Bloomberg reported investors including Oracle, private equity player Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi investment company MGX will take an 80.1 per cent stake in a new TikTok USDS joint venture, while ByteDance will retain 19.9 per cent.

The news outlet reported it had seen an internal memo from TikTok CEO Shou Chew, who revealed the deals had been signed and the transactions were expected to close on 22 January 2026.

Chew apparently added “there’s more work to be done before then”.

Should the deals close, TikTok will operate as an independent US joint venture, controlling data, content moderation and algorithm security, Chew added. It will be governed by a new seven-member US majority board of directors.

The deal is significant, potentially ending years of uncertainty around the future of TikTok in the US. President Donald Trump first began a campaign to have the social media app banned in 2020 due to security concerns given its Chinese ownership.

In September this year, Trump signed an executive order to split off TikTok from ByteDance, allowing US investors to hold a majority stake in the new entity.

CNBC reported at the time the trio of companies that have now been named as investors would take a 15 per cent stake each in the entity.

Chinese regulators have, however, not confirmed they will sign off on the deals, added Bloomberg.

The post Investors sign deals to take control of TikTok in US appeared first on Mobile World Live.

0:00 Intro
2:00 Was it a quiet year?
5:00 Nokia shake-up
9:00 US operators drop DEI
16:00 Satellite gets real
21:00 Smartphones get thin
29:00 Billions pumped into AI
33:00 Our 2026 predictions

The post Podcast: Nokia, Trump and AI billions – our 2025 review appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In a letter to shareholders, WBD’s board stated it unanimously determined Paramount’s bid was not in its best interest and does not meet the criteria of a “superior proposal” under the terms of its “merger agreement with Netflix” announced in early December.

WBD chair Samuel Di Piazza Jr added it had concluded the offer’s value was inadequate, with significant risks and costs imposed on shareholders.

“This offer once again fails to address key concerns that we have consistently communicated to Paramount throughout our extensive engagement and review of their six previous proposals,” he said.

The board reiterated its support of the Netflix combination.

Netflix agreed a deal worth $72 billion with WBD for its TV, film studios and streaming assets. However Paramount shortly after launched a hostile bid worth $108.4 billion for the entire company, arguing Netflix’s deal offers inferior and uncertain value.

In its letter, WBD continued to state Paramount had misled its shareholders that its $30 per share was fully guaranteed.

It is not known when shareholders will vote on the Paramount bid.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos welcomed the WBD board’s decision, stating it reinforced its merger agreement is superior.

The post Warner Bros board rejects Paramount $108B takeover bid appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Through a Master Frame Agreement, stc will tap Ericsson’s latest portfolio of solutions, building on a long-standing agreement between the pair which included work to launch Saudi Arabia’s first 5G network in 2019.

The operator said it will use Ericsson’s technologies to accelerate 5G expansion and the rollout of standalone 5G, 5G-Advanced and massive MIMO.

Using standalone 5G features including network slicing, stc pointed to the potential to offer differentiated connectivity for a wide range of use cases across the consumer and enterprise segments.

Longer term, the deal is touted as being aligned to Saudi Arabia’s 2030 government vision and aims around readiness for 6G and self-optimising networks.

Stc wants to develop a “scalable, resilient and future-ready mobile network”, advancing digital inclusion and next-generation technology adoption across the Kingdom.

Abdullah Alowini, supply chain VP at stc said the agreement will help it accelerate enterprise innovation and supports an ambition to “build a globally competitive digital economy”.

Earlier this year, Ericsson deepened its commitment to Saudi Arabia by announcing Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, would be the headquarters for its Africa and Middle East operations.

The post Ericsson, stc strike deal to drive digital in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The watchdog stated the BT issue occurred between 24 July and 25 July, with the company informing it of a software issue resulting in UK-wide disruption to mobile call services interconnecting to and from its EE network.

The problem resulted in customers being unable to make or receive calls to other networks and emergency services.

A similar incident occurred for 3 UK, resulting in a UK-wide disruption on 25 June.

Ofcom explained operators are required to take appropriate and proportionate measures to identify and reduce the risks and prepare for the “occurrence of anything that compromises the availability, performance or functionality of their network or service”.

It added: “Our investigations will seek to establish the facts surrounding these incidents and assess whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that BT and Three have failed to comply with regulatory obligations.”

BT stated it will fully cooperate with Ofcom throughout its investigation.

Ofcom hit BT with a £17.5 million fine in July 2024 for what it described as a “catastrophic failure” of its emergency call handling services.

