Singtel and KKR are set to invest $1.3 billion for a minority stake in ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), marking the latest significant investment in the data center sector. The companies will initially acquire S$1.75 billion (US$1.3 billion) in redeemable preference shares and warrants, with a plan to invest an additional S$1.24 billion once the warrants are fully exercised.
Tech giant Apple has introduced its latest innovation, the Apple Intelligence system, designed to enhance AI capabilities across its operating systems. Unlike creating its own large language model (LLM), Apple Intelligence amalgamates on-device small language models with access to established LLMs, initially partnering with Chat GPT.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is unlikely to demand that dominant cloud service providers Microsoft and AWS break up their businesses or divest assets. However, it is considering several other market interventions to ensure fair competition.
In a significant move towards bolstering AI infrastructure in Asia, Japan’s KDDI and Sharp have initiated discussions with Super Micro Computer Inc. and Datasection to establish the region’s largest AI data centre. The ambitious project will be situated at the soon-to-be-closed Sharp Sakai Plant in Osaka, marking a strategic repurposing of the unprofitable facility slated to shut down in September.
Global revenue from AI semiconductors is projected to reach $71 billion in 2024, marking a 33% increase from the previous year, according to a recent Gartner report. Gartner also anticipates that AI-equipped PCs will constitute 22% of total PC shipments in 2024. By the end of 2026, all enterprise PC purchases are expected to feature AI capabilities.
Telefónica, a leading telecommunications operator, has sealed a fresh agreement with tech giant Google Cloud aimed at turbocharging Telefónica’s journey into cloud adoption and AI-driven innovation. The deal, which extends the strategic collaboration between the two entities for another three years, is poised to usher in a wave of advancements across various fronts.
Leading tech companies Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce have announced the formation of the “Symbiosis Coalition,” a collaborative effort aimed at reducing their carbon footprints through nature restoration projects. The coalition has pledged to secure up to 20 million tons of nature-based carbon removal credits by 2030.
Verizon launches AI-driven apps to improve customer service by streamlining interactions. The European Commission designates Booking.com as a ‘gatekeeper’ and plans antitrust charges against Microsoft for bundling Teams with Office. Telstra establishes a regional network hub in Guam at GNC iX data center. GlobalData underscores US telcos’ struggle to stand out in the B2B channel.
In a significant move to bolster its presence in Europe, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a substantial investment of €7.8 billion into the AWS European Sovereign Cloud project, extending through 2040. This initiative, unveiled last October, aims to establish an autonomous cloud infrastructure within the European Union (EU), operated independently to ensure data sovereignty for European customers.
At Avaya Engage, its premier customer experience event, Avaya, a global leader in Customer Experience solutions, unveiled a series of important enhancements to the Avaya Experience Platform™ (AXP),that further Avaya’s leadership in Enterprise CX as well as its commitment to delivering Innovation without Disruption. Avaya’s robust and comprehensive CX platform, trusted by large Enterprises globally, empowers customers to maintain their core capabilities while evolving through flexible innovation paths, including on-premises, private cloud, public cloud, or hybrid deployment models.
