Egypt and MEA-focused digital solutions and ICT infrastructure provider Benya Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, relating to satellite coverage in MEA.

Telefonica-owned Mexican operator Movistar has said that it is considering a launch of 5G in Mexico via a network sharing agreement with fellow operator AT&T.

Tele2 Russia is reportedly suing Finnish vendor Nokia, claiming the company failed to complete network contracts, as Nokia announced previously it would cease business in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales has confirmed that TSTT (Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago) is set to shutter its legacy copper networks by September this year.

The government of Botswana is implementing new measures to help expand connectivity across the country.

Brazilian data centre firm Odata has opened its first Mexican data centre to add to its operations in Brazil, Colombia and Chile.

With the Safaricom Ethiopia launch still some months off, the country’s state-owned incumbent Ethio Telecom has again taken advantage of its sole service provider position with the introduction of another mobile finance-related service in Africa’s second most populous country.

Apple has reportedly shifted even more to production outside of its main manufacturing hub of China, as the country continues its strict lockdown measures. 

Avanti Communications has signed a five-year partnership agreement with Free which will see the latter firm build and host a new satellite gateway in Senegal for Avanti’s HYLAS 4 state-of-the-art Ka-band satellite.

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has outlined a five-year plan to spur the adoption of ICT services in rural and remote locations in the country.

stc Bahrain has launched a 5G Standalone network which it claims marks a first for the Kingdom.

Dito Telecommunity is reportedly aiming to deploy connectivity services in the Camotes Islands, according to Cebo province governor Gwendolyn Garcia. 

Malaysia’s controversial shared network access approach to 5G may have received another setback with rumoured demands for a bigger stake and reviews of the plan from the four largest Malaysian operators, Celcom Axiata Bhd, DiGi Telecommunications, Maxis Bhd and U Mobile.

Two recent announcements underline the continuing drive on the part of fintech groups to bring their technology to African institutions and consumers.

Rwandan firms HUI and Annos have signed agreements with off-grid energy equipment vendor Vanu.

Hard on the heels of an agreement with Telefonica aimed at rural and remote parts of both Latin America and Europe, low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company OneWeb has announced another, this time involving Uzbekistan.

Lesotho has joined the rush to register SIM cards, threatening that mobile network users who fail to comply with the legal registration of SIM cards will be cut off until they do so.

Free Caraibe has launched mobile services in serval locations in the Caribbean and territory of France, laying out a plan that mirrors the strategy of disruption from parent company Illiad.

Ericsson has been chosen to supply Baltics operator Bite Group with 5G RAN equipment in Lithuania and Latvia, as the operator aims to challenge fixed-line broadband and TV providers by tapping into the next-generation technology. 

IHS Towers reported profit and revenue growth for the first quarter of 2022 (ending March 31), stating confidence to aim toward the higher end of its 2022 earnings guidance.

Singapore-headquartered omnichannel healthcare company Doctor Anywhere has selected Vonage’s Video API to help deliver timely and effective digital healthcare solutions across Southeast Asia.

African internet provider InterSAT has renewed its agreement with SES for capacity on the latter’s satellite.

In a move that seems to buck a recent trend for greater control by governments over online activity, Zambia has suggested it will review its controversial Cyber Security and Cyber Crime law.

The highly diversified Peruvian telecommunications company Optical Networks has announced plans to add two more data centres to its presence in the market. They will be in the city of Lima.

The silver jubilee celebrations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) seem to have been the occasion for some important announcements too – notably announcements involving 5G and long-awaited Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reforms.

More controversy seems imminent in the row about Safaricom’s alleged dominance of the Kenyan market. African press reports now suggest that the operator’s mobile termination rates (MTRs) are soon going to be controlled by the government in a bid to protect Safaricom’s smaller rivals.

Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Casa Systems to explore 5G capabilities and pave the way for next-generation network services in Vietnam.

The wearable market in India recorded double-digit growth in Q1 2022 as a result of new launches, discounts and aggressive marketing by vendors.