The latest telecom news includes announcements on AST SpaceMobile, Orange Liberia, Pilot Fiber, Boldyn, and others.
AST SpaceMobile Signs Satellite Direct-to-Device Agreement with Three Brazilian Telecom Operators
AST SpaceMobile has signed a commercial agreement with Brazilian operators Brisanet, Unifique and iez! Telecom to introduce direct-to-device satellite connectivity across Brazil. Announced on October 23, the partnership will use the operators’ 700 MHz spectrum and terrestrial gateways connected to AST SpaceMobile’s satellite constellation. The proposed service will support voice calls, mobile broadband and video streaming directly on conventional smartphones without additional equipment. The operators will invest in the necessary ground infrastructure. Commercial activation remains subject to regulatory authorizations, final contractual arrangements and additional satellite capacity. The companies have not disclosed the investment value, number of gateways, initial coverage locations or commercial launch date.
Orange Liberia Launches Country’s First Commercial 5G Mobile Network
Orange Liberia has launched commercial 5G services, becoming the first mobile operator to introduce the technology in Liberia. Announced on October 23, the deployment represents a significant upgrade to the country’s mobile communications infrastructure. The network is intended to provide higher data speeds, greater capacity and improved connectivity for businesses and consumers. The launch also creates opportunities for cloud-based applications, digital services and data-intensive enterprise operations. Orange Liberia has not disclosed the initial number of 5G sites, spectrum frequencies, population coverage or network equipment suppliers. Investment value, measured download speeds and the timetable for expansion beyond the initial deployment area were also not provided.
Pilot Fiber Raises $330 Million and Agrees to Acquire Boldyn’s New York–New Jersey Fiber Network
Pilot Fiber has secured more than $330 million in financing, led by Fengate Asset Management, and agreed to acquire Boldyn Networks’ commercial fiber infrastructure in New York and New Jersey. Announced on October 22, the transaction will create a network with more than 1,600 route miles of fiber, connecting over 1,200 buildings and 50 data centers. The acquired assets include more than 860 route miles in New Jersey and infrastructure serving approximately 100 enterprise and carrier customers. Pilot will extend connectivity across New York City’s five boroughs and New Jersey. The acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Lumen Launches Dual-Path Optical Network Service Backed by 99.99% Availability Guarantee
Lumen Technologies has introduced Dual Path, an optical wavelength service providing two physically independent network routes between customer locations. Announced on October 23, the service operates across Lumen’s approximately 340,000 route miles of fiber infrastructure and carries a 99.99 percent availability service-level agreement. Both paths remain active at full bandwidth, reducing dependence on common network facilities. Lumen also disclosed that more than 380 automated workflows execute approximately 5 million times annually across its operations. According to internal measurements, machine-to-machine intelligence anticipates or resolves 80 percent of issues, while generative AI diagnostics deflect 35 percent of support tickets. The company has not disclosed Dual Path pricing or deployment investment.
