Key Facts
- Next-Gen Rollouts & Alliances: Long-delayed 5G plans leapt forward. Pakistan set December 2025 for its first 5G spectrum auction (offering 606 MHz across 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz, etc.) after years of holdups bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. Turkey officially scheduled its inaugural 5G tender for Oct 16, 2025, aiming for commercial service by April 2026 bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. In India, Reliance Jio teamed up with Meta on a ₹855 crore (~$100 million) joint venture to build AI-powered services on Jio’s mobile network using Meta’s LLaMA AI models bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. “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,” said Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani of the partnership’s transformative potential bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. Malaysia meanwhile lit its second 5G network on Sept 3, ending a single-network monopoly and deploying Huawei/ZTE gear to broaden coverage reuters.com reuters.com.
- Infrastructure & Spectrum Investments: Major upgrades to mobile internet backbones were unveiled. SpaceX launched 24 new Starlink satellites in late August, extending broadband coverage at high latitudes (Alaska, Scandinavia) bez-kabli.pl. Rival Amazon announced its Project Kuiper satellite internet will enter beta by late 2025, with another batch of low-Earth orbit satellites slated for launch on Sept 25 bez-kabli.pl. In Africa, Safaricom (Kenya) and Meta introduced a new 4,100 km undersea fiber cable linking Kenya to Oman – the “Daraja” system – to cut internet costs and boost East African bandwidth bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. Further north, Djibouti Telecom revealed an extension of its DARE1 submarine cable down to Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa by 2028 bez-kabli.pl. And in the U.S., AT&T struck a record $23 billion deal to acquire large swaths of mid-band (3.45 GHz) and low-band (600 MHz) 5G spectrum from EchoStar, netting about 50 MHz nationwide in what analysts called a landmark private spectrum sale bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl.
- Outages & Shutdowns Hit Millions: Network failures and cutoffs underscored fragility. A Verizon wireless outage on Aug 30 left U.S. customers from California to New York with “SOS only” emergency signal for ~9 hours bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. Over 23,000 outage reports piled up by mid-afternoon before Verizon fixed a core software glitch bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. It was Verizon’s third major outage of 2025, spurring calls to improve resiliency. Elsewhere, government-ordered blackouts kept entire regions offline. Pakistan extended a month-long mobile internet shutdown across restive Balochistan province (~15 million people) beyond its Aug 31 deadline, citing ongoing insurgent violence bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. And Iraq imposed daily nationwide internet cuts from 6–8 AM during high school exams – a drastic bid to curb cheating that also knocked out morning connectivity for millions of citizens and businesses bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. Digital rights advocates blasted these blanket shutdowns as “a blunt instrument” inflicting steep social and economic costs bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech.
- Regulatory & Geopolitical Shifts: Authorities grappled with securing – or controlling – networks. On Sept 1, Russia enacted sweeping new internet curbs effectively criminalizing access to banned “extremist” content (from opposition sites to pro-LGBT material), punishable by fines up to 5,000 roubles bez-kabli.pl. The law targets VPN usage and even ads, aiming to close off circumvention tools bez-kabli.pl. “One of the main tasks is to create fear… to increase self-censorship among the Russian internet audience,” warned digital rights advocate Sarkis Darbinyan, on the law’s true intent bez-kabli.pl. Moscow also ordered all new smartphones to pre-install a state-run chat app and hinted at banning WhatsApp (run by “extremist” Meta) as it pursues “digital sovereignty” bez-kabli.pl. In Europe, officials escalated moves to cut Chinese vendors out of telecoms. Spain’s government abruptly canceled a €10 million contract with Telefónica on Aug 29 because it relied on Huawei gear, citing “digital strategy and strategic autonomy” concerns bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. Germany and Italy likewise debated new limits on Huawei/ZTE in 5G networks after security reviews bez-kabli.pl. And in the U.S., regulators moved to harden critical infrastructure: the FCC voted to ban Chinese equipment in new undersea internet cables and streamline permits for “trusted” suppliers, amid warnings that adversaries could target the 400+ submarine cables carrying 99% of global data bez-kabli.pl. “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 these vital data arteries bez-kabli.pl.
- Industry Moves, Mergers & Devices: The period saw significant telecom deals and product launches. In the U.S., T-Mobile unveiled a novel “SuperMobile” plan for enterprises that bundles priority 5G network slicing, SpaceX Starlink satellite links, and enhanced security into one service bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. “We’re giving businesses the advanced tools they need to connect seamlessly… virtually anywhere,” said T-Mobile’s enterprise chief of using satellites for off-grid coverage bez-kabli.pl 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 rollout across its footprint (deal valued around $1.3 billion) bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. 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, fresh financing will help build networks: IDB Invest (the Inter-American Development Bank’s private arm) and Nokia launched a $50 million program to extend high-performance connectivity across the region bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl, starting in Mexico by offering operators flexible credit for 5G and fiber upgrades bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. And Nokia itself made news in telecom tech – on Aug 29 it unveiled a 5G-based railway communications system to replace aging GSM-R train networks, including the first 5G radio for the 1900 MHz rail band and an optimized 5G core for mission-critical rail operations bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. Nokia’s Mobile Networks president cautioned that legacy GSM-R “simply can’t provide” the high-speed data modern railways need, underscoring why rail systems are moving to 5G bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl.
