Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Openreach rolls out safety app for field engineers
The UK’s Openreach deploys a new safety app for field engineers after a spike in assaults, combining tech with traditional safety measures.
Vodafone IoT and Hyundai to roll out connected cars in Middle East
Vodafone IoT and Hyundai deliver connected car services across the Middle East, reflecting rising demand for automotive connectivity.
Iran’s internet flickers back under tight state control
Iran’s partial internet return highlights state control over digital space and the economic toll of prolonged blackout.
AI and 5G drive structural shift in telecom-cloud markets
Telecom and cloud markets are shifting around AI and 5G as operators balance new opportunities with rising costs and competition.
SpaceX and xAI unite in $1.25T merger
SpaceX acquires xAI to create a $1.25 trillion tech leader, merging AI and space infrastructure for future innovation.
FLAG expands subsea network from Mumbai to Middle East
FLAG is expanding its subsea network from Mumbai to the Middle East, improving global connectivity and low-latency links.
Telia and Lyse combine mobile networks in Norway to cut costs
Telia Norway mobile network and Lyse Ice network sharing combine their mobile networks in Norway to reduce costs and expand coverage.
nLighten France acquisition to expand data centre presence
nLighten has acquired a Paris-area data centre from oXya, expanding its data centre presence in France and Europe.
OpenAI launches Codex app as AI coding race heats up
OpenAI launches its standalone Codex app to compete in AI coding tools as developers weigh accuracy, safety and integration.
Palantir CEO Defends Surveillance Tech Amid Strong US Government Sales
Palantir CEO justifies surveillance tech as US government deals fuel strong sales growth.
Oracle shares rise after $50 billion data centre funding plan
Oracle plans to raise up to $50 billion via equity and debt to fund data center expansion, easing investor funding fears amid AI competition.
Waymo reaches $126 billion valuation after major financing round
Waymo’s $16 billion funding round lifts its valuation to $126 billion, underlining investor confidence in robotaxis amid safety scrutiny.
EU telecoms face higher costs under new laws
EU telecoms are adapting to stricter laws, with revised cybersecurity and Digital Networks Act measures changing compliance and investment priorities.
Targa Telematics tops European usage-based insurance ranking
Targa Telematics leads Europe in fleet usage-based insurance, reflecting growth in telematics-driven solutions.
NEXCOM launches modular edge PC for industrial use
NEXCOM launches the NDiS B340, a fanless industrial edge PC with modular PCIe expansion designed for flexible and long-life edge deployments.
Community Fibre’s numbers look good but challenges remain
Community Fibre has reported strong revenue growth and improved earnings, but challenges remain in the competitive UK fibre market.
Sparkle and VDPC agree Barracuda subsea cable landing for 2028
Sparkle and VDPC have agreed to land the Barracuda subsea cable in Genoa, strengthening Mediterranean connectivity ahead of a 2028 launch.
atNorth to build 30MW metro data centre in Stockholm
atNorth has announced a new 30MW metro data centre in Stockholm, supporting Sweden’s digital transformation with sustainable design.
Nvidia’s CEO lauds Taiwanese suppliers amid AI demand surge
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised Taiwanese suppliers during a visit, highlighting Taiwan’s central role in the AI chip supply chain.
Musk Blocks Russia’s Use of Starlink, Highlighting Satellite’s Role in Warfare
Musk’s actions to block Russia’s Starlink use highlight satellites’ increasing role in warfare and geopolitics.
Google Clears Final Hurdle for Major Austrian Data Centre Expansion
Google has received approval to build its long-planned data centre in Austria, marking a key step in its European expansion.
Pentagon and Anthropic clash over military AI use
Negotiations between the Pentagon and AI firm Anthropic have stalled over proposed limits on military and surveillance uses of AI.
Tesla commits $2bn to xAI as Cybercab timeline reasserted
Tesla is investing $2bn in Elon Musk’s xAI while reiterating plans to launch its autonomous Cybercab amid regulatory uncertainty.
Investors shift focus from AI hype to profitability in tech sector
Investors are shifting focus from AI potential to profitability, emphasising execution and financial outcomes over mere technical capability.
Perplexity secures $750m cloud and compute deal with Microsoft
Perplexity signs a $750m deal with Microsoft for long-term cloud and compute resources, marking a shift in AI competition.
