Follow the latest news coverage in the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine and its impact on the digital infrastructure sector with live updates from The Tech Capital.
Founder and Editor, The Tech Capital
25 Mins
March 01, 2022 | 12:00 AM GMT
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine after months of military build-up across the Russian-Ukrainian border.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has been called the darkest moment in Europe’s history since WWII by world leaders with dangerous rhetoric coming out of the Kremlin in Moscow as the invasion continues.
The Tech Capital brings you this live rolling coverage page to bring you the latest from the digital infrastructure sector including news, views, and updates.
MARCH 03, 2022 | 02:22 AM GMT
GLP IPO could suffer delays due to war in Ukraine
Singapore’s real estate developer and asset manager Global Logistic Properties Pte (GLP) has silently filed for a US IPO of its investment business with a target to raise US$2 billion.
According to people familiar with the matter, the group is planning to list its fund management operations as soon as the first half of this year, Bloomberg reported.
The sources said the size of the IPO could change as could other details surrounding the initial public offering.
The people also said the IPO could suffer delays as the markets continue in turmoil amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Read more here.
MARCH 02, 2022 | 16:25 PM GMT
Ukraine asks for Russian internet blackout
Ukraine’s First Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has asked the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to bring offline Russian websites.
In a letter to ICANN’s CEO Göran Marby, Fedorov appealed that the organisation “revoke, permanently or temporarily, the domains ‘.ru’, ‘.рф’ and ‘.su’”.
“All of these measures will help users seek for reliable information in alternative domain zones, preventing propaganda and disinformation,” he said.
“Leaders, governments and organizations all over the world are in favour of introducing sanctions towards the Russian Federation since they aim at putting the aggression towards Ukraine and other countries to an end. I ask you kindly to seriously consider such measures and implement them as quickly as possible. Help to save the lives of people in our country.”
In a separate email, Andrii Nabok, the Ukrainian representative on the ICANN, also asked for the revoking, “permanently or temporarily”, of the domains to help in the fight against Moscow propaganda.
He added: “These atrocious crimes have been made possible mainly due to the Russian propaganda machinery using websites continuously spreading disinformation, hate speech, promoting violence and hiding the truth regarding the war in Ukraine.”
MARCH 02, 2022 | 01:17 AM GMT
Antonio Neri, president and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, said in a LinkedIn post: “The crisis in the Ukraine is devastating. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is working hard to support and protect our team members and partners in the area through this incredibly challenging time.
“To our teams and customers in Eastern Europe, we are here for you and united in our prayers for you and your families.”
MARCH 01, 2022 | 21:11 PM GMT
Google to keep Search, Maps and YouTube operational in Russia
Google said in a blog that most of its services including Search, Maps and YouTube currently remain available in Russia, “continuing to provide access to global information and perspectives”.
The company said it is committed to complying with all sanctions requirements and that it continues to monitor the latest guidance.
“As individuals, regions and institutions like banks are sanctioned, products like Google Pay may become unavailable in certain countries,” it said.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional actions as needed – and we join the international community in expressing sincere hope for a return to a peaceful and sovereign Ukraine.”
The cloud giant added that it is “extremely concerned” for the safety and wellbeing of Ukrainian teams and their families.
“Our local Security and People Operations teams have been working since January to provide help, including physical security support, paid leave, assistance options and reimbursement for housing, travel and food for anyone forced to leave their homes,” Google wrote.
Elsewhere, Google.org and Google employees are contributing US$15 million in donations and in-kind support to aid relief efforts in Ukraine, including US$5 million so far from employees matching campaign and US$5 million in direct grants.
Google is also contributing US$5 million in advertising credits “to help trusted humanitarian and intergovernmental organisations connect people to important sources of aid and resettlement information”.
The Alphabet business arm has also launched an SOS alert on Search across Ukraine.
Kent Walker, President, Global Affairs, said: “When people search for refugee and evacuation information, they will see an alert pointing them to United Nations resources for refugees and asylum seekers. We’re working with expert organizations to source helpful humanitarian information as the situation unfolds.
“And after consulting with multiple sources on the ground, including local authorities, we’ve temporarily disabled some live Google Maps features in Ukraine, including the traffic layer and information about how busy places are, to help protect the safety of local communities and their citizens. We’ve also added information on refugee and migrant centres in neighbouring countries.”
MARCH 01, 2022 | 21:11 PM GMT
Apple halts all products sales in Russia
Cupertino’s giant Apple said this Tuesday it is stopping selling company products in Russia as a direct response to the invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin.
