Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
TectumKeys brings quantum-level security to key generation
TectumKeys uses physical entropy and air-gapped hardware to generate ultra-secure cryptographic keys resistant to quantum threats.
Nokia and Bittium test hybrid network for Finnish military
What happened: Nokia and Bittium test secure tactical network for Finnish military Bittium and Nokia have successfully demonstrated a hybrid tactical communications network for the Finnish Defence Forces. The trial, carried out in early 2025, tested the integration of Bittium’s Tough SDR radios and …
Top tech news today: May 5, 2025
1. Telefónica considers cutting 5,000 jobs in Spain Telefónica is evaluating a major workforce reduction of up to 5,000 jobs in Spain as part of cost-cutting measures in response to market pressures. (Economic Times) 2. Apple’s India pivot redefines global supply Apple is accelerating its manufactur…
LINX124 Conference 2025: 30th anniversary & global tech networking
30th anniversary celebrations & agenda highlights The LINX124 Member Meeting & AGM, held from 2nd–3rd June 2025 at London’s Convene venue, commemorates LINX’s 30th anniversary. Attendees will explore operational updates, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and keynote speeches reflecting on thre…
UK boards warned against unrealistic AI expectations
What happened: UK tech leaders caution boards against overestimating AI capabilities A recent study by IDC, commissioned by Expereo, reveals that nearly 40% of UK technology leaders believe their boards have unrealistic expectations regarding AI’s impact on business performance. The survey, which in…
China enforces strict ‘minors mode’ across digital platforms
What happened China has formally enacted a sweeping ‘minors mode’ regulation requiring all smart devices, platforms and online services to implement restrictions for users under 18. The mandate includes time limits, age-appropriate content filtering, and educational prompts rooted in socialist value…
International Telecoms Week 2025: Key highlights to look forward to
BTW Media is excited to announce our participation in the International Telecoms Week 2025, taking place from 4 to 7 May at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. This highly anticipated event brings together industry leaders, visionaries, and innovators from across …
Cloudflare outage cuts power to thousands in Spain and Portugal
A Cloudflare BGP error disrupts power and emergency services across Spain and Portugal, revealing infrastructure risks in digital routing.
Venmo gains ground as Cash App stumbles
What happened Venmo, PayPal’s mobile payments app, is seeing a resurgence in popularity, reporting stronger-than-expected growth in total payment volume in early 2025. According to earnings released by PayPal, Venmo saw double-digit growth, driven by increased user engagement, strategic integrations…
Top tech news today: May 2, 2025
1. Tech firms brace for recession Tech companies are advised to streamline operations, prioritise essential projects, and build financial resilience to weather potential economic downturns. Strategic planning and agility are key to survival. (InformationWeek) 2. Google adds ads to AI chats Google is…
Digital catapult joins 6G project to boost connectivity
Digital Catapult joins a European 6G project to develop AI-driven, sustainable connectivity solutions for the future.
Three eSIM trial for businesses launches in Birmingham and Bristol
Three UK offers a 30-day eSIM trial for businesses to test its 5G network alongside their current provider.
IP address allocation for individuals: Should RIRs do more?
ARIN community discusses the feasibility of allocating IP addresses to individuals A lively discussion has emerged within the ARIN community regarding the possibility of allocating IP addresses to individuals directly from RIRs. Historically, RIRs such as ARIN have allocated IP resources to business…
American Airlines offers free Wi-Fi to attract connected travellers
What happened: American Airlines offers free Wi-Fi to improve passenger experience American Airlines has announced the launch of free Wi-Fi on its flights, aiming to enhance the travel experience for its passengers. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to attract tech-savvy travellers who i…
Interview with Eduardo Silva, Global Vice President of Telecommunications at Vyntelligence: How AI video auditing reduced telecom defect rates by 68%
At Connected North 2025, we were speaking with Eduardo Silva, Global Vice President of Telecommunications at Vyntelligence. Standing at the intersection of AI and video technology, he is working to solve the telecom industry’s most challenging ‘generational gap’—how can new engineers quickly take on…
Fintech stocks surge on earnings and upgrades
What happened: Fintech sector sees positive movement Fintech stocks were in focus on Tuesday as several companies reported earnings and received analyst upgrades. Shift4 Payments saw its shares rise more than 10% after reporting first-quarter results that exceeded expectations and raising its full-y…
FCC updates satellite power rules and opens 37 GHz band
What happened: FCC modernises satellite power limits and introduces shared access in 37 GHz band FCC unanimously approved proposals to update satellite power regulations and establish a shared licensing framework for the 37–37.6 GHz frequency band. The move aims to reflect advancements in satellite …
Top tech news today: 30 April, 2025
Latest tech news including fintech earnings, Rivada’s expansion, IBM’s quantum investment, and Vodafone’s IoT projects.
