his week, the University of Bristol has powered up Isambard-AI, the UK’s fastest and most potent supercomputer, following a £225 million investment announced by the government last March. Built by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Isambard-AI boasts over 5,000 NVIDIA superchips, enabling it to execute a staggering 200 quadrillion calculations per second. Officially named the AI Research Resource (AIRR), this supercomputer surpasses its predecessor by a factor of ten in computational power, aiming to support critical AI technology development.
Cornerstone, a leading passive infrastructure provider managing Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) and Vodafone’s shared mobile network, is set to introduce a cutting-edge neutral host network utilizing smart street light technology in urban environments.The partnership between Cornerstone and Signify, a Netherlands-based company spun off from Philips in 2016, will leverage Signify’s BrightSites Broadband Luminaire products. These innovative LED streetlamps act as network extenders, supporting a mesh network using 60 GHz millimetre-wave (mmWave) spectrum to facilitate 5G connectivity.
South Korean telecommunications giant SK Telecom has secured approval from the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) for its proposal to standardize technology for AI data centers. This development marks a significant step forward in establishing international norms for AI-related technologies in data centers.
BT has announced a significant triumph, securing a $70 million contract to revamp and bolster the IT infrastructure of the Devon & Cornwall and Dorset police forces. This transformative deal encompasses a broad spectrum of IT solutions essential for operational efficacy.
Three UK revealed its quarterly financial performance this week, showcasing an increase in revenue and margin while reiterating its intent for a potential merger with competitor Vodafone.
The telecommunications company disclosed a notable 9% surge in both revenue, climbing to £664 million, and margin, reaching £424 million. This growth was attributed in part to a rise in its customer base, with active customers increasing by 3% overall and active contract customers by 6%.
The US government has unveiled plans this week to establish a new institute dedicated to advancing digital twin technology for the semiconductor industry. Through the CHIPS Manufacturing USA initiative, companies are invited to submit proposals to operate this institute, with the selected applicant set to receive up to $285 million in funding.
AT&T has finalized the sale of its cybersecurity division, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s strategic realignment. The division has been transitioned into a new independent entity known as LevelBlue, backed by majority owner WillJam Ventures. This move sees LevelBlue emerge as a standalone managed cybersecurity services business with a global presence spanning 10 countries and boasting a workforce exceeding 1000 employees.
The US government has taken a significant step by revoking specific licenses that allow American chip manufacturers to export goods to Huawei, the Chinese tech giant. This action will notably reduce the sales of major chip producers like Intel and Qualcomm to China.
UK-based autonomous vehicle startup Wayve has announced a significant investment of $1.05 billion aimed at advancing its development of self-driving cars powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The funding round was led by SoftBank, a Japanese multinational conglomerate, with substantial contributions from tech giants Nvidia and Microsoft.
Apple is venturing into the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) processing chips for data centers, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. This move positions Apple in direct competition with industry peers like Google and Amazon, which have already heavily invested in AI chip technology.
