Operators

South African communications regulator ICASA has approved the transfer of operator Cell C’s spectrum and network licences to Blue Label Telecoms, paving the way, except for one more approval, for the technology company to take control of Cell C.

The Angolan government plans to sell its shares in the troubled state-owned operator Unitel as part of broader efforts to privatise the country’s economy.

WOM Colombia has announced plans to roll out its 5G networks this year, following a bailout from new investors that rescued the operator from bankruptcy last week.

MTN Nigeria has renewed its spectrum band licence (referred to as Channel 1) in Nigeria for an extra ten years, effective from the start of this year.

Philippines-based PLDT Global said on Thursday it has extended its exclusive partnership with Saudi Arabia’s STC Group for a second year to deliver high-quality international voice services across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Airtel Malawi, one of the two dominant mobile operators in the Southeast African country along with TNM, has announced plans to boost its network with additional data links and to enhance reliability.

Malaysia’s second 5G operator U Mobile reportedly intends to complete the rollout its 5G network by mid-2026, and says it won’t need to partner with other operators to do it.

Globe Telecom hailed the arrest of two Chinese nationals for attempting to sell pre-registered SIM cards.

Kazakhtelecom completed the US$1.1 billion sale of its subsidiary, Mobile Telecom Service LLP, to Qatari Power International Holding (PIH) in a move to align with the Kazakh president’s orders to demonopolise the Kazakh mobile market.

Veon announced plans to float its Ukrainian operator, Kyivstar, on the Nasdaq stock exchange through the signing of a letter of intent (LOI) with investment company Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp.

Malaysian telco U Mobile announced on Wednesday it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CIMB Bank to extend financing support for its upcoming 5G network rollout.

Malaysian telco U Mobile is reportedly set to deploy between 5,000 and 7,000 5G sites across the country as it prepares to take on the role of the country’s second 5G operator, and is likely to collaborate with other telcos in the process.

Indian telco Reliance Jio is reportedly moving to ramp up onboarding of new customers for its AirFiber 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) business over the next year in an apparent move to boost 5G ARPUs ahead of a planned IPO later this year.

Cameroon’s state-owned telco Cameroon Telecommunications (Camtel) has reportedly revealed a budget of XAF326.2 billion (US$514.7 million) for 2025 to upgrade its network infrastructure and improve service quality, along with a strategic roadmap to steward its evolution to 2027.

Indian operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) says it is preparing to launch its commercial 5G mobile services in what is described as a phased manner from March 2025.

The telecommunications sector in the Republic of Congo is welcoming a new arrival with the announcement that Brazzaville-headquartered and state-owned operator Congo Telecom, known mainly for fixed services, has entered the mobile market.

Operator Movistar Colombia has announced the launch of its shared network with former rival operator Tigo. This comes after a fairly lengthy wait since we reported the companies’ signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to pursue a network sharing arrangement via a jointly owned infrastructure company in mid-2023.

Accenture’s Managing Director for Communications, Media & Technology Lead Africa, Nitesh Singh (pictured), warned telecom operators they must embrace digital transformation to survive, especially with innovative players like Starlink encroaching on the connectivity market.

Telkom South Africa said on Tuesday its US$355 million selloff of its Swiftnet tower business to infrastructure-focused private equity firm Actis has cleared its final hurdle after getting the green light from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

Given its recent troubles, the Moody's Ratings downgrade of operator Telefonica del Peru’s Corporate Family Rating (CFR) and senior unsecured rating to Caa1 from B2 is not great news.

ST Telemedia said on Thursday that it will sell the majority of its stake in Malaysian telco U Mobile to local firm Mawar Setiam, which is majority-owned by U Mobile chairman Vincent Tan, in a deal that could see the country’s royal family hold a combined controlling stake in the telco.

Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) has signed a two-year extension with Nokia to expand its 4G and 5G network across Indonesia.

Connectivity solutions provider iBASIS announced it was selected as Caribbean-based operator Paradise Mobile’s international gateway partner.

Vodafone Group has announced the sale of its remaining 3% stake in the Indian tower company Indus Towers for US$300 million to help reduce its significant debt pile.

Tunisian telcos Tunisie Telecom, Orange Tunisie and Ooredoo Tunisia have been granted 5G licences by the Ministry of Communication Technologies and Digital Economy, clearing the way for 5G services to be launched sometime next year.

Telefonica’s sale of shares in its fibre optic network in Peru to investment fund KKR and Chilean telco Entel collapsed after the deal was announced in July 2023.

South African telco Vodacom says it has launched the first 4G base station in the village of Thathe Vondo in Thohoyandou, Thulamela Municipality in Limpopo province as part of its effort to expand rural coverage in the country.

Incumbent telco Lao Telecom announced it has expanded its 5G service to Savannakhet province, with coverage now available at ten locations in the provincial capital of the same name.

Malaysian telco CelcomDigi said on Tuesday it has renewed its partnerships with tower companies Edotco Group, Edgepoint Infrastructure, D’Harmoni Telco Infra and PDC Telecommunication Services as part of its ongoing project to integrate and modernise its network.