24, brings together Meta (Facebook’s parent), Japan’s SoftBank Corp., Malaysia’s TM, Philippine network provider IPS, Indonesia’s XLSmart, and industry veteran NEC as the lead contractor [86]. Scheduled to be ready for service in 2028, the CANDLE cable will stretch roughly 8,000 kilometers undersea, linking Japan to Singapore with landing points in Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia [87]. Critically, it will be among the first Asia-Pacific cables to utilize 24 fiber pairs, far more than conventional systems, which massively increases potential throughput [88]. The partners cite surging demand for international bandwidth driven by 5G rollouts, cloud computing and AI applications – trends that require not just faster mobile networks locally, but robust backhaul between data centers and hubs across Asia. “With the rapid advancement of generative AI and IoT, demand for international telecommunications is accelerating. CANDLE…will be one of the core foundations of next-generation social infrastructure,” said Kimimasa Kudo of SoftBank, highlighting that the cable’s integration with other systems will strengthen Japan’s role as a digital gateway [89]. The new route also adds resiliency – providing “greater network diversity and redundancy along [an] essential corridor” in Asia, noted committee chair Don Pang, who emphasized the collaborative commitment to boost “digital inclusion and economic opportunity for over half a billion people” in the region [90]. This investment follows a flurry of other subsea cable plans (e.g. Google’s Apricot cable) around Indonesia and the Philippines, markets that have historically been underconnected. It underscores that behind every 5G wireless network lies a vast wired infrastructure, from fiber backhaul to submarine cables, that must scale up in tandem.
5G Use Cases: From Stadiums to Subways to Subterranean Mines
As 5G coverage broadens, carriers are keen to demonstrate what the technology can do beyond faster phone streaming. Recent days saw 5G in action in arenas ranging from sports events to transit systems to heavy industry:
- In New York, the prestigious Ryder Cup golf tournament (which is being held in the U.S. in 2025) is getting a high-tech boost from its sponsor T-Mobile. A T-Mobile press release on Sept 23 outlined how the company’s 5G network will blanket the 300-acre Bethpage Black course to create the “most connected” fan experience in golf [91]. Innovations include wireless 5G cameras for new broadcast angles, an event app with AR overlays (like a crowd “Roar Meter”), and even dedicated network slices to ensure first responders’ devices stay online during tournament crowds [92] [93]. “The Ryder Cup… is the perfect stage to demonstrate how T-Mobile 5G is transforming the live event experience,” said Mo Katibeh, T-Mobile’s enterprise chief, touting “5G-powered broadcast innovation and real-time fan enhancements” that merge physical and virtual spectating [94]. This follows other sports tie-ins – from Verizon wiring NFL stadiums with 5G Ultra Wideband to China Mobile powering 8K VR in the Beijing Olympics – all aimed at showing consumers the tangible benefits of 5G’s speed and latency in entertainment.
- In London, Virgin Media O2 announced a major expansion of its 5G Standalone (SA) service, reaching 500 UK towns and cities as of mid-September. This next-gen 5G network – which unlike older “Non-Standalone” 5G does not rely on a 4G anchor – now covers 49 million people (over 70% of the UK population) with ultra-low-latency connectivity [95] [96]. Notably, Virgin Media O2 is making 5G SA available at no extra cost to users with compatible phones [97]. The company guarantees at least 90% outdoor coverage in each 5G SA location for a consistent experience [98]. This rollout, the largest of its kind so far in the UK, paves the way for advanced applications like autonomous vehicles and smart-city sensors that need stand-alone 5G’s network slicing and reliability. It also complements the operator’s ongoing 4G LTE upgrades and small-cell deployments as part of a £700 million mobile network investment this year [99]. Industry watchers applauded the milestone. “Expanding 5G standalone to 500 towns… will improve the mobile experience for millions of O2 customers,” observed Kester Mann of CCS Insight, adding that broad SA coverage puts the UK in position to lead on 5G innovation [100] [101]. Virgin Media O2’s CTO Jeanie York underscored the commitment: “We are investing £2 m every single day to improve our mobile network… [It’s] about future-proofing and creating exciting opportunities for customer-centric innovations.” [102] [103] In a symbolic flourish, the 500th 5G town (Bakewell in Derbyshire) celebrated with a giant “5G Bakewell Tart” – mixing British whimsy with telecom achievement.
