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SAMENA Daily - Industry News Briefing

Industry News Briefing
August 13, 2026

Featured Member News

MTN launches AI-powered job board to connect Africa’s youth to the opportunities of the digital economy

On International Youth Day, MTN is advancing its commitment to digital and economic inclusion with the launch of an AI-enabled Job Board feature on the MTN Skills Academy, giving learners access to job opportunities, high-demand courses and skills guidance on one platform...

Member News

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Cisco reports fourth quarter earnings

Cisco reported fourth quarter revenue of $17.3 billion, net income on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis of $3.9 billion or $0.97 per share, and non-GAAP net income of $4.9 billion or $1.22 per share...

Recent Developments

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MTN and IMF leaders in talks on the potential of Africa’s digital economy

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Zain Group H1 2026 Net Profit soars 73% YoY to reach KD 220 m (USD 717m); Revenue grows 5% YoY to reach KD 1.14 bn (USD 3.71bn)

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ARABSAT and Libya Telecom and Technology (LTT) Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement to Advance Satellite Connectivity in Libya

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Omantel turns digital safety into an interactive adventure for children

Policy and Regulation

•	TDRA Board renews telecom operators' licences for 20 years The UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has renewed the public telecommunications licences of e& and du for another 20 years, extending their operating framework from 9 August 2026 until...

•	Mexico launches tender for 5G rail network Mexico’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT), through its Integrated Public Train and Transport Agency (ATTRAPI), has launched an international public tender to provide 5G telecommunications...

Middle East

•	Qatar ranks as world’s second-healthiest telecom market in Kearney index Qatar has ranked as the world’s second-healthiest telecom market, behind only the UAE, in the inaugural Kearney Global Telecom Health Index, which compares the performance and resilience of telecommunications sectors...

•	Zain Jordan and Ericsson expand BSS modernisation project to postpaid Ericsson and Zain Jordan said on Wednesday they have started the next phase of their project to modernise Zain’s business support systems (BSS) to advance its digital transformation and prepare its IT infrastructure to...

•	Saudi government digital services reach 87.06% maturity score in 2026 Saudi Arabia’s government digital platforms and services reached an “Advanced” level in the 2026 Digital Experience Maturity Index, with the overall score rising to 87.06% from 86.71% a year earlier...

North Africa

•	Libya seeks deeper regional ICT cooperation as it pushes for ITU Council seat Libya is seeking to deepen regional cooperation in telecommunications and information technology as it works to improve digital infrastructure, strengthen regulatory capacity and expand its role in international ICT...

Global Telecom Update

•	Geotab launches unified investigations solution to reduce fleet liability costs Geotab has nnounced Geotab Investigations, a unified solution for safety, compliance and operations teams to accelerate the resolution of road incidents...

•	T‑Mobile completes sale of 800 MHz spectrum US operator T‑Mobile has completed a transaction with private investment firm Grain Management for the sale of its 800 MHz spectrum portfolio...

South Asia

•	Banglalink secures PSP licence to launch Mukto Pay in Bangladesh Veon-owned Banglalink has received a payment service provider licence from Bangladesh Bank, clearing the way for the telecom operator to enter the country’s digital payments market with a new service called Mukto Pay...

3G, 4G, 5G/5G-A, Cloud, AI, Energy

•	Malawi’s CTN expands 4G FWA to more underserved areas in Lilongwe Malawi fixed wireless access (FWA) service provider Converged Technology Networks (CTN) has reportedly partnered with unconnected.org and the Internet Society to expand its network cover more underserved areas in Lilongwe...

•	Yettel boosts 4G and 5G capacity by 20% for Sziget Festival 2026 Yettel has increased mobile network capacity at Hungary’s Sziget Festival by 20% compared with last year, deploying additional 4G and 5G infrastructure to support tens of thousands of users concentrated within the...

•	NGMN calls for industry alignment to unlock agentic AI for autonomous mobile networks Agentic AI will likely become a key enabler in creating a credible pathway towards trusted Level 4* autonomous mobile networks, but achieving this will require significant transformation across architecture, standards,...

Satellite & Hybrid Networks

•	Vietnam’s VinSpace, SpaceX plan for 2027 satellite launch Vietnamese aerospace company VinSpace has signed a launch contract with SpaceX to send its first satellites into orbit in 2027, marking a significant step in the development of Vietnam’s domestic space capabilities...

•	Belarus expands fiber network as GPON subscriptions reach 3.19 million Belarus expanded fiber-optic infrastructure to another 50 settlements during the first half of the year, helping lift the number of subscribers connected through GPON technology to 3.193 million as the country continues to...

Content & Immersive Technologies

•	Hoppr begins deployment on TIMVision devices Connected TV technology company Hoppr is deploying its HopprTV+ software on TIMVision devices in Italy...

•	Google TV Freeplay expands to 10,000 ad-supported films and TV episodes in the US Google has expanded its Google TV Freeplay service in the United States with more than 10,000 advertising-supported films and television episodes, broadening its free streaming proposition as competition intensifies across...

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Disclaimer: Information contained herein has been obtained from sources, which we deem reliable. SAMENA Telecommunications Council is not liable for any misinformed decisions that the reader may reach by being solely reliant on information contained herein. Expert advice should be sought.

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