Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Vodafone simplifies MVNO business to attract more players
What happened: Vodafone aims to simplify MVNO operations Vodafone is working to make the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) business easier to manage, with plans to simplify the process for companies entering the market. The telecom giant aims to transform its wholesale business by offering more…
Telkomsel’s hyper 5G network brings next-gen speed to Jakarta
What happened: Telkomsel brings hyper 5G network to Jakarta Telkomsel continues to strengthen its position as the provider of digital telecommunications services by massively and continuously expanding its 5G network (Hyper 5G) in the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek). With the support of H…
Amazon shareholders urge bold Bitcoin treasury proposal
What happened: Amazon’s Bitcoin treasury proposal A group of Amazon shareholders has urged the company to diversify its treasury holdings by allocating at least 5% of its assets to Bitcoin. In a shareholder proposal dated December 6, The National Center for Public Policy Research asked Amazon to con…
NTT achieves 455 Tbps fibre transmission breakthrough
What happened: NTT’s multicore fibre breakthrough Japan’s NTT has announced a breakthrough in high-capacity backbone networking, achieving stable signal transmission at 455 Tbps using multicore fibre cables and massive MIMO signal processing. This success was demonstrated in a field test simulating …
Riot Platforms to raise $500 million for bitcoin purchases
Riot Platforms announces plans to raise $500 million for bitcoin purchases.
Top tech news today: December 10, 2024
Tech News Summaries 1. Telkomsel expands hyper 5G network Telkomsel is extending its hyper 5G network, aiming for robust coverage across Jakarta’s key business districts, enhancing connectivity for enterprises and consumers. Capacity Media. FCC urges stricter telecom security after Salt T…
DPF joins Innovate Finance to advance CBDC discussions
What happened: DPF joins Innovate Finance to shape UK’s CBDC landscape The Digital Pound Foundation has joined the Innovate Finance community to advance discussions and developments around digital currencies in the UK. This collaboration, announced in December 2024, aims to foster dialogue between f…
Nokia and du declare the launch of the first commercial Cloud RAN
What happened: Nokia and du launch first Cloud RAN in the Middle East and Africa In December 2024, Nokia and UAE-based telecom operator du announced the launch of the first commercial Cloud RAN (Radio Access Network) offering in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). This milestone marks a significant st…
Vega-C successfully launches ESA’s sentinel satellite
What happened: Vega-C advances ESA’s Earth observation On December 5, 2024, Arianespace’s Vega-C rocket launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) next Sentinel satellite, Sentinel-1C, into orbit successfully. The satellite, part of the Copernicus Earth observation program, is designed to monitor la…
Yondr Group advances its 40MW data centre project in Frankfurt
What happened: Yondr’s data centre milestone Yondr Group has completed the first half of its 40 MW data centre project in Bischofsheim, near Frankfurt, Germany, delivering 20 MW to customers in just 20 months. This milestone is part of a four-phase project, with two additional phases still to be com…
Tipalti launches localised solution to support Canadian market
What happened: Tipalti expands market with tailored finance automation solutions. Tipalti, a global leader in finance automation, has announced the launch of its localised solution for the Canadian market, along with its registration as a money services business (MSB) with the Financial Transactions…
Nokia and Aramco achieve 2.4 Tbps optical transmission record
What happened: Breakthrough speeds to boost Aramco’s network capacity and efficiency Nokia and Saudi Aramco have successfully achieved an optical network transmission speed of 2.4 terabits per second (Tbps) during tests conducted on Aramco’s operational network. The tests were performed using Nokia’…
Latvia facilitates MiCA compliance for crypto firms
What happened: MiCA compliance initiatives in Latvia The central bank of Latvia, Latvijas Banka, has announced the initiation of free pre-licensing consultations for crypto-asset service providers seeking to achieve compliance with the upcoming Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation of the Europ…
Bank of America introduces Paze for seamless online checkouts
What happened: Paze online checkout introduced by BofA In anticipation of the holiday season, Bank of America (BofA) has announced that all eligible credit and debit cards are now enabled with Paze, an online checkout solution designed to expedite and secure the online shopping experience for its cl…
Nansen partners with Galxe to unlock Gravity’s full potential
What happened: Nansen enhances Galxe’s Gravity blockchain Nansen has entered into a strategic partnership with Galxe to provide its advanced blockchain analytics tools for the Gravity blockchain. A Gravity lite paper was released on December 3. The Gravity mainnet is expected to launch in the second…
US claims Chinese cyberattack targeted senior officials
