13
Mar, 2026

World Bank initiative aims to boost digital economy in three African countries

The World Bank Group (WBG) Board of Directors earlier this week approved what is described as a transformative regional initiative that will directly boost job creation in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone. It includes a strong focus on digital infrastructure.

This second operation under the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Programme (WARDIP), totalling US$137 million, aims to strengthen the foundations for a dynamic digital economy through expanding and upgrading the digital infrastructure needed for competitiveness, fostering a more business‑friendly environment, and enabling businesses to scale and operate across regional markets.

WBG says that WARDIP2, as the initiative is known, will increase broadband access, financing and usage in participating countries and enable an environment for cross-border digital services in Western Africa.

It is claimed that approximately 5.2 million people will be connected to new or enhanced broadband internet across the three countries, and 5.4 million new users will access digitally enabled services.

Michel Rogy, World Bank Digital and AI Regional Practice Director explains thar the initiative “addresses one of the region’s most persistent challenges: high-cost and unreliable connectivity that limit competitiveness and people’s access to digital opportunities”.

Through major investments in digital infrastructure, says WBG, the project will expand resilient broadband networks, increase international connectivity, and strengthen data centre capacity, laying the groundwork for new digital jobs and improved public and private sector service delivery.

At the same time, it will invest in people by supporting digital skills training for 9,000 individuals, including women and youth, and expanding opportunities in AI, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship.

In addition, says Marina Wes, Acting World Bank Regional Integration Director for Africa: “By harmonising regulations, modernising digital governance, and improving competition across regional markets, WARDIP2 creates a more predictable and investment-friendly environment. » She adds: « Its support to the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), regulatory reforms in participating countries, and measures that lower deployment costs while expanding access to affordable, high‑quality connectivity are critical to deepening regional integration, unlocking private capital and creating jobs.”

To help businesses scale, WARDIP2 will strengthen digital entrepreneurship ecosystems, expand digital financial services, and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups with seed financing, market access and cross‑border digital trade opportunities.

WARDIP was launched in November 2023 to expand internet access and to promote a single digital market in West Africa. It’s first operation is supporting The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania.

The most « AI-powered » MWC of all time

The curtain has closed on another Mobile World Congress Barcelona, where more than 100,000 people wandered through eight cavernous halls, collectively racking up enough steps to climb a small mountain – or at least justify an extra tapas or two after a long day.

From a newsroom perspective, the telecoms industry only truly wakes up once MWC Barcelona gets underway. It is where partnerships are announced, strategies are unveiled and executives test the messaging that will shape the industry narrative for the rest of the year.

At the 20th edition of the event, one theme continued to dominate: artificial intelligence. The AI hype train shows no signs of slowing down. Antennas are AI-powered, networks are AI-powered, software is AI-powered – and every other stand seemed to feature a partnership with Nvidia.

That said, it still feels as though telecoms has not quite reached the point where AI has fundamentally transformed the industry. The sense I took from many conversations across the week is that the change will be gradual rather than explosive. If this is a revolution, it is likely to be a slow one.

Nvidia’s approach illustrates this well. Rather than building telecom solutions directly, the company is positioning itself as an enabler – providing the computing platforms and software foundations for vendors and operators to develop their own AI-driven use cases, whether in network optimisation, RAN development or automation.

Yet the most interesting part of the show for me was not necessarily the biggest stands or the flashiest demos.

Instead, it was a corner of Hall 4.

For the first time, the event hosted an African Pavilion, bringing together several major operators including MTN Group, Ethio Telecom, Axian Telecom and Cassava Technologies.

In a preview ahead of the show, I suggested that African operators would likely play a more prominent role this year. Seeing them establish a physical presence at the industry’s largest gathering was therefore a welcome development.

More importantly, these operators were clearly there to make their voices heard. The discussions happening around the pavilion were grounded in the realities of emerging markets – affordability, coverage, infrastructure investment and the policy challenges shaping digital development.

This stood in contrast to some of the more theatrical displays elsewhere on the show floor, where vendors appeared locked in what could best be described as “Robot Wars”, each trying to outdo the other with increasingly elaborate machines on their stands. For the record, my unofficial award goes to the booth featuring a sword fighting robot – not strictly telecoms, but undeniably entertaining.

Beyond the spectacle, one of the more substantive conversations centred on the role of satellites in connecting underserved markets.

At a roundtable hosted by the GSMA, executives from Axiata Group, MTN Group and Ooredoo called for governments to introduce clearer and stricter regulatory frameworks for low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite providers such as Starlink and Amazon.

The appeal of LEO satellites for emerging markets is obvious. In many cases, deploying terrestrial infrastructure is both expensive and time-consuming. Satellite connectivity offers the possibility of expanding coverage far more quickly.

