AGP Executive Report

Pakistan Telecom & Fintech: PTCL is reportedly pursuing a majority stake in Easypaisa after its Telenor Pakistan acquisition, with a binding offer approved and due diligence underway, pending regulatory approvals. Satellite & Bankruptcy: EchoStar’s Hughes unit filed for Chapter 11 in Texas with about $1.5B in funded debt, underscoring stress in satellite broadband financing. Maritime Safety: Inmarsat experts visited IMSO to discuss roles in the GMDSS, highlighting continued investment in distress and safety communications. Network Buildout in Europe: Italy’s FiberCop plans a nationwide network of 100+ edge data centres by converting telecom exchanges into distributed digital hubs, starting with Rome. Connected Mobility Rules: India’s MoRTH proposed phased V2V communication rollout from 2027, aiming to improve safety-critical alerts for two-wheelers, passenger and commercial vehicles. Digital Inclusion Funding: GovWorx launched NEAL for adaptive non-emergency call handling for ECCs, while a separate digital inclusion guide pushes co-investment across telecom, education, healthcare, housing, local government and workforce development. Mobile Market Pulse (Nigeria): NCC data shows Nigeria’s active mobile subscriptions hit 189.68M in May 2026, with MTN and Airtel dominating and broadband usage rising.

Network Disruption: TELUS says cable theft cut fibre and knocked out internet, cellular, TV and phone service across northwest B.C., with crews working but no restoration estimate yet. Broadband Funding: The US NTIA extended deadlines for two tribal broadband grant programs to Nov. 17, giving applicants more time to submit stronger proposals. 5G Policy: Ghana’s regulator delayed the 5G spectrum auction and tightened ownership/operational rules, aiming for a more secure rollout. Core Network Economics: Dell’Oro reports carriers are spending far more on 5G Standalone than 4G core at the same lifecycle stage, even as mobile core transformation growth is expected to slow. Access Equipment Outlook: Dell’Oro forecasts broadband access equipment revenue peaking in 2028, driven by DOCSIS 4.0 and fibre upgrades. Infrastructure & Industry: India signed an MoU to create a telecom manufacturing zone in Gwalior, with a plug-and-play industrial cluster and government funding support. Cable & Fibre M&A: Reuters/Bloomberg say Prysmian is in advanced talks to buy US firm Atkore in an all-cash deal. Security & Crime: China launched a yearlong campaign targeting online organized crime and “soft violence,” including illegal lending and extortion tactics. Community Connectivity: CANTV installed satellite connectivity in Venezuela’s La Guaira temporary camps to keep families online after a contingency.

Telecom Policy & Safety: A new wave of child-focused social media bans is being debated as unenforceable rules risk leaving adults with a more dangerous online environment. Network Reliability & Emergency Alerts: Jordan’s National Center for Security and Crisis Management is finishing testing of a National Early Warning System, sending trial alerts to mobile phones in Arabic and English with audible cues. Infrastructure Security: Zimbabwe police arrested a man over alleged copper cable theft in Bulawayo, warning that vandalism disrupts telecom and power infrastructure. Digital Growth Metrics: Bangladesh added internet users faster than mobile subscribers in H1 2026, with internet subscriptions rising to 135.94M versus 189.83M active mobile lines. Service Quality Pressure: Burundi’s consumer group ABUCO says telecom services are deteriorating, with higher prices and poorer connectivity. AI for Network Planning: Iraq’s regulator says AI tools are being used ahead of Arbaeen to forecast a projected 135% traffic surge around Karbala. Calling & Messaging Features: WhatsApp Web now supports voice and video calling, plus transfer of active group calls between devices. Regulatory/Market Moves: Ghana extended its 5G spectrum auction timeline amid stricter ownership controls. Industry & Investment: India’s Semicon 2.0 push includes 12 semiconductor units with about $20B planned, with three already producing chips.

Regulatory Pressure: India’s DoT has issued Vodafone Idea a Rs 26.83 crore liquidated-damages demand over alleged failure to meet 2022 spectrum rollout obligations, with the operator saying it’s reviewing the notice. Broadband Funding: Ohio awarded $20 million to Com Net for a Route 30 “middle mile” fiber build connecting colleges, local governments, health care and institutions across 15 counties. Mobile Network Expansion: Cameroon’s Camtel relaunches a SIM procurement after an earlier tender failed, seeking 854,225 SIM cards under a CFA500 million contract. Satellite Connectivity: Malaysia is set to trial Starlink Direct-to-Cell, using normal 4G phones to extend coverage to rural areas without towers. Quantum Networking: Researchers demonstrated quantum entanglement surviving 24.4 km of installed fiber already carrying commercial telecom traffic in Chicago. Cyber & Fraud: India reports massive cyber threat scale (hundreds of millions of attack attempts and malware detections), while Navi Mumbai police investigate a large “digital arrest” scam impersonating telecom and law agencies. AI Skills Push: Ghana’s Bountiful Technologies will launch the Bebras computational thinking challenge nationwide to build digital problem-solving skills.

