Telecommunications infrastructure

DeepSeek highlights China’s rise in AI, Lou Qinjian says

DeepSeek’s progress is a clear sign of the growing influence of Chinese companies in the AI sector, according to a spokesperson for China’s parliament. Lou Qinjian, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, praised the achievements of DeepSeek’s young team, describing their work as ‘commendable’.

He highlighted the company’s open-source approach and its efforts to spread AI technology globally, contributing ‘Chinese wisdom’ to the world.

The AI startup has been widely celebrated in China, particularly for rolling out AI models that offer a significantly lower cost than those developed by US rivals like OpenAI.

While some countries, including South Korea and Italy, have removed DeepSeek’s chatbot from their app stores over privacy concerns, it has been embraced within China, where local governments and tech firms are integrating it into their systems.

Based in Hangzhou, DeepSeek is rapidly advancing its next-generation model, set to succeed its R1 release from January, as it continues to make waves in the global tech sector.

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Musk under scrutiny over $2.4 billion FAA telecom contract

A group of US lawmakers is raising concerns over the potential involvement of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in a $2.4 billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) telecommunications contract originally awarded to Verizon.

Musk, who owns satellite company Starlink, has been critical of the FAA’s existing telecom system and has reportedly sought to replace Verizon’s contract with his own company’s services.

Senator Maria Cantwell and other lawmakers have expressed alarm over what they see as potential interference in a competitive bidding process. The FAA, which awarded the 15-year contract to Verizon in 2023, is now reportedly reviewing the agreement.

Musk recently admitted to making false claims about Verizon’s role in aviation safety, further fuelling concerns about his influence.

The controversy has led to bipartisan scrutiny, with senators and representatives questioning whether the government is prioritising private interests over public safety. The FAA, meanwhile, has stated it has not yet made any decision regarding the contract.

Reports indicate that Starlink terminals are being tested in Alaska, raising further speculation about Musk’s involvement in the project.

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A significant boost in Windows performance could come with Qualcomm’s latest chip

Qualcomm is reportedly developing the Snapdragon X2, a next-generation high-end processor for Windows PCs. Leaks suggest the new chip could feature up to 18 Oryon V3 cores, potentially boosting performance significantly.

The Snapdragon X2 is expected to adopt a system-in-package (SiP) design, integrating RAM and flash storage within the processor to enhance efficiency and data transfer speeds.

The processor is said to support configurations of up to 48GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, according to leaked documents. While specific clock speeds remain unknown, it is described as a high-TDP variant, indicating a focus on raw power.

Qualcomm is also reportedly testing the chip with a liquid cooling system, suggesting efforts to manage heat output in high-performance environments.

Branding for the processor is expected under the ‘Snapdragon X2 Ultra Premium’ label, with a focus on competing against Intel, AMD, and Apple’s M-series chips.

Qualcomm previously confirmed its next PC processor, the Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2, would include the Oryon V3 CPU, following the success of its predecessor, the Oryon V2.

The Snapdragon X2 could improve the Windows on ARM ecosystem, offering better efficiency and performance. However, software compatibility challenges remain a key concern, as ARM-based Windows devices have previously struggled with certain applications.

Official details from Qualcomm are still pending, with more information possibly emerging at industry events such as Mobile World Congress.

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Samsung unveils new Galaxy A-series models with AI features and enhanced photography capabilities

Samsung has unveiled its latest Galaxy A-series lineup, introducing the Galaxy A56, A36, and A26, packed with new AI-powered features. One of the standout additions is the ‘awesome intelligence’ suite, which brings advanced image editing capabilities.

Among these features is Best Face, allowing users to swap facial expressions in group photos — similar to Google Pixel’s Best Take. These tools, first seen in the Galaxy S25, aim to simplify capturing and editing moments.

The Galaxy A56 has performance upgrades, including an Exynos 1580 chip and a larger vapour chamber for better cooling. It features a 6.7-inch full HD Plus display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 5MP macro lens. Priced at $499, the A56 is set to launch in the US later this year, while the A36 and A26 will hit shelves in late March, costing $399 and $299, respectively.

Buyers in the UK can get their hands on the new devices starting 19 March, with prices beginning at €299 for the Galaxy A26. The series also promises long-term value, offering up to six years of Android OS and security updates, plus IP67 dust and water resistance on the A26, making these phones a compelling choice for budget-conscious consumers looking for modern features.

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Honor to expand into AI-powered devices with $10 billion plan

Chinese smartphone maker Honor plans to invest $10 billion over the next five years to develop AI for its devices as it prepares for a public listing. CEO James Li revealed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that the company aims to expand beyond smartphones into AI-powered PCs, tablets, and wearables.

