Today’s telecom industry news includes announcements on telecom equipment market, Starlink, Banglalink, RedCap IoT Adoption, SK Telecom, MTN Ghana, among others.
Telecom Equipment Market Growth
The telecom equipment market is expected to grow from $35 billion in 2024 to $62 billion by 2034, with a 6 percent yearly increase. The growth in the telecom equipment market is due to technologies like 5G, IoT, and fixed-line equipment. Companies like Ericsson, Nokia, and Huawei are leading the way.
BTRC Grants Licenses to Starlink for Satellite Internet
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has given two licenses to Starlink Services Bangladesh Ltd to provide internet using Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) satellites. The licenses were handed over on April 29, 2025. This allows Starlink to begin operations in Bangladesh, using satellites for internet services.
BTRC Asks Banglalink to Pay Fees for Mobile Tower Sale
The BTRC has instructed Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd to pay 5.5 percent of the sale price from its mobile tower sale to Summit Towers Limited. This includes VAT and late fees. In December 2023, Banglalink sold 2,012 towers for Tk 1,066 crore and was required to pay Tk 69 crore in fees, which they disputed. After reviews, the BTRC confirmed its decision. This highlights ongoing discussions about telecom regulations in Bangladesh.
Cost Holding Back 5G RedCap IoT Adoption
Telecom companies Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio say high costs are preventing 5G RedCap IoT technology from being used widely. RedCap is a software update, but the cost of devices is too high. Experts believe that if the price of devices drops in countries like China and India, more businesses will start using RedCap. Currently, it is mostly used in industries like automation and video surveillance. It is expected that as the price goes down, RedCap will become more popular by 2030, Economic Times reports.
SK Telecom to Fix SIM Card Shortage with USIM Format
SK Telecom plans to solve its SIM card shortage by introducing a “USIM format” in mid-May. Instead of replacing physical SIM cards, the company will update the existing SIM software. This will make the process faster and easier for customers. SK Telecom has been facing long wait times and complaints because so many people need new SIM cards.
SK Telecom Loses 34,000 Customers After Data Breach
SK Telecom lost 34,000 customers after a hacker leaked their information on April 18. Most of the customers switched to KT and LG U+. The company gained 8,729 new customers but still had a net loss of 25,403. SK Telecom is offering SIM replacements and incentives to attract new customers.
MTN Ghana Reports Data Breach Affecting 5,700 Customers
MTN Ghana said 5,700 customers were affected by a data breach. The Data Protection Commission is looking into the issue. MTN is working with experts to fix it and has contacted the affected customers. They advised customers to be careful and consider placing fraud alerts on their credit reports.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
