Deployments of the AIR 3255 Massive MIMO antenna-integrated radios began earlier this month. They cover the 4.5GHz band.

Ericsson explained the latest radios are compatible with Docomo’s existing 3.7GHz Massive MIMO equipment, a pairing it stated would boost the flexibility and reliability of the operator’s network.

Masafumi Masuda, SVP and general manager of Docomo’s RAN design department, said the AIR 3255 equipment would help it “maintain and improve network quality” at a time of growing demand.

The Ericsson equipment advances Docomo’s overall Massive MIMO rollout, the executive said.

Docomo might be seeking customer experience improvements, but Ericsson emphasised the equipment would also improve its operational metrics through reductions in power consumption and weight.

It stated the AIR 3255 equipment weighs 13kg, 20 per cent less than its previous generation. Power consumption is cut by 25 per cent and embodied CO2 footprint by 20 per cent.

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The PAVE360 Automotive technology targets production of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with a host of integrated systems Siemens stated removes the need for manufacturers to design their own digital twins.

It is pitching the set-up as a tonic for rising complexity in vehicle hardware and software.

PAVE360 Automotive mirrors real-world vehicle hardware to promote the development of automated driver assistance systems, autonomous driving and infotainment equipment.

Siemens Digital Industries Software president and CEO Tony Hemmelgarn said the technology would enable automotive manufacturers to access “the digital twin technologies needed to move beyond incremental innovation” by adopting a “software-defined approach to product development”.

The software provides virtual reference designs for ADAS, automated driving and infotainment. Siemens also pitched benefits of improved cloud collaboration by employing a single digital twin across multiple teams, along with a modular approach to software and external hardware.

Digital twins are designed to be connected with physical hardware and tests using real vehicles.

Siemens highlighted an integration of Arm Zena Compute Subsystem, which it stated would promote use by automotive companies.

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A court approval earlier this week cleared the way for the $2.4 billion acquisition to be wrapped up today (18 December), opening access to Alphawave Semi’s custom silicon, connectivity products and chiplets.

Qualcomm explained Alphawave Semi’s work is foundational in next-generation services in fields including data centres, networking and storage, and AI.

Amon said the addition of Alphawave Semi’s technologies would “strengthen our platforms and optimise performance for next-generation AI data centres”.

Qualcomm’s Oryon CPU is used in various Snapdragon platforms and the Hexagon NPU is dedicated to AI.

Amon previously explained Alphawave Semi would contribute to Qualcomm targets involving the performance and efficiency of its CPU and NPU processors.

Qualcomm originally expected to conclude the deal in the opening three months of 2026.

Alphawave Semi co-founder and CEO Tony Pialis is now set to lead Qualcomm’s data centre business.

He predicted the pair would “help shape the future of data centre innovation” by employing Alphawave Semi’s high-speed connectivity tech and custom silicon.

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The pending mandatory introduction of V16 GPS-enabled beacons proved one the main catalysts for growth in Telefonica Tech’s connected device numbers, which stood at 17 million at end-November.

It stated the figure is market leading in Spain.

Telefonica Tech highlighted a bumper Q3 contributed to the growth, with 3 million SIMs connected for a total of 12.3 million lines. It explained it is at the forefront of the digital transformation of road safety, as Spain does away with traditional hazard warning triangles in place of the connected beacons from the beginning of 2026.

The operator stated it is responsible for connecting more than 70 per cent of V16 beacons certified by Spain’s road traffic authority.

Other elements fuelling the rise in IoT devices connected by Telefonica Tech include demand from healthcare, industry and utilities.

It highlighted smart water meters and predictive maintenance functions in the aquatic sector, along with real-time monitoring tasks in the gas industry as drivers.

In social healthcare, it is deploying sensors in the homes of elderly or vulnerable people to alert carers of any problems.

Telefonica Tech also pointed to its provision of IoT services in the industrial sector which pave the way for robotics, digital twins, dedicated communications and computer vision.

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OQ Technology stated it used Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF9151 SMA development kit to transmit IoT data to its constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.

The companies proved the set-up can deliver end-to-end NB-IoT connectivity, an advance Nordic Semiconductor senior product director for long-range BU Kristian Saether said could help close coverage gaps.

Pairing the nRF9151 module with OQ Technology’s satellites means customers can “extend coverage without redesigning hardware”, Saether said.

The tests showed Nordic Semiconductor’s equipment can connect to OQ Technology’s satellites without modifying the hardware, which the satellite player stated shows the mass-market potential and commercial readiness of NTN IoT.

OQ Technology explained the collaboration “confirms that a mainstream, widely adopted cellular IoT module can operate seamlessly over a 5G NTN satellite network, enabling large-scale device adoption worldwide”.

