Press Release

EE will continue to invest in all levels of football across all four Home Nations, with specific focus on growing the women’s game as well as support for England’s para and eLions teams

EE has signed a series of deals to continue as exclusive lead partner of all Home Nations football teams until 2028. The four-year extension will see the EE logo continue to appear on all training kits worn by England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales senior men’s and women’s squads until 2028.

Wembley Stadium will also retain its official title of Wembley Stadium connected by EE. Since the partnership began in 2015, an estimated 15 million fans have benefitted from EE’s purpose-built connectivity, with mobile data usage at the stadium increasing by more than 80 percent in 2024 as more people relied on EE to capture and share some of the most iconic moments in sport and music history.

Having been the first mobile network to bring both 4G and 5G connectivity to Wembley Stadium, the extended deal will see the network’s brand retained across the stadium with a continued commitment to invest in new technology at the venue. The agreement will also see Wembley and EE continue their shared ambition to maintain its status as the best-connected stadium in the world.

Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at EE said: “At EE, we pride ourselves on our longstanding partnerships with the UK’s leading cultural institutions, investing in the things that matter most to our customers.

Since the partnership began, we have worked with the Home Nations football associations to use football as a catalyst for change, addressing important societal issues such as racism, misogyny, homophobia and accessibility in football, while coming up with innovative new ways to encourage different communities to take up the sport.

Football is part of the fabric of our nation, so EE is proud to stand beside all four home nations and Wembley – the home of English football – for the next four years, continuing to invest in the sport at all levels to engage communities across the country.”

EE will continue to support disability football through its title sponsorship of The FA Disability Cup and the England Para Lions. EE will also become a partner of The FA’s eLions – England’s official esports team.

Mark Lynch, Stadium Director at Wembley Stadium connected by EE, said: “We are delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with EE which will ensure Wembley Stadium retains its status as one of the best-connected stadia in the world.

“Over the last ten years EE has continually demonstrated its commitment to invest in developments across the stadium including the 5G network and our two sensory rooms, which are hugely popular with neuro-divergent guests, who might otherwise not be able to attend large-scale events.

“The new agreement will bring more benefits to all our guests over the next four years and enable us to deliver an improved customer experience for all.”

The English FA’s Commercial Director, James Gray, said: “We look forward to continuing our relationship with EE as lead partner for four more years.

“Over the years, we have worked collaboratively with EE across all levels of football, and I am particularly delighted to see an increased investment in our para teams.

“This is great news ahead of an important year which includes our senior women’s team competing at EURO 2025 and the men’s team starting their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign under new head coach Thomas Tuchel.”

EE’s partnership will be activated across Wembley and St. George’s Park, The English FA’s national football centre, and will allow the company to continue its work supporting grassroots football with initiatives such as EE Playmaker, England Football’s free online entry-level coaching course.

Scottish Football Marketing Commercial Director Brendan Napier: “Our partnership with EE over the past four years has been incredibly beneficial, coinciding with back-to-back EURO finals for our men’s team and unprecedented growth in the girls’ and women’s game in Scotland.

“EE reinforcing their commitment to Scottish football through this four-year renewal is a tremendous boost to all levels of the game – from our senior national teams, right down to grassroots football.

“The renewed partnership will help us in our objectives to continue to grow the national game and make it accessible to all who want to participate, thereby cultivating the amazing social, mental and physical benefits that our wonderful sport has to offer for as wide a group as possible.”

Sharon Tuff, Chief Commercial and Engagement Officer at the Football Association of Wales: “We are delighted to continue our partnership during this exciting and transformative time for football in Wales.

“Under Rhian Wilkinson, our Cymru Women’s National Team are one of only two home nations to qualify for this summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 finals. This will be our very first appearance at a major tournament and Cymru will be looking forward to making history by rapidly scaling up participation for women and girls across Wales as part of that legacy.

“With the injection of optimism and renewed vigour under Craig Bellamy, our Cymru Men’s National Team are determined to qualify for a third FIFA World Cup in 2026 and we will continue to use on pitch success to inspire the joy, health and wellbeing of Wales, and look forward to collaborating with EE to create more cohesive communities and better outcomes for people through football in Wales.”

Stephen Bogle, Head of Commercial Operations for the Irish FA, said: “We’re delighted to extend our partnership with EE through to 2028. As the lead partner of Northern Ireland’s national teams and a key supporter of grassroots football, EE has played a pivotal role in advancing the game at every level. We’re particularly pleased to see their increased commitment to women’s football and look forward to collaborating closely in the coming years to bring their activation plans to life.”