From the perspective of mobile operators, however, this creates a complicated competitive dynamic. They argue – not unreasonably – that they are subject to licensing fees, regulatory obligations and infrastructure investment requirements that satellite players may not face in the same way.

And ultimately, the average consumer does not particularly care about the delivery mechanism. Whether connectivity comes from a terrestrial network or a satellite constellation is largely irrelevant to someone who simply wants reliable internet access.

That tension between innovation, competition and regulation is likely to become an increasingly important issue over the coming years, particularly as Amazon ramps up its own LEO ambitions.

Another topic that repeatedly came up in conversations during the week was device affordability.

While global smartphone markets have largely recovered from the worst of the supply-chain disruptions seen in recent years, affordability remains a major barrier to connectivity in many developing regions. For millions of people, even relatively inexpensive smartphones remain out of reach.

In response, the GSMA and several operators participating in the African Pavilion announced a new initiative to introduce a US$40 entry-level 4G smartphone. The devices are expected to launch across six markets later this year, aiming to make mobile internet access more accessible to first-time users.

It is a reminder that while much of the industry conversation revolves around AI, automation and advanced network architectures, basic connectivity challenges remain central to telecom development in many parts of the world.

Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be another fascinating year for the sector. The continued evolution of AI, the growing influence of satellite connectivity and the push to expand affordable access will all play important roles in shaping the next phase of telecoms growth.

And if nothing else, the industry has once again proven that it can combine serious strategic discussions with the occasional robot sword fight. Telecoms, after all, is nothing if not versatile.

13
Mar, 2026

Have Modern UC Deployments Failed to Account for Frontline Workers?

Have Modern UC Deployments Failed to Account for Frontline Workers?

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Nick Muir, General Manager for EMEA at Spectralink.

When companies calculate the ROI of modern unified communications (UC) deployments such as Microsoft Teams, they typically focus on white-collar workers who spend a lot of time at a keyboard or in meetings. Yet, around 80% of the global workforce is made up of frontline workers[1] — key employees such as nurses, factory workers, retail associates, and facilities staff, who rarely sit at desks. Too often, where the formal office environment ends, so does … [visit site to read more]

12
Mar, 2026

Strategic partnership promises easier access to advanced satellite technology

Satcoms company ST Engineering iDirect, has announced a strategic partnership with Q-KON, a premier African satellite engineering and service provider, to launch an initiative called Intuition Unbound across Africa.

This collaboration, say the partners, will significantly lower barriers to entry for Q-KON and its customers, enabling businesses and organisations of all sizes to access premium satellite ground technology while accelerating time to market.

Q-KON will provide satellite capacity and teleport facilities in South Africa, while ST Engineering iDirect will deliver Intuition Unbound’s flexible, scalable and secure satellite ground connectivity.

This model, it is claimed, will foster a more competitive market landscape and establish a strong foundation for new service providers and enterprises to join the ecosystem and build differentiated value-added services.

Intuition Unbound leverages scalable infrastructure, advanced virtual network operator (VNO) capabilities, and global bandwidth management technologies to redefine how connectivity is accessed and delivered. Built on an as-a-service model, Intuition Unbound delivers flexible, scalable, and secure satellite ground connectivity without the heavy upfront capex commitments traditionally required.

Through the partnership with Q-KON, ST Engineering iDirect says it will provide predictable and transparent pricing and deliver SLA-backed performance with enterprise-grade compliance and security.

Dr Dawie de Wet, Group CEO of Q-KON calls the partnership “a game-changer for our customers” that “maps a way forward to deliver sustainable, competitive GEO satellite services”.

Brian Jakins, SVP Global Sales at ST Engineering iDirect, adds: “By making advanced satellite technology accessible to smaller providers and emerging-market customers, we are unlocking innovation and growth where connectivity is essential. Our partnership with Q-KON represents a major step toward making premium satellite ground networks accessible to all.”

Together with Q-KON, ST Engineering iDirect is expected to commence deployment of Intuition Unbound across Africa by mid-2026. ST Engineering iDirect plans to expand Intuition Unbound into additional regions globally, extending the benefits of flexible, scalable, and secured satellite ground connectivity worldwide.

XLSMART positions inclusion and partnerships at the heart of its growth strategy

Arsjad Rasjid, President Commissioner of recently-merged Indonesian operator XLSMART, talks to Developing Telecoms about his role in the business, digital transformation and the opportunities and challenges of integrating two major network provider businesses, the experience of working with technology partner ZTE, and XLSMART goal to become Indonesia’s “most loved” company.

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11
Mar, 2026

Most lots sold as Pakistan finally holds 5G spectrum auction

Pakistan on Tuesday raised US$507 million in the country’s 5G spectrum auction, selling 480MHz of spectrum against a target of 597MHz.

