Operators From IaaS to outsourced networks: does cutting capex cost control? Deploying a mobile network has never been cheap, but the scale of the intensive capital expenditure required is increasingly pushing smaller players to seek out alternative models for delivering connectivity.
Operators Digicel CEO Marcelo Cataldo steers operator from debt crisis to growth focus Hurricane season in the Caribbean usually runs from June to November, but the storm arrived a month early at Digicel’s Jamaica headquarters in 2024, when Marcelo Cataldo (pictured) took the top job to turn around a company struggling under billions of dollars of debt.
Operators Safaricom at 25: Ndegwa eyes growth in Ethiopia Next month marks Safaricom’s 25th anniversary. CEO Peter Ndegwa (pictured) was in London to reflect on the operator’s journey - from a subsidiary of Telkom Kenya to becoming the country’s largest and most valuable enterprise.
Enterprise Ecosystems Is Agentic the next frontier for AI? As the limitations of generative AI become clearer, agentic AI has emerged as the next trend within the sector – to the extent that the term has been widely adopted, poorly defined, and consequently often misunderstood amidst all the hype.
Operators Why autonomous networks could be a game-changer for emerging markets China Mobile (CM) was recently hailed for becoming a high-level autonomous network in only six years. The operator’s efforts were not wasteful and have showcased results that all operators, not just emerging market players, should strive for.
Devices & Platforms Device registries: Making the grey market more black and white Globally, smartphone sales have been declining for the past few years, with emerging markets one of the few growth drivers. However, the cost of smartphones is a major barrier to adoption in these regions, and this has resulted in thriving grey markets for devices that are resold outside of...
Operators Will the real MVNOs please stand up? Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are playing an increasingly vital role in spreading connectivity across emerging markets. While they typically operate in smaller-scale environments than Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), MVNOs are often hotbeds of innovation - especially in areas like...
Satellite Networks How non-terrestrial networks are finally making satellite more affordable Cellular operators cannot hope to match the coverage that satellite delivers, but this advantage has long made the technology prohibitively expensive for providing widespread connectivity.
Operators Telenor: No plan B for Pakistan, exit now Telenor’s planned exit from Pakistan is currently being held up by the country’s competition authority – a delay the Nordic group argues is stagnating digital development in the South Asian nation.
Enterprise Ecosystems Why asset management is the missing link in carbon reduction As mobile networks expand and data demands explode, sustainability is becoming more than a buzzword, it’s a mandate. Telecom operators around the globe are under increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprints, comply with climate regulations, and cut energy costs. But there’s a problem:...
Consumer Ecosystems Super Apps – here to save the day? Super Apps are gaining traction globally, and while the core concept remains consistent, their implementation and reception vary significantly across diverse regions – although ease of financial management typically underpins the offering. Operators are increasingly evolving their owns...
Operators Globe Telecom’s AI chief: Building smart, secure foundations for the future At Digital Transformation World in Copenhagen this year, there were many cheerleaders for AI - and chief among them was Anton Bonifacio (pictured), who holds the unique dual role of Chief AI Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Globe Telecom.
Mobile Finance How fintechs and institutions can bridge the usage gap in Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a paradox in its financial transformation. Mobile network coverage now extends to 84% of the population, yet only 25% are actively connected, leaving a 59% usage gap.
Consumer Ecosystems Veon puts LLMs at the heart of its AI strategy At a recent roundtable discussion, Veon’s Lasha Tabidze described how the group is positioning itself as a service delivery company with LLMs at the core of its AI strategy.
Enterprise Ecosystems Refurbishing can drive a more circular economy in telecoms The telecoms sector is admirable in its pursuit of sustainability – but this is at least in part motivated by the sheer cost of constantly replacing network equipment and devices as they slide into obsolescence. While manufacturers are increasingly focused on extending the lifespan of...
Satellite Networks Satellites, Starlink and the race to connect Africa Connectivity in Africa has been a hot topic for decades, often framed as a bastion of opportunity due to the continent’s immense population still awaiting digital access.
Trends & Forecasts Debt, disruption, and dead ends: Telefonica’s tactical retreat from Latin America Telefonica has been active in Latin America for decades – but in late 2019, it announced plans to withdraw from many of the markets in this region, divesting or spinning off its operations in a process that is ongoing. From a business standpoint, this made sense – aside from its Brazilian unit,...