3 UK was last hit with an Ofcom fine in 2017, when it was ordered to pay £1.9 million over a network issue.

The operator has merged with Vodafone UK, with a deal between the pair completing at the end of May. However, Vodafone was not mentioned in Ofcom’s statement.

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Having served as director general of the French Cybersecurity Agency from 2014 to 2022, Poupard “is a recognised expert in cybersecurity”, Orange stated.

He currently serves as deputy CEO of Docaposte, a subsidiary of La Poste Group, overseeing digital technologies including cybersecurity, AI and cloud computing.

Orange stated he would take responsibility for “defining and embodying” its strategy on sovereignty and trust.

He is also to work in close collaboration with Orange Business and Orange Cyberdefense to accelerate the development of offerings around security, AI and cloud in the B2C and B2B markets.

Poupard is scheduled to take on the role from 1 February 2026, reporting to CEO Christel Heydemann.

Last month, Heydemann came together with Deutsche Telekom counterpart Timotheus Hoettges to issue a joint statement outlining the importance of digital sovereignty in Europe.

The post Orange hires chief trust officer in sovereignty drive appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The laboratory is due to open next year and forms part of a broader agreement between Google and the UK government, with the company adapting several of its AI models including Gemini for use by public employees, scientists and teachers.

DeepMind’s laboratory will help “turbocharge scientific discovery”, with a team of researchers overseeing work at the facility which will be fully integrated with Gemini, Google DeepMind stated.

“By directing world-class robotics to synthesise and characterise hundreds of materials per day, the team intends to significantly shorten the timeline for identifying transformative new materials.”

It added discovering new materials is one of the most important pursuits in science, offering the potential to reduce costs and enable entirely new technologies.

Examples cited include semiconductors operating at ambient temperatures and pressure, allowing for low-cost medical imaging and reducing power loss in electrical grids. Another potential from its work could help tackle critical energy challenges by unlocking advanced batteries, next-generation solar cells and more efficient computer chips.

The company did not provide any details on the investment it would make in the facility or staff numbers.

Separately, Google DeepMind stated it would begin sharing proprietary models and data with the UK AI Security Institute as part of a push to ensure cyber risks are “better understood and mitigated”.

In September, Google pledged to invest £5 billion in its UK operations, focusing on AI research for science and healthcare sectors.

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In an emailed statement sent to Mobile World Live, Nvidia responded to a report from The Information, based on unnamed sources, which was cited by Bloomberg claiming Blackwell chips were smuggled into China through countries that permit their sale.

The AI startup apparently used chips that were installed in data centres in the undisclosed countries, then proceeded to dismantle and ship to China after clearing inspection by companies developing server equipment.

An Nvidia spokesperson said it hadn’t seen “any substantiated or received tips of ‘phantom data centres constructed to deceive us or our OEM partners, then deconstructed, smuggled, and reconstructed somewhere elsewhere.”

The statement continued: “While smuggling seems farfetched, we pursue any tip we receive.”

The news comes the same week US President Donald Trump gave Nvidia permission to ship H200 AI accelerators to China.

However, a ban on the more powerful Blackwell chipsets is still in force.

The US has enforced a block on advanced AI semiconductors being shipped to China, resulting in AI developers accessing hardware through data centres located outside of the country, Bloomberg reported.

Domestic push
DeepSeek rocked the global AI market at the start of 2025 when it showed off its R1 AI model, which experts stated had been built at the fraction of the cost of rival options such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

The company was founded by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, which amassed 10,000 Nvidia GPUs in 2021, before US export rules came into force, Bloomberg’s report added.

Despite Trump easing chip rules this week, Chinese authorities are still pushing companies to use domestic technologies in their AI pushes. DeepSeek last released a new model in September and stated it was working with domestic companies on the offering.

The post Nvidia rejects claims DeepSeek is using banned chips appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The operator stated it would use Amdocs’ amAIz offering to integrate genAI services, utilising agents and skills to “improve business efficiencies, reshape customer experience and interactions and increase revenue opportunities in multiple telco domains”.

Amdocs will offer a telco specific guardrail control mechanism with logging and auditing capabilities, role-based access control and privacy compliance measures to deliver “a safe and secure approach to genAI integration”.

The project is supported through Amdocs’ partnership with Nvidia, which utilises the chip giant’s AI platforms to build, customise and deploy genAI models.