Octopus Group plans expansion into UK mobile market
What happened: Octopus Group eyes mobile market to expand its integrated service offering Octopus Group, known for its leadership in the UK energy and tech sectors, is exploring the possibility of entering the highly competitive mobile market. According to recent reports, the company is considering …
Intel reports $821M loss, despite modest Q1 performance
What happened: Intel’s Q1 performance shows modest revenue growth, but the company faces ongoing financial struggles Intel‘s Q1 earnings report shows a modest revenue increase, but the company is still grappling with significant financial losses. The tech giant reported a net loss of $821 million fo…
Ossoff calls for Trump impeachment over crypto dinner
What happened: Ossoff backs Trump impeachment over memecoin dinner United States Senator Jon Ossoff has voiced strong support for impeaching President Donald Trump, following revelations about a private dinner planned for top holders of Trump’s cryptocurrency, the TRUMP memecoin. Speaking during an …
New SEC Chair backs pro-Innovation crypto reforms
What happened: SEC shifts to crypto innovation On just his fourth day in office, newly appointed Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins outlined a pro-innovation stance on cryptocurrency regulation, marking a major policy pivot from the Biden-era focus on enforcement. Speaking at…
Telefónica Tech joins SpyCloud to boost cyber intelligence
Telefónica Tech partners with SpyCloud to boost cyber intelligence and protect against identity cyber threats for businesses.
DePIN tokens: The future of sovereign digital reserves
What happened: US and global shift towards DePIN tokens for decentralized infrastructure The conversation around digital assets in government reserves is evolving, with countries like the US taking significant steps towards adopting decentralized technologies. President Donald Trump’s recent executi…
Interactive Brokers Singapore: Upgrades IBKR desktop for traders
Interactive Brokers Singapore upgrades IBKR Desktop with new tools, multi-monitor support, and overnight trading access.
Citi Private Bank: Expands philanthropy advisory services in Singapore
Citi Private Bank Singapore unveils philanthropy advisory services to meet rising demand among Asia’s ultra-wealthy.
Revolut reaches $1B profit milestone
What happened: Revolut achieves significant profit growth British fintech firm Revolut has announced that it achieved over $1 billion in annual profit for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the company. Revolut, which offers a range of banking and financial services via an app, repo…
Fintech earnings under tariff threat
What happened: Fintech firms face tariff-driven uncertainty PayPal, Block and Affirm are preparing to report their latest earnings amid growing investor concerns over the potential impact of President Trump’s tariffs on consumer spending. Markets have been volatile at the start of the year, largely …
FreeMove Alliance partners with du to boost UAE connectivity
FreeMove Alliance partners with UAE operator du to expand global mobile connectivity for multinational enterprise customers.
Indian IT firms hit by US tariff war
What happened: Project delays amid tariff uncertainty The ongoing US tariff war is having a significant impact on Indian IT services firms, leading to project delays and a slowdown in decision-making. Companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro are reporting increased uncer…
NEX Corporate: Redefining IT support in Singapore
NEX CorporateIT delivers innovative IT outsourcing and tailored support services, helping Singapore businesses stay secure and agile.