The company highlighted it offers a 3GPP-compliant NTN NB-IoT RAN stack and a fully functional 5G core.

Founder and CEO Omar Qaise hailed a “breakthrough” which he said “reflects years of NTN innovation” by the company.

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The operator initiated the purchase from private equity investors in October, explaining Skaylink would bring expertise in cloud deployments using Microsoft and AWS.

Vodafone stated completing the deal will speed its growth in fields spanning professional and managed services, and cloud and security.

Skaylink is based in Germany, though Vodafone noted the company’s operations span Europe as a whole.

Vodafone is keen to shore up its role in Europe’s cloud market, which figures issued by Synergy Research Group in July show is dominated by big names including Microsoft, AWS and Google.

The research company stated European cloud players’ market share had stood at around 15 per cent since 2022, with SAP and Deutsche Telekom topping the list of local providers.

Synergy Research Group estimated cloud infrastructure service revenue in the region hit €36 billion in the opening half of the year and predicted annual growth would be around 24 per cent year-on-year.

When Vodafone originally detailed its move, it noted Skaylink has a staff of around 500 and targeted a completion date of end-March 2026.

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The connectivity infrastructure-as-a-service company stated nine of the 13 4G and 5G small cells are already active, located in busy areas of the town to boost coverage. These include the high street, historic castle and the railway station.

Freshwave emphasised the dimensions of the small cells are an important element, enabling them to be deployed swiftly using existing street furniture without ruining the town’s aesthetic.

Mobile network operator account director Neil Barnes (pictured) explained its deal with VMO2 and Surrey County Council involves providing open access infrastructure, an arrangement which “means faster rollout, less street clutter and stronger connectivity”.

“It’s a smart, efficient way to support local needs”.

The work in Guildford builds on deals which have seen Freshwave deploy 800 outdoor small cells for various operators in the UK.

VMO2 director of mobile access engineering Professor Robert Joyce said the work is part of a £700 million transformation project.

“We’re bringing faster, more reliable connectivity to busy public spaces to meet record network demand”.

Surrey County Council cabinet member Matt Furniss explained the small cell project advances a digital strategy intended to deliver “stronger local economies” and “more resilient communities”.

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Google Gemini, for instance, faced criticism for generating historically inaccurate images, while xAI’s Grok was noted for producing politically slanted responses.

ChatGPT drew scrutiny over its susceptibility to reflect embedded prejudices in training data, sometimes resulting in problematic suggestions or offensive outputs.

The impact of these biases so-far has arguably been played down, a series of gaffes which are only natural as the systems learn and develop.

But, as the role and use of generative AI becomes more pervasive, the risk of these mistakes resulting in real-world harm grows.

Training
Inclusion and AI strategist Dr Patricia Gestoso noted bias has always existed, explaining AI is essentially just speeding the process of arriving at skewed conclusions.

In part, the problem relates to a perception fields including algorithms and mathematics are objective, she said.

“That’s not true”, Gestoso said, highlighting the outcome depends on the data inputted: “It’s like a recipe. An algorithm is a recipe”.

Gestoso (pictured, right) spent more than 15 years advising companies, non-government and government organisations about technology, science, diversity and inclusion, data analytics and customer experience, so her views carry clout.

She noted maths and statistics have long been “weaponised against groups”, with data manipulated to suit a particular narrative. In this context, AI simply makes the process easier, she argued.

If bias has always existed, does it matter if consumer AI exhibits the same traits?

Gestoso highlighted the employment market as one example where AI bias is problematic. The technology is used to write job descriptions then sort through applicants, a process with the potential to exclude people before they even apply for a role due to the use of certain linguistic traits, or dismiss their application based on the way data provided is employed.

AI is already offering different outcomes to men and women using it to research information on job roles and pay levels, or providing noticeably different outcomes when preparing curricula vitae (CVs) based on whether it is dealing with a male or female, Gestoso said.

There are deeper implications. Gestoso highlighted a growing role for AI in healthcare, a position with the potential to skew how certain groups or genders are treated.

Perhaps the greatest problem in Gestoso’s view is generative AI, the branch which creates content including text and images, is persuasive. People are inclined to believe the results it generates even though most companies developing the technology acknowledge it is not currently at that level and results should be verified.

For all that AI itself is causing problems, Gestoso indicated there are also shortcomings in the mostly trial-and-error approach to its development.

It leaves the door open to potential harms being inflicted while bugs are tackled and kinks ironed out, an approach Gestoso indicated would not happen in any other field: “we wouldn’t say to a doctor that you just try and give it a go about a new medicine”.

