Apple maintained device launch momentum by revealing its latest iPad mini would go on sale later this week, destined to reach customers early next month.

In the US prices start at $699 for a Wi-Fi only model and $849 for those also equipped with mobile connectivity. Storage options are 128GB, 256GB and 512GB, with midnight and starlight the colours on offer.

Apple emphasised the device “fits in the palm” and is a “huge leap in performance”, wireless connectivity, and resistance to water or dust ingress, for which it carries an IP67 rating.

It features an 8.5-inch OLED offering two-times greater peak brightness than previous iPad mini models. Apple’s A20 Pro processor is on board, which the vendor highlighted offers advantages in performing AI-related tasks.

The model runs iPadOS 27, along with the latest iterations of Apple’s Intelligence and Siri assistant, which are configured to tailor responses to individual users.

Dave Pakula, VP of Hardware Engineering, said past models are “beloved” by “creators and small business owners” along with “doctors, field service workers and gamers”.

Apple promises “punchier bass” and greater volume from upgraded speakers featuring custom tweeters.

It emphasised a 12MP camera “on the landscape edge” is configured for video duties, with an equivalent-sized unit on the rear geared towards photo and videography.

The company’s N1 wireless networking chip is compatible with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, described separately by a namesake working group as a “secure, low-power mesh networking protocol” for IoT.

Apple stated the latest iPad mini is 5.4mm thick: GSM Arena pegs the remaining dimensions at 195.3mm by 132.6mm.

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Verizon CEO Dan Schulman (pictured) punched back on any concerns related to SpaceX’s proposed direct-to-device (D2D) mobile service during a Q3 earnings call, warning the satellite player faces years of construction and hundreds of billions of dollars in spending to build a rival terrestrial network.

“I’d just start off by saying my operating philosophy in general is to be very thoughtful, be analytic and to never take anything for granted,” he said when asked about the threat a SpaceX D2D service could pose to US operators and whether Verizon will ever consider an MVNO deal to give a satellite player access to its infrastructure.

“I always have my eyes wide open,” Schulman added. “Clearly, the tech industry and the wireless landscape is rapidly evolving, and we need to rapidly evolve along with that”.

The CEO also said he operates “under the assumption that everything SpaceX says they will do, they will do, and that they will execute flawlessly”.

His comments came in the wake of reports SpaceX is seeking access to at least 80,000 US cell sites for Starlink Mobile. Bloomberg named Crown Castle among the tower companies in discussions over potential leases.

Schulman argued offering a competitive service would require 65,000 to 80,000 macro sites, backhaul, RAN equipment and substantial power supplies, alongside retail, customer service and back-office operations.

He estimated a full network build would take at least four-to-six years, with spending of $300 billion to $500 billion over seven or eight years, which he argued could leave SpaceX with broadly the same capabilities and cost structure Verizon has today.

“I think that SpaceX realises this, and they’re exploring a potential path to creating a terrestrial network,” he explained. “There’s no magic wand, there’s no secret sauce, there’s no shortcut, there’s no radically lower structural cost advantage.”

In addition to tower leases, SpaceX plans to combine satellites with ground-based radios, supported by an agreement to acquire up to 14MHz of paired 800MHz spectrum from Grain Management for a D2D service expected to launch in early 2028.

Schulman maintained satellite broadband is best suited to remote areas and cannot match terrestrial networks in urban and suburban markets, which he said account for about 98 per cent of Verizon’s revenue.

He said Verizon will keep improving its network and cost structure while SpaceX builds, pointing to its mmWave spectrum, work on 6G applications and plans for AI-enabled services.

While leaving room to work with satellite providers on complementary coverage, Schulman rejected the prospects of an MVNO agreement and stated existing agreements do not offer back-door access.

Schulman said he saw no benefit whatsoever in extending an MVNO deal to a satellite provider.

“It’s very hard to throw a punch against something that doesn’t exist, but once they come into the market, we will be ferociously competitive.”

Last week AT&T CEO John Stankey outlined the advantages he sees over the potential threat of SpaceX’s D2D service during a Q3 earnings call.

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Meta Platforms revealed a plan to secure up to $95 billion in equity to fund its AI-related expansion ​of data centres and cloud computing, backed by chipmakers Nvidia, AMD and Broadcom.

The social media company aims to raise $35 billion in concurrent underwritten public equity offerings and up to $60 billion as part of an at-the-market programme scheduled to begin in Q1 2027.

Meta Platforms stated the chipmakers expressed an interest in becoming cornerstone investors through the equity offering.

They can purchase a total of $5 billion shares of Class A common stock in the offering, though Meta Platforms emphasised their expressions “of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase”.

Meta Platforms stated AI is “creating significant opportunities” and its investments to-date are “generating tangible returns through increased engagement, improved advertising performance and increased monetisation”.

Last week, the company reported net income rose from $2.7 billion in Q3 2025 to $9.9 billion in the recent period, with revenue up 26% to $64.6 billion.

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Verizon unveiled an agreement worth more than $2 billion with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to supply dark fibre infrastructure to meet AI workload demand, alongside Q3 figures showing a spike in post-paid customers.

