EU launches EUR 307 mln artificial intelligence calls
EUROPE 14:01

EU launches EUR 307 mln artificial intelligence calls

The European Commission has announced the launch of two new calls worth a total of EUR 307.3 million under the Horizon Europe programme's "Digital, Industry and Space" cluster to boost Europe's digital innovation and competitiveness. The initiative aims to advance the development of trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI), data services and technologies that underpin the EU's strategic autonomy in the digital field, said the EC.

Hayo enhances National Mobile Registry platform to curb SIM swaps
AFRICA 13:56

Hayo enhances National Mobile Registry platform to curb SIM swaps

Hayo has enhanced its National Mobile Registry (NMR) platform to help governments and mobile operators combat the rise in SIM swap fraud and mobile theft. The new platform modules provide authorities with more control over mobile identities and device activity, enabling the detection and prevention of attacks that threaten citizens, national revenues and digital trust. The updated NMR includes advanced detection capabilities that identify abnormal SIM or port-out activity within milliseconds, enabling autho

MediaTek updates flagship range with Dimensity 9500s, 8500 chips
GLOBAL 13:55

MediaTek updates flagship range with Dimensity 9500s, 8500 chips

MediaTek is expanding its range of processors for flagship-class smartphones with the new Dimensity 9500s and Dimensity 8500 chips. These products focus on delivering outstanding performance, efficiency, AI, imaging, gaming and wireless connectivity for the latest generation of premium phones. No word was provided on the customers for the new processors. 

Zain selects six Kuwaiti graduates for 'Gen Z' training scheme
KUWAIT 13:48

Zain selects six Kuwaiti graduates for 'Gen Z' training scheme

Zain Group has selected six talented Kuwaiti nationals to participate in the eleventh Generation Z (Gen Z) internal graduate training programme. The intensive year-long undertaking will offer participants exposure to AI tools, Big Data and analytics platforms. They will be encouraged to develop creative and systems thinking capabilities, enabling broader, more strategic approaches to problem solving as well as leadership and social influence skills.

MTN Ghana deploys AI to detect and block fraudulent mobile money messages
GHANA 13:41

MTN Ghana deploys AI to detect and block fraudulent mobile money messages

MTN Ghana has deployed artificial intelligence to curb mobile money fraud, blocking fake transaction messages before they reach customers. Senior manager for fintech Abdul-Majeed Rufai said the system uses advanced algorithms to detect and stop messages that attempt to mimic official MoMo alerts. He explained that even altered message headers, formats or deliberate spelling errors often used by fraudsters to bypass security are flagged by MTN's AI and machine learning tools.

Telefonica adds basketball and movie channels to satellite TV service
SPAIN 13:26

Telefonica adds basketball and movie channels to satellite TV service

Telefonica Spain is adding three basketball-focused channels and two movie ones to the satellite TV offer of its Movistar Plus+ service, available in SD via the Astra 1N satellite. They include Dazn Basketball, Basketball 1 and Basketball 3, part of the operator's deal with the sports streamer and featuring live games from Spain's ACB league and the Euroleague tournament.

Globacom offers 'Travel Saga' role-playing game
NIGERIA 13:26

Globacom offers 'Travel Saga' role-playing game

Nigerian operator Globacom has announced the launch of a premium gaming service called Travel Saga, exclusively to subscribers on the Glo network. The role-playing adventure game has been fully optimised for mobile access and provides console-style play on data-enabled handsets. Travel Saga involves fast-paced virtual journeys across iconic locations around the world.

Broadband Forum updates CPE model for improved power management and energy savings
GLOBAL 13:22

Broadband Forum updates CPE model for improved power management and energy savings

The Broadband Forum has updated its specifications for customer premises equipment in an effort to reduce power consumption by the devices. The latest TR-181 update introduces new power management capabilities that allow for automatic shutdown of ports, radio or other networking functions when not in use on the routers and set-top boxes, resulting in significant energy savings.

