Oman establishes space technology hub in Al Hajar Al Gharbi reserve
OMAN 08:40

Oman establishes space technology hub in Al Hajar Al Gharbi reserve

The Omani ICT Ministry, the Environment Authority and Astronomical Solutions Company have agreed to set up a new space technology hub in the Al Hajar Al Gharbi Starlight Reserve, Muscat Daily reported. Their plans include the development of an advanced astronomical observatory and satellite ground stations. The project falls under a technological sandbox initiative designed to support innovation, scientific research and investment in space-related technologies.

Echostar agrees debt restructuring with Dish creditors
UNITED STATES 08:35

Echostar agrees debt restructuring with Dish creditors

EchoStar announced an agreement with some of its creditors to settle outstanding debts. As part of the restructuring support agreement, it paid off USD 1.6 billion in debt as of 16 March, according to a SEC filing. The agreement involves its pay-TV subsidiaries Dish Network Corp, Dish DBS Corp and certain of DDBS's subsidiaries, with an ad hoc group representing more than 82 percent of holders of debt securities issued by DDBS. The plan is expected to "significantly deleverage" the company.

MultiChoice shuts down Showmax on 30 April, moves Originals and selected titles to DStv Stream
AFRICA 08:32

MultiChoice shuts down Showmax on 30 April, moves Originals and selected titles to DStv Stream

MultiChoice has announced that the Showmax streaming service shutdown will occur on 30 April. It says Showmax Originals and selected titles will move to DStv Stream in a dedicated Showmax section within the app. DStv Stream brings together on-demand entertainment and live TV, including sport. The titles will become part of the live streaming available on DStv's standalone streaming service.

Jazz launches 5G services in Pakistan
PAKISTAN 08:32

Jazz launches 5G services in Pakistan

Pakistani mobile operator Jazz has launched 5G services following the award of the 5G license by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Jazz reports that its 5G service is live across 180 sites, covering the Islamabad capital, as well as all provincial capitals, and major cities including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, and Faisalabad.

WindTre relaunches 'winback' plan with 250GB for under EUR 5
ITALY 08:24

WindTre relaunches 'winback' plan with 250GB for under EUR 5

Italian operator WindTre has relaunched a 'winback' plan in its Go-branded range aimed at former customers, reports Mondo Mobile Web, citing SMS sent to users. The rate, dubbed WindTre Go 250 XXS 5G, comes with unlimited minutes to all national landline and mobile numbers plus 50 SMS to all national numbers as well as 250GB of data at fastest possible 5G speeds for EUR 4.99 a month.

China Unicom posts nearly 30% free cash flow growth in 2025, raises dividend
CHINA 08:22

China Unicom posts nearly 30% free cash flow growth in 2025, raises dividend

China Unicom reports that its free cash flow reached CNY 36 billion in 2025, which represents a year-on-year increase of 28.5 percent. Annual capex amounted to CNY 54.2 billion. China Unicom expects its capex to reach CNY 50 billion in 2026, of which investment in computing power will account for more than 35 percent.

R offering premium convergent plan with free TV for under EUR 50
SPAIN 08:12

R offering premium convergent plan with free TV for under EUR 50

Spanish regional operator R (MasOrange), present in Galicia, has launched a time-limited promotion to persuade new users to sign up to its premium convergent plan. Customers can subscribe to a package with fibre at download speeds of up to 1 Gbps, two mobile lines with unlimited data, a fixed line, Netflix and Disney+, SkyShowtime, the company's TotalTV service plus a 32-inch Smart TV or an Honor X5C Plus smartphone for EUR 49.90 a month for three months, rising to EUR 66.90 thereafter.

EU court opinion upholds Huawei network ban, says no compensation due
ESTONIA 08:10

EU court opinion upholds Huawei network ban, says no compensation due

EU countries may impose bans on telecom equipment suppliers in the name of national security, and they are not required to pay operators compensation for swapping out the network equipment, according to an opinion from the EU Court of Justice's advocate general. While the opinion must be confirmed still by the full court, it appears to clear the way for additional laws under consideration across the EU banning ZTE and Huawei from telecom networks. 

