Today’s telecom news includes announcements on ZTE, du, Eutelsat, Starlink, OneWeb, Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority, among others.
ZTE and du Launch World-First Commercial Upper 6 GHz Connectivity on Live Network
ZTE and UAE telecom operator du have activated Upper 6 GHz radio equipment on a live 5G-Advanced network, demonstrating commercial end-to-end connectivity using commercially available customer premises equipment. The deployment uses ZTE’s GigaMIMO technology and 350 MHz of bandwidth across the 6,775–7,125 MHz spectrum range to increase network capacity, improve coverage and support higher data rates. The companies said the milestone demonstrates the technology’s potential under real-world conditions and advances the UAE’s next-generation connectivity ambitions. Their collaboration will continue to develop Upper 6 GHz commercial capabilities, supporting enhanced mobile broadband, emerging digital services and the longer-term evolution towards 6G networks.
Eutelsat Forecasts $11.1 Billion Revenue from Europe’s Starlink Rival
Eutelsat expects to generate more than €10 billion ($11.1 billion) in commercial services revenue from 2032 to 2040 through its participation in the European Union’s IRIS² satellite communications network. The planned 330-satellite system aims to provide a European alternative to Starlink, with initial satellite launches scheduled for 2029 and services expected in 2030. Eutelsat’s backlog reached €12.1 billion, including €8.9 billion associated with designing and building IRIS². The company plans to invest €3.39 billion in shared and commercial infrastructure between 2027 and 2034. It also intends to expand its existing OneWeb constellation, strengthening its low-Earth-orbit satellite communications business.
Egypt Trains Telecom Regulators from 15 Countries in Equipment Approval
Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority has trained 37 participants from 15 countries in telecommunications equipment approval procedures, strengthening technical expertise and international regulatory cooperation. Conducted online on October 20 and 21, the two-day programme was organised through the Egyptian African Telecom Regulatory Training Center. The seventh training course covered equipment type-approval procedures, technical standards and testing requirements related to radio-spectrum use. Type approval helps regulators ensure that telecommunications equipment meets applicable technical and safety requirements before entering domestic markets. The initiative supports regulatory capacity-building across participating countries as digital infrastructure expands and authorities face growing demands for equipment testing, spectrum management and consistent technical standards.
