The China Satellite Navigation System Management Office (CNSO) has reportedly revealed its roadmap to upgrade China’s Beidou positioning and navigation system by 2035 by adding next-generation LEO satellites to the mix.

The roadmap, released by CNSO on Thursday, calls for key technology research for the next-gen Beidou system to be wrapped up by the end of next year, after which three test satellites will be launched in 2027, according to a report from the official Xinhua News Agency.

If the tests go well, launches for the actual Beidou LEO satellites will commence in 2029, with the entire constellation in place by 2035. The roadmap also outlines the establishment of an integrated ground system “to ensure resource flexibility, data sharing, and continuous operations”, the report said.

The current generation of the Beidou constellation (known as BDS-3) features 30 satellites: 24 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites and three geostationary satellites, plus another three satellites in inclined geosynchronous orbits. Including the previous two generations, Beidou had a total of 44 satellites in operation as of the end of 2023. 

Beidou’s deputy chief designer Xie Jun told state media outlet Global Times that the existing constellation would serve as the core for the upgraded system featuring the new LEO satellites.

Xie also said that adding LEO satellites will give Beidou faster positioning speeds and better accuracy. Neither state media report mentioned how many LEO satellites will be added to the Beidou constellation.

China has been lobbying developing countries under its Belt and Road Initiative to adopt Beidou as a superior alternative to the more popular (and aging) GPS system operated by the US – not least for its unique multi-orbit design and its ability to support SMS.

Various state media reports claim that China has signed Beidou cooperation agreements with Russia, Pakistan, Belarus, Egypt and South Africa, among others, with recent efforts focused on Africa and the Middle East. The Global Times report claims Beidou products are currently exported to over 140 countries and regions.

Meanwhile, the US has been looking to add a LEO component to its geostationary GPS constellation, primarily as a backup network.

In September, the US Space Force (USSF) awarded contracts to Axient, L3 Harris Sierra Space and Astranis to develop competing designs for its Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS) programme, which seeks to deploy smaller and cheaper satellites to add resiliency to the existing GPS constellation. The winning designer(s) will be contracted to build an initial fleet of eight satellites scheduled for launch in 2028, according to Space News.

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The deal covers over 3,000 Open RAN sites across Germany 

Nokia has announced a deal with Deutsche Telekom to support the deployment of over 3,000 sites for its Open RAN network in Germany.  

The rollout, which is already underway in the Neubrandenburg region, will see Nokia replace equipment from the incumbent vendor, Huawei. Partnering with Fujitsu, Nokia will provide O-RAN-compliant technology designed to modernise Telekom’s network.  

“This deal is further evidence of our significant commitment to multi-vendor Open RAN and ensuring we have greater supplier choice for radio access networks,” said Abdu Mudesir, Group CTO and Managing Director of Technology Germany at Deutsche Telekom in a press release. “The network performance in the already implemented area is delivering the best customer experience. And now together with Nokia, we look forward to scaling up Open RAN in Germany.”. 

This deal comes amid broader efforts by European telecom operators to reduce their reliance on Huawei, which has historically been a dominant supplier of equipment in the region. 

 Huawei’s presence in Europe has faced increasing scrutiny over security concerns raised by the US and several European governments. While the EU itself has not specifically lobbied against the use of Huawei equipment, it has introduced more stringent security guidelines for network equipment and encouraged telecom operators to diversify their supplier base. 

As such, only a small number of countries – such as the UK and Sweden – have banned the use of Huawei equipment in national networks outright. Instead, most governments have taken a lighter approach, with many only mandating that Huawei equipment be removed from the most sensitive parts of telecoms networks.  

This is the case for Germany, which has been particularly cautious in mandating operators to phase out Huawei equipment. After years of indecision, it was only this summer – almost five years since the 5G security debate began – that  Germany ordered the removal of Huawei equipment from the core of the network by the end of 2026. By the end of 2029, the wider network components from these manufacturers in 5G access and transport networks must be replaced. 

“We are protecting the central nervous systems of Germany as a business location — and we are protecting the communication of citizens, companies and the state,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. “We must reduce security risks and, unlike in the past, avoid one-sided dependencies”  

In anticipation of rules such as this, Deutsche Telekom, one of Huawei’s largest European customers, has been gradually shifting toward a more diverse vendor mix for a number of years. The partnership with Nokia represents another significant step in this direction, with Deutsche Telekom moving to better align with European Union objectives of reducing dependency on high-risk vendors and fostering a competitive, secure telecom ecosystem. 

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Philippine telco PLDT has reportedly launched what it’s billing as an “uninterruptible fiber internet connection” service that uses fixed wireless access (FWA) LTE as an automatic backup connection in case of a fibre outage.

