News 

T-Mobile had previously only mentioned testing with Samsung devices, with no mention of Apple’s iPhones 

Apple has been “secretly” working with T-Mobile and SpaceX test Starlink’s network using Apple’s latest iPhone software, according to a Bloomberg report.  

The iPhone’s latest software update, which was released this week, will allow selected T-Mobile customers to connect directly to the satellites.   

The test will “begin with select optimised smartphones” and the full launch will “support the vast majority of modern smartphones”. 

The following alert was sent to initial beta users: “You’re in the T-Mobile Starlink beta. You can now stay connected with texting via satellite from virtually anywhere. To start experiencing coverage beyond, please update to iOS 18.3.” 

When an iPhone on the T-Mobile network has no connectivity, the pilot devices will attempt to pair with Starlink satellites. The software is designed to connect automatically, even if the device is not in use. 

Medium resolution images, music & audio podcasts should work with the current generation Starlink direct-to-phone constellation.

Next generation constellation will do medium resolution video. https://t.co/yfDPbkgSJH

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2025

Back in November, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a license for T Mobile and Space X to provide coverage to remote areas, in an effort to eliminate “dead zones”. 

“The FCC is actively promoting competition in the space economy by supporting more partnerships between terrestrial mobile carriers and satellite operators to deliver on a single network future that will put an end to mobile dead zones,” said the FCC Chair at the time, Jessica Rosenworcel. 

It is worth noting that, iPhone (14 or later) users can already connect to satellite for free emergency text messaging, thanks to Apple’s partnership with satellite firm Globalstar, which was agreed in 2022.  

It is unclear what impact these tests with SpaceX will have on Apple’s relationship with Globalstar moving forward. 

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

Also in the news: 

A few items, both international and domestic, to catch up with at midweek. … [visit site to read more]

News 

The launch of DeepSeek has rattled the global AI industry, potentially offering a far cheaper alternative to market leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic 

Founded in 2023 by former hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek has quickly positioned itself as a strong competitor to the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s CoPilot, having seemingly trained a comparative AI model at a fraction of the usual cost (around $6 million compared to the industry standard of billions).  

The launch has brought into question the current US dominance in the sector. By reducing the costs of AI development and deployment, DeepSeek has created an economic advantage for itself in terms of startup and operating costs, but has also challenged the way the AI industry operates, which has the potential to transform the future of AI adoption and accessibility. This is because DeepSeek has proved that  advanced models don’t require massive budgets, lowering barriers for new players. If its claims about faster inference speed are true, it may accelerate AI adoption and shift investment away from costly, chip-heavy models 

DeepSeek’s own website describes the chatbot as achieving a “significant breakthrough in inference speed over previous models. It tops the leaderboard among open-source models and rivals the most advanced closed-source models globally.” 

Both the chatbot release and the slimmer startup costs has caused panic in the global financial markets, especially in the case of chip giant Nvidia, which lost almost $600bn (£482bn) of its market value on Monday, which was the biggest one-day loss in US history. Today, however, stocks have begun to recover, having gained around 2.5% in early trading yesterday. In short statement since the market tumble, Nvidia called DeepSeek “an excellent AI advancement.” 

President Trump has responded to the news, calling it “a wakeup call for our industries that we need to be laser-focused on competing to win”.  

The success of the launch is also a huge boost for the Chinese AI industry, as technological geopolitical tensions between China and the West continue to rage. Yesterday, China’s state-owned Global Times suggested that the US has failed to halt Chinese progression in the sector, adding, “the Biden administration’s four-year crackdown on China’s AI and computing power has not only failed but has also spurred the country to forge a unique path for AI development.” 

Join the discussion around AI at this year’s Connected America, 11-12 March in Texas. Get discounted tickets here! 

Also in the news: 

Tim Höttges to remain at the helm of Deutsche Telekom until 2028 
VMO2 bring connectivity to rural notspot with Starlink
A ‘vulnerable soft underbelly’: UK joint committee explores subsea cable security

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Nokia has revealed three deals in the IX space from around the world. The deals will put more of the company’s gear to work in interconnection fabrics in the UK, in Spain, and in Japan. … [visit site to read more]

Indonesian telco Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison said on Monday it has signed a MoU with Indian AI firm AIonOS – a joint venture between InterGlobe and Assago Group – to develop AI for smart agriculture, AI talent development and tourism in Indonesia.

The MoU was signed under the auspices of a government-led initiative between India and Indonesia to develop a shared vision of AI billed as “AI for Indonesia and India” (AI³, or “AI Cube”) that will leverage AIonOS’s AI technologies and Indosat’s local market knowledge.

