Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
AirTrunk unveils second hyperscale data centre campus in Melbourne amid rising AI infrastructure demand
AirTrunk plans a second hyperscale data centre in Melbourne, adding 354MW of capacity as demand for AI and cloud infrastructure grows.
Telefónica Tech partners Hiberus for Latin America growth
A new Telefónica Tech–Hiberus alliance targets digital transformation and enterprise IT growth in Latin America.
VodafoneThree upgrades 100 rural masts under SRN programme
VodafoneThree upgrades 100 mobile masts under the Shared Rural Network to bring 4G coverage to remote UK communities.
Australia’s IComm faces question of local autonomy in a consolidating tech landscape
IComm Australia integrates unified communications and cloud tools even as regional autonomy is challenged by global tech platforms.
IP address market under scrutiny: Critics call purchases a ‘scam’ and hint at trillion-dollar telecom potential
Critics say buying IPv4 addresses is a lease, not true ownership, raising questions about governance and trillions in telecom asset value.
Disney and OpenAI strike $1 billion deal to license characters for Sora AI video tool
The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI agree a three-year deal for Sora character licensing, but industry concerns remain over impact.
Telecom Italia moves to ditch costly savings shares after court victory
Telecom Italia moves to abolish savings shares following a legal win, sending savings stock higher and ordinary shares lower.
Network APIs hit a turning point in 2025, but risks and rewards remain uneven
Telecom network APIs reached a key inflection point in 2025, driven by standardisation efforts and partnerships, but security risks remain.
US delays chip tariffs on China until 2027 amid trade truce
Washington postpones new China chip tariffs to mid-2027 while addressing broader trade and supply-chain tensions.
AirTrunk boosts Melbourne with second large-scale data centre
AirTrunk commits over AUD 5 billion to build a second hyperscale data centre in Melbourne, expanding capacity to over 630 MW.
Shared rural network expands 4G coverage to 100 more rural UK masts
The UK Shared Rural Network has upgraded 100 more rural masts with 4G, improving coverage while raising questions about long-term impact.
SMSGlobal strengthens Australia’s messaging infrastructure
SMSGlobal’s messaging platform offers bulk SMS, APIs and email-to-SMS tools for reliable enterprise communications across global markets.
Member responses raise fresh questions over AFRINIC’s voter register
Member responses to an independent verification raise new doubts about the accuracy of AFRINIC’s voter register ahead of board elections.
Why centralised alternatives fail: The case for a decentralised internet registry
Lu Heng explains why centralised Internet registries fail and argues that decentralised systems are the only scalable path forward.
Calls grow for a clean break in APNIC governance
Lu Heng criticises APNIC governance, calling for leadership accountability and a clean break from past structures.
Stonepeak to acquire Baltic Tower business, creating first independent regional tower company
An independent tower company is set to emerge in Lithuania and Latvia as Stonepeak acquires TeleTower from Bitė Group.
ByteDance plans massive $23 billion AI investment to close gap with global tech rivals
ByteDance plans a $23bn AI capital spending push in 2026, highlighting rising competition and constraints facing Chinese tech firms globally.
Spain’s CESGA chooses IQM and Telefónica to deploy quantum computing infrastructure
CESGA partners with IQM and Telefónica to install two quantum computers in Spain by June 2026, boosting research and hybrid computing access.
WhatsApp raises concerns over reported service slowdown
WhatsApp raises concerns after reports of service slowdowns in Russia, highlighting rising pressure on foreign tech platforms.
SMARTSEL builds Selangor’s digital connectivity future
As a state-backed provider, SMARTSEL expands broadband networks and connectivity solutions to support Selangor’s smart digital plans.
CAIGA rewrites Africa’s IP rules without its resource holders
CAIGA proposals raise concerns over who controls IPv4 and IPv6 policy in Africa as AFRINIC’s governance crisis deepens.
Orange Polska and APG to buy fibre wholesaler Nexera
A strategic deal sees Orange Polska partner with APG to buy Nexera and expand high-capacity fibre networks in Poland.
2026 telecoms forecast: From quantum security to AI-driven capacity models
Telecom leaders predict 2026 will bring quantum-safe security, telco-trained AI and flexible capacity models reshaping global networks.
Bahrain becomes first GCC state to launch direct-to-device satellite services
Bahrain launches satellite direct-to-device services, enabling mobile phones to connect directly to satellites beyond terrestrial coverage.
South Western Railway trials Starlink satellite internet on trains
South Western Railway tests Starlink satellite internet on trains to tackle poor Wi-Fi and mobile coverage on UK routes.
