Free joins more that 60 partners using the platform, Nokia noted, which supports a “growing number of use cases spanning several industries, including banking, healthcare, automotive and entertainment”.

The platform provides a single interface for developers and enterprises to access capabilities across a number of operators. The vendor added it drew “inspiration from industry initiatives like GSMA Open Gateway and the Linux Foundation’s CAMARA project”.

Free CEO Nicolas Thomas said the partnership with Nokia “helps us foster an environment where new APIs and services are being created to benefit our partners, customers and society at large”.

Supporting applications by providing access to network APIs has been a major industry drive in recent years, with the GSMA’s initiative drawing broad industry support since being launched at MWC23 Barcelona.

In 2024, a group of leading mobile operators joined forces with Nokia rival Ericsson to form Aduna, a company tasked with coordinating API efforts led by the Swedish vendor.

The post French operator Free, Nokia ink API pact appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Vittal is currently MD and vice chair, the latter responsibility he assumed in October 2024 when the company announced what it described as a structured succession process.

He was previously MD and CEO, leading the company’s operations in India for more than a decade.

In its statement confirming final details of the upcoming change, the company explained Vittal would now oversee Bharti Airtel and its subsidiaries, while also being “responsible for driving group synergies in the areas of digital and technology, network strategy, procurement and talent”.

The executive is also charged with group strategy and “futureproofing the organisation for the next evolution of its development”.

Sharma is to become CEO and MD of Bharti Airtel India after spending more than a year as CEO designate, working alongside Vittal to prepare for the handover.    

Another upcoming change at the company involves the CFO of its India operation, Soumen Ray, moving to lead the financial office at group level.

Ray’s old job will be taken by financial controller Akhil Garg.

The post Airtel board rubber stamps leadership changes appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The Mobile Software Competition Act came into force today (18 December), targeting the provision of choices in browser, smartphone app distribution and related areas.

In Apple’s statement, it explained new options had been created for developers to distribute apps on alternative marketplaces and process payments outside of its own in-app purchasing system.

The smartphone vendor’s argument against apps being downloaded from outside of its own store frequently centres on safety and security fears.

In this case, it claimed the new requirements in Japan for “alternative app marketplaces and app payments open new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, and privacy and security risks”.

However, it noted its work with regulators to introduce protections including an authorisation process for app marketplaces to ensure iOS is the “most secure mobile platform available in Japan”.

For in-app payments, Apple stated it is sharing tools to open the way for developers to offer alternatives.

The company also updated its business terms related to iOS apps in the country.

Google moves
In an update on its rules in Japan, Google noted it is extending a policy already in place for alternative billing systems in non-gaming apps to cover any which offer digital content purchases.

It is also providing the means for developers to add an option for users to make purchases with either Google Play Billing or the developer’s website.

Along with noting changes making it easier to switch search engine or browser, Google stated it already complied with many other parts of Japan’s newly-enforced regulations, including the ability to install third-party app stores on Android devices.

The post Apple, Google alter app policies in Japan appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Azcue takes the title of chief financial and corporate development officer. The company’s group controller and planning director Ernesto Gardelliano will assume the role of chief strategy and control officer.

Telefonica explained combining finance leadership with corporate development would enable it to face “upcoming challenges with a more global and cohesive vision”.

Azcue was credited with extensive experience in M&A and has been on the operator’s executive committee since the start of 2025.

Abasolo is set to leave after more than 20 years with the company: she was appointed CFO in 2017.

The move is the latest in a shake-up at the operator group driven by CEO Marc Murtra during his first year at the helm.

Telefonica noted the latest changes reinforce a “commitment to excellence and innovation, evolving its operating model” to ensure the success of a strategic plan presented last month.

Listings
In a separate announcement also made yesterday (17 December), Telefonica detailed its intention to delist American depositary shares from both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Lima Stock Exchange in Peru.

The move to quit the NYSE listing came after an analysis “taking into account the administrative burden” and associated costs. It noted it is consistent with the new strategic plan to simplify its operating model.

The post Telefonica finance chief exits as revamp continues appeared first on Mobile World Live.

It noted the increased price of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) had upped the bill of manufacture for smartphones by around 25 per cent for low-end devices and 10 per cent for high-tier models since the beginning of the year.

Costs are expected to increase by another 10 per cent to 15 per cent in the first half of 2026.

Counterpoint Research senior analyst Shenghao Bai indicated some of those most affected were adopting strategies to mitigate these increases.

“In some models, we are seeing downgrades of components like camera modules and periscope solutions, displays, audio components and, of course, memory configurations,” he noted.

“Other tactics include reusing old components, streamlining the portfolio, and pushing consumers to higher-specification Pro variants and adopting new designs to stimulate upgrades.”

Decline
The comments came as Counterpoint Research joined fellow analyst house IDC in revising a previous prediction of growth in smartphone shipments in 2026 to a decline.

