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  • Five applications for digital connectivity rating agencies are sent to TRAI

    Five applications for digital connectivity rating agencies are sent to TRAI

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has received applications from five entities expressing interest in being empanelled as digital connectivity rating agencies (DCRAs) who will evaluate properties according to the regulator’s prescribed rules and norms, according to Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti.

    TRAI is hoping for an early launch of the entire system, with Lahoti noting that the first round of empanelment could take place as soon as this month.

    Some projects and properties have already started making enquiries about the rating system, he told PTI.

    The proposed ‘star rating’ system will evaluate properties on digital connectivity, similar to green building or energy efficiency rating systems.

    New as well as existing buildings can be rated under the proposed system, and TRAI hopes that framework may even nudge builders to “retrofit” existing buildings with good digital connectivity infrastructure to get a favourable rating.

    To support this, TRAI is developing a digital platform and final property assessments will also be published on the regulator’s website.

    Over time, TRAI expects the digital connectivity rating system to become a standard and key selling point for developers, builders on the one hand, and buyers or tenants on the other, given connectivity demands at workplace and homes.

    At present, dense construction in urban areas also makes connectivity a challenge in many locations.

    “We have already issued the regulation for the rating framework. We have also initiated the process of empanelling agencies who can do the rating and the call for application is on. We have received applications from five agencies who have shown interest in getting empanelled as DCRAs.

    “We have also issued a draft manual on the rating system so that there is a uniform, standard, transparent process for the rating, which is known across all the rating agencies and property managers who are seeking the rating. After that, it is for any property manager to approach a rating agencies and get the rating,” Lahoti said.

    Last month, TRAI released the draft manual for assessment of rating of properties for digital connectivity under the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024.

    According to TRAI, the rating manual will enable adoption of uniform assessment methodology by the Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies for rating of properties.

    It will also provide a standard reference for the property managers for creation of digital connectivity infrastructure (DCI) in their properties.

    Buildings shall be evaluated based on defined parameters in the regulation — fiber readiness, mobile network availability, in-building solutions, and wi-fi infrastructure, service performance among others.

    The regulator had also submitted its recommendations to the government on ‘Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity’ in February 2023, with an aim to create an ecosystem for building of DCI as a part of any development activity.

    TRAI has also released the regulation Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024 in October last year to bring a framework for rating of properties for digital connectivity. The idea is to promote creation of good digital connectivity through a collaborative and self-sustainable approach.

    “The two things — regulations and policy framework are not contingent upon each other, they are complementary. The regulation is already in force, and the rating of properties can start. The policy framework enabling provisions in the national building code and in the model building bylaws, can process concurrently,” he said.

    Industry estimates show that more than 80 per cent of the data consumption takes place inside building premises, Lahoti said, emphasising that robust and reliable digital connectivity inside buildings is essential to meet connectivity requirement and consumer expectations.

    “This is very important as far as the telecom quality is concerned. The provision of in-building solution inside the building premises will complement the network being provided outside by the telecom service providers,” Lahoti said.

    Digital connectivity has also become crucial, especially for 5G and, in future, the 6G networks, which use high frequency bands for delivering ultra hi-speed data, but get attenuated due to walls and building materials.

    “Today, when anybody buys or rents a flat, or maybe rents office premises, and the moment they occupy it, the first problem that they may encounter is connectivity. Imagine buying or renting an expensive flat, and when you move in, you find that your mobile (connectivity) is not working, or you don’t have internet connectivity in the rooms…

    “In today’s world, when your entire social, professional, economic life needs digital connectivity, this becomes a serious constraint, and the person starts looking for solution… But the good thing is that all this is solvable by providing engineered solutions inside the buildings,” he told PTI.

    Emphasising that it is important that property developers now start working on these lines, Lahoti said, “In order to nudge the property developers or the project proponents to provide good digital connectivity inside built premises, and to keep a prospective buyer or tenant informed about the quality that he or she is going to get, we have come out with regulation.” There is no limit on the number of DCRAs who can be empanelled so long as agencies qualify the stipulated norms, Lahoti said.

