Today’s telecom news includes announcements on NaiTel, MEDUSA, Telstra, Optus, TPG Networks, Vodafone, among others.
NaiTel Connects Jordan to 8,700-km MEDUSA Submarine Cable Network
NaiTel and MEDUSA have signed an agreement creating a new Jordanian access point to the 8,700-km MEDUSA submarine cable system through Aqaba Digital Hub and the Coral Bridge. MEDUSA is being built with 24 fiber pairs and a planned operating life of 25 years, connecting multiple Mediterranean markets across Europe and North Africa. Integrating NaiTel’s regional network with the cable infrastructure gives Jordan another route into major international connectivity corridors and strengthens Aqaba’s role as a regional interconnection location. The architecture is intended to improve route diversity and international capacity between Jordan, Europe and North Africa. New submarine access is becoming increasingly important across the Middle East as cloud, hyperscale data centers and AI infrastructure generate larger requirements for geographically diverse international fiber capacity.
Australia Activates Cross-Operator Disaster Roaming Across Telstra, Optus and TPG Networks
Australia has activated Temporary Disaster Roaming, allowing mobile customers to connect to another operator’s network when their normal network fails during qualifying natural disasters. Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom are participating in the national arrangement, which became available from October 1. When activated in an affected region, customers whose home network is unavailable can use another functioning network for voice calls, SMS and limited essential mobile-data services. Previously, emergency roaming primarily ensured access to Triple Zero calls. The new system creates another layer of mobile-network resilience during bushfires, floods and severe weather, particularly in regional areas where a single damaged tower, transmission link or power system can otherwise isolate communities from communications services.
Vodafone Opens Network APIs to 300+ Merchants Through Digital Virgo Partnership
Vodafone Group is expanding commercial distribution of its Open Gateway Network APIs through a global partnership with Digital Virgo. Digital Virgo will integrate Vodafone APIs into monetisation and mobile-payment platforms serving more than 300 merchants and over 150 operators across Europe and Africa. Initial capabilities focus on network-based identity, authentication and fraud prevention, embedding operator information directly into digital-commerce workflows. The companies plan to use standardised Open Gateway interfaces rather than proprietary operator-specific integrations, allowing application providers to reach telecom capabilities more consistently across markets. Network APIs are emerging as a strategic 5G monetisation mechanism because they allow operators to expose capabilities such as identity, location, authentication and eventually quality-on-demand to developers and enterprises without requiring direct integration with individual mobile-network systems.
