MTN, China Telecom, and Huawei have partnered to launch Africa’s largest 5G-enabled smart mine in Northern Cape, South Africa. That initiative marks a milestone in the continent’s mining sector, leveraging a state-of-the-art 5G private network to revolutionise operations.
The network provides ultra-reliable, high-speed connectivity for applications such as personnel surveillance, vehicle tracking, and unmanned trucks, significantly improving productivity, workplace safety, and operational efficiency. Additionally, the project promotes greener mining practices by optimising energy consumption and resource management, aligning with global sustainability goals.
The collaboration also demonstrates the potential of 5G to drive industrial transformation and positions the mine as a leader in sustainable mining while contributing to Africa’s broader digital transformation. The success of this initiative stems from the expertise of the three industry leaders.
Huawei delivered a tailored 5G private network, MTN provided robust infrastructure and network integration expertise, and China Telecom contributed its global knowledge in system integration and innovative digital solutions. Beyond mining, MTN is rapidly expanding its 5G private network business across sectors such as oil and gas, ports, manufacturing, and education, as well as extending its 5G presence to countries like Nigeria, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon.
President Donald Trump unveiled a $500 billion private-sector initiative on Tuesday aimed at transforming AI infrastructure in the US. The joint venture, called Stargate, brings together OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to build 20 massive data centres and create over 100,000 jobs. Backers have committed $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remainder spread over the next four years.
The announcement, made at the White House with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison in attendance, underscores America’s push to lead in AI development. Ellison revealed that the first data centres, each half a million square feet, are already under construction in Texas. These facilities aim to power advanced AI applications, including analysing electronic health records to assist doctors.
Trump attributed the project’s launch to his leadership, with executives expressing their support. “We wouldn’t have decided to do this unless you won,” Son said. However, the ambitious project arrives amid concerns over the rising energy demands of AI data centres. Trump promised to simplify energy production for these facilities, even as experts warn of potential power shortfalls across the country in the coming decade.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of surging AI investments since OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in 2022, which sparked widespread adoption of AI across industries. Oracle and other tech stocks, including Nvidia and Dell, climbed on the news, reflecting market enthusiasm for the Stargate project.
President Donald Trump’s executive order delaying the enforcement of a US TikTok ban has created new legal uncertainties for the platform and its service providers, including Google and Apple. Signed on Monday, the order pauses for 75 days a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app over national security concerns.
While the order directs the Justice Department to halt enforcement and assures app distributors of no liability during the review period, legal experts warn that the promise offers little protection. Courts do not consider executive orders binding, and Trump could alter or selectively enforce the policy at any time, potentially exposing companies to massive penalties.
The ban, passed by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court days before Trump’s order, imposes steep fines of $5,000 per user for violations, making compliance a high-stakes gamble for service providers. Critics argue that the legal ambiguity could also open companies to shareholder lawsuits if they ignore the ban based solely on Trump’s directive.
Trump’s move has reignited tensions between the White House and lawmakers, who overwhelmingly supported the ban over fears of Chinese influence. The coming weeks may bring further legal battles and political manoeuvring as the future of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance.
Thailand is strengthening its digital partnerships with Japan and Vietnam to drive innovation, enhance connectivity, and position itself as a Southeast Asia digital economy leader. These collaborations focus on emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, 3D printing, and cybersecurity and foster innovation through startup promotion in gaming, entertainment, and other sectors.
Both partnerships prioritise developing digital skills to build a proficient workforce and improve regional connectivity, including submarine cable networks. Thailand has invited Japan to invest in the ‘Thailand Digital Valley’ project, which aims to make Chonburi Province a hub for digital innovation.
Furthermore, Thailand and Vietnam are advancing cooperation through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), while Japan continues its collaboration under the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding (MoC). These agreements provide a structured framework for initiatives in digital transformation, regulatory development, cybersecurity, and regional infrastructure.
Through these efforts, Thailand aims to establish itself as a regional hub for digital technology, promoting sustainable growth and innovation across ASEAN. By leveraging these strategic partnerships, Thailand is building a connected and digitally advanced society, reflecting its commitment to becoming a key player in shaping the region’s digital future.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has launched the AI Skills Coalition, a global initiative backed by 27 organisations, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Cognizant, to bridge the AI skills gap in developing countries. The coalition will provide accessible education and capacity-building in areas like generative AI, machine learning, and AI for sustainable development through a new online platform set to launch in March 2025.
The platform will offer free resources such as self-paced courses, webinars, in-person workshops, hybrid programs, and a comprehensive digital library of AI materials. In collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the coalition will leverage UNDP’s global presence to ensure an inclusive, global approach to AI training, extending beyond the efforts of companies like Google, AWS, and Microsoft.
The initiative will also focus on underrepresented groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, aiming to foster diversity in AI development. Specialised training programs for government officials will address AI governance, ethics, and policymaking, tailored to the needs of developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs).
The AI Skills Coalition’s efforts to deliver AI education and capacity-building aim to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared more equitably, addressing global inequalities in AI knowledge. By equipping the future workforce with critical skills and empowering policymakers to harness AI responsibly, the coalition seeks to support sustainable development and help countries navigate the unique challenges they face in the AI era.
