Colombia's ICT ministry (MinTIC) has cancelled a tender to connect over 3,000 schools. However, it does seem as though the process to connect 3,082 public educational institutions for a total of COP408 billion (US$101.6 million) will reopen – in approximately one month, according to the ministry.

Rijeka Gateway has announced a 5G standalone (SA) connectivity partnership with Croatian telecommunications company Hrvatski Telekom (HT), involving the adoption of what is described as a next-level private 5G campus network.

A new high-capacity cable system connecting Greece with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may be on the way after a recent agreement between the two countries.

Veon subsidiary Jazz secured a PKR75 billion (US$270 million) loan to finance plans to expand infrastructure across Pakistan, and aid plans to transition from a telco to a technology services company.

A Nigerian anti-trust agency fined WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms US$220 million for violating data and privacy laws.

Beeline Uzbekistan launched 60 new base stations in 20 locations in the Khorezm region to boost internet speed by almost double, a move to fulfil rising demand in the location.  

The number of active mobile money accounts in Tanzania has reportedly more than doubled in the last five years up to the end of 2023, according to the latest figures from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

The World Bank has pledged US$100 million to fund a new project that promises to speed up development of Zambia's digital infrastructure and narrow the digital divide.

LEO satellite operator Starlink has received a temporary permit to operate in Tonga in an apparent retreat by the government who had earlier banned the service outright as residents sought to cope with last month’s subsea cable outage.

The Liberian Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has introduced a new set of regulations designed to empower fintech companies and foster a more competitive mobile market.

Malaysian mobile data service company U Mobile is back in the news only days after a Maxis buyout was reported. This time it is apparently planning a domestic initial public offering (IPO).

Sky Cable Corporation, the pay television and broadband arm of ABS-CBN, a leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, has announced a partnership with Philippine fibre broadband provider Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions.

Nokia and Bharti Airtel partnered to complete a 5G non-standalone Cloud RAN trial in India, a move for the operator to take a major step to equipping its network for the future.

China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak), which operates under the Zong 4G brand, says it has expanded its network in the first half of 2024, as well as completed an extensive network modernisation project to address capacity challenges.

Telcos across Southeast Asia said that they were mostly unaffected by a global internet disruption on Friday caused by a flawed software update from endpoint security firm CrowdStrike that crashed millions of Windows-based computers worldwide.

Telenor raised its 2024 forecast after reporting “solid results” across its footprint in the Nordics and Asia.

Nairobi-based IXAfrica Data Centres and Schneider Electric have launched what they say is the first AI-ready hyperscale data centre in Kenya, and the largest such data centre in all of East Africa.

Telecom Fiji announced on Wednesday it has signed an agreement to become an authorised reseller for LEO satellite operator Starlink, and is already pitching it as a connectivity solution for businesses in underserved areas.

Avanti Communications a global multi-orbit provider of fully integrated connectivity services and solutions, says it has undertaken a satellite connectivity test with BankservAfrica, Africa’s largest automated clearing house, and with Capitec Bank, one of South Africa’s top retail banks.

LORIOT, a long-range IoT solutions company, and LORATECH, an IoT technological solutions business, have joined forces in a partnership they say is set to transform the Internet of Things (IoT) landscape in Latin America.

The troubles of Brazilian service provider Oi seem to be continuing as attempts to sell off one of its businesses have run into new problems.

Nokia reported a 32% plunge in operating profit in Q2 blaming low demand for 5G telecoms equipment.

The Indian smartphone market was flat with a growth rate of only 1% in the second quarter of 2024 due to subdued seasonal demand.

The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) announced on Wednesday the launch of its second competitive funding round for enterprises to develop and scale solutions that can narrow the gender digital divide in developing countries.

Chad’s telecoms regulator, Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et de la Poste (Arcep), has renewed the licence of telco Airtel Chad with some new specifications and stronger QoS requirements.

The Indian government has reportedly made a INR920 million (US$11,006,235.72) payment towards the bond dues of the struggling state-owned operator MTNL. Another INR640 million (US$7,657,535.01) payment is likely to follow from the government to help with MTNL’s interest obligations that are due in August.

Things are looking difficult for state-owned Zimbabwean mobile operator NetOne, which is now reportedly technically insolvent.

The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), which as its name implies, brings together the region’s telecommunications and ICT regulators, is apparently hoping to encourage infrastructure sharing to lower the cost of internet access in West Africa.

Amsterdam-based Veon Group announced it will install more energy infrastructure for its Ukrainian unit Kyivstar to battle against extended blackouts caused by attacks on national energy infrastructure.

MTN Benin contracted NuRAN Wireless for 200 sites to deploy  2G, 3G and 4G in rural locations across Benin.

Malayisan telco Maxis is reportedly keen to buy out rival operator U Mobile, but a deal looks uncertain with at least one major shareholder of U Mobile having already rejected the idea.

Thai billionaire Sarath Ratanavadi has reportedly announced plans to merge his power company Gulf Energy Development with its telecoms unit Intouch Holdings, which owns telco Advanced Info Service (AIS), with the resulting combined entity potentially valued at US$20.5 billion.