Having newly generated $450 million in funding, Helios Towers has underlined its intention to increase its footprint across Africa.

Jordan’s Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) has stated that its attempts to ensure a consistent standard of internet service during the pandemic have led to “significant improvement” in access speeds.

After two years, MTN Group has finally reached an agreement for a long-term renewal of its operating licences in Uganda.

While 5G rollout is imminent or underway in countries as diverse as South Africa, the Philippines and Morocco, some countries are not in a hurry – the most recent examples being Paraguay and Nigeria.

The director general and two board members of Lebanese state-owned operator Ogero face public prosecution by the country’s Attorney General.

Liberian operator Lonestar Cell MTN has announced two initiatives to make mobile payment and social media access easier for its customers.

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has deployed Nokia automation, analytics and machine learning software to enhance the customer experience and improve customer service accuracy and efficiency.

Cape Verde’s incumbent Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT) is mulling legal action against the country’s regulator ARME (Multisectoral Regulatory Agency for the Economy).

UPDATE: A court ruling will see SyriaTel placed under judicial custody after the firm continued to dispute its outstanding tax bill.

Lebanon is aiming to allow international firms to bid for management over either of its state-owned mobile networks by September, according to the country’s telecoms minister.

Gilat Telecom has extended the reach of its VSAT services to every African country.

Brazilian antitrust regulator CADE (Administrative Council for Economic Defence) has dismissed an appeal by Claro Brasil against a network sharing deal signed by its rivals TIM Brasil and Vivo.

Nokia and Vodafone Idea have successfully completed the first phase of a Dynamic Spectrum Refarming (DSR) implementation in India.

The Iliad Group has partnered with Digicel to launch a joint venture covering the Antilles-Guyane region in the Caribbean.

Telecom Egypt and Etisalat Misr, the Egyptian subsidiary of the Etisalat Group, have announced the signing of transmission and mobile-to-fixed interconnection deals, described as two first-of-their-kind agreements.

Mobile banking has been one of the great success stories in emerging markets - particularly within Africa - and in the wake of Covid-19, many in the financial sector are calling for further digitalisation to ensure resilience and growth.

The giant pan-African carrier MTN is enjoying differing fortunes in two of its markets, with expansion on the cards in Nigeria and tax demands making things tricky in Uganda.

Jio Platforms’ hot streak of investment continues, with Microsoft reportedly in talks to buy a 2.5% stake for US$2 billion.

Main One, a broadband infrastructure company working across West Africa, has been asked by Burkina Faso, backed by the World Bank, to provide bulk connectivity services to a consortium of operators for the next three years.

As part of its liberalisation of Ethiopia’s telecoms market, the country’s government will sell a 40% stake in state operator Ethio Telecom to private overseas investors.

The Asia-Africa-Europe-1 Consortium (AAE-1), one of the largest consortium cable systems in the world today, has recently completed a significant upgrade on its intercontinental cable system.

Madagascar's strengthening economic output is helping to increase consumer spend on telecom services, reports Research & Markets.

Bharti Telecom, a holding company for Bharti Airtel, is looking to clear its debts by selling a 2.75% stake in the operator for US$1 billion.

STC (Saudi Telecom Company) has outlined plans to prioritise the growth of 4G and 5G technologies, noting that it expects to decommission its 3G network within “less than two years.”

East African press outlets are reporting that Uganda is to begin manufacturing its first smartphones. The manufacturing partner will be Chinese brand SIMI.

Intelsat and Mindset Network NPC have extended their partnership to provide students, teachers, healthcare professionals and patients across Africa with access to free online educational content.

Although delayed by the long civil war which ended in 1992, Mozambique was one of the first countries in the region to embark upon telecom reform, reports Research & Markets.