IHS Towers, ALTON, and the NCC have proposed a series of strategic initiatives to safeguard Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure, which is increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats, theft, and vandalism. Central to this proposal is developing a robust Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan (CNIIPP) that emphasises collaboration among all relevant stakeholders, including telecom operators, regulatory bodies, and the government.
Key initiatives include establishing a secure, centralised database of all telecom infrastructure managed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Additionally, mandatory routine surveillance of major telecom installations by security agencies such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the police is crucial for deterring threats.
The proposal also advocates for standardised procedures for responding to incidents and public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the importance of protecting critical national information infrastructure. Regulatory support from the NCC, including establishing a dedicated committee to assist telecom operators, will further reinforce these efforts.
Maintaining secure and resilient telecommunications infrastructure is essential for national security and economic growth. The interconnectedness of modern society relies heavily on a robust telecom sector, which supports critical services, including healthcare, education, and financial systems.
By prioritising infrastructure resilience and emphasising a commitment to security, Nigeria can ensure the continuity of these vital services even in the face of potential threats. This holistic approach protects the telecommunications sector and promotes sustainable economic development across the nation.
Liberty Networks, Gold Data, and Sparkle have partnered to develop the MANTA subsea cable system, significantly enhancing connectivity across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the USA. The 5,600 km system will not only be the first international submarine cable in the Gulf of Mexico but will also provide high-capacity, low-latency routes, effectively connecting key data hubs in Mexico City, Bogotá, Panama City, and the USA.
Designed to support a minimum of 20 terabits per fibre pair, MANTA aims to address the region’s growing data demands and improve traffic flow. Furthermore, the cable is expected to be operational by 2027, with the companies planning to announce their technology provider soon.
Consequently, the MANTA project is set to revolutionise digital communication across the region by enhancing the resilience of Latin America’s digital infrastructure. By creating faster and more reliable data pathways, the subsea system will foster innovation and meet the evolving needs of businesses and consumers. The collaboration between Liberty Networks, Gold Data, and Sparkle, therefore, marks a significant step forward in the ongoing digital transformation of the Americas.
Schneider Electric has announced an $850 million deal to acquire a 75% controlling stake in Motivair Corp, a US company specialising in liquid cooling solutions for high-performance computing. The French firm expects to complete the all-cash deal in the coming quarters, with plans to acquire the remaining stake by 2028. The acquisition is part of Schneider’s strategy to expand its offerings for the rapidly growing data centre market, which increasingly demands efficient cooling solutions for technologies like generative AI.
Motivair, located in Buffalo, New York, manufactures advanced cooling systems that pump coolant directly near chips, efficiently managing the heat produced by high-performance computing—something traditional air cooling struggles to do. Schneider CEO Peter Herweck emphasised the expansion of the data centre and networks sector, which accounted for 21% of the company’s 2023 orders, approximately 8 billion euros. He also noted strong global demand for these technologies.
Herweck stated that Schneider is not actively pursuing further acquisitions in the data centre sector but remains open to opportunities as they emerge. The company’s shares have climbed 31% this year, driven by its strong market presence and the growing demand for advanced cooling solutions in data centres.
The Mekong-US Partnership (MUSP) recently hosted a policy dialogue on online scams, bringing together government representatives from Thailand, the US, and Vietnam. The seminar, held in Bangkok, focused on addressing cybersecurity issues and fostering cooperation to combat online crime across the Mekong region. The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Stimson Center, with support from the US Department of State.
Discussions centred around strategies to prevent online scams, enhance risk management, and ensure the security of digital financial systems. Thai officials, including Ekapong Harimcharoen from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, highlighted national policies and shared insights with international partners. Participants explored collaborative efforts to build a secure online environment and promote regional connectivity under the MUSP framework.
Thailand is taking significant steps to expand its digital economy, projected to contribute 11% to GDP by 2027. Several laws and initiatives are already in place, such as the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and the Cyber Security Act. These measures aim to protect data, promote responsible AI development, and safeguard critical infrastructure sectors including healthcare, banking, and telecommunications.
With remote work and cloud technologies becoming more prominent, the demand for cybersecurity solutions is growing. Thailand aims to position itself as a regional leader in information and communications technology while tackling the evolving challenges of cybercrime. Cooperation under the MUSP framework is expected to enhance resilience in the digital landscape of the Mekong sub-region.
Funding for AI and cloud companies in the United States, Europe, and Israel is experiencing a resurgence, after three years of decline, and is expected to reach $79.2 billion by the end of 2024, according to venture capital firm Accel. This marks a 27% increase compared to the $62.5 billion invested in 2023. Generative AI is playing a major role, accounting for around 40% of this year’s investments.
Of the $56 billion invested in generative AI over the past two years, 80% went to US-based companies, with the remainder split between Europe and Israel. In the US, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Elon Musk’s xAI led funding rounds, while Europe saw significant investment in companies like Mistral, Aleph Alpha, and DeepL. AI foundation models attracted two-thirds of the total AI investment during this period.