Telia mobile network comes top of Umlaut's Swedish benchmark test for 2025
SWEDEN 13:14

Telia mobile network comes top of Umlaut's Swedish benchmark test for 2025

Telia said it achieved the highest overall score in Umlaut's 2025 benchmark test for Swedish mobile networks and won in every category. This was the sixth year in a row that it came out top, it said. For 2025, Telia's mobile network scored 970 points of a possible 1,000.

Claro Sports, Prisa Media ink LatAm content deal
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 12:49

Claro Sports, Prisa Media ink LatAm content deal

America Movil's Claro Sports has launched a partnership with Spain's Prisa Media to co-produce and distribute sports content across multiple platforms in Mexico and Latin America. The collaboration brings together Prisa's sports daily AS and radio network W Deportes with Claro Sports to offer programming on streaming services, television and social media aimed at expanding their combined audience footprint in the Americas.

X blocks Grok from creating sexual images as UK, California launch investigations
GLOBAL 12:47

X blocks Grok from creating sexual images as UK, California launch investigations

X has taken action to stop the Grok AI tool from being able to edit photos of real people in revealing clothing. In a statement on X, the company said it was committed to making the platform save for everybody and had a zero-tolerance approach to child sexual exploitation, unwanted sexual content and non-consensual nudity. The comes after the UK government threatened to block X from operating in the UK over the feature, with regulator Ofcom opening an investigation into the company.

CommScope scraps North Carolina expansion, blaming BEAD delays and Amphenol sale
UNITED STATES 12:41

CommScope scraps North Carolina expansion, blaming BEAD delays and Amphenol sale

CommScope has decided to discontinue a USD 60 million plan to expand its fibre-optic manufacturing in the North Carolina town of Catawba, the Charlotte Observer has reported. The company blamed financial uncertainty caused by delays in funding under the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) programme. The recent sale of its Connectivity and Cable Solutions (CCS) unit to Amphenol also makes planning more difficult, it said. The rest of CommScope has now formally been rebranded as Vistance Net

UNITED KINGDOM 12:27

Barb data shows more Brits now watch YouTube than BBC

The latest data from TV ratings agency Barb shows that YouTube has overtaken the BBC for the first time in the UK, reports The Telegraph newspaper. The data shows that 51.93 million Brits watched YouTube in December, compared to 50.85 million people watching the BBC. YouTube also out-performed the BBC in October and November 2025, with the online video platform now attracting a higher number of viewers than all BBC channels together (BBC 1, BBC 2, BBC 3 and BBC 4).

UNITED KINGDOM 12:01

Hyperoptic appoints customer experience, service directors

UK fibre broadband provider Hyperoptic has boosted its customer experience and service with new senior appointments. Emma Dark has been appointed as Customer Experience and Service Director; with Nemanja Zec appointed as Head of Customer Service. Dark will lead the group's end-to-end customer experience strategy - covering sign-up, installation, service and support. Zec will focus on improving day-to-day service delivery. 

EUROPE 11:54

BT provides easyJet with mobile connectivity across Europe

BT has won a contract to provide UK airline easyJet with thousands of mobile connections across Europe. It will provide 23,000 mobile connections across the EE network to support the airline's operations in 35 countries and more than 150,000 airports across the region. EasyJet will use the EE network to connect various devices, enabling all cabin crew and pilots to access flight information and real-time training.

KENYA 11:52

Airtel Money Kenya plans to offer overdraft service

Airtel Money Kenya has announced plans to launch an overdraft service in the country, letting users complete payments or send money even with low balances, Business Daily reported. This puts Airtel in direct competition with Safaricom's popular Fuliza service. Airtel Kenya said it is in the final stages of setting up the overdraft option.

