All Tech News

Orange’s Slovakian unit is increasing its 5G spectrum holding while also discussing a potential network-sharing arrangement with Slovak Telecom.

Estonia’s Telia Eesti is planning an investment of €10 million (US$11.3 million) into its mobile networks for 2020.

Indonesian mobile operator Telkomsel has announced that it is extending its 4G LTE coverage to more areas of the country.

A useful reminder that fibre is still a strong player – even in mobile-dominated markets – comes from Oman and Myanmar, where expansion of fibre-to-the-home services is under way.

Cambodian mobile market leader Smart Axiata is implementing a network-based authentication solution for service providers from Benefit Vantage.

China Unicom has chosen Nokia to support the build-out of its 5G SA Core network in China.

Thailand’s True Move is implementing direct carrier billing from Docomo Digital, making it easier for its customers to make purchases using their existing mobile accounts.

Globalstar, a provider of mobile satellite voice and data services, has announced the deployment of a new ground station with second-generation technology in Córdoba, Argentina.

In the face of regulatory constraints and bureaucratic delays in some countries, it’s worth highlighting ways in which governments are supporting telecommunications by enabling or encouraging rollout, most recently in Colombia and Vietnam.

Asia Direct Cable (ADC) Consortium has selected NEC to build a high-performance submarine cable connecting China (Hong Kong SAR and Guangdong Province), Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Liberian operator Lonestar Cell MTN has announced two initiatives to make mobile payment and social media access easier for its customers.

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has deployed Nokia automation, analytics and machine learning software to enhance the customer experience and improve customer service accuracy and efficiency.

In a further boost to data centre development in Inner Mongolia, the company that owns popular Chinese video-sharing app Kuaishou has announced plans to spend a cool $1.4 billion to build a data centre in Northern China.

Colombian services provider SkyNet and satellite operator SES Networks have announced that they have extended their partnership and increased network capacity in the country to support coronavirus mitigation efforts.

Local press reports in Fiji indicate that plans are under way for a major network upgrade for mobile operator Digicel Fiji. Its estimated cost is about $13.7 million. The network upgrade aims to boost LTE coverage across the country’s islands.

Gilat Telecom has extended the reach of its VSAT services to every African country.

Mexico’s rural areas will receive a coverage boost after a recent deal involving satellite backhaul. 

In a bizarre and slightly unsettling recent turn of events, an Indian app that reportedly helps people delete or disable apps of Chinese origin has enjoyed massive, if brief, success on the Google Play store before being removed by Google.

Data centre services company Ascenty has reached an agreement to build two new data facilities in the state of Queretaro, North-Central Mexico.

Continuing evidence of the importance of wireless telecommunications during the health crisis comes from the UAE, where satellite services are playing a part in the UAE’s efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic – in this case through Dubai’s ambulance services.

Nokia and Vodafone Idea have successfully completed the first phase of a Dynamic Spectrum Refarming (DSR) implementation in India.

Mobile banking has been one of the great success stories in emerging markets - particularly within Africa - and in the wake of Covid-19, many in the financial sector are calling for further digitalisation to ensure resilience and growth.

The rollout out of voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) continues, with a leading Indonesian player joining the growing number of operators offering LTE-based voice calls to its subscribers.

New TITAN.IUM Platform Provides Performance and Scale for 5G while Ensuring Network and Service Evolution from 3G & 4G.

Findings quoted in the Indian press from market research companies IDC and Counterpoint Research indicate that India is facing its first-ever year of decline in smartphone sales; a drop of 13-15 percent is expected.

As we have noted before, despite delays to rollout or spectrum auctions in some countries due to measures to control the coronavirus, other countries are going ahead with 5G plans, virus or no virus.

Main One, a broadband infrastructure company working across West Africa, has been asked by Burkina Faso, backed by the World Bank, to provide bulk connectivity services to a consortium of operators for the next three years.

The Asia-Africa-Europe-1 Consortium (AAE-1), one of the largest consortium cable systems in the world today, has recently completed a significant upgrade on its intercontinental cable system.

Huawei has announced the worldwide launch of the OceanStor Pacific Series mass storage system to deliver efficient, cost-effective and reliable services for AI, HPC, video and other mass data storage scenarios.

Mobile Telecommunications Ltd (MTC), Namibia’s leading mobile operator, has selected CSG to lead its business transformation efforts. CSG is a US-headquarted company that delivers customer engagement solutions that help companies acquire, monetize, engage and retain customers.

STC (Saudi Telecom Company) has outlined plans to prioritise the growth of 4G and 5G technologies, noting that it expects to decommission its 3G network within “less than two years.”

East African press outlets are reporting that Uganda is to begin manufacturing its first smartphones. The manufacturing partner will be Chinese brand SIMI.