Operators

Allegations of impropriety by Turkish operator Turkcell and its subsidiary East Asian Consortium (EAC) against South African operator MTN over the award of the first private mobile telecommunications licence in Iran have been dismissed by the High Court of South Africa.

The Somali National Communications Authority (NCA) issued Hormuud Telecom with the country’s first spectrum licence closing its vetting processing which began earlier this year, a move to promote open markets, competition, and investment in the telecoms sector. 

Now Telecom partnered with the US government to develop 5G technologies for its eventual deployment in the Philippines.

Indian operator Vodafone Idea (aka VIL) may have finally found a way to solve at least one of its debt issues after announcing plans to issue debentures worth 16 billion rupees (about US$195.6 million) to American Tower Corporation (ATC).

Philippines-based operator PLDT revealed there are several interested parties in buying 2,000 telecom towers from its portfolio.

Telenor Group announced the merger between its unit DTAC and True will not meet its end-of-year deadline target as conditions for the tie-up were not met in time.  

Brazilian ISP Brisanet has delayed the launch of its planned 5G offering into next year.

Papua New Guinea operator Telikom expanded its partnership with Kacific Broadband Satellites Group to bolster its network reach in the island nation.

Axiata and Digi’s boards have both approved the proposed merger of their respective Malaysian mobile units, Celcom Axiata and Digi Telecommunications.

Ukrainian operator Kyivstar restored connectivity services in the south and eastern parts of Ukraine, as Russian troops retreat from key locations such as the region of Kherson.

Safaricom Ethiopia has hit what it describes as “a key milestone in operations” as it establishes its network across Ethiopia. It now claims it has registered one million active customers on its network.

AIS announced its acquisitions of Jasmine International broadband units is going ahead despite certain conditions set for the buy being rejected when the deal was announced.

The Ethiopian government opened up for international investors to acquire a 40% stake in state-owned operator Ethio telecom, a move seemingly to keep the provider competitive against new player Safaricom, while also touting a third telecoms licence.

Digicel Group Holdings has warned that its business is being impacted by current unrest in Haiti.

South African operator Vodacom has registered an H1 drop in both operating profit and net profit which it has attributed to losses from its start-up business in Ethiopia and higher finance costs.

Telenor is pursuing the sale of its Pakistani operations, with invitations the first round of bids likely to be issued this month.

MTN Group has named Lebanon’s M1 New Ventures as the buyer of its Afghan unit as it prepares to finalise its exit from the market.

Several Latin American operators are set to shut down networks based on older technology standards.

Dolphin Telecoms has been issued an MVNO licence by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).

Malaysia’s Maxis has confirmed that its board is evaluating the governance requirements for signing an access deal with the country’s 5G wholesale vehicle Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB).

Angolan President President Joao Lourenco has issued a decision finalising the transfer of ownership stakes in mobile market leader Unitel from private companies Vidatel and Geni to the state – effectively nationalising the operator.

Malaysian operators Celcom Axiata, DiGi Telecommunications, Telekom Malaysia and U Mobile have now signed agreements to access – for ten years – the much-delayed wholesale 5G network rolled out and run by state agency Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB).

Benin’s state-owned infrastructure firm SBIN (Societe Beninoise d’Infrastructures Numeriques) has entered the country’s mobile market as its third player.

Telia saw its complaint thrown out by Lithuania’s Supreme Administrative Court, ruling rival Bite was not gaining an unfair advantage from acquiring state-owned broadband provider MEZON’s spectrum, CommsUpdate reported.