It expects a drop of 2.1 per cent year-on-year in 2026 compared with a previous expectation of a small rise.

Earlier this month IDC forecast a decline of almost 1 per cent in 2026.    

Counterpoint Research expects manufacturers in China to experience the greatest downturn in shipments, with the lowest-priced devices likely to be the hardest hit segment.

Average selling prices are expected to increase across the board.

Counterpoint Research senior analyst Yang Wang noted at the cheaper end of the market “steep price increases on smartphones are not sustainable” with manufacturers expected to “start pruning parts of their portfolios” as a result.

“Apple and Samsung are best positioned to weather the next few quarters,” Wang added. “But it will be tough for others that don’t have as much wiggle room to manage market share versus profit margins. We will see this play out especially with the Chinese OEMs as the year progresses.”

The post Smartphone players lower specs to counter costs appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The transaction between Orange and Lorca, which is backed by investment companies Cinven, KKR and Equity Partners, is subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions being met. It is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

Orange positioned the deal as accelerating a group-wide strategic plan while bolstering its position in its second largest market in Europe.

It added the move “confirms its long-term industrial commitment in Spain and its confidence in MasOrange and its management to create value for all stakeholders”.

MasOrange was formed from the combination of Masmovil and Orange’s operation in Spain in 2024.

Masmovil had been bought out by Lorca in 2020.

GSMA Intelligence data from Q3 places the operator as the largest in Spain by mobile connections with 26.2 million, ahead of Telefonica on 16.4 million and Zegona Communications-owned Vodafone Spain with 12.8 million.

The post Orange advances towards full ownership of Spanish JV appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Citing a pair of unnamed sources, the news website stated requests for the processor exceeded Nvidia’s current output level, leading to it evaluate its options.

Alibaba and TikTok-parent ByteDance are apparently among those keen to place large orders for the units.

In a report published late yesterday (11 December), South China Morning Post highlighted authorities in China were yet to approve the purchase of the chips by domestic companies.

Earlier this week, President Trump revealed Nvidia would be allowed to export to approved companies in China, reversing an earlier ban. Under the new arrangement, sales of the units to the country would be subject to a 25 per cent levy by US authorities.  

In a social media post, he noted Chinese President Xi Jinping responded positively to the move.

However, Financial Times reported access to the chips were likely to be limited by authorities in Beijing as China pushes companies to use domestic alternatives.

The post Nvidia reportedly mulls upping H200 production appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The licence allows it to offer regulated money transfer and various other services, a move the operator group emphasised would expand inclusion in a country where many do not access traditional financial services.

Banglalink is set to initially launch person-to-person transfers; other remittance; bill payment; merchant and e-commerce transactions; and salary and disbursement services.

These are set to be integrated “seamlessly into customers’ mobile experience”, a factor it believes lowers current barriers to access.

Eventually, the operator plans to expand into other areas, including insurance premium payments and micro-savings.   

Banglalink is currently working with Bangladesh Bank and partner institutions on operational and technical preparations for commercial launch.

Citing official statistics from Bangladesh for 2023, Veon noted 72 per cent of the country’s population did not use formal financial services, with its upcoming offering providing “a significant opportunity to accelerate financial inclusion at national scale”.

Digital drive
Veon CEO Kaan Terzioglu stated digital financial services are a pillar of the company’s strategy to empower “customers with relevant digital services for every minute of the day”.

“The green light for Banglalink to launch payment services will enable us to bring financial services directly to customers’ fingertips while helping accelerate Bangladesh’s growth as a digital economy.”

Veon noted the launch builds on its experience of providing similar products in its other markets. As of end-September, it had 42.1 million monthly active users of digital financial services across its footprint.

“The launch in Bangladesh extends this expertise into one of South Asia’s largest and fastest-growing digital economies,” it added.  

The post Veon unit bags Bangladesh payments licence appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The two aim to develop “AI experiences” they describe as simple and personal, comprising communication and everyday productivity applications for consumers and enterprises. Pilots are expected to begin in Q1 2026.

In its statement on the multi-year deal, Deutsche Telkom explained it aimed to “bring privacy-first AI” to millions on the continent.

As part of the pact the operator will be among the first to gain access to an OpenAI alpha-phase model.

The operator’s board member for product and technology Abdurazak Mudesir emphasised this was “not a typical vendor relationship” but a “strategic collaboration helping shape the future of AI in Europe”.

“We are focused on making AI intuitive, secure, and meaningful in everyday life for our customers, employees, and our networks,” he added. 

In its statement, OpenAI explained the partnership would “help make AI more helpful, secure, and accessible” in the region.

As well as collaborating on products for third parties, Deutsche Telekom is set to make OpenAI’s ChatGPT Enterprise available across the business.

