LoRaWAN hits 125M connections, cements fourth pillar status
On June 22, the LoRa Alliance CEO said with 125 million IoT connections and 25% annual growth, LoRaWAN has moved beyond its LPWAN niche to cement its position as the "fourth pillar" of wireless connectivity alongside 5G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Alliance noted LoRaWAN complements rather than competes with cellular, with particularly strong growth in smart buildings, asset tracking and infrastructure monitoring.
Vodafone Spain to launch AST SpaceMobile D2D satellite service next year
On June 25, Vodafone Spain signed a commercial agreement with Satellite Connect Europe to launch direct-to-device (D2D) satellite broadband services in Spain by 2027. Users will be able to connect standard smartphones directly to satellites without additional antennas or SIM cards. Vodafone has shut down 3G to repurpose low-band spectrum for satellite mobile services.
Ziply Fiber expands fiber footprint across the U.S. Northwest
On June 26, Light Reading reported that Ziply Fiber continues to expand its fiber network across the Pacific Northwest. The company is deploying new fiber in smaller towns such as Bayview, Idaho, replacing outdated DSL networks that many local residents still rely on. Ziply Fiber's long-term target is to reach 2 million fiber passings by the end of 2028.
China's 5G-A network covers 330+ cities, paving way for AI-native 6G
At MWC Shanghai, it was disclosed that China's 5G-Advanced network now covers over 330 cities with more than 10 million subscribers, maintaining a 12-18 month lead over Western operators. China's 5G users have surpassed 1.26 billion. Field trial data in the U6GHz band has been submitted to 3GPP, positioning China for a leading role in 6G standardization.
TelcoAgent uses 3GPP knowledge graph for zero-shot 5G KPI prediction
On June 23, RCR Wireless reported on TelcoAgent, a new AI tool that combines zero-shot KPI prediction with a 3GPP knowledge graph to assist 5G network forecasting and optimization. The tool can predict network performance in new scenarios without historical data, helping operators accelerate 5G network planning and reduce reliance on manual testing.
Report: Private 5G market to exceed $6.6B by 2029
On June 24, SNS Telecom & IT forecasted global private 5G network spending will exceed $6.6 billion annually by 2029, with a CAGR of approximately 34% from 2026-2029. Growth is driven by industrial automation and "physical AI" systems, as well as mission-critical communications needs including railway FRMCS and public safety. Migration of AGVs and AMRs from Wi-Fi to private 5G is a typical deployment pattern.
3GPP Release 20 locks dual-track: 5G-Advanced finalization and 6G study
3GPP Release 20 has confirmed its dual role: it serves as the final specification release for 5G-Advanced (focusing on energy efficiency, AI/ML, satellite NTN enhancements) and also as the initial study phase for 6G. Stage 2 architecture is scheduled for freeze in September 2026. 6G study items cover 11 areas including radio, architecture and security, with formal specifications to follow in Release 21.
Wi-Fi 7 outdoor deployment arrives: seamless campus coverage becomes reality
On June 24, the CEO of Rhino Networks noted that with Wi-Fi 7 hardware now available for outdoor deployment, enterprises can standardize wireless coverage across entire facilities. Wi-Fi 7's higher throughput enables new use cases in high-density outdoor environments such as enterprise campuses and sports venues. Planning must account for user density and future scalability.
SpaceX considers retail mobile service and terrestrial cellular network
On June 27, the FT reported that SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said during an IPO roadshow that the company is considering launching a retail Starlink mobile service and building its own terrestrial cellular network in the U.S., shifting from a supplementary coverage model with T-Mobile to direct competition. SpaceX has spent roughly $19.6 billion acquiring spectrum from EchoStar. T-Mobile's D2D service usage remains below expectations.
MWC Shanghai 2026 opens with first 6G and satellite pavilions
From June 24-26, MWC Shanghai opened under the theme "The IQ Era," featuring the industry's first dedicated 6G pavilion and a "Future Constellations" satellite communications zone. A GSMA report showed China accounts for over 40% of global 5G connections. Huawei, ZTE and Qualcomm demonstrated the latest 5G-A and 6G prototype technologies, with the event focusing on 6G, mobile AI, satellite communications and embodied intelligence.