According to ABS-CBN News, the “Fiber Always On” service from PLDT Home uses a hybrid CPE modem that supports both fibre access and LTE. The LTE connection is provided by PLDT’s wireless arm Smart Communications.

Roy Victor Añonuevo, PLDT VP and head of home broadband product management, told ABS-CBN that the modem will automatically switch to LTE if it detects a fault in the fibre connection. After that, customers will get unlimited LTE until the fibre connection is fixed.

The modem also notifies automatically PLDT Home’s support centre when it makes the switch to LTE, after which a ticket number is automatically generated and a repair team dispatched within 24 to 36 hours, the report said.

While the always-on hybrid modem is available as an add-on for existing PLDT Home customers, service availability depends on the quality of Smart’s LTE signal in the customer’s service area. PLDT Home technicians will test the LTE signal before installing the hybrid modem, the report added. PLDT Home customers can also use a form on the service provider’s website to check if the always-on option is available in their location.

Even with a good signal, PLDT Home subscribers are likely to experience a noticeable drop in connection quality once the modem switches from fibre to LTE.

According to the latest report from Opensignal, Smart’s LTE network delivered average downlink speeds of 28.6 Mbps, ranking second between DITO Telecommunity (34.6 Mbps) and Globe Telecom (20.9 Mbps). Meanwhile, according to Ookla, PLDT Home’s fibre broadband speeds for Q1 and Q2 2024 clocked in at just over 131 Mbps.

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The government has announced a trio of new projects, supported by the UK Space Agency, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and the European Space Agency, aiming to provide reliable, high-speed internet for some of the UK’s hardest-to-reach areas 

This week, the UK government has announced new satellite projects aimed at delivering broadband to some of the country’s most remote communities. These projects typically combine the use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites to provide improved wireless communication, benefiting both residents and visitors to rural areas.   

It should come as little surprise that two of the three projects in the announcement relate to remote islands. These are locations that pose major deployment challenges for terrestrial infrastructure and are rarely populated enough to make such a rollout cost effective for mobile operators. As such, these islands are often left to languish with little or poor-quality connectivity.   

The first of these projects takes place on Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland. Located seven miles off the mainland, the island has 141 residents but attracts 40,000 visitors annually. Limited by poor mobile signals and no direct broadband cable, the government’s £2 million pilot project aims to combine GEO and LEO satellite terminals with wireless technologies to deliver improved connectivity for residents, businesses, and tourists.    

The second project relates to Papa Stour, one of the most remote Shetland isles. Here, a £1 million project will test similar hybrid networks to provide faster and more reliable internet. This is expected to support conservation efforts, tourism, and the daily lives of residents.    

Finally, a third project, dubbed the Nomadic Multi-orbit User Terminal Demonstrator, aims to develop portable satellite terminals capable of delivering gigabit speeds by combining both LEO and GEO satellite signals. These terminals can be mounted on vehicles to rapidly provide connectivity in remote regions, supporting emergency services, farmers, and event organisers in hard-to-reach areas.    

The government hopes that these projects will boost education, healthcare, tourism, and local economies while offering a model for expanding connectivity in rural and remote areas across the UK. 

“Digital infrastructure is essential for our modern way of life. But for too long, many businesses and communities have felt left behind,” said Telecoms Minster Chris Bryant in a press release. 

“This is why we must do whatever it takes to ensure we harness technological innovation to enrich people’s lives and tackle exclusion, rather than entrench existing inequalities. These pilots, for instance, will help shape the next generation of connectivity, using a combination of satellite technology and mobile networks to test innovative new services that could be a real game-changer for remote and rural communities,” he added. 

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Optical networking vendor Ciena says that HGC Global Communications is deploying its connectivity solutions to support the telco’s recently announced data centre interconnect (DCI) service in the Philippines.

According to a release issued  by Ciena on Monday, Ciena’s local partner CommVerge Solutions will deploy the vendor’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform – powered by WaveLogic Ai coherent optical technology – to give its network more flexibility, improved scalability, and adaptability.

CommVerge will also deploy Ciena’s 3928 routing and switching platform to improve efficiency of operations and service consistency across applications. HGC will use Ciena’s Navigator Network Control Suite, which supports rapid planning, provisioning, turning-up, and troubleshooting of services. It also uses analytics and intelligent network control to optimize network performance.

HGC said the Ciena equipment will enhance its edge capabilities the Philippines and improve connectivity into and out of the country.

Last month, HGC launched DCI clusters in key data hubs across Asia, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong to offer an extensive DCI infrastructure connecting major data centres across Southeast Asia.

That launch came just after HGC beefed up its data centre PoP in the Philippines by joining PLDT Enterprise’s Vitro Partner Network (VPN), which enabled it to expand its footprint to the new Vitro Sta. Rosa data centre.

