Operators

Telecel Group has finally completed its acquisition of Mattel Mauritania from Tunisie Telecom and Comatel for an undisclosed fee.

Fresh from its commercial launch in Angola’s capital of Luanda, Africell has revealed the next locations for its phased network rollout of 4G services.

Globe Telecom has announced a massive 208% surge in fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) subscriptions to 1.4 million during 2021, attributing the sharp uptake to a shift in consumer behaviour during the pandemic.

To strengthen digital services to corporate circles, Indonesian telecom major PT XL Axiata Tbk has acquired a 51% stake in local service provider PT Hipernet Indodata (Hypernet), which is a provider of managed services for telecommunications and information technology.

Axian Telecom has highlighted four key priorities in a five-year plan to accelerate growth for its newly acquired unit in Tanzania from Millicom, which it pledges will be backed by significant investment into infrastructure.

Philippines telecommunications major PLDT has deployed Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) on its commercial network, a technology that enhances network efficiency to deliver 5G, home broadband, and enterprise services.

Vodafone has reportedly entered a joint venture with Papua New Guinea operator Digitec and will begin rolling out services under the red banner later this month (April).

Telecel Group is acquiring 100% of shares in Mauritanian operator Mattel (Mauritano-Tunisienne des Télécommunications) from BSA Telecommunication and Tunisie Telecom (TT), BSA telecommunication and COMATEL.

Africell has launched commercial mobile services in Angola after months of delays, with ambitions to shake up the telecoms sector with more significant investments.  

India’s telecom minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Lok Sabha (House of the People) that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is planning to install 112,000 mobile towers across India to roll out 4G services.

Telecommunications giant MTN South Africa is investing ZAR 820 million (US$ 56 million) to modernise its network and deploy new infrastructure across Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

Lithuania’s regulator has unveiled plans for its 5G spectrum auction in the 3.5GHz band, revealing the starting price for airwaves. 

After months of delay, Africell has finally set a date for its Angola debut next month to become the fourth operator in the country.

The Government of India approved a revival plan for the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).

Israel’s Ministry of Communications has approved Amphissa Holdings’ acquisition of a 27% stake in Partner Communications for US$300 million.

Vodacom South Africa MD Balesh Sharma is leaving the mobile operator after less than two years in the role. He has decided to pursue a new opportunity in Europe after two decades with Vodafone Group, the parent company.

UAE’s telecom major e& (formerly known as Etisalat) has announced a strategic partnership with Meta, the entity that houses Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

Trilogy International Partners has agreed to sell a majority stake in Bolivian operator Nuevatel to Balesia Group for an undisclosed fee.

Brazilian regional operator Copel Telecom has changed its name and is now called Ligga.

South African multinational mobile telecommunications company MTN said it will spend over ZAR 620 million (USD 42.25 million) in the largest province in the country Northern Cape and the country's judicial capital Free State on network expansion and 5G drive.

Singapore Telecom has monetised its 1.6% stake in Airtel Africa through a market placement, as part of a capital recycling strategy to focus on new growth areas.

Helios Towers has closed its acquisition of Airtel Africa’s towers in Malawi for a total of US$54.7 million.

Indian telecom service provider, Bharti Airtel announced the prepayment of INR 88.15 billion (USD 11.58 billion) to the Department of Telecom (DoT), Government of India, of deferred liabilities related to spectrum acquired in the auction of the year 2015.

Debuting Angolan operator Africell has ended network sharing negotiations with market leader Unitel, enabling it to finally launch full commercial services after months of delay.

MTN Group has announced plans to shake up its c-suite team in three African units to support a growth strategy through developing its fintech and fibre businesses.

Zain has chosen Huawei to accelerate its upgrade from 4G to 5G and advance into so-called 5.5G across its markets with plans to develop new use cases, as the two signed a memorandum of understanding.