Operators

Guyana’s mobile network operators welcomed with open arms the government’s decision to abolish taxes on mobile phones, in a bid to spur growth in the telecoms sector.

Two World Bank members revealed plans to invest in Safaricom Ethiopia, intending to invest US$157.4 million in the operator’s parent company and loan the operator US$100 million, to enable expansion plans.

Colombian mobile providers Movistar and Tigo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pursue a network sharing arrangement via a jointly-owned infrastructure company.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications apparently announced its recent spectrum auction has been unsuccessful with no bids for airwaves, reported VietNamNet. 

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is reportedly still in the mix to acquire Vodafone Egypt shares from Telecom Egypt Egypt, with a deal potentially to be announced this month, reported Daily News Egypt. 

Illiad-owned Polish operator Play expanded its TV and broadband arms by acquiring 100% shares in rival provider Syrion. 

While there are strong rumours that funding may soon be withdrawn from one state-owned Indian operator, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), the much bigger Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is clearly still deemed worthy of support after a major injection of funding got the go-ahead this week.

Mexican operator Telmex reached a settlement with a worker’s union proposing a 5.6% rise in pay after almost a year of disputes with striking employees.

Indian press reports are suggesting that state-owned operator Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) may be shut down in the face of continuing losses and mounting debt.

MTC Namibia recorded the fastest mobile and fixed internet speeds in Namibia last year, according to data from industry bench markers Ookla.

Starlink has received an operating licence from the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), further expanding its Latin American footprint.

Smartphone sales in Africa mirrored other emerging markets as macroeconomic factors hit consumer pockets, leading to a decline in vendor shipments. 

Following today’s report on the need to reduce the mobile internet gender gap there is some, potentially, positive news from Nigeria, where operator MTN Nigeria has announced that it is aiming for gender equality by reserving up to 70% of recruitment and promotion slots for women.

The Togolese Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) warned operators Moov Africa Togo (Maroc Telecom) and Togo Cellulaire (Axian), will face penalties if quality of service is not improved.

Russia’s MegaFon has issued a legal challenge against sanctions placed upon it by the European Union.

Beleaguered Indian operator Vodafone Idea has logged its first annual revenue increase since it was created in 2018 through the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.

Azerbaijani operator Azercell expanded its 4G network to reach the city of Nakhchivan as part of its nationwide network modernisation project to blanket the Nakhchivan municipality with 4G by the end of the year.

CamTel, MTN, Orange and Viettel were fined a total of XAF6 billion (US$9.8 million) for poor quality of service in Cameroon, where subscribers staged protests in their demand for improved services. 

Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT) will launch 10Gbps fibre with vendor partner Nokia, a move the vendor said is the first deployment of the broadband speeds.

MTN Ghana CEO Selorm Adadevoh said the unit is expected to exceed the US$1 billion infrastructure investment target it set out in 2021 by 2026.

The slightly confusing saga of Brazilian operator Oi continues. It is now seeking a huge sum of money in emergency funding.

Indian state-owned operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) ordered INR150 billion (US$1.83 billion) worth of infrastructure equipment and software from IT firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). 

MTN Nigeria expanded its 5G network to 13 cities since its commercial launch in September last year and revealed there are no plans to shut down 2G and 3G networks. 

Philippines-based operator PLDT revealed it closed the sale and leaseback of 135 towers with Unity Digital Infrastructure. 

Four of Vietnam’s major network operators have applied to compete for three spectrum licences at the country’s next auction, reported VietnamNet. 

Vietnamese state-owned operator Viettel implemented analytics software from Ericsson in a move to upgrade 4G quality of service.

Cambodian operator CamGSM has confirmed that it will proceed with listing on the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) after receiving approval in principle in April.

Zimbabwean state-owned mobile provider Telecel has been placed under bankruptcy protection measures to avoid its liquidation.

The Egyptian government has sold a 9.5% holding in fixed-line provider Telecom Egypt for EGP3.747 billion (US$121 million).