One NZ Commences DoC Sensor Pilot
One NZ is partnering with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation to pilot 50 smart sensors in remote toilets, huts and wastewater systems, using satellite connectivity. The DoC manages about 2,000 toilets and currently relies on costly helicopter and vehicle inspections. Early estimates show the pilot could save over NZ$1 million (≈US$587k) in six years and cut roughly 30 tonnes of CO₂. The initiative also aims to expand sensor use to trail cameras, pest‑control traps and broader conservation monitoring.
Rakuten, Celona Plot Open RAN Private 5G
Rakuten Symphony and Celona are teaming up to offer an almost-as-a-service private 5G solution that blends Rakuten's cloud‑native open RAN platform with Celona's enterprise‑focused LAN. The partnership promises to lower cost and complexity, allowing businesses of any size to deploy...
The Friday File: Apple; AST SpaceMobile; Deutsche Telekom
Apple announced that senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus will succeed Tim Cook as CEO on 1 September 2026, marking the end of Cook’s 15‑year tenure that grew Apple from a $350 billion to a $4 trillion enterprise. AST SpaceMobile...
Meta, Microsoft Cut Staff as AI Spend Surges
Meta Platforms and Microsoft are trimming their workforces as AI spending accelerates. Meta plans to lay off about 8,000 employees—roughly 10% of its staff—while cancelling 6,000 open positions, and will provide at least 16 weeks of pay plus extended health...
EC Ups Pressure over Google Gemini AI Features
The European Commission is close to issuing formal requirements under the Digital Markets Act that would force Google to give rival AI assistants equal access to Android features currently reserved for its Gemini service. The draft could compel Google to...
Eutelsat, MTN Add Satellite to Ivory Coast Coverage
MTN Côte d’Ivoire has signed a multi‑year agreement with satellite operator Eutelsat to use its Konnect high‑throughput GEO satellite positioned at 7° East. The satellite will complement MTN’s terrestrial broadband, enabling community Wi‑Fi hotspots in rural and underserved areas of...
Interview: Boldyn Tech Expert Tips AI-RAN to Boost Private 5G
Boldyn Networks CTO Andy Conway says AI‑RAN is moving from hype to deployment, especially in its neutral‑host private 5G portfolio. The company has installed more than 130 mission‑critical private 5G sites across the US and Europe, ranging from nuclear plants...
Huawei Commits $2.6B to Smart Driving R&D
Huawei announced a $2.6 billion investment in global smart‑driving research and development, with $1.4 billion earmarked for AI training compute power. The company aims to raise total autonomous‑technology spending to $10‑11 billion over the next five years. At a pre‑show event, Huawei displayed...
BT, Nscale Join Forces on UK Sovereign AI
BT Group has partnered with AI start‑up Nscale to create up to 14 MW of sovereign AI data‑centre capacity across three existing BT sites in the UK. The facilities will run on Nvidia’s full‑stack AI platform and be supported by BT’s...
MEA Remains Orange Growth Driver in Q1
Orange’s Middle East and Africa (MEA) division was again highlighted by CEO Christel Heydemann as the primary engine of the company’s Q1 growth. The group posted €10.1 billion (≈$11 billion) in revenue, up 3.5% year‑on‑year, with MEA delivering a 12.7% increase. EBITDA...
Xfinity Mobile Takes on Rivals with Lifetime Device Protection
Comcast has expanded its Xfinity Mobile MVNO with two new plans, Mobile Plus at $45 per month and Mobile Select at $30. Mobile Plus bundles lifetime protection for phones, tablets and smartwatches, uncapped upgrades and international roaming, while Mobile Select...
BT Seeks Fire-by-Fire AI Security Approach
BT Group executive Gabriela Styf Sjoman warned that AI now powers roughly 80% of phishing attacks, turning the technology into both a powerful tool and a growing cyber‑threat. She called for more open dialogue on AI security, noting that most...
Industry Pressed over Level 4 Progress
At FutureNet World in London, Infovista CEO Rick Hamilton warned that entrenched information silos and unclear operator goals are stalling progress toward Level 4 network automation, the TM Forum’s most advanced self‑optimising stage. He argued the telecom sector must sharpen focus...
Vodafone Business, Google Cloud Target Enterprise AI
Vodafone Business announced a $1 billion partnership with Google Cloud to bring advanced cybersecurity and generative AI services to small‑business customers. The first offering is a managed detection and response (MDR) service powered by Google Security Operations, debuting in Germany. Simultaneously,...
Operators Tackle AI Revenue Challenge
At FutureNet World in London, BT International, Orange Business and Rakuten Symphony shifted the AI conversation from capability to revenue generation. BT International showcased an API‑driven data platform that unifies commercial, network and service data, cutting infrastructure spend and opening...
AI Agents Backed as Long-Term Network Play
Telecom executives at FutureNet World in London agreed AI agents are essential for future network operations but warned that trust, governance, and fault risk limit current closed‑loop use. BT Group’s Reza Rahnama said agents can simplify tool fragmentation and enable...