Gestoso acknowledged a potential link between the historic or unconscious biases of people developing AI and the technology’s preconceptions, though stopped short of saying this is the root of the problem.

Instead, she indicated people had bought into hype about a technology perhaps not quite as ready for the roles being promoted as those endorsing it might have us believe.

“We have a lot of what I call AI washing”, Gestoso said, pointing to cases where manual work remains de facto, or companies have backtracked on replacing support staff with chatbots and artificial agents.

Legality
Gestoso does not believe tackling AI bias necessarily requires fresh laws because much existing legislation can be applied to the digital world.

“We don’t need to do law for each new technology, because many existing laws and domain regulations can readily be applied to them.”

But she does believe platforms and intermediaries providing access to the technology have a role to play in terms of accountability, and suggested any laws removing such liability might not be helpful because they focus “only on the creator, or the person that is the harasser, or the person that is racist to me”.

Gestoso pointed out AI is a broad field which has been around for decades and some applications have already resulted in useful tools along with many promising developments, though cautioned against viewing the technology as a “magic bullet”.

The implications of AI-bias may be widespread but, given how far advanced deployments of the technology now are, can it still be guided towards fairer, more balanced outcomes?

Allison Koenecke, an Assistant Professor of Information Science at Cornell Tech (pictured, left), believes the answer is not a simple one.

The academic is focused on the point where economics and computer science meet, a field which incorporates the concept of algorithmic fairness. At a broad level this is a means of assessing if machine learning systems operate without bias.

Koenecke said there is a degree of fluidity to the definition, explaining it spans ensuring marginalised groups are fairly represented in the algorithms used, “all the way to the more theoretical computer scientists who are thinking about different mathematical definitions of fairness”.

The concept can also involve evaluating how well algorithms work “across different groups”.

Koenecke homed in on one of her specialities, speech-to-text transcriptions, to highlight how potential bias can occur.

If “there are very few black voices speaking African American English in the training data, the transcriptions on those voices are going to be worse downstream”.

People power
She noted there are “a lot of other reasons you might end up with biases”. The acoustic qualities of male voices, for example, can result in poorer quality transcriptions than for female speech, potentially skewing outcomes despite equality in the people training systems.

Koenecke said fixes in such cases “might be more about the modelling architecture and less about the training data”.

She explained having a diverse pool of developers can help alleviate bias simply by bringing different points of view to the table. In speech-to-text, if “you never think to evaluate whether or not this particular tool works well on the deaf and hard-of-hearing population, then you’re just never going to know whether or not it works well”.

Koenecke acknowledged people are part of the problem when it comes to AI bias, emphasising awareness as a key weapon in tackling the issue.

This falls to people because the technology itself may not yet be capable of mulling matters over. “It might be difficult to actually train the model to account for those sorts of biases without first using human expertise to determine what kinds of biases are occurring.”

Koenecke differs from Gestoso by believing specific regulation might be needed to prevent AI bias having real-world harms. In healthcare, for example, there are potential dangers if one demographic is prioritised over another.

“I think these sorts of regulations likely have to be at the domain level, because the way that you would regulate something in the medical space is very different from” the recruitment sector.

She expects “many of these domains are going to have to grapple with very similar problems in terms of how much error are you willing to accept, how much can we have humans in the loop serving as experts overseeing AI output, and how much discrimination could arise” and be mitigated by regulations.

Dangerous
Koenecke noted you do not have to look far for examples of harm already being caused, pointing to suicides prompted by chatbots. She said this is a good reason for companies to prioritise safety themselves rather than wait to be told to.

Helene Molinier, adviser on Digital Cooperation at the UN, argues the way AI is trained lies at the heart of sexist, racist and misogynistic output.

She noted the majority of AI is “trained on enormous datasets that reflect centuries of inequalities”, highlighting sources including books, websites and images.

If this “data contain stereotypes, discrimination or under-representation, AI will replicate and sometimes amplify them.”

Molinier said examples of the discrimination which could impact AI are not hard to find: she explained women, “people of colour and people from the Global South are underrepresented in many training sets”, and many large language models (LLMs) “have been shown to associate men more often with leadership and women with caregiving professions”.

It is similar to the point Gestoso made regarding CVs, one she suggested is highlighted by switching the gender of the person involved while keeping all other details the same.

Molinier added image generators have been found to show similar gender bias by portraying men as politicians, professors or company CEOs.

She agreed with Koenecke’s view on the breadth of developer pools, emphasising additional reasons for AI bias.

Other factors include what data is selected to train LLMs, algorithmic design choices, institutional blindness, and structural and historical amplification of discrimination.

“This is not just a coding issue; addressing AI bias requires comprehensive, multi-layered approaches and having more gender parity in technical and decision-making roles.”

