Operators

According to recent reports in the Indian press, The Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) has added its voice to those concerned about prices for 5G spectrum recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The GSMA, which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, has announced a new initiative aimed at developing a mobile industry climate action roadmap in line with the Paris Agreement.

El Salvador’s Superintendencia de Competencia has rejected America Movil’s application to acquire Telefonica’s local unit for the second time.

As operators gear up for 4G or 5G rollouts in many regions, spectrum availability and spectrum prices are again in the news. Now the GSMA has intervened in the debate with what may be its strongest message to date on spectrum pricing.

Vietnam’s market leader Viettel has snubbed Chinese suppliers for its 5G network buildout, instead opting for equipment from Ericsson and Nokia.

Axiata and Telenor have dropped the proposed merger of their Asian businesses while noting that talks may resume in the future.

Safaricom’s interim CEO Michael Joseph has dismissed rumours that the company objects to an upcoming merger between its domestic rivals Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya.

Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Ministry is reportedly putting forward a proposal to merge the country’s two state-run operators, CAT and TOT, by the middle of next year.

Thai market leader AIS has signed cooperation agreements with several international vendors for joint research and testing of 5G technology.

Millicom has completed its acquisition of Telefonica’s Panama unit.

The Philippines looks likely to receive a fourth major commercial mobile operator shortly after its third, with Now Telecom set to launch 5G services and build out a backbone network across the country.

Nepal’s Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Ncell Axiata after it took legal action against a NPR63 billion ($542 million) capital gains tax bill.

Vodafone Idea CEO Balesh Sharma has resigned, with Vodafone Group’s India representative Ravinder Takkar appointed as his replacement.

UPDATE: Bharti Airtel has dismissed speculation that it could sell a stake to Japanese operator SoftBank after CNBC reported that the companies were holding preliminary discussions over a possible investment.

Vodafone Idea has sustained a net loss for the third consecutive quarter following its fiscal Q1 for 2020.

In a bid to reduce operating expenditure, TIM Brasil and Telefonica’s local unit Vivo are holding talks over a potential 2G & 4G infrastructure sharing agreement.

Shareholders in the Bulgarian operator Vivacom have confirmed that the unit is to be put up for sale.

Indonesian number three Indosat Ooredoo is looking to sell off 3000 towers in order to raise funds as it prepares for a pronounced increase in its capital expenditure.

Bharti Airtel has now fully acquired Tata Teleservices’ consumer mobile unit, providing the operator with access to three different 4G spectrum bands.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore has passed away after succumbing to acute myeloid leukaemia.

Bahraini operator VIVA Bahrain has not only announced the launch of its home broadband 5G network, VIVA 5G, but is helping to bring 5G to a new 46-storey building.