Analyst company Canalys reported that global smartphone shipments grew 8% year-on-year in Q4 2023 to 320 million units, ending seven consecutive quarters of decline. 

In what may seem an unusual regulatory decision, Anatel, the Brazilian regulator, has ruled that telecommunications company Algar Telecom must build 1,670 kilometres of fibre transport networks after receiving some of its tax payments back.

The long-awaited Humboldt Cable project to connect Chile directly with the Asia-Pacific took a new turn after Google officially joined the consortium on Friday, along with the Office of Posts and Telecommunications of French Polynesia (OPT).

Marlink, the smart network and digital solutions company, says it will leverage satellite connectivity from satellite operator SES to operate YanaSat, a new publicly owned satellite network service in French Guiana.

The government of Paraguay still seems determined to restore state-owned service provider Corporación Paraguaya de Comunicaciones (Copaco) to something like profitability, despite a number of failed attempts in the past.

Elea Digital, which describes itself as the largest platform with the highest number of operational data centres in Brazil, has announced a new R$570 million (US$115.9 million) issuance of debentures linked to sustainable goals for the expansion of data centre infrastructure in Brazil.

The 20th of December at 9 am local time saw the start of an auction to assign 5G spectrum to various players in Colombia. But was everyone happy with the result?

Scala Data Centres, a Latin American platform for sustainable data centres in the hyperscale market, has announced the operations launch of its first site in the Brazilian Southern Region, based in Porto Alegre city.

It looks like the infrastructure deal between Entel and OnNet Fibra in Chile is going ahead – though there seem to be strings attached.

Telefonica is reportedly considering to buy troubled Brazilian operator Oi’s broadband unit as part of expansion plans in Brazil. 

Last week saw operator Claro Peru inaugurate what it calls the most modern Tier III data centre in the country to meet the growing demand from the country’s companies and public entities to bring many of their processes, virtual infrastructure, processing and storage capacity to the cloud.

Mexico-based It and telecoms firm Axtel secured a US$60 million loan form the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, as part of plans to expand its fibre network, tower footprint and data centres.

Colombia’s telecoms regulator confirmed four operators will compete at auction for 5G spectrum. 

Liberty Latin America (LLA) subsidiary Liberty Networks has partnered with Gold Data to create a pan-regional subsea cable system connecting the US and Mexico to Colombia and Panama by combining two cable projects.

Globalsat Group, a provider of mission-critical satellite and wireless connectivity solutions is partnering with satellite network operator Rivada Space Networks to provide access to a next-generation data network for customers in the energy, government, NGO, agriculture, utilities and transportation sectors throughout the Americas and beyond.

Caribbean and Central America-based mobile operator Digicel revealed former Inmarsat and Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri will take the reins as Chairman Designate from the company’s Founder Denis O’Brien.

Analyst company Canalys reported the smartphone market is showing signs of recovery predicting a lower decline in 2023, and growth will be pushed by emerging markets next year. 

Scala Data Centers, a Latin American sustainable data centre platform leader in the hyperscale market, has announced a new issuance of what are called green debentures. They are worth US$ 215 million and will mature in six years.

Leading Argentine commercial airline Aerolíneas Argentinas has selected Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, to provide multi-orbit in-flight connectivity service on 18 Airbus A330 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Bahamas Telecommunications Company vice chairman Valentine Grimes said a portion of the cash raised by parent company Liberty Latin America in its recent tower deal, could be used to deploy 5G in the Bahamas. 

It looks like Colombia’s 5G spectrum auction is still on course to take place on 20 December, as stated by the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications (Ministerio de Tecnologias de la Informacion y las Comunicaciones, MinTIC) in June.

Liberty Latin America (LLA) tapped voice security company Hiya to launch call protection software for subscribers in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. 

Liberty Latin America (LLA) will sell 1,300 mobile tower sites across Panama and various Caribbean islands to independent tower company Phoenix Tower International (PTI) in a deal valued at $407 million.

Argentinean service provider Telecentro is deploying Netcracker’s Digital OSS to advance its operations automation and deliver new use cases across its operations.

Satellite internet service Starlink, from rocket manufacturer SpaceX, has won a tender from Mexico's state energy firm to provide services until the end of December 2026, according to Reuters.

Liberty Latin America (LLA) has struck a deal with Dish Network to acquire Dish’s spectrum assets in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) for US$256 million in cash, as well as international roaming credits.

Liberty Networks says it successfully deployed free space optics technology from Taara to connect the Caribbean islands of St. Martin and Anguilla during a cable outage.

Digital infrastructure and technology provider Cirion Technologies has announced the expansion of its carrier-neutral data centre complex in São Paulo (known as SAO1) with a new 3,600 square-metre building, increasing total capacity by 50%.

Millicom International Cellular (MIC), a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunication services in Latin America, has signalled the start of plans to transfer its tower assets to its new tower company, Lati.