Samsung launches Galaxy Forever smartphone financing and upgrade programme in India
INDIA 07:59

Samsung launches Galaxy Forever smartphone financing and upgrade programme in India

Samsung India has introduced 'Galaxy Forever', a 12-month ownership programme for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Plus. Under this plan, customers pay 50 percent of the device cost through 12 interest-free monthly installments via Samsung Finance+ or select credit cards. The programme includes 13 months of Samsung Care+ coverage, valued at INR 13,999, which provides accidental and liquid damage protection.

Palo Alto Networks names Seminaroti Italy Country Manager
ITALY 07:54

Palo Alto Networks names Seminaroti Italy Country Manager

Palo Alto Networks has announced the appointment of Francesco Seminaroti as its new country manager for Italy, tasked with strengthening the cybersecurity firm's presence in the market and supporting customers' digital transformation efforts. Seminaroti will lead the company's business strategy in Italy, focusing on expanding its partnerships and helping organisations address increasingly complex cyber threats.

Deezer reports first annual profit as growth in direct subs continues in Q4
GLOBAL 07:48

Deezer reports first annual profit as growth in direct subs continues in Q4

France-based music streaming company Deezer said that it achieved an annual profit for the first time in its history, after generating net income of EUR 8 million in 2025. This compares with a net loss of EUR 26 million in 2024. Full-year revenues were nearly unchanged at constant currency at EUR 534 million, as a growing contribution from direct subscribers and white-labelling contracts broadly offset a contraction in the Partnership segment. For 2026, the company expects a stable revenue performance, as w

BlueSky announces USD 100 mln series B funding round
GLOBAL 07:41

BlueSky announces USD 100 mln series B funding round

The social messaging platform Bluesky announced it has raised USD 100 million in Series B funding led by Bain Capital Crypto, with participation from Alumni Ventures, Anthos Capital, Bloomberg Beta, Knight Foundation and True Ventures. While the money was raised in April 2025, the company has disclosed the new funds only now, shortly after announcing a change in its CEO. The new funding has gone to developing its AT Protocol for verifying users and their data as well as to working on the Bluesky app.

MALAYSIA 07:16

TNB, TM ink deal to expand green energy and digital infrastructure

Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has signed a green energy services partnership deal with Telekom Malaysia (TM). The two partners aim to develop smarter, more sustainable, and interconnected energy and telecoms infrastructure across the country. The cooperation will combine the green energy and digital expertise of both companies, and will focus on sustainable energy services, digital technologies, and AI services.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 06:44

South Korea delays facial recognition SIM registration trial to mid-2026

South Korea's ministry of science and ICT has extended the pilot programme for facial recognition-based identity verification in mobile service activations until 30 June 2026, citing industry feedback and the need to support wider adoption. The measure forms part of a broader government effort to curb telecom-enabled financial fraud, including voice phishing, by strengthening identity checks during SIM registration.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 06:42

Korea issues security guidelines for private 5G networks

The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) has published new security guidance for private 5G networks, setting out measures to support secure deployment and operation as adoption expands across industrial sectors. The guidance is intended for organisations building and operating dedicated 5G networks, often referred to as "private" or "specialised" networks, which are used to support applications such as smart factories and connected office environments. Unlike public mobile networks, these systems operat

JAPAN 06:40

Japanese firms agree virtual PPA to support data centre renewable energy use

Japanese data centre developer and operator AT Tokyo has signed a basic agreement with Mizuho Leasing, and its subsidiary ML Power, to develop a virtual power purchase agreement (PPA) framework aimed at increasing renewable energy use in data centre operations. The agreement centres on a solar power portfolio with a capacity of approximately 28MW-dc, funded by a Mizuho Leasing group company. The project will transition from Japan's feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme to the feed-in premium (FIP) scheme, with non-FI

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 06:39

PNG appoints NICTA chief with mandate to improve services and connectivity

The government of Papua New Guinea has confirmed the appointment of Lume Polume as chief executive of the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), alongside setting out policy expectations focused on improving service delivery and sector oversight. Acting minister for information and communications technology Peter Tsiamalili Jr said Polume will serve a four-year term from 28 January 2026, following a three-month period in an acting capacity. 

