News 

The case highlights the growing regulatory focus on Big Tech’s influence and raises questions about balancing innovation with fair competition  

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed that Google sell its browser, Google Chrome, to address concerns about its dominance in the search and digital advertising markets.  

The recommendation is part of a wider antitrust case following a court ruling in August that found Google had illegally maintained a monopoly over online search engines. 

Back in 2020, the DOJ sued Google, accusing it of dominating the internet search market through anticompetitive contracts, exclusionary practices, and the preferential treatment of its own services. It highlighted Google’s agreements with other companies to make its search engine the default on devices and browsers, which the DOJ argued harmed competition.  

The DOJ also separately suing Google, accusing the company of monopolising the adtech market. 

As a result, the DOJ’s recommendations includes several measures aimed at create healthy competition in the search market. These include: 

• Divestment of Chrome: Separating Chrome from Google’s ecosystem could weaken the company’s monopoly on both search engines and advertising. 

• Unbundling Android: Google may be required to decouple its Android operating system from services like Google Search and Google Play, which are currently bundled together. 

• Introducing new data and AI rules: Websites should have the option to opt out of contributing data to Google’s AI training, and Google might also be required to share search data with competitor. 

Google has responded to these proposals by arguing that such drastic steps could harm consumers and developers as a result of disrupting services and slowing innovation. The company also continues to claim that its dominance is the result of offering superior products, and not unfair practices. 

If the court approves the DOJ’s recommendations, the impact could reach far beyond Google. Chrome is the most popular browser in the world, used by over 60% of internet users, and a forced sale would mark one of the most regulatory actions against a major tech company in many years.  

The next court hearing is scheduled for April next year, with a final decision expected by August.  

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

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Comcast to spin off raft of cable TV channels
Colt and RMZ form $1.7bn Indian data centre JV
Bharti Global becomes BT’s largest shareholder 

Multiple interesting projects going on at the metro/regional level across the country: … [visit site to read more]

Ukraine’s telecoms regulator said it raked in UAH2.8 billion (US$67.7 million) during its spectrum auction on Tuesday, with Vodafone, Kyivstar and Lifecell buying five lots of spectrum in the 2100, 2300, and 2600-MHz bands.

According to a statement from the National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum, and Postal Services (NCEC), Kyivstar bought two lots of spectrum in the 1940-1945/2130-2135 MHz and 2355-2395 MHz bands, while Vodafone Ukraine also bought two lots in the 1945-1950/2135-2140 MHz and 2575-2610 MHz bands. Lifecell took the fifth lot for the 1935-1940/2125-2130 MHz bands.

Under the new licences, which are good for 15 years, the operators will install 1,500 new base stations within two years, including 500 in the first year, according to Ukrainian news site UNN. They are also tasked with rapid restoration of communications in de-occupied territories within six months, as well as increasing mobile coverage on national and international highways.

In a statement, Kyivstar’s parent company Veon said the auction result boosts its total spectrum holding from 152 MHz to 202 MHz. Veon also said Kyivstar will will invest UAH1.43 billion in the Ukrainian economy through the spectrum acquisition.

« We have consistently stated that the time to invest in Ukraine is now, and have committed US$1 billion in investments through 2027,” said Veon Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu. “We have an unwavering commitment to building Ukraine’s digital infrastructure, taking 4G connectivity across the nation, bolstering our network’s energy resilience to keep Ukraine connected, and investing in the digital services that Ukraine needs.”

The successful auction also signifies the Ukraine government’s determination to develop the country’s digital infrastructure even amid the ongoing war with Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022. As we reported this week, the Ukrainian government has set a target to increase 4G coverage from 65% to 91% over the next three years, despite repeated attacks on critical infrastructure.

« Developing an industry during wartime is a challenge, but not a reason to put life on hold,” said Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov. “The auction for obtaining licenses for the use of the radio frequency spectrum is an important step in the development of Ukraine’s electronic communications industry and evidence that the war does not stop investments in state assets, and their effective management can bring significant funds to the budget.”

Dotlines UK, the latest venture from global tech company Dotlines, has officially launched with a mission to transform business solutions, digital security and connectivity across the UK.

Aiming to address key challenges in the UK telecoms industry, Dotlines UK sets out to deliver innovative, user-friendly solutions that empower telecommunication network providers, small businesses and households. Its approach centres on creating technology that makes life and business simpler.

Building on its rapid success in South and Southeast Asia, the UK launch is a strategic move for the company. Led by Jaki Chowdhury, former Product Director at TalkTalk, Dotlines UK aims to replicate its proven model here, blending local insights with global expertise.

Jaki Chowdhury, CEO of Dotlines UK, who has nearly two decades of experience in the telecoms industry, said: “We believe it’s time for a change. The telecoms industry has long grappled with issues such as legacy infrastructure and the need for more efficient, accessible services. With a focus on simplicity and user-centric design, our solutions aim to streamline operations, bridge connectivity gaps, and provide robust security measures for businesses and consumers alike.

