This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Kadams Radhakrishnan, Chief Technical Director, Lyca Mobile
When 5G first entered the public conversation, it was framed as a technological turning point. Faster speeds, near-instant responsiveness and entirely new digital services were promised to reshape how Americans live and work. … [visit site to read more]
The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) has reportedly secured conditional approval from the State Audit Bureau (SAB) to award a KWD19.9 million (US$64.8 million) contract for a project to modernise Kuwait’s fixed-line telecoms infrastructure.
According to the Arab Times, KAPP submitted the tender on January 14 to SAB, which approved it this past Tuesday.
The project – which is being implemented by KAPP and the Ministry of Communications – aims to deploy a fibre optic network that will reach least 90% of homes by 2028, with data speeds initially as high as 10 Gbps, the report said.
The project covers design, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and transformation of the ministry’s fixed-line networks, including active and passive infrastructure, as well as the copper fixed-line network, the report added.
The winning company – which has not been publicly disclosed – will operate the ministry’s existing network and expand it to cover all areas.
The report said that the fixed-line project will also provide the foundation for launching smart city services, as well as help the government achieve its ‘New Kuwait 2035’ vision by strengthening its digital infrastructure.
Moreover, it could help boost income for the ministry, which gets most of its income from fixed-line service fees, which have been declining as users switch to 4G and 5G mobile services from Zain, Ooredoo, STC and Virgin Mobile. By the end of 2024, Kuwait was already ranked third globally in Ookla’s Speed Test Global Index, with average mobile data speeds of 258.51 Mbps.
Telkom Indonesia’s intermational arm Telin announed on Thursday it is partnering with IPification to commercialize its Mobile Network Verification (MNV) solution, which leverages Telkom’s network APIs to authenticate users without the need for OTPs.
The MNV solution, which based on IPification’s mobile identity technology, has already been launched commercially by Telkom’s mobile unit Telkomsel, and is now available across more than 40 mobile networks worldwide.
Telin said its global network reach and operator relationships enables enterprises to authenticate users with a single user tap in which they consent to the use of the network data.
Network API-based authentication has been touted as a more secure and convenient alternative to SMS OTPs, which are vulnerable to phishing scams, SIM swaps, and bot attacks.
« Digital identity works best when it’s built into the infrastructure users already rely on, » said IPification CEO Stefan Kostic. « Together with Telin, we’re enabling authentication that happens at the network level – removing unnecessary friction while giving enterprises a more secure and reliable way to verify users. »
Telin said the MNV service enables organisations in areas like finance, e-commerce, gaming, OTT platforms and public services make authentication easier for users, as well as protect themselves from phishing and account takeovers. It also gives mobile operators a potential new revenue stream by turning network intelligence into high-value API services.
“This is an important development for the OTT developer community and mobile network operators, as it enhances authentication options while complementing existing SMS-based authentication revenue,” said John Tolton, SVP for messaging mobile identity and voice at Telin.
Telkomsel has been a member of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative for standardised network APIs since February 2024. The same month, it launched Number Verification, SIM Swap and Device Location services based on CAMARA Open Gateway APIs. Telkomsel formed an alliance with rivals (and fellow Open Gateway members) Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and XLSmart in September 2025 to adopt a unified telco API protocol based on the CAMARA standard.
Finnfund, the Finnish development financier and impact investor, says it has made a follow-on investment in a company called Communication & Renewable Energy Infrastructure (CREI) to scale up sustainable telecom energy infrastructure in South Sudan.
CREI is an established asset management company holding a portfolio of telecom tower and renewable power assets across Africa and Asia. It specialises in deploying hybrid energy solutions for mobile network operators.
Finnfund explains that its financing supports the modernisation and expansion of solar-hybrid energy systems for MTN South Sudan’s 499 telecom sites under a ten-year energy as a service (ESCO) contract.
Indeed, Finnfund says the project has already modernised 490 sites and reaches over four million customers, exceeding initial targets. The telecom stations are not only operational but consistently powered, allowing anyone with a mobile device to make a call, browse the internet, or access digital services.
The overall network coverage has expanded from 69% to 80% of the population over the past three years, reflecting the broader market effect of CREI’s infrastructure upgrades.
The US$5 million investment is backed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus under the Africa Connected programme, which aims to accelerate digital inclusion and climate resilience. In total, Finnfund says it has now invested US$10 million dollars in CREI.
By modernising telecom infrastructure with solar-hybrid energy systems, not only is CREI enabling mobile networks to reach previously underserved communities, but the shift from diesel generators to solar-hybrid systems has led to a 43% reduction in carbon emissions and a significant drop in noise and local air pollution. The renewable energy ratio has risen from 11% to 42%, and, with further modernisation underway, even greater sustainability gains are expected.
CREI also invests in community development, including solarised maternity wards that previously operated without reliable access to electricity, providing clean energy to essential healthcare facilities and enhancing maternal and neonatal health services.
CREI has also launched a gender action plan aimed at increasing female representation across technical and engineering roles, enhancing workplace benefits, and ensuring equitable access to training and leadership, and career advancement opportunities.
