AGP Executive Report

Pakistan Telecom Bill: Pakistan’s IT and law ministers say the revised telecom amendment will not undermine private property rights, with owner consent made mandatory for telecom infrastructure right-of-way on private land as the government defends the 5G-era overhaul. Regulation & Access: Ministers also reject claims the bill is designed to favour individuals or companies, pointing to committee changes and clearer definitions around right-of-way and infrastructure placement. Satellite Connectivity Trials: Vodafone and Ireland’s government test satellite-based emergency communications using AST SpaceMobile tech to support responders in areas with weak cellular coverage. Cross-border Bandwidth: Bangladesh approves Starlink to export “unfiltered” bandwidth via IPLC links to neighbouring countries, with BSCCL set as the primary supplier. New Competition in Broadband: Philippines newcomer Bitstar Telecom launches enterprise fiber internet in Metro Manila with a digital-first “concierge” onboarding model, aiming to expand beyond the NCR. Network Resilience: MTN Uganda reports an outage tied to a power failure at a data centre, disrupting calls, data and mobile money. Public Safety Platforms: Thailand’s NBTC plans a national digital radio/audio platform plus automated emergency alerting to reduce fragmented online radio access.

Regulation & Spectrum: Pakistan moved to calm telecom bill backlash, with ministers saying the proposed Pakistan Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 2026 won’t enable forced land occupation and will require owner consent before fiber is laid, after claims it favoured private firms. Consumer Protection: Malawi’s Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) demanded a reversal of Airtel Malawi and TNM mobile data price hikes, arguing MACRA approved increases despite poor network quality and without required notice. Network Expansion Targets: Indonesia’s communications ministry is pushing operators to help reach a national average 100 Mbps speed within two years, while also accelerating digital infrastructure investment. Fraud Controls: Indonesia’s biometric SIM registration is gaining industry support as a fraud-fighting tool, but operators want lower facial verification fees to keep services affordable. Infrastructure Resilience: Nigeria’s NiMet issued a flash-flood risk alert for 27 states, warning outages could hit telecoms alongside roads and power. US Telecom Policy: The FCC cleared AT&T’s path to end landline service for 184,000 California households, escalating its fight with state regulators. Connectivity & Coverage: Malaysia’s Fahmi Fadzil warned telcos are too slow to fix rural internet coverage, promising action with the regulator after inspections. Digital Transformation: Pakistan’s telecom leaders and officials reiterated that 5G, AI, cloud, cybersecurity and IoT need stable policy and investment to unlock growth.

Rural Connectivity Pressure: Malaysia’s Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil says telcos are underusing their own data on weak rural coverage and will summon operators with the MCMC to demand faster fixes, including network optimisation and possible new towers in Johor. Consumer Transparency Rules: Australia’s ACMA is forcing clearer mobile coverage maps and online registers for resolved outages, aiming to stop “surprises” after contracts. Landline Fight Escalates: The FCC has approved AT&T’s plan to end landline service for 184,000 California households, keeping alive a broader bid to override state rules. Satellite & Digital Diplomacy: Ghana and the US held talks on satellite technology and digital transformation, including a first satellite training session in Ghana. Disaster Response & Networks: Venezuela’s earthquake recovery is shifting to rebuilding after 2,954 deaths, while regulators and operators coordinate restoration efforts in La Guaira. Coverage vs Governance: DC BLOX says only one approved cable landing station building exists for Palm Coast, pushing back on claims of a hyperscale data center campus. Internet Adoption Watch: Bangladesh reports internet use rising to 58.6% in Q3 2026, despite a slight dip in mobile phone ownership. Regulatory/Policy Lens: A new push in telecom governance argues regulators must measure readiness, not just warn, as quantum-security deadlines move from theory to enforcement.