- 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 – remain offline in 2025, and called for a staggering $2.6–2.8 trillion investment to achieve universal connectivity by 2030 bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. “Digital connectivity means creating opportunities for education, jobs, and access to essential services… an investment in human potential, not just a cost,” stressed ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, urging the world to see closing the gap as a development imperative bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. In response, both industry and communities are stepping up. MTN South Africa is virtually giving away smartphones – it will sell 4G Android handsets for just 99 rand (~$5) to 1.2 million of its 2G/3G customers to ensure even the poorest users can upgrade before old networks shut down in 2027 bez-kabli.pl reuters.com. “We are committed to going the extra mile to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital era,” affirmed Charles Molapisi, MTN South Africa’s CEO, about the ultra-budget phone program bez-kabli.pl. Likewise, grassroots projects are lighting up remote areas – from indigenous communities building mesh Wi-Fi networks in the Amazon to solar-powered broadband hubs in rural Senegal bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. All 50 U.S. states just got the green light to tap the federal $42 billion BEAD fund to extend broadband to unserved areas bez-kabli.pl, and cities like New York rolled out free public Wi-Fi in housing projects (the “Liberty Link” initiative) to help low-income families get online bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. From $5 smartphones to satellite links, early 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 bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech.
North America (USA & Canada)
Spectrum & Infrastructure Boosts: In the United States, carriers poured resources into expanding network capacity. AT&T made headlines by agreeing to pay $23 billion for nationwide spectrum licenses held by satellite operator EchoStar, including ~30 MHz in the 3.45 GHz band and 20 MHz in 600 MHz bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. Announced in late August and set to close by year-end, this is one of the largest private spectrum sales ever, vastly increasing AT&T’s mid-band 5G holdings. Analysts called it a “landmark” deal reflecting the high stakes of securing prime 5G airwaves bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. Meanwhile, regulators took steps to secure critical internet infrastructure. On Sept 3 the FCC adopted new rules banning Chinese-made components in any new U.S.-linked submarine fiber-optic cables, and streamlining permits for vetted “trusted” suppliers bez-kabli.pl. Officials cited espionage and sabotage risks from geopolitical adversaries targeting undersea cables. “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 the 400+ undersea cables that carry about 99% of global data traffic bez-kabli.pl. The move is part of a broader U.S. push to exclude high-risk vendors (Huawei, ZTE, etc.) from telecom networks on national security grounds.
Network Outage & New Services: North America experienced both disruption and innovation in the past 48 hours. Over the Labor Day weekend, a massive Verizon outage on Aug 30 knocked out mobile service for millions of users across the U.S. bez-kabli.pl. From coast to coast, phones suddenly lost signal and showed “SOS only” – unable to make calls or use data ts2.tech ts2.tech. Outage reports spiked above 23,000 by midday ts2.tech. Verizon identified a software failure in its 4G/5G core network and scrambled engineers to fix it ts2.tech. Service was largely restored about 9 hours later, by that evening ts2.tech. This was Verizon’s third nationwide outage of 2025, prompting rebukes from officials and consumers over network reliability ts2.tech. (Notably, no comparably large outages hit Europe or Canada in this period – underscoring North America’s unique challenges bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl.) 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 bez-kabli.pl. It uses a standalone 5G core with network slicing to give priority lanes for critical data, and integrates SpaceX Starlink satellites to provide coverage in remote areas beyond cell tower range bez-kabli.pl 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 during the launch bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. By blending terrestrial 5G and satellite broadband, T-Mobile is positioning itself as an innovator in ubiquitous coverage – showing how carriers can ensure connectivity even off the grid.
Mergers & Market Trends: The U.S. mobile industry also saw consolidation and strategic shifts. T-Mobile this week celebrated the closing of its deal to acquire regional carrier UScellular, expanding T-Mobile’s footprint in key Midwestern markets bez-kabli.pl. The roughly $1.3 billion transaction (greenlit by regulators in July reuters.com) transfers ~5 million customers, retail stores, and about 30% of UScellular’s spectrum into T-Mobile’s fold reuters.com. T-Mobile expects the integration to boost its service revenues by $400 million this quarter and to yield about $1.2 billion in annual cost savings once networks are combined reuters.com reuters.com. The carrier also shortened its timeline to fully integrate the smaller network to two years (versus an initial 3–4 year plan) reuters.com. These synergies should accelerate 5G coverage upgrades in acquired areas. More broadly, all three national carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) are looking to monetize 5G with new services – from AT&T’s upcoming satellite-to-phone capability with AST SpaceMobile (slated for testing late 2025) to Verizon’s push into private 5G networks for enterprises. On the device front, Apple and Samsung are expected to unveil new 5G smartphones this month (Apple’s fall iPhone event, Samsung’s next Galaxy launch), though as of Sept 5 no major handset announcements had yet grabbed headlines. One notable device initiative did come from Google: on Sept 4 it quietly announced an “Android One SuperLite” smartphone aimed at emerging markets, priced under $50 but 4G-capable with optimized apps ts2.tech. This aligns with a trend of tech giants developing ultra-affordable devices to bring the next billion users online.