The operator noted the AWS agreement “establishes a commercial framework to scale distributed compute and meet the real-time demands of agentic and generative AI workloads”.

It builds on an existing strategic partnership between the two and mirrors a dark fibre deal with Google announced earlier this year.

On the operator’s earnings call today (26 October), CEO Dan Schulman said “these two contracts are a clear signal that the largest builders of AI infrastructure in the world are choosing Verizon as a strategic connectivity partner”.

He added the company also has an “active pipeline of additional hyperscalers, neocloud providers and large enterprise clients who are in negotiations to have us supply them with either dark or lit fibre connectivity”.

Results
Verizon reported net additions of 406,000 post-paid phone customers, up 820% year-on-year, and 137,000 post-paid net account additions.

It noted the latter is its best performance for this metric in more than a decade.

Net income of $5.3 billion was up 5.2%, attributed to a “sharp focus” on operational efficiency. Total operating revenue was $34.3 billion, up 1.5%.

In its Mobility and Broadband segment, it noted service revenue growth of 2.9% was offset by a 9% drop in equipment sales, due primarily to “significantly lower upgrade volumes” as customers keep devices longer.

It also noted the impact of a “strategic decision to reduce spending on device subsidies”.

Schulman hailed the period overall as “another record-breaking quarter” adding “one year into our transformation, Verizon is fundamentally stronger, operationally, financially and competitively”.

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Telefonica spotted an opportunity in growing industrial demand for process optimisation services which it hopes to cash in on through an investment by its domestic unit in Spanish specialist OGA.

The operator paid an undisclosed amount for a 10% stake in OGA, a so-called deep tech company specialising in using AI and operational information to optimise processes in sectors including logistics, retail, energy, health and defence.

Javier Lopez Gutierrez, director of Telefonica Espana’s Defence and Security unit, said the operator hopes to strengthen its industrial AI offer, “with a special focus on the defence sector”.

OGA employs AI, modelling and simulations to work out optimal processes for businesses providing vital services. CEO Juan Carlos Rubio hopes Telefonica’s backing will help it grow its capabilities to the benefit of Spanish and European defence and security sectors.

Telefonica explained it is adding OGA’s services to its range for businesses and public administrations, but noted it is not taking a seat on the company’s board to preserve its independence.

The operator made its investment after working with OGA for the past two years.

Business focus
Telefonica separately noted B2B is proving a lucrative sector after attracting more than 800 domestic organisations to Titan Connect, a marketplace of connectivity services it launched in January for businesses and the public sector.

The set-up pools standalone 5G, fibre and satellite connectivity with a host of systems spanning cloud and edge computing, observation services using AI and power supplies.

Telefonica pitches the service on a greater ability to keep businesses and public sector organisations connected during disruptions.

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Indian engineering services company L&T Technology Services (LTTS) agreed a five-year contract to back Nokia’s local engineering and R&D work into areas including 5G, AI-based operations and next-generation computing infrastructure.

LTTS plans to establish a dedicated offshore development centre to support the Finnish vendor’s R&D programmes spanning product engineering and development, embedded systems, and software and system integration.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

LTTS added it would also assemble a dedicated engineering team to work with Nokia R&D teams globally.

It stated the development centre would focus on engineering for telecoms and data centre infrastructure, along with employing AI in network automations and developing intelligent automation.

Vivek Jaiswal, SVP of engineering at Nokia, said India is an “important innovation hub” for the vendor and backed LTTS to help “expand our R&D footprint and accelerate innovation”.

He argued is it essential Nokia continues investing in R&D to deliver the “advanced connectivity technologies” AI requires.

For LTTS, the contract aligns with a focus on next-generation computing and AI infrastructure.

LTTS provides AI, digital and engineering R&D services across more than 25 countries.

The agreement comes as Nokia positions AI infrastructure and advanced connectivity as key growth areas during a period CEO Justin Hotard previously called a “super cycle” involving the technology.

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UK operator Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) flagged an around 20% improvement in spectral efficiency by using AI technology in the RAN during a test with Nokia at a busy transport hub, in what it described as first of its kind in the nation.

The test used AI to predict and optimise 5G radio resources during changing network conditions and levels of demand on a site serving customers around London Paddington rail station.

VMO2 noted use of the technology meant it could carry a greater amount of data using existing spectrum resources and deliver “significant throughput gains” during periods of high demand.

It asserted the results showcase how it can use AI to support growing traffic volumes, faster downloads and higher quality streaming, while reducing buffering in busy locations.

VMO2 CTO Jeanie York said as demand for data keeps growing “we need smarter ways to make the most of the spectrum and infrastructure we already have”.

“This live trial with Nokia showed how AI can improve network efficiency and help us respond more effectively to changing customer demand. By making better use of existing network resources, we can deliver a better experience for customers while supporting future traffic growth.”

The operator noted the project with Nokia is part of an ongoing network transformation plan.

Nokia president of mobile networks Emma Falck added the test “demonstrates how AI is moving from experimentation to delivering measurable benefits in live mobile networks”.

She added the collaboration “shows the significant potential of AI-native networks to enhance customer experiences while improving operational efficiency”.

