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

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While the growth of 5G private networks in Africa may not so far have been as spectacular as some operators had hoped, such networks are certainly gaining traction in South Africa, as a recent agreement signed by operators MTN and China Telecom and tech giant Huawei seems to indicate.

The three major telecommunications names recently signed an agreement to deploy a state-of-the-art 5G private network for a leading (and so far unnamed) manganese mining company in South Africa’s Northern Cape.

The 5G private network will, we are told, provide ultra-reliable, high-speed connectivity – and lots of it – enabling applications such as personnel surveillance, vehicle tracking and unmanned trucks. This, Huawei says, will not only enhance efficiency but also improve workplace safety.

Beyond operational enhancements, by optimising energy consumption and resource management, the technology aligns with international environmental standards, positioning the mine as a leader in sustainable mining.

As Huawei points out, this initiative also marks a significant milestone in advancing the 5G-to-Business (5GtoB) ecosystem, showcasing a successful collaborative model between three industry leaders.

Huawei has provided an end-to-end 5G private network tailored to meet the unique demands of mining operations; MTN has contributed its infrastructure and expertise in network integration and operations; and China Telecom has leveraged its global expertise in vertical industries, providing advanced system integration and innovative digital solutions.

So does this partnership – a collaboration that will involve Africa’s largest 5G private network in the mining sector –  demonstrate the potential of 5G to drive industrial transformation in Africa, as Huawei suggests?

Certainly the promise of smarter, safer and more sustainable mining operations as well as better resource management and addressing of global supply chain demands sounds like a step forward in a key industry.

But it’s not the only target industry on MTN’s list. It was in November last year that we reported that MTN South Africa had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Telecom Global and Huawei to develop digital infrastructure across MTN’s African footprint.

Building on its strategic partnership with Huawei, MTN is already rapidly expanding its 5G private network business across a growing range of industries, including mining, oil and gas, ports, manufacturing, and education – and, of course, MTN is also extending its 5G presence to more countries in Africa.

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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  

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Dan Rice, Senior Managing Director and Communications and Media industry lead for Accenture in the US

Adapt or Be Forgotten

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell picked up his telephone prototype and forever changed how the world connects. Fast forward almost 150 years, and the telecom industry is once again standing at the precipice of massive change. But here’s the thing – today, many see telcos as slow movers, lagging the tech giants of the world.

I disagree. … [visit site to read more]

Two new global PoPs, a subsea expansion, and a new IX collaboration: … [visit site to read more]

News

A new chairman has taken the helm at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and learn about Trump’s new nominee to fill the vacancy left by former FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Plus, see how data centers are driving demand and controversy in recent headlines.

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Lightpath says AI-driven infrastructure demand is unprecedented

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The findings of a Virginia legislative audit and review commission that investigated the impacts of data centers in Virginia have come under fire.

Forecasted demand for data center due diligence spurs rebrand

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Join the conversation about connectivity in North America. Click here to learn more about Broadband Communities Summit 2025

Intracom Telecom has upgraded its uni|MS Network Lifecycle Automation & Management Platform.

Release 13.1 boosts the platform’s capacity, allowing it to provision and manage up to 1 million Fixed Wireless Access devices (FWA CPEs) – a 65% increase from the previous version’s 600,000 devices.

Amidst rapid and substantial growth in the deployment of WiBAS CPEs by WISPs and telcos worldwide for their FWA networks, Intracom Telecom saw the need to develop innovative software that significantly enhances the capacity of the uni|MS platform.

To reach 1 million FWA CPEs, Intracom Telecom significantly redesigned how CPE entries are handled by the uni|MS database, using new technologies such as containerised applications. The platform was extensively tested, in a fully automated test environment, utilising actual network data and simulated stress scenarios to ensure it is ready for future growth and scaling needs.

As a result, the software algorithms developed by the company’s R&D have allowed it to deliver excellent customer experience to 65% more subscribers with the same or less data center CPU and storage resources.

Dimitris Padelopoulos, CTO of Wireless Solutions Portfolio at Intracom Telecom, stated: “This achievement is the result of the continuous evolution of the uni|MS platform by our company’s R&D department, focused on developing and integrating new innovative technologies. The capability to support up to 1 million devices ensures an efficient and reliable solution, capable of meeting even the most demanding current and future needs of our customers.”

John Tenidis, Product Management & Marketing Director of Wireless Systems in Intracom Telecom, added: « FWA is becoming an integral part of all modern fixed access networks, and with the release 13.1 of uni|MS we are strengthening our solution offering to both existing and potential clients, ensuring that we stay ahead of their needs as the FWA sector continues to grow.”

Zayo has detailed the next wave of longhaul buildouts it will be working on over the next few years, and it’s quite a lot. The communications infrastructure provider says it has more than 5,000 new route miles of fiber in the pipeline. The buildouts are in response to AI-driven data center capacity buildouts, which will inevitably require significant new capacity. … [visit site to read more]

Four significant items of metro and last mile fiber news, three from the US and one from the UK: … [visit site to read more]