Molinier said various UN and “global normative frameworks” offer “a comprehensive roadmap” towards gender inclusivity and governance.

These include auditing procedures, improved source data, education and protecting rights, work she explained is necessary to avoid AI bias discouraging women from “entering and remaining in the tech sector”.

“When AI systems consistently undervalue women’s contributions, reproduce gender stereotypes or fail to serve women’s needs effectively, it sends a clear message about who technology is designed for and by.”

It makes addressing such bias an urgent matter, one which goes to the heart of digital justice and equality, Molinier said.

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The professional services company, Ericsson, i2CAT Research Centre and Vicomtech worked on holographic communication and the provision of advanced extended reality (XR) services using edge computing in the recent demonstrations.

Ericsson and i2CAT handled the holographic element.

They used dedicated i2CAT technology to deliver consistent holographic calling in tests conducted on Ericsson standalone 5G infrastructure in Barcelona and Madrid. The demonstration used proactive congestion detection, a new algorithmic capability, to monitor network performance in a cell and adapt the stream accordingly during periods of high traffic.

Intelligent traffic prioritisation was also highlighted: this is a means of activating an on-demand quality feature which puts holographic traffic first and can access additional resources if required.

Manuel Lorenzo, Ericsson R&D Spain head of technology and innovation, said the demonstrations “lay the groundwork for the future of XR applications across sectors such as remote industrial maintenance and advanced education, where instant, high-fidelity collaboration is vital”.

All four companies participated in the edge computing demonstration, which proved the ability of XR services to select the optimal node.

Capgemini stated the trial showed distributed XR services could employ standardised APIs to adapt to the underlying compute environment.

It added the demonstrations prove “how network intelligence, edge discovery and application-level adaptability” would shape the future of XR and holography.

Aurora Ramos, R&D connectivity and network lead at Capgemini Engineering, predicted the demonstrations would prove to be important in the development of 6G.

“It further lays the basis for substantial improvement on how people communicate, collaborate and experiment in the digital world.”

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The government-led Women in Tech Taskforce was established to develop ways to encourage women into the sector, but also to stay once there.

Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said the group was established to “break down the barriers that still hold too many people back”.

She said the taskforce would work with industry to conceive “practical solutions”.

“When women are inspired to take on a role in tech and have a seat at the table, the sector can make more representative decisions”.

The government stated the taskforce is targeting an imbalance which sees men outnumber women by four-to-one in terms of having computer science degrees.

It stated “systemic barriers” restrict women and it would take 283 years to achieve equality without action.

The taskforce is to have the government’s ear regarding methods to boost diversity in the tech industry by removing barriers to education, training and career progression. The work is expected to complement an AI and digital skills curriculum the country is deploying in schools.

Kendall said promoting women in the tech sector can “unlock the innovation and growth our economy needs”.

The government highlighted recruitment company Ivee, Starling Bank, and childcare service Koru Kids as examples of successful businesses run by women.

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Unicre provides issuing and acquiring services and is migrating tasks to the cloud as part of an overhaul of its technology strategy. Kyndryl stated the companies have partnered since 2016 and the latest agreement means it will continue to handle the shift.

The pair’s deal already involves Kyndryl managing Unicre’s information systems and helping it develop fresh features, products and services in line with digital transformation goals.

Maria Guiomar Moreira, customer partner with Kyndryl Portugal, said the extended deal “enables Unicre to advance its technology evolution strategy”.

She credited the deepening of their partnership to Kyndryl’s provision of tailored services which enhance “efficiency, automation, innovation and security”.

Unicre CIO Nuno Abrantes said the company is keen to improve service quality, a goal which “includes strengthening our position as a reference in buy now, pay later services”.

Kyndryl stated Unicre is a stand-out player in the buy now, pay later sector and has a track record spanning more than 50 years.

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Analysts said dedicated networks deployed in facilities and campuses or in WAN scenarios are boosting operations in shipping ports, manufacturing, airline operations, sports clubs and in the public sector.

SNS Telecom and IT explained 5G is now surpassing LTE as the dominant private network technology and maintained a forecast the sector would yield revenue of $7.2 billion by the close of 2028.

Sales growth is pronounced against a “relatively stagnant” public mobile network sector. The company noted standalone 5G core network revenue is on the up, but RAN is flat following declines in 2024.

Along with Tesla and LG Electronics, SNS Telecom and IT stated Hyundai also reaped benefits at its production facilities: all three “eliminated connect-related automated guided vehicle stoppages” using private networks.

It stated Peel Ports Group reported a tenfold increase in network performance at the Port of Liverpool in the UK, a facility noted to be unfriendly to Wi-Fi due to the amount of metal in place.

