Cloud Infrastructure Spending Jumps 26% in China
Omdia reports that China’s cloud infrastructure spending is set to rise 26% this year, marking a third straight quarter of over‑20% growth. AI is the primary catalyst, expanding demand from model training to broader infrastructure and agent‑based applications. Alibaba Cloud holds a 37% market share, Huawei Cloud 17%, and Tencent Cloud 10%, while partner‑driven revenue now represents 25% of the market. The shift toward AI‑enabled agents is reshaping competition toward product readiness and scenario integration.
VMO2 Warns AI Is Generating Fake Customer Service Numbers
Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) warns that AI‑generated fake customer‑service numbers are being used by fraudsters, exposing 13% of Britons and 27% of 25‑34‑year‑olds to bogus contacts. The operator reports that 10% of consumers rely on AI‑generated numbers, and 20% of...
Satellite Startup Univity Raises €27m to Throw Its Hat Into the Ring
French satellite startup Univity announced a €27 million ($29 M) Series A round to develop its VLEO‑based 5G constellation, uniSky. The funding, led by Blast and backed by Expansion Capital and Bpifrance’s Deeptech 2030, will finance the uniShape demonstrator – two low‑orbit satellites that...
UK Telcos Deny Plans to Throttle Mobile Networks over Energy Costs
UK mobile operators, led by BT and Virgin Media O2, publicly denied any plans to throttle network speeds or introduce surge pricing despite rising energy costs. The Telegraph had suggested operators might ration access to curb power expenses, but the...
5G Standalone Growing Market Share
The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) reports that 95 operators – a 42% year‑over‑year rise – have launched 5G standalone (SA) networks, though they represent just under a quarter of the 392 operators with any 5G service. SA is now...
AT&T's Convergence Strategy Begins to Pay Off in Q1
AT&T’s Advanced Internet segment added 584,000 new customers in Q1, evenly split between fibre and fixed‑wireless access (FWA). The fibre base grew to 12.5 million, bolstered by the Lumen acquisition, while FWA reached 2.3 million users. Convergence rose to 45% on an...
Orange Ups Earnings Guidance After Strong Q1
Orange reported Q1 2024 revenue of €10.1 bn (≈$11 bn), up 3.5% YoY, and EBITDAaL of €2.6 bn (≈$2.8 bn), a 6.6% rise that beat analysts' forecasts. The group lifted its 2026 EBITDAaL growth target to more than 3%, citing operational efficiency and a...
Sony AI Builds Table Tennis Robot that Beats Elite Players
Sony AI unveiled Project Ace, an autonomous table‑tennis robot that has defeated elite and professional players in competitive matches, a milestone published in *Nature*. The system leverages nine high‑speed APS cameras, event‑based vision sensors, and a model‑free reinforcement‑learning controller to...
Accenture, Vodafone and SAP Trial Humanoid Robot
Accenture, Vodafone Procure & Connect, and SAP have completed a pilot that deployed humanoid robots in Vodafone’s Duisburg warehouse. Integrated with SAP’s Extended Warehouse Management, the robots performed visual inspections, flagged safety hazards, and reported optimization insights directly into the...
FCC Greenlights AST SpaceMobile's Satellite Broadband Service
The FCC has approved AST SpaceMobile to launch and operate a 248‑satellite low‑Earth‑orbit constellation that will deliver broadband directly to standard smartphones using cellular frequencies across the United States. The clearance moves AST closer to commercial service and allows its...
Vodafone Rolls Out Google-Powered Security and AI Tools for SMEs
Vodafone Business has introduced two new services for small‑and‑medium enterprises – a managed detection and response (MDR) security suite and an AI‑driven virtual front‑desk called AI Concierge – both built on Google Cloud technologies under its 10‑year, $1 billion partnership. The...
Freshwave Promises All-Operator 4G/5G Signal Indoors
Freshwave has launched 5G on Omni, an evolution of its Omni Network that delivers multi‑operator 4G/5G indoor coverage using Ericsson’s Radio Dot small‑cell system. The solution claims up to 50% lower energy use than traditional DAS, faster deployment and reduced cabling,...
