Vodafone Idea welcomes government's equity conversion
02 April 2025
Vodafone Idea (Vi) has announced a critical development as the Indian government has converted INR369.5 billion in debt into equity. This transaction increases the government's stake in Vodafone Idea from 22.6% to an impressive 49%.
The equity conversion is part of a government relief initiative launched for the telecom sector back in 2021, which allowed the government the option to convert spectrum auction fees owed by Vi into shares. This decision comes at a time when Vodafone Idea is grappling with a staggering total debt load of $25 billion, with about $18 billion of that linked to unpaid spectrum dues to the government.
Find out more Vietnam greenlights SpaceX’s Starlink for trial launch
01 April 2025
The Vietnamese government has announced that SpaceX will be allowed to conduct a five-year trial of its Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband service in the country.
This pilot program will enable Starlink to offer both fixed and mobile satellite services, including connectivity for vessels and aircraft, marking a notable step in Vietnam's efforts to enhance its digital infrastructure.
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Bharti Airtel unveils major partnership for 2Africa Pearls subsea cable
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31 March 2025
Bharti Airtel has announced its role as the landing partner for the 2Africa Pearls subsea cable in India. This ambitious project aims to establish a comprehensive network linking Africa, India, and Europe through the Middle East, significantly bolstering international connectivity.
The 2Africa Pearls cable is poised to deliver an impressive capacity of over 100Tbps to India, thereby enhancing Airtel's global network and supporting the country's aspirations for digital growth. This partnership is a collaboration that also includes 2Africa Pearls’ investors, center3 and Meta, both of which bring significant expertise and resources to the project. The 2Africa Pearls cable is part of the more extensive 2Africa cable system, which will cover more than 45,000km across Asia, Africa, and Europe, strengthening the digital backbone of these regions.
Find out more Globe Teleservices and CelcomDigi to enhance A2P SMS security in Malaysia
28 March 2025
Globe Teleservices (GTS) has announced the signing of an exclusive three-year contract to implement its advanced A2P SMS firewall solutions for CelcomDigi. This collaboration is poised to enhance security for mobile messaging services in Malaysia by providing robust protection against various forms of malicious content.
Under the agreement, GTS’ SMS firewall will deliver real-time threat detection and filtering capabilities, effectively blocking harmful content such as phishing attacks, spam, and SMS fraud before these messages reach CelcomDigi’s users. The implementation of this solution is essential for safeguarding messaging pathways and preventing unauthorized traffic, ensuring that customers receive only trusted and verified communications from legitimate businesses.
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