Amazon eyes $50B OpenAI investment
Potential $50bn Amazon stake in OpenAI underscores strategic bets on AI compute and cloud infrastructure growth.
Nokia leans harder on AI as legacy telecoms model creaks
Nokia’s mixed Q4 highlights the pressure on legacy telecoms vendors as it bets on AI-driven networking and data centre growth.
Enterprise cloud and agentic AI move toward commercial reality
NTT DATA and AWS formalise a strategic partnership to scale enterprise cloud migration and embed agentic AI into modernised systems.
Rogers makes satellite connectivity standard on mobile plans
Rogers adds satellite connectivity to all 5G+ plans in Atlantic Canada, redefining mobile coverage boundaries with direct-to-device service.
AI embedded in 5G networks as SoftBank and Ericsson upgrade MIMO
SoftBank and Ericsson embed AI into massive MIMO radios, boosting 5G performance by dynamically optimising coverage in real time.
IPv4 lease VS IPv4 purchase: which is better for enterprises?
Enterprises weigh IPv4 leasing against purchasing as scarcity turns IP addresses into strategic digital assets in 2026.
Public safety communications shift toward LTE and 5G networks
Public safety agencies are accelerating investment in LTE and 5G broadband networks to modernise emergency communications.
Vodafone unveils new subsea cable in Greece
Vodafone has unveiled a new subsea cable in Greece to improve internet connectivity between Crete and the mainland.
Northwood Space raises $100m in Series B funding
Northwood Space has secured $100m in Series B funding as the satellite ground station startup scales its network under CEO Bridgit Mendler.
Vertiv targets AI data centre growth with predictive maintenance
Vertiv launches an AI-powered predictive maintenance service for data centers, aiming to improve uptime and operations as AI workloads grow.
Telcos capex shift to cloud, AI, and core networks as RAN spending stays muted
Telecom operators shift capex towards cloud, AI, and core networks, with RAN spending growth remaining subdued.
Tesla’s Q4 revenue beats expectations amid EV slowdown
Musk’s Tesla reports resilient revenue supported by AI investments, signalling broader infrastructure-level evolution beyond automotive.
Privacy focus drives Cape’s entry into US MVNO market
A new US MVNO ‘Cape’ is betting on network-level privacy features, but its approach may test how far consumers value mobile anonymity.
HPE and 2degrees build sovereign AI cloud in New Zealand
New Zealand’s 2degrees teams with HPE to build a sovereign AI-enabled cloud platform, keeping data on-shore and targeting operational and regulatory benefits.
CityFibre turns to operational efficiency over expansion
CityFibre cuts nearly a third of jobs as UK full-fibre market shifts to operational efficiency and consolidation over build-out growth.
SoftBank’s $30B talk with OpenAI raise concerns
SoftBank is in talks to invest up to $30bn more in OpenAI, spotlighting rising capital concentration around leading generative AI platforms.
WhatsApp introduces high security mode to tighten user protections
WhatsApp has introduced a high security mode to strengthen account protection amid rising fraud and messaging platform abuse.
Verizon is the best US mobile network now
Verizon tops a major US mobile network ranking, highlighting the long-term value of infrastructure investment in a saturated market.
Finland to build new maritime surveillance centre to monitor undersea cables
Finland will build a maritime centre in the Gulf of Finland to protect undersea cables using sensors, AI, and EU cooperation.
Cloudflare Reports Sharp Fall in Global Internet Shutdowns in 2025
Cloudflare reports fewer internet shutdowns but ongoing global outages from infrastructure and weather damage.
Starlink faces fresh regulatory hurdles for direct-to-device approval in India
Starlink must seek fresh approval in India to offer direct-to-device satellite services, highlighting regulatory control over new tech.
Kenya’s local cloud region marks sovereign compute leap
iXAfrica will host Oracle’s first public cloud region in Nairobi, advancing digital sovereignty and local compute for East Africa.
Oracle Blames Power Outage for TikTok Glitches
Oracle points to a data centre power outage for TikTok service disruptions, but trust and reliability questions grow after the platform’s recent U.S. ownership change.
Pinterest Trims Workforce by Nearly 15% as It Shifts Strategy to AI
Pinterest cuts jobs to fund AI efforts, but the strategy faces investor scepticism as shares slip.
UK mobile users turn to eSIM for traveling
UK travellers increasingly choose eSIM over traditional roaming, reflecting a broader shift to digital mobile connectivity and savings.