TM Forum Issues AI Safety Guidance for Telecoms; Space42 and Viasat Back $1B Satellite-to-Phone Platform

The TM Forum has urged telecom operators to establish stricter governance and oversight mechanisms for AI agents as they transition from trial phases to operational deployment in network management and automation systems. Space42 and Viasat announced the formation of Equatys, a joint venture with up to $1 billion in combined funding, to build a satellite infrastructure platform delivering direct-to-device mobile coverage for areas beyond traditional cellular reach. Angola Cables upgraded its transatlantic submarine cable systems with Ciena optical technology to support 800 Gbps data rates between Africa and the Americas across a 12,780-kilometer route.

The TM Forum's guidance reflects growing operational complexity as telecom carriers move AI tools from limited testing into live network environments. Key concerns include defining appropriate decision-making boundaries for autonomous systems, establishing audit trails for AI actions, and ensuring data quality supports reliable algorithmic performance across legacy and modern infrastructure.

Angola Cables' infrastructure upgrade demonstrates competitive positioning in transatlantic connectivity. By deploying next-generation optical technology supporting 800 Gbps throughput, the carrier creates direct routing between African and North American markets with minimal latency, potentially attractive to cloud providers and financial institutions requiring low-delay, high-capacity links that bypass traditional European transit points.