- In public transit, New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Sept 21 announced a partnership with Transit Wireless (a BAI Communications company) to extend high-speed cellular coverage throughout the entire NYC subway system by 2026. While not all 5G, the project includes 418 track miles of tunnels getting wireless upgrades, with a focus on deploying new 5G-ready antennas. It highlights how commuters increasingly expect seamless mobile data for navigation, streaming or work, even underground.
- Perhaps most striking was 5G’s dive into the depths of an underground mine. In northern Finland, the historic Pyhäsalmi mine – now reborn as the Callio FutureMINE research center – teamed up with Nokia and Boldyn Networks to install a state-of-the-art private 5G network 1.4 kilometers below ground [104]. Revealed on Sept 24, this deployment turns one of Europe’s deepest mines into a living laboratory for digital mining. The 5G network blankets multiple tunnel levels with ultra-low-latency connectivity, enabling a range of cutting-edge applications: tele-remote operation of underground mining vehicles and robots from an above-ground control room, real-time 3D mapping and “digital twin” visualization of the mine, wireless sensors and IoT for environmental monitoring, and instant push-to-talk communication replacing legacy walkie-talkies [105] [106]. The goal is to prove that future mines can operate with 90% fewer workers actually underground, dramatically improving safety and productivity. “With the right technology, operations can be fully managed from the surface, making mining not only smarter, but significantly safer,” said Henrik Kiviniemi of Callio, noting that 5G’s reliability and high bandwidth ensure “every person and asset is visible and protected” in real time [107]. Companies like Normet, a Finnish mining equipment maker, are already testing autonomous loaders guided via 5G. Normet’s VP Mark Ryan explained the significance: “As mines go deeper, the safest and most efficient path is removing people from those environments… A fully automated future could see 90% of underground workers operating from the surface – but that requires dedicated 5G networks. Open Wi-Fi and shared networks just don’t work reliably underground… a private network built for these processes is a must.” [108] Nokia’s head of enterprise solutions for Europe, Michael Aspinall, noted that if 5G can conquer the harsh conditions of a mine – with constant rock interference, dust, vibrations – it bodes well for deploying private wireless in any industrial setting. “Together with Boldyn Networks, we are enabling Callio to demonstrate how secure, reliable, and high-performance networks can transform underground operations – making them safer, more sustainable, and more efficient,” Aspinall said of the project [109]. Lessons from Callio will inform other mission-critical 5G uses, from oil rigs to factory automation.
New Alliances: Laying Groundwork for 6G
Even as 5G global adoption accelerates, the telecom industry has its eyes on the horizon for 6G – the next generation of wireless expected by 2030. In this period, a notable development was the creation of a 6G alliance spearheaded by U.S. carrier Verizon. On Sept 24, Verizon announced it has convened a “6G Innovation Forum” that brings together some of the most influential companies in telecom and tech: network equipment vendors Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, semiconductor giant Qualcomm, and Meta (Facebook’s parent) representing future device and metaverse interests [110] [111]. This forum is essentially a who’s-who team to coordinate 6G research, standards, and prototypes from the very earliest stages.
Verizon’s aim with the alliance is to “define the future network’s capabilities and innovative use cases” collaboratively, rather than letting 6G develop in silos [112]. By aligning major players now, the group hopes to identify the applications that 6G should support – and then ensure the technology is ready to deliver them when launched. Initial focus areas include: AI-native network designs (making 6G networks self-optimizing and able to support real-time AI processing), new device form factors like wearables or XR (extended reality) that 6G could enhance, terahertz spectrum exploration for ultra-fast speeds, and global interoperability so 6G devices work seamlessly across countries [113] [114]. Crucially, Verizon has already established 6G Labs in locations such as Los Angeles, which serve as sandbox environments for engineers from all the partners to test emerging 6G hardware and software [115]. The forum also intends to contribute to formal standards (likely via the 3GPP and ITU) to shape what becomes “6G.”
