Partnerships

Deutsche Telekom’s T-Systems has secured a multi-million-euro contract from Leibniz University Hannover to power SOOFI, a flagship initiative to build a 100-billion-parameter, European-operated large language model. The SOOFI (Sovereign Open Source Foundation Models) project will train a next-generation, open-source LLM focused on European languages and industrial requirements, replacing the current 7-billion-parameter Teuken7B with a model two orders of magnitude larger. T-Systems will host and operate the training environment in its new Industrial AI Cloud—an NVIDIA-powered facility that DT and NVIDIA unveiled as part of a €1 billion partnership.
Airbus Defence and Space has introduced Agnet Direct, a multi-mode extension to its 3GPP-based Agnet portfolio that keeps teams connected when commercial or private 4G/5G coverage is compromised. Agnet Direct has been validated within France’s Réseau Radio du Futur (RRF), the nationwide secure broadband network for domestic security and emergency services. The solution combines a smartphone running the Agnet application with a smart remote speaker microphone (RSM) to deliver resilient communications across four operational modes. Agnet integrates with existing TETRA and Tetrapol estates, enabling hybrid operations where radio users and smartphone users communicate across shared talkgroups.
Reliance Jio has widened its Google AI bundle from a youth-focused offer to a network-wide benefit, signaling that AI services are becoming core to 5G monetization in India. Jio is extending a complimentary 18‑month subscription to Google’s premium AI plan—marketed around access to Gemini 3—to every Jio customer on an Unlimited 5G plan. The bundle centers on expanded access to Google’s latest Gemini experience, AI‑assisted features in Gmail and Docs, 2 TB of cloud storage across Photos, Drive, and Gmail, video generation powered by Google’s Veo technology, NotebookLM at elevated limits, and developer tooling such as Gemini Code Assist and Gemini CLI.
A new impact study shows CTIA Wireless Foundation’s Catalyst program has touched 30 million Americans since 2019, underscoring how mobile-first tools can scale social outcomes faster than traditional interventions. The Foundation has invested just over $1 million in unrestricted grants yet reports benefits to nearly one in 12 Americans—evidence of the leverage that wireless distribution, app stores, messaging, and APIs can create when paired with practical problem-solving. More than 30 social entrepreneurs have received support through Catalyst, selected from over 800 applications across 46 states. For telecom leaders, the takeaway is clear: modest, well-targeted funding combined with mobile channels and carrier-grade networks can produce nonlinear impact, particularly in domains (public safety, health, mental health, road safety) where ubiquity and low friction matter more than heavy infrastructure.
Jeff Bezos is stepping back into day-to-day operations as co-CEO of Project Prometheus, a new AI company reportedly funded with $6.2 billion to build “AI for the physical economy.” Project Prometheus will be co-led by Bezos and Vik Bajaj, an operator-scientist with leadership experience at Google X, Verily, and Foresite Labs. Early reports indicate the company is targeting engineering and manufacturing tasks across sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and computing hardware. Headcount is already near 100, drawing researchers from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Meta, signaling an aggressive push for top-tier AI talent.
Renewables are emerging as the default option for new AI campuses, but the share that is truly carbon-free around the clock will hinge on siting, storage, and market design. Annual REC matching is no longer sufficient for leading buyers; the bar is shifting toward hourly, 24/7 carbon-free energy matching initiatives. Yet diurnal and seasonal variability limits how much of a site’s load can be met by solar and batteries alone, especially in non-sunny regions or during prolonged weather events. Expect mixed portfolios: on-site renewables and batteries, off-site PPAs (solar and wind), emerging long-duration storage, and grid purchases backed by hourly certificates where available.
5G standalone networks change the service model. Operators can carve the network into slices with distinct latency, reliability, and throughput characteristics validated by 3GPP standards. That enables ultra-reliable low-latency communications for factory automation, connected vehicles, remote operations, and mission-critical services. It also enables differentiated quality for cloud gaming, broadcast-like video, and IoT control loops when combined with edge computing and time-sensitive networking. Jio’s position is that treating all traffic identically under a single “internet access” umbrella can inhibit these new uses. A ruleset that preserves open internet principles for consumers yet explicitly allows specialized services with assured QoS for enterprises is what the company seeks.
Amazon has moved its low Earth orbit broadband effort out of code-name mode and into a market-facing brand with strategic implications for telecom and enterprise buyers. Project Kuiper is now Amazon Leo, a direct reference to the low Earth orbit constellation underpinning the service. The rebrand signals a transition from R&D to commercial execution. Amazon reports more than 150 satellites in orbit today—roughly 153 by recent counts—following a string of successful launches and a completed prototype mission. The company says it will light up service as it adds coverage and capacity.
AST SpaceMobile is signaling a pivotal year ahead as it moves from demonstrations to commercial direct-to-device coverage with major operators and an aggressive launch schedule. The company’s plan to begin “intermittent nationwide” service in early 2026, followed by continuous coverage later in the year, is also a forcing function for device vendors, standards work, and MNO network integration. As AST scales to 45–60 BlueBird satellites by end-2026, pass frequency and overlap increase to support “continuous” service across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and other priority markets. AST reports over $3.2 billion in cash and liquidity.
A new pilot in Spain shows that the upper 6 GHz band can deliver 5G-class coverage with far higher capacity, positioning it as a prime spectrum option for 5G-Advanced and 6G. The 6.425–7.125 GHz range (3GPP Band n104) is the last sizable mid-band window that is not tied to legacy mobile use in Europe. The trial found that with higher-order massive MIMO and active antennas, the upper 6 GHz layer can match the practical coverage of 3.5 GHz from existing macro sites. European regulatory clarity, device support and refined coexistence rules are the next critical catalysts for scale.
Anthropic will spend $50 billion on U.S.-based AI data centers, signaling a rapid new phase for domestic compute capacity with direct consequences for power, fiber, and cloud interconnects. Anthropic plans a multi-year, $50 billion program to develop custom data center campuses in the United States, beginning with Texas and New York and with additional sites to follow. The initial wave targets 2026 go-lives, with an estimated 800 permanent jobs and roughly 2,400 construction roles tied to the program.
Nokia and Latvia’s LMT are aligning 5G radio and defense capabilities to deliver a field-ready, private tactical communications system for Baltic and coalition forces. Nokia will integrate its 5G radio portfolio with LMT’s defense solutions to build a secure, high-capacity, and resilient tactical network tailored to Baltic military needs. The joint system is designed for dedicated use cases, enabling real-time data exchange across uncrewed platforms, sensors, and dismounted teams. The goal is improved situational awareness, faster decision cycles, and assured interoperability for collective defense.

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