Digital infrastructure company Equinix has inaugurated its first International Business Exchange data centre in Jakarta under a joint venture with Indonesian conglomerate Astra International.

The data centre, called JK1, provides access to more than 50 global and local network service providers and internet exchanges.

Equinix says that by leveraging its cloud-dense and highly secure platform, businesses in Indonesia can deploy data networks and services rapidly and at scale with a global footprint and an extensive digital ecosystem.

Haris Izmee, Managing Director of Equinix Indonesia, points out that “e-commerce remains Indonesia’s largest sector in the digital economy, with the industry potentially reaching US$120 billion in 2025. This growth is further accelerated by a remarkable surge in cloud adoption.” He adds: “As the nation gears for Indonesia Emas 2045 vision, establishing itself as a key digital hub in Asia will be crucial for long-term economic transformation.”

Indonesia Emas 2045 is a vision for Indonesia to become a prosperous, advanced, fair and sovereign nation by 2045, its centennial year of independence.

Equinix JK1 is located in Jakarta’s Central Business District, close to major internet exchanges in the region. It is an eight-storey facility that offers 550 cabinets in the first phase, with a total capacity of 1,600 cabinets and colocation space of 5,300 square metres when fully built. The facility will provide interconnection services, including Equinix Fabric and Equinix Internet Access.

JK1 leverages innovative technologies such as cooling array and liquid cooling technology, ensuring efficient heat management for high-density and high-performance computer workloads such as artificial intelligence.

JK1 is designed to achieve an average power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.41 at full load and is 100% covered by renewables through the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs). 

This news follows our announcement last week of further growth for the company in the Asia-Pacific region as Equinix completed the second phase of its KL1 International Business Exchange (IBX) data centre in Cyberjaya in Malaysia.

It’s been another busy week for satcoms, with Agility Beyond Space (ABS), a global satellite operator, and SpaceBridge, a provider of satellite network equipment solutions, targeting managed services in EMEA, while satellite communications service Starlink is reportedly pursuing a Wi-Fi deal with the Emirates airline.

Early this week ABS and SpaceBridge announced an intent to enter into a strategic collaboration to enhance managed data services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). This partnership aims to leverage both companies’ expertise to expand the availability of satellite-enabled services, including broadband and internet trunking, serving enterprises, government agencies, mobile network operators and other essential sectors.

With experience in VSAT platforms, network optimisation and satellite system integration, SpaceBridge says it brings deep technical expertise to the partnership. The companies say they are jointly reviewing innovative service models that could improve flexibility, performance and coverage across a range of markets.

Meanwhile the Bloomberg news service says that Emirates is in discussions with space technology company SpaceX to overhaul the carrier’s internet service as the airline looks to enhance its in-flight Wi-Fi by fitting its widebody jets with SpaceX’s Starlink internet service.

Emirates apparently has a widebody fleet of about 250 jets and more than 300 on order, so this could be quite a significant contract if agreed, which, of course, is not yet confirmed. Whether the potential deal would be available to all passengers is not clear, but it would bring Starlink to one of the world’s biggest fleets with a highly regarded service.

There could, however, be issues involving regions where Starlink doesn’t yet work and a need for authorisation for use in the UAE itself. Starlink would also need certification for the Airbus A380 double decker and the Airbus A350, although the latter permission is apparently imminent.

Rome, 15 May 2025

Sparkle, the first international service provider in Italy and among the top global operators, announces the results of the Artificial Intelligence Sparkle Network Assurance (AISNA) project aimed at implementing artificial intelligence in its Network Operation Center (NOC) dedicated to managing and monitoring the international network.

Developed in collaboration with Engineering – a leader in digital transformation for businesses and public administrations – AISNA enables the automation of monitoring, management and quality improvement activities, thereby reducing the risk of errors and misalignments, and allowing faster responses to customer support requests.

