During the period from September 23th to 29th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Verizon launches 6G forum; it’s all about the use cases, CTO says
US-based Verizon, in partnership with Ericsson, Meta, Nokia, Samsung, and Qualcomm, has officially launched the 6G Innovation Forum, aiming to propel the US into a global leadership position in 6G. The company's CTO emphasized a focus on practical application scenarios to drive technology development, with plans to establish the first 6G labs in Los Angeles. Key issues like spectrum resources and national security sensing are also being addressed.
2. How the new SGP.32 eSIM standard will transform IoT connectivity
The GSMA's SGP.32 eSIM standard is transforming IoT connectivity. It adopts a zero-touch, "develop once, deploy globally" model, incorporating components like the eSIM Remote Manager, addressing the poor adaptability of older standards. It can tackle challenges posed by multi-country roaming restrictions and data sovereignty regulations, gaining broad industry recognition. Related eSIMs are projected to reach 192.8 million by 2028, potentially becoming mainstream for non-consumer devices by 2030, though vigilance is needed against vendor lock-in risks during implementation.
3. BSNL targets 5G launches in Delhi, Mumbai by the end of 2025
Indian state-owned telecom company BSNL plans to launch 5G services in Delhi and Mumbai by the end of 2025, with its domestically developed network equipment performing well in tests. The company's 5G deployment delays were primarily due to the government's push for indigenous 4G technology; it has deployed 95,000 4G towers capable of 5G upgrades. The government injected additional capital in August 2025 to strengthen its network, but its current market share remains below 8%.
4. Netmore buys Spanish smart utilities specialist Arson Metering
Swedish public LoRaWAN operator Netmore has acquired Spanish smart metering company Arson Metering (amount undisclosed), gaining its deployment of 500,000 water/gas smart meters (covering over 200 towns) and a backlog order of 350,000 meters, strengthening its capabilities in the utilities sector. Arson Metering has its own dedicated monitoring center and smart management platform. This acquisition aids Netmore in advancing its global LoRaWAN network expansion and utility automation, serving projects in Europe and other regions.
5. VNPT gets 700 MHz spectrum in Vietnam’s latest auction
Vietnamese telecom company VNPT, after two rounds of bidding, has secured a 700MHz spectrum license for the 703-713MHz/758-768MHz band (Block B1-B1') for 1.99 trillion VND (approximately $82.9 million). This spectrum was previously used for analog television and is now repurposed for mobile communications, aiming to enhance 4G/5G coverage in rural and remote areas of Vietnam and improve indoor connectivity in cities. This brings Vietnam's total IMT spectrum to 660 MHz, ranking fourth in ASEAN. Vietnam Telecom Group had previously acquired adjacent spectrum.
6. Qualcomm CEO calls his shot: ‘Pre-commercial’ 6G devices in 2028
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon stated at the Snapdragon Summit that pre-commercial 6G devices are expected to launch in 2028. He emphasized that 6G will be a key connectivity layer between edge devices and the cloud, supporting personalized experiences centered around AI agents. Qualcomm is actively participating in 3GPP 6G standardization and collaborating with companies like Verizon to drive application scenario development.
7. Boldyn and Nokia deploy private 5G for remote control at Finnish mining testbed
Finland's Callio FutureMINE has deployed a private 5G network in Europe's deepest mine shaft, built in collaboration between Boldyn and Nokia. Based on Nokia's modular solutions, the network covers several kilometers of tunnels and underground levels, supporting remote vehicle control, digital twins, and real-time communication, aiming to enhance mining safety and automation. This testbed provides critical infrastructure for industrial companies to validate new technologies in a real-world environment.
8. NTT Data installs private 5G from Celona at two Celanese plants in Texas
NTT Data has deployed a managed private 5G network using Celona's core network and RAN components at two US chemical company Celanese plants in Clear Lake and Bishop, Texas. The network covers large outdoor plant areas, solving challenges like signal issues, and supports applications such as connected workers and data collection. The partners are exploring new use cases like automation, with potential future rollout to Celanese's 25 global plants.
9. du upgrades its 5G offering in the UAE
UAE telecom operator du has launched an upgraded "5G+" service based on 5G-Advanced architecture, following its deployment of the technology with Huawei in August. It utilizes 64T64R AAUs in the 3.7GHz and 2.6GHz bands, achieving peak speeds of 5.4 Gbps, double the speed of existing 5G, with average speeds increasing by 33%. This standalone network requires compatible devices and SIM cards, supporting gaming, ultra-high-definition video, AI applications, and improving performance in crowded scenarios.
10. Germany’s 6G NeXt project concludes after three years of research
The 6G NeXt project, led by Deutsche Telekom and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology, and Space, has concluded after three years of research. The project brought together multiple institutions to create modular, scalable infrastructure and demonstrated applications such as drone collision avoidance and volumetric video conferencing. Outputs include 23 papers and one European patent. The findings contribute to the development of European 6G platform white papers and provide support for 6G development in the 2030s.