Top executives underscored the strategic importance. Joe Russo, Verizon’s EVP for Global Networks, noted Verizon’s pride in being first to deploy 5G and its determination to remain at the forefront: “We were the first in the world to turn up 5G… [Now] 6G [will enable] unprecedented capabilities such as new wearable technologies and enhanced AI experiences.” [116] In other words, 6G isn’t just about faster speeds; it’s being envisioned as a catalyst for ambient computing and XR – things like AR glasses, AI assistants, smart city sensors – all communicating instantly. Charlie Zhang, Samsung Research SVP, echoed this, saying Samsung is “thrilled to collaborate with Verizon… to unlock innovative user experiences in the 6G era” [117]. Verizon’s CTO Yago Tenorio went so far as to call U.S. leadership in 6G a matter of national competitiveness. The “big goal for Verizon – and for the United States – is to be first in 6G,” Tenorio told reporters, pointing to upcoming showcases like the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as target timeframes for early 6G demonstrations [118]. Verizon plans dedicated 6G testbeds in LA to support those events [119].
Why the urgency? Partly, it’s about learning from 5G’s rollout: Many in the industry felt 5G arrived with lots of hype but initially unclear killer apps. By defining use cases now (Verizon frequently mentions “real-time AI” as a core 6G scenario), operators hope 6G will launch more smoothly with immediate value. It’s also a response to fierce competition: Europe has its 6G-IA initiative and flagship research projects (Hexa-X, etc.), Japan and Korea have national 6G programs, and China’s vendors and academia are very active in 6G research (China sent up a test satellite for potential 6G frequencies back in 2020). The Verizon-led forum may serve as a de facto U.S.-centric coalition to influence global 6G standards early on. The Biden Administration has also signaled interest in next-gen network leadership – a recent telecom bill (nicknamed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) included provisions to free up spectrum and fund innovation toward 6G, which Tenorio praised as “a phenomenal step forward” for the U.S. [120].
Notably, AT&T and T-Mobile were absent from Verizon’s forum announcement. It’s unclear if they will join later or pursue their own 6G collaborations. But Verizon’s move certainly puts a stake in the ground. The company that beat rivals to 5G is declaring it won’t wait to do the same for 6G. For consumers, tangible 6G services are still years off; the standard itself isn’t expected to be finalized until ~2028. However, the decisions being made in labs today – about waveforms, spectrum bands, and network architectures – will determine what 6G can do (for example, whether your 6G phone might double as an AI supercomputer or hologram projector of sorts). The formation of this high-profile alliance suggests that the race to 6G, quietly, is already underway.
Telecom Industry Shake-Ups and Strategy Shifts
The period also saw significant developments on the business side of the mobile industry, as companies adapt leadership and strategies for the evolving market.
In the United States, T-Mobile – famed for its “Un-carrier” moves and successful Sprint merger – announced a CEO transition that marks the end of an era. Mike Sievert, who took over from John Legere in 2020 and led T-Mobile through the Sprint integration, will hand the CEO reins to Srinivasan “Srini” Gopalan on November 1 [121]. Gopalan is an insider with deep telecom experience: a former Vodafone and Airtel executive who since early 2025 has been COO at T-Mobile, after running Deutsche Telekom’s European operations. The news, which broke just after market hours on Sept 22, comes as T-Mobile faces a maturing U.S. wireless market. Growth has cooled industry-wide, and rivals AT&T and Verizon have become more competitive on pricing and promotions. T-Mobile’s board clearly wanted a steady handoff – Sievert will stay on as executive vice chairman to advise on long-term strategy [122]. Analysts reacted positively, noting that Gopalan brings a global perspective and a strong track record (he doubled DT’s growth in Germany, particularly in fiber broadband). “He’s a very impressive leader, and they’ve handled this transition exceptionally well,” said Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson, adding “I don’t expect there to be any fall-off at all in T-Mobile’s performance.” [123] Indeed, under Sievert, T-Mobile surpassed AT&T to become the #2 U.S. carrier and consistently led in subscriber adds; maintaining that 5G leadership amid economic headwinds will be Gopalan’s challenge. In an interview, Gopalan indicated his focus will be on investing in spectrum and fiber backhaul (T-Mobile has scant fiber assets compared to AT&T/Verizon) to bolster network capacity [124]. He downplayed any immediate big acquisitions, suggesting the Sprint merger already gave T-Mobile scale to compete [125]. Notably, T-Mobile also reiterated its commitment to not raising mobile plan prices for existing customers – a pledge that has differentiated it as Verizon and AT&T have nudged prices up.