Marwan Bin Shakar, acting CTIO at e& said the partnership with Amdocs makes it one of the first service providers to integrate genAI, helping to lead the industry’s transformation toward an AI driven future.

“We are deploying telco-specific agents with built-in guardrails to enhance customer care, retail, and network operations, delivering faster resolution times, smarter recommendations, and clear efficiency gains,” he said.

At the recent MWC25 Doha, e& group CEO Hatem Dowidar also outlined the company’s commitment to an AI-driven transformation, while highlighting the need for the wider industry to adopt the technology.

The post e&, Amdocs give operations a genAI boost appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Paramount stated its bid, at $30 per share in cash, is for the entirety of WBD, including its Global Networks Segment which houses its traditional television portfolio.

Netflix’s bid, valued at $82.7 billion, was just for Warner’s studio and streaming assets. The streaming giant beat off competition from Paramount and Comcast last week, winning a protracted bidding auction.

However, Paramount’s latest offer has been made directly to shareholders.

In a statement, Paramount described its offer as a “superior alternative” to the Netflix transaction, with the offering for the entirety of WBD providing shareholders $18 billion more in cash than the Netflix offer.

As well as “inferior and uncertain value”, Paramount said Netflix’s bid exposes WBD shareholders to a “protracted multi-jurisdictional regulatory clearance process”.

US President Donald Trump too hinted at a protracted regulatory process, stating the Netflix, WBD tie up “could be a problem” given Netflix’s rising market share should the deal go through.

Dave Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, said WBD shareholders “deserve an opportunity to consider our superior all-cash offer for their shares in the entire company”.

He added his company offers a “more certain and quicker path to completion”.

The post Paramount launches $108B WBD bid to rival Netflix appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Speaking at an event in Washington yesterday (7 December), Trump stated the deal “could be a problem”, due to the market share the combined company would take in the streaming market.

“That’s got to go through a process and we’ll see what happens,” he added, before stating he would have a say on if the deal should get the green light.

Trump also confirmed he had met with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently, following media speculation that the pair had indeed held discussions before the mega-deal was announced.

Netflix stated on Friday (5 December) it had agreed to buy WBD in a deal that brings together two global entertainment leaders. Should the deal be passed through regulators, it will give Netflix access to WBD’s movie studio and streaming networks.

The tie up is slated to be completed in the second half of 2026, after Warner Bros completes a formal separation of its businesses.

As well as scrutiny from Trump himself, the deal will also face close examination from the US Justice Department over antitrust concerns and the European Commission.

The post Trump warns Netflix, Warner Bros deal could be a problem appeared first on Mobile World Live.

It stated breaches include the “deceptive” design of X’s blue tick, a lack of transparency in its advertising repository and a failure to provide access to public data for researchers.

The EC stated using the tick for verified accounts deceives users and violates DSA obligations for online platforms “to prohibit deceptive design practices on their services”. The regulator pointed out anyone could pay to obtain verified status without the company meaningfully proving who is behind the account.

On the second point, the EC explained X’s advertisement repository fails to meet DSA transparency and accessibility requirements, adding these are critical for researchers and civil society to detect scams and other threats.

Thirdly, the EC stated X fails to meet DSA obligations around access to public data, with its terms of service restricting eligible researchers, while its processes for researchers imposes unnecessary barriers.

Garbage
The sum of fine was calculated by considering the nature of the infringements, their gravity in terms of affected European Union (EU) users and their duration.

X has 90 days to submit an action plan to address its alleged infringements, however Musk already indicated he will oppose the penalty.

US Vice President JD Vance hit out at the fine, writing on X the EU should be “supporting free speech not attacking American companies over garbage”.

The post EU regulator hits X with €120M DSA penalty appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The US regulator stated the $1 billion deal announced in November 2024 would enhance “AT&T’s network coverage, capacity and performance, resulting in a better customer experience”.

It added the likelihood of “competitive harm” as a result of the deal is low.

President Donald Trump’s administration has required telecoms operators to drop DEI programmes to gain regulatory approval for deals.

Rival operators T-Mobile US and Verizon have both had deals pushed through shortly after dropping their own DEI initiatives.

AT&T is buying 1,250 million MHz-POPs of 3.45GHz and 331 million MHz-POPs of 700MHZ B/C block bands from UScellular.

When it announced the deal, it said the spectrum would bolster 5G network capacity in more than 100 markets.

However, lobby group Rural Wireless Association released a statement slamming the FCC’s decision to push the deal through, stating it continues a trend of consolidation which harms competition and disserves the public interest.