Omantel Drafts Cerillion for ‘Major’ BSS/OSS Upgrades
Omantel has selected Cerillion to deliver a major upgrade of its BSS/OSS systems as part of its shift from a traditional telco to a technology‑focused operator. The partnership will implement Cerillion’s pre‑integrated suite—including product catalogue, CRM Plus, convergent charging, service manager,...
The Shift From Telcos to Intent-Nets
Autonomous generative AI agents are prompting telcos to evolve from rule‑based networks to Intent‑Nets, where user intent is translated directly into network actions. To achieve this, operators must close a 5G deployment gap and build agentic orchestration layers that can...
O2 Plugs in Surrey to 5G+
O2 has activated its 5G Standalone (5G+) network across Surrey, reaching up to 1.2 million people in 275 locations. The deployment is a key element of the operator’s £700 million (≈$890 million) Mobile Transformation Plan, which also includes new masts, small cells and...
SoftBank Tests Tech to Enable NTNs to Share Spectrum with Mobile
SoftBank showcased a dynamic null‑forming system on a high‑altitude platform, using a light aircraft at roughly 3,000 meters altitude and 200 km/h to transmit on the 1.7 GHz band. The technology creates a steerable null that suppresses aerial emissions toward nearby terrestrial base...
Deutsche Telekom Adds Video Calling to Network Slicing Offer
Deutsche Telekom has expanded its 5G+ Ultra portfolio by adding a dedicated video‑calling slice, offered free to customers with compatible iPhone, iOS, and Apple Vision Pro devices. The new service builds on the operator’s earlier 5G+ Gaming slice launched 18 months...
SoftBank Launches Brain's Natural AI Phone
SoftBank is rolling out Brain Technologies' Natural AI Phone in Japan, priced at about $589 and available through 5,000 retail outlets. The device runs Natural OS, an AI‑native operating system that replaces traditional app‑grid navigation with intention‑based interaction. Early units...
AirTrunk Taps Into India Data Centre Potential with Lumina CloudInfra Buy
AirTrunk completed the acquisition of Lumina CloudInfra, marking its entry into India with data‑centre assets in Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad and a 600 MW pipeline valued at roughly $5 billion. The deal is underpinned by long‑term capital from Blackstone and the Canada...
DT CEO Laments “Overly Restrictive Framework of EU AI Regulations”
Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges warned at the Hannover Messe that the EU’s current AI regulatory framework is overly restrictive and could hamper Europe’s industrial competitiveness. He stressed that secure networks, sovereign data centres and AI computing power are essential for...
Satellite Launch Failure Hits AST SpaceMobile Hard
AST SpaceMobile’s second‑generation satellite BlueBird 7 failed to reach its intended orbit after launch on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, rendering the payload inoperable. The company says the loss will be covered by insurance, but the setback trims its 2026 deployment goal...
5G Surpasses 3 Billion Connections
Omdia reports the global connectivity market generated $333 billion in Q4 2025 and $1.3 trillion for the full year, marking modest double‑digit growth. 5G connections surpassed the 3 billion mark, a 34% year‑on‑year increase, with Asia accounting for 69% of those users. India overtook...
EU Doles Out €180 Million for Sovereign Cloud Contracts
The European Commission has allocated roughly $196 million over six years for sovereign cloud services, awarding the contract to four European providers—Post Telecom (with CleverCloud and OVHcloud), StackIT, Scaleway, and Proximus (partnered with S3NS). The tender, launched under the Cloud III Dynamic Purchasing...
How to (Finally) Monetise 5G
5G networks are now widely deployed, with penetration approaching 80 % in leading markets, but operators still wrestle with recouping the massive capex. Traditional mobile plans are proving price‑elastic, prompting carriers to bundle value‑added services, launch 5G Fixed Wireless Access for...
Cinia Taps Nokia for DDoS Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Cinia announced a new managed security service that leverages Nokia’s Deepfield Defender to provide 24/7 DDoS protection for its critical infrastructure networks. The AI‑based solution embeds detection and mitigation directly into the transport layer, giving Finnish customers real‑time threat awareness....
