Maxis spectrum, AT&T copper exit, Arqiva-Gulfsat deal lead telecom updates
Maxis has accepted an additional 2600 MHz spectrum award in Malaysia with a total commitment of RM287 million. AT&T is accelerating the shutdown of legacy copper networks as it moves customers to fiber and wireless, with legacy services expected to shrink to about 1% of connections. Arqiva and Gulfsat have signed a satellite managed-services agreement aimed at Middle East connectivity.
Maxis’s extra 2×10 MHz at 2600 MHz carries RM203 million upfront and RM84 million in annual fees over four years, totaling RM287 million. The award is separate from CelcomDigi’s RM381.75 million allocation in the same regulatory process; issuance still depends on regulatory conditions. Maxis did not disclose deployment timing or expected performance gains.
AT&T reports more than 100 wire centers without legacy-service customers, expecting that base to approach about 1% of connections. The move supports fiber and wireless migration and a long-term goal of roughly $4 billion in annual savings; exchange-level dates were not given. Arqiva and Gulfsat’s managed satellite agreement targets Middle East connectivity, but financial terms, duration, rollout timing and capacity details were not disclosed.
Maxis’s added spectrum could ease mobile congestion for Malaysian subscribers as data use grows, though benefits depend on deployment. AT&T’s copper retirement may inconvenience remaining legacy-line users, particularly those slow to migrate, while potentially supporting cheaper, more modern fiber and wireless services. The Arqiva-Gulfsat agreement may improve satellite-backed connectivity in Middle Eastern areas where terrestrial networks are limited, but its practical reach remains unclear without disclosed capacity or timing.