Telecommunications infrastructure

ITU warns global Internet access by 2030 could cost nearly USD 2.8 trillion

Universal Internet connectivity by 2030 could cost up to $2.8 trillion, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space, and Technology (CST) Commission. The blueprint urges global cooperation to connect the one-third of humanity still offline.

The largest share, up to $1.7 trillion, would be allocated to expanding broadband through fibre, wireless, and satellite networks. Nearly $1 trillion is needed for affordability measures, alongside $152 billion for digital skills programmes.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasised that connectivity is essential for access to education, employment, and vital services. She noted the stark divide between high-income countries, where 93% of people are online, and low-income states, where only 27% use the Internet.

The study shows costs have risen fivefold since ITU’s 2020 Connecting Humanity report, reflecting both higher demand and widening divides. Haytham Al-Ohali from Saudi Arabia said the figures underscore the urgency of investment and knowledge sharing to achieve meaningful connectivity.

The report recommends new business models and stronger cooperation between governments, industry, and civil society. Proposed measures include using schools as Internet gateways, boosting Africa’s energy infrastructure, and improving localised data collection to accelerate digital inclusion.

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EASA survey reveals cautious optimism over aviation AI ethics

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published survey results probing the ethical outlook of aviation professionals on AI deployment, released during its AI Days event in Cologne.

The AI Days conference gathered nearly 200 on-site attendees from across the globe, with even more participating online.

The survey measured acceptance, trust and comfort across eight hypothetical AI use cases, yielding an average acceptance score of 4.4 out of 7. Despite growing interest, two-thirds of respondents declined at least one scenario.

Their key concerns included limitations of AI performance, privacy and data protection, accountability, safety risks and the potential for workforce de-skilling. A clear majority called for stronger regulation and oversight by EASA and national authorities.

In a keynote address, Christine Berg from the European Commission highlighted that AI in aviation is already practical, optimising air traffic flow and predictive maintenance, while emphasising the need for explainable, reliable and certifiable systems under the EU AI Act.

Survey findings will feed into EASA’s AI Roadmap and prompt public consultations as the agency advances policy and regulatory frameworks.

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WhatsApp fixes flaw exploited in Apple device hacks

WhatsApp has fixed a vulnerability that exposed Apple device users to highly targeted cyberattacks. The flaw was chained with an iOS and iPadOS bug, allowing hackers to access sensitive data.

According to researchers at Amnesty’s Security Lab, the malicious campaign lasted around 90 days and impacted fewer than 200 people. WhatsApp notified victims directly, which urged all users to update their apps immediately.

Apple has also acknowledged the issue and released security patches to close the cybersecurity loophole. Experts warn that other apps beyond WhatsApp may have been exploited in the same campaign.

The identity of those behind the spyware attacks remains unclear. Both companies have stressed that prompt updates are the best protection for users against similar threats.

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Google outage disrupts services across Türkiye and southeast europe

Google services experienced a widespread outage in Türkiye on Thursday morning, leaving core functions such as search and YouTube inaccessible.

Users reported search queries failing to return results, frozen pages, and an inability to connect to Google servers. Social media posts suggested the disruption extended beyond Türkiye, affecting users in Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Armenia, the Netherlands, and Germany.

The Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency confirmed outages across parts of Southeastern Europe. Turkish Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Omer Fatih Sayan, said the issue impacted Android and related services in Türkiye and the wider European region.

He added that the National Cyber Incident Response Centre had requested a technical report from Google and is monitoring the situation closely.

As of 10:57 a.m. local time, 4 September 2025, access to Google services in Türkiye had been restored. Google has yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of the disruption.

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DeepSeek prepares new AI agent model to rival US competitors

According to people familiar with the plans, Chinese startup DeepSeek is developing an AI model with enhanced agent features to compete with US firms such as OpenAI.

The Hangzhou-based company intends for the system to perform multi-step tasks with limited input and adapt from its previous actions.

Founder Liang Wenfeng has urged his team to prepare the release before the end of 2025. The project follows DeepSeek’s earlier success with R1, a reasoning-focused model launched in January that attracted attention for its low development costs.

Since then, DeepSeek has delivered only incremental updates while rivals in China and the US have accelerated new product launches.

The shift towards AI agents reflects a broader industry move to develop tools capable of managing complex real-world tasks, from research to coding, with less reliance on users. OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Manus AI have already introduced similar projects.

Most systems still require significant oversight, highlighting the challenges of building fully autonomous agents.

DeepSeek declined to comment on the development.