Vodafone Cook Islands and Rivada have partnered to enhance telecommunications connectivity and drive digital transformation across the Oceania region. The collaboration addresses the challenges posed by the geographic isolation of the Cook Islands and other territories in Oceania. By utilising Rivada’s next-generation low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, the Outernet, Vodafone intends to offer scalable, resilient connectivity for enterprises and government clients.
The Outernet’s innovative design combines inter-satellite laser links and advanced onboard processing to provide gigabit-speed connectivity globally, bypassing public internet and third-party infrastructure. This optical mesh network ensures secure, fast, and low-latency connections, delivering urban-centre-quality connectivity to remote regions, including the Pacific islands.
In a time when geopolitical tensions threaten subsea cables in Asia, the partnership will create a more reliable and secure telecommunications infrastructure for the region. The benefits of this partnership are expected to be far-reaching, particularly for remote communities and the outer islands of the Cook Islands.
The enhanced connectivity will support critical sectors like online education, healthcare, and business, driving technological innovation and economic growth. Phillip Henderson, CEO of Vodafone Cook Islands, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasising how the Outernet will empower remote communities, providing them access to previously challenging services.
The partnership is poised to transform connectivity in the region, helping to bridge the digital divide and foster long-term economic development.
Oracle shares soared by nearly 9% in Frankfurt on Wednesday following an announcement from former US President Donald Trump about a groundbreaking AI initiative. Oracle, in collaboration with OpenAI and SoftBank, is set to establish a joint venture called Stargate, aiming to revolutionise AI infrastructure.
The ambitious project will see a staggering $500 billion investment, as revealed during Trump’s remarks at the White House the day before. The collaboration highlights the growing significance of AI and signals major players pooling resources to drive technological advancements in this domain.
Investor excitement around Stargate boosted Oracle’s stock performance significantly. After regular trading closed on Tuesday with a 7% rise, the company’s shares climbed an additional 3% in after-hours trading, reflecting strong market optimism.
Crypto.com has expanded its services by launching a new platform aimed at institutional investors in the United States. Announced on 21 January, the platform offers advanced trading solutions designed to strengthen the company’s presence in the US market. It complements the existing Crypto.com App, which focuses on retail traders, and offers access to over 300 cryptocurrencies, 480 trading pairs, and features such as advanced order types and automated trading tools.
The platform is tailored to support high-frequency and large-volume trading, with tools like trading bots and sub-account options for active traders. It also allows users to fund accounts via Fedwire transfers and supports low-latency trading and OTC services. Crypto.com’s push into the institutional market follows the ongoing regulatory shifts under the Trump administration, which have brought greater clarity to the cryptocurrency sector.
In addition to this new platform, Crypto.com has recently expanded its US operations by launching the Crypto.com Custody Trust Company and introducing stock and ETF trading for select users. Following meetings between CEO Kris Marszalek and President Trump, the company also withdrew its lawsuit against the SEC. The SEC has since established a crypto task force to develop a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son’s decision to partner with OpenAI and Oracle on a $500 billion AI venture, Stargate, showcases his bold, headline-grabbing approach to dealing with the Trump administration. The project, announced at the White House alongside President Donald Trump, promises to build AI infrastructure in the US and marks a significant part of Son’s earlier $100 billion investment pledge. SoftBank shares surged 11% following the news, reflecting investor confidence in the group’s aggressive strategy.
However, analysts argue that Son’s methods, rooted in rapid decision-making and high-risk bets, are difficult for traditional Japanese corporations to replicate. Japan Inc’s emphasis on long-term planning contrasts sharply with Son’s willingness to embrace Trump’s pro-investment stance to navigate potential tariffs and trade pressures. The reluctance of other Japanese executives to engage directly with Trump highlights a broader struggle to adapt in a politically charged environment.
Son’s flashy investments draw comparisons to his previous $50 billion pledge during Trump’s first term and underscore his vision for AI as a transformative technology. While his moves are reestablishing SoftBank as a global player after setbacks like WeWork’s collapse, questions remain about how the Stargate project will be funded and whether traditional Japanese companies can adapt their strategies to find similar success in Trump’s America.
Microsoft announced changes to its longstanding agreement with OpenAI following the AI leader’s new partnership with Oracle and SoftBank on a $500 billion AI data centre project, Stargate. The joint venture, unveiled by President Donald Trump at the White House, aims to solidify US leadership in AI, leveraging Nvidia chips and other cutting-edge technologies.
While Microsoft retains exclusive rights to OpenAI’s APIs, the amendments now allow OpenAI to build additional capacity outside of Microsoft’s infrastructure. This paves the way for Oracle’s involvement in Stargate, which will operate as a separate entity with governance rights shared among founding members and external investors like UAE’s MGX. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son will chair the venture’s board.
Despite this shift, Microsoft remains a central technology partner, continuing to benefit from revenue-sharing agreements with OpenAI and maintaining exclusivity over key offerings through its Azure cloud service. “The key elements of our partnership remain intact through 2030,” Microsoft said, reaffirming its commitment to OpenAI’s long-term growth.
Oracle and OpenAI have not commented on Microsoft’s statements, but the partnership underscores the strategic realignments shaping the future of AI infrastructure in the US.
