The Philippine President has directed the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to prioritise connectivity in remote and isolated areas of the Philippines. That initiative is part of the National Digital Connectivity Plan (NDCP) 2024-2028, which will serve as the strategic blueprint for achieving comprehensive digital connectivity across the country.
The focus is establishing connectivity in underserved regions as a foundational step before expanding further. To implement this plan, Marcos has suggested rolling out free Wi-Fi in designated areas and utilising government facilities to create a market for telecommunications companies. This approach aims to integrate Wi-Fi costs into government budgets once connectivity is established. By leveraging government facilities such as barangay offices and local government units, the initiative intends to stimulate demand and support for telecommunications infrastructure.
The $288 million Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project is a significant component of the plan, which Marcos has approved. Funded by the World Bank, this project aims to complete the national fibre backbone and extend high-speed internet to disadvantaged areas. It involves the construction of a public broadband network designed to enhance digital infrastructure nationwide.
As of July, the DICT has made notable progress, with 13,462 free Wi-Fi sites established across various cities and municipalities, benefiting approximately 9.8 million Filipinos. This initiative is supported by Republic Act 10929, which mandates free internet access in public places, including hospitals, transport terminals, and government offices, ensuring broader access to digital resources.
Huawei is significantly contributing to Malawi’s digital transformation through its comprehensive Smart Village Program, which aims to bridge the digital divide in rural areas. This program integrates smart agriculture technologies, expands access to financial services, and enhances education and healthcare through digital solutions.
As part of this initiative, Huawei will establish technical training centres in rural regions to equip young people with crucial digital skills in AI, cybersecurity, and smart agriculture. That effort is a key component of Huawei’s larger $430 million investment plan for Africa, which includes funding for cloud development, talent development, and long-term technological progress.
The initiative supports Malawi’s MW2063 agenda, which envisions transforming the country into an industrialised upper-middle-income nation by 2063. It also builds on previous collaborations, such as the launch of Malawi’s National Data Centre in 2022, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s digital infrastructure.
In addition to Malawi, Huawei’s regional impact extends to other African countries, including Zambia and Uganda, where it is involved in smart village projects, and Kenya, where it contributes to smart city initiatives. These efforts aim to enhance connectivity and drive technological innovation across the continent.
Kuwait is set to introduce 5G technology by the end of 2024. Specifically, telecommunications companies will roll out the new service on a coordinated date once all preparations are completed and approvals are granted by the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA).
To operate 5G services, mobile operators must secure a license costing $1 million, with payment required within six months of the license issuance. Additionally, the frequency bands allocated for this new technology are 2600 MHz and 2300 MHz, utilising a dual access system with time division. Consequently, operators must adhere to specific terms, conditions, and annual licensing fees as part of their operational obligations.
The following move is part of Kuwait’s broader Vision 2035, which aims to enhance the country’s digital services and user experiences across various sectors. By phasing out 3G services by 2025 and preparing to introduce new frequencies and 5G-Advanced, Kuwait is strategically positioning itself as a leader in global technology.
Why does this matter?
Moreover, the initiative underscores Kuwait’s commitment to modernising its telecommunications infrastructure. This modernisation is essential for supporting the country’s ambitious digital transformation and technological advancement goals, aligning with its Vision 2035 objectives.
Mobily is leveraging AI to revolutionise the telecommunications industry, particularly in the Middle East. By aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Mobily is using AI to drive growth and innovation. The company’s AI-driven solutions improve network efficiency, enhance customer experience, and boost business agility, positioning Mobily as a leader in the region’s telecom sector.
Through predictive maintenance, Mobily ensures network reliability, while AI-powered customer service chatbots and analytics platforms optimise performance and provide personalised services to meet the growing demands of digital consumers. Mobily also places a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience through AI. The company uses AI to offer personalised support, analyse customer data to deliver tailored recommendations, anticipate needs, and provide proactive service. AI-powered tools like chatbots and virtual assistants streamline customer service, resulting in faster response times and improved satisfaction.
Additionally, Mobily ensures its use of AI adheres to strict ethical standards, prioritising data privacy, transparency, and fairness. With robust encryption, user consent practices, and bias mitigation strategies, Mobily safeguards customer information while building trust through ethical AI use.
Mobily also focuses on building and developing AI talent. The company collaborates with universities to create internship programs and invests in continuous learning initiatives for its employees, fostering a culture of innovation and ensuring that the organisation stays ahead in AI advancements. Furthermore, Mobily emphasises cross-departmental collaboration to integrate AI effectively across marketing, operations, and other business units.
Portugal’s new centre-right government has upheld the previous administration’s ban on Chinese equipment in its 5G networks, citing security concerns. This move, initially imposed in May 2023 by the country’s cybersecurity board (CSSC), also applies to 4G platforms supporting 5G, dealing a setback to Chinese tech giant Huawei’s attempts to expand its presence in Portugal.
Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz confirmed the continuation of the ban, emphasising the importance of maintaining security measures, especially in light of the growing geopolitical tensions between global powers. While Portugal’s position aligns closely with US policy, it is stricter than that of other European nations, as Huawei challenges the ban in court.
Telecom operators like Altice, NOS, and Vodafone have already opted not to use Huawei’s technology in their 5G networks. However, a recent study suggests the exclusion could cost Portugal’s economy over 1 billion euros, including significant replacement costs. The minister, however, downplayed the financial impact, stating operators have ample time to transition.
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has recently updated its Russia General License (GL) 25E, maintaining authorisation for essential and incidental transactions to telecommunications involving the Russian Federation. That license facilitates various internet-based services, including instant messaging, social networking, and e-learning platforms.
