During the period from November 4th to 10th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Orange seeks full control of MasOrange
French telecom group Orange will acquire the remaining 50% stake in the Spanish joint venture MasOrange for €4.25 billion, achieving full ownership. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026, pending the signing of definitive agreements and regulatory approvals. MasOrange achieved €259 million in synergies in the first three quarters of this year and serves over 33 million customers, consolidating Orange's position in Europe's second-largest market.
2. VodafoneZiggo taps Ericsson for 5G boost
Dutch operator VodafoneZiggo has signed a three-year network modernization agreement with Ericsson to upgrade approximately 3,000 sites nationwide, deploying newly acquired 3.5GHz spectrum and upgrading infrastructure. Ericsson will provide its AIR 3255 Massive MIMO equipment, which offers up to 63% energy savings, to enhance 5G capacity and energy efficiency, supporting consumer, enterprise, and IoT applications. The project commenced this year and is expected to be completed by 2028.
3. Fiber and 5G lead OECD digital transformation
An OECD report shows that fiber accounted for 47% of fixed broadband subscriptions in 2024, exceeding 80% in countries like South Korea and Iceland. 5G represented 37% of mobile broadband, led by Denmark and Hungary. Over the past five years, gigabit broadband availability increased 4.5 times, and average monthly mobile data usage doubled to 15 GB. Fixed Wireless Access and satellite broadband are filling coverage gaps, while nearly 642 million M2M connections are driving IoT development.
4. 6G capex ramp to begin around 2030: Dell’Oro
A Dell'Oro report indicates the global RAN market faces prolonged weak growth, with nominal annual growth averaging just 1% since 2000, showing a declining trend after inflation adjustment, and is expected to remain flat until 2035. The 6G capital expenditure ramp is projected to begin around 2030, accounting for 55%-60% of total RAN investment from 2029-2034. Initial deployments will focus on Massive MIMO in Sub-7 GHz and centimeter-wave bands, leveraging existing macro base station infrastructure.
5. Telefonica completes sell of its business in Ecuador
Spain's Telefónica has completed the sale of its Ecuador operations to Millicom, continuing its strategic exit from Latin American markets. The business, operating under the Movistar brand, serves approximately 5 million customers with a 28% market share. Millicom strengthens its South American footprint with this acquisition, having previously acquired Telefónica's operations in Uruguay and Colombia. Telefónica aims to focus on consolidating its core European markets.
6. Telefónica launches strategic plan to drive long-term growth
Telefónica has launched a five-year "Transformation and Growth" strategy focusing on four core markets: Spain, Germany, the UK, and Brazil. The plan aims to achieve a revenue CAGR of 1.5%-2.5% from 2025-2028 and cumulative cost savings of €3 billion by 2030 through AI adoption, network upgrades, and operational simplification. The company also called for consolidation within the European telecoms sector to enhance global competitiveness.
7. Nokia, SoftBank sign network modernization deal in Japan
Nokia and SoftBank have signed a network modernization agreement for western Japan covering 4G/5G. The deal involves deploying AirScale base stations and Habrok Massive MIMO equipment, and introducing AI-driven MantaRay solutions to improve energy efficiency and automation. As founding members of the AI-RAN Alliance, the partners will also continue collaborating on Massive MIMO testing in the 7 GHz band and 6G technology research.
8. BT reports revenues of $12.8 billion in H1
BT Group reported H1 revenue of £9.8 billion (approximately $12.83 billion), down 3% year-on-year, with adjusted EBITDA stable at £4.1 billion. Its Openreach unit added 1.1 million FTTP customers, reaching 20.3 million premises. The EE mobile division reported 13.9 million 5G subscribers (up 11% YoY), with 5G+ coverage rising to 66%. The company is collaborating with Starlink to improve broadband access in remote areas.
9. Telia expands 5G capabilities with Nokia’s cloud-native core
Nordic telecom operator Telia has reached an agreement with Nokia to deploy Nokia's cloud-native 5G Standalone core network in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, and Lithuania, and to expand the radio access network in Finland. This upgrade aims to enhance network automation and energy efficiency, support innovative services for enterprises and the public sector, and strengthen regional 5G coverage and performance.