Digital Inclusion Initiatives: Even as cutting-edge 5G advances roll out, North America is focused on closing coverage gaps at home. This week, all 50 U.S. states received federal approval to tap into the $42 billion BEAD fund (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) to expand internet access bez-kabli.pl. States are now moving forward on plans to subsidize rural fiber buildouts, new cell towers, and affordable service programs to ensure unserved communities get connected. Meanwhile, New York City kicked off its “Liberty Link” pilot, wiring up 35 public housing developments in the Bronx and Harlem with free gigabit Wi-Fi for roughly 2,200 low-income households bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. Announced by Mayor Eric Adams in late August, the project partners with local ISPs to blanket entire apartment buildings with high-speed wireless service. It also includes digital literacy training for residents and is framed as a way to “unlock digital equity” – recognizing that even in a wealthy city, many low-income families lack reliable broadband ts2.tech ts2.tech. The pilot mirrors similar efforts in Chicago and Los Angeles, and could expand citywide if successful ts2.tech. Such initiatives, along with the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (which gives $30/month internet discounts to qualifying households), reflect a broader shift: policymakers now view internet access as essential infrastructure, akin to electricity or water, that everyone should have. With the school year starting, many U.S. cities are ramping up outreach so students in need can get connected for online learning ts2.tech. Canada too continues investing in rural broadband – the government’s Universal Broadband Fund is underwriting dozens of new cell sites and fiber lines in remote First Nations communities this year, aiming for 98% of Canadians connected by 2026. In short, North America’s telecom story this week balanced cutting-edge 5G progress with inclusion efforts to ensure no one is left offline in the digital age ts2.tech.
Europe
5G Rollouts and 6G R&D: Europe’s mobile sector saw steady (if incremental) progress. Several countries firmed up 5G timelines or notched technical milestones. In Turkey – often counted in European telecom stats – regulators confirmed the date for the country’s first 5G spectrum auction as October 16, 2025, with 11 frequency blocks to be sold across 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands bez-kabli.pl. All three major Turkish operators (Turkcell, Türk Telekom, Vodafone TR) are expected to bid, and initial 5G services should go live by April 2026 bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. This finally gives Turkey a clear 5G roadmap after years of delays due to economic and political hurdles. Turkcell has been vocal about securing long-term licenses – it even floated extending its spectrum rights out to 2045 to support decades of 5G and fiber investment bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. Elsewhere, European regulators kept one eye on 6G research and cross-border coordination. A notable decision emerged from a late-August 3GPP standards meeting (held in India with strong European participation): engineers agreed that future 6G will likely reuse 5G’s core waveforms (CP-OFDM) rather than inventing entirely new radio waveforms bez-kabli.pl. This seemingly wonky technical choice – strongly backed by European firms like Ericsson and Nokia – means 6G networks (expected ~2030) will evolve from 5G’s foundation instead of starting from scratch bez-kabli.pl. It signals Europe’s influence in global standards and its interest in a practical, backwards-compatible path for 6G. European vendors are also innovating in specialized network tech: Nokia unveiled a next-gen 5G-based railway communications system on Aug 29 to replace the aging GSM-R standard used for train control bez-kabli.pl. The system includes the first 5G radio designed for the 1900 MHz rail band plus an optimized 5G core for ultra-reliable, low-latency train operations bez-kabli.pl. Trials will begin in Europe under the international FRMCS initiative. Nokia’s Mobile Networks president noted 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 bez-kabli.pl.
