Verizon Taps PayPal Veteran Schulman to Lead Next 5G Chapter

Verizon has named former PayPal CEO Dan Schulman as its new chief executive, replacing Hans Vestberg, who is stepping down after eight years.

The move comes as Verizon prepares to close its $20 billion Frontier Communications acquisition, aiming to strengthen its broadband and mobile presence amid competition from T-Mobile and AT&T.

Schulman, who has been on Verizon’s board since 2018, will split leadership with new chair Mark Bertolini, formerly of Bridgewater Associates.

The U.S. mobile giant serves over 146 million customers, and the shake-up signals a push to accelerate growth and protect market share.

For Verizon, it’s a new chapter at the 5G frontier.

Telefónica Eyes Leaner, Meaner Future with 7,000 Job Cuts

Spanish telecoms giant Telefónica is planning a major workforce overhaul, potentially cutting 6,000 to 7,000 jobs, or around 7% of its global staff of 100,000, according to reports. The company says no official plans have been finalized, as it continues reviewing all areas.

The move is part of a sweeping strategic review led by Executive Chair Marc Murtra, aimed at reviving growth, replacing top executives, and making Telefónica leaner and more competitive. The plan comes amid slow growth and rising debt in Europe’s telecoms market, pushing operators to seek scale and efficiency.

Telefónica is also eyeing takeovers, including full control of Virgin Media O2 in the UK and Vodafone Spain’s Zegona unit. Murtra will present the new strategy on November 4, with union talks and potential job-cut agreements expected before the end of the year.

With Europe’s telecoms sector at a crossroads, Telefónica is betting on bold restructuring to secure its future.

TikTok Resumes Streaming in Indonesia After Data Compliance

TikTok went back online in Indonesia after the government revoked its license suspension once the platform handed over data on TikTok Live traffic and monetization during late-August protests.

Jakarta had blocked the app for refusing to fully disclose user-activity records linked to demonstrations that erupted after a driver’s death. When TikTok complied on October 3, authorities restored its operating rights within hours.

The dispute underscores Indonesia’s tightening control over digital platforms—a warning shot to foreign tech firms in one of Southeast Asia’s largest social-commerce markets. TikTok had paused live-streaming during the unrest but is now resuming normal service.

YouTube Welcomes Back Banned Creators Under Fresh Guidelines

YouTube is opening the door for banned creators to return — including some who were kicked off for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 or the 2020 election.

The Google-owned platform says users whose violations are no longer against current rules can apply to rejoin under a new “return-to-YouTube” process.

Those allowed back must start fresh — creating new channels and rebuilding their audiences before they can earn money again.

The change comes as social-media platforms ease moderation rules and compete harder for top creators, while free-speech debates continue to shape Silicon Valley’s next moves.

Discord Breach Exposes UK ID Data for 70,000 Users

UK Government ID photos for roughly 70,000 Discord users may have been exposed after hackers breached a company contracted for age verification checks.

The UK-based messaging platform says names, email addresses, IP data, and customer support messages could also have been accessed, though no full credit card details or passwords were taken. The attacker has reportedly demanded a ransom.

Discord users affected were those proving their age to regain access to the platform, which enforces child-safety rules under the UK Online Safety Act. Security experts warn third-party verification services are increasingly targets for hackers because of the sensitive data they hold.

Discord and UK regulators are now assessing the breach and contacting impacted users.

Microsoft’s Data-Center Crunch to Persist Into 2026

Microsoft says its data-center crunch will last well into 2026 — a warning that the backbone of the artificial-intelligence and mobile-app ecosystem is still under strain.

The company is restricting new Azure cloud subscriptions in key U.S. regions, including Northern Virginia and Texas, as demand for computing power — especially from AI workloads — keeps outpacing supply.

That shortage affects everything from business apps to mobile services that rely on Azure. Microsoft has added capacity equal to the Hoover Dam’s output, but says it’s still not enough as the boom in AI agents and smartphone-based cloud tools keeps growing.

