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.
South Korean authorities have officially confirmed that North Korean hacker groups Lazarus and Andariel orchestrated the infamous $50 million cryptocurrency heist from the Upbit exchange in 2019. The stolen 342,000 Ether (ETH), worth around $147 per coin at the time, has soared in value and is now estimated to be worth over $1 billion due to recent market surges.
The investigation, conducted by South Korea’s National Office of Investigation, tracked crypto flows, IP addresses, and linguistic patterns, with support from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, to pinpoint North Korea’s involvement. It is the first time South Korea has directly tied a cryptocurrency attack to the reclusive nation, a significant breakthrough in cybercrime investigations.
Meanwhile, the probe into Upbit continues after allegations of weak Know Your Customer measures. Regulators flagged over 600,000 potential violations, including acceptance of unclear identification documents, which could lead to hefty fines and regulatory challenges for the exchange.
Huawei plans to begin mass-producing its Ascend 910C AI chip in early 2025, despite ongoing struggles to achieve sufficient production yields due to US trade restrictions. The Chinese telecom giant has already sent samples to tech firms and started taking orders for the chip, designed to rival Nvidia’s high-performance processors. The company faces significant challenges, as restrictions on advanced manufacturing technologies have limited its chip-making efficiency.
The Ascend 910C is produced by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) using an N+2 process but suffers from a yield of just 20%—far below the 70% required for commercial viability. Previous Huawei processors, including the 910B, achieved yields of around 50%, leading to delays in fulfilling orders from major clients like ByteDance. Washington’s restrictions, which prevent access to critical Dutch lithography equipment, have further constrained China’s ability to produce advanced semiconductors.
Huawei’s reliance on SMIC has been costly, with chips produced on its advanced nodes priced up to 50% higher than alternatives. While the company has sought supplemental production from Taiwan’s TSMC, US authorities have tightened export controls, limiting access to cutting-edge chips and forcing Huawei to prioritise strategic government and corporate orders. The escalating trade tensions underscore the geopolitical struggle between the US and China over technological dominance, with both nations doubling down on policies to secure their interests.
As Beijing pushes for self-reliance in semiconductors, Huawei’s production challenges reflect the broader impact of US restrictions on China’s tech sector. With further curbs on the horizon, Huawei’s success in advancing its AI chips may shape the next phase of the US -China tech rivalry.
South Korea’s Democratic Party (KDP) is moving forward with plans to implement a tax on cryptocurrency gains starting in 2025, despite opposition from the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP), which proposed a delay until 2028. The KDP, however, is offering a compromise by raising the threshold for taxable gains from 2.5 million won ($1,800) to 50 million won ($36,000). This move would ensure that only larger investors—those making substantial profits from crypto—are affected by the tax, leaving smaller players with little to no impact.
The original crypto tax proposal, which was met with backlash from stakeholders and investors, aimed to impose a 20% annual tax on gains over 2.5 million won. The KDP’s revised plan aligns more closely with the country’s stock tax policies, where the threshold for taxable capital gains is similarly set at 50 million won. The party argues that this approach would make the tax more palatable by only targeting “big players” in the market.
This tax has been delayed multiple times, initially scheduled for implementation in 2021 but pushed back to 2023 due to opposition. Now, with a new proposal in the works, South Korea’s government aims to enact the crypto tax on 1 January 2025, unless further political manoeuvres alter the timeline.
Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo has urged the European Commission to launch three new investigations into Google’s compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). DuckDuckGo argues that the rules, designed to curb Big Tech dominance, have not yet delivered meaningful change in the search market.
The Digital Markets Act, adopted in 2022, requires major tech firms to ensure users can switch services easily and prohibits practices that favour their own products. DuckDuckGo’s senior vice-president, Kamyl Bazbaz, claimed in a blog post that Google’s measures fall short of the law’s requirements, calling for formal probes to drive compliance.
Google is already under two DMA-related investigations concerning its app store rules and alleged discrimination against third-party services. A spokesperson for the company stated that Google is cooperating with the Commission and has made significant adjustments to its services. They emphasised consumer choice and data protection as key priorities while rejecting claims of non-compliance.
DuckDuckGo also accused Google of proposing to share anonymised search data with competitors that excludes the vast majority of search queries, rendering it ineffective. Additional allegations include failing to make switching search engines straightforward. Companies breaching the DMA could face fines up to 10% of their global annual revenue.
