Indian data centre firm RackBank says it has broken ground on a campus in the city of Nava Raipur in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Spanning 13.5 acres, the development will be Chhattisgarh’s first data centre campus.

RackBank says that the facility will be built in four phases. The first will offer 80MW of capacity and will be capable of running 100,000 GPUs. It will offer 160MW of capacity at full build-out. The facility will use liquid immersion cooling solutions provided by RackBank itself.

The facility will be located in a newly built, 2.7 hectare Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for AI-based services. SEZs provide incentives and exemptions to encourage investment.

The company has stated that the facility was built on an initial investment of about US$12 million, scalable to US$36 million within five years. Precise rollout and development timings have so far not been provided.

Rackbank provides data centre infrastructure, cloud computing, and AI services. It currently operates a colocation facility in Indore and a hyperscale facility in Chennai, while facilities in Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Noida are currently in development.

In fact it was as recently as late 2024 that RackBank announced the launch of India’s first state-of-the-art, purpose-built AI data centre near Indore, a city in west-central India. This facility is said to be capable of housing 60,000 GPUs, with 80MW power.

MTN has announced that it will offer up to 1.2 million of its prepaid subscribers an option to buy a 4G smartphone for just ZAR99 ($5.42).

The move comes as South Africa prepares to shutter 2G and 3G services by the end of 2027 in a bid to free up spectrum for 4G and 5G services. This has been met with criticism from some corners, with Reuters reporting that critics claim it could worsen the digital divide among low-income demographics.

In a bid to ensure that users in such areas can afford smartphones that can be used with 4G and 5G networks, operators including MTN are encouraging the uptake of such devices. MTN South Africa CEO Charles Molapisi stated: “As the country transitions to technologies like 4G and 5G, it is vital that we take proactive steps to connect as many South Africans as possible”.

Three stages are planned for the initiative, which will commence this month and run until the end of 2026. The first stage will primarily target users in the Gauteng province, with around 5000 “carefully selected” customers being offered 4G devices based on an evaluation of several criteria, including spending, usage, and how long they have been with MTN.

The second stage will expand the initiative nationwide to over 130,000 customers, with the third stage increasing this to 1.1 million customers. The devices available must be used with an MTN SIM card as part of the agreement, and will feature pre-loaded applications focused on digital services.

MTN has partnered with Smartphone For All to facilitate distribution. The group’s founder and CEO Babatunde Osho said: “By making smartphones more accessible and affordable, we are unlocking opportunities for millions who have been left behind in the digital economy.”

Indian telco Reliance Jio reportedly acknowledged it has been using unlicenced spectrum as well as 5G spectrum to connect some customers for its 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) services, which it says is helping lower deployment costs.

According to a report from ETTelecom on Friday, Anshuman Thakur – Reliance Jio Infocomm’s head of strategy – said during a post-earnings call for Reliance Industries that Jio has been using unlicenced band radio (UBR) equipment for some FWA deployments.

Unlicenced spectrum includes bands commonly used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, such as 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz. 3GPP Release 16 includes specifications for 5G New Radio-Unlicensed (NR-U) that enables 5G networks to use unlicenced bands below 7 GHz. 3GPP Release 17 adds unlicenced millimetre-wave bands from 57 GHz to 71 GHz to the mix.

5G NR-U is meant to give 5G operators extra spectrum options for scenarios such as carrier aggregation and offloading, but it can also be used for standalone deployments.

Thakur said that using UBR enables Jio to serve multiple users with one FWA unit, which means the deployment cost per customer is “incrementally much less”, the report said.

Jio – which launched its JioFiberAir service in 2023 – said it had 5.6 million FWA customers at the end of FY 2025, which accounts for 85% of India’s FWA market. Thakur didn’t say how many homes are using UBR equipment.

Thakur also said Jio has set a target of connecting 100 million homes via JioAirFiber and its FTTH service, JioFiber, although he gave no timeline for hitting that target, the report said.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced plans to embed its cloud technology within Orange’s mobile networks in Morocco and Senegal this year, aiming to significantly improve connectivity speed and reduce latency.