Three operators – Jazz, Zong and Ufone – won frequencies to roll out next-generation mobile services and faster digital connectivity in the country.

The auction took place over three rounds on the same day. The results were announced by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman. IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar were also present at the announcement.

The sale included two lots (blocks of radio frequency spectrum) in the 700MHz band, all five lots in the 2300MHz band, all 19 lots in the 2600MHz band, and 22 out of 28 lots in the 3500MHz band.

One of three lots of 700MHz spectrum went unsold, as did six of the available 28 lots of 3500MHz spectrum. The entire 1800MHz and 2100MHz spectrum on offer remained unsold.

Jazz emerged as the largest buyer, securing 190MHz of spectrum, including 50MHz in the 3500MHz band, 70MHz in the 2600MHz, 50MHz in the 2300MHz and 20MHz in the 700MHz.

Ufone acquired 180MHz, including 120MHz in the 3500MHz band and 60MHz in the 2600MHz band. Zong bought 110MHz in the auction, including 50MHz in the 3500MHz band and 60MHz in the 2600MHz band.

The PTA Chairman noted that spectrum scarcity had long been the biggest challenge for Pakistan’s telecom sector and suggested that the country was entering a new technological era with the launch of the auction.

The PTA chief also highlighted an interesting change of policy: Pakistan is to be the first country in Asia to abolish right-of-way (RoW) charges, reducing them from PKR36,000 (US$128.85) per kilometre to nil to facilitate telecom infrastructure expansion and fibre deployment.

The new auction will not only introduce 5G services but should also significantly improve 4G quality. Improvements in 4G services are expected within 4-5 months; 5G services are expected to be launched in major cities within six months.

A reason for recent delays in the auction seems to have been the wait for the PTA to announce its decision on the proposed merger between Ufone 4G and Telenor Pakistan. This is now expected later today.

10
Mar, 2026

Shared Rural Network upgrades hit 50 mast milestone in Wales

Press Release

50 government-funded mast upgrades have now been activated in Wales as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) – a programme brokered by the UK government and joint-funded with mobile network operators to improve mobile coverage in rural areas. Across the whole of the UK, 119 masts are now live as part of the SRN.

Rural towns and villages throughout Wales are benefiting from faster, more reliable mobile coverage as one of the latest government-funded 4G network upgrades were switched on. It means residents, local businesses and community organisations in areas including Ysbyty Ifan, Pentrefoelas, Capel Celyn, Painscastle, Hay-on-Wye, Llanigon, Tregoyd, Doly-y-Gaer, Clwydyfagwyr, Pontsticill, Torpantau, Llanddewi, Dolau, Llandegley, Crossgates, Abbeycwmhir can now take advantage of better connectivity.

These activations also bring enhanced connectivity to Eryri National Park and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. These activations also bring coverage from all four mobile network operators to the equivalent of over 3,477 km of roads across Wales.

The boost to coverage has been carried out by upgrading existing mobile masts, meaning communities can benefit from improved connectivity without the need for additional infrastructure.

The improvements will enable residents, tourists and businesses to access reliable 4G coverage from all four mobile network operators – EE, Three, VMO2 and Vodafone – helping close the digital divide between urban and rural communities and boosting economic growth across the nations.

Ben Roome, CEO of Mova said:

“Upgrading 50 EAS masts in Wales shows the strength of a shared, neutral programme. Every site benefits every operator, every community and every mobile user. Together, they represent practical steps toward fairer, more resilient connectivity across rural Wales. Since the launch of the Shared Rural Network, 4G coverage from all mobile network operators has increased from 66% to 81% of the UK, an expansion equivalent to the combined size of Wales and Northern Ireland.

“With more upgrades planned, we remain focused on ensuring rural communities are included in a digitally connected UK.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

“Access to fast and reliable mobile coverage is increasingly important for residents, businesses and community organisations in rural communities all over Wales. Hitting this milestone is an important step in our mission to grow the Welsh economy, supporting businesses to succeed and creating opportunities in every corner of Wales.”

Since the Shared Rural Network programme began in 2020, an additional 34,000 square kilometres – an area equivalent to roughly 1.5 times the size of Wales or 4.6 million football pitches – are receiving coverage from all four operators, EE, Three, VMO2 and Vodafone across the UK.

Through the SRN programme, the UK government and the UK’s four mobile network operators have already provided4G coverage to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000km of the UK’s roads.

The UK government is investing £184 million to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts to provide coverage from all four mobile operators.

Mobile operators have also invested over £500 million to target ‘partial not spots’ across the UK, where customers can only access 4G if they are signed up with a mobile network operator that is active in the area.