Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Apple, Google, Samsung, Poste Italiane, TIM, among others.
India’s New A-GPS Plan Sparks Big Tech Privacy Showdown
India is weighing a proposal that would require smartphones to support always-on satellite-based A-GPS, giving authorities access to highly precise, real-time user locations. Telecom operators argue the upgrade would strengthen emergency response and national security. But Apple, Google and Samsung fiercely oppose the move, warning it would effectively turn phones into continuous surveillance devices and expose vulnerable groups — including journalists, activists and military personnel — to serious privacy and safety risks.
Poste Italiane Eyes PosteMobile Sale to Strengthen Grip on Telecom Italia
Poste Italiane is considering transferring its broadband unit PosteMobile to Telecom Italia (TIM) in exchange for ordinary TIM shares, aiming to maintain a strong stake after a potential conversion of TIM’s savings shares. PosteMobile, valued at about €900 million and serving roughly five million users, would enhance TIM’s customer base while helping Poste avoid dilution under Italy’s upcoming 30 percent ownership threshold rules. Another option under review is purchasing the remaining 2.5 percent TIM stake held by Vivendi for about €200 million, reflecting Poste’s focus on preserving influence in TIM.
Telecom Lifeline: Sumatra’s Networks Bounce Back After Floods
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is coordinating with national mobile operators to repair telecom networks after floods and landslides hit Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. As of December 5, 2025, around 1,789 base transceiver stations (≈ 52.4 percent of Aceh’s total) had resumed operations, with 75 percent expected once electricity is restored. Emergency satellite communication kits and generators have been deployed free of charge, ensuring vital communication for evacuations, aid delivery, and disaster reporting.
Shafana Fazal