Recent cable landing station news from eastern India and West Africa underlines the continuing growth of the submarine cable business across both regions.

The state of Odisha in eastern India is aiming to establish itself as a global digital hub; to this end the state government’s Electronics and IT department has initiated plans to set up a cable landing station (CLS) in a coastal city called Puri.

A detailed project report is apparently being jointly prepared by ICT neutral telecom infrastructure provider RailTel and consultancy Deloitte.

The facility will provide direct international fibre connectivity, reducing latency, improving internet speed, and, it is hoped, positioning Odisha as a prime destination for hyperscalers, global capability centres and enterprises.

According to India’s Economic Times news service, the state’s Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has emphasised the need for consultations with hyperscalers and key ecosystem players to ensure a comprehensive and future-ready implementation. He has also called for early submission of the detailed project report for approval with a focus on completion of the project within three years.

Puri was identified as the ideal location for the cable landing station due to its strategic geographic position, suitable coastline, scalability potential and robust infrastructure.

Meanwhile, in West Africa, ACE Gabon, part of the ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) subsea cable consortium, and Medusa Africa have signed a construction and maintenance agreement to land the Medusa submarine cable in Port-Gentil, Gabon. 

According to the Data Centre Dynamics website the original plan was for The Medusa submarine cable, which is powered by AFR-IX Telecom – an infrastructure and telecom operator in Africa – to have 17 landing points across Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Tunisia. Now, however, as well as connecting all Mediterranean countries it will extend into West Africa. 

ACE Gabon will act as the landing party in Gabon, providing both domestic resources and investment as well as continuous operational and maintenance support in Gabon and its territorial waters for the lifetime of the cable, expected to be 25 years.

ACE Gabon will also own rights along the trunk of the Medusa system, enabling it to provide regional and international broadband services to the country’s enterprises and people.

News

The deal will see over 185,000 premises added to CityFibre’s full fibre network

Today, wholesale fibre network operator CityFibre has announced the acquisition of smaller altnet Connexin’s network infrastructure.

The deal will see CityFibre integrate Connexin’s fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) network in Hull and East Riding, which currently reaches over 80,000 premises, with a further 20,000 planned for the future.

The deal will also see CityFibre take ownership of Connexin’s Project Gigabit contract, worth £58.6 million, which pledges to rollout fibre to 34,000 hard-to-reach premises in Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire. This project will also “unlock a future expansion to over 50,000 non-subsidised premises in the target regions”, according to the company’s press release.

In total, CityFibre says the deal will potentially increase their fibre footprint by over 185,000 premises.

Financial details of the deal were not released.

“Connexin has built an outstanding network and it’s a brilliant fit for CityFibre. Our mature wholesale model will now bring Hull’s homes and businesses increased choice and access to unrivalled connectivity products, services and prices. After our rapid integration of Lit Fibre’s network, we have demonstrated that this is an effective way to expand our footprint and we look forward to playing an active role in the sector’s accelerating consolidation in 2025,” said CityFibre CEO Greg Mesch.

“Given our major role in the government’s Project Gigabit rollout, we are also pleased to take on a further contract, delivering next-generation digital infrastructure for more hard-to-reach rural communities across Nottingham and West Lincolnshire,” he added.

Connexin’s ISP and Smart Home businesses are not included in the deal and instead will gain access to CityFibre’s network via a new wholesale agreement.

“The next phase of our growth is tremendously exciting as we accelerate our focus on expanding our Smarter Home, Business, Enterprise, Public Sector and Utilities products and services across the UK, enabling these rapidly evolving markets to achieve ambitious goals through adopting smarter technology,” said Furqan Alamgir, CEO of Connexin.

Connexin’s primary backer, global asset investor PATRIZIA, will also become a minority shareholder in CityFibre.

The news comes just a week after CityFibre announced it was aiming to double the number of customers on its network to 1 million by the end of the year, 70% of which would come from the acquisition of smaller network players.

