Sponsored Content
Vienna International Telecoms Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international telecoms industry in Vienna and Austria
Alpbach: Between Tradition and the Future - the European Forum Alpbach 2024
The European Forum Alpbach (EFA) celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2024. It once again attracted over 4,000 participants to the small Tyrolean mountain village, which became the center of European discourse for two weeks. Under the general theme of “Moment of Truth”, this year's forum focused on the groundbreaking decisions that Europe must make in the face of multiple crises, from climate catastrophes to political tensions.
August 18, 2024
Austria Investing in the Future: Strengthening STEM Education and Massive Research Funding
Austria is setting standards in the education and research landscape to meet the challenges of the future. With two far-reaching initiatives, the government aims to combat the shortage of skilled workers in the STEM fields (mathematics, IT, natural sciences, and technology) as well as massively promote research and innovation in the country. These measures are intended not only to solve short-term problems but also to secure and strengthen Austria as a business location in the long term.
August 13, 2024
Austria Businesses Heading for a Record Year of Bankruptcies in 2024
Austria is facing a possible record year for corporate insolvencies in 2024. The current economic situation shows a significant increase in insolvencies, especially in the first half of the year.
July 15, 2024
Austria's Progressive Stance on Cyber Operations and International Law
The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs published a national declaration by Austria on the application of international law to the cyber activities of states. This declaration complements a list of more than 30 national positions and comprehensively addresses issues such as state sovereignty, non-interference and due diligence, diplomatic and consular law, international humanitarian law, and neutrality.
June 27, 2024
30 Years of the WKÖ Export Prize: Austrian Companies Honored for Top Performance
Austria's export industry has achieved impressive successes over the last 30 years. EU accession in 1994 played a key role in this, paving the way for a more than five-fold increase in goods exports. Despite challenging framework conditions, the 63,700 domestic export companies achieved a record value of 200 billion euros in goods exports and 83 billion euros in services exports last year.
June 18, 2024
Austria's Constitutional Protection Agency Warns of Chinese Economic Espionage
The Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has issued an urgent warning about Chinese industrial espionage. Small and medium-sized enterprises and research centers are particularly at risk.
May 20, 2024
Africa Day 2024: Austria Looks to Africa's Future Markets
This year's Africa Day was all about Africa's future markets and offered a platform to strengthen economic relations between Austrian and African companies. Organized by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ), the event attracted more than 1,200 participants from Austria, over 30 African countries, and guests from Europe, Asia, and the USA.
February 5, 2024
Vienna Pioneer for Circular Economy: Climate Lab as a Spark for Climate Transformation
In the heart of Vienna, more precisely at the Climate Lab in Vienna Spittelau, an innovative movement has emerged that has the potential to fundamentally change the way Austria's economy deals with its resources. Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler and the top representatives of Austria's largest companies came together to drive forward a sustainable transformation of Austria as a business location, with the Climate Lab playing a key role.
November 5, 2023
Skills Shortage in Austria: Companies Feel Pressure, But Also Opportunities
A recent study by the recruiting platform Stepstone shows that the shortage of skilled workers is leaving a clear mark on Austria's companies. Two-thirds of respondents are concerned about the additional workload caused by unfilled positions. This is despite a slight increase in advertised vacancies of 2 percent in the first half of the year, with some sectors such as engineering, care, and construction even seeing significant increases.
September 13, 2023
Green Peak Festival 2023: Austria's Pioneer for Climate Protection and Entrepreneurship
The renowned Green Peak Festival, which has established itself in the heart of Vienna as Austria's flagship event for sustainability and entrepreneurship, impressed once again. For the second year in a row, over 800 participants gathered to network, exchange ideas and discuss the latest developments in sustainability. The project was supported this year by the Embassy of Israel.
September 11, 2023
Wealth of the Richest Austrians Grows Despite Global Trends
In its latest issue, the business magazine "trend" publishes its annual ranking of the "100 richest Austrians". In contrast to some global studies, which show a slight decline in the ownership of the super-rich, Austria shows a different development. The assets of the 100 wealthiest individuals and families increased by five percent to a total of around 210 billion euros.
