Play offers promo of double-play services with TV
POLAND 22 MEI

Play offers promo of double-play services with TV

Polish operator Play, controlled by Iliad, has introduced a promotion of its double-play services. With a 24-month contract a subscription to fixed broadband at up to 300 Mbps and the TV Max service with 217 channels starts from just PLN 50 per month for a year. Customers also can chooose HBO Max or Eleven Sports free for a year and buy a Samsung 55-inch QLED Q7F2 4K TV for the reduced price of PLN 1,099, down from PLN 2,199 standard rate.

Oura plans IPO as smart ring's paid subscribers near 5 mln
GLOBAL 22 MEI

Oura plans IPO as smart ring's paid subscribers near 5 mln

'Smart' ring vendor Oura said it has submitted a draft registration statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) concerning a proposed initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range have not yet been determined, and the IPO would follow an SEC review, subject to market and other conditions. Earlier this month, Oura said it was last valued at approximately USD 11 billion, adding that this made it "the world's most valuable standalone

Lenovo increases dividend after 20% growth in annual sales
GLOBAL 22 MEI

Lenovo increases dividend after 20% growth in annual sales

Lenovo has proposed a 10 percent increase in its dividend after reporting record turnover for its fiscal year to March 2026. Annual revenues rose 20 percent to USD 83.1 billion, and its net profit increased 38 percent to USD 1.9 billion thanks to steady growth in PCs and smartphones and improved profitability at its server business. The final dividend, to be paid in August, rises to HKD 0.337 per share from HKD 0.305 a year ago.

KDDI launches LTE Asus Chromebook
JAPAN 22 MEI

KDDI launches LTE Asus Chromebook

KDDI and Okinawa Cellular Telephone have launched the LTE version of the Asus Chromebook CM32 Detachable (CM3206) in Japan through the operators' au +1 collection accessory range. The operators said the device became available through the au Online Shop and selected consumer electronics retailers on 22 May, with wider availability through KDDI-operated retail stores, au Style and au Shop outlets from 29 May.

Xplora outlines 3 growth levers as Q1 revenue rises 11% and EBITDA grows 58%
GLOBAL 21 MEI

Xplora outlines 3 growth levers as Q1 revenue rises 11% and EBITDA grows 58%

Xplora Technologies has reported an 11 percent year-on-year increase in first quarter revenue to NOK 376 million and said EBITDA surged by 58 percent to NOK 28 million. The company has outlined three strategic levers of growth, namely expanding its product and service scope, broadening its customer reach, and entering more geographical markets. It expects to complete its acquisition of DACH senior phone specialist Emporia in Q2, and is targeting four or five new MVNO markets in the next five years.

Qualcomm introduces Dragonwing MBM silicon line-up
GLOBAL 21 MEI

Qualcomm introduces Dragonwing MBM silicon line-up

Qualcomm has introduced new system-on-chip (SoC) variants targeting enriched multimedia on broadband devices. The Dragonwing Mobile Broadband Media (MBM) Family is debuting with two product tiers, both of which are designed to favour responsiveness and immersion, ultimately delivering a more personalised user experience. Notably, these SoCs give OEMs the option of using either Android or Linux software. Qualcomm said it expects these products to appeal to a "new category of broadband devices" such as displa

Zain Kuwait launches Whoop wearable health tracker
KUWAIT 20 MEI

Zain Kuwait launches Whoop wearable health tracker

Zain Kuwait is partnering with Whoop to bring its products to customers through Zain Plus or Shabab plans. Whoop is a wearable fitness tracker and health coach designed to help users understand their bodies and build lasting health habits. It monitors heart rate variability, resting heart rate, sleep cycles, recovery and daily strain to provide personalized insights.