Smartlink Broadband’s surge in Mumbai’s fiber market
Smartlink Broadband delivers high-speed fibre internet in Mumbai with up to 1 Gbps speed, local 24/7 support and OTT entertainment bundles.
SmartRams drives Japan’s custom software edge
SmartRams offers software development, secure cloud solutions and IT consulting, backed by ISO quality and security certifications in Japan.
If AFRINIC’s new board has nothing to hide, why is it so afraid of a simple factual question?
AFRINIC’s fierce response to basic factual questions reveals deeper governance anxieties, as NRS presses for transparency amid disputed board elections.
What Smart Africa’s statements on CAIGA reveal — and what they avoid
CAIGA rhetoric focuses on unity, while critics argue Smart Africa avoids addressing AFRINIC’s governance failures.
stc, Humain and Center3 advance AI-ready data centre
A new Saudi data centre partnership aims to support high-performance AI and cloud workloads in line with Vision 2030 goals.
HCLTech buys HPE telco unit to boost AI services
HCLTech acquires HPE’s telecom solutions unit for $160m, strengthening its push into AI-driven telecom services.
Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks forge nearly $10 billion AI security partnership
Google Cloud expands partnership with Palo Alto Networks in a nearly $10 billion AI security services deal, reshaping cloud competition.
TikTok signs long-awaited deal to divest U.S. unit to American investors
TikTok signs U.S. divestiture deal with American investors including Oracle, aiming to satisfy national security concerns and avoid a ban.
Quantum computing poses a dual challenge to Asia’s financial sector
Asia’s banks and payment networks face a quantum challenge: strong potential benefits but significant cryptographic vulnerabilities.
SmartDial Pty Ltd: AI-driven calling enhances business outreach
Australian company SmartDial delivers AI calling, automated outreach and smart dialer features for business communication and engagement.
Election delays threaten Africa’s internet growth
AFRINIC’s governance delays and annulled elections slow IP allocation and weaken trust in Africa’s internet growth.
AFRINIC
AFRINIC's next election depends on receiver authority, member eligibility, proxy controls, voting constraints, visible results, and dispute channels.
Africa’s digital future at risk: How Smart Africa may be deepening tech dependency
As Smart Africa expands its role, concerns grow that Africa’s internet governance is trading autonomy for coordination.
Smart Africa under scrutiny: Vision without governance
Africa’s digital vision clashes with governance failure as AFRINIC collapses and ICANN expands its influence.
Planzer boosts logistics efficiency with Huawei network solutions
Swiss logistics firm Planzer boosts efficiency with Huawei network solutions for faster, reliable operations across Europe.
India forecasts 1B 5G subscribers by 2030
India says it expects 1 billion 5G subscribers by 2030 as networks expand nationwide and demand for high-speed mobile grows.
Liberty Global sells UPC Slovakia in regional telecom shift
Liberty Global sells UPC Slovakia to e& PPF Telecom Group for €95m, signalling continued telecom consolidation in Central Europe.
Saudi Telecom Company and Humain target 1GW data centre build-out amid Kingdom’s digital push
STC signs MoU with Humain to explore up to 1GW of data centre capacity as Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital infrastructure ambitions.
Tampnet deploys real-time fibre sensing to protect subsea cables
Advanced sensing tech allows Tampnet to monitor subsea fibre conditions constantly, enhancing network resilience and proactive maintenance.
HTS Solutions India and the Cloud Autonomy Dilemma in a global tech landscape
HTS Solutions India offers cloud and hosting services, raising regional autonomy questions amid reliance on global digital systems.
HT media’s digital expansion: A media giant navigates autonomy and global influence
India’s HT Media expands digital reach across news, jobs and entertainment, spotlighting challenges in regional digital autonomy.
Smart Telecom competes in Pakistan’s telecom sector
Smart Telecom offers broadband, fibre connectivity and hosted PBX solutions in Pakistan, competing with major telecom providers.
Why CAIGA’s expansion is drawing international criticism
International criticism of CAIGA is mounting as experts warn it risks political capture and undermines global internet governance norms.
CAIGA’s failure to address data exploitation in Africa
CAIGA has failed to address data exploitation in Africa, raising concerns over digital sovereignty and institutional overreach.
Medusa subsea cable lands in Nador, highlighting connectivity gains and autonomy concerns
The Medusa subsea cable landing in Nador expands Mediterranean connectivity while highlighting debates on regional digital governance.