July 11, 2023
European Union's Space Program Contributes to UNOOSA's "Space2030" Agenda
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme have joined forces to unveil a groundbreaking report aiming to shed light on the crucial role played by the European Union in advancing the objectives of the "Space2030" Agenda and addressing long-term sustainable development concerns facing humanity.
June 13, 2023
First European Gaia-X Community Event in Vienna
The European Association for Data and Cloud (AISBL) of the European Gaia-X Initiative, in collaboration with Gaia-X Hub Austria, hosted the first European Market-X Community Event at the Aula of the Sciences in Vienna. At this event, Market-X brings together stakeholders from different industries to shape the digital future of Europe.
March 19, 2023
Cell Phone Contracts in Austria to Become More Expensive From April
Existing cell phone contracts will become up to 11.5 percent more expensive for many customers in April. Drei and A1 have already confirmed price increases in charges, the Chamber of Labor (AK) said in a press release.
March 14, 2023
Young Austrians Invited to Attend Paris Internet Conference as WSA Experts by UNESCO
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is holding a consultation on Internet content on February 22-23. Young social media activists from Austria are invited as World Summit Award (WSA) experts.
February 21, 2023
New Study Shows Social Media Is a Primary News Source for the Youth
A study carried out by the Institute for Youth Culture Research and Cultural Education on behalf of the Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications and ISPA - Internet Service Providers Austria as part of the EU initiative Saferinternet.at showed that the youth’s primary news source is social media, while at the same time, they do not trust the news.
February 4, 2023
Austria Promotes Energy Research with 17 Million Euros
The Climate and Energy Fund promotes innovations for clean, affordable and reliable energy supply. The aim is to strengthen Austria as a location for innovation and to improve export opportunities for the domestic economy. A total of 17 million euros is available for the program, endowed from the funds of the Ministry of Climate Protection (BMK).
December 29, 2022
Austria Still Declines the Schengen Expansion
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer confirmed Austria’s negative position towards the Schengen expansion today. At the Western Balkan meeting today in the Albanian capital Tirana, Nehammer declined further Schengen expansions for now.
December 7, 2022
UN Internet Governance Forum in Ethiopia: Austria's Constitutional Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler Appointed to Governing Body
To increase the content and importance of the Internet Governance Forum, a ten-member Leadership Panel chaired by U.S. information scientist Vinton Gray Cerf was established. Austria's Constitution Minister Karoline Edtstadler was appointed to this leadership panel by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
December 4, 2022
Austria Awards State Prize for Innovation
The State Prize Innovation 2022 from the Austrian Ministry of Labor and Economy goes to the Lower Austrian company DSM Austria GmbH. With their innovation, they make an important contribution to the safe and healthy nutrition of animals and humans.
November 16, 2022
What is the Alps-Adriatic Economic Network?
Since 2007, the Network of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Crafts, Agriculture and Economy of the New Alpe Adria (NAAN) has been working to deepen economic relations. It now comprises - with the new addition of Bolzano - ten chambers from Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, with one million member businesses, NAAN is making rapid progress toward becoming an EU Alps-Adriatic macroregion. Read more to find out about the project.
November 7, 2022
French Investor Meridiam Establishes Joint Venture with Magenta Telekom for Glass Fiber Expansion in Austria
Magenta Telekom and French investor Meridiam have agreed to establish a strategic partnership for Austria's largest private fiber expansion initiative. By 2030, the companies will invest 1 billion Euros in the roll-out of more than 650,000 new high-speed Internet connections for households and businesses.
August 23, 2022
Space Diplomacy: Moldova Deploys First Satellite from International Space Station
The Republic of Moldova successfully deployed its first satellite, TUMnanoSAT, from the International Space Station (ISS). Under the KiboCUBE program, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) contributed to this achievement.
August 15, 2022
Virtual Economic Forum between Tunisia and Austria
A Virtual Economic Forum titled "Tunisia & Austria - Promoting Business & Investment Cooperation", was held online by the Tunisian Embassy in Vienna and the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) in collaboration with the Tunisian Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA Tunisia).
August 7, 2022
Earth Overshoot Day: World has Already Used Up Resources
The Earth's natural resources for this year will have been depleted by tomorrow. By tomorrow, ecosystems would need about a year to replenish their resources. According to the Global Footprint Network, which is based in the United States and Switzerland, Earth Overshoot Day is slightly earlier this year than last.