Regulatory Action (India): India’s DoT issued Vodafone Idea a Rs 26.83 crore liquidated-damages notice over alleged failure to meet 2022 spectrum rollout obligations; Vi says it’s reviewing and expects no immediate financial or operational impact. Connectivity Expansion (Angola): Angola’s GGPN is backing a startup network to widen internet access using ANGOSAT-2 plus TV White Space, aiming to reach all 21 provinces with multi-service licensed operators and training support. Cybercrime (India): Navi Mumbai police opened a case after a 90-year-old couple was allegedly trapped in a fake “digital arrest” scam, losing Rs 1.57 crore via impersonation of telecom and other authorities. Public Safety & Telecom Policy (US): Arkansas AG joined a coalition urging the FCC to strengthen “Know Your Customer” rules to better block illegal robocalls, including deeper checks on customer operations and ownership. 5G Spectrum (Ghana): Ghana’s NCA extended its 5G spectrum auction timeline while tightening foreign ownership/investment safeguards, signaling a cautious approach to rollout readiness. Fraud & Trust (Tech/AI): A report highlights growing risks from AI-driven deception and surveillance, underscoring the need for trust, accountability, and secure identity in telecom-adjacent systems.

Digital Inclusion Gap: GSMA data highlights Africa’s paradox: mobile tech generated $220B in 2024, yet 960M people remain offline because access is still unaffordable, with Sub-Saharan broadband at 27% versus 75% in Arab states. Consumer Cost Pressure: South Africa’s communications ministry will launch a market analysis study to explain why spectrum and other interventions haven’t lowered voice and data prices. Cross-Border Payments: China completed its first outbound e-CNY payment to Malaysia for durian trade, cutting settlement to about 30 minutes via a bilateral mechanism. Fraud & Trust: A 90-year-old in Navi Mumbai lost ₹1.57 crore in a “digital arrest” scam after impersonators used forged notices and WhatsApp calls. Network Reliability: A vehicle hit a utility line in Sitka, causing an Alaska Communications outage that may delay 911 access. 5G Rollout Milestone: Virgin Media O2 installed its 500th UK Giga site, pushing toward 1,000 and extending coverage to 87% of the population. Public Safety Tech: CISA issued fresh guidance for securing municipal water systems, warning about attacks targeting PLCs and exposed connections. AI Governance & Skills: Pakistan launched a UN Women Gender-Responsive AI School to train government and civil society on ethical, inclusive AI use. Operator/Finance Moves: PTCL is reportedly preparing a binding offer for a majority stake in a digital wallet firm after its Telenor Pakistan acquisition.

Public Safety 5G Core: AT&T’s FirstNet launched the nation’s first dedicated 5G standalone core for public safety, physically separate from its commercial network to boost security, reliability, and mission control. India Telecom Manufacturing Push: India’s first telecom manufacturing zone in Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) is set to draw ₹3,500 crore in first-phase commitments, with plans for ~14,500 jobs and a long-term scale-up via a 51% state/49% Centre SPV. Ghana Spectrum Process: Ghana’s NCA extended the deadline for key 5G spectrum licence applications and issued a consolidated response with amendments and clarifications for bidders. Malaysia Satellite Coverage Trial: Malaysia is exploring a Starlink direct-to-cell trial to close coverage gaps in remote areas, with MCMC coordinating talks with operators. Venezuela Subsea Connectivity: Liberty Networks and CANTV launched the Fénix submarine cable system (378 km, 14 Tbps ring capacity) to expand international reach. Cybercrime & Fraud Crackdown: Malaysia police raided a call-centre used for online Japan travel scams, seizing telecom equipment and arresting suspects. UAE Digital Disinformation: The UAE is tightening enforcement around digital disinformation via media standards and legal powers. Tokenized Deposits Take Shape: SWIFT and BIS Project Agora are advancing shared ledgers for tokenized bank deposits, supporting more cross-border 24/7 payment infrastructure.

