ICT solutions and smart devices giant Huawei, and Ektech, a solutions distributor, have announced a partnership to develop the internet service provider (ISP) market in Brazil.

The announcement was made at a special certification ceremony held at Huawei’s headquarters in São Paulo.

The collaboration aims to strengthen the infrastructure of regional ISPs by offering access to innovative technologies and high-performance connectivity solutions. With a portfolio that includes connectivity solutions for next-generation fibre optic networks, the partners say the alliance will enable Brazilian ISPs to expand their coverage, optimise their services and offer higher-performance connections to end users.

The initiative will, they add, provide technical training, specialised support and joint initiatives to build capacity in the sector, ensuring that providers have access to the best practices and technologies available in the market. In addition, Huawei and Ektech will develop flexible and accessible business models, enabling ISPs of all sizes to modernise their operations and expand their services efficiently.

Patrick Canton, President of Ektech, highlighting the importance of the synergy between the two companies, says: « Huawei’s expertise in cutting-edge technologies, combined with our capillarity and knowledge of the local market, will allow Brazilian ISPs to have access to robust and efficient solutions, ensuring sustainable growth and greater competitiveness. »

Huawei has four business units in Brazil: a group dedicated to operators, which offers telecommunications equipment and infrastructure; one that meets the needs of the corporate market, providing ICT solutions and infrastructure; Huawei Cloud; and Huawei Digital Power, whose smart solutions are focused on the generation, distribution and storage of photovoltaic energy.

The company also develops projects in the area of smart automotive solutions and devices for the end consumer, such as smartwatches, routers and smartphones.

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The regulator’s decision follows the operator’s abject failure to deploy mobile infrastructure after almost five years

This week, the Philippines regulator National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has denied NOW Telecom’s appeal to extend its mobile operating licence.

The regulator said that the operator had failed to meet numerous regulatory requirements attached to the licence, including minimal rollout targets and a sufficient use of assigned mobile spectrum.

“[Now Telecom’s] provisional authority to install, operate and maintain a nationwide mobile telecommunications system, offer services and to charge rates, with the clarification that said authority is not specific to 3G, is hereby deemed inoperative in view of its expiration/non-extension of its provisional authority,” said the NTC in a statement.

Founded as Satellite Paging Systems Philippines in 1992, NOW Telecom acquired a mobile network operating licence from the NTC in 2020, aiming to take on the de facto mobile duopoly of Globe and PLDT. As part of this licence agreement, NOW pledged to rollout 2,306 base stations across the country.

Five years on, however, the NTC says NOW has deployed just six base stations and still does not offer commercial services.

“After more than five years, the frequency band 3520-3540 MHz is used only in six out of 2,306 base stations (0.26 percent) or three out of 245 locations (1.22 percent),” read the NTC’s order.

In addition to this rollout failure, NOW also owes the regulator spectrum payments of over PHP 3.57 billion ($62 million), a figure that the operator contests.

NOW has 15 days to appeal to the decision, according to reports.

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NBCC (India) Limited, a central public sector enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with RailTel Corporation, a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) or government-owned establishment under the Ministry of Railways, to collaborate on developing data centre projects.

The collaboration extends from concept to commissioning across India and overseas for a period of five years.

NBCC has Navratna status, a designation granting CPSEs enhanced financial and operational autonomy, allowing them to make larger investments and enter into international collaborations without needing government approval.

Formerly known as National Buildings Construction Corporation, NBCC’s operations include project management consultancy, engineering, procurement and construction, and real estate development.

RailTel meanwhile, is a PSU and one of the largest neutral telecom infrastructure and ICT solutions and services providers in the country, owning a pan-India optic fibre network covering several towns and cities and rural areas of the country.

Under the terms of the MoU, NBCC will offer project management consultancy services for the construction of data centre buildings and associated civil and passive infrastructure. RailTel will provide expertise in planning, designing, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and operations and maintenance of IT-related infrastructure for the data centres.

