ICT to boost air transport efficiency in Middle East

As the air transport industry faces more competitive and financial pressures, ICT is stepping in with technology that can enhance efficiency and, it is hoped, cut costs, as recent deals in the Middle East involving Wipro and SITA indicate.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has selected Wipro Limited, a leading technology services and consulting company, to lead its comprehensive technology modernisation.

Wipro says it will ensure seamless migration of legacy systems and improve operational efficiency across key areas, including workplace, network, infrastructure, and service management.

As part of the five-year contract, Wipro FullStride Cloud will deliver a customised cloud-based solution that will provide Etihad Airways real-time insights into its resource utilisation and improve operational agility and scalability for its global operations.

Wipro will also integrate Gen AI modules across the IT framework – from automation of data centres to conversational support to end users. Gen AI will also provide intelligent device management and insights that will optimise performance and resolve potential disruptions proactively.

Additionally, Etihad Airways will gain access to Wipro’s Innovation Lab in the UAE, which will play a role in enhancing its technology to meet the evolving demands of its global operations.

Meanwhile Bahrain Airport Services (BAS), a leading ground handling service provider, has announced an upgrade to Bahrain International Airport’s ground operations management system through the implementation of the advanced Resource Management System (RMS) by SITA, the air transport industry’s IT provider.

The new system aims to optimise workforce allocation, enhance equipment utilisation, and provide real-time operational insights, thereby improving efficiency and the passenger experience.

SITA says the RMS introduces advanced technologies that enable airport operations teams to manage resources accurately and swiftly, ensuring greater flexibility in addressing the daily operational needs of airlines. It reduces downtime and increases service efficiency, particularly during peak periods.

SITA adds that the system also facilitates effective monitoring of ground equipment usage, extending equipment lifespan while reducing maintenance and energy costs. Additionally, it enables flexible employee scheduling, ensuring optimal coverage during peak times while avoiding overstaffing during quieter periods.

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SoftBank in talks to invest $25bn in OpenAI 


News 

The investment follows a SoftBank taking a $1.5 billion stake in OpenAI last year 

Japanese conglomerate SoftBank reportedly in discussions to invest between $15 billion and $25 billion in OpenAI, according to a recent report from the Financial Times.  

If it goes ahead, the investment will make SoftBank OpenAI’s largest financial backer and would significantly expand the Japanese company’s presence in the AI sector. 

“The talks are ongoing and the amount that SoftBank could invest in primary equity into OpenAI is a moving target,” said an anonymous source. 

In addition to this potential investment in OpenAI, SoftBank has already committed $15 billion to Stargate, recently announced a joint venture between involving Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank.  

The Stargate Project is a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative to build advanced US-based AI data centres. Announced at the White House last week, it aims to invest $500 billion over the next four years to build new AI infrastructure in the US, starting with deploying $100 billion immediately.  

SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son is the chairman of the joint venture.  

This week, competition in the AI landscape has greatly intensified following the launch of Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek. It has quickly positioned itself as a strong competitor to the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, having seemingly trained a comparative AI model at a fraction of the usual cost. As a result, SoftBank’s share price dropped by 8.3%. 

Neither SoftBank nor OpenAI have responded to the news. 

Join us at this year’s Connected America, 11-12 March in Dallas. Get discounted tickets here! 

Also in the news:
EE renews partnership with Home Nations Football Associations and Wembley Stadium
BT welcomes new Business unit CEO as company’s revenue dips
Ooredoo launch GCC’s largest submarine cable connecting seven countries 

Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme announced

The European Commission has announced the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme, an initiative, backed by a €100 million (about US$103.8 million) investment, that, the EU says, forms a critical part of its Global Gateway strategy to deepen space cooperation between the EU and Africa.

The programme will focus on three key priorities. It will advance the green transition by developing space-based services that enhance early warning systems for hazardous weather and climate-related events. 

It will also strengthen institutional collaboration between the EU and African nations to enhance decision-making and improve policy frameworks in the space sector. 

Finally, the programme will strengthen the private sector by enhancing the capabilities of the space industry, driving innovation, and fostering a dynamic space-based data economy to promote sustainable growth across the continent. With this in mind, it will actively engage European private companies in areas such as service provision, capacity building and innovation. 

The Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme leverages European space technologies to support Africa’s sustainable development in sectors like agriculture, climate monitoring, and disaster risk reduction.

It relies on Copernicus, a programme looking at our planet and its environment, for Earth observation, along with Galileo, the EU´s Global Navigation Satellite System, and EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, for improved navigation. It also aims to support Africa’s space ambitions through the African Space Policy and Strategy.

Initiatives like the GMES & Africa (another Earth observation programme) enable access to and utilisation of crucial satellite data to develop applications in the fields of land, water, and natural resources, and marine and coastal areas.

