SK Group, NTT and Chunghwa Telecom were among the parties to form an AI investment fund expected to reach $500 million, with the aim of backing companies working on technology related to optical and wireless networking.

The IOWN AI Fund has been established alongside Catalight Capital, a company set-up to manage the project from offices in Japan and the US.  

Other current financiers are Development Bank of Japan, and Young Sohn, an entrepreneur who is founding managing partner of VC company Walden Catalyst Ventures and former chief strategy officer of Samsung Electronics.

In a joint statement, the companies and Sohn revealed more than 20 parties around the globe had expressed an interest in contributing to the fund, which is expected to reach $500 million in size.

Businesses apparently mulling the opportunity include KDDI, NEC, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Sony, Fujitsu and various VC companies.

Catalight Capital will be charged with hunting down promising start-ups for investment. Targets will be in technologies related to the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) ecosystem.

It intends to invest in companies working in areas including: photonics; AI processors and advanced packaging; light source and modulators; management technology for distributed AI infrastructure; software; AI models and inference; and applications and services.

Global push
SK Group chair Chey Tae-won stated he hoped the fund would: “play a key role in identifying and fostering AI start-ups not only across Asia but around the world”, noting “to emerge as a competitive AI nation, proactive and large-scale investment in AI infrastructure is essential, and trust-based global cooperation is equally important”.

NTT President and CEO Akira Shimada added “to realise AI-native infrastructure, it is essential to combine the optical and networking technologies that NTT has cultivated with advanced technologies and the strengths of partners”.

“Through the IOWN AI Fund, we will promote business collaboration with promising startups, work together with our global partners to build the IOWN ecosystem, and contribute to the creation of a new industrial foundation”.

IOWN is a vision initially pushed by NTT to drive next generation ICT infrastructure which uses optical networking technology to vastly cut electricity use while delivering high performance. The associated IOWN Global Forum has 170 member organisations.

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MTN Group Fintech signed a deal with Ant International to collaborate on a so-called super-app platform covering a range of lifestyle and commerce services based around the operator’s mobile money platform.

The MTN unit hailed the agreement with the financial technology specialist as a major step in its attempts to build a more resilient and future-ready digital ecosystem across its markets.

Nigeria will be first country to see the results of the pact with a “super-app” platform set to be launched there in Q3 intended to deepen digital inclusion and provide the basis for a range of mobile money-linked services.

It is expected to significantly enhance MTN customers’ mobile money experience in Nigeria, delivering faster transactions, improving reliability, and providing greater integration with other financial and commerce services.

The operator unit explained using Ant’s technology provides the means for it to evolve its product by means including fraud prevention measures and “richer engagement features for consumers and merchants”.

MTN Group president and CEO Ralph Mupita (pictured) said the “partnership aligns” with the company’s “ambition of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress by leveraging scale, technology and strong global partnerships”.

He added it aims to deliver a “more seamless, secure and intuitive MoMo platform that advances digital inclusion and expands economic participation”.

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Samsung Group unveiled plans for a sweeping transformation of its businesses, introducing AI extensively across its companies covering functions from marketing to manufacturing.

The conglomerate believes widespread adoption across its affiliates, which includes Samsung Electronics, will fundamentally change working style and culture across the organisations.

Samsung highlighted it had pioneered the use of AI in consumer devices and wanted to “strongly apply” it to eight major business processes: development, purchasing, manufacturing, logistics, marketing, sales, service and management support.

“To enhance business competitiveness amid rapidly changing business environments, Samsung plans to officially introduce external generative AI services such as Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude across all affiliates in June,” the company added.

Specific aims include enhancing productivity in software and marketing, and upping “operational innovation” in manufacturing.

The company asserted AI was not “just a new technology or a simple tool for improving operations, but rather an innovative technique that triggers fundamental changes in management, actively utilising it as a starting point for discovering new growth momentum”.

To help push the initiative all executives from its companies are set to go through a training camp by the end of 2026, with all 50 CEOs to take the course this month.

It plans to extend the training to eventually cover all employees. Dedicated AI teams are also to be placed across the organisation’s businesses.

