The EU is facing a significant divide among its member states regarding the regulation of high-risk telecom suppliers, particularly Huawei and ZTE, in the context of 5G network infrastructure. Eleven of the 27 EU countries have enacted legal measures to restrict these suppliers following the European Commission’s adoption of the 5G Cybersecurity Toolbox in 2020.
The following divide reflects varying levels of concern about national security, economic interests, and diplomatic relations. Scepticism surrounding Huawei and ZTE intensified in 2018 when numerous countries, including the US and Japan, began excluding these companies from public tenders due to allegations of espionage and their ties to the Chinese government.
Sweden was among the first EU nations to ban Huawei, mandating the removal of its equipment from 5G networks by 1 January 2025. Despite Huawei’s denials of wrongdoing, distrust persists within the EU. Responses to these security concerns vary significantly. Germany has announced that components from Huawei and ZTE must be removed from its 5G core networks by the end of 2026, aligning with its National Security Strategy.
In contrast, Italy has taken a more cautious approach, evaluating cases involving Huawei individually. Despite signing a 5G security declaration with the US, Slovenia rejected a bill to exclude high-risk manufacturers, indicating a more lenient stance.
SK Telecom and Nokia have announced a strategic partnership to implement AI-driven fibre sensing technology to enhance network reliability in South Korea. The collaboration, formalised through a memorandum of understanding, plans to roll out the innovative technology across SK Telecom’s national fixed network by the end of 2024.
The primary goal is proactively monitoring and detecting environmental changes that could impact optical cables, addressing issues before they escalate into significant disruptions. The fibre sensing technology will utilise advanced AI and machine learning techniques to monitor various environmental factors, including earthquakes, climate fluctuations, and disruptions from nearby construction activities. By continuously analysing data from SK Telecom’s commercial networks, the system aims to identify potential threats to network stability early on.
The proactive approach is designed to minimise damage from line breaks and prevent service interruptions, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for customers. The integration of these advanced technologies allows for real-time monitoring and analysis, which is crucial for maintaining the resilience of network infrastructure. Ryu Jeong-hwan, Head of Infrastructure Strategy Technology at SK Telecom, emphasised the importance of this collaboration in accelerating the adoption of AI technologies.
He noted that this partnership prepares SK Telecom for the evolving AI landscape, positioning it as a leader in innovative network solutions. Similarly, John Harrington, President of Nokia Asia Pacific, expressed enthusiasm about integrating Nokia’s sensing technology into automated networks, highlighting their commitment to providing stable services by proactively addressing potential issues.
NATO’s initiative to enhance global internet resilience through satellite communications has made significant strides since its launch on 31 July 2024. With a $2.5 million investment from NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) programme, the project aims to create a hybrid network that can reroute data during emergencies when undersea cables are compromised.
Collaborating with prestigious institutions like Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University, the consortium known as HEIST is focused on developing a working prototype within the next two years, with a demonstration planned at the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden.
The initiative seeks to bolster internet security by integrating satellite and submarine cable technologies and addresses the complex legal challenges associated with international telecommunications. By promoting collaboration among NATO Allies and partners, this project represents a proactive approach to safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring the stability of global communications in an increasingly digital landscape.
The Canadian telecommunications landscape is set to change significantly as large telecom companies will soon be required to share their fibre internet infrastructure with smaller competitors. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that this measure, previously applied only to Ontario and Quebec, will be extended across the entire country beginning in February 2025.
The decision aims to lower internet prices and increase consumer choice by allowing smaller providers to access the fibre networks of major telecom companies. However, move like this one follows concerns about the decline in competition among high-speed internet service providers, particularly in Canada’s two most populous provinces.
While the new regulation will apply to existing fibre networks, any new infrastructure built by the large telecom companies will only be available to competitors after a five-year period. The CRTC believes that these changes will ensure that Canadians have access to higher-speed internet at more affordable prices without discouraging investment in quality networks.
There is no doubt that this change reflects ongoing efforts to create a more competitive and consumer-friendly telecommunications market in Canada, with the ultimate goal of improving service quality and reducing costs for all Canadians.
Elon Musk’s Starlink has been granted a licence to offer satellite broadband services in Sri Lanka. This development follows the country’s recent amendment to its telecommunications law, the first change in 28 years, which allowed Starlink Lanka to establish its presence.
Sri Lanka’s parliament passed the updated telecommunications bill last month, clearing the way for new players like Starlink to enter the market. The satellite service, a subsidiary of SpaceX, owns around 60% of the 7,500 satellites currently in orbit, solidifying its dominance in the satellite internet sector.
In March, Starlink proposed to set up operations in Sri Lanka, with officials confirming the company will need to pay a tariff for the licence. While Starlink has shown interest in expanding into South Asia, including India, no concrete plans have been revealed.
Starlink has not yet commented on the recent developments, leaving questions about its next steps in the region.
The Finnish tech magnate has teamed up with Swisscom to deploy a drones network across Switzerland aimed at enhancing emergency response and infrastructure inspections. The partnership will see the Finnish telecom company providing 300 unmanned aerial vehicles, operated by Swisscom through a drones-as-a-service (DaaS) network, allowing public safety agencies and other clients to use drones on demand without the need to purchase or operate them.
