Via Africa: Consortium announces new subsea cable project | Total Telecom

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clear blue body of water

Press Release

Investors including Canalink, GUILAB, International Mauritania Telecom, Orange Group, Orange Côte d’Ivoire, Sonatel, Silverlinks, announce the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate the Via Africa submarine cable project, confirming a shared ambition to develop international connectivity, to support traffic growth and to strengthen the resilience of networks across the African continent.

This brand-new system aims to connect Europe to South Africa — including landing points in the United Kingdom, France and Portugal — with destinations along the Atlantic coastline such as the Canary Islands, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, with extensions further south supporting increased connectivity diversity and improved resilience for countries along the route.

A consortium-based subsea infrastructure

The Via Africa system is managed as a consortium, enabling participating partners seeking autonomy and sovereignty to co-invest in the infrastructure and take part in its governance. This robust and proven model allows investors to participate directly in the decisions regarding the design, deployment and exploitation of the system and contribute to decisions that best meet their needs. The initial telco and digital player partners are open to additional partners potentially joining the project in the future.

Enhancing resilience and connectivity diversity across Africa

The new open cable project is designed to contribute to greater diversity and resilience of international connectivity serving Africa, by providing a different subsea route than existing infrastructure and strengthening the robustness of regional connectivity.

Next steps for the project

As part of the initial phase of the project, consortium members will jointly finance a cable route study to identify the optimal cable route that balances resilience, technical feasibility and overall economic efficiency.

In parallel, the consortium is preparing the procurement process for selecting a cable supplier, marking the next step in the development of the system.

The submarine cable industry is evolving rapidly. Join the discussion at Submarine Networks EMEA, the world’s most important subsea cable event

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BT launches enterprise voice control service UC Edge | Total Telecom

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BT logo

Press Release

New single voice communication layer reduces complexity and costs for multinational organisations as they evolve their AI-powered workplace collaboration strategies.
BT International today announced the launch of UC Edge, a new managed service that gives multinational organisations’ CIOs a simpler, more flexible solution to manage their rapidly evolving AI-powered workplace collaboration strategies.
Many multinational organisations rely on a patchwork of collaboration solutions inherited through mergers and acquisitions or selected to meet different regional business needs, including sovereignty — be that data sovereignty, operational sovereignty or technical sovereignty. This mix of technologies can slow down transformation, increase costs and leave IT teams wrestling with complex, overlapping systems.
Now live, with initial customer deployments in highly regulated industries, UC Edge cuts through all of that. It lets organisations add or change AI-powered collaboration solutions and platforms quickly without restarting procurement or rebuilding compliant voice services.
An expansion of BT International’s Global Voice platform, it brings voice, collaboration and number management into one, vendor agnostic service. It works seamlessly across collaboration platforms, contact centre solutions and SIP services. IT teams can tailor the experience for each user, team or country while managing all their collaboration services through a single model.
Built as a single global communication layer, UC Edge’s intelligent voice routing automatically directs calls to the correct platform — no manual number alignment, no portal changes, no routing requests. IT teams can also move users between platforms with zero disruption and far less operational effort.
Denise Lund, IDC Research vice president worldwide UC&C and telecom, said: “As multinational organisations modernise their communications, they increasingly demand the flexibility to adopt best-of-breed and vendor-agnostic collaboration solutions that align with diverse business and regulatory needs. BT International’s UC Edge empowers enterprises to seamlessly integrate and manage multiple platforms, reducing complexity while enabling choice and agility.”
Matt Swinden, managing director of strategy & product at BT International, said: “Many multinationals are juggling legacy collaboration platforms, regional needs or simple user preference. With UC Edge, customers get one contract, one commercial model and one global product delivered seamlessly — giving them the freedom to use the platforms they want without the integration burden. So, when users ask: ‘Can we talk?’ the answer will always be ‘Yes!’”

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US moves closer to banning some foreign-made phones | Total Telecom

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pile of smartphones

News

The FCC is moving closer to banning the recognition of device testing labs and certification bodies in foreign nations without reciprocity agreements.

By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

New rules being considered by the Federal Communications Commission could have big impacts on the future of electronic devices in the United States.

Under one of the rules, the FCC is considering banning the recognition of device testing labs in nations without a reciprocal trade agreement, an announcement from the agency said last month.

Labs not in compliance with the proposed rules would be phased out within two years if the rules are eventually adopted, the FCC said.