“As the Philippines rapidly digitizes, HGC is advancing high-speed, reliable connectivity through its operations on the ground in partnership with local entities, ensuring the country’s connectivity needs are met,” said Michael De Castro, first VP of in-country project investment for HGC’s international business unit, and president of HGC’s Digital Well Infrastructure Corp (DWIC), in a statement. “With this robust infrastructure, the country is set to enhance connectivity, drive innovation, and attract global investments.”

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The trial paves the way for bringing satellite-enabled messaging to customers in remote areas across Europe 

Deutsche Telekom, Qualcomm, and Skylo Technologies have completed what they claim is Europe’s first successful trial of text messaging direct-to-handset over satellite.  

The trial, conducted in Greece by Deutsche Telekom’s local subsidiary Cosmote, saw the Cosmote’s terrestrial mobile network integrated with Skylo’s GEO satellite network, allowing the device user to send and receive SMS messages. The devices used were equipped with a Snapdragon® X-80 5G Modem-RF System and integrated NB-NTN satellite connectivity. 

The messages were sent over Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum and were based technically on 3GPP’s Release 17 specifications for Direct-to-Handset (D2H) connectivity. This will allow customers to send and receive text messages globally, even in areas without traditional mobile coverage, using their regular phones, with no ad-ons or additional hardware.  

Perhaps the biggest advantage here is the use of commercially licensed MSS spectrum, which is available on a pan-European basis, allowing devices to roam seamlessly across international borders.  

“Soon, subscribers won’t have to think twice about coverage before texting, whether they’re on a remote island in Greece or venturing in regions without cell coverage – it’ll be a part of their cellular service. The future of satellite connectivity is strong integration into carrier networks and we’re excited to partner with Deutsche Telekom which has been paving the way for these new services”, said Parthsarathi Trivedi, CEO and co-founder of Skylo in a press rel ease. 

The technology could play a key role in improving coverage for rural communities, enhancing emergency response, and providing reliable connectivity wherever it is needed. 

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MTN Group announced on Monday it has commercially launched its 5G network in Congo-Brazzaville, making it the group’s sixth 5G launch in Africa along with last week’s launch of 5G in Benin.

MTN Congo has been trialling 5G in a pilot project since October 2022, and announced last month that it was ready to launch 5G services. The official commercial launch ceremony was held last Thursday, although no details were given in terms of coverage.

Ebenezer Twum Asante, MTN Group’s VP of the East, West and Central Africa, said in a statement that 5G would serve as a cornerstone for Congo-Brazzaville’s economic and social development.

“In a context where digital infrastructure has become the basis of economic growth, MTN Congo intends to actively contribute to making Congo a digital innovation hub in Central Africa,” he said.

MTN Group first launched commercial 5G in its home base of South Africa in June 2020. Since then, its subsidiaries have also launched 5G in Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. On Friday, MTN officially launched Benin’s first commercial 5G network, with initial services available in select areas of the port city of Cotonou and Abomey-Calavi.

MTN said 5G trials are currently underway in South Sudan, and the group is working to secure the spectrum and licences to extend its 5G footprint. The group says it rolled out 2,251 5G sites across its various markets in 2023, and added another 829 5G sites in the first half of this year.

“5G is more than a technological advancement – it is the foundation for innovation, economic growth, and the creation of new opportunities,” said MTN Group chief technology and information officer Mazen Mroue.

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The new service is powered by technology from California-based cybersecurity company Fortinet  

BT has expanded its secure networking service for UK businesses, introducing new features designed to protect cloud data and applications. The upgrade, powered by cybersecurity company Fortinet, adds increased security to BT’s existing Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) services, making it easier for companies to securely access the cloud and managing their networks effectively. 

The new capabilities include AI-powered Security Service Edge (SSE) features, such as firewall-as-a-service, secure web gateways, and zero-trust network access. These tools ensure that only verified users and devices can access sensitive company resources.  

As businesses increasingly shift to cloud-based operations and support employees working from various locations, these new features provide a solution for keeping data and applications safe. With this expanded service, BT aims to simplify network security and help companies protect themselves against growing cyber threats while maintaining seamless access to cloud services, the company said. 

“Building upon our decade-long partnership, we’re proud to collaborate on the new SASE service with BT to enable its UK customers to converge networking and security,” said Nirav Shah, Vice President, Products and Solutions at Fortinet in a press release.  

“SASE complements the cybersecurity platform approach to delivering integrated security and secure network access regardless of where users are located. By combining Fortinet’s cutting-edge SASE and secure networking solutions with a leading choice of fixed and 5G access networks from BT, customers can have a nimble, robust, and more secure network to help them get the best from the cloud,” he continued. 

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