Angola Cables, a multinational ICT solutions and network service provider, and Flexential, a provider of data centre colocation, cloud and connectivity, have announced a partnership to drive colocation and interconnection options for customers in Southern and West African markets.

Two Israeli technology firms, Telrad and Cellwize, are in the headlines after news of acquisitions – agreed or planned – by African technology company Liquid Intelligent Technologies and wireless tech innovator Qualcomm.

Safaricom has reportedly been granted 60MHz of spectrum in the 2600MHz band by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) in preparation for its commercial 5G launch.

Ethio Telecom has announced the launch of its pre-commercial 5G services in Addis Ababa, but the operator warned a full launch will depend on demand. 

Given the Angolan government’s aim to bring in more competition to the telecoms sector and new operator Africell’s aim to be a disruptive force in that market, then it seems that both may have got their wish after news that, in its first month of full operation, Africell has won over two million subscribers.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has moved to allay consumer concerns around a possible tariff increase following a request from the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

Trade association the GSMA has launched the Mobile Money API Compliance Verification Service to support the growth of trusted mobile money ecosystems in developing nations.

Brazil’s telecommunications watchdog Anatel has approved the sale of Oi subsidiary and fibre broadband provider V.Tal to wholesale telecoms operator Globenet. 

Helios Towers posted “strong” growth in its Q1 results with a 23% hike in revenue year-on-year (YoY), which is attributed to the company’s established African markets, and new acquisitions in Senegal, Madagascar and Malawi.

Cameroon has signed a MoU with Central African Republic (CAR) that will see the two countries’ communications networks interconnected by terrestrial fibre optic infrastructure by the start of 2023.

Digital infrastructure company Equinix has completed the acquisition of four data centres in Chile from Empresa Nacional De Telecomunicaciones (Entel), a leading Chilean telecommunications provider. 

Satellite operator SES and Central American telecommunications company COMNET have extended their long-term partnership, with the aim of jointly delivering high-performance, next-generation broadband services across Central America by satellite.

America Movil’s Mexican unit Telmex has signed a partnership agreement with the country’s National Guard to counter cybercrime.

Arabsat, a leading regional satellite operator in the Middle East and Africa, and satcoms solutions provider Thales Alenia Space have signed a contract to build Arabsat-7A, a fully flexible software-defined satellite (SDS) based on the Space Inspire (INstant SPace In-orbit REconfiguration) platform by Thales Alenia Space.

Econet Wireless has expanded its 5G network in Zimbabwe to the southern region of Bulawayo, a move to progress the country in its ambition to activate new technologies such as AI, IoT and robotics.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the country’s regulator, has announced plans for a study to assess the current level of competition in the colocation and infrastructure sharing (CIS) segment of the Nigerian telecommunications sector.

Panama’s Cabinet Council, which is led by the country’s President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, has approved new resolutions concerning the republic’s telecoms sector.

NALA, a Tanzania-based fintech company, has teamed up with pan-African payments company Cellulant to power remittance payments from the United Kingdom and United States into Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ghana.

Airtel Lanka will commence the shuttering of its 3G network next month after receiving clearance from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL).

Zain Jordan has announced the launch of Western Union digital money transfer services through the Zain Cash mobile wallet.

MTN Ghana and Vodafone Ghana have signed an agreement to pilot national roaming as the first step to a nationwide roaming partnership to permanently expand coverage, and spur digitalisation in the country. 

Telefonica has predicted its acquisition of rival Oi Movel’s assets will create BRL5.4 billion (US$1.09 billion) in value for the group.

International service provider and global operator Sparkle says it has expanded its reach in Brazil with an additional point of presence (POP) in Fortaleza, the capital of the north-eastern Brazilian state of Ceara.

Satellite networking technology, solutions, and services company Gilat Satellite Networks has been selected in a multimillion-dollar deal with satellite operator Intelsat to provide a satellite cellular backhaul solution in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Africa and the Middle East continue to be Orange Group’s bright spots as the majority of countries in those regions reported double-digit increases to maintain overall group sales.

Satellite technology company Hughes Network Systems has announced that its satellite internet service and equipment will be deployed by Colombian information and communication technology company SDT Ingenieria to connect 670 schools in Colombia.

The government of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil has announced plans to invest $18.3 million in a new disaster recovery data centre.

There’s fascinating news from Nigeria regarding two of the country’s biggest operators, one of which is issuing a debt instrument for investment purposes, while the other has had further support for its banking ambitions.

African digital payments company DPO Group has announced the introduction of a new form of payment that will allow merchants to get paid by their customers via a USSD code. This new feature, says DPO, allows merchants to receive payments from customers who don’t have access to mobile banking or a payment card.