Conversely, the FCC also adopted rules that streamline the approval process for devices testing in U.S. labs or in nations with signed mutual trade agreements.

“The order would also adopt a range of other measures to promote the integrity of the equipment authorization system: require the disclosure of the location and number of employees engaged in FCC-recognized testing, improve the FCC’s post-market surveillance procedures, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and establish confidential reporting channels for industry participants to raise concerns about violations or national security threats,” the FCC said.

The moves build upon the FCC’s efforts in March, when the agency placed foreign made routers on the FCC’s list of products deemed to pose unacceptable security risks.

Since adopting that rule, the FCC has since taken action to withdraw or deny recognition to, twenty-three facilities deemed “bad labs” by the agency, according to the FCC’s April 30 release.

At the time, the move was billed as in line with President Donald Trump’s strategy for national security, announced in 2025.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is due to visit China this week, with published reports saying he is set to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday.

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Billionaire Xavier Niel offloads Proximus stake | Total Telecom

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white concrete buildings

News

Niel has reduced his holding in the company to less than 0.1%

French billionaire Xavier Niel, owner of Iliad Group, has sold his roughly 6% stake in Belgian telco Proximus, according to a recent filing.

Assuming Proximus’s recent share price of €6.56, the deal would have netted Niel around €135 million.

Niel acquired his roughly 6% stake in the business in late 2023 via his Irish holding company Carraun, praising the operator’s networks and competitive positioning.

By 2025, reports suggested that Niel had proposed a shared ownership model with the Belgian government – Proximus’s largest stakeholder with around 53% ownership. According to those reports, this deal would have seen the government retain the chairmanship of the board, with Niel appointed CEO and given the possibility of increasing his stake in future.

The deal was ultimately rejected by the state, which was likely viewed the deal as something of a soft takeover.

For years, Niel had previously made no secrets of his ambitions to launch his challenger brand Free in the Belgium market, one of the most expensive telecoms markets in Europe. Responding to a 2024 post on X bemoaning the country’s high prices, Niel said he was all for it, saying “it’s your government that doesn’t want it” (translated).

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”fr” dir=”ltr”>Moi je suis chaud, c’est votre gouvernement qui veut pas <a href=”https://t.co/iwJ2QbXuhR”>https://t.co/iwJ2QbXuhR</a></p>&mdash; Xavier Niel (@Xavier75) <a href=”https://twitter.com/Xavier75/status/1979549525816594492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>October 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&#8221; charset=”utf-8″></script>

Now, with the Belgian government’s attitude seemingly unchanged, Niel has decided to turn his attention elsewhere. One such location is surely Chile, where Niel’s NJJ Holding teamed up with Millicom to purchase Telefónica’s local unit earlier in the year.

With Brussels unwilling to loosen its grip on the former incumbent, Niel appears to have concluded that Belgium’s telecom market remains easier to complain about than to crack.

Keep up to date with all the latest news with the Total Telecom newsletter

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This German company is taking lessons learned to US MDUs | Total Telecom

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low angle photo of flag of U.S.A

Podcasts

Christian Breidenbach-Kaack, CEO of agnoss, says his company learned key lessons in Europe that can save American MDU owners big frustration.

By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

With a playbook adapted for an efficient rollout in the US market, agnoss CEO Christian Breidenbach-Kaack says the level of services agnoss can offer to multi-dwelling units offers clear advantages as a one-stop shop for network design, construction, operation, and maintenance.

The company, which has roots in Germany, is known worldwide for developing fully integrated problem solutions. Additionally, the company’s name is a play on words, short for “agnostic networks,” according to their company website.

Speaking on Beyond the Cable, a Broadband Communities podcast, at Connected America last month, Breidenbach-Kaack said some of the lessons they’ve learned from Europe can help provide return on investment for fiber-to-the-unit.

With fiber-to-the-unit deployments, Breidenbach-Kaack said communication can’t be understated in its importance.

“What we do is we invite the residents to see how the fiber’s been deployed to their unit,” he said.

Additionally, he said education of residents can help stakeholders understand the fiber deployment process from beginning to end.

Breidenbach-Kaack said in the past agnoss has hosted demonstrations for residents, to show them where the fiber is deployed in a multi-dwelling unit, also known as an MDU.

He says it’s part of agnoss’s gained experience over the years.

“We went through all the mistakes at the beginning and now we are able to adapt our playbook from Europe to the United States,” he said.

He also highlighted the company’s one-stop-shop mindset for their clients.

