Colombia invests COP 25 bln in Magdalena fibre expansion
COLOMBIA 09:43

Colombia invests COP 25 bln in Magdalena fibre expansion

Colombia's Ministry of Information Technology and Communications (MinTIC) said it has invested COP 25 billion alongside the National Academic Network of Advanced Technology (RENATA) to deploy around 342 kilometres of fibre-optic cable in the northern Magdalena department. The project has connected 14,158 families across the municipalities of Remolino, Ciénaga, Pueblo Viejo and Sitionuevo, as well as the stilt villages of Nueva Venecia and Buenavista.

Almost eight in ten CSPs have commercial leads on sovereign AI
GLOBAL 09:30

Almost eight in ten CSPs have commercial leads on sovereign AI

A majority of communication service providers (CSPs) polled by TM Forum are forging ahead with sovereign AI projects, though a full consensus is yet to emerge on the right approach. The figures, published ahead of TM Forum's flagship DTW Ignite event, indicate 77 percent of the panel had commercial leads lined up to monetise sovereign AI and related capabilities, targeting strict performance criteria such as governance, infrastructure autonomy and data sovereignty.

MTN Uganda partners with Entebbe Club for pro golf tournament
UGANDA 09:26

MTN Uganda partners with Entebbe Club for pro golf tournament

MTN Uganda, in partnership with Entebbe Club, announced the launch of the MTN Pro-Tee Series, a professional golf tournament. After three years of supporting amateur and corporate golf via the MTN Monthly Tee and MTN Grand Tee of Tees, the operator is scaling its commitment. The inaugural edition will feature 40 elite professional golfers competing over 72 holes.

STC Group achieves 'green' telco cloud with Huawei
SAUDI ARABIA 09:20

STC Group achieves 'green' telco cloud with Huawei

STC Group said it deployed its new 'Green Telco Cloud' platform in collaboration with Huawei. Built for long-term efficiency and digital scalability, the cloud-native system unifies computing, storage, and networking into a single integrated environment. It is specifically designed to run telecom services using fewer hardware resources and significantly less energy, thanks to energy-efficient servers with dynamic power management and adaptive CPU frequency scaling within a unified, automated infrastructure.

Ooredoo Kuwait and Qatar Airways link loyalty programmes
KUWAIT 09:17

Ooredoo Kuwait and Qatar Airways link loyalty programmes

Ooredoo Kuwait has launched a partnership with Qatar Airways Privilege Club to expand the rewards available through its Nojoom loyalty programme. Through this collaboration, Ooredoo customers can instantly transfer their Nojoom points into Qatar Airways Avios points through the Ooredoo app. Conversion options start from 2,000 Nojoom for 500 Avios and go up to 20,000 Nojoom for 5,000 Avios. Avios can be used to book flights and other airline benefits.

Zain Bahrain intros new Wiyana postpaid plans with enhanced roaming
BAHRAIN 09:12

Zain Bahrain intros new Wiyana postpaid plans with enhanced roaming

Zain Bahrain launched its new Wiyana Postpaid plans with free global and GCC roaming data allowances and roaming minutes, a complimentary Zain Delights Deals subscription with access to offers from more than 220 merchants, and hotspot sharing. The operator said the plans bring together roaming, lifestyle, and local benefits into a single, simplified experience. Customers can enjoy enhanced connectivity while travelling, access lifestyle offers across a wide merchant network, and benefit from unlimited local

Zain Iraq launches campaign in support of national soccer team
IRAQ 09:10

Zain Iraq launches campaign in support of national soccer team

Zain Iraq launched its national campaign 'Support the Lions of Mesopotamia with Zain' to celebrate the Iraq national football team's return to the Fifa World Cup. This milestone marks the country's first appearance on football's biggest stage in 40 years. The Zain Iraq campaign features key stars who drove Iraq's qualification for the World Cup. Leading the lineup is brand ambassador Aymen Hussein, joined by veteran goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, Amir Al-Ammari, and Youssef Amyn.

