Estonia’s scheduled spectrum auction has stalled following a legal challenge from a smaller local player.

As we suggested earlier this week, Indian operators Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have told the country’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that they will not pay an estimated $12.4 billion between them in adjusted gross revenue (AGR)-related fees due today as they are awaiting next week’s Supreme Court hearing relating to a modification petition. 

Thai regulator NBTC expects the country’s upcoming spectrum auction to bring in THB64 billion ($2.1 billion) now that state-owned operators TOT and CAT are allowed to participate.

Telefonica has received a €10 billion offer on a majority stake in its business across eight Latin American markets.

Bharti Airtel has been granted permission by India’s Department of Telecommunications to receive up to 100% of its paid-up capital from overseas investors.

Samsung is reportedly lining up an investment of $500 million for a smartphone display manufacturing plant in India.

Telenor has rekindled rumours of a possible merger with Axiata after reaching out to the Malaysian group’s largest shareholder to discuss the acquisition of a minority stake.

The fascinating – except perhaps to the central actors – saga of the massive payments due to the government from Indian operators has continued to add some twists after new legal representations offered hopes of a reprieve to some of India’s biggest service providers.

After receiving permits to trial 5G technologies from the Department of Telecommunications, India’s operators have selected suppliers for their tests.

Representatives of Telekom Romania have reportedly met with the country’s Prime Minister Ludovic Orban to discuss the sale of OTE Group’s holding in the operator.

We reported the likelihood of delays to the Brazilian 5G auction earlier this week. Now a government official has confirmed that interference issues are at least part of the reason for the delays.

According to a release on the Subtel Chile website, the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel) has set up a public consultation asking all interested parties for comment on the planned 5G spectrum auction.

Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has announced plans to allow new mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) to compete to provide services in the kingdom.

According to the UK’s Financial Times newspaper, Brazil’s auction of 5G spectrum, planned for March, has been delayed, with no new date set.

Nigeria’s attorney general has withdrawn a $2 billion tax demand against operator MTN Nigeria in a saga that dates back to August 2018, when the demand was first issued.

UZI Zambia Mobile has postponed its commercial launch again, with the Zambian government citing financial issues.

Recent press announcements from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the regulator for the converging communications and multimedia industry in Malaysia, indicate a ramping up of 5G activity in the country.

Pakistani operators Jazz and Zong have each been issued 5G test licences valid for six months by the country’s regulator, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Oman Future Telecoms (OFT) is leasing towers from Oman Tower Company in order to bring its wireless offering to the market.

An entrant in Colombia’s recent spectrum auction has asked to retract its bid after accidentally offering to pay ten times more than the going rate for the licence.

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) must repay INR1.04 billion (USD14.4 million) to the bankrupt operator Reliance Communications (RCom) after the country’s Supreme Court upheld a ruling by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).