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Avr, 2026

Telkom Indonesia launches agentic AI platform for enterprises

Telkom Indonesia announced on Monday that it has launched a next-gen agentic AI platform that it says will accelerate digital transformation via intelligent automation, business process integration and data-based decision making.

The platform, dubbed Agentic AI by BigBox, differs from reactive, conversation-based AI in that it can execute semi-automatic and automatic actions according to the needs of the organization.

Telkom said agentic AI is designed to break down large work into more structured stages, manage execution through specialist agents, conduct self-evaluations, and connect with various external systems.

Agentic AI by BigBox supports cross-system workflow orchestration, data integration and end-to-end AI capabilities, as well as improved operational efficiency on an enterprise scale.

Telkom said it’s using agentic AI internally to consolidate and integrate IT systems across its various entities, optimise operational costs and investment, accelerate data-based decision making, and automate strategic business processes.

Its enterprise and B2B customers can use Agentic AI by BigBox to improve customer experience, automate services and operations, present advanced analytics, predictive decisions, and cross-platform integration, said Telkom’s digital IT director Faizal Rochmad Djoemadi.

“We designed Telkom Agentic AI not only as an AI tool, but as a digital platform that is able to work and execute,” Faizal said. “This is our step to encourage organizations to be faster, more integrated, and more adaptive in facing digital business dynamics.”

Telkom is also touting Agentic AI by BigBox as a flagship solution from its AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE) initiative, which was launched in September last year as a “national AI ecosystem enabler.”

Telkom first unveiled Agentic AI by BigBox at last week’s ITD Summit in Bandung.

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Avr, 2026

The Terabit Leap: Charting the path from 800G to 1600G ZR+

The Terabit Leap: Charting the path from 800G to 1600G ZR+

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Fady Masoud, Senior Director, Solutions Marketing at Nokia

The explosive growth of AI model training, inference and data movement across distributed, geographically distributed compute clusters is driving a sharp increase in east-west and data center interconnect traffic. Combined with increasing traffic from telecommunications providers expanding capacity in metro and … [visit site to read more]

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Avr, 2026

Edotco’s Vista Bumiria to lead tower deployments in Terengganu

Edotco Malaysia announced on Friday that its subsidiary Vista Bumiria has been appointed by the provincial government of Terengganu as a state-backed company (SBC) to develop telecoms infrastructure.

The appointment is part of a mandate by Terengganu to accelerate rollout of high-quality, future-ready digital infrastructure in the state in a coordinated, efficient and sustainable manner.

Under that mandate, Vista Bumiria will lead development of telecoms infrastructure in Terengganu, including tower and fibre deployment, serving as a central platform to support mobile network operators (MNOs) and expand coverage across both urban and rural communities.

Edotco said that as part of the deal, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu has been appointed as chairman of Vista Bumiria.

As part of the project, the Terengganu government also appointed Alam Mindscape Mobile as a “One Stop Agency” (OSA) to streamline management, approvals, and coordination of telecoms structures, which Edotco said will reduce deployment bottlenecks and enhance execution efficiency across the ecosystem.

Edotco group CEO Adlan Tajudin added that the model “positions Terengganu to become a leading example of state-driven digital infrastructure development in Malaysia, enabling a more coordinated and efficient approach to connectivity rollout.”

Edotco added that it will work closely with its MNO partners in Malaysia to accelerate deployment across the state.

Security by design – Cornerstones of security and compliance in an AI-driven BSS

Advances in technologies such as cloud and artificial intelligence present telecom operators with a wealth of opportunities – but they also create new challenges which must be navigated carefully, particularly in terms of security and compliance.

As service providers accelerate their shift to SaaS-based Business Support Systems (BSS), they cannot afford to focus purely on agility and cost efficiency – they must also cement trust with strong security. Telcos operate in a trust economy; their critical operations determine service reliability and business integrity, and they are required to handle sensitive information such as customer data. To achieve this while upholding the trust expected of them, service providers must implement business support systems that feature safety measures and guardrails to protect sensitive data and reduce regulatory exposure.

In today’s hyperconnected world, customer data flows across clouds, partners, and applications – and new security risks arise constantly, so transparency and security grow ever more important. SaaS business models, multi-tenancy, API integrations, ecosystems, and AI capabilities all require a shift in how risks are handled in a telco environment – therefore, a modern BSS must be secure by design.

How can this be achieved? Firstly, BSS systems must focus on three key areas regarding security and compliance – architecture, AI governance & guardrails, and data protection & privacy – and secondly, the definition of what constitutes ‘security’ across each of these domains must be clearly defined.

Resilient architecture for a secure BSS

There are many factors that must be considered when defining secure architecture for modern BSS platforms, and adherence to recognised industry standards is a critical starting point. Components should meet carrier-grade security and compliance standards, operate with certified cloud infrastructure such as AWS or Microsoft Azure, and adhere to leading global standards and frameworks such as ISO27001, and TM Forum’s Information Framework (SID).

