We take a weekly look at mobile and tech stories from around the world. Headlines include… Ericsson and Nokia Call for Urgent Reforms to Secure Europe’s Tech Future, 5G to Reach 80% Adoption in Europe by 2030, But Urgent Reforms Needed, Global Telecom Market to Grow 59% by 2032 and more… Alternatively listen On MEF Radio.

Ericsson and Nokia Call for Urgent Reforms to Secure Europe’s Tech Future
Ericsson
Ericsson and Nokia CEOs urged European policymakers to take action at the New Industrial Ambition for Europe summit in Brussels, calling for regulatory reforms and increased investment in advanced technologies like AI, cloud, and 5G.
They highlighted 2024 reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi, which emphasized telecom consolidation and stronger R&D.
The companies stressed that Europe’s competitiveness is at risk, with Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark warning it’s “one foot in the morgue.”
Both CEOs called for urgent reforms to attract investment and ensure Europe’s technological future.
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5G to Reach 80% Adoption in Europe by 2030, But Urgent Reforms Needed, Says GSMA Report
GSMA
GSMA’s research into 5G in Europe reveals the technology is set to reach 80% adoption by 2030, contributing €164 billion to the economy.
However, Europe lags behind regions like North America, East Asia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, where 5G adoption is advancing more quickly.
While 5G currently accounts for 30% of Europe’s connections, the region needs urgent policy reforms to boost investment and maintain competitiveness.
By 2026, 5G is expected to dominate Europe, but challenges such as regulatory issues and the need for digital infrastructure investment remain.
The GSMA calls for swift reforms to secure Europe’s position in the global tech market.
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Global Telecom Market to Grow 59% by 2032, Driven by 5G and High-Speed Internet, Says Report
Wiseguy Reports
According to the “Telecom Mobile and Broadband Market” report by WiseGuy Research, the market is projected to grow from USD 1,839.06 billion in 2024 to USD 2,927.25 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.98%.
The growth is driven by advancements in mobile technology, increased demand for high-speed internet, and the expansion of fifth-generation networks.
The market includes mobile services, broadband services, and various technologies such as third, fourth, and fifth-generation networks.
Key players include NTT Docomo, AT&T, Bharti Airtel, and Verizon.
The report also discusses challenges like network congestion and regulatory issues, with significant growth observed in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
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UK Mandates Clear Mid-Contract Price Hikes for Telecom Providers
Guardian
New UK rules now require telecom providers to clearly disclose mid-contract price hikes in exact monetary terms, replacing vague inflation-based increases, the Guardian reported.
From today, contracts must specify fixed price rises, providing transparency and helping consumers avoid unexpected costs.
The move follows concerns over “greedflation,” with past increases reaching 17.3%. Regulator Ofcom says the changes will simplify pricing and improve customer choice.
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Trump Mulls Executive Order to Temporarily Save TikTok Amid Ban Threat
Washington Post
President-elect Donald Trump is considering an executive order to temporarily allow TikTok to operate in the U.S. despite a pending ban tied to national security concerns over its Chinese ownership, the Washington Post reported.
The app, owned by ByteDance, faces a legal mandate to be sold to a non-Chinese entity or be removed from app stores like Apple and Google.
An executive order could delay enforcement or instruct non-compliance with the law, though its legality and impact on app stores and cloud providers remain uncertain.
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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Skips Trump Inauguration as Tech Giants Attend
Bloomberg
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will miss the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, continuing his tradition of not attending U.S. presidential inaugurations, according to Bloomberg.
Huang is visiting East Asia for the Lunar New Year, a trip he typically takes.
This sets him apart from other tech leaders like Apple’s Tim Cook, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Tesla’s Elon Musk, who are attending the event.
Huang had expressed willingness to meet Trump earlier but had not been invited to his Mar-a-Lago estate.
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Meta to Cut 5% of Workforce in Performance-Based Layoffs, Says Zuckerberg
NYTimes
Meta plans to lay off up to 5% of its workforce based on performance ratings, according to an internal memo from CEO Mark Zuckerberg seen by the New York Times.
He stated that the company will accelerate performance-based cuts, replacing affected roles with new hires in 2025.
The announcement follows Meta’s decision to ease content moderation policies, even allowing users to suggest that L.G.B.T.Q. identities are linked to mental illness, among other things.
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UK Stands Firm on Online Safety Laws Amid Big Tech Pressure
Guardian
Britain’s new laws aimed at improving online safety and tackling hate speech are “not up for negotiation,” said Technology Secretary Peter Kyle in an interview with the Observer.
His comments come after Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and Donald Trump vowed to pressure countries over content censorship.
Kyle emphasized that the laws, designed to protect children and vulnerable people, will not be weakened to attract big tech companies.
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer plans a tech pitch, positioning the UK as the “sweet spot” for AI development, despite ongoing criticism from figures like Elon Musk.
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UK Launches ‘AI Growth Zones’ with Nuclear-Powered Data Centers
UK Gov
The UK plans to create “AI Growth Zones” to support technology and AI development, with enhanced electricity access and streamlined planning for data centers.
The first zone will be in Culham, and the government is exploring powering these centers with small modular nuclear reactors.
This initiative aims to boost AI in public services, expand supercomputing, and attract talent.
Vantage Data Centers and Nscale are investing billions in the UK’s data center infrastructure as part of the plan.