SoftBank Group confirms DigitalBridge takeover for USD 4 billion
GLOBAL 29 DEC

SoftBank Group confirms DigitalBridge takeover for USD 4 billion

SoftBank Group has confirmed a definitive agreement to acquire DigitalBridge Group, an asset manager specialising in investments in digital infrastructure, including data centres, cell towers, fibre networks and edge infrastructure. The deal puts an enterprise value of USD 4.0 billion on DigitalBridge. The acquisition is expected to support SoftBank's strategy in the AI market, delivering the infrastructure needed to build its AI services.

Play offers year free, half-price tablet with upgrade to 8 Gbps broadband
POLAND 29 DEC

Play offers year free, half-price tablet with upgrade to 8 Gbps broadband

Polish operator Play, controlled by Iliad, has introduced on fixed broadband services. Customers on all lower tariffs are offered free services for a year when upgrading to the plan with 8 Gbps speed. Accessing this promotion, customers are also offered an Amazon Prime subscription and selected tablets for 50 percent off. The Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 Pro is offered for PLN 649 instead of PLN 1,299, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite with S pen costs PLN 849 instead of PLN 1,699.

Senegal's regulator unveils price tracking index for mobile services
SENEGAL 29 DEC

Senegal's regulator unveils price tracking index for mobile services

Senegal's telecom authority ARTP announced details of a new initiative aimed at strengthening price transparency in the mobile sector. In collaboration with local mobile operators and ANSD, the national agency responsible for statistical and demographic data, the initiative led to a 15-month project to create a price index for mobile services. Named IPSM (Indice des Prix des Services Mobiles), this new tracking tool has already delivered its initial findings, including for the first three quarters of the cu

Cyfrowy Polsat changes supervisory board
POLAND 29 DEC

Cyfrowy Polsat changes supervisory board

Polish company Cyfrowy Polsat announced that an extraordinary shareholders meeting convened on 29 December resolved to dismiss Jozef Birka from the company's supervisory board. The meeting also appointed five new members of the supervisory board: Aleksandra Zak and Tobias Solorz (children of founder Zygmunt Solorz) as vice chairs, as well as Jaroslaw Grzesiak (lawyer related to Cyfrowy Polsat), Marta Poslad (CEE region PR director for Google) and Piotr Muszynski (Fixmap founder) as members of the supervisor

Azercell supports children's Paralympic Games
AZERBAIJAN 29 DEC

Azercell supports children's Paralympic Games

Azerbaijan operator Azercell has supported the Children's Paralympic Games, which were held in the city of Sumgayit by the National Paralympic Committee with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Children's Paralympic Games aim to promote inclusive sports in Azerbaijan, support the physical and personal development of children with disabilities, and nurture the next generation of Paralympic athletes.

MTS tests iOS mobile payments at cafes
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 29 DEC

MTS tests iOS mobile payments at cafes

Russian operator MTS has launched a pilot project on contactless payments on iPhones and Apple Watches in cafes, using the customer's mobile balance. The pilot project is carried out in cooperation with the cafe chain Camera Obscura as part of a new option under the MTS carrier billing platform. Payments over Apple Wallet are possible to start in two cafes in Moscow, and the whole chain should be covered by the service from early 2026. The plan is to expand to other retail outlets later. No additional appli

Ooredoo Oman adds free Wi-Fi mesh device to 5G home internet service
OMAN 29 DEC

Ooredoo Oman adds free Wi-Fi mesh device to 5G home internet service

Ooredoo Oman has added a free Wi-Fi Mesh device to every new Manzili 5G Home Internet subscription. This permanent upgrade means families can finally say goodbye to dead zones and enjoy smooth, reliable Wi-Fi in every room, on every floor, the operator said. The mesh device works hand-in-hand with the Manzili 5G modem to spread strong coverage across the whole home.

Viva offers new regional bundle with 20 GB, international calls
ARMENIA 29 DEC

Viva offers new regional bundle with 20 GB, international calls

Armenian operator Viva introduced the new prepaid bundle 'The Sun Regional', including a 20 GB mobile data bundle, 200 SMS, 800 minutes of on-net calls, as well as calls to certain foreign networks (Armenia, the US, Canada, MTS Russia, T2, India). The monthly plan costs AMD 2,000. The operator has also introduced a promotion of earbuds until 22 January 2026, offering discounts around 10 percent.