In a statement, AWS said the rollout will mark the first deployment of its edge cloud technology—known as AWS Wavelength—in Africa, and notably in regions without existing AWS Regions or Local Zones, which are large and smaller-scale data center clusters, respectively.

The company explained that AWS Wavelength enables customers to run applications that require ultra-low latency or need to keep data local due to regulatory demands. This includes industries such as telecoms, finance, the public sector, and sectors relying on real-time applications like gaming.

AWS pointed to Orange’s extensive African footprint—spanning 18 countries on the continent and reaching over 298 million customers globally—as a key enabler of the partnership.

“Orange’s strong presence and expertise in these markets would uniquely benefit our AWS customers across regulated industries and industries that require low-latency for applications,” AWS global executive Amir Rao and cloud architect Robert Belson said in a blog post.

Malaysian operator Maxis has unveiled plans to significantly expand its fibre network in the state of Penang, aiming to connect over 100,000 homes by 2027 in support of the government’s digital transformation agenda.

In an official statement, Maxis said the rollout will prioritise high-demand urban areas including Jelutong, Georgetown, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, and Bayan Baru, as well as key locations on Mainland Penang.

The expansion aligns with the Penang2030 vision, a state-led initiative to transform Penang into a “green and smart state.” The project is also enabled by the Penang State Government’s recently introduced Last Mile Connectivity Guidelines, which streamline pole-sharing regulations and make it easier for telecom providers to deploy fibre infrastructure efficiently.

Maxis currently operates a 23,000km fibre network nationwide, serving around 500,000 homes.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pictured, left) commented: “High-quality internet connectivity is a critical driver for education, talent development, and economic growth—all of which will further solidify Penang’s position as a regional hub for technology and innovation. We will continue strengthening our state’s digital infrastructure to close the digital divide and ensure every Penangite is equipped to prosper in the future economy.”

Global satellite operator Intelsat announced on Thursday it is expanding its partnership with Hispasat’s teleport operator and satellite services provider Axess Networks to provide satellite communications services throughout the Americas.

Under the new partnership – which is part of a larger renewal agreement with Axess – the two companies will collaborate to provide full-coverage multi-satellite services across the Americas by leveraging the satellites and assets of Intelsat and Hispasat.

Guido Neumann, GM for Axess EMEA, said the partnership will enable both companies to provide seamless and reliable connectivity tailored to the client’s needs

“We are proud to work together to enhance the customer experience and provide top-tier connectivity to our clients,” Neumann said in a statement.

In the Americas, Axess operates teleports in Mexico and Colombia, as well as an alternative teleport in Peru. Hispasat – which acquired Axess in 2022 – currently has ten geostationary satellites covering all of the Americas, with a control centre in Rio de Janeiro. Intelsat has around 20 geostationary satellites covering central and South America.

“This agreement reaffirms our commitment to delivering seamless, reliable solutions just as we do today and into the future,” said Rhys Morgan, RVP for EMEA sales at Intelsat.

The global smartphone market recorded flat growth in the first quarter of 2025, as signs of saturation emerge in key developing regions, according to the latest report from analyst firm Canalys.

Shipments rose by just 0.2% year-on-year, reaching 296.9 million units in Q1. Canalys attributed the sluggish performance to the end of peak replacement cycles and a continued focus among vendors on balancing inventory levels. This marks the third consecutive quarter of slowing growth for the market.

Samsung retained its position as the top vendor, shipping 60.5 million units, while Apple followed closely with 55 million units. Apple’s growth was supported by sustained demand in both the Asia-Pacific emerging markets and the United States.

Xiaomi secured third place with 41.8 million units, driven by performance in mainland China and emerging markets. Vivo and Oppo rounded out the top five, shipping 22.9 million and 22.7 million units, respectively.

“Markets that had shown strong momentum over the past year, such as India, Latin America, and the Middle East, are now experiencing notable declines in Q1 2025,” said Toby Zhu, Principal Analyst at Canalys.

Zhu noted that mainland China was an exception, benefiting from government subsidy programmes, while Africa saw growth thanks to vibrant retail activity and proactive market expansion by vendors.

