AGP Executive Report

Emergency Comms Funding: Delaware raised its monthly 911 surcharge from 60 cents to 90 cents starting Oct. 1 to pay for a statewide Next Generation 911 upgrade, targeting network, call-handling, software, cybersecurity, GIS data, training and related costs. Regulatory Enforcement: The FCC moved to settle telecom “rip and replace” compliance claims, with two companies agreeing to pay $10,000 each to resolve allegations over inaccurate and truthful filings. Public Safety Tech: Britain’s rail partners are piloting on-train passenger announcements over GSM-R, aiming to cut delays in disruption updates and improve consistency for riders. Cybersecurity Law: Malaysia’s Dewan Negara passed a Cyber Security Bill 2026 to replace the 1997 Computer Crimes Act, setting extraditable offences and strengthening international cooperation tools. Education Access: Nigeria’s NCC consultation drew support for a zero-rated framework to give students access to educational platforms and content, alongside calls for network investment and stronger stakeholder collaboration. Scam Pressure: Fiji reported losses of $1.3M+ in scam cases since 2017, with police citing AI-enabled fraud tactics and planning a national scam response centre. US Privacy Ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court said geofence warrants for cellphone location-history data are a Fourth Amendment “search,” tightening requirements for location-data requests.

Regulation & Security: Malaysia’s MCMC ordered CelcomDigi to fix weak mobile coverage in Kampung Tinagat after WBAS tests failed mandatory standards, while Maxis was told to carry out maintenance at the tower site. Cybercrime Law: Malaysia’s Deputy PM tabled the Cyber Crime Bill 2026 in the Dewan Negara, citing 8,014 online fraud charges as of May and saying telecom-linked arrests are rising—pushing for a more comprehensive cybercrime framework. Network Oversight: Pakistan’s PTA told operators to speed nationwide 5G rollout, adding 1,000 new towers per operator within a year and improving both 5G and 4G service quality in major cities. Consumer Rights & Policy: Airtel’s “Unlimited 5G” is reportedly limited by a 300GB fair-usage threshold, with hotspot enforcement raising net-neutrality and privacy concerns. Digital Identity: The World Economic Forum recognized UAE PASS as a global GovTech model for integrated, reusable digital government infrastructure. Infrastructure Disruption: Sabah’s Pan Borneo Highway delays are linked to utility relocation, including telecommunications cables, which must be moved before construction can proceed.

Trade Geopolitics: Analysis says 2026 US-China-EU tariff escalation is driving fragmentation and parallel tech ecosystems, raising costs and slowing innovation. Consumer Telecom Oversight: Bahrain’s TRA published its 2025 Consumer Experience Survey, citing improved outdoor/indoor coverage and service transparency. Digital Trust & Policy: Sri Lanka argues its Personal Data Protection Act must be matched by secure tech to make verifiable digital trust national infrastructure. Satellite Resilience & Disaster Response: Australia’s SES is adding Airbridge Resilient Network Infrastructure trailers plus a disaster drone using Starlink to keep isolated communities connected. Data Center Power Deals: Philippines’ APECO is in advanced talks for a 300MW data-center power arrangement to unlock investment. Internet Access Legal Ruling: A US judge struck down a race-based provision in Biden-era Digital Equity Act internet grants. Time Synchronisation Tech: India commissioned a White Rabbit Technology-based Indian Standard Time dissemination network for secure timing across telecom, finance, power and transport. Partnerships: Ooredoo and Samsung announced a strategic partnership to expand device access via Ooredoo channels. Regulatory & Market Moves: Libya’s LPTIC held talks with Nokia on 5G modernization and infrastructure upgrades.

