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Nokia to invest $4b in US to boost AI-driven network innovation

Ana Mary Joseph
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Nokia to invest $4b in US to boost AI-driven network innovation
  • CEO says company’s network division will prioritise partnership with countries that “value Western technology”.
  • US remains without a major homegrown telecom hardware supplier, leaving Nokia, Sweden’s Ericsson, and South Korea’s Samsung as the primary sources of equipment for American carriers.

Finland’s Nokia announced that it will invest $4 billion in the United States over the coming years, with an aggressive focus on research, development, and production to accelerate advancements in artificial intelligence-powered network connectivity.

Of the total investment, the telecommunications equipment giant said $3.5 billion will go toward research and development initiatives, targeting breakthrough AI solutions and next−generation networks.

The remaining $500 million is earmarked for manufacturing and capital expenditures, with planned spending across key sites in Texas, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Nokia, which operates more than a dozen facilities in North America and maintains its Bell Labs research division in New Jersey, rolled out a new corporate strategy on Wednesday highlighting operational streamlining and a ramp-up in AI capabilities.

Tariff pressure

The announcement follows a July profit warning, when Nokia cited tariff pressures and a weakening US dollar for challenging conditions; several non-US telecom firms have since sought to shift production to the United States to hedge against ongoing trade uncertainties.

Chief executive Justin Hotard, who joined Nokia from Intel early this year, said the company’s network division will prioritise partnership with countries that “value Western technology.” US President Donald Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb recently discussed Nokia’s North American plans during a White House meeting.

The US remains without a major homegrown telecom hardware supplier, leaving Nokia, Sweden’s Ericsson, and South Korea’s Samsung as the primary sources of equipment for American carriers.

The new initiative positions Nokia at the forefront of AI-driven infrastructure development—just as global competition for network innovation intensifies.

US considers easing curbs on Nvidia’s H200 AI chip sales to China

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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US considers easing curbs on Nvidia’s H200 AI chip sales to China
  • Move comes as signals of détente between Washington and Beijing raise hopes for US technology firms seeking access to the world’s second-largest economy.

The Trump administration is weighing a policy shift that could allow Nvidia Corp to resume sales of its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, according to people familiar with the matter.

The move comes as signals of détente between Washington and Beijing raise hopes for US technology firms seeking access to the world’s second-largest economy.

The Commerce Department, which administers export controls, is reviewing whether to ease restrictions on shipments of advanced AI semiconductors, sources said.

“The administration is committed to securing America’s global technology leadership and safeguarding our national security,” a White House official said, declining to address specifics of the ongoing review.

Creating opportunities

Nvidia, the leading US chipmaker, noted that current regulations block sales of competitive AI data centre chips to China, creating opportunities for foreign rivals to gain a foothold. The company and the Commerce Department declined to comment on the potential policy change.

The review marks a potential pivot following last month’s trade and technology truce brokered between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Busan. Market analysts view the possible resumption of high-end chip exports as a signal of easing tensions.

However, hawkish lawmakers in Washington caution that such moves could fuel Beijing’s military ambitions—a key reason the Biden administration previously imposed, then eased, sweeping curbs on AI chip sales. Trump, facing pressure from Beijing’s use of rare earth mineral export controls, threatened but ultimately softened further restrictions on technology exports earlier this year.

Nvidia’s H200, unveiled in 2023, features significantly more high-bandwidth memory than its predecessor, the H100, increasing processing speeds. Analysts estimate the H200 outpaces the H20—the most advanced AI chip to which US exporters currently have access to the Chinese market—by a factor of two.

The potential policy shift gains additional prominence after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, praised by President Trump as a “great guy,” attended high-level White House meetings this week during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Separately, the Commerce Department this week approved shipments of up to 70,000 Nvidia Blackwell chips—Nvidia’s forthcoming flagship product—to Saudi firm Humain and UAE-based G42, in a move seen as expanding US tech leadership in the Gulf region.

The outcome of the policy review is still uncertain, industry sources stressed, with any change subject to ongoing security considerations.

Thieves favour iPhones over Samsung for resale value

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Thieves favour iPhones over Samsung for resale value
  • The iPhone vs. Samsung rivalry now has an unexpected real-world outcome: your phone’s brand could influence its appeal—even to a thief.

Londoners facing the threat of street robberies have recently discovered an unusual silver lining—having a Samsung smartphone might increase the chances of getting your device back from a thief.

Despite the proliferation of device tracking tools, smartphone theft remains rampant. In 2024 alone, over seven million phones were reported lost or stolen worldwide. London has become ground zero for this issue, with phones worth an estimated £50 million (over $65 million) stolen last year, according to the UK Parliament’s research and information service.

