The US Senate has made a significant leap forward with a new regulation requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the platform or face a US ban. This move, echoed by President Biden’s support, stems from fears surrounding TikTok’s algorithm and ByteDance’s potential to share American user data with the Chinese Communist Party. However, TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew vehemently denies these allegations.
According to Counterpoint’s Market Pulse Service, China’s overall smartphone sales saw a modest 1.5% year-on-year growth in Q1 2024, marking a second consecutive quarter of positive growth. Notably, Huawei experienced a remarkable 69.7% year-on-year increase in market share, solidifying its position in the market. This growth was attributed to Huawei’s successful launch of the 5G-capable Mate 60 series and its enduring brand reputation, particularly in the premium segment priced above $600. In contrast, Apple witnessed a 19.1% year-on-year decline in market share during the same period, partly due to Huawei’s gains in this segment.
Embracing certain compliance measures with the U.S. ‘Clean Network’ program, Nokia seemingly reduced its orders with supplier Foxconn Industrial Internet, marking another move away from China-based telecoms equipment. Though these adjustments primarily impact specific equipment types, both entities express an unusual blend of caution and resilience.
The demand for data centers is soaring due to edge services and generative AI. Nokia’s first-quarter results showed a 19% drop in sales but a notable 52% profit increase. Telesystem has launched new cybersecurity bundles featuring updated Employee Security Awareness Training. Utility companies are using GIS technology to address infrastructure, workforce, and demand challenges.
Letta’s recent report underlines the fragmentation faced by the European telecoms sector, with its 27 separate national markets serving a mere average of five million customers. Highlighting the necessity for unification and increased scale for cost-effective innovation, the report aims to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness, fueling new advancements like edge computing and IoT.
The UK Government’s newly established Critical Imports Council aims to lessen the disturbance of essential goods flow from unpredictable global supply chain disruptions. Business and Trade Minister, Alan Mak, highlights strengthening critical goods supply against real-world crises through collaborative efforts with industry experts. With representation from diverse sectors including telecommunications, the council will focus on assessing risks and creating robust mitigation strategies.
Microsoft is collaborating with UAE’s AI firm G42 in a landmark move aimed at accelerating AI innovation across such sectors as finance, healthcare, and education, with a considerable investment. This move, merged with strategic geopolitical consideration, has sent ripples across the global telecommunications industry, indicating a shift in its dynamics.
Global smartphone shipments saw a notable 7.8% year-over-year increase in the first quarter of 2024, according to data from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. The total shipments for the quarter reached 89.4 million units, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth and indicating a solid recovery in the smartphone market.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has raised alarms regarding the possibility of a collusion among a handful of American tech giants, aiming to manipulate the AI market in their favor. The focus of their worry centers on the control exerted by these companies over the development and commercialization of foundation models (FMs), with Open AI’s GPT being a prominent example.
President Yoon Suk Yeol recently detailed South Korea’s aggressive moves to establish its supremacy in the global semiconductor sector, including a staggering $6.94 billion commitment to AI by 2027. Amid fierce competition, South Korea’s largest telecom firm, SK Telecom, is paralleling governmental efforts with its own investment in AI firms.
