1. QR code payments expected to exceed $8T
Juniper Research projects that global QR code payment transactions will grow by 50%, reaching $8 trillion by 2029, driven by national QR schemes and A2A payment initiatives. Source
2. Questal secures $3.2M for AI platform
FinTech firm Questal has secured $3.2 million in Seed funding to advance its AI-powered financial wellness platform, integrating AI insights with human coaching for better financial management. Source
3. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank adopts Swift’s cloud platform
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank has become the first in the GCC to adopt Swift’s Alliance Cloud platform, enhancing payment processing and operational resilience for retail and corporate customers. Source
4. Nokia names new CEO from Intel
Nokia has appointed Justin Hotard, Intel’s AI data center lead, as its new CEO effective April 1, 2025, replacing Pekka Lundmark after four years in charge. Source
5. Iliad commits $3.3B to AI infrastructure
Iliad Group has announced a €3 billion investment in AI infrastructure, focusing on new data centers and enhancing AI computing capabilities across Europe. Source
6. T-Mobile and Starlink test satellite connectivity
T-Mobile has begun wide-scale testing of satellite-to-cell service powered by Starlink, aiming to eliminate mobile dead zones and enhance connectivity in remote areas. Source
7. Mistral to expand data center capabilities
Mistral has announced significant upgrades to its data center infrastructures, enhancing its capacity to support AI development and processing needs across Europe. Source
8. Amazon announces 1,000 new UK apprenticeships
Amazon has launched 1,000 new apprenticeships in the UK, offering opportunities across various sectors, including data science, engineering, and marketing, to grow talent and skills. Source
9. NEC launches mobile network modernization solution
NEC Corporation has introduced a new solution to modernize telecom infrastructure planning and deployment, reducing installation time by approximately 60% for mobile networks. Source
10. AWS growth stalls as Amazon focuses on AI
Amazon’s AWS reported 19% revenue growth, but shares fell as investors expressed concerns over slower growth against the backdrop of significant AI infrastructure investments. Source