It believes the deal will lead to increased prices and result in roaming challenges for consumers.

The post FCC approves AT&T, UScellular spectrum deal appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The EC stated the policy announced in October prohibits providers from using a tool allowing businesses to communicate on WhatsApp when AI “is the primary service offered”.

Set to roll-out widely in 2026, the policy would allow businesses to use AI tools for ancillary or support functions including automated customer support through WhatsApp.

However, the EC explained its concerns centre on the fact the new policy may prevent AI providers from offering their service through WhatsApp.

“As a result of the new policy, competing AI providers may be blocked from reaching their customers through WhatsApp,” the EC stated.

“On the other hand, Meta’s own AI service Meta AI would remain accessible to users on the platform.”

The watchdog pointed out WhatsApp currently allows businesses to communicate with their customers through the platform, while several AI providers offer access to their assistants through the service.

Meta Platforms plans to implement the policy through an update to its WhatsApp terms and conditions for business users, applying to AI providers already present on messaging service as of 15 January 2026.

AI providers new to WhatsApp have been subject to the policy since 15 October.

A thorough formal investigation will cover the European Economic Area except for Italy, avoiding potential overlap with a separate case brought forward by Italian regulators against the Facebook owner.

The post EC probes Meta Platforms AI practices appeared first on Mobile World Live.

South Africa-based Vodacom stated it entered into an agreement with the government of Kenya to take a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom, in addition to a 5 per cent stake from its majority owner Vodafone Group.

In total, Vodacom will pay $2.1 billion for the stake and an additional $310 million upfront to receive Safaricom dividends previously earmarked for the Kenyan government.

Vodacom’s holding in the operator will increase from around 35 per cent per cent to 55 per cent, should the transaction be cleared by regulators.

The operator explained it sees Safaricom as one of Africa’s most attractive assets, pointing to its flagship mobile money platform m-Pesa along with a range of communications and technology offerings, and a growing suite of cloud, IoT and enterprise services.

Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub said acquiring a controlling stake in Safaricom strengthens its position as a market leader while unlocking opportunities to drive digital and financial inclusion in Kenya and Ethiopia.

He added Safaricom’s position complements the company’s Vision 2030 ambitions, a plan to deepen its leadership in Africa’s high-growth markets and scale its diversified portfolio.

John Mbadi, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning said the transaction is one of the first steps by President William Ruto to unlock capital without increasing taxes or its debt burden.

“Safaricom has been, and continues to be, a key strategic investment for us, as we are retaining a 20 per cent stake as well as board representation.”

The post Vodacom strikes $2B deal to boost Safaricom stake appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The Swedish vendor stated it will use LotusFlare’s cloud platform, which provides consent management and digital commerce solutions, to help it expose and monetise advanced network capabilities via APIs.

Both companies will use its partnership to provide “common solution blueprints”, designed to accelerate a communication service provider’s journey “towards network API monetisation”.

Niklas Heuveldop, SVP head of business area Global Communications Platform and CEO of Ericsson cloud subsidiary Vonage said it would utilise its own programmable networks, LotusFlare’s network abstraction capabilities and API supergroup Aduna’s aggregation capabilities to drive the API opportunity for CSPs.

“By further strengthening the industry ecosystem, Ericsson is accelerating the potential for CSPs, enterprises and developers to collaborate and innovate at hyperscale, leveraging the full potential of 5G and AI,” he said.

Ericsson added that Vonage would use the accelerated supply of APIs to boost the consumption of new network capabilities by enabling developers and enterprises to build network powered solutions “that turn advanced connectivity into competitive advantage”.

The value of the transaction was not disclosed.

The post Ericsson looks to boost API ecosystem with LotusFlare appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In a filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), it stated it “will not have any roles focused on DEI” and would end related policies.

“AT&T has always stood for merit-based opportunity and we are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination today,” it stated.

The announcement was welcomed by FCC chair Brendan Carr in a post on X and the move is likely to result in the regulator now approving AT&T’s $1 billion deal to acquire spectrum licences from UScellular.

AT&T began to scale back its DEI efforts in March by making funding cuts to certain programmes and restructuring its leadership, but stopped short of cutting off the initiative completely.

Deals
The administration of US President Donald Trump is requiring telecoms operators to end their DEI programmes to gain regulatory approval for deals.

In May, Verizon won regulatory approval for a $20 billion acquisition of fixed line service provider Frontier Communications a day after it ended DEI initiatives.

