France’s competition authority assumed control of investigating a proposed purchase and subsequent carve-up of SFR by Iliad Group, Bouygues Telecom and Orange, after the European Commission (EC) referred the element falling under its remit.

In a statement, Autorite de la Concurrence estimated its probe into the three related transactions would take at least 18-months due to the complexity of the cases and markets involved.

When the parties announced the agreement in June, they estimated completion in H2 2027.

Because Orange and Bouygues Telecom generate more than two-thirds of their European Union-wide turnover in France, their agreements automatically fell under the remit of the national authority, but the EC could have looked directly into Iliad’s involvement because it did not meet the same criteria.

However, following an application from the company, the European regulator referred that part to France as well.

Autorite de la Concurrence noted the EC had considered it is “best placed to examine the transaction, in particular in view of its impact on the French market, the experience of the Autorite in the sector concerned and the fact the transaction is linked to two transactions with a national dimension”.

It plans to co-operate with the EC during the review.

The French regulator is already in discussions with Orange and Bouygues Telecom ahead of the pair making formal submissions and is now set to undertake a process with Iliad.

Its probe is set to include stakeholder consultation including consumer protection organisations and other regulators.

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Samsung hyped-up redesigned screen technology intended to cut crease visibility and improve durability of foldable smartphones, in its latest announcement eking out details of new devices set to be launched at Galaxy Unpacked next week.

The company explained its Flex Titanium display technology uses structural and material advances on components used in its previous generations of foldables.

Alongside improvements in the robustness of the screen, Samsung claimed the new tech provided a “more refined viewing experience”.

It noted the development was shaped by a “deep understanding” of what users want from foldable smartphones, namely larger immersive viewing experiences and a less visible crease.

The Flex Titanium technology is set to make its debut in devices unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked in London on 22 July.

In recent years Samsung’s mobile product events held in July have been where it unveils its new generation of foldables and various other product updates. Its flagship Galaxy S smartphones are generally launched at Galaxy Unpacked events held in Q1 each year.

In the run up to the upcoming event, it has released a steady stream of information hyping what’s to come and lauding progress in developing foldables since the launch of its first iteration in 2019, a device it now describes as a “bold experiment”.

In comments released by the company last week, Samsung CEO and president TM Roh hinted at the possibility a new foldable form factor device could be revealed at Galaxy Unpacked, while also pushing the idea the vendor would deliver “more personal, natural AI experiences”.

Alongside fresh additions to its foldable line, the company announced it will present the “next evolution” of its Galaxy Watch at the upcoming event.

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Authorities in South Korea kicked-off a project led by SK Telecom (SKT) and KT to pilot the use of advanced networks to support robots and other physical AI applications in industrial sites including shipyards and manufacturing facilities.

The Hyper AI Network Infrastructure Development project is being overseen by South Korea’s National Information Society Agency (NIA) and carries a total budget of KRW17.2 billion ($11.6 million).

Launching the project, the NIA revealed it selected two consortia to create the networks for industrial sites and hold the demonstrations.

One group is led by SKT and the other by its rival KT. Other organisations involved comprise AI companies, network vendors, universities, enterprises and certification bodies.

The project involves networks using standalone 5G and AI-RAN to provide the testing ground for a range of industrial applications under the broad umbrellas of physical and operational AI.

Equipment from various vendors and chipmakers is set to be used, with SKT identifying Samsung Networks, Nokia, Ericsson and HFR among its suppliers in its statement on the project.

Initial applications to be tested are “AI-based” welding, painting and patrol robots. From 2027 onwards, the infrastructure is expected to host demonstrations of humanoid robots.

Abilities of the AI-toting machines set to be verified include recognition, judgement and control performance in what the NIA described as high-risk and -difficulty working environments.

Swarm collaboration performance for multiple robots is one specific ability set to be looked at, a feature the agency highlighted as being “difficult to implement with on-device AI alone”.

The NIA expects the project to lay the groundwork for commercialisation of the technologies being assessed.

In a translated statement, the agency’s director Kim Hyung-chul noted “for physical AI to be safely and stably implemented in industrial settings, Hyper-AI networks that support ultra-low latency, high-reliability communication and large-capacity uplink are essential”.

“Through this project, we will verify the field applicability of next-generation AI network technologies such as AI-RAN, discover and spread physical AI service models optimised for industrial sites, and accelerate AX across the entire national industry.”

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Taiwan Mobile and Nokia expanded a contract for 5G kit with a view to pushing the operator’s move towards AI-native mobile network architecture.

The deal involves the supply of products from Nokia’s AirScale portfolio including next-generation baseband and radio systems, alongside software providing the operator’s network with an AI boost.

Nokia highlighted the radios and baseband units support improvements in throughput, spectrum efficiency and delivery of premium user experiences. On the software side, it pointed to an opportunity for real-time automation and predictive analysis to bolster operational efficiency.

The boost in network capacity and uplink delivered by the upgrade is also promoted as meeting the specific needs of AI applications.

Other benefits noted include use of AI for power management to cut energy consumption and traffic steering capabilities to up resilience.

Taiwan Mobile president Jamie Lin explained its collaboration with Nokia is key in a “strategy to build a high-performance, resilient and sustainable network”, which is the basis for a “Telco and Tech” push by the company.

Nokia head of RAN Mark Atkinson added the deal would help accelerate Taiwan Mobile’s “journey toward AI-native networks”, noting the equipment being supplied would set “the foundation for 5G-Advanced and beyond”.

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