Swedish sovereign AI supercomputer Sferical One launches formally
SWEDEN 10:18

Swedish sovereign AI supercomputer Sferical One launches formally

Ericsson says the formal launch of the 'Sferical AI' project's sovereign artificial supercomputer, Sferical One, took place on 15 October. The system has been running since late summer. Ericsson is a founding member of Sferical AI alongside AstraZeneca, Saab, SEB and Wallenberg Investments, with SKF as a strategic partner.

Canal Plus promotes new special offer in France with ad campaign
FRANCE 10:14

Canal Plus promotes new special offer in France with ad campaign

French pay-TV operator Canal Plus announced the launch of an advertising campaign to promote its new 'Cine Series' content bundle, available as a special offer until 09 November. The monthly rate for the package is discounted to EUR 29.99 during the first year and rises to EUR 34.99 after this promotional period, subject to a 24-month contract commitment. Access on two screens simultaneously is among the key benefits, alongside UHD HDR video quality and Dolby Atmos sound. The subscription combines access to

Apax buys out partner Warburg Pincus in Dutch operator Odido
NETHERLANDS 10:13

Apax buys out partner Warburg Pincus in Dutch operator Odido

Private equity group Apax has agreed to buy out its co-shareholder Warburg Pincus in the Dutch telecom operator Odido. They bought the former T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom in 2022. The takeover follows stalled plans for an IPO of Odido. No financial details of the acquisition were disclosed, and completion of the deal still depends on regulatory and other approvals. Apax said it's committed for the long term to Odido, and will continue to invest in the network, customer experience and digital inclusion pro

Spain's Solaria to help build Uruguayan 500 MW data centre campus
URUGUAY 10:11

Spain's Solaria to help build Uruguayan 500 MW data centre campus

Spanish renewable energy and data centre infrastructure company Solaria has reached an agreement with Uruguyan state-owned utility Usinas y Transmisiones Eléctricas (UTE) for the development of a data centre technology campus of up to 500 MW, powered by up to 350 MW of solar photovoltaic generation capacity, under a free trade zone regime. Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi announced the project at an event in Montevideo, describing the total investment of USD 5.7 billion as the largest in the country's histo

Glesys sells Stockholm Internet eXchange to KPN subsidiary NL-ix
SWEDEN 09:59

Glesys sells Stockholm Internet eXchange to KPN subsidiary NL-ix

Glesys has announced the sale of Stockholm Internet eXchange (STHIX) to European internet exchange point (IXP) operator NL-ix, a wholly owned subsidiary of KPN. No financial details were given. The divestment allows Glesys to focus on its core Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) business. Glesys will remain a STHIX customer and infrastructure partner.

5 launches new training scheme; Chief Content Officer steps down
UNITED KINGDOM 09:56

5 launches new training scheme; Chief Content Officer steps down

​Skydance-owned UK public service broadcaster 5 has teamed with independent production company Brinkworth to launch a new unscripted TV production training programme. The new 3-year programme will support a total of 12 production trainees, at a rate of two trainees every six months. It will open in early-October 2026 from a new Brinkworth base in Bristol (Brinkworth West).

ATIS inks MoU with 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation
NORTH AMERICA 09:30

ATIS inks MoU with 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation

North American standards body ATIS has inked an agreement with the 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA). Their memorandum of understanding (MoU) envisions cooperation in their respective domains. The partners hope to contribute to the fruition of a globalised ecosystem in industrial wireless communications, with an emphasis on industrial 5G. ATIS's participation is through its subsidiary initiative Next G Alliance (NGA), which aims to shape North America's role in cellular innovatio

Millicom to invest USD 2.7 bln in Tigo Colombia
COLOMBIA 09:28

Millicom to invest USD 2.7 bln in Tigo Colombia

Millicom Colombia, owner of the Tigo and Movistar brands, plans to invest COP 8.5 trillion (USD 2.7 billion) in Colombia over the next four years, with most of the spending directed at expanding fibre and 5G networks and migrating the Movistar brand to Tigo. The commitment follows Millicom's completion this year of its acquisition of Coltel (operating under the brand name Movistar Colombia) from the Colombian government earlier this year a few months after purchasing a majority stake in the operator from Te

Airtel Money Kenya and ChildFund provide KES 13 mln for deaf school upgrade
KENYA 09:24

Airtel Money Kenya and ChildFund provide KES 13 mln for deaf school upgrade

Airtel Money Kenya, operating through the Airtel Africa Foundation, has partnered with international child development organisation ChildFund Kenya to launch a KES 12.7 million infrastructure upgrade for the Garissa School for the Deaf.  Airtel Money Kenya acting MD Bonke Michael said the project aims to support every child to realise their potential.

