Argentina's Telecentro buys rival fibreco Iplan for USD 260 mln - report
ARGENTINA 08:02

Argentina's Telecentro buys rival fibreco Iplan for USD 260 mln - report

Argentinian cable and broadband operator Telecentro has agreed to buy fibre-optic rival Iplan for around USD 260 million, local outlet Infobae reported, citing unnamed sources. The transaction is expected to be financed through a five-year syndicated loan from ICBC, Banco Galicia and Banco Santander, and is expected to close within 30 days, said the report.

SEA smartphone shipments plunge 23% in Q2 to a 12-year low
SOUTH-EASTERN ASIA 07:58

SEA smartphone shipments plunge 23% in Q2 to a 12-year low

Southeast Asia's smartphone shipments plunged 23 percent year-on-year to 19.3 million units in the second quarter of 2026. This is the lowest quarterly level since 2014, according to a report from Omdia. The study also shows that, despite the sharp decline in shipments, market value proved more resilient, reaching USD 6.6 billion as average selling prices (ASPs) rose 31 percent year-on-year to USD 342. Brands split between protecting volume and maintaining prices.

Airtel Money Uganda and National Social Security Fund boost access to SmartLife savings product
UGANDA 07:58

Airtel Money Uganda and National Social Security Fund boost access to SmartLife savings product

Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda (Airtel Money) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) have renewed their partnership to expand access to voluntary social security savings via SmartLife, NSSF's flexible savings product for the informal and emerging workforce. By leveraging Airtel Uganda's digital ecosystem and mobile money platform, the collaboration aims to boost financial inclusion and make long-term saving convenient and accessible for all Ugandans.

Ericsson and Mobily sign MoU to advance AI-powered RAN and autonomous networks
SAUDI ARABIA 07:51

Ericsson and Mobily sign MoU to advance AI-powered RAN and autonomous networks

Ericsson and Saudi operator Mobily have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at LEAP 2026 to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Radio Access Networks (RAN) through rApps running on the Ericsson Intelligent Automation (EIAP) Platform. The aim is to optimise network performance and advance Mobily's progress toward autonomous networks.

Orange Jordan offers home fibre and 5G bundled with VAS
JORDAN 07:43

Orange Jordan offers home fibre and 5G bundled with VAS

Orange Jordan has started a campaign under the slogan "Staying at Home Just Got Sweeter" to introduce a new suite of fibre and 5G packages that integrate home connectivity with education, sports and entertainment. The campaign targets households seeking high-speed internet paired with value-added family services. Its flagship 600 Mbps Fiber package is available for JOD 25.90 per month with a limited-time 50 percent discount for the first three months.

Martínez Losas named chair of Catalan MVNO Parlem
SPAIN 07:40

Martínez Losas named chair of Catalan MVNO Parlem

The board of directors of Catalan MVNO Parlem has agreed to remove its founder, Ernest Pérez-Mas, as executive chairman of the company and replace him with Silvia Martínez Losas, reports business daily Expansion. The move comes after Spanish investment funds Inveready and Global Portfolio Investments took majority control of Parlem last month.

HKBN launches smart sensor, emergency service pack for senior home care
HONG KONG 07:36

HKBN launches smart sensor, emergency service pack for senior home care

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (HKBN) has expanded its Elder Buddy gerontechnology portfolio with a Home Safety Package that combines smart sensors with 24-hour emergency support services. The package is designed to monitor home conditions and activity patterns for older residents and provide alerts in the event of potential safety issues.

Vodafone Spain hikes TV bundle prices, adds ad-supported tiers
SPAIN 07:20

Vodafone Spain hikes TV bundle prices, adds ad-supported tiers

Vodafone Spain has raised prices on several of its television bundles and introduced advertising-supported tiers for some streaming services as part of back-to-school changes taking effect on 01 September. According to website Banda Ancha, the adjustments are set to apply to new customers and to existing users who modify their plans, with those who keep their current contracts unchanged retaining their existing pricing and ad-free benefits.

ZTE, Hong Kong delegation plan 5G, smart manufacturing cooperation in Greater Bay Area
HONG KONG 07:02

ZTE, Hong Kong delegation plan 5G, smart manufacturing cooperation in Greater Bay Area

ZTE hosted a delegation from Hong Kong's industrial sector at its headquarters in Shenzhen. Participants discussed potential cooperation on manufacturing digitalization, 5G industrial applications, and computing infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area. The visit took place on 27 August.

KDDI and Lawson open first 'Office Lawson' store in a company's office
JAPAN 06:57

KDDI and Lawson open first 'Office Lawson' store in a company's office

KDDI and Lawson have opened the first 'Office Lawson' store at an external company, installing a unit-based convenience store across two floors of Kyocera's headquarters in Kyoto. The Lawson S Kyocera Headquarters Building store occupies space on the 11th and 12th floors, with its product mix tailored to each floor. The 11th floor focuses on meals including boxed lunches and rice balls, while the 12th offers coffee, snacks and confectionery.

TIM offering convergent subs free upgrade to TIMvision with Dazn and HBO Max
ITALY 06:55

TIM offering convergent subs free upgrade to TIMvision with Dazn and HBO Max

Telecom Italia (TIM) has launched a back-to-school promo that gives existing convergent customers a free upgrade to a package containing its TIMvision pay-TV service as well as Dazn and HBO Max, reports Mondo Mobile Web. Under the offer, the selected customers can upgrade from the TIMvision Family S, Family M, Family L and Calcio e Sport Light packages to the TIMvision L or TIMvision L with Dazn MyClubPass packages at no extra cost.

Jazz expands 5G network to 1,000 sites, targets 2,500 by year-end
PAKISTAN 06:44

Jazz expands 5G network to 1,000 sites, targets 2,500 by year-end

Pakistani operator Jazz has expanded its 5G network to 1,000 live sites and plans to increase the number to 2,500 by the end of 2026. The company initially launched 5G services at 180 sites in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, and Faisalabad in March this year. The rollout has since expanded within these markets and to Sialkot and Gujranwala, bringing the total number of cities with Jazz 5G coverage to 10.

JAPAN 06:40

KDDI and Mitsubishi launch retail media venture with Lawson

KDDI and Mitsubishi Corporation have established a 50:50 joint venture, Quinta, to launch a retail media business using digital signage installed in Lawson convenience stores across Japan. The business will use Lawson Vision, a digital signage service, to deliver advertising alongside product information, entertainment and local information. KDDI said the service will also promote products and services not sold by Lawson.

CHINA 06:27

Tencent releases, open sources Hy4 large language model preview

Tencent has released and open-sourced Tencent Hy4 Preview, a large language model with 770 billion total parameters, 49 billion active parameters, and a context window exceeding 1 million tokens. The model is designed for tasks including software development, office productivity, data analysis, and scientific research.

SINGAPORE 06:09

StarHub launches 5G+ using 700 MHz spectrum

Singapore operator StarHub has launched 5G+, a network service using 700 MHz spectrum that the operator says will provide wider coverage and speeds of up to four times faster indoors and underground. The service is available across all StarHub 5G mobile plans, with existing customers receiving access automatically and new customers from the start of their service. StarHub says the lower-frequency spectrum is intended to improve connectivity in locations like office buildings, malls, basements, car parks and

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 05:59

KT expands data allowances across roaming plans

Korea Telecom (KT) is revising its main international roaming products, increasing data allowances and extending the validity of selected plans. Under the revised 'Together Roaming' plans, the KRW 33,000 package will increase from 4 GB to 5 GB, the KRW 44,000 package from 8 GB to 10 GB, and the KRW 66,000 package from 12 GB to 20 GB. KT will also introduce a 40 GB version priced at KRW 77,000. The validity period for the KRW 33,000 Together Roaming plan and the KRW 19,800 Y Together Roaming plan will increa

GLOBAL 05:57

Nvidia rack-scale AI systems could generate more than USD 710 bn in 2027 - TrendForce

Shipments of Nvidia NVL72 rack-scale systems, spanning the GB and Vera Rubin platforms, will increase by more than 50 percent year on year in 2027, according to analysts TrendForce. GB300 rack-scale systems are expected to remain the main driver of shipments through the first half of 2027, before next-generation VR200 systems become the largest contributor. The newer VR300 Rubin Ultra platform is expected to account for a relatively small share of 2027 shipments while its HBM configuration and server archit

JAPAN 05:55

NTT Docomo opens docomo academy to employees from other companies

NTT Docomo is expanding its docomo academy employee development programme to participants from outside the group, with the seventh intake due to begin in October. The programme, which was launched to develop employees capable of initiating and collaborating on new projects, has produced more than 1,200 graduates over six years. The seventh intake will include up to 500 participants, comprising 300 from the NTT Docomo group and 200 places for employees of other companies.

AUSTRALIA 05:53

Diraq to deploy quantum computer at Equinix data centre in Sydney

Australian quantum computing company Diraq plans to deploy an eight-qubit quantum computer at an Equinix data centre in Sydney, in what the companies describe as Australia's first deployment of a quantum computer inside a commercial data centre. The system is due to be installed in October and will be used to test how Diraq's silicon-spin technology operates in a live data centre environment, including remote monitoring and integration with conventional CPUs and GPUs. Diraq and Equinix also plan to explore

JAPAN 05:51

KDDI bundles Samansa streaming with mobile data offers

KDDI Digital Life is to offer povo2.0 customers two limited-period packages combining a one-month viewing code for short-film streaming service Samansa with mobile data, from 1 September to 30 November. The packages combine the Samansa subscription with either unlimited data for 24 hours for JPY 490 or 30 GB valid for 30 days for JPY 2,999. The Samansa viewing code will be sent to the email address registered with povo2.0 after purchase, while the selected data allowance is applied immediately.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 05:49

SK Telecom's air surpasses 200,000 members with YouTube Premium Lite promotion

SK Telecom (SKT) has announced a promotion offering one year of free YouTube Premium Lite to new customers joining its air SIM-only mobile service, following the service surpassing 200,000 members. The promotion runs from 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027 and applies to customers signing up for the air X plan through the service's app or website. Customers will receive a year of YouTube Premium Lite at no charge from activation, as well as bonus points.

JAPAN 05:46

Keppel DC REIT to acquire two hyperscale data centres in Japan for SGD 1.55 bn

Singapore-based Keppel DC REIT has agreed to acquire two freehold hyperscale colocation data centres in Inzai City, Greater Tokyo, for an aggregate purchase consideration of JPY 190 billion (SGD 1.55 billion), expanding its exposure to Japan and increasing its portfolio assets under management to approximately SGD 7.6 billion. The REIT and Keppel Ltd. will collectively acquire a 90 percent effective interest in Tokyo Data Centre 4 and Tokyo Data Centre 5 from unrelated third-party sellers. 

JAPAN 05:45

KDDI tests Gemini-equipped humanoid station staff on Osaka Metro

Osaka Metro, KDDI and Avita have begun a demonstration of a humanoid robot providing customer assistance at Osaka Metro stations, testing its use for passenger information and assessing demand and customer acceptance. The trial runs from 31 August to 15 September 2026 at two locations: the Metro Opus Umeda shop near the north ticket gate of Umeda Station from 31 August to 6 September, followed by Metro Opus Tanimachi 9-chome east from 9 to 15 September. The humanoid operates between 11:00 and 20:00 each day

SINGAPORE 05:42

Singtel and KKR complete SGD 6.6 bn acquisition of STT GDC

Singtel and KKR have completed their SGD 6.6 billion acquisition of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), with KKR holding a 75 percent stake and Singtel the remaining 25 percent. The transaction, first announced in February, was completed after the required regulatory approvals. STT GDC is now wholly owned by Opal Bidco, which is indirectly held by Singtel and KKR in those respective proportions.

Just In

08:02

Argentina's Telecentro buys rival fibreco Iplan for USD 260 mln - report

07:58

SEA smartphone shipments plunge 23% in Q2 to a 12-year low

07:58

Airtel Money Uganda and National Social Security Fund boost access to SmartLife savings product

07:51

Ericsson and Mobily sign MoU to advance AI-powered RAN and autonomous networks

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Background

30 AUG 23:50

The week in telecom: Meta pays up, SKT and MTN monetise data centres, and mobile network-sharing in demand

27 AUG 10:09

Viaplay sports content to help Videoland towards goal of becoming largest streamer in Netherlands

16 AUG 23:57

The week in telecom: Lenovo and Cisco profit from AI-driven demand in Q2, Google updates Pixels and reaches 1 bln Gemini users

9 AUG 23:44

The week in telecom: Starlink's mobile ambitions and LEO challengers, plus Hollywood studios try streaming shorts and sports