AGP Executive Report

Event Connectivity: Kyrgyztelecom and ElKat will provide temporary free internet at the VI World Nomad Games, with testing focused on bandwidth and stability for venues and journalists. Space & Telecom Growth: Saudi Arabia’s space economy is projected to hit $31.6bn by 2035, with satellite tech tied to climate monitoring and digital services as ICT penetration reaches 99.6%. Australian Sector Watch: Telstra and TPG are in focus after results that highlight mobile pricing discipline and subscriber momentum, while Superloop and Aussie Broadband keep pushing fibre-led wholesale growth. Fibre Demand: Chorus reports profit lift as fibre usage rises and flags AI as a driver of future earnings. Content Controls: Philippines telcos are escalating network-level blocking to curb graphic violence content after a deadly campus shooting. Cyber & Data Governance: World Bank warns the Philippines’ fragmented data systems could slow AI progress, and Nigeria’s CBN is urged to expand oversight to cloud and telecom-linked risks. Satellite Internet Push: Pakistan moves toward a commercial satellite broadband framework, with Starlink and Kuiper among the players. SIM Rules: India’s new 9-SIM limit enforcement continues to reshape mobile onboarding.

Emergency Calling Guidance: After Optus and Telstra outages left Australians struggling to reach Triple Zero, the Australian Telecommunications Alliance is rolling out a new public campaign explaining how phones “camp on” to other networks when the usual one fails. Regulation & Competition: India tightens SIM enforcement from Aug 24, capping new activations at nine connections per person (six in J&K, Assam and the Northeast) across operators. Network Disruption Dispute: Iraq’s Baghdad court orders a halt to regulatory actions against Korek Telecom, pausing a standoff with the CMC that included office closures and service interruptions. Broadband Investment: Zimbabwe’s TelOne seeks US$343.17m for fibre-to-the-home, wireless broadband and data-centre projects as arrears constrain capex. Trusted Data for AI: The World Bank warns the Philippines’ fragmented data systems could stall AI progress, urging investment in data governance and sharing. Security & Infrastructure: Thailand’s insurgency-hit south sees dozens of coordinated arson and attacks damaging government offices and vehicles, including telecom-related targets. AI & Labels: Google says Gemini users may soon be able to choose whether visible watermarks appear on AI-generated content.

Satellite expansion: Nigeria’s telecom ministry and NIGCOMSAT have moved to the next phase of a plan to build and deploy two next-generation high-throughput satellites, NIGCOMSAT-2A and -2B, with Israel Aerospace Industries and Thales Alenia Space, aiming to boost broadband and critical communications for underserved areas. Regulation & licensing: Venezuela’s CONATEL says OFAC has issued general licences enabling equipment, software and technical services for modernising the country’s telecom infrastructure, while also approving new grants, renewals and operational changes for providers via its SIGESTEL system. Service restoration: CANTV reports restoring phone and internet service to 10,860 users in Táchira after maintenance and recovery work across multiple municipalities. Enforcement & infrastructure security: Trinidad and Tobago police say they recovered millions in suspected stolen TSTT copper cables and arrested one person in an intelligence-led operation. Access & identity tech: Uganda’s new national ID rollout faces parliamentary scrutiny after MPs say QR verification failures are blocking some citizens from banks and telecom SIM services. Cyber & compliance: Vietnam issued a decree spelling out how telecom and cyberspace businesses must run information security assurance, including user verification and account authentication rules. Disaster resilience: Earthlink says Starlink could help Iraq connect remote areas, while warning that unauthorised use must be regulated.