    “The rating itself will be in form of star rating. So a property meeting all the norms and in the highest range will get a five-star rating… the property with poor digital connectivity may get one star. This is very similar to our green building rating system as well as the energy efficiency rating of appliances where star ratings are available, and you can make out by way of rating how where the appliance or the property stand,” he said.

    TRAI is keen to roll out the entire system “fast”.

    “If we get the right initiatives from various project proponents, in this regard, in a matter of few years, people will become aware about this, and more and more properties will look to get this rating,” the TRAI chief added. PTI

  • Digital twins will reach $154B worldwide by 2030

    Digital twins will reach $154B worldwide by 2030

    Digital twins are increasingly transforming industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and aerospace, offering solutions to optimize operations, improve efficiency, and enable predictive capabilities across various sectors. Against this backdrop, the global digital twins market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.6% from $5 billion in 2019 to $154 billion by 2030, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s latest Strategic Intelligence report, “Digital Twins,” reveals that the growth of the global digital twins market will be driven by low-cost sensors used in Internet of Things (IoT) devices, a decline in the cost of high-performance computing (HPC), and cloud accessibility. Advances in data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) will also drive the growth.

    Aisha U-K Umaru, Strategic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Large companies such as Amazon have tapped into their reach and reputation to partner with firms such as Matterport and Anthropic to enhance their digital twin offerings, and smaller companies such as Aerogility are providing services to specific industries such as aerospace and defense.”

    Digital twins: Diverse use cases
    Conceptually, digital twins have been around for decades; a forerunner was used in NASA’s Apollo 13 mission to the moon in 1970. While far from ubiquitous today, adoption is increasing across industries.

    Umaru continues: “Digital twins are employed in various industries, including oil and gas, power, sport, and government. They serve a wide range of purposes within these fields, from enhancing the efficiency of a factory to providing an enriched viewing experience for sports fans.”

    AI’s impact on digital twin industry
    Digital twins are increasingly harnessing AI to provide more context to the users. This approach has created a hybrid technology called semantic twins, which can provide a deeper level of understanding by letting users ask large language models (LLMs) questions about a twin and its components. In response to these questions, the LLM can draw from its knowledge of the twin, the twin’s aims and objectives, and its broader understanding of systems and the world. For example, a semantic twin of a city may be asked, “How can I update this twin to be in line with other cities with similar population and transport systems that are managing traffic congestion more effectively?”. Semantic twins also benefit from other features of generative AI, including advanced predictive analytics and information retention.

    Umaru concludes: “AI is pervading almost every industry, and it can offer more depth to digital twins. Semantic twins can allow users to draw deeper meaning from their digital twins, using LLMs for support.” GlobalData

  • The focus is on Apple’s AI bugs before the developer conference

    The focus is on Apple’s AI bugs before the developer conference

    Apple Inc. shares have been heavily tethered to US trade policies this year, but its annual developer’s conference could refocus Wall Street’s attention on a potentially bigger problem: its struggles with artificial intelligence.

    The iPhone maker’s WWDC event kicks off Monday and isn’t expected to feature much in the way of major AI releases. That could shine a light on Apple’s shortfalls with the critical technology, threatening further weakness for its shares with few obvious catalysts on the horizon to turn things around.

    “It’s hard to argue that Apple’s lack of standing with AI isn’t an existential risk, and it would be a real surprise if it came out with a significant AI development or application at WWDC,” said Andrew Choi, portfolio manager at Parnassus Investments. “If it can paint a future where it is integrating and commoditizing AI, that would be compelling, because otherwise, what is going to get people to buy their next phone for a lot more money?”

    Shares are down 19% this year, making them by far the biggest drag on the Nasdaq 100, which has advanced 3.6%. While much of the selloff reflects Apple’s exposure to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and political uncertainty, its struggles with AI have been another significant headwind.

    The conference marks the one-year anniversary of the introduction of Apple Intelligence, which sparked an initial wave of optimism that the AI features it unveiled would prompt consumers to upgrade their iPhones in droves. That proved premature, however, as features failed to impress and were repeatedly delayed, culminating with an AI-version of the Siri digital assistant getting postponed for the foreseeable future.

