SAMENA Daily News - SAMENA Telecommunications Council

'SAMENA Daily' - Archive

SAMENA Daily - Industry News Briefing

Industry News Briefing
January 27, 2025

Featured Member News

Zain achieves major milestone in Climate Action with SBTi approvals of Net-Zero Targets

Zain Group, a leading provider of ICT innovative technologies and digital lifestyle communications operating in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, announces its latest set of ambitious climate targets have been officially approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)...

Member News

•

e& joins forces with NYU Abu Dhabi to advance 6G research

e&, the global technology group, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) to advance research and development (R&D) of 6G technology, paving the way for the next...

•

StarHub and Nokia partner on network APIs to drive 5G and 4G application development in enterprise verticals

StarHub, one of Singapore’s largest operators with over 2 million subscribers, and Nokia are partnering on network APIs to support StarHub’s mission to create new revenue opportunities for its customers and...

•

OIC-CERT & Huawei release framework to secure software supply chains across member states

Huawei, in collaboration with the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation-Computer Emergency Response Team (OIC-CERT) and the Oman National CERT, announced the release of the OIC-CERT Software Supply Chain Security...

Policy and Regulation

•	Open standards needed to build trust in digital wallets The ITU is leading a global effort to make digital wallets interoperable and accessible worldwide, emphasizing the importance of open standards for secure and seamless cross-border transactions...

•	Icasa approves Cell C licence transfer to Blue Label subsidiary Icasa has approved the transfer of control of Cell C's telecommunications licenses to Blue Label subsidiary The Prepaid Company, paving the way for Blue Label to gain majority control over Cell C...

South Asia

•	Bangladesh leads South Asia in mobile money adoption and financial inclusion Bangladesh leads South Asia in mobile money adoption, with over 224.5 million registered users and platforms like bKash driving financial inclusion and economic growth by facilitating transactions and remittances...

•	PTCL sets prerequisites for participation in 5G auction PTCL's CEO has outlined prerequisites for the company's participation in Pakistan's upcoming 5G spectrum auction, including extended payment terms, reasonable reserve prices, and rupee-based pricing, to ensure a...

Content & Immersive Technologies

•	CNN to launch new streaming service CNN is launching a new global streaming service and undergoing a digital-first transformation, including job cuts and changes to its broadcast schedule, to adapt to evolving audience habits and secure its future in the news...

•	Comcast launches streaming bundle Comcast is launching a new sports streaming package that includes over 50 news and sports channels, a Peacock subscription, and cloud DVR storage, aiming to fill the gap left by the discontinued Venu service...

Global Telecom Update

•	Meta plans US$65 billion spending this year to power AI goals Meta Platforms plans to invest up to US$65 billion in AI infrastructure this year, including a massive new data center and increased AI hiring, to compete with rivals like OpenAI and Google in the rapidly growing field of...

•	KT becomes top telecom by market capitalization since 2003 KT has surpassed SK Telecom to become the leading telecom company in South Korea by market capitalization, driven by its partnership with Microsoft and strong shareholder return policies...

•	Verizon accelerates AI strategy with edge compute, GPUaaS Verizon Business has launched AI Connect, a suite of solutions and products designed to enable businesses to deploy AI workloads at scale, leveraging its network infrastructure and partnerships to meet the growing demand for...

Middle East

•	Orange Jordan and SoftAtHome unveil world’s first fully prpl-based broadband solution Orange Jordan is launching the world's first fully prpl-based broadband solution, featuring a home gateway and Wi-Fi repeater powered by prplWare, offering enhanced flexibility and innovation in service delivery...

•	Oracle boosts UAE cloud capacity fivefold as GCC embraces AI Oracle is significantly increasing its cloud and AI capacity in the UAE to meet the surging demand driven by the region's focus on digital transformation and data sovereignty, with a strong emphasis on its sovereign...

•	Iran to launch first AI park in Tehran by 2026 Iran is establishing its first AI park in Tehran and will host an international conference on AI at the end of January, showcasing the country's growing focus on artificial intelligence development and applications...

•	Vodafone Qatar signs MoU with Honor Vodafone Qatar and Honor have partnered to offer exclusive benefits to customers, including a dedicated shop-in-shop experience and a two-year warranty on Honor devices...

North Africa

•	Telecom Egypt and Cisco activate Mediterranean subsea link on 2Africa cable system Telecom Egypt has activated a new subsea link on the 2Africa cable, connecting Egypt, Italy, and France, to boost international internet capacity and support the growing demand for cloud and AI services...

3G, 4G and 5G Networks

•	Virgin Media O2 and Ontix expand 4G mobile small cells in Birmingham O2 is working with Ontix to expand 4G mobile capacity in Birmingham, UK, by deploying small cell sites in busy areas like Soho Road and Handsworth, improving connectivity for residents and businesses...

•	Tele2 to invest in 5G modernization in 2025 Tele2 will invest over 20 million euros in Latvia this year to expand its 5G network, aiming to cover 90% of the country by year-end...

Satellite & Internet

•	SpaceX's Starlink set to test direct satellite-to-phone service SpaceX is preparing to beta test its Direct-to-Cell Starlink satellites, aiming to provide global mobile connectivity directly to phones, even in remote areas without cell towers...

•	10.3 million US homes passed with fiber in 2024 Fiber broadband deployment in the US reached a record high in 2024, with 10.3 million homes passed, and is expected to continue its growth trajectory, surpassing cable as the preferred internet technology...

About SAMENA Council

• History

• Profile

• Board of Directors

• Working Groups

Industry Matters

• WRC-23

• 5G Development

• Digital Services

• Industry Fees & Taxation

• Latest Open Consultations

• Industry Issues

• Position Papers

• Articles & Industry Views

SAMENA Trends & Media

• SAMENA Trends

• Industry Updates

• SAMENA Council in Media

• Video Content

Please add news@samenacouncil.org to your E-mail Safe List.

If you received this news update from a colleague and are interested in receiving your own copy, please contact us here »

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.

To unsubscribe, click Manage Your Subscription below.

SAMENA Telecommunications Council