Eurobites: Vodafone, Ericsson combine on instant-translation AI for voice calls

Vodafone and Ericsson embedded AI in a test mobile network to demonstrate instant language translation during voice calls, translating conversations between English, Spanish, Italian, French and German speakers using Microsoft large language models and automatic language detection. A Vodafone spokesperson said no decision has been made on when the technology will become commercially available, and T-Mobile launched its own AI-based Live Translation service earlier this year. The European Commission also proposed a common rating scheme for data centers above 500kW capacity, with the first sustainability labels expected in 2027.

Featured Story Verizon seeks FCC approval to test 6G use cases in 4GHz Verizon applies for experimental spectrum license to use part of 4GHz band to demo 5G sensing use cases with Ericsson and Samsung as a 'precursor' to 6G. Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: Eutelsat completes rail connectivity trial in Poland; increasing digital participation in Africa; EU proposes rating scheme for data centers. In a move that may, for readers of a certain age, revive memories of the Babel Fish https://youtu.be/iuumnjJWFO4?si=6Jd0Ssbq 0i4s7Cb from The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Vodafone and Ericsson have embedded AI in a test mobile network to demonstrate the potential of instant language translation technology during voice calls. During the trial, engineers from both companies were able instantly translate conversations between people speaking in English, Spanish, Italian, French and German – and the feature can be easily expanded to support more languages, says Vodafone. For the translation application, the two companies used Microsoft large language models LLMs and developed automatic language detection. According to a Vodafone spokesperson, no decision has yet been made on when the technology will become commercially available. However, Vodafone has not scored a world first here: Earlier this year US operator T-Mobile launched its Live Translation service, which is also reliant on AI services being embedded in its network. See T-Mobile builds AI agents into 5G network to translate calls https://www.lightreading.com/ai-machine-learning/t-mobile-builds-ai-agents-into-5g-network-to-translate-calls . Eutelsat has completed its first rail connectivity trial in Poland, using OneWeb low-Earth orbit LEO satellites. The trial – which was led by ACO Solutions as the key systems integrator with support from HispaSat – was conducted aboard a PKP Intercity long-distance train traveling at speeds of up to 160km/h. OneWeb LEO connectivity was combined with existing rail communications infrastructure to support passenger Internet access, operational communications and data services. See Eurobites: Eutelsat orders 340 more OneWeb LEO satellites https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/eurobites-eutelsat-orders-340-more-oneweb-leo-satellites . The GSMA and the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa https://pdaa.com/ have launched a new roadmap to increase digital participation across Africa as part of its stated ambition to connect 1 billion people to the Internet by 2030. The plan identifies three priority areas: accelerating the migration from 2G and 3G to smartphone-based digital participation on 4G or 5G networks; coordinating investment in connectivity and energy infrastructure; and reducing the cost of reaching rural and underserved communities through shared infrastructure and innovative technologies. Freshwave has brought multi-operator indoor mobile connectivity to three council-operated buildings in the northern English town of Wigan. The company deployed its Omni Network platform, which provides connectivity from all the UK mobile network operators by extending their networks indoors via small cells. Freshwave is also working with operator O2 to deploy ten 4G/5G outdoor small cells in high-demand areas of the town. As the AI-driven proliferation of data centers increasingly becomes a hot button issue, not least for the amount of power they guzzle, the European Commission has proposed a common rating scheme for data centers to increase transparency on their energy use. The scheme will cover individual data centers with a capacity above 500kW. It will also cover data centers' contribution to the grid, such as the reuse of waste heat and the addition of clean energy generation capacities. The first sustainability labels for individual data centers are expected to be displayed in 2027. Orange is investing in Biolevate, a French health-tech startup specializing in "knowledge-driven automation" intended to accelerate the commercialization of drugs and other life sciences products. Agentic AI is involved. Orange's investment was made as part of Biolevate's latest financing round, through its Orange Ventures arm. Meta, NEC and Sumitomo Electric Industries have joined forces on "Petal," a new petabit optical subsea cable system connecting North America to Europe. The system, due to become operational in 2029, will employ two-core fiber, with two optical transmission paths within a single fiber and an advanced single-housing repeater technology with reduced power consumption. Meta will fund and operate the system, NEC will be responsible for its overall design and construction, while Sumitomo Electric will provide the two-core fiber. And in related news, Meta has reached its first UK labor union access agreement, with Prospect. The agreement will allow the union to speak to Meta's 5,000 UK employees directly about the benefits of union membership, with a view to recruiting more members. Prospect already has members at Meta, but this is the first time the union has formally reached an agreement with the US technology giant. Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million US$462 million for overreach on its use of location data, which was deemed to have contravened the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. The regulator's deputy commissioner, Graham Doyle, said: "The GDPR provides a high level of protection of personal data throughout the EEA, and requires that the processing of personal data must be carried out in a lawful, fair and transparent manner. As a result of Google's failures in this regard, individuals could have been unaware that their location was being used to, for example, influence them with ads or to infer their interests, and could lose control over their personal data. The retention of users' location data for longer than necessary aggravated this loss of control." Read more about: