Kyivstar begins 5G pilot in Lviv with Open RAN plans
Telecom operator Kyivstar has initiated a 5G pilot in Lviv, testing performance and Open RAN architectures; broader deployment depends on security conditions and recovery of national infrastructure.
SoftBank, Ericsson and Qualcomm complete 5G Advanced trial
SoftBank, Ericsson and Qualcomm trialled low‑latency 5G and 5G Advanced on SoftBank’s Tokyo 5G SA network, demonstrating network slicing and about 90% wireless latency reduction in XR tests.
Mitsubishi, AT&T embed 5G in 2026 Outlander
Mitsubishi Motors North America and AT&T will embed 5G connectivity in the 2026 Outlander, enabling faster data, over-the-air updates and expanded connected-car services across future models.
China records CNY1.61tn telecom revenue and 4.83m 5G sites
China's telecom revenue rose 0.9% to CNY1.61tn Jan–Nov; 4.83 million 5G base stations and 1.19 billion 5G users reported, with continued network investment supporting data traffic growth.
Fastweb+Vodafone, TIM agree RAN sharing for 5G rollout
Fastweb+Vodafone and TIM signed a preliminary RAN sharing agreement to accelerate 5G deployment in municipalities under 35,000 residents, subject to Italian regulatory approvals and a final contract in 2026.
VoWiFi in operator voice strategies
VoWiFi extends indoor and underserved-area voice coverage, complements VoLTE and 5G integration, and supports seamless interworking and cost-effective voice services, prompting ongoing operator investment and deployment.
India adds 4,112 5G sites in December
India added 4,112 5G BTS in December, bringing the national total to 518,854; additions slowed from November. Major states led deployments; BSNL plans 23,000 4G sites for future 5G upgrade.
Quectel launches 5G-Advanced automotive module
Quectel introduced the AR588MA, a 5G-Advanced automotive module offering NR-NTN/NB-NTN satellite links, dual-GNSS, DSDA and AEC-Q104 Grade 2 certification for telematics and OTA updates.
Solace Power and NetComm unveil window-mounted 5G CPE
Solace Power and NetComm announced a partnership to develop a window-mounted, wirelessly powered 5G CPE enabling self-installation and potential simplification of fixed wireless access deployments; operator trials planned in 2026.
FR3 role in 5G-Advanced Release 18
FR3, spanning 7.125–24.25 GHz, is included in Release 18 to extend mid-band capacity; deployment will depend on macro co-location, cell planning and realistic indoor performance expectations.
Gogo clears 5G air-to-ground testing; launches service
Gogo completed ATG 5G flight validation across multiple routes, showing download/upload speeds above 80/20 Mbps; it plans a North American commercial rollout from January with initial customer onboarding.
Mobile core developments in AI, edge, resilience and NTN
In 2026, operators and vendors will prioritise AI-enabled automation, edge local breakout, cloud-based disaster protection and satellite NTN integration to enhance core efficiency, resilience and new service monetisation.
IEEE survey finds limited near-term AI impact from 6G
IEEE survey finds 7% view 6G as a primary AI opportunity, suggesting continued focus on 5G. Experts say 6G may prioritise uplink capacity and AI resource allocation.
Ericsson emphasises convergence and scale in private 5G
Ericsson highlights combining private and neutral-host 5G on shared infrastructure, and says scale and group capabilities differentiate its enterprise offering.
Hybrid home gateways for resilient consumer connectivity
Hybrid home gateways integrate multiple access technologies to provide dynamic failover, maintaining continuous consumer connectivity across fibre, 5G and satellite and reducing reliance on a single last-mile technology.
OPPO grants Audi access to 5G patents for connected vehicles
OPPO and Audi agreed a global licence granting Audi access to OPPO's standard-essential 5G patents to integrate connectivity into its connected vehicle lineup and enhance in-car network performance.
Private 5G as infrastructure for industrial operations
Private 5G provides predictable, low-latency on-site connectivity to support industrial AI, automation and edge computing, enabling improved uptime, scalability and security for enterprise operations.
5G Protocol Testing and Network Validation
Overview of 5G protocol testing processes, objectives and challenges, including compliance, interoperability, performance, security and field validation to ensure reliable network operation.
MasOrange makes one-third of 5G sites O-RAN-ready
MasOrange has made about one-third of its Spanish 5G sites O-RAN-ready and integrated Ericsson’s AI-driven automation to improve interoperability, operational efficiency and energy management.
Private 5G adoption driven by industrial applications
Enterprises are adopting private 5G for time-sensitive industrial applications, citing rapid ROI, scalable global deployments and preference for integrated network stacks over mixed-vendor indoor solutions.
Vodafone and Spirent deploy automated 5G voice test platform
Vodafone and Spirent have co-developed an automated validation platform to accelerate testing and deployment of 5G voice core software across Vodafone's European network, reducing upgrade rollout times in early trials.
World Communication Awards 2025 Winners
The World Communication Awards 2025 announced winners across telecom categories following independent judging, recognising providers and vendors for achievements in networks, AI, cloud, security, sustainability and social impact.
Marelli launches 5G RedCap telematics solution
Marelli introduced a 5G RedCap telematics module offering higher throughput and lower latency than 4G, network fallback, regional compliance, and production samples in early 2026 with mass production from 2028.
