Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
AFRINIC’s election collapse: Courts overruled, ICANN intrudes
African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC)’s 2025 board election was supposed to be a turning point. After three years without formal leadership, the vote was meant to restore governance and credibility to Africa’s sole Regional Internet Registry. Instead, it exposed a deepening conflict between j…
Germany accuses Russia of using Red for disinformation
Germany accuses Russia of using Red media platform for disinformation to influence public opinion and divide society.
Paramount settlement with Trump criticized by FCC commissioner
What happened: Paramount settles lawsuit with Trump amid FCC backlash Paramount Global has settled a lawsuit with Donald Trump over a 2021 dispute involving the cancellation of his commentary show by its former property, Comedy Central. The legal case stemmed from Trump’s claim that ViacomCBS, Param…
Noem and Trump threaten CNN over immigration app report
What happened: Noem and Trump threaten legal action against CNN over ICE-blocking app report Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former President Trump have announced their intention to explore legal proceedings against CNN for reporting on the “ICEBlock” app, which alerts users to nearby im…
Samsung and Orange France trial 4G & 5G on virtualised RAN
Samsung and Orange France successfully completed 4G/5G virtualised RAN network tests, advancing future network development.
The story of AFRINIC: How Africa’s internet ideal was destroyed from within
AFRINIC won’t be a word many people, even in the various internet communities around the world, will recognise. But for those that have been following this tale of managerial incompetence and political warfare, that word will elicit groans of exasperation. AFRINIC is one of the five Regional Interne…
Authors sue Microsoft over AI training using their books
What happened: Authors sue Microsoft over unauthorised AI training Authors have filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging that the tech giant improperly used their books to train artificial intelligence models. This legal action highlights concerns over copyright infringement and the ethical impli…
UAE rolls out HyperCloud to secure government digital assets
Du launches National HyperCloud to deliver sovereign cloud services for UAE’s government, ensuring full local compliance and data control.
DRW: A Multi-Asset Trading Powerhouse in Singapore
DRW: Tech-Driven Global Trading Founded in 1992 by Don Wilson, DRW has grown into a multi-asset trading firm that spans traditional and emerging markets. It uses advanced technology and quantitative research to provide liquidity across ETFs, derivatives, crypto, energy, and agricultural markets.…
AFRINIC election scandal: Staff caught removing ballots against bylaws
How the scandal unfolded during the 2025 AFRINIC election During the 23 June 2025 board election held in Mauritius, a member of AFRINIC’s election committee reportedly breached confidentiality by removing a Power of Attorney (PoA) from the ballot room. According to reports, this person then contacte…
AFRINIC election staff accused of detaining voters inside ballot room
Timeline of events inside the ballot room During the recent, much lamented board of directors election for AFRINIC in Mauritius, some voters said they were not allowed to leave the ballot room for almost two hours. This report has caused concern about voter rights, clear rules, and fairness during t…
How AFRINIC violated its own election rules during ballot handling
AFRINIC elections violated rules through staff interference, proxy mismanagement, poor transparency, and weakened oversight.
OpenAI clarifies Robinhood tokens are not real equity
What happened: ChatGPT error leads to confusion over Robinhood tokens OpenAI has issued a clarification stating that Robinhood’s HOOD tokens, which were referenced in responses by ChatGPT, are synthetic assets and not actual equity. The correction came after users flagged misinformation in AI-genera…
Google Fiber uses Nokia’s 50G tech to boost network speeds
Google Fiber adopts Nokia’s 50G PON tech to deliver 50Gbps speeds and prepare for high-bandwidth internet services.
Paramount directors face re-election opposition amid merger
What happened: Shareholder adviser flags issues with Paramount board and structure Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended that shareholders vote against four Paramount Global directors, including Chair Shari Redstone. The advice comes ahead of the company’s annual meeting in early …
Indian Sellers Leverage Nationalism After Prada Scandal
Indian sellers are capitalising on a wave of nationalist sentiment to boost product sales following the Prada sandal scandal. The move is part of a larger trend of locally focused marketing efforts aimed at capitalising on rising consumer pride. What Happened:Prada Scandal Sparks Nationalist Backlas…
Orange Business focuses on defence with new cybersecurity unit
What happened: Orange Business targets defence and security with new unit Orange Business, a prominent telecom services provider, has launched a dedicated unit focused on providing cybersecurity solutions to the defence and security industries. This new division aims to meet the growing demand for a…
Building inclusion into the digital core
What happened: Building inclusion into the digital core Inclusion in technology is about ensuring that everyone has equal access to digital services and can participate in the opportunities technology provides. This includes everything from accessible website design to hiring diverse teams who bring…
Datacloud USA opens power 50 nominations
What happened: Power 50 Launches to Recognise Infrastructure Leaders Datacloud USA officially launched the inaugural Power 50 list this week, opening nominations to spotlight individuals and teams leading innovation in data centres, digital infrastructure, energy efficiency, and sustainability. Org…
Nokia’s Enscryb secures key partner and customers
Nokia’s Enscryb platform partners with NODES and signs its first customers to enhance energy system management.
