Tigo Guatemala emerged as the biggest spender in the sale of 2.5GHz-2.6GHz spectrum held by the country’s regulator SIT (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones).

Is the Mexican government doing enough to support 5G rollout and thereby attract more investment? That is the question asked by the Mexican telecoms sector at a recent conference.

Industry body the GSMA said in its new report over 800 million women from low and middle-income countries (LMIC) across Africa, Asia and Latin America, must adopt mobile internet to close the digital gender gap by 2030. 

The Costa Rican government granted Elon Musk’s satellite connectivity company Starlink an operations licence after a six-month wait, expanding the provider’s footprint in Latin America.

Ecuador’s telecommunications ministry revealed US$900 million was invested into the sector in 2022, which is expected to be topped this year as progressive reforms continue to reshape the industry.

Gitpan (General Internacional Telecom Panama) remained the only interested party at the close of the prequalification round of Panama’s second tender for the licence vacated by Digicel Panama.

Less than a year after we reported that Brazilian data centre firm Odata had opened its first Mexican data centre to add to its operations in Brazil, Colombia and Chile, it has been sold.

Starlink continues to boost its presence in Latin America, launching connectivity in Panama and confirming that it has received an operating licence in Guatemala.

The Latin American smartphone market declined by 10% year-on-year in Q1 2023 to 28 million units, a fifth consecutive quarter of decline for the region but a rebound is predicted for H2, according to analyst company Canalys.

Two Caribbean markets are set to make 700MHz spectrum available for the provision of both 4G and 5G services.

The slightly confusing saga of Brazilian operator Oi continues. It is now seeking a huge sum of money in emergency funding.

Hispasat, a provider of broadband and connectivity services, has reached an agreement with Comitas e-Health, a provider of telemedicine and tele-diagnostic solutions, to market a satellite telemedicine solution in remote areas of Latin America.

Guyana’s Public Utilities Commission expects mobile number portability to go live across the country this July.

Argentina’s regulator ENACOM (Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones) has revealed that it is aiming to hold the country’s long-delayed multi-band 5G spectrum auction in June 2023.

New and expanded Microsoft Airband partnerships are set to provide high-speed internet access to nearly 40 million people across Latin America and Africa, the company says.

China Telecom do Brasil (CTB), the largest subsidiary of China Telecom Americas in Latin America and a leading provider of internet and cloud computing services in Brazil, has announced the launch of eSurfing cloud services in the country.

Uruguay’s 5G spectrum auctions have concluded with the local units of Claro and Movistar each obtaining holdings in the 3.5GHz band.

Claro Colombia has deployed solutions from Casa Systems as it seeks to expand its broadband capacity and build a converged, cloud-native network.

Axess Networks, a global provider of satellite communications solutions, has announced plans to connect more than 700 new 4G nodes via satellite as part of the CFE TEIT programme, a national development plan in Mexico. TEIT stands for TElecomunicaciones e Internet para Todos or Telecommunications and Internet for All.

Private networks are in the news again. This time Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahía, a port terminal in Cartagena, Colombia, is announcing that it is the first multipurpose terminal to adopt a private 4G technology in Latin America after a deal involving Nokia and operator Claro Colombia.

Bolivia and Costa Rica have separately issued major updates regarding 5G progress in their markets.

Hispasat has secured the infrastructure deals required for its Amazonas Nexus satellite to begin operations.

Cuba's second-ever submarine cable, connecting Cuba to Martinique and deployed by Orange, is now being tested. The testing process began in April.

There’s been some controversy reported in Uruguay in the run-up to operators Claro and Movistar prequalifying for 5G spectrum in an auction scheduled for 9 May.

GTT (Guyana Telephone and Telegraph) is partnering with domestic satellite firm Wansat to deliver satellite connectivity to Guyana’s rural regions.

Flō Networks, a provider of digital infrastructure solutions, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of American Tower's Mexico fibre business, ATC Holding Fibra México (known commercially as redIT), and its high-capacity fibre optic network, which maintains a dense presence in over 40 cities throughout Mexico.

Telecentro Argentina has selected solutions from Nokia for its network transformation.

Two more indications of the growing role of renewable energy in network rollout – both to save the environment and to save money – have come from Brazil and Bahrain.

Latin America and Africa could be among the beneficiaries of plans recently announced  by Gilat and Intelsat to strengthen their strategic partnership.

Troubled Brazilian operator Oi chose to postpone publishing its 2022 financial results, reported Reuters.

Panama’s regulator has recommenced its attempts to find a taker for Digicel Panama’s licence after the sole bidder General Internacional Telecom Panama (Gitpan) failed to provide adequate documentation.

Hondutel, the national fixed line provider of Honduras, has signed a new agreement with Starlink to deliver satellite connectivity to remote areas of the country.

Chinese vendor ZTE has won two more notable contracts. One, in India, is from Vodafone Idea. The other, in Brazil, is from new entrant Unifique.