Asiacell has launched Iraq’s first mobile money service, branded as AsiaHawala.

Brazilian mobile operator Oi has launched Gemalto's new SmartApp solution.

Etisalat Misr is partnering with embedded security software products provider Oberthur Technologies (OT) to launch M2M and IoT services in Egypt.

Ericsson is upgrading Cable & Wireless’s core network in Panama.

Bharti Airtel has selected ECI's Neptune (NPT) family of products to expand its mobile backhaul transport capabilities across India to support the increasing demand for bandwidth.

Network security specialist Clavister has signed a distribution agreement for IT solutions with Defis & Strategies Group in French-speaking West Africa.

Vodafone India has selected Ericsson to manage its optical fibre cable network for three years in 10 telecom circles.

Vodacom’s M-Pesa has joined Tigo, Zantel and Airtel’s interoperable network in Tanzania.

Mobile money hub TransferTo has signed a framework agreement with Vodafone to enable real-time international money transfers to M-Pesa mobile money accounts worldwide.

A merger between the Sri Lankan units of Indian market leader Bharti Airtel and Malaysian operator group Axiata is reportedly on the cards.

Philippines operator Globe Telecom is transforming its OSS with service assurance solutions from Mycom OSI.

Indian operator Idea Cellular has selected Ericsson to deploy a 4G/LTE network and to transform its existing 2G and 3G networks.

Peru’s National Bank Association ASBANC has launched its next-generation mobile wallet service, known as “Bim”, in partnership with Ericsson.

Bulgarian LTE operator Max has selected Genband’s fring OTT solution to launch its next generation Voicer app.

Smartphone shipments increased by 23% in India last year, while neighbouring Pakistan gained 16 million new 3G/4G users in 2015.

AfricaOnline Ghana is launching its new Radwin Network in Accra, Ghana to provide high speed broadband for its corporate clients.

Pakistani 3G and 4G operator Zong has launched the country’s first 4G-capable internet-only SIM.

Etisalat is suing MTN Nigeria in connection to its acquisition of the CDMA provider Visafone.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is attempting to court flagging operator interest in this year’s proposed spectrum auctions by revising the entry criteria.

Orange is acquiring Millicom’s operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Sri Lanka’s government is trading dedicated spectrum for a 25% holding in the local unit of Google’s Project Loon.

Thai number three True is planning on funding its newly acquired 4G licences with a THB85 billion ($2.37 billion) rights issue.

Three of Pakistan’s operators have hit out against the government’s proposed sales tax on mobile handsets and SIM cards.

Tigo Tanzania has announced that it will offer free WhatsApp services to its 10 million users.

Brazilian number four Oi has deployed Genband’s Session Border Controllers (SBCs) solutions nationwide.