Operators

The board of Vodafone Idea (aka VIL) has announced plans for its board of directors to look at a new fundraising proposal at the end of this week.

Thai operator AIS paused its acquisition of broadband units from Jasmine International as shareholders of one of the units did not approve conditions to enable AIS to change leasing optical fibre cables and payments.

Hot on the heels of rival Globe Telecom, Philippines-based operator PLDT is reportedly considering a sale of 2,000 towers for US$300m according to sources speaking to Bloomberg.

Reliance Jio signed up Nordic vendors Ericsson and Nokia to build its standalone 5G network in the wake of India completing its long-awaited 5G auction.

Globe Telecom transferred 701 towers to Miescor Infrastructure Development Corporation, as part of plans to sell over 7000 towers to raise PHP71 billion to pay for coverage expansion and debts.

Guinea’s telecom minister Ousmane Gaoual Diallo has affirmed the government’s commitment to re-launching state-owned Societe des Telecoms de Guinee (Sotelgui) in the first half of 2023.

Airtel Africa, a provider of telecommunications and mobile money services in 14 countries across Africa, is again making its presence felt in the African market with a spectrum acquisition that will boost its network in Tanzania.

MTC Namibia revealed it has to date deployed 475km of fibre to date across the country to meet the high demand of subscribers and reduce network congestion.

Safaricom is set to launch M-Pesa to rival Ethio Telecom’s Telebirr, boosting the Ethiopian economy up to two mobile money platforms.  

Telefonica Brasil (Vivo), Claro and TIM have signalled intentions to launch court proceedings against bankrupt rival Oi, for allegedly breaching contractual terms of the deal for Oi’s mobile assets, reported CommsUpdate.

The government of Timor Leste is reportedly planning to acquire the majority stake in Timor Telecom (TT) that has long been held by Brazil’s Oi.

Reliance Industries has signed a joint venture agreement with manufacturing solutions company Sanmina, a move to create a manufacturing hub in India and progress with long-term plans to domestically manufacture network gear.

Amid the fanfare about 5G in India, state-run operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has confirmed plans to start rolling out a 4G network from November and gradually upgrade it to 5G by August next year.

The Kenyan government regained full control over Telkom Kenya after forking out KES6.09 billion (US$50.3m) for the 60% majority stake held by British investment firm Helios Investment Partners, reported Ecofin Agency.

Bangladeshi operator Robi Axiata hired former Ooredoo Myanmar head Rajeev Sethi as its new chief executive officer, an appointment to advance market share.  

MTN is accelerating its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040 with the launch of a request for proposal (RFP) to convert its South African headquarters into a ‘green’ office.

Orange expanded its 5G testbed programme into Jordan to explore new use cases using the new technology standard, as part of the operator’s long-term strategy to unlock more value from 5G before launching in the country.

Plintron, which describes itself as the world's largest multi-country mobile virtual network aggregator / enabler (MVNA / MVNE) with a client base in six continents, has announced plans to launch its services in Chile this year, enabling Chilean brands to offer mobile services.

Mexico’s telecoms workers union rejected the latest proposals offered by operator Telmex to resolve strike action, potentially continuing the long-running industrial action against the operator, reported Reuters.

Hard on the heels of the announcement that its recapitalisation efforts have been completed, South African operator Cell C has done a deal with Capitec, South Africa’s largest retail bank by customers, that makes Capitec the country’s latest mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).

Qatar-based operator Ooredoo Group has apparently advanced a plan to sell off domestic and international towers, tapping up Morgan Stanley to facilitate a potential deal, reported Reuters.

­­Lebanese state-owned operator Ogero has resolved staff industrial action after president Michel Aoun bowed to demands for improved workers’ conditions and better wages, reported CommsUpdate via Lorientlejour.com.

Jusan Bank revealed it received offers for its 9.08% stake in Kazakhstani operator Kcell, and is considering a sale to National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna, Kursiv Media reported.

Telenor-owned Digi and Celcom received regulatory clearance from the Securities Commission Malaysia for its proposed merger, leaving only shareholders and the Malaysian stock exchange approvals to seal the deal.  

State-owned operator DataCo suffered massive service disruption as eastern Papua New Guinea was hit by a powerful earthquake.