Swiss public safety organisations, including police and fire services, will be able to request drone flights from Swisscom Broadcast, using the technology to gather crucial data during emergencies. The network will also facilitate the remote inspection of infrastructure such as power lines, solar panels, and oil and gas facilities, reducing the need to send personnel into potentially hazardous situations, according to Thomas Eder, Nokia’s head of embedded wireless.
As drones increasingly find applications beyond military use, including in delivery services and agriculture, there remain concerns about privacy, noise, and safety. Nokia and Swisscom have pledged to work closely with aviation and spectrum regulators to ensure compliance with data protection laws, including the establishment of no-fly zones over sensitive areas like beaches and swimming pools.
Nokia’s venture into drone technology comes as the company continues to innovate, recently introducing immersive technology for phone calls and agreeing to sell its submarine networks to the French state for $374 million. The global industrial drone market is currently valued at between $32 billion and $35 billion, reflecting the growing importance of such technologies in various sectors.
Ericsson and Turkcell have embarked on a strategic partnership to enhance mobile backhaul capacity, which is essential for advancing 5G and upcoming 6G technologies. The collaboration centres around the successful trial of a W-Band solution, which significantly expands the available spectrum by incorporating frequencies beyond the conventional E-band. This enhancement doubles the high-performance backhaul spectrum, enabling transport capacities of up to 100 Gbps.
The deployment of the W-Band (92 – 114.5 GHz) marks a significant technological milestone in the realm of millimetre Wave (mmWave) bands. This addresses the increasing demand for high-speed data transmission and positions Turkcell to deliver superior services, optimise costs, and create new business growth opportunities.
Additionally, the W-Band solution contributes to improved energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint, aligning with broader sustainability goals. As part of their long-standing partnership, Ericsson will provide the necessary equipment, conduct test demonstrations, and evaluate the performance of this innovative solution. This collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to pioneering technologies that meet evolving business and technical requirements, ultimately enhancing the customer experience in an increasingly data-driven world.
The US Commerce Department announced plans to grant Amkor Technology up to $400 million to support the construction of a $2 billion advanced semiconductor packaging facility in Arizona. Once operational, the plant will be the largest of its kind in the US, packaging and testing millions of chips for applications such as autonomous vehicles, 5G/6G, and data centers.
Apple is set to be the first and largest customer, with the chips being produced at a nearby TSMC facility. Advanced packaging is a sophisticated method of integrating multiple chips with various functions into a densely interconnected package. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasised that this investment will help meet the growing demand for AI chips.
Raimondo highlighted that the chips Amkor will package are crucial for future technologies that will significantly impact global economic and national security. This move comes amid discussions of aid cuts for US chip manufacturers due to oversubscription of funding requests.
Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and Cybersecurity Malaysia (CSM) have signed a collaboration agreement to establish a National 5G Cybersecurity Testing Centre and develop new security guidelines to strengthen Malaysia’s 5G network against cyber threats.
The National 5G Cybersecurity Testing Centre will serve as a platform for industry players to identify vulnerabilities, ensure compliance with standards, and validate security features of 5G networks. The upcoming 5G security guidelines will be used as fundamental requirements for the telecommunications industry and serve as guiding principles for future 5G security baselines.
The partnership will also involve exchanging threat intelligence information between DNB and CSM to enhance the nation’s cyber threat combat capabilities. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo emphasised that 5G is a critical national infrastructure sector that impacts national defence, economic stability, governmental functions, and social routines and that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that requires pooling resources, intelligence, and expertise.
DNB’s Chief Operating Officer Nasution Mohamed stated that collaborating with CSM is crucial in establishing a strong and robust cybersecurity ecosystem as the industrial, commercial, and public sectors accelerate their digitalisation efforts through 5G. CSM’s Chief Executive Officer Dato Ts Dr Haji Amirudin Abdul Wabah highlighted that the National 5G Cybersecurity Testing Centre will enhance the ability to secure 5G networks and protect the digital future of 5G networks for Malaysian users.
Why does it matter?
The collaboration between DNB and CSM marks a significant advancement in Malaysia’s efforts to secure its 5G infrastructure against cyber threats. As the National 5G Cybersecurity Testing Centre takes shape and new guidelines are developed, stakeholders can look forward to a more secure digital landscape that supports innovation and growth in the telecommunications sector.
Samsung is reportedly exploring new phone designs tailored for generative AI applications. Roh Tae-moon, president of Samsung’s Mobile Experience unit, stated that upcoming ‘AI phones’ will look ‘radically different’ from current models. These new devices are expected to be more mobile, incorporating additional sensors and larger screens.
Roh revealed that a significant portion of Samsung’s mobile phone research and development is now focused on these AI-driven phones. Although specific designs were not disclosed, the goal is to move beyond the traditional slim rectangular form that has dominated the market since the iPhone’s debut.
The shift towards AI integration in phones follows Samsung’s introduction of the ‘Galaxy AI’ system, enhancing existing features and adding new tools for users. This move is part of a broader industry trend, with major players like Apple and Google also incorporating AI into their devices.
Competitors have tried to launch AI-specific devices with unique designs, but these have not gained mainstream success. Products like the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI were criticised for poor performance and battery life, highlighting the challenges in creating functional AI-driven smartphones.