To support this goal, the company is currently in negotiations with various banks to secure a £1 billion loan. It is also seeking to raise a further £500 million from existing investors, including Goldman Sachs and Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala.

Speaking to The Financial Times, CityFibre said that the company was in a “strong position”, with shareholders that are “committed to CityFibre’s long-term success”.

Join CityFibre and the rest of the UK fibre market in discussion at Connected North, live in Manchester

Also in the news:
Google announces agreement to acquire Wiz for $32bn
How small moves ignite industry-wide change
Liberty Global in talks to acquire Vodafone’s stake in Dutch JV VodafoneZiggo 

Some regional expansion, a new PoP, some FTTH, and some quantum network security: … [visit site to read more]

MegaFon Tajikistan has switched on 60 new 4G base stations across the country as part of its efforts to enhance service quality.

In a translated statement, the operator said that since the beginning of the year, 20 new 4G sites have been deployed in Khatlon, making it the most expanded region, with several cities and districts benefiting from the rollout. The Sughd region saw the addition of 14 base stations, while several unspecified sites were also activated in Dushanbe province.

The expansion is supported by government initiatives aimed at developing Tajikistan’s digital economy and driving innovation.

“2025-2030 have been declared the ‘Years of Development of the Digital Economy and Innovations’ in our country. Sharing the goal of making digital services widely accessible, we have been actively launching base stations across cities and regions since the start of January. This aligns with both technological advancements and the expectations of our subscribers,” said Anatoly Izyumnikov, CEO of MegaFon Tajikistan.

News  

UK incumbent BT has approached AT&T Orange regarding potential partnerships for its international business, Bloomberg has reported, citing sources familiar with the matter

The article suggested that this could include the sale of a portion of BT’s global division, although the discussions remain in the early stages, with no guarantee of fruition. 

“We’re keeping everything open and this means we’ve been speaking to third parties about a range of possibilities,” said a BT spokesperson. 

Since Allison Kirkby took over as CEO in February last year, the company has been undergoing a strategic refocus, which has included the sale of its Irish business last month, and key leadership changes, with Jon James set to take over as CEO of BT Business this month. 

In the release of its financial results for the quarter ending 31 December 2024, Kirkby confirmed that “In Business, our core UK channels were stable. Cost transformation remains firmly on track, with excellent progress on both energy costs and productivity in the quarter.” 

“We continue to make progress towards becoming fully focused on the UK, with the sale of our data centre business in Ireland,” she continued. 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom newsletter 

Also in the news:
Google announces agreement to acquire Wiz for $32bn
How small moves ignite industry-wide change
Liberty Global in talks to acquire Vodafone’s stake in Dutch JV VodafoneZiggo 

That’s today’s news from Bloomberg. The UK incumbent BT Group is taking steps that could lead to the sale of all or part of the company’s international business. According to the article, they have reached out to AT&T and Orange to talk about possible transactions. … [visit site to read more]

News 

Meta has announced the launch of ‘Meta AI’ in 41 European countries, its largest rollout to date 

Initially, it will support six European languages, with plans for further expansion. 

Users can access Meta AI for free through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger via a blue circle icon within these apps. The assistant can be used in one-on-one chats or in group conversations. This group chat feature is launching first on WhatsApp and will soon be added to Messenger and Instagram Direct Messaging. 

Meta AI launched in the US back in 2023 but was delayed due to regulatory challenges related to the region’s strict data protection and privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These regulations are more stringent than those in other regions, requiring Meta to ensure full compliance before rolling out the assistant in Europe. 

A key issue was how Meta AI’s large language models (LLMs) are trained using public content shared by users on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Meta needed to ensure that this data usage met European privacy standards. 

“It’s taken longer than we would have liked to get our AI technology into the hands of people in Europe as we continue to navigate its complex regulatory system – but we’re glad we’re finally here,” read a press release from the company.  