Over in Europe, consolidation talk is heating up again in the telecom sector, which has long been fragmented among dozens of mid-size operators. On Sept 24, a Reuters analysis highlighted Telefónica’s strategic ambitions under new CEO Marc Murtra [126] [127]. Murtra, who took the helm in early 2025, is preparing a major strategic plan by year’s end that may involve buying assets in key markets like the UK, Germany, Spain, or Brazil [128]. Telefónica has even signaled it might sell some of its Latin American units (in smaller markets) to free up capital for bigger plays [129]. The backdrop is that European regulators, notably the EU’s competition authorities, appear to be softening their stance on telecom mergers. This week the European Commission’s top telecom official called for “scale and scope” in the industry, hinting that certain in-market mergers might be allowed if they strengthen network investment. Indeed, Orange and MásMóvil’s proposed merger in Spain, and Vodafone’s merger with Three in the UK, are litmus tests – both are under review but seen as likely to get a nod with conditions. Murtra argued Europe needs a “large technology operator” to rival U.S. and Chinese behemoths [130]. Telefónica itself is teaming up with venture capital (KKR and others took a stake) and even Saudi Telecom (which just bought a 9.9% stake in Telefónica) to bolster its finances for potential M&A. Any big moves will profoundly shape Europe’s mobile landscape: fewer, bigger carriers could mean more efficient 5G rollouts, though consumer groups worry about higher prices if competition wanes. For now, it’s a story of maneuvering: telecom CEOs from Madrid to London are making the case that bigger is better in the 5G and fiber era, and regulators seem increasingly receptive after years of low returns in the sector.
Elsewhere, India saw a notable policy shift as well: TRAI (the Indian regulator) recommended easing some spectrum usage charges and fiber deployment rules to accelerate 5G rollouts by Jio and Airtel, which have already reached over 200 cities. And in Africa, MTN Group’s CEO used a conference to call for more harmonized spectrum policy across the African Union to bring down costs – all signs that globally, the industry is pushing regulators for pro-investment policies as mobile internet becomes ever more critical infrastructure.
Critical Network Resilience: Security Threats and Outage Fallout
Two high-profile incidents during this period underscored the immense importance of network resilience and security in the mobile world – one a prevented threat in the U.S., the other a disastrous outage in Australia.
In New York, U.S. federal agents thwarted what could have been a massive attack on mobile networks targeting the United Nations General Assembly. With dozens of world leaders (including the U.S. President) in NYC for UN week, the Secret Service revealed on Sept 23 that it had seized a trove of rogue telecom equipment around the city [131]. Specifically, agents confiscated over 300 SIM servers and 100,000+ SIM cards housed at various locations across a 35-mile radius [132]. These SIM servers – essentially devices loaded with hundreds of cellular SIMs – can be used for a range of malicious purposes. Officials said the network could potentially send commands to “disable cell towers”, enabling a coordinated cellular blackout, or launch denial-of-service floods to overwhelm networks [133]. They could also facilitate encrypted communications between criminals by exploiting the SIMs to route calls/data via obscure paths [134]. Initial forensics linked the operation to at least one foreign nation-state actor as well as known transnational crime rings (including drug cartels) [135]. In other words, it was a sophisticated threat possibly blending espionage and organized crime. “The potential for disruption… cannot be overstated,” warned Secret Service Director Sean Curran, noting that a successful attack could have crippled critical communications in New York at a moment of maximum visibility [136]. Given that more than 100 heads of state were in town, the timing raised alarms that this could have been an attempt to sow chaos or confusion during the summit. The Secret Service’s newly formed Threat Interdiction Unit led the takedown and is continuing to analyze the seized devices [137] [138]. One U.S. official told Bloomberg that evidence pointed to a state-sponsored hacker group preparing an unprecedented telecom sabotage. MobileX, a U.S. MVNO whose SIM cards were found among the cache, said in a statement that while its platform’s openness can attract bad actors, it has “robust safeguards… and we shut down suspicious activity on our network every day” [139]. The incident highlights a lesser-known vulnerability: not all telecom attacks come through the internet; some target the cellular infrastructure itself. It also reflects growing efforts by law enforcement to monitor and neutralize SIM farms and illicit cellular nodes. For average users, there was no immediate impact – the threat was caught in time – but it’s a stark reminder that carriers and governments now have to secure networks against not just fraud and malware, but potentially state-level attacks on critical mobile infrastructure.