EE customers will continue to enjoy benefits as part of the partnership including Home Nations  match offers and tickets to Home Nations events.

Join the UK’s telecoms ecosytem at Connected North, 23-24 April in London. Get discounted tickets here!  

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BT to cut 5% of Northern Irish workers
Trump targets TSMC with Taiwan chip tariffs 

Thursday, January 30, 2025 – ACT Fibernet, in partnership with Aprecomm, announced today that it has successfully implemented new AI-driven software on customers’ routers. The software enhances the in-home Wi-Fi experience across all devices and applications by creating an intelligent, smart Wi-Fi service.

Known as “ACT Zippy,” the new software aims to transform traditional Wi-Fi connectivity by actively monitoring the home Wi-Fi network, including all applications and client devices, to identify quality-of-experience issues, including congestion and interference, and optimize the online experience in real-time through channel switching, band steering, and other advanced features.

“In line with ACT Fibernet’s brand promise of ‘Feel the Advantage,’ we are launching a unique, industry-first AI-powered Wi-Fi solution in India that scans your home environment and automatically improves the Wi-Fi experience for all connected devices,” said Ravi Karthik, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer for ACT Fibernet. “As the number of devices connected to home Wi-Fi continues to grow significantly, providing an exceptional Wi-Fi experience is our top priority. Under ACT Smart Wi-Fi, we have planned a range of products and innovations in the home Wi-Fi sector to tackle this challenge and greatly enhance the in-home Wi-Fi experience.”

For more information on ACT, please visit: https://www.actcorp.in/company

EXA Infrastructure, the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform throughout Europe, connecting North America and Asia via the Middle East, has partnered with Teraswitch to provide 400GE connectivity and position it for global network expansion.

Teraswitch recently deployed its global network, featuring 100GE waves to connect cities across the US and Europe. However, with growing connectivity demands fuelled by advancements in Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and streaming platforms, it quickly recognised that 100GE alone was insufficient, driving the need for further expansion.

By upgrading Teraswitch’s services to 400GE, EXA Infrastructure has provided diverse, high-capacity connectivity, including services across Europe and the Atlantic. This upgrade not only increases bandwidth but also significantly reduces cost per megabit, enabling Teraswitch to pass on competitive pricing to its customers. Enhanced service level agreements (SLAs) further underscore the value of this partnership, ensuring greater reliability and network performance for clients.

“Teraswitch’s decision to upgrade to 400GE speaks to the strength of our relationship and our ability to deliver solutions that scale with customers in line with their ambitions,” said Jim Fagan, CEO at EXA Infrastructure. “This partnership underscores our shared commitment to innovation, network reliability, and helping customers thrive in today’s data-driven world.”

Brendan Mannella at Teraswitch, commented: “Our partnership with EXA Infrastructure has been instrumental in our ability to scale quickly and cost-effectively. Upgrading to 400GE not only helps us meet the growing demands of our customers but also strengthens our position in the global market. EXA’s reliability, ease of doing business, and innovative approach have been key factors in our success, and we look forward to expanding this partnership as we grow our network further in 2025.”

Looking ahead, Teraswitch has ambitious plans to expand its network reach to additional continents by 2025. EXA Infrastructure is proud to be a cornerstone of this growth strategy, reaffirming its role as a trusted partner in enabling Teraswitch’s global ambitions.

For more information on EXA Infrastructure’s high-capacity connectivity solutions, visit https://exainfra.net/

News 

T-Mobile had previously only mentioned testing with Samsung devices, with no mention of Apple’s iPhones 

Apple has been “secretly” working with T-Mobile and SpaceX test Starlink’s network using Apple’s latest iPhone software, according to a Bloomberg report.  

The iPhone’s latest software update, which was released this week, will allow selected T-Mobile customers to connect directly to the satellites.   

The test will “begin with select optimised smartphones” and the full launch will “support the vast majority of modern smartphones”. 

The following alert was sent to initial beta users: “You’re in the T-Mobile Starlink beta. You can now stay connected with texting via satellite from virtually anywhere. To start experiencing coverage beyond, please update to iOS 18.3.” 

When an iPhone on the T-Mobile network has no connectivity, the pilot devices will attempt to pair with Starlink satellites. The software is designed to connect automatically, even if the device is not in use. 

Medium resolution images, music & audio podcasts should work with the current generation Starlink direct-to-phone constellation.

Next generation constellation will do medium resolution video. https://t.co/yfDPbkgSJH

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2025

Back in November, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a license for T Mobile and Space X to provide coverage to remote areas, in an effort to eliminate “dead zones”. 