It supports the ongoing exchange of communications and allows for the export or reexport of related software, hardware, and technology, provided such transactions comply with the Department of Commerce’s Export Administration Regulations. However, it is important to note that transactions involving significant Russian telecommunications companies designated by OFAC remain unauthorised under this license and must be carefully analysed.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has also issued a critical alert regarding Russia’s attempts to evade sanctions by establishing new overseas branches and subsidiaries of Russian financial institutions. That alert warns that these efforts to open new international branches or subsidiaries should be considered potential red flags for sanction evasion.
Financial institutions and foreign regulators are advised to exercise caution when engaging with these entities, as activities such as maintaining accounts, transferring funds, or providing financial services may carry significant risks of facilitating Russia’s attempts to bypass sanctions.
Uzbekistan and Pakistan are collaborating to advance their information technology and telecommunications sectors, seeking to establish a robust framework for mutual growth. During a recent meeting between Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Oybek Usmanov and Pakistan’s Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, both nations demonstrated a strong commitment to exploring new opportunities for cooperation.
The discussion highlighted Uzbekistan’s ongoing reforms, including creating IT parks, e-government initiatives, and adopting innovative technologies across various sectors. Uzbekistan and Pakistan plan to establish a joint working group to formalise this partnership. The group will focus on identifying key areas for collaboration and developing a comprehensive roadmap to guide their joint initiatives, thereby enhancing technological capabilities and leveraging shared expertise in IT and telecommunications.
In addition to formalising their partnership, Uzbekistan and Pakistan are exploring ways to capitalise on each other’s strengths in digital innovation. The Pakistani delegation praised Uzbekistan’s achievements in digitalising public services and integrating AI. That mutual respect emphasises their shared interest in fostering collaboration, particularly in high-tech solutions and digital infrastructure, and highlights the potential for significant advancements through their joint efforts.
EE has recently expanded its network capabilities with the rollout of its 5G Standalone (5GSA) technology across 15 major cities in the UK. The significant upgrade positions EE as the third UK carrier to deploy 5GSA, following Vodafone and VMO2. The new 5GSA network is designed to deliver faster speeds, reduced latency, and enhanced reliability, addressing the growing demand for high-performance connectivity. With features like ‘Network Boost,’ EE aims to improve performance in crowded areas by providing additional capacity to users on select plans.
EE has also introduced a range of new mobile plans to complement its 5GSA network. These plans include unlimited data options, generous roaming allowances for the EU, and select international destinations. Premium subscribers can benefit from added value through access to Google One AI Premium tools, Apple One, Netflix, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
EE is further advancing its broadband offerings with the Wi-Fi 7 Smart Hub Pro launch. Developed in collaboration with Qualcomm, this new hub provides superior home connectivity with faster speeds, reduced interference, and improved coverage. Full Fibre customers will enjoy gigabit speeds and a guaranteed 100Mbps connection in every room. To ensure customer satisfaction, EE offers a money-back guarantee for users who are not completely satisfied with the new hub’s performance.
Egypt Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly signed five key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Chinese firms and institutions to enhance Egypt-China telecommunications and information technology cooperation. These agreements, made during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, mark a significant development in Egypt’s tech and infrastructure sectors.
The first MoU with FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies involves setting up a fibre optic cable factory in Egypt, producing one million fibre kilometres annually and creating 200 jobs. It will also include a research and development centre and a training facility for network engineers.
The second MoU, with ITIDA, Tsinghua Unigroup, and Telecom Egypt, focuses on building a data centre and cloud services operation supported by a $300 million investment fund. This partnership will also establish a research centre for semiconductor design and develop AI applications, including an Arabic language model.
Huawei Egypt’s MoU will establish a development centre for local industry solutions, software, and cloud computing, aiming to train 1,500 developers by 2025 and support startups with cloud resources. The fourth MoU with ZTE will localise network equipment production and establish training labs for 5G and GPON technologies, providing training for 1,200 participants.
The final MoU with Hengtong Group will create a second fibre optic cable factory in the Suez Canal Economic Zone with a $15 million investment, producing 3 million kilometres of cables annually and including a training academy in collaboration with the National Telecommunications Institute. These agreements highlight Egypt’s commitment to advancing its technological infrastructure and deepening its partnership with China.
The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has outlined several recommendations to enhance the coordination of federal broadband programs to ensure efficient use of resources and equitable access to high-speed internet. One key recommendation is to standardise programs at the time of authorisation, which would reduce complexity and unnecessary variation for applicants. By establishing common frameworks and guidelines, stakeholders can navigate the application processes more effectively, streamlining broadband initiatives’ deployment across various regions.
Another significant recommendation focuses on the coordination of funding among federal agencies in the US. The NTIA suggests that agencies should work collaboratively to minimise duplication of efforts and ensure that federal broadband funding is directed to areas with the most pressing needs. This involves documenting standard operating procedures to guide funding decisions and promote the most efficient utilisation of resources, ultimately enhancing the impact of federal investments in broadband infrastructure.
Data collection and mapping are also critical areas highlighted in the NTIA’s recommendations. Federal broadband programs should align their reporting requirements with the standards set for the Broadband Funding Map and NTIA’s annual access broadband report. The NTIA encourages efforts to incentivise states to contribute relevant data, which would improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of broadband deployment data. This enhanced data collection is essential for informed decision-making and effective planning in addressing the digital divide.
Additionally, the NTIA recommends common policies across federal programs to adjust funding and establish a deduplication review process through revised MOUs. This would enable agencies and State Broadband Offices to review funding commitments, preventing overlaps and ensuring effective resource allocation.
