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Briefing Desk

Latest Briefings

Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Cloud Services Trends

In this section: 16 briefings

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. WhatsApp raises concerns over reported service slowdown

    WhatsApp raises concerns after reports of service slowdowns in Russia, highlighting rising pressure on foreign tech platforms.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Latin America and Caribbean Trends / Latin America and Caribbean National Telecom Trends

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. Telefónica Tech partners Hiberus for Latin America growth

    A new Telefónica Tech–Hiberus alliance targets digital transformation and enterprise IT growth in Latin America.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Asia-Pacific Trends / Asia-Pacific Cloud Services Trends

In this section: 8 briefings

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Datacenter Trends

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Europe and Middle East Trends / Europe and Middle East Cloud Services Trends

In this section: 6 briefings

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Planzer boosts logistics efficiency with Huawei network solutions

    Swiss logistics firm Planzer boosts efficiency with Huawei network solutions for faster, reliable operations across Europe.

  6. 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.

Coverage

Governance / RIR Watchdog / AFRINIC / Story

In this section: 4 briefings

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. AFRINIC

    AFRINIC's next election depends on receiver authority, member eligibility, proxy controls, voting constraints, visible results, and dispute channels.

Coverage

Governance / CASE FILE

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. 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.

Coverage

Governance / RIR Watchdog / APNIC / Story

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Europe and Middle East Trends / Europe and Middle East National Telecom Trends

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Africa Trends / Africa Institutional Trends

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Europe and Middle East Trends / Europe and Middle East Regional ISP Trends

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Regional ISP Trends

In this section: 3 briefings

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Africa Trends / Africa Cloud Services Trends

In this section: 3 briefings

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Smart Africa under scrutiny: Vision without governance

    Africa’s digital vision clashes with governance failure as AFRINIC collapses and ICANN expands its influence.

Coverage

Market / Trends / North America Trends / North America Cloud Services Trends

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Europe and Middle East Trends / Europe and Middle East Datacenter Trends

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. 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.

Coverage

Market / Trends / Asia-Pacific Trends / Asia-Pacific Regional ISP Trends

In this section: 1 briefing

  1. 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.