Today’s telecom news include announcements on Digi, Vodafone, Telekom Romania, Airtel Chad, PTCL, Telenor, among others.
Digi and Vodafone Take Over Telekom Romania to Expand Networks and Drive Innovation
Digi and Vodafone have completed the acquisition of Telekom Romania Mobile Communications (TKRM) from Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE). Vodafone acquired TKRM’s post-paid customer base, while Digi took over the pre-paid segment. Both companies gained additional spectrum and towers as part of the deal. The transaction is valued at €30 million for Vodafone and €40 million for Digi. Integration will begin in November 2025, starting with the prepaid segment. The acquisition consolidates the Romanian telecommunications market and allows Digi and Vodafone to invest in network infrastructure. By combining customer bases and network assets, both companies can deploy resources more efficiently and enhance connectivity services.
Airtel Chad’s $89.5M Upgrade Plan Aims to Fix Network Gaps
Airtel Chad’s network quality remains poor, with users experiencing frequent disruptions and limited coverage in urban and rural areas. The telecom regulator, ARCEP, reported that visits by Airtel officials have not led to improvements in service or equipment. In response, the Chadian government issued an ultimatum demanding visible improvements by year-end. Airtel presented a 50 billion CFA franc ($89.5 million) investment plan to ARCEP to enhance service quality, including strengthening microwave links, deploying new towers, developing fiber optics, and replacing the Ericsson core network with Huawei equipment. ARCEP has launched its 15th national audit on service quality, with potential sanctions for non-compliance.
PTCL-Telenor Deal Set to Shake Up Pakistan’s Mobile Market
Pakistan’s Competition Commission approved PTCL’s acquisition of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers. The deal, announced in December 2023, includes 7,500 towers and will create the second-largest mobile operator in Pakistan. PTCL’s Ufone had 26.7 million connections, while Telenor Pakistan had 42.3 million, combining to challenge market leader Jazz, which has 74.4 million connections. The merger requires conditions to maintain competition, including separate boards and independent management structures. This consolidation reflects a trend in the telecom industry where operators merge to enhance network efficiency and expand service coverage.
New Zealand Telecoms Cut Customer Transparency, Launch Real-Time Outage Alerts
New Zealand’s major mobile providers — Spark, One NZ, and 2degrees — have reduced transparency with customers, according to Consumer NZ’s annual review with the Commerce Commission. 2degrees’ new app shows less data usage information, Spark discontinued annual usage summaries, and One NZ’s app limits users to viewing the past two to three months of data. Spark and One NZ introduced a real-time phone outage service, providing updates during network disruptions with current outage status and expected restoration times.
Shafana Fazal
