The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) has outlined its strategic priorities for 2025, focusing on promoting full connectivity, Very High-Capacity Networks, and environmentally sustainable digital infrastructure. Specifically, these goals aim to close the digital divide, enhance network security, and advance green infrastructure to support Europe’s digital future.
BEREC has launched a public consultation to inform its planning, inviting stakeholders to provide feedback on its draft Work Programme 2025 by 4 November. Moreover, BEREC seeks input on its draft report on the evolution of private and public 5G networks by 29 November. It aims to establish common definitions and classifications for 5G private networks, thus facilitating a shared understanding across European regulatory bodies.
In addition to these initiatives, BEREC’s draft programme aligns with the European Commission’s vision, as outlined in the white paper ‘How to Master Europe’s Digital Infrastructure Needs?’, serving as a preparatory step for the upcoming Digital Networks Act. This alignment ensures that BEREC’s work supports broader EU digital policy objectives.
Furthermore, BEREC has announced new leadership, with Marko Mišmaš from Slovenia’s AKOS elected as Chair for 2026, supported by Vice-chairs Alejandra de Iturriaga Gandini from Spain and Daniela Brönstrup from Germany. Additionally, Liliia Malon from Ukraine’s NCEC will join the Mini-Board as a non-voting member, helping guide BEREC’s strategic planning. Through these coordinated efforts and leadership updates, BEREC remains committed to building a digitally inclusive, secure, and sustainable European digital ecosystem.
Zambia and Burundi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance regional digital infrastructure by improving fibre optic connectivity between the two nations. The landmark agreement, formalised during the 2024 Digital Government Africa Summit, marks a pivotal moment in pursuing technological advancement across the continent.
Central to the MoU is the ambitious plan to lay a fibre optic cable beneath Lake Tanganyika, which positions Zambia as a crucial hub for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the region, especially with 350 kilometres of cable already installed.
Consequently, this digital bridge is expected to strengthen ties between the two countries while significantly improving digital communication, facilitating better interactions, and enabling Burundi to connect with other Southern and Eastern African nations. Moreover, the societal impact of this MoU is expected to be significant, as it aims to enhance the quality of life for citizens in both countries through improved access to internet services and communication.
The initiative fosters economic growth and development and forms part of a broader regional effort to promote cooperation in ICT development across Africa. The insights shared at the summit highlighted the importance of meaningful dialogue among governments and industry leaders, signalling a promising future for digital advancement on the continent.
Singapore is set to mandate digital bunkering services for marine fuel suppliers from April 2025. The move, announced by senior minister of state for transport Amy Khor at SIBCON 2024, will require suppliers to issue electronic bunker delivery notes.
New measure like this one is expected to enhance efficiency and transparency in ship refuelling processes by improving data-sharing between buyers and sellers. The streamlined system could save the industry around 40,000 man-days per year, while also helping to minimise fraud.
Singapore has been testing digital bunkering with several marine fuel suppliers since November 2023. Following the successful trials, the Maritime and Port Authority confirmed that Singapore will be the first port globally to adopt digital bunkering on such a scale.
The digitalisation of the bunkering process reinforces Singapore’s position as the world’s leading bunker hub, setting new standards for the maritime industry.
Vodafone has announced a significant development in its Giga TV service, as part of a renewed billion-dollar partnership with Google Cloud. Over the next ten years, Google’s artificial intelligence capabilities will be integrated into the platform to enhance personalisation and content discovery for its users.
The companies plan to leverage Google Cloud’s AI to improve Vodafone’s Android-based TV system in Germany. New features will help users find content more easily and deliver a more tailored viewing experience. Additionally, Google Ad Manager will be integrated into Giga TV, enhancing the advertising landscape within the platform.
Further collaboration will see YouTube become more deeply embedded in Vodafone’s TV devices, providing a richer video experience. These improvements are set to bring significant advancements in how viewers engage with television content, both in entertainment and beyond.
Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group CEO, expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasising how these AI-driven innovations will transform communication and learning. She highlighted the unprecedented scale on which the new content and services will be delivered to millions of users.
Vodafone has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Google in a ten-year deal worth over a billion dollars. This agreement aims to introduce Google’s generative AI-powered devices to customers in Europe and Africa, capitalising on the 5G network. The collaboration will also promote the Android ecosystem in these regions.
Vodafone intends to extend the availability of Google’s AI-powered Pixel devices, enhancing customer access to innovative technology. By 2025, the company will begin offering Google One AI Premium subscription plans, which include advanced features such as Gemini Advanced.
In addition to customer-focused advancements, this multinational telecommunications company will use Google Cloud’s AI platform for enterprise-level applications. The integration of AI will streamline operations and enhance services within the company.
Google remains in fierce competition in the AI sector, vying against other major tech companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. The partnership with Vodafone strengthens its position in this fast-evolving market.
A US House committee revealed on Monday that it is investigating the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to deny SpaceX’s satellite internet division, Starlink, $885.5 million in rural broadband subsidies. The FCC had reaffirmed in December that the denial stemmed from Starlink’s failure to meet essential program requirements and its inability to demonstrate that it could deliver the promised services, following SpaceX’s challenge to the decision made in 2022.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican, has requested the FCC provide relevant documents by October 21 to ensure that the regulatory process was followed properly and not influenced by political motives. The FCC acknowledged receipt of the letter and will respond accordingly.
