Italian retail sales rise 0.2% in May
ITALY 14:43

Italian retail sales rise 0.2% in May

Italy's retail sales rose by 0.2 percent in value in May and by 0.1 percent in volume compared to April, according to the latest preliminary data from national statistics office Istat. All non-food product groups increased, with the exception of durable and non-durable household items (-0.2%), and growth was led by electrical household appliances and audio-video equipment (+4.9%).

RTL Deutschland names EVP Technology following merger with Sky
GERMANY 14:42

RTL Deutschland names EVP Technology following merger with Sky

RTL Deutschland has appointed Patrick Sturm as Executive Vice President Technology, leading a new unit focusing on technology created after the merger with Sky Deutschland. Sturm previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Sky Deutschland, where he played a pivotal role in driving the transformation of customer platforms, RTL said. He will report directly to Andreas Fischer, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of RTL Deutschland.

Microsoft defends EU tax planning after NYT report
EUROPE 14:19

Microsoft defends EU tax planning after NYT report

Microsoft has issued a statement defending its record on paying corporate tax after a report in the New York Times put a spotlight on the IT giant's international tax planning. The US-based company has issued its first country-by-country report under new EU rules requiring large companies to disclose how much tax they paid in each country of the bloc. This report shows a disproportionate amount of MIcrosoft's tax base located in jurisdictions with low corporate income tax rates, the newspaper found.  

E& teams up with Lenovo Connect on connected vehicle and IoT services
MIDDLE EAST 13:59

E& teams up with Lenovo Connect on connected vehicle and IoT services

E& Carrier & Wholesale Services (C&WS) signed a partnership with Lenovo Connect to deliver advanced IoT and connected vehicle services across the GCC and global markets. The collaboration combines E&'s international network, 5G capabilities, and regulatory expertise with Lenovo Connect's technology stack. Together, they will provide secure connectivity for electric vehicles, connected cars, and other mobility modes. This collaboration strengthens E& C&WS's position as a global connectivity leader while enab

Infobip rolls out AI fan companion for international football
GLOBAL 13:53

Infobip rolls out AI fan companion for international football

Cloud communications platform Infobip has introduced PitchMate, an AI-driven conversational assistant designed to bring football enthusiasts closer to the drama of the World Cup football tournament. Engineered for a global audience, PitchMate joins the TGR Haas F1 Team RaceMate, Infobip's motorsport fan engagement tool, in showcasing how conversational AI is revolutionising the sports fan experience worldwide. PitchMate acts as a personalised AI companion that delivers tournament updates directly to footbal

Play halves smartphone prices in porting promo
POLAND 13:50

Play halves smartphone prices in porting promo

Polish operator Play, controlled by Iliad, has introduced a promotion to customers connecting to its offer L and HomeBox over mobile number porting, offering selected smartphones at a 50 percent discount. The Samsung Galaxy S25 5G is reduced to PLN 1,299 from PLN 2,599, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G is available for PLN 899 instead of PLN 1,799, and the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion 5G costs PLN 599 instead of PLN 1,199.

T-Mobile Czechia awards grants to 10 projects working on children's mental health
CZECH REPUBLIC 13:49

T-Mobile Czechia awards grants to 10 projects working on children's mental health

T-Mobile Czech Republic has picked ten projects for support under its grant call on children's mental health. The call was announced by T-Mobile in cooperation with the NGOs Nevypust Dusi and the Via Foundation and awards subsidies totaling CZK 1.5 million. A total 175 applications were submitted under the call. Organisations, associations and informal groups from all regions of the Czech Republic, except Prague, were eligible to apply for financial support.

