Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark showcased a breakthrough in phone call technology, utilising ‘immersive audio and video’ to enhance call quality with three-dimensional sound. Lundmark, who witnessed the first 2G call in 1991, hailed this advancement as the future of voice communication.
Traditional smartphone calls often need more depth, compressing audio and resulting in flat, less detailed sound. Nokia’s innovation promises to revolutionise this experience, offering callers a lifelike interaction akin to being in the same room.
Nokia makes world’s first cellular call using new Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) codec. With the codec you can hear calls in 3D spatial sound in real-time instead of today’s monophonic experience.
Jenni Lukander, president of Nokia Technologies, emphasised the significance of this advancement, dubbing it the most significant improvement since the introduction of monophonic telephony audio. The technology demonstrated in a call with Finland’s Ambassador of Digitalisation and New Technologies, Stefan Lindström, is poised to become standardised, enabling implementation across network providers, chipset manufacturers, and handset makers.
Beyond personal calls, Nokia’s immersive technology holds potential for conference calls, allowing voices to be separated based on spatial locations. Executives highlighted that most smartphones already possess the necessary microphones for implementation, transmitting real-time spatial characteristics of a call. While the technology is part of the upcoming 5G Advanced standard, widespread availability through licensing opportunities may take several years.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that Zimbabwe has granted Elon Musk’s Starlink the license to operate in the country, marking a significant step towards enhancing internet access. The approval is anticipated to bring high-speed, low-cost satellite internet to Zimbabwe, mainly benefiting rural areas with low-Earth-orbit (LEO) technology.
Starlink will partner exclusively with IMC Communications to provide its services in Zimbabwe. Only 34.8% of the population currently has internet access, as noted in a 2021 World Bank report, with three major mobile operators dominating the market. The introduction of Starlink aims to bridge this gap, offering a more extensive and affordable internet infrastructure.
The development follows issues with unregistered users smuggling Starlink kits from neighbouring countries, such as Zambia. Starlink’s official presence in Africa is expanding, with services already available in Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, and Malawi. However, regulatory challenges remain in Cameroon, where authorities recently seized Starlink equipment due to licensing issues.
Microsoft is partnering with UAE-based AI firm G42 to invest $1 billion in a new data centre in Kenya to expand cloud-computing services in East Africa. The data centre, built by G42 and its partners, will use geothermal energy and provide access to Microsoft’s Azure through a new cloud region specifically for East Africa.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet to meet the growing demand for cloud and generative AI services. G42, which recently received a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft, is also developing an open-source AI model in Swahili and English.
During President William Ruto’s visit to the United States, a letter of intent for the project will be signed on Friday between Microsoft, G42, and Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy. The data centre is expected to be operational within two years after the final agreements are signed.
The Democratic-majority FCC, led by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, voted to adopt an order titled ‘Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet.’ The order largely reinstates the net neutrality rules established under the Obama administration in 2015, which were later overturned in 2017. It prohibits Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from blocking or throttling access to content.
Rosenworcel argues that these rules are essential to keep the internet ‘fast, open, and fair,’ emphasising that reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act increases the FCC’s regulatory authority. However, it will not involve rate regulation or undermine investment incentives.
A group of 41 Republican lawmakers has challenged the FCC’s decision to vote on the matter, arguing that it exceeds the agency’s authority by treating broadband like a utility without explicit Congressional approval. They contend that only Congress has the power to impose such regulations. Despite this opposition, historical legal precedents from the Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals support the FCC’s authority to regulate broadband under Title II.
Google unveiled plans on Wednesday to invest $1 billion in two new submarine cables to enhance connectivity between the United States and Japan. These subsea cables, named Proa and Taihei, will be constructed by NEC Corp., a leading Japanese tech company. Proa’s route will span Japan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Guam, connecting the continental US with Shima, Japan. The Taihei cable, on the other hand, will establish a direct link between Japan and Hawaii.
In addition to these cables, Google will extend its existing Taiwan-Philippines-US (TPU) cable system to CNMI, integrating it into the Proa network. The TPU cable, also built by NEC, will connect Taiwan, the Philippines, Guam, and the US and is slated for completion by May 2025. Furthermore, Google’s Tabua cable, anticipated to be operational by 2026, will be extended to Hawaii, expanding its route from the US to Fiji and Australia.
These investments align with broader geopolitical objectives, as highlighted by the recent meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Joe Biden, affirming their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The joint statement issued post-meeting specifically noted Google’s $1 billion investment, emphasising the expansion of digital connectivity for the North Pacific Connect initiative in collaboration with NEC to enhance digital infrastructure across the US, Japan, and Pacific Island Nations.
Why does it matter?
The US and Japan intend to collaborate with like-minded partners to fortify and expand resilient networks in the Pacific region. Part of this initiative includes contributing funds, such as $16 million, towards cable systems for the Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu, emphasising the strategic importance of digital connectivity in fostering economic and diplomatic ties across the Pacific. These developments underscore Google’s significant role in enhancing global digital infrastructure and promoting connectivity across diverse regions.
