Telecommunications infrastructure

Armenia plans major AI hub with NVIDIA and Firebird

Armenia has unveiled plans to develop a $500mn AI supercomputing hub in partnership with US tech leader NVIDIA, AI cloud firm Firebird, and local telecoms group Team.

Announced at the Viva Technology conference in Paris, the initiative marks the largest tech investment ever seen in the South Caucasus.

Due to open in 2026, the facility will house thousands of NVIDIA’s Blackwell GPUs and offer more than 100 megawatts of scalable computing power. Designed to advance AI research, training and entrepreneurship, the hub aims to position Armenia as a leading player in global AI development.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described the project as the ‘Stargate of Armenia’, underscoring its potential to transform the national tech sector.

Firebird CEO Razmig Hovaghimian said the hub would help develop local talent and attract international attention, while the Afeyan Foundation, led by Noubar Afeyan, is set to come on board as a founding investor.

Instead of limiting its role to funding, the Armenian government will also provide land, tax breaks and simplified regulation to support the project, strengthening its push toward a competitive digital economy.

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Amazon launches AU$ 20 bn investment in Australian solar-powered data centres

Amazon will invest AU$ 20 billion to expand its data centre infrastructure in Australia, using solar and wind power instead of traditional energy sources.

The plan includes power purchase agreements with three utility-scale solar plants developed by European Energy, one of which—Mokoan Solar Park in Victoria—is already operational. The other two projects, Winton North and Bullyard Solar Parks, are expected to lift total solar capacity to 333MW.

The investment supports Australia’s aim to enhance its cloud and AI capabilities. Amazon’s commitment includes purchasing over 170MW of power from these projects, contributing to both data centre growth and the country’s renewable energy transition.

According to the International Energy Agency, electricity demand from data centres is expected to more than double by 2030, driven by AI.

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman said the move positions Australia to benefit from AI’s economic potential. The company, already active in solar projects across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, continues to prioritise renewables to decarbonise operations and meet surging energy needs.

Instead of pursuing growth through conventional means, Amazon’s focus on clean energy could set a precedent for other tech giants expanding in the region.

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Google pushes users to move away from passwords

Google urges users to move beyond passwords, citing widespread reuse and vulnerability to phishing attacks. The company is now promoting alternatives like passkeys and social sign-ins as more secure and user-friendly options.

Data from Google shows that half of users reuse passwords, while the rest either memorise or write them down. Gen Z is leading the shift and is significantly more likely to adopt passkeys and social logins than older generations.

Passkeys, stored on user devices, eliminate traditional password input and reduce phishing risks by relying on biometrics or device PINs for authentication. However, limited app support and difficulty syncing across devices remain barriers to broader adoption.

Google highlights that while social sign-ins offer convenience, they come with privacy trade-offs by giving large companies access to more user activity data. Users still relying on passwords are advised to adopt app-based two-factor authentication over SMS or email, which are far less secure.

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PCCW Global and partners to launch AAE-2 subsea cable linking Asia, Africa, and Europe

A consortium of four leading subsea cable operators, PCCW Global, Sparkle, Telecom Egypt, and Zain Omantel International (ZOI), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on constructing the Asia-Africa-Europe-2 (AAE-2) subsea cable system. The ambitious project will link Hong Kong and Singapore to Italy, traversing secure, high-capacity terrestrial corridors across Thailand, the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt.

The cable system will also include strategic extensions to additional key destinations, further enhancing intercontinental connectivity across Asia, Africa, and Europe. AAE-2 aims to deliver a next-generation, geographically diverse, and resilient digital infrastructure designed to support the increasing demands of cloud services, content delivery, and digital transformation.

By combining both subsea and terrestrial networks, it will establish a future-proof, high-performance data highway facilitating faster and more reliable international traffic across three continents. Building on the success of the earlier AAE-1 cable, AAE-2 will incorporate cutting-edge technology to offer unprecedented bandwidth capacity, empowering communities and businesses throughout the connected regions.

PCCW Global is committed to providing scalable, secure connectivity, while Sparkle focuses on enhancing route diversity and resilience through submarine systems and hubs. Telecom Egypt highlights its global connectivity via the WeConnect ecosystem, and ZOI leverages its strategic position as a gateway linking Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Together, the consortium is dedicated to successfully delivering this transformative infrastructure that will reshape the future of global digital connections and foster economic growth in emerging markets.

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Ghana to bridge the digital divide with fairer data pricing

Ghana will boost mobile data bundle values starting July 2025 to improve affordability and bridge digital divides. The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations announced that all major mobile network operators in Ghana: AirtelTigo, Telecel, and MTN, will implement a minimum 10% increase in data bundle volumes.

MTN will go further, increasing bundles by 15% and reinstating its popular GHC399 Social Media bundle. These changes aim to address consumer concerns about data pricing and improving value for money.

To support this initiative, telecom providers have pledged significant investments. AirtelTigo, Telecel, and MTN will collectively invest around $150 million in network upgrades by the end of 2025. The National Communications Authority (NCA) will step up its oversight, conducting a nationwide quality of service assessment in the final quarter of 2025.

Additionally, quarterly billing integrity tests will be introduced to ensure that users are charged fairly and accurately. Operators failing to meet service standards will face sanctions. Furthermore, the Minister noted that tax rationalisation could lead to future reductions in data prices. A new telecom tariff framework is under development, which may result in additional cost savings for consumers.

The reforms target steep, uneven data prices that still block many Ghanaians from online services, especially in rural areas. By raising bundle values and tightening oversight, authorities aim to make internet access fairer and more affordable nationwide.

