Telecommunications infrastructure

Kuwait to strengthen telecom resilience amid regional tensions

Kuwait is implementing strategic policies to disaster-proof its telecommunications and digital infrastructure in light of rising regional tensions, particularly the ongoing conflict between Iran and the Zionist entity. Under any emergency scenario, these policies prioritise the continuity of essential services, such as the internet, mobile networks, and digital government systems.

To operationalise this approach, the government, led by the Minister of State for Communication Affairs, convened a high-level emergency meeting with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Communications, the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), and major telecom providers like Zain, Ooredoo, stc, and Virgin Mobile. The goal is to ensure unified national readiness through regular coordination, planning, and communication.

Kuwait is reinforcing its technical and operational capabilities to support these policies. The Ministry of Communications has raised its alert level and is conducting real-time monitoring of local networks to detect and respond to disruptions quickly.

Telecom providers have confirmed their infrastructure is prepared for various emergency scenarios, citing the activation of emergency centres, advanced technical support systems, and contingency plans. At the same time, CITRA has taken steps to maintain stable data flows by activating local internet exchange points (IXs) and securing alternative international routing paths, measures designed to minimise the impact of any potential regional connectivity breakdown.

In parallel, Kuwait is safeguarding digital public services as a core part of its policy framework. The Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT) has implemented contingency plans and system integration efforts to ensure the continuity of government digital services. These measures aim to guarantee that citizens can access essential services, even during crises.

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Salt Typhoon hackers breached Viasat during 2024 presidential campaign

According to Bloomberg News, satellite communications firm Viasat Inc. was reportedly among the targets of the Chinese-linked cyberespionage operation known as Salt Typhoon, which coincided with the 2024 US presidential campaign.

The breach, believed to have occurred last year, was discovered in 2025. Viasat confirmed it had investigated the incident in cooperation with an independent cybersecurity partner and relevant government authorities.

According to the company, the unauthorised access stemmed from a compromised device, though no evidence of customer impact has been found. ‘Viasat believes that the incident has been remediated and has not detected any recent activity related to this event,’ the firm stated, reaffirming its collaboration with United States officials.

Salt Typhoon, attributed to China by US intelligence, has previously been accused of breaching major telecom networks, including Verizon, AT&T and Lumen. Hackers allegedly gained full access to internal systems, enabling the geolocation of millions of users and the interception of phone calls.

In December 2024, US officials disclosed that a ninth telecom company had been compromised and confirmed that individuals connected to both Kamala Harris’s and Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns were targeted.

Chinese authorities have consistently rejected the claims, labelling them disinformation. Beijing maintains it ‘firmly opposes and combats cyberattacks and cybertheft in all forms’.

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T-Mobile launches priority network for emergency services

T-Mobile is expanding its support for emergency response teams by combining 5G, AI and drone technologies to boost disaster recovery operations. Its T-Priority service, launched last year, offers dedicated network slices to ensure fast, low-latency data access during crises.

US first responders in disaster-hit regions like Southern California and North Carolina have already used the system to operate body cams, traffic monitoring tools and mapping systems. T-Mobile deployed hundreds of 5G routers and hotspot devices to aid efforts during the Palisades wildfire and Hurricanes.

AI and drone technologies are key in reconnaissance, damage assessment and real-time communication. T-Mobile’s self-organising network adapts to changing conditions using live data, ensuring stable connectivity throughout emergency operations.

Public-private collaboration is central to the initiative, with T-Mobile working alongside FEMA, the Department of Defense and local emergency centres. The company has also signed a major deal to provide New York City with a dedicated public safety network.

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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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