Despite the overall stagnation, vendors remain optimistic about a recovery later in the year.

“Some regions, such as Southeast Asia and Latin America, already showed signs of gradual recovery in March. Additionally, decreasing inventory levels and the upcoming launch of new mid- and low-end devices are boosting vendor confidence,” Zhu added.

India’s mobile landscape prior to 2022 was murky in the context of 5G. Operators, regulators, and stakeholders were embroiled in disputes over inadequate infrastructure and high spectrum pricing – leaving the country’s burgeoning population of over one billion trailing behind as other nations began rolling out 5G services.

Despite this, India already had a well-developed connectivity ecosystem, with widespread 4G coverage supported by two million base stations and a vast subscriber base. However, operators spent an entire year negotiating the government’s valuation of the initial 5G spectrum, which was reportedly priced at ten times what UK operators paid (£1.36 billion) for their first allocation. Eventually, Indian operators paid over INR 1.5 trillion (US$19 billion) for spectrum access.

A swift turnaround

Today, India’s 5G story is being heralded as a success. A large number of connections -boosted by the country’s huge population – have been achieved in a remarkably short period. This has been made possible through close collaboration between operators and the government, as well as initiatives to reduce handset costs and ensure affordability across all user segments.

According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), there were 1.15 billion wireless connections in India at the end of January 2025, up by nearly 629,000 from the end of 2024.

Looking ahead, India is already preparing for 5G Advanced, standalone deployments, and even 6G. Having learned lessons from more mature telecom markets, India is now positioned to become a leader that more developed nations, such as the UK and the US, may one day look to, according to Counterpoint Research analyst Siddhant Cally.

Cally described India’s 5G rollout as “one of a kind”, with an astonishing 470,000 base stations deployed since the commercial launch in 2022, according to recent TRAI data.  

He noted that the timing was fortuitous, as Indian operators had the financial means to invest heavily in network equipment from Nordic vendors Ericsson and Nokia. Both companies reported significant revenue boosts from India’s 5G rollout – and even warned investors not to expect similar growth in the next financial year.

The Jio effect

Cally credited disruptive challenger Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) with setting the pace by swiftly deploying an initial 300 5G Standalone (SA) base stations in metropolitan areas – and eventually establishing 100% coverage. At the time, only 25% of global 5G operators had deployed standalone networks, and none had done so nationwide. Jio’s aggressive rollout strategy compelled incumbents Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) to follow suit.

This fierce competition, particularly from Jio, drove connectivity prices down dramatically. At one point, incumbent operators were charging US$4 per gigabyte, while Jio disrupted the market by offering unlimited data plans for just US$5 per month. The resulting price war contributed to the closure of numerous mobile network operators -India once had 14, now reduced to just four.

Regulators also played a crucial role in enabling rapid deployment. Cally highlighted efforts to upgrade existing base stations with fibre optic cables to support 5G, a process that had previously been cost-prohibitive and slow. Government rule changes accelerated this transformation.

However, GlobalData Telecom Project Manager Hrushikesh Mahananda noted that deployment of fibre-optic infrastructure remains constrained by high costs and complex right-of-way permissions. According to GlobalData, only 33% of telecom towers in India are currently fibre-connected. Mahananda estimated that at least 75% will need to be upgraded by 2026 to maintain the commercial viability of 5G.

Affordable devices drive uptake

The rapid adoption of 5G has also been driven by the availability of affordable smartphones. Cally pointed out that 5G handsets are now available from around INR 10,000 (US$118), and Indian subscribers currently consume over 30GB of data per month on average – surpassing even users of China Mobile. He noted that the entry of brands like Vivo and Honor in 2016 brought affordable, feature-rich handsets with 5G connectivity, fast charging, and high-resolution displays to the market.

Fixed wireless access (FWA) has emerged as another key driver. TRAI recorded 5.71 million FWA broadband subscribers in January, with Jio accounting for 4.84 million (84.7%) and Bharti Airtel capturing 872,000 (15.3%). By comparison, there were just 41.1 million fixed-access broadband customers – demonstrating how little fixed infrastructure the nation has, despite the age of fibre and DSL technology.