“We do the network design, we do the permitting, we do the installation, and later on we are offering the maintenance of a network,” he said, before speaking about the company’s current work with managed Wi-Fi.

Listen to the full interview with Breidenbach-Kaack on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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Sparkle Signs MoU with NaiTel and iLevant to Build a New Digital Corridor Connecting Europe with Asia | Total Telecom

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Rome, 14th of May 2026

Sparkle, the first international service provider in Italy and among the top global operators, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NaiTel, the telecom arm of Aqaba Digital Hub, and iLevant Ltd, to extend the GreenMed submarine cable system through the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, supporting the development of a new digital connectivity corridor linking Europe and Asia.

Under the agreement, the parties will work to integrate the GreenMed subsea with terrestrial fiber networks and regional interconnection platforms in Jordan, strengthening connectivity resilience across the Mediterranean and supporting the development of diversified digital infrastructure connecting Europe and Asia.

Jordan, through Aqaba Digital Hub, already serves as a landing point for the BlueMed and the Blue & Raman submarine cable systems, further reinforcing its role as a strategic terrestrial gateway on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Eyad Abu Khorma, Founder and CEO of Aqaba Digital Hub, said: “Jordan is uniquely positioned at the intersection of major global connectivity routes linking Europe and Asia. The extension of GreenMed toward Jordan represents a natural next step in strengthening diversified and resilient digital infrastructure across the region. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Sparkle, a leading global operator, on advancing a new digital corridor that integrates subsea and terrestrial networks, further reinforcing Jordan’s role as a strategic gateway connecting Europe, the Middle East and Asia.”

Enrico Bagnasco, CEO of Sparkle, commented: “This agreement marks a further milestone in the development of GreenMed and confirms the strength of our long-standing collaboration with NaiTel and iLevant. Expanding the system across Jordan enables the connection of strategic digital ecosystems and fosters new development opportunities across the Mediterranean region and beyond.”

GreenMed has received funding from the European Commission under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme.

 

About Sparkle

Sparkle is TIM Group’s global operator, first international service provider in Italy and among the top worldwide, offering a full range of infrastructure and global connectivity services – capacity, IP, SD-WAN, colocation, IoT connectivity, roaming and voice – to national and international Carriers, OTTs, ISPs, Media/Content Providers, and multinational enterprises. As a leading player in the submarine cable industry, Sparkle owns and manages a network of more than 600,000 km of fiber stretching across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia. Sparkle’s sales team has a global presence, with representatives in 32 countries.

Find out more about Sparkle following its X and LinkedIn profiles or visiting the website tisparkle.com

 

About NaiTel

NaiTel is the telecom arm of Aqaba Digital Hub and a licensed telecom operator in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. NaiTel focuses on the development of telecommunications infrastructure and connectivity platforms, including fiber networks, peering services through AqabaIX, and international connectivity solutions, supporting regional digital ecosystems. Through its infrastructure and strategic initiatives, NaiTel enables carriers, digital platforms, and enterprises to access resilient connectivity across Jordan and the wider region.

Find out more about NaiTel by following its LinkedIn profile or visiting the website naitel.jo

 

About Aqaba Digital Hub
Aqaba Digital Hub is MENA’s leading digital infrastructure provider and the home of Jordan’s largest carrier-neutral, AI-ready data center. Its services include fiber internet, Jordan’s fastest-growing Internet exchange point (IXP), cloud platforms, VSAT, and subsea cable landing facilities, among others. ADH enables enterprises and technology providers to scale operations, accelerate digital services, and expand their regional impact.

Through its platform, ADH connects businesses to key partners and opportunities, ensuring competitive advantages in a dynamic digital landscape. Its commitment to innovation and sustainability drives forward-looking solutions, reinforcing Aqaba’s role as a premier connectivity hub. Find out more about ADH by following its LinkedIn profile, emailing us at in**@*dh.jo, or visiting our website at https://www.adh.jo.

 

About iLevant Limited

iLevant Limited is an international consultancy and advisory firm specializing in digital infrastructure, connectivity strategy, and technology-driven solutions. The company supports telecommunications operators, infrastructure providers, and investors in the planning, development, and implementation of large-scale connectivity and digital infrastructure projects across global markets.

 

 

Sparkle Media Contacts:

sp*******************@*******le.com

X: @TISparkle

 

Naitel Media Contacts:

in**@*dh.jo

 

 

The post Sparkle Signs MoU with NaiTel and iLevant to Build a New Digital Corridor Connecting Europe with Asia appeared first on Total Telecom.