UAE Tech Security: A former CIA operative was reportedly sent to Abu Dhabi to assess G42’s trustworthiness and address U.S. concerns about Chinese ties and telecom gear. Middle East Connectivity: Iran-linked strikes reportedly knocked 116 telecom towers offline in Hormozgan, cutting landline, mobile and internet service in parts of southern Iran. India Timing Backbone: India commissioned a White Rabbit-based demonstration network to distribute a secure national time signal for critical sectors including telecoms and power. Malaysia Drone Healthcare: MCMC and the Health Ministry plan drone medicine delivery in Tawau, aiming to cut travel costs for rural villages. Nigeria Telecom Competition: NCC approved 46 MVNO licenses and is revising MVNO business rules to clarify roles and reduce conflicts. Corporate Telecom Deal: TIM’s board approved Poste Italiane’s €10.8bn bid to take full control. Local Network Reliability: Wi‑Fi calling and landlines remain crucial in dead zones, with experts warning about emergency access gaps. Regulatory Court Test: Nigeria’s airtime lending market faces a major ruling on whether it falls under telecom regulation or consumer lending oversight.

Emergency Comms Disruption: US strikes knocked 116 telecom towers offline in Iran’s Hormozgan province, cutting landline, mobile and internet service in parts of Bandar Abbas and Hajiabad while repair teams were dispatched. Regional Infrastructure War: Iran says it’s suspending its Islamabad MoU with the US after continued attacks, as fighting expands to power, desalination and other civic sites across the Gulf. Digital Learning Access: Philippines’ DICT distributed 36,140 Bayanihan SIM cards in Bicol for kindergarten to grade 6 learners, each with 25GB of open-access data monthly for a year. Telecom Governance & Oversight: Australia’s Telstra outage drew fresh political scrutiny after warnings about a critical timekeeping component were reportedly missed, with potential fines flagged. Satellite & Connectivity Policy: Taiwan lawmakers are set to amend telecom rules to allow case-by-case exemptions that could open the door for Starlink. AI Timing for Critical Systems: India launched a White Rabbit-based demonstration network to securely disseminate Indian Standard Time for sectors including telecoms, banking, power and transport. Network Expansion in Fiji: Telecom Fiji is upgrading transmission towers in Taveuni and progressing 4G-to-5G work under the Universal Service Obligation program. Cambodia AI & Telecom Investment: ZTE and a Chinese satellite comms firm signaled expanded investment interest in Cambodia’s digital and sovereign AI infrastructure, while Cambodia joined WAICO as a founding member. Broadband Industry Forum: APAC’s first Broadband Development Summit in Bangkok pushed AI-era broadband evolution with regulators and operators including Huawei, Telkomsel and Globe. Consumer Billing Change: AT&T plans a higher monthly phone fee from August 5 tied to cell site rent and government fee recovery.

Gulf Escalation: Iran says it is resuming “full-scale offensive” operations after US strikes for a seventh straight night, targeting Gulf infrastructure including Kuwait’s power and water plant and Bahrain’s air defenses, while the IRGC claims hits on US naval and telecom sites. Telecom Disruption in South Asia: In India’s Doda and Kishtwar, protesters over a Bhaderwah killing have triggered a partial mobile internet shutdown and throttled speeds. Broadband Push: Indiana plans to use BEAD funding to bring high-speed internet to about 123,000 homes and businesses across 91 counties. Operator/Asset Moves: e& has completed its $5.95bn Vodafone stake sale, transferring shares to BNP Paribas and others. AI Governance & Infrastructure: Indonesia invites Huawei and ByteDance to expand AI and cloud cooperation; Bangladesh is drafting a human-centric national AI policy; Huawei unveiled its Atlas 950 SuperPoD for agentic AI workloads at WAIC 2026. Policy & Regulation: Pakistan’s IT ministry is rolling out a nationwide Asaan Khidmat Centers framework for standardized one-window services. Market Signals: Pakistan’s mobile market shows local handset assembly down 12% in June as imports surge, while subscriber share shifts slightly toward Zong and Ufone.

Satellite & Security: Iran’s school and university strikes are again in focus, with reporting citing dozens of schoolgirls killed at Minab and hundreds of education sites hit or damaged—raising war-crime concerns. Network Coverage & Access: Vodafone Fiji says it’s monitoring Taveuni demand and building a new tower in Qila to improve coverage, while urging customers to report issues via 123. Local Telecom Regulation: Nigeria’s NCC has unveiled draft MVNO business rules to clarify licensing and responsibilities and boost competition. Digital Trust & IDs: Curaçao’s digital ID debate highlights security, privacy, and transparency questions as governments push electronic documents. Market & Industry Signals: Pakistan’s local mobile phone assembly fell 12% YoY in June as imports surged ahead of the budget. Operator Moves: e& says it has completed its Vodafone stake sale, realizing about $5.95B in cash proceeds. Infrastructure & Competition: Iraq signed an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite internet, targeting connectivity gaps for businesses and public services. Data Centers Backlash: Japan faces growing opposition to data centers, with residents citing space, fire, heat, and noise risks.

