Ericsson and MobiFone have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a 5G Innovation Hub at MobiFone’s premises in Vietnam, marking a significant step toward advancing the country’s digital transformation. That hub will serve as a dynamic co-creation space where innovative 5G applications can be developed and showcased for both consumers and enterprises.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and skilled resources, the 5G Innovation Hub will facilitate collaboration with local and global partners, fostering the development of new use cases that leverage the transformative potential of 5G. By supporting research and development initiatives, the hub aims to promote a culture of innovation within the industry, ultimately helping businesses realise the full benefits of Industry 4.0.
Additionally, Ericsson will share its global expertise to assist MobiFone in managing the hub’s operations and enhancing service experience solutions, ensuring a robust foundation for 5G advancements in Vietnam. The collaboration will strengthen MobiFone’s capabilities and contribute to the region’s broader digital ecosystem. Both companies aim to drive the adoption of 5G technology by creating a space dedicated to innovation and co-creation, empowering industries to embrace digital transformation and achieve their strategic goals.
Verizon has restored service following a network disruption that affected thousands of customers across the United States The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating the incident, which impacted cities such as Chicago and Seattle.
The outage began at around 9:30 a.m. ET, with over 105,000 reports at its peak, according to Downdetector. Areas like Minneapolis, Phoenix, Omaha, and Denver were among the hardest hit. Verizon apologised for the inconvenience, but did not disclose the cause of the disruption.
Some iPhone users experienced ‘SOS’ mode, a status indicating that while their devices were disconnected from Verizon’s network, emergency calls could still be made via other carriers. AT&T confirmed that it was not facing a similar outage despite related complaints.
Verizon’s outage coincided with the company’s announcement of a $3.3 billion deal with infrastructure firm Vertical Bridge, granting it rights to lease and manage over 6,000 mobile towers across the US.
At the 79th annual UN General Assembly, 18 nations, including the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, and several Pacific nations, endorsed a joint statement addressing the security and resilience of undersea cable infrastructure. The statement highlights the indispensable role of these cables and underscores the pressing need to safeguard them against emerging threats, both natural and manufactured.
Earlier this year, undersea data cables in the Red Sea reportedly were damaged, and large parts of West and Central Africa were left without internet services in March 2024 because of failures on four of the fibre optic cables that run below the world’s ocean. The joint statement begins by acknowledging communications networks’ central role in modern society, with undersea cables being critical infrastructure for global data transmission.
The nations stress that the rapid expansion of undersea cable networks has led to greater interdependence among countries, making the protection of this infrastructure a priority. They advocate for adopting policies to ensure that the infrastructure remains efficient, secure, resilient, and redundant to mitigate risks posed by its vulnerability.
The joint statement outlines key principles for a unified global approach to securing undersea cable infrastructure, focusing on building resilient and secure systems while incorporating cybersecurity best practices. Nations highlighted the importance of promoting secure cable providers, improving government-industry coordination, providing transparent ownership, and emphasising careful planning to prevent disruptions. Additionally, they outlined the need to consider regular risk assessments and compliance with international laws.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has underscored the necessity of preserving the contractual nature of telecom service licenses, particularly amid the impending overhaul of the service authorisation regime. That recommendation arises in response to recent proposals from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which aims to introduce three new categories of authorisations under the upcoming Telecom Act, 2023.
COAI contends that upholding a contractual framework is vital, as it ensures uniformity, regulatory certainty, and investor protection, especially for those committing long-term capital to the telecom sector. In discussions with Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, COAI stressed that the new authorisations should prioritise broader aspects, such as the application process and eligibility criteria.
Conversely, detailed terms must remain integral to telecom operators and government contracts. The association expressed concerns that deviating from a contractual agreement could lead to regulatory uncertainty, undermining investor confidence. Additionally, COAI emphasised that the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) calculation should encompass only revenues generated from telecom services, a point that TRAI’s recommendations have not adequately addressed.
Moreover, COAI warned that excluding over-the-top (OTT) communication services from the new authorisation framework poses a significant threat to fair competition. While telecom operators are subjected to stringent compliance requirements, OTT services operate with considerably less oversight, which raises concerns about market fairness and national security. Therefore, the association advocates for maintaining the contractual nature of telecom licenses to ensure regulatory consistency and promote competitive fairness within the industry.
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly developing a new AI model using chips from Chinese tech giant Huawei. The move comes as US restrictions on advanced AI chips, such as those from Nvidia, have led the company to look for domestic alternatives. Sources suggest ByteDance will use Huawei’s Ascend 910B chip to power a new large-language AI model.
Huawei’s Ascend 910B chip has already been used by ByteDance for less demanding AI tasks, but training a new AI model requires a higher level of computational power. While ByteDance continues to order significant quantities of Huawei’s chips, supply shortages are reportedly slowing down their efforts, with only a fraction of the requested units received so far.
Industry experts say AI has become essential for a range of sectors, from gaming to e-commerce, where businesses are developing custom AI models to stay competitive. ByteDance’s decision to turn to Huawei reflects the increasing importance of AI, particularly as global supply chains face challenges.
Both ByteDance and Huawei have remained tight-lipped regarding specific details of this development. A spokesperson from ByteDance denied the existence of a new AI model in progress, while Huawei did not provide any comment on the situation.