Xiaomi brings out Poco Pad C1 tablet
GLOBAL 20 MEI

Xiaomi brings out Poco Pad C1 tablet

Xiaomi has announced the launch of its Poco Pad C1 tablet as part of its AIoT series, running on the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 Mobile Platform and Xiaomi HyperOS 3. Its 9.7-inch display has a refreshment rate of up to 120Hz and up to 600 nits of peak brightness. It boasts triple TUV Rheinland eye-care certifications, too. Its 7,600mAh (typ) battery offers up to 1.7 days of usage and supports 18W fast charging. It also has a 10W reverse charging capability.

US consumer broadband prices little changed in 2025
UNITED STATES 20 MEI

US consumer broadband prices little changed in 2025

Average broadband prices in the US were little changed in 2025, according to a study published by industry group USTelecom. Using data from the 14 largest fixed broadband providers, across cable, DSL and FTTH, it found an average price of USD 69.33 per month for speeds between 100 and 940 Mbps, down 0.9 percent from a year earlier. The average cost for 940 Mbps to 1 Gbps was USD 97.34 per month, up 0.1 percent from 2024.

Telia Norway brings in home mailing option for handset trade-ins
NORWAY 20 MEI

Telia Norway brings in home mailing option for handset trade-ins

Telia Norway says its Mobilpant handset trade-in system now enables customers to return their old phone without visiting a branch. They can log on for a smartphone valuation via the internet and apply to receive a postal box and return label, enabling to send off their device free of charge. The customer can then have the trade-in value deducted from their bill if they buy a new model on instalments, or they can have the amount refunded to the bank card they use to purchase their next phone. There is still

Broadband Forum sketches out vision for agentic internet optimisation
GLOBAL 20 MEI

Broadband Forum sketches out vision for agentic internet optimisation

Broadband Forum has set out its expectations regarding agentic AI advances capable of supporting optimisation at internet service providers. It envisions extensive benefits in broadband networks thanks to AI's ability to leverage natural language interactions and implement actions independently. This is likely to tee up significant progress towards the goal of self-optimising broadband networks, where connections are intelligently optimised and limit energy usage, while detecting potential faults before the

Samsung launches enterprise edition of Galaxy Book6 laptops
GLOBAL 20 MEI

Samsung launches enterprise edition of Galaxy Book6 laptops

Samsung Electronics has introduced the Galaxy Book6 Enterprise Edition, its first Galaxy Book laptop line designed specifically for enterprise IT environments, targeting corporate deployment, security and device management use cases. The new laptops are powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, with select 14-inch models supporting Intel vPro, and are aimed at simplifying large-scale enterprise rollouts through features such as custom OS imaging, BIOS configuration, asset tagging and Windows Autopilo

GLOBAL 20 MEI

Google preps launch of Android XR smart glasses this autumn

Google confirmed new smart glasses running its Android XR software are coming to market later this year. At its Google I/O developer conference, the company previewed audio glasses that offer spoken help, powered by its Gemini AI. This "intelligent eyewear" is expected to launch this autumn in select markets.

GERMANY 19 MEI

TP-Link introduces Wi-Fi 7 routers for German market

TP-Link is introducing three new Wi-Fi 7 routers specially for the German market. The TP-LinkBox 7 is designed for households using the internet mainly for surfing, the TP-LinkBox 7 Pro offers more high-quality connections, and the TP-LinkBox 7 Pro Fiber is for FTTH connections. The TP-LinkBox 7 can transmit at speeds up 3.6 Gbps with low interference and will be available in Germany in June.

GLOBAL 19 MEI

NFC Forum launches healthcare group to support standardisation and interoperability

The NFC Forum has launched a Healthcare Special Interest Group aimed at supporting the use of near field communication technologies across healthcare and pharmaceutical applications. The organisation said the group would focus on promoting secure, interoperable and regulatory-compliant NFC implementations in areas including medical devices, pharmaceutical packaging and healthcare delivery systems. According to forum, the initiative will address areas including cybersecurity, regulatory alignment, interopera

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 18 MEI

Rostelecom launches smart TV solution based on Aurora OS

Russian national operator Rostelecom has introduced a local smart TV solution based on the Aurora OS, developed by the company Open Mobile Solutions, a subsidiary of Rostelecom. The operator also introduced prototypes of Russian TV sets based on the Aurora OS during the exhibition Digital Industry for Industrial Russia taking place in Nizhny-Novgorod. The new platform is designed to offer a local alternative to the foreign platforms used on most TVs for sale in Russia.