BWS IoT and Links Field launch eSIM SGP.32 tracker
BRAZIL 13:46

BWS IoT and Links Field launch eSIM SGP.32 tracker

Brazilian tracking technology firm BWS IoT and IoT connectivity provider Links Field have partnered to launch the first BWS tracker equipped with eSIM SGP.32 technology. This integration delivers streamlined global connectivity, reduced operational costs, and enhanced security, establishing a new benchmark for the transport, logistics, and asset security sectors. The key features of the BWS 4G tracker include signal jamming detection, driver behaviour monitoring, IP67 protection, OTA updates, and low power

FiberCop wins uncontested tender for Italian fibre funding
ITALY 13:44

FiberCop wins uncontested tender for Italian fibre funding

Italian wholesale fibre provider FiberCop said it won a contract to provide connectivity for 477,000 addresses across Italy. FiberCop was the sole bidder for the tender, awarded by the recently-launched National Connectivity Fund. It said capex is expected at maximum EUR 300 million net of grants and maintained its existing investment guidance.

Uzbekistan opens new AI cluster at Tashkent IT university
UZBEKISTAN 13:42

Uzbekistan opens new AI cluster at Tashkent IT university

Uzbekistan has launched a new artificial intelligence cluster at Tashkent University of Information Technologies, reports Trend from a statement by the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan. The AI cluster is designed to integrate education, scientific research and innovation projects into a single platform. As part of the initiative, the university received a modern GPU cluster and high-performance multifunctional servers to support the development of AI models, large-scale data processing, machin

Saudi's OmniOps partners with Newroz Telecom to launch Kurdish AI
IRAQ 13:41

Saudi's OmniOps partners with Newroz Telecom to launch Kurdish AI

OmniOps and Newroz Telecom announced a partnership to launch KI, the first Kurdish conversational AI platform. The platform is powered by Bunyan, OmniOps's advanced AI inferencing platform, and is deployed on-premises within Newroz Telecom's secure infrastructure in Kurdistan. The arrangement ensures robust local data control, enhanced service reliability, and strict regulatory compliance, while accelerating the adoption of sovereign AI capabilities across the region, the partners said.

Brazil looks to revise mobile spectrum caps
BRAZIL 13:38

Brazil looks to revise mobile spectrum caps

Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) approved a 45-day public consultation period for a proposal to update Resolution No. 703 from November 2018. This regulation dictates the maximum amount of radio spectrum a single economic group can hold. The proposed update reorganises radio frequency bands into three distinct categories: below 1 GHz, between 1 GHz and 3 GHz and between 3 GHz and 7.125 GHz. The draft establishes an initial cap of 30 percent per economic group within each segment, whilst

AZERBAIJAN 13:25

Azerbaijan carrier Azal cleared to provide internet services onboard with Viasat

Azerbaijan's State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control has cleared Azerbaijan Airlines (Azal) to provide internet services for passengers on new-generation aircraft, Report.az writes. The decision was made following an investigation conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Code, which provide for oversight of certain actions by natural monopolies. The new service will provide internet access via Viasat satellite communications technology.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 13:23

Bosnia and Herzegovina earmarks BAM 6 million for public broadcaster

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the proposal of the Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Forte, has allocated an additional BAM 6 million for public broadcaster BHRT. Minister Forto emphasised that this is the largest financial support to the public broadcaster in its history through funds from the regulatory agency. The latest financing follows the awarding of BAM 4 million for BHRT in 2024.

SOUTH AFRICA 13:21

Tarsus Distribution CEO resigns

Tarsus Distribution announced that CEO Emile Burger will step down after a successful period, having served as CEO and previously as CFO. In a statement, the company says his decision, rooted in personal choice, comes at a time when the firm is experiencing excellent performance and growth. The board has initiated a planned transition, with Emmanouil Revmatas stepping in as interim CEO, supported by Burger during his notice period. The board said it will conduct a search for a permanent successor who can co

KAZAKHSTAN 13:19

Freedom provides free internet from Starlink at traditional Qymyzmuryndyq festival

Kazakhstan operator Freedom Satellite announced that it provided free internet services from Starlink to participants of the traditional Qymyzmuryndyq festival. This year, the festival spread across 1,200 hectares in the Kegen region and brought together around 35,000 guests.

