Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Nigerian telcos, MTN South Sudan, Vodafone Idea’s 5G service expansion, FCC Rules for 37 GHz Band, among others.
Nigerian telcos Buy $1 bn network equipment from China
Telecom companies in Nigeria have ordered $1 billion worth of network equipment from China. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said the equipment will be used to upgrade networks. NCC Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida said this is part of efforts to improve service for over 160 million users. The order follows a recent tariff increase to help companies manage higher operating costs. MTN Nigeria said dropped calls lead to revenue loss, and better networks are needed to fix this.
MTN South Sudan Tells Users to Use MoMo Instead of Cash
MTN South Sudan is asking users to pay with its MoMo service instead of using cash. Some users said they are unable to withdraw cash from MoMo agents. An agent said there is not enough cash to meet withdrawal requests. MTN CEO in South Sudan, Francis Matseketsa, said the company is working on solutions and encouraging MoMo use for payments at shops. MTN is also working with banks and partners to improve access to digital payments.
Vodafone Idea Starts 5G in Two More Cities
Vodafone Idea has launched 5G service in Chandigarh and Patna. Users with 5G-enabled phones can now access the service. The company earlier launched 5G in Mumbai and plans to expand to Delhi and Bengaluru. Vodafone Idea has also activated 5G in cricket stadiums. It is working with Samsung and using systems that support network improvements and reduce issues.
FCC Updates Rules for 37 GHz Band
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is updating rules for the 37 GHz spectrum to allow more services like broadband, wireless backhaul, and IoT. These regulations aim to increase mobile network capacity and make 600 MHz of spectrum available for both government and commercial use, FCC said.
VCTI Launches AI Center to Support Telecom Industry
VCTI has launched an AI Center of Excellence to help telecom companies improve operations, speed up product development, and enhance customer service using AI. The center will focus on automating tasks, providing market insights, and helping companies reduce costs and improve efficiency.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