In December 2020, the FCC initially awarded $9.2 billion to more than 300 bidders for high-speed broadband deployment, with Starlink securing $885.5 million in a 2020 auction aimed at serving rural areas. However, in August 2022, the FCC revoked this funding, citing speed-test data that showed Starlink struggled to meet the program’s basic requirements, despite its commitments to provide high-speed service to 642,000 rural homes and businesses in 35 states.
Musk has strongly criticised the FCC’s ruling, calling it “illegal” and claiming that the funding could have saved lives during Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel stated that Starlink’s performance data confirmed the agency’s findings about its uplink and downlink speed issues, adding that the proposal required subscribers to purchase a $600 dish to start service. Two Republican commissioners dissented, arguing that SpaceX was unfairly held to future performance targets. Rosenworcel has since expressed a desire for increased competition in the satellite internet market, emphasising the need to welcome additional companies to promote innovation and reduce monopolistic control.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted permission to SpaceX and T-Mobile to activate Starlink’s direct-to-cell capability for hurricane-hit regions in North Carolina. This emergency measure aims to restore communication services in areas heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene, where over 74% of cell towers were initially knocked out.
SpaceX’s satellites have already begun transmitting emergency alerts to mobile networks across the state. Basic texting on T-Mobile’s network is also under testing as part of efforts to reconnect people in affected areas. According to the FCC, only 17% of cell towers now remain offline as restoration teams work to bring the infrastructure back online.
T-Mobile noted that, while the full deployment of Starlink’s direct-to-cell constellation has not yet occurred, even early access to the system is aiding first responders in their rescue missions. Their network is almost fully restored, with minimal disruptions persisting in some remote areas.
Although Starlink’s full capabilities are still under development, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr emphasised the critical need to manage expectations. The system is offering partial but vital assistance to communities as recovery efforts continue.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is establishing an International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience to enhance the protection of submarine cables, which are vital for global communication and the digital economy. That initiative is driven by the increasing frequency of service outages and the vulnerabilities faced by these underwater cables, making it imperative to coordinate efforts to bolster their resilience.
The advisory body will bring together diverse stakeholders, including governments, regulatory authorities, industry leaders, and other key participants, fostering multistakeholder collaboration to create a united front in enhancing the safety and protection of submarine cables. ITU calls for nominations from various sectors to join the advisory council, where members will be expected to engage actively in meetings and uphold ethical standards.
Also, the advisory body will provide strategic guidance to improve submarine cable resilience by developing best practices for protecting subsea systems and facilitating international cooperation on technical and policy frameworks. That is particularly crucial given the challenges faced by regions like Vietnam and Africa, which have experienced significant disruptions. To address these issues, members will contribute to the agenda for an upcoming Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in early 2025, where they will strategise on solutions to enhance the resilience of submarine cables worldwide.
In partnership with Romania’s National Authority for Communications Administration and Regulation (ANCOM) and the Ministry of National Defence, Starlink is conducting an innovative real-world test to assess whether its non-geostationary satellite (NGSO) systems can operate without interfering with geostationary satellite (GSO) networks. The test aims to investigate relaxed power flux density (EPFD) limits, which, if successful, could enable Starlink satellites to operate at up to eight times the current capacity allowed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) while ensuring the protection of GSO networks.
Moreover, the existing EPFD limits, established 25 years ago, were designed to prevent unacceptable interference with GSO Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) and Broadcasting Satellite Service (BSS) networks. However, many experts contend that these limits may no longer be relevant. Consequently, ANCOM has initiated this testing campaign to contribute valuable insights to ongoing ITU studies regarding EPFD limits and their implications for GSO networks.
Furthermore, the test includes installing equipment to monitor signal and interference levels, with specific protection criteria set at a 10% aggregate increase in service unavailability and a 3% increase in individual service unavailability. Over the course of at least six months, SpaceX will exceed the current EPFD limits in a designated area to collect essential operational data.
The findings will subsequently be presented at ITU meetings to demonstrate that efficient NGSO operations can coexist harmoniously with GSO networks. Additionally, Romania underscores the importance of establishing a regulatory framework that balances the protection of geostationary networks with the potential of NGSO networks to enhance connectivity. As a result, ITU is set to review EPFD limits at the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27), where Romania will advocate for a collaborative approach to harness both types of satellites effectively.
EXA Infrastructure has partnered with Macarne to boost network connectivity between Europe and North America. The collaboration allows Macarne to leverage EXA’s extensive fibre infrastructure, enhancing its global IP transit services. By tapping into EXA’s advanced network, Macarne can deliver high-performance, reliable connectivity across continents, helping both companies meet the growing demands of digital businesses.
At the heart of this partnership is EXA Infrastructure’s vast network. Spanning 155,000 km across 37 countries and including six key transatlantic routes, EXA provides ultra-low latency and high-bandwidth connections, vital for finance, gaming, broadcasting, and hyperscale enterprises. Notably, the EXA Express route offers the lowest latency between Europe and North America, solidifying EXA’s role as a leader in global connectivity.
Furthermore, EXA’s recent network expansions, such as the Amitié cable connecting Boston, Slough, and Bordeaux, and the new terrestrial fibre route developed with SOCAR Fiber, add crucial diversity and resilience. These developments ensure that Macarne gains access to a future-proof infrastructure, enabling it to provide its customers with robust, secure, and scalable connectivity in an increasingly interconnected digital world.