What happened: Salt Typhoon cyber campaign targeted senior figures The U.S. believes a Chinese cyber espionage campaign, known as Salt Typhoon, targeted high-ranking American political figures, recording their telephone calls. Anne Neuberger, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerg…
Trump appoints David Sacks as AI and crypto czar
Donald Trump has made a significant move in reshaping US policy on artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency, appointing former PayPal Chief Operating Officer (COO) David Sacks as his “AI and Crypto Czar.” This strategic choice comes as Bitcoin surpasses $100,000, with experts suggesting that …
Microsoft and CISPE trade body launches a technology summit
What happened: CISPE checks if Microsoft complies with commitments to EU regulations Microsoft and the European trade body for Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers (CISPE) launched a technical summit last week to assess the progress Windows makers are making in making Azure Local available to hos…
Your voice matters: ICANN hosts webinars on digital future
What happened: ICANN hosts webinars for global input ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is organizing a series of webinars to discuss its draft operating plan and budget for fiscal years 2026–2030. The webinars will help attendees better understand these draft plans and offe…
Nokia to expand Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s 4G and 5G networks
What happened: Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison partners with Nokia Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) has partnered with Nokia to expand its 4G and 5G networks across Indonesia. The deal, running from 2025 to 2027, will see Nokia provide its AirScale equipment, including multiband radios and high-capacity ba…
FCC urges stricter telecom security after Salt Typhoon hack
What happened: FCC and the Salt Typhoon breach The head of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Jessica Rosenworcel, has proposed stricter network security rules for telecom operators after the Salt Typhoon cyberattack. The new regulations would require telecoms to secure their networks f…
Payment partnership fuels Ribbon’s UK expansion
What happened: Ribbon teams up with Tribe Payments for UK launch Ribbon, a Gibraltar-based digital financial platform, has successfully expanded into the UK by forming a strategic payment partnership with Tribe Payments, a specialist in payment infrastructure and processing. Ribbon, launched in 2020…
Top tech news today: December 9, 2024
1. Microsoft faces EU antitrust cloud criticism European cloud providers accuse Microsoft of anti-competitive practices, citing dominance in cloud services. CISPE calls for stricter regulations (The Register). Microsoft moves to stop M365 Copilot from ‘oversharing’ data 2. Meta reveals la…
NFT Sales Surge: Pudgy Penguins and CryptoPunks Lead
Pudgy Penguins lead December NFT surge with $25 million in sales.
Broadcom unveils faster custom chip tech to meet GenAI demand
Broadcom introduces 3.5D XDSiP technology to accelerate custom chip performance.
Intel names chip industry veterans to board amid CEO search
Intel adds experienced leaders from ASML and Microchip Technology to its board.
Veeam hits $15B valuation after $2B secondary sale
What happened: Veeam raises $2B, boosting valuation to $15B to expand R&D and acquisitions Veeam, a leader in data resilience, has raised $2 billion in a secondary share sale, raising its valuation to $15 billion. The sale, led by TPG and other investors, is set to close in Q1 2025. This comes after…
Cake secures Google backing to simplify AI infrastructure
What happened: Cake raises $13 million to simplify AI infrastructure for businesses Cake, a managed open-source AI infrastructure platform, has raised $10 million in a seed round led by Google’s Gradient Ventures. Founded in 2022, Cake integrates over 100 open-source components, including data sourc…
Industry backs Rosenworcel’s call for more Replace Cash funding
What happened: Rosenworcel calls for more funding to fix Rip and Replace Cash program US telecoms industry representatives, particularly those from smaller carriers, have strongly backed FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel’s renewed call for additional funding for the Rip and Replace Cash program. This in…
Kraken survey: 80% of crypto investors driven by FUD and FOMO
What happened: 0ver 80% of crypto holders driven by FUD and FOMO A Kraken survey has found that over 80% of crypto holders have made investment decisions based on FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) or FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). With Bitcoin recently surpassing $100,000, the survey underscores how e…
NatWest unveils new initiative to support fintech
What happened: NatWest launches Fintech Growth Programme NatWest has launched a new Fintech Growth Programme aimed at supporting five pre-Series A UK-based fintech startups that focus on solving key challenges in the payments sector. Over ten weeks, selected companies will participate in workshops, …
IPv4 market: A $60T opportunity hiding in plain sight, says LARUS CEO
Lu Heng, CEO of LARUS Ltd, recently highlighted the massive, untapped potential within the IPv4 address market, calling it “the biggest opportunity hiding in plain sight” for telecom and cloud providers. With over 4-5 billion devices now connected to the internet, the demand for IPv4 addresses has s…
Australian regulator cracks down on cryptocurrency-related crime
