EE launches Fast Lane consumer 5G slicing as Europe accelerates
UK operator EE launched its Fast Lane 5G network slicing service for consumers and SMEs at £5 per month, steering users into a dedicated 5G SA lane during network congestion. The offer builds on two years of trials at venues including Wembley Stadium and the Belfast Christmas market. Ericsson reports 84 commercial 5G SA slicing services worldwide (up from 65 six months earlier), with around 35 in Europe, as slicing moves from early adoption to mainstream commercial use.
Test shows 2.2x uplink gain on Verizon 5G SA, yet most telcos hold back
Signals Research Group comparative testing of Verizon's Ericsson-equipped network in Minnesota showed 5G SA handsets delivered 2.2 times the uplink spectral efficiency of non-standalone (NSA), mainly because both uplink MIMO transmit chains can be used for 5G. Yet as of April, only 29% of 5G services globally ran on SA. Analysts point to complex cloud-native transformation and tight capex budgets as the key reasons operators delay 5G core upgrades.
Omdia: first AI-native 6G cores will run on 5G foundations
3GPP is set to finalize the 6G core architecture at its September plenary. Omdia analysis notes that while the industry wants an AI-native 6G core, the vendor ecosystem is unlikely to deliver an all-new core by 2030, and operators cannot afford one. Early 6G cores will most likely be evolved 5G cores plus new 6G control-plane functions and an AI domain (AI plane), with voice and emergency calls still carried on 4G/5G IMS cores. Service intent is expected to become a key 6G core design principle.
SKT lets the sun go down on 3G, targeting 2027 shutdown
South Korea's SK Telecom has stopped activating new 3G subscribers, formally beginning the sunset of a network running for 23 years. The operator is offering handset subsidies and tariff discounts to migrate its roughly 135,000 remaining 3G users to 4G and 5G. The final shutdown date awaits government approval, with SKT aiming to complete it by end-2027. LG Uplus shut down 3G back in 2021, and spectrum released from sunsets will be reused to expand 4G/5G capacity.
AST SpaceMobile 800MHz tests a D2D milestone, says AT&T
AT&T said AST SpaceMobile achieved an important milestone in its 800MHz low-band direct-to-device (D2D) satellite testing. The favorable propagation of 800MHz improves satellite signal coverage and penetration, allowing ordinary smartphones to send and receive voice and data via satellite without modification. AT&T, an early investor in and carrier partner of AST, is working with the company on converged satellite-terrestrial services.
Dell'Oro: RAN market growth streak continues in 2Q 2026
Dell'Oro Group reported that the global RAN equipment market continued to grow in the second quarter of 2026, driven by 5G-Advanced upgrades, millimeter-wave deployments, and investment in emerging markets such as India. Operators are shifting spend toward performance upgrades and AI-driven network modernization, while Open RAN is entering large-scale deployment in some markets.
Huawei releases SingleRAN 22.1, leading the mobile AI era
Huawei released SingleRAN 22.1, emphasizing a mobile AI-centric design philosophy. Targeting 5G-Advanced evolution and large-scale 5G commercial scenarios, the release adds intelligent spectrum sharing, AI-driven energy efficiency optimization, and a smooth upgrade path toward 6G. Huawei says the new version helps operators lift network performance and bits-per-joule efficiency without additional hardware investment, further cementing SingleRAN's position in live-network modernization.
Nokia reiterates China plan amid closure rumours
Amid swirling rumours about closing its China business, Nokia reiterated that it will continue operating in the Chinese market and will keep delivering 5G-Advanced and Open RAN solutions. The company said it will continue providing live-network maintenance and upgrade services to local customers, underscoring the strategic importance of China's mobile network market for equipment vendors. The statement steadied customer and partner expectations about long-term commitments to the market.