This collaboration is designed to leverage the core competencies of both organisations, enabling them to supplement each other’s capabilities and enhance client acquisition and service delivery efficiency on a long-term, sustainable basis.

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Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has approved changes to Starlink’s licence, allowing it to launch 7,500 more satellites 

The decision significantly broadens Starlink’s footprint in Brazil, building on its existing licence granted in 2022, which covered 4,408 satellites. 

Starlink currently operates around 6,750 low Earth orbit satellites, which provide global coverage of satellite internet services..  

Following this latest approval, the company is now authorised operate up to 7,500 additional satellites to provide services across the country.  

While the council unanimously approved the expansion, Anatel issued a regulatory alert highlighting the need to modernise Brazil’s telecoms framework.  

According to councillor Alexandre Freire, the “purpose is to preserve the coherence, predictability and legitimacy of administrative deliberations, while ensuring transparency in dialogue with the regulated sector and society in general”. 

“Although we have unanimously granted the request to change Starlink’s satellite exploration right to expand the number of satellites and authorized frequency bands, as well as update the associated networks, this case has made clear to me the limitations of the current regulations to offer adequate responses to the complex issues that emerge in this scenario,” he added. 

Starlink’s operations in Brazil have become entangled with Elon Musk’s broader business interests, particularly his ownership of X (formerly Twitter). In August 2024, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the suspension of X after the platform refused to comply with legal demands to take down accounts accused of spreading misinformation and failed to appoint a local legal representative. Although Starlink and X are legally separate, authorities treated them as part of the same economic group, freezing Starlink’s assets to force compliance. While Starlink ultimately agreed to block access to X, allowing it to maintain its service in Brazil, the episode highlights the fragile and politically sensitive relationship between Musk’s companies and Brazilian institutions. 

The recent implementation of significant tariffs on US imports, such as the 104% tariff on Chinese goods effective from this month, could impact the satellite industry. These tariffs may increase costs for electronic components essential for satellite manufacturing, potentially affecting production expenses and service affordability for companies like SpaceX.  

Separately, several regions globally have reconsidered Starlink contracts, reflecting the importance of geopolitical tension in the satellite connectivity industry. For example, the Canadian province of Ontario announced the cancellation of a $68 million Starlink contract, commenting “Ontario won’t do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy.” 

Italian defence Minister Guido Crosetto also announced last month that negotiations over a $1.63 billion Starlink contract had stalled, expressing outrage over reports that the US had threatened to shut down Starlink’s communications in Ukraine earlier this year. 

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Also in the news: 
Nokia, Telia, and Finnish military demo 5G network slicing across borders
Mobile operators quibble with Ofcom over spectrum fees
Deutsche Telekom commits to Google Cloud through 2030 

It seems as if a day doesn’t go by without another billion dollar data center campus project getting announced. But yesterday we saw one go the other way all of a sudden. Microsoft has pulled back from its plans to build three data center campuses in the Columbus OH metro area. … [visit site to read more]

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A report published late last month by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed that the UK government risks missing out on the potential benefits of AI for the public sector due to dated IT systems, poor data quality, and a clear digital skills gap. 

The report specifically highlighted five areas of improvement that are needed:  

1. Legacy technology and poor data are blocking AI progress

Outdated government IT systems using siloed data are major obstacles to AI adoption in the public sector. Despite being flagged as high-risk, nearly a third of the government’s legacy systems still lack funding for upgrades, at the time of the report.   

The PAC is urging the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to publish a detailed plan within six months on how it will prioritise and fund upgrades for the most critical legacy systems, and to track progress more transparently. 

2. Lack of transparency undermines public trust in AI

Secondly, the transparency around AI use in the public sector is minimal, therefore eroding public trust. Government bodies are not publishing enough information about how algorithms are used in decision-making.  

“As of January 2025, only 33 records had been published on the government website set up to provide greater transparency on algorithm–assisted decision making in the public sector,” the report read.  

