Slovenia’s telecom sector is dominated by four operators and following significant regulatory efforts to develop competition the incumbent telco Telekom Slovenije faces stiffening challenges from operators such as A1 Slovenia and Telemach.

Slovakia’s incumbent telco Slovak Telekom retains its dominance of the fixed-line voice and broadband sector, though there is effective competition in the mobile market, where most investment is being channelled. The main operators including O2 Slovakia and Orange Slovakia have expanded into offering bundled fixed and mobile services.

Peru’s government has implemented a new law requiring operators to guarantee a minimum connection speed of 70% of the contracted rate – an increase of 30%.

With a population approaching 125 million and with relatively low broadband and mobile penetration, Mexico’s telecom sector retains significant potential for growth.

A major drawback for Paraguay’s telecom sector is that the country is landlocked, making it dependent on neighbouring countries for interconnection with submarine cable networks.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in India announced the operational guidelines for the production-linked incentive (PLI) and invited applications for the scheme for telecom and networking equipment.

Fixed-line teledensity in Papua New Guinea has seen little change over the past two decades. Progress in the country’s telecom sector has come primarily from mobile networks, where accessibility has expanded considerably in recent years, with population coverage increasing from less than 3% in 2006 to more than 90% by early 2021.

Timor-Leste has been moving forward with the regeneration of its economy and rebuilding key infrastructure, including telecommunications networks, that were destroyed during the years of civil unrest.

The Moroccan National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) has published a decision detailing a number of amendments concerning spectrum used with low-power short-range devices.

More tower deals have been announced in what has become an increasingly busy market for both buyers and sellers. The latest two deals involve American Tower Corporation (ATC) buying in Latin America and Airtel Africa selling in Tanzania.

There have been media reports that Syria’s Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection has approved articles of association for a potential third wireless provider.

Last week saw an announcement from Angola’s Instituto de Gestão de Activos e Participações do Estado (IGAPE), opening what is called a Limited Tender for Previous Qualification to privatise 51 percent of operator Net One.

Pan-African operator MTN may have a second look at bidding for a mobile operator license in Ethiopia, despite being taken out of contention for apparently underbidding first time round, according to comments made recently by its chief executive.

The World Bank says it has approved $150 million for a project to help increase access to high-quality broadband internet services in Tanzania. It's one of a number of Tanzanian projects receiving World Bank financing that are aimed at improving not just connectivity but rural roads and the learning environment.

Croatia's telecommunications regulator HAKOM launched a public auction for the allocation of RF spectrum for fifth-generation (5G) mobile communications networks in the Republic of Croatia.

Estonia’s Telia Eesti has stated that it plans to shut down its 3G network by the end of 2023.

Mexico Telecom Partners (MTP), which is among the largest private tower companies in Mexico, may be up for sale.

São Tomé and Principe’s incumbent provider Companhia Santomense de Telecomunicacoes (CST) has disclosed that it is awaiting clearance from the country’s regulator to deploy 4G services.

The world's largest mobile operator by subscribers, China Mobile has approved plans for a potential $6.06 billion listing in Shanghai Stock Exchange. As part of that plan, the Chinese state-owned company will issue up to 964.8 million shares or 4.5% of its total issued shares.

The general shareholders of the Colombian operator WOM Colombia have agreed to proceed with a merger by absorption of mobile operator Avantel within 3 to 4 months, said a special merger notification from the Chilean telecommunication group.

Togo’s regulator ARCEP has fined mobile operator Moov Togo XOF593 million (US$1.1 million) for “serious and lasting breaches of its obligation to provide its electronic communications networks and services on a permanent and continuous basis.”

The continuing importance of the small and medium enterprise (SME) market – and helping to enabling it for a digital future – is a theme reiterated in a number of initiatives, most recently from Malaysia’s Maxis and Bahrain’s Batelco.

Ghana is all set to begin re-registration of SIM cards with Ghana Card, the country’s smart national ID, or risk getting their SIMs blocked.

Ethiopia’s telecommunications regulator awarded one operating license to a consortium led by Kenya’s Safaricom Vodafone, Japan’s Sumitomo Brook Taye, and UK finance agency CDC Group.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has accepted the proposal of a single orbital position of 26.7 degrees West and the frequency channels of future satellite networks of the Republic of Serbia for the FSS (Fixed Satellite Service) and BSS (Broadcast Satellite Service).

Claro Chile has signed a US$10.75 million deal to acquire a 2×15MHz holding of 3.5GHz spectrum from rival operator Entel.