News

Four sites have been identified by the utility company, with two more targeted by 2026

France’s state-owned utility company Electricite de France (EDF) says it has identified four locations on its land that could be ideal for data centre deployment.

The energy giant says each site could host a data centre campus with 2GW of capacity, with the benefit of already being connected to the electricity grid.

“For digital companies who wish to do so, EDF will also offer personalized support for the end-to-end completion of the necessary steps to develop their project,” said EDF in an announcement.

The company added that the broad availability of nuclear power in France makes it a highly competitive environment when it comes to reliable, clean energy.

France currently has 57 active nuclear power plants, by far the most on the continent, with only Russia and Ukraine also passing double digits among its European neighbours.

EDF has been quick to capitalise on the AI-fuelled data centre investment boom, with reports last year suggesting the company has already entered into discussions with three companies to provide power infrastructure to three corresponding 1 GW data centre projects in France.

The identification of yet more possible data centre sites came alongside a slew of French infrastructure investment news this week, capitalising on the AI summit being hosted by the French government in Paris. The meeting saw meetings between major political and business leaders from around the world, seeking to align themselves on the technology’s future direction.

Before the summit kicked off, French AI unicorn Mistral announced that it is preparing to invest ‘several billions of euros’ to build its own data centre in the country. At the same time, Swedish startup Evroc has also announced plans to build a French hyperscale data centre.

Both of these announcements follow a major deal last week that will see the UAE announced that it is investing ‘up to €50 billion’ to build a 1GW AI data centre in France.

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news with the Total Telecom newsletter

Also in the news:
Why network infrastructure needs a rethink in the age of AI and Edge computing
Iliad once again eying Italian consolidation with TIM
Eutelsat connects one million Sub-Saharan Africans to satellite 

New York – February 4, 2025 – Lightpath, an all-fiber, infrastructure-based connectivity provider revolutionizing how organizations connect to their digital destinations, announced the company has closed the transaction to acquire substantially all of the assets of United Fiber and Data (UFD). The company also introduced LightCube Edge Data Centers that will be first deployed along its NYC-Ashburn strategic network route. 

The asset additions elevate Lightpath’s position in the digital infrastructure industry and expand its reach in the New York Metro and Ashburn markets. Lightpath adds the geographically diverse, 323-mile NYC-Ashburn route, as the company continues to amass new and unique route options between these markets. Lightpath also adds 79-miles of metro fiber in New Jersey and New York City, and approximately 250 new commercial service locations in Manhattan. Lightpath now offers over 1,500 enterprise and data center service locations in Manhattan alone, a 5x increase over the last 3 years. 

Click here to View Maps of the Lightpath and UFD Networks

NYC-Ashburn Route: Geographically Diverse and Lowest Latency

Lightpath’s New York City to Ashburn network route is geographically diverse from typical network routes along the I-95 corridor and offers the industry’s lowest latency between the largest population center in the country and the largest data center and cloud ecosystem in the world. Service options on this route include dark fiber and wavelengths up to 800 Gbps. 

“This route represents a unique opportunity for customers to connect these critical markets with diversity, latency management, and soon the addition of edge compute facilities,” explained Tim Haverkate, EVP of Major Infrastructure Solutions, Lightpath. “Lightpath has seen surging demand on this route, with nearly 25% of the cable under contract, a 3.5x increase since the transaction was initially announced. Further, we are engaged in active conversations with 20 customers resulting in an opportunity pipeline that would oversubscribe the route as it exists today.”

Lightpath customers can connect to almost any data center in the Ashburn region and in total can connect to over 140 data centers across its footprint. Lightpath can route customers from any on-net data centers in New York Metro or Boston Metro to Ashburn utilizing this route. Lightpath can also deliver routing options along the I-95 corridor to support services on the NYC-Ashburn route. 

LightCube: Connected Edge Data Centers for AI Services and Edge Compute

Lightpath also introduced LightCube edge data centers – modular, secure, and customizable facilities that fully support the capacity for 864-count fiber cables and the corresponding space and power for edge compute workloads. Lightpath will be upgrading four existing ILAs on the NYC-Ashburn route with new LightCubes in response to customer demand.  

Learn More about LightCube Edge Data Centers here.

“This route represents a strategic addition to the Lightpath network extending our reach from the Northeast into the ever-expanding data center ecosystem in Ashburn,” stated Chris Morley, CEO, Lightpath. “We will continue to aggressively pursue organic and inorganic opportunities to meet both the metro and the long-haul requirements on behalf of our hyperscaler, carrier, and enterprise customers.” 

