Today’s telecom news includes announcements on BT Group, Deutsche Telekom, Swisscom, Orange, Telia, Bouygues, Proximus, Virgin Media O2, among others.
European Telecom Operators Increase Dividends as Q3 Earnings Improve
European telecom operators are increasing shareholder returns and improving financial forecasts as stronger cash generation, cost reductions and network investments support quarterly earnings. Deutsche Telekom raised its full-year earnings outlook for the third time in 2026, proposed a 10 percent dividend increase and announced a share buyback programme of up to €2 billion for 2027. Swisscom also improved its financial outlook and plans to increase its dividend to 27 Swiss francs per share from 26 francs. Meanwhile, Orange reported 14.2 percent revenue growth in Africa and the Middle East during the third quarter. Telia, Bouygues and Proximus also raised their outlooks, reflecting improving profitability across the European telecom sector.
O2 Expands Next-Generation 5G+ Coverage to 368 Derbyshire Communities
Virgin Media O2 has expanded its next-generation 5G+ network to 368 towns and villages across Derbyshire, bringing improved mobile connectivity to more than 380,000 people. The rollout covers communities including Derby, Chesterfield, Long Eaton, Ilkeston and Swadlincote, enabling residents and businesses with compatible devices to access faster speeds, improved reliability and lower latency without additional charges. O2’s 5G+ service uses standalone network infrastructure rather than relying on existing 4G technology, supporting more advanced mobile connectivity. The expansion forms part of the operator’s £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan, which aims to strengthen network performance and extend next-generation 5G coverage across the United Kingdom.
Singtel and Ericsson Partner with NUHS to Develop 6G-Powered Healthcare Applications
Singapore’s National University Health System (NUHS), Singtel and Ericsson have expanded their strategic partnership to advance connected healthcare through 5G-Advanced, 6G and artificial intelligence technologies. Under a newly signed memorandum of understanding, Singtel and Ericsson will become founding partners of NUHS’s National University XG AI Centre, which will develop and validate network-enabled healthcare applications. The centre aims to become the world’s first 6G AI research centre dedicated to healthcare. Its focus areas include autonomous hospital robotics, intelligent facility management, robot-assisted surgery, holographic guidance, clinical training and remote specialist collaboration. Initial applications will leverage 5G and 5G-Advanced capabilities, with research progressing towards early 6G technologies.