UGANDA 11:45

Human rights groups criticise Ugandan internet shutdown ahead of 15 January general election

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have called on Ugandan authorities to immediately restore internet access and refrain from blanket shutdowns that undermine fundamental rights and threaten election integrity. On 13 January, the Uganda Communications Commission ordered all mobile network operators and ISPs to suspend public internet access nationwide starting at 18:00 hrs, ahead of the 15 January general elections. The UCC directive cited concerns about online misinformation, electoral frau

GLOBAL 11:45

Teasol introduces TEASOL Exchange at the Netherlands pavilion during MWC Barcelona 2026

Teasol, a deep-tech startup founded in 2025 and headquartered in Eindhoven, aims to solve this long-standing industry challenge with the launch of TEASOL Exchange, a neutral, automated platform for network sharing. The company will debut the solution at the Netherlands pavilion during MWC Barcelona 2026, marking its first public demonstration and the official introduction of Teasol Exchange to a global telecom audience.

UNITED KINGDOM 11:44

Virgin Media O2 reduces customer service call transfers by 1.3 million

Virgin Media O2 saw a 1.3 million reduction in customer service call transfers in 2025 after deploying AI technology and upskilling customer service teams to improve how customer calls are handled. It has improved the automated phone system using AI, simplified team structures, and cross-skilled 5,000 support agents. The 1.3 million reduction in call transfers saved customers 1.45 billion seconds of their time in 2025 - equal to over 24 million minutes or more than 400,000 hours. Meanwhile, Ofcom data shows

UNITED KINGDOM 11:32

Virgin Media O2 activates 5G Standalone network in Gloucester

Virgin Media O2 has activated the O2 5G Standalone network in Gloucester, delivering minimum outdoor coverage of 90 percent across the city. This is part of a nationwide roll-out, with the O2 5G Standalone network now live in over 500 locations across the UK. The launch delivers faster speeds, increased coverage and lower latency for around 138,000 residents across the city. 

ARGENTINA 11:28

Argentina's Telefe launches international production studio

Argentina's leading free-to-air channel Telefe has launched Telefe Studios, a new international business unit aimed at expanding its creative and production capabilities globally. The initiative is designed to strengthen Telefe's presence in the international entertainment industry, combining content development, co-production, distribution and digital innovation under one umbrella.

FRANCE 11:26

Amazon Prime Video adds M6+ to French content catalogue

Amazon Prime Video has expanded its content library in France through a new distribution agreement with local broadcaster M6. Under this latest deal, Prime Video customers will gain direct access to more than 30,000 hours of content on M6+, the broadcaster's streaming platform, along with four linear channels (M6, W9, 6ter and Gulli). Through this partnership, M6 also aims to bolster the activities of its in-house advertising agency, M6 Unlimited.

SWEDEN 11:21

Swish clamps down on misuse

Swedish mobile payment service provider Swish said it is introducing a joint blocking function to prevent fraud. The function enables banks that participate in the Swish system to block abusive users from the entire service, not just from their own bank. The banks and Getswish, the company behind Swish, have agreed common criteria for blocking customer, such as when they are suspected of using Swish for criminal purposes or in a way that poses security risks to other customers, the banks or Getswish.

NORWAY 11:10

TEK Norway opens office to promote use of AI

Norwegian ICT organisation TEK Norway said it has opened a dedicated office for promoting the use of artificial intelligence. It aims to develop targeted programmes with a low entry threshold, high implementation capacity and measurable impact. Its first scheme is 'AI to the Thousand', two-week programme to guide companies from sounding out opportunities to drawing up an action plan.

Just In

14:01

EU launches EUR 307 mln artificial intelligence calls

13:56

Hayo enhances National Mobile Registry platform to curb SIM swaps

13:55

MediaTek updates flagship range with Dimensity 9500s, 8500 chips

13:48

Zain selects six Kuwaiti graduates for 'Gen Z' training scheme

Commentary

2 JAN 13:21

Open Dutch Fiber's new management team takes up turnaround challenge

15 DEC 2025 13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

8 DEC 2025 11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

31 OCT 2025 11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

Background

08:55

Fairphone still a small player but market share growing in Netherlands

12 JAN 00:04

The week in telecoms: CES brings Wi-Fi 8 and more smart glasses, while Warner sticks with Netflix

5 JAN 00:52

The week in telecom: Finnish security check, M&A completions and telco job cuts

23 DEC 2025 10:32

Netherlands TV-video market grows 2.6% in Q3 to EUR 759 mln