Claro Colombia has deployed solutions from Casa Systems as it seeks to expand its broadband capacity and build a converged, cloud-native network.

Axess Networks, a global provider of satellite communications solutions, has announced plans to connect more than 700 new 4G nodes via satellite as part of the CFE TEIT programme, a national development plan in Mexico. TEIT stands for TElecomunicaciones e Internet para Todos or Telecommunications and Internet for All.

Private networks are in the news again. This time Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahía, a port terminal in Cartagena, Colombia, is announcing that it is the first multipurpose terminal to adopt a private 4G technology in Latin America after a deal involving Nokia and operator Claro Colombia.

Bolivia and Costa Rica have separately issued major updates regarding 5G progress in their markets.

Hispasat has secured the infrastructure deals required for its Amazonas Nexus satellite to begin operations.

Cuba's second-ever submarine cable, connecting Cuba to Martinique and deployed by Orange, is now being tested. The testing process began in April.

There’s been some controversy reported in Uruguay in the run-up to operators Claro and Movistar prequalifying for 5G spectrum in an auction scheduled for 9 May.

GTT (Guyana Telephone and Telegraph) is partnering with domestic satellite firm Wansat to deliver satellite connectivity to Guyana’s rural regions.

Flō Networks, a provider of digital infrastructure solutions, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of American Tower's Mexico fibre business, ATC Holding Fibra México (known commercially as redIT), and its high-capacity fibre optic network, which maintains a dense presence in over 40 cities throughout Mexico.

Telecentro Argentina has selected solutions from Nokia for its network transformation.

Two more indications of the growing role of renewable energy in network rollout – both to save the environment and to save money – have come from Brazil and Bahrain.

Latin America and Africa could be among the beneficiaries of plans recently announced  by Gilat and Intelsat to strengthen their strategic partnership.

Troubled Brazilian operator Oi chose to postpone publishing its 2022 financial results, reported Reuters.

Panama’s regulator has recommenced its attempts to find a taker for Digicel Panama’s licence after the sole bidder General Internacional Telecom Panama (Gitpan) failed to provide adequate documentation.

Hondutel, the national fixed line provider of Honduras, has signed a new agreement with Starlink to deliver satellite connectivity to remote areas of the country.

Chinese vendor ZTE has won two more notable contracts. One, in India, is from Vodafone Idea. The other, in Brazil, is from new entrant Unifique.

Digital infrastructure and technology provider Cirion has announced the expansion of its fibre network and data centre capabilities across Latin America “to better serve the growing demands of our customers and continue to migrate workloads to hybrid cloud solutions”, as the company puts it.

Meta Platforms launched a payments tool in WhatsApp designed for SMEs in Brazil, with plans in future to roll out the feature in other markets.

Uruguay’s regulator URSEC (Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones / Regulatory Unit of Communications Services) has agreed to delay the 5G spectrum auctions that it had scheduled for 28^th April in response to an extension request from Claro Uruguay.

Beleaguered Brazilian fixed-line provider Oi has been authorised to take out a loan of US$275 million from its creditors.

SpaceX’s Starlink has been granted a licence to provide satellite broadband in the Bahamas.

Chilean regulator Subtel has granted the local unit of Claro provisional authorisation to offer commercial 5G services via its 3.5GHz spectrum.

Following Monday’s news that Uruguay’s president had ordered the country’s regulator to hold a 5G spectrum auction within 30 days, URSEC has now confirmed the date as 28^th April and invited bidding applications from interested parties.

Mexico’s Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) has granted an additional 30 years of validity to concessions held by fixed line providers Telmex and Telnor.

Brazilian broadband provider Unifique struck a deal to acquire regional provider Brick Servicos Digitais for BRL10 million (US$2 million), reported BNamericas.

As part of its debt-cutting plan, Digicel Group announced three-quarters of bondholders are set to take shares in the company to resolve its debts and reduce founder Denis O’Brien’s stake from 99.9% to 10% to have US$1.8 billion written off, reported the Irish Times.

Uruguay’s regulator URSEC has until the end of April to hold 5G spectrum auctions after the tender’s specifications were cleared by the country’s President Luis Lacalle Pou on 30^th March.

SpaceX’s Starlink will launch operations in Ecuador on 1^st April, with its first services going live in the Galapagos Islands.

KIO, a data centre and digital infrastructure platform with more than 20 years of experience in colocation and IT services, has announced the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of a new data centre campus in Colombia.

French regulator Arcep awarded 5G spectrum to operators in French Guiana, Saint‑Barthélemy and Saint‑Martin, paving the way for next-generation connectivity on the islands.

Actis, a leading global investor in sustainable infrastructure, has agreed to acquire 11 data centres across six countries in Latin America and the US from Nabiax, a European data centre operator owned by independent investment management firm Asterion Industrial Partners and service provider Telefonica.

NLT Telecom, a Brazilian operator specializing in IoT, and floLIVE, a provider of global connectivity and network services for IoT, have announced their collaboration to provide dual-connectivity access to both Brazilian and international enterprise customers, including OEMs and mobile operators.