Wireless Networks India’s 5G journey: From uncertainty to global contender India’s mobile landscape prior to 2022 was murky in the context of 5G. Operators, regulators, and stakeholders were embroiled in disputes over inadequate infrastructure and high spectrum pricing - leaving the country’s burgeoning population of over one billion trailing behind as other nations...
Mobile Finance How mobile money continues to remain impactful The GSMA recently released its State of the Industry Mobile Money Report, looking at how the sector has grown in the past year. Mobile money has of course been one of the major success stories for the industry in emerging markets, and we’ve certainly found in the past that
Consumer Ecosystems In the loop: why a circular device economy makes more sense The linear business model long employed by the mobile device economy is slowly starting to shift, with a number of converging factors – consumer attitudes, pricing, and an industry-wide push for sustainability – leading to an increased focus on the idea of a more circular economy.
Operators Vodacom CTO sees satellites as an opportunity, not a threat Vodacom Group CTO Dejan Kastelic (pictured) believes satellite providers like Starlink are not a threat to mobile operators but rather an opportunity to enhance telecom services in emerging markets with challenging infrastructure deployment.
Optical & Fixed Networks Are there alternatives to building out fibre in Africa? As data-hungry services become prevalent globally, escalating data demand is hardly a new phenomenon – but addressing it can be a challenge in markets where fibre buildout is lacking. In terms of fibre deployment, many African countries face hurdles in terms of investment, logistics or both –...
Blogs & Opinion MWC25: Artificial Intelligence, but no artifice? Our Editorial Team's Impressions And with that, Mobile World Congress Barcelona is over for another year - so how did it stack up compared to previous years? Our editorial team gives their impressions.
Trends & Forecasts Which key trends will be on the agenda at MWC2025? It’s that time of year again – we’re off to Barcelona next week for Mobile World Congress 2025. As we did last year, our editorial team – James, Manny, Julian and Vaughan - got together to discuss the key talking points and technology trends that we expect to emerge this year.
Enterprise Ecosystems Has 5G fulfilled its enterprise promise? 5G was heralded as the generation to transform connectivity, vastly outperforming 4G across multiple metrics. Operators and enterprises alike were eager to explore its potential, hoping it would unlock new revenue streams for the telecoms industry.
Operators MTN Nigeria CEO defends tariff hikes amidst backlash MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola has defended recent tariff hikes by mobile network operators, stating they are essential for the “survival” of the telecoms industry in Nigeria, despite significant criticism.
Mobile Finance How agency banking is transforming financial access in developing countries The journey toward financial inclusion begins with trust. For individuals unfamiliar with formal financial systems, having low-cost and reliable ways to deposit and withdraw money — cash-in, cash-out (CICO) services — is essential. These accessible solutions build confidence, encouraging people...
Enterprise Ecosystems Deep cuts: what DeepSeek’s low-cost alternative means for AI This week’s revelation that DeepSeek’s R1 model can offer performance in line with ChatGPT at a fraction of the development cost has had a cataclysmic impact on the AI space, particularly in the US.
Enterprise Ecosystems DeepSeek sparks AI debate: High performance on a budget Chinese AI company DeepSeek coming out of nowhere and shaking the cores of Silicon Valley and Wall Street was something no one anticipated....
Cloud & Virtualisation India: The Next Growth Market for Companies Globally India’s digital transformation over the last decade has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the days of dial-up connections, the nation has surged into a new era of rapid digitization.
Operators Axian Telecom CEO demands fair competition Developing Telecoms recently spoke with Hassan Jaber (pictured), the newly appointed CEO of Axian Telecom and a former MTN executive, as he navigates the...
Trends & Forecasts Telecoms in 2025: balancing efficiencies today with investment for tomorrow As we move into 2025, market analysts are advising telcos to channel their investments in Gen AI more towards revenue-generating opportunities rather than back-office productivity, and to prioritise high-value enterprise customers even over consumers. However, the difficult economic climate...
Trends & Forecasts Mixed fortunes in a challenging 2024 for the telecoms sector As had been anticipated, 2024 proved to be another challenging year for the communications industry. Declining growth in fixed and mobile broadband network investments coupled with the ongoing struggle to monetise new 5G services, and accompanied by the global economic downturn, continued to...
