Australia is set to link its Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island to the mainland through a subsea cable project backed by Alphabet’s Google. The Bosun cable will connect Darwin to Christmas Island, significantly enhancing digital resilience and creating additional pathways to Asia. Christmas Island, strategically located 350 km from Jakarta, is home to a small population of 1,250 but plays a vital role in regional defence and communications, aligning with ongoing US-Australia military upgrades in northern Australia.
The project, supported by Australian firms NextDC, Vocus, and Subco, forms part of a larger strategy to diversify subsea cable networks. These connections will complement Australia’s links across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, integrating into global networks connecting the United States, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The cables also support Australia’s defence strategy, including its surveillance operations as China‘s submarine activity increases in the Indian Ocean.
In addition to its strategic importance, the cable will provide the residents of Christmas Island with faster and more reliable internet services, significantly improving local connectivity. This development highlights Australia’s commitment to secure, resilient digital infrastructure while strengthening ties with its remote territories and global partners.
IMAX is adopting AI technology to bring its original content to more global audiences. The company has partnered with Dubai-based Camb.ai to use advanced speech and translation models for content localisation. With non-English content growing in popularity, including in English-speaking markets, the initiative aims to increase accessibility and reduce costs.
Camb.ai’s AI platform, DubStudio, supports over 140 languages, including lesser-known ones. Its specialised models, Boli and Mars, ensure accurate text-to-speech translations while preserving nuances like background audio and tone. The startup’s technology has been previously deployed for live events like the Australian Open and Eurovision Sport, showcasing its ability to handle high-pressure scenarios.
IMAX plans a phased rollout of the AI localisation, starting with widely spoken languages. Early tests of Camb.ai’s technology on IMAX’s original documentaries proved promising. The company expects the collaboration to reduce translation expenses while boosting the global appeal of its immersive experiences.
Camb.ai, founded by former Apple engineer Akshat Prakash and his father, recently raised $4 million and is securing additional funding to expand its team and operations. The startup avoids controversial data scraping methods, relying instead on ethically licensed datasets and input from early partners, positioning itself as a reliable choice for AI-driven content solutions.
Ireland‘s political parties are laying out ambitious plans for spending the €14bn tax windfall from Apple as they gear up for the general election. The funds stem from a landmark EUruling requiring Apple to pay back taxes and interest for receiving unfair tax benefits.
Housing is a primary focus. Fianna Fáil proposes €4bn for social housing, while Sinn Féin plans €7.6bn for public housing and €1bn for a housing redress scheme. The Green Party and Labour have also prioritised infrastructure and housing development.
Transport, renewable energy, and regional regeneration also feature heavily. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil emphasise investments in water systems and electricity grids, while the Green Party focuses on enhancing public transport. Both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil propose community-focused funds for underdeveloped areas, mirroring ‘levelling up’ policies.
Samsung R&D Institute, Noida (SRI-Noida), and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive innovation in critical areas such as AI, digital health, and other emerging technologies. That collaboration highlights Samsung’s commitment to strengthening industry-academia ties for technological advancements.
The MoU establishes a framework for joint research projects, where IIT Bombay students and faculty will collaborate with Samsung engineers. This initiative enhances students’ industry readiness and facilitates the publication of joint research papers, promoting knowledge sharing that will accelerate technological progress and industry-aligned innovation.
In addition to research collaboration, the partnership offers specialised training and certification programs for Samsung engineers in cutting-edge fields like AI and digital health. This expertise exchange ensures that academia and industry professionals benefit from the partnership.
Through this partnership, Samsung and IIT Bombay aim to foster innovation and push the boundaries of next-generation technologies. By combining industry expertise and academic knowledge, the collaboration seeks to inspire future breakthroughs and set the foundation for sustained technological progress.
China‘s low Earth orbit satellite firm, SpaceSail, has signed an agreement with Brazilian state telecom Telebras to provide satellite broadband services. The deal was announced during President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Brazil, following the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
SpaceSail’s entry into Brazil marks its first international venture, challenging Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has over 6,000 satellites globally and serves various sectors in Brazil. The Thousand Sails Constellation will power SpaceSail’s services, offering connectivity in remote areas.
Brazil’s government aims to diversify satellite service providers amid recent tensions involving Starlink and Musk’s social media platform X. China’s growing satellite presence includes 1,059 satellites, with plans for massive constellations to rival Starlink’s dominance.
Tuvalu, a Pacific Island nation, is facing existential threats from climate change, notably rising sea levels predicted to submerge much of its land and infrastructure by 2050. In response, the government is creating a digital ‘twin’ of the country, as part of the Future Now project introduced by Foreign Minister Simon Kofe at COP27. This initiative aims to digitally safeguard Tuvalu’s land, culture, and legal rights as the physical reality of the nation becomes increasingly threatened by frequent flooding and environmental changes.
