News 

By joining the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) platform, the German operator looks to play a more active role in shaping how AI is developed and used across industry and public services 

IPAI is a growing initiative backed by the state of Baden-Württemberg, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, and a range of private and public partners. It is designed to bring together businesses, researchers, and policymakers to test and apply AI in real-world settings. Over 70 organisations are already involved, with the aim of building a European AI hub focused on responsible and practical deployment. 

Deutsche Telekom will contribute its experience in rolling out AI across network operations, customer service, and enterprise products. The company said its focus will be on supporting scalable and secure AI solutions that serve both business and public sector use cases. 

The IPAI campus in Heilbronn is currently under development and will eventually cover 30 hectares and support more than 5,000 workers. Facilities will include data centres, lab space, and collaborative work areas, with the first phase expected to open later this year. 

“AI reaches its full potential only when we collectively bring it into practice,” said Klaus Werner, Director Business Customers at Telekom Deutschland in a press release. “Europe needs to invest in AI now. That’s why initiatives like IPAI are essential: for the digital sovereignty of Germany and Europe, enabling them to further expand their independence and drive innovation.” 

This partnership is the latest in a long line of AI collaborations for Deutsche Telekom. The operator was notably a founding member of the Global Telco AI Alliance in June last year, along with SK Telecom, e&, Singtel and SoftBank. The initiative aims to develop Large Language Models (LLMs) that are specifically designed to meet telco needs, in areas such as improving customer interactions via digital assistants and chatbots.  

The LLMs will be tailored to the needs of the five companies in their respective markets, allowing them to reach a combined customer base of around 1.3 billion people in 50 countries 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter  

Also in the news:
SKT data breach potentially leaks data from 26.9 million users
Building the UK’s digital infrastructure based on tomorrow’s needs
Thailand’s AIS and True circling National Telecom’s subscriber base 

News 

Verizon says the deal will allow it to upgrade its fibre network in 25 states 

Verizon has been given approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications, in part for agreeing to drop its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. 

In a letter to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, Verizon said it would eliminate DEI-focused roles, drop diversity targets from hiring plans, and remove DEI language from training, recruitment, and public messaging. The changes will also apply to Frontier following the close of the acquisition. 

The move comes in a wider political and regulatory push in the US against corporate DEI frameworks, with government bodies and large firms under pressure to scale back such efforts. Major tech firms like Meta, Amazon, and Google have all rolled back their DEI programmes to align with the Trump administration. 

The Frontier deal, which was announced in September last year, gives Verizon access to a major fibre footprint across the US, helping it reach an additional one million homes per year with broadband, including in hard-to-reach rural areas. The telco is aiming to strengthen its fibre business as competition ramps up in both fixed and mobile markets.  

State-level approvals are still needed to close the deal. In Connecticut, regulators have given provisional support, with a final decision due next month. Verizon expects to complete the acquisition early next year. 

Keep up to date with the latest telecoms news by subscribing to our newsletter 

Also in the news:
Charter and Cox reveal agreement to combine companies
BT in final talks to sell 50% stake in TNT Sports to Warner Bros Discovery 
BT creates standalone international unit as strategic restructuring continues 

According to analyst firm Canalys, the Southeast Asian smartphone market declined in Q1 2025, marking the end of five consecutive quarters of growth due to economic headwinds.

Canalys reported that the market contracted by 3% year-on-year, with total shipments falling to 22.8 million units in the first quarter of 2025.

Samsung led the market with 4.3 million units shipped, capturing a 19% market share. Xiaomi followed in second place with 4 million units and a 17% share – notably, it was the only vendor in the top four to post growth, recording a 4% year-on-year increase.

Transsion ranked third with 3.3 million units shipped, accounting for 15% of the market. Chinese brands OPPO and vivo followed with 3.2 million units (14%) and 2.7 million units (12%) respectively.

Canalys research manager Le Xuan Chiew noted that vendors built up inventory as a hedge against anticipated macroeconomic risks, while consumer demand was impacted by inflation. This combination led to a 5% year-on-year rise in average selling prices, which Canalys warned is “expected to further dampen consumer demand.”

Le also identified Vietnam as a potential bright spot amid the broader economic challenges.

“Its stable governance, improving infrastructure, and proximity to component suppliers make it an attractive destination for long-term investment in smartphone production. Beyond economic advantages, Vietnam’s push for 5G presents a valuable opportunity for brands to expand their 5G portfolios and tap into the growing middle class,” said Le.

Digital infrastructure company Equinix has inaugurated its first International Business Exchange data centre in Jakarta under a joint venture with Indonesian conglomerate Astra International.

The data centre, called JK1, provides access to more than 50 global and local network service providers and internet exchanges.

Equinix says that by leveraging its cloud-dense and highly secure platform, businesses in Indonesia can deploy data networks and services rapidly and at scale with a global footprint and an extensive digital ecosystem.