POLAND 18 MEI

Plus offers free Samsung smartwatch, 6 months eSim with S26 purchase

Polish operator Polkomtel, trading under the Plus brand, has introduced a promotion for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series of smartphones. Customers buying one of the phones receive a Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic free, as well as an additional eSIM with free use for six months.

POLAND 18 MEI

Netia offers FTTR solution in apartment buildings

Polish operator Netia has introduced FTTR (Fibre To The Room) to its customers living in apartment buildings. The solution is based on Wi-Fi 7 equipment to strengthen the internet signal throughout the home. It costs PLN 15 monthly subscription for customers connected to plans with 1 or 2 Gbps. Netia claims it is the only operator in Poland offering the solution, which is based on a dual-band Huawei router and extender. 

GLOBAL 18 MEI

New Apple iOS feature restricts precision location data shared with operators

Apple launched a new iPhone and iPad setting that obscures the exact location of devices connected to cellular networks. The "Limited precise location" feature is designed to apply limits on location data shared with cellular carriers, often collected in the process of tracking the user's connection to local cell towers. When activated, it configures the Apple device to withhold certain data from the network, for example only revealing the neighbourhood of its location rather than a specific street address.

BRAZIL 18 MEI

Multi Q1 net profit surges, revenues up 14%

Brazilian smartphone and IT manufacturer Multi (formerly Grupo Multilaser) reported a net profit surge of 91 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching BRL 123.4 million. Net revenue also grew by 14.3 percent to BRL 872.7 million. EBITDA jumped to BRL 96.5 million, up from BRL 5.5 million in Q1 2025, which pushed the EBITDA margin from 0.7 percent to 11.1 percent.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 18 MEI

LG Uplus completes more than 2 million SIM updates and replacements

LG Uplus said cumulative SIM update and replacement cases linked to its International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) system transition have exceeded two million. According to the operator, 750,461 SIM updates and 1,264,066 SIM replacements were completed between 13 April and 17 May, bringing the combined total to 2,014,527 cases. LG Uplus said the cumulative processing rate currently stands at 11.8 percent.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 18 MEI

LG Uplus launches Galaxy Buddy5 mid-range smartphone

LG Uplus has launched the Galaxy Buddy5, a new mid-range smartphone priced at KRW 528,000, as part of its exclusive Galaxy Buddy 5G smartphone series. The device is based on Samsung Electronics' Galaxy A17 5G model and is available exclusively through LG Uplus retail stores and the operator's online store. The Galaxy Buddy5 is the fifth model in the operator's Galaxy Buddy series, which was introduced in 2021.

NEW ZEALAND 18 MEI

One NZ launches refurbished smartphone sales pilot

One New Zealand has launched a pilot programme to sell refurbished smartphones, becoming what it claims is the first mobile operator in New Zealand to offer refurbished handsets directly to customers. The refurbished devices are currently available through the operator's online store and include Apple iPhone 12, 13, 14 Pro and 15 Pro models. One NZ said the phones have been tested, cleaned and restored before resale and are sold with a 24-month warranty.

UNITED STATES 15 MEI

Calix strengthens Wi-Fi 7 pitch with gateways tailored to MDU residences, small homes and business

Calix said it is expanding its Wi-Fi 7 line-up with the launch of new GigaSpire and GigaPro internet gateways. The expanded portfolio includes the lightweight GigaSpire 7u4 and ceiling-mountable GigaPro 7p6, as well as the XGS-PON integrated GigaSpire 7u4txg and the Active Ethernet (AE) model GigaSpire 7u10tae. The market launch of the XGS-PON and AE products will come later in the year.

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