July 27, 2022
European Forum Alpbach Will be Opened by Moldovan President Maia Sandu
The Moldovan President, Maia Sandu, will attend the opening of this year's European Forum Alpbach (EFA) together with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen on August 22. At the start of the event, they will jointly address the EFA's annual theme, The New Europe, and discuss what consequences, in light of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, Europe must draw from its current weakness and its inaction in the past.
July 27, 2022
Austria has the Highest Share of Female Startups in the EU
The Federal Ministry of Labor and Economy (BMAW) had surveyed the financing situation of female startups for Austria and Europe and discussed it at a startup breakfast together with representatives of the startup community at the BMAW. At 36 percent, Austria currently has the highest proportion of female startups in the EU.
July 20, 2022
New EU Roaming Rules: What you Need to Know When Making Calls Abroad
From 1 July, new roaming regulations will come into force in the EU. These are designed to make it easier for EU citizens to use mobile data and make calls from abroad to home. Launched in 2017, the project is now being extended for another 10 years and is expected to bring significant benefits for businesses and EU citizens.
June 30, 2022
Vienna Stock Exchange Prize 2022 Back on Stage Again
This year, for the first time, the Vienna Stock Exchange Award went to the Styrian printed circuit board manufacturer AT&S. Second and third place went to the oil and gas group OMV and the building materials manufacturer Wienerberger. The prize was awarded for the 15th time.
June 15, 2022
Huawei's 5G Network Technology in Austria: Systemic Rival at the Gate to Europe
While all eyes in Europe are focused on the Russia-Ukraine side conflict, the true war is raging elsewhere, namely in network technology between China and the West. This technology war is about nothing less than the global security-technological leadership role of the next decades, and thus about the decisive question of whether the Western democratic world order can assert itself or whether the Chinese authoritarian system with totalitarian surveillance will prevail. Due to its relative weakness, Austria plays an important and central key role in this process. While most Western countries are increasingly and decidedly resisting the deployment of the 5G network infrastructure largely supplied by Huawei and ZTE - which are intricately owned and substantially controlled by the Chinese Communist Party - there are quite a few telecom providers in Austria who are using and even expanding this technology, primarily because their economic survival is already dependent on this technology, and secondly because the Austrian state is largely toothless and ignorant in the face of the push by the Chinese equipment suppliers and their lobbyists.
February 9, 2022 · Updated: February 9, 2022; 21:56
Putin's Propaganda TV-Channel Tries to Expand to Austria
An attempt to supply an Austrian target group with German-language propaganda from Berlin will apparently fall victim to the media war between the two state broadcasters Russia Today (RT) in Berlin and Deutsche Welle (DW) in Moscow.
February 9, 2022
Controversial Chinese 5G Network Operator Huawei Appointed New Austria CEO
The Mainland Chinese Harvey Zhang (38) has been appointed CEO of Huawei Technologies Austria, effective immediately. He replaces Jackie Zhang (38), who was appointed as the new Austria boss just a few months ago.
December 1, 2021
ÖBAG: Dr. Christine Catasta Appointed to the Supervisory Boards of Telekom Austria and OMV
ÖBAG CEO Dr. Christine Catasta was appointed to the Supervisory Boards of Telekom Austria (A1) and OMV. With her appointment, both companies have strengthened their women's quota, and OMV has reached parity between the number of male and female capital representatives. Read more about Dr. Catasta.
September 13, 2021
ÖBAG: Attorney Edith Hlawati to Succeed Thomas Schmid
The Supervisory Board of Österreichische Beteiligungs AG (ÖBAG) has appointed the internationally recognized business lawyer Dr. Edith Hlawati as the new Chief Executive Officer of ÖBAG. She will succeed Thomas Schmid and take over the management of the state holding on 1 February 2022. Learn more about her and the selection process.
August 30, 2021
The New Austrian Identity Card: Modern and Forgery-proof
Experts from the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, Federal Criminal Police Office, and Austrian State Printing House have developed a modern and more secure identity card. The release of the cards is accompanied by a new mobile phone app that allows users to verify the authenticity of the new cards.
August 6, 2021
Digital Pandemic: Interior Ministry Warns About Fraudulent SMS
The Ministry of the Interior led by the Interior Minister, Karl Nehammer, is warning about fraudulent SMS circulating in Austria. The scam aims to trick people into installing malware on their mobile phones by providing a link to an alleged missed voicemail message. Learn how to protect your device and what to do if your device is infected.
