In many emerging markets there is a need for more spectrum, both for backhaul and access. This is because there is a lot of growth and no alternative – GPON and DSL connections typically aren’t present, and they are often difficult to deploy in more remote regions. High-capacity last-mile solutions are far preferable to emerging market providers - spectrum is a scarce resource, so it’s important to find more intelligent ways to make use of it...

Vodafone has formed two partnerships that will use mobile technology to increase childhood vaccination levels in sub-Saharan Africa. This will support the global goal to vaccinate an additional quarter of a billion children and avert four million deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases by 2015...

The Middle Eastern operator Qatar Telecom (QTel) is reportedly considering acquiring the majority stake in Maroc Telecom...

Eight firms have been awarded 4G spectrum to offer LTE services in Malaysia by the country’s regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission...

The African cellular market is very much pulling in the subscribers...

Nigeria's telecoms and IT sector has massive growth potential, but the country must first overcome a number of key industry challenges before the sector can fulfil this...

Bharti Airtel is reportedly considering buying one of the smaller South African operators...

Iran’s mobile penetration has exceeded 100%...

According to reports, Telefonica will next year shift the location of its Latin American headquarters from Spain to Brazil, a process which will create 100 new jobs...

Saudi Arabian operator Mobily has been legally prevented from selling prepaid SIM cards by the Kingdom’s regulator...

The lack of bids on CDMA spectrum in India has prompted a number of major operators to ask that the government reallocate some of these frequencies for GSM-based operations...

Two of the largest operators in Brazil have laid out their plans for LTE launches...

The Brazilian Minister of Communications, Paolo Bernado, has delivered a coruscating tirade against regulation over the deployment of mobile infrastructure, which he believes is stymieing mobile growth...

Remote regions of Niger that were previously underserved by any form of telecommunications services will soon have access to mobile connectivity, following the completion of the first phase of a remote network rollout...

With the dust settling after the 2G spectrum auctions, the Indian market’s landscape could shift significantly through mergers and acquisitions...

Weather Investments is suing the government of Algeria for US$5 billion, claiming that the state was responsible for damages to the firm’s holding in Orascom Telecom Algérie (branded as Djezzy)...

Scandinavian operator Telenor reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian market by spending more than any of its competitors in the country’s 2G auctions...

Following a successful appeal, the Uzkbek government must relinquish control of local operator Uzdonrobita to its owner, Russian firm MTS...

Chip manufacturer Qualcomm has cited emerging markets as the main driver behind the revenue and profit that it reported in Q4 2012...

Operators in India will be able to keep 2.5MHz of higher-quality 900MHz spectrum after the country switches to the 1800MHz band...

One of India’s major operators has reportedly pulled out of the country’s impending spectrum auctions, meaning that there are now no participants bidding on CDMA frequencies...

Virgin chief Richard Branson has revealed that Virgin Mobile is currently holding discussions with Russian mobile operators with a view to launching an MVNO in the country...

The Croatian arm of Austrian operator Vipnet has procured 20MHz of spectrum in the 800MHz frequency band, which can be used to provide LTE services...

The Scandinavian operator Telenor has revealed its new Indian partner, following its confirmation that it would continue to have a presence in the country...

The top priority of any wireless provider is to make sure that the wireless signal from a device gets into the ground as soon as possible. To do this, it’s crucial to make efficient use of the available spectrum...

The Bangladeshi telecommunications market harbours significant growth potential in light of the low penetration rates...

Thailand’s regulator has lain down the gauntlet for the three 3G licence winners by demanding that they cut tariffs for voice and data by as much as 20% before they can launch services on their newly-obtained spectrum...

Now that the deadline for submissions has passed, operators have confirmed their involvement – or otherwise – in India’s 2G spectrum auctions...

ZTE has been named as the vendor for the TD-LTE networks that China Mobile is rolling out in five cities...

Considering the saga of Thailand’s 3G auctions, it is perhaps unsurprising that even after the bidding finally happened this week, they continued to court controversy...

One of Russia’s largest operators is acquiring a 50% stake in the country’s market-leading mobile retailer...

Three Nigerian CDMA operators have requested that the country’s regulator grant them permission to merge...

Qatar's two principal telecommunications operators reported better results than had been expected in the first quarter of 2012, following a relatively poor performance in the fourth quarter of 2011...