In Australia, a different kind of telecom crisis unfolded: a catastrophic network failure with deadly consequences. On the evening of Sept 19, Optus, Australia’s second-largest mobile operator, experienced a 13-hour outage across large parts of its network [140]. Mobile and some fixed-line customers in multiple states suddenly could not make calls, including to the emergency number 000 (Australia’s equivalent of 911). Tragically, authorities have linked at least four deaths to this outage [141]. In several cases, people in distress (in car accidents or medical emergencies) tried and failed to reach ambulance services. By Sept 24, public anger had reached a boiling point, prompting Singtel – the Singapore-based parent of Optus – to publicly apologize. “We are deeply sorry to learn about the network incident at our Optus subsidiary… and to hear that customers could not connect to emergency services when they most needed them,” said Yuen Kuan Moon, Singtel’s Group CEO [142] [143]. The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blasted the outage as “completely unacceptable” [144], and the government launched inquiries.
Initial root-cause analysis by Optus found that a routine network firewall upgrade went horribly wrong [145]. The update caused a critical routing failure, which cascaded through Optus’s mobile core network. For about 13 hours, many Optus mobile users could not make voice calls or access data. Crucially, even calls to Triple Zero (000) failed for some, because the fallback mechanisms (like redirecting to other carriers) did not work in certain areas. Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin (who has since stepped down) and Optus Networks’ team faced heavy criticism for the apparent lack of redundancy and slow communication during the crisis. On Sept 24, Optus appointed an independent reviewer – Kerry Schott, a respected business figure – to lead a thorough investigation into what happened and why protocols failed [146]. Optus’s CTO Stephen Rue acknowledged that early checks suggested “human error” may have been a factor and that proper procedures “were not followed” during the firewall maintenance [147]. The outage affected roughly 10 million customers and also took down Optus’s subsidiary Amaysim (an MVNO). As a stopgap, rival Telstra offered free data to impacted users and emergency roaming for critical calls.
The incident has spurred calls for reform. The Australian government is considering rules to ensure that emergency calls automatically roam to another network if one carrier goes down, so 000 is always reachable. There are also discussions about whether telecom operators should face penalties for prolonged outages and if they must have more robust backup systems. Singtel’s group CEO Yuen vowed to work with the Optus board to “prevent similar incidents in the future” [148]. For many Australians, the outage was a wake-up call that even advanced 4G/5G networks have single points of failure – and that lives can depend on these networks. It also became a case study in crisis communications: Optus was criticized for not immediately alerting the public that 000 calls might not go through, which could have prompted people to borrow other networks’ phones or use landlines sooner. By the end of the week, Optus began compensating customers with free data and bill rebates, but lawsuits and regulatory repercussions are expected to follow. The episode underscores that as mobile networks carry ever more vital services (from emergency calls to banking), uptime isn’t just about customer satisfaction – it’s about public safety. Regulators worldwide, from the FCC to Ofcom, will likely take note and re-examine the resilience of their nations’ telecom infrastructure in light of the Optus outage.
Sources:
- 5G subscriber and traffic statistics: 5G Americas/Omdia report [149] [150]; ITU/UNESCO Africa broadband report [151] [152]; China MIIT data via Xinhua [153] [154].
- Philippines 2G/3G shutdown: The Market Monitor (PH) [155] [156] [157].
- Vietnam spectrum auction: RCR Wireless News [158] [159] [160] [161].
- CANDLE submarine cable: NEC/ACN Newswire press release [162] [163].
- Virgin Media O2 5G SA expansion: VoIP Review / press release [164] [165].
- Nokia/Boldyn 5G in mining: Nokia press via GlobeNewswire [166] [167].
- T-Mobile US CEO change: Reuters [168] [169].
- Telefónica M&A vision: Reuters [170] [171].
- Verizon 6G forum alliance: VoIP Review [172] [173] [174]; RCR Wireless [175].
- Mavenir/Iridium satellite-core deal: 5G Americas [176] [177] [178].
- Secret Service SIM-server bust: Mobile World Live [179] [180].
- Optus outage and Singtel apology: Reuters [181] [182] [183] [184].
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