Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Nepal Telecom, U Mobile, ZTE, Green-Energy 5G Trial, among others.
Nepal Telecom Adds 13 New 2G and 4G Mobile Sites
Nepal Telecom has brought 13 new mobile sites into operation across 11 districts, expanding its network coverage in multiple locations. The newly deployed sites support 2G and 4G services, adding capacity and improving mobile connectivity for communities in areas covered by the rollout. The expansion forms part of Nepal Telecom’s continuing network development program as the operator works to extend mobile services beyond existing coverage areas. The deployment of additional sites can also strengthen network availability and capacity as demand for voice and mobile data services increases. The rollout highlights continued investment in conventional mobile network infrastructure alongside the broader industry transition toward higher-capacity technologies and wider broadband coverage across Nepal.
U Mobile and ZTE Complete Off-Grid Green-Energy 5G Trial
U Mobile and ZTE have completed a proof-of-concept for a portable, fully off-grid 5G network site powered entirely by green energy. The solution uses solar power and connects directly to U Mobile’s core network through satellite backhaul, allowing the site to operate independently of the national electricity grid and terrestrial transmission infrastructure such as fiber. The approach is designed for remote and underserved locations where conventional network infrastructure may be difficult or time-consuming to deploy. By combining solar generation, satellite connectivity and portable 5G equipment, the solution can support faster network deployment in areas with limited infrastructure. The companies are positioning the technology as an alternative approach for extending mobile connectivity to hard-to-reach communities.
U.S. Accelerates Telecom Upgrades After Air Traffic Control Outage
The U.S. government is developing a more resilient air traffic control communications system following a telecom outage that disrupted thousands of flights. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the planned system will eliminate single and dual points of failure and provide multiple telecommunications routes to Federal Aviation Administration facilities. The disruption, caused by a severed fiber-optic line in New Jersey and a failed telecom switch, delayed or cancelled about 9,500 flights across major airports, including New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington. Congress has allocated $12.5 billion for air traffic control improvements, while telecom upgrade costs have risen to $5.91 billion. The FAA also plans to replace outdated copper telecommunications wiring by September 2027.