UKRAINE 13:18

Kyivstar triples 5G testing area in Kharkiv

Ukrainian operator Kyivstar, a subsidiary of Veon Group, has tripled its 5G testing area in the city of Kharkiv. More than 121,000 customers have already used 5G services in the city since the launch of the pilot 5G area earlier this February.Kyivstar also runs pilot 5G areas in the city of Lviv and the town of Borodyanka in the Kiev region.

BRAZIL 13:17

Claro Brasil swaps coverage fine for public education contract

The Board of Directors of Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) approved a proposal by Commissioner Alexandre Freire to reject an administrative appeal filed by Claro regarding its failure to meet 4G coverage requirements. Instead of issuing a financial penalty, the board applied an "Obligation to Do" sanction (OdF). This requires the operator to provide connectivity for public higher education institutions and federal institutes on the National Education and Research Network (RNP). The proje

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 13:15

Russian smartphone market contracts 8% in H1

Russian smartphone sales totaled 12 million units in the first six months of this year, down by 7.8 percent year-on-year, reports Kommersant citing data from the mobile and electronics retail chain M.Video. Revenues contracted to over RUB 260 billion, down by 5.9 percent. The average retail price of a device was RUB 21,900, up by 2 percent.  

POLAND 13:08

Plus launches new line of roaming packs

Polish operator Polkomtel, trading under the Plus brand, has introduced a new line of roaming packages. Available for both postpaid and prepaid customers they include the European bundle with 10 GB for PLN 30 and four Global bundles: 1 GB for PLN 35, 3 GB for PLN 90, 5 GB + 30 minutes and 30 SMS for PLN 130, and 10 GB + 60 minutes and 60 SMS for PLN 200.

NETHERLANDS 13:06

Techone acquires Worxspace in Rotterdam

Techone announced the acquisition of Worxspace in Rotterdam. The managed services provider supports organisations with the development and management of secure digital work environments. The takeover helps Techone expand its footprint in the Randstad.

NETHERLANDS 13:01

KPN expands technical support contract with Future Connections

KPN has extended a contract with Future Connections for field engineering and technical support for five years. The contract also moves beyond the south of the Netherlands to cover the entire country. The companies work together since 2018, with Future Connections' unit Managed Telco Services helping serve KPN's consumer and small business customers. 

SENEGAL 13:01

Orange Digital Centre Senegal celebrates 230 coding school graduates

Senegalese operator Sonatel has celebrated the graduation of 230 young people from the seventh cohort of the Orange Digital Center's Ecole du Code in Dakar. The scheme provides young people with digital skills that will boost their employability and should drive Senegal's digital transformation. Since its creation, the Orange Digital Centre has trained more than 60,000 beneficiaries in Senegal.

SAUDI ARABIA 12:19

Salam Telecom opens research and innovation centre in Al-Ahsa to train young people

Saudi operator Etihad Salam Telecom Company (Salam) has opened a second research and technical innovation centre in Al-Ahsa as it aims to support young people and advance technical education in the country. The new centre aims to foster a culture of innovation and provide practical education aligned with current labour market demands. Al-Ahsa was selected because of the presence of the Girls' Technical College, aligning with Salam's commitment to encouraging Saudi women in technical and digital sectors.

Just In

14:43

Italian retail sales rise 0.2% in May

14:42

RTL Deutschland names EVP Technology following merger with Sky

14:19

Microsoft defends EU tax planning after NYT report

13:59

E& teams up with Lenovo Connect on connected vehicle and IoT services

Commentary

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Background

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TP:Talks - Billogram cuts customer service billing tickets by 40 percent with automated invoicing

28 JUN 23:51

The week in telecoms: Apple raises prices, Qualcomm tries server market and Jio going public

21 JUN 22:52

The week in telecom: sovereignty debate comes to VivaTech, Ericsson succession and Fox buys Roku

1 JUN 00:13

The week in telecom: EU telcos push sovereign services as governments question foreign tech investors