# # #

About Lightpath

Lightpath is revolutionizing how customers connect to their digital destinations by combining our next-generation network with our next-generation customer service. Lightpath’s advanced fiber-optic network offers a comprehensive portfolio of custom-engineered connectivity solutions with unparalleled performance, reliability, and security. Our consultative customer service means we work with you to design, deliver, and support the solution for your unique needs, faster and more easily than ever before. For over 30 years, thousands of enterprises, governments, and educators have trusted Lightpath to power their organization’s innovation. Lightpath is jointly owned by Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS) and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners.

To learn how Lightpath can connect you to your digital destinations, visit lightpathfiber.com

For media inquiries:

JSA for Lightpath

1-866-695-3629 ext. 13

jsa_lightpath@jsa.net

News

The French telecoms group has informed the Italian government that it is once again exploring a potential tie-up, according to reports

Iliad Italia is once again looking for potential tie-ups with Italy’s incumbent operator TIM, according to reports by local Italian news agencies Corriere della Sera and La Stampa.

The reports say that Iliad has this week informed the Italian government of its intentions to pursue dealmaking with TIM. The Italian government has likely been informed due to its 10% stake in TIM as well as its so-called ‘golden powers’ that allows the state to veto any deal involving critical infrastructure – such as the country’s largest telecoms operator TIM – being taken over by a foreign company.

Reports suggest that the deal would take the form of a merger, with a Reuters report confirming that Iliad does not intend to see TIM’s business units carved up.

The Italian mobile market has been crying out for consolidation for years. Iliad entered the already competitive market in 2018 and rapidly initiated a brutal price war that has seen the operators’ profit margins slashed. Since then, all four of the country’s mobile operators (Vodafone, TIM, Iliad, and WindTre) have been involved in various merger discussions.

In fact, Iliad itself had initially sought a merger with the seemingly more vulnerable Vodafone Italia back in 2023. Ultimately, however Vodafone Italia instead struck a deal to be acquired by Swisscom for €8 billion, with Swisscom merging the business with its local fixed broadband unit Fastweb.

But despite a market-wide consensus on the need for consolidation, a direct merger between TIM and Iliad would likely draw some critical regulatory attention. The deal would create a dominant market leader, commanding around 41% of the mobile market and 40% of the fixed broadband market.

Interestingly – and entirely separate to this interest from Iliad – reports are also noting that investment firm CVC Capital Partners has also informed the government of its intention to approach TIM.

CVC has shown interest in the Italian incumbent for a number of years now, having first made a non-binding offer for a minority stake in the company’s enterprise unit back in 2022.

Now, CVC is reportedly showing interest in buying the 24% stake in TIM held by French investment company Vivendi.

Vivendi has been notably critical of TIM’s sale of its fixed network infrastructure to KKR last year, saying that the assets were severely undervalued. The company has attempted to undo the deal through various legal means over the past year, none of which have yet borne fruit.

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom newsletter

Also in the news:
Vodafone reports strong Q3 growth amid Germany challenges
CEO of AireBeam discusses ‘secret sauce’ behind ISP’s growth
BT scraps managerial DEI targets

News 

The company’s Konnect Wi-Fi hotspot solution is playing a major role in shrinking the digital divide in Africa 

Eutelsat has announced that it has successfully delivered on its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition commitment to provide one million people in Sub-Saharan Africa with affordable, high-speed internet via satellite, two years ahead of schedule. 

The Partner2Connect Digital Coalition aims to accelerate global digital inclusion, particularly in regions where traditional broadband infrastructure is unavailable. 

At the centre of the achievement is Eutelsat’s Konnect geostationary satellite, a high-capacity Ka-band satellite that powers Konnect Wi-Fi hotspots. This satellite, which became operational in late 2020, can provide these hotspots with Wi-Fi speeds ranging from 5 Mbps to 100 Mbps at affordable prices, bringing internet access to individuals, schools, businesses, and healthcare centres.  

“Reaching this milestone means 1 million people now have access to vital information, education, and communication resources through our Konnect solution. With both Eutelsat’s GEO satellite fleet and OneWeb’s LEO constellation, we are expanding our reach and ensuring that connectivity drives meaningful economic and social progress, empowering communities to thrive in the digital era,” said Eva Berneke, CEO of Eutelsat in a press release. 

In regions where terrestrial networks are still inaccessible, satellite technology has recently become a scalable and cost-effective alternative to bring education, e-commerce, telemedicine, and economic development to as many as possible. It is now a key solution for bridging the digital divide, bringing millions of people online without the need for expensive ground infrastructure.  

