Thai operator True Corp revealed a three-year strategic roadmap on Monday to transform itself from telco to ‘techco’, with a focus on strengthening the customer experience and driving ‘AI-first’ growth.

True broke its techco strategy down into “four big moves”, the centrepiece of which is making AI a core engine across its operations, from strategic decision-making and operational efficiency to delivering superior customer experiences.

“We are moving beyond the traditional telco-centric, focused primarily on subscriber growth and entering a new phase of transformation as an AI-first organization while remaining firmly focused on customer-centricity,” said True Corp group CEO Sigve Brekke. “With AI, True will embed intelligence across networks, services and digital platforms. This represents a complete reset of operations, moving toward touch-free, predictive and increasingly autonomous operations that enhance both performance and customer experience.”

True said its ‘AI-First’ strategy includes not only developing new AI-driven products and improving efficiency and automation across business functions, but also expanding AI access and skills for employees, customers and society in general, which is another of the “four big moves” in its techco strategy.

True said it plans to upskill 100% of its workforce with AI foundation skills by 2026 and has launched 10 AI scholarships for advanced studies in the United States and China, including programs developed in collaboration with MIT and Chulalongkorn University.

“True is not only adopting AI internally. We are working to upskill 12 million Thai citizens through a comprehensive AI literacy program, build an AI-enabled platform for enterprises, and strengthen AI infrastructure together with partners across the ecosystem,” said Brekke.

True’s other two “big moves” in its techco push include elevating end-to-end customer experience across the entire lifecycle by strengthening network capabilities for its 5G and fixed broadband services and integrating both into a seamless digital ecosystem across all customer touchpoints, and driving growth in its B2C and B2B customer segments.

On the consumer front, True will expand its ‘Beyond Connectivity’ portfolio, including content platforms, home AI solutions, cybersecurity services and gaming and digital lifestyle services. True plans to leverage data-driven insights and an AI-powered personalization engine to deliver tailored offers for families.

True said it will also continue its evolution from product-centric telecom provider to trusted digital solutions partner for enterprises and SMEs, combining big data analytics, AI, security, integrated platforms, cloud computing and 5G/fibre connectivity. True also said it will boost its partnerships with global hyperscalers to co-develop solutions that help businesses modernize operations.

True said its techco roadmap aims to capitalise on three major trends in Thailand: (1) consumers increasingly becoming both creators and consumers of data across work, entertainment, healthcare and learning, (2) acceleration of AI adoption, and (3) digital infrastructure unlocking new regional growth engines.

“These trends represent a major opportunity to create new value in the digital economy,” Brekke said.

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Chris Brill, Field CTO at Myriad360

The traditional data center playbook is dead. Companies are inventing entirely new categories of infrastructure solutions in real time, because the old ways can’t scale fast enough to meet demand. … [visit site to read more]

Ethio Telecom revealed on Sunday it lined up several vendor deals to modernise its telecoms network at last week’s Mobile World Congress, with one agreement with Ericsson already signed and others with Huawei and ZTE in the pipeline.

Ethio Telecom is currently in the midst of a large-scale network expansion and modernization programme, which includes expanding infrastructure coverage, enhancing 4G capacity, advancing 5G expansion, extending rural mobile network connectivity, and expanding and modernizing both radio access and core network functions – all in service of its “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond” strategy.

To that end, Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamru met with senior executives from Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, and Nokia at MWC26 to explore advanced technology solutions to optimise its network infrastructure and prepare it to support emerging technologies, including AI-enabled network capabilities.

Ethio Telecom said it successfully concluded key negotiations with all of them. One agreement with Ericsson was finalized and signed on Thursday, while negotiations with ZTE were concluded, and discussions with Huawei (which holds a significant share of Ethio Telecom’s network infrastructure) “progressed substantially and are nearing finalization.”

The deal with Ericsson involves expansion, upgrade, 4G layering, and deployment of new capabilities across 1,500 mobile sites within the Ericsson network-managed circle, which Ethio Telecom said will boost 4G coverage and capacity while expanding its 5G footprint.

The deal also specifically targets 75 rural solution sites with tailored mobile solutions aimed at bridging both the coverage and usage gaps in rural areas that have no access to commercial power. Ericsson will also upgrade of 502 existing 3G sites to be 4G-ready.

Ethio Telecom said the project will add expand LTE services to 157 additional towns within Ericsson’s circle, increasing the total number of connected towns to 276, while boosting population coverage by 45%, reaching an overall 85% population coverage in the region.

