AGP Executive Report

US–Africa Telecom Geopolitics: Africell says the Trump administration approved a $99.6m Export-Import Bank loan to expand its U.S.-owned mobile network in Angola and other African markets, as Washington pushes back on Huawei. Regulation & Privacy: South Korea is reviewing Google’s legal exposure after sensitive data submitted for digital sex-crime takedown requests was posted on a third-party site, with a separate probe by the privacy watchdog. Satellite & Spectrum: India’s Digital Communications Commission reportedly cleared a 5% AGR-linked spectrum usage charge for satellite service providers, aiming to speed LEO/MEO broadband rollout. Network Expansion & Competition: T-Mobile’s cheapest “Super Essentials Saver” plan is spotted as a Walmart-only hidden deal, while Ghana’s regulator has cleared 5G spectrum licensing steps for MTN and others. Security & Misuse: Anthropic linked a Turkish firm to a Malaysia election manipulation platform using fake accounts and fabricated content. Space Infrastructure: NASA accepted Morehead State University’s Lunar Environment Monitoring Station for an Artemis mission, with the university leading the space-to-Earth telecom operations.

5G Rollout: NATCOM kicked off a 5G pilot in Haiti, with early coverage focused around Port-au-Prince business and hotel areas. Internet Exchange Expansion: AzerTelecom and DE-CIX are launching AZE-IX to keep traffic local, cutting latency and boosting resilience for Azerbaijan’s digital corridor ambitions. Regulation & Consumer Impact: Pakistan’s telecom watchdog is facing fresh political pressure after a national assembly panel summoned Jazz, Zong and Ufone over poor service quality, while the government also moved to cut duties on imported mobile phones. Education Connectivity: Nigeria will start zero-rated access for students from Oct. 1, offering 100MB daily for approved learning platforms, alongside plans to regulate internet access for under-16s. Cross-border Capacity Deal: A transit cable agreement will route Gulf-to-Europe telecom capacity via Iraq, using the country as a land corridor. AI & Security: A leaked server linked to an automated ransomware pipeline highlights how AI is being used to scale cyber extortion. Space Telecom Ambitions: Armenia plans at least three satellites, including one for telecommunications, as it builds ground infrastructure.

Education Connectivity Push (Nigeria): Nigeria’s federal government will start zero-rating 100MB of free daily data from Oct 1, letting students access approved educational platforms—aimed at breaking the data-cost barrier to learning. Digital Payments Integrity (Zimbabwe): The RBZ shut down “ghost” and duplicate mobile money wallets by linking telecom records to the civil registry, tightening KYC to curb fraud and illicit flows. Scam Crackdown (Malaysia): Malaysia’s communications minister says findings from a multi-stakeholder online scam working group will go to Cabinet soon, bringing banks, telcos and platforms like TikTok into coordinated action. 5G Regulation (Slovakia): Slovakia’s regulator confirmed operators met 5G coverage obligations for roads, rail and regional cities under the 700 MHz licences. Subscriber Momentum (Nigeria): NCC data shows MTN Nigeria crossed 100.86m active subscribers in July, holding 51.38% market share as data revenue keeps rising. Space & Telecom (Armenia): Armenia says it plans at least three satellites—including one for telecommunications—plus distributed ground stations as part of its 2026–2031 space strategy. Subsea Cable Build (Singapore/Thailand): Singtel and Gulf Development will jointly develop a Thailand–Singapore subsea link, with the first Vietnam–Thailand–Singapore system targeted for service by 2030. SIM Registration Tightening (Tanzania): Rukwa stakeholders want stricter SIM registration rules, including a waiting period before adding another line, to tackle cyber fraud. AI for Consumers (Malaysia): HONOR Malaysia argues AI adoption hinges on multilingual, easy-to-use experiences and openness across devices, operators and platforms. Satellite Connectivity for Saudi (stc/Astranis): stc group will deploy dedicated satellite capacity for Saudi Arabia via Astranis, boosting resilient connectivity alongside fibre.