Rural UK hits 95% 4G coverage early, focus now on blackspots
What happened：Network milestone UK mobile operators, under the Shared Rural Network (SRN), reached over 95% national 4G landmass coverage by July 1, 2025, a year earlier than planned. The SRN is a £1 billion ($1.24 billion) public‑private programme launched by the government and telcos in 2020. It i…
IRRI: Science behind Rice Innovation
What is the International Rice Research Institute: IRRI’s mission and global reach The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), established in 1960 and headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, is a non-profit research and education institution. It is part of the CGIAR system. IRRI focuses on re…
Digital Realty adds AWS links in Singapore and Johannesburg
What happened: ServiceFabric expands with AWS routes in Singapore and Johannesburg Digital Realty has expanded its ServiceFabric connectivity platform by launching two new AWS Direct Connect on-ramps in Singapore and Johannesburg. These routes allow businesses in these areas to access Amazon Web Ser…
Europe’s leap: 76 bids flood in for $23B gigafactories
• 76 proposals submitted across 16 EU countries for AI “gigafactories”.• Applicants pledge to install at least 3 million high-end AI chips. What happened: Large wave of interest has hit the EU’s flagship AI gigafactory plan The European Union’s ambitious plan to build its own large-scale AI infrastr…
Deutsche Telekom sets up sovereign cloud unit
Deutsche Telekom forms new cloud division to boost European data sovereignty and serve public sector clients securely.
As ICANN threatens to ‘review’ AFRINIC, an elected board is its only hope for survival
A letter from the CEO of ICANN, Kurt Lindqvist, to Gowtamsingh Dabee, the Official Receiver in place at AFRINIC, the internet registry for Africa, should alarm anyone who thinks the rightful place for Africa’s IP address administration is in Mauritius. That letter tells us one thing clearly: it is e…
AFRINIC election annulled and re-run set for September – but is a do-over the best path forward?
Mauritius court extends AFRINIC board election deadline to 30 September 2025 after voiding earlier vote due to proxy misuse.
Vodafone Idea adds 5G services in 23 more Indian cities
Vi brings 5G to 23 Indian cities but still trails Airtel and Jio due to funding issues and delayed rollout plans.
Microsoft AI outperforms doctors in diagnosing complex cases
What happened: Microsoft’s new AI diagnoses complex medical cases better than doctors Microsoft introduced its AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI‑DxO), which uses a ‘chain‑of‑debate’ approach with multiple AI agents—powered by OpenAI’s o3 model—to tackle complex medical cases. In tests using 304 case s…
Trump criticises AT&T for conference call glitch
What happened: Trump calls on AT&T to fix issues after large-scale virtual event Former President Trump posted on Truth Social that AT&T “blew” a big conference call with faith leaders. He said the call had 8,000 to 10,000 entities and started about 20 minutes late. Trump said this was the secon…
EE launches stream mode via WiFi Enhancer service
EE adds Stream Mode to its WiFi Enhancer service. Users can now boost streaming quality of Twitch and YouTube at home.
AFRINIC election ‘fraud’? Where’s the evidence, and who will face justice?
The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) has once again descended into controversy after its 2025 board election was abruptly halted, then annulled, amid allegations of vote tampering, disputed powers of attorney (PoAs), and procedural misconduct. The incident has triggered a criminal compla…
AFRINIC election suspended over one ghost vote: Over-reaction or hidden agenda?
AFRINIC suspended its election over one unused vote, sparking controversy and raising suspicions of manipulation and lack of transparency.