Starlink doubles internet subscriber base in 2025 to over 9 mln
GLOBAL 29 DEC

Starlink doubles internet subscriber base in 2025 to over 9 mln

The satellite internet service Starlink, owned by SpaceX, has passed 9 million subscribers, spread across 155 countries. The last 1 million were added in just seven weeks, following the launch of the services in several new countries, as well as new subscription options added. The rapid growth means the company has roughly doubled its customer base in 2025, from 4.6 million reported at the year. 

Tikkie payments app sets new annual record with EUR 8.5 billion in transactions
NETHERLANDS 29 DEC

Tikkie payments app sets new annual record with EUR 8.5 billion in transactions

The mobile payments app Tikkie set a new record in 2025 with over 170 million payment requests sent, worth a total of over EUR 8.5 billion. At the same time it passed the milestone of 1 billion Tikkies paid since the app was launched by ABN Amro bank in 2016.

Beeline Uzbekistan to add health appointments to Hambi app
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 29 DEC

Beeline Uzbekistan to add health appointments to Hambi app

Beeline Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at advancing digital solutions in the healthcare sector with Uzinfocom, an integrator responsible for the development and maintenance of Uzbekistan's state information systems. The memorandum provides for the integration of the state electronic appointment system for outpatient clinics into the Hambi 'super app' from Beeline. This solution will allow users to book medical appointments through a single digital interface that brings together governme

Rostelecom board approves new corporate strategy
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 29 DEC

Rostelecom board approves new corporate strategy

The management board of Russian national operator Rostelecom has approved a new corporate development strategy for the company for the period 2026 to 2030. The board also approved the business plan for 2026. Under the plans Rostelecom aims to grow its digital business, helping take its annual revenues to over RUB 1 trillion in the coming years. More details on the plans will be announced in Q1 2026, the company said.

GUINEA 29 DEC

Guinea approves 10-year national AI roadmap

Guinea's ICT ministry said it has validated a national artificial intelligence (AI) roadmap covering the 2026–2035 period, Ecofin reported. The strategic document sets out Guinea's approach to the development, governance and deployment of AI over the next decade. It draws on findings from the Artificial Intelligence Landscape Assessment (AILA), a diagnostic methodology adopted after several weeks of technical work.

GEORGIA 29 DEC

Silknet offers pay-TV promo

Georgian operator Silknet introduced a seasonal promotion of its pay-TV services, offering all channels from the Silk TV service in an open window until 07 January. The operator also offers a promotion on its fixed services based in Tbilisi, with the Silk TV service available for GEL 5 monthly for three months for new subscribers until 25 January 2026.

GEORGIA 29 DEC

Cellfie to add 400 base stations with Nokia

Georgian operator Cellfie started a new project on the expansion of its mobile network. In cooperation with Nokia, the operator plans to deploy 400 new base stations across the country.

CHINA 29 DEC

Xiaomi intros 17 Ultra handset, Watch 5 and Buds 6 earbuds

Xiaomi has introduced its latest flagship mobile handset, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, along with its Watch 5 Series smartwatch, Buds 6 earbuds and two smart home appliances at an event held 25 December. With the 17 Ultra, Xiaomi has introduced a flat display for its flagship handset, whereas earlier models utilised a micro-curved display. Xiaomi also took the opportunity to unveil a new strategic cooperation with Leica, a camera and lens maker operating at the high end of the market, with the 17 Ultra said to be t

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 29 DEC

TTK tests 400G backbone links with T8

Russian operator TTK, in cooperation with the company T8, has tested 400GDP-QPSK backbone links on a 1,400-km segment of its backbone network, connecting Moscow, Voronezh, Michurinsk and Saratov. The tests were carried out on the DWDM platform Angara from T8. Earlier this year, T8 developed the DWDM system with 400GDP-QPSK links using the FlexGrid technology.

