Satellite land-grab, tower premiums, 6G money problems (Telco Diary)

A federal judge approved a $177M settlement for AT&T customers affected by 2024 data breaches. Eligible customers may receive up to $5,000, depending on the breach and documented losses. AT&T settled without admitting wrongdoing. Payments are expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027, pending appeals and claim processing.

Global bond issuance reached $6.61 trillion, up 15% year-over-year, driven by AI infrastructure spending. Amazon became the fourth-largest issuer, with tech companies dominating bond markets. Cloud and data center issuance surged to $368 billion, raising concerns about supply absorption and higher yields. Investors demand more compensation amid rising financing costs and geopolitical tensions.

BCE (TSE:BCE) agreed to sell a 49.9% stake in TowerCo, a wireless tower infrastructure company, to La Caisse for CAD $2.45 billion. TowerCo will operate over 5,000 sites in Canada, with BCE retaining a 50.1% stake. The deal aims to reduce BCE's debt and fund growth initiatives, with the transaction expected to close in Q1 2027.

AT&T will pay up to $5,000 to some customers affected by two 2024 data breaches, with a total settlement of $177 million. Payments depend on documented losses or tiered claims, ranging from $6.50 to $5,000. The court received nearly 5 million claims, with most allowed. Payments may arrive by January 2027, pending appeals.

Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are urging the FCC to remove 290 MHz of spectrum from a proposal allowing satellite companies like SpaceX to offer direct-to-phone services. The FCC will vote on the proposal on October 29. SpaceX, which plans to use the spectrum for its Starlink Mobile service, opposes the carriers' request. The carriers argue the bands are crucial for their 5G networks, while SpaceX seeks to add another band and modernize interference rules.

The FCC approved Amazon's $11.5B acquisition of Globalstar, citing increased competition in the direct-to-device sector. Globalstar will operate as an Amazon subsidiary, integrating its satellite services with Amazon's LEO network. The deal, pending further approvals, is expected to close in 2027.