United Kingdom IT Services News

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• January 2024: VEON Ltd, a global digital operator specializing in converged connectivity and online services, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Banglalink, finalized the sale of a portion of its tower portfolio in Bangladesh to Summit Towers Limited. This transaction, valued at approximately BDT 11 billion (around USD 100 million), comes on the heels of a prior announcement made on November 15, 2023. The legal transfer of the towers is set for December 2023, contingent upon receiving all necessary regulatory approvals.
• November 2023: Summit Towers Limited inked a deal with Banglalink, a telecom service provider, to purchase 2000+ towers to provide long-term tower services to leverage its expertise and efficiency.
• September 2023: EDOTCO Bangladesh and SkyTel Communications Ltd formed a strategic partnership to share telecom infrastructure. With this partnership initiative, SkyTel Communications Ltd would gain access to EDOTCO Bangladesh’s telecom infrastructure sites. EDOTCO Bangladesh will likely benefit from colocation opportunities with SkyTel, leading to optimized resource management and enhanced network connectivity for citizens across the country.

• March 2024: Hana Bank partnered with GMO Payment Gateway, Japan's payment processing firm, to introduce a cross-border payment and settlement system. This initiative aims to support domestic companies venturing into the Japanese market. The collaboration would offer Korean businesses a comprehensive suite of services, ranging from expert consulting for business startups and franchise launches in Japan to help transfer e-commerce sales made in Japan.
• March 2024: Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co. Ltd chose NETSTARS Co. Ltd as the code payment gateway for its payment terminals, namely the "stera terminal unit" and "stera terminal mobile." These terminals are utilized by "stera," the payment platform Sumitomo Mitsui Card offers.

• July 2024: Vantage Data Centers, a hyperscale data center provider, inaugurated its inaugural TPE11 facility in Taipei City, Taiwan. The new center boasts a robust 16 MW IT capacity tailored for cloud services and high-density deployments. With advanced liquid cooling technology, TPE11 is primed to cater to artificial intelligence (AI) and other data-intensive applications.
• June 2024: In a collaborative effort, Supermicro partnered with ASE, a company specializing in IC packaging and testing, and CSI, a system integrator, to inaugurate Taiwan's inaugural liquid cooling data center in Kaohsiung, located in the southern region. As part of this venture, ASE, with CSI's support, will seamlessly integrate Supermicro's liquid-cooled AI servers into the new data center, aiming to enhance ASE's R&D and production workflows.

• June 2023: Swedish startup Evroc announced plans to secure EUR 3 billion in funding for the construction of two hyperscale data centers.
• April 2023: EcoDataCenter announced plans for constructing a new sustainable data center, EcoDataCenter 2, in Östersund, Sweden. The campus, boasting a total capacity of 150 MW, will be developed in stages, with the first phase of 20 MW set to be operational by 2026.

• May 2024: Mastercard officially rolled out its domestic payment processing services in China. Through its joint venture, Mastercard NetsUnion Information Technology, the company can now process payments made with Mastercard cards issued by Chinese banks. The payment services provider can also accept Mastercard-branded cards from China for international transactions.
• April 2024: Soft Space, a fintech-as-a-service provider, teamed up with JCB, a prominent international payments brand from Japan, to introduce a payment gateway in Malaysia. The new gateway addresses the surging demand for secure digital transactions by leveraging JCB's expansive global network and Soft Space's advanced technical expertise. Furthermore, Soft Space's API specification empowers acquirers and payment facilitators, enabling retail merchants to tap into JCB's vast network serving over 156 million card members—without needing a direct connection.

• September 2024: Barq, a Saudi financial services startup, is set to enhance its payment acceptance solutions for merchants and consumers by utilizing Mastercard's Gateway technology. Through this collaboration, Barq aims to provide expanded services to Saudi businesses, citizens, and residents, catering to their growing demand for cross-border services and remittance solutions.
• June 2024: CellPoint Digital, a global leader in payment orchestration and a provider of payment solutions to the airline industry, has forged a new partnership with Riyadh Air, the newest national airline in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration will empower Riyadh Air with cutting-edge payment technology, aligning with its digital-first business strategy and setting it apart as it gears up for commercial operations in 2025. Through this partnership, Riyadh Air gains access to CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration platform, streamlining both local and cross-border transaction processing.

• April 2024: Payments Canada, in partnership with tech giants IBM and CGI, is set to unveil its Real-Time Rail (RTR) system for swift digital payments by 2026. This announcement comes after a decade-long journey marked by several delays since the initiative's inception. The RTR system is designed to enhance transaction oversight and security for Canadians, enabling real-time payments around the clock every day of the year, with swift clearance and settlement in mere seconds.
• May 2024: Intellect Design Arena Ltd, a versatile financial technology company catering to banks, credit unions, and insurance clients, has unveiled the Canada eMACH.ai Cloud tailored for banks and credit unions. This all-encompassing product suite covers areas such as digital engagement, liquidity, virtual accounts, and core banking (encompassing Payments and Deposits). With integrated AI, these offerings empower financial institutions to customize their digital services, meeting but surpassing customer expectations and driving growth. Furthermore, all products are fully operational or specifically designed for the Canadian market.

• June 2024: XTransfer, a China-based B2B cross-border payment platform, forged a strategic alliance with Banking Circle, a forward-thinking, tech-centric Payments Bank. This partnership is set to streamline cross-border payments for XTransfer's clientele, with a keen focus on aiding Chinese suppliers targeting major markets in Europe and the Middle East. The collaboration is expected to cut down both the costs and processing times associated with these transactions.
• April 2024: Ant Group, in collaboration with 11 overseas payment partners of Alipay+ and international card organizations, unveiled a nationwide initiative in Beijing. This program, backed by relevant authorities and local governments, seeks to establish internationally friendly consumer zones in key tourist and commercial cities across China. By partnering with local merchants, tourist attractions, and commercial districts, the initiative aims to elevate the experience of international visitors while boosting business for local merchants.

• July 2024: In a significant move, the European Payments Initiative (EPI) has unveiled Wero, an advanced digital payment wallet, in Germany. This initiative, a collaboration with founding members DSGV and DZ BANK, is set to be bolstered by Deutsche Bank's entry later this year. German users can now execute instant, account-to-account money transfers directly through their banking apps. Wero's debut feature focuses on person-to-person (P2P) transactions, allowing users to send and receive money in just 10 seconds. Transfers can be initiated using a phone number, email address, or an app-generated QR code, all without the need for intermediary accounts. Beyond its launch in Germany, Wero is gearing up for cross-border payments, eyeing Belgium and France as its initial targets, followed by expansions into the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
• January 2024: Global Payments Inc., renowned for its payment technology and software solutions, has teamed up with Commerzbank. Commerzbank stands out as Germany's premier bank for small and medium-sized enterprises and is a trusted ally for corporate clients, as well as private and small-business customers. Together, they aim to roll out digital payment solutions tailored for small and medium-sized businesses throughout Germany.

• September 2024: barq, a financial services startup from Saudi Arabia, joined forces with Mastercard. This collaboration aims to provide barq's customers with top-tier payment acceptance solutions via the Mastercard Gateway. Through this strategic partnership, barq will harness the technology of Mastercard Gateway, enhancing its offerings to merchants and consumers across the Kingdom.
• February 2024: Mastercard teamed up with Loop, a digital payments technology firm licensed by SAMA, to provide businesses and consumers in the Kingdom with enhanced access to advanced credit card offerings and innovative payment solutions. Through this collaboration, Loop will broaden its portfolio and elevate its range of products and services by harnessing Mastercard's technology and expertise.