Veon struck a decade-long agreement with Amdocs, tasking the software company with advancing its digital strategy and modernising core technology operations.

The operator stated the deal will require its partner to use certain IP rights from Veon’s QazCode AI platform, which will be integrated into Amdocs telecoms-specific aOS agentic operating system.

On a broader level, Amdocs will run and operate the company’s technology operations, accelerate Veon’s push around digital services and “provide long-term cost predictability” across its IT operations in Eurasia.

Veon CEO Kaan Terzioglu said around 27% of group revenue is generated from digital and AI services, “and that contribution keeps growing”.

He explained QazCode had helped Veon build the technology and talent to bring better digital experiences to millions, and adopting Amdocs’ aOS is a natural next step.

“Our strategic partnership with Amdocs creates a strong foundation to keep improving people’s lives through digital and AI innovation over the next decade.”

Anthony Goonetilleke, group president of New Growth Horizons at Amdocs, described Veon as “one of the most ambitious digital operators” in the industry and “exactly the kind of partner” it made a telco-specific operating system for.

 “With aOS, Amdocs will help transform Veon’s operations, customer experiences and digital services through verticalised, telco-specific AI, advancing its evolution toward intelligent agentic autonomy.”

He added the agreement expands Amdocs’ presence in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the wider Eurasia region, “where we see significant opportunity”.

The post Veon taps Amdocs AI tech in 10-year tie-up appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Chunghwa Telecom lined up an unusual deal to use drones to transport blood, in turn offering insight into how unmanned aerial vehicle connectivity (UAV) could be used to advance smart healthcare.

The Taiwanese operator signed a memorandum of understanding with the New Taipei City Fire Department covering transport of blood supplies for emergency medical uses.

Chunghwa Telecom stated the pair plan trials “along the northern coast and mountainous areas” to see if the drones can “improve the efficiency of medical resource allocation”.

The operator’s New Taipei Operations Office is handling its side of the commitment, which involves providing mobile and fixed network connectivity, establishing smart cold chain systems and evaluating technical aspects.

Chunghwa Telecom also agreed to handle the integration of UAVs and various flight-related elements including monitoring the blood drones as they fly, planning their routes and securing the necessary airspace.

It explained the companies hope to provide more reliable blood supplies during emergency situations, particularly in remote or mountainous areas. Longer term, the pair hope to establish standard operating procedures and boost the links between the UAV set-up and existing emergency service systems.

Chunghwa Telecom pitched the work as a practical example of collaboration “between government, healthcare and technology”, which could broaden the use of smart logistics by emergency and medical service providers.

The post Chunghwa opens fresh vein for drone delivery appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Telus and AST SpaceMobile completed an initial integration test between the mobile operator’s terrestrial network and the satellite player’s space-based infrastructure ahead of enabling direct-to-device (D2D) calls and text messages.

Independent analyst Carlos Placido told Mobile World Live southern Canada should have better coverage than other regions due to the inclination of AST SpaceMobile’s satellites.

“They said they would have 45 to 60 satellites in orbit by year-end, but currently have only 12, making that target seem unlikely,” he said.

Canada has large rural areas where terrestrial connectivity is not available which makes D2D services more attractive.

Telus EVP and CTO Nazim Benhadid described the successful test with AST SpaceMobile as an important step towards extending mobile coverage to areas without service, supporting the operator’s goal of providing reliable connectivity to more Canadians.

AST SpaceMobile previously projected 45 to 60 of its next-generation satellites would launch this year but is now targeting having approximately 45 in orbit by early 2027.

The delay was revealed in a Securities and Exchange Commission regulatory filing tied to a $1 billion notes offering and follows a serious setback to one of its two main launch partners.

The post AST SpaceMobile, Telus advance D2D testing appeared first on Mobile World Live.

UAE operator group e& reverted to its original branding of Etisalat, a name it stated reflects its heritage, strategy and ambitions for the AI era.

The company said it was making the name change to mark its 50^th anniversary, explaining the original Etisalat name means “connection” which has guided “what we build and the role we play”.

It rebranded from Etisalat to e& in February 2022, stating at the time the new identity was designed to reflect its ambitions to push from a traditional telecoms company into a global technology and investment conglomerate.

However, the company is now pushing for AI-led growth, launching numerous strategic projects to expand its digital infrastructure in the UAE and beyond.

For example, in July it struck a deal with cloud provider Cloud 42 to launch sovereign AI compute services for its home market, a move it said supports the country’s vision to build an AI-native economy and advance the national agentic AI agenda.

This was followed in September by a deal with Accenture to accelerate digital and AI-led transformation across government and enterprise sectors in the UAE.

In the telco space the company is putting a firm focus on its core business in the Middle East as part of a strategic shift which led to the sale its 16.2% stake in Vodafone Group to tycoon Xavier Niel.

On the rebrand, the company added that today, Etisalat “carries even greater significance as we bring connectivity, digital capabilities and infrastructure together to enable new opportunities”.