It noted this would help “teams work more effectively, improve customer service, and spend more time on innovation”. The operator also plans to up use of AI in its networks as it works towards a goal of increased autonomy.

Medical tests
The move is the operator’s latest related to the highly-hyped technology, with the company contributing to a number of initiatives on infrastructure and showcasing advanced use cases for AI in Germany and beyond.

Earlier today (9 December) Deutsche Telekom released details on a partnership with research organisation Fraunhofer IAIS and heath care provider Kliniken der Stadt Koln to develop AI agents designed to support accident and emergency departments.

The trio are currently developing a prototype based on information from a simulated medical facility. There, the agent is assessing medical information being verbally communicated by healthcare professionals.

It then analyses and enriches the information before presenting in a structured graphical format for use later in the treatment journey.

The post Deutsche Telekom, OpenAI partner for Europe AI push appeared first on Mobile World Live.

After a series of consultations, it published decisions on a handful of technical points today (9 December) and finalised detail on updating operator licences. These are in addition to conditions it outlined in September.

Ofcom’s decisions published today include rules intended to avoid interference with air traffic control systems and mobile networks outside of the UK.  

To launch the services, operators are required to get a change to their current licences. Regulations cover the provision of calls, messages and data services using infrastructure in space.

The regulator branded D2D “new space-age services”, stating they would help eliminate mobile blackspots.

It noted the only country in Europe to have the service widely available is Ukraine, with Ofcom group director for spectrum David Willis stating “mobile operators are already pressing ahead to the make UK the first nation in Western Europe to have widespread access to this technology”.

Although the regulator was keen to emphasise the UK would be the first in the region to have widespread access, latest information from VirginMedia O2 points to a launch in H1 2026 while rival VodafoneThree is yet to give a solid timeline on commercial availability.

Meanwhile, last month Orange outlined plans to launch for some customers in France on 11 December.

The post Ofcom clears way for UK D2D lift-off appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In a statement, IBM indicated the purchase would provide the means for it to deliver an end-to-end platform for businesses to connect, process and govern data used in systems.

It added Confluent provides a “leading open-source enterprise data streaming platform” which can conduct its activities in real time.

IBM chair, president and CEO Arvind Krishna highlighted its post-completion offering would “enable enterprises to deploy generative and agentic AI better and faster by providing trusted communication and data flow between environments, applications and APIs”.

“Data is spread across public and private clouds, data centres and countless technology providers,” he added. “With the acquisition of Confluent, IBM will provide the smart data platform for enterprise IT, purpose-built for AI”.

Deal
Under the terms of the agreement, IBM will pay $31 per share for the company. The deal was already approved by each company’s board and Confluent’s largest investors, which represent 62 per cent of shareholder votes.

IBM expects completion in mid-2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. It also has to go through a full Confluent shareholder vote.

The post IBM agrees $11B Confluent buy in AI push appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The former positioned the move as a major advance in accelerating the satellite industry’s transition to standardised 5G connectivity and one which will help it serve the commercial, government, defence and direct-to-device (D2D) markets.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, though Cobham Satcom noted the entity being formed would become one of its subsidiaries and it would be the majority shareholder.

CEO Christophe Duret described the deal as an acquisition.

The entity is to be led by Gatehouse Satcom CEO Kenney Schmidt Christiansen.

Cobham Satcom provides RAN platforms and ground infrastructure, while Gatehouse Satcom specialises in software related to 5G NTN.

The business being formed is set to further develop “3GPP-compatible 5G NTN software”, which “Gatehouse Satcom has already proven in LEO, MEO and GEO” infrastructure, the Cobham Satcom division noted.

It plans to maintain existing products and expand “next generation 5G/6G NTN connectivity solutions” for clients providing services to the maritime, defence, IoT, enterprise and D2D markets across the globe.

Christiansen noted the deal with Cobham Satcom would provide “the scale and talent to accelerate our ambitions”.

“Together, we will continue developing world-class 5G NTN software and hardware for commercial, government and defence customers, now in an even stronger structure supported by Cobham Satcom’s operational scale and network expertise.”

Duret added the “acquisition creates significant strategic opportunities as the satellite communications industry undergoes rapid transformation”.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval.

The post Satellite players combine to bolster 5G NTN appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In a stock market statement, America Movil revealed the agreement with Entel had been scrapped and it would “explore its potential participation” in a sales process initiated by Telefonica alone.

Bloomberg reported Entel is also set to consider going it alone on a bid.

The suitors entered the initial pact in July.

In a statement released in October, America Movil noted the rationale behind “jointly exploring their potential offer is based on the potential benefits that the transaction could generate for its clients and Chilean consumers”.

It added the move could “strengthen the telecommunications sector competitiveness, increasing the ability to continue investing and competing in high-speed networks and coverage, through a more efficient use of the involved assets, all of which is key to the country’s digitalisation”.