Analog Switch-Off: GMA Network says it’s in the final stretch of shutting analog TV transmitters in Mega Manila by Nov. 22, aiming to avoid cutting off remaining free-to-air viewers while NTC support programs gear up. Universal Service Oversight: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr moves to tighten Universal Service Fund management and USAC oversight, pushing for more efficient, fair, cost-effective use. Network Reliability & Accountability: Telstra’s Senate testimony links its outage to an undocumented design change and a missed software update on network timing equipment, while calls grow for compensation schemes. Regulatory Tariff Enforcement: Malawi’s MACRA orders Airtel Malawi and TNM to compensate customers after tariff changes without required seven-day publication, with bundle credits due by July 31. AI & Cyber Risk: Five Eyes warns AI is compressing cyberattack timelines, while Proofpoint flags OAuth client ID spoofing tactics targeting Microsoft Entra ID accounts. Digital Infrastructure Moves: Ethio Telecom explores a strategic partnership with Inspur to accelerate Ethiopia’s digital transformation; Nepal Telecom expands 4G to remote Mugu and Bajura villages; Reliance Jio’s 1,600-LEO satellite plan gets a technically sound IN-SPACe nod. Global Digital Policy: AU and ITU partner on digital transformation and AI governance, and Japan/EU validate cross-border digital wallet interoperability.

Pakistan–China Diplomacy: Deputy PM/Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met China’s Wang Yi in Shanghai, reaffirming CPEC 2.0 cooperation and pushing joint work on trade, the digital economy, and AI. Sovereign AI Infrastructure: Data Vault Pakistan signed a three-year contract with NTC to deliver government-controlled AI services using NVIDIA GPUs, enabling GPUaaS and MaaS from local data centres. eSIM & 5G Policy Push: Pakistan’s Senate committee told PTA to finalize a uniform eSIM transfer policy, speed nationwide 5G rollout, and tighten consumer protection and telecom regulation. AI Governance Goes Institutional: The UN and ITU launched ongoing AI governance bodies at the Geneva AI for Good Summit, signaling a shift from one-off declarations to permanent coordination. LEO Satellite Momentum (India): IN-SPACe deemed Reliance Jio’s ~1,600-satellite LEO plan technically sound, moving it closer to India’s first homegrown constellation. Connectivity for Emergencies (Asia): Caltta Technologies deployed emergency communications support after Typhoon Maysak flooding in Guangxi, restoring mission-critical connectivity. Africa Cable Build: The Via Africa submarine cable consortium is advancing an open, consortium-based Europe-to-Africa system to strengthen Atlantic connectivity. Telco Finance (Philippines): Globe Telecom secured a P10B LandBank loan to fund capex and refinancing, with most spending aimed at data-related projects.

AI Trust & Identity: Mauritius Telecom joins TM Forum as a founding contributor to shape MODaaS certification for trusted Model-as-a-Service, aiming to standardize governance, observability, security and monetisation. Identity Fraud Fight: Fourthline and Veridas sign a merger to build a cross-Europe and Americas trust platform, targeting KYC/AML orchestration and anti-fraud identity verification. Satellite Connectivity: Pakistan’s PTA urges licensing satellite internet providers like Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon to boost remote and motorway coverage. Network Quality & Operations: SK Telecom deploys AI to manage mobile quality during summer peak travel, using predictive analytics and real-time anomaly detection. Digital Infrastructure Growth: India’s telecom infrastructure expands 3.7% YoY to 8.55 lakh towers and 32.25 lakh BTS, while services production data shows telecom among strong performers. Policy & Governance: A Pakistan Senate committee reviews 5G rollout and telecom service quality, while the government plans uninterrupted power supply for telecom infrastructure. Payments Push: Bangladesh expands Bangla QR nationwide, with early transaction volumes reported and MDR concerns raised for small merchants. Market & Industry Moves: Digi Spain’s IPO trading begins, with CEO framing the listing as support for fiber and mobile rollout. Space Media: IBN launches SpaceWireNews to cover the commercial space economy, including satellite communications and telecom-linked space infrastructure.

