The United Kingdom is set to enhance its semiconductor research capabilities significantly, following the government’s decision to join forces with the European Union’s Chips Joint Undertaking (JU). This collaboration marks a pivotal step in the UK’s efforts to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor arena, promising to inject new energy into its research and innovation sectors.
TIM, the Italian telecommunications giant, encountered a significant drop in its share value following the announcement of an expected increase in net debt by over €1 billion due to the sale of its networks division. The company’s strategic initiative, dubbed the Free to Run plan, aimed at reducing debt through the sale, ironically led to a sharp decline in share prices, which plummeted further after the disclosure of financial details on Monday.
Telefónica Tech UK&I has taken a significant step forward in strengthening enterprise cyber defenses in the UK and Ireland with the introduction of its NextDefense Managed Security Services (MSS). This move is aimed at offering businesses advanced protection against the constantly evolving cyber threats.
Injecting fresh vigor into the national establishment for data science and AI, UK’s Chancellor commits £100 million in funding to The Alan Turing Institute. This allocation, targeting environment, health, defence, and national security, underlines UK’s ambitious stride towards global AI leadership.
Singtel has made another divestment, selling a fractional 0.8% stake in India’s Bharti Airtel for approximately $711 million. It’s a part of Singtel’s ongoing strategy to transition from traditional telco operations to fully digital-based operations.
LogRhythm, the company helping security teams stop breaches by turning disconnected data and signals into trustworthy insights, has announced the appointment of Joanne Wong as Interim Chief Marketing Officer. Wong brings a wealth of experience to her new role, proven over 9 years of driving successful marketing initiatives at LogRhythm.
In an unexpected turn of events, Google’s Pixel smartphones are carving out a significant niche for themselves in Japan, a market traditionally dominated by local brands and, more recently, by Apple. Despite a general downturn in the Japanese mobile phone sector, Google has emerged as a notable exception, with its Pixel range securing a market share surpassing 10% by the end of the fourth quarter of 2023. This growth positions Google as the third-largest player in the market, right behind Sharp but ahead of several traditional and long-standing competitors.
The European Commission has imposed a hefty fine on Apple, surpassing €1.8 billion, for its anti-competitive practices concerning music streaming services via its App Store. This penalty stems from an investigation initiated by a complaint from Spotify, the music streaming behemoth, nearly five years ago. Accusing Spotify of greed, Apple has announced its intention to contest the fine.
At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, BT’s Division X unveiled a significant advancement in their technology offerings, introducing a multi-million-pound investment in a narrowband Internet of Things (NB IoT) network. This move is poised to revolutionize the IoT landscape across various sectors, promising a new era of smart cities and advanced agriculture. Chris Keone, the Managing Director of Division X, shared insights into how this technology is setting the stage for futuristic urban environments and industry transformations.
The 2021 ‘Build America, Buy America Act’ significantly reshaped U.S. telecommunications, demanding domestic purchases from companies eyeing a piece of the $42 billion BEAD funding. Despite industry concerns, majority purchase from U.S. vendors remains crucial.