“The FCC is actively promoting competition in the space economy by supporting more partnerships between terrestrial mobile carriers and satellite operators to deliver on a single network future that will put an end to mobile dead zones,” said the FCC Chair at the time, Jessica Rosenworcel. 

It is worth noting that, iPhone (14 or later) users can already connect to satellite for free emergency text messaging, thanks to Apple’s partnership with satellite firm Globalstar, which was agreed in 2022.  

It is unclear what impact these tests with SpaceX will have on Apple’s relationship with Globalstar moving forward. 

Join us at this year’s Connected America, 11-12 March in Dallas. Get discounted tickets here! 

Also in the news: 

News 

The launch of DeepSeek has rattled the global AI industry, potentially offering a far cheaper alternative to market leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic 

Founded in 2023 by former hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek has quickly positioned itself as a strong competitor to the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s CoPilot, having seemingly trained a comparative AI model at a fraction of the usual cost (around $6 million compared to the industry standard of billions).  

The launch has brought into question the current US dominance in the sector. By reducing the costs of AI development and deployment, DeepSeek has created an economic advantage for itself in terms of startup and operating costs, but has also challenged the way the AI industry operates, which has the potential to transform the future of AI adoption and accessibility. This is because DeepSeek has proved that  advanced models don’t require massive budgets, lowering barriers for new players. If its claims about faster inference speed are true, it may accelerate AI adoption and shift investment away from costly, chip-heavy models 

DeepSeek’s own website describes the chatbot as achieving a “significant breakthrough in inference speed over previous models. It tops the leaderboard among open-source models and rivals the most advanced closed-source models globally.” 

Both the chatbot release and the slimmer startup costs has caused panic in the global financial markets, especially in the case of chip giant Nvidia, which lost almost $600bn (£482bn) of its market value on Monday, which was the biggest one-day loss in US history. Today, however, stocks have begun to recover, having gained around 2.5% in early trading yesterday. In short statement since the market tumble, Nvidia called DeepSeek “an excellent AI advancement.” 

President Trump has responded to the news, calling it “a wakeup call for our industries that we need to be laser-focused on competing to win”.  

The success of the launch is also a huge boost for the Chinese AI industry, as technological geopolitical tensions between China and the West continue to rage. Yesterday, China’s state-owned Global Times suggested that the US has failed to halt Chinese progression in the sector, adding, “the Biden administration’s four-year crackdown on China’s AI and computing power has not only failed but has also spurred the country to forge a unique path for AI development.” 

Join the discussion around AI at this year’s Connected America, 11-12 March in Texas. Get discounted tickets here! 

Also in the news: 

Tim Höttges to remain at the helm of Deutsche Telekom until 2028 
VMO2 bring connectivity to rural notspot with Starlink
A ‘vulnerable soft underbelly’: UK joint committee explores subsea cable security

Feature Week: Trump on Telecoms

Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 has ushered in a new era for US telecoms and technology policy. His administration has wasted no time in making major changes, with key moves including the appointment of Brendan Carr as Federal Communications Commission chair and proposals for greater control over platforms like TikTok.

With a focus on deregulation, free speech, and national security, Trump’s policy decisions are set to redefine the telecoms landscape that President Biden’s administration has presided over since 2020.

Let’s take a look at what’s happened so far.

2024

5th November – Trump win election to become President of the United States
Donald Trump wins the 2024 US Presidential Election, suggesting significant shifts are to come in telecoms and tech policy.

17^th November – Brendan Carr nominated for FCC chair
Trump names Brendan Carr as FCC chair. Carr, a notable critic of Big Tech and opponent of net neutrality, has been a commissioner since 2017. His appointment suggests a potential shift towards deregulation for telecoms operators, but scrutiny for major tech players like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

22^nd November – Carr puts BEAD’s future up for debate
Carr suggests an “important discussion” about the program (BEAD)’s future is needed, given that the lion’s share of the money has not been spent.

2025

20th January – Trump sworn in
Trump was inaugurated for his second term, and Brendan Carr officially became FCC chair.

21t January – Trump delays decision over TikTok ban
Trump signs an Executive Order giving ByteDance more time to find a new owner before a shutdown. He had previously proposed the US government take a 50% stake in TikTok to address security concerns, though many Republicans pushed for a full divestiture by the company’s Chinese owners. “Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it,” said Trump.

21^st January – New FCC commissioner named
Olivia Trusty is nominated to serve on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by President Donald Trump. Trump says Trusty and Carr will work together to “cut regulations at a record pace.”

