India’s state-owned provider BSNL is upgrading all of its 2G sites to 3G base stations and deploying 4G services in certain areas across the next fiscal year.

TIM Brazil has signed a new contract with Nokia to build out a robust network infrastructure, helping the operator cope with increasing consumption of 4G mobile data.

Indian newcomer Reliance Jio is collaborating with Google to develop a low-cost 4G smartphone that can only be used on its network.

The government of the Philippines has approved a project to create a national broadband network.

Nokia and Ooredoo Qatar have deployed Nokia 4.5G Pro technology to increase mobile data speeds to up to 800 Mbps for Ooredoo's customers in some of the busiest areas of Qatar's capital city.

Airtel Lanka is deploying Gemalto's Device Management platform in Sri Lanka, enabling its subscribers to have instant access to 4G data services such as email and internet.

Carrier-neutral data centre and connectivity platform datamena has partnered with Epsilon to deploy the latter’s Infiny on-demand connectivity platform.

Ooredoo has chosen Telia Carrier to provide IoT backhaul connectivity to Ericsson’s DCP platforms in Europe.

Omantel is partnering with Console Connect, marking the global direct connect solutions provider’s first Middle Eastern network partnership.

Nokia and Saudi Telecom Company (STC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the development of 5G and IoT use cases.

Slovenian operator Telekom Slovenije is partnering with Fortumo to launch direct carrier billing on the Google Play app store.

iBasis has collaborated with Turkcell to open an IPX Point of Presence (PoP) in Istanbul.

VimpelCom has tapped Nokia to supply managed services for its fixed, mobile and transport network operations for the next five years.

Millicom International Cellular S.A. and Bharti Airtel have agreed to combine their operations in Ghana.

Elitecore, the telecom software division of Sterlite Technologies, has announced next generation Wi-Fi solutions including Enterprise Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Global Roaming, Wi-Fi calling and Middleware for Carriers and Enterprises.

IoT firm Ingenu and Datorá Telecomunicações are launching an IoT network powered by Ingenu’s RPMA (Random Phase Multiple Access) technology in Brazil.

NFS, holding company of Telecel mobile operations, is merging with international carrier Telecel Global (formerly Exxon Telecom).

The Samoa Submarine Cable Company (SSCC) has commissioned two eCentre data centre solutions from Flexenclosure.

Turkcell is implementing Teoco’s Helix 9.0 unified service assurance suite to reduce costs and increase the efficiency of its multi-vendor network.

Presta Bist Telecoms has tapped O3b Networks to increase its contracted capacity in response to rising demand for reliable, high-speed broadband in the Republic of Chad.

Zain has partnered with Myca Health to develop and implement a mobile electronic medical health record (EMR) platform across its network.

Pakistan’s Spellflix has selected Fortumo to provide carrier billing for its movie streaming service.

Asian satellite operator Thaicom has partnered with VSAT firm Intersat to launch its Managed Satellite Network Service over the iDirect satellite hub platform.

NEC Corporation and Netcracker Technology have been selected by Globe Telecom to support its digital transformation initiative and lay the foundation for next-generation infrastructure, including virtualisation.

The telecommunications market in Equatorial Guinea is estimated to have reached $84m in service revenue in 2016, according to Research & Markets.

Upstart Indian operator Reliance Jio has struck a deal with Uber to allow the platform’s users to pay their cab fares via its JioMoney digital wallet.

Myanmar’s market leader MPT has acquired Gemalto's Device Management and Advanced Over-The-Air (AOTA) in a bid to strengthen its relationship with its subscribers and expand its service portfolios.

PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) has deployed Coriant’s best-in-class coherent optical transport and universal switching technology as part of a nationwide upgrade to its fibre-based backbone network.