During the period from October 21th to 27th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Turkcell tops the bill as Turkish 5G auction raises nearly $3 billion
Turkey's 5G spectrum auction concluded with a total revenue of nearly $3 billion, significantly exceeding government expectations. Turkcell emerged as the top buyer, spending over $1.2 billion to acquire spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.5GHz bands; Türk Telekom and Vodafone invested approximately $1 billion and $627 million respectively. Operators' spectrum usage rights are extended to 2042, laying the foundation for 5G commercial launch in 2026.
2. Reliance Jio claims 234 million 5G subs, 50% 5G traffic
India's Reliance Jio announced that its 5G user base has reached 234 million, with 5G traffic accounting for approximately 50% of total wireless data traffic. Parent company Jio Platforms reported a 12.8% year-on-year increase in Q3 net profit to $839.5 million. Meanwhile, JioAirFiber fixed wireless access subscribers reached 9.5 million, making it the largest FWA service globally. The company plans an IPO in the first half of 2026.
3. Cohere launches Pulsone in a bid to bring situational awareness to 5G and 6G
Cohere Technologies launched a new business, Pulsone, aiming to introduce Integrated Sensing and Communication capabilities to 5G and 6G using its Zak-OTFS waveform technology. This technology combines the advantages of frequency division and time division, enhancing situational awareness in high-mobility environments for applications like autonomous driving, defense, and augmented reality. The company plans to commence commercialization within six months and will conduct its first demonstration at an NVIDIA conference.
4. T-Mobile pushes home 5G advantage with hybrid private 5G offer
US-based T-Mobile launched a hybrid private 5G solution called Edge Control, leveraging its 5G Advanced network and slicing technology to provide enterprises with a low-latency, data-localized private network experience over the public network. The service aims to replace traditional Wi-Fi or standalone private 5G with lower cost and complexity and has been trialed by the PGA, F1, and healthcare institutions.
5. China Mobile’s revenues slightly up y-o-y in Jan-Sep
China Mobile's operating revenue for the first three quarters of 2025 reached RMB 794.7 billion, a slight year-on-year increase of 0.4%; net profit was RMB 115.4 billion, up 4% year-on-year. 5G package subscribers reached 622 million, with a net addition of 23 million in the quarter; total mobile subscribers exceeded 1 billion, and wired broadband subscribers increased to 329 million. The company emphasized it is accelerating AI innovation and scaled application, promoting the development of new "Carbon-Silicon Symbiosis" industries.
6. China Telecom’s revenues up 0.6% y-o-y in Jan-Sep
China Telecom's operating revenue for the first three quarters of 2025 was RMB 397 billion, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%; net profit was RMB 30.8 billion, up 5% year-on-year. 5G subscribers reached 292 million, with penetration among mobile subscribers rising to 66.9%. The company will continue to advance its "Cloud Transformation and Digital Shift" and "AI+" strategies, accelerating the intelligent upgrade of digital infrastructure.
7. Telefónica could revive 1&1 partnership in Germany: Report
According to reports, Telefónica Germany is in discussions with operator 1&1 to revive their partnership, aiming to compete with Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone. 1&1's 5G deployment has lagged due to a dispute with Vodafone, having built only 1,200 base stations so far. The possibility of Telefónica acquiring 1&1 in the future is also not ruled out.
8. Smart Axiata Cambodia Completes Large-Scale Deployment of Huawei’ s EasyAAU in Key Urban Areas, Reshaping 4G Experience and Accelerating Digital Transformation
Leading Cambodian operator Smart Axiata, in partnership with Huawei, has completed the large-scale deployment of 2.3GHz EasyAAUs in major cities across the country. This solution facilitates the network upgrade from traditional architecture to a green and efficient Massive MIMO network. Compared to traditional solutions, network capacity has doubled, user experience data rates have improved twofold, and energy efficiency has been optimized by 45%, strengthening its network leadership and supporting Cambodia's digital societal development.
9. Global 5G FWA to reach 150mn subscriptions by 2030: Omdia
According to a latest Omdia report, global 5G Fixed Wireless Access subscriptions are projected to reach 150 million by 2030, accounting for nearly 90% of all FWA connections. India will be the largest market with 37 million subscribers, followed by the US. 5G FWA is expected to surpass 4G FWA by 2027 and potentially become the second-largest broadband access technology after 2030.
10. MasOrange achieves merger synergies of $301m in Jan-Sep
Spain's largest telecom operator MasOrange (formed by the merger of Orange and MasMovil) reported a 3.7% year-on-year increase in revenue to €5.66 billion for the first three quarters of 2025, with adjusted EBITDA up 8% to €2.19 billion and an EBITDA margin of 39%. It has achieved €259 million in merger synergies, exceeding half of its 2025 target. The joint venture FiberCo with Vodafone, among others, could reduce debt by €3.25 billion.
11. Cisco, partners deploy free LA Wi-Fi
Cisco, in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles, non-profit organizations, and other partners, has deployed free public Wi-Fi in the city's Crenshaw district. The network uses Cisco access points and backhaul technology, supported by 1.5 miles of fiber, covering public areas to help bridge the digital divide and provide support for events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Los Angeles officials called it a model of collaboration, and Cisco stated this initiative will advance smart city development.
12. VNPT gives Nokia nod on radio upgrades
Vietnamese operator VNPT has reached a new agreement with Nokia, entrusting it to upgrade the radio network in Hanoi, border areas, and southern regions. Nokia will provide its AirScale portfolio equipped with ReefShark chipsets to enhance network capacity, reduce power consumption, and achieve low latency. This collaboration leverages the AirScale manufacturing center established by Nokia in Vietnam in 2024, supporting Vietnam's digital inclusion and economic growth.