The news is the latest in what is a hot mobile industry topic of use of AI in the RAN and comes a week after a spate of partner releases involving Nokia’s work in the segment alongside Nvidia.

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SpaceX negocia con empresas de torres de telecomunicaciones el acceso a al menos 80.000 emplazamientos en Estados Unidos, según ha trascendido. La firma avanza así en su plan de crear una red móvil nacional que compita con los operadores establecidos AT&T, Verizon y T-Mobile US.

Según Bloomberg, Crown Castle, uno de los principales operadores de torres de EE. UU., está entre las empresas que negocian contratos de alquiler con SpaceX, con posibles acuerdos de miles de millones de dólares.

En la presentación de resultados ante analistas, el CEO de Crown Castle, Chris Hillabrant, ha afirmado que la empresa habla con todo el sector de las telecomunicaciones por satélite, aunque no ha querido referirse a clientes concretos: “Pueden dar por sentado que estamos hablando con todas las partes”.

Los acuerdos con las empresas de torres serían una parte importante del plan de SpaceX para combinar la conectividad por satélite con la infraestructura terrestre y crear una red móvil nacional.

SpaceX pretende lanzar su propio servicio directo a dispositivos (D2D) a principios de 2028, tras desplegar el próximo año la segunda generación de su constelación Starlink Mobile.

La empresa ha acordado recientemente adquirir hasta 14 MHz de espectro emparejado en la banda de 800 MHz a Grain Management, una operación que, según su consejero delegado, Elon Musk, era “la última pieza fundamental del rompecabezas del espectro necesaria para que SpaceX pudiera proporcionar cobertura telefónica completa en Estados Unidos”.

Además, ha obtenido la aprobación de la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones (FCC) para lanzar 15.000 satélites de nueva generación para servicios D2D.

La presidenta de SpaceX, Gwynne Shotwell, ha señalado en la presentación de resultados del tercer trimestre de la empresa que el acuerdo sobre el espectro radioeléctrico y la aprobación de los satélites “allanan el camino para que Starlink Mobile se convierta en un importante operador de telefonía móvil en Estados Unidos”.

Rivales

El plan de SpaceX genera dudas en parte del sector sobre si podrá igualar la cobertura y el rendimiento de las redes ya establecidas.

El CEO de AT&T, John Stankey, ha argumentado en los últimos días que construir una red con ese rendimiento llevaría tiempo. “Creo que se necesitan muchos años y una enorme inversión para alcanzar los niveles de rendimiento a los que los clientes se han acostumbrado en las redes a gran escala”, ha afirmado.

Stankey también ha destacado la cartera de espectro de baja frecuencia de AT&T y su infraestructura actual, y ha subrayado que el operador ya da servicio a sus clientes en zonas con cobertura consolidada.

Por su parte, el consejero delegado de T-Mobile, Srini Gopalan, dijo al Financial Times en agosto que se había exagerado la amenaza de los proveedores de satélite y se preguntó qué problemas de los consumidores resolvería un servicio nuevo.

Con información de Amiya Johar.

The post SpaceX busca acceso a 80.000 emplazamientos en EE. UU. para Starlink Mobile appeared first on Mobile World Live.

La firma de análisis FDM CCS Insight ha presentado sus predicciones para 2027 y los años posteriores, entre las que figuran algunas llamativas.

En un acto celebrado en Londres en los últimos días, la empresa ha dado a conocer su conjunto anual de 100 predicciones para el sector. Tras 13 años analizando el futuro, asegura que casi la mitad (49%) se ha cumplido.

Mobile World Live ha seleccionado 15 de ellas y las ha agrupado en cinco áreas: IA, satélites, dispositivos, operadores y 6G.

IA

Ian Fogg, de FDM CCS Insight, ha explicado que en 2030 habrá más agentes de IA que personas en el hogar medio.

Según sus cifras, el hogar medio tiene 2,64 personas y ya cuenta con 7,46 dispositivos con capacidad de agente (sistemas operativos de smartphones, dispositivos de hogar conectado y aplicaciones para smartphones).

“No hace falta mucho para que esta predicción se cumpla”, ha señalado. “Además, muchos dispositivos ejecutarán varios agentes”.

En una charla informal durante el acto, Ben Timmons, de Qualcomm, ha considerado que estas cifras se quedan cortas.

“El agente se convertirá rápidamente en el centro de todo lo que haces en tu vida personal y laboral. En dos años, predigo que la gente también permitirá que sus agentes tengan acceso a datos financieros; se habrán convertido”, ha dicho.

Las previsiones son menos favorables para OpenAI, pionera en IA generativa: se espera que reestructure su deuda y que su consejero delegado, Sam Altman, sea destituido en 2028.

Un orador, con blazer oscuro y vaqueros, se sitúa en un atril frente a una gran pantalla de presentación. La pantalla muestra tendencias de marketing y logotipos de herramientas de IA como Claude, Muse y Gemini. El escenario cuenta con una fila de sillas azul claro frente a una pared de listones de madera con iluminación violeta.

Los analistas también prevén que la empresa no logre convencer a los inversores de que tiene un modelo de negocio viable, en un contexto de aumento de los costes, preocupación por el consumo de electricidad y agua de los centros de datos y precio elevado del silicio que necesitan los servicios de IA.