There’s still considerable room for growth. Vodafone Idea has yet to fully ramp up its 5G deployment, and Cally noted the operator has around 200 million subscribers waiting to be transitioned. State-owned BSNL has around 300 million subscribers. Combined, that’s half a billion potential 5G connections still to come.

Is India’s 5G a success?

So, has India’s 5G journey been a success? “Absolutely,” said Cally, pointing to the rise in ARPU across operators.

“Success comes from the fact that Airtel and Jio have reported strong quarters recently. Success comes from the fact that Jio is now producing its own hardware and software stack in-house. Jio has its own core network and open-RAN compliant 5G hardware. These are the real markers of India’s 5G success.

“The growth in subscriber numbers is one thing, but the growth of the overall ecosystem is another – and that’s what we’re seeing.”

Despite the massive US$20 billion investment in spectrum, Indian operators are now reaping the rewards. Average revenue per user (ARPU) is on the rise. Airtel’s ARPU reached an “industry-high” of INR 209 in FY 2023–24, up INR 16. Vodafone Idea’s ARPU rose from INR 135 to INR 173 year-on-year in Q3 2025. Reliance Jio’s ARPU also increased, hitting INR 206 in Q4 2024, up from INR 181.7 a year earlier. Cally remarked that operators were willing to accept unfavourable policy terms because the potential market one billion connections – is so immense.

The road ahead

Mahananda, however, urged greater development of monetisable 5G use cases in sectors such as education and manufacturing. He also called for further reductions in smartphone prices and more regulatory support to simplify infrastructure rollout and attract investment.

“By addressing these critical areas, India can maximise the benefits of its 5G infrastructure – ultimately fostering economic growth and driving digital transformation,” said Mahananda.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband internet constellation is up and running – at last. The first 27 satellites were finally launched into space from Florida on Monday after bad weather meant an initial launch attempt on 9 April was abandoned.

The satellites are the first of 3,236 that Amazon plans to send into low-Earth orbit for Project Kuiper, a US$10 billion satellite communications offering unveiled in 2019. It targets consumers, businesses and governments and takes on the already established Starlink service as well as global telecommunications providers like AT&T and T-Mobile. 

The mission to deploy the first Project Kuiper operational satellites has been delayed for more than a year. It is now expected to miss a deadline set by the US Federal Communications Commission to deploy half its constellation, 1,618 satellites, by mid-2026. Nevertheless, more launches are planned and, if all goes well, Reuters reports that the company has said it expects to begin delivering services to customers later this year.

It’s still a late start in a market dominated by Starlink and its launch services provider SpaceX. However, some reports suggest that Amazon executives feel that the company’s deep consumer product experience and its established cloud computing business (with which Kuiper is expected to connect) could give it a competitive edge over its rival.

Like Starlink, the company has positioned the service as a boost to connectivity in remote or rural areas – if end users can afford it. At the very least, a new player in the market might bring prices down.

As it is, Starlink boasts more than 5 million internet users across 125 countries, including a presence in more than 20 African countries, though, as we recently reported, not without courting some controversy.

Nevertheless, Reuters reports that Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos has voiced confidence that Kuiper can compete with Starlink. He apparently told the news agency in a January interview that « there’s insatiable demand » for the internet.

MTN has revealed that hackers gained access to some customers’ personal information, but emphasised that the core functions of its business remained unaffected and fully operational throughout the incident.

In a statement, the company confirmed there was no evidence that the breach compromised its core network, billing systems, or financial services, all of which continued to function normally during the attack.

MTN acknowledged that the hackers claimed to have accessed data linked to a portion of its systems. However, it stressed that there is no indication that subscriber accounts or mobile wallets were breached.

The operator stated that it had notified the relevant authorities in South Africa to assist in tracking down the perpetrators, and that affected customers have been informed.

MTN did not disclose how many subscribers were impacted by the breach.

“The privacy of information is our top priority, and MTN remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of our systems and the trust placed in us by our customers and other stakeholders,” the company said. “We will continue to contain and manage this matter carefully.”