Satellite & Infrastructure Push: Nigeria’s FEC has approved the next phase of NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B, aiming to expand broadband, broadcasting, enterprise and critical communications for underserved areas, with Israel’s IAI and France’s Thales Alenia Space named as manufacturers. Regulation Tightens SIM Rules: India’s DoT orders telcos to stop issuing new connections from Aug 24 once a user hits the national cap of 9 SIMs (6 in J&K, Assam and the North-East), using a central Digital Intelligence Platform to enforce limits. Identity Rules Shift: India’s Telecommunications (User Identification) Rules, 2026 make biometric verification mandatory for new SIMs and updates, while also dropping a planned shared biometric database that would have enabled cross-operator matching. Emergency Connectivity: Dare County reports progress on upgrading Hatteras Island’s emergency communications after repeated fiber damage, adding low-Earth-orbit satellite backup for FirstNet sites. Cyber & Security: A US lab is probing potential security risks in Chinese-made lidar for autonomous vehicles, while a Dundee hacker’s US sentencing in a £6m phishing case has been delayed to October. Market Moves: Charter has completed its $34.5bn deal to take full ownership of Spectrum Mobile, ending Comcast’s 33% stake and setting up deeper integration of wireless with cable broadband.

Spectrum & Market Access: Viettel has won spectrum rights in the Dominican Republic for 4G/5G, with a 20-year concession covering 700 MHz, 2,300 MHz and C-band. Regulation & Consumer Rules: Nepal plans to revise telecom license renewal fees to be based on a percentage of annual income, while India tightens SIM issuance with a hard cap of nine connections per person and blocks activations beyond the limit. Public Safety & Content Controls: PLDT and Smart in the Philippines say they will block websites streaming school-shooting and extreme-violence footage. Network Resilience & Outages: CANTV restored phone and internet service to about 1,870 subscribers in Trujillo, Venezuela, after technical and human error triggered a separate false earthquake alert incident. Disaster Response: Verizon is preparing for another tropical storm near Hawaii, keeping engineering teams on standby and offering satellite messaging options. Tech & Infrastructure: South Africa’s data-centre AI boom faces scrutiny over potential pressure on water, power and land, while U.S. researchers demonstrated open-air quantum networking beyond fiber. Security & Crime: Kuwait arrested four suspects over diesel theft and vandalism at telecom towers. Industry & Policy Watch: The FCC opened comments on E-Rate as the program faces renewed legal and political pressure.

Infrastructure Crime: Kuwait arrests four Indian suspects over a two-year diesel theft and vandalism spree at telecom towers in Jaber Al-Ahmad, with authorities saying a maintenance contractor allegedly siphoned “double” fuel amounts for resale. Regulation & Consumer Rights: Curaçao’s telecom regulator is being urged to set a binding implementation date for number portability, after the legal framework exists but consumers still can’t port numbers. Anti-Scam Warnings: Cambodia’s telecom regulator warns users about paid “account/page protection” scams on social media, saying guarantees are false and fraud risk is high. Network Reliability: Guyana’s One Communications calls for stronger protection of telecom infrastructure after vandalism and copper theft disrupted services for about 7,000 customers. Service Disruption Reports: CenturyLink users report ongoing internet and phone issues even as outage trackers show mixed status. Operator Moves: PLDT and Smart block 100+ websites linked to school shooting and violence content. Spectrum & Investment: Pakistan says operators invested about $178.6m in 5G rollout, upgrading 1,136 sites. Deals & Finance: JPMorgan hires Bank of America’s David Fishman to lead North America technology M&A. Tech & AI Infrastructure: China’s telecom giants push AI token and computing-power strategies to drive revenue growth. Security & Resilience: A new fibre route is planned for northern B.C. after outages, aiming to give traffic a separate path during failures.

SIM Enforcement: India’s DoT orders telcos to deny new SIMs to customers who already hit the nine-connection cap (six in some regions), using its Digital Intelligence Platform and photo checks from Aug 24. Regulation & Consumer Complaints: Cambodia’s TRC urges internet users to file formal complaints when ISPs don’t fix issues, after repeated reports of outages and slow dispute handling. Satellite Connectivity Race: SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile are circling US 800 MHz spectrum licenses worth about $6B to push direct-to-phone voice services, following recent spectrum moves. Network AI Reality Check: Tech Mahindra and ServiceNow expand an enterprise AI partnership aimed at moving from pilots to production, while an operator-focused analysis warns agentic AI is only as reliable as network data. Regional Digital Policy: Fiji extends its chair role for the Pacific digital policy and regulation forum, backing an emergency communications regulatory sandbox. US Broadband Funding: The FCC faces early pushback over E-Rate changes that could raise costs for schools and libraries. Connectivity Recovery: Venezuela’s CANTV restored phone and internet service to 1,870+ Trujillo subscribers via its VENAPP reporting and breakdown plan. Data Centers & Local Zoning: Patton Township updates zoning to block large data centers within its borders via an intermunicipal agreement.