Nvidia, principal impulsor de la AI-RAN, ha anunciado en los últimos días varios acuerdos de prueba con operadores. No obstante, según los analistas, el primero en llevar a la práctica esta red de acceso radio con IA será el operador estadounidense T-Mobile US, que ha hecho recientemente la primera llamada de voz con AI-RAN.

Satélite

Las predicciones sobre el futuro de SpaceX/Starlink, la empresa de Elon Musk, apuntan en direcciones distintas.

Una sostiene que en 2030 SpaceX comprará Veon Group, hasta ahora el mayor operador cliente de Starlink.

Otra advierte de que SpaceX no conseguirá espectro satelital móvil en la asignación de la UE en 2027 y de que, ese mismo año, la UE respaldará un tercer ecosistema satelital, construido en torno a Elveo y SES, para competir con Starlink y AST SpaceMobile.

Esta última predicción encuentra apoyo en la noticia reciente de que varios grandes grupos de operadores europeos se unen para ofrecer una alternativa a la propuesta de Musk.

6G

La predicción más inesperada de esta categoría es que Apple, que suele llegar tarde a las nuevas generaciones de redes móviles (el primer iPhone ni siquiera se conectaba a la 3G y la mayoría de los usuarios dependía del wifi para navegar con rapidez), tendrá un iPhone 6G disponible cuando se lancen las primeras redes comerciales de la 6G.

Este cambio se debe a que Apple fabrica ahora su propio módem móvil.

Por otro lado, los analistas prevén que los operadores de todos los mercados pioneros lanzarán primero la 5G-Advanced y que uno de cada 10 smartphones vendidos en 2030 será compatible con la 6G.

Se suele aceptar que 2029 es la fecha más temprana para su lanzamiento comercial.

Operadores

Tras las fusiones recientes en España, el Reino Unido y Francia, FDM CCS Insight prevé que Alemania sea el siguiente mercado europeo en consolidarse. En concreto, según la firma, en 2027 el operador alemán 1&1 será adquirido por uno de sus rivales, y Telefónica sería el comprador más probable del cuarto operador del país.

Por su parte, se prevé que Digi Communications, con sede en Rumanía y presencia en España, Bélgica, Portugal e Italia, entre en tres nuevos mercados europeos de aquí a 2028.

Dispositivos

Algunas previsiones sobre dispositivos resultan curiosas.

Tras meses de críticas a quienes usaban las Ray-Ban Wayfarer inteligentes de Meta, en 2027 se desplomarán las ventas de las Wayfarer convencionales, porque la gente temerá que le pidan quitárselas, aunque sean unas simples gafas de sol.

Además, la regulación se endurecerá: según los analistas, en 2028 serán obligatorios los indicadores de “cámara en uso” en los dispositivos portátiles con IA que se vendan en la UE.

Otra previsión recuerda a algún episodio de Black Mirror: una lentilla inteligente recibirá la aprobación de los reguladores en un mercado relevante en 2031.

Por último, los ciclos de vida más largos de los dispositivos y un enfoque más circular de la propiedad de los smartphones, impulsados en parte por el aumento de los costes de la industria, son una mala noticia para los smartphones de bajo coste.

En 2028, el segmento por debajo de 150 dólares (unos 130 euros) desaparecerá de los principales mercados occidentales.

Ben Wood, socio sénior de FDM CCS Insight, califica esta predicción de “un duro golpe” para los fabricantes que han dependido de dispositivos de coste ultrabajo para impulsar el volumen de ventas y ampliar el acceso a la telefonía móvil.

Con información de Justin Springham.

The post Analistas pronostican que SpaceX comprará un operador y que Apple será pionera con un iPhone 6G appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Apple ha empezado a entregar el iPhone Duo a sus primeros clientes en todo el mundo, pese a los retrasos en los envíos que se habían señalado.

Las imágenes de varias tiendas de la firma muestran a clientes interesados en su primer modelo plegable, que ha llegado a los puntos de venta en la fecha anunciada en la presentación de septiembre.

Apple ha indicado que ofrece varias opciones de canje y alquiler. En España, el precio parte de 2339 euros.

En una tienda de Shanghái (China), uno de los principales mercados de Apple, también hay colas.

Una multitud espera en una larga cola ante una tienda Apple, con los rostros iluminados por los smartphones que sostiene, bajo el logotipo blanco de la manzana en la fachada acristalada.

Vlad Savov, periodista de Bloomberg, ha escrito que el iPhone Duo podría impulsar el mercado de smartphones plegables, hasta ahora poco desarrollado, aunque advierte de que el segmento podría seguir siendo un nicho si Apple no vende suficientes unidades.

Hace unos días se informó de que quienes reservaban el dispositivo por internet debían esperar bastante más que con anteriores smartphones de Apple: hasta tres meses, frente a unas seis semanas.

Apple ha señalado que hay ofertas para quienes compren el iPhone Duo a través de los operadores de telefonía móvil.