July 26, 2021
Handy-Signatur in Austria: What It Is and How to Get It
The Handy-Signatur is an important tool to have in Austria. It is useful for accessing many online portals, including health insurance and the new Green Pass for proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more about it.
July 8, 2021
Further Increase of Investment Subsidy
The Austrian government has decided to increase its budget for investment subsidies. The high demand for this subsidy by companies located in Austria has exceeded the expectations of the government and is therefore adjusted upwards by another EUR 1 billion in order to further promote investments into digitalization, sustainability and other sectors.
November 30, 2020
European Ministers Sign EU Cloud Declaration
At the Informal Council of EU Minister for Telecommunication and Digitalization the future of the EU with regard to security, exchange and use of data was discussed. Austrian Minister Schramböck is delighted about the progress made and the signing of the EU Cloud Declaration that should enable an even better exchange of data among member states.
October 15, 2020
Digital Days 2020 Reached Over 1,100 Registered Users
The Digital Days 2020 hosted by the City of Vienna as a hybrid event have welcomed over 1,100 users with more than 4,000 views in total. Digitalization in every business sector was discussed among politicians and experts from the business world.
October 5, 2020
Launch of the European Month for Cyber Security 2020
A joint information campaign of Europol and its partners will once again host the European Month for Cyber Security. This event should help the prevention of cyber crime by raising awareness and providing information to individuals and organizations.
October 2, 2020
Increase of Budget for Investment Subsidies to EUR 2 Billion
The Austrian Government has announced a budget increase for investment subsidies. A high demand and investment volume in the first three weeks of the application period has lead to this decision that is welcomed by the Federal Chamber of Commerce.
September 23, 2020
Foreign Trade Has Partially Recovered from Crisis
According to the latest report from Statistics Austria, imports and exports are only slightly behind last year's number indicating an upwards trend after Covid-19 has impacted foreign trade significantly.
September 8, 2020
WKO Secretary General: Labor Market Situation Improves, But Remains Great Challenge
The secretary general of Austria's Federal Chamber of Commerce WKO recognizes a slightly positive trend in the labor market but underlines the importance of ongoing and future economic measures.
September 7, 2020
Austrian Technology Company Kapsch Will Cut Around 400 Jobs
Vienna-based company Kapsch is likely to cut about 400 jobs globally in the near future. The company has commenced a transformation program that will allow it to be successful in the future.
September 3, 2020
Economic Sentiment in Austria and the EU Brightened Further in August
Businesses and the population of the EU still have below-average economic sentiment although the expectations improved over the last month. The sharp decline due to Covid-19 is made up by about 60 % already.
August 31, 2020
Vienna Based UNIDO Holds Expert Panel to Discuss Developments in Industry and Society
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization hosted an expert panel about the future of industry and society. Main topics were the advancement of attaining the sustainable development goals and shaping society as a whole.
August 21, 2020
War for Global Telecom Infrastructure Supremacy: Vienna first EU Capital with Area-wide 5G Network
While the Third World War is raging backstage between the USA and China for world supremacy in 5G infrastructure, Huawei wins another milestone in Vienna. Digital City Councilor Peter Hanke has set the goal "Vienna should become the first city in Europe with a complete 5G network". The city is supporting the network expansion with 20 million euros.
May 18, 2020
Austro-Arab Chamber Secretary General Receives “Decoration of Merit in Gold of the Province of Vienna”
The AACC Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce in Vienna announced that Secretary General Dipl.-Ing. Mr. Mouddar Khouja was awarded the "Decoration of Merit in Gold of the Province of Vienna", in recognition of his dedication and devotement to the province of Vienna through his personal initiatives and in his professional capacity as Secretary General of AACC.
November 4, 2019
What Does Vienna Have in Common with the New Silk Road?
In order to ensure sustainable development, the cities along the New Silk Road also have to face major infrastructural and social challenges, as well as climate-ecological challenges. More than 1000 participants from more than 178 cities are expected in September in the Vienna International Center for UNIDO's Bridge for Cities Conference as part of the Belt & Road Initiative.
August 12, 2019