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The Norwegian Competition Authority cleared Telenor to buy fibre company GlobalConnect’s domestic consumer business, subject to a handful of conditions including offloading some assets.

Telenor is required to divest fibre infrastructure at addresses both companies already serve. This will impact approximately 6,000 customers.

Around 9,000 GlobalConnect customers using Telenor’s network through resale agreements are also set to be transferred to another provider.

The competition authority’s third requirement involves giving rivals access to the fibre network being acquired, as is the case with Telenor’s existing network.

Telenor president and CEO Benedicte Schilbred Fasmer highlighted the deal strengthens its position in the market and “is good for customers and for market development”.

“Whilst we disagree that remedies were necessary, we are pleased to have reached a resolution,” the executive added, noting the transaction would bolster its customer numbers by 125,000 and take its market share in Norway’s consumer fibre market from 22% to 29%.

The deal is expected to complete in the second-half of the year, with a gradual customer transition afterwards.

Telenor noted the initial NOK6 billion ($634 million) purchase price would be adjusted after it meets the remedies and disclosed at that time.

GlobalConnect plans to continue to serve its base of 12,000 business customers in Norway, spanning enterprises of various sizes, the public sector and global cloud companies.

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Singtel Group positioned a partnership with government-linked body Digital Industry Singapore as helping it accelerate a sweeping AI transformation of its business and strengthen digital infrastructure in the country.

The operator noted the pact, which comes with a grant for the company, will contribute to a multi-year plan to up adoption of AI across its business including within infrastructure, customer platforms and for workforce development.

In the first phase Singtel plans to develop and hire AI talent, establish governance and tech frameworks and build “enterprise advisory and implementation expertise to support AI deployment at scale”.

Among its aims is to become a “world-leading AI-native telco” with advanced AI and machine learning capabilities in all business units.

The operator highlighted its push aligned with a wider national strategy in Singapore which aims to strengthen sovereign digital infrastructure, increase skills of the local workforce and develop “globally competitive leaders” in the AI sector.

Singtel CEO Yuen Kuan Moon added it was “championing enterprise transformation with AI” in its home market.

“As an adopter, provider and enabler of AI, Singtel is embedding intelligent technologies across our operations, delivering trusted enterprise-grade solutions that help customers move from pilot to scale, and providing secure, sovereign platforms and digital infrastructure to support adoption across industries.”

He continued: “Ultimately, our goal is to create real impact not just for our business, but for Singapore, future-proofing our industries to be more competitive and resilient in the AI era.”

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China stepped-up preparations for 6G, launching a programme comprising regional pilots to identify potential use cases and make other advances towards eventual commercial rollout, state-owned news agency Xinhua reported.

The “joint ministry-provincial collaborative pilot program”, announced by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), involves general research into 6G and how it fits into the wider mix of current and emerging technologies.

Among the focuses is exploration of potential applications for the network tailored to specific demand in the regions where the trials are set to take place, including smart maritime operations and use cases for manufacturing.

MIIT’s general aims for the project include the integration of communications infrastructure with AI, satellite and wireless sensing, alongside R&D into new base station technology and other network kit.

The news agency noted the move was intended to support eventual commercial rollout of the technology, which is expected around 2030.

MIIT’s announcement comes around a month after it gave the green light for regional trials in the 6GHz band.

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SoftBank Group’s mobile payment subsidiary PayPay inked a deal to acquire a 70% stake in T&D Financial Life Insurance Company for JPY134 billion ($840 million), part of an aim to broaden its range of financial services.

When launched in 2018 PayPay focused on providing contactless mobile payments but has since widened this to include credit cards and other banking services. It had a base of more than 74 million users as of May 2026.

Announcing the deal, PayPay said the move to buy the life insurance company from T&D Holdings was part of an ambition to “provide comprehensive financial services tailored to each stage of users’ lives”.

The company intends to grow T&D Financial Life’s business through use of its existing platforms and by creating “new customer experiences in the digital life insurance domain”.  

