THE BRIEFING
CONNECT TO THE STARS
DIRECT-TO-DEVICE( D2D) satellite connectivity is the next step in mobile operator technology. As more and more satellite and mobile carriers form new partnerships, the ability to allow phone users to make calls without the need for a mobile tower is moving away from the development stage. Major companies like Starlink, Lynx Global and AST SpaceMobile are paving the way for this technology and as tech giants like Amazon and Google take an interest, the norm of seamless, 5G-level connection could arrive sooner than we think.
REINVENTING THE WHEELS
THE CAR THAT NEEDS its engine warmed up or a push from three ablebodied people from behind to get it started is starting to feel like a cultural relic. Modern luxury vehicles run less like lawnmowers and more like Apple products, complete with agentic systems, shine and lack of easy backdoor access. Software Defined Vehicles( SDV) are becoming the norm and with an average of 200 million lines of code – more than 30 times that of a Boeing 787 – advanced, tech-focused vehicles are more computers than they are traditional cars. Deloitte’ s 2026 Global Automotive Consumer Study finds that consumers are eager for AI-enabled personalisation for their daily ride, with many saying they’ d keep it longer provided the car’ s software saw regular updates.