Unitel has expanded its mobile network in the municipality of Cachingues to enhance voice and data services delivered over its 3G and 4G infrastructure.

The upgrade was implemented in Bié province, and the operator emphasised that this is just one part of a wider network development strategy, with further deployments planned beyond the area.

According to Unitel, its 2G network now reaches 100% of Angola’s 164 municipalities and 54.7% of its communes. Meanwhile, 3G coverage extends to 96.3% of municipalities and 47.1% of communes.

The company’s 4G service, which delivers faster speeds and improved communication quality, is available in 80.5% of municipalities and 35.9% of communes. However, 5G coverage remains limited, currently reaching just 6.7% of municipalities and 2.8% of communes.

Unitel stated that its ongoing priority is to raise service quality, deliver superior customer experiences, and further strengthen its leadership position in Angola’s telecommunications market.

The global smartphone market recorded just 1% growth year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, with persistent macroeconomic pressures continuing to weigh on consumer demand, according to analyst firm Canalys.

Samsung led the market with a 20% share, followed by Apple at 18%. Xiaomi held onto third place with 14%, maintaining its spot among the top three vendors. Chinese manufacturers vivo and Oppo rounded out the top five, each claiming 8% of the market.

Amber Liu, Research Manager at Canalys, described the market as “more volatile than anticipated” in the first quarter, despite expectations of continued recovery.

“Vendors entered 2025 with momentum after a strong end to 2024, pushing large volumes of stock into the channel in an effort to capture market share. However, slower-than-expected sales at the consumer level have led to extended inventory cycles and weakened momentum in early 2025,” Liu explained. “Unlike last year’s rebound, which was driven by post-pandemic upgrades and affordable mass-market devices, this year’s recovery appears much more fragile.”

Liu also warned of further headwinds for vendors due to planned tariff increases by the US government.

“In the US, major players like Apple, Samsung and Lenovo are already facing sluggish domestic demand, and the threat of rising operational costs due to upcoming tariffs,” she said. “Apple responded by advancing its Q2 shipments into early April to stay ahead of potential cost increases.”

Globally, the full extent and timing of the new tariffs remain unclear, but manufacturers are bracing for increased component costs and weaker export demand in key markets.

In response, Liu said vendors and supply chain partners are ramping up efforts to diversify their operations – shifting manufacturing hubs, revisiting sourcing strategies, and refining logistics processes.

“These shifts are likely to pressure margins and extend decision-making timelines across the global smartphone industry throughout 2025,” she concluded.

A bit of data center M&A, two expansion projects, an upgrade, and some R&D news: … [visit site to read more]

Another initiative relevant to MEA mobile finance has been launched. This time global digital payments and commerce platform PayPal has announced a strategic partnership with TerraPay, a global money movement company, to enable real-time fund transfers for PayPal customers across the Middle East and Africa (MEA).

This partnership, say the companies, aims to drive economic growth by making cross-border transactions faster, easy to use and more accessible by connecting banks, mobile wallets and financial institutions.

Quoting market research company Mordor Intelligence, TerraPay says that the MENA digital payments market is estimated at US$251.34 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach US$422.56 billion by 2030.

It points out that with rising demand for fast, secure and efficient payment solutions, this partnership bridges key gaps in financial connectivity and infrastructure readiness, enabling millions of individuals and businesses to engage more fully in the global economy.

Through secure PayPal account linking, TerraPay says it will serve as an enabler, allowing mobile wallet and bank users across the Middle East and Africa to seamlessly transfer funds to their PayPal accounts.

This collaboration will provide enhanced accessibility for customers by facilitating secure account linking and seamless fund transfers from mobile wallets and bank accounts with PayPal.

TerraPay says it will also enable expanded financial connectivity, empowering millions of customers to transact internationally with ease, and greater financial inclusion, enabling businesses and individuals to participate more effectively in the global digital economy.

Ani Sane, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at TerraPay, says: « This partnership with PayPal marks a major milestone in expanding financial access across the Middle East and Africa, where our strong global infrastructure helps overcome the limitations of traditional banking. With built-in interoperability, TerraPay connects various financial systems, from banks to mobile wallets, making it easier for businesses to scale and users to transact seamlessly on a global scale. »

There was some interesting metro fiber M&A this week along the eastern seaboard of the US. Fiberlight has found a means to expand its footprint in Virginia, signing a definitive agreement to acquire Metro Fiber Networks. … [visit site to read more]

Globe Telecom has moved forward with its acquisition of a 50% stake in AB Capital Securities Inc (ABCSI), aiming to strengthen the stock brokerage capabilities of its fintech unit, Mynt, which operates the widely used GCash mobile wallet.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the companies signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition in 2023.