Haris Izmee, Managing Director of Equinix Indonesia, points out that “e-commerce remains Indonesia’s largest sector in the digital economy, with the industry potentially reaching US$120 billion in 2025. This growth is further accelerated by a remarkable surge in cloud adoption.” He adds: “As the nation gears for Indonesia Emas 2045 vision, establishing itself as a key digital hub in Asia will be crucial for long-term economic transformation.”

Indonesia Emas 2045 is a vision for Indonesia to become a prosperous, advanced, fair and sovereign nation by 2045, its centennial year of independence.

Equinix JK1 is located in Jakarta’s Central Business District, close to major internet exchanges in the region. It is an eight-storey facility that offers 550 cabinets in the first phase, with a total capacity of 1,600 cabinets and colocation space of 5,300 square metres when fully built. The facility will provide interconnection services, including Equinix Fabric and Equinix Internet Access.

JK1 leverages innovative technologies such as cooling array and liquid cooling technology, ensuring efficient heat management for high-density and high-performance computer workloads such as artificial intelligence.

JK1 is designed to achieve an average power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.41 at full load and is 100% covered by renewables through the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs). 

This news follows our announcement last week of further growth for the company in the Asia-Pacific region as Equinix completed the second phase of its KL1 International Business Exchange (IBX) data centre in Cyberjaya in Malaysia.

It’s been another busy week for satcoms, with Agility Beyond Space (ABS), a global satellite operator, and SpaceBridge, a provider of satellite network equipment solutions, targeting managed services in EMEA, while satellite communications service Starlink is reportedly pursuing a Wi-Fi deal with the Emirates airline.

Early this week ABS and SpaceBridge announced an intent to enter into a strategic collaboration to enhance managed data services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). This partnership aims to leverage both companies’ expertise to expand the availability of satellite-enabled services, including broadband and internet trunking, serving enterprises, government agencies, mobile network operators and other essential sectors.

With experience in VSAT platforms, network optimisation and satellite system integration, SpaceBridge says it brings deep technical expertise to the partnership. The companies say they are jointly reviewing innovative service models that could improve flexibility, performance and coverage across a range of markets.

Meanwhile the Bloomberg news service says that Emirates is in discussions with space technology company SpaceX to overhaul the carrier’s internet service as the airline looks to enhance its in-flight Wi-Fi by fitting its widebody jets with SpaceX’s Starlink internet service.

Emirates apparently has a widebody fleet of about 250 jets and more than 300 on order, so this could be quite a significant contract if agreed, which, of course, is not yet confirmed. Whether the potential deal would be available to all passengers is not clear, but it would bring Starlink to one of the world’s biggest fleets with a highly regarded service.

There could, however, be issues involving regions where Starlink doesn’t yet work and a need for authorisation for use in the UAE itself. Starlink would also need certification for the Airbus A380 double decker and the Airbus A350, although the latter permission is apparently imminent.

Multi-service operator Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a private sector-led development aid institution and member of the World Bank Group, have signed a partnership to sustainably strengthen digital access in eight African countries.

OMEA and IFC say they are joining forces to develop more inclusive and sustainable digital connectivity in often underserved areas of West and Central Africa, though the announcement does not seem to specify which eight countries will be targeted.

This partnership, agreed at the Africa CEO Forum held in Abidjan on 12 and 13 May, aims to mobilise the complementary expertise of both signatories. IFC says it will bring its expertise in development finance, while OMEA will capitalise on its local roots and strong network in the region.

The promise is that various (again so far unspecified) telecommunications infrastructure construction and deployment projects, involving towers, fibre and more, will be carried out in the target countries in the coming years.

IFC points out that this collaboration builds on initiatives it has already backed, such as supporting the first-ever securitisation in the telecommunications sector in West Africa and providing sustainable funding to Senegalese operator Sonatel. These two operations, for a total amount of approximately US$75 million in 2024, allow Sonatel to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and expand 4G coverage and fibre optic connectivity in rural areas of Senegal.

Together, the two partners say they aim to provide a replicable investment model aimed at bridging the digital divide, fostering financial inclusion, strengthening territorial resilience and creating jobs, particularly in the digital economy.

Rome, 15 May 2025

Sparkle, the first international service provider in Italy and among the top global operators, announces the results of the Artificial Intelligence Sparkle Network Assurance (AISNA) project aimed at implementing artificial intelligence in its Network Operation Center (NOC) dedicated to managing and monitoring the international network.

Developed in collaboration with Engineering – a leader in digital transformation for businesses and public administrations – AISNA enables the automation of monitoring, management and quality improvement activities, thereby reducing the risk of errors and misalignments, and allowing faster responses to customer support requests.

By simplifying access to information and automating more repetitive tasks, the solution has reduced by 30% the operational handling time of alerts at the NOC and by up to 80% the average execution time for massive network update campaigns. Furthermore, thanks to AI’s ability to analyze email content, summarize key information and automatically update tickets, it has been possible to reduce by approximately 3,000 hours per year the time spent on customer reporting and by about 700 hours per year the time spent on RFO (Report for Outage). This has allowed staff to focus more on direct customer interaction and problem resolution, with a positive impact on the overall quality of service.