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IBM Cloud replaces free support with AI tools

The cloud computing services offered by IBM will end free human support under its Basic Support tier in January 2026, opting for an AI-driven self-service model instead.

Users will lose the option to open or escalate technical cases through the portal or APIs. However, they can still report service issues via the Cloud Console and raise billing or account cases through the Support Portal.

IBM will direct customers to its Watsonx-powered AI Assistant, upgraded earlier in the year, while introducing a ‘Report an Issue’ tool to improve routing. The company plans to expand its support library to provide more detailed self-help resources.

Starting at $200 per month, paid support will remain available for organisations needing faster response times and direct technical assistance.

The company describes the change as an alignment with industry norms. AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure already provide free tiers that rely on community forums, online resources and billing support.

However, IBM Cloud holds only 2–4 percent of the market, according to Synergy Research Group, which some analysts suggest makes cost reductions in support more likely. Tencent, another provider, previously withdrew support for basic users because they were not profitable.

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Latvia launches open AI framework for Europe

Language technology company Tilde has released an open AI framework designed for all European languages.

The model, named ‘TildeOpen’, was developed with the support of the European Commission and trained on the Lumi supercomputer in Finland.

According to Tilde’s head Artūrs Vasiļevskis, the project addresses a key gap in US-based AI systems, which often underperform for smaller European languages such as Latvian. By focusing on European linguistic diversity, the framework aims to provide better accessibility across the continent.

Vasiļevskis also suggested that Latvia has the potential to become an exporter of AI solutions. However, he acknowledged that development is at an early stage and that current applications remain relatively simple. The framework and user guidelines are freely accessible online.

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China and India adopt contrasting approaches to AI governance

As AI becomes central to business strategy, questions of corporate governance and regulation are gaining prominence. The study by Akshaya Kamalnath and Lin Lin examines how China and India are addressing these issues through law, policy, and corporate practice.

The paper focuses on three questions: how regulations are shaping AI and data protection in corporate governance, how companies are embedding technological expertise into governance structures, and how institutional differences influence each country’s response.

Findings suggest a degree of convergence in governance practices. Both countries have seen companies create chief technology officer roles, establish committees to manage technological risks, and disclose information about their use of AI.

In China, these measures are largely guided by central and provincial authorities, while in India, they reflect market-driven demand.

China’s approach is characterised by a state-led model that combines laws, regulations, and soft-law tools such as guidelines and strategic plans. The system is designed to encourage innovation while addressing risks in an adaptive manner.

India, by contrast, has fewer binding regulations and relies on a more flexible, principles-based model shaped by judicial interpretation and self-regulation.

Broader themes also emerge. In China, state-owned enterprises are using AI to support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, while India has framed its AI strategy under the principle of ‘AI for All’ with a focus on the role of public sector organisations.

Together, these approaches underline how national traditions and developmental priorities are shaping AI governance in two of the world’s largest economies.

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Salt Typhoon espionage campaign revealed through global cybersecurity advisory

Intelligence and cybersecurity agencies from 13 countries, including the NSA, CISA, the UK’s NCSC and Canada’s CSIS, have jointly issued an advisory on Salt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored advanced persistent threat group.

The alert highlights global intrusions into telecommunications, military, government, transport and lodging sectors.

Salt Typhoon has exploited known, unpatched vulnerabilities in network-edge appliances, such as routers and firewalls, to gain initial access. Once inside, it covertly embeds malware and employs living-off-the-land tools for persistence and data exfiltration.

The advisory also warns that stolen data from compromised ISPs can help intelligence services track global communications and movements.

It pinpoints three Chinese companies with links to the Ministry of State Security and the People’s Liberation Army as central to Salt Typhoon’s operations.

Defensive guidelines accompany the advisory, urging organisations to apply urgent firmware patches, monitor for abnormal network activity, verify firmware integrity and tighten device configurations, especially for telecom infrastructure.

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MyRepublic unveils AI Automation Box for SMEs

Telecom operator MyRepublic has launched the AI Automation Box, a plug-and-play server aimed at helping SMEs automate operations.

The company says the device allows firms to build AI-driven workflows quickly without the need for expensive consultants or large IT teams.

Designed for organisations with 20 to 200 staff, the AI Automation Box combines a no-code workflow builder with options for custom coding.

It comes preloaded with large language models from providers such as OpenAI, Meta and DeepSeek, supported by enterprise-grade GPU hardware.

To support adoption, MyRepublic offers over 100 ready-made templates, tutorials and access to its AI Academy. Typical use cases include customer service, invoicing, reporting, and HR functions, with the system available at $255 a month.

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