Meanwhile, Ethio Telecom said it met with Nokia to review the successful completion of a proof of concept (PoC) for innovative technology solutions, and discuss preparations for a joint launch of an Innovation Excellence Centre to strengthen innovation, learning and digital capacity development in Ethiopia.

Ethio Telecom said it also held discussions with various global operators, solution providers, and technology innovators at MWC26 to explore new collaboration opportunities and drive digital transformation.

Turkcell made moves at Mobile World Congress 2026 this week to beef up its planned 5G network, deploy AI in its mobile core and get started on 6G via separate deals with Ericsson and Mavenir.

On Wednesday, Ericsson announced it had been selected by Turkcell to jointly develop, integrate, and deploy advanced RAN solutions to fast-track its evolution toward 5G Advanced capabilities, leveraging the recent commercial launch of 5G services in Turkey.

Turkcell and Ericsson also signed an MoU under which they will accelerate adoption of cloud-native and automated network architectures to enable faster time-to-market for innovative services. Technology domains covered by the MoU include RedCap, cloud RAN, service management and orchestration and intelligent rApps.

“With our commercial 5G Advanced launch in Türkiye, our priority is to evolve the network into a cloud-native, automation-driven platform that can scale new services faster,” said Turkcell CTO Vehbi Çağrı Güngör in a statement. “This collaboration with Ericsson accelerates that journey. Ultimately, we will deliver more reliable, lower-latency connectivity and unlock new use cases such as AR/VR and industrial IoT for both consumers and enterprises.”

Onwards to 6G

Turkcell has not yet commercially launched 5G, nor have rival celcos Vodafone and Türk Telekom. All three telcos paid a collective US$2.125 billion for 700-MHz and 3.5-GHz spectrum in the country’s 5G spectrum auction in October 2025. Turkey’s Transportation and Infrastructure minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed earlier this week that all three telcos are set to launch nationwide 5G services in all 81 provincial centres at the start of next month, according to media reports.

Even so, Turkcell is already setting its sights on the next ‘G’. Under another MoU also revealed on Wednesday, Ericsson and Turkcell agreed to collaborate on 6G research and development in Turkey. That MoU focuses on key technologies including agentic AI, autonomous network enablers, and digital twins for network operations.

“We have positioned 5G as an infrastructure that enables digital transformation across sectors, ranging from manufacturing to healthcare, transportation to public services,” said Turkcell CEO Ali Taha Koç. “The 6G collaboration we have initiated with Ericsson represents a significant step built upon this strong foundation. The 6G era is set to usher in a new era of intelligent, autonomous, and integrated connectivity, seamlessly integrating into every aspect of life.”

AI in the core

The same day, Turkcell signed an MoU with Mavenir to collaborate on speeding up the telco’s plan to launch AI-powered services for customers by using Mavenir’s cloud-native IMS architecture to embed AI directly into Turkcell’s mobile core.

Mavenir said the partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward AI-native network capabilities, where intelligence is embedded directly into core services rather than delivered through over-the-top applications. This will support the development and rollout of advanced and flexible new services such as premium AI voice and messaging services, AI-powered customer care enablement, and tiered consumer AI subscriptions, said Brandon Larson, Mavenir’s SVP and GM for cloud, AI and IMS business strategy.

“There is real power in AI when it’s delivered with a clear focus on solving a problem and adding real customer value,” Larson said. “Turkcell has specific objectives it is seeking to reach, not least of which is the power to introduce exciting new services. AI redefines the economics of traditional voice and messaging capabilities, and this partnership will bring that to life.”

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Nick Petheram, Founder, Chairman, and CEO at Nomia

Telecom operators are navigating one of the most complex market landscapes in decades. Across the industry, teams are managing the rollout of 5G and edge computing, adapting to tightening regulations, responding to increasing ESG requirements, while also working to improve margins and deliver … [visit site to read more]

Axian Telecom, the parent company of pan-African telecom group Yas, says it is partnering with AST SpaceMobile to deliver direct-to-device (D2D) satellite services across Yas’ markets in sub-Saharan Africa.

Under the partnership announced on Wednesday, AST SpaceMobile’s LEO satellite network will be integrated with Yas’ core infrastructure across its markets, enabling seamless connectivity for voice, video, data, and internet services.

Both companies will also jointly develop commercial offerings for consumers, enterprises, IoT, maritime, aviation, and emergency response, with Yas handling local distribution, regulatory coordination, and customer activation through a one-click SpaceMobile service.