SoftBank to build its own batteries for AI data centres | Total Telecom

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News

The new unit will support SoftBank’s expansive AI data centre ambitions

In a press release issued today, Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has announced the creation of a new battery storage business operating under its mobile network operator unit, SoftBank Corp.

The standalone unit will work on both the technical development of battery technologies, as well as their manufacture.

To do this, the new unit has partnered with a pair of South Korean businesses – Cosmos Lab and DeltaX Co. – with whom they will collaborate on the technology.

Cosmos Lab specialises in battery cell technology, most notably zinc-halogen batteries that use pure water as their electrolyte, removing the flammability risk associated with lithium-ion batteries.

DeltaX Co. is an energy storage system manufacturer that builds ‘next-generation’ battery cells

The battery business unit will be focussed alongside SoftBank’s AI Data Center that is in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. Here, SoftBank is planning to set up two new sites: the AX Factory, focussed on AI data centre operations and AI infrastructure hardware manufacturing, and the GX Factory, a manufacturing hub for next-generation batteries, solar panels, and related products.

The company is aiming to deploy a plant with battery capacity of one gigawatt-hour per year, which could expand to multiple gigawatt-hours per year in future.

Even at just one gigawatt-hour per year, the deployment would already be one of the largest battery plants in Japan.

Initial production is expected to begin in March 2028, with mass production targeted for 2029.

Initially, the batteries produced will be used to support SoftBanks own AI data centres, but in future will expand to offering the batteries to commercial customers. These could include “grid applications in Japan, as well as for factories and other industrial uses, as well as for residential use, with a view to expanding into global markets over the medium term”, according to the company.

In total, SoftBank is aiming for the business to generate around ¥100 billion (US$637 million) in annual revenues by the end of the decade.

Keep up to date with all the latest news with the Total Telecom newsletter

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Verizon cuts hundreds more jobs as slimdown continues | Total Telecom

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News

The move follows the announcement of 15,000 job cuts last year

According to a report from Business Insider, US mobile network operator Verizon is preparing to cut ‘several hundred’ jobs.

The exact number of jobs affected has not been announced, with Verizon saying only that the move will affect “less than 1%” of its total headcount.

The roles will be cut across the organisation, with the company’s headquarters in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, being the most affected area.

Verizon has been steadily reducing headcount for several years, with the most significant cuts taking place late last year with the company announcing plans to cut around 15,000 roles. Once implemented, these cuts will reduce the company’ total headcount to around 85,000. As such, today’s additional cuts could represent a further 850 jobs lost.

Despite these cuts, Verizon notes that it has job openings in other areas of the business.

“We’re continuing to add head count to grow parts of the business that are growing while making targeted job reductions to portions of the business where this is needed,” a Verizon spokesperson said in a statement.

Pressure has been mounting on Verizon in recent years, with the operator losing ground to rivals AT&T and T-Mobile.

Verizon added just 55,000 wireless subscribers in Q1 this year, while AT&T added 294,000. While T-Mobile did not disclose official figures, extrapolations by Recon Analytics suggested total gains of around 520,000 subscribers.

Verizon’s new CEO Dan Schulman was appointed in October last year to reverse this slide, with the executive promising to aggressively pursue cost-cutting and restructuring. Whether these measures will include yet more job cuts, however, remain to be seen.

Keep up to date with all the latest news with the Total Telecom newsletter

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The post Verizon cuts hundreds more jobs as slimdown continues appeared first on Total Telecom.

Telenor to launch Norwegian sovereign cloud business | Total Telecom

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Norway flag standing on cliff

Press Release

Telenor is establishing a new Norwegian sovereign cloud company designed for organisations with the most stringent requirements for security, resilience and regulatory compliance

The company will be named Telenor Sovereign Cloud and was announced in connection with a visit from Norway’s Minister of Digitalisation, Karianne Tung.

“Norwegian organisations need modern, scalable cloud services that at the same time provide full national control. We see a clear and growing need in both the private and public sectors. With Telenor Sovereign Cloud, we aim to deliver a solution that combines scalable cloud technology with Norwegian governance, operations and security”, says Jannicke Hilland, Executive Vice President and Head of Telenor Infrastructure.

“In a more uncertain world, control over one’s own data and digital infrastructure is critical. Initiatives like this help strengthen Norway’s digital sovereignty and resilience, and are fully aligned with the government’s plan for Norway”, says Minister of Digitalisation Karianne Tung.

