Before we break for the Juneteenth weekend, here’s a long interview with Orange Business about sovereign data and AI, and how telco’s are uniquely positioned as AI stewards in the developing AI ecosystem. Besides, I’d point you to JP’s write-up of Mavenir’s move to make telcos masters of the new AI token economy, and Christian’s about AMD’s purchase of start-up MEXT. Besides, we have original content on quantum telcos and agentic enterprises, and collect together a bunch of interesting press releases below the line from the likes of SpaceX, Nokia, Lightpath, and Ondas – plus a link to a post about France kicking Palentir out of its spy agencies. All of telecoms is here. Have a good weekend. See you Monday.
James Blackman
Executive Editor
RCR Wireless News
RCR Top Stories
Sovereignty muscle: Orange Business discusses its dual-mode AI platform strategy in the context of its own transformation, its sovereignty pitch to enterprises, and broader industry efforts to establish tech-co influence in the AI ecosystem.
Telco tokenomics: Mavenir and Red Hat have launched an AI platform aimed at helping telecom operators offer AI services, manage AI workloads, and create new revenue streams through token-based consumption models.
AMD buys MEXT: AMD has acquired MEXT, a startup whose software uses AI to make low-cost flash behave like DRAM – easing the memory bottlenecks that increasingly constrain AI workloads.
Quantum telecom: Quantum computing is moving from long-term promise to practical telco experimentation, writes quantum company Classiq. Early telco pilots are helping build the expertise and competitive advantage for the quantum era.
Agentic enterprise: The agentic enterprise gets a full stack, and a third answer to the one-platform question – all the latest from HPE Discover 2026, courtesy of Adlane Fellah at Maravedis Research.
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Beyond the Headlines
Orbital DC math: Orbital data centers promise solar power, but face constraints in heat rejection, launch costs, congestion, downlink bandwidth, and depreciation – suggesting niche apps, not hyperscale displacement. Vish Nandlall tells the story.
AI in RAN suite: Ericsson’s new AI-in-RAN suite runs AI models inside basebands and radios via software, activating on existing hardware. T-Mobile trials showed up to 15% higher downlink throughput.
Telcos gain AI role: China is reportedly preparing a $295bn AI infrastructure initiative, with research firm Omdia saying the effort could give state-owned telecom operators a larger role in the country’s AI ecosystem.
New Ericsson chief: Thoughts, as above, about Ericsson’s succession planning at the top, signalling strategic continuity in 5G execution – and thrown into relief as old rival Nokia continues to pursue a more aggressive AI infrastructure pivot.
Optical decisions: AI infrastructure is reshaping optical networking, but Ciena argues there will be no single winning architecture as operators balance power, capacity, deployment speed and fiber constraints for data center interconnect.
What We’re Reading
SpaceX buys Cursor: SpaceX has agreed a $60bn deal for Anysphere, the maker of AI coding tool Cursor, expanding its push into enterprise AI – versus rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. the deal is expected to close in Q3.
France quits Palentir: France will replace US firm Palantir’s AI data tools used by its domestic intelligence agency with French company ChapsVision, aiming to boost sovereignty.
Lightpath and Oracle: Lightpath is using Oracle cloud and AI apps for billing, finance, and operations, aiming to speed up digital service launches, improve efficiency, and support AI-driven network growth across its fiber infrastructure.
Nokia to the defense: Nokia and KNDS have a joint defense solution integrating 5G into armored and unmanned systems, closing battlefield comms gaps and enabling data sharing between soldiers, vehicles, and drones.
Ondas buys Cyberhawk: Ondas is to acquire Cyberhawk for $125m in cash, expanding its AI-driven critical infra intelligence capabilities through drone inspection, data analytics, and software in energy, utilities and industrial sectors.
Events
Virtual Program
Quantum Safe Networks Forum, July 14th
Quantum Safe Networks Forum brings together telecom operators, cybersecurity experts, and industry analysts to explore how to build resilient, future-ready infrastructure in the face of quantum disruption. Register now
CCA Annual Convention, September 14-16th, New Orleans, Louisiana
Join industry stakeholders and innovative leaders in the communications service provider community this fall at CCA’s 2026 Annual Convention. Register now
RCR Roundtables AI Infrastructure, October 21st, Dallas, Texas
Join 50 senior data center, energy and AI leaders at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas on October 21 for invitation-only roundtables on powering and scaling AI. Request your invitation
Industry Resources
Webinar, June 29th
Agentic RAN Management: Delivering OPEX efficiency and a path to 6G
Webinar, June 30th
Building the 6G Standard: Key developments to know
Webinar, July 7th
Noise-Figure Measurements with RFmx and PXI VSTs
Webinar, July 26th
NTN in motion — evolving standards, expanding services
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Telco AI Enabler: Mediation’s defining role
Report
Securing telecom infrastructure for the quantum era
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Powering sovereign AI at scale
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Scalable database design for 5G and beyond
