Digital business models

Nokia to build Surge’s 5G fixed-wireless network in Indonesia

Indonesian telecom provider Surge (Solusi Sinergi Digital) and Nokia have entered a multi-year agreement to roll out a 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network across Java, Papua, and Maluku.

Nokia will leverage its existing FTTx, IP and optical infrastructure for backhaul, and deploy a new RAN and customer premises equipment (CPE) tailored for FWA. The deployment will utilise Nokia’s AirScale RAN portfolio, comprising baseband, remote radio heads, and zero-footprint sites, all enabled by its energy-efficient ReefShark chip technology.

To help manage the network, Surge will utilise Nokia’s MantaRay NM network management system, which provides a unified view of operations. The agreement also includes deployment, maintenance and support services, with AI-based performance, efficiency and safety enhancements.

This project supports broader aims of digital inclusion in Indonesia: Surge plans to offer flat-rate 5G FWA services at around IDR 100,000 (~US$6) per month, with speeds of up to 100 Mb/s and no data cap.

From a policy and infrastructure standpoint, the deal is noteworthy. It shows how 5G FWA can be used to address connectivity gaps in regions where fibre rollout is challenging, and how advanced RAN technologies, combined with AI-led operations, can make large-scale broadband deployment more feasible.

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New strategy targets Africa’s connectivity gap

Africa’s latest digital summit in Cotonou presented a growing concern. Coverage has expanded across West and Central Africa, yet adoption remains stubbornly low. Nearly two-thirds of Africans remain offline, despite most already living in areas with mobile networks.

Senior figures at the World Bank argued that the continent now faces an inclusion challenge rather than an infrastructure gap, as many households weigh daily necessities against the cost of connectivity.

Affordability has become the dominant barrier. Mobile Internet often consumes more than twice the global threshold for acceptable pricing, while fixed broadband can account for a striking share of monthly income. Devices remain expensive, and digital literacy is far from widespread.

Women, in particular, lag, and many rural communities lack the necessary skills to utilise essential digital services. Concerns also extend to businesses that struggle to train staff for digital tools and emerging AI solutions.

Policymakers now argue for a shift in strategy. The World Bank intends to prioritise digital public goods such as digital identification, electronic payments and interoperable platforms, believing that valuable services will encourage people to go online.

Governments hope that a stronger ecosystem will make online health, connected agriculture and digital learning more accessible and therefore more valuable.

Benin used the summit to highlight its advances in online administration and training programmes. Regional leaders also called for the creation of an African Single Digital Market that would lower access costs, encourage cross-border investment and harmonise regulations.

Officials insisted that a unified approach could accelerate development and equip African workers with the skills required for the digital jobs expected to expand by the end of the decade.

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AI expected to reshape 89% of jobs across the workforce in 2026

AI is set to transform the UK workforce in 2026, with nearly 9 out of 10 senior HR leaders expecting AI to reshape jobs, according to a CNBC survey. The survey highlights a shift towards skill-based, AI-enabled recruitment rather than traditional degree-focused hiring.

Despite the widespread adoption of AI, workforce reductions are expected to stem mainly from general cost-cutting rather than efficiency gains. Many HR leaders also noted that while AI has improved efficiency and innovation, it has not yet been fully integrated into every job, resulting in uneven impact across organisations.

The research highlights the potential of AI to boost productivity and innovation, with studies indicating that employees can save an average of 7.5 hours per week by utilising AI tools. HR experts emphasised that learning to use AI to augment human interactions, rather than replace them, will be crucial for the workforce’s future.

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New report warns retailers are unprepared for AI-powered attacks

Retailers are entering the peak shopping season amid warnings that AI-driven cyber threats will accelerate. LevelBlue’s latest Spotlight Report says nearly half of retail executives are already seeing significantly higher attack volumes, while one-third have suffered a breach in the past year.

The sector is under pressure to roll out AI-driven personalisation and new digital channels, yet only a quarter feel ready to defend against AI attacks. Readiness gaps also cover deepfakes and synthetic identity fraud, even though most expect these threats to arrive soon.

Supply chain visibility remains weak, with almost half of executives reporting limited insight into software suppliers. Few list supplier security as a near-term priority, fuelling concern that vulnerabilities could cascade across retail ecosystems.

High-profile breaches have pushed cybersecurity into the boardroom, and most retailers now integrate security teams with business operations. Leadership performance metrics and risk appetite frameworks are increasingly aligned with cyber resilience goals.

Planned investment is focused on application security, business-wide resilience processes, and AI-enabled defensive tools. LevelBlue argues that sustained spending and cultural change are required if retailers hope to secure consumer trust amid rapidly evolving threats.

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Vatican gathers global experts on AI and medicine

Medical professionals, ethicists and theologians gathered in the Vatican this week to discuss the ethical use of AI in healthcare. The conference, organised by the Pontifical Academy for Life and the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, highlighted the growing role of AI in diagnostics and treatment.

