Alibaba has announced a new partnership with Apple to support the development of AI services for iPhones in China, a move that aims to help Apple counter declining smartphone sales in its crucial market. The collaboration is seen as a significant win for Alibaba, which is gaining ground in China’s competitive AI industry, dominated by local players like DeepSeek. This deal comes after months of speculation regarding Apple’s AI strategy in the region, as the tech giant held discussions with other Chinese companies such as Baidu, ByteDance, and Tencent.
While the specifics of the partnership are still unclear, Alibaba’s chairman Tsai noted that Apple chose their AI technology to power its phones in China. The two companies have already submitted necessary regulatory materials to Chinese authorities, as consumer-facing AI products in the country require approval. Alibaba’s stock saw a notable rise following the announcement, reflecting investor optimism about the deal.
The timing of this collaboration is crucial for Apple, which has faced challenges in China, including falling iPhone sales and increased competition from domestic rivals like Huawei. Analysts suggest that Apple’s struggles in the region are partly due to the lack of advanced AI features in its phones, a growing demand in the Chinese market. Apple’s sales in Greater China dropped significantly in late 2024, and the company lost its top position in the market to local players like Vivo and Huawei.
For Alibaba, the partnership underscores its growing strength in AI, with its stock price surging in 2025. The company’s Qwen 2.5 AI model, which surpassed the capabilities of competitors, has become a focal point of its recent success. As Apple seeks to re-establish its presence in China, the effectiveness of this AI collaboration will likely play a critical role in its future in the market.
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Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer and Apple’s main iPhone maker, is prepared to adjust its production strategies in response to new US tariffs. Chairman Young Liu stated that the company is capable of planning its manufacturing around these changes, particularly with US President Donald Trump’s recently announced 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada, which has been paused until March 4.
Liu explained that Foxconn operates factories in both the United States and Mexico and will adjust production capacities based on the impact of the tariffs. He emphasised that Foxconn has the flexibility to move its operations between countries, minimising the overall effect of the tariffs on the company. However, Liu also warned that such tariffs are detrimental to the global economy, potentially shrinking markets.
Foxconn remains committed to working with US partners to align its manufacturing strategies with President Trump’s push for more domestic production. Despite the uncertainty around the tariffs, the company is prepared to adapt as necessary.
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A state-of-the-art space lab on the outskirts of Cairo, touted as Africa’s first satellite production facility, has been built with substantial Chinese involvement. While the lab was designed to assemble homegrown Egyptian satellites, much of the technology, equipment, and expertise comes from China. The first satellite produced at the facility was largely assembled in China and launched from there in December 2023. The plant is part of a broader Chinese effort to strengthen its space presence across Africa, as Beijing seeks to enhance its global surveillance capabilities and assert itself as a dominant space power.
Egypt’s satellite facility is just one element of China’s growing influence in Africa’s space sector. Over the past two years, China has gifted Egypt with various space technologies, including advanced telescopes and Earth observation satellites. However, these technologies come with strings attached, as China maintains a long-term presence in the facilities it builds and gains access to data collected by its satellites. This partnership is a part of China’s broader strategy to establish space alliances in Africa, aiming to secure surveillance data and boost its military capabilities.
China’s efforts to expand its space infrastructure on the continent are drawing attention from global powers. While Egypt and other African nations benefit from Chinese investments, there are concerns about Beijing’s increasing influence and its ability to collect sensitive data through these space projects. The US has voiced concerns over the potential military applications of China’s space technology in Africa, as Beijing builds ground stations and enhances its surveillance capabilities. Despite these concerns, African countries, including Egypt, remain neutral, viewing space collaborations as opportunities for scientific and technological advancement.
The US has struggled to match China’s strategic approach in Africa, with many African nations now seeking technology partnerships that suit their immediate needs. This shift underscores the growing importance of space technology in geopolitics, as countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, and Senegal enter into agreements with China that could shape the future of space exploration and military capabilities. As the global space race intensifies, China’s growing influence in Africa may continue to challenge the US and other Western powers in their efforts to maintain dominance in space exploration.
Canadian space technology firm MDA Space has expanded its contract with Globalstar to develop next-generation low Earth orbit satellites, bringing the total value of the deal to C$1.1 billion. The agreement will see MDA manufacture over 50 advanced digital satellites, reinforcing Globalstar’s position in the competitive satellite communications market.
The US Louisiana-based Globalstar, partly owned by Apple, provides satellite-based phone and data transmission services. This contract expansion adds approximately C$750 million to Canadian MDA’s order backlog for early 2025, following an initial C$350 million commitment in late 2023.
With demand for satellite connectivity rising, companies like Globalstar are competing with major players such as SpaceX’s Starlink. MDA Space CEO Mike Greenley confirmed that the company is now moving ‘full speed ahead’ with production, highlighting the growing importance of satellite infrastructure in global communications.
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PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an automatic five-day extension after a global outage disrupted the PlayStation Network for around 18 hours on Friday and Saturday. Sony confirmed on Sunday that network services had been fully restored and apologised for the inconvenience but did not specify the cause of the disruption.
