Some new metro fiber, some financing, an integration update, and a buildout update: … [visit site to read more]

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is reportedly planning to carry out  another round of 5G spectrum auctions in January and February next year. Spectrum in 11 bands, ranging from 600MHz to above 37GHz, is likely to be put up for sale.

Limited competition for spectrum is predicted. Only Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are expected to be involved, indicating subdued bidding intensity and a quick end to the next auction. Vodafone Idea (Vi) has cash flow issues, so probably won’t participate.

Adani Group is also unlikely to compete again. In fact it acquired 26GHz millimetre wave spectrum in August 2022, which required it to start offering service within a year and has yet to do so, though it had been assumed it would roll out private 5G network services.

A lot of useful spectrum has gone already. As we reported at the time, in August last year market leader Reliance Jio led the way with acquisitions of spectrum in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 1800MHz, 3300MHz and 26GHz bands at a cost of Rs88,078 crore (some US$11.2 billion) out of a little over US$19 billion spent by all participants.

That said, Bharti Airtel and Vi have permits expiring in 2024 in some areas of the country, so this could influence their approach to the auction. 

In addition, this is, it seems, the first time that spectrum in the bands above 37GHz has been put up for sale.

It’s also worth mentioning that state-run operator BSNL is seeking spectrum in 700MHz, 3300MHz and 26GHz bands. Apparently, after a decision is made on how much spectrum needs to be given to the state-owned company, the remaining unsold spectrum will be put up for sale.

The European bandwidth infrastructure company euNetworks officially got a bit bigger at the end of last week. Their previously announced purchase of the “Business Branch” of a Belgian utility company has closed, and the integration has begun. … [visit site to read more]

It has now been more than a year since Arelion began its new life, leaving behind the Telia Carrier brand and facing the market as an independent entity. Over that year we have seen the company start to make more aggressive network investments, moving into new parts of the world, such as Mexico. With us today to give his perspective on Arelion’s network infrastructure, its future, and the state of the broader network infrastructure marketplace is Mattias Fridström, Arelion’s Chief Evangelist. … [visit site to read more]

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Tomorrow will see a potentially significant development for the Sierra Leonean economy as the Bank of Sierra Leone officially launches the National Payment Switch, a system that, it is hoped, will move the country closer to achieving the objective of building a cashless economy.

The switch is a platform that facilitates interconnection and interoperability between the payment channels of various players including commercial banks, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators and fintechs.

The announcement of the switch was made on 19April, at the Sam Bangura Building in Freetown. However, the official launch will be on 29 April at the Bank of Sierra Leone recreation complex in Freetown.

According to the Acting Bank Governor at the Bank of Sierra Leone, Dr Ibrahim L Stevens, quoted in the Concord Times, “All debit and credit cards currently being used would be used on the National Switch and, once it goes live, it will ensure direct transactions between accounts of different banks, direct transactions between wallets of different mobile money operators and bank accounts and settlement of funds for transactions across schemes and between schemes and banks.”

The National Payment Switch, which will be owned and managed by the Bank of Sierra Leone, will roll out in three phases, the first involving ATMs and POS. The second will interoperate mobile money operators, other fintechs and bank accounts, allowing customers to make instant payments using any of these facilities from any location. Phase three focuses on international payments.

The switch will also make provision for buyers and sellers of financial products and services to make transactions across various channels.

If all goes well, it is hoped that, as well as users, the National Revenue Authority will benefit from the switch through more automated revenue collection, while banks and other payment systems will reduce costs and improve security.

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