Enterprise Ecosystems Localising LLMs – AI innovation in low resource languages The integration of AI presents as many challenges to operators as it does opportunities. We recently explored how telcos are ensuring an ethical approach to AI in terms of corporate governance, and how they are able to demonstrate this through assurance models and tools.
Enterprise Ecosystems Enabling Ethical AI Adoption With around 75% of operators now launching Generative AI commercially, integrated AI strategies are increasingly essential for facilitating the interactions between AI and networks. Societal concerns around AI adoption put pressure on businesses to demonstrate an ethical approach in...
Optical & Fixed Networks Telstra International: the Philippines is emerging as Asia’s next connectivity hub The Philippines is well on its way to becoming a major connectivity hub in Asia. The archipelago has a strategic geographical location and is a key node for submarine connectivity, with the subsea route between the Philippines and the US attracting particular investment.
Regulation Resilience in connectivity: Ukraine’s digital battlefront In what has been an unprecedented year for global elections, the world may look drastically different by next year. For Ukrainians, however, life changed profoundly two years ago. On 24 February 2022, many packed the bare essentials and fled to safe havens as Russian forces began their...
Satellite Networks Starlink’s race for space Starlink’s ascension has made waves in the satellite sector across the last year – in particular, the number of operating licences it has snapped up in emerging markets feels like the satellite equivalent of a land-grab.
Energy & Sustainability AI is crucial for achieving Net Zero goals At the recent Net Zero Festival in London, the role of AI in the transition towards net zero was the subject of a panel discussion that brought together key thinkers in the sector.
Vendors AI: Front and centre at GITEX Global 2024 At GITEX Global 2024 in Dubai, artificial intelligence (AI) was the most talked-about topic, with companies from across industries showcased how AI and machine learning are reshaping business operations and consumer experiences.
Operators GSA: A snapshot of Africa’s telecoms landscape For the longest time, Africa has been the continent chronically playing catch-up, unable to compete with larger economic powerhouses in more developed markets.
Regulation Setting the standard: TSB’s Bilel Jamoussi As the ITU prepares to hold the World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA) in India – the first time the event has ever taken place in Asia – we spoke to Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy-Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB), to discuss how the experiences of...
Satellite Networks Can direct-to-device technology enhance connectivity in emerging markets? Satellite communications are a longstanding technology that have remained inaccessible due to their higher costs – and arguably limited capabilities - compared to terrestrial networks. However, recent advances in the technology have seen direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity gaining...
Devices & Platforms How do we improve smartphone affordability in Africa? Despite the surge in demand for smartphones last year in Africa, feature phones continue to hold their ground and account for a substantial 52% of market share on the continent.
Operators The convoluted journey of Malaysia’s 5G plan Recognising the potential boost for the economy, Malaysia broke the mould by opting to push mobile network operators to deploy 5G through a single network strategy.
Wireless Networks The Slow Adoption of Standalone 5G As global demand for data continues to surge, the need for more robust and efficient connectivity solutions becomes paramount. Enter 5G standalone – a transformative technology poised to revolutionise not just download and upload speeds but unlock an array of innovative use cases. This next-gen...
Wireless Networks Will enhanced automation help Open RAN find an audience? Open RAN has long been billed as an appealing option for vendors in emerging markets but numerous factors have stalled adoption. The cost of ownership is relatively high, and a core part of the appeal – the freedom to choose equipment from different suppliers – is somewhat undermined as many...
Energy & Sustainability Collective action is needed to cut Scope 3 emissions in telecoms As a major consumer of energy, the telecoms sector has long been pursuing initiatives to reduce its impact on the climate. Most operators have implemented measures to reduce their Scope 1 and Scope 2 (direct and indirect) emissions, but Scope 3 is often overlooked.
Regulation Connectivity black out: an unfortunate ‘common tactic’ Internet shutdowns are described as a “common tactic” used by government to supress dissent, according to the World Economic Forum. This is increasingly an unacceptable reality given that connectivity is now so ingrained in the majority of economies that any such disruption can have a massive...
Humanitarian Comms Interview: TSF's Sébastien Gillet With extreme weather events increasingly common as a result of climate change, coordinating disaster response is an unfortunately ubiquitous challenge for relief organisations. Communications are of course essential for this, and organisations such as Télécoms Sans Frontières ensure that...
