Grain Management, a private equity firm focused on digital infrastructure, has acquired Conexao Group, a Brazilian alternative high-speed internet service provider (ISP) operating in the Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil, from ACON Investments, a private equity firm.

Pan-African data centre developer and operator Raxio Group is establishing a carrier-neutral data centre in Mozambique.

The Telecommunications Agency of Guyana has confirmed plans to issue three 700MHz spectrum licences this month.

Following hard on the heels of its launch of Hype – the in-browser chat service for Opera Mini users – in a number of African countries, global internet brand Opera has now added interest-based social clubs to the fast-growing chat service.

According to a recent announcement from the country’s telecoms regulator, Subtel, Chile will be the first country in Latin America to be served by Starlink, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation described (on its website) as ideally suited for areas of the globe where connectivity has typically been a challenge.

Nepal’s regulator the National Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has confirmed plans to refarm the 900MHz spectrum band for 4G use.

Telecommunications company Telefonica, whose operations in Brazil are branded as ‘Vivo’, has announced that the neutral fibre network operator FiBrasil has officially started operating in the country.

In a move that reverses plans announced a year ago, two Saudi operators have apparently decided to abandon a mooted tower merger.

A reminder of the growing importance of smart mobile devices to African broadcasters has come with the announcement by streaming giant Netflix of a new mobile-only subscription plan for its mobile device-using audience in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sri Lankan operator Dialog Axiata has switched on its 4000th LTE network tower as it takes strides towards boosting rural connectivity nationwide.

Liquid Technologies has partnered with Facebook to build an extensive long haul and metro fibre network in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The UAE’s du has partnered with Wipro to launch a new multi-cloud platform offering management and migration capabilities.

The government of Nigeria has granted the nation’s mobile phone users additional time to register a valid National Identification Number (NIN) with their network provider.

The largest Chilean telecommunications company Entel reached an agreement with Ericsson which will pave the way for the launch of 5G and IoT services.

Brazilian telecommunications company Embratel is using Wi-Fi 6 technology for projects in several segments, such as industry and retail, with plans to expand into healthcare and finance as well, said local media reports.

Netherlands-headquartered VEON Group has exercised its put option to divest its entire 45.57% holding in its Algerian unit Omnium Telecom Algerie.

Armenia is set for nationwide gigabit broadband over passive optical network (PON) following a new agreement between Telecom Armenia and Nokia.

TIM Brasil activated 5G DSS networks in three cities of the Northeast, namely Fortaleza (Ceara), Recife (Pernambuco), and Salvador (Bahia).

A bit of highly futuristic thinking was on display at the Mobile World Congress, where UAE-headquartered operator Etisalat told visitors about its ambitious 6G plans.

Israel’s Communications Ministry plans to shutter the country’s 2G and 3G networks by the end of 2025 as 5G becomes increasingly prevalent in the market.

Pakistan’s state provider PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited) has contracted Huawei to upgrade its IP Edge and Optical Transport Network (OTN) infrastructure.

Pan-African fintech firm Carbon has entered a strategic five-year partnership with Visa to provide its customers with digital and physical Visa payment cards.

Brazil’s much-delayed 5G spectrum auction has been moved a few times. Recent adjustments involved an auction late last year, after which June and July this year were among dates mooted. Now the dates have changed again.

Announced last May, the purchase of Vogel Telecom by compatriot telecommunications provider Algar Telecom received an unrestricted approval report by Brazilian regulator Cade's General Superintendence (SG).

Government efforts to use the success of popular communications services as a source of new tax income have continued. The latest example is a reported 10 percent tax on the earnings of mobile money agents in Ghana.

A new investment in an African tower specialist could boost tower building in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire – and possibly further afield.

Malawi has launched the second phase of the national fibre backbone project that began more than four years ago.

Pakistan has changed its social media rules and, once again, ISPs and other social media-linked groups, both inside and outside the country, are unhappy with the results.

Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has issued a QAR3.5 million (USD950,000) fine to Ooredoo Qatar for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour.

Tecnotree has landed a digital transformation contract with MTN Group covering several African markets.