By simplifying access to information and automating more repetitive tasks, the solution has reduced by 30% the operational handling time of alerts at the NOC and by up to 80% the average execution time for massive network update campaigns. Furthermore, thanks to AI’s ability to analyze email content, summarize key information and automatically update tickets, it has been possible to reduce by approximately 3,000 hours per year the time spent on customer reporting and by about 700 hours per year the time spent on RFO (Report for Outage). This has allowed staff to focus more on direct customer interaction and problem resolution, with a positive impact on the overall quality of service.

“Sparkle is engaged in several projects aimed at improving customer and employee experience through AI, as well as enriching our market proposition. The AISNA project, focused on network management, has been a top priority for its impact on customers and operations,” said Lorella Scalcione, Chief Information Officer of Sparkle.

“Thanks to this project,” confirms Danilo Decaroli, Head of Operations at Sparkle, “our NOC is now able to interact with customers even more promptly and transparently, while also operating more efficiently and with a greater focus, reducing the burden of repetitive activities in favor of customer care and problem solving.”

About Sparkle

Sparkle is TIM Group’s Global Operator, first international service provider in Italy and among the top worldwide, offering a full range of infrastructure and global connectivity services – capacity, IP, SD-WAN, colocation, IoT connectivity, roaming and voice – to national and international Carriers, OTTs, ISPs, Media/Content Providers, and multinational enterprises. A major player in the submarine cable industry, Sparkle owns and manages a network of more than 600,000 km of fiber spanning from Europe to Africa and the Middle East, the Americas and Asia. Its sales force is active worldwide and distributed over 32 countries.

Find out more about Sparkle following its X and LinkedIn profiles or visiting the website tisparkle.com

Media Contacts:

sparkle.communication@tisparkle.com

X: @TISparkle

The GSMA has urged governments worldwide to reduce spectrum prices, warning that high fees are choking the telecoms industry and threatening long-term economic development.

In a new report, the industry body revealed that spectrum prices have not fallen in line with operator revenues over the past decade, limiting the ability of mobile network operators to invest in critical infrastructure.

While consumer prices have declined, the overall financial burden on operators has sharply increased. According to the GSMA, cumulative global spectrum costs now account for 7% of operator revenues – a 63% rise over the last ten years.

At the same time, average revenue per megahertz has dropped by up to 75% in some bands since 2014. To meet rising demand for bandwidth, operators have expanded their spectrum holdings by 80% over the same period, further driving up total costs.

Consumers, meanwhile, have benefited from a significant drop in data prices. The GSMA noted that the cost of a gigabyte (GB) of data has plummeted by 96% between 2014 and 2024.

GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath said: “The mobile industry sits at the heart of the digital economy, enabling services and opportunities that transform lives. But a dollar can only be spent once, and high spectrum costs can choke investment at a time when the need for affordable, reliable connectivity has never been greater.

“Governments and regulators must prioritise spectrum pricing that reflects market realities and fosters long-term digital growth. By ensuring spectrum is affordable, they can unlock faster network expansion, better service quality, and greater digital inclusion for all of their citizens.”

News 

Verizon has pledged $5 billion over the next five years to support small business suppliers across the US, through the launch of its new Small Business Supplier Accelerator 

The initiative is designed to lower barriers to entry for small enterprises, seeking to engage with large corporate supply chains. 

The accelerator will offer practical support such as tailored onboarding, training and more flexible commercial terms. These include adjusted indemnity requirements, modified insurance terms and faster payment cycles, which are all designed to make it easier for small businesses to work with Verizon and other big buyers. 

“Verizon recognises that small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and a staple in our local communities,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon’s CEO in a press release.  

“Our long-standing commitment and investment in small businesses aims to empower local businesses and communities with financial, technology and business expertise and resources to advance economic growth and foster job creation,” he continued. 

The programme complements Verizon’s ongoing efforts through its Small Business Digital Ready platform, a free online hub offering on-demand courses, mentoring, and funding opportunities. Since its launch in 2021, the platform has supported nearly 500,000 small businesses to become equipped to “thrive in a digital economy”, with a target of reaching one million by 2030. 

