Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Bouygues Telecom, Hiya, Nokia, China Telecom, among others.
France Takes on Scam Calls as Bouygues Telecom and Hiya Launch AI-Powered Branded Calling
Hiya has partnered with Bouygues Telecom to introduce France’s first network-level branded calling service, aimed at restoring trust in voice communications. Launched in June 2026, the solution integrates Hiya’s AI-powered platform into Bouygues Telecom’s Ericsson-based core network, enabling businesses to display verified caller identities directly on users’ phone screens without requiring an app download. The initiative addresses rising concerns over spam and scam calls, with Hiya reporting that seventy-four percent of French consumers receive six or more unwanted calls weekly. By clearly identifying legitimate callers such as banks, healthcare providers, and delivery services, the service is expected to improve answer rates, customer engagement, and overall communication transparency across France’s telecom ecosystem.
Steelman Telecom Scores Fresh Nokia Deal to Power Reliance Jio’s 5G Push
Steelman Telecom has secured a new work order worth ₹13.40 lakh from Nokia Solutions and Networks India for the Reliance Jio 5G Phase-1 project, strengthening its role in India’s expanding telecom infrastructure market. The eight-month contract involves deploying frontend, backend, and supervisor teams to maintain indoor small cells and indoor-outdoor WiFi Enterprise UBR systems under the RJIO 5G rollout. The project is part of Nokia’s broader partnership with Reliance Jio to build advanced 5G networks across India. Steelman Telecom stated that the agreement is a domestic professional services contract with no related-party involvement, highlighting growing opportunities for telecom service providers supporting India’s large-scale 5G deployment and network modernization initiatives.
N2.5 Trillion Telecom Boom: Nigerian Operators Race to Fix Network Woes Amid Rising Complaints
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector invested more than N2.5 trillion in network infrastructure upgrades during 2025 as regulators intensified efforts to tackle worsening service complaints. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said mobile operators spent over N2.13 trillion, while tower companies added N373.8 billion to expand and modernize networks nationwide. The investments supported more than 2,800 upgraded telecom sites and accelerated 4G and 5G deployments across the country. Despite these efforts, consumers continue to report dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and unstable connections. The NCC warned operators that stricter enforcement under the revised Quality of Service Regulations will continue, including possible sanctions for poor performance, as Nigeria pushes for stronger digital infrastructure and improved customer experience.
China Telecom Powers Asia’s Next Digital Superhighway with Massive ALC Cable Landing
China Telecom has achieved a major milestone in regional connectivity by leading the landing of the Asia Link Cable (ALC) in Hong Kong. The 6,200-kilometer submarine cable system will connect Hong Kong and Singapore through a high-capacity backbone with branches to Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, the Philippines, and China’s Hainan Island. Featuring 13 fiber pairs and capacity exceeding 325 Tbps, the project is expected to become the highest-capacity Hong Kong–Singapore cable route once operational later in 2026. China Telecom said the network will support rising demand from cloud computing, AI applications, and low-latency digital services. The landing station in Chung Hom Kok is also the company’s first self-built submarine cable facility outside mainland China.
SHAFANA FAZAL