In a stock market statement issued in October, Telefonica Chile announced it had been informed by its parent company there was a “strategic evaluation process” of the business underway which could lead to its sale.

At the time, it added there had been “several non-binding expressions of interest” and a due diligence process was “underway with several potential buyers”.

A divestment in Chile would be the latest disposal of a Telefonica’s asset in Latin America, as it continues to sharpen its focus on priority markets.

The post Telefonica Chile suitors sever alliance appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The analyst house expects shipments for 2025 to come in at 1.25 billion units, a 1.5 per cent increase on 2024. However, for 2026 it predicts this will decline by almost 1 per cent, having previously projected a rise of around the same level.

Despite fewer units being shipped, it anticipates a record high value for the market of $579 billion, with average selling price (ASP) reaching $465.

IDC expects a shortage of memory components to constrain supply and increase prices, most significantly in the low-to-mid range Android segment. It noted this part of the market is most sensitive to rises.

The company also expects the top-line shipment figure to be affected by a decision by Apple to shift its “next base iPhone model from” late 2026 to early 2027.

IDC research director for its Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker Anthony Scarsella highlighted “as memory components become more limited and more expensive, manufacturers face increasing pressure to raise prices”.

“Vendors need to adopt different strategies to protect their market share. While some OEMs will inevitably be forced to raise prices, others will adjust their portfolio towards pricier models with higher margins”.

He added although 2026 would “be a challenging time for the industry”, IDC still believes the market “could see record ASPs”.

Apple gains
IDC’s predictions for 2026 came as it reported an expectation Apple would book a “record year” for 2025, with shipments expected to be up 6.1 per cent to more than 247 million units.

Senior research director Nabila Popal said Apple achieved “phenomenal success” with the iPhone 17 series, a statement backed-up by statistics and reports from other analysts.

The post Memory shortage tipped to cut smartphone shipments appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The device is set for release in South Korea on 12 December for KRW3.6 million ($2,444). China, Taiwan, Singapore and the UAE will be among the next batch of markets where it will be available. A US release is scheduled for Q1 2026.

Galaxy Z TriFold has an outer screen which looks similar to a standard smartphone but can fold out twice using two individual hinges.

Samsung noted the 10-inch inner screen “performs similarly to three 6.5-inch smartphones” in a row for multitasking and can also be used as one large screen for viewing documents or media.

The vendor stated the “immersive” large display would improve productivity and provide “cinematic viewing”, giving users a “best-in-class mobile experience never before seen in any other form factor”.

Other elements highlighted include a thin design of 3.9mm at its narrowest point; the largest battery Samsung has used in a foldable to date; a new generation of hinges; and fresh foldable display technology to bolster screen resilience.  

It also pointed to AI features and standard smartphone selling points of display and camera quality.

Samsung co-CEO and head of its Device eXperience division TM Roh said the handset “solves one of the mobile industry’s longest-standing challenges, delivering the perfect balance between portability, premium performance and productivity all in one device”.

It uses a customised Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile chipset and a 5600mAh battery, and has a 6.5-inch cover screen and triple rear camera set-up with the main unit 200MP.

The company’s entry into the multi-fold device market follows Huawei, which released its second generation using the form factor in September.

The post Samsung joins Huawei in multi-fold phone market appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In a statement, Samsung explained the collaboration would enable the airline to improve case recovery for passengers who have used a Galaxy SmartTag and included a link to it in their lost luggage report.

Users can upload an image of their case onto an accompanying app to make it easier to identify should it be misplaced.

The Smart Tagged Baggage Service is based on SmartThings Find, a Samsung system used to track its range of connected devices. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy and ultra-wideband technology.

Turkish Airlines intends to extend use of the system to other customer services which could benefit from location tracking.

Samsung plans to launch similar services with other airlines alongside “partnerships across industries to help customers stay connected and at ease wherever they are”, EVP and head of SmartThings Jaeyeon Jung said.

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The newspaper asserted multiple sources flagged the discussions on the so-called AI Gigafactory, with investment company Brookfield potentially coming in as a financial backer alongside the European Union funding.

Schwarz, which owns retailer Lidl among other businesses, and Deutsche Telekom have been linked with moves to build the EU-backed infrastructure a number of times during 2025, alongside various other companies.

The operator’s CEO Timotheus Hoettges has also been a vocal backer of the need for Europe to control its own digital infrastructure and last month unveiled plans for a €1 billion data centre project in Munich in partnership with Nvidia.

In its statement announcing the deal with Nvidia, Deutsche Telekom noted the Munich project was independent of “the EU project for the promotion of the construction of several AI Gigafactories throughout Europe”.

Cash for the AI Gigafactories form part of a €200 billion investment plan unveiled by the European Commission in February 2025 to support technology development and independence across the region.