SIM Crackdown: India’s DoT orders telcos to enforce a hard cap of nine SIMs per person (six in J&K/Assam/North-East), using its Digital Intelligence Platform and subscriber photo checks, with operators told to deny new SIMs from Aug 24. Online Safety Push: Pakistan’s PTA and Google launch “Digital Pasban” to equip 200,000 Urdu-speaking households with parental controls and AI-safety tools, as scams shift from SMS to RCS/iMessage/OTT links. Connectivity Recovery: Venezuela’s CANTV restored fixed and internet service to 4,400+ homes and businesses in Yaracuy via its failure-resolution plan and community reporting. Network Security & Fraud: Malaysia’s MCMC warns phishing links are migrating to richer messaging channels after SMS hyperlink restrictions. Infrastructure Expansion: Nigeria confirms a 90,000km fibre rollout starting in October under Project BRIDGE, plus nearly 3,700 towers for uncovered communities. Regulatory Enforcement: Malaysia charges a telecom solutions firm for providing network services without proper licences, while Ghana’s NCA sets up a dispute resolution committee to speed industry conflict handling. Satellite-to-Cell Reality Check: Reporting notes Starlink’s direct-to-cell service supports messaging and select apps, not “high-speed internet everywhere” as hype claims.

Satellite-to-phone emergency trials: PLDT Smart and Lynk ran direct-to-device satellite tests in Batangas, simulating disaster scenarios so standard phones can receive emergency alerts when cell sites go down. Sovereign AI push: Algeria approved a roadmap to deploy AI in public services using sovereign open-source models, domestic data hosting and stronger protections to cut foreign supplier dependence. Local telecom infrastructure politics: A 20m 5G mast in Birmingham’s Sutton Four Oaks was approved despite resident complaints about visual intrusion and “overbearing” impact. Digital identity and payments: Sri Lanka’s President reviewed progress toward a first digital ID by year-end and moving vehicle fine payments online from September. Internet disruption in conflict: A partial blackout hit Moscow and affected MMTS-9, with reports of website and service failures across major operators. Regulatory shift on legacy networks: SK Telecom will stop new sign-ups for 3G from August 20 and plans to phase out 3G by end-2027. Starlink seeks India approval: Starlink applied for direct-to-device satellite network permission in India, but regulators say the framework for D2D connectivity is still missing. Cyber safety at the network level: New Zealand’s 2degrees enabled default blocking of malicious domains using threat feeds from the government’s Malware Free Networks service. Open-access fiber expansion: Kyivstar and Ukrtelecom agreed to cooperate under an open access model to speed fiber broadband rollout across Ukraine. Scam warning: Toronto Police warned of telecom-impersonation scams that lead victims to return devices to third-party addresses. Digital economy trust theme: An opinion piece argues trust is the “invisible infrastructure” needed for AI and the wider digital economy to be adopted safely.

SIM Registration Reset (Ghana): Ghana’s telecom ministry is planning a new legal and operational framework for a fresh nationwide SIM registration, aiming to fix gaps from the 2021–2023 rollout and link biometric checks with the national ID system. SIM Cap Enforcement (India): India’s DoT is tightening the nine-SIM limit by using its Digital Intelligence Platform to block new connections for over-limit users, including using subscriber photos for identification in specific regions. Regulation & Competition (Nepal): Nepal’s communications minister signed a performance contract with the PM to drive result-based delivery across the sector. RAN & Data Centre Spending: Dell’Oro says RAN revenue is stabilising with modest growth in 2Q 2026, while data centre capex is set to top $3T by 2030, led by AI accelerators. 6G Policy Push (Italy/US): Italy backs a “trust by design” approach for AI-native 6G networks as part of a US-led international standards push. Satellite Connectivity: Starlink keeps expanding across South America and more African markets, with several countries still pending approval. Network Disruption (Russia): A Moscow power incident knocked major services offline by hitting a key internet exchange point. Quality Internet (Bangladesh): Bangladesh’s regulator says connectivity isn’t enough—quality, affordable data, and devices are needed to close the digital divide. Identity & Trust Tech: Cloudera launches a governed cloud approach for AI agents’ access to sensitive data, and 1Kosmos expands identity verification for healthcare onboarding.

