Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Craig Wright gets suspended sentence for court contempt
What happened: Craig Wright sentenced for court contempt Craig Wright, who claims to be the creator of Bitcoin, has been sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for contempt of court. This ruling follows his blatant violation of a March 2024 court injunction that barred him from ma…
IANA to host webinar on PTI 2025–2030 Draft Strategic Plan
What happened: Discuss PTI 2025–2030 draft strategic plan The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is hosting a public webinar on January 14, 2025, at 16:00 UTC to discuss its strategic plan for 2025–2030. This session will focus on IANA’s proposed strategic objectives for the Public Technical…
Top tech news today: December 23, 2024
Tech News Summaries 1. UK fraudsters sentenced after stealing £220,000 via SIM farm scheme Two individuals in the UK have been sentenced for orchestrating a SIM farm fraud scheme that led to the theft of £220,000. The fraudsters targeted mobile networks for illicit gains. The Fintech Times 2. Paymob…
Tech leaders gather at Digital Infrastructure International Cooperation Conference in Beijing
What happened: Tech execs discuss IT future at GIDCC in Beijing The Digital Infrastructure International Cooperation Conference, hosted by IDCNova, recently concluded in Beijing, drawing an impressive roster of global leaders from the data centre, cloud computing, and telecommunications industries. …
Vodafone and Google boost upload speeds on Pixel devices with advanced 5G tech
Vodafone and Google boost upload speeds on Pixel phones with 5G MIMO and Uplink Carrier Aggregation
Crypto crash: Bitcoin, XRP, and Dogecoin lose $1.17B
Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies face a severe correction with losses up to 20%, leading to $1.17 billion in liquidations
Nokia and e& UAE launch first gaming network slicing solution
What happened: New fixed end-to-end solution enhances gaming with dedicated network slices Nokia and e& UAE have introduced the world’s first end-to-end network slicing solution specifically designed for gaming. This innovative technology enables telecom operators to automatically create dedicated n…
One NZ claims direct-to-cell milestone over T-Mobile US
What happened: One NZ launches Starlink powered Satellite TXT service beating T-Mobile US in direct to cell technology One New Zealand (One NZ) has launched its Satellite TXT service, becoming the first telecommunications company globally to offer direct-to-cell communication via SpaceX’s Starlink n…
LACNIC’s NRO RPKI program: Highlights and goals
What happened: LACNIC enhances RPKI program security Earlier this year, LACNIC launched the NRO RPKI Program, aiming to enhance the security and resilience of Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) services. The programme’s primary goal is to raise awareness within the technical community about t…
KT boosts network speeds with Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 tech
What happened: KT enhances network with Ciena’s WL6e KT Corporation has officially adopted Ciena’s WL6e solution following successful trials that demonstrated impressive data transmission speeds. During these tests, KT achieved speeds of 1.2 Terabytes per second (Tb/s) on a long-distance route betwe…
BT triumphs in $1.6B lawsuit despite claims of excessive pricing
What happened: BT faces class action lawsuit outcome The UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has ruled on a class action lawsuit against BT, which sought compensation for excessively high prices charged to standalone fixed-line phone customers from 2009 to 2017. Although the tribunal found BT’s p…
US boosts telecom security with new Rip and Replace funding
What happened: Telecommunications challenges in Rip and Replace initiative. The recent US$895 billion defence spending package includes significant provisions for the telecommunications sector, particularly through the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, commonly known …
New Zealand reduces merchant service fees on card payments
What happened: Commerce Commission addresses Google Pay fees New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has announced a draft decision to cut merchant service fees businesses pay when accepting Visa and Mastercard payments. These fees, which total nearly $1 billion annually, are a significant cost for busine…
Binance Alpha launches to spotlight early crypto projects
What happened: Binance Alpha debuts in Binance Wallet Binance, the leading cryptocurrency exchange ecosystem, has launched Binance Alpha, a new feature within Binance Wallet (formerly Binance Web3 Wallet). Binance Alpha is designed to spotlight early-stage cryptocurrency projects that could later be…
Eutelsat expands OneWeb constellation with new 5G satellites
What happened: New satellites to boost OneWeb’s 5G and IRIS2 integration Eutelsat has announced plans to expand its OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation with new satellites, set for delivery by the end of 2026. The upgraded constellation, built in collaboration with Airbus, will enha…
Solv Protocol to debut native token on Hyperliquid
What happened: Solv Protocol to debut native token on Hyperliquid Solv Protocol, a prominent Bitcoin DeFi project, has revealed its plans to launch a native token on Hyperliquid, a decentralized trading platform. The move marks a significant milestone in Solv’s mission to bring innovative financial …
Parafin secures $100M in Series C to expand embedded finance
What happened: Parafin raises $100M to scale embedded finance solutions Parafin, a US-based embedded finance fintech, has successfully closed a $100 million Series C funding round. The investment was led by a mix of existing backers and new investors, underscoring growing interest in embedded financ…
DeFi 2.0: The next wave of decentralized finance innovation
One year ago, the DeFi space was defined by its rapid growth and breakthrough innovations. Now, with the emergence of DeFi 2.0, the industry is undergoing a transformation, as new advancements aim to solve the challenges that arose from the first wave of decentralized finance. But how successful wil…
Private Credit: The fintech engine driving growth, or a looming risk?