What happened: Australian regulator’s crypto clampdown The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has announced the establishment of an internal cryptocurrency task force to tackle the misuse of cryptocurrency ATMs for criminal activities. AUSTRAC’s intelligence indicates that …
ICANN approves .COM agreement renewal with Verisign
What happened: ICANN renews .COM agreement with Verisign The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced the renewal of its .COM Registry Agreement (RA) with Verisign on November 27. The new .COM RA reflects ICANN’s commitments to its mission to ensure the continued securit…
Lloyds and PayPoint partner to boost payments for UK SMEs
What happened: Lloyds partners with PayPoint to improve SME payment services Over 60,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK will benefit from a new banking and payments offering through a partnership between Lloyds Banking Group and PayPoint Group. This collaboration will enable merchants…
Mambu acquires Numeral to improve core banking services
What happened: Mambu acquires French payments platform Numeral Cloud-based core banking provider Mambu has acquired Numeral, a banking aggregation and payment automation platform headquartered in Paris, France. The acquisition will integrate Numeral’s advanced payment infrastructure into Mambu’s cor…
SK Telecom revamps for the AI era
What happened: SK Telecom moves towards AI SK Telecom (SKT), a leading South Korean telecommunications company, has revealed a major reorganisation aimed at bolstering its position in artificial intelligence (AI) and communications. The new structure divides the company into seven specialised busine…
HKBN shares soar after China Mobile’s HK$6.86 billion bid
China Mobile makes a HK$6.86 billion bid to acquire HKBN.
Telstra’s boost mobile buy divides opinion in Australia
Telstra’s Boost Mobile acquisition sparks mixed reactions over pricing and service.
BT secures £1.29bn deal to power emergency services network
BT secures a £1.29bn deal to expand and manage the Emergency Services Network.
Ericsson secures multi-billion-dollar RAN deal with Bharti Airtel
What happened: Ericsson to expand Bharti Airtel’s 4G and 5G networks in multi-billion-dollar deal Ericsson has secured a multi-billion-dollar deal to deploy 4G and 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment for Bharti Airtel in India. This agreement, which echoes a similar deal made by rival Nokia last…
Singapore extends deadline for phasing out corporate cheques
What happened: Singapore to phase out corporate paper cheques The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has extended the deadline for phasing out corporate paper cheques. Banks will stop issuing new corporate cheque books by December 31, 2025, but the deadline to cease processing corporate cheques h…
Virgin Media O2 upgrades 1000 sites with faster fibre network
What happened: VMO2 improves over 1000 sites’ speed Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has transformed its mobile infrastructure by linking 1000 mobile sites across the UK to a high-capacity 10Gbps fibre backhaul network. This transition marks a significant upgrade from relying on third-party backhaul connectio…
AWS unveils next-gen AI chips and cloud instances
What happened: AWS launches power-packed Trainium2 instances Amazon Web Services on December 3 introduced Trainium3, its next generation custom chip for efficient AI training and delivery, and announced a full rollout of cloud instances powered by AWS Trainium2, putting high-performance AI capabilit…
UK unveils $12.6M Nvidia Grace-Based supercomputer
What happened: UK launches Nvidia Grace-Based supercomputer The UK has introduced Isambard-AI, a new Nvidia Grace-based supercomputer built with advanced Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips and hosted at the National Composites Centre in Bristol. Valued at £10 million($12.6 million), the system…
Mastercard partners with Sympla and Yuno to launch Payment Passkey
What happened: Mastercard Payment Passkey debuts Mastercard has partnered with Brazil’s leading events platform, Sympla, and Latin American payments orchestrator Yuno to introduce its Payment Passkey Service in the region. Starting in January, these companies will be the first to offer the service, …
Top tech news today: December 6, 2024
1. Intel expands board with industry experts Intel adds two chip veterans to its board amid ongoing CEO search, strengthening its leadership as it navigates a competitive market. Reuters 2. Broadcom unveils new tech for custom chips Broadcom reveals advancements to accelerate custom chip production,…
Phantom Wallet integrates Sui as TVL hits $1.72 billion
Phantom Wallet adds Sui blockchain to its ecosystem.
Amazon SageMaker unveils unified AI platform
What happened: AWS launches SageMaker upgrade with unified data controls for AI workflows Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled a transformative upgrade to Amazon SageMaker, creating a unified platform that integrates data processing, analytics, and AI development. This innovation simplifies workfl…
How does Axiado’s chip prevent cyberattacks?
What happened: Axiado’s chip enhances security with boot and runtime protection Axiado, a cybersecurity startup, has developed a new chip designed to prevent cyberattacks by securing both the boot process and runtime operations of devices, from data centers to 5G base stations. The company, founded …