Romanian operator RCS & RDS Digi.Mobil and vendor Ericsson have announced that they have gone live with 5G mobile services in Romania.

At the recent Global 5G Event in Valencia, we caught up with ZTE’s Alex Wang and Hu Kun to discuss 5G strategy, equipment security, and the challenges that different regions pose to the deployment of the technology.

Apple is reportedly looking to wind down production in China with a view to relocating to Southeast Asia amid international scrutiny on Chinese telecom manufacturing.

Vodacom has signed three agreements that will see it divest its enterprise units in five African markets.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced the demolition of over 7000 telecom masts belonging to Globacom which exceed restrictions on maximum height.

AIS, dtac and True Move have all registered to bid in Thailand’s much-delayed 700MHz spectrum auction.

Following last week’s parliamentary approval of a bill to create an independent communications regulator, more news is emerging of the potential opening up of Ethiopia’s telecommunications market.

From Indonesia come reports of another satellite-based project to bring communications services to more parts of this vast country.

Lebanon-based news media has reported that the country is planning a new Internet submarine cable to link the country to Europe.

Globe Telecom, a leading full-service telecommunications company in the Philippines, has announced plans to expand its tower infrastructure in the country.

Some positive news for Huawei, hard on the heels of its difficulties in the US, comes from its home market. It has won a large part of two 5G core network contracts from China Mobile.

Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten is transforming customer experience. In this interview, Netcracker Strategy Director Ed Finegold talks about Netcracker’s role in enabling Rakuten’s vision.

5G news from Telkomsel Indonesia, PLDT in the Philippines and Tcell of Tajikistan indicates a clear desire to flag up a 5G offering in many Asian markets, although specific launch dates and service details are not always available.

Two of the biggest names in world telecoms – one a vendor and the other an operator – are looking forward to very different financial outlooks in the coming months.

From Samoa comes news of the official opening of the Pacific Satellite Connectivity Project, which, it is hoped, will improve telecommunications access for a number of students and villagers on the island of Savaii.

Digital service provider Zain has launched 5G Internet bundles for its postpaid customers. However, it is not the only operator in Kuwait bringing 5G to market.

The creation of an independent telecoms regulator has been approved by Ethiopia’s parliament as part of the country’s push towards reform in the sector.

Ooredoo Myanmar, Facebook and the GSMA have launched a digital literacy campaign to raise awareness and increase adoption of mobile internet in Myanmar.