Security and Policy Changes: European governments continued tightening telecom security policies, particularly regarding Chinese suppliers. Spain’s dramatic move made waves: on Aug 29, Madrid canceled a €10 million fiber-optic contract with incumbent telco Telefónica because the project planned to use Huawei equipment bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. The contract would have provided fiber links to government offices (including the Defense Ministry), but Spain’s Digital Transformation Ministry said it pulled the deal “for reasons of digital strategy and strategic autonomy” bez-kabli.pl. Telefónica was already phasing out Huawei from parts of its network after EU recommendations bez-kabli.pl, but Spain hadn’t outright banned Huawei as some EU peers have. This de facto penalty for using Huawei gear signals a hardening stance even in countries without formal bans – aligning with broader European concerns about dependency on Chinese vendors. Germany and Italy likewise spent early September debating new restrictions on Huawei and ZTE in 5G networks, after internal security reviews raised alarms bez-kabli.pl. These debates echo pressure from the U.S. and NATO: Washington has urged allies to exclude “high-risk” Chinese suppliers to protect shared infrastructure bez-kabli.pl. Indeed, the Spanish case – Telefónica losing a government contract over Huawei – was cited by Nokia’s networks chief this week as a cautionary tale telecomtv.com. On Sept 5, Tommi Uitto, Nokia’s Mobile Networks president, revealed that Chinese authorities are threatening to ban Western vendors (Nokia and Ericsson) from China’s telecom market in retaliation for Western bans on Huawei telecomtv.com. “We have been told… that western manufacturers are being excluded from your market in the name of national security – the answer was yes. That is a pretty drastic statement,” Uitto said of his discussions with Chinese officials telecomtv.com. While no formal Chinese ban has been announced, Nokia and Ericsson today hold only ~3% of China’s mobile equipment market telecomtv.com. Uitto argued that if Beijing shuts out European vendors, “the EU has to respond in kind (symmetrically)” by accelerating removal of Huawei/ZTE from Europe telecomtv.com. “We are being shut out of China… that means the EU has to respond in kind,” the Nokia executive told a Finnish media briefing, urging laggard EU states to finally ban high-risk gear telecomtv.com. His comments highlight the tit-for-tat geopolitical tensions now buffeting Europe’s telecom supply chain.
Beyond vendor security, European institutions advanced broader digital rules affecting mobile ecosystems. The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) enforcement kicked off in early September – major tech platforms now must comply with strict content moderation and transparency rules, illustrating Europe’s push to regulate online services that run over telecom networks. Around the same time, the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) named several Big Tech firms as “gatekeepers,” aiming to curb anti-competitive practices (e.g. app store monopolies) and benefit consumers on smartphones bez-kabli.pl. While these laws target internet platforms, not telcos, they shape the mobile internet experience in Europe by influencing which apps and services thrive on mobile networks. Separately, Russia’s new censorship law (enacted Sept 1) also raised concerns in Europe. The sweeping law – making it an offense for Russians to search for banned content or use certain VPNs – was viewed by EU observers as a harsh clampdown on internet freedom bez-kabli.pl. European digital rights groups condemned it, noting it even forbids Russians from accessing Western communication tools like Meta’s WhatsApp (branded “extremist” in Russia) bez-kabli.pl. This East-West divergence in internet governance remains stark: Europe is promoting open, secure networks with diverse suppliers and free expression (within regulated bounds), while Russia moves toward a tightly controlled intranet model.
Stable Networks, 3G Shutdowns & Fiber Expansion: Unlike North America and parts of Asia, Europe saw no major mobile outages during this period – networks remained generally stable bez-kabli.pl. Industry experts credit Europe’s extensive fiber backbone and redundancy for preventing single-point failures. (For instance, when storms or accidents cut one cable, traffic can often reroute over alternate fiber paths, averting a Verizon-style meltdown.) However, infrastructure concerns weren’t absent: a recent series of undersea cable cuts in the Baltic Sea (reported a few days earlier) underscored Europe’s vulnerability to subsea disruptions bez-kabli.pl. And the ongoing war in Ukraine has telecom operators on high alert for cyberattacks on networks or intentional cable sabotage. On a positive note, European telcos pressed forward with network modernization. Liberty Global’s VodafoneZiggo unit in the Netherlands announced on Sept 4 it has finished rolling out nationwide 1 Gbps cable broadband, complementing ubiquitous 5G coverage and giving Dutch users some of the world’s fastest home internet. In Scandinavia, Telia and Telenor continued shutting down their 3G networks to refarm spectrum for 4G/5G, reporting that customer migrations are on track and legacy 3G traffic has dwindled to minimal levels bez-kabli.pl. (Nordic countries are among the first in Europe to retire 3G; most Western European carriers plan to phase out 3G by 2025 as LTE and 5G fully take over reuters.com.) Also, European operators are embracing AI to optimize networks: Telefónica Germany (O2) said on Sept 5 it’s working with Tech Mahindra and NVIDIA to develop a generative AI system for managing its mobile network operations bez-kabli.pl. By analyzing vast network data, AI could predict outages, auto-tune performance, and cut costs. This reflects a regional trend of using AI and automation to handle the complexity of dense 5G/6G networks. Overall, Europe’s updates over Sept 5–6 were about steady progress – finalizing 5G rollout plans (for late adopters like Turkey), preparing to sunset old 2G/3G systems, and ensuring the continent’s networks remain secure and resilient amid new geopolitical and technological challenges bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl.