Bitcoin steadies amid economic and geopolitical strains
What happened: Bitcoin holds firm despite market headwinds Bitcoin (BTC) maintained its position near $95,000 on Monday, demonstrating resilience in the face of disappointing U.S. economic indicators and escalating geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. The cryptocurrency’s stability come…
Tether maintains stablecoin lead amid rising competition
What happened: Tether maintains market lead with strong on-chain activity Tether’s USDt continues to dominate the stablecoin market, despite facing growing competition from emerging issuers, according to a new report from Web3 research firm Nansen. As of 25 April, USDt holds around 66% of the market…
Standard chartered predicts Bitcoin to hit $120K in Q2
What happened: Bitcoin set to reach 120K in Q2 standard chartered predicts Bitcoin (BTC-USD) is projected to hit new record highs. Analysts at Standard Chartered predict it could reach $120K by the end of Q2. This forecast suggests a 25% rise from its current value of around $95K. The bullish outloo…
Thunes raises $150M to expand global payments network
What happened: Thunes raises $150M in series D to expand global payments network Thunes, a Singapore-headquartered global payments FinTech, has raised $150 million in its largest funding round to date. The Series D funding was led by private equity firms Apis Partners and Vitruvian Partners. This ca…
Orange and Camusat force to accelerate telecom decarbonisation
Orange partners with Camusat to cut supply chain emissions and accelerate telecom infrastructure decarbonisation by 2040.
CME Group Singapore: Powering derivatives access across Asia
Embracing digital transformation in trading CME Group has long been at the forefront of integrating advanced technology into its services, and CME Group Singapore Operations Pte. Ltd. further exemplifies that commitment. Through its regional presence, the company offers investors access to some of t…
Sablier V2 now live on Arbitrum
Sablier launches V2 on Arbitrum, enhancing real-time DeFi payment streaming with lower fees, scalability, and improved user control.
M360 LATAM 2025: Connecting Latin America’s digital future in Mexico city
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the M360 LATAM 2025 event stands out as a pivotal gathering for technology enthusiasts and industry leaders. Scheduled for May 28-29, 2025, in Mexico City, this event promises to be a vibrant platform for discussions around the transformative power of AI…
Intel and Arqit boost quantum-safe security with cloud-based solution
UK-based Arqit and Intel unveil CloudSec+, a next-gen quantum-safe cloud security platform using Intel’s innovative FPGA technology
Ethio Telecom IPO struggles to attract investors as hopes fade
Ethio Telecom’s IPO raises just $150 million, revealing weak investor confidence in Ethiopia’s telecoms reform plans.
China trains trillion-parameter AI model on local chips
What happened: China Telecom achieves AI milestone with domestically trained 1-trillion-parameter model China Telecom‘s Institute of AI announced the successful training of a large language model (LLM) comprising one trillion parameters, utilizing tens of thousands of domestically produced chips. Th…
Octopus-backed firm plans new UK mobile service
What happened: Octopus-backed Fern plans MVNO launch in UK mobile market Fern Trading, a subsidiary of Octopus Group, is reportedly preparing to enter the UK mobile market by launching a new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) under the name Y Corporation. The planned MVNO aims to offer SIM-only …
Tether’s gold-backed XAUT hits $770M
Tether announces that its XAUT stablecoin is backed by 77 tons of gold, valued at $770 million, securely stored in a Swiss vault.
Marco Santori joins Pantera Capital
Marco Santori joins Pantera Capital to strengthen its position in the evolving regulatory landscape of cryptocurrencies.
BKNIX Peering Forum 2025: Key highlights
The BKNIX Peering Forum 2025 in Bangkok will bring together experts to discuss peering, security, and internet infrastructure.
Bitcoin whales increase holdings
Bitcoin whales add over 47,000 BTC in a week as Michael Saylor hints at another MicroStrategy Bitcoin purchase.
Fujitsu spins off telecoms network unit to boost global expansion
What happened: Fujitsu establishes 1Finity to consolidate telecoms network assets Fujitsu announced plans to spin off its telecoms infrastructure business into a wholly-owned subsidiary named 1Finity. Set to launch in July, 1Finity will integrate Fujitsu’s optical transmission portfolio, O-RAN-compl…
Orange Q1 revenue rises 0.6% on MEA growth
What happened: Orange Q1 2025 revenue up 0.6% as MEA growth offsets France decline Orange reported Q1 2025 revenues of €9.91 billion, marking a 0.6% year-on-year increase. This growth was primarily driven by a 12.8% revenue rise in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, attributed to strong perfor…
CommunicAsia 2025: The future of tech in Asia
CommunicAsia 2025 brings together tech leaders to explore future trends in 5G, AI, cloud, and digital connectivity.