Eurobites: Proximus plugs into 'sovereign' AI with Mistral

Belgian operator Proximus has partnered with French startup Mistral AI as it explores so‑called 'sovereign' AI options rooted in European technology and data rules. The move reflects growing pressure on regional telecom operators to reduce reliance on large US-based cloud and AI providers while keeping tighter control over data and compliance.

Elsewhere in EMEA, African smartphone shipments rose in the third quarter, pointing to a recovering device market after earlier declines. In the UK, chancellor Jeremy Hunt criticized telecom operators for imposing mid-contract price hikes linked to inflation, arguing they leave customers exposed to unexpected bill increases. And in the Gulf, Ericsson and Ooredoo reported cuts in mobile network energy use, part of a broader industry push to rein in power costs and meet climate targets.