MediaTek vs Modal

Fibocom FG390 Module Adds U6G Support for 10Gbps FWA

Fibocom unveiled its FG390-MEA-30 variant of the FG390 5G-Advanced FWA module at NetworkX 2026. Powered by MediaTek's T930 platform, the module adds U6G (NR n104) support and enables cross-band carrier aggregation with Sub-6GHz bands. This capability equips FWA devices for the next phase of 5G-Advanced networks, targeting 10-gigabit home broadband, 8K streaming, cloud gaming, immersive AR/VR, and enterprise connectivity. The module delivers peak downlink speeds up to 10Gbps. The announcement highlights the commercial deployment momentum of U6G, citing e& UAE's commercial network, Zhejiang Mobile's demonstration of >10Gbps downlink, and ongoing tests in Europe, Latin America, and Central Asia. Fibocom designed the FG390-MEA-30 for CPEs, outdoor ODUs, and enterprise gateways, simplifying development and certification processes.

• Fibocom introduced FG390-MEA-30, a U6G-enabled variant of its FG390 5G-A FWA module, at NetworkX 2026.
• The module is powered by the MediaTek T930 platform and supports NR n104 band and cross-band carrier aggregation with Sub-6GHz.
• FG390 peak downlink speeds reach up to 10Gbps.

Undetectable Firmware Malware 'Midnight Mimosa' Hits Cheap Androids

Security researchers at Bitdefender have uncovered a malware campaign named 'Midnight Mimosa' that pre-installs malicious firmware on budget Android smartphones. The malware is embedded in the device's system firmware, giving it system-level access and making it nearly impossible to remove. It operates stealthily by temporarily disabling the Google Play Store app to avoid detection by Google Play Protect while executing malicious functions. The malware is used for ad and click fraud, generating fake impressions without user consent. Bitdefender discovered 32 disguised apps associated with the campaign, affecting devices in over 150 countries, with Mexico (13%) and France (12.5%) most impacted. Some affected devices are counterfeit clones of premium models like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but genuine Samsung phones are not affected. Additionally, 13 apps from the Google Play Store were found communicating with the same malicious infrastructure, indicating broader reach.

• Bitdefender discovered a malware campaign called 'Midnight Mimosa' pre-installed in the firmware of budget Android smartphones.
• The malware takes control of the Google Play Store app to avoid detection by Google Play Protect.
• The malware is used for ad and click fraud, generating fake impressions without user consent.

MediaTek Showcases Wi-Fi 8 with Filogic 8800 at Network X

MediaTek and its subsidiary Airoha Technology are jointly showcasing next-generation Wi-Fi 8 technology at Network X 2026, featuring the Filogic 8800, a high-performance tri-band router platform designed for AI applications. The technology emphasizes cross-generation interoperability, AI-powered energy saving, and smart network diagnostics. In mixed-generational environments, the Filogic 8800 improves overall system throughput by up to nearly 100% while reducing power consumption by up to 50%. MediaTek's DSO+ technology extends dynamic bandwidth allocation to heterogeneous networks, and NPCA+ enables Wi-Fi 8 access points to avoid network congestion while maintaining compatibility with Wi-Fi 7 and 6 clients. AI-assisted power-saving reduces power consumption by 33% under typical workloads, and AI diagnostics can reduce mean time to repair (MTTR) from hours to under a minute. The product is shortlisted for the Network X Awards 2026 'Best Indoor Connectivity Solution'.

• MediaTek and subsidiary Airoha Technology showcase Wi-Fi 8 with Filogic 8800 at Network X 2026.
• Filogic 8800 improves throughput by up to 100% and reduces power consumption by up to 50% in mixed-generation networks.
• AI-assisted power-saving reduces power consumption by 33% under typical workloads.

Modal Hits $1B ARR, Raises $750M Series D at $15.75B Valuation

Modal, an AI infrastructure startup, has achieved a $1 billion annualized run rate and raised a $750 million Series D at a $15.75 billion valuation, led by Accel. CEO Erik Bernhardsson noted that usage has tripled since the Series C and grown over 15x year-over-year. The company's Sandboxes product, launched in 2023, now generates $300 million in run rate (about a third of revenue), with nearly three billion spun up and scaling to a million concurrent. Modal aggregates demand from thousands of customers to offer elastic GPU capacity across nearly 25 cloud providers, moving away from fixed-term contracts and exploring NVIDIA alternatives. Key focuses include agentic workloads, GPU price declines, and future plans for training and batch products. CTO Akshat Bubna also emphasized the growing need for 'millions of concurrent sandboxes' and advanced infrastructure for AI agents.

• Modal raised a $750M Series D at a $15.75B valuation, led by Accel.
• Modal crossed $1B in annualized run rate.
• Usage has tripled since Series C and grown over 15x year-over-year.

Runtime recap: the full keynote, VM Sandboxes, Modal Clusters, and more.

Modal announces a runtime product update with VM Sandboxes and Modal Clusters, as highlighted in a blog post.

Modal Labs closing in on $750M round at $15.75B valuation

AI inference infrastructure provider Modal Labs is nearing a $750 million funding round led by Accel at a $15.75 billion valuation, according to a source. This would more than triple its valuation from $4.65 billion in May. The round comes amid surging demand for inference services, with other startups like Baseten, Fireworks, and Fal also raising at higher valuations. Modal Labs, founded in 2021 by Erik Bernhardsson and Akshat Bubna, provides infrastructure for training and running AI models without managing servers. The company has surpassed $300 million in annualized revenue as of May. The funding talks follow a security incident in July where a customer's data was compromised, but Modal's platform was not breached.

• Modal Labs is nearing a $750 million funding round led by Accel at a $15.75 billion valuation.
• The round would more than triple Modal Labs' valuation from $4.65 billion in May.
• Modal Labs has surpassed $300 million in annualized revenue as of May.