Georgian mobile operators book 9% higher sales in Q1
GEORGIA 18 MEI

Georgian mobile operators book 9% higher sales in Q1

Revenues at the three Georgian mobile operators, Magticom, Sliknet and Cellfie, totaled GEL 230.6 million in the first quarter of this year, reports Apny.ge. Their combined turnover grew by 9 percent year-on-year. Magticom led by revenues (GEL 109.2 million), followed by Silknet (GEL 79.4 million) and Cellfie (GEL 41.4 million). The subscriber base of Magticom was 2.4 million, Silknet totaled 2.1 million, and Cellfie followed with 1.3 million.  

Viva Armenia reports mobile service revenues of AMD 14.6 bln in Q1
ARMENIA 18 MEI

Viva Armenia reports mobile service revenues of AMD 14.6 bln in Q1

Viva Armenia said it generated revenues from mobile services of AMD 14.58 billion in the first quarter of this year. Voice contributed AMD 2.537 billion, while data services were worth AMD 8.001 billion in turnover. OIBDA from the services reached AMD 7.874 billion, while Viva's capital expenditure amounted to AMD 2.601 billion. 

TP-Link to open first flagship store in Malaysia on 22 May
MALAYSIA 18 MEI

TP-Link to open first flagship store in Malaysia on 22 May

TP-Link has announced plans to open its first flagship store in Malaysia on 22 May. Located at Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, the experiential store will showcase TP-Link's smart home, networking, and enterprise services.

Colt DCS appoints Fumi Takei to lead Japan operations
JAPAN 18 MEI

Colt DCS appoints Fumi Takei to lead Japan operations

Colt Data Centre Services (DCS) has appointed Fumi Takei as vice president and head of Japan, with responsibility for overseeing the company's operations and strategic growth in the Japanese market. The service provider said Takei will lead engagement with customers, partners, regulators and industry stakeholders in Japan, while coordinating with Colt DCS' global business functions.

Afghan government registers 30 million SIM cards
AFGHANISTAN 18 MEI

Afghan government registers 30 million SIM cards

Afghanistan's ICT ministry has announced ongoing efforts to expand telecom services and digital technology, according to Tolo News. Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Alokozay said the government has nearly completed its nationwide SIM card registration process, and 30 million SIMs have now been registered. The ministry said that telecommunications and internet services have expanded across many provinces in recent years, with millions of people throughout Afghanistan using mobile phone and internet services

Sohu's Q1 revenues rise 4%, turns to net loss
CHINA 18 MEI

Sohu's Q1 revenues rise 4%, turns to net loss

Sohu posted total revenues of USD 141 million for the first quarter ended 31 March 2026, which represents an increase of 4 percent year-on-year and a decline of 1 percent quarter-on-quarter. Marketing services revenues were USD 13 million, down 8 percent year-on-year, while online game revenues were USD 125 million, up 6 percent year-on-year.

SK Telink signs Starlink agreements with major South Korean shipping operators
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 18 MEI

SK Telink signs Starlink agreements with major South Korean shipping operators

South Korea's SK Telink said it has signed agreements to supply Starlink low Earth orbit satellite communications services to several South Korean shipping companies, including HMM, Pan Ocean, H-Line Shipping, SK Shipping and KSS Line. The company said the agreements cover operational fleets rather than pilot deployments, describing the contracts as evidence of its position in South Korea's maritime low Earth orbit satellite communications market. SK Telink is the domestic reseller for Starlink services in

Japan approves five applicants for 26 GHz 5G spectrum auction
JAPAN 18 MEI

Japan approves five applicants for 26 GHz 5G spectrum auction

Japan's ministry of internal affairs and communications said it has approved five applicants to participate in a price-based allocation process for spectrum in the 26 GHz band intended to support 5G. The ministry said applications were accepted between 10 March and 9 April under guidelines covering the allocation process for 26 GHz spectrum for 5G systems. According to the ministry, five organisations submitted applications and all five were notified on 18 May that they had qualified to participate in the a

Korea and UK discuss joint roadmap for 6G standardisation cooperation
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 18 MEI

Korea and UK discuss joint roadmap for 6G standardisation cooperation

South Korea's Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) said it has discussed a joint roadmap with the UK aimed at strengthening cooperation on 6G standardisation and international standards activities. The discussions took place during the final reporting session for the 2025/26 UK Knowledge Sharing Program held in Seoul, attended by officials from South Korea's ministry of science and ICT, the UK department for science, innovation and technology, and telecommunications industry representatives from

LG Uplus completes more than 2 million SIM updates and replacements
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 18 MEI

LG Uplus completes more than 2 million SIM updates and replacements

LG Uplus said cumulative SIM update and replacement cases linked to its International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) system transition have exceeded two million. According to the operator, 750,461 SIM updates and 1,264,066 SIM replacements were completed between 13 April and 17 May, bringing the combined total to 2,014,527 cases. LG Uplus said the cumulative processing rate currently stands at 11.8 percent.

Fujitsu and Science Tokyo establish quantum and HPC research collaboration
JAPAN 18 MEI

Fujitsu and Science Tokyo establish quantum and HPC research collaboration

Fujitsu and Institute of Science Tokyo have established a joint research organisation focused on quantum computing hardware and high-performance computing (HPC) technologies. The new "Fujitsu Quantum and HPC Infrastructure Collaborative Research Cluster" will support research into quantum hardware technologies and the development of specialist talent in Japan. The initiative forms part of Fujitsu's Small Research Lab programme and operates under Science Tokyo's collaborative research cluster system.