“Over the coming weeks, we’ll take the first step in making Meta AI’s chat function available in six European languages, with a view to find parity with the US and expand our offering over time,” it continued. 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom newsletter 

Also in the news:
Google announces agreement to acquire Wiz for $32bn
How small moves ignite industry-wide change
Liberty Global in talks to acquire Vodafone’s stake in Dutch JV VodafoneZiggo 

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Anil Kollipara, vice president of Product Management, Spirent Communications

Two decades ago, “operational resilience” in telecom was mostly about keeping the lights on—keeping voice and data services available in the event of outages or equipment failures. Today, as we conduct more of our personal and professional lives online, the stakes are much higher. Resilience now means ensuring that people can continue transacting, trading, and accessing the critical digital services that keep the … [visit site to read more]

Aamir Ibrahimn (pictured), CEO of Pakistani operator Jazz, has revealed that the Veon-owned company is expanding its services into healthcare as part of its growth strategy.

Speaking to Developing Telecoms at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Ibrahim highlighted how Jazz has evolved beyond traditional telecoms to establish itself as a technology company.

“We were a lot more intentional in 2023 in terms of redefining our purpose—from being a traditional telecom company to becoming a dynamic digital services provider,” said Ibrahim.

He noted that this shift mirrors the broader transformation of telecoms operators worldwide, which are increasingly positioning themselves as service providers rather than just mobile network operators (MNOs).

“The connectivity part of the business will always remain with us—we’re really proud of it, and it gives us a ticket to play the game,” he said.

The “game” Ibrahim refers to is Veon Group’s strategy of driving growth through digital services, with a goal of engaging consumers for “1,440 minutes per day” across its markets.

Betting on digital services

Two years ago, Jazz made three key strategic bets to expand its services. The first was investing in mobile financial services through JazzCash, its digital payments platform. The second focused on growing its digital content offerings, including streaming and insurance services. The third bet was on cloud and analytics technology, helping to enhance its digital capabilities.

Ibrahim considers these bets successful and is now doubling down by expanding into new sectors.

“Our priority for 2025 is to continue evolving this service-led model. We’ve had success in financial services and entertainment, and now we’re building out new segments in health and education,” he said.

Reshaping the business model

To facilitate this expansion, Jazz restructured its business model eight months ago, shifting from a “monolithic single company” into multiple specialised units. This includes its financial services arm, which now oversees Mobilink Microfinance Bank.

In December, Jazz also announced the sale of its tower business to Engro Corporation for US$563 million, providing funding to support its strategic shift.

Jazz has already made strides in insurance with the launch of its platform, FikrFree, which has sold around 3 million insurance policies and generates US$2 million in recurring monthly revenue.

Tackling Pakistan’s healthcare challenges

Jazz is taking aim at another potential vertical and that is the Pakistan’s overstretched healthcare sector.

Multiple barriers prevent people from accessing treatment. Ibrahim sees this as an opportunity for technology to bridge the gaps.

Jazz is developing an AI-powered healthcare app that will allow patients to describe their symptoms in voice or text, generating an automated transcript. This system aims to speed up the diagnosis process, taking inspiration from e-commerce platforms like Shopify.

“The interaction between the patient and our AI bot will be captured in voice, with a transcript produced, allowing for faster recommendations,” Ibrahim explained.

If a physical consultation is required, the platform will facilitate bookings, and Jazz will partner with pharmacies to ensure a seamless e-commerce experience for purchasing medicines.

“This is still in development, but this is the direction we’re heading in. Like many of our other products, we will learn as we go. We may end up with exactly what I’ve described, or we may refine our approach based on customer needs,” he added.

A ‘service company’, not a ‘Techco’

Despite its transition from a traditional telecoms player to a technology-driven company, Ibrahim is cautious about embracing the “techco” label, which has become an industry buzzword.

