Telecom Weekly Roundup: May 7, 2025

🏆 Top Stories

T-Mobile & UScellular Press FCC for Deal Approval
T-Mobile and UScellular are urging the FCC to quickly approve T-Mobile’s $4.4B acquisition of UScellular’s wireless operations and spectrum. The deal, which also involves AT&T and Verizon purchasing spectrum assets, could transform rural coverage and reshape the competitive landscape. ^Source

Trump Tariffs Divide US Telecoms
The Trump administration’s new tariffs are forcing US telecoms to weigh expanding domestic manufacturing against higher equipment costs. Regional providers like Shentel and ATN warn that, as current inventory runs out, customers could see price increases. ^Source

Windstream & Ciena Deploy 800G Tech
Windstream, in partnership with Ciena, announced the rollout of 800G optical technology. This upgrade will significantly boost US network capacity, supporting future enterprise and consumer demand. ^Source

Starlink’s Free Hardware Offer
SpaceX’s Starlink is offering free equipment to new US broadband customers, intensifying competition in fixed wireless and satellite broadband and putting pressure on rivals to respond. ^Source

Lumen & IBM Partner on AI Inferencing
Lumen Technologies and IBM revealed a new partnership focused on delivering AI inferencing capabilities over Lumen’s US networks, targeting smarter enterprise services and enhanced cloud offerings. ^Source

Government Cuts Hit Telecom Sales
Major US telecoms, including Iridium, Verizon, and Comcast, reported weaker government sector sales due to recent federal budget reductions, impacting revenue forecasts. ^Source

US Manufacturing Compliance in Focus
CommScope announced that 80% of its US sales now comply with USMCA requirements. Corning also emphasized its US-based manufacturing as tariffs and supply chain scrutiny intensify. ^Source

🤝 Mergers & Acquisitions

• Zhone Technologies Acquires DZS Assets
  Zhone picked up DZS’s technology and contracts after DZS’s bankruptcy, consolidating its position in US telecom equipment.

• Visionary Broadband Buys MTWeb
  Visionary expanded its Montana service area with the acquisition of regional provider MTWeb.

• Mereo Networks Acquires DISH Fiber Internet
  Mereo Networks purchased DISH Fiber Internet from DISH Network, furthering consolidation in the US fiber market. ^Source

📅 Industry Events

• American Tower at J.P. Morgan Conference
  American Tower, a leading US telecom infrastructure company, will present at the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference, highlighting ongoing investor interest. ^Source

📈 Market Trends

• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Growth
  FWA continues to be a major trend, with over 10 million US homes connected. While growth is slowing from its initial surge, enterprise demand and new tech are keeping momentum steady.

• Fiber Buildout Accelerates
  US telcos are ramping up fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployments, with 2025 expected to see a record 9 million new passings, driven by private capital and strategic partnerships.

Stay tuned for more updates next week.