Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Jazz, Ericsson, Optus, Safaricom, Vodacom Group, among others.
Jazz Ignites Pakistan’s 5G Race with 1,000 Sites Target by August
Pakistan’s leading telecom operator Jazz has announced plans to expand its 5G rollout to 1,000 network sites by mid-August as the country moves closer to nationwide next-generation connectivity. Following Pakistan’s recent spectrum auction, the company has begun importing 5G equipment and is currently testing services across 180 sites, with broader scaling expected from July. Jazz President Kazim Mujtaba said the expansion will focus on areas where 5G can deliver meaningful impact, especially in underserved regions through the use of 700 MHz spectrum. However, he warned that high telecom taxes, device affordability, and policy challenges could slow digital inclusion. iPhone users may also face delays until Apple officially enables 5G compatibility in Pakistan.
5G Revolution: Optus and Ericsson Hit Record-Breaking Speeds in Global First
Ericsson and Optus have achieved a world-first milestone by successfully testing 180MHz spectrum aggregation across 2.3GHz and 3.5GHz bands on a live 5G Standalone network in Australia. The breakthrough used advanced carrier aggregation technology and commercial smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, to deliver peak download speeds of 3.4Gbps and upload speeds of 200Mbps. The trial combined four spectrum bands to boost network capacity, reliability, and performance in crowded locations such as transport hubs, CBDs, and major events. The development is expected to improve high-bandwidth applications like AR/VR, ultra-HD streaming, and fixed wireless broadband services, marking another major step in the global evolution of advanced 5G connectivity.
Safaricom Profit Surges as Ethiopia Expansion Gains Momentum
Safaricom Plc, backed by Vodacom Group, posted a record annual profit after significantly narrowing losses from its Ethiopian operations, highlighting strong progress in its regional expansion strategy. Net income rose 67 percent to 99.7 billion Kenyan shillings for the year ended March, exceeding analyst expectations. The company’s Ethiopia business cut losses by nearly half while expanding its subscriber base by 54 percent to 13.6 million users. CEO Peter Ndegwa said Ethiopia contributed close to 15percent of overall revenue growth and is moving steadily toward profitability. Safaricom also declared a record dividend for shareholders and plans to reduce capital expenditure in Ethiopia as major network rollout phases near completion, strengthening investor confidence in the telecom operator’s long-term growth prospects.
Spy Signals: Global Telecom Networks Hit by Explosive Surveillance Claims
A report by digital rights watchdog Citizen Lab alleges that Israeli telecom firms exploited weaknesses in global mobile networks to conduct covert surveillance operations across more than 10 countries. The investigation claims attackers used vulnerabilities in 3G, 4G, and early 5G systems to track users, intercept communications, and launch “SIMjacking” attacks through hidden text messages. Researchers recorded over 15,700 location-tracking attempts since late 2022, affecting nations including South Africa, Norway, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Thailand. Citizen Lab warned that outdated telecom trust systems continue to expose billions of users to espionage risks and called for urgent security reforms, stronger authentication measures, and tighter international regulatory oversight.
SHAFANA FAZAL