Digital Safety & Data Protection: Canada’s Carney government is moving toward a single Digital Safety and Data Protection Commission to tackle online harms and privacy, including child safety and tougher oversight of big tech. Internet Access Targets: Malaysia’s JENDELA plan aims for 100% internet access in populated areas by next year, with MCMC pushing 4G and strengthening 5G via infrastructure sharing. Regulation & Consumer Billing: Kenya’s proposed metered internet billing would force ISPs to bill by actual data use instead of fixed packages, raising new questions on pricing and consumer protection. Network Expansion in Africa: Tanzania’s YAS says it has invested Sh1 trillion, adding 4,800+ towers to accelerate high-speed connectivity. Subsea Cable Disruption: Pakistan’s internet was hit after the SMW5 submarine cable fault, with restoration reported after repairs. Enforcement & Retail Compliance: Sri Lanka’s TRC reactivated a special investigation unit to target unlicensed phone sellers, offering a one-month grace period. AI Identity Risks: Meta-linked enforcement and AI impersonation concerns surfaced after creators reported catfishing using AI-generated profiles. Telecom Courts: India’s Delhi High Court ruled BSNL/MTNL absorbed DoT employees aren’t entitled to 7th CPC pension revisions.

Subsea Connectivity: Pakistan’s internet is back to normal after the SEA-ME-WE 5 (SMW5) submarine cable fault was repaired, with PTA saying traffic was rerouted via alternate links during the outage and the cable is now fully operational. Regulatory Oversight: The US FCC has opened a formal review of submarine cable landing license applications, starting a national security and foreign policy coordination process with a public comment window. Emergency Preparedness: Pakistan also activated a high-level monsoon emergency response committee to tighten inter-agency coordination and readiness for the 2026 monsoon season. Telco Deals & Access: Canada’s CIB and Telus will expand high-speed broadband in B.C., targeting more than 17,000 underserved households and rural/Indigenous communities. Philippines Infrastructure Sharing: PLDT and DITO signed an infrastructure-sharing MOU to improve coverage and reliability through reciprocal use of eligible tower sites and other resources. Consumer/Service Disruption: Elisa and MTV reached a distribution agreement, restoring MTV3, MTV Sub and MTV Ava on Elisa services after a long dispute. Cyber/Scams: A California man pleaded guilty to sending fake ransom demands to Nancy Guthrie’s family, facing harassment via telecommunications device charges. Public Monitoring: Malaysia’s MCMC activated its Network Monitoring Centre for the Johor election, letting the public report mobile, internet and service disruption complaints.

Subsea Cable Recovery: Pakistan’s PTA says internet services are back to normal after the SMW5 submarine cable fault was repaired, with traffic rerouted via alternative international links during restoration. Cybersecurity Education: IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur launched India’s first practice-oriented four-year Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber), starting July 2026, with a two-year field deployment component. Online Gambling Crackdown: Armenia approved amendments to tighten online gambling oversight, including faster blocking of unlicensed sites, limits on advertising, and tighter controls on telecom access and money flows. Data Center Politics: Lakeland, Florida set a July 6 public hearing on a proposed one-year data center moratorium after backlash over a planned large facility. Satellite Light Pollution Warning: ESO warns that proposed satellite plans could exceed 1.7 million in low-Earth orbit, raising risks of brighter skies that hinder astronomy. Telecom Market Moves: Angola’s Unitel announced an IPO roadshow ahead of a local stock exchange listing as part of a privatisation push. Regulatory/Brand Watch: Reports say Pakistan’s Ufone may rebrand to e& after merger-related approvals, with questions over cost and governance. Child Online Safety: Egypt launched “Child SIM” services to block age-inappropriate content and improve protections for children using mobile internet.

Universal Service Funding: California regulators raised its universal service surcharge on phone bills from $0.90 to $1.05 per access line, effective Sept. 1, to keep affordability and rural infrastructure programs on track. Subsea Cable Disruption: Pakistan’s PTA said the SEA-ME-WE 5 fault is causing intermittent internet degradation, with traffic rerouted while Transworld Associates and the consortium work on restoration. Regulatory Clarification: Pakistan’s PTA dismissed social-media claims that mobile device taxes can be paid in installments, saying tax authority sits with the Federal Board of Revenue and PTA’s job is DIRBS registration and maintenance. Network Outage: Altice Dominicana reported ongoing mobile service disruptions after an electrical problem in its equipment, with teams working to stabilize performance. Infrastructure Deal: Indosat completed a $650m-ish fibre carve-out, launching an open-access wholesale platform backed by Arsari Group to run 86,000 km of fibre networks. Call-Centre Rules: Echostar urged the FCC to keep foreign call centers operating, arguing offshore service quality is meeting U.S. customer needs. Data & AI Governance: Kenya’s broadcasting and telecoms principal secretary warned marketers that consumer data misuse is “theft,” pushing responsible AI use and stronger data protection. Digital Equity: New Mexico rolled out public Wi-Fi expansion and a permitting tool to speed broadband buildouts. Public Wi-Fi Plans Blocked: A UK planning inspector backed Stockton Council’s refusal of BT’s “street hubs” over concerns about appearance and crime impacts. Satellite Astronomy Clash: European astronomers urged the FCC to block SpaceX’s plan for 1.7m satellites, warning of “devastating consequences” for astronomy.