US–Huawei Legal Battle: A New York RICO trial against Huawei is underway, with prosecutors pitching an “insider” view of alleged stolen trade secrets and sanctions failures. Cybersecurity Governance: Amazon adds Mandiant founder Kevin Mandia to its board, underscoring how AI is reshaping cyber risk at the top level. AI + Infrastructure Push: Google plans at least €13bn in Finland for AI data centres, betting on cold-climate cooling and carbon-light power. Fraud Fight in Real Time: India’s Financial Fraud Risk Indicator has helped stop suspected digital fraud losses of ₹5,043 crore, aiming to block transfers before money moves through mule accounts. Spectrum + 5G Progress: Ghana’s NCA clears MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana and Goal for the next stage of 5G spectrum licensing, while questions linger over a newly qualified entrant’s track record. Connectivity for Public Services: Trinidad and Tobago launches free TT WiFi at 288 sites, including health institutions, to widen access. Satellite Services Unlock: India’s regulator approves satellite spectrum pricing, clearing a key hurdle for Starlink and other satcom operators. Regional Telecom Partnerships: ScopeTel and Orange Business sign an Asia-Pacific MoU spanning satellite, cybersecurity, cloud, IoT and AI for energy, maritime and government users. Data Centre Regulation Tension: Spain faces criticism that tighter data-centre rules are harming digital sovereignty and investment appetite.

Digital Trust & Anti-Scam Push (ASEAN): ASEAN leaders are calling for a regional anti-scam intelligence exchange to let regulators, telcos, banks and platforms share scam signals faster, alongside stronger national response centres to protect users when things go wrong. Resilience Planning (ASEAN): Resilience experts at an ASEAN telecoms forum say network continuity can’t rely on one technology; it needs an ecosystem that blends terrestrial and satellite links plus pre-planned rapid deployment protocols for disasters. Ghana 5G Spectrum: Ghana’s NCA has cleared MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana and Goal Telecom to move to the next stage of 5G spectrum licensing in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands. Nigeria Subscriber Surge: MTN Nigeria hit a record 100.86m subscribers in July, adding 2.22m as the market recovers from NIN-SIM linkage enforcement. Nepal Flood Recovery: Nepal Telecom restored part of its damaged fibre network in Rasuwagadhi and Betrawati, resuming 1,093 FTTH lines after the Bhotekoshi flash flood, and also donated Rs 100m to the national disaster relief fund. India 6G Security: India has joined a US-led 6G security partnership with 24 other nations to align strategies and strengthen next-gen network security. Finland AI Infrastructure: Google plans a major AI infrastructure build-out in Finland worth at least €13bn, part of a broader Nordic expansion. US Subsea Cable Landing: The Quinault Indian Nation has started building Washington’s first subsea cable landing station in over 25 years, with AWS as its first customer.

Regulation & Compliance: Nigeria’s NCC faces fresh calls from telecom device OEMs to extend the Device Management System (DMS) rollout and clarify “grey areas” as the IMEI upload window nears its deadline. Network Expansion via Sharing: Papua New Guinea’s Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG sign a Tower Sharing Licence Agreement to cut duplication and speed coverage growth. Satellite & Space Connectivity: Kazakhstan pushes an international Earth-observation satellite constellation with Mongolia, the Republic of the Congo and Nigeria, while Pakistan’s business leaders urge faster satellite-internet rules and transparent licensing timelines. Digital Governance: Pakistan’s Digital Economy Enhancement Project is flagged by the World Bank for slow disbursement and implementation gaps, even as digital ID progress continues. AI in Telecoms: ANZ’s NiCE says AI agents are raising customer expectations and enabling fully automated support end-to-end. Infrastructure Security: The US sees multi-county telecom wire theft investigations after copper thefts threaten emergency calling. Policy & Spectrum: The FCC moves to exempt satellites from federal environmental reviews, aiming to speed telecom investment. Industry Watch: Jio Platforms prepares investor outreach for its mega IPO after SEBI approval.

