Key Takeaways AT&T sees postpaid momentum, major spectrum additions and improved 5G and network efficiencies.Verizon drives growth through expanding 5G, fixed wireless gains and mix-and-match pricing plans.T shows better price performance and valuation metrics, offering a modest advantage over its peer.AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) are two major players in the mobile and wireless-connectivity universe with key expertise in their respective domains. Operating as one of the largest wirele ...

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation DALLAS, Nov. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EchoStar spectrum integration accelerates AT&T's 5G leadership and strengthens our network performance Key Takeaways: AT&T isn't just turning on new spectrum. We've hit the 5G accelerator and deployed mid-band (3.45 GHz) spectrum from EchoStar to nearly 23,000 cell sites in a matter of a few weeks, which is record fast. This new spectrum makes America's best overall network even better by unlocking substantial increases in speed an ...

Core Insights - VIAVI Solutions Inc. has partnered with Calnex Solutions plc to provide test solutions for Open RAN products, enhancing compliance with O-RAN ALLIANCE and 3GPP standards [1][2][3] - The shift towards Open RAN and AI-RAN in 5G and 6G systems is expanding the telecom infrastructure market, allowing more companies, including startups, to participate [2] - The partnership aims to simplify and reduce costs associated with in-house Open RAN testing, enabling immediate setup without debugging [1][4] Company Overview - VIAVI Solutions is a global provider of network test, monitoring, and assurance solutions across various sectors, including telecommunications and cloud computing [5] - Calnex Solutions specializes in test and measurement instrumentation for validating telecom and cloud infrastructure performance [6] Testing Solutions - The partnership offers three immediate testbeds for manufacturers of O-RU, O-DU, and O-CU equipment, with additional testbeds in development [3] - The integrated systems support full O-RAN and 3GPP conformance testing, emulating realistic network impairments such as jitter and delay [4] - Key testing capabilities include S-plane resilience and advanced scenarios like multi-cell handovers, along with cybersecurity vulnerability testing [4]

Core Viewpoint - AmpliTech Group, Inc. is strategically positioned to capitalize on the growing Open RAN market, leveraging its technological leadership and strong partnerships to drive growth and profitability in the 5G sector [2][4]. Company Overview - AmpliTech Group designs and manufactures advanced signal-processing components for various communication networks, including satellite and 5G/6G systems [1][12]. - The company has developed advanced 5G Open RAN solutions, including a pending patent for a Massive MIMO 64T64R radio platform [2][3]. Market Position and Opportunities - AmpliTech has secured Letters of Intent (LOIs) exceeding $118 million with major mobile network operators in Asia and North America, with a significant portion already converted to funded purchase orders [3]. - As one of the few U.S.-based end-to-end ORAN 5G solution providers, the company benefits from increased demand for domestic technology vendors in critical infrastructure [3][4]. Financial Performance - The company's Q2 2025 unaudited revenue is approaching $11 million, with 75% derived from high-margin 5G ORAN products [5]. - A robust $78 million Letter of Intent pipeline is scheduled for delivery across FY2026 and FY2027, indicating strong market demand and revenue visibility [5]. Growth Strategy - The upcoming rights offering aims to strengthen AmpliTech's balance sheet, enabling the execution of $118 million in LOIs and positioning the company for sustained profitability [8]. - Proceeds from the rights offering will support margin expansion through investments in quantum-enabled 5G architectures and operational scaling, including R&D and sales force expansion [9][10]. Industry Engagement - AmpliTech is actively engaged in leading industry alliances such as the ORAN Alliance and Telecom Infra Project, enhancing its competitive positioning in the telecom landscape [4].

Core Insights - The company achieved a new long-term profit margin level in Q3, driven by strong performance in core network business and a 9% increase in cloud software and services sales [1][2] - The company’s 5G solutions have been recognized for their leadership position by Gartner and Omdia, with a focus on AI-native and hardware-agnostic software architecture [1][2] - The company anticipates stable organic sales in enterprise business for Q4, with a steady RAN market overall [1] Financial Highlights - Reported sales amounted to 56.2 billion Swedish Krona, with an adjusted total revenue decrease of 4.2 billion Swedish Krona due to unfavorable currency effects [2] - Adjusted gross margin improved to 48.1%, up from 46.3% year-over-year, while reported gross margin was 47.6%, compared to 45.6% [2][3] - Adjusted EBITA reached 15.8 billion Swedish Krona, with a profit margin of 28.1%, including a capital gain of 7.6 billion Swedish Krona from the divestment of the iconectiv business [2][3] - Net income was 11.3 billion Swedish Krona, with diluted earnings per share of 3.33 Swedish Krona, reflecting a significant increase from 1.14 Swedish Krona [2][4] Year-to-Date Performance - For the first nine months of 2025, net sales decreased by 9%, with organic sales down by 2% [3] - Total revenue for the same period decreased by 5%, while gross margin remained stable at 47.6% [3][5] - Adjusted EBITA margin improved significantly to 27.6%, compared to 10.0% in the previous year [4][5]

Core Insights - Vodafone has selected 1Finity's Open RAN radios to enhance its network agility and optimization [1] Group 1 - The partnership aims to create a more reliable and sustainable network infrastructure [1] - Open RAN technology is expected to contribute to Vodafone's strategic goals in the 5G space [1]

Core Insights - Pegatron 5G has chosen MaxLinear's Sierra single-chip Radio SoC for its upcoming PR2850 5G Macro Open RAN Radio Unit [1] Company Summary - Pegatron 5G is advancing its technology by integrating MaxLinear's Sierra single-chip Radio SoC into its next generation of 5G Macro Open RAN Radio Units [1] Industry Summary - The selection of MaxLinear's technology indicates a trend towards more efficient and integrated solutions in the 5G infrastructure market, particularly in Open RAN deployments [1]

Core Viewpoint - Mavenir's CEO warns that without support from "brownfield" operators, Open RAN may face extinction, leading to a monopoly by Ericsson and Nokia outside of China [1][4] Group 1: Open RAN Development - Open RAN was officially launched in early 2018 with the establishment of the O-RAN Alliance, aimed at creating more open interfaces to foster competition among suppliers [3] - Since the formation of the O-RAN Alliance, there have been few new "greenfield" network projects, with the largest network owned by Echostar set to retire after selling spectrum licenses to AT&T and SpaceX [3][4] - Major existing "brownfield" operators show a lack of interest in Open RAN, preferring traditional suppliers like Huawei, Ericsson, and Nokia, whose RAN market share increased from 75.1% in 2023 to 77.4% [4] Group 2: Market Competition - Nokia's mobile networks president asserts that competition in the market is more intense than critics suggest, with companies like Samsung, Fujitsu, and NEC also participating [5] - Omdia reports that Samsung held a 4.8% share of the RAN market last year, ranking as the fifth-largest supplier, while NEC and Fujitsu had shares of 0.9% and 0.5%, respectively [5] Group 3: Technological Integration - Nokia claims to have integrated its baseband technology with multiple manufacturers' radio units, including Mavenir and a Korean RF unit manufacturer [6] - Nokia's MantaRay platform allows operators to manage RAN from different suppliers, addressing concerns about multi-vendor integration in Open RAN [8][9] Group 4: Future Outlook - Despite positive remarks from Nokia regarding Open RAN's progress, concerns remain among large telecom operators about the sub-industry's prospects, with projected annual spending on RAN products declining by 22% from 2022 to 2024 [12] - Smaller suppliers like Mavenir may struggle to compete against larger companies like Fujitsu and NEC, which have the backing of larger electronic firms [12][13]

Core Viewpoint - The announcement of EchoStar's decision to sell its spectrum assets to AT&T for $23 billion and shut down its mobile base stations marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape of the U.S. telecommunications market, highlighting the challenges faced by smaller players in a highly concentrated industry [1][12]. Group 1: EchoStar's Background and Initial Aspirations - EchoStar, founded in 1980, initially focused on satellite television and broadcasting services, with subsidiaries like Dish Network and Sling TV [5]. - The company aimed to become the "fourth operator" in the U.S. telecommunications market, supported by government policies promoting competition and 5G network diversification [5][8]. - EchoStar's efforts to leverage new technologies like Open RAN were initially seen as a potential breakthrough against the dominance of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile US [6][12]. Group 2: Financial and Operational Challenges - EchoStar's financial situation has deteriorated, with Q1 2025 revenues of $3.87 billion, a year-over-year decline of 3.61%, and a net loss of $203 million, an increase of 87.57% [8]. - The company faced significant debt, totaling $30 billion by the end of 2024, and an operating cash flow deficit exceeding $1.2 billion for the year [8][11]. - Technical issues with its Open RAN network, including inadequate coverage and poor signal stability, led to severe customer attrition and a workforce reduction of 33% [9][11]. Group 3: Market Competition and Strategic Decisions - The U.S. telecommunications market is characterized by high saturation, with mobile user penetration exceeding 130%, making it difficult for new entrants without substantial backing [11]. - EchoStar's lack of experience and scale in mobile communications hindered its ability to compete effectively against established giants [11][15]. - The decision to sell its spectrum and exit the mobile market is viewed as a strategic retreat, with the spectrum being a valuable asset for AT&T to enhance its competitive position [12][15]. Group 4: Industry Implications - The sale of EchoStar's spectrum is expected to reinforce the existing three-player structure in the U.S. telecommunications market, diminishing hopes for a "fourth operator" [12][15]. - The transaction, pending regulatory approval, underscores the challenges of balancing market competition with resource concentration in the telecommunications sector [15].

Core Insights - EchoStar Corporation has selected MDA Space Ltd. as the prime contractor for its new non-terrestrial network low Earth orbit direct-to-device satellite constellation, marking a significant step in the global space industry [1][4] - The initial contract is valued at approximately US$1.3 billion, with options that could increase the total value to about US$2.5 billion, indicating strong growth potential in satellite communications [2][8] - The constellation will comply with newly established NTN and 3GPP standards, enabling seamless connectivity for various services directly to standard 5G devices [3][4] Contract Details - The initial contract includes the design, manufacturing, and testing of over 100 software-defined MDA AURORA™ D2D satellites, with potential expansion to over 200 satellites [2][8] - Delivery of the satellites is planned for 2028, with commercial services expected to start in 2029, highlighting a long-term commitment to the project [8] Technical Features - The MDA AURORA™ D2D satellites will feature advanced technology such as a large user antenna, onboard processors compliant with 3GPP 5G NTN standards, and optical intersatellite links for robust connectivity [6][7] - The satellites will be manufactured at MDA Space's expanded facility in Montreal, which is undergoing a significant expansion of 185,000 square feet to accommodate increased production capacity [6][8] Market Positioning - EchoStar's selection of MDA Space as a contractor underscores MDA's leadership in the NTN market and its capability to meet the demands of satellite operators for direct-to-device and broadband connectivity [4][5] - The partnership aims to serve various sectors, including consumer, enterprise, public safety, and government, across the U.S. and Europe, leveraging EchoStar's existing terrestrial 5G network [4][5]