    The lack of a robust AI offering stands in contrast to some Big Tech peers. Alphabet Inc. recently debuted a number of well-received AI features, and Microsoft Corp. is trading at all-time highs on AI optimism. Apple also faces potential competition from ChatGPT owner OpenAI, which said last month it’s acquiring io, a device startup co-founded by Jony Ive, the legendary designer and former Apple executive.

    Of course, Apple still offers plenty of attractive characteristics, including a huge user base, its high-margin services business, and immense profitability that it taps to return capital to shareholders through buybacks and dividends.

    Those attributes still make the stock appealing to Mark Bronzo, chief investment strategist at the Rye Consulting Group, despite lagging in AI.

    “I expect its AI features will be more functional than cutting edge, and that means there’s nothing exciting about Apple where you’d want to own it over Nvidia, Microsoft, or Amazon, which have strong growth from their AI stories,” he said. “The flip side is that Apple’s cash flow and services business mean it can maintain its P/E in a downturn. It can sometimes be useful to be in a boring stock if the market goes sideways.”

    Still, Apple’s AI struggles add to other investor concerns. Apple’s revenue growth is projected to be about 4% in fiscal 2025, compared with 14% for Microsoft or 11% for Alphabet. It also trades at 27 times estimated earnings, well below a recent peak around 34, but a premium to its average over the past decade of 21.

    Last week, Needham became the latest Wall Street firm to downgrade the stock. Generative AI innovations from competitors “open the door for new hardware form factors that threaten iOS devices,” analyst Laura Martin wrote, cutting her rating to the equivalent of neutral.

    Fewer than 60% of the analysts tracked by Bloomberg who cover the company recommend buying, the lowest such rate among the seven most valuable US technology companies, which include Microsoft, Nvidia Corp., Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet, Meta Platforms Inc. and Broadcom Inc.

    “Apple is growing at a single-digit pace without much ability to expand its margins, plus it faces risks from tariffs and China exposure while competitors make inroads with AI and it trades at a premium price,” said Choi. “There’s nothing compelling about all that.” Bloomberg

  • £2.6M to upgrade infra in UK hospitals

    £2.6M to upgrade infra in UK hospitals

    Several hospitals are set to get upgrades after Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust secured government funding.

    Work will include improving fire safety systems, water infrastructure and electrical and energy systems at Rampton Hospital, The Wells Road Centre, Wathwood Hospital, Thorneywood Mount and Arnold Lodge Hospital.

    The improvements at the sites, which offer mental health and community services across the Midlands and South Yorkshire, are due to start in the summer with the aim of completing next spring.

    The trust, which runs the hospitals, said the funding would support urgent infrastructure projects and create a better environment for patients.

    The £2,595,000 grant is part of a national project to improve NHS buildings and infrastructure in England.

    At Rampton High Secure Hospital and several others, it is hoped the money will allow a full upgrade of fire safety systems – including alarms, fire compartmentation and suppression technology.

    The Wells Road Centre in Mapperley, Nottingham, will benefit from the replacement of ageing machinery.

    While at Arnold Lodge, in Leicester, a specialist secure unit, the money will deliver electrical and energy system improvements.

    The trust said planning work was under way to ensure the disruption was minimal.

    Chief executive at the trust Ifti Majid said the funding was “fantastic news”, adding: “It allows us to fast-track improvements that make our hospitals safer, greener and more welcoming places to receive care and to work.”

    Alison Wyld, executive director of finance and estates, added: “By tackling our highest-risk infrastructure now, we’re not only reducing future maintenance costs but also supporting the trust’s net zero ambitions.” BBC

  • For S&T institutes buying scientific equipment, a center opens financial rules

    For S&T institutes buying scientific equipment, a center opens financial rules

    In a bid to further research, the government has enhanced financial limits for the procurement of scientific instruments and consumables by various scientific institutions, including those pursuing research in the defence sector.

    According to the amendments to the special provisions in the general financial rules (GFR), vice chancellors and directors of various research and development institutions will now be able to purchase scientific equipment and consumables for research purposes up to ₹2 lakh without seeking any quotations, as against the earlier limit of ₹1 lakh.

    Directors, VCs can approve equipment purchases up to ₹200 crore
    The financial limit for procuring goods by the Purchase Committee has been enhanced to ₹25 lakh from the existing ₹10 lakh.