It was a similar story for T-Mobile, which in July took the same stance on DEI to gain approval for a $4.4 billion move to acquire the bulk of UScellular’s wireless assets.

The post AT&T follows rivals in dropping DEI initiatives appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Apple stated Subramanya will report into software boss Craig Federighi, leading critical areas around its AI business including Apple Foundation Models, ML research and AI Safety and Evaluation.

He is described by Apple as a “renowned AI researcher”, having most recently served as corporate VP of AI at Microsoft and previously spent 16 years at Google where he headed up engineering for Google’s Gemini Assistant.

Subramanya comes into the role at Apple at a time when the iPhone maker has faced pressure over its AI deployment, with the company slower to roll out features in comparison to rivals.

Apple said the new hire brings deep expertise in AI and ML research and in integrating that research into products and features, which will be important in its ongoing work around the technology and future Apple Intelligence features.

Giannandrea will stay on at Apple as an advisor before retiring in 2026. He has been at the company since 2018.

CEO Tim Cook thanked Giannandrea for his role in advancing Apple’s AI’s work, while adding the technology was central to its strategy and he was looking forward to utilising Subramanya’s expertise in the field.

As it attempts to boost its AI offering, Apple overhauled its management team in charge of Siri earlier this year. Cook also announced in August plans to significantly ramp up investment in AI.

The post Apple hires former Microsoft exec to lead AI charge appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Announced during HPE’s Discover Barcelona event, the company stated the facility would allow customers to test and refine workloads in a sovereign, AI-cooled factory environment. The laboratory is equipped with Nvidia’s AI enterprise government-ready software, along with HPE servers and routers.

The environment will essentially give customers the ability to validate performance on infrastructure located and running in the European Union, “designed to support scaled AI for the region”, as well as address data sovereignty and regulatory compliance needs of global enterprises operating in the bloc.

Launching the laboratory in France is part of a wider expansion of HPE’s partnership with Nvidia, with the pair stating they would introduce new solutions for secure and scalable AI factories, and new AI data centre interconnect to optimise related workload performance across clusters operating over long distances or within multiple clouds.

Sovereign AI template
The laboratory in Grenoble will be available from Q2 2026. HPE also expanded its Private Cloud AI offering to address data and operational sovereignty, introducing new configurations and use cases.

Antonio Neri, president and CEO of HPE, said it and Nvidia provide the foundation for secure AI factories at any scale, showcasing strengths to deliver “full stack” infrastructures.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang added “every nation and enterprise needs to own the production of its intelligence”, explaining the partnership is “creating the template for sovereign AI”.

“The new AI factory lab provides a foundry where customers can turn data into value, securely and at scale,” he added.

The post HPE, Nvidia deepen ties to bolster sovereign AI appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The post Podcast: Our MWC25 Doha Download           appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Dowidar told delegates telecoms was increasingly seen as a utility, with people caring more about their smartphone than the SIM inside it, making the operator’s role essentially “invisible”.

However, he insisted the operator was still essential, doing things that no one else can, arguing more people would tolerate a power cut than a connectivity outage.

“We are empowering supply chains, healthcare, commerce and much more,” said Dowidar. “Without connectivity, these activities cannot happen. They will grind to a halt. So with the right connectivity and with the right solutions, industries will flourish and economies will thrive. We can do a lot more in every country where we operate.”

To that end, Dowidar said e& has invested heavily in an evolution beyond basic connectivity, highlighting three areas where the operator was having the most impact, underpinned by standalone 5G.

First, he pointed to a private 5G deployment with Abu Dhabi oil giant ADNOC, which covers 11,000 square kilometres and ensures its connectivity covers onshore and offshore island activities.

“This is not just for show, this is delivering real returns,” he said.

Second, the executive highlighted a sovereign cloud push in partnership with AWS. He said this would benefit all sorts of enterprises across the region with data sovereignty requirements.

Thirdly, Dowidar pushed advancement in drone technology, with e& working with the UAE’s Cyber Security Council and civil aviation authorities to deploy the devices for delivery, traffic management, public safety and more.

On the customer side, he added it was looking to advance services around digital banking and lifestyle and entertainment.

“That’s what we mean by a techco”, concluded Dowidar. “We’re not just connecting people. We are creating platforms and generating new revenue streams.”

The post e& chief calls on operators to stop being invisible appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In the opening day’s second keynote, Johnson described the jobs taken on by Digit as “repetitive” and “back-breaking”, essentially roles nobody wants.

