Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Brightspeed, 5G smartphone market in India, digital radio policy for broadcasters, among others.
Brightspeed Secures $528M to Expand Fiber Networks to 182,900 Rural Locations
Brightspeed has received $528 million in BEAD funding to expand fiber networks in 17 states across the U.S., supporting broadband access to approximately 182,900 rural locations. The program combines federal BEAD funds with ARPA contributions and private investment to build multi-gigabit networks. Deployment focuses on areas without existing broadband access, including rural and low-density regions. Brightspeed’s expansion involves planning, permitting, construction of fiber networks, and connecting homes and businesses.
India’s 5G Smartphone Shipments Jump to 87 percent in 2025
In the first half of 2025, 87 percent of smartphone shipments in India were 5G-enabled, up from 47 percent in 2023, placing India 14th globally in 5G smartphone adoption. Adoption is driven by domestic network deployment, with BSNL connecting 30,000 rural villages with 4G and planning a 5G rollout by the end of 2025. Affordable 5G smartphones priced ₹8,000–₹10,000 led to 600 percent year-on-year growth in this segment, IANS reports.
TRAI Introduces Digital Radio Policy for Private Broadcasters The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released recommendations for a digital radio broadcast policy to transition FM radio to digital. TRAI proposes a simulcast mode where each frequency transmits one analog channel, three digital audio channels, and one data channel. Existing FM broadcasters can migrate within six months of the spectrum auction, paying the difference between the auction price and the proportionate Non-Refundable One-Time Entry Fee (NOTEF). TRAI recommends auctioning digital radio frequencies in 13 major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, and nine other cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Pune. A single digital radio technology standard will be adopted nationwide through stakeholder consultations or the auction process. Digital radio authorizations will last 15 years, with fees based on Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR): 4 percent in major cities and 2 percent in other areas for the first three years.
Shafana Fazal