Another aspect of secure architecture is APIs and integration protocols, particularly as these must interface with third parties or ecosystem partners. APIs power the digital partnerships and customer journeys that define modern telecom ecosystems, and modern BSS platforms must ensure they are secure. This can be achieved through strong authentication, encryption, input validation, and rate limiting to prevent unauthorized access and data leaks.

Etiya’s Agentic BSS platform uses Open API standards, including TM Forum Open APIs, to ensure seamless interoperability across the OSS, network, and external IT systems. By using multi-tenant SaaS architecture, the platform can cost-effectively manage multiple brands, geographies or business units in isolation. While sharing common infrastructure, it allows each tenant to have dedicated authentication, product catalogues, and billing systems as required. In this way, it enhances security and regulatory compliance while dramatically reducing operational complexity and costs.

As BSS platforms expand across multiple clouds, visibility becomes a challenge. A unified view of the entire cloud environment enables providers to spot misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, or compliance errors before they can cause harm, using tools such as Wiz Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM). This proactive approach turns security into a continuous, data-driven process.

Security must keep up with software evolution. Etiya’s Agentic BSS achieves this by integrating vulnerability scanning into its CI/CD pipeline to ensure that every new release is tested for potential weaknesses. By embedding security into the development lifecycle, organizations can innovate at speed without compromising safety. In a data-driven ecosystem, resilience is as important as protection. Automated backups with Amazon RDS ensure that information can be quickly recovered in case of disruption, maintaining business continuity and customer confidence.

With identity and access management of critical importance in SaaS, Etiya’s BSS adds a critical layer of protection with two-factor authentication and centralized access control. Combined with comprehensive logging and auditing, it ensures transparency and accountability across the system.

Privileged access management solutions control access to critical systems, and make sure that credentials are tightly controlled, encrypted, and monitored. By applying the “least privilege” principle and automating access control, organizations can prevent misuse, reduce insider risk, and ensure compliance without slowing down operations.

Governance and guardrails for AI transparency and safety

AI-driven intelligence transforms compliance from a reactive obligation into a proactive capability, while simultaneously delivering tangible business value – but secure BSS platforms must ensure that guardrails are in place for AI-driven processes so that operators retain full control. Secure AI governance enables innovation, allowing organizations to experiment with advanced features and safely integrate AI across partner processes and third-party ecosystems, unlocking new opportunities for collaboration, service expansion, and growth.

Transparent and explainable AI strengthens trust with customers, regulators, and partners, enhancing business credibility and reinforcing confidence in digital operations. The security of customer data must be treated as paramount in autonomous processes, and human-in-the-loop safeguards must be used to monitor AI decisions and avoid misuse. Continuous monitoring, bias detection, and predictive analytics mitigate risk by anticipating potential compliance gaps, preventing costly errors, reputational damage, or regulatory fines.

To ensure compliance, Etiya’s Agentic BSS platform uses embedded AI and machine learning (ML) mechanisms to continuously monitor operational data, detect anomalies, and flag potential risks in real time, supporting automated policy enforcement, consent management, and intelligent audit trails that ensure transparency and traceability. Beyond compliance, these capabilities drive operational efficiency by automating revenue assurance, fraud detection, and customer support, reducing costs and minimizing human error.

Embedding privacy in every process

To ensure compliance and maximise customer trust, BSS platforms must strive for privacy-by-design – all subscriber and partner data must be handled securely, with encryption, anonymization, and consent management protocols all in place. Additionally, telecom regulations differ across markets and are constantly evolving – telcos can maintain operational agility with flexible policy management and built-in compliance templates that adapt as regulations change.

The Etiya BSS Data Privacy Management module is aligned with the SID model and GDPR, offering robust Privacy and Consent Management capabilities. This includes support for customer opt-in or opt-out preferences—for example, for marketing communications or use of specific channels—and accommodates updates resulting from changes in privacy policies. The module can generate a detailed customer privacy report, outlining the nature of stored information and the purpose for its retention. Customers also have the right to request correction or deletion of personal data that is not essential to the delivery of their subscribed services. Additionally, the platform’s configurable compliance frameworks enable operators to respond quickly to new requirements, reducing the need for costly customizations.

Demonstrating robust security and data protection means that trust becomes a differentiating factor – an attractive prospect for enterprise customers and partners for whom compliance is a priority. At the same time, end-to-end security and data privacy provide additional reassurance that can strengthen customer loyalty, and thereby lifetime value. Proactively securing the system reduces operational risk as well as minimising exposure to fraud, while pre-vetted security controls and APIs make it easier to integrate with new ecosystem partners, accelerating revenue growth.