ITALY 29 DEC

Italy's anti-spoofing measures cause sharp rise in calls from foreign numbers

Italian regulator Agcom has shared further insight into telephony-based fraud following the introduction of new rules to prevent spoofing calls from 19 November. From this date, local operators have been blocking mobile calls with fake caller IDs originating abroad. Between 19 and 30 November, this obligation resulted in an average of 4.1 million of these calls being blocked daily, which would otherwise have displayed Italian mobile numbers on recipients' handsets. To circumvent the anti-spoofing filter, il

GLOBAL 29 DEC

Prysmian-led JV to acquire Xtera Topco at USD 65 mln valuation

Cable supplier Prysmian has established a JV with Italian shipyard operator Fincantieri to acquire Xtera Topco, a UK/US-based supplier of turnkey subsea telecom systems, from alternative investments firm HIG Capital. Prysmian is leading the JV with an 80 percent stake, with Fincantieri holding 20 percent interest.

NIGERIA 29 DEC

Sun King launches instalment plans for smartphones in Nigeria

Sun King, a solar energy company, has expanded its offering in Nigeria with the launch of pay-as-you-go smartphones, enabling customers to purchase smartphones while paying in small, manageable instalments. Through Sun King's flexible instalment model, customers can own premium smartphones from leading global brands such as Samsung, Infinix and Tecno, paying for the gadgets at a pace that suits their budget after making an initial deposit.

JAPAN 29 DEC

NTT Docomo Ventures fund to invest JPY 15 billion in Japanese, overseas startups

NTT Docomo's corporate venture capital unit, NTT Docomo Ventures, has formally unveiled its latest LP (limited partner) investment vehicle in collaboration with NTT Finance Corporation. Docomo Innovation Fund IV will formally become registered on 01 January with a reported fund size of JPY 15 billion (USD 95.9 million), matching the amount raised by its predecessor Innovation Fund III in April 2022. The first Innovation Fund launched in 2013 with a JPY 10 billion corpus, and was followed by the JPY 15 billi

BANGLADESH 29 DEC

Bangladesh updates telecoms law to prevent internet shutdowns

The Advisory Council of the Bangladesh interim government approved a new telecoms ordinance, prohibiting any state shutdowns of the internet and granting increased powers to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. The Bangladesh Telecommunication (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 is aimed at ensuring that internet and telecommunication services in the country cannot be shut down "even for a minute", the Dhaka Tribune reported from a briefing by Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 29 DEC

Samsung primed for CES showcase of C-Lab incubator startups

Samsung is once again taking a selection of startup companies from its South Korea-focused innovation incubator C-Lab to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This year, Samsung will host a dedicated area for C-Lab project teams within the CES Startup Zone, featuring 15 young businesses from its C-Lab initiatives, including eight from the C-Lab Outside incubator and two businesses from the internal venture programme C-Lab Inside. Space will also be allocated to four emerging startups from the financia

PERU 29 DEC

Claro Peru implements Huawei EcoMatrix for streamlined mast coverage in sub-3 GHz frequencies

Peruvian multi-play carrier Claro Peru has received its first delivery of Huawei's mobile mast system EcoMatrix, enabling streamlined mobile coverage across four sub-3 GHz bands. Huawei said the deployment represented its first carrier delivery of the EcoMatrix system introduced in November. 

Just In

29 DEC 17:14

SoftBank Group confirms DigitalBridge takeover for USD 4 billion

29 DEC 17:02

Senegal's regulator unveils price tracking index for mobile services

29 DEC 17:02

Play offers year free, half-price tablet with upgrade to 8 Gbps broadband

29 DEC 16:59

Cyfrowy Polsat changes supervisory board

Commentary

15 DEC 13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

8 DEC 11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

31 OKT 11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

27 OKT 15:26

Stock markets breaking records but what happened to Odido's IPO plans?

Background

23 DEC 10:32

Netherlands TV-video market grows 2.6% in Q3 to EUR 759 mln

22 DEC 00:25

The week in telecoms: YouTube, Instagram take on TV market and WBD rejects Paramount

15 DEC 01:04

The week in telecom: Wi-Fi bolt-ons take off to boost broadband growth, video market works on consolidation

8 DEC 01:39

The week in telecom: Netflix wins bidding for Warner Bros, Apple poaches new execs, Samsung debuts trifold