Telefonica Germany adds RedCap to 5G Plus Pack, forms AI partnership with Capgemini
GERMANY 19 DEC

Telefonica Germany adds RedCap to 5G Plus Pack, forms AI partnership with Capgemini

Telefonica Germany is offering RedCap in combination with its 5G Plus Pack until December next year. Customers can add RedCap free of charge to existing mobile contracts and benefit for an unlimited amount of time if they book the option between 17 December 2025 and 15 December 2026. Users can activate the 5G Plus Pack including RedCap for all 5G Plus-enabled O2 mobile plans on the Mein O2 app, on the Mein O2 customer portal under "Bookable Data Options", by calling the service hotline or in O2 shops.

Advania wins IT equipment contract from Norwegian police
NORWAY 19 DEC

Advania wins IT equipment contract from Norwegian police

Advania has announced a contract from the Norwegian police force for the supply of personal computers including Macs, as well as mobile phones and tablets, and other related equipment. The company said it was chosen because its bid provided the best quality. Advania director for public service business Trym Merg welcomed the police's policy of applying pricing mechanisms that take climate and environmental considerations into account when purchasing, using and disposing of IT equipment.

Techone creates Aurora ICT from merger of IT Lions, VH and Bol
NETHERLANDS 19 DEC

Techone creates Aurora ICT from merger of IT Lions, VH and Bol

Dutch services provider Techone is merging its units IT Lions, VH ICT and Bol ICT under the name Aurora ICT. They are merging their activities to better serve customers with a broader range of products, working from offices in Groningen and Assen. Techone said the merger should support an expanded offering and development of new services to help meet the changing needs of the SME market.

Siminn buys IT firm Opin Kerfi and personal safety products company OMI in exchange for 15% stake
ICELAND 19 DEC

Siminn buys IT firm Opin Kerfi and personal safety products company OMI in exchange for 15% stake

Icelandic operator Siminn said it has signed agreements to acquire all the shares in Opin Kerfi (OK) and in Oryggismidstod Island (OMI) for a combined enterprise value of ISK 13.75 billion plus lease obligations estimated at ISK 1.0 billion. OK is an IT company and OMI provides health and personal safety products such as alarms, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, patient lifts and nursing beds. Investment company Vex owns 58 percent of OK and 44 percent of OMI and the sellers are expected to acquire 15 percent

Atos sells Nordic lifecycle product unit Ideal GRP to MAIT
SCANDINAVIA 19 DEC

Atos sells Nordic lifecycle product unit Ideal GRP to MAIT

Ideal GRP has been operating in recent years under Atos' Eviden brand in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Estonia. It has its HQ in Finland and offers consulting, integration, software and maintenance services fort major companies ​in sectors including manufacturing, defence, technology, media and telecommunications.

Dhiraagu introduces NetProtect to tackle online scams
MALDIVES 19 DEC

Dhiraagu introduces NetProtect to tackle online scams

Maldivian operator Dhiraagu has introduced Dhiraagu NetProtect, a security service to safeguard users from suspicious SMS links, social media links and phishing websites. It costs MVR 35 monthly for Dhiraagu mobile customers and MVR 50 for fixed broadband customers. Subscribers receive an alert if a link or website is potentially unsafe before access is granted. Dhiraagu NetProtect blocked over 9 million security threats in November alone.

Bouygues Telecom Business launches managed XDR service powered by Palo Alto's Cortex platform
FRANCE 19 DEC

Bouygues Telecom Business launches managed XDR service powered by Palo Alto's Cortex platform

Bouygues Telecom Business, the B2B arm of French operator Bouygues Telecom, has expanded its cybersecurity portfolio with the launch of a managed XDR (extended detection and response) service designed for mid and large-sized organisations. Named bSecure, this new offering combines the expertise of Bouygues Telecom's Security Operations Centre (SOC) with the advanced capabilities of Cortex XDR, the AI-driven endpoint security platform from Palo Alto Networks.

UK's AI Security Institute publishes Frontier AI Trends Report
UNITED KINGDOM 19 DEC

UK's AI Security Institute publishes Frontier AI Trends Report

The UK's AI Security Institute has published its inaugural Frontier AI Trends Report, outlining the capabilities of the most advanced AI systems. The report shows that safeguards are improving, with the Institute working with AI companies to strengthen protections and keep people safe. The time taken for Institute red-teamers to find a general way of bypassing an AI model's safety rules (universal jailbreak) has jumped from minutes to several hours between model generations, an around 40-fold improvement.