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Discussing some of the barriers to responsible and sustainable use of genAI, the executive noted large language models (LLMs) essentially function like neural networks, making it difficult to correct any problems.

“You don’t have things you can tweak” if the model gives an inappropriate answer, he noted. “The only thing you can do is retrain them” by exposing them to “hundreds of thousands of pages” with better information.

“It’s very archaic, it’s like LLMs are behaving like humans. There’s nothing I can do to force you to trust me, I need to spend months and years showing you that I’m trustworthy”.

“It’s very hard to train a brain. It’s very hard to train an LLM.”

“This is problematic. We need to work with start-ups to change that”.

Nvidia
Sovereignty of digital infrastructure has been a major talking point within Europe in recent years, with politicians and a range of companies in the region pushing it as a priority.  

Referring to the “monopoly” held by Nvidia for GPUs, Zerbib told Mobile World Live there is a “huge cognitive dissonance of talking about sovereignty and independence, then relying on just one company” for a part of the system.

“This is not an anti-American statement,” he emphasised. “What I’m looking forward to is at least competition in the US”, an area he predicts something is “going to happen” in.

The ability to build a competitive GPU in Europe seems to be such a challenging goal

Bruno Zerbib, CTIO Orange

“It’s out of our hands right now. The ability to build a competitive GPU in Europe seems to be such a challenging goal”.

“We need to have a long-term goal of getting there. Maybe in five-to-ten years from now. In the meantime, let’s have French or European LLMs, British LLMs and then let’s make sure the agent layer is completely sovereign”.

The executive noted hyped agentic AI technology offers the potential for a “snowball effect” if something goes wrong with one part of the chain, with Orange currently assessing how it can curate and vet agents to ensure they are trustworthy and reliable.

Science drive
One area Zerbib is clearly enthused about is the need to ensure AI technology is compatible with environmental ambitions at the operator and more broadly.

“We live in a world that’s so depressing,” he said. “Either you say you don’t believe in climate change, or you don’t believe in the ability to innovate without hurting the planet. The two outcomes are really bad: it’s either I don’t care or I care and I’m giving up”.

“I believe in a third option”, he added, explaining a need to return to the mindset of 70 years ago where “the brightest people wanted to solve the biggest problems”.

“They really thought 70 years ago that we could change the world with science, and science and technology were combined. We’ve lost that to some extent, we’ve turned engineers into technicians that have been producing the same thing at scale, because we needed scale”.

“We have our smartest engineers with an incredible background in, for instance, mathematics and physics, and they end up being developers”.

He added although being a developer is “great”, there is a need to “redirect a percentage of those great minds into science, because what we need are breakthroughs that come from science”.

“It’s not just about building the next feature it’s really about trying to come up with something that will be much more disruptive”.

The attitude around science remains in China, Zerbib said, “but we’ve lost that in the West and we really want to get back to this notion of science is central to progress”.

The post Interview: Orange CTIO seeks appliance of science in AI appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In the TIM Research Centre’s smart infrastructure report, it highlighted the potential for predictive maintenance of water and energy networks, and benefits from real-time monitoring of roads among its examples.

It argued AI, IoT and related technology would be able to transform infrastructure to make it more efficient, cut waste and deliver greater resilience.

In a statement accompanying the report, Telecom Italia noted the importance of 5G and advanced cybersecurity in supporting these digital technologies.

It predicted the use of smart monitoring systems in the road network could prevent up to 27 per cent of issues with the “oldest structures” and cut overall operating costs of tunnels, bridges, roads and related civil works by up to 31 per cent.

For electricity grids, IoT sensors and management platforms were positioned as having the potential to optimise distribution, up reliability and cut costs by almost €700 million per year.

It also noted “the transformation of electricity grids from the centralised to the smart grid model would increasingly allow the integration of energy from renewable sources”.

The water segment was tipped to generate savings to the tune of €2.6 billion by 2030 from consumption monitoring and detecting hidden faults in real time using smart meters and advanced monitoring systems.

TIM chief enterprise and innovative solutions officer Elio Schiavo stated the “digital challenge of Italian infrastructure can no longer be postponed”, adding “investing in its digitalisation guarantees security, efficiency and sustainability, allowing us to transform our country into a smart land, an essential step for the development of Italy”.

The report was put together in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, Osservatori Digital Innovation of Politecnico di Milano and Comtel Innovation.

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During the session, Qatar Computer Research Institute principal scientist Mohamed Eltabakh (pictured), who is involved in the development of local AI platform Fanar, noted although common models developed primarily in English were getting better with the Arabic language there were “great and high risks” from just using these platforms.

Among these are privacy concerns meaning sensitive data cannot be shared with platforms outside of the country, fears of bias, and uncertainty that comes from using a technology where “you don’t own the roadmap”.

“We know that ChatGPT, [Google] Gemini and all of these models are built by 90 per cent Western data. There are inherent biases in these models, whether you like it or you don’t like it”.

