Saudi Arabia-based satellite operator Arabsat and satellite services and solutions provider Qatar Satellite Company (a.k.a. Es’hailSat) signed a strategic partnership agreement on Wednesday to expand joint initiatives in broadcasting and satellite communications.

Guinea has appointed Mamy Diaby as CEO of state-owned telecoms operator Areeba, as the government restructures the struggling business after a sharp decline in subscribers and revenue.

Salience Consulting, a management advisory firm specialising in the digital infrastructure and ICT sectors, has been appointed to provide transaction advisory services for a proposed commercial spaceport in Kenya.

Chilean regulator Subtel has refused to renew concessions in the 800MHz band for operator WOM, apparently due to lack of use. Indeed, the operator has not had customers on these frequencies since 2 November 2016.

Airtel Rwanda announced on Tuesday it has launched Airtel IQ, a Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) offering for enterprises that integrates multiple real-time customer communication channels into existing applications and workflows.

Hayo, a global digital service provider, says it has expanded its presence in East Africa by establishing operations in Tanzania with the aim of helping to design, build and run critical digital infrastructure.

A reminder of the continuing dependence on diesel of many African countries as backup fuel for communications infrastructure comes from telecoms regulator ARPCE in the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville).

Bolivian state-owned operator Entel has begun shutting down its 3G network in the administrative capital of La Paz, reallocating spectrum in the 850 MHz band to strengthen 4G services.

Gabon’s High Communication Authority (HAC) has lifted a ban on social media imposed eight months ago. The policy change was announced on Saturday in a televised statement.

The Abu Dhabi-based global technology group G42 has announced the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) both at home and abroad taking its AI expertise to both the UAE and Greece.

State-owned operator Uztelecom has upgraded 1,566 base stations and launched 380 new ones across Uzbekistan as it expands mobile coverage and develops its 5G network.

Paratus Tanzania revealed on Monday that it has established a new point of presence (PoP) at Wingu Data Centre in Dar es Salaam that connects the telco to Paratus Group’s continental network in East Africa.

Kazakh telco Transtelecom (TTC) and payments firm CNP Processing announced a partnership on Thursday that will enable local enterprises to use Amazon Web Services (AWS) technologies for payment services, with local data storage and processing.

AST SpaceMobile, which is building a space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, has secured S-band spectrum authorisation from Brazilian regulator Anatel, as well as regulatory approval for the secondary use of spectrum in the 700 MHz band.

Satellite communications technology company ST Engineering iDirect has announced a strategic partnership with Oman’s MBSat, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region.

Kenyan telco Safaricom said on Thursday it has extended its M-Pesa overdraft service to micro-businesses, enabling them to complete business payments even when their available M-Pesa balance is insufficient.

Parallel Wireless and Telecall Colombia have announced plans to speed up national-scale deployment of Telecall's 5G network using AI-based Open RAN technology.

India’s Jio Platforms faces questions over its debt obligations, future tax payments and valuation ahead of a proposed INR302.13 billion (US$3.2 billion), according to GlobalData.

Crusoe, a company that builds AI-optimised data centres harnessing large-scale energy sources, has announced a strategic partnership with Paraguayan energy and infrastructure developer Araico to build high-performance AI compute infrastructure powered by the Itaipú Hydroelectric Dam.

SoleCrypt, a provider of sustainable digital infrastructure, has announced plans for the SoleCrypt AI Campus in Bizerte, Tunisia, a 40 MW campus, beginning with a 7 MW first phase designed around the Nvidia HGX Rubin NVL8 platform.

Communications company Ooredoo and telecommunications operator Zain Group have announced the first closing of their regional tower transaction, bringing together the initial tower portfolios within a regional tower platform jointly owned by Ooredoo Group and Zain Group, each holding a 50% stake.

Turkcell revealed on Wednesday it has successfully field-tested integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) technology – a feature planned for 6G networks that enables mobile networks to detect and track human movement and density in coverage areas.

Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) said on Wednesday that it has received reports from customers that their WhatsApp accounts have been hacked by fraudsters, and is working with Meta to resolve the issue.

Development bank the World Bank Group has launched what it calls its first digital strategy, bringing together its public and private sector capabilities to help developing countries expand affordable digital access, improve services, and create jobs.

Singapore-based global payment platform Thunes announced on Tuesday it has expanded its cross-border payments network into Venezuela, billed as one of Latin America's critical financial corridors.

Vodacom Mpumalanga says it will invest over ZAR600 million (around US$36.6 million) in network infrastructure and technology in the coming financial year to expand broadband connectivity and support growing demand for digital services across the province.

Continuing efforts by countries across the Middle East to develop domestic space ecosystems encompassing satellite infrastructure have been underlined by recent announcements from Oman and Iraq relating to ground stations.

The World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) has deployed what it calls its Preparedness Data Exchange (PDX) platform in the Democratic Republic of Congo, strengthening the country’s access to epidemic intelligence and early-warning information.

The Trans-Caspian Submarine Cable System linking Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan was officially launched on Thursday, linking the respective telecoms infrastructures of AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom with 400 Tbps of capacity.

Iraqi telco Asiacell says it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Samsung Electronics Levant to provide consumers and businesses with broader access to Samsung devices, services and technology solutions.

Global digital operator Veon – which owns Beeline Uzbekistan – said on Monday it has struck a deal to buy rival telco Rubicon Wireless, which operates under the “Perfectum” brand, for US$207 million.