Celona positions cloud-controlled private 5G for AI
Celona offers cloud-controlled private 5G (AerFlex) to simplify multi-site deployments and support AI-enabled industrial operations, backed by partnerships for edge compute and managed services.
BSNL installs nearly 100,000 indigenously developed 4G sites
BSNL has installed 97,068 indigenously developed 4G sites, 93,511 operational; equipment is 5G-upgradable. Upgrades include power resilience measures; 5G deployment targeted in Delhi and Mumbai by December 2025.
Monetising 5G Standalone Before 6G Rollout
CSPs should shift from selling speed to service-based monetisation of 5G SA, using network slicing, API exposure and end-to-end observability to establish sustainable revenue before considering 6G.
du and Nokia deploy autonomous 5G network slicing
Telecommunications operator du and Nokia deployed autonomous 5G Advanced network slicing that autonomously adjusts RAN policies via machine learning to maintain service levels across enterprise and consumer applications.
Nokia secures RAN contract for Tampnet offshore 5G
Nokia named RAN supplier for Tampnet’s offshore 5G, pairing its radios with Mavenir core; announcement coincides with employee protests over restructuring and planned sale of private 5G assets.
Mimosa presents purpose-built FWA in unlicensed Wi-Fi bands
Mimosa offers rapid-deploy fixed-wireless access using 5 GHz and 6 GHz unlicensed bands, targeting enterprise broadband and carrier offload as a lower-cost alternative to licensed private 5G.
Global Coordination for 6G Standards and Industry Alignment
Operators and vendors urge global harmonisation of 6G standards to ensure efficient migration from 5G, address AI and security challenges, and prioritise sustainability, interoperability and economic viability.
Tata Elxsi, Druid integrate private 5G lab service
Tata Elxsi and Druid Software will integrate xG‑Force Lab-as-a-Service with Druid’s Raemis core to streamline testing, validation and deployment of private 4G/5G networks for enterprise use.
Nokia and Telefónica Germany extend RAN partnership to 2030
The agreement extends to 2030 and covers Cloud RAN deployment, RAN modernisation, AirScale hardware, MantaRay NM and aims to advance automation to level 4.
Plug-and-play private 5G blueprints for enterprises
Moso Networks, Druid Software and X2nSat presented repeatable private 5G blueprints enabling rapid deployment, simplified RAN and core management, and satellite-backed connectivity for utilities and industrial sites.
UK digital infrastructure: gaps and future connectivity
Assessment identifies UK telecoms infrastructure gaps in deployment, coverage, skills and investment; recommends accelerating 5G standalone rollout, preparing for 6G, and improving skills and stakeholder co-ordination.
Virgin Media O2 upgrades 4G and 5G on UK motorways
Virgin Media O2 is upgrading 4G and 5G across over 40 UK motorways and A roads (nearly 600 miles), adding 330+ 5G sites as part of a £700m network transformation.
Agentic AI and private 5G for Industry 4.0 deployment
Industry leaders outlined that private 5G, edge compute and robust data governance are prerequisites for deploying agentic AI to enable real-time decision-making and operational optimisation.
T-Mobile US extends Formula 1 5G partnership
T-Mobile US extended its exclusive Formula 1 5G partnership, announced AI-driven network planning, a rapid switching service, and prioritised rural expansion for growth.
Nokia to divest enterprise campus edge unit in 2026
Nokia plans to sell its enterprise campus edge unit in 2026, transferring most private 5G contracts; the company will continue radio and RAN sales while refocusing on macro telco opportunities.
Nokia reviews private 5G business amid industry debate
Private 5G targets industrial use cases; adoption varies by vertical and depends on devices, edge compute and integration. Nokia has restructured, reviewing its private 5G unit's future.
Nokia to split business into two units to prioritise AI
Nokia will reorganise into two priority units—network infrastructure and mobile infrastructure—aligning with AI strategy; private networks and other non-core assets moved to portfolio pending divestment decisions in 2026.
Scaling Private 5G: Spectrum, Architecture, Ecosystems
Private 5G adoption hinges on spectrum access, repeatable deployment architectures and partner ecosystems; regulatory variation, commercial models and edge computing requirements shape enterprise rollout strategies globally.
U Mobile secures RM4.3bn financing for 5G rollout
U Mobile obtained a RM4.3bn syndicated facility from four Malaysian banks to fund capex and working capital for nationwide 5G deployment, targeting 80% populated-area coverage by H2 2026.
China Mobile International targets cross-border private 5G
China Mobile International offers turnkey, operator-led private 5G deployments to support Chinese firms abroad and international firms entering China, leveraging carrier-led spectrum models and an application platform.
Europe's 6G Strategy for Ethical and Inclusive Networks
EU-funded 6G4Society coordinates researchers, industry and civil society to prioritise sustainability, ethics and inclusivity in 6G development, informing policy and industry decisions ahead of anticipated 2030 deployment.
XCOM RAN software-defined private 5G for Industry 4.0
Globalstar’s XCOM RAN combines licensed Band 53, open RAN and satellite assets to deliver software-defined private 5G aimed at improving deterministic performance, scalability and IT/OT integration for industrial sites.
UMT and CEVA launch HyperMotion 5G RedCap platform
Collaboration delivers HyperMotion 5G RedCap platform combining UMT SoC and CEVA modem IP to enable cost-efficient automotive telematics and C-V2X with automotive-grade features and hardware offloading.