    The financial limits for procuring goods using the limited tender enquiry (LTE) and advertised tender enquiry have been increased to ₹1 crore from the existing ₹50 lakh.

    Vice Chancellors and directors have been designated as competent authorities to approve the issuance of a global tender enquiry up to ₹200 crore for the procurement of scientific equipment and consumables required only for research purposes.

    Eased GFR norms to cut delays, empower research
    “In a landmark step enabling ease of doing research, the GFR rules have been simplified for procurement of scientific equipment and consumables,” Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said in a post on X.

    Singh said the easing of GFR will reduce delays, enhance autonomy and flexibility for research institutions and empower them to innovate faster.

    The amendments to the GFR will apply to the departments of science and technology, biotechnology, scientific and industrial research, atomic energy, space, earth sciences, health research, including the Indian Council of Medical Research.

    The Defence Research and Development Organisation, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and its affiliated institutions and universities, and educational and research institutes conducting post-graduate, doctoral-level courses or research under any ministry/department will also benefit from the amended GFR. PTI

  • Guwahati’s 100-bed Neotia Bhagirathi Women & Child Care Facility opens

    Guwahati’s 100-bed Neotia Bhagirathi Women & Child Care Facility opens

    Marking a strategic healthcare milestone for Assam and the Northeast, the Ambuja Neotia Group marks the group’s first foray outside West Bengal into the region’s private healthcare sector with the inauguration of the Rs 80 crore Neotia Bhagirathi Women and Child Care Centre- the first in Guwahati on Thursday. This 100-bed super-speciality hospital exclusively catering to women and children aims to bridge the persistent gap in high-end reproductive, pediatric, and neonatal healthcare services across the region.

    Coming at a time when the Assam government is aggressively building public health infrastructure, the group’s entry underlines a converging momentum of public-private partnerships to meet the region’s surging demand for specialised healthcare, especially in IVF, neonatology, and reproductive medicine. With healthcare demand consistently outpacing capacity in government facilities, this move also signals a broader shift of Tier-II cities in Northeast India into the strategic lens of private healthcare majors.

    Speaking exclusively to Business North East (BNE) at the launch, Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, said, “We are delighted to be in Assam with our first centre outside Bengal. This 100-bed hospital will cater exclusively to women and children, providing services in key areas including reproductive medicine, IVF, and postnatal care. “We hope the people of Assam and the region benefit from the medical protocols and care models we’ve developed,” he added.

    Neotia added, “The hospital includes advanced postnatal care and focuses exclusively on specialised services rather than general care. This is only for specialized care, not normal things”.

    The Guwahati facility will generate direct employment for over 250 personnel, including around 50 doctors (both full-time and part-time), according to Neotia. While the project cost is pegged at Rs 80 crore, the hospital is expected to serve not just Assam but the broader Northeast region and neighbouring ASEAN countries over time.

    He further elaborated, “Apart from healthcare, we are involved in real estate development, hospitality and education. Most of our work has been in West Bengal, but we’ve also done a lot in North Bengal and Sikkim”.

    Inaugurating the hospital, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the facility as a “timely and much-needed” private investment that complements the state’s aggressive expansion in public medical infrastructure.

    “There is a growing demand for high-quality, specialized services like IVF and reproductive medicine. In the reproductive and IVF sector, which is seeing a fast-growing demand, with the Neotia Bhagirathi Centre, people will no longer need to travel to Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata for such treatment,” said CM Sarma.

    “This facility will bring advanced clinical care, cutting-edge technology, and specialised services to women and children, not only in Assam but across the neighbouring states.”

    Highlighting the state’s aggressive focus on healthcare infrastructure Assam is currently implementing expansion of public medical infrastructure with 24 medical colleges planned by 2029, out of which 14 are already functional and the rest are in various stages of development. “Guwahati will have two medical colleges, Guwahati Medical College and the upcoming Pragjyotishpur Medical College. We have also taken up a major initiative with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore to upgrade GMCH (Guwahati Medical College and Hospital) into a 5,000-bed super-speciality hospital,” mentioned Sarma during the launch.

