TIM Brasil has entered exclusive talks with IHS Brasil Participacoes over the potential sale of a stake in its fibre network assets unit, FiberCo Solucoes de Infraestrutura (FiberCo).

Mexico’s GigNet has chosen Tejas Networks’ optical networking and broadband access products for its high-capacity fiber optic network expansion in the Cancun region of Mexico.

The backlash to WhatsApp’s announcement of a new privacy policy continues. The latest adverse response has come from South Africa.

For many years Uzbekistan has been struggling to bring its telecommunications system up to the standard found in developed countries.

Xiaomi has taken third place in the Latin American smartphone market after rival Huawei dropped out of the top five brands in Q4 2020.

Claro and Entel’s Peruvian units have been cleared to offer 5G new radio (NR) fixed-wireless internet services via their existing 3.5GHz spectrum holdings.

Guinea is planning to revive the country’s shuttered fixed line provider Sotelgui (Societe des Telecoms de Guinee) through international investment.

The  Raxio Group, a pan-African data centre developer and operator, has claimed a first. It will establish and invest in Raxio Kinshasa, the first in a series of state-of-the-art, privately owned, carrier-neutral data centres in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Spacecom, a satellite service provider and the owner and operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, together with its local partner in Nigeria, Intertel, and in partnership with Zinox, a leading Nigerian internet and e-learning service provider, has signed a multi-year contract to enable internet connectivity and e-learning solutions for schools in Nigeria.

The Chinese cloud company Tencent Cloud has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) that will see the company build a data centre in the kingdom. This will be its first MENA facility in Bahrain.

Telefonica is reportedly close to agreeing a deal with Canadian pension fund CDPQ (Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec) to set up a new fibre optic broadband wholesaler in Brazil.

The governing body of Libya’s telecoms sector is seeking cooperation with American tech firms in a bid to increase overseas investment in the market.

Senegalese operator Expresso has been granted a 4G licence by the country’s regulator ARTP (L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes).

South African mobile operator MTN is reportedly hoping to do a deal worth US$65 million for its Syrian business. However, Reuters reports that this sale, amounting to 75% of MTN’s Syrian unit, may now be under threat.

Vodacom DRC has partnered with mobile technology firm Mondia to roll out a new healthcare service aimed at new mothers across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Somalia’s Hormuud Telecom already offers mobile money services but, in an effort to formalise the country’s fast-growing digital payments infrastructure and integrate it with the global financial system, Somalia’s central bank has now awarded the country’s first mobile money licence to the operator.

Ecuadorian operator CNT (Corporación Nacional de Telecommunicaciones) has chosen Nokia to help it deploy the country’s first 5G network.

Zimbabwean state-owned operator NetOne is collaborating with Huawei on the second phase of its ICT services upgrade.

Digital and mobile finance and payment services are continuing to make advances in developing regions – as recent announcements involving Latin America and the Middle East suggest.

The Maldives Sri Lanka Cable system (MSC) is set to deliver high speed broadband connectivity between the two nations.

Guyana’s prime minister has signed an exemption order for small local internet service providers in a bid to issue them licences more quickly.

After its long-delayed decision to appoint an administrator to develop and enact mobile number portability (MNP), Uruguay’s Regulatory Unit of Communications Services (URSEC) has asked stakeholders to help with the selection process.

Brazilian operator Altarede Telecom has made what it calls a record investment in products from DWDM specialist Padtec to expand routes in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo.

Ethio Telecom has expanded its 4G coverage to six new regions in Ethiopia while at the same time pledging to extend this reach further in the near future.

Zambian communications regulator, the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), has awarded the nation’s fourth mobile operator licence to Beeline Telecoms.

UAE-based operator du has selected Ericsson to deploy 5G radio access network (RAN) products and solutions as part of a major network expansion and modernisation.

The Dominican Republic expects its upcoming 5G auction to generate between US$200 million and US$300 million, according to Nelson Arroyo, the president of regulator Indotel (Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones).

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued proposals that would increase its capacity to regulate operator tariffs.

Chile’s final tiebreaker auction for 5G spectrum has seen Entel, Movistar and WOM emerge victorious.