Spacecom, a satellite service provider and the owner and operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, together with its local partner in Nigeria, Intertel, and in partnership with Zinox, a leading Nigerian internet and e-learning service provider, has signed a multi-year contract to enable internet connectivity and e-learning solutions for schools in Nigeria.

The Chinese cloud company Tencent Cloud has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) that will see the company build a data centre in the kingdom. This will be its first MENA facility in Bahrain.

At MWC Shanghai 2021, Bill Tang, President of Huawei Global Technical Service, launched the General Digital Engine (GDE) platform.

Telefonica is reportedly close to agreeing a deal with Canadian pension fund CDPQ (Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec) to set up a new fibre optic broadband wholesaler in Brazil.

The governing body of Libya’s telecoms sector is seeking cooperation with American tech firms in a bid to increase overseas investment in the market.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was renamed as the Republic of North Macedonia in February 2019.

Senegalese operator Expresso has been granted a 4G licence by the country’s regulator ARTP (L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes).

Hard on the heels of the news of a big Nokia agreement for 5G rollout with rival operator Globe, Philippines operator PLDT is now claiming that it has the widest 5G network reach in the country.

Until recent years, Bulgaria’s telecoms market was affected by the country’s difficult macroeconomic climate, as well as by relatively high unemployment and a shrinking population.

South African mobile operator MTN is reportedly hoping to do a deal worth US$65 million for its Syrian business. However, Reuters reports that this sale, amounting to 75% of MTN’s Syrian unit, may now be under threat.

Vodacom DRC has partnered with mobile technology firm Mondia to roll out a new healthcare service aimed at new mothers across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Somalia’s Hormuud Telecom already offers mobile money services but, in an effort to formalise the country’s fast-growing digital payments infrastructure and integrate it with the global financial system, Somalia’s central bank has now awarded the country’s first mobile money licence to the operator.

Ecuadorian operator CNT (Corporación Nacional de Telecommunicaciones) has chosen Nokia to help it deploy the country’s first 5G network.

As the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown extend into their second year, monetisation platform-as-a-service will shape the digital ecosystem argues Olivier Letant of Centili.

Cellnex is acquiring 99.99% of Polish tower company Polkomtel Infrastruktura from its parent company Cyfrowy Polsat for €1.6 billion.

Zimbabwean state-owned operator NetOne is collaborating with Huawei on the second phase of its ICT services upgrade.

Digital and mobile finance and payment services are continuing to make advances in developing regions – as recent announcements involving Latin America and the Middle East suggest.

ZTE Corporation and Global Data have jointly released a new white paper on precision 5G transport, to shed light on the latest changes of 5G network architecture and new requirements for transport networks.

The Maldives Sri Lanka Cable system (MSC) is set to deliver high speed broadband connectivity between the two nations.

ZTE Corporation has released its Intelligent Orchestration Radio Network solution, which employs an innovative AI-based intelligent orchestration engine to enable MNOs to achieve maximum value from 5G networks.

If India is to successfully pursue its self-reliance aims it will need skilled workers. However, a new report commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS) from strategy and economics consulting firm AlphaBeta indicates a massive shortfall in one key area: digital technology.

Digital infrastructure company Equinix Inc and telecoms giant Vodafone are to build a new subsea hub as part of the massive 2Africa cable system that will directly connect 16 countries in Africa to Europe and the Middle East.

Serbian internet service provider SBB has called on regulator RATEL and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications to auction 5G spectrum.

Slovakian cellcos 4ka and Orange Slovakia have both revealed that they expect to launch commercial 5G services by April.

Guyana’s prime minister has signed an exemption order for small local internet service providers in a bid to issue them licences more quickly.

DITO Telecommunity has set 8th March as its commercial launch date after passing a technical audit conducted by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

A 1,200-kilometre advanced subsea fibre optic cable system is being planned by FB Submarine Partners, Xtera, IT International Telecom and GigNet. It will connect Florida in the US and Cancun in Mexico.

The global internet brand Opera has announced the launch of a new dedicated chat service, for which Africa will be one of the target markets.

Indian communications solutions provider Bharti Airtel and wireless technology company Qualcomm have announced what they describe as a collaboration for accelerating 5G in India. 

O2 Slovakia has selected Ericsson to modernise its RAN and deploy its 5G network.

Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the Adani Group, one of India’s largest multi-infrastructure organizations, and EdgeConneX, a leading global data centre operator with 50 facilities in 30 markets around the world, have announced a 50:50 joint venture to develop and operate data centres throughout India.