Apple destaca además varias aplicaciones adaptadas a este formato. Netflix permite explorar clips en la pantalla exterior y seguir viendo el contenido en la interior; Prime Video muestra el vídeo en la mitad superior y el reparto en la inferior con el dispositivo semiplegado; y Zoom reúne en pantalla los contenidos compartidos y a los participantes. Word y Outlook, que se adaptarán en las próximas semanas, colocarán las herramientas de formato junto al documento y la bandeja de entrada junto al mensaje.

Con información de Michael Carroll.

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Las dos mayores operadoras españolas han puesto en marcha sendos proyectos de tecnología educativa. Orange ha lanzado MentorIA, un asistente educativo para secundaria basado en el método socrático, y Telefónica desplegará simuladores y gemelos digitales en la Formación Profesional.

La IA socrática de Orange

MentorIA es un software educativo ideado por HUMANSDID y desarrollado por la empresa española BQ. Se dirige a estudiantes de entre 14 y 18 años y funciona en un entorno cerrado, adaptado al currículo escolar.

Con él, Orange quiere hacer frente a la externalización cognitiva, es decir, la tendencia de los alumnos a delegar sus tareas en herramientas de inteligencia artificial (IA) generativa de acceso libre. Para ello, MentorIA aplica el método socrático: en lugar de dar la solución o redactar textos, plantea preguntas sucesivas, ofrece pistas y propone retos para que el estudiante razone por sí mismo.

De momento está disponible para 4.º de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) en Historia y Biología. Cumple el reglamento europeo de protección de datos (RGPD) y da al profesorado el control mediante aulas virtuales y un panel que registra la evolución del razonamiento de los alumnos. Tras una prueba piloto en tres colegios de la Comunidad de Madrid, Orange busca nuevos centros para extender el servicio a más asignaturas.

Telefónica: simuladores para la FP

Telefónica Educación Digital, la división de formación y competencias digitales de Telefónica España, proporcionará durante cuatro años los contenidos formativos de 53 simuladores y gemelos digitales para 2.811 centros públicos de FP. El programa, impulsado por el Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes, cuenta con 37,9 millones de euros de los fondos europeos Next Generation EU.

Los simuladores cubren las 26 familias profesionales de la FP y podrán utilizarlos hasta 1,2 millones de estudiantes. Funcionan con dispositivos de realidad virtual (RV) desarrollados junto con la startup Ludus (del directorio de Wayra) y los fabricantes Innovae e Invelon, y permiten practicar protocolos y afrontar situaciones de riesgo sin salir del aula. Los contenidos tratan competencias transversales como la seguridad laboral, la prevención de riesgos, la salud, la sostenibilidad, la empleabilidad y los idiomas.

El proyecto cuenta con más de 157.000 licencias iniciales, ampliables en 12.000 más, y se apoya en una plataforma centralizada del Ministerio con soporte técnico, mantenimiento y actualizaciones hasta 2030.

The post Orange y Telefónica llevan la inteligencia artificial y la realidad virtual a las aulas appeared first on Mobile World Live.

El Ministerio para la Transformación Digital y de la Función Pública ha aprobado la propuesta provisional del programa 5G Redes muy rurales, en la que la filial de Orange recibe más del 70% de los fondos europeos para llevar conectividad a 358 zonas aisladas.

La Secretaría de Estado de Telecomunicaciones e Infraestructuras Digitales ha publicado la propuesta de resolución provisional de la primera convocatoria del programa 5G Redes muy rurales.

El expediente contempla 17,45 millones de euros en subvenciones públicas para desplegar redes 5G en municipios rurales aislados.

Orange España se lleva más del 70% de los fondos y Telefónica Móviles España, algo menos del 30%.

Reparto entre operadoras

Orange y Telefónica han sido las únicas empresas que se han presentado a esta convocatoria de concurrencia competitiva.

Sobre un presupuesto elegible de 17,9 millones de euros, la propuesta concede 17,45 millones: Orange Espagne, S.A.U. recibe 12,24 millones (12.245.203 euros) para 82 emplazamientos y 220 zonas elegibles, y Telefónica Móviles España, S.A. obtiene 5,21 millones (5.209.301,96 euros) para 47 emplazamientos y 138 zonas.

En total, las ayudas cubrirán 129 emplazamientos y 358 zonas en todo el país. Según el listado que ha publicado el Ministerio, se encuentran en unos 110 municipios: 69 de Orange y 47 de Telefónica, que prevé un emplazamiento por municipio.

El presupuesto financiable que presentaron las operadoras sumaba 26,09 millones, por lo que el coste real de los proyectos supera la ayuda concedida.

Requisitos

El programa forma parte de las políticas de cohesión territorial y se financia sobre todo con el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). Subvenciona el equipamiento activo y las infraestructuras auxiliares necesarios para ofrecer servicios móviles 5G en poblaciones de baja densidad demográfica.

Solo pueden acogerse las zonas donde ningún operador tiene señal ni redes 4G o 5G, las llamadas «zonas blancas», y en las que tampoco hay previsto ningún despliegue comercial en los próximos tres años.

Por territorios

La inversión se distribuye por comunidades autónomas y por lotes de ámbito estatal sin fondos FEDER. Galicia es la que recibe más, con más de 4,83 millones: 3,98 millones para Orange (28 emplazamientos y 63 zonas) y 854.660 euros para Telefónica (10 emplazamientos y 18 zonas).

