Some middle mile, some last mile, and some subsea: … [visit site to read more]

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On August 4, China Tower and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. officially unveiled a new tunnel waveguide product: TunnelStar at the China Tower Industrial Park. Tailored for high-value tunnel scenarios, the innovative solution features compact size, lower costs and superior user experience, injecting new momentum into network quality improvement and brand value enhancement for telecom operators.

Senior executives from China Tower and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. attended the launch ceremony.

According to the officials present, China’s rail transit tunnel scale has maintained steady growth, with the national operational subway mileage exceeding 10,000 kilometers and the mileage of operational railway tunnels surpassing 25,000 kilometers. Tunnel scenarios have long been plagued by industry pain points, including limited installation space, complex on-site construction conditions and difficult renovation coordination. Meanwhile, as mobile communication networks accelerate the iteration toward 5G-A, communication frequency bands and spectrum bandwidth continue to expand. Driven by booming applications such as AI and live streaming, user demand for uplink services keeps rising, highlighting the weaknesses of uplink coverage and putting forward more stringent technical requirements for tunnel indoor distribution and signal coverage systems.

Against this backdrop, China Tower and Huawei have carried out in-depth technical cooperation. Combining the propagation characteristics of radio waves in tunnels, the two parties have jointly developed the TunnelStar, breaking through the technical bottlenecks restricting tunnel network coverage. Equipped with a specially designed excitation source to reshape electromagnetic field distribution, the product enables more uniform wireless signal coverage in tunnels and maximizes overall coverage performance.

Compared with traditional antenna solutions, the innovative TunnelStar boosts edge coverage level by more than 10dB and improves user experience speed by over 40%. It supports a 9dB gain amplification for uplink links, delivering a 20% increase in uplink speed to meet the demand for high-capacity uplink data services. In addition, the product supports low-cost evolution toward 6G, enabling smooth transition for new frequency band applications. As a full-band and full-bandwidth solution, it empowers China Tower to leverage its unified planning and construction advantages, helping telecom operators solve key industry challenges including high-capacity uplink and high-frequency network evolution in tunnels, difficult leaky cable construction and poor antenna coverage effects.

The TunnelStar solution has completed pilot tests for 3.5G and 4.9G frequency bands in Wuhan and Guangzhou respectively. The test results show significant improvements in coverage performance and deployment efficiency, which are highly consistent with the design targets.

TunnelStar blazes a new trail for upgrading tunnel network experience. It effectively breaks the coverage bottlenecks in extreme tunnel scenarios, greatly improving user experience and satisfaction, and setting a benchmark for ultimate mobile network coverage.

Looking ahead, the two sides will further integrate China Tower’s advantages in integrated overall planning, co-construction and project implementation with Huawei’s cutting-edge communication R&D capabilities. Both parties will continue to iterate and upgrade series of in-depth tunnel coverage technologies and solutions, comprehensively optimize the digital travel experience for the public, and empower a better digital life for all.

Lesotho has secured what is being described as the largest foreign investment in its history with the signing of the US$6.2 billion Kobong Project, whose aims include the development of hydropower resources and an artificial intelligence (AI) data centre.

Backed by New York-headquartered renewable energy firm Convalt Energy, which says it is creating an integrated value chain comprising solar PV manufacturing, power generation and development of data centres, the dual-infrastructure development is expected to shift the country from a net electricity importer to a regional power exporter.

Once operational, the project will have a generation capacity of 1.2GW, with an additional 4.6GW of solar capacity.

This is expected to increase Lesotho’s domestic power capacity, reducing reliance on imports, while supplying energy to an adjacent data centre designed for AI workloads.

Convalt Energy says it will fund the initial feasibility studies, with construction targeted to begin in 2029.

The development also aims to position Lesotho as a regional hub for AI-driven digital infrastructure, leveraging its climate, natural resources and governance framework. Indeed, Convalt says that Lesotho’s climate, abundant land and water, energy potential, and stable democratic government make it a premier data centre location.

