PLDT data centre unit Vitro files for PHP 24 billion REIT IPO
PHILIPPINES 23 JUN

PLDT data centre unit Vitro files for PHP 24 billion REIT IPO

PLDT has announced that its data centre subsidiary Vitro, has submitted a registration statement and Real Estate Investment Trust plan to the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, alongside a listing application on the Main Board of the Philippine Stock Exchange. The initial public offering consists of a secondary offering sponsored by ePLDT, comprising up to 1.9 billion secondary common shares with an over-allotment option of up to 286,956,500 additional shares, priced at up to PHP 11 per share.

Firebird AI factory in Armenia nears completion of first phase
ARMENIA 23 JUN

Firebird AI factory in Armenia nears completion of first phase

Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the Firebird AI data centre, currently under construction in Armenia, is a strategically important initiative, reports Arka.am. The current activities and upcoming programs of the AI Factory were discussed at a meeting chaired by the prime minister, the government press service reported. 

Nar offers e-signature service Asan Imza on eSIMs
AZERBAIJAN 23 JUN

Nar offers e-signature service Asan Imza on eSIMs

Azerbaijan operator Azerfon, trading under the Nar brand, announced that its subscribers can use the Asan Imza digital signature service via eSIM technology. This enables users to switch from a physical SIM card to the eSIM format or use a mobile digital signature supporting more than 2,500 electronic services.

China Mobile appoints Yangfan as CEO
CHINA 23 JUN

China Mobile appoints Yangfan as CEO

China Mobile has appointed Chen Yangfan as its CEO. He will also serve as an executive director of the company and a member of the Sustainability Committee, effective immediately. Yangfan currently serves as president of China Mobile Communications Group, the ultimate controlling shareholder of China Mobile.

HTHK launches AI product suite with Inmo GO3 Smart Glasses, AI Travel Planner service
HONG KONG 23 JUN

HTHK launches AI product suite with Inmo GO3 Smart Glasses, AI Travel Planner service

Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) (HTHK) has introduced a suite of AI-based products and services. Spanning multiple use cases, the offerings are available for both consumer and enterprise customers. 3 Hong Kong and 3Supreme have launched the Inmo GO3 AI glasses, the international retail version powered by Gemini and ChatGPT language models.

Anthropic opens Seoul office, expands partnerships across South Korea
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 23 JUN

Anthropic opens Seoul office, expands partnerships across South Korea

Anthropic has opened a new office in Seoul and announced a series of partnerships with South Korean enterprises, startups, research institutions and government organisations as it expands its presence in the country. The company also signed an MoU with South Korea's ministry of science and ICT covering AI safety and cybersecurity cooperation. The agreement includes collaboration with the Korea AI Safety Institute on evaluating AI model safety in the Korean language and the exchange of information relating t

KDDI, Nvidia, Keysight and Samsung to develop digital twin RAN platform for 6G
JAPAN 23 JUN

KDDI, Nvidia, Keysight and Samsung to develop digital twin RAN platform for 6G

KDDI and KDDI Research have launched a joint initiative with Nvidia, Keysight Technologies and Samsung Research America to develop a high-fidelity digital twin radio access network (RAN) platform designed to support AI-driven network optimisation and automation in future 6G networks. The companies will work to create a virtual replica of a mobile network that can be used to train, test and validate AI models without affecting live network operations. 

Singtel raises SGD 1 bln from Gulf Development stake sale
SINGAPORE 23 JUN

Singtel raises SGD 1 bln from Gulf Development stake sale

Singtel has sold a 2.8 percent stake in Thailand's Gulf Development for approximately SGD 1 billion, advancing its capital recycling programme and bringing total proceeds raised under its Singtel28 strategy to SGD 6.8 billion. The transaction was completed through a private placement to institutional investors and generated cumulative equity gains of around SGD 140 million for the group. Following the sale, Singtel will retain a 4.95 percent stake in Gulf Development, valued at approximately SGD 1.8 billion

Meta hires Indian fintech Cred's founder as new WhatsApp global head
INDIA 23 JUN

Meta hires Indian fintech Cred's founder as new WhatsApp global head

Meta is investing in the Indian fintech Cred as part of a INR 85.5 billion (USD 900 million) series H funding round by the company. In addition to the minority stake, Meta has hired Cred founder CEO Kunal Shah as the new global CEO of Whats App.

