• Qualcomm closes acquisition of V2X specialist 
• SoftBank and Cubic3 plot global coverage for SDVs
• Verizon Business unveils integrated mobile/V2X platform

In today’s industry news roundup: Qualcomm has finally completed the acquisition of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) chip specialist to add to its automotive product line; SoftBank and Cubic3 are collaborating on the development of a ubiquitous and seamless terrestrial and non-terrestrial network for software-defined vehicles; Verizon Business unveils its Edge Transportation Exchange; and much more!

The connected car sector has seen a flurry of activity over the past few days. Qualcomm has finally completed the acquisition of AutoTalks, a fabless semiconductor company that has been dedicated to vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications since 2009. The M&A deal was first announced in May 2023 and faced regulatory opposition, but Qualcomm has managed to get the acquisition over the line. It didn’t announce a purchase price, but the deal is believed to be worth about $350m. “Through this acquisition, automakers and the broader ecosystem will gain access to a comprehensive portfolio of production-ready, automotive-qualified global V2X solutions for deploying in roadside infrastructure, vehicles, as well as two-wheelers,” noted Qualcomm in this announcement. “These solutions are designed to enable direct communication to help address current safety and efficiency problems and to enhance development of advanced safety features and premium experiences in assisted and automated driving for next-generation vehicles,” it added. “We are thrilled to welcome Autotalks’ highly skilled and experienced team to Qualcomm Technologies. As automotive systems grow more complex, the importance of safety features has never been higher. Together, we will deliver reliable, cutting-edge solutions to enhance road safety and optimise traffic efficiency,” said Nakul Duggal, group GM for automotive and industrial and embedded IoT, at Qualcomm Technologies. “We’ve been investing in V2X technologies since 2017, recognising their potential to improve road safety. This acquisition is a strategic step in our ongoing efforts, advancing V2X solutions further for connected and automated vehicles, while driving global deployment and strengthening our Snapdragon Digital Chassis product portfolio,” added Duggal. In its fiscal second quarter, Qualcomm reported revenues of $959m for its automotive product line, up by 59% year on year.  

In Japan, meanwhile, SoftBank and software-defined vehicle (SDV) solutions specialist Cubic3 have forged a “strategic partnership to advance the seamless integration of satellite-based non-terrestrial networks (NTN) with terrestrial networks (TN) to create a ‘ubiquitous network’ for SDVs and other high-value mobile assets,” SoftBank announced. By collaborating with major satellite communications providers, “both companies aim to advance the commercial deployment of a ‘ubiquitous network’ for connected vehicles within the next few years,” added SoftBank. It should be noted that Cubic3 was formerly called Cubic Telecom, a company in which SoftBank acquired a 51% stake in April 2024, so the companies were always going to be working together. Cubic3 is already engaged with satellite operators Intelsat, Skylo and Viasat in an effort to enable ubiquitous access to its cloud platform. Nick Power, CTO at Cubic3, noted: “Connectivity is the lifeblood of the millions of vehicles that will be connected over the next decade. While terrestrial networks continue to enable cutting-edge in-vehicle experiences and features, swathes of the globe still don’t have coverage. Our solution will bring the terrestrial and non-terrestrial worlds together to deliver a truly ‘ubiquitous network’ across all corners of the globe.” Takenori Kobayashi, SoftBank’s head of product technology division, added: “SoftBank is committed to realising a ‘ubiquitous network’ where everyone and everything is seamlessly connected anytime, anywhere, and Cubic3 is a highly important strategic partner in achieving that goal. Together, we are working to deliver seamless communication services that ensure continuous connectivity by integrating multiple networks into a single solution through Cubic3’s cloud-based platform.” Read more. 

Verizon Business has unveiled Edge Transportation Exchange, an integrated mobile-network vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication platform that “allows a vehicle to communicate with other connected vehicles, road users and infrastructure around it”. The platform makes use of Verizon’s 5G and 4G (LTE) networks, low-latency mobile edge computing (MEC), and geolocation technology enhanced with Verizon Hyper Precise Location to send alerts, messages and data between connected vehicles and infrastructure in near-real time. And it’s already being put to good use: Following a successful 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) joint demonstration, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), Rutgers University Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT), and Volkswagen Group of America (VW) have signed up as commercial users. “Cars are evolving from mechanical vehicles to software-defined mobile devices with the ability to leverage incredible connected technology,” stated Shamik Basu, VP of strategic connectivity and IoT at Verizon Business. “Edge Transportation Exchange leverages that technology to give automakers, governments and tech developers a robust platform for building out the cellular-connected future of transportation, with visibility and reliability for all road users top of mind,” added Basu.

Here’s a sign of the times…. The value of investments in network security technology soared by 12% year on year to $6.2bn during the first quarter of 2025, according to market research firm Dell’Oro Group. It noted in this announcement that the value of the application security and delivery (AS&D) submarket, which includes web application firewalls (WAF) and application delivery controllers (ADCs), grew 21%  “due to AI-centric threats compelling organisations to harden front-end services… using a combination of virtual and SaaS [software-as-a-service]-based solutions.” Mauricio Sanchez, senior director of enterprise security and networking at Dell’Oro Group, noted: “The remarkable rise of SaaS and virtual network security solutions has fundamentally reshaped enterprise cybersecurity strategies, creating a dynamic where hardware now trails cloud-based innovation. Yet, physical appliances will regain modest momentum, particularly in firewalls and ADCs, as inventory levels normalise and deferred upgrades resume.” Dell’Oro expects the network security technology sector to be worth more than $26bn this year, up from $24bn in 2024, and to continue to grow in the coming years to be worth $38bn by 2029.   

Still with Dell’Oro… It notes that the market for wireless LAN (WLAN) products increased by 11% year on year in the first quarter, helped by the widespread introduction of Wi-Fi 7.0 products, which are now available from all major vendors. Read more.  

Sovereign AI developments in Europe are now hitting the headlines on a regular basis as the region strives to ensure it is not left behind by North America and Asia… Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), which is now 80% owned by the French state, has struck a strategic partnership with Paris-based generative AI developer Mistral AI and French cloud services specialist Unitel Group to “build an ASN-private and French/ European-sovereign ‘generative AI’ infrastructure”. The aim is to provide “all ASN employees in every location with a secure and confidential ecosystem, allowing them to leverage the tremendous potential of generative AI in every activity of the company without exposing sensitive information outside of ASN.” Read more. 

– The staff, TelecomTV