Cybersecurity & Elections: US federal officials warned telecoms and other critical sectors about a potentially far-reaching Russian-linked hacking campaign tied to election security concerns. Regulation & Identity: Pakistan’s PTA imposed about Rs740m in penalties on four mobile operators for repeated SIM issuance violations, including unauthorized activations and biometric verification lapses. Satellite Connectivity: Bell Canada completed integration testing at a Quebec ground station for satellite-to-mobile service with AST SpaceMobile, moving toward direct-to-device coverage trials. Network Expansion: Zimbabwe’s Econet said it will invest over US$200m to expand capacity and retire legacy networks to boost 4G/5G resilience. Data Centers & AI Infrastructure: Csquare priced its IPO at $21 per share, citing AI-driven demand for co-location and connectivity. Fraud & Consumer Protection: A survey in Ghana highlighted telecom fraud, high data costs, hidden subscriptions, and airtime deductions as top consumer pain points. Public Safety Comms: AJK Police launched a Call Detail Record management system to speed digital telecom analysis for investigations. Corporate Telecom Losses: Cogeco reported a $1.8bn quarterly loss driven by impairment charges in its US telecom segment. Local Telecom Policy: Plainfield’s zoning board signaled approval for a cell tower if height is reduced below the originally requested 130 feet. AI in Telecom Services: Dane County began testing an AI virtual assistant for nonemergency calls, aiming for instant multilingual triage into dispatch systems. Privacy & Burner Phones: FCC proposal coverage raised alarms that stricter identity checks could curb anonymous “burner phone” use.

Satellite Connectivity: Bell completes its Quebec ground station build for planned satellite-to-mobile service with AST SpaceMobile, aiming to launch early next year. Satellite Competition: Amazon Leo and South Africa’s Herotel sign a distribution deal to launch “Evry” satellite internet in 2027. AI-RAN Push: Nokia and Nvidia integrate anyRAN with Nvidia’s Aerial AI-RAN platform, targeting pilot deployments late this year and commercial availability in 2027, with claims of higher spectral efficiency. Regulatory Enforcement: Pakistan’s PTA fines mobile operators about Rs740m over repeated SIM issuance and biometric verification violations. TV Spectrum Roadmap: Nigeria sets December 2028 as the final analogue switch-off date and launches FreeTV, a free-to-air digital platform. Semiconductors: India’s Cabinet approves Semicon 2.0 with ₹1.27 lakh crore to expand chip design, manufacturing and packaging, including support for startups and EDA access. Fiber for AI Data Centers: Lightpath lands a second infrastructure tenant on its Eastern Pennsylvania underground fiber build, signaling continued AI infrastructure demand. Cybersecurity Cooperation: Cambodia hosts the Lancang-Mekong cybersecurity forum focused on cloud security and AI applications.

Network Fees & Consumer Costs: AT&T will raise its monthly Administrative & Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee by $1 to $4.99 starting Aug. 5, adding to similar business and government fee increases. Fiber for Health: Venezuela’s CANTV says three Los Llanos hospitals already have CANTV optical fiber, with 21+ km deployed and services enabled to boost capacity. Disaster Response for Connectivity & Business: The U.S. SBA opened Business Recovery Centers in Wisconsin counties to help storm-impacted firms and residents with disaster loans and applications. Telecom Resilience After Cable Damage: Venezuela’s CONATEL says a specialized vessel to restore Cirion’s La Guaira submarine cable is en route, with permits reportedly secured in 14 days instead of 45. 5G Rollout Reality Check: Pakistan’s PTA told lawmakers 5G services are live in 22 cities using existing infrastructure, while new buildout is planned over the next 6–8 months. Security & Identity Rules: The FCC is weighing rules that would require carriers/VoIP to collect ID and address details before activating service, a move privacy groups warn could end anonymous prepaid phones. AI-Native Wireless Funding: NTIA opened a $53M application window to accelerate AI-native RAN development, closing Sept. 9. Local Network Upgrades for Events: Airtel says it strengthened Odisha networks for Puri Rath Yatra, adding 1,500+ 5G sites statewide over the past year.