JAPAN 06:37

JBS and Sakura Internet agree partnership to support government cloud adoption

Japan Business Systems (JBS) and Sakura Internet have signed an MoU to jointly support the digitalisation of administrative systems, with a focus on expanding cloud adoption among local governments. The agreement centres on combining Sakura Internet's public cloud platform, "Sakura no Cloud", with JBS's capabilities as a cloud integrator. The platform has been conditionally approved for use within Japan's government cloud framework, subject to meeting technical requirements by the end of the 2025 fiscal yea

JAPAN 06:35

NTT Data contributes to ITU-T aligned cybersecurity service mapping framework

NTT Data and NTT Data Group have supported the development of a cybersecurity service mapping framework aligned with the International Telecommunication Union's ITU-T X.1060 standard, aimed at helping enterprises assess and structure their security measures. The "X.1060 service map", published by the Japan Network Security Association (JNSA), organises domestic and international cybersecurity products and services according to their function and purpose. It is intended to provide organisations with a consol

JAPAN 06:33

NTT East pilots remote baby visitation system with haptic feedback

NTT East has begun a remote visitation trial designed to connect families with infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) using video, audio and haptic feedback, in collaboration with Iwate Medical University, Kitakami Saiseikai Hospital and Iwate Prefecture. The project, titled "Ai no Katachi", aims to address challenges associated with prolonged NICU stays and limited in-person visitation, particularly in regions where distance and weather conditions restrict access to hospitals.

JAPAN 06:31

NTT validates fibre sensing technology for large-scale structural monitoring

NTT has demonstrated a fibre-optic sensing technology capable of detecting subtle structural deformation over long distances, in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, extending the potential use of optical fibre infrastructure beyond communications into monitoring applications. The technology uses multi-core optical fibre cables and a new shape analysis method to identify gradual changes in curvature that were previously undetectable. 

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 06:29

TTA report highlights strategic role of ICT standards across major economies

South Korea's Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) has published a report analysing ICT standardisation frameworks in the United States, European Union, China and Japan, identifying standards as a central instrument of industrial strategy and technology security across all four regions. The report examines policy trends, legal structures, priority technology areas and international standardisation strategies, with a focus on emerging fields such as AI, 6G and quantum technologies. It finds that c

JAPAN 06:26

NTT Data tests AI 'consumer agents' for product development research at Kao

NTT Data has completed a proof of concept with Kao Corporation to assess the use of AI-driven "consumer agents" in product development research, reporting significant reductions in research timelines while maintaining alignment with traditional methodologies. The trial, conducted for one of Kao's makeup brands, explored whether AI models could simulate consumer behaviour and generate personas to support marketing and product development.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 06:23

Radiation-tolerant AI chip validated for space use in Korea-Europe study

A research team backed by South Korea's ministry of science and ICT has verified that a next-generation AI semiconductor device can operate in space radiation conditions, marking what the ministry described as a first such demonstration. The project, led by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in collaboration with Chungbuk National University and Belgium-based IMEC, focused on assessing whether emerging AI chips can maintain functionality in high-radiation environments such as low Earth orbit.

Just In

08:40

Oman establishes space technology hub in Al Hajar Al Gharbi reserve

08:35

Echostar agrees debt restructuring with Dish creditors

08:32

MultiChoice shuts down Showmax on 30 April, moves Originals and selected titles to DStv Stream

08:32

Jazz launches 5G services in Pakistan

Commentary

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Background

16 MAR 00:25

The week in telecoms: Pakistan ready for 5G, Google exits FTTH market and Canal Plus works on pay-TV turnaround

6 MAR 16:00

The week in telecom: MWC brings 5G advances, AI and satellite integration, plus first robot phone

1 MAR 13:21

The week in telecoms: Paramount tops bidding for WBD, Samsung S26 kicks off MWC showcase

23 FEB 00:28

The week in telecoms: Liberty Global tackles cable vs fibre question, Orange promises dividends and MEA market goes wholesale