“Dotlines UK isn’t just about selling products, it’s about building meaningful connections between people, processes and technology, with a focus on delivering simplicity through tech solutions. Our goal is to help businesses grow efficiently, in turn, allowing them to deliver value to their users.”

Dotlines UK will serve as the parent brand to a portfolio of technology solutions set to launch in early 2025. The products, designed for telecommunication operators, small businesses and consumers, will span business management, security and connectivity to meet modern demands.

Positioning itself as an “impact-driven” brand, Dotlines UK is dedicated to making a positive difference. A portion of profits will be directed toward charitable and environmental initiatives, including tree planting, carbon offsetting and not for profit partnerships, ensuring that the company’s success directly benefits communities and supports sustainability efforts.

For more information visit Dotlines UK.

A few interesting items from around the world at midweek: … [visit site to read more]

Madagascar’s three mobile money operators – MVola, Orange Money and Airtel Money – have denounced plans by the government’s Directorate General for Taxes (DGI) to tax mobile money transactions, which they say will discourage financial inclusion and harm the economy.

The DGI announced last Thursday it is looking to introduce a 0.5% tax on all mobile money transactions above MGA150,000 (a little over US$32.00), which it said will generate MGA143 billion in tax revenue per year.

According to a joint statement from MVola, Orange Money and Airtel Money published on the Ecofin news agency website, the actual tax revenue would be far less, as it would actually reduce usage of mobile money services. 

MVola, Orange Money and Airtel Money said families would see fees for money transfers increase by up to 5x, and while fees for merchant payments would increase by much as 10x. That would cause the number of active mobile money users to drop 30% immediately, and decrease the value of transactions 60% within six months, they said. There are currently around 23 million mobile money users in Madagascar.

Reduced usage of mobile money services would also impact the 164,000 distribution agents (cash points) operating in the country, the operators said.

In essence, mobile money operators claim the tax would encourage people to switch back to cash, which goes against the financial inclusion efforts promoted by the Central Bank of Madagascar, as well as the government’s own digitalisation initiatives.

Among other things, taxing mobile money would slow down digitization of the economy, increase security risks, reduce the traceability of transactions (which would also make it more complicated to collect tax revenue), reduce foreign exchange inflows and discourage local and international investment, the operators said.

MVola, Orange Money and Airtel Money also noted that similar tax schemes in other countries such as Tanzania, Ghana, Cameroon and Central African Republic that have seen similar results.

Mobile money operators said that if the government wants to increase tax revenues, it should accelerate large-scale adoption of mobile money services. The resulting boost in total transaction volumes and value of merchant payments would in turn accelerate digitalization and boost the digital economy.

“This digitization will contribute to the formalization of the economy and generate increased tax revenues, of the order of MGA100 billion,” the operator statement said.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 19 November 2024 – Ezditek, a leading expert in data center and digital infrastructure services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), has broken ground on its flagship data center facility, RUH01, in Riyadh to provide a sustainable and scalable foundation for local digital transformation. The facility will be located in the world’s biggest female university, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) on a 35,000+ sqm plot and is expected to go live by Q1 2026. 

RUH01’s strategic location provides an ideal entry point for hyperscalers, cloud providers and enterprises looking to establish a presence in the KSA with direct access to major carriers. RUH01 will reach 100% of public and enterprise customers in the Saudi central region and deliver a maximum capacity of 24 MW. 

“As one of the most vastly developing and transforming cities in the world, Riyadh provides a natural hub for digital transformation. It is the heart of the KSA’s rapidly expanding technology sector, and this makes it the perfect location for our flagship data center,” said Ibrahim Almulhim, CEO at Ezditek. “We’re matching experience with delivery across the Kingdom. Breaking ground on RUH01 marks a critical milestone in our mission to make it simple and efficient for organizations to grow their local presence in the KSA.”

RUH01’s capacity to reach 90% of Saudi population within 25 milliseconds enables it to serve growing demand for rapid connectivity. The facility supports digitalization by enhancing the Kingdom’s data sovereignty and strengthening its position as a global digital hub. It will host Saudi Arabian Internet Exchange (SAIE), available at 100+ GBPS of speed to reduce latency and improve localization of content and traffic. 

“We’re committed to ensuring the region’s cloud, connectivity and AI needs are met while advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. RUH01 matches AI-enablement with sustainability, enabling customers to benefit from emerging technologies and meet ESG goals,” said Almulhim. We’re ready to meet scaling demand for future-ready data center facilities as we affirm our on-the-ground presence in the Kingdom and commitment to minimizing environmental impact.”

Ezditek is focused on delivering high-capacity infrastructure to support local connectivity needs in the AI-era. The construction of RUH01 follows the launch joint venture with Gcore to deploy an ‘AI Factory’, which can be used for building, training, and deploying generative AI solutions locally and across the globe.

