2025)

Written by Ilex Community Manager | 31-Jan-2025 10:18:55

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

The stories cover space communications, fibre networks, data centres, AI training models, delivery air drones, Starlink's direct-to-cell coverage, satellite phone calls, generative AI, electricity grid solutions and NHS cyber security.

Here are our highlights:

monday_____________________________

NASA Chooses Viasat for $4.82 Billion Contract to Enhance Space Mission Communications

Viasat will provide global ground segment support services to NASA missions, with potential to provide future services.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3PSM1vu

Openreach’s fibre network now reaches half of Scotland

Half of Scottish homes and businesses can now get connected to ultrafast broadband from Openreach, which says the fibre rollout could generate £4 billion for the Scottish economy.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3Ed3UCB

tuesday___________________________

Europe's largest data centre gets green light in UK's Hertfordshire

DC01UK, planned to be the largest data centre in Europe, has received approval from the planning committee of Hertsmere Borough Council to proceed.

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

Nvidia, Meta, and Microsoft shares slump on DeepSeek AI training claims

Tech companies invested in the AI market have seen their stock prices take a hit following claims from Chinese startup DeepSeek relating to cost and performance of a new AI model.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3PPxS22

Wednesday___________________________

Amazon’s Prime Air drone service is headed to this UK town

Amazon announced Monday it has picked the North England town of Darlington as the first site for its planned U.K. drone-delivery expansion.

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

Apple's iPhones to support Starlink direct-to-cell coverage in US

Apple's iPhone devices are now eligible to test SpaceX-owned Starlink's direct-to-cell capability that provides coverage from space, according to T-Mobile, a partner in the program.

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

thursday____________________________

Satellites could end UK phone 'not spots', Vodafone says

Vodafone has carried out what it says is the UK's first satellite-enabled smartphone video call. The call is part of the process of adding satellite connectivity to its UK phone network by the end of the year, and across Europe in 2026.

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

Telefónica pitches plug and play GenAI platform

Telefónica's Tech unit and its Altostratus cloud consultancy division have created a platform that gives enterprises access to a range of advanced large language models (LLMs) and a suite of tools to integrate them into their data, comms and business applications.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3CxWVU9

FRIDAY____________________________

Smart Wires raises $65m to scale grid solutions for data centre market

Grid enhancement technology firm Smart Wires has raised $65 million to scale its commercial operations and support utilities in meeting growing energy demand data centres. Funding included investments from BP and Keystone.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/42BmuOJ

NHS Supply Chain signs Leidos for cyber security

The technology and services company will provide 24/7 cyber threat monitoring and support NHS Supply Chain – which manages the collective buying of supplies for the health service – in strengthening its security posture.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3CkIy5L

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