News/Telecom
5G-A networks reach 50 deployments as Huawei integrates AI for operators
Huawei says 5G-A networks and AI integration will reshape operator value creation and network innovation, with commercial deployments reaching 50 networks across 300 cities this year. The Chinese tech giant believes this convergence will drive new business models beyond traditional connectivity services, positioning operators to monetize AI capabilities and network performance guarantees. The big picture: The mobile communications industry is experiencing a fundamental shift as 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology matures alongside AI integration, creating new revenue opportunities for operators worldwide. Commercial 5G-A networks are set to reach 50 globally this year, spanning over 300 cities with support from more than 100...
read Oct 7, 2025India Mobile Congress showcases 1,600 tech use cases across 6G and AI
India is positioning itself as a global technology powerhouse, and this week's India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 serves as a comprehensive showcase of that ambition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ninth edition of Asia's largest telecom, media, and technology event on October 8 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, highlighting the country's rapid digital transformation and its vision for next-generation connectivity. The four-day event, running through October 11 under the theme "Innovate to Transform," represents more than just a technology exhibition. With over 150,000 visitors from more than 150 countries expected, IMC 2025 demonstrates India's emergence as a critical...
read Oct 6, 2025Google may drop Samsung modems for MediaTek in Pixel 11 series
Google is reportedly considering dropping Samsung's modem technology entirely for its upcoming Tensor G6 chip, potentially switching to MediaTek's new M90 modem for the Pixel 11 series. This shift could address longstanding connectivity and battery drain issues that have plagued Google's Pixel phones, marking a complete break from Samsung hardware after years of partnership complaints. What you should know: Google has already moved Tensor G5 chip production from Samsung to TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) for the Pixel 10 series but retained Samsung's Exynos modem technology. According to leaker Mystic Leaks, Google is now evaluating MediaTek's M90 modem, which was...
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“Do you fear me now?” Verizon uses AI to match competitor bills and steal AT&T customers
Verizon has launched an AI-powered "Bring your bill" promotion targeting AT&T and T-Mobile customers, promising to analyze competitor bills and match or beat their pricing. The tool applies promotional credits and discounts to create competitive rates locked in for 36 months, marking Verizon's attempt to shed its premium-price reputation in an increasingly price-sensitive wireless market. The big picture: All three major carriers now offer similar network performance and features, making price and value the primary differentiators in the wireless market. Verizon has traditionally commanded higher prices due to its network quality, but T-Mobile's 5G leadership has shifted competitive dynamics. Rather...
read Sep 26, 2025Samsung’s AI in One UI 8.5 fixes Android’s Wi-Fi switching problem
Samsung is developing AI-powered connectivity features for One UI 8.5 that will automatically switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data based on signal quality and user behavior patterns. The update represents Samsung's push to integrate machine learning into core smartphone functions, potentially solving common connectivity frustrations that plague Android users. What you should know: One UI 8.5 introduces two AI-driven connectivity features designed to optimize network switching without manual intervention. "Intelligent Link Assessment" learns from Wi-Fi link data to automatically disconnect from weak networks and switch to cellular data when needed. "Intelligent Network Switch" uses handover history along the user's movement...
read Sep 25, 2025Penny for your talks? Neon app pays users $0.30 per minute to record calls for AI training
Neon, an app that records phone calls and sells them to AI companies for training data, has climbed to No. 2 on Apple's US App Store in the Social Networking category. The app pays users $0.30 per minute for calls with other Neon users and $0.15 per minute for calls with non-users, suggesting many people are willing to trade privacy for compensation. How it works: Neon records phone conversations and sells the audio data to AI developers to help train speech recognition systems. Users earn money for each minute of recorded conversation, with earnings capped at $30 per day plus...
read Sep 22, 2025Serve Robotics acquires teleoperation tech for $5.75M to scale delivery robots
Serve Robotics has acquired key assets from Phantom Auto and its subsidiary Voysys AB for $5.75 million in cash, integrating ultra-low latency video streaming and teleoperation capabilities into its autonomous delivery robot fleet. The acquisition strengthens Serve's ability to scale its Level 4 autonomy platform in urban environments, where human operators can remotely intervene when robots encounter unexpected obstacles like pedestrians or construction zones. What you should know: The deal brings critical remote operation technology that allows human oversight of autonomous delivery robots with minimal delay. Voysys contributes proprietary bandwidth regulation and video compression achieving glass-to-glass latency as low as...
read Sep 17, 2025“Who may I say is calling?” AT&T tests AI receptionist to automatically screen spam calls
AT&T is testing an AI-powered digital receptionist that will automatically screen incoming calls to determine if they're legitimate or spam. The feature will roll out to select customers throughout 2025, using voice-to-voice and agentic AI to ask callers questions before deciding whether to put the call through or handle it independently. How it works: The AI receptionist answers calls on your behalf and conducts a brief screening conversation to assess the caller's legitimacy. It asks questions like "Who may I say is calling?" or "What is this in regard to?" to determine if the caller is human or bot and...
