Telecommunications infrastructure Archives | Page 25 of 122

Reddit challenges Australia’s teen social media ban

The US social media company, Reddit, has launched legal action in Australia as the country enforces the world’s first mandatory minimum age for social media access.

Reddit argues that banning users under 16 prevents younger Australians from taking part in political debate, instead of empowering them to learn how to navigate public discussion.

Lawyers representing the company argue that the rule undermines the implied freedom of political communication and could restrict future voters from understanding the issues that will shape national elections.

Australia’s ban took effect on December 10 and requires major platforms to block underage users or face penalties that can reach nearly 50 million Australian dollars.

Companies are relying on age inference and age estimation technologies to meet the obligation, although many have warned that the policy raises privacy concerns in addition to limiting online expression.

The government maintains that the law is designed to reduce harm for younger users and has confirmed that the list of prohibited platforms may expand as new safety issues emerge.

Reddit’s filing names the Commonwealth of Australia and Communications Minister Anika Wells. The minister’s office says the government intends to defend the law and will prioritise the protection of young Australians, rather than allowing open access to high-risk platforms.

The platform’s challenge follows another case brought by an internet rights group that claims the legislation represents an unfair restriction on free speech.

A separate list identifies services that remain open for younger users, such as Roblox, Pinterest and YouTube Kids. At the same time, platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit and X are blocked for those under sixteen.

The case is expected to shape future digital access rights in Australia, as online communities become increasingly central to political education and civic engagement among emerging voters.

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US approaches universal 5G as global adoption surges

New data from Omdia and 5G Americas showed rapid global growth in wireless connectivity during the third quarter of 2025, with nearly three billion 5G connections worldwide.

North America remained the most advanced region in terms of adoption, reaching penetration levels that almost match its population.

The US alone recorded 341 million 5G connections, marking one of the highest per capita adoption rates in the world, compared to the global average, which remains far lower.

Analysts noted that strong device availability and sustained investment continue to reinforce the region’s leadership. Enhanced features such as improved uplink performance and integrated sensing are expected to accelerate the shift towards early 5G-Advanced capabilities.

Growth in cellular IoT also remained robust. North America supported more than 270 million connected devices and is forecast to reach nearly half a billion by 2030 as sectors such as manufacturing and utilities expand their use of connected systems.

AI is becoming central to these deployments by managing traffic, automating operations and enabling more innovative industrial applications.

Future adoption is set to intensify as regional 5G connections are projected to surpass 8.6 billion by 2030.

Rising interest in fixed wireless access is driving multi-device usage, offering high-speed connectivity for households and small firms instead of relying solely on fibre networks that remain patchy in many areas.

Globally, the sector has reached more than 78 million connections, with strong annual growth. Analysts believe that expanding infrastructure will support demand for low-latency connectivity, and the addition of satellite-based systems is expected to extend coverage to remote locations.

By mid-November 2025, operators had launched 379 commercial 5G networks worldwide, including seventeen in North America. A similar number of LTE networks operated across the region.

Industry observers said that expanding terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks will form a layered architecture that strengthens resilience, supports emergency response and improves service continuity across land, sea and air.

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India expands 5G coverage nationwide

The 5G footprint of India has expanded across all states and union territories, with services now reaching 99.9% of districts.

Telecom service providers have installed more than 5 lakh 5G base stations, contributing to a broader network of over 31 lakh sites nationwide. The government has emphasised the importance of reliable coverage in both rural and urban regions.

Efforts to strengthen connectivity in underserved areas continue through BharatNet, new mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected regions, support for Aspirational Districts and the 4G Saturation Scheme, which aims to bring coverage to every uncovered village.

Streamlined Right of Way rules and faster approval for using street furniture have created an environment where operators can deploy small cells more efficiently, rather than facing long administrative delays.

As 5G coverage expands nationwide, operators are preparing for a future driven by AI workloads rather than traditional network demands. Private and state providers are both expanding infrastructure, often sharing facilities when it is technically and commercially viable.

The government of India has emphasised that coordinated planning will be crucial for managing the increasing digital traffic.

