--- 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=204 language: en-GB date: 2025-11-25T00:11:39Z notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://developingtelecoms.com/?start=204. markdown-tokens: 4182 --- > **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://developingtelecoms.com/?start=204. 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. ![Zambia regulator cancels Beeline licence over regulatory breaches](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Lusaka_aerial_600.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 18 September 2026 12760 views Zambia’s Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has cancelled the operator licence of Beeline, which operated under the Z-Mobile brand, for failing to meet several regulatory obligations. ![US agency to invest $155 million in WIOCC](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/WIOCC_logo.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Investment](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers.html) 17 September 2026 5641 views African digital infrastructure provider WIOCC is to receive investment of up to $155 million from the US International Development Finance Corporation. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/EllaLink%20branching%20units%2017.9.26.png) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 17 September 2026 10099 views EllaLink, which describes itself as the first high-capacity fibre-optic submarine cable directly connecting Latin America to Europe, has announced that two branching units have been successfully laid. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/Yas_logo_Axian_Telecom.png) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Business](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business.html) 17 September 2026 5591 views Axian Telecom, the pan-African infrastructure and services group behind telecommunications company Yas, has announced that it is adopting Yas Group as its new corporate identity, replacing the Axian Telecom name across external communications, investor relations and regulatory engagement. ![Airtel winds up Kenya wholesale fibre unit after two years](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/airtel-logo-1200x900.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 17 September 2026 5388 views Airtel Africa is winding up its Kenyan wholesale fibre and internet subsidiary after two years of operation, following losses and an inability to establish a viable commercial business. ![Telxius upgrades terrestrial optics in LATAM, Europe and US with Nokia gear](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/rio_christ_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 17 September 2026 7940 views Nokia announced Tuesday it’s collaborating with global connectivity provider Telxius to deploy 800G coherent pluggable optics across its terrestrial transport networks in Latin America, Europe and the US. ![AWS’s war-damaged data centres in Bahrain and UAE still offline](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/bahrain_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Data Centres & Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/data-centres-networks.html) 17 September 2026 14778 views Amazon Web Services (AWS) revealed that it’s been unable to restore access to its data centres in Bahrain and one of its three data centres in the UAE after they were damaged by Iranian drone strikes earlier this year. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/SAS-x-Kitsoft%2016.9.26.png) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Devices & Platforms](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/telecom-devices-platforms.html) 16 September 2026 9697 views The Smart Africa Secretariat, an alliance tasked with driving Africa’s digital agenda, and Kitsoft, an international govtech company with Ukrainian roots, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on public sector digital transformation. ![More problems for Kenyan government’s Safaricom stake sale](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Company_Logos/Safaricom%20Logo%201200x900.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Regulation](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-regulation.html) 16 September 2026 5240 views A three-judge High Court bench in Kenya has ordered that a 15% Kenyan government stake transferred to Vodacom should revert to the State after ruling that the transaction was unconstitutional. ![WhatsApp usernames expose a new emerging market fault line](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Whatsapp-Privacy-1200.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Blogs & Opinion](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-blogs-opinion.html) 16 September 2026 21606 views WhatsApp’s forthcoming username feature was meant to solve a simple privacy problem: meeting a new customer, seller, colleague or community group should not require handing over a mobile number that may also be tied to banking, social media and one’s wider personal life. ![Norwegian government brings Myanmar charges against Telenor](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/myanmar_sunset_bagan.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Operators](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news.html) 16 September 2026 14618 views The issue of whether and how Norway’s Telenor gave sensitive customer data to the military junta following the 2021 Myanmar coup is back in the headlines. Norwegian authorities have charged the operator with complicity in crimes against humanity and breaching sanctions in Myanmar. ![Huawei rallies optical interconnect ecosystem with the industry’s first 7.2T NPO demo](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Sponsored/Huawei/NPO-Shanghai-1200-v2.jpg) Details STAFF WRITER Category: [Vendors](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/vendor-news.html) 16 September 2026 29039 views At the China International Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE) in Shenzhen in September, Huawei demonstrated its third-gen optical interconnect product for SuperPod, the 7.2T NPO (near-packaged optics), which will be deployed in its future SuperPoD series. ![Veon’s Beeline Kazakhstan to cooperate with central bank on digital payments](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/Beeline_Kazakhstan_Veon_DFG_1200.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Mobile Finance](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/financial-services.html) 16 September 2026 6292 views Veon Digital Financial Group and Veon-owned Beeline Kazakhstan announced on Tuesday they have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the National Bank of Kazakhstan to explore the development of digital payment services in the country. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/NewsPix/U_Mobile_Tencent_Cloud_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Enterprise Ecosystems](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/enterprise-ecosystems.html) 16 September 2026 6021 views Tencent Cloud announced on Tuesday it has signed an MoU with Malaysian 5G operator U Mobile to explore development of practical 5G and AI solutions for enterprises and SMEs. ![Cybastion to support Senegal's digital transformation plans](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Dakar_600.jpg) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Investment](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/telecom-investment-mergers.html) 15 September 2026 5202 views Cybastion, a US company that delivers digital and infrastructure solutions in Africa, reportedly plans to mobilise about US$300 million for several projects supporting Senegal's digital transformation. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Petersburg_600.png) Details Vaughan O'Grady Category: [Wireless Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks.html) 15 September 2026 9053 views Russian mobile phone operators have launched their first commercial 5G networks across 16 major cities, according to an announcement last Friday from the country’s Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Ministry. ![Interview on MASTEL & XL SMART & ZTE: Empowering Indonesia's inclusive development through digital innovation](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Sponsored/zte/ZTE-XLSMART-MASTEL-1200.jpg) Details STAFF WRITER Category: [Vendors](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/vendor-news.html) 15 September 2026 16065 views As Southeast Asia's largest digital economy, Indonesia is accelerating its journey toward the "Vision Indonesia Digital 2045" (VID 2045), where resilient and inclusive connectivity forms the foundation for socioeconomic growth. Against this backdrop, the largest network integration project in Indonesia's telecom history has achieved unprecedented success—surpassing 95% completion in record time, and receiving top industry awards for 5G and overall mobile network experience across the archipelago. ![GSMA warns rising smartphone costs could widen global AI divide](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/MWC24_Stands/GSMA_MWC24.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Consumer Ecosystems](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/60-consumer-ecosystems.html) 15 September 2026 7505 views The GSMA has warned that rising smartphone component costs could widen the digital divide as 3.1 billion people remain offline despite living within mobile broadband coverage. ![](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Bangkok_Wat_Phra_Sri_Rattana_Satsadaram_600.jpg) Details Manny Pham Category: [Optical & Fixed Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks.html) 15 September 2026 5060 views The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is funding a feasibility study for a new submarine cable system linking Thailand with the US via up to five other Southeast Asian countries. ![Digital Realty forms JV with Rönesans to build data centres in Turkey](https://developingtelecoms.com/images/stories/Places/Istanbul_Hagia_Sophia_600.jpg) Details John Tanner Category: [Data Centres & Networks](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/data-centres-networks.html) 15 September 2026 6474 views Digital Realty announced on Monday it has formed a strategic joint venture with Turkish investment company Rönesans Infrastructure to develop and operate next-generation data centres across Turkey. ![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 5453 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 6615 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 7567 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 4929 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 4806 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 12804 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 3717 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 4314 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 6006 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 4540 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 4734 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 3621 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 6159 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 7927 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.