This week's roundup looked at the top news stories from the Global B2B tech & telecoms industry.

The stories cover subsea cable firm Sparkle, European AI regulations, quantum connectivity and computing, Meta's subsea cable plan, Proximus NXT cybersecurity services, AI data centres, cloud regions, Europe’s digital sovereignty and programmable 5G networks.

Here are our highlights:

monday_____________________________

Italy secures 70% stake in Sparkle as TIM approves €700m sale

The Italian state will retain a 70% stake in subsea firm Sparkle after Telecom Italia signed off on the €700 million (USD$733 million) acquisition bid from Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and Asterion subsidiary Retelit.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4gJbi6b

Europe relaxes AI regulation in bid to keep up with US and China

The EU is reportedly cutting back tech regulation in an attempt to boost investments in AI, while the UK’s AI Safety Institute has tellingly changed its name to the UK AI Security Institute.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4k5j0dU

tuesday___________________________

Telefónica tests quantum defences between two hospitals

Spanish operator group Telefónica has set up a secure comms link between two hospitals in Madrid, encrypting it using a quantum key distribution (QKD) system.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3D2krc7

Meta plans globe-spanning sub-sea internet cable

Meta has announced plans to build a 50,000km (31,000 mile) sub-sea cable across the world. The tech giant said Project Waterworth - connecting the US, India, South Africa, Brazil and other regions - will be the world's longest underwater cable project when completed.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4hFlUUN

Wednesday___________________________

Proximus NXT Secures €100M Federal Cybersecurity Contract

Proximus NXT has secured a major new frame contract to provide managed cybersecurity services to several Belgian Federal Public Services (FPS) and other federal agencies.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3QpQiqn

South Korea to build one of the world’s largest AI data centres by 2028

South Korea is set to build one of the world’s largest AI data centres, with a planned capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW) and an initial annual revenue of $3.5 billion.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3QoRavu

thursday____________________________

Alibaba Cloud launches Mexico cloud region

Chinese cloud company Alibaba Cloud has launched its first Mexican cloud region. After first announcing its plans to extend its cloud offering to Mexico in May 2024, the company's suite of cloud products is now available in the country.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4hJXLg1

Powerful quantum computers in years not decades, says Microsoft

Microsoft has unveiled a new chip called Majorana 1 that it says will enable the creation of quantum computers able to solve "meaningful, industrial-scale problems in years, not decades".

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4hNJ5fY

FRIDAY____________________________

Poland's $700M Microsoft deal sparks EU digital sovereignty concerns

Microsoft’s $700 million cloud, AI, and cybersecurity investment in Poland threatens Europe’s digital sovereignty and national security, warns Kai Wawrzinek, co-founder of Impossible Cloud Network.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3CQBWfD

Ericsson and Telstra pioneer Asia-Pacific’s first programmable 5G network

Under the agreement, Telstra will upgrade its radio access network (RAN) with Ericsson’s next-generation Open RAN-ready hardware solutions and 5G Advanced software.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3QveU0M

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Global B2B TECH & TELECOMS NEWS (17/02/2025 - 21/02/2025)