English football club Crystal Palace FC is employing headsets connected to a private 5G network to improve matchday experiences for partially sighted fans.

SNS Telecom and IT also noted private networks are beginning to be incorporated by design, pointing to a prison project in the US state of Georgia using Band n48 CBRS spectrum for indoor and outdoor 5G coverage, and a Hitachi Rail facility in the state of Maryland.

The research company expects more than 70 per cent of investments in private networks to be in standalone 5G iterations, fuelled by Industry 4.0 and critical communication needs.

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Vallance said the UK is Europe’s leading authority on quantum R&D as the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and Google Quantum AI detailed a collaboration to provide researchers with more resources.

The agreement involves providing researchers with access to Google’s Willow quantum processor, silicon central to the search giant’s ambitions in the sector.

Vallance said access would keep UK researchers “at the cutting edge, bolstering their efforts to put quantum to work in the design of new medicines, the shift to clean affordable energy and more”.

The NQCC explained the collaboration builds on the UK/US Prosperity Deal signed by the nations’ leaders in September, along with an arrangement between Google Cloud and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

NQCC director Dr. Michael Cuthbert said its work with Google Quantum AI would contribute to “cutting-edge science that will deepen understanding, accelerate discovery and unlock new applications for quantum computing”.

“By combining the UK’s research excellence with Google’s world-leading quantum hardware and expertise, we are creating a powerful platform for scientific innovation.”

The pair are seeking research proposals “for high-impact, innovative projects” and the NQCC plans to offer successful applicants grants to cover staff costs.

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The operator stated Visa Pay adds swift, secure disbursement options to VNPT Money. It is initially offering a set-up using QR codes, but plans to add tap-to-pay and e-commerce in 2026.

Visa country manager for Vietnam and Laos Dung Dang said the payment service “is a catalyst” for the nation’s “digital and financial inclusion journey”.

The options provided will help “uplift the economy, empower small businesses and create new opportunities for innovation”, she said.

VNPT explained its money customers benefit from greater security and a reduction in the steps needed to complete transactions. It emphasised no additional apps are required to use Visa Pay.

The service works when users are abroad, employing what VNPT stated are “competitive exchange rates and costs”.

It added the launch of Visa Pay demonstrates both companies’ commitment to “expanding access to digital financial services”, international tourism and more.

VNPT FinTech Centre director Nguyen Dang Thang said launching Visa Pay “is an important milestone” for the operator’s mobile money service, one which delivers solid progress in its trajectory “toward becoming a comprehensive digital payment platform”.

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The nRF9151 SMA development kit uses semi-precision coaxial RF connectors in place of internal antennas, a configuration the company stated enables engineers to make direct connections with high-performance external aerials or laboratory equipment.

Nordic Semiconductor explained the arrangement can be used for cellular IoT and DECT NR+ in addition to NTN.

It expects typical uses to be in remote areas with weak mobile signals, smart buildings with dense node counts and industrial settings.

The D2D modem firmware adds NB-IoT NTN capabilities compatible with 3GPP Rel-17 standards, along with LTE-M and GNSS for hybrid set-ups.

Kristian Saether, senior product director for long-range, said the nRF9151 provides engineers and RF experts “the granular control needed to validate their most ambitious designs”, contributing to efforts to “push the boundaries of wireless” and satellite connectivity.

Nordic Semiconductor stated the development kit includes high-performance antennas from Taoglas and Kyocera; IoT SIMs; and trial data covering terrestrial and satellite connectivity from Deutsche Telekom, Onomondo and Monogoto.

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SandGrain stated Netherlands-based Innovation Industries led the funding round. Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij and Invest-NL participated, as did existing backer DeepTech XL.

The IoT specialist argued cybersecurity needs are soaring because billions of devices are now being connected. Other factors include European Union legislation and emerging quantum threats.

SandGrain CEO Joeri Voets said the company is removing IoT security bottlenecks involving cost and complexity. The Series-A investment “enables us to scale faster”, he explained.

The company stated CyberRock is configured for future security challenges, using a specific authentication approach employing hard-coded device IDs and a secure cloud platform with real-time identity traits.

It highlighted compatibility with European digital protection laws.

SandGrain explained the set-up is already in use in various industrial settings, along with critical infrastructure, and aerospace and defence fields.

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The company stated Rogers Satellite is the first D2D service offering coast-to-coast coverage of Canada and explained it would provide IoT connectivity alongside a range of consumer services.

Rogers Communications CEO Tony Staffieri said the service extends a “legacy of innovative firsts” and the company is “proud to be the first” to offer the connectivity option in Canada.

