The private network concept isn’t waiting for 5G, as Nokia and AT&T Mexico have just shown by deploying what they call the first industrial-grade LTE private network in a maritime terminal in the country.

Palestine Cellular Communications Ltd (Jawwal), a leading Palestinian provider of cellular communications, has signed an exclusive interworking agreement with international voice and messaging specialist Vox Solutions for direct termination of A2P (application-to-person) SMS international traffic to Jawwal's network.

Telecommunications services provider Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC) says it has launched its first high-speed cable in the Red Sea, through a landing station in Jeddah.

The search for clean, safe and cost-effective power-supplies for mobile networks continues with a fascinating new off-grid power solution being trialled in Romania.

The telecoms-led financial revolution is continuing in Africa. This time it’s South Africa’s Vodacom Financial Services that has extended the scope of digital finance with VodaLend Cash Advance, described as a product that gives customers quick and secure access to money when they need it most.

It’s not just Indian operator Reliance Jio that has been making the news for parent company and  multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd. Now RIL’s technology business Jio Platforms and US technology giant Meta have collaborated to launch JioMart on WhatsApp.

In a flurry of announcements underlining its plans for an aggressive 5G rollout in India, the giant operator Reliance Jio has revealed partnerships with Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Cisco, Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Meta and Intel.

Three Zambian mobile operators, MTN Zambia, Airtel Networks Zambia and Zamtel, have reportedly set up an industry lobby group called The Global System for Mobile Association of Zambia (GSMAZ).

In another attempt to speed up mobile services rollout across a vast country, an effort made even more urgent given the imminent arrival of 5G, India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has again amended the rules concerning right of way (RoW).

MTN Nigeria launched an open 5G pilot ahead of its commercial launch making it one of very few operators to offer 5G on the continent.

In a somewhat disturbing turn of events it has been alleged that the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have banned some telecommunications executives from leaving the country in response to their companies’ apparent unwillingness to pay a tax on mobile services introduced in June.

State-owned Indian operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is apparently planning to sell 10,000 of its 68,000 towers with an estimated value of 4,000 crore (about US$501 million).

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) said it is close to awarding new company Malcel a licence, enabling it to become the country’s third mobile operator, a move it hopes will bring competition against Airtel and Telekom Networks Malawi. 

Algérie Télécom Satellite (ATS), Algeria’s leading satellite services provider, has signed a reseller agreement with communications and IT services provider Speedcast to expand its business and widen its customer base.

The long-awaited launch of services by Ethiopia's new mobile operator Safaricom Ethiopia is due to take place this month. Meanwhile, state-owned incumbent operator Ethio Telecom is continuing to upgrade its offering. The latest improvement involves a new fraud management system to replace the operator's legacy system.

Internet Exchange operator AMS-IX has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MainOne’s Lagos data centre, MainData Nigeria (MDXi).

The Papua New Guinea Government said it will make a final decision on the partial privatisation of operator Telikom PNG soon.

Telecom Egypt and Orange Jordan have announced what is described as a strategic collaboration agreement to create a reliable terrestrial system connecting Iraq to Europe through Jordanian and Egyptian territories.

Nokia has entered a strategic alliance with network cabling firm Furukawa Electric that will see the partners accelerate optical LAN deployments in Latin America.

Leading regional satellite operator Türksat and satellite communications company ST Engineering iDirect have signed a multi-million dollar contract for the ground systems required to run a variety of services over the recently launched Türksat 5B satellite.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) gave 5G license winner Mafab Communications a five-month deadline extension to deploy its 5G services, reported Agence Ecofin.

The government of Poland plans to build what it calls a National Data Centre – or, more accurately, it has published a draft bill on what it hopes will be achieved by embarking on this ambitious project.

It’s being widely reported in the South African press that telecom regulator the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is planning to license additional radio frequency spectrum for mobile networks, although whether via auction or some other process is not clear.

In what is said to be a first for Africa, Nokia says it has successfully piloted 4G and 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) network slicing with Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom on its live commercial network.

Next-generation broadband satellite operator Kacific Broadband Satellites Group has partnered with recently launched mobile service provider Vodafone PNG to deploy the satellite operator’s mobile backhaul services in Papua New Guinea.

American Tower Corporation and IHS Holding are reportedly in the running for Brazilian operator Oi’s tower assets, competing against rival Highline which has already submitted a binding proposal.