Operator MTN Uganda says it has secured UGX370 billion (about US$100 million) in committed debt financing from five local banks.

While the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been widely reported as dismissing speculations that it plans an upward review of tariffs by January next year, it does seem as though one operator, satellite internet service Starlink, will have its planned tariff increase approved.

The telecommunications sector in the Republic of Congo is welcoming a new arrival with the announcement that Brazzaville-headquartered and state-owned operator Congo Telecom, known mainly for fixed services, has entered the mobile market.

While it’s been a holiday season in many parts of the world, it’s been a busy week for Safaricom Ethiopia – at least in terms of significant announcements involving M-Pesa services and coverage growth.

Turkish telecoms giant Turk Telekom has announced a new 5G project focusing on smart agriculture in collaboration with Chinese telecommunications company ZTE.

Morocco’s Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, last week announced that the country will soon launch a 5G internet service. The launch plans are described as part of preparations to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Telecom Egypt, the country's main telecom services operator, has signed a commercial agreement with China Mobile International (CMI), a wholly owned subsidiary of China Mobile, to expand digital services.

Operator Movistar Colombia has announced the launch of its shared network with former rival operator Tigo. This comes after a fairly lengthy wait since we reported the companies’ signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to pursue a network sharing arrangement via a jointly owned infrastructure company in mid-2023.

Technology giant Ericsson and Bahrain-headquartered technology group Beyon have renewed their collaboration to expand their joint sustainability initiatives and circular economy practices for building energy-efficient networks in Bahrain.

There's been a major boost for troubled Chilean operator WOM after it won court approval to exit bankruptcy proceedings, having agreed to a takeover and restructuring bid from a group of creditors. This news comes eight months after WOM filed for Chapter 11, a US bankruptcy process that allows a debtor to reorganise its business or personal assets and debts.

Technology solutions provider ZTE has announced a partnership with ISP MiFibra to successfully commercialise ZTE's Smart Cloud Platform (SCP) in Peru.

The IFT-12 tender, in which spectrum will be made available for 5G networks in Mexico, will begin on 27 January when an invitation to would-be buyers to express their interest begins, according to an announcement from regulator the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT).

Telecom and digital services provider du has announced an exclusive partnership with Emirati firm Cyberspace Technologies for Tairra, a business management platform dedicated to optimising operations for teams of varying sizes.

Nokia has announced that servicer provider e& UAE is the first in the world to use its slicing solution to create a dedicated end-to-end network slice capable of meeting the speed and latency demands of today’s gaming applications.

PalmPay, the Africa-focused fintech operating Nigeria’s most used mobile wallet, and Jumia, Africa’s e-commerce giant, have announced a strategic partnership to enhance the digital payment ecosystem on the continent, starting with payment integrations and co-marketing efforts in Nigeria.

Toni Eid, founder of Telecom Review Group, was undoubtedly right when he said: “5G-Advanced has seen remarkable progress in the Middle East.” He was speaking at the recent 18th Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit 2024 in Dubai where he was delivering the opening speech prior to a panel entitled World’s First 5G-A Region Sets Sail.

Ufone 4G, the mobile unit of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), said on Thursday it has partnered with local assistive technology startup ConnectHear for a GSMA-funded project that will use AI to improve disaster-response communications for deaf people.

Equinix has supported a growth in traffic of around 200%, increasing around 30Gbps to almost 100Gbps in just over a year since the implementation of its strategic partnership with AMS-IX (Amsterdam Internet Exchange) in Lagos.

Ericsson says it has successfully designed and deployed an ATEX Zone 1-certified solution on an offshore site for one of Ooredoo Qatar’s enterprise customers. The solution, an ATEX-certified Ericsson Enclosure 6129, supports the operation of conventional radio access network (RAN) equipment in harsh and hazardous environments.

Galaxy Backbone (GBB), the information technology and shared services provider of the Federal Government of Nigeria, has announced the successful expansion of its state-of-the-art fibre optic network to Lagos, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria, and Ilorin, capital of Kwara State in the north-central region.

Accenture’s Managing Director for Communications, Media & Technology Lead Africa, Nitesh Singh (pictured), warned telecom operators they must embrace digital transformation to survive, especially with innovative players like Starlink encroaching on the connectivity market.

UAE-based satellite operator Space42 announced on Tuesday it has signed a new AED18.7 billion (US$5.1 billion) contract with the UAE government to provide satellite services until 2043, which will also help fund construction of two new satellites in the pipeline.

Ufone 4G, the mobile arm of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), announced on Tuesday it has struck a partnership with US-based Jubilee General Insurance (JGI) to sell insurance products to Ufone customers.

Telkom South Africa said on Tuesday its US$355 million selloff of its Swiftnet tower business to infrastructure-focused private equity firm Actis has cleared its final hurdle after getting the green light from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

Nokia has partnered with Indian ISP Ishan Technologies to upgrade its broadband services in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Mobile network operator Vivo is set to provide private 4G networks to brewing company Ambev, using Nokia equipment, in a bid to enhance logistical productivity.

National fibre broadband network operator Bahrain Network (BNET) announced on Monday it has completed the transfer of Zain Bahrain’s fixed fibre backhaul network assets to its wholesale fibre network.

Telecom Namibia confirmed on Monday that a hacker group exfiltrated customer data from its systems and posted it onto the dark web on Friday after the telco refused to pay a ransom to prevent it.

Payment giant Mastercard is back in the news in the Middle East this week thanks to a major artificial intelligence-related deal in Saudi Arabia and an SME-focused agreement in the UAE.

Beyon Money, part of Bahrain technology business Beyon Group, has secured two new licenses from the Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE). The two licenses are RPSCS (Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes) and SVF (Store Value Facilities).

West African internet service provider Tizeti has launched its FreeFiber broadband service in Nigeria and Ghana, setting what it calls a new benchmark for internet speed and accessibility in the region.

Qvantel, a major name in digital business support systems (BSS), has announced that it has implemented the customer relationship management (CRM) system from Qvantel Flex BSS for Mexican mobile operator Altan Redes.

Colombia’s Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) and its Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC) have announced the launch of a public consultation focused on OTT (over the top) digital services. It began on 11 December 2024 and will continue until 31 January 2025.