6G Security Push: India has joined the US-led initiative with 24 nations to shape secure next-gen 6G networks, aligning early strategy ahead of 2030s rollouts. Satellite Broadband Opens Up: India’s telecom regulator cleared TRAI’s satellite spectrum recommendations, paving the way for Starlink, OneWeb and Reliance Jio to start commercial satellite broadband services. Fiber Deal Boost: Corning shares jumped after Verizon announced a multi-billion, multi-year optical fibre supply agreement through 2032 to expand broadband and support AI infrastructure. Data Centre Regulation: Kenya’s communications authority proposes a standalone licence for data centres, moving co-location facilities out of the current NFP Tier 2 framework. Network Resilience: Lithuania’s regulator wants stronger telecom resilience measures, including priority power restoration for communications infrastructure and a critical communications network. Critical Infrastructure Cyber: US CISA is rolling back critical-infrastructure security support programmes, replacing them with a self-service questionnaire as CIRCIA reporting rules near. Service Disruption Fix: Customs services at Barbados’ GAIA Terminal II resumed after telecommunications connectivity was restored. Operational Leadership: Mediacom appointed Anthony Bowling to drive field operations strategy and service reliability. Starlink for Aviation: Textron Aviation says Hawker 700/800/900 operators can now install Starlink’s aviation connectivity kit.

6G Alliance: India has joined the US and 24 other countries in a new initiative to shape next-generation 6G networks, with a focus on security, interoperability, competitiveness and innovation. Cybersecurity Pact: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an MoU to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation, including sharing expertise and best practices, during LEAP 2026 in Riyadh. AI Governance Risk: A new report warns that around 80% of AI tools are running without IT oversight, raising data-exposure concerns as agent tools can access local data and reach the internet. Digital Infrastructure Law: Singapore has refined its Digital Infrastructure Bill after consultation, proposing licensing for major cloud and data-centre services to boost resilience and sustainability. Identity Rules for SIMs: The Philippines’ DICT is considering reducing accepted SIM registration IDs to three (national ID, passport, licence) to curb identity falsification. Network Resilience in Ghana: Ghana says road construction and illegal mining are driving fibre cuts, with telecoms spending about $20m this year on repairs. Huawei in Court: Huawei is set for a US trial in New York over sanctions violations and IP theft allegations, after years of restrictions. Deal Scrapped: India’s SAR Televenture called off its ₹669 crore acquisition of Tikona Infinet due to regulatory approval delays.

SIM Registration Security: Ghana’s communications minister says biometric verification will be introduced for SIM registration before end-2026, after Parliament passed the SIM registration Legislative Instrument—aimed at tightening identity checks and reducing fraud. Network Reliability & Consumer Protection: Ghana’s NCA is set to draft a framework for customer remediation and sanctions when operators miss service standards, as fibre cuts and repair costs rise. Fibre Cut Causes: Ghana reports 8,578 fibre cuts in 2026 so far, with road construction under the Big Push blamed for about 49% and illegal mining (“galamsey”) for around 25%. Operator Investment: MTN Ghana plans to invest $1.1bn+ over three years, including 5G rollout and 800 new cell sites this year. Spectrum Refarming: Ukraine’s Kyivstar has shut down 3G, moving 1m+ users to 4G and redirecting freed spectrum to LTE, boosting speeds and stability. Regulation & Pricing: South Africa’s ICASA is set to probe OTT services like Netflix and WhatsApp and also examine telecom affordability, including pricing by MTN, Vodacom, Telkom and Cell C. Digital Infrastructure Expansion: Algeria’s universal service tender targets coverage for 3,000 low-density localities nationwide. AI Governance: ETSI published a data-quality metrics framework for AI and digital ecosystems, pushing standardised checks on reliability, completeness and bias.

Regulation & Pricing: South Africa’s Icasa has launched inquiries targeting OTT services like Netflix and WhatsApp, alongside a broader push to tackle high telecom costs after spectrum and pro-competition interventions. Digital Identity: Bangladesh has published implementation details for its World Bank-backed One-ID platform under D-STAR, including a budget of about US$748m and plans for roughly 200m chip cards tied to a smartphone wallet. Public Safety Tech: Greece is funding a €3.97m police digital platform to connect financial and communications data for financial-crime investigations, with EU co-financing. Network Expansion & Sharing: Rakuten Symphony and TAWAL have launched Saudi Arabia’s first multi-operator shared indoor Cloud RAN network at KAUST, completing voice calls over 5G NR/VoLTE. Satellite Connectivity: 4iG Group and SpaceX signed deals for Starlink Mobile in Hungary and Albania plus sovereign satellite communications for national-level secure connectivity in Europe. Cybersecurity & AI: KPMG warns that AI, geopolitics, fragmented rules and non-human identities are reshaping CISO priorities, while quantum threats loom. Business Continuity in Telecoms: 2degrees will take over Now New Zealand’s business customers, migrating broadband, voice, mobile and cloud services over coming months. Rural Connectivity: A New Zealand rural connectivity story highlights how some long-distance buses keep passengers on WhatsApp despite patchy coverage.

