--- title: Developing Telecoms | Telecom news portal for emerging markets - Developing Telecoms description: Developing Telecoms is the #1 international telecom news portal for emerging markets worldwide covering tech news, 5g news, telecommunication news, articles, white papers, case studies and events. canonical_url: https://developingtelecoms.com/?start=170 language: en-GB date: 2025-11-25T00:11:39Z notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://developingtelecoms.com/?start=170. markdown-tokens: 4163 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://developingtelecoms.com/?start=170. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content. > **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above. ![Thunes expands cross-border payouts to six Middle East markets](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Yemen_Old_Town_Aden.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Mobile Finance](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/financial-services.html) 15 September 2026 5055 views Singapore-based global payment platform Thunes announced on Monday that it’s expanding its cross-border payments network across the Middle East in six new markets: Bahrain, Lebanon, Oman, South Yemen, Syria and the UAE. ![Digicel sells El Salvador operations to GITES as focus shifts to Caribbean](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/san_salvador_aerial_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 15 September 2026 6095 views Digicel announced on Monday that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its El Salvador operations to General International Telecom El Salvador (GITES) as it sharpen its focus on its core Caribbean markets. ![Robi Axiata and Grameenphone join Bangladesh's AI subscription race](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Dhaka_Rickshaws_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Enterprise Ecosystems](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/enterprise-ecosystems.html) 15 September 2026 6894 views Bangladesh telcos Grameenphone and Robi Axiata have launched separate AI subscription services that aim to make overseas AI models easier to access and pay for. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Dubai_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Satellite Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/satellite-communications-networks.html) 14 September 2026 4507 views Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, and satcoms giant Viasat have signed a binding agreement to co-found Equatys, creating the first shared space and ground infrastructure platform for global direct-to-device and advanced MSS connectivity. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Nigeria_Lagos_Beach_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Satellite Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/satellite-communications-networks.html) 14 September 2026 4411 views Confirming Nigeria’s plans to expand its satellite resources, telecommunications and technology giant Thales Alenia Space says it has won a contract to build the NigComSat-2A geostationary telecommunications satellite. ![Closing digital literacy gap could unlock trillions of dollars in global GDP growth](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Sponsored/Huawei/Huawei%20UNESCO%20Paris.jpg) Details STAFF WRITER Category: [Vendors](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/vendor-news.html) 14 September 2026 12333 views More than one in three (38%) people remains offline despite being covered by mobile broadband – and a lack of digital literacy skills is often to blame, according to new research published today. ![IFC launches guarantee scheme for digital payments](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Features/mobile_money_african_man.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Investment](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers.html) 14 September 2026 3379 views In what could prove an important boost for the drive towards enabling cash-free economies in the developing world, the World Bank Group has launched an initiative to help local financial institutions expand digital payments in emerging markets. ![ZTE and Antel validate 50G PON technology in Latin America](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/ZTE_Gitex.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Vendors](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/vendor-news.html) 14 September 2026 3807 views ZTE and Uruguay's Antel have completed what they describe as the first validation of symmetric 50G PON technology in Latin America, demonstrating the coexistence of GPON, 10G PON and 50G PON on the same access network. ![SAMENA Council urges more AI cooperation between Arab region and Africa](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/tunis_Kairouan_Mosque.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Enterprise Ecosystems](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/enterprise-ecosystems.html) 14 September 2026 5683 views The SAMENA Telecommunications Council – the industry body representing the telecoms sectors in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa – has called for stronger practical cooperation between the Arab region and Africa to invest and implement AI. ![Africell confirms US$99.6m ExIm loan to buy US gear for Angola network](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/africell_belas_store_luanda-600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Investment](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers.html) 14 September 2026 4041 views Pan-African telecoms firm Africell confirmed on Friday it has secured a US$99.6 million direct loan from the US Export-Import Bank (ExIm) primarily