Reuters is reporting that the manufacturer and services provider is also ending all exports into Russia and is limiting the use of Apple Pay and other services including the disablement of traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps.
“We are deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all of the people who are suffering as a result of the violence,” Apple said in a statement.
“We are supporting humanitarian efforts, providing aid for the unfolding refugee crisis, and doing all we can to support our teams in the region.”
Russians have been taking to Twitter showing that services like Apple Pay have already stopped working as a consequence of selected Russian banks having been banned from the SWIFT global financial messaging system.
MARCH 01, 2022 | 12:39 AM GMT
Ukrainian telecoms infrastructure shuts down Russian numbers
The State Special Communications Service of Ukraine said tonight phones with Russian numbers are now barred from using telecoms infrastructure in the country.
The Ukrainian government agency said in a statement on Telegram: “Having lost the opportunity to call from their numbers, the occupying forces are increasingly taking away phones from citizens.”
It is suspected that Russian troops are using Russian phones to communicate in battle.
The Government has also warned Ukrainians to notify their phone operators “as soon as possible” if their devices are seized by Russian occupiers so that numbers can be blocked.
It said: “We understand that doing this when the phone is taken away is not an easy task.
“However, this is very important – find neighbours who have a phone, use a landline – the security of our state and the lives of Ukrainians depend on it.”
The appeal comes as cities across Ukraine, especially Kyiv and Kharkiv, are under heavy shelling by President Vladimir Putin’s forces.
A Russian convoy stretching up to 40 miles/64.37 Km is also said to be on its way to the capital. The latest images by space infrastructure operator Maxar, showed the convoy reaching Bucha, 15 miles/24.14 Km north-west of Kyiv.
The agency has also warned of round troops and attack helicopters now also amassing in southern Belarus, less than 20 miles/32.19 Km from the Ukraine border.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | 22:00 PM GMT
Wall Street closes on red amidst tumultuous trading day
Stock markets have ceased trading for the day with a large majority of digital infrastructure stocks losing value as pressure on the Russian financial systems makes investors nervous.
The S&P 500 US stock index fell 0.2 percent in New York, with more than 70 percent of the companies within the benchmark declining in value, the FT reports.
Nasdaq Composite managed to rebound from a 1.1% loss during the day to close on +.4%.
As for digital infrastructure companies, losses were far from those felt on Friday, February 24, when Russia first invaded Ukraine.
This was the scenario at markets closure:
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | 20:44 PM GMT
Meta restricts access to RT and Sputnik
In another blow to the Moscow propaganda machine, Meta has announced it will restrict access to two of Russia’s main overseas channels of information on Facebook and Instagram across Europe.
In a tweet, Nick Clegg, Meta’s VP of global affairs, said the company has received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media.
“Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time,” the former UK deputy prime minister said.
He added: “We will continue to work closely with Governments on this issue.”
We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state controlled media. Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time.
— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) February 28, 2022
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | 20:03 PM GMT
Apple Pay, Google Pay offline across Moscow
Pictures coming in from Russia’s capital show ordinary Russians struggling to pay for goods as the some national banks lost access to the SWIFT global financial messaging system.
In Moscow, underground users have been unable to use Apple Pay or Google Pay to purchase their travels on the system.
Award-winning author Taras Grescoe said in a Twitter post: “Apple Pay and Google Pay no longer work on #Moscow Metro, leading to long line-ups. (Inconvenience is regretted.)
“Meanwhile people are sheltering in #Kyiv metro so they won’t be slaughtered. (Sarcasm is intentional.)”
Apple Pay and Google Pay no longer work on #Moscow Metro, leading to long line-ups.
— Taras Grescoe 🇺🇦 (@grescoe) February 28, 2022
(Inconvenience is regretted.)
Meanwhile people are sheltering in #Kyiv metro so they won’t be slaughtered.
(Sarcasm is intentional.) pic.twitter.com/wWle4RvjlV
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | 18:46 PM GMT
Moscow Stock Exchange will not open this Tuesday
After another tumultuous day on the markets, the Moscow Stock Exchange will stay closed this Tuesday as the Russian economy is battered by international sanctions on the back of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Bank of Russia said in a statement: “Given the current situation, the Bank of Russia has decided not to start trading sessions in the stock market, the derivatives market, and the standardised derivative contract market of the Moscow Exchange.
“Information on the Moscow Exchange operation on 1 March 2022 will be published on the Bank of Russia website on 1 March 2022 before 9:00 Moscow time.”