Mobile Performance & Urban Upgrades: Algeria’s Oran has entered the global top 50 for mobile internet speed for the first time, jumping to 41st (197.09 Mbps) alongside Algiers at 42nd (194.57 Mbps), highlighting ongoing network modernization. Anti-Fraud Tech: China launched a “national anti-fraud AI” mobile app built with large language models and AI agents, letting users describe suspicious situations via text, audio and video for scam-risk guidance. State Telco Strategy: Sri Lanka reaffirmed SLT-Mobitel as a strategic state asset after its turnaround, tying connectivity to digital identity, government services, payments and AI-enabled broadband expansion. Rural Connectivity Push: Ghana’s communications ministry is upgrading all rural telephony sites to at least 4G, while Ghana’s Sam George-led efforts elsewhere in the region aim to make rural data cheaper by 2027. Disaster Response for Networks: Nepal’s telecom regulator says Bhotekoshi flood damage hit telecom infrastructure worth Rs 45 crore, with towers restored and satellite connectivity planned; Ncell is preparing satellite services for remaining dead zones. 5G Rollout: Papua New Guinea cleared the way for commercial 5G after completing regulatory checks for 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz spectrum. Enterprise Connectivity Deal: Omantel signed a Master Service Agreement with Liva Insurance to bundle mobility, data, security, voice and dedicated connectivity services across Oman. Cybersecurity Warning: Britain was warned its water systems could be targeted after Iranian-linked attacks on US critical infrastructure, raising concerns about internet-connected operational tech.

Green Port Tech: APM Terminals Bahrain says Khalifa Bin Salman Port’s “Sustainable Institution” award was driven by a 11.4MW solar rollout that cuts carbon footprint by 71% (2025), as it pushes electrification and net-zero by 2040. AI for Networks: A Bengaluru-led study reports machine learning can classify 5G radio conditions and guide resource allocation with 98.7% accuracy, beating rule-based approaches for dynamic traffic. Disaster & Connectivity: Nepal’s Bhotekoshi/Rasuwa flood updates put affected people at 32,933 and highlight ongoing work to restore roads, power and telecommunications. Rural Telecom Upgrade: Ghana’s Samuel Nartey George says rural telephony sites will be made cheaper and upgraded to at least 4G by 2027, after a nationwide assessment. Regulation & Content: Canada’s Unifor backs CRTC moves to improve discoverability of Canadian programming on streaming platforms under the Online Streaming Act. Cyber Governance: Pakistan’s cabinet orders clearer timelines and independent third-party audits for its PISF 2026 security framework. Cross-Border Transport: Bahrain and Saudi Arabia allow licensed taxis to carry passengers across the King Fahd Causeway from Sept 6, boosting regional connectivity.

Rural Connectivity Push (Ghana): Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George says all Ghana Rural Telephony Project sites must be upgraded to at least 4G, arguing 2G/3G is no longer enough as the country moves toward 5G/6G, with a broader RTP review headed to Cabinet. Affordability Measures (Ghana): The government also plans to make rural calls and data cheaper by Q1 2027, working with the NCA, GIFEC and operators to adjust charging for existing bundles. Digital Skills Scale-Up (Ghana): Ghana’s One Million Coders Programme has reached about 140,000 enrolments, with officials inspecting innovation centres and rural telephony and ICT sites. Rural Fiber Milestone (US): EMPOWER Broadband says it has completed a major rural fiber expansion in Southside Virginia and connected its 10,000th subscriber, extending FTTP across multiple counties. AI Governance & Connectivity (Pacific): Pacific Islands Forum leaders backed regional AI principles that keep AI human-centred and call for a governance framework for consideration in 2027, alongside stronger digital connectivity and cybersecurity. Omnichannel AI Deal (US): SoundHound completed its acquisition of LivePerson in a roughly $304m deal, aiming to merge voice and messaging into a single enterprise AI platform. Network Resilience (Bangladesh): Border Guard Bangladesh expanded border surveillance with drones, anti-drone systems and thermal cameras, while telecom monitoring capacity was also highlighted.

