Keep up-to-date with all the latest news, articles, event and product updates posted on Developing Telecoms.
Subscribe to our FREE weekly email newsletters for the latest telecom info in developing and emerging markets globally.
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.
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.
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.
17th 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.
22nd 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.
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.
21st 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.”
22nd 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.
23rd 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.
23rd 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’.
27th 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.”
The German Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) has launched its 2025 Gigabit Funding programme. Starting this month, €1.2 billion will be available to support infrastructure projects and a pilot programmes to close connectivity gaps in underserved areas.
This year’s funding round is centred on the 2025 infrastructure funding programme, which includes both a standard funding process and a quicker “fast lane” option. The criteria and rules for applying remain largely the same as last year, providing stability for states, municipalities, and applicants.
The funding round also includes the continuation of a pilot programme designed to improve internet access in smaller regions that have been left out of gigabit expansion so far. With a simplified application process, this programme aims to develop these areas quickly, making use of both public and private funding to ensure the best results.
“Digitalisation requires high-performance, resilient and future-proof networks. Fiber optic technology enables particularly fast, energy-efficient and reliable data communication. In this legislative period, we have made great progress in fibee optic expansion – thanks to the high dynamics in the market and our targeted funding,” said Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing in a press release (translated).
“Even in a difficult budget situation, we are keeping our ambitious gigabit expansion goals firmly in sight: We continue to support regions in which private expansion is reaching its limits and thus create digital participation for everyone. Our goals set out in the gigabit strategy remain clear – nationwide gigabit supply by 2030, a clear focus on private sector expansion and targeted funding measures as a supplement,” he continued.
In 2022, around 560 projects were approved, with €2 billion invested in expanding fibre optic networks. This helped provide more than 440,000 connections and helped around 1,700 communities.
Is Germany’s fibre network expansion moving quickly enough? Join us at this year’s Connected Germany event in Munich to discuss the sectors biggest challenges and opportunities! Find our more here
Also in the news:
BT pushes for accelerated withdrawal from “outdated” copper landline network as faults rise
Boldyn takes first steps in Germany with Smart Mobile Labs acquisition
VMO2 deploys more small cells in Birmingham with Ontix
Increasingly fragile and difficult to maintain, the PSTN saw a 45% rise in major resilience incidents last year, according to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report.
BT warns that delays in migrating to digital connectivity could disrupt critical systems such as fire alarms, lift phones, and even water monitoring sensors.
Industries like energy and water are leading the way in the transition away from the PSTN, with 80% and 64%, respectively, of BT’s customers in these sectors having already put a transition plan in place.
However, 60% of the operator’s CNI customers have yet to develop a transition plan.
“With the ageing copper landline network becoming increasingly fragile, it’s simply too risky to run the UK’s essential public services on outdated networks. BT is committed to moving these services onto future-proofed modern connectivity well ahead of the closure of the analogue copper network – but we can’t do it alone,” said BT CEO Bas Burger in a press release.
“We’re urging all Critical National Infrastructure providers to act now to help protect their services and reap the long-term benefits of going digital. Waiting until the analogue switch-off is too late. We’re working with customers to review their technology estate, test their critical devices and switch to more reliable connectivity by the end of 2025,” he continued.
To support the shift, BT’s specialists are helping organisations review technology, test device compatibility, and migrate to digital systems. The government has also introduced the PSTN Critical National Infrastructure Charter, to make sure of safeguards for essential services during the transition.
The move to digital networks offers a range of benefits. Faster broadband speeds, better security, and features like scam prevention and integrated calling across devices.
Is the UK’s rollout of next-generation moving quickly enough to support the UK’s digital economy? Join the discussion at Connected North, live in Manchester
Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter
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
We all know how we got to this modern world of infrastructure in 2025. Or do we? Most of the real stories behind the rise of the fiber business never make it into the public sphere. But in less than two weeks we’re going to be treated to a whole lot more of them when Dan Caruso’s new book drops. … [visit site to read more]