“In just the logistics area of the US, there’s about a million of these jobs open. And when they do fill them, the churn is very, very high. By 2030 there will be about 7 million jobs in this area open,” she said.

With this in mind, Johnson argued people are actually pretty excited by robots and do not consider them a threat, particularly as they are being used like any other tool which makes lives easier.

For example, she explained people are certainly in favour of a task that someone may be doing for a few hours a day, such as stacking plastic bins, to be handed over to a robot.

“Now the robot can do it and they’re actually very happy for that robot to take that on. It frees them up for more creative tasks around these facilities.”

Entering the home
Johnson also dismissed the idea robots would soon be entering the home, insisting “hype” they would imminently be making people coffee and folding clothes was quite a way off, mainly because of safety concerns.

“Actually, doing work is quite hard,” she explained. “Lifting things and actually getting paid to work is quite hard. That’s where we’ve chosen to focus, because if you start there and then continue to learn more tasks with help of AI, you break into more businesses and eventually into the home.”

The post Agility Robotics takes aim at back-breaking jobs appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Speaking to GSMA director general Vivek Badrinath (pictured, left) on stage, Fakhroo suggested it was premature for people to question if AI was in a bubble or not, as the technology begins to spread and have an impact across the world.

“If I compare it to telco, I think we’re at the beginning. We have launched 3G in terms of AI.”

What will be possible is limited by two factors, according to Fakhroo. With regards to talent, he explained that telecoms companies in the past would hire telco engineers, in the same way other industries such as banking would hire bankers.

Today, he noted “we’re all chasing the same people. Data scientists and AI experts.”

The second key element will be availability of infrastructure, whether that is data centres, compute power, through supply chains or connectivity.

To tap into the opportunity, Fakhroo said that while a lot of telcos had chosen to go down the “techco” route, Ooredoo had “looked at the map of the world” and decided its obvious play would be to operate as an infraco.

Legacy battle
In terms of challenges, the CEO argued one often “ignored” battle faced by telcos and other businesses is a huge dislocate in the fact that AI apps are supposed to make “everything super easy”, but implementing the technology in old legacy systems is “extremely hard, especially if you want to do it in a responsible way”.

“I think this is why you’re starting to see a dislocate. Where are the returns in AI?”

Often, investment is being made in AI, but that could be in the back-end legacy systems rather than in front-line AI services, which is not as visible, he concluded.

The post Ooredoo CEO sees AI today as mobile’s 3G moment appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Held in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the inaugural edition of the show brings together leaders in the region with a focus on AI, 5G and intelligent infrastructure.

Launched alongside the event, two GSMA reports: Mobile Economy MENA 2025 and Enterprise in Focus: Digital Transformation in the MENA Region, revealed how growing digital technology adoption across the Gulf and North Africa is helping to expand access to vital services.

Findings indicate MWC25 Doha host country Qatar ranks highest worldwide for enterprise use of AI, big data and private 5G.

Other highlights from the reports include an observation 5G adoption is accelerating rapidly across MENA, with the technology expected to rise from 7 per cent of total connections in 2024 to 48 per cent by 2030.

Across the same timeframe, the mobile sector is to contribute $470 billion to the region’s economy, up from $350 billion, and mobile internet users are to rise from 308 million in 2024 to 378 million by 2030.

AI, mobile connectivity and related devices are expected to account for 45 per cent of all digital transformation spend through to the end of the decade, with enterprise spending averaging 9.8 per cent of revenue across MENA between 2025 and 2030.

Vivek Badrinath, director general of the GSMA, said MWC25 Doha represents a major moment for MENA and the global connectivity community.

“Across the region, we’re seeing world-class investment in networks, AI and digital services, and this visible ambition is creating new opportunities for societies and economies.”

Shared priority
Badrinath, however, added that at the same time, large parts of the region remain offline and closing the gap must be a shared priority.

“The conversations starting here in Doha can guide the next phase of progress and inspire many geographies.”

In the reports, the GSMA notes more than 340 million people across MENA remain offline despite having access to mobile broadband coverage.

The post GSMA hails MENA potential as MWC25 Doha opens appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Speaking in the opening keynote, Badrinath pointed out that in just a few short years, these countries had showed what is possible when “clear vision, long-term strategy and strong partnerships come together”.

He explained digital transformation in MENA is reshaping almost every sector, from energy and transport to finance and healthcare, while highlighting the crucial role mobile connectivity has played in this advancement.