Uswitch Says Broadband Switching Jumped 24% in March
Uswitch reports broadband switching rose 24% in March, with three million households moving before price hikes. The surge follows a £6.9 bn ($8.8 bn) increase in household bills, including an average £39.60 ($50) rise in broadband costs. Regional providers offering “no‑rise” deals...
UK Set to Launch £500m ‘Sovereign AI’ Fund
The UK government is unveiling a £500 million (≈$635 million) Sovereign AI fund, designed to act as an internal venture capital vehicle, provide access to AI supercomputers, and facilitate procurement and regulatory guidance for domestic AI firms. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall framed...
Vodafone Rolls Out New Scam Fighting AI Tool
Vodafone has integrated an AI‑driven Scam Call Protection feature into its Secure Net Mobile service, automatically analyzing inbound calls and flagging suspicious numbers with on‑screen alerts. The tool operates in the background, requiring no extra apps, and joins existing safeguards...
Memory Crunch Ends up Benefitting Apple in China
Global smartphone shipments fell 6% in Q1, but Omdia’s adjusted view shows a modest 1% rise, reflecting delayed effects of the memory‑price surge driven by AI data centers. In China, the market slipped another 1% as rising DRAM costs forced...
Nokia, Nvidia and Orange Put Heads Together on AI RAN
Nokia, Nvidia and Orange have launched a joint effort to develop an AI‑native radio access network (AI‑RAN) that leverages GPU‑based radio processors and advanced machine‑learning algorithms. The collaboration will focus on improving spectral efficiency, cutting energy consumption, and enabling new...
Amazon Buys Globalstar and Does Satellite Deal with Apple
Amazon announced it will acquire Globalstar, folding the satellite operator’s fleet, spectrum licenses, and infrastructure into its Amazon Leo business. The deal secures Globalstar’s existing 85% capacity allocation to Apple, while Amazon and Apple signed a new agreement to keep iPhone...
Report Details Europe’s Exposure to US China Trade War
A new European Union Chamber of Commerce report warns that China is tightening export controls on rare‑earth elements (REEs) amid the ongoing US‑China trade war. The United States’ aggressive export restrictions have given Beijing leverage to restrict REE shipments, a...
VodafoneThree Combines Retail Footprint
VodafoneThree announced the integration of its Vodafone and Three retail locations, creating the largest mobile‑operator store network in the UK and preserving more than 4,500 jobs. The company will invest several million pounds (roughly $7‑$10 million) to upgrade stores into multi‑brand...
Missiles Are Hitting Data Centers. Now What?
On April 1 a missile struck Batelco’s Hamala headquarters in Bahrain, destroying an AWS‑hosted data center, following March drone attacks that knocked out three AWS sites across the UAE and Bahrain and halted banking, ride‑hailing and payment apps. These events constitute...
Meta Set to Overtake Google as the World’s Number One Digital Advertiser
Emarketer forecasts Meta will generate $243.46 billion in ad revenue in 2026, narrowly surpassing Google’s $239.54 billion. The gap reflects Meta’s rapid climb from $196.17 billion in 2025, driven by AI‑enhanced tools like Advantage+ and strong performance on Facebook, Instagram and Reels. The...
Africa Data Centres to Give Connectivity in South Africa a Boost
Africa Data Centres, the continent’s largest carrier‑neutral data‑centre platform, has partnered with Oni‑Tel Fibre Networks to upgrade connectivity at its Gauteng sites. The deal will link the Midrand and Samrand campuses to Oni‑Tel’s Infinity dark‑fibre interconnection platform, delivering high‑capacity, low‑latency...
Milicom Expands Subsea Network in Central America
Millicom announced a partnership with TAFS to tap the 7,000‑km TAM‑1 subsea fibre‑optic system, which links the United States, the Caribbean, Central America and Colombia. Each fibre pair on the cable provides a minimum of 18 Tbps, delivering high‑capacity, carrier‑neutral connectivity...