En Canarias, con 3,48 millones, Orange recibe 2,79 millones (15 emplazamientos y 40 zonas) y Telefónica, 692.988 euros (4 emplazamientos y 29 zonas).

Castilla-La Mancha recibe 3,38 millones: 1,99 millones para Orange (10 emplazamientos y 16 zonas) y 1,39 millones para Telefónica (9 emplazamientos y 12 zonas).

La Región de Murcia suma 2,22 millones, casi todos para Orange, que obtiene 2,12 millones (15 emplazamientos y 90 zonas), frente a los 99.916 euros de Telefónica (1 emplazamiento y 2 zonas).

En Asturias, con 782.592 euros, Telefónica recibe 485.311 euros (5 emplazamientos y 16 zonas) y Orange, 297.281 euros (3 emplazamientos y 5 zonas).

Los lotes sin FEDER suman 2,30 millones: 1,25 millones para Telefónica (13 emplazamientos y 29 zonas) y 1,04 millones para Orange (11 emplazamientos y 16 zonas).

Telefónica es además la única beneficiaria en Castilla y León, con 270.157 euros para 4 emplazamientos y 11 zonas, y en Extremadura, con 161.700 euros para 1 emplazamiento y 11 zonas.

Próximos pasos

La resolución del 23 de octubre de 2026 es provisional. Desde el día siguiente a la notificación oficial, las operadoras tienen 10 días hábiles para presentar alegaciones, desistir o aceptar la subvención a través de la sede electrónica.

Si no hay alegaciones, la propuesta pasará automáticamente a resolución definitiva.

The post Orange y Telefónica se reparten 17,45 millones para la 5G en zonas rurales sin cobertura appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (pictured) urged Kazakhstan to use its energy resources as a foundation for AI and backed the idea the technology could help transform the nation’s physical industries.   

Huang spoke alongside Kazak Minister of AI and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev at the Alem.AI event in the latest stop in a tour involving various events in Europe promoting the benefits of AI and discussing Nvidia’s plans over the last two weeks.

The executive noted rather than “just exporting energy”, the natural resource-rich nation could “transform energy into intelligence and export intelligence”.

Huang agreed with the minister’s view physical AI could boost mining and other industries.

The Nvidia executive backed Kazakhstan as having the necessary ambition to employ AI to its benefit.

During the event, Nvidia announced it invested an undisclosed sum in local AI video and image creation start-up Higgsfield AI.

Huang also participated in a signing ceremony for an already-announced data centre project.

Nvidia noted Huang had been presented with an honorary black belt in Judo during the trip.

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Apple shrugged off widely-reported delays to shipments of iPhone Duo models by delivering the first units to eager customers worldwide.

Pictures from various of the vendor’s retail locations showed a clamour for its first foldable model, which hit stores on time based on the release schedule Apple gave when it unveiled the device in September.

Apple stated it is offering a range of trade-in and leasing options on the devices, which have a starting price of $1,999 for versions with 256GB of storage.

The vendor may be particularly pleased with the turnout at a store in Shanghai, China, given the nation is one of its biggest markets.

Bloomberg journalist Vlad Savov wrote the iPhone Duo could ignite a so-far muted foldable smartphone market, though also cautioned the sector may remain niche if Apple fails to shift enough of the devices.

Reports last week pointed to significantly longer waiting times for customers ordering the devices online compared with previous Apple smartphones, with shipments tipped to take up to three months instead of the roughly six weeks of past devices.

Apple highlighted there are “exceptional” deals to be had purchasing iPhone Duo models through mobile operator channels.

The post iPhone Duo hits stores appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In the fourth and final episode from our special series covering digital industries, MWL‘s Amiya Johar is joined by experts from Ericsson, Soracom and Agrodemy Technologies and Services to explore the connectivity demands for agricultural and outdoor operations.

Listen on Apple here.
Listen on Spotify here.

00:00 Rural connectivity challenges
07:10 Designing for patchy coverage
14:50 The connected farming opportunity
21:00 Hybrid networks in the field
24:40 Transforming farm operations
34:20 Scaling digital adoption

The post Podcast: Playing the connectivity field appeared first on Mobile World Live.

SpaceX is reportedly in talks with tower companies to secure access to at least 80,000 US sites, as it presses ahead with plans to build a nationwide mobile network to rival incumbents AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile US.

According to Bloomberg, major US tower operator Crown Castle is among the companies discussing leases with SpaceX, with potential deals worth billions of dollars.

On an earnings call earlier this week, Crown Castle CEO Chris Hillabrant said the company was holding talks across the satellite telecommunications sector but declined to discuss specific customers, noting: “You can assume that we’re talking to all parties.”

The tower agreements would form a key part of SpaceX’s plan to combine satellite connectivity with ground-based infrastructure to establish a nationwide mobile network.

It is targeting early 2028 for a launch for its own direct-to-device (D2D) service, following the deployment of its second generation Starlink Mobile constellation expected next year.

Earlier this month, the company agreed to acquire up to 14MHz of paired spectrum in the 800MHz band from Grain Management, in a move chief Elon Musk said was “the last critical piece of the spectrum puzzle needed for SpaceX to provide complete phone coverage in America”.

