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AI will not cut telecom costs unless operators change how they work
AI will not cut telecom costs unless operators change how they work
Twice weekly update on telecoms in developing and emerging markets | View in browser
NEWSLETTER | Thursday, 22 October 2026
Dear Visitor,
AI could help telecom operators improve productivity and develop enterprise services, but it will not cut costs unless they change how work gets done. In Bangladesh, the regulator is proposing a study to identify underserved areas and lower spectrum prices, while Veon has agreed to buy Uzbekistan rival Perfectum for US$207 million, adding spectrum and network assets to Beeline Uzbekistan. Vodacom Mpumalanga plans to invest around US$36.6 million in network upgrades, and the WHO is using AI in the Democratic Republic of Congo to strengthen epidemic monitoring and health-risk preparedness. Welcome to your latest update on telecoms in developing and emerging markets.
AI could help emerging market operators improve field workforce productivity and build new enterprise services, but simply adding it to existing operations will not reduce costs, says Markus Persson…
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced plans for a study to identify and serve remote, hard-to-reach, underserved and disaster-prone areas where telecom services…
While digital transformation has been on the agenda for most enterprises in recent years, the growing use of agentic AI is putting extra pressure on enterprises to digitally transform their…
Global digital operator Veon – which owns Beeline Uzbekistan – said on Monday it has struck a deal to buy rival telco Rubicon Wireless, which operates under the “Perfectum” brand, for US$207 million.
Vodacom Mpumalanga says it will invest over ZAR600 million (around US$36.6 million) in network infrastructure and technology in the coming financial year to expand broadband connectivity and support…
The World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) has deployed what it calls its Preparedness Data Exchange (PDX) platform in the Democratic Republic of Congo, strengthening the…
Singapore-based AI cloud firm Aolani said on Monday it has signed a Letters of Intent (LOI) to take up 500 MW of AI data centre capacity in Malaysia starting in the second half of 2027 across…
Continuing efforts by countries across the Middle East to develop domestic space ecosystems encompassing satellite infrastructure have been underlined by recent announcements from Oman and Iraq…
India’s smartphone shipments fell 26% year on year to 35.8 million units in the third quarter of 2026, their lowest level for the period since 2016, as higher prices and cautious consumer spending…
The Trans-Caspian Submarine Cable System linking Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan was officially launched on Thursday, linking the respective telecoms infrastructures of AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom with…
Iraqi telco Asiacell says it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Samsung Electronics Levant to provide consumers and businesses with broader access to Samsung devices, services and…
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AI will not cut telecom costs unless operators change how they work
Bangladesh regulator proposes coverage study and lower spectrum prices
Huawei’s Stellar AI Campus Network powers enterprises for the agentic AI era
Beeline Uzbekistan owner Veon buys rival Perfectum for US$207m
Vodacom Mpumalanga to invest US$35.6m in network upgrades in FY27
WHO uses AI to provide health risk information for DRC
Aolani commits to 500MW of AI data centre capacity in Malaysia in 2027
Oman and Iraq announce ground station developments
India smartphone shipments fall 26% to lowest third-quarter level in a decade
Trans-Caspian cable linking Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is operational
Asiacell partners with Samsung to boost device availability in Iraq