TSTT Leadership Shake-up: Trinidad and Tobago’s TSTT has named Reza Hosein as acting CEO after the board reviewed former acting CEO Keino Cox’s tenure, with the change effective Aug. 18. Call-Centre Contractor Review: The same operator’s board has ordered an immediate review of a management decision affecting about 150 call-centre workers contracted through Amplia, after concerns the work could shift to Hummingbird Holdings with possible pay cuts. Cyber Defence by Default: New Zealand operator 2degrees has rolled out automatic network-level blocking of known malicious sites using threat intelligence from the National Cyber Security Centre’s Malware Free Networks, enabled by default via its DNS. Undersea Connectivity Deal: Cyprus and Syria are set to replace the 1995 “Ugarit” link with “Ugarit 2,” due early 2028, with initial capacity of 31 Tbps and planned expansion to 370 Tbps. Pakistan Digital Push: Pakistan’s Prime Minister inaugurated Google’s first office in the country as part of a broader push for digital transformation and IT export growth. Pakistan IT Exports Surge: Pakistan’s IT and digital services exports hit $417m in July 2026, taking full-year FY2026 to over $4.6bn, with telecom, computer and information services the biggest contributor. Africa AI Security & Compute: Nigeria’s Digital Encode launched DEPAS AI to automate continuous penetration testing, while AI Analytics Intelligence and OADC partnered to host locally run AI and high-performance computing in African data centres. Broadband Expansion: Canada’s CIK Telecom says SuperFibre is now available in 5,000+ additional Mississauga condo units after upgrades.

Regulation & Planning: England’s new National Planning Policy Framework signals “substantial weight” for gigabit broadband and 5G coverage, pushing telecom infrastructure higher in local planning decisions. Network Policy: Philippines’ CONATEL wrapped public consultations on rules for a national internet traffic exchange point and fixed-internet service quality thresholds. MVNO Ecosystem: Helix Wireless teamed with OXIO and BeQuick to streamline MVNO launches with centralized SIM control and a commercial system of record “ready on day one.” Satellite Broadband: Vodacom Lesotho and Starlink launched a satellite broadband solution aimed at reaching remote, mountainous areas. Digital Identity: Cambodia’s verify.gov.kh is now embedding QR-code diplomas for 418,000 Grade 12 graduates (2022–2025), cutting verification friction and reducing forgery risk. Consumer & Trust: Nepal’s WorldLink halted its “Limited Mobility” WiFi hotspot after NTA directed it to stop mobility features, adding OTP logins for access. Cyber & Data Protection: France’s tax authority began warning emails after hackers stole data tied to 678,000 people, urging recipients to ignore scam requests. Data Centres: New Mexico lawmakers are set to propose a data center moratorium after controversy over a major project’s transparency and local impact. Industry Watch: The Open RAN debate continues as coverage highlights the gap between the promise of vendor-agnostic RAN and limited commercial uptake.

Telecom M&A: Deutsche Telekom agreed to buy Poland’s Fiberhost and Inea from Macquarie for about €1bn, boosting T-Mobile Polska’s fixed footprint with 300,000+ customers and fiber passing 1.4m homes. AI for All: South Korea’s “AI for All” project advanced KT, SK Telecom and Upstage to the next stage, aiming to launch free public AI services with government support for model compute. Regulation & access: Qatar’s CRA referred non-compliant tower management to prosecutors after it blocked one licensed provider while granting access to another. Digital payments push: Pakistan launched Z-Wallet via Zong and Zindigi/JS Bank, embedding regulated banking into the My Zong App to drive cashless G2P payments. Connectivity targets: Nigeria plans to connect all riverine communities by mid-2027, with 3,700 telecom tower deployments starting October. Network reliability & markets: UK stocks slid as fixed-line telecom shares fell; in India, telecom shares were among laggards as crude oil rose and geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment. Security & sovereignty: Venezuela’s state telecom regulator began DNSSEC training for the ccTLD.ve to strengthen critical-infrastructure protection.

