Telecommunications infrastructure Archives | Page 7 of 122

Europe turns to satellite networks as Deutsche Telekom expands Starlink collaboration

Deutsche Telekom is turning to satellite connectivity to address Europe’s persistent mobile coverage gaps, rather than relying solely on terrestrial networks.

The company announced a partnership with Starlink during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, arguing that non-terrestrial networks can help reach remote forests, mountains and islands that remain underserved despite broad coverage elsewhere.

A collaboration that aims to support direct-to-device satellite links by 2028, enabling future smartphones to connect to Starlink’s MSS spectrum without additional hardware.

Telecommunications leaders describe the plan as a step toward an ‘everywhere network’, extending reliable service to areas long constrained by topographical and conservation barriers. The partnership follows earlier joint work with SpaceX to eliminate dead zones.

Deutsche Telekom is also increasing its use of agentic AI, integrating autonomous network-enhancing systems intended to improve translation, search and service features across devices.

Executives say these capabilities work even on older phones, reducing dependence on apps and creating a more inclusive digital environment.

Although committed to European digital sovereignty, the company insists that global collaboration remains necessary for long-term competitiveness.

Leadership argues that precise regulation and controlled data environments aligned with European standards can balance international cooperation with privacy protection. They remain confident that European technology firms and start-ups will continue driving meaningful innovation across the sector.

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X Chat debuts as separate app for iOS

Social platform X has released a standalone version of its private messaging service, X Chat, via Apple’s TestFlight. The initial beta reached capacity within two hours, reflecting strong early demand among iOS users eager to trial the new app.

Michael Boswell confirmed that the first 1,000 places were quickly expanded to 5,000, with further growth expected. Development has been ongoing for several months, and testers have been urged to stress-test the product and submit detailed feedback.

Early screenshots suggest a cleaner interface and possible rebranding to ‘xChat’.

Security claims remain under scrutiny, as experts question whether X Chat’s encryption matches established platforms such as Signal. Clear evidence addressing those concerns in the standalone build has yet to emerge.

Launch of the separate app marks a notable shift from Elon Musk’s earlier ambition to integrate messaging, payments, and content into a single ‘everything app’.

Chats will synchronise across X, its web platform chat.x.com, and the new iOS app, while an Android version is expected soon.

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Samsung strengthens Japan 5G rollout with Rakuten Mobile partnership

Samsung has secured an agreement with Rakuten Mobile to deliver Open RAN-compliant 5G radios supporting a nationwide mobile network upgrade across Japan. Commercial deployment is expected to begin in 2026 following extensive testing of the cloud-native infrastructure.

Rakuten Mobile continues to expand its fully virtualised network architecture, designed to improve flexibility, performance, and vendor interoperability. The integration of Samsung equipment demonstrates growing industry confidence in Open RAN technology at large-scale commercial deployments.

Equipment supplied includes low-band and mid-band radios, alongside energy-efficient Massive MIMO systems operating in the 3.8 GHz spectrum. Compact hardware enables easier installation on buildings and street infrastructure while improving capacity in dense urban areas.

Executives from both companies highlighted ambitions to accelerate AI-enabled networks and global Open RAN adoption. Samsung also positioned the partnership as a step toward future 6G innovation and broader next-generation connectivity services.

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X rolls out Paid Partnership labels to boost creator transparency

The social media platform, X, has introduced a new ‘Paid Partnership’ label that creators can attach to posts to show when content is promotional instead of leaving audiences unsure about commercial intent.

An update that improves transparency for followers while meeting rules set by the Federal Trade Commission, which expects sponsored material to be disclosed clearly.

Creators previously relied on hashtags such as #ad or #paidpartnership instead of an integrated disclosure option. The new feature allows users to apply the label through a content-disclosure toggle either during posting or afterwards.

X’s product lead, Nikita Bier, said undisclosed promotions damage trust and weaken the platform’s integrity, so the tool is meant to support creators and regulators simultaneously.

X has been trying to build a stronger creator ecosystem by offering payouts, subscriptions and other incentives. Yet many creators still favour Instagram or YouTube over X as their primary channel, because those platforms have longer-standing monetisation tools.

The addition of a built-in label aligns X with broader industry practice and aims to regain credibility among advertisers and creators.

The company has also tightened API access, preventing programmatic replies unless a user is directly mentioned or quoted.

A change that seeks to limit LLM-generated spam instead of allowing automated responses to distort discussions or appear as fake engagement beneath sponsored content.

X hopes these combined measures will enhance authenticity around commercial posts.

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Samsung advances AI RAN with NVIDIA breakthrough

The South Korean electronics company, Samsung, has completed a multi-cell test that brings its virtualised RAN software together with accelerated computing from NVIDIA.

A validation that took place in a realistic network environment confirms that the combined architecture is nearing commercial readiness as AI-native networks continue to evolve.

The company plans to highlight the achievement at Mobile World Congress 2026 as part of its broader push toward software-driven networks that use AI instead of fixed hardware optimisation.

Samsung will demonstrate an AI-based MIMO beamformer running on NVIDIA infrastructure, which offers operators higher throughput and improved spectral efficiency by extracting more value from existing spectrum.

NVIDIA and Samsung are also advancing a unified processor design that integrates CPU and GPU within a single chipset, enabling faster and more efficient data exchange.

Recently, Samsung integrated its vRAN software with the NVIDIA ARC Compact platform equipped with the Grace CPU and L4 GPU, taking another step toward commercial AI-RAN deployments.

