Eurobites: GSMA launches initiative to tackle e-waste

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The GSMA has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing e-waste and extending the lifespan of devices, leaning on solutions from commercial partners Closing the Loop and RGX. Dutch company Closing the Loop assures one disused device is recovered for each device sold, and its services have already been used by Vodafone, Samsung and T-Mobile in Europe. The US-based RGX provides an online marketplace for e-waste management.

Travelers flock to eSIMs and Europe handles most of the traffic

Going abroad this summer? Travelers are increasingly taking advantage of eSIMs, and their use has outpaced the overall increase in international roaming activity, according to data from Ookla. Yet, travel eSIMs often perform worse than local mobile contracts, with lower download speeds and higher latency. This is partly because traffic is often sent back to the provider's core network, which are in some cases underpinned by a single hub. Europe handles more than half (65%) of the traffic, with Madrid as the biggest hub.

Ericsson becomes Zain Jordan's new BSS BFF

Zain Jordan has tapped Ericsson to provide its BSS services for postpaid business. This includes cloud-native billing and the Telco DataOps platform, which provides real-time data for network optimization and customer experience management. The deal, which also includes catalogue and order management for postpaid products, is intended to modernize the Jordanian operator's BSS.

Middle Eastern customers lose appetite for smartphones

Smartphone shipments in the Middle East fell 19% in the second quarter, reaching 10.6 million units, according to Omdia, a sister company to Light Reading. The analyst firm attributes this to delayed upgrades and growing caution among customers, as well as a shift from volume to value among vendors. The latter is driven by the escalating cost of components, which is pushing companies to focus more on the medium-to-high end of the market.

MTN launches AI-powered job board for young people

As just about everyone worries that AI will irrevocably destroy any job prospects of the next generations, MTN is taking the unconventional step of trying to use AI to secure employment for young people. It launched a new AI-infused job board as part of its Skills Academy, integrating learning, job discovery and application tracking. MTN says AI allows the platform to advise its users how their current skills align with job requirements.

Courtesy: www.lightreading.com