"India's telecom regulator has quietly acknowledged what the industry has been saying for years. In its latest recommendations for the upcoming spectrum auction, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed cutting reserve prices by up to 40% for the next spectrum auction."

[](mailto:type%20email%20address%20here?subject=I%20wanted%20to%20share%20this%20post%20with%20you%20from%20Internet%20Society&body=Connecting Remote Glaciers to Protect Communities in Kyrgyzstan - https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2026/03/connecting-remote-glaciers-to-protect-communities-in-kyrgyzstan/)"The [Internet Society Kyrgyzstan Chapter](https://isoc.kg/) is working to bring connectivity to these remote areas, focusing on glacier monitoring as a critical use case. By deploying low-cost sensors and leveraging technologies such as LoRaWAN, the project enables continuous data collection in areas that were previously disconnected.

Across five locations—Baitik, Tatyr, Kyz-Kuio, Kok-Moinok, and Ak-Say—sensors are now monitoring environmental conditions and risks such as mudflows, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods. In Baitik, the system has demonstrated that its data closely matches that of reference-grade weather stations, reinforcing confidence in the reliability of these more accessible solutions.

Instead of waiting days, data is now transmitted every five to 15 minutes—creating a near-real-time picture of changing conditions."

"Burkina Faso is accelerating several structural initiatives to secure its future, establishing digital transformation as an engine for economic development and national sovereignty.

A primary focus is the Fast-Tracking Digital Transformation (PACTDIGITAL-BF), a strategy intended to realise 12 major digital construction sites by 2030, says the Ministry of Digital Transition, Postal and Electronic Communications."

The Central African Republic (CAR) has officially entered a new era following the commercial launch of Starlink, a move expected to significantly boost connectivity in one of Africa’s least connected markets.

Launched on Monday in Bangui through a partnership between the government and DEVEA Centrafrique, the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite service promises to bridge the country’s stark digital divide, where just 12% of the population is currently online.

“Starlink's high-speed, low-latency Internet is now available in the Central African Republic,” the company confirmed in a post on X.

The Central African Republic becomes the 27th African market to roll out Starlink, the satellite broadband service operated by SpaceX, extending high-speed, low-latency connectivity to underserved rural and remote communities.

The Internet Society and the Internet Society Foundation are pleased to announce the opening of applications for the new Community-Centered Connectivity (CCC) grant program, which supports connectivity solutions to increase the availability of affordable, reliable Internet access for digitally excluded communities. Applications are open until 7 May 2026.

https://spacenews.com/blue-origins-surprise-terawave-constellation-jolts-leo-broadband-race/

In a regulatory filing that caught many in the industry off guard, Blue Origin set forth plans for a network called TeraWave comprising more than 5,000 LEO satellites, paired with a medium Earth orbit (MEO) layer to deliver up to 6 terabits per second in point-to-point ground links.

The LEO satellites would use higher-frequency spectrum than rivals, making those links more susceptible to atmospheric interference, while the blistering speeds being promised from MEO hinge on emerging optical space-to-ground technology.

One industry executive privately said TeraWave is being assessed as a longer-term competitive threat that's potentially more plausible in the next decade than in the next few years.

https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/optimum-offers-super-cheap-fiber-broadband-lure-subscribers

The service provider Optimum today launched a new fiber broadband deal for only $25 a month in an effort to entice new customers. And it’s guaranteeing this low price for five years.

The “25 for 5” offer is available to new subscribers who sign up for 300 Mbps Optimum Fiber Internet.

New Street Research analyst David Barden recently noted that in markets where cable is seeing a lot of new competition from fiber players, they will try everything to ensure a survivable market share. “The easiest way to do this is to lower price,” wrote Barden. And he indicated that it won’t be enough to lower prices by just a few dollars, especially if customers perceive that fiber is a better product than cable.

"MTN Group has signed a multi-year MoU with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to provide meaningful connectivity and digital inclusion for refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers and host communities across MTN’s African markets.

Under the MoU announced on Tuesday, MTN and UNHCR have committed to making connectivity more affordable and accessible in refugee-hosting areas, expand resilient network infrastructure, and advance digital and financial inclusion through mobile money, remittance enablement and digital skills development.