Regulation & Enforcement: Malaysia moves to curb VPNs and third-party identities used to bypass social media age-limit checks, with police able to act when misuse supports scams or child harm. Cybersecurity: KDDI’s email system breach hit multiple ISPs and exposed millions of customer email addresses and passwords, underlining weak points in shared infrastructure. Subsea Connectivity: A Microsoft-led consortium plans the 3,600km I-2SEA cable linking India, Malaysia and Singapore to feed AI and cloud demand. Satellite Disaster Response: Telesat donates high-power capacity to Venezuela’s Top Comunications to speed earthquake recovery communications. Competition & Antitrust: Google faces a record $1.5bn Swedish damages order tied to shopping search self-preferencing, while South Korea accuses it of a years-long Android app marketplace incentive scheme. M&A & Market Structure: Pakistan’s PTCL appoints an interim CEO for 14 days, while Telenor Pakistan formally amalgamates into PTML after statutory approvals. Africa Telecom Deals: Vodacom completes its additional stake purchase in Safaricom, lifting ownership to ~55% after court clearance. Infrastructure Security: Pakistan reports 9,200 telecom tower theft and vandalism incidents in 11 months, affecting about 16% of cellular infrastructure. Digital Governance: Pakistan’s ministry says internet isn’t yet legally an essential service, requiring legislative and regulatory change to grant that status. Network & Data Centers: DXN sells its Tasmania colocation site as it refocuses on modular data centers.

FTTH Push in Nigeria: NCC and ATCON urged mass Fibre-to-the-Home adoption, backed by Right of Way reforms, faster approvals and better infrastructure protection, arguing fibre is now the backbone for Nigeria’s digital economy. Critical Comms Leadership: TCCA named Tero Pesonen as board chair and Nina Myren as vice-chair, spotlighting standards for mission-critical broadband and mobile services. Pakistan Telecom Disruptions: Pakistan’s Senate IT&T panel linked outages to power problems, diesel theft and security risks, with PTA pushing operators to file FIRs and face licence action. Satellite Skywatch: A new ESO study warned that proposed mega-constellations of bright satellites could have “devastating consequences” for astronomy, urging far tighter limits. US Spectrum Oversight: GAO said NTIA has implemented only 1 of 11 priority recommendations, including spectrum coordination and broadband funding oversight. Regulatory/Service Updates: Jamaica Post suspended outbound EU mail after duty-free changes; New Zealand fixed Google Maps Māori pronunciation with a new voice model.

Broadband & Regulation: Nigeria’s telecom regulator NCC urged faster Fibre-to-the-Home rollout, saying fixed broadband is still underdeveloped (about 265,000 FTTH subs) and calling out right-of-way bottlenecks, vandalism and weak standards as key blockers. Rural Connectivity Funding: Pennsylvania can proceed with $700m+ rural broadband expansion after federal officials backed away from a wage-dispute threat, with most builds planned as fibre. Network Security & Resilience: Montenegro is still debating how to handle Chinese telecom equipment after US/EU security warnings, with draft amendments allowing “different conditions” for non-EU firms. Autonomous Mobility: Bahrain is moving to create a regulatory framework for testing and operating self-driving vehicles as part of its smart cities push. Digital Identity Speed-Up: Kenya says new live-capture equipment cuts national ID issuance to about 10 days, with passport processing sped up to seven days. Satellite & Cross-Border Connectivity: Iraq is pitching telecom projects to position the country as a regional data transit corridor, including a deal to market cross-border internet transit capacity. Energy for Telecoms: Zimbabwe’s Econet has started building a 100MW solar-and-battery project to protect network operations from power instability. Global AI Governance: The UN and ITU are launching an “AI for Good” commission in Geneva on July 8, bringing together major AI executives and heads of state to shape global rules.

