We take a weekly look at mobile and tech stories from around the world. Headlines include… From Networks to AI: Microsoft Exits Telecom Hardware to Double Down on Cloud and Copilot, Expert Calls for Unified EU Mobile Market to Spark Cross-Border Competition, Waterproof, Shockproof, and Smart: Nokia’s New Camera Optimized for Industry and more… Alternatively listen On MEF Radio.
From Networks to AI: Microsoft Exits Telecom Hardware to Double Down on Cloud and Copilot
Light Reading
Microsoft will stop selling network functions in telecom and focus on AI and platform services, according to Light Reading. This follows job cuts in its Azure for Operators division and the sale of Metaswitch. Despite the shift, Microsoft remains committed to supporting telecom operators with its AI and cloud solutions, including Copilot for Microsoft 365, Azure OpenAI Service, and its Fabric service for network optimization.
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Expert Calls for Unified EU Mobile Market to Spark Cross-Border Competition
Euractiv
EU telecoms could benefit from market-driven consolidation by harmonizing mobile markets, says telecom expert Innocenzo Genna in an interview with Euractiv. Aligning high wholesale roaming caps with lower retail prices would encourage cross-border competition and operator consolidation within five years.
A unified mobile market could drive fixed market consolidation, with Genna advocating a wholesale-only model to foster competition while preserving government stakes in critical infrastructure.
Examples like Telecom Italia’s network sale to KKR show how such models balance efficiency and sovereignty. Genna argues these reforms would benefit consumers, operators, and governments, enhancing EU competitiveness.
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Waterproof, Shockproof, and Smart: Nokia’s New Camera Optimized for Industry
PR Newswire
Nokia has introduced a 360-degree camera for industrial use, offering 8K, low-latency streaming over 5G, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet.
The camera is waterproof, shock-resistant, and includes cybersecurity features, enhancing remote monitoring and operational efficiency. It’s also available in budget-friendly, Wi-Fi-only and extreme temperature-resistant versions. Paired with Nokia’s RXRM software, the solution provides AI integration for real-time surveillance and equipment operation.
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Google Solves Key Quantum Instability, Bringing Us Closer to Practical Quantum Computing
Nature
Experts say a major technical breakthrough in quantum computing, claimed by Google, could pave the way for full-scale systems by the decade’s end. Google announced it had addressed the instability of quantum systems, a critical challenge, and detailed a more powerful quantum chip integral to the milestone.
First revealed informally in August, the findings were published Monday in Nature, drawing comparisons to the 1942 demonstration of the first man-made nuclear chain reaction—another theoretical achievement requiring years of technological progress. The breakthrough signals growing optimism in the pursuit of practical quantum computers.
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Metamate Debuts: Meta’s Internal AI Tool Powered by Llama Model
Meta has launched Metamate, an internal AI tool built on its Llama model, to enhance employee productivity through tasks like coding, research, and communication.
Although not for external use, Metamate reflects Meta’s push into enterprise AI, a market set to grow significantly by 2030. CEO Mark Zuckerberg aims to integrate AI into platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp.
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Tech Titans Claim Over Half of Global Ad Revenue as Industry Tops $1 Trillion
GroupM
The global advertising industry is set to surpass $1 trillion in revenue for the first time in 2024, with tech giants Google, Meta, ByteDance, Amazon, and Alibaba expected to earn more than half of the total. GroupM, the media agency owned by WPP, projects a 9.5% growth in global advertising revenue in 2024, despite economic challenges in developed markets like the US and UK. This growth is forecast to continue at 7.7% in 2025, benefiting mainly digital advertising sellers. Digital ad revenue is expected to account for 73% of total ad spending by the end of 2024. In contrast, traditional advertising channels, including print, TV, and radio, are struggling. The US remains the largest ad market, projected to generate $379 billion in 2025.
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Copyright Alliance Warns UK Against Weakening Laws for AI Content Scraping
FT
The Copyright Alliance, representing major US media groups like Disney, Fox, and Universal Music, has warned the UK government that weakening copyright laws to allow AI companies to scrape content could deter investment in the country, the Financial Times reports.
In a letter to UK ministers — seen by the FT —, the group opposed introducing exceptions for AI in copyright rules, which could enable AI companies to mine content unless publishers and artists opt out. This comes ahead of a government consultation on AI and the creative industries, with concerns growing that relaxing copyright protections could undermine the UK’s media sector.
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Why neural networks are the future of mobile gaming growth
Games Industry Biz
As mobile gaming becomes increasingly competitive, achieving ROI through programmatic advertising alone is no longer enough. Success hinges on engaging users who consistently play, interact with ads, and make in-app purchases. Liftoff’s Cortex, a neural network-powered machine-learning platform, addresses this need by analyzing complex patterns in large datasets to predict user behavior. By leveraging these advanced models, gaming advertisers can identify and target audiences more likely to engage and spend, driving long-term growth and sustainable ROI. This marks a shift towards data-driven innovation in mobile gaming advertising strategies.
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