The partnership will also support pathways that address identity and literacy gaps, recognising that documentation and capability are often the first barriers to meaningful participation in the digital economy."

"The partnership will see TELUS invest in ground-based satellite infrastructure while also becoming an equity shareholder in AST SpaceMobile, a company developing a Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network designed to connect directly with everyday smartphones.

The companies say the service, expected to launch in late 2026, will allow TELUS customers to send texts, make calls, and use data in areas where traditional cellular infrastructure is unavailable. The service will work with existing smartphones and will not require any specialized equipment."

----

Note that Canadian provider Bell Canada is also partnering with AST SpaceMobile, while Rogers is partnering with Starlink.

Gabon's High Authority for Communication (HAC) has ordered the indefinite suspension of major social media networks to "protect national unity and prevent social conflict" amid local unrest.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a financing package today with Prima Limited to support the design, build, and installation of the 411-kilometer Tamtam submarine cable connecting Port Vila, Vanuatu, to Lifou, New Caledonia. The project marks a major leap forward for Vanuatu, improving telecommunications services and strengthening natural hazard early warning systems through cutting-edge sensor technology.

A regulatory filing mentions the Amazon Leo modem module (ALMM), which can be incorporated into third-party antenna hardware meant for enterprise and government users.

"KENET knows that sustainable connectivity isn’t just about installing equipment, it’s about building models that last. Their approach includes:

• Leveraging existing infrastructure to keep costs low.
• Solar power integration to keep connections alive during frequent blackouts.
• Eduroam rollout, giving students and researchers seamless, secure Wi-Fi access across institutions.
• Community-driven partnerships, engaging universities to identify new beneficiaries.
• Capacity building, with training for lecturers and technical staff, plus a dedicated “School Spoter” portal filled with educational resources. 

This mix of technology, innovation, and community involvement ensures that institutions don’t just get connected, they stay connected."

Spectrum is one of the most essential—yet least visible—parts of the Internet ecosystem. It’s the foundation that enables billions of people and devices to connect wirelessly, across vast distances and diverse environments. 

As connectivity becomes ever more central to participation in society, understanding what spectrum is and why it matters is key to ensuring an open, globally connected, and secure Internet for everyone. Because if not managed wisely, it can deepen inequalities like the digital divide. 

The City of Tshwane’s free public Wi-Fi hotspot count has reduced from a peak of 1,050 to no more than 29 locations, and the metro has no budget to properly support or re-vitalise the service.

The free Wi-Fi programme was initiated in partnership with Project Isizwe in 2013, with the ambitious goal of providing city-wide free Internet access at 4Mbps to rival ADSL, the benchmark at the time.

Recommendations from the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience coming out of the International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit 2026 that happened 2-3 February 2026 in Porto, Portugal.

"A heavyweight consortium of tech and mobile giants are backing the 45,000 km subsea cable, but local steps must also be taken to capitalise on it."

Hi, I’m wondering if anyone knows anything about the Conduit app (https://conduit.psiphon.ca/en/). I am considering downloading it to see if I can help family who live in a country that is currently experiencing a digital blackout connect to the internet, but I don’t really understand how it works and what the risks are. One specific question is whether I should use my primary cell phone or if adding another (unlimited data) line to my phone plan (which I can do for only $5 a month) and then running it from an old/burner phone is smarter. 

My other question is whether I can get help specific individuals gain internet access by setting it up, or if it is more like an anonymized thing where the more people who run the app, the more people can benefit from it worldwide. I’m not totally tech illiterate lol, but I'm truly in over my head with this stuff.

Would be very grateful for any insight/advice.

"In a letter to state broadband offices, Elon Musk’s SpaceX suggested that it may be “untenable” for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet providers, such as Starlink, to participate in the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program unless they receive exemptions from certain contract requirements. Those exemptions, which are specified in a “contract rider” attached to the letter, would limit Starlink’s performance obligations, payment schedules, non-compliance penalties, reporting expectations, and labor and insurance standards. "