By increasing the uptake of space-based data and fostering institutional and private sector capacity the EC says the programme will empower African countries to monitor environmental changes more effectively and reduce risks from natural disasters through advanced early warning systems.

It will also support sustainable economic growth, including through safer air traffic management enabled by the development of Africa’s satellite navigation system.

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EE renews partnership with Home Nations Football Associations and Wembley Stadium


Press Release

EE will continue to invest in all levels of football across all four Home Nations, with specific focus on growing the women’s game as well as support for England’s para and eLions teams

EE has signed a series of deals to continue as exclusive lead partner of all Home Nations football teams until 2028. The four-year extension will see the EE logo continue to appear on all training kits worn by England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales senior men’s and women’s squads until 2028.

Wembley Stadium will also retain its official title of Wembley Stadium connected by EE. Since the partnership began in 2015, an estimated 15 million fans have benefitted from EE’s purpose-built connectivity, with mobile data usage at the stadium increasing by more than 80 percent in 2024 as more people relied on EE to capture and share some of the most iconic moments in sport and music history.

Having been the first mobile network to bring both 4G and 5G connectivity to Wembley Stadium, the extended deal will see the network’s brand retained across the stadium with a continued commitment to invest in new technology at the venue. The agreement will also see Wembley and EE continue their shared ambition to maintain its status as the best-connected stadium in the world.

Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at EE said: “At EE, we pride ourselves on our longstanding partnerships with the UK’s leading cultural institutions, investing in the things that matter most to our customers.

Since the partnership began, we have worked with the Home Nations football associations to use football as a catalyst for change, addressing important societal issues such as racism, misogyny, homophobia and accessibility in football, while coming up with innovative new ways to encourage different communities to take up the sport.

Football is part of the fabric of our nation, so EE is proud to stand beside all four home nations and Wembley – the home of English football – for the next four years, continuing to invest in the sport at all levels to engage communities across the country.”

EE will continue to support disability football through its title sponsorship of The FA Disability Cup and the England Para Lions. EE will also become a partner of The FA’s eLions – England’s official esports team.

Mark Lynch, Stadium Director at Wembley Stadium connected by EE, said: “We are delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with EE which will ensure Wembley Stadium retains its status as one of the best-connected stadia in the world.

“Over the last ten years EE has continually demonstrated its commitment to invest in developments across the stadium including the 5G network and our two sensory rooms, which are hugely popular with neuro-divergent guests, who might otherwise not be able to attend large-scale events.

“The new agreement will bring more benefits to all our guests over the next four years and enable us to deliver an improved customer experience for all.”

The English FA’s Commercial Director, James Gray, said: “We look forward to continuing our relationship with EE as lead partner for four more years.

“Over the years, we have worked collaboratively with EE across all levels of football, and I am particularly delighted to see an increased investment in our para teams.

“This is great news ahead of an important year which includes our senior women’s team competing at EURO 2025 and the men’s team starting their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign under new head coach Thomas Tuchel.”

EE’s partnership will be activated across Wembley and St. George’s Park, The English FA’s national football centre, and will allow the company to continue its work supporting grassroots football with initiatives such as EE Playmaker, England Football’s free online entry-level coaching course.

Scottish Football Marketing Commercial Director Brendan Napier: “Our partnership with EE over the past four years has been incredibly beneficial, coinciding with back-to-back EURO finals for our men’s team and unprecedented growth in the girls’ and women’s game in Scotland.

“EE reinforcing their commitment to Scottish football through this four-year renewal is a tremendous boost to all levels of the game – from our senior national teams, right down to grassroots football.

“The renewed partnership will help us in our objectives to continue to grow the national game and make it accessible to all who want to participate, thereby cultivating the amazing social, mental and physical benefits that our wonderful sport has to offer for as wide a group as possible.”

Sharon Tuff, Chief Commercial and Engagement Officer at the Football Association of Wales: “We are delighted to continue our partnership during this exciting and transformative time for football in Wales.

“Under Rhian Wilkinson, our Cymru Women’s National Team are one of only two home nations to qualify for this summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 finals. This will be our very first appearance at a major tournament and Cymru will be looking forward to making history by rapidly scaling up participation for women and girls across Wales as part of that legacy.

“With the injection of optimism and renewed vigour under Craig Bellamy, our Cymru Men’s National Team are determined to qualify for a third FIFA World Cup in 2026 and we will continue to use on pitch success to inspire the joy, health and wellbeing of Wales, and look forward to collaborating with EE to create more cohesive communities and better outcomes for people through football in Wales.”

Stephen Bogle, Head of Commercial Operations for the Irish FA, said: “We’re delighted to extend our partnership with EE through to 2028. As the lead partner of Northern Ireland’s national teams and a key supporter of grassroots football, EE has played a pivotal role in advancing the game at every level. We’re particularly pleased to see their increased commitment to women’s football and look forward to collaborating closely in the coming years to bring their activation plans to life.”

