Long-haul optical record, Nokia core testing, and SpaceX spectrum deal top telecom news
Telstra and Ciena carried 1.6 Tb/s over roughly 1,100 km between Melbourne and Sydney using one wavelength on a live network. Nokia opened its Mobile Core Early Access program to more operators and enterprises for testing 5G core, automation, analytics, and cloud-native functions. SpaceX agreed to buy Grain Management's nationwide US 800 MHz spectrum to support Starlink's direct-to-device service.
Telstra and Ciena used Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme on a live Australian route between Melbourne and Sydney. One wavelength carried four 400GbE customer links about 1,100 km without regeneration, while L-band spectrum joined existing C-band to expand usable fiber capacity.
Nokia’s Mobile Core Early Access program began in June with 30 participants and now accepts broader industry testing. It offers hosted, end-to-end evaluation of 5G core, automation, analytics, network exposure and cloud-native functions. SpaceX plans to buy Grain Management’s entire US 800 MHz portfolio, pending FCC review, to aid Starlink direct-to-device service.
Faster optical links could ease congestion for cloud, AI and data-heavy users, while Nokia’s testing may help operators and enterprises adopt new core services sooner. SpaceX’s proposed low-band spectrum purchase may eventually let Starlink support phone connectivity in remote or underserved areas, though FCC approval and technical rollout remain uncertain. These changes may affect consumers, businesses and network operators by shaping coverage, capacity and service costs.