The move comes amid growing pressure for large enterprises to diversify their supply chains, support local economic growth and improve resilience in the face of global disruption. Verizon, in partnership with LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), has also announced a new round of $10,000 grants for eligible Digital Ready users.  

Join us at Broadband Communities Summit, 23-25 June in Texas. Get tickets here! 

Also in the news:
NTT buying up land to support global data centre expansion
US rescinds AI chip export controls
AllPoints Fibre Networks unveils aquila 

Georgian mobile operator Cellfie Mobile has expanded its partnership with Finnish BSS provider Qvantel to include managed services for its business support systems (BSS), in a move aimed at accelerating its evolution into a digital services provider.

As part of the agreement, Qvantel has established an operations centre in Georgia and assembled a team of BSS experts to provide daily support to Cellfie.

Giorgi Niniashvili, Chief Information Technology Officer at Cellfie Mobile, said: “As the first mobile operator in Georgia to launch 5G services, we are proud to be leading the country’s digital advancement. Having a dedicated team of Qvantel BSS experts working alongside us strengthens our ability to innovate faster, operate more efficiently, and deliver the best possible experiences to our customers.”

The deal builds on Qvantel’s recent contract wins with Perfectum in Uzbekistan and Veon across multiple markets in its global footprint.

Telefónica has reportedly appointed investment bank Citi to advise on the sale of its Chilean unit, as the group continues to scale back its presence in Latin America.

According to Reuters, citing El Confidencial, the sale of its business in Chile would result in a capital loss for Telefonica. Under the leadership of new Group CEO Marc Murtra, the company has aggressively streamlined its portfolio to focus on its core markets in Brazil, the UK, Spain, and Germany.

So far, Telefonica has exited or reached agreements to divest its operations in Colombia, Peru, and Argentina. It has also reportedly hired JP Morgan to advise on the sale of Movistar Mexico, despite it being the country’s second-largest operator.

Telefonica has operated in Chile for 25 years, following its acquisition of a majority stake in Compania de Telefonos de Chile. Over time, the brand transitioned to Movistar and expanded its portfolio to include fixed-line and internet services.

News

Businesses have earned almost £330,000 from recycling unused devices since the service’s relaunch

This week, Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has shared that its O2 Recycle for Business initiative has helped save 45,000 devices from being sent to landfill since it was relaunched in October 2023.

The initiative invites companies to trade in their unused technology, such as smartphones or routers, which are then data wiped, repaired, refurbished and resold, or recycled. In exchange, the companies receive cashback or credit, or can instead opt to donate that cashback to the Good Things Foundation, a charity focussed on digital inclusion in the UK.

Since the initiative’s relaunch, companies have earned almost £330,000 from trading in unused devices.

“We know businesses want simple solutions to help them become more sustainable. That’s why Virgin Media O2 is leading the way in helping companies to reduce their waste, recycle their unwanted tech, and reuse their unwanted device,” said Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at VMO2. “Businesses can also play a vital role in supporting digital inclusion by accessing tech donation programmes, where their unused devices can be given a second life and used by someone in need, helping them to get online, access essential websites and build digital skills.”

Despite this success, VMO2’s own research suggests that the schemes progress so far is just a drop in the ocean when it comes to the UK’s e-waste problem. The operator estimates that there are around 11.8 million unused business devices in the UK that could be reused or recycled.

Indeed, data from the UN suggests that the UK produces more e-waste per capita than every other country except Norway.

It is worth noting here that VMO2 has operated a similar recycle scheme on a much larger scale for consumer devices since 2009, earning consumers roughly £350 million and saving 4 million devices from going to landfill.

Combining its business and consumer facing recycling efforts, VMO2 says it is aiming for to complete 10 million ‘circular actions’ by the end of the year.

Join the telecoms ecosystem in discussion at Connected Britain 2025, the UK’s leading digital economy event

Also in the news:
Germany appoints first ever digital minister
Signify and Cornerstone to deploy city-wide multi-operator wireless network through street lighting
BT opens new flagship Manchester office

News

This quarter, BCE, Rogers, and Telus collectively reported their lowest wireless subscriber growth in four years

Canada’s crackdown on immigration is hamstringing growth for the nation’s telcos, according to a report in The Toronto Star.