Seven working groups under the Bharat 6G Alliance have outlined progress on India’s next-generation roadmap. The communications minister has emphasised that spectrum policy, device readiness, applications and sustainability need to align so innovation can mature.

Monthly joint reviews will be conducted to ensure that breakthroughs in one domain can lead to practical outcomes in other areas, supporting India’s long-term 6G strategy.

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Users gain new control with Instagram feed algorithm

Instagram has unveiled a new AI-powered feature called ‘Your Algorithm’, giving users control over the topics shown in their Reels feed. The tool analyses viewing history and allows users to indicate which subjects they want to see more or less of.

The feature displays a summary of each user’s top interests and allows typing in specific topics to fine-tune recommendations in real-time. Instagram plans to expand the tool beyond Reels to Explore and other areas of the app.

Launch started in the US, with a global rollout in English expected soon. The initiative comes amid growing calls for social media platforms to provide greater transparency over algorithmic content and avoid echo chambers.

By enabling users to adjust their feeds directly, Instagram aims to offer more personalised experiences while responding to regulatory pressures and societal concerns over harmful content.

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India expands job access with AI-powered worker platforms

India is reshaping support for its vast informal workforce through e-Shram, a national database built to connect millions of people to social security and better job prospects.

The database works together with the National Career Service portal, and both systems run on Microsoft Azure.

AI tools are now improving access to stable employment by offering skills analysis, resume generation and personalised career pathways.

The original aim of e-Shram was to create a reliable record of informal workers after the pandemic exposed major gaps in welfare coverage. Engineers had to build a platform capable of registering hundreds of millions of people while safeguarding sensitive data.

Azure’s scalable infrastructure allowed the system to process high transaction volumes and maintain strong security protocols. Support reached remote areas through a network of service centres, helped further by Bhashini, an AI language service offering real-time translation in 22 Indian languages.

More than 310 million workers are now registered and linked to programmes providing accident insurance, medical subsidies and housing assistance. The integration with NCS has opened paths to regulated work, often with health insurance or retirement savings.

Workers receive guidance on improving employability, while new features such as AI chatbots and location-focused job searches aim to help those in smaller cities gain equal access to opportunities.

India is using the combined platforms to plan future labour policies, manage skill development and support international mobility for trained workers.

Officials also hope the digital systems will reduce reliance on job brokers and strengthen safe recruitment, including abroad through links with the eMigrate portal.

The government has already presented the platforms to international partners and is preparing to offer them as digital public infrastructure for other countries seeking similar reforms.

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Adobe brings its leading creative tools straight into ChatGPT

Yesterday, Adobe opened a new chapter for digital creativity by introducing Photoshop, Adobe Express and Adobe Acrobat inside ChatGPT.

The integration gives 800 million weekly users direct access to trusted creative and productivity tools through a conversational interface. Adobe aims to make creative work easier for newcomers by linking its technology to simple written instructions.

Photoshop inside ChatGPT offers selective edits, tone adjustments and creative effects, while Adobe Express brings quick design templates and animation features to people who want polished content without switching between applications.

Acrobat adds powerful document controls, allowing users to organise, edit or redact PDFs inside the chat. Each action blends conversation with Adobe’s familiar toolsets, giving users either simple text-driven commands or fine control through intuitive sliders.

The launch reflects Adobe’s broader investment in agentic AI and its Model Context Protocol. Earlier releases such as Acrobat Studio and AI Assistants for Photoshop and Adobe Express signalled Adobe’s ambition to expand conversational creative experiences.

Adobe also plans to extend an upcoming Firefly AI Assistant across multiple apps to support faster movement from an idea to a finished design.

All three apps are now available to ChatGPT users on desktop, web and iOS, with Android support expanding soon. Adobe positions the integration as an entry point for new audiences who may later move into the full desktop versions for deeper control.

The company expects the partnership to widen access to creative expression by letting anyone edit images, produce designs or transform documents simply by describing what they want to achieve.

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EU advances ambitious gigafactory programme for AI leadership

The Council has agreed on a significant amendment to the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking regulation, aiming to establish AI gigafactories across Europe alongside a new quantum pillar.

The plan advances earlier efforts to build AI factories and redirects unused EU funds toward larger and more ambitious facilities. Up to five gigafactories are expected, supported through public and private partnerships that promise a stronger technological base for European research and industry.