In a linked deal, asset management company One Investment Management intends to buy a stake of almost 15% in the insurance company from T&D Holdings. The current owner will retain the other 15%, though a call option on this is being inserted into the acquisition agreement.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval.

Alongside the proposed acquisition, PayPay agreed a “comprehensive business alliance” agreement 3with T&D Holdings, largely concerning the latter’s insurance brand Taiyo Life.

The pair will “explore the development and provision of services designed to enhance customer convenience and help address social issues, while also drawing on AI, digital technologies, and other capabilities of SoftBank Corp”.

The pact is set to include: offering T&D Holdings’ Taiyo Life insurance products on the PayPay app; exploring call centre enhancement and operational efficiency for Taiyo Life; and jointly exploring a “smart senior city concept”.

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Apple unveiled plans to open a facility for developers in Berlin, Germany, a site intended to help European companies in creating and improving apps for the iPhone-maker’s devices.

The developer centre will be Apple’s first of its type in Europe. It runs similar facilities in Singapore, Shanghai, Cupertino and Bengaluru.

It is set to host workshops for app developers, one-on-one appointments and other in-person sessions in an attempt to help companies elevate the design and performance of applications for iPhones, iPads, macs and other devices using its operating systems.

Apple added dedicated labs will also offer hands-on support across multiple languages.

The company’s VP worldwide developer relations Susan Prescott said Europe was “home to an extraordinary community of developers who are building apps that create connections, encourage creativity, and drive innovation”.

“We have always believed that when developers have the right tools and resources to do their best work, incredible things follow. That belief is what this centre is built on, and we look forward to seeing what the community continues to develop.”

The site, located in the Mitte district of the German capital, is due to open later this year.

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Vodafone Business and carmaker Geely’s European R&D division extended an existing partnership to cover adoption of a range of connectivity platforms intended to support vehicle monitoring and driver experience improvements.

The deal with Geely Technology Europe comprises Vodafone’s Internet in the Car, Mobile Private Networks and Cloud Connect products.

Vodafone noted capabilities supported by the systems include diagnostics, over the air software updates and secure data transfer between vehicles and cloud systems.

The operator is also providing connectivity across the Geely division’s operations in Germany and Sweden and for its sales teams across Europe.

Vodafone highlighted by 2030 98% of new passenger vehicles sold are expected to be connected, adding together with Geely it was “ready to help drive this expansion”.

Geely Technology Europe CEO Giovanni Lanfranchi said: “We’ve moved beyond simple transport solutions. Today, vehicles can be continuously improved through software, with data and connectivity enabling a more responsive and personalised user experience over time.”

Vodafone Business product and international business director Fanan Henriques added: “As the adoption rate of electric vehicles continues to grow, the opportunities to enhance their safety, efficiency and the user experience through digital connectivity are significant.”

“We’re supporting Geely’s growth in vehicle sales across Europe and its operations with a secure, multi-service digital infrastructure.”

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Ofcom called for a concerted effort from mobile operators, local authorities and other entities to improve coverage across the UK, as it published a study highlighting widespread mobile signal issues uncovered on the country’s railway network.

Its research assessed coverage on 24 segments of the UK’s key railway lines. A good performance was deemed to be a download speed of at least 5 Mb/s, 1.5 Mb/s upload, and a response time of 50 milliseconds or less.

It found EE met those standards on 42% of the lines, Virgin Media O2 hit 20%, Vodafone scored 17% and 3 UK 21%. The latter two are now the same company.

Ofcom noted the research “highlights the core problem that mobile signal from masts on the ground often isn’t strong enough around train lines and that some carriage types are difficult for signals to pass through”.

It also found on-board Wi-Fi by train companies was little help, performing well 1% of the time. This was blamed on “outdated technology” and speed caps.

Goals
Alongside the train-specific research, the regulator published a report detailing general aims to improve the quality of mobile coverage in the country.

Here, Ofcom called for a “national effort” to improve services, noting the roles of the mobile industry, local authorities, central government, building developers and landowners.

Highlighting a binding £11 billion investment commitment from VodafoneThree related to merger clearance, Ofcom expects “other networks to respond with their own investment, and collectively this will be a key driver of improvements”.

