Omantel has selected Ericsson to support the Sultanate’s ongoing 5G radio access network (RAN) deployment plans in a multi-year partnership.

Iraq’s government will allow the country’s operators to renew their licences for a further five years – but with significant conditions attached.

Middle Eastern press outlets have reported an alliance between Ooredoo Kuwait, a telecommunications company owned by the Qatar-based Ooredoo group, and Batelco, the principal telecommunications company in Bahrain, to establish what is known as Global Zone Kuwait.

Zain KSA now offers 5G coverage in all of Saudi Arabia’s regions after expanding its network to Al-Jouf and the Northern Borders.

Saudi Arabia’s stc has completed its due diligence for a possible acquisition of Vodafone Group’s majority holding in Vodafone Egypt.

The UAE is planning to switch off the country’s 2G networks at the end of 2022.

Iran’s market leader, state-run MCI (Mobile Communication Company of Iran), has been given a deadline of early September to begin providing 5G coverage in Tehran.

Zain Bahrain has launched commercial 5G using equipment from Ericsson.

Nokia and Algerian mobile operator Djezzy have completed a trial using microwave carrier aggregation technology to support increased demand for capacity.

Saudi Telecom Company (stc) is deploying CommScope’s new 30-port antennas as it looks to demonstrate use cases for next generation wireless technologies.

UAE operator group Etisalat is unlikely to introduce standalone 5G for at least two years, and will instead focus on non-standalone (NSA) 5G architecture in this period.

Meeza, an end-to-end managed IT services and solutions provider based in Qatar, has announced plans to build a data centre in the capital, Doha. It will be the company’s fourth such project in the country.

TurkNet is upgrading its core network with 400Gbps optical transport solutions from Ekinops.

At a time when the future of energy – not just oil and gas but renewables – is again a hot topic, Inmarsat, which owns and operates a global portfolio of mobile telecommunications satellite networks, plans to expands its presence in the Middle East by joining the Energy Industry Council.

stc Bahrain has formed a new partnership with China Telecom Global aimed at digitalising economies in the Middle East and North Africa.

A useful reminder that fibre is still a strong player – even in mobile-dominated markets – comes from Oman and Myanmar, where expansion of fibre-to-the-home services is under way.

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.

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

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

The likely purchase of Israeli operator Golan Telecom by Cellcom has come a step closer with news that the country’s Ministry of Finance sees no reason to oppose Cellcom’s acquisition of its rival.

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.

Continuing evidence of the importance of wireless telecommunications during the health crisis comes from the UAE, where satellite services are playing a part in the UAE’s efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic – in this case through Dubai’s ambulance services.

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.

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.

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.”

Two news stories related to the ever-topical subject of taxation of service providers have recently emerged: in Indonesia a new tax is about to be imposed, while in Syria an unpaid tax is being pursued.

Saudi Arabia offers one of the most progressive telecoms markets in the Middle East and is well positioned to capitalise on the potential opportunities offered by 5G, reports Research & Markets.

The Sultanate of Oman has established a progressive mobile sector that comprises substantial coverage of both 3G and 4G LTE networks, reports Research & Markets.