Yas currently operates in Tanzania, Madagascar, Togo, Senegal, Uganda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Comoros, Malawi, Réunion and Mayotte.

Axian Telecom CEO Hassan Jaber said its partnership with AST SpaceMobile will give it the ability to connect more people and businesses outside of city centres where mobile coverage is typically concentrated.

“Partnering with AST SpaceMobile gives us the ability to close that gap in a way that was not possible before,” he said in a statement. “Their technology […] works with the phones people already own, which means we can reach underserved communities without asking them to do anything differently.”

The launch of commercial services will depend partly on securing the necessary regulatory clearances in each market, and also on AST SpaceMobile’s own commercial launch schedule. AST SpaceMobile currently has five BlueBird LEO satellites in orbit, and aims to deploy between 45 and 60 more satellites this year.

The Axian partnership is AST SpaceMobile’s second major pan-African deal. In December 2024, it signed a ten-year commercial agreement with Vodafone Group to roll out its services in Vodafone’s markets worldwide. In Africa, that includes Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa.

AST Spacemobile has also signed partnership deals with Safaricom in Kenya and Uganda Telecom.

More news from around the industry from this week to catch up with: … [visit site to read more]

Liberty Costa Rica commercially launched the first sites of its 5G network across multiple regions on Tuesday using gear from Ericsson, with plans to achieve national coverage before the end of this year.

Liberty Costa Rica said it’s prioritising tourism in its initial 5G phase, with rollouts covering tourist and commercial hubs in Guanacaste, the Central Pacific, and the Northern Zone. Tourism accounts for roughly 8.2% of GDP and 15.5% of jobs in Costa Rica.

The rollout combines 5G deployment in the 3.5 GHz and 700 MHz bands to improve capacity, indoor penetration, and service continuity. Liberty’s network also supports fixed wireless access (FWA) services, delivering high-speed connectivity to homes and businesses, especially in areas where fibre or cable infrastructure is limited or unavailable.

According to Ericsson, the live network is delivering download speeds exceeding 1 Gbps and upload speeds above 100 Mbps, enabling seamless streaming, instant downloads, low‑latency cloud and video conferencing, and power AR/VR, telemedicine, remote education, smart logistics, public safety, and industrial automation – all of which Ericsson said will transform tourism, retail and public services nationwide.

“This deployment, led by ICT leaders, reflects our commitment to the digitalization of Costa Rica – boosting connectivity, strengthening strategic sectors, and creating opportunities for people, businesses, and communities to harness the full potential of this next-generation technology,” said Sean Cryan, head of LATAM North and Caribbean at Ericsson.

The launch follows a six-year strategic contract signed by Ericsson and Liberty Latin America in July last year to deploy 5G Standalone (5G SA) technology in Costa Rica.

Liberty Costa Rica and rival telco Claro each paid $16.2 million for 5G spectrum rights in January 2025.

Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, has announced the launch of its Cassava Cloud Partner (CCP) programme during MWC26.

The programme will enable mobile network operators and system integrators across Africa and Latin America to consume, resell, or distribute AI, cloud, and digital services using Cassava’s infrastructure and technology platforms.

Ahmed El Beheiry, Group COO and Group Chief Technology & AI Officer, Cassava Technologies, explains: “Through the CCP programme, we are working with partners to extend access to AI infrastructure, cloud platforms, digital capabilities and solutions enabling enterprises, developers, and entrepreneurs across the continent to build and deploy AI-powered solutions

He adds: “We are expanding Africa’s sovereign AI ecosystem to build solutions that address the continent’s unique challenges while creating new opportunities for growth and digital inclusion.”

CCP will provide Cassava’s customers and partners with four clear value propositions. These include access to Nvidia Cloud Partner solutions, Cassava’s complete turnkey AI Factory, its own native AI solutions and CAIMEx, a localised multi-model platform that provides unified access to leading AI models through regional AI factories. 

Through CAIMEx, customers will gain unified access to advanced tools like the Customer Experience Conversational Interface (CECI), Geospatial AI Ops, and Cassava Autonomous Networks.

Cassava says it empowers customers to deploy compute capabilities in a scalable, perfectly orchestrated manner from day one, following local compliance policies.

Through the CCP programme, Cassava says it is removing barriers to entry, such as high upfront infrastructure costs, through a flexible managed approach.

This supports Cassava’s broader strategy to build a sovereign cloud and AI ecosystem, spanning national and enterprise deployments, to enable governments and enterprises across Africa to access advanced AI infrastructure while maintaining control over their data and digital platforms.