The latest telecom news includes announcements on Alaska Communications, Vodafone Idea, AI, 5G, and IoT, among others.
Alaska Communications Brings Wi-Fi 7 to Small Businesses in Alaska
Alaska Communications launched ACS SmartBiz, a managed Wi-Fi solution for small businesses. The service uses Wi-Fi 7 technology, providing speeds up to four times faster than Wi-Fi 6, lower latency, and support for multiple devices. The SmartBiz Wi-Fi 7 Gateway delivers up to 10 Gbps symmetrical speeds. SmartBiz includes a mobile app for remote network management, integrated cybersecurity, guest Wi-Fi with a branded portal, automatic network resiliency during outages, and staff access control. The service is available as an add-on to Business Internet plans, as part of Worry-Free Business Bundles, or as a standalone option. Alaska Communications is the first provider in Alaska to offer Wi-Fi 7 systems for small businesses.
AI, 5G, and IoT Power the Next Wave of Telecom Innovation
Telecom operators are adopting AI, IoT, 5G, and cloud to improve operations and customer service. Artificial intelligence and automation are applied across the service lifecycle, including network management and customer support. ServiceNow introduced AI agents for productivity, while Infobip launched RCS messaging across all four major U.S. carriers and emphasized Network APIs for new services. IoT combined with 5G enables large-scale deployments, real-time data processing, and low-latency applications, supported by edge computing. Providers use IoT data to monitor networks, predict maintenance, and optimize resources. OXIO reported more than 2 million activated lines in North America. Frontier expanded its fiber network, and C3ntro entered the U.S. market with AI-based infrastructure. Enxoo launched “Enxoo for Wholesale” to support carrier operations.
Vodafone Idea Secures $570mn Debt Plan to Drive 5G Rollout
Vodafone Idea Telecom Infrastructure, a unit of Vodafone Idea, is preparing to raise ₹50 billion ($570 million) through short-term debt in September 2025. The company will issue bonds with two- and three-year tenors, targeting ₹30 billion and ₹20 billion respectively, and the funds will support capital expenditure for expanding network capacity and coverage. This fundraising follows Vodafone Idea’s board approval to raise up to ₹200 billion through a mix of equity and debt instruments, with a focus on accelerating the rollout of 5G services across 17 service areas by September 2025. Earlier this year, the Indian government converted part of Vodafone Idea’s spectrum dues into equity, increasing its stake in the company to 48.99 percent, Reuters reports.
Shafana Fazal