Noting there was a slant towards Western languages compared to others such as Arabic, he also highlighted cultural bias.

“If you are building any application that has social impact or social connection, biases will play a role”.

He also noted the Arabic language was not well represented online, hampering the ability for many existing models to gather appropriate information for use in AI models.

“If we don’t do something special to protect the Arabic language eventually it can die,” Eltabakh added, indicating this was part of the reason for the development of Fanar.

Human-machine interaction
Earlier in the session Dr Mohammed Al Sada (pictured, below), executive director of the Qatar Mobility Innovations Center at Qatar University, discussed its work investigating future technologies.

Noting the importance of adopting a “producer mindset” in Qatar, he added: “If we don’t create the future, we will always be following so that’s why we need to take the initiative to create a future that reflects our values and maintains our humanity”.

Among the areas it is developing are those contributing to “industry 5.0” and “society 5.0”.

These include use of collaborative robots for small and medium-sized businesses, human-machine interface technologies, and work on a project to aid machines in handling delicate goods and tasks.

“As humans we have soft bodies that enable us to interact with the real world, interact with different objects, holding things, so we need to reflect that on machines,” he added, stating it aims to develop parts for the end of robot limbs that are “soft, inflatable and can interact with some delicate objects just like a human would do”.

Applying AI
One company which has been delivering results, and a lot of other things, with the help of AI is Qatari logistics and ecommerce app company Snoonu.

During his segment, founder and CEO Hamad Mubarak Al-Hajri (pictured, left) outlined the business benefits it has gained from using AI and machine learning across its operations, as it seeks to provide users with rapid deliveries and increase the number of purchases made.

Areas it is using the technology for are hyper-local push notifications, curation of recommendations, and improving logistics with real-time tracking and demand forecasts.   

Sharing his lessons with the audience, he advised “use the AI to increase your revenue, use your AI to reduce your costs, use your AI to increase your efficiency and improve your metrics”.

The post Qatar innovators showcase AI progress appeared first on Mobile World Live.

He explained enterprise demands were unique to each business and completely different to the consumer segment, with the latter where the majority of the attention on new technology often falls.

“Most of the hype to date has been on mass-market consumer-focused tools,” he said, describing the consumer sector as generally “winner takes all,” drawing on examples of other disruptive digital technology.

“Enterprise is not that easy. Google Search is one example. It is one of the most incredible products to be launched ever, 3.3 billion of us use it every single day. But what has Google done for enterprise search? Nothing, because enterprise search is completely different”.

Kon noted each business and sector had specific needs and infrastructure in place, meaning the way AI will have to be deployed for each one was “very unique”.

“Just taking consumer chat bots or taking consumer-oriented tech and models and plopping them into enterprise is not the solution for real transformation”.

Although acknowledging AI had been the subject of a lot of hype, he backed the technology as “the biggest transformation in how humans and computers interact in 30 years”.

Discussing the benefits for workers he explained “AI has the potential to bridge the skills gap, to flatten the productivity curve from least to most productive” summing up “AI helps less productive people relatively more than more productive people.”

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Al-Kuwari declared “everything depends on the quality of national digital infrastructure” noting Qatar had put itself ahead of the curve with forward-thinking policies and the network his company has been rolling out.

“Our networks today are designed not only for covering demand but for future transformation: AI driven automation, large scale data flows, immersive smart city experiences, cloud-native applications and services that require speed and sustainability beyond the traditional standards.”

In what was a strong theme of the opening keynote, the executive highlighted the need for digital, and especially AI technology, to benefit all.

“As technology accelerates, inclusivity must advance with equal force,” the executive said, noting Qatar’s authorities had “recognised that digital transformation only fulfils the purpose when it benefits every individual regardless of location, ability or socioeconomic backgrounds”.

“We are moving fast into an era where data becomes the currency of development, connectivity becomes the human necessity, and AI becomes the background of national progress,” he added.

“Qatar anticipated this global shift early under the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the digital agenda of the Ministry [of Communications and IT]”.

Al-Kuwari stated as a result of these measures the country “stands amongst the most digitally connected nations across the globe, not by coincidence but by design and effort”.

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Citing inspiration from policies seen in China, he endorsed the technology being included alongside electricity and water as a utility which should be available for all. 

“Make sure that AI is in every household” and every handset, he urged attending regulators and executives.

Noting AI is “not artificial at all” and had been “the most wrongly worded technology in the entire decade”, he promoted the technology as “augmented intelligence: augmenting the capabilities, skills, of people, of our customers, offering them a better version of themselves”.

“There is no reason why the best teacher should not be living in Dhaka, the best surgeon should not be in Islamabad and it is us that can make this happen,” he said.

Highlighting Veon’s focus on expanding access to digital technologies across its markets, the executive outlined a need to make sure the cost of delivering healthcare and education “to millions is a fraction of what it costs today”.