OMS Group, a Malaysian telecom infrastructure company backed by KKR, is reconsidering its Initial Public Offering (IPO) plans after pausing them last year. That move follows a $400 million investment from KKR to support OMS’ expansion in Southeast Asia’s digital infrastructure market.
While the IPO details remain undecided, Deputy CEO Richard Sun mentioned the Malaysian stock exchange as a possible venue. Meanwhile, OMS secured $292.5 million in loans from HSBC and E-Sun Commercial Bank to fund its growth, including new vessels by 2029.
Beyond fleet expansion, OMS is actively growing its interconnect managed services (IMS) and subsea cable routes business, a key focus for the past five years. Currently, the company operates cable landing stations and subsea routes across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, with plans to extend its reach to Vietnam and the Philippines. These developments are part of OMS’ broader vision to become Southeast Asia’s leading, comprehensive connectivity solutions provider.
The Philippines is actively pursuing public-private partnerships (PPPs) to enhance connectivity for millions of Filipinos in remote areas. Globe Telecom, along with other industry players, is leading efforts to construct new cell towers, with the initial phase focused on building 1,500 towers across major telecommunications providers like Globe, Smart Communications, and DITO Telecommunity.
That initiative highlights the country’s commitment to improving digital connectivity. Globe’s CEO, Ernest Cu, emphasises the importance of collaboration between the telecommunications industry and the government to tackle infrastructure challenges. Consequently, investments in network infrastructure are expected to boost access to digital services and create economic opportunities.
To facilitate the project, the task force has called for legislative reforms to simplify the permit process and ensure a stable power supply for cell towers. Nevertheless, with over 26% of Filipinos still offline as of early 2024, there is an urgent need to bridge the digital divide and foster a more inclusive digital economy.
Philippines is embarking on a three-year network infrastructure plan to enhance connectivity for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) by 2028. That initiative, presented by telecommunications providers, aims to construct new communication towers while maximising the use of existing infrastructure.
By addressing the connectivity gap in the country, the plan ensures that remote communities can access essential services such as education, healthcare, and government support, thereby promoting inclusivity and enhancing the overall quality of life for residents. Furthermore, this commitment to improving connectivity aligns with President Marcos’ pledge to bring telecom services to underserved areas.
The current plan includes subsidised SIM cards with data plans to unconnected households, ensuring families have the necessary tools to connect to the internet and mobile services. As of 2024, Globe has already established over 600 operational cell sites in GIDAs, marking a significant step toward making essential communication services accessible to remote communities.
Moreover, Philippines recognises the need for optimised network coverage and advocates for critical legislative support to streamline the permitting process for new cell sites. Ensuring a consistent power supply for telecommunications towers and rationalising spectrum user fees are essential to this strategy.
Why does this matter?
The country aims to create a conducive environment for rapid infrastructure expansion by addressing these regulatory challenges. Consequently, through these efforts, Philippines is working towards a ‘Digital Philippines,’ where all citizens can access vital communication services that improve their lives regardless of their geographical location.
Starting 1 October 2024, UK mobile operators like Three, Vodafone, EE, and O2 will be required to comply with new Ofcom regulations designed to protect consumers from unexpected roaming charges while abroad. These rules mandate that mobile providers send clear notifications when customers begin roaming, outlining costs, potential data limits, and steps to avoid overspending on mobile services. This comes after Ofcom found that many users were unaware of potential extra charges when traveling.
Although most operators have reintroduced roaming fees in Europe, Ofcom’s new rules ensure customers receive timely information to help them manage their mobile bills. The new regulations also address “inadvertent roaming,” where users unintentionally connect to French networks, particularly along the UK’s coastal areas. This can lead to unexpected bills even when customers believe they are still in the UK. To combat this, operators will need to provide alerts to help users manage their roaming expenses, including the option to set spending limits.
Additionally, the guidance issued by Ofcom will help mobile providers ensure compliance and promote good practices for informing customers. This initiative aims to create more transparency in roaming services, ultimately giving consumers the tools they need to avoid mobile bill shocks during their travels.
Samsung has officially launched its AI-ready Galaxy Tab S10 series, featuring the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and S10+. Built to support artificial intelligence, both models are powered by the advanced MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processors. This new chipset significantly boosts performance across CPU, GPU, and NPU, delivering faster AI features for users.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra boasts a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, while the S10+ comes with a slightly smaller 12.4-inch version. Alongside these high-resolution screens, both tablets include the S Pen and a Book Cover Keyboard accessory with a dedicated Galaxy AI key. These additions provide users with streamlined AI interactions and allow for enhanced note-taking, image creation, and translation features.
Samsung also introduces several AI tools, such as the PDF Overlay Translation and Handwriting Help, aimed at making productivity tasks easier. The Sketch to Image function, previously seen on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, is now available on these tablets, enabling the conversion of rough drawings into polished images with the help of AI.
The Galaxy Tab S10 series integrates seamlessly with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem, offering users a 3D Map View to manage their connected devices. Both tablets are durable, water-resistant with IP68 certification, and come with fast-charging capabilities, making them versatile tools for both work and home.
