Policy, Education, ICT, Ghana, Africa: Ghana’s Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Papa Owusu Ankomah, has announced that his country’s government will introduce universal ICT education into Ghana’s core educational system in September.

Test & Measurement, India, Singapore: Telecom equipment made in India and Singapore should have easier entry in each others markets as the two sides agree a deal that will eliminate the need for product testing and certification in both countries.

News, Russia, mobile:  A leading Russian telecoms investment advisor, Altimo has developed the first Mobile Development Index (MDI) which aims to evaluate the investment opportunities represented in over fifty international markets.

Handsets, Business, Markets: Developing countries in Asia offer great potential for PC makers, but companies must offer better value for users if they are to be successful in emerging markets.

News, Fixed Networks, Saudi Arabia, MENA: A group led by Bahrain Telecommunications Co., Hong Kong's PCCW and U.S. Verizon Communications have won initial approval to operate Saudi Arabia's new fixed-line phone network, Saudi regulators have announced.

Forecasts, 3G, TD-SCDMA, China, Asia-Pacific: Chen Haofei, Secretary-General of TD-SCDMA Forum, attended the recent Sixth International Mobile Communication Industry Forum. He was invited to speak during the 3G Venture Capital Investment session of the Forum. His views on the potential influence of TD on Chinese telecoms are summarised here.

Vendors, Networks, Forecasts, Global: Both enterprises and service providers are opening up their wallets for network equipment and they will keep spending until at least until 2010, according to Infonetics Research.

Privatisation, Regulation, Kazakhstan, Dubai: Oger Telecom recently experienced the disappointment of losing in its bid to enter the Saudi telecoms market. For the next twelve months Oger, which is based in Dubai, will be looking to the imminently privatising Kazakhtelecom - and perhaps some other places too.

Markets, Mobile, Taxation, Pakistan: The GSMA has long lobbied for the removal of taxes which it believes hinders mobile subscriber growth and thereby overall economic growth. The chance to meet Pakistan's President and PM to advocate the removal of the Activation Tax levied on new subscribers was too good a chance to turn down. The GSM was supported by a new report on Pakistan by Deloitte.

News, Business, Global: Nokia Siemens Networks started its operations on April 1. The new company, owned by Nokia and Siemens, holds a top three position in the industry, based on 2006 pro-forma revenues of EUR 17.1 billion, and is ideally positioned to tap growth opportunities in both the wireless and fixed communications markets.