Operators

Chile’s telecoms regulator pledged it will monitor the shutdown of 2G networks by demanding operators submit their switch-off plans to prevent subscribers from being disconnected.

Issues about pricing and quality of mobile communications service are continuing to anger consumers in Burkina Faso, where a new boycott campaign has been announced against the country’s three main operators.

Ooredoo, Zain and UAE-based tower firm TASC Tower Holding entered talks to combine their tower assets and create the largest tower company in the MENA region.

Kazakh conglomerate Freedom Holding has confirmed its intent to enter the country’s mobile market with a 5G start-up player.

Axian Telecom signed a deal to acquire a further 40% stake in Senegalese operator Free taking its total ownership to 80% to consolidate operations.

Malaysia’s communications minister revealed the government has reached a deal outlining stakes in its wholesale 5G company Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) for the nation’s five MNOs.

Safaricom announced plans to add 595 new 5G sites by the end of March 2023, as it aims to push ahead of rivals in Kenya and capitalise on rising connectivity demand.

Senegal’s telecoms authority revealed it had provisionally given Sonatel (Orange Senegal) a 5G licence, after concluding a call for tender to extend concessions for operators. 

Malaysian operator Maxis announced it will sign an access agreement with state 5G wholesaler Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to advance the country’s 5G rollout and remain competitive against rivals who have signed.

Belgium-based operator group Proximus acquired a 58% stake in Indian cloud enterprise company Route Mobile for INR59.2 billion (US$721 million), a strategic move to enhance its digital communications.

Chilean operator Entel will begin gradually shutting down its 2G network in 2024 to focus on developing its 4G and 5G networks.

MTN tapped Ericsson to deploy sites to deliver affordable mobile broadband coverage to remote locations in Benin.

Vodacom announced it will invest ZAR500 million (US$27.4m) into its network and power backup across the Eastern Cape of South Africa in its 2023/24 financial year, as part of plans to expand its 5G network.

Orange Jordan claimed to be the first to launch commercial 5G services in the country and was the second Orange unit in the Middle East and North Africa to deploy next-generation connectivity.

Challenger Guyanese operator ENet has launched a range of new mobile services unlimited data, calls and text on its 4G/5G network nationwide to compete against its large-scale rivals.

Axian Telecom revealed Telco Oi chief executive Pierre-Antoine Legagneur took over as head of Togocom.

Kyrgyzstan’s Fund for State Property Management is set to auction off 100% of shares in the state-owned mobile operator MEGA.

Orange and e& are reportedly considering bids for the 45% stake on offer in Ethiopia-owned operator Ethio Telecom, Bloomberg reported.

Vivacom received the green light to acquire seven broadband and TV providers, despite backlash and furore from rivals who harbour concerns about competition. 

Fiji’s Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) has completed a full takeover of three ICT businesses via its majority stake in Vodafone Fiji.

Telefonica announced it will sell off shares in its Peruvian fibre optic unit PangeaCo in a move that will shave €200 million off its debt pile, and continue its asset-selling strategy.

Globe Telecom announced plans to follow the trend and tap into AI technology to automate routine tasks to significantly improve customer experience, cut costs and improve efficiency.

The Philippines' third operator DITO Telecommunity stated ambitions to turn a profit in 2028, as it continues to invest in coverage expansion to fulfil regulatory coverage targets.

Reliance Jio launched an affordable 4G feature phone in a move to gain more subscribers from remote locations in India to its digital services.

Hungarian operator group 4iG struck a deal to sell its mobile network assets and spectrum to Budapest-based wireless communications company Pro-M for HUF68 billion (US$199 million), via its subsidiary Antenna Hungaria. 

Operator iliad has sold its current stake (30%) in OnTower Poland, the Polish telecommunications infrastructure company controlled by Cellnex (which holds 70%). The company was set up by both operators in 2021 as part of Cellnex’s acquisition of the network of some 7,000 sites from mobile operator Play in Poland.

Botswana’s Consumer and Competition Authority has unconditionally approved the proposed acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital and all sale claims of MTN Business Solutions Botswana by Mascom Wireless Botswana, the country’s leading mobile telecoms company.

Thai operator AIS partnered with ZTE and Qualcomm to complete a trial of mmWave 5G standalone technology in Bangkok, a step towards the operator commercialising the technology.