Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Telinta, Vida Global, National Telecom (NT), Thaicom 4, Eutelsat, KT Sat, Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, XL Axiata, among others.
Telinta and Vida Supercharge Telecoms with AI-Powered Virtual Agents
Telinta and Vida Global have partnered to bring AI-powered agents to telecom service providers through Telinta’s TeliCore softswitch and billing platform. The integration enables providers to offer multilingual AI agents across services such as Hosted PBX, SIP Trunking, UCaaS, VoIP calling, and WebRTC. Vida’s technology allows AI agents to manage inbound and outbound calls, send SMS links for transactions, automate customer interactions, and integrate with CRM and business data systems. The companies say the solution will help telecom operators enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, and unlock new revenue opportunities. The partnership reflects the growing adoption of AI-driven automation in telecom services as providers seek to deliver more efficient and intelligent customer experiences.
End of an Era: Thailand Retires Thaicom 4 as Satellite Broadband Enters a New Phase
Thailand’s state-owned National Telecom (NT) will discontinue satellite internet services on the aging Thaicom 4 satellite at 11:59 pm on June 30, marking a major transition in the country’s satellite broadband sector. Thaicom 4, originally launched as IPSTAR 1 in 2005, is approaching the end of its operational life and is expected to leave its orbital position by late July. NT said customers can continue accessing connectivity through its nexConnect low-earth orbit service, developed with Eutelsat OneWeb, and other VSAT offerings. Meanwhile, Thaicom is arranging temporary capacity from South Korea’s KT Sat to maintain service continuity as delays affecting the Astranis-built Thaicom 9 replacement satellite push its expected launch beyond 2026.
Face Scan Before You Connect: Indonesia Makes Biometric SIM Registration Mandatory
Indonesia will require facial biometric verification for all new SIM card registrations starting July 1, 2026, as part of a nationwide effort to combat digital fraud and identity misuse. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs said the move follows a successful five-month trial involving major operators including Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, and XL Axiata. During the pilot, around 1.4 million new mobile numbers were registered using facial recognition, with the verification process taking less than two minutes. Authorities say the current ID-based system has been widely exploited for scams, phishing, spam, and identity theft. Under the new framework, encrypted biometric data will be verified through Indonesia’s civil registry before a SIM card is activated. Indonesia says the policy is designed to strengthen telecom security and reduce financial losses linked to unverified mobile numbers.
SHAFANA FAZAL