to enable the American-owned company to buy only US and European mobile network equipment. ![AzerTelecom and DE-CIX plan to launch new IX in Azerbaijan](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Baku_Seaside_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 14 September 2026 4330 views Azerconnect’s international backbone operator AzerTelecom announced on Friday it has entered into a strategic partnership with DE-CIX to launch a new internet exchange in Azerbaijan. ![Digital Parks Africa to build Tier IV carrier-neutral data centre in Lagos](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Digital%20Parks%20Africa_Nigeria_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Data Centres & Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/data-centres-networks.html) 14 September 2026 3320 views South Africa-based Digital Parks Africa (DPA) says it’s expanding into West Africa with plans to develop a new carrier-neutral data centre in Nigeria in association with the Master Power Technologies Group. ![Vodafone Idea secures $3.5bn debt backing from SBI-led lenders](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Chennai-India-1200.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 11 September 2026 5547 views Vodafone Idea has secured about US$3.5 billion in debt financing from a consortium led by State Bank of India (SBI), providing the Indian operator with funding to rebuild its network and compete with rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/kingston_jamaica_600.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Cloud & Virtualisation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/telecom-cloud-virtualization.html) 11 September 2026 7525 views Liberty Business has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide Jamaican businesses and organisations with access to cloud services supported by local expertise and managed services. ![Ethio Telecom’s Horizon Fiber Initiative heads to pre-commercialisation phase](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Ethio_Telecom_Djibouti_Telecom_Sudatel_Horizon_1200.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 11 September 2026 5006 views Ethio Telecom revealed on Thursday it has held a stakeholders' workshop with Djibouti Telecom and Sudatel Group to push their planned Horizon Cross-Border Terrestrial Fiber Initiative into the pre-commercialisation phase. ![ExIm prepares US$100m loan for Africell to not buy Chinese gear: report](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Africell_USA_250_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Investment](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers.html) 11 September 2026 5305 views The US Export-Import Bank is reportedly set to award pan-African telecoms firm Africell a loan worth US$100 million as part of a move by the Trump administration to discourage it from buying network equipment from Chinese vendors like Huawei and ZTE. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Astranis%20STC%2010.9.26.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Satellite Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/satellite-communications-networks.html) 10 September 2026 5660 views Saudi Arabian service provider and digital enabler stc Group, and Astranis, which builds advanced satellites for high orbits, have announced an agreement to deploy a dedicated satellite serving Saudi Arabia. ![Mobinet deploys Plume Platform for smarter and safer Wi-Fi in Mongolia](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Mongolia_Ulan_Bataar_1200x900.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 10 September 2026 5038 views Mongolian broadband provider Mobinet is deploying Plume Design’s Plume Platform to power its mobihome broadband service. ![ZTE Global Summit & User Congress 2026 Opens in Kuala Lumpur](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Sponsored/zte/ZTE-Xie%20Junshi-1200x900.jpg) Details Staff Writer Category: [Vendors](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/vendor-news.html) 10 September 2026 8299 views The 15th ZTE Global Summit & User Congress officially opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, co-located for the first time with the GSMA M360 ASEAN. ![Dialog Axiata announces remittance and retail partnerships](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/colombo_downtown_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Mobile Finance](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/financial-services.html) 10 September 2026 9614 views The growing importance of mobile money in Sri Lanka is underlined by two recent announcements from leading operator Dialog Axiata relating to the remittance market and lifestyle retail. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/VNPT_Vinaphone_Correct_Size_600.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 10 September 2026 3190 views Vietnamese operator VNPT has selected Israeli telecom software provider Radcom to provide service assurance for its roaming network, replacing its incumbent vendor following a competitive tender. ![New report assesses fleet management growth in GCC countries and Turkey](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/800x600/Istanbul_Bosfor_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 10 September 2026 4970 views The installed base of fleet management systems in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Turkey will reach 12.5 million units by 2030. That’s the headline finding of a new report called Fleet Management in the Middle East. ![Strategic partnership aims to enhance Thailand-Singapore connectivity](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/thailand_koh_hae_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 10 September 2026 4473 views Thailand-based holding company Gulf Development and Singaporean telecommunications conglomerate Singtel Group have announced a strategic partnership to develop new submarine cable connectivity between Thailand and Singapore. ![GSMA urges Asia Pacific to expand renewable energy access for telecoms](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/MWC24_Stands/GSMA_MWC24.