Regulation

Russia has recently hardened its restrictions on the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), which are a popular way of getting round state censorship and accessing banned news sites, Western services, social media platforms and messengers.

Mauritanian telcos Moov Mauritel, Mattel, Chinguitel and Rimatel have reportedly bid MRU1.08 billion (around US$27.1 million) in total for 5G licences being auctioned by the Autorité de Régulation (ARE).

Gabon has introduced a sweeping new social media ordinance which eliminates online anonymity and imposes strict identity requirements, among other measures. It comes in the context of a recent wave of social media restrictions in Gabon.

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) will reportedly start regulating over-the-top (OTT) platforms and content as part of a coming revamp of broadcasting regulations.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released an industry consultation paper to explore whether direct-to-device (D2D) satellite services should use existing terrestrial spectrum or mobile satellite services (MSS) spectrum.

A preliminary study has been launched to assess the readiness for deploying sixth generation (6G) telecommunications networks in Oman, albeit many elements of 6G itself are still being defined.

African payments technology company Flutterwave has announced that it has secured a Nigerian banking license.

African ministers and partners have adopted a declaration agreeing to develop telecoms infrastructure as a strategic pan-African foundation for sovereignty, resilience, inclusion and economic transformation.

Cambodia’s National Assembly has unanimously approved a draft law targeting telecom and online fraud, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to curb cross-border scam operations and strengthen enforcement frameworks.

Regulator the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a directive that aims to force mobile network operators (MNOs) to compensate subscribers for poor network service.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has refuted media reports claiming that its recently updated technical specs for type-approval of mobile devices is a move to ban or phase out low-cost or entry-level devices.

Senegal’s telecoms regulator, the Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes (ARTP), has launched a public consultation on the deployment and sharing of fibre-to-the-x (FTTx) networks in Senegal.

The Namibia Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) said on Tuesday that it rejected LEO satellite operator Starlink’s application for a licence to operate in the country because it didn’t meet all regulatory requirements.

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is reportedly planning to establish tighter regulatory oversight over the country’s fast-growing data centre market.

It looks like Papua New Guinea intends to join the growing list of countries insisting on SIM card registration after a lengthy consultation process that ended recently.

The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) has announced that Botswana and five other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states have collaborated to substantially reduce and harmonise mobile roaming tariffs in line with the One Network Area (ONA) framework.

A new system in Kenya will ensure that motorists who commit traffic offences will receive instant notifications on their mobile phones informing them of the violation.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has reportedly kicked off a technical audit of Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell (D2C) technology as part of a review of Airtel Kenya’s application to offer the service in the country.

Pakistan on Tuesday raised US$507 million in the country's 5G spectrum auction, selling 480MHz of spectrum against a target of 597MHz.

Bangladesh telcos reportedly urged the country’s telecoms regulator on Monday to prioritise fuel and energy supplies for telecoms infrastructure to avoid service disruptions as the government takes measures to deal with supply-chain disruptions stemming from the widening conflict between the US, Israel and Iran.

Kenya’s Court of Appeal has set aside a 2020 High Court judgment endorsing the country’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (2018), ruling two sections unconstitutional.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reportedly decided to take a wait-and-see approach on whether 5G network slicing would violate its regulations on net neutrality.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has made a number of recommendations relating to the next auction of spectrum in India. But will they be accepted?

Ghana’s regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA), has announced revised key performance indicators (KPIs) for mobile telecommunications quality of service (QoS).

A decree put into place by Burkina Faso’s military government late last week, which obliges some companies to build headquarters in the country, may affect Burkina's mobile operators.

Regulator the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has suspended the Universal Telecommunications Operating Licence and Spectrum Authorisation of Starcell International Liberia, an operator about which little appears to be known.

Malaysia has announced an immediate and full ban on the importation of electronic waste (e-waste) – discarded electronic products such as computers, mobile phones and appliances.

India’s Supreme Court has warned Meta it could once again bar WhatsApp from sharing user data with other group companies such as Facebook, as the country revives a long-running dispute over privacy practices.

A ‘digital Liberia — leaving no one behind’ is the promise of a recently launched new five-year roadmap aimed at accelerating the country’s digital transformation and strengthening national control over critical technology systems.

Regulator the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has teamed with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to tackle telecom-related crimes, including, it seems, damage to fibre optic infrastructure.

The leading operator in Bangladesh, Grameenphone, has secured 10 megahertz of spectrum in the 700MHz band, marking the first-ever allocation of the low-band frequency to a mobile operator in Bangladesh. It was, apparently, the sole buyer.