22^nd January – Trump backs $500bn AI project ‘Stargate’
The president praised a new joint venture between OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX that promises $500 billion in AI investment, with the first $100 billion to be invested this year.

23^rd January – Ericsson CTO bullish on tech support from Trump administration
Industry leaders such as Ericsson’s CTO expressed optimism about Trump’s policies at the World Economic Forum in Davos, expecting additional support for 5G and AI advancements. “The opportunities just seem fantastic right now to put in an extra gear and then make sure that we are part of that (AI), says CTO Erik Ekudden.

23^rd January – FCC reinstates complaints about 2024 election coverage
Ex-FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel had previously dismissed complaints about election coverage from NBC, ABC, and CBS, describing them as attempts to ‘weaponise the FCC’.

27^th January – Trump fires Cyber Safety Review Board members
The CSRB advisory committee, serving the Department of Homeland Security, was set up to investigate cybersecurity and digital espionage incidents, most recently the massive ‘Salt Typhoon’ cyberattacks carried out by China-liked hackers. The CSRB committee was one of many disbanded by the new administration.

Join us at Connected America, 11-12 March in Texas. Get discounted tickets here!

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EXA Infrastructure enters into agreement to acquire Aqua Comms
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BT quietly scraps EV charging pilot

News

To date, around 4.3 million connections have been made possible through federal gigabit funding 

The German Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) has launched its 2025 Gigabit Funding programme. Starting this month, €1.2 billion will be available to support infrastructure projects and a pilot programmes to close connectivity gaps in underserved areas. 

This year’s funding round is centred on the 2025 infrastructure funding programme, which includes both a standard funding process and a quicker “fast lane” option. The criteria and rules for applying remain largely the same as last year, providing stability for states, municipalities, and applicants.  

The funding round also includes the continuation of a pilot programme designed to improve internet access in smaller regions that have been left out of gigabit expansion so far. With a simplified application process, this programme aims to develop these areas quickly, making use of both public and private funding to ensure the best results. 

“Digitalisation requires high-performance, resilient and future-proof networks. Fiber optic technology enables particularly fast, energy-efficient and reliable data communication. In this legislative period, we have made great progress in fibee optic expansion – thanks to the high dynamics in the market and our targeted funding,” said Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing in a press release (translated). 

“Even in a difficult budget situation, we are keeping our ambitious gigabit expansion goals firmly in sight: We continue to support regions in which private expansion is reaching its limits and thus create digital participation for everyone. Our goals set out in the gigabit strategy remain clear – nationwide gigabit supply by 2030, a clear focus on private sector expansion and targeted funding measures as a supplement,” he continued. 

In 2022, around 560 projects were approved, with €2 billion invested in expanding fibre optic networks. This helped provide more than 440,000 connections and helped around 1,700 communities.  

Is Germany’s fibre network expansion moving quickly enough? Join us at this year’s Connected Germany event in Munich to discuss the sectors biggest challenges and opportunities! Find our more here 

Also in the news:
BT pushes for accelerated withdrawal from “outdated” copper landline network as faults rise
Boldyn takes first steps in Germany with Smart Mobile Labs acquisition
VMO2 deploys more small cells in Birmingham with Ontix

News 

BT has urged the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) providers to accelerate plans to transition away from the ageing Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), warning that the outdated system poses growing risks to essential services 

Increasingly fragile and difficult to maintain, the PSTN saw a 45% rise in major resilience incidents last year, according to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report.  

BT warns that delays in migrating to digital connectivity could disrupt critical systems such as fire alarms, lift phones, and even water monitoring sensors.  

Industries like energy and water are leading the way in the transition away from the PSTN, with 80% and 64%, respectively, of BT’s customers in these sectors having already put a transition plan in place.  

However, 60% of the operator’s CNI customers have yet to develop a transition plan.  

“With the ageing copper landline network becoming increasingly fragile, it’s simply too risky to run the UK’s essential public services on outdated networks. BT is committed to moving these services onto future-proofed modern connectivity well ahead of the closure of the analogue copper network – but we can’t do it alone,” said BT CEO Bas Burger in a press release. 

“We’re urging all Critical National Infrastructure providers to act now to help protect their services and reap the long-term benefits of going digital. Waiting until the analogue switch-off is too late. We’re working with customers to review their technology estate, test their critical devices and switch to more reliable connectivity by the end of 2025,” he continued. 

To support the shift, BT’s specialists are helping organisations review technology, test device compatibility, and migrate to digital systems. The government has also introduced the PSTN Critical National Infrastructure Charter, to make sure of safeguards for essential services during the transition.  