Verizon Powers Reality Show with Private 5G, Edge AI
Fox Entertainment partnered with Verizon to outfit the second season of the reality series *Extracted* with a portable private 5G network and edge‑AI analytics. The network covered four square miles of remote Canadian wilderness, linking 25 video sources and 20...
India, South Korea Tighten Digital Ties
India and South Korea announced a comprehensive digital partnership during President Lee Jae‑Myung’s state visit, unveiling a “Digital Bridge” to deepen cooperation in AI, semiconductors and IT. The deal is part of a broader agenda that includes shipbuilding, steel, ports,...
Interview: Freshwave CTO Offers AI-RAN Walkthrough
Freshwave Group’s CTO Tom Bennett says AI‑enabled radio access networks are feasible, but only if the underlying data infrastructure is ready. He argues that massive GPU deployments at cell sites are unnecessary; instead, high‑capacity fibre links should funnel RAN data...
France, Poland Combine on Telco Satellite Defence Project
France’s Thales Alenia Space, Poland’s Radmor and Airbus Defence and Space have signed an agreement to build a geostationary telecommunications defence satellite for the Polish Ministry of Defence. The satellite will deliver secure, cyber‑hardened communications and anti‑jamming capabilities, enhancing Poland’s...
Siemens Gets Physical on Industrial AI
Siemens unveiled its Eigen Engineering Agent at Hannover Messe, a physical AI system that can plan, code, configure and validate industrial automation projects. The agent claims to work up to five times faster than manual workflows, improve system quality by...
Huawei Drives Vietnam Push with SHB Deal
Huawei has signed a strategic agreement with Saigon‑Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) to overhaul the lender’s digital infrastructure, data platforms, cloud, automation and AI capabilities. The Chinese vendor will act as a strategic advisor, helping SHB build a secure,...
Deutsche Telekom CEO Pitches Sovereign AI, 6G to Industry
Deutsche Telekom chief Tim Hoettges used his Hannover Messe keynote to champion a sovereign AI strategy for German industry and to preview the role of 6G. He argued that Germany’s strong industrial base, engineering expertise and data‑sovereignty ambitions position it to...
Apple Marketing Veteran Ng Retires After 31-Year Career
Apple veteran marketing executive Stan Ng announced his retirement after a 31‑year tenure. Ng, who joined Apple in 1995 and later led marketing for the iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, health and smart‑home initiatives, was instrumental in launching the original iPod...
India Fintechs Scramble for Access to Anthropic Mythos
Indian fintechs including One97 Communications, Razorpay and Pine Labs are lobbying Anthropic for early access to its restricted AI model Mythos, which can identify software flaws far beyond human experts. Anthropic has kept Mythos under wraps, deeming it too dangerous...
The Friday File: Amazon Globalstar; Anthropic; Orbital
Amazon agreed to acquire satellite operator Globalstar for $11.6 billion, gaining its fleet, ground infrastructure and MSS spectrum licences. The deal positions Amazon Leo to launch direct‑to‑device services by 2028 and strengthens an exclusive partnership with Apple, making Amazon a formidable...
Anthropic Unveils Large London Office Expansion
Anthropic announced a major London expansion, adding office space for roughly 800 employees and bringing its UK headcount to about 1,000. The new premises will sit in the city’s Knowledge Quarter, joining other AI giants competing for talent and infrastructure....
Ambassador Pitches China Telecoms Credentials
China’s 2023‑2030 five‑year plan calls for opening its telecoms sector through expanded value‑added service trials, increased imports, and two‑way investment cooperation. Ambassador Xie Feng told a roundtable in Indiana that foreign‑funded enterprises will receive national treatment, while IP and trademark...
Vodafone Touts Commercial 5G Slicing for Enterprises
Vodafone Business has rolled out a commercial 5G+ Local Slicing service that delivers a dedicated slice of its standalone 5G network to enterprise customers across areas up to 5 km². The offering promises guaranteed mobile performance for high‑density venues such as...
Alphabet Set for $100B Boost From SpaceX Listing
Alphabet is poised to receive a $100 billion windfall from SpaceX’s upcoming IPO after Bloomberg disclosed that Google holds a roughly 5 percent stake in the rocket firm. The stake, originally acquired in a 2015 $1 billion round, would be valued at around...
Esports Specialist, GSMA Target SA 5G Gaming Opportunity
Veloce Media Group and GSMA Fusion released a network‑requirements guide showing how standalone (SA) 5G can power low‑latency esports, cloud gaming, and live creator streaming. A demo at MWC Doha 2025 used SA 5G for racing simulators, proving events can...
Verizon Scores FWA, Private 5G Deal for FIFA World Cup
Verizon has signed a multi‑year deal with FIFA to supply 5G, fiber, fixed wireless access and broadcast services for the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The operator is adding extra 5G spectrum and deploying under‑seat...
EU Poised to Launch Age Check App
The European Commission announced that its open‑source digital age‑verification app is technically ready for a Europe‑wide rollout. The app will let users prove they are over a set age using a passport or national ID while keeping the process anonymous....
