Today’s telecom news includes announcements on STL, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, among others.
STL Unveils CONCAT Solution to Speed Up US Fiber Broadband Deployments
STL has expanded its optical connectivity portfolio in the United States with the commercial launch of its CONCAT solution, a factory-assembled fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connectivity platform designed to simplify broadband deployments. Following field validation with one of the country’s largest telecom service providers, the solution is now available to network operators and digital infrastructure providers. CONCAT minimizes field splicing through pre-connectorized fiber assemblies, reducing installation time, labor requirements, and deployment complexity. STL said the solution can lower labor costs by up to 71 percent while improving network quality and reliability. The launch is expected to help operators accelerate fiber rollouts, expand broadband access, and support growing demand for high-speed, AI-ready digital infrastructure.
Jio Targets 2G Upgrades as 5G Subscriber Base Reaches 285 Million
Reliance Jio is shifting its growth strategy toward upgrading millions of remaining 2G users to smartphones while expanding adoption of its digital services portfolio. The company revealed that its 5G subscriber base has reached 285 million, making it one of the world’s largest 5G networks. Alongside continued 5G expansion, Jio is focusing on increasing customer engagement through digital entertainment, cloud, and connected services to drive higher data usage and revenue. Affordable smartphones, bundled service offerings, and wider network coverage remain central to its strategy. The operator believes converting feature phone users into smartphone customers will unlock significant opportunities for subscriber growth, digital inclusion, and long-term revenue expansion across India.
Airtel Restricts Mobile Hotspot Access Under Unlimited 5G Data Plans
Bharti Airtel has clarified that subscribers using its Unlimited 5G Data offer cannot share unlimited data through mobile hotspot functionality. The updated terms and conditions specify that the benefit is intended solely for personal use on eligible 5G smartphones connected to Airtel’s 5G Plus network. Customers can continue to access unlimited 5G data directly on their devices, but hotspot usage will consume regular plan data instead of the unlimited allowance. The clarification applies to eligible prepaid and postpaid plans and is aimed at preventing misuse of the offer. Airtel’s updated policy provides greater transparency while ensuring sustainable network performance for its rapidly growing 5G user base.
SHAFANA FAZAL