HPE to sell telco products segment to HCLTech for up to USD 160 mln
GLOBAL 19 DEC

HPE to sell telco products segment to HCLTech for up to USD 160 mln

India-based HCLTech has struck a deal to acquire Hewlett Packard Enterprise's (HPE's) telco products unit. The deal is expected to close in June 2026 subject to terms and regulatory clearance. According to reports, the all-cash deal implies HCLTech could pay as much as USD 160 million, though USD 15 million is contingent on FY25 performance incentives.

Cegeka recognised as sovereign cloud provider by HPE
BELGIUM 19 DEC

Cegeka recognised as sovereign cloud provider by HPE

Belgian IT services provider Cegeka announced it has been recognised by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) as a service provider for Sovereign Private Cloud services in Belgium and Luxembourg. As a result Cegeka can provide cloud solutions based on HPE Private Cloud Enterprise and meet demand for cloud services with sovereign protection for data and IT systems. Cegeka said this recognises its expertise in delivering sovereign cloud solutions that combine technological innovation with local governance, securit

ZainTech and Vortex tie up to advance video compression and AI visual intelligence
MIDDLE EAST 19 DEC

ZainTech and Vortex tie up to advance video compression and AI visual intelligence

ZainTech has announced a partnership with Vortex Global, a software company specialising in surveillance and visual intelligence products, to apply AI-powered analytics and efficient compression to enterprise video data services. ZainTech will integrate Vortex's 'Z Compress' and 'Twin Vision' products. Z Compress was developed by Secure City Solutions (SCS) and is a high-performance video compression technology that lowers bandwidth and storage needs without sacrificing codecs, frame rates or video quality.

TTK launches coworking service MyBoards
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 19 DEC

TTK launches coworking service MyBoards

Russian operator TTK has launched its new coworking service MyBoards, providing access to virtual desktops, similar to the tool Miro. The new product can be used by businesses of any size, from SMEs to large industrial companies, and includes various VAS options.

EUROPE 19 DEC

NTT Data acquires The Cloud People in Europe

NTT Data has agreed to acquire The Cloud People Group, a ServiceNow partner in Europe, through its subsidiary NTT Data Business Solutions (NDBS), which provides SAP-related services globally. Through this acquisition, NDBS will strengthen its capabilities in the ServiceNow field and further expand its growth base in the Nordics and throughout Europe. The Cloud People is a dedicated ServiceNow partner that has grown in multiple countries, primarily in Europe, and provides a wide range of solutions covering t

UNITED STATES 19 DEC

Ares expands Northern Virginia data centre footprint

Ares Management Corporation has announced two data centre investments in Northern Virginia, adding both development and operational assets as it expands its exposure to digital infrastructure in the United States. Through its digital infrastructure business, an Ares fund has secured a 314-acre data centre development site in Spotsylvania County, located along the I-95 South data centre corridor. The site is expected to be developed, delivered and operated by Ada Infrastructure, Ares' vertically integrated d

GLOBAL 19 DEC

Hyperscalers driving 'dramatic' data centre capacity growth - Synergy

The number of large data centres operated by hyperscale providers has climbed to 1,297 worldwide, nearly tripling since early 2018, according to the latest research from Synergy Research Group. Over the same period, total operational capacity has increased more than fourfold as average data centre size continues to rise. The hyperscaler growth has accelerated since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022.

GLOBAL 19 DEC

Samsung introduces memory module for AI data centres

Samsung has announced the availability of customer samples of SOCAMM2, a new LPDDR-based server memory module designed for AI data centre workloads, as the industry shifts from large-scale model training towards continuous inference. The company said SOCAMM2, short for Small Outline Compression Attached Memory Module, is based on LPDDR5X DRAM and is intended to complement existing DDR-based server memory such as RDIMM in AI-accelerated systems.

JAPAN 19 DEC

Apple adapts app store terms for Japanese competition act

Apple has announced a series of changes to iOS in Japan to comply with the country's Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), introducing new options for app distribution and payments while setting out additional measures intended to address privacy and security risks. The company said developers will be able to distribute iOS apps in Japan through alternative app marketplaces in addition to the App Store, subject to an authorisation process and ongoing requirements set by Apple.

