Tesla’s attempt to secure a 5G patent licence in the UK has been dismissed by the High Court. The automaker sought the licence before its planned launch of 5G vehicles in Britain.
The lawsuit, filed against US technology firm InterDigital and the patent licensing platform Avanci, was thrown out on Monday. Tesla wanted the court to determine fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms for using patents owned by InterDigital and licensed by Avanci.
Judge Timothy Fancourt ruled that Tesla’s bid for a license must be dismissed. However, Tesla’s separate claim to revoke three InterDigital’s patents will continue.
Samsung unveiled its latest range of foldable devices, earbuds, and wearables at the Louvre in Paris, followed by a panel discussion with executives from Samsung, Google, Qualcomm, and more. The panel explored various AI-related topics, including Samsung’s two-way Interpreter translations and the company’s collaboration with Google on Circle To Search.
Dr Chris Brauer from Goldsmiths University of London presented findings from Samsung’s Mobile AI Report, highlighting a potential AI divide. He pointed out that while many people are embracing AI for its quality-of-life benefits, a minority remain reluctant, correlating with lower self-reported life satisfaction. This emerging divide could impact individuals’ ability to achieve their goals and navigate life successfully.
The report surveyed 5000 adults across France, Germany, South Korea, the UK, and the US, focusing on creativity, productivity, social relationships, and physical health. The digital divide remains a significant issue, with 30% of the world still under- or unconnected, limiting access to the latest technology. Qualcomm’s Don McGuire emphasised the importance of addressing this divide to ensure broader accessibility to AI tools for healthcare, education, and socioeconomic advancement.
Why does this matter?
AI has been a part of our digital lives for years, but recent advancements have brought it to the forefront, thanks to tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E. As the world moves towards an AI-driven future, addressing the digital divide is crucial to ensure that everyone benefits from these technological advancements.
The India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released the Draft Right of Way (RoW) Rules under the Telecommunications Act 2023, marking a significant milestone in the regulation of telecommunications networks across both public and private properties. The primary objective of these rules is to streamline procedures for establishing and maintaining telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring efficient deployment while addressing crucial concerns related to public safety, property rights, and operational standards. These draft rules are currently open for public consultation, reflecting the government’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity in policy-making.
The Draft RoW Rules in India are comprehensive, comprising seven chapters outlining detailed guidelines for overground and underground telecommunications networks. These guidelines cover many aspects, from application processes to maintenance protocols. The rules define their applicability to public and private properties, specifying the procedures required for network establishment. Emphasising adherence to safety standards and regulatory approvals, the rules aim to ensure telecommunications infrastructure’s structural integrity and safety throughout its lifecycle.
The draft mandates that facility providers submit detailed applications through a designated online portal for public properties. These applications must include technical designs, safety certifications, and mitigation plans to address potential public inconvenience. Underground infrastructure regulations are tailored to minimise environmental impact and operational disruptions during installation and maintenance.
The draft also specifies post-RoW obligations for facility providers, which include compliance with permission conditions, ongoing public safety measures, and real-time information sharing on network status. In the case of private properties, the rules mandate mutual consent agreements for network deployment, detailing terms for entry, compensation for property use, and responsibilities for damage restoration.
Germany has finalised a significant agreement with telecom providers to exclude Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE from its 5G network by 2029, announced Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. The decision, hailed as crucial for digital security in Europe’s largest economy, follows intensive negotiations with Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefonica Deutschland. The aim is to safeguard Germany’s critical infrastructure from potential security risks associated with Chinese technology.
Faeser emphasised that Berlin informed Beijing about the agreement and did not anticipate retaliatory actions despite China’s embassy warning Germany of the consequences. The embassy criticised the move as an attempt to stifle competition, asserting that no conclusive evidence has been provided by any country regarding Huawei’s security risks.
The phased-out approach, initially removing Chinese technology from 5G core networks by 2026 and extending to components like antennas by 2029, marks Germany’s delayed adherence to the EU security measures. While telecom operators have resisted the costly transition, Huawei has condemned the politicisation of cybersecurity in Germany. The minister did not disclose further details of the agreement.
According to Cloudflare analysts, European football fans watching the UEFA European Championship are causing noticeable changes in internet traffic within their countries. The most significant impact on internet usage was observed during the semi-finals, as fans tuned in to watch key matches. Cloudflare’s analysis, which began on 14 June and will continue until the final on 14 July between Spain and England, highlights how major sporting events broadcast on national TV can influence internet traffic patterns across Europe.
Cloudflare noted that traffic drops were particularly pronounced during critical moments of the matches, such as last-minute goals and penalty shootouts, with Spain and England experiencing significant reductions during the knockout stages. For instance, internet traffic in Spain decreased by 19% at the end of games, while England saw an 11% drop. Other countries, including the Netherlands and France, experienced the largest drops in the first half of the finals, with overall average declines of around 6% across participating nations.
Interestingly, while most nations saw reduced internet usage, some, like Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Albania, experienced increases, likely due to unstable broadcast signals pushing fans online to watch the games. Despite the popularity of online services for live scores, sports news, and betting, national team football still needs to catch up on regular internet activities. Cloudflare, headquartered in San Francisco, emphasises that understanding these trends can help protect against cyber threats and maintain website availability globally.
