Airtel has reportedly abandoned its planned acquisition of Loop Mobile after failing to receive approval for the deal from India’s Department of Telecommunications.

Alcatel-Lucent has signed a four-year frame agreement with Thailand’s True Corporation to supply an IP transport network.

Telecom Egypt has invited proposals for financial advisors to help it divest its 45% stake in the local unit of Vodafone.

Telenor is considering whether to use the spectrum that it currently holds in India to leapfrog straight from 2G to 4G.

Nigerian interconnect firm ICN (Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria) has deployed an IP communications solution from Cataleya.

Hungary’s draft internet tax has been shelved by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán following widespread public protests against the proposals.

Japanese group SoftBank is reportedly considering an acquisition of the wireless assets put up for sale by America Movil in Mexico.

Banco Santander Uruguay has chosen Syniverse’s Mobile Engagement for Customers solution to enhance its customer communications strategy.

Algeria Telecom has chosen Ericsson for the transformation of their broadband aggregation network.

Telecom Italia will amend the terms of its agreement that will see investment fund Fintech acquire its stake in Telecom Argentina.

Etisalat Egypt has deployed JDSU’s ariesoGEO solution to enhance service quality and optimisation for postpaid customers.

Alcatel-Lucent has partnered with the Internet Society to provide equipment for the Bangkok Internet Exchange Point.

Ericsson has entered into a five-year global framework agreement with Telenor to provide radio hardware and professional services.

Mobile satellite services operator Thuraya has partnered with SOS Children’s Villages International’s Gulf Area Office to bring satellite connectivity to remote communities in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Slovakian operator SWAN has selected Cerillion to deliver a complete business support system (BSS) solution for its 4G launch.

Elara Communications is launching an international calling app for customers in rural and remote villages in south-eastern Mexico, in partnership with IDT Global.

Sierratel has launched new advanced landline services in Sierra Leone. The launch was overseen by consultancy and management firm MDIC.

The government of South Africa is reportedly considering divesting its 14% stake in Vodacom, worth around $2.3 billion.

Chinese manufacturer Lenovo is setting up a new company in China focused on low-cost smart devices.

Loop Mobile is attempting to rescue its proposed deal with Bharti Airtel by cutting its assets from the agreement in the hopes of speeding up the approval process.

Telenor has echoed Vodafone India’s request for the Indian government to allocate spectrum secured at auction.

A new family tracing and reconnection service is being launched in the Philippines through a partnership between Ericsson, Smart and Refunite.