Sky Perfect Jsat takes stake in SpeQtral to advance satellite quantum comms
JAPAN 05:44

Sky Perfect Jsat takes stake in SpeQtral to advance satellite quantum comms

Japan's Sky Perfect Jsat has entered into a strategic capital and business partnership with Singapore-based quantum communications company SpeQtral, with the aim of accelerating the commercial deployment of ultra-secure satellite communications based on quantum cryptography. Under the partnership, Sky Perfect Jsat and SpeQtral will work together to advance satellite-based quantum key distribution technologies, targeting early commercial services in the 2030s. 

Adelaide University advances terahertz device research for 6G
AUSTRALIA 05:16

Adelaide University advances terahertz device research for 6G

Researchers at Adelaide University in Australia are developing terahertz-based wireless devices that could support future 6G communications, as academic research is translated into manufacturable hardware. The work is being carried out by the Terahertz Engineering Laboratory (TEL) in collaboration with the Australian National Fabrication Facility in South Australia (ANFF-SA) at Mawson Lakes. 

South Korea launches first national quantum masterplan
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 29 JAN

South Korea launches first national quantum masterplan

South Korea has announced its first national masterplan for quantum science and industry, setting out a long-term roadmap to develop domestic quantum capabilities across computing, communications and sensing. The ministry of science and ICT unveiled the First Comprehensive Plan for the Promotion of Quantum Science and Quantum Industry alongside a national quantum cluster strategy at an event in Seoul on 29 January. The plans are established under existing quantum legislation and will be updated on a five-ye

SoftBank deploys AI-based Massive MIMO control system at major event venues
JAPAN 29 JAN

SoftBank deploys AI-based Massive MIMO control system at major event venues

SoftBank has begun deploying an AI-powered external control system to optimise Massive MIMO coverage at large-scale event venues in Japan, following a commercial network demonstration at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. The system, developed with Ericsson, is designed to automatically adjust base station coverage patterns in response to rapid changes in user distribution, which are common at events held in arenas, domes and theme park-style venues.

NTT East begins IOWN-based trials for distributed volumetric video systems
JAPAN 29 JAN

NTT East begins IOWN-based trials for distributed volumetric video systems

NTT East has begun a technical collaboration with Canon to explore new use cases for volumetric video systems using its All-Photonics Connect service, part of the operator's IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) initiative. The two companies started technical verification in January 2026, focusing on connecting volumetric video capture, processing and viewing sites via All-Photonics Connect. The service uses dedicated optical wavelengths end to end and was launched commercially by NTT East in Decem

NEC develops compact amplifier for 5G base stations
JAPAN 29 JAN

NEC develops compact amplifier for 5G base stations

NEC Corporation has developed a high-efficiency, compact Power Amplifier Module (PAM) for the sub-6 GHz band, designed for integration into 5G base station Radio Units (RUs). PAMs are electronic components that amplify signals for long-distance radio transmission, and their power consumption accounts for approximately 75 percent of the total power consumed by an RU. By integrating this high-efficiency PAM into RUs, NEC aims to reduce device power consumption and size, thereby contributing to reduced operati

NTT East launches AR navigation trial using digital twins and personal mobility
JAPAN 29 JAN

NTT East launches AR navigation trial using digital twins and personal mobility

NTT East has begun a field trial of an augmented reality navigation system that combines personal mobility devices with digital twin technology at its NTTe-City Labo facility in Chofu, Tokyo. The trial started on 28 January and forms part of NTT East's efforts to apply ICT to local mobility challenges. It uses a digital twin of the site created from LiDAR-based 3D point cloud data and image information, integrated with an AR navigation application known as e-City Navi.

Sky Perfect Jsat, Mitsubishi and Mitsui form venture for Japan defence satellites
JAPAN 28 JAN

Sky Perfect Jsat, Mitsubishi and Mitsui form venture for Japan defence satellites

Sky Perfect Jsat, Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsui have established a special purpose company to act as the contracting entity for Japan's Ministry of Defense satellite constellation programme. The new company, Tri-Sat Constellation Co, was formed following the award of the Ministry of Defense's "Satellite Constellation Project" to the consortium in December 2025. The consortium also includes the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Synspective, Axelspace and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace.

New Zealand advances rollout of encrypted national radio network
NEW ZEALAND 27 JAN

New Zealand advances rollout of encrypted national radio network

Construction of New Zealand's new national digital radio network for emergency services has reached a key milestone, with transmission sites now built or under construction across much of the country. The encrypted Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network forms part of the NZD 1.4 billion Public Safety Network programme and is intended to provide a more secure and resilient communications platform for police, fire and ambulance services.

Hanwha partners MDA Space for Korean military constellation
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 27 JAN

Hanwha partners MDA Space for Korean military constellation

MDA Space has signed an MoU with South Korea's Hanwha Systems to explore opportunities to collaborate on the development of Korea's sovereign low Earth orbit (K-LEO) defence constellation, utilising MDA's Aurora software-defined digital satellites. The K-LEO constellation designed to strengthen Korea's sovereign defence capabilities and ensure secure, resilient communications and data services for national security operations.

STT GDC launches HVDC-powered AI infrastructure testbed in Singapore
SINGAPORE 27 JAN

STT GDC launches HVDC-powered AI infrastructure testbed in Singapore

Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres has launched what it claims is Southeast Asia's first live high-voltage direct current powered AI infrastructure testbed, marking a step towards new power architectures for high-density data centres in the region. The initiative, known as the FutureGrid Accelerator, is located at Nanyang Technological University's Electrification and Power Grids Centre on Jurong Island and is focused on testing HVDC systems with live AI workloads.