In a surprising twist, multiple reports from local social media and forums, including London Centric, show thieves returning Android-powered phones—specifically Samsung models—to victims after realizing the devices weren’t iPhones.

In one incident, a group of eight robbers returned a Samsung device to their victim, saying, “Don’t want no Samsung.” Such anecdotes point to a growing trend: criminals are becoming increasingly selective about the smartphones they target.

Analysts attribute this selectiveness to the higher resale value of iPhones on the secondhand market. Studies by online phone reseller UpTrade and platforms like DHgate consistently find that iPhones retain their value better than Android alternatives, including the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Apple’s unified product ecosystem and strong resale demand make used iPhones a more profitable catch for thieves.

Device tracking and the persistence of theft

While smartphones are easier to track and disable than ever before, these technologies have not curbed the underlying incentive to steal. Stolen devices continue to find new life not only in resale markets but also as sources for parts or even as vectors for data-driven fraud. Criminals are simply adapting—preferring iPhones for their lucrative payoffs and discarding less valuable brands on the spot.

Victims report falling prey to classic theft tactics, from grab-and-go scooter snatches to distraction-based muggings. The only difference in some of today’s stories is that Android owners, in particular, have sometimes found their devices returned by dissatisfied thieves.

Disinformation defence to become enterprise imperative by 2027

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Disinformation defence to become enterprise imperative by 2027
  • World Without Truth calls on CMOs and senior leadership to make disinformation resilience a boardroom concern, adopt industry-wide standards, and push for regulatory involvement.
  • Only those organisations that invest in disinformation defense and cultivate trust at every level are likely to maintain brand integrity in an era of rampant digital manipulation.
  • Book details how automated bot networks and sophisticated manipulation techniques can thrust global brands into viral crises within hours

By 2027, half of all enterprises are expected to invest in disinformation security and TrustOps strategies, a dramatic rise from less than 5% today, according to a new forecast from technology research and advisory firm Gartner, Inc.

The research—spotlighted in Gartner’s recently published book, World Without Truth—warns that the rapid spread of AI-driven misinformation and synthetic media is reshaping the stakes for brand management, reputation, and customer trust.

Digital deception: a new boardroom challenge

Co-authored by Gartner experts Andrew Frank, Dave Aron, and Richard Hunter, World Without Truth details how automated bot networks and sophisticated manipulation techniques can thrust global brands into viral crises within hours. “Marketers can no longer afford to treat disinformation as someone else’s problem,” Frank stated. He emphasised that the very integrity of corporate brands is now at risk, demanding a proactive, enterprise-wide response.

Strategic recommendations

The authors argue for a multi-pronged approach to disinformation defense:

  • Content Verification & Certification:
    Marketers must adopt verification standards like Content Credentials to verify the authenticity of digital assets and stave off the impact of deepfakes and synthetic media.
  • TrustOps & Cross-Functional Collaboration:
    Organizations are urged to develop TrustOps frameworks—a holistic approach to managing trust supported by operational policy, technology, and dedicated cross-functional teams. Trust Councils and transparency initiatives are key as distinguishing truth from deception becomes increasingly difficult.
  • Narrative Intelligence & Media Listening:
    Advanced narrative intelligence and media monitoring tools are essential for detecting and neutralizing emerging influence operations before they affect brand equity.
  • Behavioral Science & Nudging:
    By leveraging behavioral science, brands can foster healthy skepticism and critical thinking among both consumers and employees to build resilience against misinformation.

Frank underscored that disinformation is now “a marketing imperative,” not just a security or technology issue. As public trust in institutions wanes, even established brands face vulnerability to engineered outrage, with fake viral crises fueled by bots putting decades of customer loyalty at risk. Despite this, Gartner’s research reveals most organizations have yet to elevate this threat to a strategic priority.

Festive demand, AI boom drive India’s third-quarter PC sales

Mohammed Fahad
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Festive demand, AI boom drive India’s third-quarter PC sales
  • Next-generation AI notebooks break new ground, crosses the 100,000-unit threshold in a single quarter for the first time.
  • AI-enabled notebooks steal the spotlight, with shipments skyrocketing by 126.5% year on year.
  • HP retains market leadership with a 26.6% overall share, followed by Lenovo with 18% and Acer with 15%.

India’s traditional PC market soared to new heights in third quarter of 2025, achieving its highest-ever quarterly shipments at 4.9 million units—a robust 10.1 per cent year-over-year (YoY) increase, according to IDC data.

The surge surpasses the previous Q3 record of 4.5 million units set just last year, signaling sustained momentum in both commercial and consumer demand.

