Carrier restructuring, satellite execution risk, network performance and customer retention shaped the telecom industry during the week of July 13. Verizon announced plans to sell 274 company-owned retail locations and eliminate approximately 500 corporate positions — affecting about 3,000 employees when retail roles are included. AST SpaceMobile disclosed delays in its satellite deployment schedule and announced plans to raise $1 billion through convertible notes, now expecting 45 satellites in orbit in early 2027 rather than by the end of 2026. New RootMetrics data showed combined nationwide median download speeds reached approximately 334 Mbps during the first half of 2026, with 93% of tests conducted over 5G. T-Mobile faced customer backlash as it began moving subscribers from legacy plans to newer offerings, with some customers seeing increases of up to $6 per line. And FCC Chairman Brendan Carr proposed a comprehensive review of Universal Service Fund administration and the Commission's oversight of USAC.
The telecom industry continued moving beyond traditional voice and data service during the week of July 6. AT&T expanded its enterprise portfolio through a partnership with Everbridge and completed a low-latency mobility trial with Ericsson and MediaTek, while Verizon became the U.S. connectivity provider for newly manufactured BMW Group vehicles through KDDI's global platform. Telefónica selected Thales to strengthen its IoT eSIM capabilities, Deutsche Telekom and Ericsson deployed private 5G at the Port of Hamburg, and EchoStar's leadership change signaled a deeper strategic transition. The common thread: connectivity is increasingly packaged as part of a broader business solution rather than sold as a standalone service.