US Telecom Oversight: Lawmakers grilled NTIA on spectrum leadership and broadband delivery, with GAO saying 10 priority recommendations still need action, including spectrum management, cybersecurity, and IT modernization. Rural Broadband Funding: NTIA told Congress that about $20bn in delayed rural broadband “non-deployment” funds will get new guidance “this summer,” while questions remain over whether AI-related rules could affect states. Cybersecurity Cooperation: INSA’s deputy DG urged regional cyber drills and shared response plans, warning that cross-border attacks now target telecoms and critical infrastructure. FCC China Gear Crackdown: The FCC expanded bans on Chinese-produced equipment tied to security risks, closing a loophole that had allowed older models to enter the US market. Public Safety Connectivity: Ohio lawmakers advanced a bill to let police get a missing person’s phone location from carriers without a court order in life-threatening cases. Network Resilience & Infrastructure: Orange Tunisia launched the MEDUSA submarine cable to boost international bandwidth and redundancy. Satellite Moves: Türkiye and Qatar signed a strategic partnership for the Es’hail-3/Türksat-Biruni project, aiming at capacity sharing and commercial growth. Market & Deals: EchoStar’s Dish DBS filed for prepackaged Chapter 11 as spectrum-sale delays left it short on liquidity; Digital Realty agreed to buy Blackstone’s 288MW Northern Virginia data center portfolio for about $7.8bn. Operator Updates: One New Zealand named Nick Judd as CEO after Jason Paris stepped down; Vodacom completed further acquisition steps to raise its stake in Safaricom.

4G Rollout in Nepal: Nepal Telecom has switched on 4G at Murmatop near Rara Lake, boosting connectivity for tourists and trekkers and supporting local digital services. Satellite Connectivity Deal: Es’hailSat signed a strategic partnership with Türksat and contracted Thales Alenia Space for the Es’hail-3/Türksat-Biruni high-throughput Ka-band satellite, aiming to expand broadband coverage across MENA, Africa, Europe and Central Asia. IMEI Control in Armenia: Armenia’s planned unified IMEI registry is set to curb illegally imported phones and “shadow” sales, with telecoms able to activate only registered devices. Customer Data Transparency in Nigeria: Airtel Nigeria held a customer forum focused on data usage transparency, including a new “Data Calculator” to help users estimate consumption. Regulator Action on Data Depletion: Namibia’s regulator Cran is investigating MTC after complaints about rapid data depletion and confusing billing, with a technical testing exercise planned. Network Expansion in Syria: Reuters reports Zain Kuwait has secured a licence to operate a mobile network in Syria, taking over MTN Syria’s infrastructure with a 75% stake. Public Identity Law in Nigeria: Nigeria’s NIMC Act 2026 was signed into law, strengthening the National Identification Number as the backbone for digital identity, authentication and digital trust. Safaricom Stake Sale Challenge: Kenyan activists have urged the High Court to block the government’s Safaricom share sale, arguing it could be unconstitutional and shift control to foreign entities. Critical Comms Product Launch: Hytera debuted its SC700 Smart 4G body camera at CCW 2026, targeting connected public safety workflows with live video and location sharing. Cybersecurity Briefing: Trends and Cyble hosted a joint briefing warning Philippine enterprises and public institutions to move from reactive defenses to AI-driven threat intelligence. Data Center Moratorium (US): Snohomish County in Washington imposed a six-month pause on new data centers on unincorporated land while it develops siting rules.

Regulation & Child Safety: Philippines House Speaker Faustino Dy and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos filed the Children’s Social Media Safety Act to create a comprehensive framework for minors’ access and use, citing risks like cyberbullying, harmful content, exploitation, addiction and anxiety. Cybersecurity & Governance: New Zealand’s TUANZ is pushing “security by design” and stronger, enforceable cyber settings, warning scams are costing an estimated $200m a year and generative AI is making attacks more personalised. Federal IT Modernisation: A GAO report says the US NTIA has implemented only 1 of 11 priority recommendations, with major gaps in modernising legacy spectrum-management IT and required planning and cybersecurity practices. Enterprise Connectivity Deal: BT and Verizon agreed a 50:50 joint venture to combine international enterprise operations in a $4bn move aimed at building an AI-ready global connectivity platform. Spectrum & Space: Rocket Lab will buy Iridium for about $8bn, betting Iridium’s L-band spectrum and subscriber base will help it challenge SpaceX’s Starlink in satellite communications. Emergency Comms: Venezuela’s VenApp enabled an “Earthquake 24J” reporting category within hours, feeding real-time incident maps to emergency coordination teams. Data Breach: Japan’s KDDI says hackers exploited third-party software, potentially exposing 14.22m customer email/password combinations across six ISPs. Rural Access Fight: California counties and the state are backing regulators in a lawsuit over AT&T’s plan to end landline “carrier of last resort” obligations, warning rural residents could lose reliable service in emergencies.