    Despite this growth, Sarma acknowledged the persistent gap between demand and supply in terms of quality and specialised healthcare. “Even then, I see people not getting enough seats or access to care. The demand is always rising. That is why private investments such as Neotia Bhagirathi Hospital play a critical role in bridging the healthcare gap, especially in areas where demand outpaces government capacity. We are committed to supporting such ventures for operational ease and future expansion.”

    According to the Assam Budget 2025–26, the Health and Family Welfare Department has been allocated Rs 5,393 crore, with a major focus on rural health systems, pediatric intensive care, maternal health, essential drugs, diagnostics, and health infrastructure development. An additional Rs 4,449 crore has been earmarked for Women and Child Development, making maternal and child health a key policy priority.

    The Neotia Bhagirathi Hospital thus fits seamlessly into this dual public-private growth narrative in Assam’s healthcare. It signals a maturing of Assam’s medical ecosystem, where the government expands access and scale, while the private sector brings in depth, technology, and focused specialisation. As Sarma affirmed, “With this launch, a new standard of excellence in women and children’s healthcare has been achieved. I assure the group of all possible support for the hospital’s operations.” Business Northeast

  • Telcos in the Gulf Arab world vie for a fiber optic project in Syria

    Telcos in the Gulf Arab world vie for a fiber optic project in Syria

    Syria’s government is in talks with regional telecoms companies Zain, Etisalat, STC and Ooredoo for a roughly $300 million project to develop the country’s fibre optic communications network, a senior Syrian official and a second official said.

    The talks with the Gulf Arab companies are part of growing global investor interest in Syria’s economy following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement last month that Washington would lift Syria sanctions.

    The Syrian project, dubbed SilkLink, aims to rapidly overhaul outdated communications infrastructure and set the country up as a potential “north-south and west-east digital corridor,” the telecommunications ministry said.

    Saudi Arabia’s STC declined to comment. Qatar’s Ooreedo, the UAE’s Etisalat and Kuwait’s Zain did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

    The deadline to submit proposals for the project is June 10.

    The two officials declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly on the talks.

    After 14 years of civil war and decades of Western sanctions, Syria’s infrastructure shortfalls include some of the world’s worst internet connectivity. It means many users are forced to use costly mobile data instead of a wireless connection to get basic tasks done online.

    Syria’s new rulers aim to make rapid progress in improving public services almost six months after they ousted former strongman Bashar al-Assad.
    Their efforts have included signing last week a $7 billion power memorandum of understanding with a consortium of companies led by Qatar’s UCC Holding to develop 5,000 megawatts of electricity.

    Syria also signed an $800 million MOU in May with DP World to develop Tartous port, two weeks after signing a 30-year deal with French shipping and logistics group CMA CGM that includes building a new berth at Latakia port. Reuters

  • Google & Chile agree to set up a trans-Pacific submarine cable

    Google & Chile agree to set up a trans-Pacific submarine cable

    Google signed an agreement with Chile on Wednesday to deploy an undersea fiber optic cable connecting South America with Asia and Oceania, a first-of-its-kind project that aims to cement the South American country’s status as a major digital hub.

    The Humboldt Cable, envisioned for deployment in 2027, is a 14,800-kilometer (9,200-mile) submarine data cable that will connect Chile’s coastal city of Valparaíso with Sydney, Australia through French Polynesia.

    The initiative is being launched almost a decade after it was first proposed in 2016, and six years after the initial studies to determine its feasibility.

    “This is the first submarine cable in the South Pacific, so it’s an important commitment”, Chilean Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz told journalists.

    Chile, home to one of Google’s largest data centers in Latin America, is currently connected to the United States and the rest of the region via an undersea cable. This cable also provides Chile with a longer route to other continents.

    Officials from both Google and the Chilean government hailed the project as critical infrastructure with potential to attract millions of dollars in investment from major tech companies, mining and banking firms in Chile and Australia.

    “The idea of ​​building this cable is that it can also be used not only by Google but also by other users, such as technology companies operating in Chile,” said Cristian Ramos, director of telecommunications infrastructure for Latin America at Alphabet, Google’s parent company.

    Although Google did not disclose its total investment, Patricio Rey, general manager of local partner Desarrollo País, a state-owned infrastructure company, estimated the cable project’s value at $300 million to $550 million, with Chile contributing $25 million.