Orbital Starts Countdown to Space Data Centre Test
Orbital announced that its first satellite, Orbital 1, will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 in April 2025 to test sustained GPU operation in low‑Earth orbit. The mission, funded by a16z Speedrun, aims to prove radiation‑hardening, continuous solar power and space‑based cooling...
FCC Advances Consumer IoT Protection Scheme
The Federal Communications Commission has moved forward with a voluntary cybersecurity program for consumer Internet of Things (IoT) devices by naming the ioXT Alliance as the lead administrator of the US Cyber Trust Mark Programme. The scheme will allow qualifying...
Nvidia Denies Speculation Around Major PC Deal
Nvidia denied reports that it is negotiating to acquire a major PC maker, after Bloomberg cited SemiAccurate’s speculation. The rumor lifted Dell’s shares 6.7% to a record $189.79 and pushed HP up 5.3% to $19.23. Nvidia’s spokesperson called the media...
UK FWA Specialist Expands to US
Cambridge Broadband Networks Group (CBNG), a UK‑based fixed wireless access (FWA) equipment vendor, opened its first U.S. facility in Richardson, Texas. The site serves as a distribution hub, logistics centre, and engineering lab, providing on‑ground support for its 5G mmWave...
Siemens Mixes Drinks Tech in Canning Plant
Siemens Digital Industries has equipped DrinkPAK’s Texas canning plant with integrated automation, energy‑efficient infrastructure, and recipe‑based production controls. The solution also includes automated guided vehicles and a flexible financing platform that links capital costs to performance metrics. Siemens says the...
Hughes Readies Satellite Antenna Combo for Airlines
Hughes Network Systems announced a new electronically steerable antenna (ESA) that merges Ka‑band and Ku‑band capabilities, aiming to free airlines from reliance on a single satellite network. The solution pairs the existing HL1520 Ku‑band ESA with a newly developed Ka‑band...
TIM Edges Closer to Sparkle Sale
Telecom Italia’s wholesale unit Sparkle is being sold to Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and infrastructure specialist Retelit for roughly €700 million (about $756 million). The European Commission cleared the transaction, stating it poses limited competition risk in cable landing stations,...
HAPS Specialist Claims Record for Stratospheric Flight
US aerospace firm Sceye completed a 12‑day, 6,400‑mile stratospheric flight from New Mexico to Brazil, setting a record with 88 hours over the target area. The SE2 HAPS platform maintained power, position and pressure loops using solar energy and batteries,...
Orange Gets EC Approval for Spain Deal
Orange has secured European Commission approval to acquire full ownership of its Spanish joint‑venture partner MasOrange for an estimated €4.3 billion (about $4.7 billion). The regulator used its simplified merger review, concluding the transaction poses limited competition concerns in Spain. The deal...
LG Uplus Gets Physical on USIM Security Update
LG Uplus has launched a free USIM replacement programme to fix a weakness in IMSI number security. The rollout began on 8 April and has already attracted at least 157,811 customers who booked store visits for the swap, with extra staff...
Retailer Lidl Plots MVNO Push Across Its Markets
Lidl, the German discount supermarket chain, is expanding its mobile‑virtual‑network‑operator (MVNO) business to as many as 30 countries after signing a five‑year deal with telecom platform provider 1Global. The agreement grants the Schwarz Group a 9.9% equity stake in 1Global...
EU Considers Toughening up on ChatGPT
The European Commission is evaluating whether to classify OpenAI’s ChatGPT as a large online search engine under the Digital Services Act. OpenAI disclosed that ChatGPT had 120.4 million average monthly active users in the EU, surpassing the 45 million threshold that triggers...
Space Compass Forges Optical Satellite Relay Pact
Space Compass signed a memorandum of understanding with Apolink and JSAT International to develop optical data‑relay technology that links geosynchronous (GEO) and low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellites. The agreement will explore both technical feasibility and commercial potential, initially focusing on integrating Apolink’s...
Rogers Unveils Red Scheme for Small Businesses
Rogers Communications launched the Red Partner programme, a point‑of‑sale and credit‑card offering aimed at Canadian small‑ and medium‑sized businesses. The scheme promises a 20% reduction in transaction fees and a tiered cashback model—1% on all purchases and 3% at participating...
NTT Builds Remote Digger Foundations
NTT Group partnered with Japanese builder Taisei to remotely operate heavy construction equipment using its Innovative Optical and Wireless Network All Photonic Network (IOWN APN). The trial in February linked two sites via private 5G and 60 GHz WiGig, allowing a...
FCC Eyes Tougher Rules on Chinese Telcos
The FCC announced it will consider banning China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile from operating data centers in the United States. The agency says it has tentatively found national‑security risks from these firms and is seeking public comment before...
Telefonica Launches 5G Drone Service in Spain
Telefonica Spain has launched an end‑to‑end 5G drone service that combines remote piloting, a “drone‑in‑a‑box” hardware platform, and edge‑enabled software for industrial and public‑sector clients. The offering is managed from the T_Space facility in Madrid and leverages 5G network slicing,...