According to a statement from Indosat, the AI Cube initiative aims to create AI-based solutions for Indonesia focused on three strategic pillars – tourism, the knowledge economy, and sustainable agriculture – to reshape Indonesia’s digital economy and strengthen Indonesia’s global competitiveness.

For example, AI Cube aims to boost Indonesia’s travel sector contribution to GDP by “promoting diverse local experiences and improving connectivity”, which Indosat says will broaden revenue opportunities for local businesses and “sustainably integrate Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage with global travel networks.”

The knowledge economy aspect means mainly collaborating with educational institutions in Indonesia and India develop an AI-enabled workforce. The partnership will also leverage AI and technology solutions to increase agricultural productivity and resilience, particularly in the face of challenging climate conditions.

“By leveraging Indosat’s local expertise with AIonOS’s AI innovations, this initiative aims to empower Indonesians with AI skills, boost growth in key sectors like tourism, sustainable agriculture and strengthen Indonesia’s human capital to drive its digital transformation,” said C.P. Gurnani, co-founder and CEO of AIonOS in a joint statement.

He added that the initiative with Indosat is “a watershed moment” for India and a vital step towards an ‘AI-for-all’ ecosystem. “As an enabler and accelerator of progress, this positions India to build an enterprise-scale AI platform and unlock industry-wide adoption globally.”

“By focusing on key sectors like talent development, food security, and tourism, this initiative aims to support Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045 through technological advancement,” added Indosat’s president director and CEO Vikram Sinha.

The AI Cube inititiave is the latest tie-up betwen Indosat and AIonOS after the two companies formed a strategic partnership in July 2024 to transform businesses into AI-native enterprises and accelerate AI sovereignty in Indonesia.

Feature Week: Trump on Telecoms

Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 has ushered in a new era for US telecoms and technology policy. His administration has wasted no time in making major changes, with key moves including the appointment of Brendan Carr as Federal Communications Commission chair and proposals for greater control over platforms like TikTok.

With a focus on deregulation, free speech, and national security, Trump’s policy decisions are set to redefine the telecoms landscape that President Biden’s administration has presided over since 2020.

Let’s take a look at what’s happened so far.

2024

5th November – Trump win election to become President of the United States
Donald Trump wins the 2024 US Presidential Election, suggesting significant shifts are to come in telecoms and tech policy.

17^th November – Brendan Carr nominated for FCC chair
Trump names Brendan Carr as FCC chair. Carr, a notable critic of Big Tech and opponent of net neutrality, has been a commissioner since 2017. His appointment suggests a potential shift towards deregulation for telecoms operators, but scrutiny for major tech players like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

22^nd November – Carr puts BEAD’s future up for debate
Carr suggests an “important discussion” about the program (BEAD)’s future is needed, given that the lion’s share of the money has not been spent.

2025

20th January – Trump sworn in
Trump was inaugurated for his second term, and Brendan Carr officially became FCC chair.

21t January – Trump delays decision over TikTok ban
Trump signs an Executive Order giving ByteDance more time to find a new owner before a shutdown. He had previously proposed the US government take a 50% stake in TikTok to address security concerns, though many Republicans pushed for a full divestiture by the company’s Chinese owners. “Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it,” said Trump.

21^st January – New FCC commissioner named
Olivia Trusty is nominated to serve on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by President Donald Trump. Trump says Trusty and Carr will work together to “cut regulations at a record pace.”

22^nd January – Trump backs $500bn AI project ‘Stargate’
The president praised a new joint venture between OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX that promises $500 billion in AI investment, with the first $100 billion to be invested this year.

23^rd January – Ericsson CTO bullish on tech support from Trump administration
Industry leaders such as Ericsson’s CTO expressed optimism about Trump’s policies at the World Economic Forum in Davos, expecting additional support for 5G and AI advancements. “The opportunities just seem fantastic right now to put in an extra gear and then make sure that we are part of that (AI), says CTO Erik Ekudden.

23^rd January – FCC reinstates complaints about 2024 election coverage
Ex-FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel had previously dismissed complaints about election coverage from NBC, ABC, and CBS, describing them as attempts to ‘weaponise the FCC’.

27^th January – Trump fires Cyber Safety Review Board members
The CSRB advisory committee, serving the Department of Homeland Security, was set up to investigate cybersecurity and digital espionage incidents, most recently the massive ‘Salt Typhoon’ cyberattacks carried out by China-liked hackers. The CSRB committee was one of many disbanded by the new administration.

