Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Telstra’s job cut, Starlink receiving final regulatory clearance in India, Mobily, Zain and Nokia, among others.
Telstra to Cut 550 Jobs in Continued Business Overhaul
Telstra Group, Australia’s leading telecom operator, announced plans to lay off 550 employees as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts. The cuts, affecting less than 2 percent of its 31,876-strong workforce, follow the termination of around 1,900 roles last year. The move is part of a broader transformation of Telstra’s enterprise business and cost-reduction measures across various divisions, Reuters reports.
Starlink Receives Final Regulatory Clearance to Launch Satellite Internet Services in India
Elon Musk’s Starlink has secured final regulatory approval from the Indian space regulator (IN-SPACe) to offer satellite internet services in India. The approval is valid for five years or until the Gen1 satellite system ends. Starlink will join OneWeb and Reliance Jio as satellite-based connectivity providers. The Gen1 constellation has over 4,400 satellites in low Earth orbit (540–570 km), delivering about 600 Gbps across India. Starlink must secure spectrum, build ground stations, complete testing, and meet security rules before full operations. The telecom ministry and space department aligned on spectrum assignment, ending a multi-year licensing delay, Indian Express reports.
Indian Telecoms and Tech Giants Clash Over Backhaul Spectrum Access
Indian telecom operators asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to reserve microwave backhaul spectrum bands — 6 GHz, 7 GHz, 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 21 GHz, E, and V — for telecom service providers with access licenses. These bands support 5G and future 6G network expansion, especially where fiber deployment is difficult. Currently, about 54 percent of base stations use wireless backhaul due to terrain and cost issues. Tech companies, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper and the Broadband India Forum (which includes Google, Microsoft, and Meta), oppose exclusive telecom access. They want to use these frequencies for satellite broadband services and private enterprise networks, which support industrial applications and help bridge digital gaps. The Broadband India Forum said limiting these bands to telecom operators would reduce competition. The dispute highlights differing views on spectrum use between telecom operators and tech companies amid growing demand for network capacity and new technologies, Light Reading reports.
1GLOBAL and Odido Launch SimWallet: Instant 5G Connectivity Without Contracts
1GLOBAL and Odido launched SimWallet, an eSIM app offering on-demand 5G internet access in the Netherlands. The service lets users connect to Odido’s 5G network instantly without needing a contract or subscription. The app is compatible with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices that support eSIM technology. SimWallet was developed and released within four weeks. It provides flexible data plans that users can choose based on their needs, ranging from 24 hours to 30 days. The app connects directly to Odido’s 5G network, enabling users to access the internet quickly and easily. By removing the need for physical SIM cards, SimWallet simplifies the process of getting connected.
Saudi Arabia Launches Industry-First Shared 4.0 GHz 5G Indoor Network with Cost-Cutting Innovation
Nokia, the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST), ACES NH, Mobily, and Zain launched a 5G Standalone (SA) indoor coverage solution using shared spectrum in the 4.0–4.1 GHz band in Saudi Arabia. The deployment uses a neutral host model and active sharing to allow multiple mobile operators to provide 5G connectivity within buildings using a single system. This setup reduces the need for duplicate equipment and 4G anchors, cutting deployment costs by over 60 percent. Cost modeling shows a further 47 percent savings when 4G anchoring is removed, making 5G SA indoor sites commercially viable from the start. The solution received the Small Cells World Summit 2025 Award for progress in enabling neutral host and multi-operator business models.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
