Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
US backs India–Singapore submarine cable study
Study will evaluate technical and commercial viability of a subsea route through Southeast Asia to support AI and data demand.
US House advances bill on AI chip exports
US lawmakers advance legislation giving Congress greater oversight of AI chip exports amid security and trade concerns.
US fibre industry sees rising build costs in 2026
US fibre build costs rose in 2025 and are set to increase further in 2026, impacting broadband rollout and network budgets.
GSMA warns Europe’s Digital Networks Act may hamper telecom investment
Europe’s mobile industry criticises the Digital Networks Act proposal, saying it fails to simplify rules and support network investment.
Cyber attacks would wipe out over 10% of UK businesses – Vodafone
Vodafone warns that a major cyber attack could wipe out over 10% of UK businesses, exposing weak cyber resilience and training gaps.
UK reviews options to regulate children’s social media use
The UK government launches a consultation on children’s social media use amid a broader online safety debate.
ChatGPT Starts Predicting User Age to Shield Teens Ahead of “Adult Mode” Launch
OpenAI is rolling out an age-prediction system in ChatGPT to protect teens, as it prepares an adult mode and tighter content controls.
Drones pose new cyber risk to critical infrastructure
Researchers warn drones could be used as vectors for cyber attacks on critical infrastructure in emerging threat landscape.
Canadian court lets Tiktok keep operating amid security concerns
Canada’s court paused TikTok shutdown amid security concerns, highlighting global tensions between national security and platform freedoms.
US IT Hardware Stocks Slide as Morgan Stanley Turns Cautious
U.S. IT hardware stocks slid after Morgan Stanley took a more cautious view, citing weak corporate spending and rising costs.
V.tal unveils Synapse US–Brazil submarine cable Scheme
V.tal unveils Synapse, a 9,700 km submarine cable to link the US and Brazil, boosting cloud and AI data flows.
EU’s Cybersecurity Shake-Up: A Ban in All But Name?
The EU unveiled cybersecurity proposals that could phase out high-risk telecoms suppliers from critical networks.
Netflix CEOs are on the back foot defending $83bn Warner Bros. bid
Netflix defends an $83bn bid for Warner Bros Discovery amid investor skepticism and competitive pressure, raising key questions.
Syntys expands Qatar data centre footprint with Q Data deal
Gulf data centre market tightens as Syntys adds Q Data’s Tier III facilities to expand its Qatar footprint and regional reach.
Iron Mountain to develop 85MW hyperscale data center in Mumbai
Iron Mountain plans an 85MW hyperscale data centre in Mumbai to support AI workloads and growing cloud demand in India.
Germany mulls over copper network phase-out plan
Copper retirement plans in Germany hinge on fiber rollout and wholesale access rules, as stakeholders weigh timing and impact.
Elon Musk’s Starlink stands the test in Iran crackdown
Starlink stays online during Iran blackout, proving satellite internet resilience and boosting trust in SpaceX.
Arctic telecoms shift to global strategic asset
Arctic telecom infrastructure is shifting from the margins to a core global geopolitical asset, with Greenland at the centre.
Iran signals shift from full internet shutdown to more targeted online control
Iran shifts from full internet blackout to targeted access amid unrest, raising concerns over digital control and censorship.
Enterprise‑grade agentic AI moves from concept to large‑scale deployment
IBM and E& unveil enterprise‑grade agentic AI for governance and compliance, showing AI’s shift from concept to large‑scale operational use.
Microsoft CEO sounds a note of caution on AI
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warns that the AI boom could turn into a speculative bubble without broader practical adoption.
Turkmenistan steps up public wi-fi and telecom modernisation drive
State operators in Turkmenistan widen wi-fi access and launch new mobile internet services as part of national telecom upgrades.
EU expands EuroHPC mandate to build AI gigafactories
EU unveils expanded EuroHPC regulation to support AI gigafactories and advanced cloud compute hubs across Europe.
India’s Electronics manufacturing jumps 146%: Report
India’s electronics manufacturing leads the PLI scheme with 146% production growth and rising incentive payouts.
BT and easyJet expand mobile connectivity across Europe
UK telecom BT to provide mobile eSIM connectivity to easyJet crew and aircraft across Europe, modernising aviation communications.
EU to grant perpetual telecom spectrum licences across bloc
European regulators eye unlimited spectrum licence durations to accelerate 5G/6G deployments and create secondary markets.
California clears Verizon Frontier deal
California regulators have approved Verizon’s Frontier deal, removing the final regulatory barrier ahead of a planned January 2026 close.
