TikTok Spin-Off

We start in Washington, where Donald Trump has approved a $14 billion deal to carve out TikTok’s U.S. business into a new American-owned venture.

Oracle will handle American user data and retrain the app’s algorithm, while ByteDance’s stake falls below 20%.

The deal follows a 2024 law mandating divestment or a nationwide ban—but with Beijing yet to sign off and Congress demanding more oversight, the future remains uncertain.

For telcos and investors, the message is clear: data sovereignty is fast becoming as important as spectrum and 5G networks.

Amazon Fined

Meanwhile, Amazon is facing a record $2.5 billion settlement. U.S. regulators found it misled millions of customers into Prime subscriptions using so-called “dark patterns” that made signing up easy but canceling difficult.

Nearly 40 million people will now receive refunds.

For mobile and digital service providers, the precedent is stark: subscription growth must be transparent, not manipulative.

Apple vs Brussels

Over in Europe, Apple has warned it could withhold products from the EU in response to the Digital Markets Act.

The company says new rules are delaying services like AirPod live translation and iPhone screen mirroring, while forcing it to open up its ecosystem to rivals.

The Commission insists the DMA curbs tech gatekeepers, but Apple argues it risks user privacy and tilts competition in Samsung’s favor.

Fintech Shake-Up

Staying in Europe, the EU is preparing to block Big Tech from its new financial data-sharing framework.

That means Meta, Apple, Google, and Amazon could be sidelined in mobile banking and fintech, giving traditional banks a stronger grip on consumer data.

Supporters say it protects privacy. Critics say it risks holding back mobile financial innovation.

Google Ad Break-Up

Back in the U.S., prosecutors are pushing to dismantle Google’s advertising empire.

The Justice Department wants its core ad exchange spun off after a ruling that Google abused its monopoly.

With more than $50 billion in quarterly ad revenue at stake, the decision could reshape how brands buy space on mobile apps and websites, affecting operators, publishers, and advertisers alike.

Mobile Security Threat Foiled

Also in New York, federal agents have dismantled a major mobile network threat just as world leaders met at the UN.

Authorities seized 300,000 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards linked to foreign actors and organized crime.

Officials say the system could have disrupted towers, caused outages, and enabled encrypted criminal communications.

5G and IoT Growth

And finally, global 5G adoption shows no sign of slowing. Connections hit 2.6 billion in the second quarter—up 32% year on year—and are forecast to reach 9 billion by 2030.

North America leads with 88% population coverage and average data usage of 111 gigabytes per user per month.

Meanwhile, IoT connections are closing in on 4 billion, expected to hit 5 billion by the end of the decade, powering everything from smart factories to healthcare.

Nvidia Bets $100 Billion on AI Future

Chip giant Nvidia is going all in—pledging up to $100 billion to build massive AI data centers for OpenAI.

The staged investment, starting with $10 billion, could involve five million Nvidia processors powering next-gen models for hundreds of millions of users.

CEO Jensen Huang insists customers won’t be left short on chips, even as demand pushes Nvidia’s market value near $4.5 trillion.

The deal cements Nvidia’s role as the backbone of global AI infrastructure.

AI’s $2 Trillion Crunch

But can the AI boom pay for itself? A Bain & Company report warns the industry will need $2 trillion in annual revenue by 2030 to sustain computing demand—but could fall $800 billion short.

By the early 2030s, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta alone may spend $500 billion a year on AI.

With power constraints looming, the report raises tough questions about valuations, business models, and whether AI growth can match the hype.

Visa Shock: Silicon Valley Scrambles

Silicon Valley has been jolted by the Trump administration’s sudden $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas.

The specialized work permit has long been a lifeline for global tech talent—from coders to engineers—but the new fee has caused chaos, with employees rushing back to the U.S. and companies scrambling for clarity.

Startups may be hardest hit, with experts warning the move could stall innovation in AI and mobile tech.

Industry leaders caution this could reshape America’s tech workforce, which has thrived on foreign talent for decades.

Supermarket Cyber Bill: £120 Million

In the UK, supermarket chain Co-op says a cyberattack earlier this year will cost it £120 million in operating profit.

The April breach forced temporary system shutdowns, with ripple effects expected through the rest of 2025.

Co-op’s warning follows a string of attacks on UK companies including Marks & Spencer and Jaguar Land Rover, underlining rising financial risks from digital disruption.

Supply Chain Breaches: One Weak Link

Meanwhile, new research from Verizon finds cyberattacks on third-party suppliers doubled last year.

Thirty percent of nearly 8,000 global incidents were traced to software, AI, or service providers—showing how one weak link can compromise entire mobile ecosystems.

Governments are responding with tougher rules from Brussels to Washington. For mobile operators and app developers, compliance costs are rising—but so is the risk of doing nothing.