He also noted applications in this area, alongside financial services and entertainment systems, would allow people to be “part of the digital economy”.

Terzioglu implored operators to use “every single technology that we have in our hands” to make this happen, pointing to the latest generations of mobile network technology and satellite.

The executive was speaking a day after its Kyivstar unit in Ukraine began offering direct-to-device connectivity, a deployment he noted during his keynote would be swiftly followed by use of the technology in Kazakhstan.    

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In the wide-ranging biannual study, Ericsson tipped the US, Japan, South Korea, China, India and some Gulf Cooperation Council countries as those likely to make up the first tranche of commercial 6G launches.  

It indicated all of the above except India hit the button on 5G “relatively” early, so “it is expected that these countries will be among the first to roll out” commercial 6G services.

“India has been vocal in its ambition to lead in 6G technology and it is expected that the timing of the commercial 6G launch compared to other countries will happen earlier than it did for 5G,” Ericsson stated.

Europe is expected to see its first launches around a year after the leading markets due to “comparatively later deployments” of standalone (SA) 5G.

Its prediction for the upcoming mobile technology generation does not include “early uptake of AI-enabled IoT devices,” Ericsson stated, while adding the actual number of connections could “increase significantly if 6G launches earlier than previous cycles indicate”.

Commercial launches of the next-generation technology are widely expected around 2030.

Slice of the action
In terms of current technology, Ericsson stated 33 communications service providers are providing “differentiated connectivity services” using network slicing.

A total of 65 products were found to be on the market, with 53 at the proof-of-concept stage. Those commercially available are either subscription services, or add-ons for consumer or enterprise customers.

Ericsson noted around 33 per cent of the commercial offerings launched during 2025.

SA 5G is available, or had been soft launched, by more than 90 service providers, up by 20 since the previous Ericsson report published in June.

Other predictions include 6.4 billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2031. This is expected to make-up two-thirds of total mobile subscriptions and compares with an expected 2.9 billion at the end of 2025.

Ericsson’s previous report predicted numbers to end-2030, when 5G subscriptions were expected to be 6.3 billion.

In an overview of the findings, Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden said operators globally want to deploy SA 5G “to offer differentiated connectivity based on value services and not just data volume packages”.

He added the network generation “is already enabling differentiated connectivity opportunities. We’ve seen many service providers go from proof-of-concept to commercial deployment in 2025 alone and we expect to see that trend continuing”.

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Nexperia is majority owned by Chinese company Wingtech Technology.

It was slapped with an order under the Netherlands’ Goods Availability Act due to concerns related to the transfer of product assets, funds, technology and knowledge to a “foreign entity”.

Under the measure authorities were able to reverse or block company decisions if they were deemed harmful to the interests of the company or its future as a Dutch or European enterprise.

It was intended to prevent a situation where Nexperia’s production capabilities would be unavailable to Europe in an emergency. It was first time since 1952 authorities in the Netherlands had used the law.  

In its statement today (19 November) the Netherlands’ government noted initial concerns stemmed from actions attributed to the company’s now-suspended CEO.

It also explained there had been diplomatic progress since the order was issued on the company.

“The Dutch government is positive about the measures already taken by the Chinese authorities to ensure the supply of chips to Europe and the rest of the world. This is seen as a show of goodwill.”

“In light of these developments, The Netherlands has considered it the right moment to take a constructive step by suspending the order”.

Nexperia makes chips and components used across a number of sectors including consumer electronics and the automotive industry.

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The service is set to be offered to 5G users with a Google Pixel 9 or Pixel 10 for free for the first six months. After the initial period it plans to charge €5 per month.

Message Satellite, as it will be branded, is set to be available on 11 December and uses mobile satellite service spectrum.

Orange Wholesale CEO Michael Trabbia (pictured, centre) said the service would use Echostar and Viasat-Inmarsat birds through technology partner Skylo, which is an NTN vendor.

Skylo previously powered US operator Verizon’s satellite messaging service and pushed a trial with Deutsche Telekom in Europe.

Last week, Skylo co-founder Tarun Gupta appeared on Mobile World Live’s Unwrapped event, where he flagged it had around 20 customers and indicated he expected an increasing number of operators to take its service.  

European first
Trabbia noted the company already used satellite broadband for fixed customers and for backhaul, but the mobile service was “something missing” before lauding Orange’s “European first” service launch.

Promoting it as “back-up connectivity”, he noted satellite could not replace current network infrastructure, illustrating the service was seen as bringing “another dimension” to what it is offering already.

Although initially limited to one brand of device and SMS functions where there is a clear view of the sky, Trabbia said in the future it may support voice and some data services. It also plans to expand availability to other devices.

Orange France CEO Jerome Henique (pictured, left) added customers could also use the service outside of France in 36 other countries.