Asia-Pacific
Major 5G Launches and Partnerships: Across Asia, the telecom sector saw landmark partnerships and long-awaited 5G plans coming to fruition. The biggest headline was from India, where Reliance Industries’ Jio – the nation’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 bez-kabli.pl. The two giants are forming a joint venture worth roughly $100 million (with 70% funding from Jio and 30% from Meta) bez-kabli.pl. The venture will leverage Meta’s advanced Llama 2 AI models to build applications ranging from AI chatbots for small businesses to generative AI tools for education and healthcare across India bez-kabli.pl. “By combining Meta’s AI expertise with Jio’s massive network reach, we can bring AI to every Indian – from ambitious startups to blue-chip corporates,” Mukesh Ambani (Reliance’s chairman) said of the partnership bez-kabli.pl. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg echoed that sentiment, noting this will put Meta’s AI into real-world use at unparalleled scale in India’s 1.4 billion-person market bez-kabli.pl. This collaboration, building on Meta’s prior investment in Jio Platforms, exemplifies a trend of Asian carriers teaming with Big Tech to drive new services on 5G – blurring the line between telecom and internet companies.
On the network rollout front, Pakistan finally took decisive steps toward 5G. After multiple postponements, Pakistan’s government confirmed it will auction 5G spectrum by December 2025, with a goal to launch the country’s first commercial 5G services shortly after bez-kabli.pl. Officials outlined that 606 MHz of spectrum across the 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz and other bands will be up for bidding, and the Prime Minister set a firm year-end deadline for completing the auction despite some ongoing legal disputes over certain frequencies bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. The message was clear: Pakistan lags behind regional peers in 5G and must catch up to avoid missing out on next-gen digital economic benefits bez-kabli.pl. (Indeed, neighbors like India, China, and Gulf states already have extensive 5G deployments.) Similarly, Bangladesh moved on 5G: the national regulator announced on Sept 5 a roadmap to allocate 5G spectrum by mid-2026 and kicked off consultations with operators on how to incentivize their investments. Even some smaller markets made 5G strides: in Bolivia (South America, but often noted in Asia-Pacific telecom forums due to vendor ties), state carrier Entel’s first 5G trial in La Paz – launched in late August – shows how Asian vendors like Huawei and Nokia are also supporting Latin American 5G expansion bez-kabli.pl. It’s a reminder of the global nature of 5G’s rollout, with tech collaboration spanning continents.
Innovative Services & Tech Trials: Several Asia-Pacific operators rolled out new services to capitalize on their 4G and 5G networks. In the Philippines, Smart Communications (PLDT’s wireless arm) introduced 5G Home WiFi kits on Sept 4 bez-kabli.pl. These plug-and-play wireless broadband routers use Smart’s 5G network to deliver high-speed home internet without any fixed line bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech. Aimed at areas where laying fiber is difficult or slow – peri-urban communities, smaller towns, island provinces – the kits come with generous prepaid “unli data” plans and top-up options bez-kabli.pl. With no contracts and an easy setup, Smart is offering a fixed wireless access (FWA) solution to get households online quickly, leapfrogging the need for fiber cables bez-kabli.pl. Early demand has been strong among students and remote workers in underserved areas. Elsewhere, Japan’s NTT DoCoMo announced trials of an AI-based network slicing system (with NEC) on Sept 4, hinting at future on-demand network segments for enterprise clients in its 5G standalone network. And in Malaysia, the country officially switched on a second 5G network on Sept 3 – abandoning its initial single wholesale network model – to foster competition and wider coverage. Malaysia’s U Mobile, Digi, Celcom and Maxis can now build out 5G infrastructure in parallel, with U Mobile specifically partnering with China’s Huawei and ZTE for its 5G rollout reuters.com reuters.com. This dual-network approach is expected to accelerate Malaysia’s 5G adoption after a slow start under the previous monopoly arrangement.
Asia also saw a significant telecom data breach penalty set a new precedent. South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission slapped wireless carrier SK Telecom with a record ₩134.8 billion fine (~$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 said SKT failed to invest adequately in cybersecurity measures that could have prevented the hack, and also penalized the company for not notifying affected users within the legally required 72 hours bez-kabli.pl. The stern action sent a clear signal across Asia’s telecom industry about prioritizing data protection as networks become ever more critical. It also reflects South Korea’s broader push to strengthen privacy safeguards after several large breaches in various sectors. In response, SK Telecom apologized and pledged to double its security budget; the episode has prompted many Asian carriers to re-evaluate their own defenses.
Oceania & Regional Collaboration: In Oceania, carriers continued expanding 5G and exploring network sharing to reach sparsely populated areas. In Australia, #2 operator Optus has been implementing a network-sharing pact with #3 carrier TPG Telecom to jointly use infrastructure in regional and rural areas. Under this deal, Optus gains access to some of TPG’s spectrum, while TPG can use over 2,400 Optus towers outside cities bez-kabli.pl. By early September, this arrangement effectively doubled TPG’s coverage footprint (to ~98.5% of the population) and allowed Optus to more efficiently extend 5G into remote zones bez-kabli.pl. Additionally, Optus announced it is deploying advanced new Ericsson 5G antennas to enhance its network’s capacity and energy efficiency bez-kabli.pl. These custom antennas promise stronger indoor signals and lower power consumption – critical for Australia’s vast distances 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, highlighting the importance of sustainable network growth bez-kabli.pl. Over in New Zealand, Spark and One NZ (Vodafone) continued their 5G rollouts into smaller towns, and the government held a 3.5 GHz spectrum auction reserved for Māori community-owned ventures – ensuring indigenous groups have a stake in 5G services.
