BSNL MTNL merger back on?

28 September 2023

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), two government-run MNOs, have embarked once more on merger talks to streamline operations.

MTNL focuses on the Delhi and Mumbai metro circles while BSNL works PAN-India.

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Globe secures PHP15 billion loan

27 September 2023

Globe Telecom secured a PHP15 billion loan from Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company to finance its network upgrade and debt refinancing.

Globe invested PHP37.7 billion in capex in the first half of 2023 which was lower year-on-year by 25%, and consistent with the operator’s strategy to bring cash flow back to more sustainable levels. Around 90% of capex spending was allocated to network deployment to meet rising consumer demand for connectivity services.

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Singtel to sell 20% stake in data centre business

21 September 2023

Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) is set to sell a 20% stake in its regional data centre business to private investment firm KKR for S$1.1 billion. The deal values Singtel’s total regional data centre business at S$5.5 billion.

Singtel’s data business is part of their Digital InfraCo unit, which was formed in June, and has operations in Singapore, India, and Thailand. Singtel will reportedly use the money from the sale to fund the further expansion of its this data centre business in Southeast Asia.

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Monkeys bypass Philippines new SIM registration system

13 September 2023

The Philippines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found a flaw in the country’s new SIM registration system, by using a photo of an animal to successfully register for a SIM card.

NBI Cybercrime division chief Jeremy Lotoc detailed in a senate hearing the bureau tried to register for SIM cards with several operators in September as part of its investigation. The bureau used a picture of a monkey under different names, finding it easy to fabricate a government ID card online with any picture. It did not disclose which operators it was able to gain approval from.

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