Fairphone has opened a Series C funding round after strong first-half sales. The Dutch smartphone maker wants at least €50 million, or about US$58 million. It plans to support growth in new markets, including the United States.
The move comes at a notable time for smartphone makers. Many brands face slower demand and longer replacement cycles. Fairphone, however, reported a 74% year-over-year sales rise in the first half. Second-quarter sales climbed 48%, adding momentum to its funding push.
Oscar Visser, the company’s CFO, linked the growth to changing buyer priorities. He said: “While the rest of the smartphone industry struggles with a downward trend, our jump in H1 phone sales shows that consumers are actively voting for tech built to last.”
Fairphone promotes longer device life, easier repairs and more responsible sourcing. This approach appeals to buyers who dislike frequent upgrades. It also matches growing enterprise interest in sustainable procurement. Yet expansion brings pressure. The company must scale production while keeping its ethical supply chain credible.
Meanwhile, security innovation also featured in the EMEA roundup. Sparkle and Hellas Sat announced a quantum-safe satellite connection between Greece and Cyprus. They say it is the first link of its kind between the two countries.
The satellite path spans about 72,000km. It connects Cyprus to a geostationary satellite, then to Athens. Sparkle says its software protects data against “store now, decrypt later” attacks. This threat means criminals steal encrypted data today, then unlock it later.
However, quantum-safe networking still needs wider testing and clear standards. Operators must balance readiness with cost. Still, early deployments help the telecom sector prepare for future encryption risks.
Elsewhere, Nokia opened a new R&D center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The site will focus on AI-powered network automation and orchestration software. In simple terms, this software helps networks adjust and repair themselves.
The project aims to support self-configuring and self-healing networks. It also targets better performance and lower energy use. For operators, this could reduce manual work and speed service recovery. Yet automation requires careful controls, especially in critical national networks.
Ericsson also strengthened its fintech ambitions through a partnership with FIS. The companies will combine payments tools with Ericsson’s wallet-led cloud platform. Ericsson says its fintech platform supports more than 130 million active users.
In Tunisia, Ooredoo led Opensignal’s latest mobile network experience report. It won, or shared victory, in 12 of 14 categories. These included 5G coverage, reliability and download speed.
Finally, the European Commission expanded oversight under the Digital Services Act. ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox now face extra obligations. They must comply by January 2027 or risk major penalties. Together, these developments show Europe’s telecom and digital markets moving fast.