When Sarah Nguyen, the owner of a small digital design firm in Austin, Texas, faced a sudden cash crunch during the pandemic, traditional banks turned her away due to her lack of collateral. Private Credit from a Fintech platform was her only lifeline. The funds, although expensive with a 15% intere…
RIPE NCC publishes Q1 2025 development plans
What happened: RIPE NCC shares quarterly plans for Q1 2025 RIPE NCC has revealed its Q1 2025 quarterly plans, providing a comprehensive outline of its development priorities. These plans aim to ensure transparency while inviting feedback from members and the broader internet community. Key focus are…
Arthur Hayes predicts crypto dump at Trump’s inauguration
What happened: Arthur Hayes warns of a market drop Arthur Hayes, co-founder of Bitmex, has made a bold prediction for the cryptocurrency market, forecasting a significant downturn around President Trump’s inauguration day. In his recent opinion piece, “Trump Truth,” Hayes suggests that the recent gr…
ARIN locks inactive accounts without multifactor authentication
What happened: ARIN strengthens security by locking inactive accounts The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) has enforced a security measure locking ARIN Online accounts that lack multifactor authentication (MFA) and have been inactive for a prolonged period. This step, effective from Oct…
Bulgarian market joins EU’s Target Instant Payment Settlement service
What happened: Bulgaria integrates with EU’s TIPS system The Bulgarian financial market has officially joined the European Union’s Target Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) service, a key milestone in the country’s payment infrastructure modernization. TIPS, a real-time payment system, facilitates in…
Top tech news today: December 20, 2024
Tech News Summaries 1. Binance launches Binance Alpha to spotlight new projects Binance introduces Binance Alpha, a platform designed to identify and highlight upcoming blockchain and crypto projects with strong potential for growth and innovation. The Fintech Times 2. New Zealand reduces merchant f…
BT reveals Brits embrace multitasking during events
What happened: BT finds Brits multitasking during events BT‘s recent Network Wrapped study reveals a shift in how British internet users engage with cultural events, as over 35% admit to multitasking across multiple screens. This trend particularly highlights the rise of “split-screening,” where ind…
Sparkle and Fincantieri partner to secure subsea networks
What happened: Sparkle and Fincantieri collaborate on subsea security Sparkle has teamed up with Fincantieri to bolster the security of vital subsea infrastructures through innovative monitoring solutions. This partnership, formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding, aims to enhance the resilience …
Avara’s Lens raises $31M for SocialFi blockchain launch
What happened: Avara’s Lens Secures $31M for Blockchain Avara‘s Lens, a layer-2 blockchain tailored for SocialFi, has raised $31 million in a funding round led by Lightspeed Faction. This investment is earmarked for scaling its network infrastructure ahead of the planned mainnet launch in early 2025…
Jared Isaacman leads NASA amidst crypto rise
What happened: Shift4 founder leads NASA amidst crypto success Shift4 founder Jared Isaacman, a fintech billionaire and accomplished spaceflight commander, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to lead NASA. Isaacman, who commanded the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission earlier this year, is k…
Indonesia courts Elon Musk for xAI data centres in Southeast Asia
What happened: Indonesia Seeks xAI Partnership with Musk Indonesian officials are actively pursuing Elon Musk to establish his xAI startup in Southeast Asia, focusing on building new data centres in the country. According to The Wall Street Journal, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, a government advisor and …
SpaceX gains new FAA licence for exciting Starship mission
What happened: SpaceX secures FAA licence for testing The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a licence modification for SpaceX‘s next test flight of the Starship. This authorisation allows the company to conduct multiple missions under the Flight 7 mission profile, granted just week…
Intel hit with new lawsuit over foundry struggles
What happened: Intel Faces Shareholder Lawsuit Over Foundry Intel, the beleaguered chipmaker, is facing another lawsuit from shareholders regarding its struggling foundry business. This derivative lawsuit targets former CEO Pat Gelsinger, interim co-CEO/CFO David Zinsner, and several board members. …
Sygnum partners with Moomoo Singapore to offer crypto fund
Sygnum Singapore partners with Moomoo Singapore to offer its actively managed Digital Asset Multi-Manager Fund
Leap Financial raises $3.5M seed round to transform remittances
Leap Financial raises $3.5M seed round led by Fuel Venture Capital to revolutionise remittances with its AI-powered.
