Press Release

Nokia announced that it has been selected by Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) for a major new multi‑year 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) deployment and modernization program across the UK. The agreement builds on more than two decades of strategic collaboration between the companies. It marks a significant milestone as Virgin Media O2 continues its mission to deliver the country’s most reliable and high‑performance 5G network with its Mobile Transformation Plan.

Under the new deal, Nokia will supply its latest-generation AirScale RAN portfolio, including ultra-capacity modular baseband, and energy-efficient, future-proofed Massive MIMO radios. Leveraging Nokia’s comprehensive technology roadmap, Virgin Media O2 will benefit from improved spectral efficiency, coverage, capacity, and throughput, ensuring strong 5G performance today while laying the foundation for 5G‑Advanced capabilities.

“We are delighted to deepen our longstanding partnership with Virgin Media O2 through this important new 5G RAN deal. Our AirScale portfolio is designed to deliver the performance, efficiency, and flexibility required for the UK’s future connectivity needs. We look forward to supporting Virgin Media O2 in building one of the most advanced and reliable 5G Advanced networks in the country.” said Mark Atkinson, Head of Radio Access Network, Nokia. 

Transforming the UK 5G experience

The deployment will enable Virgin Media O2 to improve network quality and accelerate modernization through optimized spectrum utilization and enhanced energy-saving software features. Nokia’s latest GigaSite architecture, Dual‑Band Massive MIMO, and AI‑enabled baseband platforms will support seamless scalability and operational efficiency throughout the rollout. The technology uplift is expected to deliver a more reliable connectivity for Virgin Media O2 customers across the country.

As part of the new engagement, Nokia and Virgin Media O2 will expand their collaboration on joint innovation programs, including pilots and proof of concepts that explore advanced RAN intelligence, automation, and energy-efficient architectures aligned with Virgin Media O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan. This new contract extends Nokia’s role as one of Virgin Media O2’s primary RAN partners, following the previously announced agreement to continue 5G rollout and modernization.

“As we continue to evolve and enhance our award‑winning mobile network with our Mobile Transformation Plan, Nokia remains a key strategic partner in helping us deliver reliable connectivity to our customers. This new agreement allows us to accelerate our 5G rollout, improve performance, and ensure we meet growing demand for high‑quality mobile services both today and in the future.” said Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer, Virgin Media O2. 

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Intelligent transport solutions company Siemens Mobility has been awarded a contract to deliver the advanced signalling and rail infrastructure technology solution European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1 for the Mexico City – Querétaron – Irapuato railway corridor.

Siemens Mobility, a separately managed company of technology giant Siemens, will be delivering the solution alongside digital transformation services company Sonda Mexico.

Spanning more than 300 kilometres and serving eleven passenger stations, the project is part of Mexico’s federal initiative to modernise passenger rail infrastructure. This is Siemens Mobility’s first ETCS contract in Mexico.

Siemens Mobility will also deliver, for the first time in Latin America, its TPS.plan software, a powerful train planning system that optimises timetables and rail operations, alongside ETCS Level 1 wayside signalling, an operational control centre and backup, as well as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. Consortium partner Sonda will provide telecommunications, CCTV and civil works. 

ETCS is a standardised signalling and control system that enhances rail safety by continuously supervising train speed and movement authority. It replaces fragmented national systems with a common standard.

TPS.plan is a cutting-edge software solution developed by Siemens subsidiary HaCon. This application enables precise timetable and track path optimisation by leveraging microscopic infrastructure modeling to create conflict-free schedules. TPS.plan also simplifies coordination by granting stakeholders full access to the most up-to-date planning status, ensuring efficient and seamless rail operations.

The project, say the partners, will significantly enhance mobility for workers, students and commuters in the Bajío region. By connecting the capital with the states of Hidalgo, Querétaro, and Guanajuato, they add, the line strengthens regional connectivity to Mexico City, boosts economic competitiveness, and aligns with federal goals for sustainable passenger rail

The rise of AI is changing not just the data center world, but the network infrastructure that connects it.  It seems like just yesterday that intercity and last mile fiber were things that didn’t get invested in. That has all flipped, and network operators have been moving rapidly to meet demand.  We spoke with Dan Stoll, President of Commercial and Carrier at Fidium, about how the network landscape is evolving. … [visit site to read more]

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has refuted media reports claiming that its recently updated technical specs for type-approval of mobile devices is a move to ban or phase out low-cost or entry-level devices.

The new specs, published last Tuesday, include a requirement that all mobile devices seeking type approval – including smartphones, feature phones, and tablets – must use a USB Type-C charging interface. The specs also state that the charging cable must be detachable from the power adapter.

Some local media reports took this requirement as a move to ban existing low-end legacy handsets that mostly use Micro-USB or proprietary charging ports.