Connexin raises GBP 35 million to expand UK water meter network
UNITED KINGDOM 09:20

Connexin raises GBP 35 million to expand UK water meter network

Connexin, Hull, UK-based smart technology and telecoms provider, has secured a financing package worth up to GBP 35 million to support the expansion of its smart water meter network in the UK. This includes a GBP 10 million facility from Santander UK, a GBP 5 million revolving trade facility, a GBP 10 million accordion facility, and GBP 10 million of funding from funds managed by Patrizia. 

Ericsson, Verizon complete pre-6G call to assess 7 GHz penetration and coverage
UNITED STATES 09:16

Ericsson, Verizon complete pre-6G call to assess 7 GHz penetration and coverage

Ericsson has completed a pre-standardisation 6G field trial in partnership with Verizon, with the aim of validating transmitter reach and indoor penetration in the 7 GHz centimetre band. 7 GHz is high on the list of candidates for 6G standardisation as it could deliver on the twin objective of adding bandwidth and wide-area coverage to rollouts.

Arcep refines cost model to secure economic viability of public-initiative networks
FRANCE 09:14

Arcep refines cost model to secure economic viability of public-initiative networks

French telecom authority Arcep has published an updated version of its cost reference model for maintaining public-initiative networks in operational condition. A new consultation has been launched to gather feedback on the document. Stakeholders are also invited to comment on a set of guidelines detailing how public initiative networks can recover their operational and maintenance costs from ISPs accessing the fibre infrastructure. This follows two previous consultations carried out by Arcep on the cost mo

MALAWI 09:09

TNM provides MWK 10 mln towards sports writers' association AGM

Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM) has contributed MWK 10 million to support the Sports Writers Association of Malawi (SWAM) annual general meeting from 13-15 November in Salima. TNM chief commercial officer Amon Jere said this reflects the operator's commitment to sports journalism. He also announced plans to introduce media awards and establish a regional media club to enhance professional development, technical proficiency and reporting standards.

BELGIUM 09:07

Belgian cybersecurity centre receives more incident reports in first 9 months than all of 2025

Belgium's national cybersecurity centre said it has received more notifications of major security incidents in the first nine months of this year than in all of 2025, at 588 compared to 556 last year. In its Q3 report, the CCB called on organisations to strengthen their basic security practices. Compromised systems is the most common type of incident reported this year, with three times as many reports in Q3 as in Q2. Vulnerabilities in popular software programmes and incidents with suppliers are affecting

GLOBAL 09:07

Dazn signs global broadcasting deal with Guardians League

Global sports streaming platform Dazn has signed a multi-year worldwide free-to-view broadcast agreement with Guardians League, professional franchise surf racing series. The agreement starts with the inaugural Guardians League Oceania Tour in November/December 2027 - with the series available to watch on Dazn worldwide, excluding China, New Zealand and Australia. It will continue into 2028 as the league expands in the US and Americas.

NAMIBIA 09:03

NAM-CSIRT runs cybersecurity masterclass

The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT), which comes under the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), has hosted a masterclass in cyber incident handling, response and crisis communication. It was held in observance of cybersecurity awareness month and brought together system administrators, information security officers, corporate communication practitioners and representatives of public and private sector institutions.

KUWAIT 08:59

Arqiva provides managed uplink service to Gulfsat

UK-based Arqiva has signed a 3-year managed services contract with Gulfsat, Kuwait-based communications company and regional satellite operator. The contract will see Arqiva provide a managed end-to-end uplink service service combining global fibre connectivity, and the uplink of four Ku-band transponders from Arqiva teleports in Crawley and Chalfont in the UK to the Eutelsat 8WB satellite. 

