Operators

Indian operator Bharti Airtel paid INR84.65 billion (US$1 billion) towards its debt for spectrum acquired in the 2016 auction, weeks after the supreme court threw out operator pleas to readjust their dues.

A London High Court has rejected an appeal by former Unitel director Isabel dos Santos to unfreeze assets worth around US$778 million.

The Connectivity Plan Task Force (CPTF) spearheaded by Philippine telco Globe Telecom has reportedly asked the government to subsidise up to 50GB of data per month to families in rural areas to boost usage of base stations in those areas.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has approved a $400 million loan for Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL), marking a significant step toward its acquisition of Telenor Group’s operations in Pakistan.

Kenyan service provider Safaricom has been in the news this week for an initiative involving healthcare – and also for a sustainability-linked loan.

Ethiopia’s state-owned service provider Ethio Telecom has announced that it is rolling out what it calls its Copper Switch-Off Strategic Initiative; its aim is to migrate 100,000 of the company’s copper-based customers to high-speed fibre optic connections during the current Ethiopian fiscal year.

Operator Vodacom South Africa has built an enablement platform for mobile virtual network operators and signed up its first MVNO client, declaring the platform open for business.

Digicel Papua New Guinea hailed efforts in expanding its mobile network to all 21 provinces of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, noting 4G coverage now stands at 80% in the location where in the past, it was rumoured to be exiting.

Nokia signed a deal to deploy locally manufactured 5G equipment across Vietnam for state-owned operator Viettel Group.

Vietnamese telco Viettel reportedly plans to give away 4G feature phones to 700,000 of its 2G-only subscribers to migrate them to 4G as the government’s delayed shutdown of 2G draws near.

Nepalese telco Ncell has denied market rumors that it has struck a deal to take over fixed-broadband ISP Classic Tech, although it confirmed that is seeking some sort of deal with an ISP.

Axian Telecom was reportedly looking to acquire Kenya-based mobile, internet and TV provider Wananchi Group.

Vodacom South Africa unveiled the Mobicel S4 4G Cloud Phone in a bid to equip more subscribers with smartphones and migrate them to modern 4G networks.

The GSMA launched in conjunction with 19 operators its Responsible AI (RAI) Maturity Roadmap to provide operators with guidelines to effectively and safely tap into the emerging technology.

Brazilian provider Oi deployed Nokia software to enhance broadband subscriber experiences, open new revenue channels and protect its assets from theft.

India’s state-owned operator BSNL has reportedly started 5G trials in the country ahead of its imminent launch of 4G. However, mobile market leader Reliance Jio is looking much further ahead – to business cases that could monetise its (already launched) 5G network.

Just under three weeks after India’s Union Bank froze the accounts of state-run telecom firm MTNL over non-payment of dues, news reports are suggesting that at least half a dozen lenders classified loans to MTNL as non-performing assets (NPA) in August. So what happens now?

Malaysian telco CelcomDigi said on Friday it has formed a strategic partnership with Sarawak-based telecoms infrastructure firm Borneo Restu under the government’s Point of Presence (PoP) Phase 2 project to enhance high-speed internet access in Sarawak.

MTN Group’s board publicly backed CEO Ralph Mupita after an independent investigation found no evidence to support allegations of misconduct made by executives at the operator.

Telekom Malaysia (TM) deployed an AI-powered music platform that modulates voices, a move designed to develop the operator’s expertise in the rising technology.

Claro Colombia announced US$200 million will be used to upgrade its fibre optic network, a move to pave the way for advanced technologies such as AI.

Globe Telecom expanded coverage with 20 new sites across four provinces in the administrative region of Central Luzon, a move to boost digital infrastructure and support the agricultural and tourism sectors on the Philippines’ largest island.

Indian telco Bharti Airtel said on Wednesday it has deployed recently-acquired extra spectrum in Rajasthan, which it says will boost performance of its 4G and 5G services in the state.

Hungary-based 4iG Group received backing from the North Macedonian government to launch its operations in the country, edging the operator closer to a commercial launch in the Western Balkan nation.  

Brazil’s telecoms regulator Anatel announced 94.5% of Brazilian will theoretically have access to 5G from today (September 2) after releasing licences to operators for spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band.

Indonesian operator Telkomsel announced an expansion of its ‘Hyper 5G’ network in Bali, as part of broader plans to deliver comprehensive 5G across the nation.

Malaysian operator U Mobile joined rival Maxis in signing a 5G cooperation agreement with China Mobile International (CMI) to explore how to advance 5G connectivity.

Telkom Indonesia said on Tuesday that it has struck a strategic collaboration deal with Silicon Valley-based multimodal AI startup Reka AI to accelerate the development of AI that understand the 700+ languages spoken in Indonesia.

There’s a new MVNO about to enter the market in Brazil after Unifique received authorisation from regulator Anatel to launch in most of the country.