Sri Lanka’s parliament amended an old law to permit Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite branch of SpaceX, to commence operations in the country. The original law did not permit satellite internet service providers to operate in the country, and according to a parliamentary statement, it is the first amendment made to the telecommunications law in 28 years.
Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath, explained how the new telecommunications bill will create a license category allowing Starlink to apply as a service provider in Sri Lanka. The amendments will effectively introduce three new types of licences, one of which will enable Starlink to enter Sri Lanka’s telecoms market as a licensed service provider, pending approval from the telecoms regulator. Herath stated that Starlink had proposed setting up operations in Sri Lanka way back in March, and the country granted preliminary approval in June after expediting the process.
The minister also emphasised, ‘This opportunity is not just for Starlink but any other company that wants to invest in Sri Lanka’. Explaining their rationale, Herath explained that ‘We plan to grow the IT sector to a $15 billion industry by 2030. So we must attract international companies to provide internet, especially to rural areas.’
Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai visited Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen to explore surveillance technology aimed at enhancing policing and reducing criminal activity, his office announced on Tuesday. The visit is part of Salwai’s trip to China before attending a Pacific Island leaders meeting in Japan next week.
China is Vanuatu’s largest external creditor and a major provider of infrastructure. Australia, Vanuatu’s biggest aid donor and policing partner, has expressed concerns about China’s expanding security influence in the Pacific Islands, especially after a policing equipment deal with Vanuatu and a security pact with the Solomon Islands.
Huawei has supplied digital systems to cities like Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital, to help lower crime rates. However, Vanuatu’s police currently use something other than Huawei’s surveillance system despite the need for a data centre to support such technology. Australia has banned Huawei from its 5G network on national security grounds and has funded subsea telecommunications cables in the Pacific Islands to counter Huawei’s influence, a move Beijing has criticised as discriminatory.
Realme has unveiled plans to integrate Sony’s cutting-edge LYT-701 camera sensor into its upcoming 5G smartphone, marking a significant leap into AI-enhanced imaging technology. The announcement, made at a pre-launch event in Bangkok, underscores Realme’s strategic partnership with Sony to elevate mobile photography capabilities.
Francis Wong, Head of Product Marketing at Realme, highlighted the shift from traditional hardware-centric advancements to AI-driven innovations in mobile photography. He emphasised that while past improvements focused on megapixels and sensor sizes, future progress hinges on AI to redefine the mobile imaging experience.
The Realme 13 Pro Series 5G will feature the HYPERIMAGE+ technology, integrating multiple lenses and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera powered by Sony’s LYT-600 sensor. This setup promises to deliver superior image quality and unprecedented flexibility for users capturing diverse scenes.
The collaboration aims not only to advance technological capabilities but also to democratise advanced imaging tools, enabling users worldwide to capture and share their experiences in unprecedented detail. Realme plans to announce the official launch dates for the device in India and other markets soon.
Why does it matter?
The IATSE’s tentative agreement represents a significant step forward in securing fair wages and job protections for Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes workers, ensuring that the rapid advancements in technology do not come at the expense of human employment.
Ericsson has unveiled an ambitious plan to drive digital transformation in Thailand, leveraging its state-of-the-art 5G network solutions and extensive global expertise. At the heart of this initiative is the newly established 5G Innovation and Experience Studio at Thailand Digital Valley, developed in collaboration with the Royal Thai Government and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). The studio is a hub for co-creating and testing innovative 5G solutions. It showcases several innovative 5G applications, including Automated Mobile Robots (AMR), an Automated Production Machine developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi, and 360-degree wearable CCTV cameras.
Ericsson Thailand is committed to fostering collaboration with key stakeholders in the ecosystem, including partners, end-users, academia, and others. By working together, the company aims to develop new 5G use cases to drive digital transformation and benefit the Thai people, economy, and country. Anders Rian, President of Ericsson Thailand, emphasises, ‘5G is a platform for innovation. It enables new services for consumers, enterprises, and industry. We remain committed to fostering partnerships and innovations to ensure Thailand reaps the full benefits of a robust and sustainable 5G network.’
The initiative aligns with Ericsson’s global leadership in 5G networks, powering 162 networks in 69 countries. According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, 5G subscriptions in Southeast Asia and Oceania are forecasted to reach 560 million by 2029, driven by increased affordability of devices and expanded service offerings.
Telecom Egypt has partnered with Hungarian telecom firm 4iG Group to form a joint venture to build, operate, and commercialise fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and fibre-to-the-site (FTTS) access infrastructure wholesale across Egypt. The two companies have agreed on the ambitious project’s business model, ownership structure, governance processes, and technological specifications. This ambitious project will see a combined investment of $600 million over the next ten years to provide high-speed internet to at least six million households.
This initiative aligns with Egypt’s Digital Egypt and Vision 2030 strategies. As a result, the agreement was signed in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr Amr Talaat.
Moreover, the FTTS component of the network will enhance the capacity of Egypt’s mobile network, facilitating a faster rollout of 5G technology. This infrastructure will also support other next-generation services, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and enterprise networks. Mohamed Nasr, managing director and CEO of Telecom Egypt, highlighted the project’s potential to deliver unparalleled performance and future-proof connectivity, reinforcing Telecom Egypt’s leadership in the ICT sector.
