The latest telecom news includes announcements on Vodafone Idea, Chunghwa Telecom, Ericsson, TRAI, among others.
Vi Teams Up with AST SpaceMobile to Launch Satellite-to-Phone Service in India
Vodafone Idea (Vi) has partnered with U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile to offer satellite-based mobile services directly to smartphones in India. The service will operate without additional hardware or applications and aims to provide connectivity in remote and underserved regions. This move places Vi alongside Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which are also working on similar satellite-to-smartphone services through separate partnerships. AST SpaceMobile uses low Earth orbit satellites, branded as BlueBird, to enable mobile broadband including 4G and 5G services directly to standard smartphones. The companies have already conducted voice and video calls using the satellite network and achieved data speeds up to 120 Mbps.
Chunghwa Telecom and Ericsson Use AI and Digital Twins to Manage New Year’s Eve Data Surge
Chunghwa Telecom and Ericsson used AI and digital twin technology to manage mobile network traffic during New Year’s Eve in Taipei. Data usage in the area was four times higher than average. To ensure stable service, they applied Ericsson Site Digital Twin (ESDT), Ericsson Network Intelligence (ENI), Live RAN Insights, and Generative AI. These tools forecasted congestion, adjusted network capacity by 14 percent, and maintained 5G speeds. The system automated KPI thresholds based on user numbers and enabled predictive maintenance. It monitored radio sites, identified faults, and optimized performance before issues occurred. The approach allowed uninterrupted streaming and video calls for users while controlling network load. The solution reduced the need for manual operations and improved network handling during high-traffic events. This deployment demonstrates how telecom companies are adopting AI and automation to support network reliability and efficiency during peak usage times.
TRAI and RBI Team Up to Cut Bank Spam Calls with New Digital Consent and Numbering Measures
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have started measures to reduce calls and messages from banks offering loans and credit cards. Many consumers received unsolicited communications despite no ongoing consent. TRAI launched a pilot project for digital consent management with RBI and banks. On June 13, 2025, TRAI directed telecom providers to join this pilot. The banking sector is prioritized due to the risk of fraud linked to spam calls. The pilot tests operational, technical, and regulatory aspects of consent registration for future scaling.
TRAI introduced an SMS classification system on May 6, 2025, adding suffixes to SMS headers: P for Promotional, S for Service, T for Transactional, and G for Government messages. This helps users identify message types. Telecom operators and bulk SMS senders must adopt this format.
TRAI allocated a 160 mobile number series for transactional and service voice calls regulated by RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, and PFRDA. The 140 series is moving to a Distributed Ledger Technology platform. These steps aim to control spam calls.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