The company explained Rogers Satellite is compatible with WhatsApp, Google Maps, X, mapping service CalTopo and AccuWeather. Services can be accessed on “most modern smartphones” and it expects more apps to come as developers update their wares for non-terrestrial networks. The operator also intends to add voice and data services.

Staffieri said there was a “terrific response” from users of a beta messaging service launched in July, with more than 1 million texts sent.

Promotions mean existing customers can access Rogers Satellite for no additional cost, with non-subscribers offered a CAD15 ($10.83) per month option and some reductions on offer to those involved in the beta test.

Rogers Communications stated the IoT service also launched today (9 December), providing connectivity for services “in some of the most remote regions” of Canada.

It listed fleet and asset tracking, and automated sensors among the list of uses for the satellite IoT service.

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Rogers Communications stated it installed 34 fresh towers in eastern Ontario since late April to boost 5G access, details released within days of Bell Canada revealing it deployed mid-band spectrum to improve access and data rates in southern areas of the region.

Various counties in eastern Ontario are covered by Rogers Communications’ expansion, which forms part of a CAD300 million ($217 million) public-private partnership to improve access in rural areas.

Rogers Communications explained it was selected to fulfil the EORN Cell Gap Project’s plan in a competitive bidding process. National and local governments, wardens and mayoral groups are to contribute CAD152 million of the total investment, with the remainder coming from the operator.

The contract involves Rogers Communications adding a total of 332 fresh cell towers in the region, comprising new builds and collocated sites. It said 222 of these are now operational.

It also upgraded 311 existing sites to be 5G-capable.

Politicians highlighted potential economic benefits from improved 5G access along with the importance of the 34 additional towers to the goal of closing coverage gaps.

Rogers Communications explained EORN’s broader mission involves fuelling economic development in eastern Ontario, with a key focus of its mobile coverage initiative on connecting Indigenous communities.

Previous EORN programmes enhanced broadband access for close to 90 per cent of the region, Rogers Communications stated.

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The pair signed a partnership agreement covering navy- and maritime-specific AI products, with agentic elements involved. Thales stated the intended move would bring its expertise and corAIx incubator together with Cohere’s large language model capabilities.

Thales Canada CEO Ian Krepps said the company expects to be able to “rapidly deploy new, sovereign AI” capabilities for customers “including the Canadian Armed Forces”.

The arrangement demonstrates Thales’ “commitment” to providing customers with “agile, future ready” products.

Cohere co-founder Ivan Zhang said the partnership is a “strategic leap” in employing AI “for national defence”. The companies will provide systems which “analyse complex naval environments in real time”, delivering “actionable intelligence” to improve military decision making.

Zhang said the deal is also a boost for Canadian AI ambitions.

Thales stated the decision-making capabilities to be provided by the agentic AI systems would benefit projects due to launch imminently.

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The local office of professional services company Grant Thornton is handling the proceedings, which involve seeking expressions of interest from potential buyers by noon on 11 December.

Thinxtra provides low-power, wide-area connectivity, IoT devices and data services. It was appointed the Australian operator of the Sigfox network in 2016 and today provides asset and fleet tracking, smart facilities management and utility monitoring.

Business News Australia noted Thinxtra netted an investment of AUD5 million ($3.3 million) in a pre-IPO move in 2023.

Grant Thornton stated the administration move covers Thinxtra, Thinxtra Solutions and Thinxtra Network. This means subsidiaries in New Zealand and Hong Kong are not involved in the action, though the professional services company noted they could be included in any deal.

It pitched Thinxtra on an exclusive contract to provide Australia’s “only national, public, low-power 0G network and Soracom” mobile connectivity.

The IoT company works with companies spanning transport, utilities, retail, manufacturing, healthcare and smart infrastructure, and it generated revenue of AUD4.7 million in the year to end-June.

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A deployment of 3800MHz spectrum provides greater data rates and supplements work on deploying 5G-Advanced, Bell stated.

Users with compatible smartphones from Apple, Samsung and Google stand to experience a 65 per cent hike in data rates compared with the performance of Bell’s network before the spectrum was deployed.

Bell pointed to peak rates of 3.6Gb/s in the downlink and emphasised the increased capacity the mid-band move brings.

EVP and CTO Mark McDonald said the move in Ontario “complements our ongoing investments in a 5G-Advanced” infrastructure.

The pay-off will be felt in improved services spanning entertainment and cloud gaming, enterprise AI services and real-time AR collaboration, McDonald predicted.

Bell’s update covers parts of southern Ontario including the cities of Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton and Hamilton.

It stated the rollout builds on a test deployment of 3800MHz spectrum in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo in 2024, while making use of frequencies it paid CAD2.8 billion ($2 billion) for in an auction in 2023.

