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.

A few interesting items from around the industry at midweek: … [visit site to read more]

South African operator Cell C and Odine, a technology partner driving innovation in telecom and enterprise networks, have announced the signing of a proof of concept (PoC) agreement to pioneer artificial intelligence (AI)-driven network quality enhancement technologies.

The joint initiative aims to significantly improve network quality and deliver uninterrupted connectivity across Cell C’s network.

The partners say the PoC will demonstrate that, by leveraging an AI-based solution developed by OdineLabs, the wholly owned R and D subsidiary of Odine, Cell C will be able to enhance connection continuity and improve the user experience on its mobile network. This initiative also supports Cell C’s capex-light strategy, which allows it to deliver superior service quality while optimising infrastructure investment.

Through this collaboration, Odine says it applies its innovation-driven model that integrates consultancy, system integration, and AI-powered product development to help Cell C build agile and future-ready infrastructure. By leveraging automation and advanced AI orchestration, OdineLabs says it will enhance Cell C’s network to ensure high quality, reliability, resilience and efficiency.

Schalk Visser, Chief Technology Officer at Cell C, says: “By exploring how AI can proactively enhance network quality, we’re taking meaningful steps towards delivering a more consistent and reliable experience. This PoC will help us understand how advanced insights and automation can keep our customers connected without interruptions so they can confidently work, learn, and stay in touch wherever they are.”

Alper Tunga Burak, Chairman & CEO of Odine, adds: “At Odine, we believe AI will fundamentally reshape the way telecom operators deliver value. This collaboration with Cell C reflects our shared vision of building agile, future-ready networks that prioritise customer experience. In line with this vision, the strategic focus we place at OdineLabs on advanced research and innovation is enabling us to transform next-generation network quality enhancement from a forward-looking concept into a practical and scalable reality for operators and their customers. »

A bit of M&A and a couple expansions: … [visit site to read more]