Operators

Malaysian operator CelcomDigi has teamed with DHL Supply Chain Malaysia to launch what is billed as Malaysia’s first autonomous inventory management system to be powered by both 5G and artificial intelligence (AI).

Sri Lankan telco Dialog Axiata says it has successfully completed what it claims is the first-ever trial of Voice over New Radio (VoNR) on a Standalone (SA) 5G trial network in Sri Lanka.

Madagascar’s Axian has closed its acquisition of additional shares in Senegal’s Free.

Netherlands-based operator group Veon has announced that it has completed its exit from Russia with the closing of the sale of its Russian operations to a group of senior members of the PJSC VimpelCom management team, led by VimpelCom CEO Alexander Torbakhov.

Thai mobile operator AIS has partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) with a new campaign to boost the country’s tourism numbers by making mobile digital services easier to use.  

Cambodian operator CamGSM PLC says it has cleared two key regulatory hurdles to listing its planned US$20 billion sustainability bond next month.

Philippines mobile operator Globe Telecom says it’s managed to reduce incidents of cable theft as it announces plans to boost collaboration with local government units (LGUs) and law enforcement authorities to combat the problem.

Philippines telco PLDT and wireless subsidiary Smart Communications say they have expanded their Ligtas Kit programme nationwide, with 58 kits now deployed to municipalities and cities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to provide resilient communications during natural disasters.

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has met with yet more financial woes after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) dismissed its appeal relating to its outstanding licence fees for the fiscal years between 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Kenya’s cabinet is seeking to reverse the government’s purchase of a 60% majority holding in Telkom Kenya obtained from Helios Investment Partners in October 2022.

A legal case brought against the Philippines’ National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) by operator NOW Telecom has been dismissed by the country’s Court of Appeals.

Globe Telecom struck a deal to sell off its 77% stake in fintech company Electronic Commerce Payments (ECPay) to Mynt for PHP2.3 billion (US$40.7 million).

Copenhagen, September 20, 2023 – Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (“IOH” or “Indosat”) will celebrate its 56th anniversary this year. Since officially operating as a newly merged entity on January 4, 2022, Indosat was born with the larger purpose to connect and empower the people of Indonesia by accelerating the nation's digital transformation.

MTN revealed plans to expand its fintech arm to include remittance services in a move to tap into the 15% of South Africans who are unbanked. 

State-backed Argentinean provider ARSAT is reportedly planning to deploy fixed wireless access (FWA) services using its 700MHz and AWS spectrum holding.

Telecom Egypt finalised a deal to host AFR-IX Telecom's  Medusa subsea cable which will connect to the Red Sea through the operator's network by the end of 2025.

Globe Telecom partnered with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and four ISPs to fight back against piracy and protect intellectual property. 

Globe Telecom secured a PHP15 billion (US$263 million) loan from Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company to finance its network upgrade and debt refinancing.

India’s Vodafone Idea (Vi) has shot down speculation in the local press that it could be acquired by a US company.

The Ugandan High Court’s commercial division has ruled that Smile Communications and American Tower Corp must settle their dispute via arbitration.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics, known locally as KemKominfo, has confirmed that talks are underway regarding a merger of operators XL Axiata and Smartfren.

Thai state-owned operator National Telecom (NT) rented RAN gear from AIS to enable its commercial 5G strategy, with the latter tapping into the former's 700MHz spectrum.

Theft of operator-owned equipment has been in the news in both Botswana and South Africa this week as Botswana Telecommunications Corporation’s (BTC) deals with copper theft and Vodacom with battery theft.

Colombia’s telecoms regulator announced operators Claro, Movistar, WOM and Tigo agreed to invest a total of COP3.5 billion (US$876m) into connectivity infrastructure, a move to connect a further 12 million new users and increase the number of connected citizens.

MTN Group announced its Nigeria unit acquired more spectrum in the 2.6GHz frequency to enhance capacity and customer experience.

Indonesian fixed broadband and TV provider Link Net partnered with Cisco and cloud firm Qwilt to upgrade its capacity in a move to enhance streaming services in over 3 million homes.