Apple’s iPhone devices are now eligible to test SpaceX’s Starlink’s direct-to-cell service, which offers satellite-based coverage, according to T-Mobile. The trial, which started after receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in November, currently provides “text via satellite” capabilities, with plans to add voice and data features in the future.
Initially, only select Android smartphones were eligible for the test, but T-Mobile has expanded compatibility to include iPhones running the latest iOS 18.3 software update. The partnership between Apple, SpaceX, and T-Mobile has been kept under wraps, with the companies working together to integrate Starlink support into Apple’s devices.
The FCC’s approval last year also allowed Starlink’s direct-to-cell service to assist in providing coverage in areas like North Carolina, which were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. While Apple and SpaceX did not comment outside business hours, the initiative marks a significant step in expanding satellite coverage for mobile users.
Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani held talks with Airbus to strengthen European collaboration in the satellite industry. Discussions with Airbus and Thales aim to create alliances to better compete globally with major players like the US and China. Cingolani emphasised the need for robust European partnerships to address increasing global competition in this sector.
Leonardo already has strong ties with Thales, sharing two joint ventures: Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, which specialise in satellite manufacturing and services. Airbus and Thales Alenia Space are recognised as Europe’s leading producers of satellites for various applications, including telecommunications, navigation, and surveillance.
Meanwhile, Italy is considering Elon Musk’s Starlink system to meet immediate satellite needs for secure government communications. Opposition parties have criticised this potential reliance on Musk’s technology, though Cingolani stressed that Leonardo could ensure the protection of transmitted data, aligning with government priorities for security.
AT&T has secured $850 million by selling and leasing back 74 underutilised central office facilities that house its legacy copper network. The deal was made with real estate firm Reign Capital and is part of AT&T’s strategy to phase out its copper network operations by 2029. The company is transitioning to fibre optic and wireless networks, which are more efficient and require less space.
The sale-leaseback arrangement enables AT&T to sell the properties while retaining the necessary space for its network operations. Michael Ford, AT&T’s global real estate head, described the agreement as a way to “unlock value in otherwise stranded commercial real estate space.” The transaction, completed in early January, impacts only a small portion of the company’s extensive real estate portfolio and will not affect jobs or services.
AT&T shares rose by 0.7% following the announcement, reflecting market confidence in the company’s move to optimise its assets and shift towards modern, high-demand technologies.
A fibre optic cable running under the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Sweden sustained significant damage, likely due to external factors, according to Latvian authorities. The incident prompted NATO to deploy patrol ships and launch a coordinated investigation with Sweden, where the Security Service seized control of a vessel as part of its probe. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina confirmed that her government is collaborating with NATO and neighboring Baltic Sea countries to determine the cause.
Senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist stated that investigators are conducting several actions but refrained from disclosing details due to the ongoing preliminary inquiry.
NATO’s recently launched ‘Baltic Sentry’ mission, involving naval and aerial assets, aims to safeguard critical infrastructure in the region following a series of incidents affecting cables, pipelines, and telecom links since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The project also includes the deployment of new technologies, including a small fleet of naval drones. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also emphasized close cooperation with NATO and Latvia in response to the situation.
The damaged cable, located in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone, connects Latvia’s Ventspils to Sweden’s Gotland island. The Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC), which operates the cable, reported switching communications to alternative routes and is contracting a repair vessel. Repairs are expected to proceed more quickly than those for gas pipelines or power cables, as fibre optic cables in the Baltic Sea are typically restored within weeks.
This incident follows last month’s damage to the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 power line and telecom cables, reportedly caused by a Russian tanker dragging its anchor. Finnish and Swedish leaders underscored the importance of bolstering the protection of critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. NATO also stated it reserves the right to act against ships deemed security risks while continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Stargate, a new joint venture formed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, aims to build data centres across the US to support the growing demands of AI. According to a report by the Financial Times on Thursday, these data centres will be dedicated solely to OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT. The collaboration between these tech giants underscores the increasing importance of robust infrastructure to power the next wave of AI innovation.
The exclusive focus on OpenAI’s needs comes when AI technologies rapidly expand, with the demand for high-performance computing capabilities soaring. The partnership will allow OpenAI to scale its operations and provide the necessary computing power for its cutting-edge AI models. As companies worldwide race to develop more advanced AI tools, the infrastructure provided by Stargate is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the next generation of AI services.
Oracle and SoftBank’s involvement brings significant expertise in cloud infrastructure and global telecom, making the venture a powerful alliance in the competitive AI landscape. The project highlights the growing intersection of cloud computing, data storage, and AI as companies like OpenAI push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.
Samsung Electronics has introduced its latest Galaxy S25 smartphones, powered by Qualcomm’s chips and Google’s AI model. With a competitive pricing strategy, the Galaxy S25 series remains in the range of $799 to $1,299, aiming to boost sales amidst fierce competition from Apple and other Chinese manufacturers. The release, which includes a preview of a slimmer Galaxy S25 Edge model, comes as Samsung seeks to regain market share after losing ground in the premium smartphone sector last year.