The move to digital networks offers a range of benefits. Faster broadband speeds, better security, and features like scam prevention and integrated calling across devices. 

Is the UK’s rollout of next-generation moving quickly enough to support the UK’s digital economy? Join the discussion at Connected North, live in Manchester 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter   

Also in the news:
EXA Infrastructure enters into agreement to acquire Aqua Comms
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Press Release

Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), one of the largest shared network infrastructure providers in the world, cements its position as a leading global mobile private networks player through the agreement to acquire Smart Mobile Labs (SML), Germany’s market leader in bespoke private 5G networks and turnkey applications.

The addition of SML will immediately expand Boldyn’s footprint, placing the business with a track record of over 110 mobile private network (MPN) implementations across the five largest European economies, in addition to the US. The strategic acquisition enhances Boldyn’s technical knowledge for critical sectors, tailored use cases, and the further development of its Private 5G as a Service offering, the first of its kind in the industry. Read the full press release here.

Justin Berger, Group Chief Strategy Officer at Boldyn Networks said: “Germany is a very attractive market for mobile private networks. By bringing Smart Mobile Labs’ expertise to Boldyn, we’ll be able to scale our existing private networks expertise to benefit customers looking for a partner of choice across a wider area of Europe.” He continued: “The SML leadership team comes with a combined 100 years of experience in engineering and technology, adding to our talented team at Boldyn.”

Igor Leprince, Group Chief Executive Officer at Boldyn Networks said: “At Boldyn we have been leading the way in reimagining customers’ digital transformations through dynamic private 4G and 5G networks. As an important player in the fast-rising private network ecosystem Smart Mobile Labs will support our expansion in the top five markets in Europe and globally. SML comes with an impressive customer base across key sectors for us, which rely on their strong technical capabilities, innovation, and a market-leading partner network.”

Klaus Nagora, CEO & Founder of Smart Mobile Labs said: “Joining Boldyn Networks in their global growth journey is exciting for us and for our customers. Not only will we be able to scale our private network and EVO offerings inside of Germany, but worldwide, now with the backing of a neutral host portfolio leader and a global team of experts. We share Boldyn’s focus on developing bold solutions that can solve our customers’ needs. It’s in our DNA to be ahead of such needs.”

Rüdiger Hnyk, COO of Smart Mobile Labs said: “SML and Boldyn together will become a major player for private 5G offerings in Europe. We will now be able to offer the most experienced and most practical references for specialised market solutions. From remote driven trains and container handling solutions for logistics storage, to autonomous driving and valet parking, safety applications like “5G drone patrol”, and video camera control solutions for airports, our joint capabilities will be best suited to cover the growing demands of a variety of sectors successfully.”

How is the German telecoms sector evolving in 2025? Join the indutry in discussion at Connected Germany

Also in the news:
EXA Infrastructure enters into agreement to acquire Aqua Comms
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BT quietly scraps EV charging pilot 

News 

A court ruling has upheld a previous decision ordering the Italian government to pay TIM €1 billion in relation to an illegal licence fee collected in 1998 

An Italian appeals court has rejected the Italian government’s request to suspend a €1 billion payment that it owes Telecom Italia (TIM) after a long license fee dispute, the Italian incumbent has announced. 

The Italian telecoms sector was liberalised in 1997 and, the next year, TIM was forced to pay a license fee of around €500 million. This licence fee was issued in contradiction of European Union policies for a liberalised market.   

As such, since 2009, TIM has been attempting to recover this fee, plus revaluation and the accrued interest, arguing that they should not have been charged the fee following the market liberalisation process.  

In April last year, the Rome Court of Appeal ordered the Italian government to pay TIM the fee, and to immediately begin recovering the capital. The amount owed totals €500 million, plus another €500 million in accrued interest. 

The two parties were given until Monday this week to settle the dispute out of court, but an agreement could not be reached. The government had asked that the payment be delayed until it goes to the Supreme Court, which the Italian appeals court rejected 

The decision should allow TIM to claim the funds from the government, regardless of ongoing appeals. 

Nonetheless, the case is not over yet. A final decision will come from Italy’s Supreme Court, expected later this year. For now, TIM can receive the payment, but whether it will ultimately be allowed to keep it is another matter.  

 Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom newsletter  

Also in the news:
EXA Infrastructure enters into agreement to acquire Aqua Comms
“European competitiveness has one foot in the morgue,” warns Nokia CEO
BT quietly scraps EV charging pilot