In a statement issued Thursday, the CA said this was not the case, clarifying that the new specs only apply to new devices that have not yet been type-approved for sale, importation, assembly or use in Kenya, regardless of price point.

“Phones and tablets that were already type-approved prior to March 24th, 2026, or that are already in circulation and in use by Kenyans, remain fully legal,” the CA said. “There is no ban on the use, ownership, or continued sale of existing stock that was previously approved.”

The CA added that type-approved mobile devices that are in shipment and enroute to Kenya or awaiting shipment are also not affected by the new requirements.

The regulator said that the new USB-C specs are intended to promote consumer protection and safety, enhance interoperability and standardization of devices, reduce electronic waste by minimizing the proliferation of incompatible chargers, and align Kenya with emerging global best practices in device manufacturing and sustainability.

ORAN Development Corporation (ODC) has secured $45 million in Series A funding to accelerate deployment of its AI-native radio access network (RAN) platform and expand commercial engagements.

The round was backed by a syndicate of technology companies and telecom operators, including Nvidia, Cisco and Nokia, alongside operators such as AT&T, MTN Group and Telecom Italia. Investment firm Booz Allen Hamilton also participated, with additional backing from Phoenix Venture Partners and existing investor Cerberus Capital Management.

ODC is developing what it describes as an AI-native, open-architecture RAN platform designed to combine communications, sensing and edge computing. The company said it is already working with a number of customers and plans to scale deployments through 2026.

At the core of its strategy is a “distributed compute grid” concept, which aims to transform traditional mobile infrastructure into a platform capable of supporting AI workloads at the network edge. By integrating Nvidia’s Aerial RAN technology, ODC is positioning its platform to move beyond connectivity and enable real-time, low-latency processing for applications such as autonomous systems and industrial automation.

The funding reflects growing industry interest in AI-driven network architectures, as operators and vendors look to evolve 5G infrastructure to support new use cases and future 6G development.

Backers highlighted the potential for AI-native RAN to reshape telecom networks. Executives from Nvidia, Cisco and Nokia pointed to increasing demand for software-driven, edge-based intelligence, while operators including MTN and Telecom Italia emphasised the opportunity to deliver new services and expand digital capabilities.

ODC said the investment will be used to accelerate platform development and expand partnerships, with a focus on scaling deployments of its AI-enabled infrastructure.

News

Pilot Fiber has rolled out high-capacity wavelength services in New York’s metro, upgrading its backbone to support 400-gigabit connections.

By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

Scandinavian optical networking solutions provider Smartoptics says New York-based Pilot Fiber has enhanced their critically important fiber backbone using their solution.

According to a release provided to Total Telecom, Pilot Fiber, which serves enterprise and financial services sectors in New York City, now provides “wavelength services over an 800G-ready Smartoptics ROADM architecture.”

Joe Fasone, the CEO of Pilot Fiber, said the process went smoothly. As a result, the company is positioned to offer managed, end-to-end wavelength services between its fiber footprint in Manhattan and New Jersey data centers, where many enterprises co-locate critical infrastructure.

“With any new product, you expect some complexity, but we were able to install and test the equipment and bring services online in about two weeks,” he said.

Pilot Fiber’s network already spans more than 300 miles and interconnects over 1,000 commercial buildings, the release says. Their network supports latency- and capacity-sensitive workloads such as trading, quantum experiments and AI inference.

The upgrade replaces or augments portions of Pilot Fiber’s backbone with a 400G-capable design using Smartoptics DCP-R ROADMs and a DCP-2 transponder chassis, according to Smartoptics.

“Flexibility and scalability”

Additionally, Pilot Fiber the aforementioned equipment can be deployed in a compact 2RU footprint, a notable advantage in cramped points of presence across the city.

“What ultimately drove us to Smartoptics was the flexibility and scalability of the platform,” Fasone added.

Fasone also said the two-week turnaround was critical for time-to-market and operational confidence..

For Smartoptics, the deal is part of a wider push into the U.S. market.

“Pilot is building a more automated and resilient service model to support enterprise connectivity in one of the world’s most demanding metro markets,” Smartoptics CEO Magnus Grenfeldt said, noting that the SoSmart management suite provides visibility and a structured path to automate service planning and activation while preserving reliability.

While the release provides technical detail and vendor quotes, it does not disclose pricing, contract terms, or the exact list of data centers connected under the upgrade.

Some AI tools assisted in the crafting of this report.

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This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Apoorva Jain, Chief Product Officer at EdgeBeam Wireless

The telecommunications industry has relied on a relatively stable definition of “the Edge” for decades. We’ve treated it as a manageable extension of the cloud or the perimeter of a corporate network, essentially a gateway where a router connects to a local line or a fiber hookup. However, this definition is quickly failing as we move deeper into 2026. We’re no longer managing the “Edge” — we’ve entered the era of the “Frontier Edge.” … [visit site to read more]

Turkcell announced that it has added a 10 Gbps option for its Superonline fibre broadband service, which it says makes it the first such broadband offer in Turkey.

