Etisalat Misr and MediaTek announced the commercial launch of next generation voice and video calling technologies - VoLTE & ViLTE - for the first time in the Middle East and Africa regions. The new services for 4G Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Video over LTE (ViLTE) are supported by a wide range of affordable LTE smartphones powered by MediaTek and specially developed for Etisalat Misr customers.
Telkom Kenya rolled out 200 new 4G sites in Nairobi and its neighborhoods in order to satisfy customers’ growing demand for high-speed data, thus, raising the total number of 4G sites to 300 in the city. This addition is accompanied by larger network expansion and densification program in the country that aims to boost Telkom’s capacity in handling mobile data traffic.
Six global companies including Warburg Pincus, Temasek, Singtel and SoftBank Group International have took part in a $1.25 billion funding round by Airtel Africa aiming at cutting debt, improving coverage and growing its mobile money operation. This is the first part of a two-stage fund raising exercise. The second part will be an initial public offer (IPO) through which the company aspires to raise a similar amount to bring down its over $15 billion consolidated debt and free up cash to take on bitter rival Reliance Jio effectively.
Etisalat Misr, in collaboration with Ericsson is set to unveil a new era of mobile voice communications with the launching of Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) services in Egypt.
The Regulatory Authority of Mauritania (ARE) has issued a call for tenders to award a new operator a global license (2G / 3G / 4G).
Telecom Egypt announces the conclusion of the acquisition of Middle East and North Africa Submarine Cable (MENA Cable) from Orascom Investment Holding (OIH) through its subsidiary Egyptian International Submarine Cable Company (EISCC). As previously announced, the total enterprise value of MENA Cable is USD 90mn of which USD 40mn represents the equity value of MENA Cable and the remainder its outstanding debt. EFG Hermes acted as the brokerage company for executing the transaction on Telecom Egypt’s side.
Zimbabwe has disclosed plans to fast-track the privatization of telecom firms, namely NetOne and TelOne, in a move to cut state funding to parastatal entities.
Following the acquisition of Basefarm in August and increase of its cloud revenues by 18% in the 1st half of 2018, Orange Business Services is pressing ahead with its growth strategy for the cloud computing market. Its target is to become a global leader in multi-cloud services.
Telecom Egypt announced that it has signed an agreement with Bharti Airtel to formalize its strategic partnership. The agreement grants Airtel IRUs (Indefeasible Right of Use) on Middle East North Africa Submarine Cable “MENA Cable” and TE North Cable Systems. Additionally, Airtel will take large capacities on a long-term basis on two new cable systems (SMW5 & AAE1).
With the launch of its 4G+ network, Tigo, subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular (MIC), aims to outpace leading telecom operator in Tanzania Vodacom.