Honor’s push into AI comes after completing a shareholder restructuring in December, bringing it closer to an initial public offering, though no timeline has been set. The announcement also aligns with a surge in AI investment in China, driven by the popularity of DeepSeek’s affordable language models.

While Honor’s market share in China slipped from second to fourth place last year, it has gained significant support from the Shenzhen government, including R&D funding and tax breaks. The company is also focusing on expanding internationally as it strengthens its AI capabilities.

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TikTok to invest $8.8 billion in Thailand data centres

TikTok, the popular video-sharing app owned by ByteDance, has unveiled plans to invest $8.8 billion in building data centres in Thailand over the next five years. The announcement was made by Helena Lersch, TikTok’s Vice President of Public Policy, during an event held in Bangkok on Friday. This investment marks a significant move as the company continues to expand its operations in the region.

The specific details of the investment remain unclear, particularly whether it includes a $3.8 billion agreement that was announced by Thailand’s investment board last month. The government’s investment board had previously detailed a deal aimed at boosting digital infrastructure in the country, but TikTok did not provide further clarification on the connection between the two.

This move highlights TikTok’s growing commitment to the Thai market and its broader strategy of increasing local data storage capabilities. As part of its ongoing efforts to expand its global presence, the company is investing in infrastructure to better serve its user base and meet regulatory requirements in key markets.

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Nokia’s $2.3 billion Infinera deal approved by EU

The European Commission has approved Nokia’s $2.3 billion acquisition of US-based Infinera, confirming the deal raises no competition concerns.

The approval was granted unconditionally, as the combined company will hold only a moderate share of the optical transport equipment market.

Nokia’s takeover of Infinera, announced last June, will make it the second-largest player in optical networking with a 20% market share, trailing Huawei.

Western firms have struggled to compete in China, giving Huawei a dominant position in the sector.

The acquisition is expected to boost Nokia’s ability to sell networking equipment to major tech firms such as Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft. These companies are expanding their data centre infrastructure to support the growing demand for AI services.

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AI demand surge drives increased Nvidia H20 chip orders from Chinese firms

Chinese companies are significantly increasing orders for Nvidia’s H20 artificial intelligence chip due to soaring demand for DeepSeek’s low-cost AI models.

The surge, reported for the first time, highlights Nvidia’s dominance in the market and alleviates concerns that DeepSeek’s emergence might weaken AI chip demand.

Major technology firms Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance have substantially raised their purchases of the H20 chip, which was specifically developed for China following US export restrictions.

These companies not only use advanced AI chips internally but also offer cloud services that enable other businesses to access AI tools. Smaller firms in sectors like healthcare and education are also adopting AI servers equipped with DeepSeek models and Nvidia H20 chips.

DeepSeek’s AI models rival Western alternatives while offering significantly lower costs by focusing on inference rather than raw processing power.

While potential US restrictions on H20 chip exports could be a factor in increased orders, sources attribute the demand spike primarily to DeepSeek’s expanding role in the AI market. Nvidia has not disclosed order volumes but stated its products succeed on merit in a competitive field.

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Taiwanese chip maker Vanguard warns of economic risks from US tariffs

Vanguard International Semiconductor has cautioned that US tariffs on imported chips may drive inflation and weaken global economic growth.

Chairman Leuh Fang stated that while the direct impact on Vanguard would be minimal, broader consequences for the semiconductor industry remain uncertain.

The company remains in a wait-and-see mode, as it is unclear how far the proposed tariffs will go. Higher import duties could reduce purchasing power and slow economic expansion, Fang noted.

However, the firm expects little direct exposure to the tariffs due to its focus on legacy chips for automotive and display applications.

Vanguard has no plans to establish a US manufacturing facility. Meanwhile, larger industry players such as TSMC, which owns over a quarter of Vanguard’s shares, are investing in American production to navigate trade uncertainties.

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Indonesia and Apple close deal to end iPhone 16 ban

Indonesia and Apple have reportedly reached an agreement to lift the country’s ban on iPhone 16s, with a potential deal expected to be signed this week. The ban was imposed in October after Apple failed to meet the requirement that smartphones sold in Indonesia must include at least 35% locally-made parts.

As part of the agreement, Apple will invest $1 billion into a manufacturing plant in Indonesia, focused on producing components for smartphones and other products. Additionally, Apple will commit to training local workers in research and development, expanding beyond its existing Apple academies. However, Apple has no immediate plans to begin iPhone production in the country.

Neither Apple nor Indonesia’s Ministry for Industry have responded to requests for comment on the matter.

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