The latest financial reports from all three of the country’s national mobile network operators – BCE, Telus, and Rogers – show a significant drop in subscriber growth this quarter, which they attribute to the government’s immigration policies.

Collectively, the three telcos added just 54,000 net mobile subscribers over the past quarter, the lowest amount since the coronavirus pandemic.

For the past four years, these telcos have typically enjoyed six-figure subscriber growth, buoyed by a steady stream of foreign students and temporary workers entering the country.

By last year, however, it was becoming apparent that this level of immigration – around half a million newcomers annually – was putting a major strain on both the country’s healthcare and housing systems.

As a result, the government has introduced a host of new immigration policies, aimed at both slowing the number of permanent residents and foreign students. In 2025, the country aims to welcome 395,000 permanent residents, 305,900 students, and 367,750 temporary workers, down 21%, 10%, and 16%, respectively, compared to 2024.

While this deceleration in growth was to be expected, it will nonetheless come as a painful blow to the operators, particularly BCE and Rogers which are feeling the pressure of mountains of debt and falling revenues.

Both companies stock prices have fallen to levels not seen for over a decade, with BCE even deciding to slash its dividend by 56%, reducing it for the first time since 2009.

Also in the news:
Germany appoints first ever digital minister
Signify and Cornerstone to deploy city-wide multi-operator wireless network through street lighting
BT opens new flagship Manchester office

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said on Friday it intends to charge satellite internet players up to 4% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) over a five-year period to use spectrum allocated to them for satellite broadband services.

According to a statement from TRAI, both geostationary and non-geostationary satellite operators will have to pay a minimum annual fee of INR3,500 (around US$41) per MHz, with a cap of 4% of AGR.

Non-geostationary satellite operators – such as Eutelsat OneWeb and Starlink – will also have to pay an additional INR500 per subscriber per year for urban areas. Rural and remote areas will be exempt from the subscriber fee. TRAI said the government will also consider whether to subsidise satellite terminals in those areas.

TRAI also recommended that the Ku, Ka, Q/V, L, S, and C bands be assigned a period of five years, which the option to extend the assignment by another two years.

The proposal comes after months of consultation and debate that started when TRAI issued a consultation paper on terms and conditions for assigning spectrum for satellite internet services in September 2024.

The proposal still has to be approved by the Department of Telecommunication’s Digital Communications Commission and ratified by the cabinet, but it would officially establish TRAI’s preferred method of assigning satellite spectrum by administrative allocation rather than an auction process.

India’s three main telcos – Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea – had argued that an auction would be more fair, as the administrative allocation process would unfairly enable satellite broadband players to compete with telcos by offering cheaper internet services.

According to a report from ETTelecom on Friday, TRAI chairman AK Lahoti reiterated that the regulator considers satellite broadband to be a complementary service for terrestrial broadband, not a competitive one.

“It’s not factually correct that satcom services are competing with terrestrial services because there is a huge difference between the capacity of the terrestrial network and the satellite network,” Lahoti was quoted as saying.

Ironically, Airtel and Jio signed separate partnership deals with Starlink in March. Jio is also working with LEO satellite operator Eutelsat OneWeb via Orbit Connect India, the JV it established with SES in 2022.

The TRAI recommendations arrived a day after Starlink received a Letter of Intent from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for a satcom licence. The LEO satellite operator still needs clearance from Indian space regulator IN–SPACe before it can officially launch services.

Like Eutelsat OneWeb and Orbit Connect (which have all the necessary licences and regulatory clearances), Starlink is also waiting for the DoT to officially allocate spectrum with which to offer services, although the DoT provisionally allocated satellite spectrum to OneWeb and Orbit Connect in October 2024 for testing their respective satellite broadband services.

All licencees will also be required to comply with long list of security requirements, which the DoT revised last week.