Telenor faces serious legal pressure in Norway over its former Myanmar operations. Authorities raided its Fornebu offices and filed charges linked to sanctions law breaches. The case also alleges complicity in crimes against humanity during Myanmar’s military rule.
The operator says it faced extreme pressure after the 2021 coup. Its defense centers on employee safety and military orders. A company spokesman said: “Our employees risked imprisonment, torture or the death penalty if the military authorities’ orders were not complied with. This was a very demanding situation in which we found that we had no real choice and that we could not put our employees’ lives at risk.”
However, the case raises difficult questions for global telecom groups. Operators often work in unstable markets with strict local controls. Yet their networks carry sensitive user data. That makes exit decisions highly complex, especially under authoritarian regimes.
Telenor left Myanmar in 2022 by selling its unit to Lebanon-based M1 Group. Human rights groups warned that the deal could expose 18 million users. They feared customer data might reach the military junta.
Meanwhile, Nokia reported rising interest in its AI-RAN platform. Several operators now evaluate the technology, including A1 Group and Chunghwa Telecom. The vendor says its Nvidia-powered system improved spectral efficiency by more than 20%.
This matters because operators need more capacity from existing spectrum. AI-driven radio systems can improve performance without adding new frequencies. Still, the industry needs proof at scale before major deployment.
In the UK, BT is supporting drone operations for British Transport Police. The service uses BT’s Drone SIM and EE mobile coverage at altitude. It enables beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights across rail infrastructure.
The move targets a clear safety challenge. UK railways recorded more than 19,000 trespass incidents in 2023 and 2024. Drones could help police inspect tracks faster and reduce risky patrols.
Elsewhere, Vodafone may lose major earnings from a German broadband venture. A reported deal involving Altice founder Patrick Drahi could affect deferred payments. The total at stake may exceed €1 billion, according to the Financial Times.
At the same time, Google drew political attention over its Finnish AI infrastructure plan. Donald Trump criticized the €13 billion investment on Truth Social. He wrote: “Google has recently stated that they want to build a massive plant in Finland, all because they are finding permitting too difficult in the United States. I am not happy about this, and want them to change their thinking.”
Finally, O2 activated 5G standalone in Newcastle and nearby areas. More than one million people can now access the service. The rollout forms part of Virgin Media O2’s £700 million mobile transformation plan.