UK Kids Online: The UK moves toward a social media ban for under-17s, but critics warn age checks could be bypassed and enforcement may fall short. Bangladesh Affordability Push: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urges Banglalink to cut smartphone and internet prices to widen digital access, while VEON floats a $1bn “Invest in Bangladesh NOW!” push for digital infrastructure and services. Autonomous Networks & Cloud Deals: Amazon and Nokia expand AWS-backed work toward fully autonomous, AI-powered telecom networks, while BT and Verizon agree a $4bn 50:50 JV to combine international enterprise connectivity. Security Shock: Brazil investigates hackers who triggered “extreme” emergency alerts to millions of phones, and Japan’s KDDI discloses a breach tied to a shared email platform used for multiple ISPs. Pakistan Data Governance: Pakistan unveils a National Data Governance Policy 2026 giving the Pakistan Digital Authority sweeping powers over government data and cross-border handling. Operator/Tech Moves: Mavenir wins Deutsche Telekom’s Partner of the Year for energy-efficient 5G core work; XLSMART completes a cloud migration to Tencent Cloud; and SpaceX/Starlink eyes a US retail mobile service. Consumer Alerts: PTA warns WhatsApp access could be disrupted if SIMs are inactive or unregistered.

Nigeria Digital Identity Reset: President Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law, upgrading Nigeria’s digital identity architecture and making NIMC the Root Certification Authority for secure authentication and trusted digital transactions. SIM Verification Crackdown: Pakistan’s PTA launched a campaign warning that SIMs tied to expired, cancelled or invalid CNICs may be suspended or blocked unless users renew and update records with operators. Cybersecurity Alert: Bermuda’s national security ministry warned of a global Fortinet “FortiBleed” credential-harvesting campaign hitting tens of thousands of devices, urging urgent password and MFA remediation. Data Breach: Japan’s KDDI disclosed a breach exposing up to 14.2 million email accounts across six ISPs after attackers exploited a third-party software vulnerability. Consumer Protection Push (Canada): Canada’s CRTC is moving to cut “junk fees” and reduce barriers to cheaper plans as new telecom rules roll out. Rural Connectivity Shift (New Zealand): New Zealand’s telecom regulator says Starlink now makes up 27% of rural broadband connections, reshaping competition beyond fibre. US-China Tech Restrictions: The FCC expanded bans on imports of Chinese telecom and surveillance equipment, including legacy Huawei/ZTE and Hikvision/Dahua gear, citing national security. Emergency Connectivity (Venezuela): Starlink is offering free mobile connectivity to customers of Digitel and Movilnet after earthquakes damaged power and telecom networks.

CRTC Consumer Rules: Canada’s regulator is cracking down on “junk fees” and banning certain telecom activation/cancellation charges, but critics warn savings may be limited as operators push back. UAE–US AI Diplomacy: The UAE joined the Pax Silica Summit in Washington to build “trusted” AI supply chains and resilient tech infrastructure with US partners. Qatar ICT Growth: Qatar’s ICT market is forecast to more than double to about $37.7bn by 2031, led by 5G, cloud and AI, with data-sovereignty rules shaping cloud demand. India FM Radio Reform Push: India’s private FM industry says regulation is strangling news on FM and urges changes including GST cuts and enabling smartphone FM reception. US–Iran Escalation: The FCC expanded a ban on Chinese telecom and surveillance gear, while the Gulf crisis continues with renewed US-Iran strikes and warnings around the Strait of Hormuz. Smartphone Costs in Bangladesh: A temporary import duty concession ends July 1, with industry estimating official phone prices could jump 20–25% and push buyers back to grey-market devices. Emergency Comms Training: St Vincent and the Grenadines’ NEMO ran HF radio training to strengthen disaster response communications across the Caribbean. Local Network Updates: Nepal Telecom launched “Namaste Recurring” subscription packs for prepaid users, and Pakistan’s PTA issued advisories tied to mobile registration and network upgrades.