Openreach will expand its rollout of XGS-PON technology, bringing up top download speeds from 1.8Gbps to 8.5Gbps on full fiber connections in parts of the UK. Over time, it expects the upgrade to reach a third of its full fiber network, which currently passes 23.4 million premises and is largely built on GPON. The company, which is BT’s semi-autonomous network access arm, has been piloting XGS PON across 40,000 households in and around Guildford since March.
Telefónica digitalizes Negatín’s construction projects
Telefónica has rolled out a model for managing infrastructure construction projects for Spanish energy company Negatín. It has deployed IoT connectivity, real-time location tracking and smart access control capabilities to track teams in the field, manage access to different areas of a project and control the movement of critical materials, among others. The system is said to enable continuous data updates and supports 215 on-site assets.
Apple bows to EU rules and changes app store charges
Having long fought EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the restrictions it imposes on companies it deems to be digital gatekeepers, Apple looks to be finally conceding. It will allow developers to bypass in-app purchases and direct users to alternative payment channels, a requirement under the DMA, and lower App Store fees for developers distributing apps in the EU. The announcement comes after Apple lost its court challenge against the legislation in July.
Sunrise narrows loss in Q2
Swiss operator Sunrise has reported 712.9 million Swiss francs (US$880 million) in revenue in Q2 2026, down 2.6% from last year’s CHF731.6 million ($903.1 million), narrowing its loss from CHF53.6 million ($66.2 million) before taxes last year to CHF22.4 million ($27.7 million). Adjusted EBITDA after leases (EBITDAaL) fell 3.8% to CHF244.4 million ($301.8 million). The company attributes this to “temporary comparative effects” from last year’s price increases, as well as a weaker subscriber growth.
euNetworks ups its green game
Data center connectivity company euNetworks has added two new targets to the revised framework established under its €1.26 billion (US$1.46 billion) sustainability-linked loan. The first consists of embedding sustainability into network development projects from their very start through “impact by design” plans, and the second entails raising its score for infrastructure environmental performance under the GRESB assessment framework for real estate and infrastructure investments. The company first secured a €760 million ($882.3 million) sustainability-linked loan in 2021 to support fiber infrastructure rollout in Europe, and increased it to €1.26 billion in 2024.
Telcos prepare for back to school with smartwatch offers
French operator SFR, which may soon be devoured by the remaining three French MNOs, has introduced a new product targeting children and their concerned parents as the back-to-school frenzy approaches. It is offering an Honor smart watch as an alternative to a first smartphone, which comes with location tracking, voice calls and an SOS button but no Internet access.
Austrian A1 is also launching a smartwatch for children, the A1 Kids Watch, which comes with GPS tracking, voice and video calls, and a camera, while blocking access to social media and apps deemed age-inappropriate.