Ofcom also pointed to issues with infrastructure planning applications in some areas and the advantage of having dedicated indoor coverage systems within sites such as shopping centres.

On train-specific problems, it noted “competition between mobile networks alone won’t be enough to improve mobile signal on trains, and government is currently considering options for how it can help”.

“As well as providing technical advice to Government to help inform its approach, we’ll also look at whether more spectrum – the airwaves all wireless technology relies on – is required”.

Challenges
A statement issued by trade association Mobile UK on behalf of the country’s three mobile operators welcomed the Ofcom research, explaining it “highlights the unique structural and capacity challenges of delivering consistent connectivity on moving trains”.

Noting building the advanced infrastructure required needed “the right enabling environment” the organisation urged government action through the country’s Mobile Market Review and “planning reform to establish a supportive policy and regulatory framework”.

“Dedicated public investment is also critical to tackle complex trackside blackspots, as commercial rollout alone cannot bridge the gap on the rail network,” the statement added. “We look forward to working with Government and Ofcom to achieve this, balancing the need for major investment with Ofcom’s vital role in maintaining low costs for consumers.”

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Verizon finalised the purchase of spectrum licences from the infrastructure company comprised of the remnants of UScellular not included in the sale of the bulk of its wireless assets to T-Mobile US.

The buy from Array Digital Infrastructure signs-off a deal struck back in October 2024. It was cleared by the US Federal Communications Commission on 14 May 2026.

Approving the deal the regulator endorsed Verizon’s view the buy would help the operator provide “a better overall experience to its customers” including by enhancing rural and indoor coverage in the parts of the country the assets cover.

In addition to the sale to Verizon, Array divested $168 million of assets to T-Mobile last month and completed a $1 billion deal with AT&T for other spectrum licences in January 2026.

Array noted the latest moves “further the objective” announced in May 2024 “to opportunistically monetise remaining spectrum following the sale of the T-Mobile wireless operation”.

Its president and CEO Anthony Carlson said the company had made “significant progress in our spectrum monetisation efforts and are pleased with the value realised in this sale”.

Array owns and operates shared wireless communications infrastructure in the US, including more 4,400 cell towers across the country.

In December, the company inked a partnership with Verizon which saw the latter sign-up to use its towers to strengthen its 5G network.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang positioned the adoption of humanoid robots in industry as opening a multitrillion-dollar economic opportunity, as it announced a model for academics using hardware from Unitree and Sharpa intended to accelerate advances.

In an announcement made at Computex 2026 in Taipei, Taiwan, the executive backed humanoid robotics to “bring physical AI to the world’s largest industries” but indicated there were barriers to academic work to this end, which it aims to resolve by introduction of the “reference robot”.

The machine uses Nvidia compute systems and Isaac GR00T development platform, a Unitree H2 body standing at almost 6 feet tall and weighing 50 pounds in weight, and Sharpa Wave tactile five-finger hands.

“Nvidia Isaac GR00T Reference Humanoid Robot gives researchers a single, open platform to make breakthrough discoveries toward general-purpose physical intelligence,” Huang added.

During his keynote at the event Huang explained “we built this for higher education and university researchers, because for them to build this is insanely hard to do”, pointing to the complexities and expense of starting from scratch in every project.

Nvidia noted by using its “compute and open software stack” at the core “the reference design gives research teams a more unified, secure foundation for advancing humanoid robotics”.

Discussing Sharpa’s role founder David Li said “partnering with Nvidia on a humanoid robot reference design and end-to-end development solution is a meaningful step toward deploying robots that can perform real work, in real settings”.

The executive added its “vision is to make robots genuinely productive – by advancing fine manipulation skills through dexterous, tactile hardware and the AI models that power them”.

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UAE operator e& struck a deal with Uber to sell 12.5% of its stake in digital platform provider Careem Technologies for $100 million, leaving it with a 37.5% shareholding which the taxi app giant has an option to acquire the rest of.

Careem Technologies builds and operates its namesake app and related services. The app is used for various consumer services including food and grocery delivery, payment and other lifestyle services.   