Viasat, BSNL to modernise Indian Navy’s satcom infra with Ka-band systems
Viasat and BSNL will modernise the Indian Navy’s satellite communications with Ka-band systems to boost bandwidth and operational resilience.
UMG Renews Music IPR Deal with NetEase
UMG signs a licensing deal with NetEase Cloud Music, expanding access in China as AI and revenue questions remain.
OpenAI begins testing ads in ChatGPT free and Go tiers
OpenAI plans to trial ads in ChatGPT’s free and Go tiers in the US while pledging they will not affect chatbot responses.
India to collaborate on AI capacity with ASEAN
India offers to collaborate with ASEAN on AI capacity building, standards development, and responsible innovation.
Publishers test Google Gemini litigation with a class-action intervention bid
Cengage Learning and Hachette Book Group are trying to move the Google Gemini copyright case from an author-and-artist class action into a publisher-representation fight. Their January 2026 intervention motion asks the Northern District of California to let two publishing companies appear as class or subclass representatives for publishers whose book rights may be affected by the claims against Google. The operational signal is not simply that another AI copyright suit exists. It is that publishers want direct control over evidence, class representation and licensing leverage in a case where Google says the late intervention attempt should be rejected.
IBM launches Sovereign Core software to help organisations enforce digital sovereignty for AI workloads
IBM announces Sovereign Core software to help organisations deploy and manage AI-ready sovereign environments with operational control.
Ericsson job cuts spotlight tech sector turbulence
Ericsson plans to cut 1,600 jobs in Sweden as the wider technology sector continues to downsize amid weaker demand and cost pressures.
Red Sea subsea risks expose urgent need for connectivity diversification in Middle East
Red Sea subsea cable risks are prompting calls for diversified connectivity to support Middle East digital growth.
WindTre launches 5G SA with network slicing for businesses
Italian operator WindTre enables businesses of all sizes to use 5G slicing on its standalone network, supporting AR, secure comms and media.
AI-driven borrowing set to lift US corporate bond supply in 2026
AI hyperscaler borrowing is set to drive U.S. corporate bond issuance higher in 2026, reshaping fixed-income markets as capex grows.
AWS launches European Sovereign Cloud to address data concerns
AWS launches its European Sovereign Cloud, an EU-based cloud platform offering data residency and compliance for regulated industries.
IP Capital: How to lease unused IP address blocks for revenue
A practical guide to leasing unused IPv4 address blocks and generating recurring income from surplus resources.
Startup Temporal in talks to double valuation to $5 billion on heels of AI boom
Temporal Technologies is in talks to raise funding at a $5 billion valuation, capitalising on growing demand for AI-driven software.
Boldyn Networks expands Transport for London 4G and 5G connectivity rollout across the capital
Boldyn Networks and TfL are expanding 4G and 5G mobile coverage across London Underground and Elizabeth line stations.
Gulf States join U.S.-Led Pax Silica Tech supply chain initiative amid geopolitical shifts
Qatar and UAE join U.S.-led Pax Silica effort to fortify AI and semiconductor supply chains amid global tech competition.
Trump imposes 25% tariff on some advanced computing chips
What happened: U.S. imposes targeted 25 per cent tariff on imported high‑end chips On 14 January 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 25 per cent tariff on certain imported advanced computing chips, notably Nvidia’s H200 and AMD’s MI325X processors. The decision follows…
Global smartphone market grows 4 % in 4Q 2025 as Apple holds leading position for third year
Global smartphone shipments grew 4 % in 4Q 25 with Apple leading the market for the third year, supported by strong iPhone 17 demand.
Colt Technology Services reshapes sales leadership to navigate AI-driven market demands
Colt Technology Services appoints new sales leaders as digital infrastructure demand and AI workloads reshape the connectivity market.
Google warns US grid is bottleneck for data centres
Google says outdated US power transmission is delaying new data centres by years, raising pressure for urgent grid reform.
SKT’s in-car AI agent redefines voice control in vehicles
SK Telecom launches A.Dot Auto, an AI voice agent in Renault’s Filante that understands natural speech to control navigation and car systems.
Meta Scales back metaverse efforts in favour of AI devices
Meta cuts over 1,000 Reality Labs jobs and closes VR studios as it pivots from metaverse to AI wearables like Ray-Ban smart glasses.
London full-fibre provider G.Network enters administration as debt mounts
London full-fibre broadband provider G.Network enters administration with Alvarez & Marsal appointed to find a buyer.
Malaysia’s iFIBER strives for digital autonomy amid regional connectivity challenges
iFIBER expands Malaysia’s open-access fibre network and digital solutions amid debates on regional autonomy and foreign tech influence.