While Samsung boasts advanced AI features, analysts note that distinguishing its in-house voice assistant, Bixby, could prove challenging. Industry expert Thomas Husson remarked that without a standout application that leverages AI capabilities effectively, convincing consumers to choose an AI-based smartphone might be difficult. Despite this, the new Galaxy S25 is designed to provide a more personalised user experience, including features like the ‘Now Brief’ service, which offers tailored recommendations based on stored data and enhances user convenience.
In a notable shift, Samsung opted for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for the entire Galaxy S25 lineup, moving away from its own Exynos chips. However this change may impact Samsung’s chip business, as the mobile division has been a significant customer for its semiconductor products. Following the announcement, Samsung shares dipped by 1.1%, trailing the overall market performance. The company’s sell-through of the new series is crucial, particularly as sales of its foldable phones have stagnated amid stiff competition from Chinese rivals.
Preliminary fourth-quarter results from Samsung indicated profits fell short of expectations due to high chip development costs and increasing competition in the smartphone market. Moving forward, Samsung plans to use its Exynos chips in upcoming foldable devices, highlighting the ongoing strategic shifts to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions.
ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, has allocated over 150 billion yuan ($20.64 billion) for capital expenditure this year, with a significant focus on AI, according to sources familiar with the matter. About half of the investment will support overseas AI infrastructure, including data centres and networking equipment. Beneficiaries of this spending are expected to include chipmakers Huawei, Cambricon, and US supplier Nvidia, although ByteDance has denied the accuracy of the claims.
The investment aims to solidify ByteDance’s AI leadership in China, where it has launched over 15 standalone AI applications, such as the popular chatbot Doubao, which boasts 75 million monthly active users. Its international counterparts include apps like Cici and Dreamina, reflecting ByteDance’s strategy to adapt its AI offerings globally. The company also recently updated its flagship AI model, Doubao, to rival reasoning models like those developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
ByteDance’s international spending aligns with its efforts to expand AI capabilities abroad amid challenges like the uncertain future of TikTok in the United States. While ByteDance’s $20 billion plan is substantial, it remains modest compared to the AI investments of US tech giants like Google and Microsoft, which spent $50 billion and $55.7 billion respectively on AI infrastructure in the past year. The spending will also bolster ByteDance’s partnerships with suppliers such as Nvidia, from which it has procured custom AI chips tailored to China despite US export restrictions.
President Donald Trump unveiled a $500 billion private-sector initiative on Tuesday aimed at transforming AI infrastructure in the US. The joint venture, called Stargate, brings together OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to build 20 massive data centres and create over 100,000 jobs. Backers have committed $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remainder spread over the next four years.
The announcement, made at the White House with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison in attendance, underscores America’s push to lead in AI development. Ellison revealed that the first data centres, each half a million square feet, are already under construction in Texas. These facilities aim to power advanced AI applications, including analysing electronic health records to assist doctors.
Trump attributed the project’s launch to his leadership, with executives expressing their support. “We wouldn’t have decided to do this unless you won,” Son said. However, the ambitious project arrives amid concerns over the rising energy demands of AI data centres. Trump promised to simplify energy production for these facilities, even as experts warn of potential power shortfalls across the country in the coming decade.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of surging AI investments since OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in 2022, which sparked widespread adoption of AI across industries. Oracle and other tech stocks, including Nvidia and Dell, climbed on the news, reflecting market enthusiasm for the Stargate project.
ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, is reportedly planning a substantial $12 billion investment in AI infrastructure by 2025. According to the Financial Times, the funds will go towards acquiring advanced AI chips and enhancing model training capabilities, both domestically and abroad. A spokesperson for ByteDance refuted the accuracy of the report, calling the claims incorrect.
The company intends to allocate 40 billion yuan ($5.5 billion) towards purchasing AI chips in China, while an additional $6.8 billion will be spent overseas. Domestic semiconductor orders would largely go to Chinese suppliers, including Huawei and Cambricon, with the remainder focused on Nvidia chips modified to comply with US export restrictions.
China’s government has encouraged tech firms to source a significant percentage of their chips from local manufacturers. Meanwhile, ByteDance continues to navigate US scrutiny, with its popular app TikTok facing political pressure to be sold.
The news comes amid a broader global race for AI dominance, where investment in cutting-edge technology remains pivotal for competitive advantage.
U Mobile has secured financial backing from CIMB Bank to support its role as the country’s second 5G network provider. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the 5G rollout, with the partnership aligning with Malaysia’s digitalisation goals and aspirations for high-income status.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) recently approved U Mobile as the second 5G provider, signalling a shift from a single-operator 5G model to a dual-network setup. That move follows the government’s decision to diversify network providers after Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), initially the sole 5G operator, laid the foundation for 5G infrastructure in Malaysia.
U Mobile plans to establish 5,000 to 7,000 new 5G sites and enhance its existing 4G infrastructure to benefit enterprises, consumers, and the public sector. The company is also expected to collaborate with other operators to facilitate the rollout and expand 5G coverage across the country.
CIMB Bank has expressed its commitment to supporting digital innovation through 5G, underscoring the importance of such collaborations for advancing Malaysia’s technological infrastructure. That partnership is set to contribute significantly to Malaysia’s digital economy and its aspirations for a connected, high-tech future. By expanding 5G coverage and enhancing its network, U Mobile positions itself to play a key role in shaping Malaysia’s telecommunications landscape.