It also secured Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval to launch 15,000 next-generation satellites for D2D services.

SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said on the company’s Q3 earnings call the spectrum deal and satellite approval “pave the way for Starlink Mobile to become a major mobile carrier in the US”.

Rivals
SpaceX’s approach has drawn scepticism from some parties over whether it can match the coverage and performance of established networks.

AT&T CEO John Stankey argued earlier this week building a network capable of matching incumbent performance would take time. “I think it takes a lot of years and a huge level of investment to get to the kind of performance levels that customers have become accustomed to in scaled networks,” he said.

Stankey also highlighted AT&T’s extensive low-band spectrum holdings and existing infrastructure, arguing the operator already serves customers across established coverage areas.

Meanwhile, T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan told the Financial Times in August that the threat from satellite providers had been exaggerated, questioning what consumer problems a new service would solve.

The post SpaceX eyes 80,000 US cell sites for Starlink Mobile appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Analyst firm FDM CCS Insight gazed into its crystal ball to offer up its big predictions for 2027 and beyond, and didn’t hold back on its soothsaying with some big-name headline forecasts.

At an invite-only event in London this week, the company launched its annual set of 100 industry predictions. The shindig has become a recognised date on the industry calendar, and with good reason – after 13 years of peering into the future, FDM CCS Insight claims almost half (49%) of its predictions have come true.

100 predictions is a lot, so Mobile World Live has picked its 15 favourites and categorised them in the five hottest areas right now: AI (naturally), Satellite, Devices, Operators and 6G.

AI
FDM CCS Insight’s Ian Fogg asserted there will be more AI agents than people in the average household by 2030, noting that the average household has 2.64 people, and yet there are already 7.46 agent-capable devices (smartphone operating systems, smart home devices and smartphone apps) in these households. “It doesn’t take a lot for this prediction to come true,” noted Fogg. “Plus, many devices will run several agents.” In fact, speaking in a fireside chat at the event, Qualcomm’s Ben Timmons reckoned these numbers are undersold. “It’s going to be pretty quick for the agent to become central to everything you do in your personal and worklife. In two years’ time I predict people will be letting their agents have access to financial data too – they will be converted,” he stated.

The future doesn’t seem particularly bright for Generative AI pioneer OpenAI, with a prediction that OpenAI has a debt restructuring and CEO Sam Altman is shown the door by 2028.

It’s forecast that the company will fail to convince investors it has a viable commercial model, while struggling with escalating costs, concerns about data centres’ electricity and water use, and the high price of silicon needed to power AI services.

It’s been a busy week for AI-RAN, with chief proponent Nvidia unveiling a bevy of operator trial deals. But it’s US carrier T-Mobile US set to be the first operator to deploy AI radio access network technology according to the analysts, following an AI-RAN voice call first earlier this month.

Satellite
There’s mixed feelings on the future of Elon Musk’s SpaceX/Starlink operation.

On the one hand, there is a bold prediction that by 2030 Veon Group (Starlink’s biggest operator customer to date) will be bought by SpaceX, but there are also major concerns: one forecast fears SpaceX fails to win any mobile satellite spectrum in the EU’s allocation in 2027 and in the same year the EU backs a third satellite ecosystem to rival Starlink and AST SpaceMobile (built around Elveo and SES).

This latter prediction is fuelled by the big news this week that several major European operator groups are teaming on an alternative to Musk’s offering.

6G
The standout prediction in this category is a real surprise: Apple, typically a laggard when it comes to supporting brand new generations of mobile networks (the first iPhone didn’t even connect to 3G, with most users relying on Wi-Fi for fast browsing speeds), will have a 6G iPhone available alongside the first 6G commercial networks.

This change in tack will be thanks to Apple now producing its own cellular modem.

Elsewhere, analysts predicted operators in all initial 6G markets will launch 5G-Advanced first, and one in 10 smartphones sold in 2030 will support 6G (the earliest target date for commercial 6G launch is generally accepted as 2029).

Operators
Following recent high-profile mergers in Spain, the UK and France, FDM CCS Insight expects Germany to be the next European market to see consolidation. Specifically, in 2027, German operator 1&1 is acquired by one of its rivals – and Telefonica is tipped to be the most likely buyer of the country’s fourth player.

Meanwhile, Romania-based Digi Communications – already making a name for itself as one of Europe’s fastest-rising challenger brands with a presence in Spain, Belgium, Portugal and Italy – is tipped to enter three new European markets by 2028.

Devices
There are some quirky forecasts for the device market.

Following months of significant backlash against people wearing Meta’s smart version of the Ray-Ban Wayfarers, in 2027 sales of regular Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses will plummet as people become fearful of others demanding they take them off, without realising they are just regular sunglasses. And regulatory action in this area will ramp up: in 2028, the analysts predict that ‘camera in use’ indicators will become mandatory on wearable AI devices sold in the EU.

And in a nod to at least one Black Mirror episode, a smart contact lens is predicted to receive regulatory approval in a major market by 2031.