Qualcomm Expands Snap and Bosch Partnerships
Qualcomm announced expanded collaborations with Snap and Bosch, aiming to broaden its footprint beyond traditional mobile chips. The company will provide Snapdragon XR solutions to Snap's newly formed Specs Inc, powering its next‑generation smart glasses. Simultaneously, Qualcomm deepened its partnership...
SKT Develops Its Own AI Inference Tech
SK Telecom has teamed with UK chip designer Arm and Korean AI‑chip startup Rebellions to build AI inference server solutions that pair Arm’s newly announced AGI‑class CPU with Rebellions’ RebelCard accelerator. The joint offering targets inference workloads, promising higher performance...
Memory Crunch Hammers Down Smartphone Shipments
A severe DRAM and NAND memory crunch, driven by AI data‑center construction, has squeezed the smartphone supply chain, pushing component prices up about 90% QoQ in Q1 2024. Apple emerged as the sole market‑share leader, posting a 21% share and...
Bidders Line up for €8 Billion XpFibre Deal
Altice’s Patrick Drahi has opened a sale process for his 50.01% stake in XpFibre, inviting a shortlist that includes DigitalBridge, KKR, Brookfield Asset Management and Vauban Infrastructure Partners. Initial offers value the fibre network at roughly €8 billion (about $8.7 billion) including...
India Takes a Step Closer to Direct-to-Device with Spectrum Consultation
India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) has launched a consultation on how to allocate spectrum for direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite services. The regulator is weighing whether providers should use Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum or International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum, a decision...
Korean Telcos Pledge to Restore Trust and Cut Prices
South Korean telecom giants SK Telecom, KT Corp and LG Uplus met with Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon to announce a three‑point plan aimed at restoring public trust after a series of high‑profile data breaches. The agenda focuses on bolstering...
Gamma Is in Talks with a Number of Possible Buyers
Gamma, a UK‑based business services provider, announced it is in preliminary talks with several potential offerors to explore options beyond a standalone strategy. The company highlighted strong revenue and earnings growth, driven by recent German acquisitions, including a €196 million (≈$212 million)...
Investors Take the Reins of Gigaclear
Investors including the National Wealth Fund, ABN AMRO and NatWest have taken control of Gigaclear after a recapitalisation that injected £80 million (≈$100 million). The deal resolves a near‑£1 billion (≈$1.25 billion) debt pile, with lenders taking a haircut of up to 40 %. Gigaclear now...
DT Launches Starlink Powered Satellite Service for Businesses
Deutsche Telekom has launched Satellite Internet Access by Starlink (SIA), a fully managed satellite broadband service for large enterprises and public‑sector organisations in Germany. The service delivers up to 400 Mbps download and 40 Mbps upload using panel antennas, targeting sites lacking...
UK Telco Customers Can Now Escalate Complaints Quicker
UK telecom regulator Ofcom has cut the waiting period before customers can escalate complaints to an independent ADR scheme from eight weeks to six weeks, effective 1 April. The change follows data showing 94% of complaints are resolved within six weeks...
Anthropic Reckons Its New Model Has Cracked Cyber Security
Anthropic unveiled Mythos, an AI model that can automatically spot coding flaws and high‑severity security vulnerabilities across major operating systems and browsers. Recognizing the dual‑use risk, the company launched Project Glasswing, granting early access to Mythos for a consortium of...
Amazon Leo Heads to Thailand by Way of Thaicom
Amazon has partnered with Thai satellite operator Thaicom, whose subsidiary TC 142 will act as the authorized distributor and landing‑rights holder for Amazon Leo in Thailand. The deal gives Amazon Leo a regulatory edge over SpaceX, whose Starlink proposal was rejected...
NTT Tries Out WiGig for Industrial Private Networks
NTT demonstrated an outdoor private WLAN using 60‑GHz WiGig at Mitsubishi Chemical’s Okayama factory, linking robots, sensors and cameras across a 2 km area with 18 repeaters. The network achieved uplink speeds up to 900 Mbps and maintained connections to moving assets....