Telecom Talk

JUNE 7, 2025

High spectrum costs are placing a growing burden on telecom operators and could hinder network investments, particularly in underserved regions, warned the GSMA, the global mobile industry association. In an interaction with ETTelecom, GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath outlined the organisation’s strategic priorities, including closing the mobile usage gap, expanding 5G and 5G-Advanced (5GA), promoting responsible use of artificial intelligence ( AI ), and safeguarding critical infrastructur

Mobile

Broadband Breakfast

JUNE 7, 2025

The June 2025 BEAD Policy Notice significantly rewrites the rules of the $42.45 billion federal broadband program just as states and territories were preparing to implement their plans. After NTIA spent over a year approving 56 unique, state-tailored Final Proposals—each shaped by the original 2023 NOFO’s emphasis on flexibility, local coordination, affordability, and fiber preference—the agency has now rescinded those approvals and issued a uniform, cost-first, technology-n

Broadband

Telecom Talk

JUNE 7, 2025

Reliance Jio has outlined its next phase of growth, placing artificial intelligence ( AI ), data, and 5G at the heart of its strategy. The telco added over six million new subscribers in the first quarter of 2025, taking its total subscriber base to 488.2 million. Average revenue per user (ARPU) rose to Rs 206.2, despite recent consumer price increases.

Construction

IEEE ComSoc

JUNE 7, 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure investments are starting to shift toward networks needed to support the technology, rather than focusing exclusively on computing and power, according to Ciena Chief Executive Gary Smith. The trends helped Ciena swing to a profit and post a 24% jump in sales in the recent quarter. The company enables high-speed fiber optic connectivity for telecommunications and data centers, helping hyper-scalers such as Amazon and Microsoft support AI initiatives vi

Distribution

Telecom Talk

JUNE 7, 2025

Starlink, a satellite communications service provider, has now received permission to operate in India. The company has reportedly been issued a global mobile personal communication by satellite (GMPCS) license. In the coming days, Starlink will get trial spectrum too. With this, India now has three companies that have the GMPCS license to offer satcom services to the customers – Starlink, Jio-SES, and Eutelsat OneWeb.

Distribution

Blandin on Broadband

JUNE 7, 2025

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports … Senate Republicans have made changes to their party’s sweeping tax bill in hopes of preserving a new policy that would prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade. In legislative text unveiled Thursday night, Senate Republicans proposed denying states federal funding for broadband projects if they regulate AI.

Provisioning

Telecom Talk

JUNE 7, 2025

BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) is giving a discount on its long-term recharge of Rs 1,499. This is not the best offer on the internet. It is just there and is beneficial for people who want to recharge with this plan in the first place. In our view, the offer is more geared towards making people emotional and getting them to recharge. BSNL is saying that it is contributing 5% of the recharge amount of the Rs 1499 from its end.

Internet