Optical & Fixed Networks

Safaricom, the newest telecom operator in Ethiopia, has signed a five-year lease agreement with state-owned power utility Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) to share dark fibre-optic infrastructure in the Horn of African nation, the first infrastructure deal with Ethiopia.

Colt Technology Services, a provider of network and voice connectivity to businesses in Europe, Asia and the US, has announced that it is enhancing the reach of its Polish metropolitan area networks (MANs) in six cities across Poland: Katowice, Wroclaw, Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk and Poznan.

Philippines-based operator PLDT announced it has received offers from six foreign companies to buy up half its towers for around US$1 billion, as the firm pushes on with plans to cut debt and invest in its broadband and mobile internet business.

EllaLink, the high-capacity and low latency fibre-optic submarine cable directly connecting Latin America and Europe, which recently announced a partnership with internet operator Group IP Telecom, has announced another strategic partnership – this time with internet exchange (IX) operator DE-CIX.

Malaysia’s largest operators Celcom Axiata, Digi Telecommunications, Maxis and U Mobile, hailed their collective efforts to achieve hit 96.9% coverage of 4G in the country, exceeding a government target.

The wait for reliable connectivity is not going to be over for Tonga for some while. Recent reports suggest that the cable connecting the Tongan islands, which was ripped apart by January's devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami, could take a year to fix.

An executive revealed Cisco is replacing Chinese made equipment in Indian operator infrastructure while exploring the option of opening manufacturing plants in India.

Argentina’s president, Alberto Fernández, has announced plans, which are now apparently underway, to connect schools around the country to the internet.

MWC 2022 saw the signing of an agreement between Telecom Egypt (TE) and AFR-IX Telecom regarding the construction of a landing station in Egypt for the Medusa submarine cable system.

Due to a drop in average revenue per user (ARPU) levels, the total fixed communications services revenue in China is expected to decline at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.9% from US$250bn in 2021 to US$239bn in 2026.

Matrix NAP Info, a telecommunication company based in Jakarta whose interests include cable, data centres, the cloud and the Matrix Cable Internet Exchange, has announced an agreement with PT Communication Cable Systems Indonesia (CCSI) on the establishment of a subsea cable joint venture.

Safaricom is negotiating an infrastructure sharing agreement with state-owned incumbent Ethio Telecom, as the newcomer is unable to lay down enough networks for its commercial launch in Ethiopia this year.

India’s state-owned company Bharat Broadband Nigam Ltd has cancelled a massive tender worth somewhere in the region of US$2.52billion which aimed to connect villages across 16 states with an optical fibre-based high-speed broadband network.

South African fibre broadband provider has acquired a 45% non-controlling stake in fibre/fixed wireless access provider Herotel.

Indonesian telecommunications tower company Mitratel (Dayamitra Telekomunikasi) pledged to put US$69.5 million into constructing new towers in remote locations across Indonesia.

Tonga has seen its connectivity restored as its international subsea cable was repaired after a volcanic eruption last month caused a communications blackout.

Vietnam announced it will begin researching and developing 6G technology this year with ambitions to become a global leader in the digital world, earmarking cloud computing and digital platforms as beneficiaries to the future standard.

Rival Indian service providers Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have made major announcements relating to their undersea cable interests.

Iran has announced an ambitious project to connect over 20 million homes and businesses to the high-speed fixed fibre network in the country.

Telecom Egypt, Egypt’s first integrated telecom operator and one of the largest subsea cable operators in its region, and Grid Telecom, subsidiary of the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) in Greece, have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) to connect Greece and Egypt using submarine cable infrastructure.

Submarine fibre optic cable systems operator Seabras 1 Brasil (Seaborn) announced its network has been approved to provide connectivity to the Brazilain Stock Exchange (B3, enhancing the financial services market in Brazil. 

Part of a multi-million-euro investment fund has been spent to bridge the digital divide for 1.3 million Urktelecom customers in Ukraine, as the operator hailed its strategy in sourcing international investment.

Chilean fibre to the home provider Mundo has been sold to private equity group Digital Bridge, by owners Linzor Capital Partners and minority shareholder Teras after picking up the company in 2019.

Namibian power utility NamPower has deployed Ribbon’s IP Optical portfolio for its “The GridOnline” project.

Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison penned a non-binding memorandum of understanding with subsea cable provider Inligo Networks to build a high-capacity underwater fibre optic telecommunications cable system in Indonesia.

From Peru and the Dominican Republic come reminders that much of Latin America still lacks digital connectivity. However, in both countries, efforts are under way to provide it.

According to local news reports, the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) is supporting the country’s National Broadband Initiative by offering the use of its utility poles for the running of aerial fibre.

Russian infrastructure group New Towers has registered an interest to acquire network towers and masts from Russian operator Mobile TeleSystems (MTS).

Israel’s Partner Communications has been awarded a contract for a new fibre link connecting two continents.

Sterlite Technologies (STL), an integrator of digital networks, announced a partnership with India's largest power distribution company, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL).

ZTE Corporation helped China Unicom complete China's first automatic provisioning of multi-protocol cross-vendor services in the existing Optical Network (ON).