Mobile & Wireless Roundup No. 140

Welcome to the 140th edition of this newsletter. I would not call myself a robotics expert, or even someone particularly well-versed in the subject, but this year seems to have taken a curious turn. I have unexpectedly found myself in conversations with robotics companies, watching demonstrations, and learning about how these machines are beginning to shape the future across a wide range of industries.

Later this month, I am helping to organise an event at CW titled Robotics: Shaping the Future with Intelligence and Connectivity. It brings together researchers, innovators and industry professionals who are working at the cutting edge of robotics and automation. I am genuinely looking forward to seeing some of these remarkable machines up close and hearing from people who understand both the challenges and the enormous potential of this field. Sadly, the event is entirely in person, so there will be no livestream or recordings to share afterwards.

We are already seeing robots used extensively in logistics to move goods, in manufacturing to improve efficiency, and in inspection tasks that are too dull, dirty or dangerous for humans. When combined with artificial intelligence, robots can adapt to new environments, make decisions in real time and carry out tasks with much greater flexibility.

Beyond that, there are fascinating enhancements being made to robot designs, from improved agility and human-like manipulation to advanced perception systems. A growing number of developers are also taking inspiration from the natural world, leading to a new generation of robots that mimic the movement of insects, animals and even underwater creatures.

While this newsletter does not go into any details on robotics, I wanted to share a few thoughts given how often the topic has surfaced lately in my work. It is an area full of energy, creativity and challenge, and one that I will be keeping an eye on as it continues to evolve.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am a technologist with over 25 years’ experience in mobile wireless technology, currently working as an independent advisor, analyst, consultant and a trainer. This newsletter is a summary of my posts and other news that caught my attention since the last newsletter.

⦿ 6G

• MWL: Operator giants call for seamless shift to 6G (link) - NGMN calls for harmonised 6G standards to drive seamless mobile evolution on behalf of global MNOs (link)

• Free 6G Training: RISTA and Its Latest Whitepapers on RIS for 6G (link)

⦿ 2G/3G

• MWL: Spark delays 3G network closure to end-March 2026 (link) – original PR here.

⦿ Open & Disaggregated Networks (including Open RAN, vRAN, etc.)

• Light Reading: Ericsson and Samsung clash over open RAN in 6G (link)

• Tim McDonald on LinkedIn: "What are "Open RAN Incantations" and why is SpaceX obsessed with snark over substance in their brief FCC filings on serious issues? …" (link)

⦿ Spectrum

• Mobile Europe: Arcep kicks-off consultation for the private 5G 3.8-4.2 GHz band (link)

⦿ Private Networks

• ZTE and e& accelerate digital transformation with private 5G in UAE (PR)

• Private Networks Technology Blog: Europe’s First Nuclear Power Plant with Private 5G Connectivity (link)

⦿ Telecoms Infrastructure, Small Cells, Antennas & others

• Paul Rhodes on LinkedIn - Monday Musings: Macro Growth Reaching the Limits? (link)

• How neutral host TowerCos strengthen Europe’s wireless connectivity and competitiveness - A report by EY-Parthenon for the European Wireless Infrastructure Association (EWIA) (link)

⦿ IoT / M2M / Smart Homes

• RCR Wireless: IoT to more than double over next decade – as “major demand centre” (link)

• Remote monitoring now possible across all of NZ: One NZ Satellite IoT goes live for customers (PR)

⦿ Virtualization, Cloud & Edge

• The 3G4G Blog: Cloud Native Telco Transformation Insights from T-Systems (link)

• Mobile Europe - Becoming a Cloud-Native Telco 2025 | OPENING PANEL: How close are operators to becoming cloud-native? (link)

⦿ Security & Privacy

• Chris Cockings on LinkedIn: When the SIM Says “No” — Until It Doesn’t (link)

• Dmitry Kurbatov on LinkedIn: Vulnerabilities in Telecom Infrastructure (link)

⦿ Connected And Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs)

• Qualcomm Acquires Autotalks to Boost V2X Deployments, Enhance Road Safety, and Improve Automated Driving and Traffic Efficiency (PR)

• SoftBank Corp. and Cubic3 Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance a ‘Ubiquitous Network’ for Software-Defined Vehicles (PR)

• Transforma Insights - Driving the Future: How Ubiquitous Connectivity is Transforming the Automotive Sector (link)

⦿ AI, ML & Automation

• AI RAN – Should We Be Excited? (link)

• RCR Wireless: Work-shy AI collapses under questioning – Apple debunks AGI myth (link)

• Opensignal GITEX Europe: Where connectivity, sovereignty, and AI converge (link)

⦿ Satellites, HAPS, Drones, UAVs & Space

• Light Reading - Satellite Networks: Expanding Reach, Reliability, and Performance - 2025 Survey Analysis (link)

• Connectivity Technology Blog: Building the Low Altitude Economy (LAE) with 5G Advanced and 6G (link)

⦿ Wi-Fi

• Ookla – USA: Cable has the fastest-growing Wi-Fi 7, but Fiber has the fastest Wi-Fi 7 speeds (link)

⦿ Sustainability

• NTT DOCOMO Trialled Japan’s First Self-powered Hydropower Base Station (link)

⦿ Other News and Technology Stuff

• Ookla: How Spain's Mobile Networks Performed During the Iberian Grid Collapse (link)

• France 24: 'We're done with Teams': German state hits uninstall on Microsoft (link)

• Dean Bubley on LinkedIn: "I spent today at the Telecompaper Insights conference in Bussum, outside Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It's an annual event run by the leading Dutch telecom website, which also covers Belgium and wider European issues…" (link)

⦿ Picture of the week: One NZ has launched a nationwide Satellite IoT service using Starlink Direct to Cell technology. One of the first use cases comes from APIS Solutions, which helps commercial beekeepers access near real-time data from their hives, no matter where they are. This allows better decision-making and improved hive management. The satellite service removes the cost and complexity of connecting hives in remote areas, using the same mobile module as traditional towers. With clear sky access, hives can now be monitored across New Zealand, making this a strong example of local collaboration with global potential.

Happy to hear your thoughts. Feel free let me know what worked, what didn’t, how I can make this better, etc. Get in touch over LinkedIn!

PDF version of this and previous newsletters are available here.