Speakers warned against reducing patient care to data alone, stressing that human interaction and personalised treatment remain central to medicine. Experts highlighted the need for transparency, non-discrimination and ethical oversight when implementing AI, noting that technology should enhance rather than replace human judgement.

The event also explored global experiences from regions including India, Latin America and Europe, with participants emphasising the role of citizens in shaping AI’s direction in medicine. Organisers called for ongoing dialogue between healthcare professionals, faith communities and technology leaders to ensure AI benefits patients while safeguarding human dignity.

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Hyundai launches record investment to boost South Korea’s tech future

Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled a record 85.8 billion dollar investment plan that will reshape South Korea’s industrial landscape over the next five years.

The company intends to channel a large share of the funds into fields such as AI, robotics, electrification, software-defined vehicles, and hydrogen technologies.

Hyundai presents the roadmap as evidence of an agile response to a global environment in which export strength and technological leadership matter more than ever.

A major part of the strategy centres on turning innovation into export gains. The group expects the investment to raise overseas shipments of South Korea-made vehicles by more than thirteen percent by 2030.

A plan that emerges shortly after Seoul concluded a new trade agreement with Washington that lowers tariffs on South Korean vehicles to fifteen percent instead of the previous twenty-five percent. The rate remains much higher than the earlier 2.5 percent applied before the renegotiation.

Hyundai’s announcement mirrors a wider industrial push across the country. Samsung Group recently committed 310 billion dollars for a similar period, largely focused on AI development.

Both companies aim to reinforce the nation’s position in advanced technologies and secure long-term competitiveness at a time when global supply chains and industrial alliances are rapidly shifting.

Hyundai, together with Kia, sold more than 7.2 million vehicles globally last year.

The company views its new investment programme as a foundation for future export growth and a signal that South Korea plans to anchor its economic future in next-generation technologies instead of relying on past models of industrial expansion.

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India’s data protection rules finally take effect

India has activated the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 after extended delays. Final regulations notified in November operationalise a long-awaited national privacy framework. The Act, passed in August 2023, now gains a fully operational compliance structure.

Implementation of the rules is staggered so organisations can adjust governance, systems and contracts. Some provisions, including the creation of a Data Protection Board, take effect immediately. Obligations on consent notices, breach reporting and children’s data begin after 12 or 18 months.

India introduces regulated consent managers acting as a single interface between users and data fiduciaries. Managers must register with the Board and follow strict operational standards. Parents will use digital locker-based verification when authorising the processing of children’s information online.

Global technology, finance and health providers now face major upgrades to internal privacy programmes. Lawyers expect major work mapping data flows, refining consent journeys and tightening security practices.

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IBM advances quantum computing understanding with new project

IBM has introduced two new quantum processors, named ‘Nighthawk’ and ‘Loon’, aimed at major leaps in quantum computing. The Nighthawk chip features 120 qubits and 218 tunable couplers, enabling circuits with approximately 30% greater complexity than previous models.

The Loon processor is designed as a testbed for fault-tolerant quantum computing, implementing key hardware components, including six-way qubit connectivity and long-range couplers. These advances mark a strategic shift by IBM to scale quantum systems beyond experimental prototypes.

IBM has also upgraded its fabrication process by shifting to 300 mm wafers at its Albany NanoTech facility, which has doubled development speed and boosted physical chip complexity tenfold.

Looking ahead, IBM projects the initial delivery of Nighthawk by the end of 2025 and aims to achieve verified quantum advantage by the end of 2026, with fully fault-tolerant quantum systems targeted by 2029.

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Google commits 40 billion dollars to expand Texas AI infrastructure

Google will pour 40 billion dollars into Texas by 2027, expanding digital infrastructure. Funding focuses on new cloud and AI facilities alongside existing campuses in Midlothian and Dallas.

Three new US data centres are planned, one in Armstrong County and two in Haskell County. One Haskell site will sit beside a solar plant and battery storage facility. Investment is accompanied by agreements for more than 6,200 megawatts of additional power generation.

Google will create a 30 million dollar Energy Impact Fund supporting Texan energy efficiency and affordability projects. The company backs training for existing electricians and over 1,700 apprentices through electrical training programmes.

Spending strengthens Texas as a major hub for data centres and AI development. Google says expanded infrastructure and workforce will help maintain US leadership in advanced computing technologies. Company highlights its 15 year presence in Texas and pledges ongoing community support.

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AI supports doctors in spotting broken bones

Hospitals in Lincolnshire, UK, are introducing AI to assist doctors in identifying fractures and dislocations, with the aim to speeding up treatment and improving patient care. The Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust will launch a two-year NHS England pilot later this month.

AI software will provide near-instant annotated X-rays alongside standard scans, highlighting potential issues for clinicians to review. Patients under the age of two, as well as those undergoing chest, spine, skull, facial or soft tissue imaging, will not be included in the pilot.

Consultants emphasise that AI is an additional tool, not a replacement, and clinicians will retain the final say on diagnosis and treatment. Early trials in northern Europe suggest the technology can help meet rising demand, and the trust is monitoring its impact closely.

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