Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Huawei, Qualcomm, TRAI, Telecel Ghana, among others.
Huawei and Qualcomm Sign Multi-Year Patent Licensing Deal
Huawei and Qualcomm have agreed to a multi-year patent licensing arrangement covering 5G, artificial intelligence, computing and networking technologies. The agreement includes cross-licensing of their respective patent portfolios and Qualcomm’s purchase of certain Huawei U.S. patents covering computing, AI, networking and related technologies. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and represents the first Huawei-Qualcomm licensing agreement covering 5G technologies. Huawei said the deal is expected to push the total value of its patent licensing agreements above $6.9 billion once completed. The agreement highlights the commercial value of telecommunications intellectual property as both companies continue to monetize and expand technology portfolios amid major shifts in wireless, AI and computing markets.
India’s Internet Base Crosses 1.09 Billion as Telecom Growth Accelerates
India’s internet subscriber base reached 1.09 billion by March 31, 2026, up 12.76 percent from a year earlier, according to TRAI’s FY26 performance data. Broadband accounted for about 1.07 billion users, while wireless data consumption increased nearly 25 percent to 285,376 petabytes. Average monthly data usage reached 25.51 GB per subscriber, reflecting continued growth in digital services and mobile connectivity. Wireless ARPU rose to ₹180.73, while total telephone subscriptions reached about 1.33 billion.
Telecel Ghana Targets December 2026 5G Launch as Ghana Ends Wholesale Network Model
Telecel Group is targeting December 2026 for launching its own 5G network in Ghana following the government’s decision to move away from the country’s exclusive wholesale 5G architecture. Ghana’s regulator has awarded spectrum directly to Telecel and MTN, allowing both operators to build and operate independent 5G networks using their existing infrastructure footprints. The change follows the cancellation of the exclusive concession previously granted to Next-Gen Infrastructure Company, which had been expected to operate the country’s shared wholesale 5G network until 2034. Ghana had only around 49 operational 5G sites earlier in 2026, compared with an earlier target of 1,200 sites by 2027, highlighting the scale of additional radio deployment required.