Generative AI investment in Europe is growing quickly, rising from $2.4 billion in 2023 to $6.4 billion in 2024. By comparison, the US saw $25 billion in funding for private AI companies in 2024. Accel noted, however, that outside of AI, the focus in the tech industry has shifted towards profitability, signalling the end of an era of high growth in software.
Despite the shift, the booming AI sector is seen as transformative, with Accel partner Philippe Botteri comparing the current AI wave to other major technological shifts like the rise of broadband, mobile, and cloud computing.
Alphabet has transferred the Gemini app team to DeepMind, streamlining operations to accelerate progress in generative AI. The decision aims to foster quicker deployment and seamless collaboration across its AI platforms.
Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, highlighted that the change would enhance feedback cycles and improve the rollout of models within the Gemini app. Gemini represents Google’s most advanced AI technology, with the app offering direct access to the latest developments.
Sissie Hsiao, who previously led the Gemini app team, will now report to Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind. This realignment reflects the company’s broader efforts to strengthen its generative AI capabilities.
Google also reshuffled senior leadership, appointing Prabhakar Raghavan as chief technologist. His former role in search and information management will be taken over by Nick Fox, aligning the company’s AI product strategy under new leadership.
Mistral, a French AI startup, has launched its first generative AI models, ‘Les Ministraux,’ designed to run on edge devices like laptops and mobile phones. The models, Ministral 3B and Ministral 8B, offer versatile applications such as on-device translation and autonomous robotics, catering to privacy-focused, low-latency scenarios.
Both models can process 128,000 tokens, roughly the length of a 50-page book. While Ministral 8B is available for research purposes, commercial licences for self-deployment are being offered directly by Mistral. Developers can also access the models through Mistral’s cloud platform, La Platforme.
Smaller AI models are increasingly in demand due to their cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Mistral claims that its Ministral models outperform competitors like Llama and Gemma across several benchmarks, offering strong instruction-following and problem-solving capabilities.
Paris-based Mistral, which has raised $640 million in venture capital, continues to expand its AI portfolio. The company has introduced services such as developer testing and model fine-tuning, positioning itself as a competitor to major players like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Photonic chip startup Lightmatter has raised $400 million in a Series D funding round led by T. Rowe Price, valuing the company at $4.4 billion. This funding boost comes amid surging demand for more efficient data center infrastructure due to the rise of artificial intelligence technologies like ChatGPT. With backing from investors such as Fidelity and Alphabet’s GV, Lightmatter plans to use the capital to produce and deploy its innovative chips and expand its workforce across the US and Canada.
The Mountain View-based company, founded in 2017, specialises in using silicon photonics to build faster and more energy-efficient chips, a crucial technology for AI and cloud computing. Co-founder and CEO Nick Harris indicated that this could be the company’s last private funding round, with plans to go public in the near future. He emphasised that photonic chips are the future of high-performance computing, which is why Lightmatter has secured large deals with major tech players, though the company has not disclosed specific clients.
With the potential to work across platforms like Nvidia, Intel, and AMD, Lightmatter’s technology aims to significantly increase AI cluster bandwidth while lowering energy consumption. Its first large AI clusters are expected to be operational next year as the company prepares for an initial public offering.
The Mexican telecom giant, America Movil, will focus on expanding its 5G wireless technology next year, prioritising Latin American markets. Controlled by billionaire Carlos Slim’s family, the company aims to advance its 5G network across key regions.
The company allocated $7 billion for capital expenditure this year, with 5G expansion at the core of its strategy. CEO Daniel Hajj confirmed the effort will continue in 2025, singling out Mexico and other Latin American countries as priorities.
Additional funding is being considered to support operations in markets like Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, according to CFO Daniel Garcia. Maintaining current debt levels remains a goal despite plans for refinancing in these regions.
America Movil is also in discussions with SpaceX for potential collaboration. A partnership with the space technology firm could link SpaceX services with the company’s main mobile network. Shares rose over 3% following a strong earnings report, highlighted by tripled quarterly profits.
The Cybersecurity Association of China (CSAC) has urged a security review of Intel’s products in China, alleging that the US chipmaker poses a national security risk. Although CSAC is an industry group, it has strong connections to the Chinese government, and its claims may prompt action from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
CSAC’s post on WeChat accuses Intel’s chips, including its Xeon processors used for AI, of containing vulnerabilities and backdoors allegedly tied to the US NSA. The group warns that using Intel products threatens China’s national security and critical infrastructure.
This recommendation comes amid growing US-China tensions over technology and trade. Last year, the CAC banned Chinese infrastructure operators from using products from Micron Technology after a security review, raising concerns that Intel could face a similar outcome.
Intel’s China unit responded, emphasising its commitment to product safety and quality. The company stated on its WeChat account that it will cooperate with authorities to clarify concerns. If the CAC carries out a security review, it could impact Intel’s sales in its significant Chinese market. Intel’s shares recently dropped 2.7% in US premarket trading.