Chile launches cable removal project in Coquimbo region
CHILE 09:05

Chile launches cable removal project in Coquimbo region

Chile's telecommunications regulator Subtel has announced the launch of a cable removal and network reorganisation programme in the Coquimbo region, targeting disused wiring and inactive aerial infrastructure across its 15 municipalities. The initiative, led by the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications and coordinated with industry group IDICAM, is being carried out by operators ClaroVTR, Entel and Movistar, with work already underway in La Serena.

Exascale completes fibre network expansion across Telford
UNITED KINGDOM 09:04

Exascale completes fibre network expansion across Telford

Exascale has almost completed construction of a new 288-core fibre network spine across Telford and Wrekin. The expansion of its carrier-grade fibre network starts in the Hortonwood business-dense area, before extending to Trench Lock, Wellington, Ketley, Lawley, Horsehay and Madeley, and ending in Halesfield. It will allow Exascale to provide enhanced connectivity services for businesses, public sector customers and wholesale partners in the region. 

Zain Esports organises MENA PUBG mobile tournament
MIDDLE EAST 09:04

Zain Esports organises MENA PUBG mobile tournament

Zain Esports, a division of Zain Group, organised the 2026 PUBG Mobile National Championship (PMNC) MENA Spring Series across seven countries. The competitive series took place in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Palestine, and Iraq. Tencent officially partnered with Zain Esports, granting it the exclusive license to operate the series in collaboration with Bahrain-based Teal Flamingo Studios. The two-month tournament featured nine days of live-streamed finals.

Somali NCA partners with National IPv6 Centre to drive digital transformation
SOMALIA 09:02

Somali NCA partners with National IPv6 Centre to drive digital transformation

The Somali National Communications Authority (NCA) and the National IPv6 Centre have come together to accelerate the adoption of next-generation internet technology and modernise the nation's digital infrastructure. The National IPv6 Workshop in Mogadishu united stakeholders to form a foundation for Somalia's digital future, including ISPs, academic institutions and telecom experts. 

Ericsson and Dubai Digital Authority sign MoU to explore collaboration
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 08:57

Ericsson and Dubai Digital Authority sign MoU to explore collaboration

Ericsson and Dubai Digital Authority have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration, it was announced during a visit by a UAE delegation to Ericsson's Imagine Studio. The visitors comprised senior representatives from sectors including government, healthcare, public safety, digital transformation, education and community development.The MoU establishes a formal framework to co-develop next-generation initiatives that enhance public services and advance Dubai's digital strategy.

UNITED KINGDOM 08:52

Lumo to introduce Starlink Wi-Fi on East Coast Main Line trains

UK rail operator Lumo plans to introduce high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity on its East Coast Main Line trains from autumn 2026. It will work with train manufacturer Hitachi, rolling stock lease provider Beacon Rail and connectivity provider Icomera to install the satellite-enabled internet technology on its trains.

AFRICA 08:50

MultiChoice Africa expands sports line-up with launch of SportyTV

MultiChoice Africa has made SportyTV available in its DStv Access, Family, Compact and Compact Plus bundles via both satellite and streaming platforms, MyBroadband reported. SportyTV can be found at channel 236 and airs around the clock, offering diverse sports coverage with a heavy emphasis on football tournaments. It is operated by Sporty Group, a global internet and media entity that also owns the major sports betting platform SportyBet.

UNITED KINGDOM 08:43

Totsco reaches milestone of 3 million switches

Totsco, UK fixed-line broadband and voice services switching platform, has reached the milestone of 3 million switches. In an update, Totsco said it was also expanding one-to-one support to work through problems with providers directly; and developing tailored reporting for each providers to track their own match rates. Meanwhile, a number of providers are now ready to start integration testing for business switching soon. 

BERMUDA 08:40

Google's Nuvem and Sol subsea cables reach Bermuda

Bermuda's government confirmed that Google's Nuvem and Sol subsea cable systems have landed on the island, strengthening the country's digital infrastructure and converting it into a key hub for global connectivity. In a statement, Premier David Burt described the project as a strategic investment aimed at boosting economic resilience and supporting long-term competitiveness.

JORDAN 08:40

Orange Jordan and MetLife launch insurance services via Orange Money

Orange Jordan and MetLife have begun a partnership to offer insurance through the Orange Money e-wallet app. They aim to advance financial inclusion, letting users select customised insurance bundles combining life and personal accident cover through a secure, digital and paperless process. Users can choose between Silver and Gold tiered packages, track transactions via instant notifications, and flexibly manage their payment schedules.