“Sparkle is engaged in several projects aimed at improving customer and employee experience through AI, as well as enriching our market proposition. The AISNA project, focused on network management, has been a top priority for its impact on customers and operations,” said Lorella Scalcione, Chief Information Officer of Sparkle.

“Thanks to this project,” confirms Danilo Decaroli, Head of Operations at Sparkle, “our NOC is now able to interact with customers even more promptly and transparently, while also operating more efficiently and with a greater focus, reducing the burden of repetitive activities in favor of customer care and problem solving.”

About Sparkle

Sparkle is TIM Group’s Global Operator, first international service provider in Italy and among the top worldwide, offering a full range of infrastructure and global connectivity services – capacity, IP, SD-WAN, colocation, IoT connectivity, roaming and voice – to national and international Carriers, OTTs, ISPs, Media/Content Providers, and multinational enterprises. A major player in the submarine cable industry, Sparkle owns and manages a network of more than 600,000 km of fiber spanning from Europe to Africa and the Middle East, the Americas and Asia. Its sales force is active worldwide and distributed over 32 countries.

Find out more about Sparkle following its X and LinkedIn profiles or visiting the website tisparkle.com

Media Contacts:

sparkle.communication@tisparkle.com

X: @TISparkle

The GSMA has urged governments worldwide to reduce spectrum prices, warning that high fees are choking the telecoms industry and threatening long-term economic development.

In a new report, the industry body revealed that spectrum prices have not fallen in line with operator revenues over the past decade, limiting the ability of mobile network operators to invest in critical infrastructure.

While consumer prices have declined, the overall financial burden on operators has sharply increased. According to the GSMA, cumulative global spectrum costs now account for 7% of operator revenues – a 63% rise over the last ten years.

At the same time, average revenue per megahertz has dropped by up to 75% in some bands since 2014. To meet rising demand for bandwidth, operators have expanded their spectrum holdings by 80% over the same period, further driving up total costs.

Consumers, meanwhile, have benefited from a significant drop in data prices. The GSMA noted that the cost of a gigabyte (GB) of data has plummeted by 96% between 2014 and 2024.

GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath said: “The mobile industry sits at the heart of the digital economy, enabling services and opportunities that transform lives. But a dollar can only be spent once, and high spectrum costs can choke investment at a time when the need for affordable, reliable connectivity has never been greater.

“Governments and regulators must prioritise spectrum pricing that reflects market realities and fosters long-term digital growth. By ensuring spectrum is affordable, they can unlock faster network expansion, better service quality, and greater digital inclusion for all of their citizens.”

News 

Verizon has pledged $5 billion over the next five years to support small business suppliers across the US, through the launch of its new Small Business Supplier Accelerator 

The initiative is designed to lower barriers to entry for small enterprises, seeking to engage with large corporate supply chains. 

The accelerator will offer practical support such as tailored onboarding, training and more flexible commercial terms. These include adjusted indemnity requirements, modified insurance terms and faster payment cycles, which are all designed to make it easier for small businesses to work with Verizon and other big buyers. 

“Verizon recognises that small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and a staple in our local communities,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon’s CEO in a press release.  

“Our long-standing commitment and investment in small businesses aims to empower local businesses and communities with financial, technology and business expertise and resources to advance economic growth and foster job creation,” he continued. 

The programme complements Verizon’s ongoing efforts through its Small Business Digital Ready platform, a free online hub offering on-demand courses, mentoring, and funding opportunities. Since its launch in 2021, the platform has supported nearly 500,000 small businesses to become equipped to “thrive in a digital economy”, with a target of reaching one million by 2030. 

The move comes amid growing pressure for large enterprises to diversify their supply chains, support local economic growth and improve resilience in the face of global disruption. Verizon, in partnership with LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), has also announced a new round of $10,000 grants for eligible Digital Ready users.  

Join us at Broadband Communities Summit, 23-25 June in Texas. Get tickets here! 

Also in the news:
NTT buying up land to support global data centre expansion
US rescinds AI chip export controls
AllPoints Fibre Networks unveils aquila 

Georgian mobile operator Cellfie Mobile has expanded its partnership with Finnish BSS provider Qvantel to include managed services for its business support systems (BSS), in a move aimed at accelerating its evolution into a digital services provider.

As part of the agreement, Qvantel has established an operations centre in Georgia and assembled a team of BSS experts to provide daily support to Cellfie.

Giorgi Niniashvili, Chief Information Technology Officer at Cellfie Mobile, said: “As the first mobile operator in Georgia to launch 5G services, we are proud to be leading the country’s digital advancement. Having a dedicated team of Qvantel BSS experts working alongside us strengthens our ability to innovate faster, operate more efficiently, and deliver the best possible experiences to our customers.”

The deal builds on Qvantel’s recent contract wins with Perfectum in Uzbekistan and Veon across multiple markets in its global footprint.