The content team at Channel Partners Newsletter tracks stories of interest to the technology advisor and agent community. Anyone selling communication and connectivity solutions will want to stay abreast of these developing stories or catch up on ones they have missed. We are tracking—with the help of ChatGPT along with AI tools our parent Informa has developed—a roundup based on story traffic, mentions, impressions, reposts, and social media engagement. All links are valid as of Aug. 27.

AT&T Acquires EchoStar Spectrum for $23 Billion

AT&T will purchase wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar for $23 billion. This strategic acquisition aims to strengthen AT&T's nationwide wireless network and enhance its 5G service offerings. The deal complements AT&T's existing fiber network investments. AT&T maintained its 2025 financial guidance despite the large acquisition. EchoStar will continue participating in the wireless industry via a long-term wholesale network-services agreement with AT&T. Read the Morningstar story.

Court Won't Rehear AT&T Fine Case

The Fifth Circuit Court has declined to rehear AT&T's case regarding FCC fines, highlighting an ongoing split in lower courts over whether the FCC's forfeiture process violates the U.S. Constitution. This case may ultimately require Supreme Court intervention. Read the Broadband Breakfast story.

Trump Threatens Retaliation Against Countries Targeting U.S. Tech

U.S. President Donald Trump vowed retaliation against countries implementing digital market rules and taxes that target U.S. tech companies, threatening new tariffs and export restrictions particularly aimed at European digital regulations. Trump accused unidentified countries of attacking US players while giving what he described as a complete pass to China’s largest technology businesses. Read the Mobile World Live story.

SpaceX Hungry for Spectrum

Fierce Network looks at how Elon Musk’s SpaceX is battling satellite companies over spectrum. SpaceX has clashed with Globalstar, Ligado and Viasat in addition to its well-publicized fight to get hold of EchoStar’s 2 GHz/AWS-4 spectrum. Read the story on Fierce Network.

U.S. Takes 10% Intel Stake

The United States is going ahead with plans to invest $8.9 billion in chipmaker Intel in exchange for 10% of Intel’s stock. The stake will be funded by $5.7 billion in grants already awarded to Intel by the CHIPs and Science Act, plus $3.2 billion invested as part of the Secure Enclave program. Read the Channel Futures story.

Musk vs. Altman and Apple

TechTarget looks at the latest shot fired in the public war between Elon Musk and OpenAI's Sam Altman. In a lawsuit filed Monday, Musk's XAI's sued ChatGPT's creator OpenAI and Apple for engaging in an "anticompetitive scheme." The lawsuit claims that an agreement made in June 2024 between OpenAI and Apple, under which ChatGPT will be integrated into iPhones, iPads, and Macs, gives ChatGPT an unfair advantage and prevents xAI from advancing. It was the second lawsuit initiated against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, but experts say monopoly cases like this latest one can be hard to prove. Read the TechTarget story.

HPE Gets Misty About Agentic AI

Less than two months after wrapping its acquisition of Juniper Networks, HPE has updated Juniper’s Mist AI platform. New features include a generalized large experience model (LEM) with digital twin capabilities that pulls in API data as well as network data from wired, wireless and WAN assets to predict and troubleshoot issues. HPE is also making its Marvis AI Assistant available directly through its data center dashboard. Read the Fierce Network story.