About Ezditek

Ezditek is a leading Saudi Arabian company specializing in the development and operation of state-of-the-art data centers. With a proven track record in delivering scalable and energy-efficient data center solutions, Ezditek plays a key role in supporting the Kingdom’s growing digital economy. Learn more at Ezditek.com.

We try to stay out of politics here and that’s not going to change today. But the telecommunications and internet infrastructure sector in the US will soon see a shift in regulatory leadership. Brendan Carr has been named by the incoming administration as the next FCC Chairman. … [visit site to read more]

5G connected cars are expected to be an increasingly hot item for India’s smart-device consumers next year as new models include 5G IoT connectivity and onboard GenAI as default technologies, says a new research report.

According to Techarc’s India Connected Consumer Report 2025, Indian consumers are still buying smart devices such as smart home appliances and smart speakers, but they aren’t using them much. On average 27% of respondents have stopped or reduced using at least one of the smart devices they own, usually due to poor user experience or perceived lack of value for money.

The study found that consumers are interested in spending money on devices that offer a better value proposition in terms of features, quality and experience, and one category currently generating the most interest is connected cars.

Around 55% of respondents said that they have come across news or information about smart/connected cars in recent times, while 73% said that smart/connecvity features will be either an “extremely important” or “important influence on their next car purchase, the report said.

According to Techarc, all of the 22 automobile OEMs in India have centred their core strategies around connected cars. Starting next year, passenger cars launched in India will offer 5G IoT connectivity, onboard GenAI, cloud connectivity and multiple displays across different price segments. Most cars priced INR2 million (around US$23,700) and above will feature 5G connectivity and GenAI by default.

Techarc expects telematics, vehicle maintenance, audio/video conferencing and infotainment apps to be the big early use cases for connected cars in India.

“With connectivity and the technologies it brings to the cars, the future of automobile sector will be fundamentally determined by the auto-technologies that will influence the overall experience, performance, comfort, safety and entertainment available to the drivers as well as the passengers,” said Techarc auto-tech sector analyst Sadat Ahanger. “So far, such features were seen as luxury or high-end experiences. But starting 2025, many of these will become mainstream for cars in India.”

The Techarc report also said India’s connected car segment could turn the country into the largest 5G IoT market in the world in next two to three years, as the local automotive sector is leapfrogging 4G in favor of 5G, which is available in most populated areas across the country.

The report is promising news for telcos looking for new 5G monetisation opportunies, including connected cars. Last month, Bharti Airtel’s B2B arm Airtel Business launched a partnership with automaker Kia India to provide IoT connectivity solutions for its next-gen connected-car platform, Kia Connect 2.0.

News 

The altnet has collapsed under mounting debt pressure 

UK altnet Spring Fibre, has been sold to Harmony Networks for £1.5 million, the company has announced. The sale reflects the challenges smaller broadband providers face in scaling operations and competing with larger players in the UK’s full-fibre rollout. 

Founded in 2019 with the ambition of rolling out gigabit broadband to one million premises across the UK, Spring Fibre initially sought to position itself as a key player in the UK’s fibre race. The company’s rollout officially began in Lincolnshire in 2021, with the company having raised £150 million to fuel its expansion. 

Progress, however, was mired by rapidly growing operational costs and stiff regional competition. To date, Spring Fibre has only succeeded in passing 12,000 UK premises with full fibre.  

The extent of the company’s financial woes only became apparent recently, with a report from the Telegraph confirmed that Spring Fibre was on the brink of collapse, with its debt pile standing at £11 million, and had made a loss of £3.8 million in 2022. 

“While we can confirm we’ve had a significant level of interest, including indicative offers for the business, we don’t today have an offer that provides the necessary liquidity in the time we have available,” said Gareth Greppellini at the time. 

 “Unfortunately, with this in mind, we have taken the difficult decision to file a notice of intention [to appoint administrators],” he added. 

At the time, Greppellini said discussions with potential purchases were still ongoing with the aim of reaching a deal that “maximises value for the business”. 

On Friday, a buyer was finally announced with civil engineering and utility construction contractor Harmony Networks agreeing to buy the altnet for £1.5 million, representing a considerable loss for Spring’s investors. 

The acquisition highlights the challenging economic environment for the UK’s broadband altnets, where smaller players are struggling to maintain financial viability while deploying infrastructure in underserved areas. 

The sale also highlights broader issues within the market, including the sustainability of large expansion plans and the financial pressures faced by new entrants. As competition intensifies, Spring Fibre’s story reflects the difficulties of maintaining momentum in a crowded and capital-heavy industry, and foreshadows the sectors inevitable consolidation.  

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Also in the news:
VMO2 launches UK’s first 5G standalone small cells in Birmingham
BT says Labour’s budget will cost company £100m
Vodafone Spain and Telefonica complete FibreCo deal