Backing up his comments, Badrinath pointed to the GSMA’s latest enterprise report, with 66 per cent of companies surveyed putting 5G networks at the top of the list in regard to the importance of connectivity in digital transformation.

In total, Badrinath said enterprises in MENA will spend 10 per cent of total revenue on digital transformation, presenting a significant opportunity for partnership and growth.

The three i’s
To achieve lofty digital transformation ambitions, Badrinath believes infrastructure, innovation and inclusion will be key.

Starting with infrastructure, he noted the GCC states have been one of the leaders in the rollout of 5G, growing from 0 connections in 2018 to 47 million in 2025. The growth of 5G has led to several benefits, including operator Ooredoo powering the first 5G-enabled Fifa World Cup in 2022 and Zain launching Kuwait’s first 5G-Advanced network.

However, other parts of the region remain in the earlier stages of 5G rollout, with Badrinath pointing to slower progress in Morocco, Turkiye, Tunisia and Egypt.

“Its important we don’t lose our focus – we must complete the 5G journey across the region, so that everyone benefits from the opportunities of digital transformation.”  

With regards to innovation, Badrinath acknowledged challenges around AI in particular, stating the GSMA’s research showed general AI models are not fit for telco-specific needs. “They struggle with accuracy and reliability,” he said.

This however presents an opportunity, with GSMA today announcing a collaboration with Khalifa University to develop Telecom GPT, a telco-first LLM as well as an Open Telco Knowledge Graph focused on 3GPP documentation. The industry association further announced its support for the AI Troubleshooting Challenge, in which it calls on operators, AI researchers and startups to submit advanced LLMs that analysis on network faults.

Last but not least, on inclusion Badrinath noted while 71 per cent of people within GCC states use mobile internet, across the MENA region as a whole 51 per cent of the population do not, despite it being available.

“Closing the digital divide won’t be easy, but it’s vital we get this right, especially as AI accelerates.”

The post GSMA boss calls for MENA focus to hit lofty digital goals appeared first on Mobile World Live.

It stated it would provide funding for the five projects through the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme, which showcase “British expertise in next-generation satellite technologies” and strengthen the nation’s role in advanced communications.

The projects span “critical areas” around innovation in satellite communications, ranging from refuelling birds to extend their lifespans to developing 5G networks and optical links which improve global connectivity.

Orbit Fab is working on refuelling electric propulsion satellites using UK-developed technology to ensure satellites can remain in orbit for longer and will receive the most funding at £2.9 million.

Inmarsat Navigation Ventures, run by Viasat UK, will receive the smallest amount at £881,000 for an initiative to develop a service enabling governments to plan, procure, manage and monitor satellite communications from Viasat and other providers.

Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said the investment shows how the nation’s space ambitions translate into real-world impact.

“By advancing satellite communications technology, we’re not only building a globally competitive sector but also ensuring that communities, even in the most remote corners of the UK, can access the services they need.”

The UK Space Agency stated European demand for satellites up to 2033 is forecast to be worth £40 billion and even 2 per cent of this “would bring in revenues of £800 million for the UK economy alone”.

The post UK Space Agency pumps £7M into satellite tech appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The job cuts will begin from today, with the programme designed to significantly reduce the operator’s outsourced and other outside worker costs.

In a letter to employees, CEO Dan Schulman explained current cost structures limit its ability to invest significantly in its “customer value proposition” and it is reorienting the entire company.

Verizon added it established a $20 million reskilling and career transition fund for departing employees focused on skills development, digital training and job placement.

Schulman said it is the first company to set up a fund “to specifically focus on the opportunities and necessary skill sets as we enter the age of AI”.

Verizon had around 100,000 US employees at the end of 2024.

Transformational
Villanueva’s role is effective from today (20 November), with Schulman pointing to more than two decades of leadership in strategy, corporate development, transformation, data science and innovation across technology and financial services companies.

Notably, Villanueva (pictured, left) worked with Schulman at PayPal, serving as EVP of Strategy, Corporate Development and Data Science.

Most recently, the executive led technology investment company Albar Court Ventures.

Earlier in his career, he had a stint as CIO of Singtel, where he helped launch its digital division and venture fund.

As part of an ongoing push into AI, automation and digital acceleration, Schulman said Villanueva will be charged with heading up a new Transformation Organisation.

The division will house the Strategy, Corporate Development and Partnerships team, Data Analytics and AI team, and the Supply Chain, Sourcing and Sustainability team.