Finally, the trend toward longer device life cycles and a more circular approach to smartphone ownership (fuelled in part by mounting industry costs) spells bad news for the low-cost smartphone market. By 2028, the sub-$150 retail tier will disappear from major smartphone markets in the West, a prediction FDM CCS Insight senior partner Ben Wood describes as “a big blow” for manufacturers who have relied on ultralow-cost devices to boost sales volumes and expand access to mobile technology.

The post Predictions go bold: SpaceX buys operator, Apple leads 6G devices, Meta hurts sunglasses appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Satellite communications partners ICEYE and Nokia signed a pact with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence to develop sovereign capabilities, a move announced as the country reportedly continued to have issues with connectivity supplied by SpaceX.

Partners ICEYE and Nokia inked a letter of intent for the project with authorities in the country yesterday (22 October) during a diplomatic visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to Ukraine.

The move is positioned as aiding Ukraine’s defensive capabilities by building sovereign satellite communications capabilities.

It comes weeks after the two companies unveiled a deal to collaborate on low Earth orbit (LEO) systems aimed at governments and other entities.

ICEYE CEO Rafal Modrzewski noted the satellite sector specialist had “proudly supported Ukraine since 2022,” adding the country “needs secure, sovereign and high-performance satellite communications systems that it controls. We have a proven track record of delivering sovereign missions at speed to help build that capability”.

Starlink
The announcement with the Finnish companies on a sovereign system comes as contradictory reports emerged on restrictions being lifted on the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink in the country.

Earlier this month authorities in Ukraine complained it was experiencing limited functionality on Starshield, sparking wide media speculation about who was to blame.     

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported yesterday (22 October) US President Donald Trump called SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to request the system be restored to full functionality. Numerous outlets claimed this had subsequently been done.

However, earlier today the BBC cited sources in the country revealing problems were still being experienced.

The post Nokia, ICEYE to work with Ukraine on satellite project appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Telefonica listed universities, hospitals, research centres and start-ups as among the likely beneficiaries of a plan to install a quantum computer at a university in Spanish capital city Madrid.

The operator is working with IQM Quantum Computers to equip the Technical University of Madrid with an all-in-one machine to provide real-world experience of the next-generation systems.

Telefonica predicted the technological benefits would be felt throughout Europe. The machine is due to be up and running by year-end and will add to two the companies already provided for use at a supercomputing centre in the northwest of the country.

Borja Ochoa, non-executive chair of Telefonica Espana and CEO of its B2B unit, said the operator wants to become “the best gateway to digital technologies”. He asserted it is the first in Spain to employ post-quantum cryptography to protect “communications between data centres”.

IQM Quantum Computers CEO and co-founder Jan Goetz highlighted anticipated benefits for industries in the Madrid area: “Quantum computing becomes truly valuable when it moves beyond remote laboratory environments”.

The installation extends Telefonica’s recent track record in the quantum computing realm, which includes establishing a centre of excellence, and employing the approach in pharmaceutical research and logistics.

The post Telefonica, IQM ready next quantum installation appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Le directeur général de Nokia, Justin Hotard, met en avant la progression des ventes de ses produits d’IA et de cloud au troisième trimestre. À l’en croire, l’équipementier finlandais est bien placé pour profiter de la demande croissante d’infrastructures associées.

Le chiffre d’affaires réalisé par Nokia dans les secteurs de l’IA et du cloud a bondi de 123 % sur un an, avec 1,5 milliard d’euros de nouvelles commandes passées sur le trimestre. Justin Hotard insiste aussi sur l’importance du carnet de commandes, qui place le groupe en bonne position pour poursuivre sa croissance dans ce domaine.

« Les atouts de Nokia sont particulièrement adaptés pour répondre à la demande croissante d’infrastructures d’IA plus vastes, plus distribuées et hyperconnectées, estime Justin Hotard. Nous investissons là où nous pouvons nous différencier et co-innover avec les hyperscalers. »

Justin Hotard souligne les avancées de l’AI-RAN, qui a fait l’objet d’un point d’étape le 21 octobre lors d’un événement organisé par Nvidia, partenaire et investisseur de l’équipementier finlandais. « Les réseaux natifs de l’IA entrent dans le monde physique et notre plateforme AI-RAN est développée pour offrir la performance requise par ce marché », affirme-t-il.

Bénéfice en hausse

Nokia a enregistré un bénéfice net de 156 millions d’euros au troisième trimestre, en hausse de 95 %.

Le chiffre d’affaires net s’est élevé à près de 5,2 milliards d’euros, en hausse de 10 %, soit 9 % à taux de change constants.

Le CA de la division Mobile Infrastructure progresse de 5 % à 2,9 milliards d’euros, en partie grâce à un décalage de revenus du quatrième vers le troisième trimestre. Le groupe précise que cette activité a bénéficié de la « discipline commerciale » et de la poursuite des mesures de réduction des coûts.

Selon Justin Hotard, Nokia poursuit la « simplification de notre portefeuille » et devrait parachever d’ici fin 2026 l’intégration de la société de réseaux optiques Infinera, acquise en 2025.

Le processus doit s’achever un an avant le calendrier initial, le patron précisant qu’il a généré 200 millions d’euros de synergies nettes.

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