China has approved increased operations of drones and other aerial vehicles, fueling excitement for the significant potential the technology holds in enhancing the country’s burgeoning “low-altitude economy.” “Low-altitude economy” is a key strategic sector listed by China, encompassing industries linked to manned and unmanned vehicles operating below 1,000 meters. The sector is valued at $70 billion in 2023, is projected to exceed $140 billion by 2026 in the country, as reported by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)-affiliated research institute.
Guidelines published by MIIT indicate Beijing’s ambition to invigorate the general aviation industry by 2027, emphasizing applications in urban air transport, logistics, and emergency rescue. By 2030, they aim to introduce a new, high-end, smart, and eco-friendly development model for general aviation, which is expected to significantly contribute to economic growth.
Civilian drones in China have already observed widespread adoption in various sectors including agriculture and aerial photography. Drone logistics services have now reached urban areas as well.
Sun Wensheng of China’s Civil Aviation Administration highlighted the ongoing enhancement of support services for low-altitude flights, including streamlined approval processes and air traffic management. He also mentioned about the efforts in refining the certification system for unmanned aircraft to facilitate the low-altitude economy’s growth.
Nigeria has intensified its collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to safeguard submarine cables and enhance broader resilience initiatives. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, underscores the critical need for proactive measures following recent disruptions caused by undersea cable cuts, emphasizing the importance of robust dialogue on regional and global scales.
Discussions in Geneva between Minister Tijani and ITU Deputy Secretary-General, Tomas Lamanauskas, have focused on key aspects such as reviewing global laws, fostering collaboration with stakeholders, and exploring innovative investment models to protect submarine cables and expand broadband access.
This partnership shows a joint effort to tackling vulnerabilities in global telecommunications infrastructure. Nigeria and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) aim to strengthen legal frameworks and involve stakeholders to create a more resilient digital ecosystem for economic growth and security. The expected outcomes make it a standout example of international cooperation, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to fortifying global telecommunications networks amidst evolving challenges.
In response to the growing demand for cloud services, the Amazon Web Services Mexico (AWS) has announced its plan to invest over $5 billion in building a cluster of data centres in Mexico, The data centre cluster will be located in the state of Queretaro and will be developed over the next 15 years.
The move comes after more than five years of planning and preparation by Amazon Web Service. This latest investment aligns with the trend of “nearshoring,” which involves companies relocating their businesses from Asia to locations closer to the United States due to supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mexican government has been actively attracting companies with initiatives such as tax incentives, and AWS has worked closely with the government. Tesla has also announced plans to build a factory in Mexico, further adding to the country’s attractiveness for foreign investment
Consisting of 48 member states, the ITU Council performs as the governing body between plenipotentiary conferences. During the council meetings, involved parties discuss general telecommunications policy issues and affirm ITU’s strategic plans. Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted two primary goals for ITU moving forward: universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation. The council highlighted its active collaboration with other UN agencies given the growing interest in digital themes within the UN ecosystem, such as increased mentions of digital issues in the agendas of the upcoming 2023 SDG Summit and the 2024 Summit of the Future. The ITU Council has made available all the adopted resolutions and decisions and summary reports this year.
The 2023 session of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council will be held between 11 and 21 July in Geneva, Switzerland and online. On 11 July, a High-Level Segment will be held on the theme ‘Creating a fit for the future ITU’.
Some of the issues on the Council’s agenda include:
Report on the implementation of the strategic plan and the activities of the Union from July 2022 to April 2023;
Accelerating the implementation of the ITU Strategic Plan 2024-2027;
Strategy for the coordination of efforts among the three Sectors of the Union;
Collaboration with the UN system as well as other international intergovernmental processes including on standard-development;
ITU’s role in the implementation of the “space 2030” agenda: Space as a driver of sustainable development, and its follow-up and review process;
Report on ITU’s role in implementing the outcomes of WSIS and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development as well as in their follow-up and review processes;
Periodic review of the International Telecommunication Regulations;
Appointment ofthe Chairmen and the Vice-Chairmen of the Council Working Groups and Expert Groups for the 2023-2026 period/cycle.
The ITU Council acts as the Union’s governing body in the interval between plenipotentiary conferences. It considers broad telecommunication policy issues and is tasked with ensuring that the Union’s strategy responds to changes in the telecommunication environment. The Council is composed of 48 ITU member states: 9 for the Americas, 8 for Western Europe, 5 for Eastern Europe and Nothern Asia, 13 for Africa; and 13 for Asia and Australasia.
The Vietnam Telecommunications Authority (VNTA) has announced that two malfunctioning undersea internet cables would be repaired in May 2023, with another scheduled for repair in June.
According to internet service providers who reported to the VNTA, the IA and SMW3 undersea cables have already been repaired as of 3 May 2023 and are now functioning normally. Two other cables – AAE-1 and AAG – will be fixed this month, while the APG cable is set to be repaired in June.
The Ministry of Information and Communications has instructed businesses to collaborate with consortium members in resolving the cable issues. Vietnam’s internet service providers have implemented various measures to ensure stable international connections, such as regulating data flow and procuring data through land routes.
The VNTA anticipates the installation of 4-6 new undersea cables in Vietnam by 2030, in addition to the current five cables connecting the country to the rest of the world.
