As the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown extend into their second year, monetisation platform-as-a-service will shape the digital ecosystem argues Olivier Letant of Centili.

Cellnex is acquiring 99.99% of Polish tower company Polkomtel Infrastruktura from its parent company Cyfrowy Polsat for €1.6 billion.

Zimbabwean state-owned operator NetOne is collaborating with Huawei on the second phase of its ICT services upgrade.

Digital and mobile finance and payment services are continuing to make advances in developing regions – as recent announcements involving Latin America and the Middle East suggest.

ZTE Corporation and Global Data have jointly released a new white paper on precision 5G transport, to shed light on the latest changes of 5G network architecture and new requirements for transport networks.

The Maldives Sri Lanka Cable system (MSC) is set to deliver high speed broadband connectivity between the two nations.

ZTE Corporation has released its Intelligent Orchestration Radio Network solution, which employs an innovative AI-based intelligent orchestration engine to enable MNOs to achieve maximum value from 5G networks.

If India is to successfully pursue its self-reliance aims it will need skilled workers. However, a new report commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS) from strategy and economics consulting firm AlphaBeta indicates a massive shortfall in one key area: digital technology.

Digital infrastructure company Equinix Inc and telecoms giant Vodafone are to build a new subsea hub as part of the massive 2Africa cable system that will directly connect 16 countries in Africa to Europe and the Middle East.

Serbian internet service provider SBB has called on regulator RATEL and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications to auction 5G spectrum.

Slovakian cellcos 4ka and Orange Slovakia have both revealed that they expect to launch commercial 5G services by April.

Guyana’s prime minister has signed an exemption order for small local internet service providers in a bid to issue them licences more quickly.

DITO Telecommunity has set 8th March as its commercial launch date after passing a technical audit conducted by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

A 1,200-kilometre advanced subsea fibre optic cable system is being planned by FB Submarine Partners, Xtera, IT International Telecom and GigNet. It will connect Florida in the US and Cancun in Mexico.

The global internet brand Opera has announced the launch of a new dedicated chat service, for which Africa will be one of the target markets.

Indian communications solutions provider Bharti Airtel and wireless technology company Qualcomm have announced what they describe as a collaboration for accelerating 5G in India. 

O2 Slovakia has selected Ericsson to modernise its RAN and deploy its 5G network.

Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the Adani Group, one of India’s largest multi-infrastructure organizations, and EdgeConneX, a leading global data centre operator with 50 facilities in 30 markets around the world, have announced a 50:50 joint venture to develop and operate data centres throughout India.

IXAfrica, the new-entrant data centre operator in Kenya, has announced plans to build what it describes as a world-leading and sustainable campus at a newly secured location in Nairobi.

After its long-delayed decision to appoint an administrator to develop and enact mobile number portability (MNP), Uruguay’s Regulatory Unit of Communications Services (URSEC) has asked stakeholders to help with the selection process.

KKR, a leading global investment firm, has entered into an agreement with international operator Telefónica to establish Chile’s first open access wholesale fibre optics company.

Brazilian operator Altarede Telecom has made what it calls a record investment in products from DWDM specialist Padtec to expand routes in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo.

Ethio Telecom has expanded its 4G coverage to six new regions in Ethiopia while at the same time pledging to extend this reach further in the near future.

Operators in Qatar and Sri Lanka have recently announced SD-WAN-related partnerships with global technology provider Cisco.

Zambian communications regulator, the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), has awarded the nation’s fourth mobile operator licence to Beeline Telecoms.

UAE-based operator du has selected Ericsson to deploy 5G radio access network (RAN) products and solutions as part of a major network expansion and modernisation.

Thailand’s dtac is picking up the pace of its low-band network deployment using the 700MHz spectrum it acquired in December 2020.

The Dominican Republic expects its upcoming 5G auction to generate between US$200 million and US$300 million, according to Nelson Arroyo, the president of regulator Indotel (Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones).

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued proposals that would increase its capacity to regulate operator tariffs.

Telcel, AT&T and Movistar, the three major operators in Mexico, can now connect to the Altán Shared Network, an LTE network that aims to cover most areas of the country, but in particular its underserved areas.