Join us at Connected America, 11-12 March in Texas. Get discounted tickets here!

Also in the news:
EXA Infrastructure enters into agreement to acquire Aqua Comms
“European competitiveness has one foot in the morgue,” warns Nokia CEO
BT quietly scraps EV charging pilot

Two interesting items touching legacy infrastructure in the US, some renewable energy, and a data center in a market we don’t hear about much: … [visit site to read more]

Indonesian telco Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison says it has formed a partnership with Vietnam-based electric taxi service Xanh SM to create smart mobility solutions leveraging ICT, IoT and analytics for Xanh SM’s new taxi fleet in the country.

Xanh SM – which is owned by Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup – launched its electric taxi service in Vietnam in March 2024 and currently operates in over 59 provinces. It has since expanded operations into Laos and, as of last month, Indonesia.

Under a partnership deal announced on Thursday, Indosat will provide Xanh SM with a connectivity solution through its card management platform, including Cisco IoT Control Center, to provide flexible control and monitoring of SIM cards for taxis and specially tailored mobile packages for Xanh SM drivers.

Indosat will also provide IoT solutions for monitoring critical driving metrics such as speed, acceleration, and behavior that can help identify anomalies or potential vehicle issues to ensure safety and efficiency.

The smart mobility solution will also leverage big data analytics for customer profiling and behavior analysis, which Indosat said will enable targeted campaigns and programs to elevate the customer experience.

Indosat and Xanh SM will start with an initial six-month pilot testing phase to explore and refine solutions, followed by a comprehensive rollout in subsequent stages.

“By leveraging the ICT, IoT, and analytics technology offered by Indosat, we can enhance operational efficiency while delivering services that positively impact both customers and the environment,” said Nguyen Van Thanh, global CEO of Xanh SM, in a statement.

Indosat and Xanh SM also talked up the eco-friendly aspects of the tie-up, as Xanh SM says its fleet of electric taxis is equipped with energy-efficient technology that reduces carbon emissions and serves as a model for sustainable transportation solutions. Indosat said the partnership is “expected not only to enhance Indosat’s customer experience through high-quality transportation but also to inspire the transportation sector to adopt more innovative and eco-friendly solutions.”

Indosat isn’t alone in chasing the connected-car/EV dollar. In September 2024, Telkomsel Enterprise struck a partnership with automaker Toyota-Astra Motor to integrate IoT and in-car Wi-Fi into Toyota’s “T Intouch” telematics app for its latest generation of Fortuner SUVs.

The same month, Telkomsel Enterprise also signed an MoU with EV manufacturer Mobil Anak Bangsa Indonesia (MAB) to « jointly develop a more integrated and environmentally friendly EV ecosystem. » Under that deal, Telkomsel will provide connectivity, services and tech solutions, including IoT and broadband, to improve the operational efficiency of EVs.

The 45,000 kilometre 2Africa subsea cable systems interconnecting Europe, Asia and Africa is back in the news again, this time thanks to an announcement from Telecom Egypt and Cisco.

Egyptian service provider Telecom Egypt, which is also one of the largest subsea cable operators in the region, has announced the activation of a Mediterranean subsea link on the 2Africa subsea cable system.

The project has taken place in collaboration with networking and security technologies giant Cisco. Using Cisco’s Network Convergence System (NCS), the link creates a high-capacity connection between Port Said in Egypt and Marseille in France via Genoa in Italy.

As Telecom Egypt points out, the exponential growth of capacity-intensive applications such as cloud and AI services in the region is fuelling demand for expanded subsea network capacity, which in turn requires advanced coherent transmission systems of high performance.

This project, says Telecom Egypt, enables it to maximise the potential of its subsea assets on the 2Africa subsea cable, enhancing the efficiency of its cable operations and boosting international traffic capacity.

Along with Cisco’s cutting-edge NCS, the system offers data transmission powered by optical interconnect products specialist Acacia’s multi-haul coherent module, delivering high performance with less power per bit.

Telecom Egypt explains that the system allows network operators to enhance capacity across any cable, enabling precise adjustments to optical transmission signal bandwidth, modulation format and spectral efficiency.

Mohamed Nasr, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt, says: “By enhancing the capacity of our well-established subsea infrastructure, we are meeting the surging demand for bandwidth-intensive services such as cloud computing and AI across the Mediterranean and beyond.” He adds: “Looking ahead, we aim to unlock even more of our potential by developing new projects and launching innovative products and services.”