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The operator stated its network infrastructure is already geared to handle and protect information, a base it is building on with its sovereign set-up.

“Sovereignty isn’t simply a matter of compliance or risk management”, BT Business CEO Jon James said.

He argued the concept is “key to unleashing the potential of AI and ensuring resilient operations”.

BT explained its sovereign platform builds on its credentials as a provider of sensitive customer data management and broader infrastructure.

James said there is growing demand from organisations for sovereign systems and the company separately quoted a Gartner forecast stating 65 per cent of governments would set dominion requirements by 2028.

BT’s platform spans connectivity, security, cloud, AI and unified communications.

It stated the level of control afforded would boost organisations’ ability to employ AI by ensuring data protection and abiding by ethical standards.

BT plans to make the platform the foundation of fresh voice, cloud and AI services scheduled to launch over the coming months.

The move is also set to enable its Business unit to add sovereign options to existing core products and services beginning in the opening half of 2026.

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Few details of the acquisition were provided beyond the deal to acquire SDK Tek Services being completed, though Bell noted it would offer various AI-related benefits including those involving data sovereignty.

It stated SDK’s “proven ability to transform raw data into actionable intelligence complements Ateko’s” AI workflow automation expertise.

Bell expects a boost to its AI capabilities because Ateko is set to bolster its position in data sovereignty and systems integration. It backed SDK’s teams to contribute to the development and deployment of systems based on the technology, and provide the scale necessary to meet enterprise and government requirements.

Ateko CEO Guillaume Bazinet said SDK’s specialists advance domestic AI goals and strengthen “our nation’s ability to compete and win on the global stage”.

SDK chief David Keith said the acquisition brings the company’s “technical excellence” and abilities in solving “complex data challenges” into a “larger mission”.

He said the move “will deliver more comprehensive AI and data solutions”.

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The company stated the work with NuvoLinQ can help obviate the cost of upgrading legacy hardware to the SGP.32 eSIM standard.

NuvoLinQ employed a compatible Kigen eSIM product in work on device firmware. Other aspects involved a recovery system, device-level testing and various validations.

Kigen stated the work took several months and proved existing IoT devices can be made compatible with the SGP.32 standard without modifications to their hardware.

NuvoLinQ CEO Maurizio Tersigni said the work proves legacy devices can “be brought forward into the next era of IoT”.

“SGP.32 is more than a new standard, it’s the foundation for scalable, secure and intelligent global IoT.”

The company is launching a suite of services to help shift existing devices to SGP.32 covering compatibility testing, root cause identification and validation support.

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The operator demonstrated the expansion to its T Mission portfolio by using a smartphone to communicate in a 5G network using a TETRA radio.

Deutsche Telekom explained the test used Motorola Solutions’ latest mission-critical technology and proved this could interact with TETRA set-ups.

This means German public safety organisations can continue using existing radio infrastructure in mission-critical services, with the combined network approach boosting coverage and resilience.

An enhanced T Mission video function was also demonstrated. It enables control centres to transmit up to ten different streams to defined groups and Deutsche Telekom pointed to drone, security and body camera footage as examples.

The operator also showcased a GUI for sensor data developed in conjunction with electronics manufacturer and distributor ATS Elektronik which enables real time monitoring of data including pulse rate and body temperature.

Deutsche Telekom stated this is being used by firefighters, though emphasised its potential for other emergency services personnel.

The demonstrations took place during specialist trade show PMR Expo in Cologne last week, though Deutsche Telekom only publicised the developments today (2 December).

The post Deutsche Telekom connects 5G, TETRA for emergency staff appeared first on Mobile World Live.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the companies shores up a partnership spanning several years to provide secure and reliable connectivity to various industries in Qatar.

The companies revealed the deal after MWC25 Doha closed.

Hytera stated the pair are focusing on developing and enhancing services to improve resilience through better coordination, safety and quality. The company itself provides various professional communications technologies.

The goal of the MoU is to boost services provided to public safety bodies and utilities, along with organisations in the transport, health and building sectors. The arrangement employs Vodafone’s network capabilities to boost digital transformations.

“This partnership is a pivotal step in our mission to deliver world-class communications”, Vodafone Enterprise Business unit director Mohamed Mohsin Alyafei (pictured, left) said.

He explained the companies are keen to promote Qatari goals to employ digitalisation as a driver of growth.

Hytera VP Stanley Song (pictured, right) said the pair would “continue to bring advanced communications capabilities” to organisations in Qatar.

The post Vodafone, Hytera up Qatar digital ambitions appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Rapidtek stated the first 8U IoT CubeSat launched on a SpaceX rocket on 29 November, commencing its constellation deployment plan and advancing a Taiwanese strategy to build the nation’s presence by investing in domestic start-ups.

