Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Metronet, Pegatron 5G, Verizon, AST SpaceMobile, Brightspeed, among others.
Metronet Launches $48mn Fiber Expansion to Bring Ultra-Fast Internet to Jackson
Metronet announced a $48 million investment to expand its 100 percent fiber-optic network in Jackson, Summit, Vandercook Lake, and Blackman Township. The project will deliver high-speed internet access to residential and commercial users. T-Mobile Fiber, part of a joint venture with KKR, will provide home internet services offering symmetrical speeds starting at 500 Mbps for $55 per month, with unlimited data and no contracts or installation fees. Metronet will supply business connections with speeds up to 10 Gbps. Construction is scheduled to begin this month, with notices and signage provided before work starts.
Pegatron 5G Powers Next-Gen Open RAN with MaxLinear’s Sierra SoC
Pegatron 5G selected MaxLinear’s Sierra Radio System-on-Chip (SoC) for its PR2850 5G Macro Open RAN Radio Unit (O-RU). The Sierra SoC integrates multiple subsystems into a single chip, supporting radio applications such as macro, massive MIMO, pico, and small cells. This integration reduces size, weight, power consumption, and cooling needs, lowering overall costs for radio units. Pegatron 5G’s adoption of the Sierra SoC improves the performance and efficiency of its O-RU.
Verizon and AST SpaceMobile Bring Satellite Cellular Coverage to Remote U.S. Areas
AST SpaceMobile and Verizon signed a commercial agreement to provide space-based cellular broadband across the continental U.S., starting in 2026. The partnership will extend Verizon’s 850 MHz spectrum coverage to remote areas using AST SpaceMobile’s low Earth orbit satellite network. Verizon customers will be able to connect directly to satellites using standard smartphones, without needing specialized equipment. The agreement builds on a previous partnership from May 2024. AST SpaceMobile operates commercial communications arrays in low Earth orbit, covering licensed L-band and S-band frequencies, as well as up to 1,150 MHz of partner mobile operators’ low- and mid-band spectrum worldwide.
Brightspeed Rolls Out 8 Gbps Fiber Internet with Wi-Fi 7 Across the U.S.
Brightspeed has launched an 8 Gbps fiber internet service with Wi-Fi 7. The service provides symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 8,000 Mbps. It supports gaming, streaming, and remote work across multiple devices. Customers receive unlimited data, a Wi-Fi 7 router, and professional installation. Pricing starts at $89.99 per month. Brightspeed plans to expand the service to additional communities through 2026. Deployment of multi-gigabit fiber networks increases internet speeds.
Shafana Fazal