UNITED KINGDOM 08:37

UK govt confirms social media ban for under-16s

The UK government announced plans to ban under -16s from social media, adopting the same model used in Australia. The ban will cover user-to-user platforms that enable social interaction and allow users to upload content, alongside algorithms. This would include platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube, but not messaging services such as Signal and WhatsApp. The new measures follow a public consultation which received over 116,000 responses and saw 9 in 10 parents support a social media ban for

GHANA 08:34

Ghana's NCA hosts Liberian telecom delegation for best practice exchange

The Ghanaian National Communications Authority (NCA) has hosted a two-member delegation from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) to share knowledge, experience and best practices regarding institutional development, technology adoption, operational systems and modern workplace infrastructure. Suleman Salifu, the NCA's deputy director-general for technical operations, emphasised the deep, historic with Liberia. Joy Chichi Onos, the LTA's director for information technology, said her organisation w

BRAZIL 08:25

Northeast Brazil to get broadband boost with BRL 74 mln Fust funding

Over 10 million Brazilians in the northeastern states of Pernambuco, Paraiba and Ceara are set to receive high-speed internet access thanks to a BRL 73.8 million investment from the Fund for the Universalisation of Telecommunications Services (Fust). The project, spearheaded by Aloo Telecom and supported by the Ministry of Communications and BNDES, will construct 1,200 kilometres of underground fibre-optic network, connecting 12 municipalities and creating a new data transmission route between Recife and Fo

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 08:22

T2 switches to local document management system

Russian mobile operator T2, a subsidiary of the national operator Rostelecom, has implemented the ECM platform SED Tezis from Russian company Haulmont, reports Vedomosti. The operator switched from a foreign IT service for management of business processes and documents, after the vendor withdrew support in Russia. The new system processes more than 2 million documents daily.

PORTUGAL 08:21

Meo granted restructuring status to facilitate employee departures

Portuguese telecom operator Meo has been granted "company in restructuring" status by the Portuguese government, a designation it sought in 2025 and received in early 2026, valid until 30 June of this year, reported Lusa. This status allows Meo to facilitate the departure of 1,200 employees through mutual agreement, exceeding typical legal quotas for such exits while still providing unemployment benefits. The company stated that these voluntary departures are part of an internal transformation program aimed

COTE D'IVOIRE 08:18

Starlink wins licence to operate in Cote d'Ivoire from July

Starlink will launch commercial fixed satellite internet services in Cote d'Ivoire in July, Space in Africa reported. Regulator ARTCI has granted operational authorisation to Starlink Network CIV for twelve months. Djibril Ouattara, the minister of digital transition and technological innovation, said the licence lets Starlink offer services that can connect schools, health centres and remote rural areas that previously lacked internet access.

BRAZIL 08:14

Brazil and EU forge digital partnership

Brazil and the European Union have formalised a Digital Partnership to establish international cooperation in critical areas such as data governance, AI, 5G and 6G network infrastructure development, high-capacity connectivity, and digital public goods and services platforms. Beyond bilateral initiatives, the partnership will also involve political coordination in major global forums like the UN, G20, ITU, Unesco and ICANN, as well as technical standardisation bodies such as ISO, IEEE and 3GPP.

Just In

09:43

Colombia invests COP 25 bln in Magdalena fibre expansion

09:30

Almost eight in ten CSPs have commercial leads on sovereign AI

09:26

MTN Uganda partners with Entebbe Club for pro golf tournament

09:20

STC Group achieves 'green' telco cloud with Huawei

Commentary

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Background

1 JUN 00:13

The week in telecom: EU telcos push sovereign services as governments question foreign tech investors

23 MEI 23:42

The week in telecom: Starlink ready to go public, Singapore telco M&A and Google courts AI subscribers at I/O

18 MEI 00:31

The week in telecom: US operators mount rural satellite challenge, Cisco cashes in on AI boom

11 MEI 00:53

The week in telecom: Lumen, NTT turn to data centre market to revive growth, Hutchison exits UK