Today’s telecom news includes announcements on TowerNorth, FCC, SEBI, Kore Digital, Lightmatter, among others.
TowerNorth Secures Fresh Funding to Expand Wireless Infrastructure
TowerNorth, a U.S. developer, owner and operator of wireless infrastructure, has secured additional growth capital from Berkshire Partners and closed a new debt facility to support continued expansion. The company plans to deploy the funding across build-to-suit projects, strategic tower development, partnerships with other developers and selective acquisitions as demand for wireless connectivity and network capacity increases. Since Berkshire’s initial investment in 2023, TowerNorth has expanded its portfolio from 64 towers to 231, while strengthening its development capabilities and pipeline of tower and colocation opportunities. The company said the new financing will provide greater financial flexibility as carriers continue investing in network coverage and capacity across the United States.
U.S. Spectrum Auctions Could Generate More Than $100 Billion
Upcoming U.S. wireless spectrum auctions could generate more than $100 billion in government revenue over the next several years, according to Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr. The FCC plans to auction 160 MHz of mid-band spectrum in the Upper C-Band in 2027, followed by three additional auctions through the end of 2028. The auctions are intended to increase competition among wireless providers while meeting rising connectivity demand from artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and connected devices. The FCC is also preparing for space-based broadband and 6G-related spectrum auctions in 2028. Recent spectrum transactions include the FCC’s approval of EchoStar’s $40 billion spectrum sale involving SpaceX and AT&T.
SEBI Blocks Kore Digital Fundraising Over Financial Irregularities
India’s Securities and Exchange Board has barred telecom infrastructure company Kore Digital from raising funds from the public and migrating to the main board of a stock exchange following findings of financial irregularities. According to SEBI, the company allegedly inflated revenues through non-genuine subsidiaries and manipulated financial statements. The regulator’s action prevents Kore Digital from pursuing the planned fundraising and main-board migration while regulatory concerns are addressed. The case highlights scrutiny of financial reporting and disclosure practices among companies seeking access to public capital markets. SEBI’s findings concern the company’s reported financial information and alleged use of subsidiaries, with the regulator’s intervention aimed at addressing compliance and market-integrity concerns.
Lightmatter Launches 6.4 Tbps Bidirectional Optical Engine for AI Network Infrastructure
Lightmatter has introduced the Passage L20 CPX, which it describes as the industry’s first Open CPX module combining transmit and receive traffic over a single fiber for AI infrastructure. The optical engine delivers 6.4 Tbps from a single socketed module while cutting the number of fibers and connectors required by approximately 50 percent compared with conventional designs that use separate fibers for transmitting and receiving. Lightmatter has also joined the Open CPX Multi-Source Agreement, supporting standardisation of high-density optical connectivity. Fiber density is becoming an increasingly important network constraint inside large AI clusters as GPU systems require rapidly increasing east-west bandwidth. Bidirectional optics could reduce cabling complexity while allowing operators to scale high-performance computing networks with fewer physical fiber connections.