The premium notebook category (priced above $1,000) posted an 8.5 per cent YoY growth, propelled by keen interest from both enterprise buyers and tech-savvy consumers. Notably, AI-enabled notebooks stole the spotlight, with shipments skyrocketing by 126.5 per cent YoY.

Basic AI notebooks, leveraging hardware-based AI features, accounted for nearly 86 per cent of all AI notebook shipments—buoyed by aggressive discounts and attractive cashback offers. Meanwhile, next-generation AI notebooks each broke new ground, crossing the 100,000-unit threshold in a single quarter for the first time.

Double-digit growth

Growth was robust across the board. The commercial segment expanded 11.4 per cent YoY, as ongoing enterprise refresh cycles and heightened demand from small and medium businesses (SMBs)—up 18.8 per cent and 13.1 per cent YoY, respectively—propelled the sector.

The consumer market reached a new benchmark, with shipments peaking at 2.8 million units, underscoring aggressive pre-festive stocking by leading vendors.

The e-tail channel excelled, making its best quarterly showing to date with 997,000 units shipped. “Consumer buying patterns have shifted, with many delaying purchases after the back-to-school season to take advantage of deep discounts during e-tail festivals. This prompted vendors to scale back Q2 shipments and build up inventory for Q3’s sales bonanza,” said Bharath Shenoy, research manager at IDC India & South Asia.

HP maintains lead

  • HP Inc. retained market leadership with a 26.6 per cent overall share, dominating the commercial segment at 34.6 per cent. However, the company saw a 10.4 per cent YoY dip in its consumer segment, attributed to heightened competition and a slow transition to its new OmniBook series.
  • Lenovo held the second spot with an 18 per cent market share as its consumer business rose 14.3 per cent YoY, powered by festive discounts and strong performance in the small office segment (+46.9 per cent YoY).
  • Acer Group placed third with a 15 per cent share, excelling in the commercial desktop category (33.1 per cent share) thanks to robust government and enterprise demand.
  • Dell Technologies secured the fourth position at 14.6 per cent, demonstrating improvement in both consumer (10.3 per cent share) and commercial segments.
  • Asus rounded out the top five at 10.2 per cent, recording its best-ever commercial quarter, particularly in the SMB segment.

Positive outlook

Despite several strong quarters, analysts remain optimistic about ongoing enterprise refresh cycles and government-led digital initiatives.

“Windows refresh orders are expected to remain healthy, but aggressive channel inventory pushes could prompt corrections in the SMB sector, and global processor supply constraints could lead to minor shipment delays,” noted Navkendar Singh, associate vice president, IDC India, South Asia & ANZ.

Short-term adjustments are anticipated on the consumer front due to elevated inventory levels. Nonetheless, demand for notebooks remains resilient and is expected to stay robust into the first half of 2026.

Ransomware group claims major breach at Dubai-based NAFFCO

TCN Bureau
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Ransomware group claims major breach at Dubai-based NAFFCO
  • NAFFCO joins the growing list of high-value industrial and manufacturing sector targets hit by ransomware gangs in 2025

Dubai-based National Fire Fighting Manufacturing FZCO (NAFFCO), a leader in fire protection systems and equipment, has reportedly fallen victim to a significant cyberattack.

The INC Ransom group, a well-known cyber extortion collective, likely linked to Russia, emerged in July 2023 has claimed responsibility for the breach, listing NAFFCO on their dark web leak site on November 17.

In a statement posted online, the threat actors took aim at NAFFCO’s “Passion to Protect” slogan, jeering, “We do not know for certain how well they protect their clients, but they could not protect themselves.” The group alleges to have exfiltrated approximately 1TB of corporate data, including highly sensitive documentation.

Data compromised

INC Ransom provided screenshots, claiming to demonstrate their access to a trove of confidential materials. According to the group, the stolen data set includes:

  • Passport copies and employee identification documents
  • Fiscal and financial records, including spreadsheets and budgets
  • Internal emails and correspondence
  • Human Resources records and personnel files
  • Strategic development plans

The full extent of the breach is yet to be independently verified. However, NAFFCO, with annual revenues reportedly reaching $4.4 billion, joins the growing list of high-value industrial and manufacturing sector targets hit by ransomware gangs in 2025.

Ongoing threats to industrial sector

Security analysts have noted the accelerated targeting of industrial firms over the past year, with ransomware actors seeking not just direct financial gain, but also to exert pressure by threatening large-scale data leaks.

A spokesperson for NAFFCO has not yet commented on the incident. Cybersecurity experts recommend that all organisations in critical infrastructure and industrial manufacturing assess their security postures, as threat actors increasingly target operationally vital sectors.

This breach underscores the persistent challenges companies face in safeguarding digital assets, even as they strive to protect the lives and property of their customers around the world.

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