Some AI, some metro and last mile fiber, and more data center infrastructure: … [visit site to read more]
Microsoft said it remains on track to invest US$50 billion by 2030 to expand access to artificial intelligence across emerging markets in the Global South, framing the move as part of a broader effort to narrow what it calls the growing “AI divide”.
The US technology giant made the announcement at the India AI Impact Summit, arguing that AI must be distributed more widely if developing economies are to fully benefit from the technology. It said that when adopted by young and rapidly growing populations, AI presents a significant opportunity for emerging markets to accelerate productivity and close economic gaps with advanced economies, describing it as one of the defining growth opportunities of the 21st century.
According to data from Microsoft, the Global North uses AI two times more than the Global South.
Microsoft said that as of November it had reached 117 million people in Africa with AI-enabled technologies through partnerships with companies including Cassava Technologies and Mawingu. These initiatives focus in part on extending last-mile connectivity to rural and underserved urban communities. The company said it is working towards reaching 250 million people globally through similar programmes.
Alongside infrastructure expansion, Microsoft highlighted increasing demand in emerging markets for greater sovereign control over data. Governments are seeking more options spanning public cloud, private sovereign offerings and deeper collaboration with national partners, reflecting a broader push for digital sovereignty.
In its most recent fiscal year, Microsoft said it invested more than US$2 billion in programmes aimed at building AI skills across the Global South. This funding includes financial grants, technology donations, training initiatives and discounted access to products and services.
The announcement comes as concerns grow over a widening global AI gap – with advanced economies rapidly scaling compute and infrastructure, while many developing nations risk being left behind without targeted investment in connectivity, skills and localised cloud capacity. Microsoft said acting with urgency is critical to ensure that AI development is inclusive rather than concentrated in a handful of markets.
A few interesting items at midweek to catch up with: … [visit site to read more]
Cloud-native banking platform 10x Banking has announced a strategic partnership with HassemPrag, a leading African digital banking and orchestration platform, targeting African banks.
The partnership will combine 10x Banking’s core banking platform with HassemPrag’s integration capabilities and regional expertise to deliver a unified, complete banking solution to replace legacy core banking technology.
This, the partners say, will enable African banks to modernise without risk, and increase the speed and scalability with which they can bring new products to market.
10x Banking explains that banks across the African continent are facing a combination of pressures, with evolving local regulations, rising fintech competition, and spiralling costs of maintaining legacy technology. Core infrastructure investments are rising across the region.
10x and HassemPrag claim that their proposition helps address these issues by delivering cloud-native infrastructure that enables the deployment of new products in months with lower operational overheads.
Jayesh Prag, CEO at HassemPrag, explins: “Banks need a de-risked path to transformation, and a partner that truly understands the market they operate in. Together with 10x, we’re going to offer that. In turn, African banks will now be able to slash the time to market for new products that improve how individuals and businesses across this high-growth region manage their money.”
10x Banking’s cloud-native core banking technology is proven by trusted financial institutions, like Old Mutual and Chase UK, to deliver at speed and massive scale. By combining this with HassemPrag’s deep regional expertise, excellence in integration, and flexible banking offering, says 10x, financial institutions across Africa will benefit from real-time processing to support instant payments and dynamic customer engagement.
The unified digital banking platform will feature a modular architecture, allowing banks to upgrade incrementally, without a risky ‘rip-and-replace’ of their existing core, taking out the uncertainty that comes with traditional core banking transformations.
With access to this technology, say 10x and HassemPrag, more banks can launch new digital services in weeks rather than years, reduce complexity, and unlock a wave of growth.
Telkom Indonesia is reportedly considering the sale of a significant stake in its data centre arm NeutraDC, in a move that could raise around US$1.5 billion.
According to Bloomberg, the operator has appointed financial advisers and is in the early stages of discussions with potential buyers. The potential divestment comes amid surging demand for AI-driven computing, which has driven up the value of data centre capacity and related infrastructure.
NeutraDC operates 34 data centres across Indonesia and Singapore. The company has previously said it is building two additional hyperscale facilities, adding to an existing hyperscale site in Jakarta, as it seeks to capitalise on growing demand for cloud and AI workloads.
The possible stake sale would mark Telkom Indonesia’s latest portfolio reshuffle. In October last year, the operator divested its wholesale fibre connectivity unit, Telekom Infrastruktur Indonesia, for IDR35.8 billion (US$2.1 billion), as it continues to optimise assets and unlock value from its infrastructure business.
Amazon’s satellite connectivity arm Leo has launched its largest payload to date, expanding its low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation to 200 satellites as it ramps up competition with SpaceX’s Starlink.
In a statement, Amazon said Leo – formerly known as Project Kuiper – completed its first heavy-lift mission, defined as payloads exceeding 20,000kg, aboard Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket on February 12. The launch took place at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Satellite deployment began around 90 minutes into the mission, with them being released sequentially over a 25-minute window.
Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès said the mission marks the start of a planned series of 18 launches to strengthen Leo’s constellation. The first mission has been designated Leo Europe 01 (LE-01).
Rajeev Badyal, Vice President of Amazon Leo, described the launch as the company’s first of 2026 and its inaugural mission with Arianespace under an 18-launch agreement. He added that the use of heavy-lift vehicles will allow more satellites to be deployed per mission, accelerating the rollout of services to customers.