Asia-Pacific also saw cross-border cooperation efforts. The Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association met on Sept 4 to discuss pooling resources for a regional satellite internet hub that could serve multiple small island nations. And in South Asia, a noteworthy partnership bridged mobile and satellite: Robi Axiata in Bangladesh signed an agreement on Sept 5 with SpaceX to resell Starlink satellite broadband services locally ts2.tech. Bangladesh has tens of millions living in river delta islands and remote villages where even 4G towers haven’t reached. By offering Starlink’s high-speed internet from space, Robi can instantly connect those areas without waiting to build terrestrial towers ts2.tech. Robi will sell Starlink equipment and plans through its stores, including a localized “Local Priority” service optimized for Bangladesh, plus a portable global service option ts2.tech. Robi’s Chief Commercial Officer Shihab Ahmad hailed it as a “transformative step toward bridging Bangladesh’s digital divide,” saying that by enabling connectivity in remote regions, “Robi is paving the way for communities to access vital digital services, fostering inclusion, innovation, and sustainable progress” ts2.tech. It’s one of the first such telco-Starlink partnerships in Asia, and could be a model for other developing countries teaming with low-Earth orbit constellations to extend coverage. The Asia-Pacific narrative this week is clear: previously lagging markets (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, etc.) are fast-tracking 5G and beyond, while mature markets (Japan, Korea, Australia) refine their networks with AI, security, and sharing – all against a backdrop of increasing regional collaboration and an acute focus on digital inclusion.
Africa
Expanding Coverage & Capacity: The first week of September brought significant announcements aimed at expanding both mobile network reach and backbone capacity across Africa. 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 coastal hub of Mombasa to Muscat, Oman across the Indian Ocean bez-kabli.pl. It marks Safaricom’s first investment in an international subsea cable – a strategic shift from relying solely on third-party cables. Built at a cost of around $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 bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. “Until now Kenya depended on cables controlled by others. Daraja will give us independence and cheaper capacity,” a Safaricom executive noted (per local media). Further north on the continent, Djibouti Telecom announced it is extending its DARE1 undersea cable system down the east African coast by 2028 bez-kabli.pl. New branches will land in Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa, creating a high-speed fiber backbone spanning the length of East Africa bez-kabli.pl. This expansion will strengthen connectivity between the Horn of Africa and the continent’s southern tip, and integrate with West Africa’s cables for greater resiliency (a timely move after multiple West African cables were cut by a ship incident in August).
On land, operators are investing in capacity and coverage upgrades. MTN Group – Africa’s biggest carrier by subscribers – is accelerating 4G and 5G rollout in key markets like Nigeria and South Africa, supported by new equipment deals (e.g. a recent pact with Ericsson to deploy 5G in Nigeria’s top cities by year-end). In South Africa, MTN and Vodacom have now built 5G sites in every major city; attention is turning to suburban and rural expansion. Several countries are also reallocating 2G/3G spectrum to improve 4G coverage. For example, Uganda in early September approved refarming 900 MHz frequencies (traditionally used for GSM) to bolster 4G LTE signals in rural areas. And Kenya’s regulator announced plans to auction additional 4G spectrum in 700 MHz band to increase rural broadband coverage. These moves come as smartphone adoption surges – over 50% of African mobile connections are now smartphones, up from 20% in 2015, creating huge demand for data services.
Telecom Policy & 2G/3G Phaseouts: Policymakers across Africa are navigating how to transition from legacy networks while expanding access. Notably, South Africa has set a firm timeline to shut down 2G and 3G networks by December 31, 2027 reuters.com. To ensure this doesn’t leave behind millions of users on older phones, MTN South Africa launched an ambitious device subsidy this week. The operator will offer 1.2 million of its 2G/3G customers a 4G smartphone for just 99 rand (~$5.40) each reuters.com reuters.com. The program rolls out in phases (starting with 5,000 customers this month, then 130,000 more, scaling to 1.2 million) targeting low-income and rural users who could otherwise be disconnected by the GSM shutdown reuters.com. “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 SA’s CEO, emphasizing the company’s commitment that “no one is left behind in the digital era” bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. The initiative is a direct response to critics who warn that turning off 2G/3G could widen the digital divide if affordable 4G devices aren’t available reuters.com. Other African nations are watching this approach closely as they too contemplate sunsetting old networks in the coming years (for instance, Kenya and Nigeria both have 2G/3G switch-off targets around 2030).
Regulators are also pushing policies to lower costs and improve service. In Nigeria, the telecom regulator directed operators on Sept 5 to reduce data prices for entry-level mobile internet packages, aiming to make connectivity more affordable for low-income users (Nigeria’s data costs have been among the highest relative to income). In Egypt, authorities this week approved tax incentives for telecom infrastructure sharing – encouraging carriers to co-locate towers and fiber to accelerate rollout in underserved areas. And across much of Francophone West Africa, governments are finalizing agreements to eliminate roaming charges by 2026, which will effectively let mobile users travel across ECOWAS countries with no extra fees – a boon for cross-border commerce and connectivity.
Digital Inclusion & Local Innovations: Africa’s tech community is driving innovative solutions to connect the unconnected. The Internet Society Foundation announced funding this week for nine new community network projects across Africa, Latin America, and Asia ts2.tech. Several African initiatives were chosen, including one led by indigenous women in the Amazon rainforest (in partnership with communities in the Congo Basin) to build local mesh networks with solar-powered routers ts2.tech. Another project will set up solar-powered Wi-Fi hubs in rural Senegal, and a third will expand a community-run broadband network in Uganda, using a modest grant to extend internet to remote villages ts2.tech. These DIY networks, often run by nonprofits or cooperatives, fill gaps where commercial telcos haven’t reached. By empowering locals to operate their own micro-ISPs, they also build digital skills and ensure resilience (the networks are owned by the community, so they tend to repair and maintain them proactively). Outside support – in the form of small grants for equipment and training – can have an outsized impact in such models. Meanwhile, African startups are partnering with telecom operators on novel access solutions. In Tanzania, a startup is deploying relay balloons that act as airborne cell towers to cover remote fishing villages on Lake Victoria. And in Ghana, Vodafone is trialing a program to turn local corner shops into Wi-Fi hotspots (via fixed 4G routers) where people can buy affordable hourly data passes – effectively “franchising” internet access at the community level.
Pan-African telecom groups are also investing in the next generation of talent. Orange announced on Sept 6 the expansion of its Orange Digital Centers (tech hubs offering coding classes and incubators) to three more African countries, bringing the total to 15 nations. These centers work closely with mobile networks to mentor youth in app development, IoT, and digital entrepreneurship – seeding future demand for advanced telecom services.
In summary, Africa’s telecom developments on Sept 5–6 underscore a dual narrative: big infrastructure strides (undersea cables, 5G/fiber investments) coupled with grassroots connectivity efforts (ultra-cheap smartphones, community networks) to ensure broad-based progress. The continent is eager to leap into the 5G era and digital economy, but is mindful that it must innovate to connect rural and low-income populations along the way. As MTN’s CEO put it, the goal is to go the extra mile so that a farmer in rural Kenya or a student in Soweto can enjoy the benefits of modern mobile internet just as much as someone in Nairobi or Johannesburg bez-kabli.pl. That ethos was evident in many of this week’s African initiatives.
Latin America
5G on the Horizon: Across Latin America, the first days of September underscored the region’s accelerating push toward 5G and better mobile internet. Several countries advanced plans to allocate new spectrum for next-gen networks. In Venezuela, regulator CONATEL announced it has pre-qualified four companies for a 5G spectrum auction set for mid-September, offering blocks in the 3.5 GHz band bez-kabli.pl. Final bidding is scheduled for Sept 10 as Venezuela seeks to kick-start 5G deployment after years of economic turmoil bez-kabli.pl. Similarly, Peru and Paraguay moved forward with preparations for their own 5G spectrum tenders, aiming to roll out service by 2026 bez-kabli.pl. And in Bolivia, state-run operator Entel began trial 5G deployments in parts of La Paz – a test run before a wider commercial launch bez-kabli.pl. These trials, launched in late August, mark Bolivia’s first foray into 5G and will inform its nationwide rollout strategy. This flurry of activity shows Latin America’s eagerness to catch up in the 5G race. Many of its markets have lagged behind Asia, North America, and Europe in launching 5G; now regulators are moving quickly to license spectrum and encourage investment in new infrastructure bez-kabli.pl. Even smaller markets are joining in: El Salvador, for example, announced public consultations on 5G policy in early September, signaling that it too plans to allocate spectrum by 2025.
Investments & Infrastructure: Accompanying these 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 unveiled a $50 million partnership to expand digital connectivity across the region bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. The program will initially launch in Mexico – Latin America’s second-largest mobile market – then extend to other countries bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl. By providing Nokia with a credit facility to offer more flexible payment terms to local operators, the initiative aims to spur investment in secure, high-performance networks in underserved areas bez-kabli.pl. In short, it helps carriers finance costly upgrades to 5G, fiber, and advanced wireless systems faster than their balance sheets alone might allow. This public-private model addresses a key hurdle in Latin America: funding network builds in lower-income or remote markets that might not immediately yield high profits. Also in the investment vein, Liberty Latin America – a major regional telecom group – inked a six-year deal with Ericsson to deploy 5G Standalone (SA) core networks for its mobile operations in markets like Costa Rica and Panama bez-kabli.pl. Ericsson will supply next-gen core and radio equipment, enabling Liberty’s transition from 5G Non-Standalone (which still relies on 4G infrastructure) to full 5G SA, which supports advanced features like network slicing. This deal, agreed in July and rolling into implementation plans in September, underscores global vendors’ growing focus on Latin America as 5G uptake grows. Additionally, several countries are pursuing infrastructure sharing and fiber expansion. For instance, Argentina’s regulator in late August outlined plans to license spectrum for private 5G networks (for enterprises and industries) to drive innovation bez-kabli.pl. And Costa Rica’s ICE is deploying a new TAM-1 subsea cable system in 2025 to boost the nation’s international bandwidth and resiliency bez-kabli.pl. These projects, while not grabbing big headlines, form the backbone for a more connected Latin America – ensuring that once spectrum is allocated, the physical networks can deliver on 5G’s promise.