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Energy & Sustainability](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/energy-sustainability.html) 10 September 2026 3381 views Mobile operators in Asia Pacific are making progress on climate targets, but limited access to renewable electricity is slowing efforts to cut emissions, particularly in emerging markets, according to the GSMA. ![Moldtelecom and Kenmei boost 4G and 5G performance via C-band optimisation](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/moldova_chisinau_600.jpg) Details James Barton Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 10 September 2026 6739 views Moldova’s national telecommunications operator Moldtelecom has completed a joint network optimisation project with intelligent operations provider Kenmei focused on improving 4G LTE performance and initial optimisation of Moldtelecom's 5G NSA C-band network. ![Zankore lands US$3.1b loan facility to finance Nvidia-powered AI platform](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Monumen_nasional_jakarta600.png) Details John Tanner Category: [Data Centres & Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/data-centres-networks.html) 10 September 2026 6816 views Indonesia-based AI platform Zankore announced on Wednesday it has secured a senior term loan facility of up to US$3.1 billion to finance its planned deployment of Nvidia-powered AI infrastructure across Southeast Asia. ![DAMAC Digital and Vodafone Türkiye inaugurate 4MW data centre in Izmir](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/DAMAC_Digital_Vodafone_Turkey_DC_1200.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Data Centres & Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/data-centres-networks.html) 10 September 2026 4069 views UAE-based data centre operator DAMAC Digital and Vodafone Türkiye have inaugurated the first phase of a new data centre in Izmir with an initial IT load capacity of 4MW and an investment of US$100 million. ![NEC-UNDP MoU positions AI as force for sustainability](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Features/india_farming300x225.gif) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Energy & Sustainability](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/energy-sustainability.html) 09 September 2026 5144 views Can AI boost sustainability and combat climate change? A recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Japanese technology giant NEC Corporation implies that it can. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Mombasa_skyline_600_credit.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 09 September 2026 4512 views The LuLu Coastal Cable System the Kenyan coast’s first fully protected coastal cable system, has been announced at this week’s ITW Africa digital infrastructure and connectivity event, held in Nairobi. ![PLDT and DoCoMo demo base station energy innovation](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Makati-Metro-Manila-1200.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Energy & Sustainability](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/energy-sustainability.html) 09 September 2026 4800 views Philippine telecommunications operator PLDT, its mobile subsidiary Smart Communications, and technology giant NTT DoCoMo say they have conducted a green base station demonstration in the Philippines using renewable energy and DoCoMo's weather-forecast-linked lithium-ion battery control technology. ![Kenya regulator proposes standalone licence for data centres](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Nairobi_West_Downtown_600.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Data Centres & Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/data-centres-networks.html) 09 September 2026 3879 views The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has opened a consultation on a proposed standalone licence for colocation data centres, in a move aimed at providing greater regulatory clarity for the sector and supporting investment in digital infrastructure. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Vietnam_Van_Don.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 09 September 2026 4391 views Vietnam is set to auction 900MHz spectrum freed up by the country's 2G shutdown, giving mobile operators access to additional low-frequency capacity for expanding 4G and 5G networks. ![Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG agree to share tower infrastructure](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Digicel_Vodafone_PNG_sharing_1200.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 09 September 2026 4220 views Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG announced on Tuesday they have signed a tower sharing licence agreement that will enable both telcos to share tower infrastructure across Papua New Guinea. ![Vodafone, Cassava and Elsewedy Electric form Africa Data Centers Egypt](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Cairo_Tower_view_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Data Centres & Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/data-centres-networks.html) 09 September 2026 7414 views Vodafone Business, Cassava Technologies and Elsewedy Electric signed an agreement on Tuesday to establish Africa Data Centers Egypt, a data centre project that will include Egypt's first sovereign AI data centre powered by Nvidia GPUs.