As Donald Trump and Elon Musk play lethal video games with Starlink, Nokia and Finnish satellite tv for pc firm Iceye have signed a letter of intent with the Ukrainian army to develop “sovereign” satellite tv for pc connectivity that the beleaguered nation’s armed forces can depend on. Iceye owns what it claims is the world’s largest and most superior SAR (artificial aperture radar) satellite tv for pc constellation. Earlier this month, Nokia and Iceye introduced a partnership to develop safe, sovereign low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite tv for pc communications programs for governments. The hope is that such programs will give nations “possession” and management of satellites, quite than being topic to the whims of, say, for argument’s sake, sociopathic billionaires or criminally insane presidents. (See Eurobites: Nokia and Iceye plan ‘sovereign satellite tv for pc’ comms.)
UK will get powerful on subsea cable harm
Within the face of rising threats to crucial undersea infrastructure from sovereign states, the UK authorities is proposing more durable new punishments for individuals who intentionally harm subsea cables and pipelines. Below the proposals, these caught damaging cables and pipelines carrying information, electrical energy and gasoline may face prolonged jail sentences and limitless fines. Subsea telecom firms could be required to adjust to new safety and resilience obligations, together with stricter necessities to determine and handle dangers to their networks. (See Eurobites: Finland plans to curb subsea cable carnage.)
Dawn rows again on job cuts
Swiss operator Dawn has concluded its session course of on a proposed restructuring, decreasing the variety of redundancies concerned within the “multi-year transformation” from 450 to 358. Dawn claims a “robust social plan” has been put in place to assist these affected, with expanded advantages, significantly for older workers. (See Eurobites: Job-cuts shadow looms over Dawn workers.)
Telia surprises itself in Q3
Adjusted third-quarter EBITDA (earnings earlier than curiosity, tax, depreciation and amortization) at Sweden’s Telia elevated 2.9% year-over-year in like-for-like phrases to eight.87 billion Swedish kronor (US$890 million), on income that was up 4.5% to SEK21.30 billion ($2.14 billion). CEO Patrik Hofbauer admitted the outcomes had been “considerably higher than anticipated,” attributing the nice shock to “stable service income development and decrease operational bills.” The complete-year EBITDA outlook has been upgraded barely, from round 3% to 3-4%. Earlier this month Telia introduced it was planning to chop round 900 jobs by the top of the 12 months as a part of what it referred to as a “localization” drive focusing on SEK1 billion ($100 million) in annual gross financial savings. (See Eurobites: Telia wields jobs axe once more.)
Telefónica brings quantum to Madrid
Telefónica has been commonly dabbling within the mysterious world of quantum expertise in recent times – in January 2025, it signed a collaboration settlement with IBM to develop safety expertise strong sufficient to resist the potential risk posed by future quantum computer systems highly effective sufficient to crack the present cryptography. Now it is teamed up with IQM Quantum Computer systems to deploy an precise hulking-great quantum pc for analysis functions within the Madrid area of Spain. The IQM Spark pc can be put in on the Technical College of Madrid earlier than the top of the 12 months. (See European telcos put together for quantum hackers.)
Openreach helps out with leak detection
Within the UK, Portsmouth Water has partnered with Lightsonic to roll out leak-detection expertise throughout a part of its community utilizing Openreach’s fiber infrastructure. The expertise will use fiber optic cables that run alongside the corporate’s water pipes to detect the sound of leaks, serving to to determine and restore leaks extra shortly because the winter season approaches in earnest. Lightsonic’s expertise makes use of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) to successfully rework current fiber cables right into a steady sensing community.
Two years in the past at this time…
Eurobites reported that UK operator BT had switched on its first “self-powering” cellular web site, which, stated the operator, is ready to generate round 70% of its vitality wants via on-site photo voltaic panels and a wind turbine.
