Today’s telecom news includes announcements from Telefonica, Telecom Namibia, Huawei, among others.
Telecom Giants Frustrated: EU’s New Digital Networks Rules Fall Short on Mergers
Telefonica and other major European telecom operators have expressed disappointment with the European Commission’s recently unveiled Digital Networks Act (DNA) proposal, saying it lacks clear measures to facilitate industry consolidation—one of their key priorities. Operators had hoped the legislation would ease merger and acquisition rules, enabling them to achieve greater scale, strengthen competitiveness, and boost investment in digital infrastructure. However, the current draft does not include robust provisions to support consolidation, a strategic concern for Telefónica as it seeks to bolster profitability in core markets including Spain, the UK, Germany, and Brazil.
Telecom Namibia Invests N$2.3 bn in Network Expansion as 2026 Price Cuts Begin
Telecom Namibia has announced a N$2.3 billion investment to modernize and expand its national telecommunications infrastructure, alongside major price reductions starting 1 February 2026. The funding will support extending fibre‑to‑the‑home and business connections, strengthening the national fibre backbone, upgrading mobile networks toward 4.5G and 5G readiness, and enhancing international capacity via the Google Equiano undersea cable. The price cuts will lower most service charges, including local and international call rates and fixed broadband packages, making telecom services more affordable and supporting broader digital connectivity in Namibia.
Kazakhstan and Huawei Forge Stronger Tech Alliance
Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund Samruk‑Kazyna and Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies are working to deepen their strategic cooperation. During a meeting in China, Samruk‑Kazyna Chairman Nurlan Zhakupov and Huawei Chairman Liang Hua discussed expanding collaboration, particularly in localizing IT product manufacturing in Kazakhstan. Their cooperation already involves projects across 12 companies under Samruk‑Kazyna, and both sides reviewed the progress of these initiatives. A Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed in September formalized their commitment to joint development, highlighting Kazakhstan’s focus on leveraging Huawei’s expertise to advance its technology and innovation ecosystem.
Shafana Fazal