AI & Telecom Policy: US Sen. Maria Cantwell and Sen. Deb Fischer held Senate hearings on how AI is reshaping communications networks, with Cantwell urging federal testing of Frontier AI models to protect national security. Net Neutrality Review: India is considering changes to net neutrality rules to allow differentiated connectivity and pricing for services like gaming, healthcare, and smart factories as 5G slicing blurs current limits. 5G Infrastructure Demand: Dell’Oro forecasts continued 5G growth for two more years, lifting demand for microwave backhaul equipment, while AI back-end Ethernet switch spending could near $1T by 2030. Coverage Expansion: Malaysia will add 77 telecom towers along 50 km of highways to fix dead zones and improve mobile connectivity. Manufacturing Push (India): India signed an MoU to create its first Telecom Manufacturing Zone in Gwalior, targeting ₹10,000 crore investment and thousands of jobs. Operator/Regulator Moves: Singtel shares fell after Australia’s ACMA took Optus to court over alleged emergency call service breaches; CK Hutchison completed its VodafoneThree cash-return deal. Broadband Funding (US): Ohio approved a $20M BroadbandOhio middle-mile fiber build along Route 30 to help ISPs expand faster. Digital Government (Pakistan): NADRA won three awards at the TAF-ABL Public Sector Digital Transformation Awards for PakID, Pakistan Online Visa System, and e-Sahulat.

Highway Connectivity Push (Malaysia): Malaysia’s MCMC and the Malaysian Highway Authority signed an MoU to bring better telecom coverage to smart highways, targeting 77 new towers along about 50 km of stretches with weak service and aiming to support safer, more connected road operations. Satellite Direct-to-Cell Trial (Malaysia): Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said Starlink plans to trial direct-to-device/direct-to-cell connectivity in Malaysia, potentially reaching areas without telecom towers. Public Safety Mission-Critical AI (Motorola Solutions): Motorola is embedding its “Assist” mission-critical AI into command center and related operator software to reduce screen-hopping during emergencies and improve real-time coordination. Off-Network MCX Performance (TCCA): TCCA’s Critical Communications Broadband Group published a white paper on sidelink-based off-network MCX for public safety, outlining performance factors and optimization approaches. Optus Stake Sale Talks (Singtel): Singtel confirmed discussions on selling a minority stake in Optus as Australia’s regulator pursues court action over the 2025 Triple Zero outage. Regulatory Governance Update (Bahrain): Bahrain’s King restructured the TRA board, appointing Mona Al Sayed Ali Al Hashemi as chairperson for a four-year term. Cybersecurity & Telecom Fraud (Malaysia): Malaysian police raids highlighted how crypto mining is tied to electricity theft, underscoring broader risks around telecom-linked infrastructure misuse.

Emergency Calling Under Fire (Australia): Australia’s ACMA has commenced Federal Court proceedings against Optus over the Sept 18, 2025 “Triple Zero” outage, alleging two legal breaches on 1,005 occasions—failing to give customers access to emergency calling and failing to route calls to the right termination point—raising public-safety stakes and potential penalties. Emergency Services Reliability (Canada): A separate report highlights ongoing concern over 911 outages, including a July 22 disruption affecting calls outside Winnipeg after a construction-related fibre cut. Operator Scrutiny & Ownership Moves (Australia): Singtel confirmed it is in discussions to sell a stake in Optus, while stressing talks are not guaranteed, as the carrier faces heightened regulatory and reputational pressure after emergency-call failures. Digital Payments (Egypt): Sahl and Klivvr integrated installment payments into the Sahl mobile app, expanding BNPL-style options for recurring utility and consumer services. Cyber & Critical Infrastructure (US): The FBI’s Operation Winter SHIELD shared best-practice guidance for healthcare organizations to reduce cyber risk and improve resilience. Connectivity & Industry Events (India/Pacific): India Mobile Congress 2026 theme launch targets 100 crore 5G users by 2030 and a telecom manufacturing zone in Gwalior; in the Pacific, the Pacific Fibre Conference 2026 focuses on fibre foundations for the AI era. Mobile Use & Social Impact (UK): A Virgin Media O2 survey says many children feel parents’ phone use steals family time, adding pressure for better digital habits.