The company explained the Black Kite-1 satellite is a successor to the 3U CubeSat Nightjar, providing greater payloads, users and applications. It is in a Sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude between 500kms and 600kms and currently passes Taiwan up to twice a day.

Rapidtek stated it is using the bird to evaluate system stability and pointing accuracy; validate its Ku-band high-speed and LoRa low-data-rate communication payloads; and testing a high-precision GPS receiver and space-quality general purpose GPU.

Black Kite-1 offers potential to fill coverage gaps in remote and underserved areas, the company stated.

Chief project engineer Ben Lin highlighted an increase in the complexity of system integration on the 8U compared with the 3U, with fresh communication designs and reworked ground-technology.

The company plans to complete its launches during 2026 and pitched the endeavour as advancing Taiwan’s LEO capabilities by helping to create an initial IoT network capable of transferring data from the land to space.

IoT is one of three fields the Taiwan Space Agency is covering through the CubeSat development programme, which involves a host of relevant domestic companies to help promote the nation’s capabilities in all aspects of satellite technology and production.

The 8U birds are replacing a pair of 3U items launched in 2024.

The post Rapidtek releases first LEO IoT bird appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The Vodafone Enhanced Power initiative targets critical online services and public safety sectors, and was developed to maintain mobile connectivity for vital services during any major outages. The programme involves updates to 10,000 sites across Europe.

Vodafone stated a major power outage across Portugal, Spain and parts of France earlier this year prompted an acceleration in the initiative’s timeline.

The European element is scheduled to take two years to complete.

Capital
Vodafone stated the set-up uses existing temporary backup systems and software-based approaches employing AI to “predict, control and conserve” reserve resources. The initiative tweaks power supplies depending on the severity and scale of any outage.

Outages affecting ten or fewer mobile sites will continue to be handled using Cells on Wheels alongside Vodafone’s existing emergency response network system providing free Wi-Fi and phone charging points. It has been used 28 times globally since launch in 2012.

An adaptive power reserve is on hand for larger outages: the system uses AI to adjust battery backup times, “potentially doubling it in certain scenarios”. The arrangement is in use in Greece and on trial in Turkey, with other nations to be added in 2026.

The AI is used to predict outages and optimise power consumption, an approach Vodafone stated would “help mitigate the intensive capital outlay required” to deploy additional batteries.

Vodafone’s resilience initiative is also relying on backup power supplies at 400 mobile data centres and large backbone sites throughout Europe, and ensuring network junctions have a four-hour battery backup option.

Its Vodacom business in Africa is also employing AI to overcome power problems, with approaches involving renewable energy sources and optimising the load placed on generators.

The post Vodafone explores power of AI appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Apple’s sell-through volumes rose 12 per cent year-on-year and its share hit 24.2 per cent, its highest-ever in a single month.

Counterpoint Research noted sales of the iPhone 17 exceeded its predecessor over the first six weeks of availability. It stated weekly trackers showed particular strength in the US, China and Japan, and noted the base model is an attractive prospect due to incorporating formerly high-end features at a more affordable price point.

China was the fastest-growing market for Apple’s phones during October, it reported, though highlighted a lack of availability of the iPhone Air in the country resulted in muted sales across the board.

Counterpoint Research stated other drivers are the current upgrade cycle in mature markets and demand for premium-tier devices.

Senior analyst Varun Mishra said greater availability of legacy iPhone models is another factor.

Earlier this week, Counterpoint Research predicted Apple would topple Samsung as the world’s largest smartphone vendor when 2025 shipments are tallied.

If accurate, it would be the first time in 14 years the US vendor beat its South Korean rival, the company stated.

The post Apple hits monthly iPhone high appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The company stated the European Union (EU) AI Cloud is a full-stack set-up offering multiple levels of sovereignty and data centre options. SAP emphasised partnerships as a key element, helping to design and deploy approaches compatible with European data residency regulations.

Deployments of the EU AI Cloud are handled by SAP’s existing Sovereign Cloud product, allowing elements including the infrastructure, platform and software to be tailored.

The company highlighted a collaboration that provides access to Cohere’s turnkey AI platform. The arrangement was made to enable companies to access deeper insights without breaching data residency rules, in turn unlocking opportunities around intelligent automation and updating core business processes.

SAP stated it also works closely with companies including Mistral AI and OpenAI to integrate the technology into its cloud service. It expects European enterprises and public sector organisations to benefit by gaining access to “the latest AI innovations securely”.

The service is being launched at a time of greater scrutiny on data sovereignty in the EU and beyond.

Last week, Orange and Deutsche Telekom called for the development of common rules for cloud services in the region.

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