Apple updates AirTag with longer range and expanded Find My integration
GLOBAL 27 JAN

Apple updates AirTag with longer range and expanded Find My integration

Apple has announced a new version of its AirTag item tracker, introducing a longer finding range, louder audio alerts and broader support across its device ecosystem. The update builds on the company's Find My network, which relies on Bluetooth signals detected by nearby Apple devices to relay an item's approximate location back to its owner.

GLOBAL 26 JAN

Telstra AI executive named TM Forum Autonomous Networks co-chair

TM Forum announced Telstra group executive, product and technology Kim Krogh Andersen has been appointed as co-chair of its Autonomous Networks Mission Board. He joined the Mission Board in early 2025, when the Forum sharpened its focus on three industry Missions – Composable IT & Ecosystems, Autonomous Networks and AI & Data. Since then, Autonomous Networks has attracted more than 6,400 professionals and 780 organizations around the world.

ISRAEL 23 JAN

NTT invests in Israeli AI video analytics firm Argu Eye

NTT has made an equity investment in Argu Eye, an Israeli company developing an agent-based AI platform that analyses camera footage in real time using natural language. The investment was carried out through a fund managed by NTT Docomo Ventures (NDV), the group's corporate venture capital arm.

JAPAN 23 JAN

NTT East to add multi-agent functions to Minx Plus gen AI

NTT East Japan has announced a series of functional enhancements and a system design refresh for its generative AI service, which will be rebranded as "Minx Plus Generative AI" from 23 January 2026. The operator said the updates build on its generative AI offering launched in April 2025, which has been used by local authorities and enterprises to support digital transformation initiatives. The rebranding reflects a broader push to expand functionality in response to user feedback and rapid advances in gener

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 23 JAN

Korean researchers develop coating that self-heals scratches on smartphone screens

The Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) has reported the development of a self-healing coating material that can repair surface damage at room temperature while maintaining resistance to scratching, chemicals and repeated bending. The research targets a long-standing materials challenge in flexible electronics, where coatings must be both durable and flexible.

JAPAN 23 JAN

NTT advances AI dataset language to automate design and validation

NTT Data ARC is jointly advancing the development of Dataset Description Language (DSDL), a descriptive language designed to automate the construction and validation of AI datasets, as part of efforts to improve data quality, transparency and operational efficiency in AI development. The initiative covers the definition of DSDL specifications through to subsequent tool and platform development. NTT Data ARC has commissioned AItegrity to support the specification design, drawing on expertise in large-scale A

EUROPE 22 JAN

Q*Bird clinches EUR 7.5 million EIC Accelerator award to commercialise robust quantum key distribution

Quantum cryptography startup Q*Bird said it has secured funding to deliver a quantum key distribution (QKD) technique under the European Innovation Council's (EIC's) Accelerator 2025 programme. The award comprises EUR 2.5 million in grant money topped up with EUR 5 million in equity investment, and will go towards scaling Q*Bird's measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) technology as part of the Nexus project. Nexus has been commissioned by the EIC Accelerator with the goal of opti

ZIMBABWE 22 JAN

NetOne and Ministry of Youth start digital skills training scheme

Zimbabwean operator NetOne and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training will run nationwide digital skills programme to train millions of young people under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and government's Vision 2030 scheme. It covers digital connectivity, vocational skills, financial inclusion and enterprise development for people aged between 15 and 35 years old, of whom there are about 5.4 million and who are central to the country's economic transformation agend

NIGERIA 22 JAN

MTN Nigeria runs virtual training scheme for 2,000 entrepreneurs

MTN Foundation has begun the seventh phase of its ICT business skills training programme, targeting more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, mostly from Nigerian small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). It aims to support the government's national digital economy and SME development agenda. The virtual training programme began in early January and runs for five weeks.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 22 JAN

LG Uplus deploys RTK-based AI safety monitoring at Busan New Port

LG Uplus has announced plans to deploy an AI-based safety monitoring system at Terminal 5 of Busan New Port, using real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning technology to improve worker and equipment safety in port operations. The system, developed in collaboration with terminal operator BNCT and port IT specialist CyberLogitec, combines centimetre-level positioning with AI-based CCTV analysis. 

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 22 JAN

SK Broadband pilots multimodal AI customer service for on-screen guidance

South Korea's SK Broadband (SKB) has begun a pilot of a 24-hour AI customer service system that combines voice interaction with real-time on-screen information, aiming to reduce reliance on IVR menus and live agents. The service, described by the operator as "seeing and speaking" AI consultation, allows customers to speak their query while relevant information is simultaneously displayed on their smartphone screen. 

JAPAN 22 JAN

KKE opens 5G test facility to support OpenAirInterface-based R&D

Japan's Kozo Keikaku Engineering (KKE) has opened a new facility in Tokyo to support hands-on testing and evaluation of 5G base station technology based on open-source software. The facility, named OAILAB, began operations on 22 January and is located at the company's headquarters in Nakano Ward.

JAPAN 22 JAN

Japanese carmakers and chip suppliers to share data

Japanese automakers are preparing to work with semiconductor suppliers to share detailed information on automotive chips, as the industry seeks to strengthen supply chain resilience against geopolitical tensions and natural disasters, according to Nikkei, citing industry sources. The initiative, led by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association, will involve around 20 semiconductor suppliers, including Renesas Electronics, Rohm and Germany's Infineon Techn

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