Global Scans · Telecoms · Weekly Summary

• [New] If a chain reaction of collisions occurs, certain altitudes could become unusable, threatening the $190+ billion worth of global satellite infrastructure we rely on for GPS, telecommunications, and climate monitoring. Innovation News Network
• [New] Project Kuiper's carrier-centric strategy and OneWeb's partnerships with telecom operators could help integrate LEO capacity into national broadband plans rather than positioning it purely as a premium product. Programming Helper
• [New] Experts have repeatedly warned that adversaries have treated American power, water, telecommunications, and energy systems as latent battlefields. The National Law Review
• [New] In 2026, telecom companies will see somewhat higher revenues from upgraded 5G and fiber networks. ING Think
• [New] NEC plans to collaborate with telecommunication carriers to conduct performance evaluations and verification tests, aiming for a product launch in Japan in the first half of fiscal year 2026. IOT Insider
• [New] Planning deals around foreign direct investment (FDI) screening obligations will remain central to infrastructure in 2026, with energy, water, transport, telecoms, and data centers increasingly falling within scope as governments tighten controls. Freshfields
• [New] Telecom growth in 2026 will come from smarter networks, not bigger ones. Mobile Industry Review
• [New] Infrastructure and Security Risks The use of Chinese-manufactured telecoms and network equipment has generated sustained concern among European governments. Netaxis Solutions
• [New] Access to the digital infrastructure of internet service providers and telecom companies would position PRC-based threat actors to steal sensitive data and potentially affect the flow of internet traffic. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Starlink's IPO could help establish satellite internet as a defined and measurable category alongside traditional telecom and broadband services. Yahoo Finance
• [New] IT system and telecommunications network disruptions are expected to remain one of the key risks in 2026, as organizations increasingly rely on digital platforms and real-time communications. InterRisk Asia (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
• [New] What we expect in 2026: With ongoing spectrum auctions, telecom operators will continue to invest heavily in infrastructure to support the increasing demand for connectivity and advanced communication technologies. The Protiviti View
• [New] What we expect in 2026: As AI technology evolves, telecom operators will continue to refine their AI strategies to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency. The Protiviti View
• [New] Telecom coherent bandwidth will grow over 40% in 2025 and faster in 2026 as 400 ZRx, 800 ZRx, and 1.2 T + embedded optics ramp to support AI-driven scale across and and long haul builds; pluggable coherent modules are expected to carry over 60% of telecom bandwidth by 2026. Cignal AI
• [New] Nokia will adopt Nvidia's accelerated computing platform, which helps telecommunications companies seamlessly transition from 5G to 6G through software upgrades. Yahoo Finance
• [New] High-speed datacom modules - especially 800 GbE and emerging 1.6 TbE designs - will remain the primary growth engine for revenue in 2026, while telecom coherent pluggables and 1.2 T + embedded optics drive a renewed multi-year bandwidth expansion. Cignal AI
• [New] The growing amount of space debris in Earth's orbit poses a real and current threat to vital satellite services, such as telecommunications and navigation, as well as crucial weather and climate data collection. earth.com
• [New] China-Linked UAT-7290 Targets Telecoms with Linux Malware - A long-running cyber-espionage campaign targeting high-value telecommunications infrastructure in South Asia has been attributed to a sophisticated threat actor tracked as UAT-7290. The Hacker News
• [New] More than 50% of telecom CEOs fear their organizations will not remain viable over the next decade if they continue operating on legacy architectures, highlighting how urgently modernization is needed. Mobile Industry Review
• [New] The fragmentation of technology standards - China's developing parallel ecosystems in everything from telecommunications (5G) to payment systems - will constrain addressable markets and create stranded investments in incompatible technologies. Brown Brothers Harriman
• [New] The year 2026 will be a pivotal year for telecommunications law in the European Union and Germany. Taylor Wessing

Last updated: 02 February 2026