Building a sovereign cloud platform in Norway
The platform will be operated from nationally controlled data centres in Norway and developed to be isolated from commercial, global cloud solutions. All data will be stored, processed and managed under Norwegian jurisdiction. The service is being developed to meet strict requirements for security legislation, operational independence and the handling of highly sensitive data.

The initiative is part of Telenor’s Nordic ambition within secure and resilient digital infrastructure. In the initial phase, the solution will be established in Norway, partly due to national regulatory requirements and the need for local control, with the possibility of further development across the Nordics over time.

The solution will be built in collaboration with selected technology partners, while Telenor will retain control over architecture, operations and security. The company will also test and use the services internally, alongside work with external customers.

“We are now building a dedicated professional environment with specialist expertise in security, cloud and infrastructure. Recruitment is already under way, and over time the initiative is expected to involve around 50 people. We are starting small and will grow in line with demand and the development of the service”, says Hilland.

In the initial phase, the initiative will target public sector actors and larger enterprises with critical societal functions, with particular focus on the energy and healthcare sectors. Telenor will work with selected customers to test the concept, with the aim of deciding on a commercial launch based on experience from the pilot phase. Telenor Sovereign Cloud will be established as a standalone company under the Telenor Infrastructure business area.

“The pilot phase will provide valuable insight into how the solution performs in practice – from technology and security requirements to regulatory aspects and commercial potential. These experiences will form the basis for further scaling and commercial launch”, says Hilland.

The initiative will be developed in stages, where market demand will determine the pace and scale of future investment.

With this establishment, Telenor strengthens its position as a provider of critical societal infrastructure. With local presence, strong security expertise and a modern cloud platform, the company will be a strategic partner for organisations with stringent requirements for data protection, digital sovereignty and operational resilience.

“This initiative marks an important step in strengthening Norway’s digital sovereignty”, concludes Hilland.

Keep up to date with all the latest news with the Total Telecom newsletter

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TELUS and L-SPARK give Canadian startups access to AI supercomputer
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The post Telenor to launch Norwegian sovereign cloud business appeared first on Total Telecom.

Ooredoo and du to land FIG cable in the UAE | Total Telecom

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an aerial view of the burj al arab in the middle of the ocean

Press Release

Ooredoo Group today announced a partnership with du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, to land the Fibre in the Gulf (FIG) subsea cable system in the UAE, marking further progress in the development of a high-capacity international connectivity platform designed to support the region’s growing data and digital infrastructure requirements.

FIG is the largest subsea cable system ever built in the GCC, designed to deliver an unprecedented capacity of up to 720Tbps across 24 fibre pairs. The system is being developed to meet sustained demand from hyperscalers, cloud providers, AI platforms and data centre operators, enabling efficient, low-latency data flows across Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman.

The project is led by Ooredoo Fibre Networks (OFN), a recently established independent entity created to manage and scale Ooredoo Group’s international connectivity and subsea infrastructure investments, under the leadership of its CEO, Khalid Al Hamadi.

The UAE landing at du’s cable station adds further depth to the system’s architecture, supporting more diversified data routing and strengthening the overall efficiency of regional and intercontinental connectivity between the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Group CEO, Ooredoo, said: “FIG reflects our continued focus on building high-capacity, resilient connectivity infrastructure aligned with how demand is evolving. This partnership with du marks another step in the execution of the project. Combined with the progress already made across other landing points, it reinforces the role of international connectivity in supporting the region’s long-term digital growth.”

FIG introduces greater route diversity and redundancy, providing alternative data pathways that strengthen connectivity resilience and support uninterrupted international data flows.

Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO, du said: “Landing the FIG subsea cable in the UAE strengthens our international connectivity capabilities and reinfources the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for data, cloud and AI. Our partnership with Ooredoo enables the scale, resillience and performance required to support hyperscalers, enterprises and digital ecosystems as demand for advanced connectivity continues to grow. This initiative aligns with the UAE’s digital transformation and economic agenda, supporting the nation’s vision to build a globally competitive, knowledge-based digital economy.”

FIG will support the next phase of digital infrastructure development across the region, providing scalable, high-capacity routes for cross-border data exchange and enabling continued growth in cloud, AI and digital services.

The submarine cable industry is evolving rapidly. Join the discussion at Submarine Networks EMEA, the world’s most important subsea cable event

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