Without clear standards and more transparent reporting, the public may lose confidence in government AI initiatives. 

3. The digital skills gap still remains a barrier

Recruiting and retaining digitally skilled professionals in the public sector continues to be a major issue in AI implementation. The report found that over 70% of departments reported difficulty sourcing AI talent, partly because of large pay disparities with the private sector making the civil service less competitive. Current reforms may not be sufficient to close the gap.  

4. Legacy tech hindering UK’s AI drive 

Many government departments are piloting the use of AI tools, ranging from natural language processing to image recognition. But despite these projects, there is little evidence that these tools are being rolled out more widely. 

One major issue is the lack of a centralised process for combining insights from these pilots and sharing results between departments. Without this more holistic approach, promising innovations risk being overlooked, duplicated, or confined to isolated teams.  

DSIT has acknowledged the gap and is trialling an AI Knowledge Hub to improve collaboration, but real progress will depend on stronger leadership and a more coordinated strategy. 

5. AI procurement needs to re-strategise

The AI market dominated by a small number of large technology suppliers; as such, PAC has raised concerns about competition, innovation, and vendor lock-in. In response, DSIT has committed to developing a dedicated AI sourcing and procurement framework and establishing a digital commercial centre of excellence to ensure better value and broader supplier access. 

“We want to make sure that the AI industry has a government that is on its side, one that will not sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers. In a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by,” the report concluded. 

In response to the report, a government spokesperson said that “these findings reflect much of what we already know, which is why we set out a bold plan to overhaul the use of tech and AI across the public sector – from doubling the number of tech experts across Whitehall, to making reforms to replace legacy IT systems more quickly and building new tools to transform how people interact with the state.” 

The Committee has set a six-month timeline for DSIT and the Cabinet Office to report back on progress in key areas, including legacy tech upgrades, transparency compliance, and digital talent reforms. A detailed Digital and AI Roadmap is expected later this year. 

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Poland-based telecoms infrastructure company Emitel has signed an agreement with Orange to build several hundred new mobile towers across the country.

In a statement, Emitel said the new towers will be used for the installation of base stations and other telecommunications equipment. The infrastructure will be rolled out nationwide under a Build-to-Suit model over the coming years.

“We are pleased that Orange Polska has once again placed its trust in us by commissioning a significant infrastructure project,” said Emitel CEO Maciej Pilipczuk. “As an experienced technology partner, we guarantee the highest standards of execution and efficiency in delivering even the most demanding investments.”

As of the end of 2024, Emitel operated 762 towers and counts all of Poland’s major mobile network operators as tenants.

“Our many years of experience in building and managing telecommunications infrastructure enable us to support the expansion of mobile networks in Poland, meeting the growing needs of both operators and end users,” Pilipczuk added.

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Finnish development financier and impact investor Finnfund says it has closed a US$5million equity investment with Netwey, a Mexican internet service provider (ISP), to expand its fibre optic network and improve internet accessibility.

This investment, says Finnfund, aims to bring unlimited high-speed internet to more low-income households, bridging the digital divide. The digital infrastructure and solutions sector is one of Finnfund’s key strategic priorities and its most rapidly growing sector, although this is the group’s first digital sector investment in Latin America.

The investment is part of a US$10 million equity round in collaboration with IDB Invest, a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector.

As Finnfund explains, more than 21 million Mexican households in underserved areas lack adequate internet access, with many in lower socioeconomic tiers. It agrees that significant investments have been made in fibre optic infrastructure but says that these investments have been largely concentrated in high-income urban centres, leaving a significant part of the country underserved.

The aim, therefore, is to broaden Netwey’s fibre optic network, enabling more low-income households to access high-speed internet. Increasing digital connectivity, Finnfund says, supports economic growth, facilitates inclusive access to critical services, and provides possibilities for small businesses to connect with global value chains.