The importance of the deal was underlined by an event at the US embassy to celebrate the signing, attended by a  number of government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and business leaders.

MTN Group has denied claims made by Ghanaian technology company Clydestone Ghana PLC after the latter initiated legal proceedings over the origins of mobile money services in Ghana, insisting the allegations are without merit and will be vigorously contested.

The response was issued through the Ghana Stock Exchange by Scancom PLC (MTN Ghana), after Clydestone announced on 28 July that it had filed a lawsuit at the High Court in Accra against MTN Ghana, MTN Group and MobileMoney Fintech LTD.

In a market announcement, MTN Ghana confirmed it had been served with a writ of summons and statement of claim relating to Clydestone’s alleged role in the launch of mobile money services in Ghana almost two decades ago.

However, the operator rejected the allegations.

« MTN Ghana does not accept the claims made, considers them without merit, and will contest the proceedings fully, » the company said, adding that it would not comment further while the matter remains before the court.

The operator also sought to reassure investors that the legal proceedings would have no impact on its business.

« MTN Ghana assures all its stakeholders that the proceedings do not affect its operations, services, performance, results or Mobile Money services, » the company said.

Clydestone alleges it played a foundational role in the introduction of mobile money services in Ghana and is seeking legal redress over issues dating back nearly 20 years.

MTN has not disclosed further details of the claim but said it will continue to comply with its disclosure obligations under the Ghana Stock Exchange’s listing rules and will update shareholders on any material developments.

MTN Nigeria growth

The dispute comes as MTN Group’s largest operating company, MTN Nigeria, reported a strong set of financial results for the first half of 2026.

The Nigerian business, which remains the group’s largest operation by subscriber numbers, grew its customer base by 8.9% year-on-year to 92.2 million, while active data users increased 9.3% to 55.7 million.

Service revenue rose 25.9% to NGN3.0 trillion (US$2.2 billion), while EBITDA climbed 39.2% to NGN1.7 trillion, lifting the EBITDA margin by 5.3 percentage points to 55.9%. Profit after tax increased 70.6% to NGN707.5 billion, supported by strong revenue growth, disciplined cost management and a more stable naira.

Commenting on the results, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said the operator had delivered « a strong first-half performance, with sustained commercial momentum, improved profitability and robust cash generation, » despite a challenging macroeconomic environment.

He added that the company remained focused on expanding network capacity, strengthening customer experience, accelerating home broadband growth and improving its fintech business during the second half of the year.

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Oliver Norman, Chief Revenue Officer, Nomia

Telecom operators occupy a unique position in today’s economy. They are expected to modernize networks, protect critical national infrastructure, maintain resilient supplier ecosystems, and respond quickly to changing regulatory and security requirements – all while continuing to control costs. … [visit site to read more]

African digital payments network Onafriq announced on Wednesday it is partnering with stablecoin infrastructure provider Privy to drive development of stablecoin-enabled crypto payment services across its network.

The initial phase of the partnership will focus on cross chain stablecoin transfers, and treasury and settlement workflows, which Onafriq said will create the foundation for future cross-border payment and liquidity solutions.

According to Onafriq, moving money between African markets remains a slow, fragmented process that relies on multiple intermediaries and prolonged settlement cycles. Stablecoins – a category of cryptocurrency pegged to fiat currencies, commodities, or financial instruments, which makes it less volatile than cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin – promise a viable alternative to eliminate those delays.

Onafriq said that integrating Privy’s secure infrastructure enables it to build the capabilities required to support a new generation of efficient digital payment services for banks, fintechs, and mobile money operators.

Luke Kyohere, group chief product and innovation officer at Onafriq, said its tie-up with Privy is a key component of its broader strategy to boost its pan-African payment infrastructure (which currently connects 43 African markets), enabling secure multi-modal wallets and more efficient movement of value across the continent.

“Privy gives us a building block for faster settlement and better liquidity management,” he said in a statement. “As demand for digital asset services grows, our goal is to ensure Africa’s payment ecosystem benefits securely and in line with regulatory frameworks.”

