Sri Lankan telco Dialog Axiata says it has released a new mobile app that serves as a single remote control point for its suite of smart-home devices.

IDC reported the Indian smartphone market was flat with a 1% uptick in shipments totalling 146 million units in 2023. 

Nokia and Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo reached a resolution and threw out their lawsuits from the Indian high court which was originally filed by the Finnish company. 

Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) has unveiled what it calls  a pioneering initiative aimed at facilitating global access to cutting-edge technology solutions: the ATRC Global Tech R&D Platform.

Only days after Movistar’s request to suspend the process was turned down by the Court for the Defence of Free Competition (TDLC), Chilean telecommunications services regulator Subtel has again adjusted the calendar for the next 5G spectrum auction, which will award frequencies in the 3.5GHz band.

IHS Cameroon launched the ‘Tower Kiosk’ initiative in the Northwest and Southwest of Cameroon, a move to provide connectivity and digital services to communities in rural areas. 

Qatar Satellite Company, aka Es’hailsat, and Egyptian Satellites Company, better known as Nilesat, have announced that they have signed a cooperation agreement and a strategic partnership.

Saudi Arabia’s STC Group, a leading digital enabler in MENA, has signed an Internet of Things (IoT)-focused memorandum of understanding (MoU) with iBASIS, an independent provider of communications solutions for operators and digital players worldwide.

Operators MTN Nigeria and Globacom have, according to local news reports, agreed to resolve their latest dispute over interconnection fees.

India’s smartphone market leader Xiaomi requested the Indian government to provide manufacturing incentives and lower import taxes, amid heavy scrutiny levied at Chinese companies in the country. 

Bangladesh operator Grameenphone has launched “AppCity”, which it says is the country’s first cross-platform app marketplace that serves as both an app store and an API hub.

Telecel Group, an Africa-focused provider of digital and communications services, has announced a major investment in its wholly owned subsidiary Telecel Global Services (TGS), a leading telecommunication service provider for operators and enterprise clients globally with a particular focus on Africa.

Pakistan reportedly suspended mobile internet services across the country on Thursday just before voting got underway in the country’s contentious general election, ostensibly for security reasons.

Bangladesh-based operator Grameenphone opened its first 'Super Core' data centre in the Bangladeshi division of Sylhet. 

Bayobab Group landed its 45,000km 2Africa cable in Ghana and Nigeria, marking the third and fourth in a series of six landings from the 2Africa subsea cable system. 

Telecoms tower company IHS Nigeria, a subsidiary of IHS Towers, announced on Wednesday that Airtel Nigeria has signed a deal renewing its contract and expanding its tenancies to almost 10,000 over the next five years.

International service provider Sparkle, Telecom Italia's (TIM) infrastructure and connectivity business, has announced the expansion of its network footprint to Iraq with the opening of a new point of presence (PoP) in Erbil.

Service provider Orange Cote D'Ivoire says it is developing its network and data services with help from the latest traffic analysis and policy control software from Enea, a specialist in software for telecoms and cybersecurity.

It’s been widely reported that communications across Sudan were down on Monday this week. The country’s military government – and spokespeople from the telecoms sector – have blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF).

With the ink hardly dry on a UAE-Malaysia agreement to help the Asia-Pacific country build more data centres, the UAE has now signed a digital infrastructure deal with Greece.

MTN struck a deal to have financial powerhouse Mastercard invest US$200 million to take a minority stake in the operator’s fintech unit. 

A rather unusual 5G story comes from Chile, where operator Movistar recently requested that the imminent second 5G spectrum tender be suspended – a request that has been rejected by the Chilean antitrust authority the TDLC (el Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre Competencia).

E& Carrier & Wholesale Services (C&WS) an internet, mobile and regional hub for international cable systems, is set to anchor the 2Africa subsea cable; this will be the most extensive subsea cable system landing in the UAE to date.

Saudi Arabia has launched Alat, a new company that says it aims to transform the country into a global hub for sustainable technology manufacturing.

Telecom Egypt and Budapest-based telecoms/IT group 4iG have formally established a joint venture to build their proposed express subsea cable between Albania and Egypt.

Indian conglomerate Tata Group is reportedly in talks to partner with Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer Pegatron to set up an iPhone factory in India, as Apple aims to shift its reliance on Chinese manufacturing.

Vodacom Group reported revenue increased by 26.8% to ZAR8.9 billion (US$477 million) in Q3, fuelled by its acquisition of Vodafone Egypt, as well as hitting the 200 million customers milestone in the quarter, doubling its base since 2018. 

Google isn’t the only tech giant to be promoting a cloud-related first in Africa this week. Oracle, which already has a cloud presence on the continent, has announced plans to establish a new public cloud region in Nairobi.

Google launched its first cloud region in South Africa, a move to provide low latency cloud services to businesses in the continent. 

Veon subsidiary Banglalink said on Wednesday it has completed the sale of part of its tower portfolio in Bangladesh to Summit Towers for BDT11 billion (US$100 million).

Morocco-based telecommunication operator Inwi has announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with the Medusa submarine cable system to reinforce its trans-Mediterranean connectivity.