    The Humboldt Cable will establish Chile as a data gateway for the Asia-Pacific, while strengthening its relations with Asian nations, especially China, its largest trading partner. It also comes as demand for undersea cables surges due to increased reliance on cloud computing services.

    The next stages involve installing the submarine cable, selecting and contracting a telecommunications operator, and constructing landing stations in Chile.

    The initiative could heighten tensions as Chile finds itself caught in the middle of an intensifying rivalry between China and the Trump administration. Undersea cables have long been flash points in geopolitical disputes. The Hindu

  • In 1Q25, the WLAN market grows by double digits

    In 1Q25, the WLAN market grows by double digits

    According to a recently published report from Dell’Oro Group, the trusted source for market information about the telecommunications, security, networks, and data center industries, enterprise class Wireless LAN (WLAN) revenue increased by 11 percent on year-over-year basis. The adoption of latest technology, Wi-Fi 7, continued its ascent, reaching 12 percent of units shipped worldwide.

    “This is the first quarter that all major vendors sold enterprise class Wi-Fi 7,” said Siân Morgan, Research Director at Dell’Oro Group. “Some manufacturers have been dealing with large inventories of Wi-Fi 6E, and have been prioritizing shipments of the older technology, which still has strong adoption. Now we’re coming to the end of Wi-Fi 6E growth phase, the market will shift over to Wi-Fi 7 in larger numbers.”

    “Vendors are also putting development efforts into AI models to enhance WLAN operations,” continued Morgan. “AI and Machine Learning are being used to perform cross-domain troubleshooting, to support front line support staff, and to create custom, dynamic dashboards. We expect these developments to pay off by growing recurring software revenues for WLAN vendors.”

    Additional highlights from the 1Q 2025 Wireless LAN Quarterly Report:

    • WLAN revenues from CommScope, Ubiquiti, and Extreme grew faster than any other vendor.
    • Shipments to North America surged, with other regions lagging behind.
    • The Average Selling Price of Wi-Fi 7 remained lower than Wi-Fi 6E, highlighting the fact that the early Wi-Fi 7 market has been dominated by lower-cost vendors.
    • The US Department of Justice’s suit aiming to block HPE’s intended acquisition of Juniper is set to begin July 9th, 2025, with HPE stating it is still committed to the deal.

    Dell’Oro

  • As to a UN review, data center demand leads AI firms’ carbon emissions to rise up 150%

    As to a UN review, data center demand leads AI firms’ carbon emissions to rise up 150%

    Indirect carbon emissions from the operations of four of the leading AI-focused tech companies rose on average by 150% from 2020-2023, due to the demands of power-hungry data centres, a United Nations report said.

    The use of artificial intelligence by Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta drove up their global indirect emissions because of the vast amounts of energy required to power data centres, the report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the U.N. agency for digital technologies, said.

    Indirect emissions include those generated by purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by a company.

    Amazon’s operational carbon emissions grew the most at 182% in 2023 compared to three years before, followed by Microsoft at 155%, Meta at 145% and Alphabet at 138%, according to the report.

    The ITU tracked the greenhouse gas emissions of 200 leading digital companies between 2020 and 2023.

    Meta, which owns Facebook and WhatsApp, pointed Reuters to its sustainability report that said it is working to reduce emissions, energy and water used to power its data centres.

    Amazon said it is committed to powering its operations more sustainably by investing in new carbon-free energy projects, including nuclear and renewable energy. Microsoft highlighted its sustainability report, which says it had doubled its rate of power savings last year and is transitioning towards chip-level liquid cooling designs, instead of traditional cooling systems, to reduce energy at its data centres.

    As investment in AI increases, carbon emissions from the top-emitting AI systems are predicted to reach up to 102.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, the report stated.

    The data centres that are needed for AI development could also put pressure on existing energy infrastructure.

    “The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving a sharp rise in global electricity demand, with electricity use by data centres increasing four times faster than the overall rise in electricity consumption,” the report found.

    It also highlighted that although a growing number of digital companies had set emissions targets, those ambitions had not yet fully translated into actual reductions of emissions. Reuters