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In a presentation at the vendor’s Capital Markets Day where it revealed a strategic revamp, Hotard and CFO Marco Wiren fleshed out details about its decision to place Enterprise Campus Edge – which bundles private networks, Wi-Fi connectivity and on-premise edge, along with Fixed Wireless Access CPE, Microwave Radio and Site Implementation and Outside Plant – into a dedicated portfolio business segment, separated away from two main operating units: Network Infrastructure and Mobile Infrastructure.

While the official statement announcing the revamp stated it was conducting reviews with a decision on the businesses next year, Hotard revealed during the presentation the units do not tie in with five strategic priorities outlined as part of his vision to tap into opportunities around AI.

He explained that over the past 12 months, the businesses in question generated approximately €900 million in net sales, with a gross margin of 22 per cent and an operating loss of €100 million.

These numbers “set out a plan to improve execution in these businesses and to define the right path forward for each of them during 2026”.

Wiren added Nokia had conducted a review focused on market position, margin profile and strategic fit, with the conclusion that “these are not core to Nokia, and we are not the right owner”.

“We are assessing the best path of each of these businesses and owners as well, and we expect that we will have a solution by the end of 2026.”

Despite the review, a Nokia spokesperson told Mobile World Live its leadership position and commitment to private 5G market remains unchanged.

“Nokia continues to sell radios for private wireless deployments together with Nokia and third-party core. As communicated at our Capital Markets Day, Nokia’s key customer segments include not only telcos, AI and Cloud, but mission-critical enterprises, including defence.”

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Unveiled during its Capital Markets Day, the company stated the strategy changes will take effect from 1 January 2026.

Hotard, who took the role in April, has repeatedly teased a strategy shake-up and stated that as the trusted western provider of secure and advanced connectivity, “our technology is powering the AI supercycle”.

To tap into the AI opportunity, the company will focus on five strategic priorities: accelerate in AI and cloud; lead the next era of mobile connectivity with AI-native networks and 6G; grow by co-innovating with customers and partners; focus capital where Nokia can differentiate; and unlock sustainable returns.

From four to two
The biggest change will be moving from four primary operating segments into two: Network Infrastructure and Mobile Infrastructure.

The first “recognises Network Infrastructure as a growth segment” and will consist of three business units: Optical Network; IP Networks and Fixed Networks.

Headed up by David Heard, the unit will look to capitalise on global AI and data centre build-out while focusing on its telecoms customer base. The shift comes after it secured a $1 billion AI infrastructure investment from Nvidia last month.

The Mobile Infrastructure segment brings together the vendor’s Core Networks portfolio, Radio Networks offering and Technology Standards, formerly Nokia Technologies. It will be positioned for core and radio networks technology, with the long-term goal of developing AI-native networks and 6G.

Tommi Uitto, president of Mobile Networks, will step down from the group leadership team as a result of the changes, while current head of Cloud and Network services Raghav Sahgal has been named chief customer officer. Patrik Hammaren has been named president, Technology Standards.

Incubation unit
In addition, four of its units: Fixed Wireless Access CPE; Microwave Radio; Enterprise Campus Edge and Site Implementation and Outside Plant will be moved into a dedicated segment called Portfolio Businesses.

The vendor said it is aiming to conclude on a future direction for each unit during 2026. 

Nokia Defense will be launched as an incubation unit, with the company touting further opportunities for the business in the US, Finland and allied countries.

Nokia said it is now targeting comparable operating profit of €2.7 billion to €3.2 billion by 2028, an increase of €2 billion generated in the last 12 months.

The post Nokia sets out strategy to cash-in on AI boom appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The EC stated it opened investigations to assess if the pair should be designated as gatekeepers for their cloud services Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.

It explained the probes would explore if the companies act as “gateways between businesses and consumers, despite not meeting DMA gatekeeper thresholds for size, user number and market position”.

Computing services including Azure and AWS are the backbone of many digital services and are crucial for AI development, the EC stated.

“To foster innovation, trust and Europe’s strategic autonomy, cloud services must be provided in a fair, open and competitive environment.”

The EC aims to conclude the market investigations within 12 months. If they are designated with gatekeeper status, the companies will have six months to ensure full compliance under DMA obligations.

Another separate investigation was also launched to assess if the DMA can effectively tackle practices which may limit competitiveness and fairness in the cloud computing sector in the European Union.

The EC is gathering information from relevant market players to assess obstacles to interoperability between cloud services; limited or conditioned access for business users to data; tying and bundling services; and potentially imbalanced contractual terms.

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