Philippines’ data market liberalisation bill becomes law

29 August 2025

Legislation aimed at opening up the Philippines’ data services market officially became law on Sunday after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. chose not to veto the bill within the constitutional deadline.

Known as the “Konektadong Pinoy” bill, it was ratified by Congress in June and sent to the President last month, with the 30-day period lapsing on 24 August.

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XLSmart launches autonomous 5G drone for manufacturing logistics

29 August 2025

XLSmart has announced the launch of an autonomous 5G-enabled drone designed for goods delivery, developed in partnership with ASTRAtech, a polytechnic university affiliated with the Astra Group. Unveiled on Friday under the brand XLSmart For Business, the drone aims to provide a cutting-edge logistics solution tailored for the manufacturing sector.

The drone features fully autonomous flight capabilities, equipped with live 5G streaming cameras that allow real-time video monitoring. Its advanced computer vision system ensures accurate recognition of delivery points and safe landings, even in congested or restricted areas. Users can also plan and oversee flight routes through an intuitive dashboard, enhancing operational control.

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$30 billion revenue predicted for cellular IoT connectivity by 2030

29 August 2025

A new report from Juniper Research forecasts that operators will generate approximately $30 billion from cellular Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity worldwide by 2030, marking a significant increase of 74% from an estimated $18 billion in 2025. This surge is driven by growing demand for operational efficiency and automation across various industries.

To capitalise on this expanding market, Juniper Research recommends that network operators innovate their monetisation strategies, highlighting the increasing importance of network application programming interfaces (APIs). These APIs provide standardised, on-demand access to cellular network capabilities, enabling operators to transition from traditional monthly subscription fees to flexible, usage-based billing models.

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Bangkok to launch Thailand’s first 191 emergency location service

27 August 2025

Bangkok is set to launch Thailand’s first-ever 191 Emergency Location Service (ELS), a collaborative effort between the Patrol and Special Operations Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, AIS, and Google.

The new service will automatically provide precise caller location data to emergency responders, enhancing response times and safety.

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