Tokopedia, Indonesia’s largest e-commerce marketplace, is said to be involved in a major fundraising effort targeting up to $1.5bn.

An interesting new satellite-based take on the Internet of Things (IoT), with a strong focus on emerging markets, is attracting a healthy funding response.

Samsung is reportedly lining up an investment of $500 million for a smartphone display manufacturing plant in India.

CMC Networks and Neutrona Networks are expanding their SD-WAN and cloud network services for customers doing business in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Telenor has rekindled rumours of a possible merger with Axiata after reaching out to the Malaysian group’s largest shareholder to discuss the acquisition of a minority stake.

The fascinating – except perhaps to the central actors – saga of the massive payments due to the government from Indian operators has continued to add some twists after new legal representations offered hopes of a reprieve to some of India’s biggest service providers.

Better news for cable connections after recent disruption near Africa comes from Djibouti and Angola in the form of announcements of new trials and ongoing installation.

Submarine cable disruption has affected a number of areas in recent months. The last two weeks have seen many countries in Africa in particular affected by two regional undersea cable faults.

ZTE and MTN Uganda have jointly launched the first 5G SA network in East Africa.

After receiving permits to trial 5G technologies from the Department of Telecommunications, India’s operators have selected suppliers for their tests.

Representatives of Telekom Romania have reportedly met with the country’s Prime Minister Ludovic Orban to discuss the sale of OTE Group’s holding in the operator.

New figures suggest strong growth for the rollout of fixed broadband lines in Argentina in the next four years.

Pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom is to launch the first 5G wholesale roaming service in South Africa.

Further good news for connectivity across the African continent comes with the announcement of a successful new launch from satellite operator Eutelsat Communications.

Prysmian Group, a leading name in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, is to undertake a major cable supply project in Mexico to bring broadband to remote regions.

We reported the likelihood of delays to the Brazilian 5G auction earlier this week. Now a government official has confirmed that interference issues are at least part of the reason for the delays.

In a move that make innovative use of satellite technology, digital agriculture company Farmers Edge and insurance group Fairfax Brasil have partnered to bring customized, data-driven crop insurance to growers in Brazil.

Orange Jordan, a provider of telecommunications services in Jordan, officially launched its mobile e-wallet service, Orange Money, at a special event this week.

According to a release on the Subtel Chile website, the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel) has set up a public consultation asking all interested parties for comment on the planned 5G spectrum auction.

Telkomsel, the largest wireless carrier in Indonesia, has selected the MaX UC portfolio from cloud native communications software supplier Metaswitch  to enable it to offer unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) services to the broader business market.

A certification award for a drone service offered by a Middle Eastern mobile telecommunications company could boost opportunities for drone-based communications and inspection services in the region.

Avaroa Cable Ltd (ACL), a wholesale fibre optic operator providing managed wholesale connectivity services to and between the Cook Islands, has confirmed that the Manatua One Polynesia submarine cable system has successfully been brought ashore in Rutaki village, Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands.

Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has announced plans to allow new mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) to compete to provide services in the kingdom.

According to the UK’s Financial Times newspaper, Brazil’s auction of 5G spectrum, planned for March, has been delayed, with no new date set.

Nigeria’s attorney general has withdrawn a $2 billion tax demand against operator MTN Nigeria in a saga that dates back to August 2018, when the demand was first issued.

Local press reports indicate that undersea cable repairs on three internet cables connected to Vietnam are soon to conclude, enabling faster internet connectivity after a number of breakdowns and disruptions.