The post E& reverts back to Etisalat after 4 years appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The GSMA lined up the board which will guide the organisation through key decisions around 6G, satellite connectivity and spectrum, with six new companies represented and fresh faces at some existing members.

Its overall board remains at 26 members, though the company representation is shifted with Axiata Group; Millicom; NTT Docomo; Ooredoo Group; stc; and Telstra joining the ranks.

By contrast, Ethio Telecom; KDDI; KT; Telenor; TIM; and Veon are not among the names of the next board.

Companies remaining on board but with different representatives comprise AT&T; China Telecom; China Unicom; China Mobile; Deutsche Telekom; e&; Globe Telecom; and Telefonica.

America Movil; Bharti Airtel; BT Group, Liberty Global; MTN Group; Orange; Reliance Jio; Personal (previously Telecom Argentina); Turkcell; Verizon; and Vodafone Group continue with the same representatives.

GSMA director general Vivek Badrinath rounds the board out.

The technical developments scheduled for the next board’s tenure include setting initial 6G standards, establishing regulatory frameworks for satellite and NTN communications, and spectrum allocations. The ITU’s WRC-27 is scheduled to take place in October and November 2027.

A key focus for the GSMA’s next board is the impact of AI on the mobile sector. Current chair Gopal Vittal said the technology and “open digital platforms” are opportunities to “create significant economic and societal value”, which the organisation would work to unlock.

Vittal is keen to see a continued focus on “digital safety and trust”, along with tackling connectivity and usage gaps.

The post GSMA readies board for AI, 6G eras appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Deutsche Telekom detailed moves to capitalise on growing demand for sovereign AI services in Europe, setting revenue goals in the millions of euros range as part of broader ambitions involving businesses and public institutions.

The German-headquartered operator believes the European sovereign sector to be a leading opportunity for it outside the US market.

It noted companies and public bodies are keen to reap the automation benefits of AI “while retaining control over data and operations”. Deutsche Telekom stated the sector is “becoming a growth business” and it would continue striking relevant partnerships to tap the rise.

The operator highlighted work to produce an automation platform for small- and medium-sized businesses covering recurring jobs as another AI-related move.

All told, it hopes to book annual revenue of around €250 million from non-US AI activities this year and about €800 million by 2030.

Deutsche Telekom believes the AI opportunities go beyond the obvious, predicting phone calls are set to benefit from the technology in several ways.

It offers a real-time translation service for mobile phone calls, part of an assistant which can also field questions and provide content summaries. Deutsche Telekom believes there is “an opportunity for additional services” and tariffs.

Deutsche Telekom board members are gearing up to explain to investors how its current and future work with AI is creating revenue.

CEO Timotheus Hoettges said the technology presents opportunities around service personalisation, network management and security.

He said it is important the “technology delivers measurable value” across the organisation.

More than 100,000 staff have been trained in using AI for predictive maintenance tasks, while around 2.6 million customers used its chatbot for service queries in H1.

The post DT eyes sovereign AI revenue bump appeared first on Mobile World Live.

BT Group stepped in to acquire TalkTalk’s consumer and wholesale businesses out of administration, effectively preventing a collapse of one of the UK’s major broadband providers.

The deal will result in a total cash impact of £400 million in BT’s current financial year, which runs to 31 March 2027, involving the purchase price and other costs.

BT stated TalkTalk had embarked on a prolonged but ultimately unsuccessful sales process for its operations and it took action after recognising the risk to the country, especially vulnerable customers and key public services “should the company collapse”.

The deal will bring BT 1.5 million retail customers and 1 million wholesale customers across the UK.

BT stated TalkTalk reported revenue of £1.2 billion and “was loss-making” in the last 12 months, but it is confident the company would become value accretive as the business is stabilised and synergies realised.

CEO Allison Kirkby described the situation as “genuinely unprecedented”, saying millions of citizens and businesses were at risk if TalkTalk had collapsed.

She said the acquisition was “the only viable option to keep millions of customers connected and supported”.

The deal faces an antitrust review given BT owns UK broadband company Openreach, which is a major TalkTalk rival.

However, the government has issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice due to the impact a collapse of TalkTalk could have on vital phone and broadband services.

The Competition and Markets Authority is to report its findings to the government by 19 October.

Stark warning
Kester Mann, director of consumer and connectivity at FDM CCS Insight, said the BT deal cements “a painful decline” of one of the UK’s most established broadband providers and its demise should serve “as a stark warning to any value-focused telecom provider”.

“With a clear value-for-money proposition, it should have been thriving amid continued concerns over the cost of living. But it failed to respond sufficiently to a fast-changing and increasingly competitive market, became burdened with debt following a buy-out in 2021 and regularly suffered with poor perception over service.”

The post BT strikes £400M deal for TalkTalk appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Ghana awarded 5G spectrum licences to Telecel Group and MTN’s local unit, ending the exclusive wholesale-network model previously used for the country’s 5G rollout, Bloomberg reported.