AI gigafactories will combine high-performance computing, energy-efficient data centres and automated systems to give Europe world-class AI capacity. The regulation sets out firm rules for funding and procurement while protecting start-ups and scale-ups.

It also allows gigafactories to be spread across multiple countries, creating a flexible model that can strengthen European resilience, competitiveness and security instead of relying heavily on American or Chinese infrastructure.

An agreement that updates the governance of EuroHPC and introduces safeguards for participation from partners outside the EU. Quantum research and innovation activities will move from Horizon Europe to EuroHPC in order to consolidate work on critical technologies.

In a shift that aims to widen the impact of supercomputing and quantum infrastructure while supporting the development of essential skills for science and industry.

The next stage involves the European Parliament delivering its opinion on 17 December.

A final Council adoption will follow once legal and linguistic checks have been completed, marking a decisive step towards Europe’s new AI and quantum capability.

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Global network strengthens AI measurement and evaluation

Leaders around the world have committed to strengthening the scientific measurement and evaluation of AI following a recent meeting in San Diego.

Representatives from major economies agreed to intensify collaboration under the newly renamed International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science.

The UK has assumed the role of Network Coordinator, guiding efforts to create rigorous, globally recognised methods for assessing advanced AI systems.

A network that includes Australia, Canada, the EU, France, Japan, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the UK and the US, promoting shared understanding and consistent evaluation practices.

Since its formation in November 2024, the Network has fostered knowledge exchange to align countries on AI measurement and evaluation best practices. Boosting public trust in AI remains central, unlocking innovations, new jobs, and opportunities for businesses and innovators to expand.

The recent San Diego discussions coincided with NeurIPS, allowing government, academic and industry stakeholders to collaborate more deeply.

AI Minister Kanishka Narayan highlighted the importance of trust as a foundation for progress, while Adam Beaumont, Interim Director of the AI Security Institute, stressed the need for global approaches to testing advanced AI.

The Network aims to provide practical and rigorous evaluation tools to ensure the safe development and deployment of AI worldwide.

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Rising UK screen time sparks concerns for wellbeing

UK internet use has risen sharply, with adults spending over four and a half hours a day online in 2025, according to Ofcom’s latest Online Nation report.

Public sentiment has cooled, as fewer people now believe the internet is good for society, despite most still judging its benefits to outweigh the risks.

Children report complex online experiences, with many enjoying their digital time while also acknowledging adverse effects such as the so-called ‘brain rot’ linked to endless scrolling.

Significant portions of young people’s screen time occur late at night on major platforms, raising concerns about well-being.

New rules requiring age checks for UK pornography sites prompted a surge in VPN use as people attempted to bypass restrictions, although numbers have since declined.

Young users increasingly turn to online tools such as ASMR for relaxation, yet many also encounter toxic self-improvement content and body shaming.

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OpenAI launches Agentic AI Foundation with industry partners

The US AI company, OpenAI, has co-founded the Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF) under the Linux Foundation alongside Anthropic, Block, Google, Microsoft, AWS, Bloomberg, and Cloudflare.

A foundation that aims to provide neutral stewardship for open, interoperable agentic AI infrastructure as systems move from experimental prototypes into real-world applications.

The initiative includes the donation of OpenAI’s AGENTS.md, a lightweight Markdown file designed to provide agents with project-specific instructions and context.

Since its release in August 2025, AGENTS.md has been adopted by more than 60,000 open-source projects, ensuring consistent behaviour across diverse repositories and frameworks. Contributions from Anthropic and Block will include the Model Context Protocol and the goose project, respectively.

By establishing AAIF, the co-founders intend to prevent ecosystem fragmentation and foster safe, portable, and interoperable agentic AI systems.

The foundation provides a shared platform for development, governance, and extension of open standards, with oversight by the Linux Foundation to guarantee neutral, long-term stewardship.

OpenAI emphasises that the foundation will support developers, enterprises, and the wider open-source community, inviting contributors to help shape agentic AI standards.

The AAIF reflects a collaborative effort to advance agentic AI transparently and in the public interest while promoting innovation across tools and platforms.

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