In this week's roundup, we looked at the top news stories from the B2B tech & telecoms industry. The stories cover topics including 5G, data centres, cybersecurity and acquisitions.
Here are our highlights:
Microsoft plans to build up to 100 data centres per year
Microsoft is planning to spend billions of dollars in building 50 to 100 new data centres every year, as it expands its Microsoft Azure cloud footprint.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3b1QIyN
Axian to invest $500m in Tanzania, and seeks more acquisitions
Axian, the group that last week bought Tigo Tanzania and Zantel, says it plans to invest US$500 million in the business.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2PQDA8u
Ethiopia drops rule that new telcos must use Ethio Telecom infrastructure
The successful bidders for Ethiopia’s telecoms licences will be able to offer mobile money services, according to a weekend report. And they will not be restricted to using the infrastructure of Ethio Telecom, says the same report, from the Bloomberg agency.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3h3NYVl
switch enters Texas with $420m data foundry acquistion
Switch has entered the Texas market after acquiring Data Foundry for $420 million in an all cash transaction - and capturing two data centre campuses in Austin and Houston.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3vIWBsA
millions at security risk from old routers, which? warns
Millions of people could be using outdated routers that put them at risk of being hacked, Which? has warned. The consumer watchdog examined 13 models provided to customers by internet-service companies such as EE, Sky and Virgin Media and found more than two-thirds had flaws.
Read the full story here: https://bbc.in/3nSEqhw
Iceland's siminn keeps 5g nordic with Ericsson partnership
Iceland's largest communication service provider, Siminn, has selected Ericsson as a 5G radio access network (5G RAN) partner, following successful 5G trials.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3nU6HV6
Builder jailed for FBI data centre contract bribes
A Virginian businessman has been sent to jail for 18 months after bribing an FBI official for data centre building contracts. Robert Bailey, 63, of Centreville, Virginia, was sent down and also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine for the crime. He will also have three years of supervised release when he gets out.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3b9bH2Z
Russian operators teaming up for 5G joint venture
Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has reportedly given the preliminary green light for a group of operators to launch a shared 5G network.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/33jXxHU