Satellite communications-based cellular backhaul services are coming to French Guiana to help extend mobile broadband coverage to more people, after satellite network operator Intelsat announced the expansion of its relationship with international operator Orange to provide cellular backhaul services in French Guiana.

Two recent news stories from Nigeria underline the fact that efforts are continuing in the country to expand connectivity to less-well-served areas, in these two cases through rural satcoms and urban Wi-Fi.

Indonesia-based mobile telecommunications services operator PT XL Axiata Tbk said that the total number of subscribers recorded an increase to 56.77 million in the second quarter of 2021, from the previous 56.02 million in the first quarter.

The global Network-as-a-service provider Megaport announced that it has partnered with the Polish data center operator, Beyond.Pl.

Argentina's telecommunications regulator Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones (Enacom) approved funding totalling ARS 671.6 million (USD 33.5 million) to improve broadband connectivity in the country.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is going to install a telecom monitoring system at a cost of Tk77.65 crore (USD 9.13 million) to oversee the activities of mobile operators and improve the quality of mobile phone services.

It wasn’t too long ago that pan-African operator MTN seemed keen to have another try at the second Ethiopian telecoms licence it failed to win in May. That opportunity has now been offered, but MTN may no longer be as keen to get involved.

Global communications platform for business, Infobip will provide WhatsApp customer communication services and its Conversations CPaaS-based contact centre system to Senegal mobile operator Expresso.

MTN Group, a South African multinational mobile telecommunications company, operating in many African and Asian countries, has confirmed the renewal of its operating licence in Rwanda with effect from 1 July 2021.

Philippines' largest fully integrated telecommunications company PLDT continued to enjoy strong revenues on sustained demand for data and broadband.

Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), a mobile telecommunications company and internet service provider in Namibia, announced the commercial launch of Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) communications technology.

Mobile data is least affordable in African countries. That’s a major finding of a recent blog on the Top Dollar Financial Insights Hub, offered by US debt relief options and savings company Accredited Debt Relief.

The somewhat erratic nature of India’s tax system came back under the spotlight this week as the government amended its Income Tax Act to nullify certain retrospective tax demands. The Vodafone Group will be one of the beneficiaries.

The third telecommunications player in the Philippines, DITO Telecommunity Corp it already has two million subscribers, five months after its commercial launch.

The private equity investor I Squared Capital (ISQ), which owns HGC Global Communications, is to buy Mexico’s largest data centre operator KIO Networks.

Russian long-distance telephone provider Rostelecom has signed an agreement with the compatriot universal bank VTB to create a system for issuing electronic signature certificates to the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media.

Brazilian investment fund The Bordeaux Participações fund transferred BRL 2.5 billion (US$ 4480 million) in the account of the government of Parana and took the last step towards the purchase of Copel Telecom.

MTN Nigeria, the biggest operator in the pan-African MTN Group in terms of subscriber numbers, says it is planning to invest 600 billion naira (about $1.46 billion) over the next three years to expand broadband access.

India's largest integrated telecom service provider Reliance Jio will support automotive solutions designed to deliver an array of consumer and enterprise services.

The telecommunications company that operates in Albania, One Telecommunications (Telekom Albania), has completed the second and final phase of network modernisation, relying entirely on Ericsson technology.

Telecom Armenia, an IPTV operator working under the Beeline Armenia brand, has deployed Ateme's OTT video-delivery solution.

Cloud and network connectivity provider Gulf Bridge International (GBI) is expanding its collaboration with Equinix by establishing a point-of-presence at the Equinix data centre in Oman.

We reported in early July that Djibouti was planning to open up its telecoms sector to competition. Now the country has set Thursday 16 September as the deadline for investors to express interest in taking a 40 percent stake in the incumbent operator.

Mantra Data Centres (MDC), an independent data centre platform and wholesale colocation provider, has announced plans to invest $1 billion to develop data centres across India.

South African operator MTN has announced plans to invest some $11.8 million in network expansion in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.

Trinidad and Tobago’s state-owned telecommunications provider TSTT has been told that it is legally obliged to implement fixed number portability (FNP). However, TSTT may attempt to bring the case back to court.

Somalia’s National Communications Authority (NCA) has set a deadline of 31st August for all unlicensed service providers nationwide to apply for an operating permit.

The Moldovan telecom market has been affected by a combination of high unemployment and economic difficulties which have led to constraints on consumer spend.

Latvia’s telecom market continues to benefit from investment and from regulatory measures aimed at developing 5G and fibre-based infrastructure.

The economic prosperity of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) largely rests with the country’s continuing integration with the EU. GDP growth was inconsistent for several years before 2015, since when the economy had grown at above 3% annually.

Indonesian telecommunications provider PT Indosat (Indosat Ooredoo) has reaffirmed plans to phase out its 3G network as it shifts resources to develop 4G and 5G services in a rapidly evolving market.

Serbian state-owned telecommunications operator Telekom Srbija will establish a subsidiary in North Macedonia called Mtel and start offering mobile services there by the end of 2021.