Khazna Data Centers, one of the largest wholesale data centre providers in the Middle East and North Africa, has signed a memorandum of understating (MoU) with GDS IDC Services (GDS), a Chinese company that develops and operates high-performance data centres.

Ericsson is boosting the scale of one of its Indian manufacturing plants to meet demand for 5G equipment from its customers in the market.

Orange expanded its 5G testbed programme into Jordan to explore new use cases using the new technology standard, as part of the operator’s long-term strategy to unlock more value from 5G before launching in the country.

Plintron, which describes itself as the world's largest multi-country mobile virtual network aggregator / enabler (MVNA / MVNE) with a client base in six continents, has announced plans to launch its services in Chile this year, enabling Chilean brands to offer mobile services.

Mexico’s telecoms workers union rejected the latest proposals offered by operator Telmex to resolve strike action, potentially continuing the long-running industrial action against the operator, reported Reuters.

C&W Networks, a wholesale telecommunications service provider, says it is leveraging  the GeoMesh Extreme product from networking systems, services and software company Ciena to upgrade its CFX-1 (Colombia-Florida Express) and EWC (East West Cable) submarine cable networks to deliver advanced broadband and IP services of up to 400Gb/s.

In the country’s latest initiative to improve fixed line connectivity for its population, Argentinian telecommunications regulator Enacom has approved funding for a programme to provide broadband internet in houses built and financed by the state.

Hard on the heels of the announcement that its recapitalisation efforts have been completed, South African operator Cell C has done a deal with Capitec, South Africa’s largest retail bank by customers, that makes Capitec the country’s latest mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).

Another private network has been launched in Brazil with the announcement from communications and IT services provider Speedcast that it has deployed advanced connectivity via a private LTE network powered by Nokia for a Brazilian energy integrator.

In response to what it describes as growing demand for high-quality data services, Guinean operator ETI SA is implementing digital enablement expert Alepo’s BSS Transformation. Alepo says that the advanced platform will modernize the operator’s existing FTTH services, as well as provide support for the future launch of its fixed LTE network.

Qatar-based operator Ooredoo Group has apparently advanced a plan to sell off domestic and international towers, tapping up Morgan Stanley to facilitate a potential deal, reported Reuters.

Amazon has announced plans for its Mexico cloud unit to open a local zone early next year in what is, by many accounts, a fast-growing cloud services market in that country.

Digital business support systems (BSS) specialist Tecnotree is in the news again, this time after it announced a partnership with operator MTN Nigeria on a new initiative called Metamorphose.

The recapitalisation of South African mobile operator Cell C has finally been completed after years of negotiation. That’s the news from Blue Label Telecoms, the largest shareholder in Cell C, which sells innovative technology for mobile commerce to emerging markets in South Africa and abroad.

South Sudan and Djibouti have reportedly signed a deal that will see a fibre optic cable laid across three countries.

Israel’s Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel says he is considering closing old copper networks and transferring all communications services to newer fibre optic infrastructure.

Saudi Arabian regulator the Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has given more details on its planned non-terrestrial networks (NTN) 5G spectrum auction in the 2100MHz band.

Yet another private network initiative has been announced – this time in South Africa, where operator MTN plans to build private 5G networks for mines and ports.

Operator Orange Côte d’Ivoire has opened its Orange 5G Lab, devoted to digital professionals, start-ups and businesses, at an event attended by Mr Amadou Coulibaly, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, and a number of senior figures from Orange.

Following the recent announcement that Nokia and AT&T Mexico have deployed what they call the first industrial-grade LTE private network in a maritime terminal in the country, there’s been another private network announcement in Latin America – this time in Brazil and using 5G.

A deal that was close to being done and dusted months ago may face a new period of uncertainty, with Brazilian operators TIM, Vivo and Claro apparently requesting a reduction in the price they are expected to pay for the mobile division of beleaguered telecommunications company Oi.

MTN Nigeria and Ericsson have announced what they call a ‘historic milestone’ with the launch of 5G services in a number of areas of the country.

President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo has ordered the implementation of the country’s universal service fund (USF) within “a reasonable timeframe”.

Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, has had a busy week in which it has announced a satcoms deal with Eutelsat Communications for its Liquid Intelligent Technologies business and a partnership with AWS for its Liquid Cloud division.

IBM has partnered with Bharti Airtel to help deploy the operator’s edge computing platform in India, which will include 120 network data centres across 20 cities.

After a successful launch, Africell, Angola’s newest operator, is keeping up the pressure on its rivals with a major new offering: free mobile TV.

Brazil-based company Neko had its 5G licence waivered after the company requested to vacate its holdings of airwaves in the 26GHz band.

Orange Money, the mobile money service of Orange, and leading pan-African payments company Cellulant have launched a partnership to enable card-to-wallet transfers for eight banks in Botswana.

Avanti Communications has signed a new agreement with Turksat that will see the firms deliver extensive, continuous coverage across Africa and the Middle East.

Satcoms giant Hughes has again been involved in deals that will deliver remote connectivity, this time in both India and Costa Rica.

Africa Data Centres is back in the news again. This time the company that describes itself as the largest network of interconnected, carrier and cloud-neutral data centre facilities in Africa has joined forces with Nigeria's principle internet exchange point, IXPN.