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Oct 17, 2024

The History of U.S. Telecom Policy (in Under 60 Minutes)

TeleGeography Explains the Internet is back from summer break.

We return a little older, a little wiser, and you can bet that we've done the summer reading. To that end, we're starting this season with a classic TeleGeography Explains deep dive.

The topic? U.S. telecom law! 

Telecom is a regulated industry, and U.S. law holds complexities that impact what happens across the larger ecosystem. I have a lot to learn about telecom policy, so thankfully I'm joined in this explainer by Jeff Long, an attorney in private practice with broad experience in both the data center and telecom industry.

Sep 18, 2024

The Final Frontier: Comparing the Fiber Strategies of the Big Three U.S. Mobile Operators

Verizon’s shock agreement to acquire ISP giant Frontier Communications in a $20 billion all-cash deal looks set to herald a new era of fixed-mobile convergence in the U.S. telecom market.

The takeover—which is expected to close in 18 months, subject to regulatory approval—follows a series of eye-catching fiber-related announcements involving chief rivals AT&T Communications and T-Mobile US.

Today, we take a look at the respective fiber strategies of the “Big Three” U.S. mobile operators.

Sep 12, 2024

5G Potential in Europe

The first commercial 5G mobile networks were launched in Europe in mid-2019. Roughly one year later, most countries’ main mass-market rollouts were already underway.

The technology continues to grow in popularity as network deployments progress. At the end of June 2024, there were an estimated 190 million 5G subscriptions across Europe, up from around 130 million a year earlier.

In European markets where 5G is available, the technology accounts for an average of 27% of all mobile subscriptions.

Jul 25, 2024

Down Under Dispatches: Learning About the Broadband Market in Australia & New Zealand

For National Intern Day, TeleGeography welcomes summer pricing intern Lizzie Hahn to the blog! Lizzie is one semester away from earning her BA from the George Washington University here in Washington, DC. She’s a pre-law student double-majoring in political science and international business.

We loved having her cohort in the office to assist with large, data-intensive research projects throughout the summer.

Today, Lizzie shares a touch of what she's learned about broadband markets Down Under while on the job. We'll hand it over to her.

Jul 23, 2024

The Altnets Spearheading the UK’s Full-Fiber Future

British telecom regulator Ofcom recently published its Connected Nations report for 2023.

The latest findings indicate that 17.1 million premises—or 57% of the United Kingdom—had access to full-fiber fixed broadband as of September 2023. This is an increase of 15 percentage points—or 4.6 million premises—when compared to the same point in 2022.

Jul 10, 2024

6G in Six Years?

In May 2021, TeleGeography reviewed the early stages of development of 6G mobile technology. Three years on, we turn the spotlight back onto the nascent 6G market to see how things are shaping up.

May 21, 2024

Starlink Expanding in Africa

Starlink, the satellite broadband provider operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is growing its presence in Africa.

As of May 2024, Starlink’s services are live in eight African countries, with more launches planned for the coming months.

Apr 18, 2024

Mobile and Fixed Broadband Sectors Continued To Grow in 2023

According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, the global mobile subscription total stood at 8.74 billion at the end of 2023, up 2.0% from 8.57 billion a year earlier.

Population penetration rose from 108% to 109% over the same period, boosted by the popularity of multiple SIM ownership in many markets.

Apr 11, 2024

How an Unlikely Spanish Merger Triggered a Reshape of the Telecom Landscape

Last month saw the conclusion of the long-running mega-merger between Orange España and Grupo MASMOVIL in Spain.

The EUR19 billion ($20.5 billion) tie-up—first agreed back in July 2022—created a new Spanish market leader that presides over a mobile/fixed broadband subscription base of 37 million. Now known as MasOrange, the 50:50 joint venture looks like a force to be reckoned with.

Today, we take a look at the Spanish deals that came into play in the wake of the merger, and see how they could reshape the telecom landscape.

Mar 25, 2024

Nigeria: Africa’s Mobile Giant

Nigeria is home to Africa’s biggest mobile market by some distance, with 217.5 million subscriptions at the end of 2023, up from 209.5 million a year earlier.

The next largest African markets at end-2023 were South Africa with 118.9 million subscriptions, and Egypt with 111.1 million, according to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database.