Beyond bringing connectivity to remote areas, satellite connectivity has also been in the news recently for the key role it can play in supporting customers during emergencies. Following the recent California wildfires, Elon Musk announced that SpaceX’s Starlink would provide free terminals to fire-affected areas in Los Angeles, after it emerged that news crews were relying on the service to broadcast live updates. 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom newsletter 

Also in the news:
Vodafone reports strong Q3 growth amid Germany challenges
CEO of AireBeam discusses ‘secret sauce’ behind ISP’s growth
BT scraps managerial DEI targets 

News 

The UK Space Agency has pledged up to £160 million to drive innovation in the satellite mega-constellation market 

The investment, which is part of the UK Space Agency’s Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme, will support technological advancements over the next four years to bolster the UK’s position in the global space industry. 

As part of this broader commitment, £16 million has already been allocated to two key projects aimed at advancing satellite communications. This targeted funding will support cutting-edge developments to strengthen the UK’s role in satellite technology.  

Satellite constellations are expanding internet access to remote and underserved regions, helping to bridge the digital divide. These networks are also set to improve communication in maritime and aviation sectors, supporting connectivity in isolated locations. 

“The UK has all the cutting edge expertise and technology to spearhead the latest advancements in satellite communications and become a leader in this high-tech industry,” said Telecoms Minister Chris Bryant in a press release. 

“These Government backed projects will not only provide significant advancements in mobile communication, but help to bridge the digital divide, connecting communities in the most hard-to-reach areas,” he continued. 

The UK is positioning itself as a strong competitor in the rapidly advancing space industry. In 2023, over 2,900 satellites were deployed, mostly as part of commercial constellations. Projections indicate that between 2021 and 2031 approximately 18,000 satellites will be launched, three-quarters of which will belong to mega-constellations. These are groups of many satellites that work together deliver broadband Internet access. 

The UK is a key member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and hosts the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) at the Harwell Space Cluster. The C-LEO programme provides funding via UK Space Agency grants, with further contracts expected from ESA in the near future. 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom newsletter  

Also in the news:
Vodafone reports strong Q3 growth amid Germany challenges
CEO of AireBeam discusses ‘secret sauce’ behind ISP’s growth
BT scraps managerial DEI targets

News

The service will allow businesses to display short messages to customers to explain the nature of their call.

Back in 2024, AT&T struck a partnership with TransUnion to launch the latter’s Branded Call Display service. This service allows opted-in businesses to have their brand name and logo displayed on customer handsets when receiving calls, thereby helping customers to identify scam callers posing as legitimate businesses.

Now, the service is going one step further, with the latest feature allowing businesses to include the reason for their call on the on-screen notification. Businesses must seemingly choose their reason for calling from a wide range of preset options, including “Appointment Reminder,” “Customer Inquiry,” “Customer Service,” “Refill Reminder,” “Delivery Service,” “Patient Callback,” and “Upcoming Visit”.

The service is available on “most Android devices” and does not require an app to use, being part of the industry standard STIR/SHAKEN call authentication.

“We’re excited to announce the ability for businesses to add the reason for their call to the mobile display,” said Erin Scarborough, AT&T senior vice president, Mass Markets Product Management. “Research shows consumers still prefer calling for communicating with businesses – especially for urgent, personal, or high-value issues. Now they can safely answer verified branded calls, knowing who’s calling and why.”

Spam calls remain a major issue for the telecoms sector. According to spam protection company Truecaller, US customers experience roughly 3.3 billion spam or unwanted calls every month. As such, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been taking increasingly strict measures to prevent spam calls in recent years, with mixed results.

Are telcos doing enough to protect their customers from spam and fraudulent calls? Join the discussion at Connected America, live in Dallas, Texas

Also in the news:
Vodafone reports strong Q3 growth amid Germany challenges
CEO of AireBeam discusses ‘secret sauce’ behind ISP’s growth
BT scraps managerial DEI targets

Podcasts

Ben Elkins, the CEO of AireBeam and Utah Broadband, joined the ‘Beyond the Cable’ podcast to discuss strategy and AireBeam’s explosive growth in Arizona

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

Since taking the helm as the CEO of an Arizona City-based AireBeam, Ben Elkins has overseen a 375 percent growth in fiber subscribers for the ISP.

Now, Elkins is attempting to repeat success at another subsidiary of the Boston Omaha Corporation: Utah Broadband.

Named as the Utah Broadband’s CEO in May, Elkins now wears both hats, one as the CEO of AireBeam, another as the CEO of Utah Broadband. He reflected on some of AireBeam’s growth, and how he was able to achieve such stunning success in Arizona’s Pinal County.

“It’s very rural, but it’s growing,” Elkins said of Pinal County. “It’s the fastest growing county in the state of Arizona.”