MALDIVES 08:59

Ooredoo Maldives launches Masjidhuna Project to maintain mosques

Ooredoo Maldives has signed a memorandum of understanding with the ministry of Islamic affairs and endowments to strengthen cooperation in maintaining, renovating, and upgrading mosques across the Maldives through the Masjidhuna Project.

EASTERN EUROPE 08:57

A1 Group accelerates European ICT expansion

A1 Group is scaling its ICT operations across Europe, placing cloud services and artificial intelligence at the centrepiece of its enterprise strategy. Announced during the A1 Group ICT Summit 2026 in Vienna, the telecommunications group reported that its gross ICT revenues expanded from EUR 285 million in 2021 to EUR 573 million in 2025, reflecting a 19 percent compound annual growth rate.

AUSTRIA 08:55

Austrian operators launch API security service against online fraud

Austrian operators A1, Magenta Telekom and Hutchison Drei are introducing a new Application Programmable Interface (API) security service to protect customers from fraud online. They will work towards building a digital ecosystem based on Number Verification, Swap and KYC Match to verify users' identities when logging in, or carrying out transactions via mobile devices.

IRAQ 08:54

Iraq sets 2-year schedule to re-register Sims under new ID rules

Iraq's Communications and Media Commission (CM) has introduced mandatory electronic identity checks for all mobile Sim cards, giving operators 720 days to re-register existing subscribers. The regulations establish fines of up to IQD 3 million for each noncompliant card.Approved under Board of Commissioners Decision No. 116 on 29 September, the rules take effect 90 days following their approval and publication on the commission's website. CMC chief executive Baligh Abu Kalal noted that the initiative is des

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 08:49

Indotel handed DOP 44 mln to plan frequencies

Dominican telecommunications regulator Indotel said it will receive DOP 44 million (USD 720,000) from Swedfund, Sweden's development finance institution, to finance technical assistance for radio-frequency planning and satellite service regulation. The grant agreement was signed on 30 June and presented in Santo Domingo on 15 October.

MADAGASCAR 08:36

Madagascar and Orange partner to boost digital skills and vocational training

Madagascar's ministry of technical education and vocational training has signed a partnership with Orange Madagascar to advance digital skills development and align vocational education with labour market demands. Under the agreement, the two entities will collaborate on modernizing training frameworks and creating clearer career pathways in digital technologies. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by ensuring curricula reflect the evolving needs of employers, while expand

PORTUGAL 08:35

Vodafone Portugal challenges order to remove Huawei equipment

Vodafone Portugal CEO Luis Lopes has publicly contested regulatory directives mandating the complete removal of Huawei equipment from its WDM transmission network, Jornal Economico reported. Speaking at a meeting with journalists at the Vodafone head office in Lisbon, Lopes argued that the measures are disproportionate, noting that "not all components of the network have the same level of risk" and pointing out that other European nations do not classify optical transmission networks as high cybersecurity r

Just In

10:18

Swedish sovereign AI supercomputer Sferical One launches formally

10:14

Canal Plus promotes new special offer in France with ad campaign

10:13

Apax buys out partner Warburg Pincus in Dutch operator Odido

10:11

Spain's Solaria to help build Uruguayan 500 MW data centre campus

Commentary

24 SEP 13:37

What is KPN's response to the brand expansion at Odido and VodafoneZiggo?

8 SEP 10:16

Odido matches KPN and VodafoneZiggo on cash flow margin, but growth remains limited

11 AUG 10:49

Can Ziggo Group creation improve visibility for the Dutch market?

2 JUL 11:26

Canal Plus misses chance to strengthen Dutch business, time for exit?

Background

11 OKT 23:39

The week in telecom: DT puts a figure on telco AI potential, SpaceX threatens mobile launch and Paramount seals WBD deal

4 OKT 23:20

The week in telecom: FTTH sparks UK competition, AI coming to telco bundles and Samsung raises prices

3 OKT 18:20

Belgian Weekly - Week 40

3 OKT 18:04

German Weekly - 40