Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Ericsson plans telecom equipment export from India, Sudani’s transformation, Telefonica’s deal to sell Uruguay business unit to Millicom, among others.
Ericsson Plans Telecom Equipment Export from India, 5G Use Cases Expected
Ericsson’s India plant currently produces 5G equipment entirely for local telecom operators due to strong demand. The company plans to explore exporting telecom gear from India in the future. Ericsson is actively working with academia, partners, and ecosystem players to develop India-specific 5G use cases, anticipating significant applications within 12 to 24 months, driven by 5G network slicing capabilities. Ericsson expects continued 5G adoption will lead to densification and modernisation of telecom infrastructure, alongside enhancements in operational support systems (OSS) and business support systems (BSS) to meet evolving network and billing requirements. In the March 2024 quarter, Ericsson’s sales in Southeast Asia, Oceania, and India dropped 38 percent to SEK 8.5 billion (around Rs 6,645 crore) from SEK 13.9 billion a year earlier.
Sudani Transforms from Telecom Operator to ICT Solutions Provider
Sudani, a telecom company in Sudan and part of Sudatel Group, rebranded to become an ICT solutions provider. This transition shifts the company’s focus from basic mobile connectivity to offering a broader range of services including voice, data, fibre, and digital solutions across over four African countries. The rebrand includes a new logo and campaigns to communicate this change. Sudani’s new role reflects a larger regional industry shift where telecom operators evolve into digital service providers to meet changing technology demands and consumer needs. The transformation was developed with international branding agency Skyne. Sudani emphasizes enabling digital progress and serving as a regional technology partner.
Telefonica Sells Uruguay Unit to Millicom for $440mn in Strategic Exit
Telefonica agreed to sell its Uruguay unit to Luxembourg-based Millicom for $440 million as part of a strategy to exit Spanish-speaking Latin America. This follows prior sales of its operations in Peru and Argentina, which caused Telefonica to record a €1.7 billion ($1.93 billion) accounting loss in the last quarter. Post-sale, Millicom will own 100 percent of the Uruguay business and will continue operating in Latin America under its Tigo brand. Telefonica is focusing on core markets including Spain, Brazil, Britain, and Germany. The sale is part of Telefonica’s restructuring to concentrate resources on regions where it sees growth potential. Millicom’s acquisition strengthens its footprint in Latin America amid changing regional telecom industry.
Foxconn investing $1.5 billion in India unit
Foxconn, a key supplier for Apple, is investing $1.5 billion in its India unit, Yuzhan Technology India, as part of Apple’s strategy to shift manufacturing out of China due to U.S. tariffs. The investment involves Foxconn’s Singapore-based subsidiary purchasing 12.77 billion shares at 10 rupees each. Located in Tamil Nadu, Yuzhan manufactures electronic components and assembles iPhones. Apple is increasingly positioning India as a major manufacturing hub, having recently exported $2 billion worth of iPhones to the U.S.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