Taiwan in talks to tap Amazon’s Project Kuiper space broadband
What happened: Taiwan explores partnership with Amazon’s Kuiper for satellite broadband Taiwan is currently in discussions with Amazon about using its Project Kuiper satellite broadband service. The talks were confirmed by Cheng-Wen Wu, Taiwan’s Minister for the National Science and Technology Counc…
Nokia, Charité, and Fraunhofer explore sub-THz for health monitoring
What happened: Medical sensing tech using sub-THz frequencies Fraunhofer HHI, Charité, and Nokia Bell Labs have partnered to explore how sub-terahertz (sub-THz) frequencies can be used to monitor human vital signs remotely. Sub-THz frequencies (90 GHz to 300 GHz) offer high-resolution spatial scans,…
NRO highlights progress in RPKI Program for 2024
What happened: NRO reviews 2024 RPKI achievements The Number Resource Organization (NRO) has released a year-end update on its Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) Program, showcasing significant progress in enhancing the security and reliability of internet routing. Launched earlier this year,…
Temenos-Taurus boosts bank digital services
What happened: Taurus integration accelerates service launch Temenos, a leader in banking software, has announced the integration of its platform with Taurus, a blockchain technology company specializing in digital asset solutions. This strategic integration significantly reduces the time required f…
IPTP Networks and Velo Technologies forge partnership with MoU
IPTP Networks and Velo Technologies solidified their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at IPTP Networks’ office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This agreement signifies a strengthened partnership aimed at fostering innovation and growth across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Euro…
Protect your privacy: Managing your digital footprint
Discover how digital footprints impact your privacy and learn actionable steps to manage your online presence.
RIPE NCC urges resource reviews ahead of 2025 changes
What happened: RIPE NCC shares IPv4 stats, urges resource review RIPE NCC, the Regional Internet Registry for Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia, has announced key updates for its members as 2024 draws to a close. Members are advised to review and update billing and resource data in …
LACNIC shares strategies to combat traffic abuse at IXPs
What happened: Traffic abuse incidents escalate globally Internet exchange points (IXPs) are crucial for the interconnection of autonomous networks, enabling Internet service providers (ISPs) to efficiently exchange traffic. However, these infrastructures are susceptible to malicious attacks, partic…
Netflix struggles to track AWS costs and usage
What happened: Netflix works on improving AWS cost management despite challenges Netflix, a major user of Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its cloud infrastructure, admitted that tracking and understanding its cloud resource usage and associated costs is a difficult task. In a recent blog post, Netflix…
IETF completes second IASA2 retrospective report
What happened: Review of IETF administrative support activity since 2021 The IETF Administration LLC (IETF LLC) has completed the second retrospective of the IETF Administrative Support Activity version 2.0 (IASA2), following the guidelines set in BCP 101. The report, which was developed with commun…
Vodafone and Ericsson launch private 5G network for Cimpor
What happened: Cimpor enhances efficiency with Ericsson’s private 5G Vodafone and Ericsson have partnered to deploy Portugal’s first standalone private 5G network at Cimpor’s Alhandra cement plant. The network is a key component of Cimpor’s decarbonisation strategy, which includes a goal of reducing…
Verizon launches 5G Private Network with Enterprise AI
What happened: Combining private 5G and Nvidia AI for real-time enterprise solutions Verizon announced a groundbreaking 5G Private Network with Enterprise AI, a collaboration with Nvidia that integrates the telco’s private wireless and mobile edge compute (MEC) solutions with Nvidia’s AI enterprise …
Sandfield Capital secures $775M to grow litigation finance
What happened: Capital injection for Sandfield Capital’s expansion Sandfield Capital, a prominent player in the Litigation FinTech sector, has secured a substantial £600 million ($775 million) facility to fuel its expansion plans. This significant financial commitment positions Sandfield Capital to …
APNIC launches delegation audits to ensure registry accuracy
What happened: APNIC and NIRs collaborate on audit process APNIC (Asia Pacific Network Information Centre) has initiated a comprehensive delegation audit across its registry and National Internet Registries (NIRs). This move is part of APNIC’s ongoing efforts to ensure that IP addresses and Autonomo…
Top tech news today: December 19, 2024
Tech News Summaries 1. Trump’s NASA pick Jared Isaacman invested heavily in stablecoins Jared Isaacman, chosen by Trump for NASA, made a significant bet on stablecoins through his company Shift4, bolstering his investment in the crypto space. CNBC 2. ClearBank and Azure renew partnership to boost pa…
Google launches Android XR with Samsung headset
What happened: Google teams with Samsung for Android XR revolution Google has unveiled Android XR, a new operating system designed for extended reality (XR) devices, marking a significant step in its reentry into the augmented and virtual reality market. Developed in collaboration with Samsung and Q…
Fincantieri and Sparkle collaborate on cable protection
What happened: Fincantieri and Sparkle team up for protection Fincantieri, the state-controlled shipbuilder, has partnered with Telecom Italia’s submarine cables unit, Sparkle, to develop solutions for the surveillance and protection of submarine telecommunications cables. This collaboration aims to…