The deal is subject to regulatory approval and includes options which can be exercised by either side for Uber to buy e& out of Careem completely. The options can be activated between December 2031 or January 2032.

In a stock market statement, e& noted from the deal Careem would benefit from Uber’s experience and synergies with its global platforms.

For e& the sale reflects an “increased strategic focus on its core businesses and disciplined capital allocation priorities”, while allowing it to maintaining some exposure to the app business.

Uber already owns the other 50% of Careem Technologies and the entirety of the ride sharing business it was originally spun-off from.

Careem Technologies was separated from the taxi business in 2023, with e& taking a 50.03 per cent stake in that business in exchange for an investment of $400 million in it.

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Samsung Electronics began sampling its latest high bandwidth memory (HBM) units among selected customers, a chip it asserted helps maximise computing performance for large language models (LLMs) and next-generation AI systems.

Claiming an industry first with the 12-layer HBM4E unit, the company noted the release followed mass production and commercial shipment of its HBM4 earlier this year.

The latest release is said to achieve transfer speeds of up to 16Gb/s with improved energy efficiency and thermal performance.

Samsung head of memory development Sang Joon Hwang said the company had “once again demonstrated its distinct technological edge with HBM4E”.

“Through our advanced manufacturing capabilities and pre-emptive infrastructure investments, we will continue to drive the growth of the global AI memory market.”

Samsung noted the chip “delivers a stable pin speed of 14Gb/s”, a 20% increase over the HBM4. The rate of the latest product can be scaled up to 16Gb/s “to support increasingly intensive data processing requirements,” it added.

The company added its “comprehensive portfolio spanning memory, foundry, logic design and advanced packaging” meant it would be able to “continue to ensure a stable semiconductor supply for the booming AI market”.

Along with peers, Samsung has been reaping the rewards of high demand and associated price rises for memory chips driven by global demand for AI systems.

Samsung booked record quarterly sales for its memory business in Q1, attributed to addressing “high-value-added AI demand despite limited supply availability”.

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Anthropic raised $65 billion in its latest funding round, taking its valuation to $965 billion as investor money continues to pour into big name AI companies.

Financial Times reported Anthropic’s valuation overtook OpenAI’s following the round.

Anthropic plans to use the latest funds to advance “safety and interpretability research, expand compute to meet growing demand” for AI assistant Claude “and scale the products and partnerships our customers rely on”.

The financing was led by Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, Greenoaks and Sequoia Capital. Other investors include private equity funds and the company’s partners. The $65 billion includes $15 billion in previously-committed cash from so-called hyperscale companies.  

Micron Technology, Samsung and SK Hynix, which Anthropic describes as “strategic infrastructure partners”, were also among the lengthy list of backers.

Cash
As with peers in the AI boom, the company is no stranger to funding rounds amounting to multiple billions of dollars.

In February, it raised $30 billion, which brought its valuation at the time to $380 billion.

Anthropic noted since that round, its Claude AI offering gained further traction with enterprises around the globe and across a range of industries, with its run-rate revenue crossing the $47 billion mark this month.

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T-Mobile US inked another big-name deal in the world of golf, with the United States Golf Association (USGA) adopting its 5G network to improve on-course decisions and enhance spectator experiences.

A multi-year partnership involves the USGA employing the operator’s technology to aid rulings during play, and deliver event connectivity and immersive experiences for its members.

It is the company’s latest swing at putting 5G front and centre in golf, having already struck a long-term partnership with the PGA Championship.

The operator stated the latest deal sets “a new standard at the sport’s biggest events, powering the action on the course and experience around it”.

Starting at the association’s US Women’s Open held in June, USGA officials will use a 5G network slice to gain faster access to what is going on in the course.

They will be able to assess video footage and communicate with colleagues in real-time, providing the means to deliver decisions from anywhere on the course and eliminating coverage dead zones.

Other uses for T-Mobile’s network technology include connecting ticket scanners, point of sale terminals and distributing media from content providers.

The arrangement is also to be used during the men’s open and other USGA national championships.

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