Intelligence Journeys
AI Use Cases for Utilities
Private Broadband for Utilities

Broadband

Verizon posted 55,000 postpaid phone net additions, a modest beat that underscores stabilizing consumer trends and stronger execution in premium plans and broadband cross-sell. The net add beat is small in absolute terms, but strategically important: it points to improving churn and a healthier mix of high-value subscribers after several quarters of intense promotional pressure. Management coupled the result with a constructive outlook characterized by service revenue resilience and disciplined capital intensity, hinting at a tighter or modestly raised full‑year guide. For a market still digesting 5G investment cycles, this steady footing matters more than splashy net‑add gains.
T-Mobile has inked two 50/50 fiber joint ventures to accelerate FTTP reach, add multi-gig capacity, and broaden its multi-access broadband portfolio. T-Mobile will partner with Oak Hill Capital to combine GoNetspeed and Greenlight Networks into a single platform and, in a separate JV, team with infrastructure investor Wren House to acquire i3 Broadband. Collectively, the platforms target about 1.8 million passings by the end of 2026—roughly 1.3 million from GoNetspeed/Greenlight and 500,000 from i3 Broadband—expanding T-Mobile’s ability to sell T-Fiber by T-Mobile alongside its leading 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) offering.
The broadband industry is intensifying its push to cut permitting delays on federal lands, with trade group USTelecom urging the Departments of Interior and Agriculture to adopt new White House guidance that would let agencies skip full environmental reviews for low-impact infrastructure projects. The guidance, issued by the Council on Environmental Quality in April, presses federal agencies to expand so-called categorical exclusions under NEPA — a shortcut the industry argues is essential to closing the digital divide in rural America.
Deutsche Telekom is weighing a structural overhaul that would collapse its 53% ownership of T-Mobile US into a single, unified company spanning both sides of the Atlantic. Reports indicate Deutsche Telekom is exploring an all-stock transaction in which a new holding company would acquire both Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile US, with current shareholders of each ending up as owners of the combined entity. The new group could pursue dual listings in the U.S. and Europe, eliminating today’s parent–subsidiary setup and aligning governance, strategy, and capital allocation under one roof.
Amazon will acquire Globalstar to accelerate Amazon Leo’s direct-to-device (D2D) roadmap, secure midband MSS spectrum, and extend satellite coverage to smartphones and IoT beyond terrestrial reach. Amazon is acquiring Globalstar in a cash-and-stock deal valued at roughly $11.5 billion, with Globalstar shareholders able to elect $90 per share in cash or Amazon stock subject to a cash cap and proration. Closing is targeted after regulatory approvals and satellite milestones, with Amazon guiding to 2027. Amazon plans to deploy a next-generation D2D system starting in 2028, delivering voice, messaging, and data to unmodified mobile devices.
US Mobile and Starlink have launched limited-time bundles that combine Starlink residential service with US Mobile’s unlimited mobile plans under a single account and bill. Entry pricing starts at $47 per month, which effectively blends a $30 Starlink residential tier (targeted around 100 Mbps) with a $17 US Mobile base unlimited plan. Higher Starlink speed tiers are available at $77 per month for a 200 Mbps option and $117 per month for a “Max” service that targets 400 Mbps or more. Compared with Starlink’s typical standalone rates of $50, $80, and $120 for the same speed tiers, the bundles represent meaningful savings for households that want both mobile and home internet.
OpenAI is reportedly building a portfolio of AI-native devices, signaling a push beyond software and into ambient, multimodal computing that will touch homes, workplaces, and networks. Multiple reports indicate OpenAI has over 200 people developing a family of AI-enabled hardware, with a smart speaker expected to debut first. Early guidance points to a price in the $200–$300 range and a ship window no earlier than February 2027. The device is said to include a camera to capture contextual information about users and surroundings—an explicit bet on multimodal AI that fuses voice, vision, and environment for richer interactions.
SpaceX’s anticipated 2026 IPO is not just a space-launch story; it is a capital and scale inflection that could reorder parts of the mobile and broadband value chain. Market chatter pegs SpaceX’s IPO valuation around the trillion-plus mark with a potential multibillion-dollar primary raise, a war chest that would dwarf most rivals’ balance sheets. For telecom, the same cash advantage accelerates Starlink’s network deployment, ground infrastructure, and device partnerships—compressing the window for incumbents to respond. Starlink reports more than 9,000 satellites in orbit, 9.2 million paying customers, and over $10 billion in annual revenue.
Charter introduced Spectrum Invincible WiFi, a package built around its Advanced Wi‑Fi 7 router paired with an integrated backup battery and an embedded 5G cellular pathway. The system automatically rides through local power interruptions for up to eight hours and, if the wired broadband link drops, switches to cellular with unlimited data until the primary connection returns. The offer targets households running multigig internet and dozens of smart devices, and is positioned as a simple add-on for existing Spectrum customers. Home connectivity has become mission‑critical for work, school, security and telehealth while weather-related disruptions and grid instability are rising.
FWA is capex-light and fast to deploy, especially in mid-band-rich markets, which makes it ideal for quick share gains, addressable market expansion, and rural or underserved pockets. Its constraint is shared capacity: as mobile traffic grows, operators must manage prioritization, peak congestion, and plan mix to preserve experience. Fiber demands higher upfront capital but delivers deterministic throughput, low latency, and long asset life that underpins premium ARPU, enterprise SLAs, and wholesale opportunities. Expect operators to steer FWA toward segments with favorable traffic profiles and use fiber for high-usage clusters and enterprise-critical sites.
Millicom and NJJ have jointly acquired Telefónica’s Chilean operations in a structure designed to capture upside while insulating Millicom’s balance sheet. Through a jointly controlled vehicle, NJJ holds 51% and Millicom 49% of nearly all of Telefónica’s interest in Chile, with Millicom operating the asset from day one despite its minority stake. The headline value is about $1.2 billion, reflecting a challenged but strategically important footprint in one of Latin America’s most advanced telecom markets. The transaction closed on February 10, 2026, and follows months of speculation that drew interest from other regional heavyweights, including América Móvil and Entel.

Partner Hubs

Download content, access intelligence tools, and hear from executives.

Partner Events

  • M360 ASEAN
  • FutureNet Asia 2026
  • Network X Vienna 2026
Scroll to Top