Globe currently holds a 23.5% indirect stake in ABCSI through Mynt. It increased its shareholding in the brokerage firm to 16% last year after acquiring an additional 7.5%.

Notably, Globe independent director Antonio Periquet also serves as executive chair of ABCSI, a connection that could smooth the path for the acquisition.

“This partnership will bolster our shared mission of promoting financial inclusion by expanding stock ownership among Filipinos,” Periquet told the Inquirer.

He pointed out that while only 2% of Filipinos currently own stocks, a higher percentage already hold cryptocurrency –  highlighting the opportunity for growth in retail investment.

The Inquirer also reported that the Philippine Stock Exchange credited GCash’s stock trading service with helping drive a 21% year-on-year increase in online stock market accounts in 2023, rising to 1.5 million, now accounting for 80% of total stock market accounts.

Spanish telecom company Telefonica has finally confirmed  that it has agreed to sell its Peruvian unit, Telefonica del Peru, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection. It will be sold to Argentina’s Integra Tec International for about EUR900,000 euros (about US$1.02 million).

Though there appears to be little specific information about the new shareholder, Telefonica says Integra Tec International has extensive experience in Latin America, in the telecommunications, public services, media, energy, chemistry and natural resources industries, as well as in the recovery of companies in financial difficulties and special situations.

Telefonica adds that the objectives of the new shareholder are the maintenance and expansion of the service, the restructuring of the company’s debt within the framework of the bankruptcy process and the establishment of a sustainable business plan with a solid capital structure.

It adds that Integra Tec intends to work amicably with creditors, suppliers, workers, the Government of Peru and all parties related to Telefonica del Peru. The deal, says Telefonica, will ensure the continuity of telecommunications services for more than 13 million customers in urban and rural areas of Peru.

Telefonica del Peru, which was 99.3% owned by the Spanish company, said it ran into trouble following tax disputes and administrative decisions that put it « in competitive disadvantage », despite being the largest telecom company in the South American country.

As part of the deal, Integra Tec will assume the EUR1.24 billion (about US$1.4 billion) debt that Telefonica’s Peruvian unit owes the local tax agency and bond holders. Integra Tec has also committed to buying the 0.7% of Telefonica del Peru shares held by minority shareholders.

Reuters reports that Telefonica had bought the former state-owned Peruvian telecom monopoly in 1994 for about US$2 billion.

The transaction apparently also involves the indirect transfer of control over the shares that Telefonica del Peru holds in the rural operator Internet para Todos.

With AI driving data center demand in virtually every imaginable market, we are seeing major new projects almost daily. The scale of the work, whether envisioned or already underway, is far beyond anything we have seen before, and making it all happen will be challenging. New technologies are emerging     to help the process, and AI itself may be able to help. With us today is Dr. Atif Ansar, co-founder and executive chairman at Foresight. Foresight’s SaaS platform leverages AI and machine learning to keep data center construction projects on schedule. … [visit site to read more]

Philippines-based operator Globe Telecom expanded its partnership with telecom IT solutions provider Netcracker Technology, in a bid to expand operational efficiency.

Netcracker said in a statement it will provide various services covering support for mission-critical processes such as order fulfilment, fallout management, service quality, proactive monitoring and performance management to accelerate Globe’s business objectives, including its broadband business. Netcracker added Globe will continue to see faster issue resolution and improved order processing time.

Globe Telecom VP and Head of Network Digitalisation, Dennis Abella said: “Through this collaboration, we have significantly improved our fulfilment process KPIs, reinforcing our commitment to broadband growth and delivering superior service to our customers.”

“We are extremely excited to continue our journey with Globe as they undertake this critical step to boost business efficiency and deliver more value to customers,” said Yaniv Zilberman, VP Strategic Accounts at Netcracker.

“This is also an important milestone for us with the Singtel Group as we continue expanding our solutions with its affiliate companies.”