The exclusivity previously belonged to Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a joint venture (JV) combining Reliance Industries’ Radisys unit, Tech Mahindra, Nokia, and the Ghanaian government, alongside local partners Telecel and AT Ghana.

The JV aimed to reproduce India’s low-cost mobile data model by allowing operators to share infrastructure, but rollout delays prevented it from meeting its targets. Ghana’s government cancelled NGIC’s concession years before its scheduled expiry in 2034 and moved to direct competitive bidding.

Under the new arrangement, Telecel and MTN will build out their own independent networks.

“We plan to launch the service in December this year on our own network,” Telecel CEO Moh Damush told Bloomberg.

Ghana had 49 operational 5G sites earlier this year, compared with a target of 1,200 by 2027. The new licensing model allows established operators to use their existing network footprints to expand coverage. A filing on the Accra bourse showed MTN secured two lots of 700MHz spectrum and three in the 3GHz band, with each 15-year licence priced at about $100 million.

The post Ghana splits 5G licences between Telecel, MTN appeared first on Mobile World Live.

BT Business rolled out a new AI suite in the UK to help businesses adopt the technology while overcoming complexity and security concerns which may be holding them back.

The operator stated AI from BT was introduced following research it conducted which revealed 66% of small businesses recognise the potential benefits of AI, but more than half are not yet realising its full-value.

It highlighted AI Receptionist as a standout feature. BT stated it can help businesses manage customer enquiries “around the clock” and never miss a call.

BT stated small businesses in the UK can lose £3.7 billion per year through missed calls, with 67% missing at least one potentially valuable call on an average day.

It stated AI Receptionist can simplify management of appointments, and provide a more efficient system for follow-ups and a tailored customer experience, with customisable voice and accent options.

The company stated it would be particularly useful across trades and field-based businesses, for estate agents, legal and financial services, the hospitality sector and retailers.

Other tools include an AI Adoption Hub offering practical guides, prompt packs, expert insights and real-world examples of businesses using the technology.

BT Business CEO Jon James said AI has the potential to drive growth in the UK “but many businesses are struggling to know how to begin and how adopt simply and securely”.

“AI Receptionist is the first step in the journey, helping businesses capture every opportunity, reduce admin and deliver responsive, personalised service around the clock, while keeping their customer data protected.”

The post BT pitches AI receptionist to UK businesses appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Verizon took its board to 10 members with the appointment of private equity guru Charles Phillips (pictured), a move framed as being about his financial leadership at a time when some shareholders are concerned about the operator’s management structure.

Phillips is co-founder and managing partner of technology company-focused private equity outfit Recognise Partners. Among past experiences are top-line roles with enterprise resource planning company Infor, Oracle and Morgan Stanley.

Verizon CEO Dan Schulman lauded Phillips’ “distinctive experience in technology, financial and regulatory environments”, comments hinting at why the operator was keen to have him on board.

The boss hopes Phillips will help Verizon to “innovate faster” by focusing on customer service.

Schulman also said he hopes the latest board member would help the operator “drive sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders”, something foremost in the minds of some shareholders which are keen for policies to be set governing Verizon’s management structure.

Pressure
The US National Legal and Policy Centre (NLPC) used Verizon’s AGM earlier this year to call for a current separation in the roles of CEO and chair to be formalised, with the latter post to be held by an independent director.

It expressed concern over Schulman’s competence, asserting he “presided over catastrophic value destruction” and politicised business decisions while CEO of PayPal.

The NLPC argued Verizon stock performed below par under previous CEO Hans Vestberg, who was concurrently chair “for most of his tenure”.

Verizon is keeping the posts separate for now, with Mark Bertolini chairing.

The post Verizon brings financial expert on board appeared first on Mobile World Live.

AT&T agreed a multi-year fibre and cable deal valued at more than $3 billion with glass-specialist Corning to advance its converged strategy of mobile and broadband services.

AT&T CEO John Stankey has long been a proponent of fibre as the basis for the company reaching 60 million consumer and business locations by 2030.

The mobile operator achieved its goal of passing more than 30 million locations in June 2026, six months ahead of schedule.

In its most recent Q2 results, AT&T recorded 646,000 total consumer and business internet net adds, comprised of 367,000 fibre and 279,000 fixed wireless access connections, which marked a record quarter for combined fibre and fixed wireless additions.

The two companies signed a multi-year fibre agreement two years ago worth $1 billion. AT&T was also a core investor with Corning in 2022 on a new cable manufacturing facility in the state of Arizona.

Based on Ookla Speedtest data from almost 1,700 fixed internet providers in the US in the first half of 2026, lead industry analyst Mike Dano estimated AT&T and Verizon made up about 60% of the fibre Speedtest samples to lead the fibre charge.

The post Corning inks $3B fibre deal with AT&T appeared first on Mobile World Live.