KDDI adopts AI-based project management platform Proever
JAPAN 18 MEI

KDDI adopts AI-based project management platform Proever

KDDI has introduced the Proever project management platform developed by Management Solutions to support management of large-scale development projects across its network and cloud services operations. Management Solutions said the platform was adopted by KDDI's Network Development Division and Cloud Service Development Department as part of efforts to improve visibility and coordination across multiple projects linked to the operator's expansion into areas including digital transformation, finance and ener

ASIA 18 MEI

Keppel signs 25-year Bifrost subsea cable agreement with Telstra International

Singapore's Keppel has signed a definitive 25-year Indefeasible Right of Use agreement with Telstra International for a fibre pair on the Bifrost subsea cable system. The agreement follows a binding term sheet signed by the companies in January 2026. Bifrost is a subsea cable system connecting Singapore and the west coast of the United States through routes via Indonesia, with landing points in Singapore, Guam and Grover Beach, California, as well as branching connections to Indonesia, the Philippines and O

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 18 MEI

LG Uplus launches Galaxy Buddy5 mid-range smartphone

LG Uplus has launched the Galaxy Buddy5, a new mid-range smartphone priced at KRW 528,000, as part of its exclusive Galaxy Buddy 5G smartphone series. The device is based on Samsung Electronics' Galaxy A17 5G model and is available exclusively through LG Uplus retail stores and the operator's online store. The Galaxy Buddy5 is the fifth model in the operator's Galaxy Buddy series, which was introduced in 2021.

JAPAN 18 MEI

Japan's mobile subscribers pass 233 million as all four operators post full-year gains

Japan's four mobile network operators collectively held approximately 233.1 million subscribers at the end of March 2026, according to figures published by the Telecommunications Carriers Association (TCA), with every operator recording net growth over the twelve-month period covered by the data. NTT Docomo remained the largest operator, ending the fiscal year with 93,076,400 subscribers, up from 91,592,800 at the start of the period in June 2025, a net addition of around 1.48 million connections. 

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 18 MEI

South Korean government warns of intervention over planned Samsung strike

South Korean prime minister Kim Min-seok has warned that the government could consider emergency arbitration measures in response to a planned strike at Samsung Electronics, according to Yonhap, citing government sources. The warning came as Samsung and its largest labour union agreed to resume government-led mediation talks on 18 May, four days before an 18-day strike is scheduled to begin.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 18 MEI

KT expands May membership promotions across retail, dining and entertainment

Korea Telecom (KT)  has announced an expanded set of membership promotions for May, covering food delivery, retail, leisure and cultural activities as part of its KT Membership programme. The operator said its customer reward programme will run from 18 to 31 May, with members able to choose between a 50 percent discount at coffee chain A Twosome Place, capped at KRW 5,000, or an KRW 8,000 discount on Norang Tongdak orders through food delivery platform Baedal Minjok for purchases above KRW 16,000. KT said t

JAPAN 18 MEI

KDDI adds bitcoin-linked and savings options to au PAY points

KDDI and au Payment Corporation have added two new products to their au PAY Points Investment service, expanding the platform to include a bitcoin-linked investment option and a principal-protected savings product. The new "Bitcoin-linked Course" allows users to simulate exposure to bitcoin price movements using Ponta loyalty points, while the new "Point Savings" option offers an annual interest rate of 0.10 percent on deposited points without the risk of balance reductions.

SINGAPORE 18 MEI

IMDA suspends review of proposed M1-Simba deal amid spectrum investigation

Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has suspended its assessment of the proposed consolidation between M1 and Simba pending the outcome of an investigation into the alleged unauthorised use of radio frequency spectrum by Simba. During the merger review process, IMDA said it learnt that Simba may have been using radio frequency bands that had not been assigned to the operator to provide mobile services. According to the regulator, this could constitute unauthorised use of spectrum in brea

THAILAND 15 MEI

AIS-led Clicx Bank receives virtual banking licence in Thailand

Advanced Info Service (AIS) announced that Thailand's Minister of Finance has granted a license for Clicx Bank to operate a commercial banking business as a virtual bank. AIS and its business partners Krung Thai Bank and PTT Oil and Retail Business received approval from the Minister of Finance in June 2025 to establish a virtual bank. Following this approval, the three parties jointly established Clicx Bank on 8 August 2025 to apply for a virtual banking license and prepare for the launch of its operations

PHILIPPINES 15 MEI

Globe Telecom hits 1 million GFibre Prepaid customers milestone

Philippines operator Globe Telecom has announced that its Globe At Home GFiber Prepaid service has reached 1 million subscribers. Households using the Globe At Home GFiber Prepaid service can connect up to 15 devices at the same time, the operator said.

PHILIPPINES 15 MEI

Globe restores mobile and broadband services in Manila, Luzon after fibre cable cuts

Philippines operator Globe Telecom reports it has fully restored mobile and broadband services in Metro Manila and parts of Luzon following a network disruption on 12 May. The outage, which was caused by multiple severed fibre optic cables, caused temporary voice, SMS and internet services disruptions for customers in several cities and nearby provinces like Rizal. Services returned to normal by 22:30 that evening after technical teams completed the necessary repairs, Globe added.

MALAYSIA 15 MEI

Edotco deploys BWA with mobile-to-WiFi connectivity in Malaysian remote community

Edotco has deployed broadband wireless access (BWA) with mobile-to-WiFi connectivity in Uma Lesong, in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Edotco deployed this service in cooperation with its Sarawak-based partner Kejuruteraan Rasshin and technology partners VSD Communications and Aminia.

KYRGYZSTAN 15 MEI

O! offers big data traineeship DataCamp

Kyrgyzstan operator Nur Telecom, trading under the O! brand, has launched a training programme DataCamp. The paid tranineeship programme will include Data Engineering and Data Science (AI nd ML) trends.

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