read Sep 12, 2025Serve Robotics buys Phantom Auto for $5.75M to boost delivery robot operations
Serve Robotics has acquired the assets of Phantom Auto and its subsidiary Voysys for approximately $5.75 million, adding ultra-low latency video streaming and teleoperation technology to its autonomous delivery robot fleet. The Swedish company's technology enables glass-to-glass latency as low as 50 milliseconds, which will help Serve maintain safe operations as it rapidly scales its sidewalk delivery operations in dense urban environments. What you should know: Voysys brings industry-leading video streaming capabilities that have already been integrated into Serve's production fleet of hundreds of robots.• The company's proprietary bandwidth regulation, advanced video compression, and multi-link redundancy technology sets new benchmarks...
read Sep 8, 2025Vodafone swaps humans for AI avatars in ads but tech flaws evident
Vodafone is experimenting with AI-generated avatars in its advertising campaigns, recently releasing a commercial featuring a synthetic spokesperson instead of a human actor. The telecommunications giant's test represents a notable shift toward AI-powered marketing by a major global brand, though the execution reveals the current limitations of generative AI technology in creating convincing human representations. What you should know: The AI avatar's artificial nature is immediately apparent through several telltale signs that undermine the illusion of authenticity. The synthetic spokesperson's hair appears unnatural, while physical mannerisms and speaking patterns feel mechanical and off-putting. A facial mole visibly shifts positions during...
read Aug 28, 2025OpenAI upgrades Realtime API with phone calling and image support
OpenAI has upgraded its Realtime API to general availability and launched gpt-realtime, its most advanced speech-to-speech model, with new capabilities including remote Model Context Protocol (MCP) support, image inputs, and phone calling functionality. These enhancements enable developers to build more sophisticated voice agents that can access broader tools and data sources while maintaining natural, human-like interactions across multiple languages and complex tasks. What you should know: The Realtime API updates significantly expand what voice agents can accomplish through enhanced connectivity and multimodal capabilities. The API now supports remote MCP servers, allowing voice agents to seamlessly perform actions from connected apps...
read Aug 21, 2025Vodafone Idea partners with IBM to build AI hub for 200M subscribers
Vodafone Idea, India's third-largest telecom operator, has forged a strategic partnership with IBM to integrate artificial intelligence throughout its operations, marking a significant step in the carrier's digital transformation efforts. The collaboration establishes a dedicated AI innovation hub designed to modernize telecom operations and accelerate service delivery in one of the world's most competitive mobile markets. The partnership addresses a critical challenge facing Indian telecom operators: managing increasingly complex networks while delivering faster, more reliable services to over 200 million subscribers. As data consumption surges and 5G networks expand across India, telecom companies must streamline operations and reduce costs to...
read Aug 15, 2025Rogers sells 9 data centers to InfraRed to reduce $26B debt
Rogers Communications has signed a definitive agreement to sell nine data centers from its Rogers Business portfolio to InfraRed Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum. The transaction represents part of Rogers' broader strategy to divest non-core assets and reduce debt, while maintaining operational control over facilities critical to its network infrastructure. What you should know: The sale involves Tier 2 and 3 data centers across key Canadian cities with a combined capacity of up to 49 MW. Rogers will retain its corporate data centers used for internal network and IT operations. The telecom giant will continue selling data center services...
read Aug 13, 2025LG CNS partners with Vietnam telecom giant to build hyperscale AI data center
LG CNS has partnered with Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and Korea Investment Real Asset Management to develop a hyperscale artificial intelligence data center in Vietnam. The collaboration represents a significant expansion into Southeast Asia's rapidly growing data center market, projected to reach $30.5 billion by 2030, while supporting Vietnam's national digital transformation priorities. What you should know: The partnership will establish a comprehensive AI infrastructure project spanning facility construction, hardware deployment, and network systems.• The three parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum in Seoul to advance the AI facility construction.• A dedicated technical...
read Aug 8, 2025Deutsche Telekom plans AI data center with Nvidia for 2026 launch
Deutsche Telekom plans to begin construction of a large-scale AI data center in 2026, developed in partnership with Nvidia and investment firm Brookfield as part of what the companies describe as the world's first industrial AI cloud for European manufacturers. The facility represents a significant push into AI infrastructure by the German telecom giant, targeting the growing demand for specialized computing power among manufacturing companies across Germany and mainland Europe. What you should know: Deutsche Telekom is targeting a 2026 construction start for its AI "Gigafactory" using Nvidia's advanced chip technology. CEO Tim Höttges confirmed the timeline during an investor...
read Aug 8, 2025Orange deploys OpenAI’s open-weight models across 26 countries with full data control
Orange has partnered with OpenAI to deploy new open-weight AI models—gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b—entirely within its own sovereign infrastructure across 26 countries. This deployment allows the French telecom giant to maintain complete data control while customizing AI solutions for customer service, network operations, and enterprise clients, positioning Orange as among the first organizations globally to integrate these models under strict data governance standards. What you should know: Orange can host and run OpenAI's models entirely within its own infrastructure, from large-scale French data centers to smaller edge environments. The open-weight nature of the gpt-oss models ensures compliance with regulatory frameworks across...
