A number of important initiatives have been announced in recent days aimed at enhancing digital connectivity in West and North Africa.

The Rwanda Space Agency (RSA) has joined the Augmented Navigation for Africa (ANGA) programme, marking what is described as a significant step toward strengthening satellite navigation capabilities across the African continent.

DayOne Data Centers Limited, a Singapore-headquartered global digital infrastructure platform, signed late last week what it calls landmark renewable energy supply agreements in the Malaysian market with local companies TNB Renewables and TNB Power Generation.

Financial brand Telda and payments giant Mastercard have joined forces to introduce a new integrated solution in Egypt, seamlessly connecting everyday payments and investment wallets within the Telda app, marking what they call a major step towards a fully unified digital ecosystem.

Pakistan telco Jazz says it has launched an IoT weather monitoring station at its headquarters in Islamabad that uses AI-driven analytics to transform real-time weather observations into actionable insights.

Telkom Indonesia launched an integrated AI ecosystem on Friday that combines the AI capabilities across Telkom Group’s various units to support tailored implementation of AI in various industry sectors.

Telecom Namibia says it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with local open-access fibre network provider Demshi Investment Holdings to accelerate its fibre service rollout and replace its copper network with fibre in areas prone to cable theft and vandalism.

Ooredoo announced its latest spinoff on Thursday with the launch of Al Abraj, a new standalone company that will independently operate and manage Ooredoo Qatar’s passive tower infrastructure assets in the country.

Indian telco Vodafone Idea (Vi) announced on Thursday it has launched silent mobile verification (SMV) capabilities for users of Meta’s WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, which promises to make it simpler and more secure to use them.

AIS Business and Microsoft Thailand launched their “AI Ready for SMEs” initiative on Thursday, which – as the name implies – offers AI solutions for Thailand’s SME sector to encourage adoption of the technology.

IQSTEL, a global connectivity, AI and digital services company, has announced a binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to acquire a 51% controlling interest in Ghana-headquartered Ultranet Telecom Group.

The Government of Maharashtra in Western India has signed a letter of intent (a preliminary, non-binding agreement similar to a memorandum of understanding or MoU) with hyperscale data centre specialist AirTrunk for a data centre deal potentially worth 2 trillion rupees (about US$21 billion).

Huawei announced on Wednesday that MTN Zambia has commercially deployed the vendor’s five-band LampSite indoor 5G solution in the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka.

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) said on Wednesday it has secured IDR8.8 trillion (around US$500 million) in additional financing for its Jakarta data centre campus, to include its upcoming STT Jakarta 3 facility.

Orange announced on Wednesday that the France-to-Tunisia route of the Medusa Submarine Cable System – dubbed “ViaTunisia” – is now operational, establishing a new digital link between Europe and North Africa.

Internet exchange (IX) operator DE-CIX says it has upgraded connectivity between its locations in Mexico and Dallas in preparation for what it says will be the unprecedented six-billion-strong audience anticipated for the FIFA World Cup this summer.

Proof perhaps that AI and satcoms can have practical applications in everyday situations comes from Mexico where Google and Fester, a building material company, which have together launched a platform in Mexico that uses AI to help support efforts to make cities cooler.

Pan-African service provider MTN has this week launched the 2026 edition of its 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign. Described as its flagship employee volunteerism campaign, it continues from 1 June until 21 June.

BDx Data Centers (BDx), a leading owner and operator of data centres in Asia, has announced what it calls “a series of transformative power milestones” in a strategic partnership with electrical utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN).

The diversified infrastructure firm Anant Raj has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of the North Indian state of Haryana to invest approximately INR250 billion (about US$2.62 billion) in the development of a large-scale data centre in the state.

Underlining the importance of tourism to the country and the potential of telecommunications in supporting growth in this sector, a new partnership has been announced between Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and Google Kenya.

Space solutions company SES has clearly been busy in the Latin American market – something that has been underlined by recent announcements relating to inflight connectivity in Mexico and expanded broadband access in Colombia.

Papua New Guinea’s state-owned telco Telikom PNG has joined the Starlink bandwagon after announcing it has signed a deal to become the country’s second authorised Starlink reseller as of last Friday.

Russian telcos Rostelecom and VimpelCom announced on Monday they have completed the integration of their respective IT systems to automate coordination of access to Rostelecom's line and cable infrastructure.

Chinese subsea cable firm HMN Tech has announced that the South East Asia Hainan–Hong Kong Express Cable System (SEA-H2X) connecting China to Southeast Asia is now ready for service.

ST Digital and Togo’s Société d'Infrastructures Numériques (Digital Infrastructure Company or SIN) have announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) formalising a strategic partnership for a private cloud service offer at the Lomé Data Centre.

DDSP, a developer of hyperscale digital and decarbonised energy infrastructure across Asia-Pacific, has announced the successful financial close of a US$283 million green financing for the company’s hyperscale data centre campus in Johor, Malaysia, incorporating AI-ready liquid cooling technology.

Movistar has been fined COP1.36 billion (US$330,000) by Colombia’s telecommunications regulator after an investigation found weaknesses in its SIM card replacement procedures that allegedly enabled fraud against customers.

FLAG has launched a new subsea route between Chennai and Singapore, adding capacity and route diversity along one of Asia’s busiest connectivity corridors.

Thailand’s state-owned National Telecom (NT) says it will stop offering satellite internet service via Thaicom 4 at the end of this month as Thaicom continues preparations to retire the 21-year-old satellite.

Paratus Kenya announced on Friday that Murang’a County has launched what it says is Kenya’s largest public digital healthcare initiative, which connects 170 health facilities via Starlink’s LEO satellite constellation.

Ooredoo Qatar announced on Sunday it has established what it claims is the first quantum-safe communications link in Qatar in collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HKBU) and the Ministry of Defense.