As of Wednesday, Superonline UltraFiber now offer home broadband connectivity packages of 2 Gbps, 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps.

“We take the 1000 Mbps experience, which was previously the highest speed in home internet, to the next level,” said Turkcell GM Dr. Ali Taha Koç in a statement. “For the first time in Turkey, we offer a much stronger and more efficient connection experience by bringing speeds of up to 10 Gbps together with homes.”

The service is supported by UltraFiber’s Wi-Fi 7 Premium modem, launched by Turkcell last year, which supports upload speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

Turkcell said its UltraFiber service combined with Wi-Fi 7 offers a powerful connection infrastructure in cloud-based workflows, live broadcasts and home environments where a large number of devices are connected to the Internet at the same time.

Earlier this month, Turkcell said in its full-year financial results for 2025 that its gained 119,000 net fibre broadband subscribers last year, bringing its total fixed broadband subscriber base to 2.6 million. The operator also said it added 405,000 new households during the year, increasing its total fibre coverage to 6.3 million homes.

Turkcell also reported a fibre take-up ratio of 42%, while its residential fibre ARPU grew 10.3% year on year.

Press Release

[Chongzuo, China, March 26, 2026] In the karst terrain of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Buhua Village, once a remote and economically underdeveloped community, has been transformed into a popular tourist attraction thanks to a 5G information superhighway co-built by China Mobile and Huawei. This digital leap has established the village as a model of rural revitalization, generating over CNY500,000 in annual collective village income and boosting per capita annual earnings by CNY18,000. 

Chongzuo is characterized by impressive karst landforms with peak clusters and peak forests. This breathtaking terrain presents huge challenges for communications network buildout. To overcome these geographic barriers, China Mobile and Huawei have collaborated on technological innovations in a bid to achieve comprehensive network coverage. Today, all administrative villages in Chongzuo have access to 5G networks, while 99% of its natural villages have 4G coverage and 94% have 5G coverage. 

Buhua Village is within the jurisdiction of Chongzuo City. The village upgraded its networks from 4G to 5G as early as 2021, offering residents digital services on par with those seen in major cities. The deployment of advanced communications networks has catalyzed the growth of Buhua’s distinctive local industries. 

In Xinhe Town, where the village is situated, a digital e-commerce ecosystem has been established, featuring 65 product stores on platforms like JD.com and Douyin, which are collectively owned by the village. Furthermore, a live-streaming incubation base has been established, nurturing 27 local live streamers. These stores secure over CNY300,000 in revenue each year by selling local specialties like Buhua brown sugar. This is a handcrafted product that is recognized as intangible cultural heritage, with a 150% price premium over normal brown sugar. It is sold to tier-1 cities in China, like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, and is even exported overseas, including to Japan and South Korea. 

Digital technology is also driving the upgrade of the local tourism industry. China Mobile has established an intelligent ticketing system at the Heishui River, which is Buhua Village’s most popular scenic spot where activities like rafting, boat tours, and paddleboarding are available for tourists. This system has reduced the average time for tourists to purchase tickets from 20 minutes to just 3 minutes, with online purchases now accounting for 30% of the total. Accommodation can also be booked through the system, which has increased the booking rate of local homestays by 30%. 

Digitalization has further expanded to the ecological protection field. A safety monitoring and IT system project for modern irrigation engineering along the Heishui River has been launched, with investment totaling CNY100 million. Supported by the Bianjiang Zhizhou open AI platform, the digital monitoring system is set to cover 13 towns across four counties/districts in Chongzuo. Once up and running, it will enable the integrated, real-time monitoring of water quality and other ecological parameters of the Heishui River, and intelligently issue early warnings to guarantee safe water irrigation across 60,000 hectares of farmland in the river basin. 

Digitalization has helped Buhua Village make the jump from poverty to prosperity. In 2025, the village’s annual collective economic income (generated from assets, land, or enterprises owned by the village community rather than individuals) exceeded CNY500,000. The average income of every household reached over CNY80,000, three times the average income from traditional sugarcane farming. The annual per capita income of villagers increased by CNY18,000. As a result, an increasing number of young people have chosen to return to the village and develop their careers. 

Zhou Peng, General Manager of China Mobile Guangxi’s Chongzuo Branch, said, “By bridging the digital divide, we are helping remote villages like Buhua develop digital trade alongside traditional agriculture. This is transforming resources that were not fully used in the past due to geographical limitations into strong momentum for economic growth in the digital age.” 

Tian Yongsheng, Deputy General Manager of Huawei Guangxi, noted, “Huawei is supporting China Mobile in building a solid digital foundation for Chongzuo with innovative solutions. We look forward to seeing technology overcome geographical limitations and enable more remote villages to achieve leapfrog development in the 5G and AI era.”