read Aug 8, 2025Perplexity denies Airtel users get downgraded AI search service
Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine company, has denied allegations that Airtel customers receive a downgraded version of its AI search tool, following viral social media claims suggesting the telecom partnership delivers inferior service. The company's clarification comes as misinformation spreads on Reddit about the collaboration, which provides Indian users with free access to Perplexity Pro features worth Rs 17,000 annually. What they're saying: Jesse Dwyer from Perplexity.ai directly addressed the controversy, emphasizing the partnership's authenticity. "Having worked personally with the Airtel team throughout this partnership, and also being familiar with the specific terms of this deal, I can assure you...
read Aug 8, 2025UAE’s du launches first Arabic LLM for telecom operations
UAE telecommunications operator du has partnered with Microsoft, Nokia, Khalifa University, and the International Telecommunication Union to develop what it claims is the first Arabic-language large language model specifically designed for internal telecom operations. The model addresses the growing need for localized AI systems in strategic sectors while supporting the UAE's emphasis on developing sovereign AI infrastructure. What you should know: The Arabic LLM is designed to handle operational tasks with cultural and linguistic nuances specific to the UAE and broader region. The model supports real-time customer complaint handling, device issue diagnostics, and internal process optimization through AI-generated insights. Unlike...
read Aug 4, 2025Amphenol acquires CommScope’s fiber unit for $10.5B as AI drives connectivity demand
Amphenol has agreed to acquire CommScope's Connectivity and Cable Solutions (CCS) business for $10.5 billion, marking the second major CommScope unit the company has purchased in under a year. The deal significantly strengthens Amphenol's position in fiber optic interconnects and data center infrastructure, particularly as AI-driven demand for high-speed connectivity continues to surge. What you should know: This acquisition builds on Amphenol's previous $2.1 billion purchase of CommScope's Andrew connectivity business in July 2024. The Andrew deal included CommScope's Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and Outdoor Wireless Networks units, which have been consolidated under the revived Andrew brand. Amphenol's experience with...
read Aug 1, 2025China summons Nvidia over H20 chip backdoor concerns
Beijing has summoned Nvidia to address concerns that its H20 AI chips contain backdoors, following a US proposal to add tracking capabilities to advanced semiconductors sold overseas. This marks China's latest countermeasure in the escalating tech rivalry, as both nations increasingly weaponize national security concerns around AI and semiconductor technologies. What you should know: The Nvidia meeting comes after the Trump administration recently reversed a Biden-era ban, allowing the company to export H20 chips to China. Jensen Huang's company had lost billions in sales due to the previous restrictions, making China's approval crucial for Nvidia's business. Huang recently completed a...
read Jul 29, 2025Bell Canada partners with Cohere for sovereign AI solutions
Bell Canada, the country's largest telecommunications provider, has formed a strategic partnership with Cohere, a Toronto-based enterprise AI company, to deliver sovereign artificial intelligence solutions specifically designed for Canadian government and business clients. This collaboration addresses growing concerns about data security and regulatory compliance by ensuring that sensitive information remains within Canadian borders while accessing cutting-edge AI capabilities. The partnership represents a significant development in Canada's AI infrastructure landscape, combining Bell's extensive telecommunications network with Cohere's advanced language models to create what the companies describe as a "full-stack" AI platform. Unlike cloud-based AI services that may store data internationally, this...
read Jul 28, 2025Google’s Gemini AI hits 450M users as India strategy accelerates
Google's Gemini AI assistant has crossed a significant milestone, surpassing 450 million monthly active users while daily usage surged more than 50 percent compared to the previous quarter. This growth comes as Google deepens its artificial intelligence investments in India through a series of strategic initiatives targeting students, farmers, and developers. The user growth represents a major validation of Google's AI strategy, particularly as the company faces intensifying competition from OpenAI's ChatGPT and other AI assistants. Shekar Khosla, Vice President of Marketing and Site Lead at Google India, announced the milestone on LinkedIn, noting the "growing momentum" behind the Gemini...
read Jul 23, 2025Tata Communications builds India’s first national AI network with AWS
Tata Communications, one of India's largest telecommunications providers, has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build a specialized national network designed specifically for artificial intelligence workloads. This infrastructure represents one of the most significant AI-focused network deployments in India to date, connecting AWS's major data centers across three key cities with high-speed, low-latency connections optimized for machine learning and AI applications. The collaboration addresses a critical infrastructure gap as Indian businesses increasingly adopt AI technologies. Unlike traditional networks designed primarily for web browsing and basic data transfer, AI workloads require massive bandwidth and minimal delays to handle the enormous...
read Jul 22, 2025AI data centers drive optical transport market to $19B by 2029
After a challenging 2024 that saw the optical transport market contract by 9%, the telecommunications infrastructure sector is poised for a significant rebound. The catalyst driving this recovery isn't traditional telecom growth, but rather the explosive expansion of artificial intelligence computing infrastructure. The optical transport market—which encompasses the fiber-optic cables, switches, and networking equipment that carry data across long distances—is projected to grow at a steady 5% annually through 2029, reaching $19 billion by the end of the forecast period. This turnaround represents a dramatic shift from the broader telecom industry slowdown that characterized much of 2024. AI data centers...
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