“We avoided calling ourselves a techco because we wanted to be more humble in our approach. Technology can sometimes alienate customers—there are concerns about data privacy, surveillance, and an arrogance that can come with technological sophistication.

“We want to be a service company—one that serves its customers with humility, passion, and dedication,” he concluded.

During MWC 25 Barcelona, Huawei held the Intelligent Operations Summit to bring together global carriers, industry partners, and industry organizations and discuss how carriers can upgrade their operations in the intelligent era, enabling new experiences and of course new growth.

Addressing the summit, Xun Su, President of Huawei Global Technical Service Dept, said: “In the next decade, operators will accelerate the intelligent operations process. By in-depth integration of digital twins and GenAI+Predictive AI, a new operations paradigm of ‘human + AI agent collaboration’ is built, and scenario-based value closure is implemented along the end user journey and carrier value stream.”

User Journey: Provides Rich Digital Intelligence Services and Improves E2E NPS Experience

Carriers are increasingly using AI to enhance their services, creating rich digital intelligence services to enhance their customers’ lives. In Africa, Huawei Mobile Money has benefited from AI integration, with customers now able to expand from mobile payments to other mobile financial services. By the end of FY 2024, Huawei Mobile Money  generated more than US$900 million in mobile finance revenue. At the same time, operators are using digital twins and AI technologies to reshape the end-to-end NPS journey. In the Asia Pacific region, Huawei helps customers implement multi-agent collaboration, streamline processes and data breakpoints between AICC and SmartCare, reduce the user complaint rate by 30%, and improve the service NPS. In China, Operator has worked with Huawei to build a leading N-NPS network. The detractor is reduced by 20% and the NPS is improved by 8%.

Value Stream Journey: Build « 3A » Best Cognitive Network to Monetize Differentiated Experiences

Using its pioneering network experience, Huawei has built a « 3A » experience-based network to ensure real-time service awareness, KPI/KQI achievable, and differentiated experience assurance.

Converged data and AI are used to accurately identify user profiles, helping carriers recommend appropriate packages to users at an opportune time through relevant channels. This represents a shift from only monetizing traffic to monetizing experience.

For value scenarios and services, the spatiotemporal digital twin is used to transform from best-effort to differentiated experience assurance. Huawei helps carriers build optimal delivery drivers  experience networks. In one quarter, 380,000 delivery drivers subscribed the package, and the revenue increases by 6%. Huawei uses the SRCON spatiotemporal digital twin technology to help operators build optimal live broadcast experience networks. The uplink rate experienced increases from 3 Mbit/s to over 5 Mbit/s.

Value stream journey: Upgrade the operations mode from cost center to value center

Richer service scenarios and more complex network architecture place higher requirements on network stability and operations. This means that the operations mode must be upgraded; its focus must shift from ‘people + tools’ to ‘people + AI agents’ to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Huawei has partnered with  a carrier to build the Digital Intelligence Operation Center (DIOC), which combines NOC, SOC, and NPM to reduce traffic loss by 8.4%. Huawei FME (field maintenance engineer) copilot helps onsite maintenance engineers reduce unnecessary site visits and improve the MTTR by 30%.

Xun Su called on operators to seize the opportunities presented by comprehensive intelligence, embracing human-agent collaboration, real-time data awareness, and high-quality CoT (Chain of Thought). Answering questions as a chatbot is no longer enough – operators must use intelligent operations to resolve these questions by completing tasks. However, there must also be collaboration between people and AI agents, real-time data awareness, and a high-quality chain of thought (CoT) corpus. This approach will help to resolve questions and tasks.

The CoT capability of  GenAI+ Predictive AI collaboration combines with the real-time simulation of digital twins to solve scenario-based problems and realize value closed-loop – i.e. creating value for operators. Operations should be service-oriented rather than network-oriented, and resolving issues relating to high-value services should be prioritized.

By implementing intelligent operations, telcos will be able to solve these scenario-based problems and realise closed-loop value, enabling new growth.