Goldman Sachs is considering spinning out its technology platform within its digital assets business, signalling a potential shift in its blockchain and cryptocurrency strategy. The platform, which has played a significant role in advancing blockchain technology and crypto-linked products, is expected to become an independent entity within 12 to 18 months, according to Mathew McDermott, Goldman’s global head of digital assets.
The bank’s plans come as the cryptocurrency market experiences a resurgence, with Bitcoin more than doubling its value in 2024 following the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this year. The proposed spin-out would likely provide greater operational focus for the platform while aligning with market trends.
Although the project is in its early stages, Goldman Sachs‘ move highlights its commitment to adapting its digital asset strategies amid evolving regulatory and market conditions.
Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House is viewed as a positive development for India‘s IT services sector, according to Wipro Executive Chairman Rishad Premji. Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, Premji noted that Trump’s ‘pro-business and pro-growth’ policies, including lower taxes and fewer regulations, could encourage greater spending by corporate clients. This comes after challenging quarters for Indian IT firms, with clients cutting back on discretionary projects due to global economic uncertainty.
Premji also highlighted the need for caution regarding inflation, tariffs, and potential changes in United States immigration policies, particularly H-1B visas, which are crucial for Indian IT workers. The US account for a significant portion of the sector’s revenue. Stricter outsourcing rules could pose challenges, but analysts remain optimistic about overall growth.
JPMorgan analysts echoed this sentiment, stating that extended US corporate tax benefits could boost technology spending, further benefiting Indian IT companies. The sector will monitor Trump’s policies closely for long-term impact.
Super Micro Computer witnessed a 23% surge in its share value after revealing steps to address its delayed financial filings and avoid a potential Nasdaq delisting. The company has appointed BDO USA as its new independent auditor, replacing Ernst & Young, which resigned due to concerns over governance, transparency, and internal control issues. The new appointment comes just ahead of Nasdaq’s compliance deadline, allowing Super Micro to submit a filing plan for review. If accepted, the company could secure an extension until February 2025 to resolve its reporting challenges.
Despite the financial turbulence, optimism remains surrounding Super Micro’s AI server segment, which has shown strong demand. Analysts have highlighted the significant role of the compliance plan in maintaining investor confidence, while past challenges—including a prior delisting from Nasdaq in 2019 over missed reporting deadlines—serve as reminders of the stakes. Shares of the company have fallen by 24% year-to-date, with their current value standing far below the record highs achieved earlier this year.
If the compliance plan fails to gain approval, Super Micro can appeal the decision to Nasdaq’s Hearings Panel, triggering a 15-day stay of delisting, with the possibility of an additional 180-day extension. Industry observers are keenly watching how the company navigates its financial and regulatory hurdles, given its importance in the growing AI server market.
Super Micro’s history of regulatory and financial scrutiny adds complexity to its current situation, but its leadership remains optimistic about overcoming these challenges and capitalising on the booming AI technology demand.
Google has announced a $20 million fund, with an additional $2 million in cloud credits, to support researchers using AI to tackle complex scientific challenges. The initiative, unveiled by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis at the AI for Science Forum in London, is part of Google’s broader strategy to foster innovation and collaboration with academic and non-profit organisations globally.
The funding will prioritise interdisciplinary projects addressing challenges in fields such as rare disease research, experimental biology, sustainability, and materials science. Google plans to distribute the funding to approximately 15 organisations by 2026, ensuring each grant is substantial enough to drive impactful breakthroughs. The programme reflects Google’s aim to position itself as a key partner in advancing science through AI, building on successes like AlphaFold, which recently earned DeepMind leaders a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
The move aligns with a growing trend among Big Tech firms investing heavily in AI-driven research. Amazon’s AWS recently committed $110 million to similar grants, underscoring the race to attract leading scientists and researchers into their ecosystems. Hassabis expressed hope that the initiative would inspire greater collaboration between the private and public sectors and further demonstrate AI’s transformative potential in science.
Russia has introduced a winter ban on cryptocurrency mining in three Siberian regions to prevent electricity shortages during the colder months. These areas, located near Lake Baikal, have become popular for mining due to their low-cost hydropower but face heightened demand for energy during harsh winters.
In territories of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed, crypto-mining is also restricted due to extensive damage to energy infrastructure since 2022, causing power shortages.
As a major global crypto-mining player, Russia recently introduced regulations and taxes on the industry, expecting annual revenues of $2 billion.
