During the period from July 22th to 28th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Omdia Report: Asia-Pacific and Oceania Lead Global IoT Development with Accelerating 5G RedCap Growth
Omdia's latest report forecasts global cellular IoT connections will reach 5.1 billion by 2030. The Asia-Pacific and Oceania regions dominate the market, accounting for 67% of global module shipments and 80% of total connections in 2024. 5G RedCap, as a mid-tier connectivity solution, is developing rapidly, with the automotive industry being a primary driver. The report notes that while RedCap deployment is slower than expected, it provides critical support for the 4G-to-5G transition.
2. Reliance Jio ends June with 213 million 5G subscribers
India's Reliance Jio reported 213 million 5G subscribers by the end of June, adding 43 million in six months. Its in-house end-to-end 5G technology has driven large-scale adoption, with plans to expand internationally. JioAirFiber, with 7.4 million users, is now the world's largest FWA provider, covering over 20 million fixed-line locations. The company has postponed its originally planned 2025 IPO to prioritize user growth. Current 5G network utilization is around 15%, with future investments contingent on market demand.
3. ‘Absolute consistency’ – Vodafone IoT embraces the chaos
Vodafone's IoT division is strengthening its leading position in the fragmented cellular IoT market through global coverage, platform unification, and SIM innovation. The independently operated unit leverages its self-developed GDSP platform and 760 carrier networks to offer a "one-card, one-platform, one-service" global IoT solution. Its U.S. operations focus on multinational enterprise needs, with SGP.32 eSIM standards expected by the end of 2025. Vodafone stated that since 2020, it has helped customers reduce 47.6 million tons of CO₂ emissions, including 32.8 million tons in 2023 alone.
4. Peru’s Claro Partners with Huawei for 5G-A Technology Testing
Peruvian operator Claro, in collaboration with Huawei, completed 5G-A technology tests achieving peak speeds of 10 Gbps (10 times faster than 5G). The tests used SA network architecture, combined with 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz spectrum, validating ultra-low latency and high energy efficiency. Huawei stated that this technology can improve efficiency in industrial scenarios, such as a 50% increase in logistics efficiency in a factory in China. Peru's MTC granted temporary test spectrum authorization.
5. Ofcom lowers mobile spectrum fees
UK communications regulator Ofcom announced a reduction in annual mobile spectrum fees, with fees for the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands reduced by 26% to £1.03 million and £760,000 per MHz respectively, while the 2.1GHz band was increased by 6% to £722,000. The move is expected to save operators approximately £60 million per year. At the same time, Ofcom is consulting on abolishing pre-payment rules for spectrum transactions to promote efficient use of spectrum resources. Currently, 5G connections account for 28% of total mobile connections in the UK, with 5G SA technology accounting for 2%.
6. Oman sees rapid growth in mobile and IoT connections
Oman's telecommunications industry is developing rapidly. As of May 2023, mobile users reached 8.13 million, and IoT connections surged by 118.7% year-on-year to 1.55 million. The government's $441.5 million digital transformation plan has promoted the construction of fiber optics and 5G, with fixed broadband users reaching 588,000 (57.6% of which are fiber optic). As part of the "Vision 2040", the country plans to increase the proportion of the digital economy from 3% in 2025 to 5% in 2030, and 80% of government services will be digitized by 2025.
7. China Adds Over 100M 5G Subscribers in H1 2025, Surpassing 1.1 billion Total
In the first half of 2025, China's 5G mobile users reached 1.118 billion, a net increase of 104 million compared to the end of 2024, accounting for 61.8% of the total number of mobile users. The number of 5G base stations nationwide reached 4.549 million, an increase of 298,000 from the end of the previous year. There were 2.831 billion mobile IoT terminal users, with an average monthly data usage per user of 20.75GB in June. 5G networks are accelerating coverage to counties and townships, and supporting the digital transformation of industrial internet and other fields.
8. EE expands 5G SA network across UK
EE, a subsidiary of BT Group, announced the expansion of its 5G SA network coverage, which is expected to cover 34 million people across the UK by the end of August 2025 (over 45 new areas) and expand to 41 million by spring 2026. This upgrade includes Vo5G technology to improve call connection speed and streaming experience in high-density scenarios. EE plans to achieve nationwide 5G coverage by 2028 and is currently deploying small cells through Nokia and Ericsson to enhance network capacity. 5G SA, as the core of its programmable network strategy, will support innovative applications such as AI, cloud gaming and network slicing.
9. America Viasat launches IoT Nano for global remote connectivity
America Viasat launched the new IoT Nano service, providing two-way IoT connectivity for remote areas through L-band satellite networks. The service adopts ORBCOMM's OGx technology, featuring higher transmission efficiency, lower power consumption and cost advantages, suitable for asset tracking in industries such as agriculture, shipping and energy. It is compatible with existing equipment and supports third-party development of customized terminals, helping enterprises achieve real-time monitoring and data collection in remote areas worldwide.
10. Dell'Oro: Global RAN Market to Hit $160B Before 6G Era
Dell'Oro's latest report predicts that the global RAN market size will reach $160 billion from 2025 to 2029, with 5G investments offsetting LTE declines, and a projected compound annual growth rate of -1%. The report points out that although technologies such as Open RAN and 5G-A are important, they are unlikely to expand the overall market, and applications such as FWA and private networks may bring upside opportunities. 5G-A will gradually replace 5G investments but will not trigger a large-scale capital expenditure cycle.
11. GSMA: 5G connections in APAC set to hit 50% by 2030
GSMA's latest report predicts that the proportion of 5G connections in the Asia-Pacific region will increase from 18% in 2024 to 50% in 2030, driving the regional GDP to rise from $950 billion to $1.4 trillion. Operators have invested $220 billion in building 5G networks since 2019, but the ratio of spectrum costs to revenue has risen from 3% to 9% over the decade. Currently, 48% of the population in the Asia-Pacific region is still unconnected, and spectrum policy optimization and public investment are needed to bridge the digital divide. China's 5G is expected to contribute $2 trillion in economic value by 2030.
12. Vodafone Idea launches 5G in Jaipur
Indian operator Vodafone Idea announced the launch of 5G services in Jaipur, the latest progress in its strategic deployment across 17 key telecom circles. The operator has built a 5G network using Ericsson's lightweight base stations and AI-driven SON technology, and has upgraded the 4G network in Rajasthan, adding coverage in the 900MHz and 2.1GHz bands. The company plans to expand 5G in 23 cities including Ahmedabad in phases, while continuing to expand 4G coverage to 84% of the national population.
13. Ericsson Deploys Automated Carrier Aggregation at Telstra’s 5G-A Commercial Sites
Ericsson recently deployed automatic carrier aggregation technology at over 50 commercial 5G-A sites in North Sydney of Telstra, making it the world's first commercial case. The technology uses AI algorithms to optimize carrier combinations in real-time, improving aggregation efficiency by 20%, significantly enhancing user experience and reducing operating costs. Initial tests showed an increase in user peak rates, verifying the value of 5G-A in simplifying network operations and accelerating innovation.