Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Ooredoo, iQ Networks, Spectrum Auction in Mexico, Q13, Nokia, among others.
Ooredoo and iQ Networks Build New Gulf–Europe Fiber Corridor Through Iraq
Ooredoo Group’s international connectivity business, OFN, has signed a dark-fiber agreement with iQ Networks to develop a new terrestrial telecommunications corridor across Iraq. The agreement covers the purchase of multiple dark-fiber pairs connecting the planned Fiber in Gulf submarine cable landing in Iraq with onward routes toward Türkiye and Europe. The FIG system is designed to connect seven Gulf markets and provide up to 720 Tbps of capacity across 24 fiber pairs. OFN’s separate agreement with the Iraqi Telecommunications and Post Company covers the Iraqi landing infrastructure. The combined subsea-terrestrial architecture will provide another international route between Asia and Europe. Implementation remains subject to regulatory and governmental approvals.
Mexico Plans 60 MHz Spectrum Auction for Private 5G Networks Across 72 Regions
Mexico’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has announced plans to auction 60 MHz of upper-2.3GHz spectrum for private 5G networks serving industrial and enterprise users. The proposed allocation is 20 MHz larger than the 40 MHz originally considered during public consultation between June 18 and July 15. The tender, designated CRT-RRI-01-2026, will initially target 72 strategic regions identified for industrial connectivity projects. Remaining spectrum may subsequently be assigned to smaller geographical areas. Applications are expected from manufacturing, mining, logistics, ports, energy and agricultural businesses requiring dedicated wireless infrastructure. Interested participants must register their intention to participate between October 19 and 23, 2026. Final auction pricing and assignment dates have not yet been disclosed.
Nokia Wins Brazil Research Network Contract Covering 350 Routers and 4.8 Tbps Capacity
Nokia and technology partner Q13 have been selected to modernize Brazil’s national research and education network, rede Ipê, operated by Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa. The project will deliver 4.8 Tbps of aggregate capacity across more than 350 routers, creating an automated IP backbone capable of evolving toward 800G connectivity. The network supports more than 4 million users across Brazil’s academic and research communities. Nokia will supply 7750 Service Router and 7250 Interconnect Router platforms for core, aggregation, peering and edge connectivity. Q13 will manage implementation and network migration. The modernization will also strengthen connectivity with more than 125 academic networks across over 100 countries, supporting international research collaboration and data-intensive scientific applications.