The Bank of Russia Board of Directors decided this Monday to increase the key rate to 20% per annum from 28 February 2022.
The organisation said external conditions for the Russian economy have “drastically changed” and that the increase of the key rate will ensure a rise in deposit rates to levels needed to compensate for the increased depreciation and inflation risks.
“This is needed to support financial and price stability and protect the savings of citizens from depreciation,” it said.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | 2:09 PM GMT
Polish, Baltic governments tell Zuckerberg, Pichai and Agrwal they need to do more
In a joint letter, the heads of government for Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have called on Alphabet’s unit Google and its subsidiary YouTube, Meta and Twitter to do more in aiding in the fight against misinformation linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The letter, which has been addressed to CEO’s Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg and Parag Agrawal, says: “Although the online platforms have undertaken significant efforts to address the Russian government’s unprecedented assault on truth, they have not done enough.
“Russia’s disinformation has been tolerated on online platforms for years; they are now an accessory to the criminal war of aggression the Russian government is conducting against Ukraine and the free world.”
The Premiers asked the big tech companies to suspend the official accounts of Russian and Belarusian government institutions, state-controlled media and personal accounts of the countries’ leadership and their associates who are sharing false information.
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have also called on Alphabet, Meta and Twitter to prevent Russian state-controlled media from going around the restrictions brought upon them by several national regulators.
YouTube has already banned Russian state-controlled news service Sputnik’s channel in Poland.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | 15:31 PM GMT
Russians struggling to pay for Netflix and Spotify
Russian Netflix and Spotify users have taken to Twitter to report that renewing and paying for their memberships has become impossible.
The reports follow the removal of selected Russian banks from the SWIFT global financial messaging system.
Sberbank, Tinkoff and Alfa-Bank users have been faced with error messages when trying to pay for services.
Example of an error message as posted by a Moscow-based Twitter user follows below.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | 10:30 AM GMT
BREAKING
‘These are not times of conflict, but of collaboration,’ says Telefónica’s chairman
The chairman of Telefónica and the GSMA, José María Álvarez-Pallete, gave the inaugural speech at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), whose 2022 edition kicked off this Monday in Barcelona, with a message of optimism about the future and a “worried optimistic” warning about the present: “Technology gives us power to change and do more things, but that power can be used for good or bad”.
“The convulsions of the 20th century and the disconcerting events of the dawn of the 21st century, such as what is happening right now in Ukraine, have reminded us that technology lacks values”, he said.
“Technology has allowed us to change things and make many new ones, but it is up to us to decide what and how to do it.”
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | 4:16 AM GMT
HGC says services are online in Ukraine
The international network services and global telecom services of HGC Global Communications (HGC) provided to Ukraine including international voice and messaging services, internet services and corporate connectivity have been maintained to operate normally “despite the current turmoil faced by the country”, the company said in a short press statement.
It added that the Hong Kong-based business has been “closely monitoring” the situation in Ukraine since last week to ensure that the international telecommunications services operate as normal.
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 | 2:37 PM GMT
Mehmet Akcin, founder and CEO of Latin American edge data centre company EdgeUno on a LinkedIn post shared his support for Ukraine.
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 | 1:27 PM GMT
Words from Braham Singh, chief executive officer at BDx Data Centers.
FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | 4:12 PM GMT
Avner Papouchado, CEO at ServerFarm, expressed his horror at the scenes out of Ukraine.
FEBRUARY 24, 2022 | 3:13 PM GMT
Digital infrastructure stocks slump amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Nearly all publicly traded digital infrastructure companies have lost market value on the back of the massed assault by land, sea and air launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin at 5:09am Kyiv time on February 24, 2022.
As fear grips the global markets and volatility soars, this was the picture of digital infrastructure stocks at the time of writing:
Read more here.
FEBRUARY 16, 2022 | 6:04 AM GMT
War in Ukraine could slow down global data centre economy
As Europe holds its breath over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, the consequences of an attack could be felt across the world and in multiple sectors, including digital infrastructure.
The warning comes from research house Omnia, which uses the Russian invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean region in 2014 as an example.
“The prospect of a war in Ukraine is very bad news for the industry, and it may significantly exacerbate the ongoing semiconductor shortage,” Omdia’s Vladimir Galabov, director, cloud and data centre research, and Manoj Sukumaran, principal analyst, data centre computing and networking, said.
Read more here.
Founder and Editor, The Tech Capital
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