EE customers will continue to enjoy benefits as part of the partnership including Home Nations  match offers and tickets to Home Nations events.

Join the UK’s telecoms ecosytem at Connected North, 23-24 April in London. Get discounted tickets here!  

Also in the news:
Apple secretly testing direct-to-device satellite connectivity with Starlink and T-Mobile
BT to cut 5% of Northern Irish workers
Trump targets TSMC with Taiwan chip tariffs 

India’s ACT Fibernet introduces ACT Smart Wi-Fi powered by Aprecomm’s AI Engine

Thursday, January 30, 2025 – ACT Fibernet, in partnership with Aprecomm, announced today that it has successfully implemented new AI-driven software on customers’ routers. The software enhances the in-home Wi-Fi experience across all devices and applications by creating an intelligent, smart Wi-Fi service.

Known as “ACT Zippy,” the new software aims to transform traditional Wi-Fi connectivity by actively monitoring the home Wi-Fi network, including all applications and client devices, to identify quality-of-experience issues, including congestion and interference, and optimize the online experience in real-time through channel switching, band steering, and other advanced features.

“In line with ACT Fibernet’s brand promise of ‘Feel the Advantage,’ we are launching a unique, industry-first AI-powered Wi-Fi solution in India that scans your home environment and automatically improves the Wi-Fi experience for all connected devices,” said Ravi Karthik, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer for ACT Fibernet. “As the number of devices connected to home Wi-Fi continues to grow significantly, providing an exceptional Wi-Fi experience is our top priority. Under ACT Smart Wi-Fi, we have planned a range of products and innovations in the home Wi-Fi sector to tackle this challenge and greatly enhance the in-home Wi-Fi experience.”

For more information on ACT, please visit: https://www.actcorp.in/company

Teraswitch upgrades global network with 400GE connectivity from EXA Infrastructure

EXA Infrastructure, the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform throughout Europe, connecting North America and Asia via the Middle East, has partnered with Teraswitch to provide 400GE connectivity and position it for global network expansion.

Teraswitch recently deployed its global network, featuring 100GE waves to connect cities across the US and Europe. However, with growing connectivity demands fuelled by advancements in Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and streaming platforms, it quickly recognised that 100GE alone was insufficient, driving the need for further expansion.

By upgrading Teraswitch’s services to 400GE, EXA Infrastructure has provided diverse, high-capacity connectivity, including services across Europe and the Atlantic. This upgrade not only increases bandwidth but also significantly reduces cost per megabit, enabling Teraswitch to pass on competitive pricing to its customers. Enhanced service level agreements (SLAs) further underscore the value of this partnership, ensuring greater reliability and network performance for clients.

“Teraswitch’s decision to upgrade to 400GE speaks to the strength of our relationship and our ability to deliver solutions that scale with customers in line with their ambitions,” said Jim Fagan, CEO at EXA Infrastructure. “This partnership underscores our shared commitment to innovation, network reliability, and helping customers thrive in today’s data-driven world.”

Brendan Mannella at Teraswitch, commented: “Our partnership with EXA Infrastructure has been instrumental in our ability to scale quickly and cost-effectively. Upgrading to 400GE not only helps us meet the growing demands of our customers but also strengthens our position in the global market. EXA’s reliability, ease of doing business, and innovative approach have been key factors in our success, and we look forward to expanding this partnership as we grow our network further in 2025.”

Looking ahead, Teraswitch has ambitious plans to expand its network reach to additional continents by 2025. EXA Infrastructure is proud to be a cornerstone of this growth strategy, reaffirming its role as a trusted partner in enabling Teraswitch’s global ambitions.

For more information on EXA Infrastructure’s high-capacity connectivity solutions, visit https://exainfra.net/

PREDICTING MOBILE SECTOR TRENDS IN 2025

PREDICTING MOBILE SECTOR TRENDS IN 2025

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Dario Betti & Nicholas Rossman, Mobile Ecosystem Forum

2025 offers the mobile industry the opportunity to redefine possibilities for consumers and businesses alike with enhanced user experiences and fresh revenue streams. However, the sector will also face significant challenges. Here are a few thoughts on what to expect. … [visit site to read more]

GSMA, UK launch fund for AI boost in emerging markets

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Zayo to Buy Crown Castle’s Fiber?

Zayo to Buy Crown Castle’s Fiber?

A Reuters report says that Zayo is at the front of the pack of potential buyers for Crown Castle’s fiber and small cell business business. There’s certainly no doubt there is a process underway, as Crown Castle has been trying to figure out what to do with its fiber business for a couple years now and the only question left is how they find the door they seek. And Zayo is perhaps the most obvious potential buyer as well, but they aren’t past the finish line yet. … [visit site to read more]