The Republic of Djibouti has launched its first satellite, Djibouti 1A. It took off last weekend from the Vandenberg Space Force Base onboard the SpaceX Transporter-9, a dedicated SSO rideshare mission carrying a variety of payloads into sun-synchronous orbit.

According to a number of recent reports, Saudi Arabia’s new Red Sea International Airport has become an early example in the region of the benefits of neutral host technology.

Pakistan’s telecoms regulator enabled operators to begin charging a SIM termination charge in January to ease the abuse of free SIM cards and combat the use of illegal activities on networks. 

Hughes Communications India (HCI) has announced a new managed services deal for cement companies ACC and Ambuja Cement, through which it plans to deploy dual LTE/4G at over 100 manufacturing and field units across India.

Now Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding with US-based LEO satellite company AST SpaceMobile in a move to connect remote locations in the Philippines. 

SES announced on Monday that it has launched two more O3b mPOWER satellites into medium orbit, making its mPOWER satellite broadband offering ready for service despite reported electrical problems with the satellites.

Liberty Latin America (LLA) will sell 1,300 mobile tower sites across Panama and various Caribbean islands to independent tower company Phoenix Tower International (PTI) in a deal valued at $407 million.

Vietnam Internet Network Information Center (VNNIC) has struck a deal with telecoms infrastructure firm CMC Telecom to establish a PoP connecting to Vietnam National Internet eXchange (VNIX) in one of its data centres.

Latvia’s Public Utilities Commission (SPRK / Sabiedrisko Pakalpojumu Regulesanas Komisija) has issued permits for 5G-ready spectrum to LMT (Latvijas Mobilais Telefons) and Tele2 Latvia following last month’s auction.

The GSMA claims that Indonesia stands to lose US$14 billion in GDP gains over the next six years if it doesn’t rethink it 5G spectrum pricing in the next auction.

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) has revealed plans to develop a second data centre campus in Malaysia – this one in Johor – just one week after announcing the first one.

Operator Zain KSA has announced a strong Q3 2023 financial performance driven, in part by tower-related business.

It looks like the mobile money service that helped to make Safaricom the dominant player in Kenya is making reasonable headway in Ethiopia too.

The Somalian Ministry of Communication and Technology signed a cooperation agreement with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to develop connectivity in Somalia.

Argentinean service provider Telecentro is deploying Netcracker’s Digital OSS to advance its operations automation and deliver new use cases across its operations.

Kenyan operator Safaricom, mobile financial service M-Pesa Africa, and global trading and business investment company Sumitomo Corporation are to launch the Spark Accelerator, a programme to support early-stage start-ups in Kenya in their efforts to grow and scale their businesses.

Nokia Bell Labs says it has signed a non-binding R&D collaboration agreement with energy company Aramco to develop 5G-powered Industry 4.0 use cases for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, and North Africa (MENA) region.

Thai telco True Corp says its “Single Grid” initiative to consolidate the networks of True and Dtac is already producing better network coverage and signal quality in pilot projects.

Viettel High Tech, the R&D arm of Vietnamese telco Viettel, says it has developed its own 5G chipset, which it says gives it “complete control” over its domestic 5G equipment ecosystem.

Yet another SIM registration exercise has run into deadline difficulties. With only a few days left, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and operators are trying to get cardholders to act fast to avoid potential disconnection.

Fibre and satellite connectivity provider Paratus Group secured a US$31 million debt facility from Private Infrastructure Development Group, to expand its fibre and data centre business in Africa into 2026. 

Satellite internet service Starlink, from rocket manufacturer SpaceX, has won a tender from Mexico's state energy firm to provide services until the end of December 2026, according to Reuters.

As the MTN Group departure from Afghanistan gets closer, it seems Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry and Liberia are next in line for an MTN exit.

Chipset manufacturing giant Intel has reportedly shelved plans to double its operations in Vietnam, a blow to South East Asian nation’s ambitions in the chipset sector, reported Reuters. 

Liberty Latin America (LLA) has struck a deal with Dish Network to acquire Dish’s spectrum assets in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) for US$256 million in cash, as well as international roaming credits.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has told businesses using digital marketing that they’ll have to obtain all-new consent records from customers in order to use a new mandatory unified platform that tracks consumer consent.

Digital Edge, one of Asia’s fastest-growing digital infrastructure providers, has deployed across its footprint a full stack of wired and wireless upgrades from Juniper Networks, a major name in secure, AI-driven networks.

Libya has now formally acknowledged that it will be connecting to the Medusa submarine cable project. The Medusa submarine cable system will connect Libya to Europe via the countries of the Mediterranean Basin.

Data centre provider ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Philippines (STT GDC) is expanding its presence in the Philippines with the construction of a second facility in its STT Cavite data centre campus.

Russian mobile operator MTS has reportedly reopen negotiations to sell its tower company, reported Kommersant. 

Globe Telecom announced it signed loan facilities with three banks to secure a total of PHP12 billion (US$214 million) to fund capex plans and refinance debt.