The firm says that experience from large-scale vRAN rollouts and close collaboration with industry computing partners strengthens its position in delivering AI-powered network platforms for operators worldwide.

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Ericsson completes first pre-standard 6G OTA session in US

Ericsson has completed the world’s first pre-standard 6G over-the-air session in the United States, marking a milestone toward commercial 6G networks. The trial took place in Plano, Texas, using a pre-standard system built on an AI-native, cloud-based architecture.

The demonstration validated core 6G building blocks, including radio hardware, RAN Compute, software-defined air interfaces and cloud platforms. Ericsson said its software architecture is deployable across CPU and GPU hardware environments.

The trial used spectrum in the 7GHz range with 400 MHz carrier bandwidth and focused on uplink performance, energy efficiency and spectral utilisation. The system included Ericsson radios, baseband platforms and cloud-native software.

According to the company, the test demonstrated capabilities to support AI-driven applications, such as robotics, that require real-time control and high-quality video streaming. Future 6G networks are expected to deliver consistent low latency and enhanced uplink capacity for advanced AI services.

Ericsson said the milestone strengthens US participation in global standards development, including 3GPP and Open RAN. The company plans to expand trials across additional spectrum bands while building on its US research and manufacturing footprint.

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Deutsche Telekom and Nokia advance open and AI-native RAN

Nokia and Deutsche Telekom have expanded their collaboration to advance cloud-based, disaggregated, and AI-native RAN technologies. The strengthened Innovation Cooperation Program deepens joint work in Cloud RAN, open interfaces, and next-generation solutions.

The partnership builds on years of cooperation focused on open and flexible architectures. Both companies said the expanded effort aims to improve network efficiency, programmability, and long-term operational value for service providers.

Work on Open Fronthaul integration is being intensified following earlier multivendor deployments in Germany linking Nokia baseband units with O-RAN-compliant radios. Additional integrations covering Open Fronthaul and Cloud RAN are progressing within confidential development programmes.

The companies are also advancing O-RAN-aligned management capabilities through open O1 interfaces and deeper integration of configuration management. A vendor-independent Service Management and Orchestration platform remains central to Deutsche Telekom’s multivendor RAN strategy.

Nokia will act as Deutsche Telekom’s strategic co-creation partner for AI-native RAN development. Joint efforts will focus on AI-powered receivers, adaptive beamforming, predictive optimisation, and lab and field validation to support intelligent, autonomous mobile networks.

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Claws become the new trend in local agentic AI

A new expression has entered the AI vocabulary, with ‘claws’ becoming the latest term to capture the industry’s imagination.

The term refers to a growing family of open-source personal assistants designed to run locally on consumer hardware, often on Apple’s compact Mac mini rather than on cloud-based servers.

These assistants can access calendars, email accounts, coding tools, browsers and external model APIs, enabling them to carry out complex digital tasks autonomously.

Interest increased after AI researcher Andrej Karpathy described his experiments with claws, prompting broader attention across online communities.

Many users have begun adopting the tools as lightweight agentic systems capable of handling real work, from scheduling meetings to writing software overnight by linking to models from providers such as OpenAI.

The name originated with Clawdbot, which was recently rebranded as OpenClaw and became a prominent example in Silicon Valley.

A wave of variants, including NanoClaw, ZeroClaw and IronClaw, has followed, marking a surge in locally run assistants that appeal to users seeking greater autonomy, privacy and experimentation.

Growing enthusiasm for claws highlights a wider shift towards agentic AI running directly on personal devices.

Whether these systems become mainstream or remain a niche developer trend, they show how quickly the AI landscape can evolve and how new concepts often spread long before they fully mature.

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Quantum-safe security upgrades SIM and eSIM cards

Thales has successfully demonstrated a world-first capability that prepares 5G networks for the era of quantum computing. The test proved that SIM and eSIM cards can be remotely upgraded to support post-quantum cryptography, boosting security without disrupting services or user experience.

The breakthrough highlights the potential of crypto-agile networks to evolve securely as quantum threats emerge.

Replacing millions of devices is impractical, so Thales enables operators to deploy quantum-safe algorithms directly to existing devices. Remote upgrades preserve data and connectivity while instantly boosting security, keeping 5G networks resilient and trusted.

The demonstration reinforces Thales’ leadership in post-quantum cryptography, with dedicated research teams developing quantum-resistant methods and contributing to international standards, including NIST initiatives.

Operators can now protect long-term investments, secure critical services, and prepare for the next generation of quantum computing without operational disruptions.

Thales’ approach offers a practical roadmap for telecoms to adopt quantum-safe security today, ensuring continuity, trust, and resilience across mobile networks as digital threats evolve.

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Cloud-native networks drive AI connectivity

Mobility is emerging as the digital economy’s backbone, with Cisco outlining its latest strategy at Mobile World Congress. Cloud-native, programmable networks are being framed as platforms that enable new revenue models while reducing operational complexity across industries and cities.

Recent updates focus on the Cisco Mobility Services Platform, plus IoT-as-a-service and a programmable core built to scale global networks.

Partnerships with operators such as AT&T, Tele2 IoT, and Wind Tre Group aim to speed up enterprise connectivity and reduce deployment times for industrial use cases.

Preparation for the AI era remains a core theme. Collaboration with NVIDIA focuses on embedding intelligence into wireless infrastructure while ensuring networks can support distributed AI workloads with low latency and predictable performance.

Ecosystem expansion includes joining the Linux Foundation initiative, while industry rankings signal momentum as operators move toward 5G Advanced and AI-native networks.

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