Privy can also enable the seamless integration of digital asset wallet capabilities into Onafriq products (subject to regulatory approval), and deliver a simple user experience while abstracting the complexity of blockchain technology, said Privy co-founder and CEO Henri Stern.

“Stablecoins will play an increasingly important role in the future of global payments, but real-world adoption depends on infrastructure that is secure, scalable and simple to implement,” Stern said. “Working with Onafriq allows us to help build that foundation across Africa and beyond.”

According to South Africa-based multinational banking and financial services firm Absa, stablecoin transactions surpassed US$34 trillion globally in 2025. In Sub-Saharan Africa, stablecoin accounts for 43% of all crypto transactions. Africa has become the fastest-growing market for stablecoin ownership, thanks to heavy adoption in Nigeria and South Africa, Absa says.

A report last month from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that Nigeria alone has accounted for around 60% of stablecoin inflows within sub-Saharan Africa since 2019. The appeal comes down to the fact that Stablecoins enable fast cross-border payments via smartphones with far lower transaction fees and without the burden of fluctuating foreign exchange rates.

That said, the IMF noted that stablecoins do present financial risks, such as reducing demand for local currency, which could weaken domestic monetary policy, and making transactions harder to monitor independently (as traditional transactions are), which increases risks of things like fraud and money laundering.

Onafriq emphasises that its stablecoin infrastructure will comply with all regulatory requirements in the markets where it operates – which also means service availability is subject to regulatory approval.

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Ministry of Communications said on Thursday they have signed an MoU with the government of Madhya Pradesh to establish India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) to boost the country’s domestic telecoms manufacturing ecosystem.

In a post on social media site X, the DoT said the central government is providing 100% funding for Phase 1 of the project, and has allocated INR493 million (US$5.1 million) to develop core infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government will supply around 170 acres of land in Gwalior at no cost.

A statement from the Communications Ministry said it expects the TMZ initiative to serve as a catalyst for the growth of telecoms equipment manufacturers, technology companies, MSMEs, start-ups, and other stakeholders across the telecoms value chain.

“The initiative seeks to create a world-class manufacturing ecosystem for telecom equipment and allied technologies by attracting investments, fostering innovation, encouraging indigenous design and manufacturing, and accelerating the development of next-generation telecom products and solutions,” the ministry statement said.

“It will also generate substantial employment opportunities, enhance regional industrial development, strengthen supply chain resilience, and position India as a global hub for telecom manufacturing and innovation,” the statement added.

During the MoU ceremony, Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia said that the TMZ project serves Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliance India) policy that aims to strengthen the country’s self-sufficiency in technological development and transform it into a technology exporter.

He also said the TMZ would generate INR35 billion of investment and 14,000 job opportunities. “That is the impact of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Some last mile fiber, cooling, and traffic growth: … [visit site to read more]

Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) has taken another step towards the rollout of 5G services by holding a pre-application briefing for prospective bidders interested in acquiring spectrum licences in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz mid-band frequencies.

The meeting, held at the NCA Tower, formed part of the regulator’s Request for Applications (RFA) process and gave prospective applicants an opportunity to seek clarification on the licensing framework before submitting bids.

According to the NCA, discussions covered the selection and award process, eligibility criteria, available spectrum, rollout obligations and significant market power (SMP) considerations.

Speaking at the event, NCA Director General Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko said the regulator was making the spectrum available as early as possible to accelerate the deployment of 5G services across Ghana.

He added that the authority was committed to improving connectivity and digital services for consumers, noting growing demand for faster internet speeds and more reliable communications.

Fianko also stressed that successful applicants would be required to meet rollout obligations and deployment timelines set out in the licence conditions to ensure the timely nationwide introduction of 5G services.

The briefing was attended by representatives from mobile network operators (MNOs), internet service providers (ISPs), mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and broadband wireless access (BWA) providers.

The NCA said the briefing forms part of its efforts to ensure a transparent, fair and competitive licensing process while supporting broadband expansion and Ghana’s wider digital transformation agenda.

Three items of data center development interest: … [visit site to read more]