The outage, which started late on Friday, left users unable to sign in, play online games or access the PlayStation Store. By Saturday evening, Sony announced that services were back online. At its peak, Downdetector.com recorded nearly 8,000 affected users in the US and over 7,300 in the UK.
PlayStation Network plays a vital role in Sony’s gaming division, supporting millions of users worldwide. Previous disruptions have been more severe, including a cyberattack in 2014 that shut down services for several days and a major 2011 data breach affecting 77 million users, leading to a month-long shutdown and regulatory scrutiny.
T-Mobile will introduce its satellite-to-cell service in July for $15 per month, using SpaceX’s Starlink technology. The service aims to eliminate mobile dead zones and improve connectivity in remote areas. Shares of the wireless carrier rose 4% in premarket trading following the announcement.
Around 500,000 square miles of the US, previously unreachable by cell towers, will now have coverage. A beta trial began on Sunday, offering free access until launch. The service will be included in the Go5G Next plan at no extra cost, while other plans will get a 33% discount for trial participants.
T-Mobile is making the service available to all wireless users, including AT&T and Verizon customers, without requiring them to switch networks. The initial rollout will support text messaging via satellite, with voice and data features to be added later. The company made the announcement during the Super Bowl.
Apple and Google are working with T-Mobile to integrate satellite connectivity directly into their operating systems. Most smartphones from the past four years will support the new network, making it widely accessible.
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Nokia has announced that Pekka Lundmark will step down as CEO, with Justin Hotard, currently EVP and GM of Intel’s Data Center & AI Group, set to take over the role on April 1. This leadership change is seen as part of Nokia’s strategic shift towards expanding into areas like AI and data centres, where the company is positioning itself for future growth. Hotard’s strong background in AI and technology is expected to drive Nokia’s focus on these emerging sectors.
The news has led to a 1.6% rise in Nokia’s shares, reflecting positive investor sentiment despite the surprise announcement. Analysts note that the appointment of Hotard suggests Nokia’s commitment to strengthening its network infrastructure unit, particularly as it looks to benefit from the surge in AI investments. This follows Nokia’s $2.3 billion acquisition of US optical networking firm Infinera, aimed at tapping into the growing data centre market.
Lundmark, who has been CEO since 2020, will remain with Nokia as an advisor to Hotard until the end of the year. Despite some initial denials about leadership changes, the company confirmed that the transition plan had been in place for some time, with Lundmark signalling his intention to step down once the business repositioning was more advanced.
Nokia’s infrastructure business, which includes AI-integrated systems for communication, and its mobile networks division, focusing on 5G technology, are both seen as key to the company’s future. While shares are up 27.85% over the past year, they remain significantly lower than their peak in 2000.
SingTel has secured a S$643 million ($476 million) green loan to fund the development of a new 58 MW data centre in Singapore.
The financing comes from a group of major lenders, including DBS Group, OCBC, Standard Chartered, HSBC, and United Overseas Bank. Green loans, designed to support environmentally sustainable projects, are becoming increasingly relevant as demand for AI and cloud computing rises.
The upcoming DC Tuas data centre is expected to be operational by 2026, providing a high-density environment tailored for AI workloads. SingTel’s group chief financial officer, Arthur Lang, emphasised that the loan aligns with the company’s net zero ambitions while supporting Singapore’s growing digital economy.
As Southeast Asia’s largest telecoms provider, SingTel has been actively investing in sustainable infrastructure. A previous green loan of S$535 million, secured in December 2023, was used to refinance debt and fund two other data centres in Singapore.
The latest financing reinforces the company’s commitment to balancing technological advancements with environmental responsibility.
SKY Perfect JSAT plans to invest approximately $230 million in a new satellite constellation. The project will utilise Pelican satellites from US-based Planet Labs and will be managed through the company’s American subsidiary.
The investment marks JSAT’s entry into the Earth observation satellite business, expanding its operations beyond broadcasting and communications. The new satellite network aims to enhance data collection and imaging capabilities from low-Earth orbit.
Following the announcement, JSAT shares surged by as much as 9%. The company remains the largest operator of broadcast and communication satellites in Japan and Asia.
US telecom giant AT&T and Finnish network equipment maker Nokia have signed a multi-year agreement to upgrade AT&T’s voice services and 5G network automation. This deal comes after Nokia lost a significant contract to Swedish rival Ericsson in 2023, which led to Ericsson securing a $14 billion deal to build a network for AT&T covering 70% of its US wireless traffic by 2026. Nokia, however, remains involved with AT&T through a smaller agreement for fibre network development and a new contract focused on cloud-based voice applications and network automation.
The deal will enhance AT&T’s core network, enabling new voice services, including the integration of AI and machine learning. Although the financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, Nokia’s involvement is seen as crucial in bolstering its long-standing relationship with AT&T. Nokia’s president of Cloud and Network Services, Raghav Sahgal, emphasised that this agreement will allow for the deployment of new 5G functionalities.
Nokia recently reported stronger-than-expected earnings, driven by higher demand for telecoms equipment, particularly in North America and India. The company remains optimistic about its prospects in 2025, especially with plans to capitalise on the AI boom. Last year, Nokia also agreed to acquire Infinera for $2.3 billion to strengthen its position in the growing data centre and AI markets.
