Investment

Global digital operator Veon – which owns Bangladesh telco Banglalink – announced Tuesday it has committed an initial US$250 million anchor investment as part of a new initiative to attract US$1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) to Bangladesh.

Zain Group, a Kuwaiti mobile telecommunications company operating in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa and serving 51.2 million customers, has been awarded a 25-year licence to operate the former MTN mobile telecom network in Syria.

Amazon has announced plans to invest an additional US$13 billion to expand AI and cloud infrastructure in India, taking its total investment in the country to US$48 billion between 2026 and 2030.

Communication & Renewable Energy Infrastructure (CREI), a telecom energy service and asset management company and part of global corporate group two33, has received a funding boost for the expansion of its renewable energy assets across Africa.

There’s been further good news for India’s number three operator Vodafone Idea (aka Vi) after the announcement of a major investment.

KKR, Nvidia, the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) and power company Vistra have launched Helix Digital Infrastructure, a new company backed by more than US$10 billion in capital to build AI infrastructure for hyperscalers.

Malawi and technology giant Huawei are widely reported to have been discussing strategies to implement a US$180-million national ICT investment, which Huawei has apparently committed to for the next four years.

NuRAN Wireless, a rural connectivity company, has announced a mandate letter with Afrigreen Debt Impact Fund for a proposed senior debt financing of up to US$12 million to accelerate the deployment of mobile and broadband infrastructure across multiple African nations.

Kenya’s digital development could be boosted by two recently announcements: enhanced EU funding and, potentially, an Amazon satellite ground station in Kenya, which would expand competition in the LEO satellite communications market. 

A number of important initiatives have been announced in recent days aimed at enhancing digital connectivity in West and North Africa.

IQSTEL, a global connectivity, AI and digital services company, has announced a binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to acquire a 51% controlling interest in Ghana-headquartered Ultranet Telecom Group.

A number of news outlets are reporting that tech giant Samsung Electronics is planning to invest about US$1.5 billion in Vietnam to build a semiconductor testing plant, though neither the company nor the country have formally confirmed this.

Togo and Poland have signed a EUR24 million (about US$27.85 million) financing agreement to support the local development of next-generation drones.

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has approved a commitment of up to $100 million to invest in Africa-focused technology fund managers, as the institution looks to accelerate the continent’s digital industrialisation.

At the recent Africa Forward Summit pan-African operator Orange announced what it calls a major acceleration of its commitments to youth employability, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, connectivity and inclusive artificial intelligence across the African continent.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is strengthening Jordan’s position as a regional digital hub with a US$14.1 million loan to digital ecosystem Aqaba Digital Hub (ADH) in Aqaba, a coastal city located on the Red Sea.

State-run operator Telecel Zimbabwe is looking for an investor willing not only to take on a very big debt burden but also to put a lot of fresh capital into reviving the company.

Two recent announcements, from smart devices provider Honor and smart mobility specialist Valeo, have underlined the strategic important of Egypt to Middle Eastern and African ITC by growing their presence in the country.

Millicom, a major international operator with a strong focus on Latin America, has officially introduced its Tigo brand in Uruguay and at the same time announced an investment initiative of US$600 million aimed at expanding the country's digital infrastructure.

The government of Sierra Leone has announced the relaunch of state-owned telecom operator Sierratel through a new private sector partnership.

South African open-access fibre network provider Maziv has announced a major investment to expand its network connectivity across South Africa over the next five to seven years.

Amazon is reportedly in talks to buy the satellite group Globalstar, potentially bolstering its own low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite business, Amazon Leo, which is emerging as a competitor to satellite internet constellation Starlink.

Telecoms infrastructure provider Helios Towers has unveiled a plan to invest US$100 million to expand its telecoms infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with backing from the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANAPI).

Bharti Airtel’s data centre subsidiary Nxtra has secured an investment deal worth US$1 billion from Alpha Wave Global, Carlyle and Anchorage Capital via their respective affiliates to expand its network across India and accelerate growth.

Development financial institution the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the National Planning Commission (NPC), an advisory body and think tank appointed by the country’s president, have announced the completion of South Africa’s Digital Connectivity Investment Roadmap to 2035.

IFC, a global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets and a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), has announced an investment to expand clean and reliable power for telecom networks in three African countries.

Turkcell a leading service provider in Turkey, says it has signed a landmark US$1 billion syndicated international Murabaha financing agreement with 14 banks.

African technology startups – including mobile-focused initiatives – will receive a financing boost through a €40 million (about US$46million) commitment from EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The World Bank Group (WBG) Board of Directors earlier this week approved what is described as a transformative regional initiative that will directly boost job creation in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone. It includes a strong focus on digital infrastructure.

Cameroon has approved a loan agreement of about US$195 million with the Export-Import Bank of China. The funding will support phase four of the country’s national fibre optic backbone expansion.

Global digital operator Veon has announced a partnership with the GSMA’s Mobile for Development Foundation to co-fund digital innovation projects in Pakistan and Bangladesh that are supported by the GSMA Innovation Fund.

Nigeria has secured a US$100 million investment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for Project Bridge, the country’s flagship broadband expansion initiative.

Regional multilateral development finance institution the African Development Bank Group and the United Nations Development Programme have announced a “transformative" continental drive to accelerate responsible artificial intelligence adoption and inclusive digital economic growth across Africa.