NTT Docomo, NEC and 1Finity selected for Japan 6G research programme
JAPAN 23 JUN

NTT Docomo, NEC and 1Finity selected for Japan 6G research programme

NTT Docomo, NEC and 1Finity have been selected to participate in a Japanese government-funded research programme aimed at developing technologies for 6G mobile networks in the 2030s. The project, titled "Research and Development of Mobile Communication Networks Enabling Cross-Band Frequency Utilisation", was selected under the ministry of internal affairs and communications' new research and development for the expansion of radio resources initiative. NTT, Fujitsu, NTT Docomo, NEC and 1Finity will jointly c

South Korean broadcasters record third consecutive year of revenue decline
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 23 JUN

South Korean broadcasters record third consecutive year of revenue decline

Revenue across South Korea's broadcasting sector fell for a third consecutive year in 2025, declining 0.8 percent year-on-year to KRW 18.65 trillion, as advertising revenue continued to weaken across most segments of the market. The figures, published by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), cover 371 broadcasting operators including terrestrial broadcasters, pay TV providers and programme providers. Total broadcasting advertising revenue fell 12.3 percent to KRW 2.01 trillion, with declines recorded a

KT M Mobile launches ChatGPT-based tariff recommendation service
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 23 JUN

KT M Mobile launches ChatGPT-based tariff recommendation service

KT M Mobile, the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) majority owned by Korea Telecom (KT), has launched a conversational AI service that recommends mobile tariffs based on customer requirements and usage patterns. The new service, available through KT M Mobile's direct online sales channel, uses ChatGPT to help users identify suitable mobile plans through natural language interactions. The company said the service is available to both existing subscribers and non-customers.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 23 JUN

Korea launches KRW 200 bln New Space Fund as AI satellite programme begins

The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) has outlined new measures to support the country's space industry and launched an initiative to deploy AI-enabled satellite information services in partnership with local governments and private companies. At the second meeting of its public-private aerospace industry council in Seoul, KASA met with 28 companies spanning aircraft manufacturing, satellites, launch vehicles and emerging space technologies to discuss industry development priorities. The agency said it

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 23 JUN

KT extends cancellation fee refund deadline for data breach-impacted customers

Korea Telecom (KT) has extended the deadline for eligible customers to apply for refunds of mobile service cancellation fees following the unauthorised micropayment and data breach incidents that affected the operator last year, according to Newsis, citing company sources. Customers who have not yet completed the refund process now have until 10pm on 30 November 2026 to submit an application. The measure applies to subscribers who were KT customers as of 31 August 2025 and who cancelled their service by 13

JAPAN 23 JUN

NTT West says Flet's Hikari 10 Gbps service covers more than 80% of western Japan

NTT West has announced that the coverage area of its Flet's Hikari Cross fibre broadband service now exceeds 80 percent of western Japan following the latest expansion of service availability on 22 June 2026. Flet's Hikari Cross is the operator's FTTH access service offering maximum theoretical upload and download speeds of approximately 10 Gbps. NTT West said the milestone was reached after its most recent network expansion across its service footprint.

