Global Scans · Mobile Tech · Weekly Summary

• [New] ConnectALL is launching three new funding opportunities as New York conducts statewide mobile service coverage tests. Govtech
• [New] SpaceX having its own spectrum licenses for mobile service will make it easier to partner with carriers. Ars Technica
• [New] The SpaceX MSS [mobile-satellite service] system will communicate with fixed and mobile earth stations and will be capable of providing connectivity virtually anywhere on Earth. Ars Technica
• [New] Asia-Pacific and Oceania are expected to dominate growth, while subsidies and falling device costs may expand adoption globally, strengthening the mobile ecosystem beyond smartphones. MEF
• [New] Internal Apple documents describe the iPhone 17 Air as the halo product that will redefine consumer expectations for mobile device form factors. Axis Intelligence
• The anticipated introduction of Musk's mobile phone comes a year after Starlink introduced the direct-to-cell service, which pushed the telecoms sector to new heights while also placing mobile network operators under pressure to reconsider their plans or risk irrelevance. Extensia Ltd
• OpenAI will open a local office and allow SKT to integrate its ChatGPT platform into new AI-powered offerings for mobile customers, including a localized ChatGPT Plus service for SKT users. / South Korea Bez Kabli
• Web users will be charged £2.99 a month, and mobile phone users £3.99 a month, to scroll through Facebook and Instagram without ads. The Guardian
• The e-Boost Mobile Stretch solution will allow the City of Long Beach to accelerate its fleet electrification and expand its EV fleet while mitigating potential delays and costs associated with permanent grid infrastructure upgrades. Automotive World
• Musk downplayed any threat against AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, which happens to have a direct-to-device relationship with Starlink. Light Reading
• 5G adoption and device outlook: GSMA Intelligence and other analyst houses have noted that by the end of 2025, 5G subscriptions worldwide will likely pass 2 billion, accounting for about a quarter of all mobile connections. Bez Kabli
• In wireless (the $30 B mobile segment), satellites hooking directly to phones could capture a quarter of the world's 5.4 billion phone users plus 2.7 billion unconnected people. Bez Kabli
• About a dozen more mobile network operators will deploy 5G SA networks in 2025, indicating that America's 5G transformation is just beginning. techtoward.com
• SpaceX is targeting late 2026 to begin D2D mobile phone tests. MEF
• Bristol Bay Cellular partners with Mavenir to enhance Alaska's mobile network A new cloud-native platform in Anchorage will enhance connectivity for rural Alaskan communities, supported by Mavenir's technology. Decision Insights
• Indus (which owns 185,000 towers in India) will partner with Airtel Africa to manage and build towers in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia, entering markets with surging mobile usage but still-developing infrastructure bez-kabli. Bez Kabli
• By focusing on risk, Google aims to minimize disruptions for users while maximizing security efficacy, potentially setting a new standard for mobile OS maintenance. WebProNews
• For Mobile Network Operators, as well as Google and Apple, the evolving messaging landscape presents a complex but significant opportunity. MEF
• SpaceX will need new agreements with mobile network operators. SpaceNews
• In the fast-evolving world of mobile security, Samsung Electronics Co. has thrust itself into the spotlight with an urgent call to Galaxy phone users worldwide: update immediately or risk severe compromise. WebProNews
• By 2025, digital banking will no longer be a niche concept but a standard expectation, particularly in the United States, where a majority of consumers rely on mobile banking or payment apps for everyday needs. Host Merchant Services

Last updated: 12 October 2025