The latest telecom news includes announcements on Starlink, satellite broadband, Vodafone, Digicel, Telecom Fiji, Ericsson and Zain, among others.
India Plans Subscriber Caps for Starlink and Satellite Broadband, Targeting Telecom Market Balance
The Indian government is considering a cap on subscribers for satellite broadband companies including Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, OneWeb, and Jio-SES to address concerns from telecom operators about potential revenue loss if satellite firms enter the mobile market. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) plans to require satellite companies to declare capacity and per-user speed, and companies exceeding their subscriber limits must seek new permissions and accept revised terms, including spectrum pricing. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommends a 4 percent spectrum usage charge on Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) for satellite operators, aligning with norms for VSAT providers. A minimum annual spectrum charge of ₹3,500 per MHz is proposed for providers offering fixed and mobile satellite services, and fixed satellite service (FSS) operators in urban areas must pay ₹500 per subscriber annually, Moneycontrol reports.
Fiji Goes 5G: Three Operators Set to Transform Connectivity
Fiji has issued 5G spectrum licenses to Vodafone, Digicel, and Telecom Fiji, effective September 15, 2025, allowing them to provide 5G services to the public and supporting Fiji’s National Development Plan (2025–2029) and National Digital Strategy (2025–2030). The 5G rollout will happen in three phases: Phase One in 2025 covers Suva, Nadi, Lautoka, and Denarau; Phase Two in 2026 expands to Nasinu, Lami, Labasa, and Savusavu; Phase Three from 2027 onwards reaches Nausori, Sigatoka, Navua, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, and Korovou.
Ericsson and Zain Bahrain Boost 4G/5G Networks with Advanced Mobile Broadband
Ericsson and Zain Bahrain have partnered to expand mobile broadband and enhance 4G and 5G network performance in Bahrain. Ericsson will provide radio products and site enclosures, including the triple-band Radio 4823, which doubles uplink throughput by reusing existing antennas, AIR 3285, a dual-band FDD Massive MIMO radio to simplify rollouts in high-capacity sites, and the triple low-band Radio 4486 to maximize low-band spectrum performance. This expansion supports Zain Bahrain in boosting network performance and maximizing spectrum allocation for 4G and 5G technologies.
Shafana Fazal
