- Verizon leads 6G charge: Verizon’s CTO Yago Tenorio announced a new 6G Innovation Forum with partners Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Meta, and Qualcomm, aiming to design 6G “with a set of use cases in mind” to solve problems today’s networks can’t [1] [2]. Tenorio emphasized that 6G will focus on new needs (e.g. more uplink for AI applications, tiny low-power IoT devices) so that it “enables some things that you cannot do today” [3].
- Nokia boosts AI and prepares for 6G: Nokia announced licensing HPE’s Juniper RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) technology into its MantaRay AI-driven network platform [4] [5]. Nokia’s Tommi Uitto said this deal “strengthen[s] our AI-driven automation … enabling [operators] to manage multivendor networks more efficiently and prepare for the transition from 5G to 6G” [6]. (Nokia also integrated 45 Juniper engineers into its team, showing how vendors are bulking up RAN automation [7].)
- Satellite & IoT connectivity expands: T-Mobile expanded its satellite-to-phone service (T‑Satellite with Starlink) beyond emergency texting to popular apps. Now U.S. users can use WhatsApp voice/video chat, mapping, weather, X (formerly Twitter) and more via Starlink in dead zones [8] [9]. As T‑Mobile’s Mike Katz put it, this is “bringing essential phone apps and services into the mix… giving people access to the apps they need most, in places they’ve never had a signal before. It’s a game-changer for safety… and the freedom to stay connected virtually anywhere.” [10]. Other satellite and IoT initiatives also drew attention, from India’s eSIM rollouts to UAE/Middle East tests of reduced-capability 5G (RedCap) to support low-power IoT devices.
- New 5G networks and upgrades worldwide: Telecoms launched or upgraded 5G networks in many countries. In the British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Cellular Telephone (CCT) flipped on 5G service in part of Tortola – the territory’s first 5G launch – with local leaders hailing it a “monumental achievement” and calling for more spectrum to expand nationwide [11]. In the UK, EE (BT’s mobile arm) announced it will aim for 99% population coverage with standalone 5G by 2030 [12], deploying new Ericsson Massive MIMO radios (the first in Europe) and calling this ambitious “5G+” rollout. Virgin Media O2 switched on a London “Giga Site” using Nokia’s dual-band massive MIMO to combine low, mid and high bands for extreme speed and capacity [13]. O2’s Robert Joyce said the Giga Site “demonstrates how we are investing and innovating… delivering faster speeds, greater capacity, and more reliable connections” [14]. Other operators (e.g. Vodafone UK, America Movil, MTN, Vietnam’s MobiFone) also pushed forward with 5G expansions or trials.
- Industry partnerships & tech upgrades: Telecom vendors and carriers unveiled key projects. Nokia said its MantaRay platform (for AI-based network automation) already supports 5G and is being enhanced for 6G (now including HPE’s RIC) [15] [16]. Ericsson and MTN South Africa completed a massive core-network upgrade: MTN deployed Ericsson’s cloud-native 5G Core (packet core and policy controller), achieving a live upgrade with zero downtime and moving toward a fully cloud-based core [17] [18]. MTN’s Solomzi Mnyaka noted this “future-ready network” will let MTN “respond more quickly… launch new services with agility, and simplify our internal processes through automation” [19]. Other tech deals included Nokia partnering with Intracom/BroadbandOne to use 28 GHz fixed wireless gear for gigabit broadband in U.S. enterprise parks and Swedish Enea renewing its contract to provide 5G traffic-management software to a major North American carrier (validating its cloud-native 5G Service Engine and subscriber data platform) [20].
- Spectrum, auctions and policy news: Regulators also moved. Turkey confirmed an Oct 16, 2025, 5G spectrum auction (11 lots in 700 MHz/3.5 GHz, targeting $2.125 B) and said operators should launch 5G by April 2026 [21]. India’s DoT postponed a 5G EMF testing deadline from Sept to Dec 2025, giving telcos more time to certify radio-safety [22]. Globally, many countries are fast-phasing out 2G/3G: for example, the U.S. shut down 3G (and plans 2G off by 2025), Canada will close 3G by end-2025, and Europe aims to turn off legacy networks by 2028–2030 [23]. The UN also urged Afghanistan’s new rulers to restore nationwide Internet/telecoms after a recent blackout, highlighting the political stakes of connectivity.
- Expert commentary and forecasts: Industry leaders are bullish but cautious. Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon (at Snapdragon Summit Sept 2025) said “pre-commercial” 6G devices could be ready as early as 2028, underlining that “connectivity… is evolving” to meet AI-driven use cases [24]. Verizon’s Tenorio stressed real-world 6G use cases will be crucial, focusing on AI and IoT challenges [25]. Nokia’s Tommi Uitto and Mark Atkinson highlighted that AI-run networks are needed because networks “are becoming so complicated that it’s impossible for human engineers to manage them” without machine learning [26]. Telco analysts note interest in 6G is growing, but standards won’t be formalized until late this decade – so most current efforts are about R&D and strategy (e.g. the Verizon forum) rather than commercial products.
- Impact and outlook: In sum, these Oct 2–3 developments show a telecom industry sprinting forward. Carriers are rapidly densifying 5G (and starting 5G standalone networks) while plotting the next leap to 6G, often using AI and cloud tools to do so. Satellite links are blurring lines between cell and space. Major partnerships and spectrum plans suggest further large-scale buildouts are coming. For consumers and enterprises, this means gradually better mobile broadband and new services (e.g. super-fast fixed wireless access, global smartphone coverage). Industry experts warn that success hinges on smart use-case planning, regulations (like spectrum and EMF rules), and keeping the tech ecosystem interoperable. With 6G still years away, the near future will see more 5G evolution (RedCap IoT, Open RAN, cloud cores) rather than instant miracles. But as one analyst put it, the network upgrade wave is “a game-changer for safety, peace of mind, and freedom to stay connected,” suggesting these steps do indeed move toward a vastly more connected world [27].
Sources: Recent telecom news articles and press releases (Oct. 2–3, 2025) from SDxCentral, Communications Today, Reuters, Anadolu Agency, The Fast Mode, PR Newswire and others [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38]. These provide updates on network launches, vendor partnerships, spectrum policies, IoT/AI initiatives, and expert commentary. (No images included.)
References
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