Fake BTS Scam Crackdown (Malaysia): The Malaysian regulator MCMC says it busted a syndicate in Johor Bahru using a fake base transceiver station to blast scam-link SMS messages, charging a 32-year-old under communications law. TCP Testing for Telecom/Data Centers (US): GL Communications promoted ExpertTCP, an RFC 6349-based tool to validate end-to-end TCP performance beyond typical Layer 2/3 benchmarks. Copper Theft Surge (Canada): Bell reported 993 copper theft and vandalism incidents in Jan–Jun 2026, up 78%, warning outages can hit phone, internet, TV and emergency access. AI Talent for Telecom (Azerbaijan): Azercell and ADA University launched the AI4Real Bootcamp to train students on practical AI, including telecom use cases. 6G Geopolitics (US/Global): Analysts say a US-led 6G alliance faces short-term hurdles as it tries to counter Beijing’s growing influence in next-gen standards. Starlink Enters Iraq (Iraq): Iraq’s regulator says Starlink has begun commercial service, aiming to boost connectivity in underserved areas. Consumer Scam Call Protection (US): Rep. Eric Sorensen’s QUIET Act push targets AI-generated robocalls and robotext fraud with higher penalties. Mobile Fraud Governance (Bangladesh): Bangladesh’s minister dismissed Nagad sale rumours as baseless and urged verification while highlighting a revenue-share handover. BT Office Closure Pressure (UK): Liverpool BT staff and the CWU protested planned city-centre office closures tied to redundancies and relocation plans.

Disaster-Ready Alerts: Fiji and UNDP are running a CAP workshop to strengthen Fiji’s multi-hazard early warning system, bringing telecoms, broadcasters and agencies into interoperable, standards-based alerting. Public Accountability: Kenya’s PS for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Stephen Isaboke told parliament on asset-tracking and land-management reforms to improve transparency and stewardship. Spectrum & Security: US lawmakers warned that China’s Wi‑Fi push could shape global spectrum rules at WRC‑27, urging a unified US position with allies. Emergency Comms Testing: Australia’s AusAlert cell-broadcast test showed promise but also gaps in phone reach and message consistency, highlighting what “gold standard” delivery must cover. Network Growth & Finance: Pakistan’s PTCL reported 62% YoY consolidated revenue growth on fixed broadband and enterprise gains after Ufone/Telenor amalgamation; Zimbabwe’s Econet InfraCo said it added 90 base stations and expanded AI and solar investments. Fraud & Scams: US state AGs backed stronger FCC KYC rules to curb robocalls and scam texts; Canada’s OPP flagged a Bell Canada “installation” email scam that hijacks computers. Infrastructure & Compliance: Fiji’s environment ministry declined Google’s Natadola cable landing beach-manholes/conduit plan over consultation and survey gaps, while also clarifying it’s not a hyperscale data centre. Tech & Standards: South Korea certified its first Wi‑Fi HaLow product for procurement-ready sub‑GHz IoT.

Shared Infrastructure Push (Malaysia): Melaka plans 1,000 shared fibre poles by year-end via KUM, aiming to cover 5,000+ homes and cut pole duplication and resident disruption. Operator Growth & Investment (Africa/Europe): Orange reported record H1 growth, with revenue up 3.5% and EBITDAaL up 5.0%, driven by Africa & Middle East and France. Sustainability + Network Build (Ghana): MTN Ghana targets net zero by 2040 and will invest $1.1bn over three years, including $380m in 2026, to expand coverage and resilience. Mobile Money Scale (Ghana): Mobile money hit 954m transactions worth GHS492.9bn in June, with 84.6m registered accounts and 1m agents. Subsea Connectivity (Asia): China Mobile’s SEA-H2X cable enters commercial service, while SHV-HK lands in Hong Kong, boosting cross-border cloud routing. Wholesale Voice Deal (Philippines): E& wholesale will manage Globe’s international voice traffic as Globe’s preferred partner. Fraud Defense (Canada): Bell rolls out AI to detect and flag spoofed calls, building on its suspicious-call blocking. Energy-Telecom Link (Nigeria): NCC and REA sign an MoU to expand digital infrastructure using renewable power. Digital Inclusion (Zimbabwe): POTRAZ trained 769 people with disabilities in ICT skills to bridge the digital divide. Public Safety Comms (US): MicroAutomation and Sanas partner to translate calls in real time for 911 dispatchers. Media Operations (Uganda): Taifa Group clears the way for Nation Media Group to resume operations in Uganda. AI Pricing for Telcos (Global): Tecnotree is recognized in Gartner Hype Cycle reports for CSP algorithmic pricing. Network Security (UK): Government opens an £8bn tactical comms framework to industry. Emergency Alerts (Jordan): Jordan begins testing a national mobile emergency alert system. Data Center Demand (Global): Edge data centers are projected to surge to $131.18bn by 2035 as AI and 5G drive low-latency needs.

