A comprehensive new report published by telecommunications giant Vodafone has cast a sharp spotlight on what the company describes as the excessive, growing, and frequently unjustified reliance on complete internet and mobile network shutdowns by governments worldwide. Released in September 2026, the report—titled Network Shutdowns in a Connected World—reveals a troubling global trajectory in digital censorship and crisis management tactics, documenting a significant surge in state-imposed digital blackouts over the preceding year.
According to the findings, the total volume of full internet blackouts spiked by 47% in terms of total hours during 2025 compared to the previous year. Researchers recorded 313 deliberate, government-ordered network shutdowns across 52 different countries. Vodafone argues that these sweeping measures impose increasingly severe social, economic, and security costs on everyday citizens, while ironically failing to achieve the specific policy objectives that governments ostensibly seek to deliver through such drastic interventions.
The real-world consequences of these blackouts are far-reaching, disrupting critical infrastructure sectors including healthcare, education, public safety, and basic commercial livelihoods. Furthermore, the analysis highlights that the negative impacts fall disproportionately on vulnerable demographics, hitting low-income households and rural communities the hardest.
To help curb this concerning trend, Vodafone’s report proposes a Transparent Governance Framework. Under this proposed model, any future network shutdown should only be considered as an exceptional measure of absolute last resort. The framework mandates that governments must explicitly demonstrate that no less restrictive alternative is available and that the expected societal benefits of a shutdown clearly outweigh the immediate social, economic, and security harms. Should a shutdown fail any of these rigorous tests, the framework dictates that it should not proceed.
Deutsche Telekom Expands IoT Roaming with Iridium
Beyond regulatory and public policy debates, major European operators and vendors continue to push the boundaries of connectivity, infrastructure security, and automation. In the realm of satellite communications, Deutsche Telekom is expanding its multi-orbit Internet of Things (IoT) roaming portfolio through a strategic partnership with low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company Iridium.
According to the German telecommunications operator, this collaboration provides eligible customers with an essential alternative path for keeping their IoT devices connected during scenarios where traditional terrestrial mobile coverage is entirely unavailable. Deutsche Telekom has steadily built out its satellite connectivity ecosystem, maintaining similar agreements with other prominent players in the non-terrestrial network (NTN) space, including Skylo, Sateliot, and OQ Technology. With the latest integration, the Iridium NTN Direct constellation is now commercially available to Deutsche Telekom’s IoT enterprise and consumer customers who utilize compatible Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) devices.
Ericsson Trials Drone-Sensing Technology
Security and surveillance applications within telecommunications networks are also seeing rapid technological advancements. Ericsson has teamed up with Erillisverkot, a specialized provider of information and communications technology services to the public sector in Finland, to trial innovative drone-sensing capabilities.
The two organizations jointly tested Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technology during a formal demonstration held in Helsinki, which featured a live trial conducted at the strategic Vuosaari Harbor. Ericsson explained that the demonstration successfully illustrated how ISAC can effectively introduce a native "sensing layer" around critical infrastructure such as ports, national borders, and other sensitive installations, thereby bolstering Finland’s national security and emergency preparedness. At its technical core, ISAC transforms existing mobile network cellular sites into a distributed sensing platform, enabling civil authorities to passively and actively monitor unauthorized or hazardous drone activity in real time.
Nokia Teams Up with Microsoft on Network Automation
In the enterprise software and vendor space, Nokia is deepening its collaboration with Microsoft to advance AI-driven network automation. The partnership merges Nokia’s specialized Data Suite products with Microsoft Fabric’s unified analytics, governance, and artificial intelligence capabilities.
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According to Nokia, the joint product offering leverages AI-driven operational assistants designed to act as intelligent "co-pilots" for network engineers. This integration is engineered to drastically reduce the time operators require to access high-quality, trusted network data, cutting down the retrieval process from weeks to mere minutes and streamlining complex network management operations.
Don’t Speak
Nokia is also collaborating closer to home on innovative consumer interaction technologies. Along with fellow Finnish entities Scailarc and Elisa, Nokia is participating in a high-profile proof-of-concept utilizing IMS Data Channel technology. This standard enables secure, non-verbal interactive communication to take place seamlessly when a subscriber is unable or unwilling to participate in a standard voice call.
The practical application of this technology was demonstrated through a typical Elisa customer service scenario. In the pilot, Elisa initiates an automated voice call regarding a home fiber-optic installation. If the customer cannot verbally answer, a trusted interactive call screen appears directly on their device, prompting them to select an option such as "Book installation time." Elisa’s system instantly registers that the customer has successfully chosen the self-service route, allowing the task to be completed smoothly without requiring the user to speak on the phone. IMS Data Channel operates as an established 3GPP standard that facilitates rich data interactions embedded naturally inside a conventional phone call flow.
DE-CIX Pushes into Alps-Adriatic Region
Infrastructure expansion remains a priority for internet exchange operators as well. Germany-based DE-CIX has joined forces with BIK Breitbandinitiative Kärnten to establish ALPSix, a newly formed neutral internet exchange located in southern Austria. Designed to serve the broader Alps-Adriatic region, the regional interconnection platform delivers high-speed connectivity options that link local networks directly into key international interconnection hubs such as Munich and Vienna.
Sateliot Gets with IRIS2 Program
The European space sector is likewise advancing sovereign resilience initiatives. The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Spanish satellite operator Sateliot as a key contributor to the ambitious IRIS² European sovereign connectivity program.
Under the assignment, Sateliot will study direct-to-device (D2D) and secure IoT connectivity applications. The company will evaluate how non-terrestrial network capabilities—built upon foundational 3GPP standards for satellite and terrestrial network convergence—can effectively extend resilient and sovereign communications infrastructure to European governmental users.
Finns Fight Data Centers
While digital infrastructure expands, local communities are increasingly scrutinizing the physical footprint of the technology sector. A citizens’ petition launched in Finland demanding tighter and more restrictive legislation governing large-scale data centers has successfully gathered more than 50,000 signatures in just three days, crossing the statutory threshold required to trigger a formal debate among lawmakers in the Finnish parliament.
The surge in public activism follows a major announcement by Google disclosing plans to invest approximately €13 billion ($15 billion) over the next two years to expand its AI-related digital infrastructure across Finland, with significant data center developments planned in regions including Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos, and Vaala.
Three years prior to these developments, the European telecommunications landscape was marked by major market consolidation, highlighted by Nordic operator Telia finalizing a binding agreement to divest 100% of its Danish operations to Norlys for 6.25 billion Danish kroner. At the time, Telia noted that the transaction aligned with its broader corporate strategy to concentrate resources strictly on geographic markets boasting a clear, defensible path toward securing leading industry positions.