Pakistan Telecom Oversight: Pakistan’s National Assembly IT committee summoned Ufone and PTCL over deteriorating mobile and internet service quality, warning of show-cause notices, fines, and possible licence suspension. 5G Rollout Scrutiny: PTA told lawmakers 5G is live at 449 sites across 22 cities, but members questioned pace and coverage gaps, especially in Karachi and Hyderabad. SIM Registration Enforcement: Mandaue City advanced an ordinance to penalize sale and purchase of pre-registered SIM cards, aiming to close loopholes in the national SIM Registration Act. Cybersecurity Pressure: South Africa reported 2,065 cyber attacks per week in June, while a Tata Electronics breach sparked fears of data and IP exposure. Payments Innovation: ANZ is among banks piloting Swift’s blockchain-based shared ledger for tokenised deposits to support faster cross-border payments. AI Infrastructure Push: Pure DC launched a major Finland AI data centre campus plan (110MW Phase 1, fully leased) as global demand for AI compute grows. Positioning Security: Iridium made its Iridium PNT ASIC commercially available to help protect GNSS-dependent devices from jamming and spoofing. Fraud Crackdown: UK charges five people linked to a Russian Coms caller-ID spoofing fraud platform.

Mobile Coverage Rules: Australia’s ACMA has ordered telcos to publish standardised, plain-English mobile coverage maps (4G/5G) and keep outage registers updated every three months, aiming to make “coverage” claims comparable for consumers. Network Reliability & Accountability: A Telstra outage disrupted regional rail and emergency calling, renewing calls for tougher regulation and clearer crisis response. Court Connectivity: Pakistan’s Islamabad High Court has asked the PTA and mobile operators to explain weak or missing signal inside courts, arguing it delays proceedings and blocks access to online legal resources. Regulatory Leadership: Nepal named Arjun Ghimire as NTA chair and Umesh Shrestha as Press Council Nepal chair, with a focus on tackling misinformation. AI for Public Safety: Dane County, Wisconsin will deploy an Aurelian virtual assistant to handle non-emergency calls in multiple languages while escalating to live dispatchers when emergencies appear. Digital Inclusion Funding: Atome Philippines secured a PHP 5bn ($81m) wholesale loan facility from AUB to expand its PayLater card, including payments for telecom and utilities. Digital Identity & AI Governance: ITU launched standards work and initiatives around identity and trust for humans and AI agents, tying connectivity to safer AI adoption.

Regulatory & Trust: India’s MeitY is reviewing messaging apps’ proposed username feature, weighing implications and platform justifications, with no decision timeline yet, while also looking into Truecaller-related technical and regulatory concerns. Cybersecurity: Check Point reports global cyber attacks rose over 10% in June, with ransomware groups reorganizing; “The Gentlemen” jumped to 17% of published attacks and LockBit climbed to 7%. Identity & Fraud Controls: Pakistan’s audit flags illegal SIM registrations in Balochistan using Punjab citizens’ identities, with thousands of SIMs activated and weak follow-through beyond show-cause notices. Connectivity Infrastructure: Singapore is expanding a “dig once” style approach to underground utilities, using shared ducts and better coordination to reduce road disruptions for telecom and other services. Enterprise IoT: Singtel, Thales and Bridge Alliance launched a multi-operator eSIM platform for enterprise IoT connectivity across Asia-Pacific. Spectrum & Markets: Lithuania’s telecom regulator confirmed winners of its 700/1500/2100 MHz spectrum auction, with operators paying €29.03m total. Geopolitics Impacting Networks: US-Iran strikes and Hormuz tensions are driving sharp drops in shipping traffic, raising broader risk for regional connectivity and supply chains.