Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Quectel, VodafoneThree, Elliott, Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile, among others.
Quectel Advances 5G Rail Communications With FRMCS-Ready Module
Quectel has introduced an LGA version of its RG660Qx Sub-6GHz 5G module series with support for frequency bands associated with the Future Railway Mobile Communication System, or FRMCS. Paired with an adaptor board and evaluation kit, the module enables equipment manufacturers and railway technology developers to begin early FRMCS testing and interoperability work ahead of the transition from GSM-R. The platform supports bands n100 and n101 and is designed for future railway communications applications. FRMCS uses 5G to provide secure, high-speed connectivity for train control, signaling, operational communications and other mission-critical functions. Quectel plans to make the module and evaluation kit available following validation and engage railway industry players in early-stage testing.
VodafoneThree Launches TV and Premium Speed-Tiered Mobile Service
VodafoneThree has launched a new TV service in Britain and introduced SuperMobile, a premium mobile offer designed to provide faster and more predictable connectivity. Vodafone TV combines Netflix and HBO Max with broadcaster content, more than 300 games and thousands of apps. SuperMobile uses a dedicated FastTrack slice of Vodafone’s 5G+ network to prioritize customer traffic, offering speeds up to four times faster and a guaranteed minimum download speed of 15 Mbps where 5G+ coverage is available. The service costs £3 a month for eligible pay-monthly customers. VodafoneThree is also launching a business version based on a national business-only mobile network slice, expanding differentiated services following its 2025 merger.
Elliott Challenges Deutsche Telekom Over Potential T-Mobile Merger Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a stake in Deutsche Telekom and is urging the German telecom group to abandon a potential merger with its U.S. subsidiary, T-Mobile, according to people familiar with the matter. Elliott favors alternative ways to unlock shareholder value, including larger share buybacks, while the size of its Deutsche Telekom stake remains undisclosed. Deutsche Telekom shares rose as much as 2.3 percent following the report. The company holds about 54 percent of T-Mobile and has been exploring a transaction that would create a major transatlantic telecom group. The pressure comes after Deutsche Telekom increased its 2026 share buyback program to up to €5 billion, intensifying investor debate over the merger’s strategic rationale.