India’s $1T Digital Potential on Display at IMC 2025

India showcased its digital potential at IMC 2025 in Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the three-day conference attended by 150,000 visitors. A GSMA report forecast India’s digital economy could nearly triple to $1 trillion by 2030, driven by strengths in 5G rollout, mobile networks, and digital public infrastructure.

Industry leaders, including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea, highlighted collaboration through the GSMA Open Gateway initiative to improve identity verification and fight digital fraud. The report noted that while mobile connectivity is advancing, nearly half of Indians remain offline, and women are 33% less likely to use mobile internet. Officials emphasized the need for innovation, efficiency, and inclusive mobile access to sustain India’s growth in the global mobile ecosystem.

OpenAI Secures Tens of Billions in AMD Chips for AI Boom

OpenAI has struck one of the biggest technology supply deals in history — agreeing to buy tens of billions of dollars’ worth of AI chips from AMD, a move that could eventually give the ChatGPT maker up to a ten-percent stake in the $270 billion chipmaker.

The Financial Times reports the deal commits OpenAI to purchasing processors with a total power demand of six gigawatts — roughly Singapore’s electricity use — as part of chief executive Sam Altman’s push to secure the computing power needed to train advanced AI models.

It’s the latest in a string of massive infrastructure commitments, including similar partnerships with Nvidia, Oracle and CoreWeave. Altogether, those deals now exceed one trillion dollars in future computing capacity — equivalent to 20 nuclear reactors’ worth of energy use.

AMD’s shares jumped 24 percent on the news, while analysts warn the circular financing behind these mega-deals raises questions about how OpenAI can fund its AI ambitions — and whether the industry’s spending spree is inflating a new tech bubble.

SoftBank Acquires ABB Robotics Unit, Eyes AI-Driven Industrial Networks

SoftBank is set to acquire ABB’s industrial robotics unit for $5.4 billion, gaining a foothold in a $75 billion robotics market growing 8% annually, with AI-driven automation expanding 20% a year.

The deal, covering more than 7,000 employees and manufacturing hubs in China, the US, and Sweden, aligns with SoftBank’s push into AI-powered data centers and industrial automation.

ABB will now focus on electrification and other high-margin areas, while SoftBank consolidates robotics assets under its new Robo HD holding company.

The acquisition boosts capabilities for AI-integrated manufacturing, logistics, and mobile-connected industrial networks. Closing is expected in 2026. Robotics for a smarter, connected world.

IMF, BoE Warn: AI Boom Could Trigger Market Correction

Global stock markets could face a sudden correction as the artificial intelligence boom pushes valuations to dotcom-era levels, the International Monetary Fund and Bank of England have warned.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said optimism about AI’s productivity potential has “fired up” markets, but a sharp sell-off could hurt the global economy and hit developing countries hardest. The Bank of England noted that US stock valuations, particularly in AI-focused technology firms, are historically high and increasingly concentrated, making markets vulnerable if expectations falter.

While Nvidia says the AI boom differs from the dotcom era, and US Federal Reserve officials downplay systemic risk, regulators caution that rising credit-market defaults and political uncertainty could worsen the impact of any abrupt market shift.

Strong gains from AI may come with sudden risks, and global investors are watching closely.

TSMC & Samsung Earnings to Reveal AI Demand Impact

Earnings from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung Electronics next week will offer the clearest snapshot yet of how deep the global artificial-intelligence boom runs.

The two chip giants, whose processors power nearly every smartphone and AI engine, face fresh pressure after China tightened export curbs on rare-earth minerals and the U.S. revoked key technology waivers for their China-based plants.

Their results will show whether the surge in demand from companies like Nvidia and OpenAI can offset rising costs and trade risks — and whether the AI wave spilling into mobile devices is still accelerating or peaking.

Chipmakers hold the pulse of the digital economy — and everyone’s pocket computer depends on them.