Wedged between Phoenix and Tuscon, Elkins said it came to his attention after research that many of the county’s mobile home parks were severely underserved.

“So, I went out and got nationwide deals with a lot of the mobile home park developers,” he said. “And provided fiber to the parks that really fit or demographics and fit our profile.”

Elkins said he was able to lock in 20-year agreements with some developers.

According to Elkins, many mobile home parks are ignored by larger service providers because residents are often temporary.

“It’s been a huge hit for us,” he said, adding that AireBeam also “fibered up” the entire community of Arizona City and Florence.

While Elkins said the explosive-type growth that AireBeam saw was likely unique due to demographics in the area, he also predicts growth ahead for Utah Broadband.

Listen to Elkins on Spotify

Click here to listen to the full interview with Elkins on Spotify, and why he believes Utah still contains “huge opportunity” for Utah Broadband.

Listen to Elkins on Apple Podcasts

To hear the episode featuring Elkins on Apple Podcasts, click here.

Learn more about Broadband Communities Summit 2025 in Houston.

Also, click here to subscribe to the Broadband Communities newsletter. 

News 

BT is expected to cut the diversity targets from its managerial bonus scheme, according to a recent article from The Telegraph 

The company has told its major investors that it will replace the DEI section of its managerial bonus scorecard with a “measure of employee engagement,” which will come into effect in April. 

Currently, ten percent of the BT annual bonus for its 37,400 managers is made up of DEI targets, comprised of representation of women, disabled people and ethnic minorities, as well as employee engagement of underrepresented groups. 

“We remain committed to our inclusion and representation targets and are making good progress towards them. Inclusion will remain part of our senior management bonus calculations and we have received strong support from our shareholders on the proposals to amend our group scorecard,” said a BT spokesperson. 

Just last week, Kirkby told employees in a company memo “It’s been hard lately to see companies and governments stepping back from their commitment to inclusion, equity and diversity. For many of you watching this unfold, I imagine it feels worrying and upsetting.  

“It sends the message that these things are optional, temporary or not worth prioritising. I want to be absolutely clear: that’s not what we believe at BT.” 

The news comes as President Trump signed an Executive Order the day after his inauguration, terminating DEI initiatives in federal contracting. Similar initiatives have been rolled other large corporations, including Meta and Amazon in the tech sector and Walmart, McDonald’s, Ford Motors, and Target in other sectors.  

Keep up to date with the latest telecoms news by subscribing to our newsletter!

Also in the news:
Nokia and AT&T extend voice core partnership
UK PM urges for more European cooperation as suspicious subsea activity increases
From the bully pulpit: FCC’s Carr could pursuade allies over new subsea cable regulation

News 

The heavy reliance on undersea cables remains a major risk as over 95% of global internet traffic depends on them 

UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer has urged European leaders for increased cooperation on subsea infrastructure defences at a European Council meeting in Brussels.

The call comes after an increase in suspicious activity from Chinese and Russian vessels around key European submarine cables. Last month, A Russian spy ship was caught in the English Channel attempting to gather information on critical underwater infrastructure. 

Furthermore, there has been multiple submarine cable incidents in the Baltic Sea since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with many of these cable cuts – intentional or otherwise – being linked to Russian and Chinese vessels. As the frequency of these incidents has ramped up, NATO has deployed patrol ships to the region as part of a mission called ‘Baltic Sentry’. 

“We need to deepen co-operation to protect ourselves from state threats and sabotage, including on sub-sea infrastructure,” said Sir Kier in an address to European leaders. 

In disclosed correspondence between House of Lords Peers Lord Coaker and Lord West of Spithead, it has been revealed that the UK’s first multi-role ocean surveillance ship, RFA Proteus, has been deployed as part of a broader plan to protect national infrastructure, with a second vessel still in the early planning stages. 

The government is “committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure” and pointed to ongoing coordination with government agencies and the subsea cable industry, said Lord Coaker. 

Just last week, The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS) announced that it would explore the security credentials of the UK’s submarine cable ecosystem as part of a new industry enquiry, in a direct response to the increase in suspected malicious underwater activity. 

The government emphasised the UK’s reliance on its 60 existing submarine cables, warning of the potential disruption that damage to multiple cables at once would cause the UK. 

Join the conversation at the EMEA’s Most Important Subsea Event, Submarine Networks EMEA! Get tickets here. 

Also in the news:
From the bully pulpit: FCC’s Carr could pursuade allies over new subsea cable regulation
Labour to slash rural broadband funding
EE renews partnership with Home Nations Football Associations and Wembley Stadium

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