The Digital Nation project addresses critical sovereignty issues by adapting international law standards, which currently require a defined territory and permanent population. As Tuvalu’s territory is at risk, the project includes innovative measures like digital passports on blockchain to maintain governmental operations. While the project has faced scepticism for its resource demands and perceived impracticality, it promises significant practical benefits, such as improving solar and water management capacities, by transforming cultural preservation into a tangible digital endeavour.
This digital approach has sparked debate among leaders and citizens, with former Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga and others urging physical resilience over digital displacement. However, the project continues to progress with advanced technologies like Lidar for mapping and enhanced telecommunications to support connectivity, showing significant international collaboration.
Tuvalu’s strategy may influence global trends, as other nations, notably in advanced economies, are also exploring digital spatial management for urban and resource planning. This bold initiative not only addresses immediate threats but also potentially redefines national sovereignty in the face of climate change, offering a model for similarly at-risk countries.
Ghana and Gambia are working together to implement the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative to reduce telecommunications costs for citizens travelling between the two countries and foster stronger economic and social ties. Spearheaded by Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA), Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, and mobile network operators (MNOs), the initiative aligns with ECOWAS’s broader regional integration and economic self-sufficiency goals.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will emerge from ongoing negotiations, enabling technical and regulatory discussions. Full implementation of the roaming regulations is planned for the first half of 2025, following the success of Ghana’s similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire (February 2024), Benin (July 2024), and a trilateral deal with Togo and Benin (October 2024), which have already reduced costs and enhanced connectivity across the region.
Why does it matter?
That partnership highlights ECOWAS’s commitment to creating a seamless communication network and unified trade zone across West Africa. By expanding affordable cross-border telecommunications, such initiatives aim to build a robust digital infrastructure that fosters economic growth and regional cohesion. As Ghana and Gambia take steps to implement this initiative, they contribute to the broader vision of improving connectivity and integration across the ECOWAS region.
South Africa is advancing its National Communication Satellite Strategy (SatCom) to bridge the digital divide, achieve digital inclusion, and position itself as a regional leader in satellite technology. The ambitious initiative aims to improve connectivity in underserved areas, expand access to education, healthcare, and financial tools, and create economic opportunities for marginalised communities.
The project seeks to establish sovereign communication capabilities while enhancing national security by reducing reliance on foreign service providers and curbing capital outflows. With an estimated investment of ZAR 5.2 billion, SatCom is expected to become financially viable within six to seven years, significantly reducing the ZAR 100 billion South Africa spends annually on foreign communication services. The strategy aligns with national priorities to lower connectivity costs, advance digital transformation, and ensure reliable emergency communications.
Despite its transformative potential, SatCom faces challenges, including securing orbital slots and spectrum rights, addressing technical skill gaps, and finalising funding strategies from the public and private sectors. SANSA and Sentech will handle satellite acquisition and localisation, while ICASA and SITA will oversee operations and last-mile infrastructure.
Why does it matter?
With endorsements from key stakeholders, the strategy will soon proceed to public consultations and Cabinet ratification. Once implemented, it promises to revolutionise connectivity, create jobs, foster economic growth, and establish South Africa as a leader in exporting satellite services across Africa.
The Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have formalised a strategic partnership to enhance social protection and poverty reduction efforts in the Philippines. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 15 November at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, the collaboration focuses on advancing digitalisation, improving monitoring and evaluation systems, and fostering data governance within the DSWD.
As a result, the partnership aims to strengthen digital infrastructure, enhance evidence-based decision-making, and expand social protection services for the country’s poor and vulnerable communities. Additionally, the collaboration will leverage digital tools and robust evaluation practices to ensure that social programs are effective and adaptable to evolving societal needs.
Furthermore, the MOU outlines initiatives to support multistakeholder collaborations, promote continuous learning among government agencies, and improve the DSWD’s capacity to deliver responsive and effective social protection programs. In conclusion, this partnership represents a pivotal step toward institutional development and underscores the commitment of both organisations to building a stronger framework for social development programs and services in the Philippines.
Reddit has restored access to its platform following a software bug that disrupted services for tens of thousands of US users. The outage, starting at 3 pm ET, affected many who rely on the platform for social interaction and information.
Reports of issues peaked at around 49,000 users, according to monitoring service Downdetector. By 4:32 pm ET, the number of affected users dropped significantly to just over 14,500 as the platform began recovering.
The company acknowledged the issue stemmed from a recent update. A spokesperson confirmed, ‘A fix is in place, and we’re ramping back up.’ Operations were progressively restored, easing concerns among users.
Reddit’s swift action underscores the challenges of maintaining seamless services on social media platforms. Temporary glitches, however, highlight the importance of quick and efficient response strategies.