Digital Inclusion and New Services: Latin American operators also used this week to introduce services aimed at affordability and expanding coverage. In Chile, the telecom regulator launched an online portal aggregating mobile and broadband plans, to help consumers compare prices and spark competition bez-kabli.pl. The portal is meant to improve transparency and help more people get online by making it easier to find low-cost internet options. In Colombia, upstart mobile carrier WOM completed a major financial restructuring in late August, freeing up $800 million in capital which it pledged to use for expanding 4G/5G coverage into rural areas bez-kabli.pl. WOM’s aggressive expansion (since entering Colombia in 2021) has already driven down prices, and now the additional funds will help it build towers in underserved communities, supporting the government’s goal of 85% 4G coverage nationwide. In Brazil, market leader TIM Brasil announced a partnership with IoT firm Fazenda BWS to extend its Internet-of-Things network for agriculture and logistics bez-kabli.pl. This is part of a trend where carriers leverage their mobile networks beyond just consumer phones – in this case using 4G/5G to connect farm sensors, tractors, and supply chain trackers across Brazil’s vast agricultural areas bez-kabli.pl. Early pilots showed improved crop yields and transport efficiency when farms have real-time data via TIM’s network.
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 bez-kabli.pl. Announced in July and kicking off in September, the project uses VSAT (very small aperture terminal) tech to bring internet to villages far from any fiber or cell towers, funded by Peru’s telecom investment fund. Similarly, Mexico just activated 2,300 free Wi-Fi hotspots in public squares and schools nationwide as part of its “Internet para Todos” program, using a combination of fiber backhaul and 4G wireless routers to reach marginal communities. 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 incomes in some countries bez-kabli.pl. 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 bez-kabli.pl.
Cybersecurity and Resilience: Finally, the region wasn’t immune to the global focus on telecom security. In Brazil, authorities are investigating an apparent hack of the country’s emergency alert SMS system on Sept 5, after several false evacuation messages were sent to thousands of mobile users in São Paulo – fortunately a hoax, but it exposed vulnerabilities in carrier messaging platforms. And in Mexico, the telecom regulator is drafting new rules requiring carriers to implement stronger SIM card registration processes and user ID verification, in an effort to curb SIM-swap fraud and phone-based scams that have been on the rise. These moves echo similar actions in the U.S. and Europe to bolster consumer protection in mobile networks.
Expert Outlook: Over the past 48 hours (Sept 5–6, 2025), the global GSM/mobile landscape has been a study in contrasts – sunsetting old 2G/3G networks while lighting up 5G/6G, grappling with outages and crackdowns even as new satellites and fiber cables promise ubiquitous connectivity. As nations from the US to India to Kenya race to roll out next-gen networks, equal emphasis is being placed on ensuring ordinary people can actually use those networks. Telecom executives and regulators repeatedly stressed the twin goals of innovation and inclusion. “The first week of September thus provided a snapshot of a world in flux: parts of the globe are leaping ahead with satellites and 5G, while others are still working to get basic internet access to everyone,” one industry analysis noted ts2.tech. The coming months will test how well these ambitious plans – from 5G auctions to $5 smartphones – translate into real-world progress. If successful, by later in 2026 we could see a world where 5G truly spans the map (from Istanbul to Islamabad), and where even those at the margins have pathways to get online, whether via a cheap handset, a community Wi-Fi hub, or a beam from a low-orbit satellite ts2.tech ts2.tech. As ITU’s chief Doreen Bogdan-Martin reminded everyone, the investments made now in closing the digital divide will pay dividends for generations, unlocking human potential much like electrification did a century ago ts2.tech. The past 48 hours of mobile internet developments show that despite challenges like outages, cyber threats, and geopolitical rifts, the global momentum is firmly toward a more connected, high-speed, and inclusive wireless world.
Sources: Global news reports and official statements from Sept 5–6, 2025 – including Reuters, TechCrunch, RCR Wireless, TS² Technology, developingtelecoms, TelecomTV, and company press releases bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl ts2.tech bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl bez-kabli.pl reuters.com ts2.tech, among others. Each development is linked to reputable sources for further details.
