AGP Executive Report

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.

US-Iran Escalation: The US launched targeted strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz after a drone attack on a commercial cargo vessel, with CENTCOM citing hits on surveillance, communications and air-defense assets—raising fresh risks for telecom-linked infrastructure in the region. Disaster & Connectivity: In Venezuela’s earthquake aftermath, rescue teams are racing to reach survivors while telecom and other critical services are strained; meanwhile in LA, runoff from a Boyle Heights warehouse fire is being tested after foam entered the LA River via storm drains. Mobile Access & Identity Rules: Venezuela’s MOVILNET keeps call and SMS free nationwide and deploys mobile radio bases after earthquakes; Pakistan’s PTA warns SIMs tied to inactive/expired CNICs may be suspended; Mexico’s CRT extends the mobile registration deadline. Local Device Supply: Kenya’s EADAK says it assembled 700,000 devices to boost affordable smartphone access; Nigeria’s NCC pushes presidential incentives for local smartphone factories. Policy & Security: Bangladesh places a cyber security amendment bill to force faster takedowns of harmful AI content; India marks Digital India’s next phase with AI and semiconductor push. Market Signals: Verizon is set to leave the Dow Jones for Alphabet, underscoring shifting telecom investor sentiment.

NCC Pushes Local Devices: Nigeria’s telecom regulator is lining up presidential backing and incentives for OEMs to build smartphone factories in-country by November, aiming to cut prices, reduce import dependence and boost digital inclusion. Industry Backing: Nigeria’s ALTON also endorsed the local manufacturing push, arguing the goal must go beyond assembly into R&D, software and semiconductor capability. Digital Identity Law: President Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026, setting a modern digital identity framework and tougher penalties for identity offences, positioning NIMC as a trust hub for Nigeria’s digital economy. AI Infrastructure in Ukraine: Kyivstar and VEON, with Ukraine’s economy ministry, signed an MoU to develop a sovereign AI data centre with data processing and storage inside Ukraine. Regulatory/Consumer Alerts: Pakistan’s PTA warned buyers to check legal IMEI registration as unapproved devices are blocked via DIRBS. Service Reliability: Nepal Telecom restored international roaming after ~24 hours following a fibre link issue. Pricing Shock in Malawi: Airtel Malawi and TNM quietly raised bundle prices while cutting data allowances, sparking subscriber backlash. Emergency Comms: India’s universal emergency number 112 is still not fully integrated across states, with only a handful meeting the target. Geopolitics & Connectivity: Namibia’s regulator upheld its rejection of Starlink’s licence bid, citing ownership requirements.

Undersea Cable Security: U.S. lawmakers are pressing for stronger protections for global submarine fiber networks after warnings that adversaries could exploit vulnerabilities in the 750,000-mile cable web that underpins internet, finance and telecom. FCC China Tech Crackdown: The FCC will expand bans on imports of equipment from Chinese manufacturers, extending a 2022 national-security move to cover additional models used for public safety and critical infrastructure. Broadband Permitting Fight: The FCC is set to explore preempting state and local control over broadband permitting timelines and fees, a move likely to spark pushback from local governments. Disaster Comms in Action: Venezuela’s double earthquake response is increasingly tied to telecom capabilities, including EU emergency support with telecommunications gear and Brazil’s mission using Anatel technicians to track mobile signals for survivors. LEO in Wartime: Ukraine’s military now relies on an estimated 100,000 satellite terminals, turning satellite internet into a real-world test case for communications when ground infrastructure fails. Mission-Critical Radio Upgrade: Denmark extended and upgraded its emergency TETRA network through 2034, adding seamless roaming between radio and mobile networks for first responders. AI Leadership in Telecom: Orange named Usman Javaid Chief AI Officer to scale trusted, responsible AI across networks and customer operations. Regulatory Risk Watch: Thailand’s NBTC chairman faces legal uncertainty over alleged qualification violations tied to prior telecom/broadcast roles. SpaceX Mobile Ambitions: An analyst says SpaceX could pursue acquiring T-Mobile if it can’t secure a wholesale deal to expand Starlink mobile services.

FCC Phone ID Proposal: The FCC’s plan to require telecoms to collect more personal details to curb spoof robocalls is drawing fire for potentially blocking access for vulnerable Americans who may need anonymity. 5G Trials in the Field: Kyivstar expanded its 5G pilot in Lviv by adding testing at the city’s railway station to measure performance under heavy traffic. Satellite vs Terrestrial Debate: Swiss operators say Starlink should complement, not replace, mobile and fixed networks—while regulators remain a key hurdle. US Local Wireless Rules Clash: Malibu backed away from a wireless moratorium after legal warnings it could violate federal limits and trigger automatic approvals. Space Junk Governance: A new look at LEO “space junk” comes as the FCC continues approving large satellite deployments. India Telecom Reform: India notified rules shifting telecoms from licence-based to authorisation-based provisioning, backed by an online Telecom eServices portal. Child Safety on Mobile Networks: Tune Talk launched a family plan with one-tap parental controls enforced at the connectivity layer, not just apps. Rural Connectivity in Ghana: The Bruben Community Network project is tackling weak coverage in the Afram Plains with community-led connectivity improvements. Regulatory Watch: Kenya’s e-Citizen platform faces draft Treasury rules challenged over whether the government is overreaching into service delivery and data governance. Infrastructure Investment: Phase3 Telecom reiterated its broadband push across Nigeria, citing infrastructure built in 36 states over 23 years.

Silicon Photonics & AI Infrastructure: A new forecast says the silicon photonics market could jump to $27.35bn by 2035, driven by hyperscale demand and co-packaged optics replacing older transceivers. Emergency Communications: Motorola Solutions is expanding its 911 Assist AI with real-time translation and live audio sharing to speed up multilingual emergency response. Mission-Critical Networks: Mobile Tornado joined Frequentis’ MissionX ecosystem to deliver 3GPP-compliant push-to-talk over cellular for critical sectors. US Telecom Regulation: AT&T filed a complaint against Duke Energy Carolinas seeking FCC-ordered refunds over pole attachment rates it says are far above the FCC benchmark. Cybersecurity Funding Debate: A US House report argues CISA is hard to replace as AI increases vulnerability discovery, while lawmakers weigh budget cuts. Digital Government Push: Bangladesh’s ICT minister told the UN Public Service Forum that DPI and citizen access are being built via platforms like EkPay, myGov and the 333 helpline. Space & Connectivity Governance: A new NGSO satellite trade group, SpaceConnect, launched with Amazon, Iridium, Telesat and Globalstar—without SpaceX—aiming to shape spectrum and licensing policy. Satellite Sovereignty: OmanSat-1’s final design phase is nearing completion, with Airbus set to manufacture the country’s first national communications satellite. Data Center & Power Planning: A US city began drafting zoning rules for future data centers and battery storage after residents raised concerns about scale and safeguards. Cyber Extortion: ShinyHunters threatened to leak 8.8TB stolen from Amazon’s One Medical unit unless it responds by June 22.