6G Planning: Vietnam is accelerating 6G preparations, aiming to shorten the research-to-commercialisation cycle by joining standards work early as 5G rollout hits 40,000+ base stations and 90% population coverage. Disaster Recovery: Indonesia says 86% of quake-hit BTS sites in East Nusa Tenggara are back online, with telecom recovery at 95.4% in Flores while power and repairs continue. Satellite-to-Phone Push: Starlink goes live commercially in Vietnam, and Airtel Africa is reported as the first operator in Africa to launch satellite-to-mobile service in DR Congo—signalling faster rural connectivity competition. IoT in Vehicles: Nepal’s Ncell partners with Cymax to embed IoT SIMs in BYD vehicles, enabling in-car connectivity and streaming-style services. Regulation & Competition: Ukraine’s Kyivstar and Ukrtelecom begin open-access cooperation to expand fibre-based services using each other’s networks. Consumer Data Governance: Egypt faces scrutiny over facial recognition for SIM registration, with lawmakers demanding clearer safeguards. Network Performance: Nigeria’s fixed broadband speeds jump 155% as fibre connections triple, per Ookla. Identity & Biometrics: Pakistan’s NADRA starts issuing QR-based national ID cards for smartphone verification, replacing chip-based credentials. Cybersecurity: A VMware vCenter flaw is linked to suspected China-nexus exploitation, with attackers deploying backdoors and ransomware.

Student Connectivity Relief: Philippines’ Sen. Erwin Tulfo backs a “Student Load Discount Act” for a year-round 20% cut on prepaid load, postpaid plans and mobile internet for enrolled students, aiming to keep families from falling behind as classes shift online. Fibre Rollout Rules: Globe and the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators support a national policy for shared underground conduits, pushing “dig once” infrastructure to speed fibre builds and reduce repeated road works. Enterprise AI Partnerships: IBM and OpenAI expand enterprise AI access, training thousands of IBM consultants and targeting sectors including telecoms, with added focus on secure deployment. AI-Enabled Telco: U Mobile partners with OpenAI to become Malaysia’s first AI-enabled telco, embedding AI across customer service, enterprise support, software development and cybersecurity. Regional Connectivity Milestone: All Pacific Islands Forum members are now connected to the global undersea cable network for the first time, backed by Australia’s multi-country cable funding. Digital Safety Push: Thailand launches the “DE Digital Shield Forum” to boost digital literacy and help citizens spot online scams and cyber-enabled deception. Emergency Comms Upgrade: Queensland begins satellite communications rollout for rural fire brigades to improve connectivity where mobile coverage is weak. Satellite Navigation Update: ISRO plans to revive India’s NavIC with NVS-03 launching in early September.

Student Connectivity Push (Philippines): Sen. Erwin Tulfo backs a “Student Load Discount Act” that would force telcos to cut mobile prepaid load, postpaid plans and mobile internet prices by 20% for enrolled students year-round, with proof of enrollment and citizenship. Sports Loyalty Rollout (Qatar): Qatar launched the Hayyoh app, letting fans earn points for attending matches and redeem rewards via a ticket-linked account, with telecom among the partner categories. Disaster Response & Comms (Indonesia): After a 7.7 quake hit Flores, Indonesia mobilised relief and deployed state firms including Telkom Indonesia to restore power and communications as thousands of evacuees await aid. Satellite Network Update (Globalstar): Globalstar says all eight HIBLEO-4 replacement satellites were successfully launched and are now under command and control, moving into commissioning. Enterprise Identity Shift (Microsoft): Microsoft will make passkeys the default in Entra ID from Sept 1, 2026, and stop delivering SMS/voice MFA codes itself from Feb 1, 2027. Security & Telecom Governance (Germany): Germany approved expanded powers for BND and BfV, raising cyber and sabotage concerns with telecom and digital infrastructure implications.