US-China Telecom Security: The Trump administration plans $175.8m to replace ageing undersea cables in the Caribbean and Central America, aiming to block China’s influence over critical infrastructure. Rural Connectivity via Satellites: Argentina’s Enacom and Starlink will supply satellite kits for 6,000 rural schools, with service costs later covered through the Universal Service Fund. Mobile Coverage Expansion (Africa): Malawi will build more mobile towers in Balaka, Nkhata Bay, Thyolo and Chitipa using its Universal Service Fund, while Alaska’s GCI expands LTE/5G along major highways. Wholesale Fiber Growth: LiveOak Fiber selected Connectbase tools to accelerate wholesale sales and network planning across Georgia and Florida. Operator/Investor Moves: Nigeria’s AMCON begins seeking strategic investors for NTEL after restructuring, and Mexico’s Totalplay reports Q2 results tied to fiber subscriber growth. AI in Customer Service: Greece’s telecom and banking sectors are deploying generative AI assistants to handle large volumes of customer queries. Legal/Work Pay: An AT&T Illinois technician lawsuit targets unpaid pre- and post-shift work duties.

Emergency Alerts Rollout: Saudi Arabia’s NCSCM tested its National Early Warning System by sending Arabic and English mobile alert messages with an audible chime, running through Aug. 2, to check readiness for crises. Regulation & Permits: Oman’s TRA opened a public consultation on draft telecom permit rules covering everything from network construction and last-mile services to information security. Spectrum Planning: South Africa’s ICASA published its IMT Roadmap 2026 and draft implementation plans for spectrum management through 2030+ to expand broadband and cut the digital divide. Consumer Data Rules Clash: South Africa’s EFF slammed MTN and Vodacom for taking ICASA to court over regulations that protect unused data/voice/SMS via rollover. Network Resilience & Fiber Protection: Nigeria’s EdoICTA urged tighter coordination among government, operators, regulators, and communities to reduce fiber cuts and improve FTTH rollout standards. Critical Infrastructure Theft: In the US, three people were arrested for stealing about 1,200 feet of AT&T copper cable in Monroe County, causing a service interruption. Global 6G Security Push: The Trump administration reportedly plans a 24-nation 6G alliance with trusted allies to develop secure networks and counter China’s telecom influence. Critical Communications Industry: Pakistan’s Rapidev became the first Pakistani company to join TCCA, aiming to advance mission-critical communications via open standards.

Emergency Alerts Upgrade (Australia): Australia is running the first nationwide test of AusAlert, a cell-broadcast public warning system that can override silent modes and geolocate alerts down to 160 metres, with rollout planned for October 2026. Open RAN in Ukraine (Rakuten Symphony): Rakuten Symphony won a METI grant to deliver a cloud-native Open RAN environment in Ukraine, with Rakuten Mobile as a key partner for validation in 4G and expansion to 4G/5G. AI Regulation Shift (Global): Omdia says AI rules will only work if enforcement is credible, highlighting penalties and sanctions as governments move from strategy to action. AI Infrastructure to Production (Aolani & Rafay): Aolani and Rafay announced an NVIDIA DSX OS deployment on NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 to help turn AI infrastructure into production-ready platforms. FTTH Push (Japan): Furukawa Electric and Vecima Networks partnered to supply next-gen FTTH access products, including 10G-EPON and a roadmap toward 50G-PON. Africa Connectivity Policy (GSMA/ATU): GSMA backed the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity, while Nigeria’s NCC and REA signed an MoU to power telecom towers with renewables. Nigeria Legacy Telco Divestment (AMCON/NTEL): AMCON reiterated plans to divest NTEL/NATCOM via a structured process aimed at attracting strategic investors. Rural Internet Pressure (New Zealand): ISPs urged a formal market study over Starlink’s impact on rural connectivity economics and national resilience. Mobile Money Growth (Airtel Africa): Airtel Africa reported strong Q1 growth driven by data demand and mobile money expansion. Network Retail Reinvention (Globe & KDDI): Globe partnered with KDDI to reinvent Philippine retail experiences with recurring digital services. Digital Insurance Verification (Sri Lanka): HUTCH Enterprise launched a nationwide vehicle insurance verification service via *1338# and SMS, removing the need for physical certificates. Power for Data Centres (Thailand): Thailand approved bank guarantees and a separate tariff framework for large data centres to curb power hoarding and manage grid investment. Rural Broadband Affordability (New Mexico): New Mexico PRC is starting rulemaking for LITAP, offering monthly broadband discounts up to $30 (and $70 on Tribal lands).