Middle East & Africa
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Public Affairs
Safaricom ‘calls for’ mandated MNO–SatCo partnerships as Starlink expands in Africa
Reports indicate Kenyan operator is pushing local Communications Authority to consider blocking solo foreign SatCo entrants and oblige them to form partnerships with licence-holding MNOs.
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Network & Infrastructure
US majors first, Vodafone next as SpaceMobile readies for launch
AST SpaceMobile backers AT&T and Verizon will beta test space-based cellular broadband initially, with Vodafone and Rakuten next on the list for commercial services.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone links 2Africa subsea cable to UK hub
Vodafone onshores another section of 2Africa submarine cable, this time in Cornwall.
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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: Project Gigabit acceleration, African expansion, and 5G streetlights
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including: drone‑enabled 5G and IoT hidden in streetlamps; ongoing network and service building in Africa; Openreach eyeing under‑delivering Project Gigabit contracts; and plenty more…
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Financial & Performance
IHS Towers targets $1bn from asset disposals
Tower group’s chief executive announces ten-digit goal for proceeds from business sales, amid ongoing strategic review.
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Strategy & Change
American Tower eyes US expansion of Power as a Service in efficiencies pursuit amidst M&A hiatus
ATC looks to ship high ROI ‘Power as a Service’ learnings to US market, having proven benefits in Africa, and to transfer US automation credentials to other geographies. Hunt for global efficiencies may also lead to monetisation of sub-scale assets, with focus on operational excellence meaning “nothing compelling” to buy, for now…
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Financial & Performance
Helios swaps land-grab for lease-grab in strategy refresh
Middle East and Africa tower group makes a change-up of headline KPIs after shifting away from M&A-based expansion of tower footprint.
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Financial & Performance
IHS Towers hires advisers to assess ‘strategic alternatives’
Tower group’s annual results this week sees chief executive highlight initiation of a strategic review of its business, amid share price slump.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone Turkey creates $100m infra JV for data centre expansion
Vodafone Turkey teams with UAE-based Edgnex Data Centres by DAMAC to invest in new Izmir data centre.
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M&A
Saudi’s stc continues international push with CMC Networks buy
Expansive center3 adds 110 points of presence to its footprint, with a focus on Africa.
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Strategy & Change
American Tower assures Nigerian site swap plan is solid
CEO-in-waiting of wireless infra giant asserts deliverability of recent, high profile contract win with MTN Nigeria, despite veiled scepticism from rival IHS.
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Strategy & Change
IHS reviews tower estate; could jettison non-core assets
Tower group going through process of re-evaluating its international portfolio, as part of move to a more ‘balanced’ strategy between growth and cash generation.
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M&A
Helios keeps M&A plans on ice, despite sunny outlook
Middle East and Africa tower group to remain disciplined on deal-making, despite being ahead of the game on leverage reduction and growth.
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Interview
Interview: CMC chief exec on keeping Africa in business despite energy supply woes
In an interview with TelcoTitans, CEO of Carlyle-controlled connectivity player CMC Networks describes doing business on the continent as tough but “super exciting”.
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Operations
American Tower’s Kenyan dispute disrupts services
American Tower takes on government-owned Telkom Kenya for unpaid bills. TowerCo claims operator has defaulted on £22m in payments and breached sale and leaseback agreement. In extraordinary move, ATC shut off some sites until the operator pays up.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom brands new TowerCo business as Mast
Vodacom sticks with simplicity in branding its new South African tower spinoff.
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Network & Infrastructure
The Backfill: Newmark launches new data centre investment platform
Real estate advisory group launches new data centre investment platform. GoFibre and Lightning Fibre set for UK fibre network expansion.
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Operations
American Tower eyes solar power play beyond Africa and India
American Tower’s investments in solar energy generation have reduced the use of diesel fuel for off-grid sites and lowered carbon emissions.
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Financial & Performance
BII lauds digital infra investment impact in tough economic climate
BII CEO Nick O’Donohoe sees private sector funding as critical to delivering long-term, sustainable solutions that grants alone cannot provide.
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Network & Infrastructure
Orange maintains 5G momentum with launch in Jordan
The Group has now launched 5G in nine countries, of which two are in Middle East and Africa. Orange Europe CMO hints at imminent 5G standalone launches after Spain.