This Week's Top Five Stories in the Telco Industry

Malaysia’s DNB Doubles 5G Capacity as U Mobile Exits Network

Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), the first 5G wholesale network in Malaysia, is activating newly allocated spectrum in the 3.3–3.4GHz band. This is effectively doubling its network capacity as the company enters what its CEO describes as a new phase focused on enterprise digitalisation and AI applications. 

The expansion comes as U Mobile has departed the network under Malaysia's shift to a dual 5G wholesale network model.

VodafoneThree Enlists AI Video Tech for 5G Rollout

VodafoneThree has partnered with Vyntelligence to deploy AI-powered video technology across its network integration and upgrade programme. The collaboration will see field engineers use the Vyn app to capture and validate work at thousands of mobile network sites as part of the operator's £11bn (US$14.7bn) investment to build national 5G infrastructure.

The partnership addresses the challenge of coordinating multiple delivery partners and subcontractors while maintaining consistent build standards. 

Through adopting Vyntelligence’s technology, VodafoneThree aims to reduce the manual paperwork and audit processes that have traditionally slowed network rollout.

FCC to Vote on 160MHz of Upper C-Band Auction for 2027

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote this month on an order to auction 160MHz of spectrum in the Upper C-Band, with the sale scheduled to take place in 2027. The move exceeds the minimum requirement set by the US Congress and will create a unified mid-band resource for wireless operators.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced on 30 June that commissioners will vote on 22 July to proceed with the auction of frequencies between 3.98GHz and 4.14GHz.

The rules would harmonise terrestrial wireless operations across the entire C-Band, creating a contiguous 440MHz block spanning 3.70GHz to 4.14GHz when combined with the Lower C-Band spectrum auctioned in 2020.

Spanish Decree: Mobile Networks Must Have More Back-Up Power

On 25 June 2026, Oscar Lopez, the Spanish Government's Digital Transformation Minister, unveiled a decree requiring mobile operators to maintain network coverage for most of the population for at least four hours during power cuts.
Rather than immediate enforcement, the regulation follows a staged rollout.

Operators must harden their networks across half of Spain's population within 12 months, extending to 65% and 75% in years two and three, respectively. Full ratification is expected by the end of 2026.

BT and Verizon Create US$4bn International Joint Venture

BT Group and Verizon Communications have signed an agreement to merge their international enterprise operations into a 50:50 joint venture, marking what both companies describe as a transformation in how multinational organisations access global connectivity.

The new entity will serve more than 3,000 customers across more than 180 countries, generating approximately US$4bn in combined annual revenue. The structure brings together BT International, which provides secure communication and network services to multinational customers, with Verizon's international enterprise wireline division.

Under the terms of the deal, both companies will hold equal voting rights. Verizon has agreed to pay BT an equalisation payment of US$625m to balance the respective contributions to the venture.