Q4

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) defended a privacy policy update planned by subsidiary WhatsApp, branding its data protection capabilities as stronger than those of rival Apple’s messaging service.

Telefonica slipped to a net loss and experienced a revenue dip in Q4 2019, largely due to struggles in its Central and South American markets, where an overhaul of operations is underway.

Dexter Goei, head of cable operator Altice USA, hailed rapid growth in the company’s fledgling mobile business, as it detailed plans to raise prices for the service.

America Movil hailed strong mobile service revenue growth across the bulk of its operating markets, as it reported a significant hike in net profit for Q4 2019.

Apple maintained its leading position in the tablet PC market in the final quarter of 2019, a period during which overall shipment growth faltered, figures from IDC showed. The vendor shipped 15.

Apple recovered ground on Samsung to become the world’s largest smartphone vendor in Q4 2019, as lower pricing of its iPhone 11 range spurred healthy demand in North America and Asia, Strategy Analytics stated.

Kuwait-based Zain pointed to turnarounds in Saudi Arabia and Iraq as major driving forces behind an increase in net profit for Q4 2017, although currency weakness in Sudan took its toll.