JAPAN 23 JUN

KDDI Business ID gains single sign-on integration with Hennge One

KDDI's enterprise identity management platform, KDDI Business ID, has been integrated with the Hennge One cloud security service, enabling single sign-on (SSO) between the two platforms. The integration allows Hennge One users to access KDDI Business ID through SSO, extending Hennge One's identity management capabilities to services connected via the KDDI Business ID platform. KDDI Business ID is designed to provide centralised identity and access management for KDDI services and third-party cloud applicati

JAPAN 23 JUN

NTT Group launches Dream Kids 2026 ICT education programme

The NTT Group has launched NTT Dream Kids 2026, a free educational programme designed to teach children about ICT and telecommunications through online and in-person activities. The initiative, which is organised by NTT, NTT Docomo, NTT Docomo Business, NTT Docomo Solutions, NTT Data, NTT East, NTT West, NTT Urban Solutions and NTT Anode Energy, began on 22 June and will run until 31 October 2026. The programme is aimed primarily at primary school-aged children and focuses on communications technology, digi

JAPAN 23 JUN

KDDI launches eSIM data top-up cards through Yahoo! Shopping

KDDI, Okinawa Cellular and KDDI Digital Life have begun selling povo data eSIM top-up cards, branded as "Giga Charge Cards", through Yahoo! Shopping in Japan from 23 June 2026. The cards allow customers to add data allowances to the povo mobile service without purchasing directly through the povo application. Payments can be made using methods supported by Yahoo! Shopping, including credit cards and PayPay, according to the companies.

JAPAN 23 JUN

Japanese broadcasters complete 5G network slicing trial using long-distance transport

Media Links, Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), Seiko Solutions and TBS Television have completed a trial using carrier 5G technology to transport broadcast transport stream (TS) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) signals between Osaka and the Tokyo area. The companies said the trial was the first in Japan to demonstrate long-distance transmission of broadcast TS and PTP signals using carrier 5G connectivity.

JAPAN 23 JUN

KDDI and NTT Docomo to trial shared millimetre-wave repeater in Tokyo

KDDI and NTT Docomo have developed a shared millimetre-wave repeater designed to extend 5G coverage more efficiently and plan to begin field testing the technology in Tokyo's Ueno Park this summer. Developed in collaboration with Kyocera, the repeater can simultaneously relay millimetre-wave signals from both operators' networks using a single unit. The companies said the approach is intended to reduce the infrastructure required to expand millimetre-wave coverage compared with deploying separate repeaters

PHILIPPINES 23 JUN

ETPI joins NetIX's Global Internet Exchange

NetIX has announced that Eastern Telecommunications Philippines (ETPI) has joined its Global Internet Exchange (GIX), to  expand its reach across Europe and beyond. As a new member, ETPI will have access to the GIX platform from Equinix Singapore's SG1 facility. The initial deployment is provisioned at 10G, with plans to scale this capacity as traffic demands grow, and routing optimisation opportunities are identified. 

SINGAPORE 23 JUN

M1 adds device repair and replacement cover to selected mobile plans

Singapore operator M1 has updated its Bespoke Flexi mobile plans to include device protection services, becoming the first operator in the country to bundle repair and replacement coverage within selected mobile subscriptions, according to the company. The enhanced plans, available from SGD 46.95 per month, include data allowances of 800 GB, 1 TB or 10 TB and incorporate M1's FoneCare+ Pro service at no additional monthly charge on eligible tiers.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 23 JUN

Korean streaming user base rises 4% as Netflix retains lead

The combined monthly active user base of major over-the-top (OTT) video streaming applications in South Korea reached 22.09 million in May 2026, up 4 percent from 21.24 million a year earlier, according to data released by market intelligence firm Wiseapp Retail. The company said streaming usage has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 5.7 percent over the past three years. The findings are based on statistical estimates derived from a panel of South Korean smartphone users, covering an estimated popul

CHINA 23 JUN

China's Spacesail demos direct-to-cell satellite calls on standard smartphones

Chinese satellite internet company Spacesail has announced it successfully routed voice calls directly through a satellite using standard smartphones, Xinhua news agency reports. During the field test, users had access to full signal strength and voice quality that matched standard terrestrial 5G networks, Spacesail said. Also, its compatibility with existing mobile networks paves the way for integrated space-ground communications, the company added.

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