Highlighting the benefit of connecting those in areas including on mountains and at sea, Henique noted although initially a consumer play, it plans to extend to business customers, citing logistics and transport as potential areas.

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The vendor stated the three-year deal constituted a significant market gain share and positioned it strongly in the country. It won the contract through a tender process.

Nokia explained under the new deal it would expand and modernise 5G capacity and coverage to the operator’s customers in “new regions” alongside those already served by its network equipment.

Among the focus areas is improving coverage in Italy’s small towns and rural areas.

Citing sustainability benefits of its equipment, Nokia said it would install various products from its energy-efficient, AI-ready AirScale Radio Access Network portfolio.

Telecom Italia CEO Pietro Labriola said the partnership “strengthens” the operator’s “leadership in building the next generation of 5G networks, enabling faster, smarter, and more sustainable connectivity across Italy”.

“By combining innovation and efficiency, we are creating the digital infrastructure that will bridge the divide, accelerate industrial transformation, and support the country’s sustainable growth”.

Nokia president and CEO Justin Hotard added: “We’re helping TIM extend coverage and build a foundation for new AI-driven services. Together, we’re connecting intelligence and strengthening Italy’s competitiveness”.

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Validation of CAF’s CBTC system Optio with 5G was undertaken with both lab and field tests and adds to the platform’s other connectivity options of LTE and Wi-Fi.

Cellnex said the use of 5G meant access to fast transmission, low latency “convergence of applications and cyber-secure communications”.

The Optio system is intended to up safety, punctuality, capacity and efficiency for railway operators. Cellnex added it was one of the first of its kind to be validated with private 5G.

Cellnex noted with the system on 5G “railway signalling enters a new era, laying the foundations for safer, more automated and sustainable railway operations, aligned with the demands of 21st century smart cities”.

CEO of Cellnex Spain Alfonso Alvarez explained “the fundamental objective of the project has been to promote R&D to integrate ultra-low latency and high-capacity 5G connectivity in critical railway systems, including tunnels, thus improving the safety, efficiency and reliability of operations and preparing the infrastructure for the challenges of future smart mobility”.

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Discussing expectations for the hot but crowded market in the next 12-24 months, Gupta told Mobile World Live he anticipated some major shifts, including the possibility of “a direct consumer play from satellite”.

 “When you think about today, in my opinion the amount of time you’re on your phone that you’re actually on cellular is actually quite low,” he said.

“If all I need is e-mail or directions, texting and perhaps light video while I’m on cellular, then satellite can work, and that can be the primary mode of communication where your offload is just like Wi-Fi today”.

Where satellite direct-to-device (D2D) services to standard smartphones are currently available this is through agreements with operators. These are generally limited to basic applications like emergency messaging and navigation.

Skylo progress
Discussing its own offering, which is used by customers in the automotive, IoT and consumer sectors (the latter via a high-profile offering with Verizon via Google Pixel and Samsung S25 devices), he explained it had been working to get technology included in further device chipsets.

Gupta expects a number of operators to “bring in and take the NTN service” to increase alongside new devices in the marketplace, “whether that’s smartphones, more IoT devices or [those from] tier one automotive manufacturers.”

Currently, Gupta said Skylo has agreements with around 20 company customers.

He also anticipates greater use case support, noting having started with SOS and SMS, “now you’ll start to see light data”.

While Gupta stated one way to monetise satellite for operators was as part of a consumer’s monthly bill, he added carriers may think about it a little differently, indicating the potential to use it to help migrate people onto more higher value plans.

“I think carriers are viewing this as a tool in their toolkit where it’s not just saying how do we pass on additional costs to the consumer,” he said, citing its use in situations where operators “don’t need to install or erect a microcell, microcell or picocell in an area” saving capex.

The post Skylo co-founder tips sat comms industry shake-up appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In its results release the company flagged plans for what it labelled a record-high dividend payment for its current financial year, and increased guidance for adjusted EBITDA AL for the third time this year.

It expects the latter figure to be around €45.3 billion, nudged up from an estimate of “more than €45 billion” declared in its Q2 results.

In short statement, the operator’s CEO Timotheus Hoettges enthused “we reliably deliver strong figures in spite of all the challenges in our markets”.

Amid the positivity Deutsche Telekom’s reported figures continued to be blunted by weakness in the US dollar.   

Its Q3 revenue increased 1.5 per cent year-on-year to €28.9 billion, though it noted stripping out exchange rates and other special factors this would have been up by 3.3 per cent.

Net profit was down 17.9 per cent to €2.4 billion, though in Q3 2024 its bottom line had been significantly bolstered by one-off items. Its adjusted figures recorded a 14.3 increase year-on-year.

Outside of the US and Germany, the group pointed to steady growth in its segment covering the rest of its European operations and increased earnings from enterprise focused unit T-Systems.

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