Broadband Rollout: Nepal Telecom has expanded FTTH to 38 locations in Tilottama Municipality, connecting ward offices and health posts with 200 Mbps service to boost online administration and digital services. Rural Competition & Regulation: South Africa’s biggest telcos are asking the competition watchdog for a rare waiver to share limited planning information for passive infrastructure rollouts in hard-to-serve rural areas. Disaster Response & Connectivity: Australia has sent drone operators and victim identification specialists to support Nepal’s flood search-and-rescue as deaths near 1,300 and thousands remain missing; separate reports highlight how poor connectivity is complicating emergency operations. Security & Telecom Integrity: Nigeria’s NSCDC says it has dismantled a telecom-infrastructure vandalism and theft syndicate while rescuing trafficked children, underscoring how physical network attacks disrupt services. Policy Forum: The Bahamas used WTPF 2026 to push digital-policy priorities around data protection, resilience and enforceable connectivity rules, with telecom leaders stressing redundancy that actually works in emergencies. Regional Digital Growth: Turkey’s economy shows strong momentum in “information and communication” activities, with implications for digital integration across the Middle Corridor.

Spectrum Security: Spectrum says a Montgomery fibre line was intentionally cut in a criminal attack, restoring service but prompting a reward of up to $25,000 and renewed warnings about threats to communications infrastructure. Regulation & Data Centres: Louisville’s planning commission moves data-centre rules forward, proposing new categories for hyperscale, accessory and telecoms data centres after heavy public input. UK Spectrum Outlook: Ofcom’s WRC-27 consultation suggests the UK may back only an extra 125MHz in the 7GHz band for future mobile broadband, shaping the 6G spectrum debate. Broadband Buildout: Louisiana targets 15,000 BEAD serviceable locations by early 2027, with multiple winners set to deliver parish-by-parish coverage. Telco Investment: Philippine telcos plan to spend more than $2.2bn on 2026 capex, signalling confidence in fibre and digital rollout. Enterprise Networks: Ciena warns supply constraints could push its backlog past $10bn, as AI-driven network investment keeps demand outpacing availability. Connectivity for Travel & Emergencies: GlocalMe highlights at IFA 2026 its 5G-plus-satellite hotspot aimed at keeping users online when base networks fail. Digital Governance: Japan’s personal data law amendments add a surcharge regime for certain violations, tightening enforcement while enabling data use for AI and statistics.

Hospitality Connectivity Deal: FlexiRoam (ASX:FRX) has signed a two-year partnership with Dragonpass to embed its global eSIM data rewards into hotel and travel loyalty offers, starting with a three-month campaign for a major hotel group and targeting about US$100,000 in revenue. Digital Infrastructure Funding: Alaska can redirect BEAD savings to newly identified unserved locations, potentially adding 5,000+ properties to high-speed internet eligibility. Cyber & Fraud Crackdown: Pakistan’s PTA says 18.2m fake SIMs have been blocked over two years, as lawmakers hear how stolen biometrics feed fraudulent SIMs and then fake bank accounts. Banking Tech Architecture: Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank of Ceylon showcased an Open Digital Architecture deployment with Axonect at TM Forum’s DTW Ignite 2026, aiming to modernise legacy systems for fintech. Connectivity for Education: Cameroon’s CAMTEL will connect private higher education campuses via broadband, campus interconnection and secure data hosting under an ANIPES framework. Satellite Internet Expansion: Korean Air plans free Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi on long-haul routes, rolling out in stages through 2027. Data Centre Governance: Canada launched national principles for responsible data centre development, backed by major cloud and telecom firms including AWS, Google, Microsoft, Bell and TELUS. Africa Digital Backbone: WIOCC secured $300m to expand open-access fibre, data centres and subsea cable assets across Africa.