JAPAN 19 DEC

Google responds to Japan's Mobile Software Competition Act

Japan's Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) has come into force for designated companies, introducing new obligations aimed at increasing choice and competition in the mobile software ecosystem. In a statement, Google set out how it intends to comply with the legislation and the product changes users and developers in Japan can expect to see.

AFRICA 18 DEC

Cassava and Gebeya launch AI-powered creator platform

Cassava Technologies and Gebeya are launch Gebeya Dala, a suite of AI tools to enable Africans to create digital content using Cassava's data centres and GPU infrastructure. Gebeya Dala is designed for users without technical expertise. Its initial modules include an AI-powered app builder to create functional applications without coding experience and using instructions in their local language, as well as a service to create comics and manga from Africa's oral traditions and stories without prior artistic

BRAZIL 18 DEC

Brazil seizes nearly 500,000 irregular telecom products

A major operation involving Brazil communications agency Anatel and the Federal Revenue Service at the Port of Imbituba resulted in the seizure of 470,000 unauthorised products. This joint effort between Anatel in Santa Catarina and the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service marks the largest confiscation of unapproved telecommunications products through their partnership, preventing these items from entering the national market. The seized items included common products like headphones, mobile phone chargers, s

SAUDI ARABIA 18 DEC

STC Group's Center3 and Humain form joint venture to develop AI data centres

STC Group's digital infrastructure subsidiary Center3 and Humain have announced a joint venture to build artificial intelligence data centres in Saudi Arabia capable of hosting up to 1 GW of AI workloads. The venture supports high-performance hosting of critical digital assets, fosters the AI ecosystem, and creates a platform to deploy large language models (LLMs) and mission-critical AI applications. Olayan Alwetaid, CEO of STC Group, said that by combining Humain's AI experience with Center3's data centre

BRAZIL 18 DEC

RT-One secures BRL 15 billion for Brazilian data centre investment

American tech multinational RT-One has secured BRL 15 billion in Brazil to construct data centres focused on AI, with plans to create the largest such facilities in Latin America, reported Folha de São Paulo. The initial launch is slated for 2026. RT-One has already broken ground on a mega-campus in Uberlândia (Minas Gerais), initially contracting 100 MW of power. They also have an agreement with Maringá (Parana) for a second 100 MW data centre and are assessing a third potential location. The funding round

NORWAY 18 DEC

GlobalConnect deploys quantum-secure network at Akershus University Hospital

GlobalConnect said it has deployed a quantum-secure network connection at Akershus University Hospital near Oslo in conjunction with Norwegian electronic health sector service provider Norsk Helsenett (NHN). The network will protect the hospital against threats from quantum computers under a trial running until April 2027 by GlobalConnect and NHN. The network adds an extra layer of security to prevent cybercriminals from intercepting data now and decrypting later once quantum computers reach sufficient capa

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 18 DEC

Solar raises stake in Luntry

Russian security services provider Solar, a subsidiary of the national operator Rostelecom, has raised its stake in the company Luntry by 10 percent to 65.8 percent, reports Forbes.ru. Analysts estimate the acquisition cost at least RUB 250 million. Dmitry Yevdokimov, the CEO and founder of Luntry, sold the stake. Luntry is a developer of secure container applications.

Just In

19 DEC 16:42

SLT-Mobitel launches 5G network in Sri Lanka

19 DEC 16:19

Dialog Axiata launches 5G network, connects 1.5 million subscribers

19 DEC 15:56

UK govt to ban AI-enabled nudification apps to protect women, girls

19 DEC 15:42

3 UK launches last-minute Christmas sale

Commentary

13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

15:26

Stock markets breaking records but what happened to Odido's IPO plans?

Background

01:04

The week in telecom: Wi-Fi bolt-ons take off to boost broadband growth, video market works on consolidation

01:39

The week in telecom: Netflix wins bidding for Warner Bros, Apple poaches new execs, Samsung debuts trifold

13:51

Proximus vs. Telenet: Proximus performs better in Q3 while Telenet uses up cash

14:16

Proximus Domestic still struggling with low margins