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India urges preference for state telecom providers

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in India has introduced a policy urging all state governments and Union Territories to prioritise state-run telecom operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) for their communication needs. Although not legally binding, that policy directive emphasises data security as a key reason for favouring these public sector providers.

DoT Secretary underscored the increasing competitiveness of BSNL and MTNL, noting that BSNL now manages MTNL’s operations and will set up a dedicated nodal point to cater to state governments efficiently. The move marks a significant strategic shift toward promoting state-owned telecom companies in government communications.

The policy has raised concerns among private telecom companies, who fear losing valuable government contracts to BSNL and MTNL. Private providers currently hold over 92% of the market’s revenue, and government contracts are especially important for smaller ISPs with tight margins. Diverting these contracts could significantly hurt their financial stability.

BSNL and MTNL were initially created to operate independently and compete fairly with private firms. This new policy, favouring them, risks undermining that independence and disrupting the telecom sector’s competitive balance in India.

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Brazilian telcos to push back on network fee ban

Brazilian telecom operators strongly oppose a bill that would ban charging network fees to big tech companies, arguing that these companies consume most of the network traffic, about 80% of mobile and 55% of fixed usage. The telcos propose a compromise where big techs either pay for usage above a set threshold or contribute a portion of their revenues to help fund network infrastructure expansion.

While internet companies claim they already invest heavily in infrastructure such as submarine cables and content delivery networks, telcos view the bill as unconstitutional economic intervention but prefer to reach a negotiated agreement rather than pursue legal battles. In addition, telcos are advocating for the renewal of existing tax exemptions on Internet of Things (IoT) devices and connectivity fees, which are set to expire in 2025.

These exemptions have supported significant growth in IoT applications across sectors like banking and agribusiness, with non-human connections such as sensors and payment machines now driving mobile network growth more than traditional phone lines. Although the federal government aims to reduce broad tax breaks, Congress’s outlook favours maintaining these IoT incentives to sustain connectivity expansion.

Discussions are also underway about expanding the regulatory scope of Brazil’s telecom watchdog, Anatel, to cover additional digital infrastructure elements such as DNS services, internet exchange points, content delivery networks, and cloud platforms. That potential expansion would require amendments to Brazil’s internet civil rights and telecommunications frameworks, reflecting evolving priorities in managing the country’s digital infrastructure and services.

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RIPE NCC and Czech regulator partner to strengthen internet coordination

The RIPE NCC and the Czech Telecommunication Office (CTU) have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in internet coordination and share technical expertise within the Czech Republic. The partnership focuses on training internet operators, collaborating on network measurements, and managing internet number resources.

It is part of a broader initiative by RIPE NCC to establish similar agreements with national regulators in countries like Georgia and Saudi Arabia, reflecting their commitment to closer regional cooperation. The Czech Republic is strategically positioned in European internet infrastructure, hosting several major data centres and internet exchange points (IXPs).

By facilitating collaboration between public and private sectors, the MoU aims to ensure that internet policies are developed with broad input and expertise. The CTU benefits from access to valuable data and technical knowledge that support national digital policy objectives.

Additionally, in a region where geopolitical tensions may affect internet infrastructure, this agreement promotes transparency and cooperation that help stabilise internet operations and build stakeholder trust. Overall, the RIPE NCC continues to evolve as a key technical partner in digital policy discussions across Europe and beyond.

The agreement highlights the need for close cooperation between technical bodies and regulators as digital infrastructure grows more complex, emphasising multistakeholder governance to improve stability and efficiency in Central and Eastern Europe.

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Apple brings AI tools to apps and Siri

Apple is rolling out Apple Intelligence, its generative AI platform, across popular apps including Messages, Mail, and Notes. Introduced in late 2024 and expanded in 2025, the platform blends text and image generation, redesigned Siri features, and integrations with ChatGPT.

The AI-enhanced Siri can now edit photos, summarise content, and interact across apps with contextual awareness. Writing tools offer grammar suggestions, tone adjustments, and content generation, while image tools allow for Genmoji creation and prompt-based visuals via the Image Playground app.

Unlike competitors, Apple uses on-device processing for many tasks, prioritising privacy. More complex queries are sent to its Private Cloud Compute system running on Apple Silicon, with a visible fallback if offline. Additional features like Visual Intelligence and Live Translation are expected later in 2025.

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India unveils AI incident reporting guidelines for critical infrastructure

India is developing AI incident reporting guidelines for companies, developers, and public institutions to report AI-related issues affecting critical infrastructure sectors such as telecommunications, power, and energy. The government aims to create a centralised database to record and classify incidents like system failures, unexpected results, or harmful impacts caused by AI.

That initiative will help policymakers and stakeholders better understand and manage the risks AI poses to vital services, ensuring transparency and accountability. The proposed guidelines will require detailed reporting of incidents, including the AI application involved, cause, location, affected sector, and severity of harm.

The Telecommunications Engineering Centre (TEC) is spearheading the effort, focusing initially on telecom and digital infrastructure, with plans to extend the standard across other sectors and pitch it globally through the International Telecommunication Union. The framework aligns with international initiatives such as the OECD’s AI Incident Monitor and builds on government recommendations to improve oversight while fostering innovation.

Why does it matter?

The draft emphasises learning from incidents rather than penalising reporters, encouraging self-regulation to avoid excessive compliance burdens. The following approach complements broader AI safety goals of India, including the recent launch of the IndiaAI Safety Institute, which works on risk management, ethical frameworks, and detection tools.

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