Trust defining loyalty and sustainable growth

By implementing Etiya’s Agentic BSS to achieve these benefits, telcos can be boldly innovative without compromising on safety. Compliance and security become a strategic advantage, cementing trust with clients and partners that will improve retention, as well as reducing operational risk. By building on this foundation, operators will be able to integrate with partners more effectively, allowing them to expand into new markets and achieve greater business growth.

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Eutelsat signs multi-year KONNECT deal with MTN Côte d’Ivoire

Eutelsat announced on Thursday it has signed a new multi-year agreement with MTN Côte d’Ivoire to provide satellite broadband services across the country using Eutelsat’s KONNECT high-throughput satellite.

Eutelsat and MTN said the agreement will expand reliable broadband access across Côte d’Ivoire for consumers and enterprises, while supporting digital inclusion by enabling community Wi-Fi hotspots in underserved areas.

“Across Africa, satellite connectivity is a powerful complement to terrestrial networks, helping operators accelerate coverage expansion and support digital inclusion,” said Honoré Kouame, GM for MTN Business Côte d’Ivoire, in a statement. “This partnership with Eutelsat enables us to reach more customers, connect underserved communities and continue to support the country’s ongoing digital transformation.”

“Our platform is helping connect underserved and hard-to-reach areas and partnering with a leading operator like MTN Côte d’Ivoire shows how satellite and terrestrial networks work together to scale deliver connectivity at scale,” added Philippe Baudrier, VP for Africa at Eutelsat. “Together, we are bringing reliable broadband to more communities across the continent, and we are proud to further strengthen our collaboration with the MTN Group.”

MTN’s digital and infrastructure service provider Bayobab signed a deal with Eutelsat in August 2024 to lease capacity on the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO satellite constellation.

As it happens, MTN Côte d’Ivoire’s rival telco Orange Côte d’Ivoire is also using the Eutelsat KONNECT satellite for its Orange Sat satellite broadband internet service, which went live in January. That launch was the product of a partnership deal signed by Eutelsat and Orange Africa and Middle East in March 2025.

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Telecom Namibia and Angola Telecom cooperate on subsea connectivity

Telecom Namibia and Angola Telecom announced on Thursday they have signed an MoU and commercial terms agreement (CTA) to boost regional and international subsea cable connectivity along Southern Africa’s west coast.

The MOU and CTA establish a commercially sustainable framework to govern cooperation between the two telcos, including long‑term access to international capacity, shared operational principles, and a milestone‑based commercial structure.

More specifically, Angola Telecom will gain access to international capacity via Telecom Namibia’s Equiano subsea cable landing in Swakopmund under the deal. Meanwhile, the agreements also lay the groundwork for deeper collaboration linked to Angola Telecom’s planned Southern Africa Regional Submarine Cable System (SARSSy).

The SARSSy cable project aims to interconnect with Equiano via the Swakopmund  landing station, and provide additional international capacity to Namibia, Angola and other countries along the west coast of Southern Africa, while also enhancing Angola’s infrastructure sovereignty, redundancy, and international reach, said Angola Telecom CEO Adilson Miguel dos Santos.

“This collaboration with Telecom Namibia enables us to extend the reach and resilience of Angola’s international connectivity,” he said in a statement. “By integrating SARSSy with Equiano through Swakopmund, we are strengthening Angola’s position within the regional digital ecosystem and ensuring scalable, reliable capacity for the future.”

Telecom Namibia CEO Dr. Stanley Shanapinda added, “By leveraging the Equiano Subsea Cable and working in partnership with Angola Telecom, we are strengthening network resilience, expanding international bandwidth, and positioning Namibia as a key digital transit hub for the region.”

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Veon’s Banglalink to offer Starlink Mobile D2C service in Bangladesh

Veon Group announced on Wednesday that its Bangladesh subsidiary Banglalink has signed an agreement with Starlink Mobile to integrate its Direct to Cell (D2C) satellite connectivity in remote areas with Banglalink’s terrestrial coverage.

Banglalink will launch Starlink’s D2C service later this year, giving its customers access to Starlink Mobile satellites using standard 4G smartphones, although the service will initially be limited to text messaging.

Banglalink said it will introduce data services in the next phase of Starlink Mobile’s rollout, pending regulatory approvals.

“By enhancing our connectivity with Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile technology, we aim to ensure that Banglalink customers will not be limited by the availability of terrestrial networks,” said Banglalink CEO Johan Buse in a statement.

Banglalink’s Starlink Mobile tie-up is the third such deal for Veon’s operator stable, following the commercial launch of D2C service with Ukraine’s Kyivstar in November 2025 and a field test with Beeline Kazakhstan in December 2025 that also marked the first WhatsApp call over Starlink’s network in Central Asia. Beeline Kazakhstan aims to launch commercial D2C services later this year.

“By expanding our partnership with Starlink into Bangladesh, we are redefining resilience and opening up new possibilities for our digital ecosystem – now in the third country across the five markets that we proudly serve,” said Veon Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu.