Telecoms

Airtel Uganda plans to sell the remaining shares from its undersubscribed IPO to meet regulations. This move is part of its strategy to enhance financial stability for nationwide expansion.

The Central African Republic’s Ministry of Finance and Budget has shut down Telecel’s offices in the country for failing to pay taxes amounting to about $4.4 million.

Kenya’s Safaricom has overtaken Airtel Kenyan in the activation of 5G sites for the first time, a lead the company plans to sustain with an additional 1,700 in the next year.

As telecoms suffer setbacks in Sudan, the Emergency Communication Cluster (ETC), a global network of organisations, has revealed the need for an additional $6 million to sustain and expand ICT services across the country.

Airtel Zambia and Zambia Industrial Commercial Bank Limited (ZICB) have partnered to enhance the business environment for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country, providing them with free routers.

The number of active Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria has declined to 242 in July 2024 from 252 in May 2024, despite the entrance of two new operators in the market on July 1.

NuRAN Wireless, has announced the closing of a $5 million loan facility with Cygnum Capital’s Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI) to enhance operations in Cameroon and the DRC. It is also looking to start operations in Ivory Coast.

MTN Nigeria records an after-tax loss of ₦137 billion in 2023, primarily due to forex challenges, according to its 2023 financial result.

Communication & Renewable Energy Infrastructure, an asset manager, has received $20 million in funding from the Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI) and Finnfund to finance its Telecom Energy Service Company (TESCO) in South Sudan.

Niger Telecoms, the country’s national telephone and telecommunications company, has installed 16 new sites to expand connectivity to underserved rural areas.

Mothibi Ramusi, the Chairman of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), condemns Vodacom’s application to stop the spectrum pooling agreements between MTN, Cell C, and Liquid.

A court of appeal in Morocco has ordered Maroc Telecom, a telco in the country, to pay its competitor, Inwi, $630 million for engaging in unfair competition practices.

Telecom Egypt and Hungary’s 4iG Group have signed an MoU to build a modern fibre network, providing high-speed access to six million households.

IHS Towers released a report covering governance issues and recent contract renewals and extensions. The report noted that all proposals submitted for shareholder voting were approved.

Despite warning customers about possible service cuts in unauthorised regions, Starlink has remained operational in South Africa.

Tunisia’s Ministry of Communication Technologies has launched a call for tenders to secure licences to install and operate public 5G mobile telecommunications services to enhance broadband coverage nationwide.

The Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat Ltd) has partnered with Hotspot Network Limited to connect several rural communities across Nigeria.

MTN South Africa and Cell C have opposed the interdict applied by Vodacom to halt its spectrum pooling arrangements with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) amidst ongoing litigation.

Amazon has delayed the launch of its first production satellites for Project Kuiper until the fourth quarter of 2024. It was initially scheduled to launch in the first half of 2024.

Orange is considering selling its 40% stake in Mauritius Telecom. According to reports, the operator has discussed a potential exit plan with advisers but has yet to formally engage with Mauritius Telecom.