Airtel Kenya has reportedly acquired 100 MHz of 5G spectrum in the 3500 MHz band for US$65 million after the Communications Authority of Kenya granted it a 25-year licence for the spectrum.

TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has set out draft guidelines for the implementation of AI (artificial intelligence) into telecom networks, infrastructure, and services.

The GSMA has re-elected Bharti Airtel executive vice chairman Gopal Vittal (pictured, below) as its chair for the 2027-28 term, while MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita and Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle have retained their positions as co-deputy chairs.

The GSMA has urged the Gabonese government to reduce taxes on smartphones and mobile services to make internet access more affordable and bring more people online.

Guinea has appointed Mamy Diaby as CEO of state-owned telecoms operator Areeba, as the government restructures the struggling business after a sharp decline in subscribers and revenue.

Chilean regulator Subtel has refused to renew concessions in the 800MHz band for operator WOM, apparently due to lack of use. Indeed, the operator has not had customers on these frequencies since 2 November 2016.

The US$3.2 billion IPO of Indian technology and digital services multinational Reliance Jio Platforms has been one of this week’s big business stories, not least because the company's shares rose 27% in its Mumbai debut on Wednesday, making it India's second-largest company by market capitalisation.

Hayo, a global digital service provider, says it has expanded its presence in East Africa by establishing operations in Tanzania with the aim of helping to design, build and run critical digital infrastructure.

Bolivian state-owned operator Entel has begun shutting down its 3G network in the administrative capital of La Paz, reallocating spectrum in the 850 MHz band to strengthen 4G services.

Mobile industry organisation the GSMA says it has secured a US$1.2 million subaward from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to strengthen mobile-enabled early warning systems across nine Pacific Island countries.

Gabon’s High Communication Authority (HAC) has lifted a ban on social media imposed eight months ago. The policy change was announced on Saturday in a televised statement.

Ukrainian operator Kyivstar has expanded its 5G pilot network to Kyiv, making the capital the fourth location where it is testing the technology following launches in Lviv, Borodyanka and Kharkiv.

State-owned operator Uztelecom has upgraded 1,566 base stations and launched 380 new ones across Uzbekistan as it expands mobile coverage and develops its 5G network.

India’s Jio Platforms faces questions over its debt obligations, future tax payments and valuation ahead of a proposed INR302.13 billion (US$3.2 billion), according to GlobalData.

Communications company Ooredoo and telecommunications operator Zain Group have announced the first closing of their regional tower transaction, bringing together the initial tower portfolios within a regional tower platform jointly owned by Ooredoo Group and Zain Group, each holding a 50% stake.

Papua New Guinean telco Digicel PNG announced on Tuesday it has successfully activated its network service on a Vodafone PNG tower under a tower and infrastructure sharing agreement signed by both telcos last month.

Development bank the World Bank Group has launched what it calls its first digital strategy, bringing together its public and private sector capabilities to help developing countries expand affordable digital access, improve services, and create jobs.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced plans for a study to identify and serve remote, hard-to-reach, underserved and disaster-prone areas where telecom services are inadequate or of poor quality.

Vodacom Mpumalanga says it will invest over ZAR600 million (around US$36.6 million) in network infrastructure and technology in the coming financial year to expand broadband connectivity and support growing demand for digital services across the province.

The World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) has deployed what it calls its Preparedness Data Exchange (PDX) platform in the Democratic Republic of Congo, strengthening the country’s access to epidemic intelligence and early-warning information.

Global digital operator Veon – which owns Beeline Uzbekistan – said on Monday it has struck a deal to buy rival telco Rubicon Wireless, which operates under the “Perfectum” brand, for US$207 million.

Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) has completed a MYR5.2 billion (US$1.3 billion) Syndicated Islamic Term Financing, which it described as one of the largest syndicated loan facilities ever arranged for an unlisted company in Malaysia.

CelcomDigi and Maxis have both accepted spectrum assignments from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), with each operator bolstering its position in the 2600MHz band.

Millicom, the digital telecommunications and media company operating primarily under the Tigo brand in Latin America, has announced an investment of approximately US$2.665 billion in Colombia over the next four years.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced on Wednesday that their ambitious US$10 billion initiative to accelerate AI adoption across Africa has progressed to the deployment phase.

Operator Ooredoo Qatar has announced the launch of Qatar’s first 5G+ mobile network, building on the capabilities of 5G standalone, the network Ooredoo Qatar was the first to deploy.

Philippine operator Globe Telecom's chief intelligence and trust officer Anton Reynaldo M. Bonifacio will step down on January 1, 2027, after 12 years with the company.

Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal announced on Wednesday it has earmarked ZAR1 billion (US$60.3 million) for network infrastructure investment for the 2027 financial year.

State-owned Telikom PNG announced on Thursday it has signed a tower sharing licence agreement with Digicel PNG, marking the third such deal in Papua New Guinea’s telecoms sector in the past two months.

Philippine operator Globe Telecom has called for telecommunications networks to be prioritised alongside electricity and water during disaster recovery, arguing that connectivity is essential for emergency response and relief efforts.

Multinational telecommunications company AT&T says it has reached an agreement to sell service provider AT&T Mexico to Grupo Televisa, a major Mexican multimedia and telecommunications corporation, and investment firm Fintech Holdings for US$2 billion.