HPE clears $14B Juniper deal with DOJ settlement
What happened: DOJ approves with strings On June 30, 2025, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) announced it had reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), removing a major antitrust roadblock to its $14 billion all-cash acquisition of Juniper Networks. The DOJ had previously filed…
PLDT Global grows digital reach for overseas Filipinos
PLDT Global’s strategy: Expanding tools for connection PLDT Global Corporation (PGC), the international arm of PLDT Inc., is working to connect more Filipinos overseas with simple and fast mobile services. The company offers Smart Virtual Numbers (SVNs) and eSIMs to help users stay in touch with fam…
Robinhood promotes crypto arm at Cannes Lions event
What happened: Robinhood stages crypto showcase at luxury French venue Robinhood hosted a high-profile crypto event at the 2025 Cannes Lions festival, gathering advertising and tech leaders at the exclusive Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc. The event was part of Robinhood’s broader push to spotlight its crypto…
Zain KSA appoints Saad AlSadhan as CEO to lead digital shift
Zain KSA names Saad AlSadhan as CEO to lead growth in cloud services, 5G, and enterprise digital solutions.
AFRINIC staff violated obligations during 2025 election
A member of the AFRINIC election committee broke confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations when she took a Power Of Attorney (POA) document out of the ballot room, and called the resource holder. This is the allegation made by sources close to the events, taking place in Mauritius over the past…
AFRINIC election crisis triggered by one proxy: The phantom vote that spiraled out of control
The ‘phantom proxy’ vote: Origin, timeline, dispute AFRINIC, the African Network Information Centre based in Mauritius, held its long-delayed board election on 23 June 2025. Hundreds of members participated, many assigning voting rights via powers of attorney (POAs) to proxies. The most prominent pr…
AFRINIC election staff calling voters: A breach of confidentiality
AFRINIC suspends 2025 election after staff contacted a voter, raising concerns over proxy voting and confidentiality rules.
AFRINIC election undermined by government: When the ministry meddles
In the recent AFRINIC elections, that were meant to re-establish a functioning board for the Regional Internet Registry, there was a notable intervention by a usually quiet actor – the Mauritian Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT). This intervention by a public body in a pri…
Iran bans Starlink satellite internet amid censorship concerns
What happened: Iran bans Starlink amid fears over foreign influence and unauthorised internet access Iran’s parliament has passed a law making the use, sale or possession of Starlink satellite internet illegal, citing fears of “foreign influence” and unauthorised access. The government argues that t…
AFRINIC election and ICANN overreach: Jurisdiction lost
ICANN disputed AFRINIC’s 2025 election after a court backed the receiver, raising concerns about centralised Internet control.
AFRINIC Election Scandal: Unmasking Corruption in Leadership Selections
AFRINIC election integrity questioned after staff, NomCom, and government interference allegations. Calls for reforms and an independent investigation into AFRINIC’s election processes grow louder. What happened: AFRINIC Election Manipulation Allegations AFRINIC, Africa’s key internet registry, is a…
Neo-Tech Asia: Trusted ICT distributor
Neo-Tech Asia Distribution Inc. delivers ICT hardware and system integration across wireless, security, cloud and automation solutions.
APNIC at INNOG 8 and IISPC 2025
APNIC participated in INNOG 8 and IISPC 2025, discussing network automation, IPv6 adoption, and cybersecurity.
ICANN83 GAC sets Internet policy focus on DNS abuse
What happened: GAC releases post-ICANN83 recommendations The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) has published its official communique following the ICANN83 meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey. The document outlines key policy concerns from governments and intergovernmental organisations relating to …
Turkcell partners with Juniper on Quantum‑Key 5G protection
What happened：Project launch & quantum‑safe encryption Turkcell announced on June 26, 2025, that it teamed up with Juniper Networks and ID Quantique to complete a proof‑of‑concept (PoC) quantum‑safe 5G security trial. The PoC used quantum key distribution (QKD) alongside Juniper’s IPsec and MACsec f…
iManila powers digital growth in the Philippines
• iManila provides full-service web, hosting, and digital marketing solutions• It faces rising cybersecurity and AI-driven industry changes iManila growth story: From ISP to digital agency iManila started in 1996 under the name Internet Manila. It was one of the country’s first internet service prov…
Hinduja TMT Ltd: Technology and business process leader
Hinduja TMT Ltd provided global IT, BPO and telecom services. It expanded through acquisition and rebranded as Hinduja Ventures.